Watching the Canada Day Parade (July 2014) at Burrard Street, Vancouver.

I'm the type of person who, when feeling idle and having nothing better to do, looks back at my collection of travel photos and memorabilia and with my favorite beat mix playing in the background and a cup of tea in one hand. It's funny how I remember each trip vividly as if it only happened yesterday but always forget where I put my phone five seconds ago. For me, each place has a unique reason that makes me want to either selectively remember or forget it. Each place holds a distinct memory that I could play like a video in my head anytime I want; and unavoidably, each place evokes different kinds of feelings within me whenever those videos play.

On the morning of September 1, 2016, I and my family woke up to a tragic news: one of my uncles from Pampanga passed away due to multiple organ failure from end-stage renal disease. With this tiny tidbit, we were also informed that his interment will be on the 6th.

September 6th was the day I was born.