joshleyson

[joshleyson]

1994

Some pictures I forgot to share during my recent stay in the Island. T.S 1989 will always be my vibes. I can’t wait for the last week of this month to come as I’m going back to the beautiful islands of Palawan for the third time. More of that soon :)

December, 2023. Boracay Island, Philippines.

Follow me on Instagram & Twitter: joshleyson

[joshleyson]

THIS IS: SIARGAO ✨

December film dump 🎞️

Growing up in Mindanao for almost 2 decades and never actually being able to traverse the picturesque landscapes in the eastern part of the island is something that I know I have to break before the year ends. So I did.

I flew from Manila to Cebu so early in the morning to catch a connecting flight to Siargao by noon. Traveling to Siargao was a lot of firsts for me. Not having to go to every detail but when the plane was about to take off to Siargao, we were all offloaded due to the bad weather on the island. Fortunately, instead of having to fly back to Manila, the airline was kind enough to take me to a nearby hotel in Cebu, all expenses paid including food, transportation, and next-day ticket. It was an unexpected staycation which surprisingly I enjoyed.

Coming from a very tiring day at work and then going to the airport, I felt like I really needed this quiet time, and I was able to check in to this lavish hotel all by myself while waiting for my flight the next day. Also, I had a great night as well in Cebu catching up with one of my long-time friends and her beaux. I went back to my hotel around 3 in the morning because there’s just so many things to catch up and I really missed my homie so much. Keyword: low-maintenance friendships.

So the day finally came, and I was able to land safely on the island of Siargao. Right off the bat on my first night, I had a lovely dinner with my travel friends slash buddies at work and we went to a bar, and danced the night away which to me serves as a prelude to the great experience this vibrant community had in stored for me as a Mindanaoan that have never set foot beyond the confines of Zamboanga and western Mindanao.

We spent our days being on the road which to me was such a release. Being able to smell the fresh ocean breeze while blasting our favorite Y2K songs in the car and relying on Waze or Google Maps for our next destination, to me, makes the trip so much fun because of the spontaneity and unpredictability that it brings. We went island hopping, danced in the boat, swam on open waters, ate our hearts out, moved from one accommodation to another, and I tried surfing for the first time! I never thought I would enjoy the experience because it was raining lightly at that time and the waves were so big it could easily engulf me, but man, best day ever!!!! I fell on the surfing board and slammed my body on the rushing waves several times but being able to stand on the surfboard for the first time was such a liberating experience. A little bit of a stretch, but it was and I will try it again once I go back to Siargao.

☾

I flew back to Cebu and then to Manila to catch one of my friend’s wedding and luckily I made it with no delay. Looking at the pictures that I got to develop from a Fuji film camera that I brought with me on the island, I am reminded again of the incredible healing power of what it’s like to try new things, be with nature, and just breathe. Knowing that the year is about to end in a couple of weeks, I felt so blessed to have that opportunity to break the complicated rhythm of corporate life and to disconnect for a moment. 

After 3 weeks, I get to fly back to Boracay to celebrate New Year’s Eve. So many epic moments that I am also grateful for which I may save for the future but nevertheless, my last month of 2023 was such a banger and I hope it always feels that way.

By the way, I’m writing all these on my iPhone because I’m too tired to get up and open my MacBook, so I appreciate you for hanging with me this far. So that’s it for 2023!

Simply put, I just want to say Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones, and may 2024 be as effervescent as your hopes and dreams for the future.

J.

(December, 2023)

(Photos were shot using Fujifilm Simpleace 35 mm camera + iPhone 15 Pro Max)

FOLLOW ME: Instagram/TikTok/Twitter: joshleyson

(Music by Grammy nominee, Victoria Monét. All rights belong to her and her publishers. For personal and non-commercial use only. Stream her great catalogue on Spotify and Apple Music.)

[joshleyson]

the island: 10/2023

Here’s to wanting a little taste of fresh air and finally getting it, a breather so I can live again, sunsets to remind me that all good things will come to an end so I’ll make the most out of it, and lastly, being comfortable with my own skin.

// 10.2023 ig carousel: @joshleyson

[joshleyson]

a deeper well.

On this exact day 5 years ago, I was in this same location ensconced by the towering mountains with an overlooking view of a calm, seemingly waveless ocean in the pre-summer blistering heat in San Antonio, Zambales. This time I get to come back with my OG friends slash Zamboanga childhood homies, my friend Karen Blaise who's now based in Clark, Pampanga, and my CPA Lawyer friend Abegail from Dumaguete. After countless discussions of reunions and "travel goals" with some of the important people that we know, and 99% of those plans that never came to fruition, we decided that we would make this outdoor camp happen, and thank God we finally made it happen.

