Xavy & Mom

A Bisaya mom, a teenager and 2 furbabies.

latest

20260324
Government

How to Apply for SSS Unemployment Benefit (2026)

Being a solo parent means I am the Single Point of Failure (SPOF). If my income crashes, the whole system—Xavy’s school, the furbabies’ kibble, the NORECO bill—goes offline. Because I live with this constant “pessimistic” awareness, I started a part-time gig back in September. I was already logging 25 hours a week for a client who knew my situation. So, when the retrenchment news hit in October, I didn’t panic. I just executed Plan B. My client and I already

Read More »
17.03.2026 No Comments
can this love be translated
Completed

(2026) KDrama: Can This Love Be Translated

When Dimples Meet a Deep Dive into the Soul I’ve finally emerged from the 12-episode whirlwind that is Can This Love Be Translated?, and my heart is… well, it’s complicated. Now that Xavy has his own room, I finally have full control over the remote—absolute victory! No more tactical negotiations over the TV or having to endure endless World War II documentaries. I love his curious mind, but this mom needs her romance, and I spent my newfound freedom diving

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17.03.2026 No Comments
20260316
Freelancing

High Latency, High Stakes

When My WiFi is “Hibernating” but My Client is “Active Now” There is a very specific kind of panic that only a freelance mom in the province understands. It’s the moment you’re sitting on your veranda, enjoying the rhythmic sound of the waves or the neighbor’s karaoke (it’s always someone’s birthday, isn’t it?), and you see that little green dot on your messaging app. Your client in New York or London is “Active Now,” and they have a “quick question”

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16.03.2026 No Comments
xavyandmom 20260315
Daily Ramblings

Mama.exe Has Stopped Working

If you’ve ever tried to run a high-end video editing suite on a ten-year-old laptop, you know the sound. That frantic, high-pitched whirring of the fan? That smell of slightly toasted plastic? That’s exactly how I felt this morning at 6:30 AM. In the world of Xavy & Mom, I like to think of my life in two distinct layers: the Hardware (my physical body, my energy levels, and the actual four walls of our home here in the province)

Read More »
15.03.2026 1 Comment
prisoner of beauty
Completed

(2025) CDrama: The Prisoner of Beauty

It’s funny how some dramas just stay with you, isn’t it? Even though I watched Prisoner of Beauty a while back, I still find myself thinking about certain scenes when I’m folding laundry or waiting for Xavy to finish his snacks. It’s one of those rare gems that doesn’t just fill the time—it actually leaves a mark on your heart. I remember being so reluctant to hit “play” on that final episode. I kept pausing, grabbing a second cup of

Read More »
14.03.2026 No Comments
xavyandmom 20260312
Tech News & Stuff

The Solo Mom’s Guide to Building a “Mental Firewall”

If you’re in IT, you know that a firewall is your first line of defense. It monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and decides whether to allow or block specific traffic based on a defined set of security rules. When you’re a solo parent, your brain is the network, and “nonsense thoughts” are the unauthorized pings trying to gain access to your peace of mind. Without a firewall, your system stays open to every “What-if” and “I’m not enough” packet

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13.03.2026 No Comments

life lately

What we're currently up to these days.
pursuit of jade 2026
Pursuit of Jade
phantom lawyer
Phantom Lawyer
sirens kiss
Siren's Kiss
undercover miss hong
Undercover Miss Hong
taxi driver season 3
Taxi Driver 3

Asian TV Drama Updates

can this love be translated
Completed

(2026) KDrama: Can This Love Be Translated

When Dimples Meet a Deep Dive into the Soul I’ve finally emerged from the 12-episode whirlwind that is Can This Love Be Translated?, and my heart is… well, it’s complicated. Now that Xavy has his own room, I finally have full control over the remote—absolute victory! No more tactical negotiations over the TV or having to endure endless World War II documentaries. I love his curious mind, but this mom needs her romance, and I spent my newfound freedom diving

