Mumbling Along

We conducted a terrifying experiment. In order to conquer her fears, Jhanine (voluntarily) exposed herself to a lineup of horror films. We try to unpack her feelings about aliens, psychopaths, doppelgangers and supernatural cats in this therapeutic debriefing session. There's also several reaction clips in the Youtube version, so feel free to visit our channel, Mumbling Along. 

We reflect on adulting so far. From corporate burnout to postgraduate studies, the different paths that we traversed during the pandemic spelled confusion and excitement. At the very least, discerning life choices is fun with some friends and a healthy dose of existential dread.

We share our biggest travel blunder. From visiting a French police station to touring the lost and found center of Paris, the unexpected destinations brought about by one lost document live as a cautionary tale in our minds. However, if there's any consolation, the trip also reminds us that sometimes there is merit in scrapping the itinerary to give way for pleasant surprises.

We now find home elsewhere. In what can be deemed as an unspoken rule in our community, those fortunate enough will have to study in Metro Manila sooner or later. As we navigate the chaotic maze of streets in the urban jungle, transitioning to this new life is filled with the anxieties of culture shock, homesickness, and fitting in. But at the same time it is a period of excitement and new possibilities. Sam and Det join us together in the last part of this mini-series to come full circle to where we are right now, in terms of the spatial and emotional understanding of a home away from home.

We revisit stories of reunions and traditions. For many Filipinos, cemeteries have long been places of gathering during All Saints'/All Souls' Day. The one situated in our hometown, Tabaco City, is no different. You enter through the rusty gates, under the traditional Chinese roof with upturned corners, and you are greeted with a cramped maze of graves and mausoleums. Flowers adorn tombstones. Candles flicker like stars in the night sky. The smoke of burned incense invades your nostrils. Many ancestors of the Filipino-Chinese community are buried and honored here, providing a much needed excuse for many former residents, like us and our new guest Det, to catch up with each other and feel at home every once in a while. 

We reminisce about Tabaco Pei Ching School. In the first part of this mini-series, Sam joins us once again to explore the Filipino-Chinese experience of growing up in the province. The focus of this episode is on our earliest memories at school, and in extension the community, that shaped our personalities and lifestyles. From daily seven o'clock flag ceremonies to dealing with social comparison in a small city, there is much to unravel, between the good and the bad, among three nostalgic schoolmates. 

We (try to) interpret your dreams. Join us in our humble blanket fort as we reveal recurring dreams and nightmares that reflect our hopes and fears.

We called on our favorite influencer for help. Our second guest, ThatGuySimon, or as we know him personally, John Simon Abraham, started filming TikTok videos during the early days of the lockdown. He walks us through his online journey so far, especially when it comes to how it affected his social interactions in the real world. With 148K followers and counting, he continues to find unique ways in delivering authenticity with fashion-forward content, while entertaining (and sometimes roasting) his audience.

We rant about social media clutter. With a more intimate and traditional setup, Jhanine traces back the different phases of her Facebook usage that led to deleting her account. We sift through piles of everyday news and inappropriate content to uncover our anxieties and distractions from the endless feed.

We made first contact with a guest. From starting a conversation with "Happy Mother's Day" to memorizing the floor number of her crush, we uncover Samantha's past antics, all in the name of love.

We made a thing where we talk about things. In this first episode, listen to us mumble about breaking down inside a plane and getting lost in your thoughts during butt-numbing car rides.