I felt like that 2D1N camping trip was surprisingly one of the longest weekends I had this year. Having to disconnect from our phones for a while because the camping site had no service was the perfect setting for us to reminisce about our adolescent and high school classic moments and teenage angst and how those unforgettable stories from our past (and sometimes politically incorrect moments lol) shaped the people we are today professionally and personally. We had a great time recounting all the crazy stories we had more than a decade ago, planned future travels, played frisbee in the middle of the night, and went hiking after sunrise breathing the cold pre-summer wind overlooking the almost CGI-looking mountains in Zambales. My belief of having this type of "disconnecting" was further reinforced from this trip that, as much as I want so much social interaction with a lot of people, I also like to be alone with the few people I truly trust, and that being alone doesn't have to be lonely and solitude is actually a good thing.

☾

Being on the road while listening to Kacey Musgrave's Deeper Well album (shoutout to Track 6 Sway as my favorite track off the record) revealed so many truths about my current situation and the things I'm dealing with in my personal life, both good and bad, and how I strive to find peace in accepting the pain and the lessons it has taught me, and that I've already arrived in my final destination on some certain aspects of my relationships especially with the people that I love, and that I need to move on. 

My Saturn has returned. 

J

February, 2024 | Nagsasa, San Antonio, Zambales

(Photos were shot using Fujifilm Simpleace 35 mm camera + FUJIFILM X-T100)

Stream Kacey Musgrave’s Deeper Well on Spotify and Apple Music.

Instagram/TikTok/Twitter: joshleyson

[joshleyson]

I know some people have commented on this, but damn yung blog posts nyo is sooo damn gooood. I'm inspired and at the same time obsessed. Followed na din sa insta! Keep on photo journaling!!

Hey @lifeofaie, I’m glad to hear this and I’m happy to inspire you in a way. Keep writing! ✨

#ask

[joshleyson]

Beginners tips for photography? Editing, taking shots and how to do so etc

Hey @crack-headed, I don’t consider myself a professional photographer. I’m just a point-and-shoot guy (film and iPhone photography). For editing, I still use Adobe Photoshop, and some mobile apps I recommend are PicsArt, EPIK, Unfold, and Lightroom. I hope this helps. ❤️

#ask

[joshleyson]

a deeper well.

On this exact day 5 years ago, I was in this same location ensconced by the towering mountains with an overlooking view of a calm, seemingly waveless ocean in the pre-summer blistering heat in San Antonio, Zambales. This time I get to come back with my OG friends slash Zamboanga childhood homies, my friend Karen Blaise who's now based in Clark, Pampanga, and my CPA Lawyer friend Abegail from Dumaguete. After countless discussions of reunions and "travel goals" with some of the important people that we know, and 99% of those plans that never came to fruition, we decided that we would make this outdoor camp happen, and thank God we finally made it happen.

I felt like that 2D1N camping trip was surprisingly one of the longest weekends I had this year. Having to disconnect from our phones for a while because the camping site had no service was the perfect setting for us to reminisce about our adolescent and high school classic moments and teenage angst and how those unforgettable stories from our past (and sometimes politically incorrect moments lol) shaped the people we are today professionally and personally. We had a great time recounting all the crazy stories we had more than a decade ago, planned future travels, played frisbee in the middle of the night, and went hiking after sunrise breathing the cold pre-summer wind overlooking the almost CGI-looking mountains in Zambales. My belief of having this type of "disconnecting" was further reinforced from this trip that, as much as I want so much social interaction with a lot of people, I also like to be alone with the few people I truly trust, and that being alone doesn't have to be lonely and solitude is actually a good thing.

☾

Being on the road while listening to Kacey Musgrave's Deeper Well album (shoutout to Track 6 Sway as my favorite track off the record) revealed so many truths about my current situation and the things I'm dealing with in my personal life, both good and bad, and how I strive to find peace in accepting the pain and the lessons it has taught me, and that I've already arrived in my final destination on some certain aspects of my relationships especially with the people that I love, and that I need to move on. 

My Saturn has returned. 

J

February, 2024 | Nagsasa, San Antonio, Zambales

(Photos were shot using Fujifilm Simpleace 35 mm camera + FUJIFILM X-T100)

Stream Kacey Musgrave’s Deeper Well on Spotify and Apple Music.

Instagram/TikTok/Twitter: joshleyson

#film #fujifilm #photography #travel #travelph #zambales #friends #instagram #wanderlust #reels #viral #tiktok #analog #polaroid #philippines #biyaheph #reflection #journal #life #mental health #kacey musgraves #deeper well #summer #beach #camping #hiking #Radical optimism #dua lipa

[joshleyson]

THIS IS: SIARGAO ✨

December film dump 🎞️

Growing up in Mindanao for almost 2 decades and never actually being able to traverse the picturesque landscapes in the eastern part of the island is something that I know I have to break before the year ends. So I did.