Read More »
17.03.2026 No Comments
prisoner of beauty
Completed

(2025) CDrama: The Prisoner of Beauty

It’s funny how some dramas just stay with you, isn’t it? Even though I watched Prisoner of Beauty a while back, I still find myself thinking about certain scenes when I’m folding laundry or waiting for Xavy to finish his snacks. It’s one of those rare gems that doesn’t just fill the time—it actually leaves a mark on your heart. I remember being so reluctant to hit “play” on that final episode. I kept pausing, grabbing a second cup of

Read More »
14.03.2026 No Comments
boyfriend on demand
Completed

(2026) KDrama: Boyfriend on Demand

You know those days when Xavy finally goes to sleep, I’ve got my face mask on, and I’m ready to be swept off my feet by a 10/10 masterpiece? I went into Boyfriend on Demand with those exact expectations. I mean, look at the cast! Look at the concept! A virtual reality world where you can “order” a boyfriend tailored to your specific mood? As a busy mom who sometimes just wants someone to tell her she’s doing a great

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12.03.2026 No Comments

TRAVEl and TECH

20260324
Government

How to Apply for SSS Unemployment Benefit (2026)

Being a solo parent means I am the Single Point of Failure (SPOF). If my income crashes, the whole system—Xavy’s school, the furbabies’ kibble, the NORECO bill—goes offline. Because I live with this constant “pessimistic” awareness, I started a part-time gig back in September. I was already logging 25 hours a week for a client who knew my situation. So, when the retrenchment news hit in October, I didn’t panic. I just executed Plan B. My client and I already

Read More »
17.03.2026 No Comments
xavyandmom 20260312
Tech News & Stuff

The Solo Mom’s Guide to Building a “Mental Firewall”

If you’re in IT, you know that a firewall is your first line of defense. It monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and decides whether to allow or block specific traffic based on a defined set of security rules. When you’re a solo parent, your brain is the network, and “nonsense thoughts” are the unauthorized pings trying to gain access to your peace of mind. Without a firewall, your system stays open to every “What-if” and “I’m not enough” packet

Read More »
13.03.2026 No Comments
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Travel

Applying for an Australian Visa for Filipino Tourists (2026)

Back in 2019, I wrote a step-by-step guide on How to Apply for an Australian Visa for Filipino Tourists based on our very first application. Fast forward to January 2026, and Xavy and I have just had our visas granted again! While the process still centers around the ImmiAccount, things have changed—from the fees to the lightning-fast processing times. This time, we were even granted Multiple Entry for 1 year, which is a huge upgrade from our 2019 single-entry visa.

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07.03.2026 No Comments

personal blog

xavyandmom 20260315
Daily Ramblings

Mama.exe Has Stopped Working

If you’ve ever tried to run a high-end video editing suite on a ten-year-old laptop, you know the sound. That frantic, high-pitched whirring of the fan? That smell of slightly toasted plastic? That’s exactly how I felt this morning at 6:30 AM. In the world of Xavy & Mom, I like to think of my life in two distinct layers: the Hardware (my physical body, my energy levels, and the actual four walls of our home here in the province)

Read More »
15.03.2026 1 Comment
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Daily Ramblings

The Solo Parent’s Guide to Debugging “Nonsense” Thoughts

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know my life operates on a very specific OS: Happy Pessimism. It’s that internal firmware that tells me, “Yes, the sun is shining today, but you’d better pack three umbrellas and a backup generator just in case.” In the world of IT, we call this “disaster recovery planning.” In the world of solo parenting, we call it “Tuesday.” Lately, however, I’ve been dealing with a different kind of system error.

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12.03.2026 No Comments
Daily Ramblings

Finding Sunshine in the Shadows: A Single Mom’s Tale of Happy Pessimism

Ah, “happy pessimism.” It sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? Like sunshine on a rainy day, or maybe more accurately, knowing it will rain but still enjoying the warmth of the sun while it lasts. As an introvert, my mind often runs through all the possible scenarios, and let’s be honest, they aren’t always rainbows and unicorns. Combine that with the daily tightrope walk of being a single mom juggling a full-time job and squeezing in those IT gigs online

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01.05.2025 No Comments