Chronicles of Retired CC: Happy Pride 2026

 It has been 3 months since official retirement.  And I am now enjoying owning my time! I make my schedules for the week. And I can also change my plans. I can afford to be spontaneous!

I still sleep and wake up early. I have been able to do my workout routines almost religiously. So I have shed some of that flabby weight. Still far from the goal but getting there. And happy about the journey.

I lay out tasks to accomplish, errands to run. A lot of these are retirement-related: SSS, Pag-ibig claims. Some are related to income streams:  conducting training, coming up with training proposals, managing the properties for rent. Some are plain creative pursuits: creating content (like this blogpost hehe). And finally, entertainment: catching up on social media, videos streaming, massage! HAHA

My initial anxieties have melted away, mainly as these have been addressed. I am so grateful for that.  Retirement may really be the best part. Or should I actually say “papunta pa lang tayo sa exciting part”?

And since it is Pride Week, I also can’t help but feel nostalgic about being gay for the past decades. 

I have been through a lot when it comes to being gay: the bullying in elementary and high school, the hiding during the first year in college, then ‘blossoming’ ala Maxie in the years after. Then going back in the closet as I started my corporate life, a closet that became transparent towards the end of my career. 

And that ran in parallel to my dating life: the romance and the relationships, and the sex, of course! Some regrettable, charged to experience. But there would be the highs: the mind-blowing sex, the furtive but fulfilling chance encounters, the transcendent intimacy with those you truly love.  Hahaha so much has happened…

I look back and tell myself that I didn’t do so bad. I guess I played my cards right? But I really still feel Divine providence saving me a lot of the time. So it’s not just my pure effort. 

I am proud to be gay. I wouldn’t be where I am now if I wasn’t. 

But beyond being proud, I am happy being gay. It certainly is gay to be gay.

Last Sunday’s Doubting Tomas

Late post. I didn’t get around to posting this last week. 

Last Sunday was Divine Mercy Sunday. And the Gospel was about the Doubting Didymus, or Thomas. Those two themes resonated deeply in my retired heart.

I had anxieties going into retirement (which I posted previously).  A lot of it stemmed from financial security issues, aware that a regular inflow of resources would suddenly be halted. Though I have saved some, invested some for some future cashflows, I still felt that these weren’t going to be nearly enough. I had lots and lots of doubt.

But hearing what Jesus said to Thomas (incidentally my namesake) “Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believed,” I felt that He was telling me that as well. He was assuring me that even if I have not seen the evidence of financial security, I should believe that He will provide.

Then I thought of the Divine Mercy, and realized that the prayer ends with “Jesus, I trust in You.”

I really doubted Jesus. I really felt I was going to be all alone to handle all this uncertainty. And last Sunday reminded me to believe, to have faith… to trust Him, as I should have at the start.

I felt this great weight lifted from my sagging shoulders. And I continued to pray for more faith, more trust and not be the Doubting Tomas any longer.

Officially Senior and Retired

I just realized this is my first post for 2026! I got caught up in the winding down of my work and planning for my big 6-0 bash last February.  But all that came to pass now. And I am officially a Senior Citizen, Retired corporate slave as well!

It’s April 5, Easter Sunday, Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay! 

And that’s exactly how I feel - newly resurrected! Alive again, beginning a new chapter of my life. I turned 60 end-Feb and threw this big party! Just because… HAHAHA All that in another post. But truly my corporate life ended last March 26, Thursday, as I said goodbye to the office of 9.5 years. I flew to Taipei the day after, and stayed there till March 31, alone! So I don’t really consider that as start of my retirement.

Then it was Holy Week in Manila until today. And I decided that I was going to travel to the beach house this afternoon (against the tide of the travelers returning to Manila!). And true enough, there was this huge traffic on the opposite side of the road, especially going into SBMA. It took me just 3hrs and 20mins to get here, a new record! 

I got here in time to enjoy the perfect sunset, the fitting “Welcome to Retirement, CC!” Banner.

I’ll have more time to write about this new chapter of my life. I am excited as I still feel young. And there is still so much more to do and experience!