Survival Guide: Navigating the Inflation Crisis in the PH

The recent tensions in the Middle East are starting to hit our pockets here in the Philippines. With fuel prices jumping and the Peso shifting, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But don’t panic—prepare.

Why am I making a post about it? This is not culture or book-related! Well, I want to help everyone. Hope this helps!

 Here is what you need to know to protect your budget and your family over the next few weeks.

🚩 What’s Getting More Expensive? (The "Monday Spike")

·         Expect a "Domino Effect." Because it costs more to move goods, almost everything will see a price adjustment.

·         Fuel is the big one: Gasoline and Diesel are seeing massive daily hikes (some as high as ₱20+ per liter).

·         Cooking Gas (LPG): Your 11kg tanks will likely be much more expensive by your next refill.

·         Your Electric Bill: Since some of our power comes from imported fuel, expect higher rates in your April/May billing.

·         The "Pantry Basics": Bread, canned goods, and instant noodles will likely see "shrinkflation" (smaller sizes) or direct price increases.

 

💡 Ways to "Crisis-Proof" Your Home

ü  The "Power Hour" Audit: Cut your AC usage by just 1 hour a day or shift heavy laundry to weekends. It offsets the rising generation charges.

ü  Route Planning: Stop the "quick trips" to the mall or store. Map out your errands so you only use the car once. Walk or use bikes instead. E-bikes are not advisable, as they will spike your power.

ü  Lessen eating out. Eat in and, if possible, do meal planning.

ü  Plant in your garden or even in pots. Plants like malunggay, calamansi, onions, sili, monggo, and others can grow in pots and small plots and can help you.

ü  Have some savings. Do not buy anything expensive or big, like cellphones.

ü  Dry or pickle things. It will last longer.

ü  Share and trade with neighbors.

🛒 Your Strategic Shopping List

Don't "panic buy" 50 sacks of rice—that creates a shortage for others. Instead, "Pantry Load" strategically:

1.    Fill the Tank NOW: If you have a vehicle, fill it up before Monday morning. Even a half-tank saves you hundreds of pesos right now.

2.    Check the LPG: If your kitchen tank feels light, swap it today. Don't wait for it to run out mid-month.

3.    Have a tank of drinking water in case of emergencies.

4.    The Essentials: Slowly stock up on non-perishables like:

▢   Rice and Rice alternatives

▢   Canned proteins (Sardines, Corned Beef, Tuna)

▢   Milk powder and Coffee

▢   Pasta and noodles

▢   Laundry and bath soap (petroleum is used in their production!)

▢   Basic medical needs like maintenance and flu medications

 

📅 How long will this last?

The markets are currently reacting to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Ø  Best Case: If things de-escalate, we might see prices stabilize in 4 to 8 weeks.

Ø  Reality Check: Even if the conflict stops tomorrow, "sticky prices" mean grocery costs stay high for a few months. Plan your budget as if these prices are the "new normal" for at least the next 90 days.

Stay safe, stay informed, and let's help each other out! 

Genre, Tropes and Archetypes. What are they?

 It’s easy to see why these get mixed up—they’re the three main ingredients in the "storytelling soup." While they overlap, they function at different levels of a story's structure.

Think of it this way: Genre is the house, Tropes are the blueprint, and Archetypes are the furniture and decor.

1. Genre: The Category

Genre is the broadest level of classification. It sets the expectations for the setting, tone, and overall "vibe" of the story. It tells the reader what kind of experience they’re in for.

• Function: Categorization and marketing.
• Examples: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Noir, Romance, Horror.
• The Litmus Test: If you changed the genre, the entire world and tone would have to change.

2. Trope: The Storytelling Tool

Tropes are specific patterns, motifs, or devices that writers use to convey information quickly. They are the "shortcuts" of storytelling. Unlike archetypes, tropes can become "clichés" if they are overused without a fresh twist.

• Function: Narrative shorthand.
• Examples: "The Chosen One," "Enemies to Lovers," "The Villain's Monologue," "The Grumpy/Sunshine Dynamic."
• The Litmus Test: Is this a specific plot beat or character trait that you’ve seen in dozens of books or movies lately? That’s a trope.

3. Archetype: The furnishings

Archetypes are ancient, universal patterns that reside in our collective "storytelling DNA." They are the foundational "roles" or "shapes" that humans have recognized since we were telling stories around campfires. They are deeply psychological and rarely change across cultures. These mainly point to the characters.

