Blog by Jedde

Image not mine. Source: Salvador Dali Melting Clock Digital Painting When you were born, people knew who they want you to become. Your life was set in stone. The cheers you hear were cries of the people who missed their chance in life. And you are their key to redemption. You are a fresh start for them. You are a ticket to secure their happiness.  The clock starts ticking and you begin growing up. Each time you celebrate your birthday, it is a yardstick - have you accomplished what you ought to accomplish? No? Oh, then that's bad. Suddenly, the cheers you hear turned to snickers. How come you are not as successful as that person? Why can't you do things right? You are starting to mold into a disappointment and woe to that.  What did you do wrong? All you did was live the way you want to live your life. Slowly, the sparkle in your eyes starts to dim. Waking up each day, putting on your uniform, studying, eating, laughing, going back home, sleeping - and this cycle repeats....

Photo taken in Vintage Empire, Singapore. Featuring an Olivetti-Lettera 82 Typewriter Quite recently, I've become fascinated with typewriters. I spent many months researching, studying the history of typewriters, and finally, I've decided to find my own machine. Many people have asked me why I'm looking for a typewriter and my answer takes me back to when I was 8 years old.  I'll take you back in time with me through this blog and shortly, you will know the reason why my latest obsession today is a typewriter. I remember feeling excited every time my class ends when I was in Primary 2 (Grade 2). I was around 8 years old at that time. I would prepare all my things in advance so when my father arrived to fetch me from school, I would be ready to leave. Time was precious and I didn't want to waste it. My father worked near the school so before heading straight home, we would visit his office first so he can 'punch-out' and have his attendance checked. While he...

There is something mesmerizing about being in a place where you feel you belong. A place where you can tell yourself that you are in a safe bubble, far away from your troubles. A place where you can drop the world's expectations on you, down on the floor- even for just the time being - and feel great about it.  I found that place in The Narrative Coffee Stand. I remember it was a cloudy October afternoon. The breeze was cooling and I walked my way from the train station towards Bras Basah Complex where the cafe was located. Eager to meet a friend, I walked as fast as I can.  I had no expectations about how the place looked like. What mattered most to me at that moment was reaching safely and catching up with our previous intern who I've grown close to. So, when I arrived, I felt satisfied with what I saw - it was a cozy little coffee shop and I couldn't wait to get inside. Tucked between the National Library of Singapore and the buzzing Bugis Area, this dainty cafe brought ...

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."   - Robert Frost   Photo was taken in January 2018. More often than not, we find ourselves in between two roads. The road we choose often depends on how ready we are to face the unknown, how brave we are to unleash our courage in taking that step, and how prepared we are to fail. Either way, making this choice is never easy.  I faced this moment many times in my life and particularly, in the year 2017 when I decided to pack my bags and move to Singapore. I barely had any savings after working for my first job in Cebu. My family isn't wealthy. We can afford to eat three times a day but we've always been mindful of where we spend our money to ensure we can sustain our basic needs, and infrequently, our wants - usually in a form of our family day eating halo-halo in a mall. That's why taking this big leap was a question for many people. How am I going to su...