This is about me. Please note, this is extremely boring and full of unnecessary rambling you'd normally find uninteresting. So really, don’t waste your time - or your vote. But if you insist, read on at your own risk.
##### **29 - but it doesn't matter, I'm turning 30 in a couple of months anyway...** Technically, I created my Steem account at 28. Will I still be here at 35? Doubt it - unless the people keeping me here decide to stick around, too. Still, I can’t help but long for 45. By then, I would have a sense of fulfilment and would have figured out what I want in life - found some rhythm, a fixed direction. Maybe even made peace with everything I’ve been wrestling with at 29. I’m honestly tired of wandering. All this exploring and discovering is starting to feel exhausting. ##### **In the end, I just want to be a farmer. Oh hell, I don’t even mind working under the blistering sun.** You know those people who do things just to have something going on in their lives? I literally became one of them. Right now, I work as a cost engineer in an environmental consultancy firm, mainly handling feasibility studies. Don’t be deceived, though - it’s mostly Excel and a bit of theory. It’s rarely enjoyable. I don’t take pride in working here - not because of the actual job. It’s the people I work with… and the management. That’s what makes it hard to care. But it pays the bills and gives me something going on in my life. I used to rage against the machine, a dreamer still chasing ideals, but I guess I’ve kind of reached freedom’s end and been made to face the nitty-gritty of reality. Previous to this, about two years ago, I worked in the government in the Department of Transportation - Mindanao Railways. It was, by far, the most fun I’ve ever had while working. And it had nothing to do with the position or the salary (which, by the way, was always late). It was the people I worked with, and the people I worked for - my fellow countrymen. In government work, you often end up learning to do everyone’s job. And that was actually the fun part: being thrown into a task you had zero idea about. It felt like solving a puzzle. You start by learning the rules, then you begin to understand, and gradually you build on that understanding. Sure, it was stressful most of the time, but when you're surrounded by people who share your sense of humour, everything becomes bearable. Sometimes, the grind even turns enjoyable. And since I take pride in the work we did, I’ll share a few snippets of what we were actually up to. I was a technical reviewer, which meant I was responsible for drafting detailed technical reviews of relocation plans and cost estimates. We were in charge of Utilities Relocation - basically, any utility provider affected by the railway alignment had to submit a relocation plan to us. Our job was to ensure their proposed relocation schemes were feasible and didn’t conflict with the railway’s design. ######

https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQma228oUR4hdqJgm2gCrfHHBC398s5T2sp3L8wxw4e5nn8/IMG_20220613_133604-564736863.jpg

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I also had to preside over meetings with stakeholders and utility providers, to discuss our reviews of their relocation plans. There I was, beside the monitor.

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1323969629676376077/1359197350425264228/IMG_20220107_0937131629720775.jpg?ex=67fbe0ad&is=67fa8f2d&hm=f1bef14eaf01d828e15b22f79709a38a2f362bcb6307d4d4fea88df8c5b91309&=&format=webp&width=983&height=738

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1323969629676376077/1359197349737402588/IMG_20210617_123338-303346853.jpg?ex=67fb37ec&is=67f9e66c&hm=f6106613f0d1c0314280a3ac73bb554047b444535e0fc79b51d305250ee9e204&

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These were from one of our site inspection activities - the only times we got to step away from our computers.

Unfortunately, the project was halted due to political rivalry, primarily because it was based in the hometown of former President Duterte. After leaving government work, I didn’t immediately seek another job. Instead, I spent some time exploring gardening. Eventually, a former senior colleague offered me a position, and I had to take it - I needed the extra moolah, and I knew I’d have to get back to work sooner or later anyway. ##### **At this point, I’m guessing you’ve figured out where I’m from.** It’s that little archipelago the U.S. bought from Spain - who, by the way, ruled over us for more than 300 years - called the Island of King Philip. Many of my countrymen either don’t know or simply refuse to accept that historical fact. I suppose they’re still clinging to the illusion that Uncle Sam actually cares about them.

https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmawApQgPuo7oerpGKVQUBbqKByzWNVx4QktKgncDiBbj9/image.png

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The Philippines as a buffer zone between the U.S. and China.

Why is it a buffer zone? Well, before the U.S. can reach China, it must go through the Philippines. Likewise, if China wants to push into the Pacific, it can't bypass us. The Philippines stands in the way - both geographically and strategically. For China to even consider moving toward the Marianas or Guam, a conflict would likely have to erupt here first. Just look at the map: there’s a narrow corridor between the northern tip of our country and Taiwan, the only way for China to enter the Pacific. The problem is, the U.S. had many military bases here and if war is inevitable, obviously, our country will have to suffer first. How convenient. Just to clear things up - I don’t hate Americans. I’ve worked with some, and honestly, they were often easier to get along with than people from my own country.
I came across a comment on colonisation that was particularly interesting: *"Rather than being colonised by the United States, I wish we had been colonised by France or Germany and adopted their language instead. American English is a basic pidgin language that lacks the intellectual precision of German or French, the sophistication of British English, the emotional elegance of Italian or Spanish, or the spiritual and cultural depth of Russian or Mandarin."* While I fully agree, I suppose if we hadn’t been colonised, the Philippines wouldn’t exist. But of course, that might have been for the best. On a related note, I’ve been studying the Japanese language and I’d say it’s a very beautiful language too. What's fascinating is that it can be very precise while still being deeply influenced by context. Factors like who you're speaking with, the time of day, or even the season can all shape your word choices. If we're dreaming a little: There are places I’d align with, if choice were an option. **China** - they carry the legacy of the minds behind _The Art of War_. But more than that, it’s their Taoist mindset that speaks to me: focus on what you can control, let go of what you can’t. That’s partly why U.S. tariffs don’t seem to rattle them too much. It’s that same philosophy that helped them endure the wreckage of history and remain one of the few ancient civilizations still standing (China has been here for 5,000 years!) They’ve got the most advanced tech at the lowest cost. Win-win. Need I say more? **Germany** - it's almost too obvious, really. Many of the greatest minds in history are German. And most of what I've picked up on the Steem, they’ve got that no-nonsense, confrontational attitude - direct and efficient. To top it off, they produce some of the finest goods and services on the market. Siemens? German. BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz - all German. And Marxism? GERMAN. **Russia** - two reasons: Putin and Dostoyevsky. But when it comes to writing systems, I’d say Arabic has the most beautiful script I’ve ever seen. Well, I’ve probably said more than I should and revealed more than I needed to - but there you have it. If you stuck around till the end, I’m both flattered and mildly concerned. >###### A nudge from the Raven - otherwise, this would’ve stayed unwritten...