• Function: Providing a recognizable structure for human experiences.
• Examples: The Hero, The Mentor, The Shadow, The Star-Crossed Lovers, The Quest.
• The Litmus Test: Can this character or plot point be found in both ancient Greek myths and a modern Pixar movie? If yes, it’s an archetype.

Examples of Genres:

• Romance
• Historical
• Adventure
• Gothic
• Suspense
• Mystery
• Horror
• Comedy
• High Fantasy
• Christian Romance
• Teen Fiction
• Urban Fantasy
• Bangsian

Sample Tropes:

• Enemies to lovers
• Friends to lovers
• Forbidden romance
• Opposites attract
• Accidental pregnancy
• Secret baby
• Found family
• Fake dating
• Forced proximity
• Cinderella romance
• Small-town romance
• Best friend’s sister/brother
• Second chance
• Workplace romance
• Off-limits romance
• Secret identity
• Out of their league
• Fated mates

Examples of Archetypes:

The Jungian Archetypes (Psychological)

• The Inventor: Carl Jung (Early 20th Century)

Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist who believed these figures live in our "Collective Unconscious." He argued that every human, regardless of culture, is born with these mental blueprints. While he identified many, he is most famous for these 12:

• The Innocent: Desires safety and happiness (e.g., Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz).
• The Sage: Seeks knowledge and truth (e.g., Yoda).
• The Explorer: Craves freedom and discovery (e.g., Indiana Jones).
• The Rebel: Wants revolution and to overturn what isn't working (e.g., Robin Hood).
• The Magician: Understands the fundamental laws of the universe to make things happen (e.g., Gandalf).
• The Hero: Proves worth through courageous acts (e.g., Hercules).
• The Lover: Seeks intimacy and experience (e.g., Romeo/Juliet).
• The Jester: Lives in the moment with enjoyment (e.g., The Joker—the dark version).
• The Everyman: Wants to belong and be "just like everyone else" (e.g., Arthur Dent).
• The Caregiver: Protects and cares for others (e.g., Mary Poppins).
• The Ruler: Control-oriented, seeking to create a prosperous community (e.g., Mufasa).
• The Creator: Driven to foster something of enduring value (e.g., Tony Stark).

The Monomyth Archetypes (Narrative)

• The Inventor: Joseph Campbell (1949)

In his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell realized that almost every myth in history follows the same path. He identified specific "character functions" that the Hero meets along the way.

• The Herald: The one who brings the "Call to Adventure" (e.g., Hagrid).
• The Threshold Guardian: Tests the hero before they enter the new world (e.g., The Sphinx).
• The Shapeshifter: A character whose loyalty is uncertain, keeping the hero off-balance (e.g., Catwoman).
• The Shadow: The antagonist or the "dark mirror" of the hero (e.g., Darth Vader).

Let’s look at Samples of How These Three are used:

Star Wars (George Lucas)

• The Genre: Space Opera (Fantasy in a Sci-Fi setting).
• The Archetype: Luke Skywalker is The Hero; Obi-Wan is The Mentor. 
• The Trope: The "Farm Boy with a Secret Heritage" and the "Evil Empire." These are specific storytelling "hooks" used to get the plot moving.

Pride & Prejudice (Jane Austen)

This is the gold standard for character-driven storytelling, where the social "rules" are just as important as the characters.

• The Genre: Regency Romance / Comedy of Manners. The setting is strictly 19th-century England, focusing on social status and marriage.
• The Archetype: The Lovers. Elizabeth and Darcy represent the universal human experience of seeking a partner. Mr. Collins is The Buffoon (a social archetype of the person who tries too hard and fails).
• The Trope: Enemies to Lovers. This is the "furniture." They start off hating each other due to a "First Impression" (another trope!). You also have the "Meddling Mother" and the "Inheritance Plot."

Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling)

This series is a masterclass in using "The Hero’s Journey," which is essentially a map of archetypes.

• The Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult / Mystery. It has magic (Fantasy), coming-of-age themes (YA), and usually a "whodunnit" or "what is it" plot in every book (Mystery).
• The Archetype: Harry is The Chosen One, Dumbledore is The Mentor, and Voldemort is The Shadow, also Dark Lord Archetype. These are blueprints that have existed since ancient myths.
• The Trope: The Chosen One. This is a specific narrative tool. Others include "The Secret Orphan," "The School of Magic," and the "Power of Friendship" (where the protagonist wins because of their bonds, not just their muscles).

The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)

This story takes ancient archetypes and puts them in a gritty, futuristic "house."

• The Genre: Dystopian / Sci-Fi / Action. It’s a dark future where technology is used to oppress people.
• The Archetype: Katniss is The Rebel/Guardian (protecting her sister). Peeta is The Caregiver. President Snow is The Tyrant.
• The Trope: The Love Triangle. This is a classic YA trope used to create romantic tension. You also have "The Deadly Game" (characters forced to fight to the death) and "The Dressed-Up Hero" (where the protagonist is forced into a makeover to win over the public).

Sources:

https://www.writeforharlequin.com/hea-writing-week-2026-day-two-all-about-tropes/

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-the-different-genres-of-literature-a-guide-to-14-literary-genres

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungian_archetypes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey

Reading Recommendation for Grade 5, 6, 7

This is also good for advanced readers of Grade 4.

Want smarter kids? Want empathetic kids? Get them to read and enjoy reading!

Easy

• Books by Roald Dahl
• Mystery books by Enid Blyton
• Goosebump Series by RL Stein
• Books by Diana Wynne Jones
• Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
• Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

 

Medium

• Harry Potter Series – JK Rowling
• Percy Jackson – Rick Riordan
• Hunger Games – Suzzane Colins
• Maze Runner - James Dashner
• Disney Villains - Serena Valentino
• Twisted Tales - Liz Braswell, Jen Calonita, & Elizabeth Lim
• Ghost Girl - Tonya Hurley
• Nancy Drew  Carolyn Keene
• The Hardy Boys       Franklin W. Dixon
• Sherlock Holmes Sereis by Arthur Conan Doyle
• Mary Popins by PL Tavers
• Books by CS Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia)
• Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carol
• Eragon Series by Christopher Paolini
•  
• Expert Reading
• Books by JRR Tolkien
• Books by HP Lovecraft
• No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith
• Lord of the Mystery by Cuttlefish (Webnovel)

 

Biographies

• Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
• I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai 
• Child Called It by Dave Pelzer

Reading Recommendations for High School

 I am writing this reading recommendation because I think the current HS needs to know at least half of these books. And yes, I have read three-fourths of these in HS. I have other books that I won't be putting in here. Some books I have only encountered later in life. And before you ask, yes, I have read Shakespeare in high school. My mother introduced me to Shakespeare at a very young age of 4. It drove my teachers crazy when I only wanted to talk like Shakespeare for days. In high school, we deep-dived a book a year. 

Here it is. 

Easy Series

• Harry Potter Series – JK Rowling
• Percy Jackson – Rick Riordan
• Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
• Maze Runner - James Dashner
• Disney Villains - Serena Valentino
• Twisted Tales - Liz Braswell, Jen Calonita, & Elizabeth Lim
• Ghost Girl - Tonya Hurley
• The Baby-Sitters Club - Ann M. Martin
• Nancy Drew - Carolyn Keene
• The Hardy Boys - Franklin W. Dixon
• The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares

 

Classics

• Les Misérables - Victor Hugo
• The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Orczy
• The Phantom of the Opera - Gaston Leroux
• Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
• Dracula - Bram Stoker
• Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
• The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
• Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
• To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
• Animal Farm, 1984 - George Orwell
• Lord of the Flies - William Golding
• Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom
• Moby-Dick - Herman Melville
• Life of Pi - Yann Martel
• The Murders in the Rue Morgue - Edgar Allan Poe
• The Island of Doctor Moreau - H.G. Wells
• The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Tarzan of the Apes (Series) - Edgar Rice Burroughs
•  H.G. Wells - The War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, The Invisible Man
• Jules Verne - Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in Eighty Days
• Charles Dickens - A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol
• Mark Twain - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• William Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream
• Emily Brontë - Wuthering Heights (Her only novel, but a massive bestseller)
• Charlotte Brontë - Jane Eyre, Villette
• Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma

 

Sci-Fi

• Frank Herbert -  Dune (Widely cited as the best-selling science fiction novel of all time).
• Anne McCaffrey -  Dragonriders of Pern series, The Ship Who Sang, Aconra, etc.
• Douglas Adams - The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

 

Fantasy

• Tamora Pierce - The Song of the Lioness, Protector of the Small, The Immortals, Circle of Magic
• David Eddings - The Belgariad, The Malloreon, The Elenium, The Tamuli
• Ursula K. Le Guin - The Earthsea Cycle (Beginning with A Wizard of Earthsea)
• Philip Pullman - His Dark Materials (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass)

 

Steampunk

• Gail Carriger’s - Finishing School Series

 

Mystery

• Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot, Murder on the Orient Express, Miss Marple, Tommy and Tuppence Series
• Arthur Conan Doyle - Sherlock Holmes   A Study in Scarlet
• G.K. Chesterton - Father Brown
• Ellis Peters - Brother Cadfael
• Maureen Jennings - Detective Murdoch 

 

Horror

• Stephen King - The Shining, It, The Stand, Carrie, Misery, Pet Sematary
• H.P. Lovecraft - The Call of Cthulhu, At the Mountains of Madness, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, The Dunwich Horror

 

Local Recommendations

• Maximo D. Ramos
• Dean Alfar
• F. Sionil Jose
• Eating Fire and Drinking Water
• Jose Rizal
• Florante at Laura - Balagtas
• Steamerella
• Lagimat
• Mt High School Fairytale
• Heist Club’s A Time for Heist

Free To-From Cards!

Happy Holidays! But for those not celebrating the Christmas (because it became a bit too pagan lately) here are generic To-from cards. Feel free to print and use them. Just don't sell them!

 

Slingon 2025, Lake Sebu

 Months ago, GaMaBa Awardee Aunty Rosie Godwino Sula invited me to the Slingon—a chanter’s meet in Lake Sebu. I didn’t hesitate to say yes. How often do you get to join an event filled with spontaneous chanting?

 

The Slingon was held on September 20–22, 2025, in Gono Lemingon, Klubi, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. I arrived a day earlier to meet the volunteers and help iron out last-minute details. Our small but determined team was there to support Aunty Rosie in making sure the Slingon was documented and a great success.

 Sligon is a chanter’s meeting. It has a deeper meaning in the T’boli language. It means to meet under one roof, to be one. This does not happen often. I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime event.

 Months before the event, I sent out an SOS to friends and supporters—and you all came through! With the help of donations, we were able to buy tokens for the chanters and students, provide books, and use the cash contributions for food. Truly, community spirit made this gathering possible.

 In the end, the Slingon gathered 12 cultural workers, 18 students, 5 volunteers, and representatives from the NCCA. It was a heartfelt gathering, filled with voices, stories, and rhythms that echoed into the night. For the students, it became a rare chance to practice their craft in a semi-public space. At the same time, cultural workers saw the possibility of this becoming a tradition to replicate in other communities.

 

Did I mention Aunty Rosie sang an impromptu song about me? Yes, that is the reason why she is a Gawad Manlilikhang Bayan Awardee or National Living Treasure. She can chant or sing, composing on the spot!

 Lake Sebu has always been close to my heart, not just for its natural beauty, but for the passion of its people for culture and the arts. There are four GaMaBas from Lake Sebu: Lang Dulay, Rosie G. Sula, Barbara Ofong and Bundos Farah. No doubt there will be more. Compared to Davao, they proudly wear their clothing, their malongs, their T’nalak. May the T’boli culture continue to live on and prosper!

 To all who supported—through donations, sharing posts, or simply cheering us on—thank you. This event was not just a celebration, but also a seed for something bigger: a future where more Slingon gatherings will rise, honoring and sustaining our heritage. Special thanks to Karl of Philippine Spirits, Mike Patolot and his wife, volunteers Isaac Maluhia Castillo, Jillian Bacarisas, Levi and Summer, Mechie Mafok, Armila De Velez Todi, Maria Todi (for one night at SLT), and to those who donated anonymously—you made Slingon 2025 shine brighter.

 Here’s to the next Slingon, and to more adventures that keep our stories alive.

The Catalogue of Mythology-Inspired Stories

 Good day, everyone!

Presenting to you the Mythology-Inspired Catalogue. It is a collection of books by Pinoy indie Authors that have characters of subject that are inspired or taken from Philippine Myths.

This is for book buyers and book distributors. The details for each book and the author are inside the catalogue.

Download here

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KcX2Bw7yRxlj84GpoU3ETx-Fr0FPUsjo/view?usp=sharing

We need help!

 We are in need of funds for our various local projects.

August Activities

These coloring books will be printed for free for the communities around Davao City. We need your help to produce more!

If you are a Bagobo Klata community or interested in these coloring books, we will gladly release the designs for printing.

September Activities:

GaMaBa Awardee Rosie G. Sula is hosting a Slingon or Tboli Chanters Meet. Here's what we need:

- Food for the chanters (2 meals a day X 3 days X 15 Chanters)

- Help in recording the chants.

- Plug and promotions

- A little financial aid for those who are coming from the mountain. To journey to Lake Sebu takes Ph150 X2.

Donate here:

GoGetFunding:

Instagram Rebrand

I have changed my Instagram handle from babymoonmaita to maita.rue. Perhaps in the future, I will revisit my specialized clothing brand and pet clothing but for now, I am concentrating on Art and Stories.

www.instagram.com/maita.rue

Ladies of the Steam Theatre

What are you prepared to pay the Dollmaker?

Meet the Ladies of the Steam Theatre—each with a tale, a bargain, and a price.

🕸 Steamerella – A twisted Cinderella tale. Cassandra was wronged, but with the Phantom as her Fairy Godfather, she becomes a spider weaving silk threads of seduction and revenge.

👠 Agnes – The Shoemaker's Daughter. A shoemaker in her own right. She traded time for fingers. Read how her craft became her curse.

⚙️ Lady Gears – Bold, scandalous, and mysterious. With wings of gears, she captivates a baron—until a machine monster kidnaps her. But who’s really in control?

🎶 Eileen – In The Steam Singer, Eileen sings not for fame but for survival. With a house full of siblings and no protector, the Phantom offers her a stage—and a dangerous deal.

✨ Available now on Amazon.com/author/maitarue

 

New Book Alert! Neph XY: Emergence of Prophecy

 Neph XY: Emergence of Prophecy

Junio journeys through memory and time to uncover his destiny.

Tikbalang. Warrior. Leader. Will he rise or fall?

This new book is all about Junio and his spiral in time. His life isn't going so well. He's being used and abused, fighting a war he feels is pointless, reeling from the absence of his parents and dealing with puberty. Did I mention Junio was only 17 years old? Like in Stanzo's book, he's also 17, looking for the point in life.

Special children were able to gain powers between 7 and 17. They lose their powers at 18. In the meantime, governments, organizations, and even the church are using these children.

Junio hates it, but he still wants to save children. He rescues three of them in a secret lab. Instead of setting them free, he embarks on a wild adventure in time and destiny. 

And maybe, just maybe, his destiny intertwines with Prophecy.

So, who are the bad guys? Meet the 3rd Generation Nephilim, who will do whatever it takes to restore the "good old days" when humans still revered them as gods.

Stanzo - Used to lead his own team. Works for the government of Singapore as a Neph Exterminator. He can turn into a Kapre/giant. Battling depression in his book, he was finally able to heal when he realized that helping children healed his inner turmoil. After losing his powers, he still continues to train children in the orphanage and around the world.

Tino - When he was fifteen, he and his twin, Stanzo, were separated. He was given to China as a Neph exterminator. As he excelled, he became a captain of his own squad. After being sold to Dagon, he developed PTSD.  After losing his powers at 18, he helped Stanzo train the children in the orphanage.

Junio- 17 at the start of his book. He can turn into a Tikbalang, a horse-headed humanoid giant with claws. Because of the twins' training, he was faster and better at fighting. He had a high kill-count and was a powerhouse known to many around the world for his fighting prowess. He works for Interpol, heading his team.

Cateel Trip 2025

 Hello everyone and Madayaw!

Last Monday, my mom, cousin and aunt and I went to Cateel and Boston for a trip. We had two objectives: research long ago dead relatives and get me a CoC.

Our search will go on but if you are a relative and you know about Capt. Rufo Cabrera and Don Faustino Gonzales' father, please contact me. We need their full names, year of birth and approximate place of birth. Were they born here, Spain, Zamboanga, somewhere else?

Our other objectives were to get a Certificate (CoC) as a member of the Mandaya Tribe. They ran out of forms so they gave me the only remaining form. The IPMR of Boston-Carmen (that is the town beside Cateel where Capt Rufo served as Cabeza) was mom's 3rd cousin. He signed my CoC. I submitted my requirement and they will file it in the NCIP office in Mati. He even showed me the differences between the Boston-Carmen style of dressing and the Baganga-Caraga style of dressing. The Caraga one is more popular and is seen on the internet. I'll talk about the Boston-Carmen style more in the future. It needs more research and I need to immerse if I make a coloring book or book about it.

So, that is my trip in a nutshell!

Parish of Cateel