I flew from Manila to Cebu so early in the morning to catch a connecting flight to Siargao by noon. Traveling to Siargao was a lot of firsts for me. Not having to go to every detail but when the plane was about to take off to Siargao, we were all offloaded due to the bad weather on the island. Fortunately, instead of having to fly back to Manila, the airline was kind enough to take me to a nearby hotel in Cebu, all expenses paid including food, transportation, and next-day ticket. It was an unexpected staycation which surprisingly I enjoyed.

Coming from a very tiring day at work and then going to the airport, I felt like I really needed this quiet time, and I was able to check in to this lavish hotel all by myself while waiting for my flight the next day. Also, I had a great night as well in Cebu catching up with one of my long-time friends and her beaux. I went back to my hotel around 3 in the morning because there’s just so many things to catch up and I really missed my homie so much. Keyword: low-maintenance friendships.

So the day finally came, and I was able to land safely on the island of Siargao. Right off the bat on my first night, I had a lovely dinner with my travel friends slash buddies at work and we went to a bar, and danced the night away which to me serves as a prelude to the great experience this vibrant community had in stored for me as a Mindanaoan that have never set foot beyond the confines of Zamboanga and western Mindanao.

We spent our days being on the road which to me was such a release. Being able to smell the fresh ocean breeze while blasting our favorite Y2K songs in the car and relying on Waze or Google Maps for our next destination, to me, makes the trip so much fun because of the spontaneity and unpredictability that it brings. We went island hopping, danced in the boat, swam on open waters, ate our hearts out, moved from one accommodation to another, and I tried surfing for the first time! I never thought I would enjoy the experience because it was raining lightly at that time and the waves were so big it could easily engulf me, but man, best day ever!!!! I fell on the surfing board and slammed my body on the rushing waves several times but being able to stand on the surfboard for the first time was such a liberating experience. A little bit of a stretch, but it was and I will try it again once I go back to Siargao.

☾

I flew back to Cebu and then to Manila to catch one of my friend’s wedding and luckily I made it with no delay. Looking at the pictures that I got to develop from a Fuji film camera that I brought with me on the island, I am reminded again of the incredible healing power of what it’s like to try new things, be with nature, and just breathe. Knowing that the year is about to end in a couple of weeks, I felt so blessed to have that opportunity to break the complicated rhythm of corporate life and to disconnect for a moment. 

After 3 weeks, I get to fly back to Boracay to celebrate New Year’s Eve. So many epic moments that I am also grateful for which I may save for the future but nevertheless, my last month of 2023 was such a banger and I hope it always feels that way.

By the way, I’m writing all these on my iPhone because I’m too tired to get up and open my MacBook, so I appreciate you for hanging with me this far. So that’s it for 2023!

Simply put, I just want to say Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones, and may 2024 be as effervescent as your hopes and dreams for the future.

J.

(December, 2023)

(Photos were shot using Fujifilm Simpleace 35 mm camera + iPhone 15 Pro Max)

FOLLOW ME: Instagram/TikTok/Twitter: joshleyson

(Music by Grammy nominee, Victoria Monét. All rights belong to her and her publishers. For personal and non-commercial use only. Stream her great catalogue on Spotify and Apple Music.)

#photography #travels #travel #philippines #wanderlust #film #analog #polaroid #music #summer #Siargao #Siargao Island #Reels #BiyahePH #tiktok #fyp #35 mm #taylor swift #victoria monet #beach #surfing

[joshleyson]

Smell ME! 👀

I think it's true: the older you become, the more fragrances you need in rotation. Sign of aging? Maybe 😂! I usually hoard perfumes at the end of the year because they’re relatively cheaper and there’s a lot of sale going on and these are the ones I’m gonna use all year-round. I don’t know about you but I’m the kind of person who assigns fragrances on specific moments because wherever I am in my life, if I get a whiff of a scent that I once used in that certain occasion or moment, my brain would automatically transport me back to that moment in time.

So here I am sharing some of the fragrances in my cabinet that I personally use that also I recommend to anyone where you don't need to break the bank. This video is from my ‘Tok as I promised to break the tedium of this blogosphere with my beach and travel photos. I want to know your favorites!

And yeah, I finally surrendered to the TikTok gods and I’ve been browsing that app mindlessly sometimes.

TikTok: joshleyson

#foryou #viral #tiktok #fraghead #fragheadph #fragrantica #fragrances #versace #perfumetiktok #perfume #calvinklein #montblancexplorer #lacoste #fyp #instagram #reels #like

[joshleyson]

the island: 10/2023

Here’s to wanting a little taste of fresh air and finally getting it, a breather so I can live again, sunsets to remind me that all good things will come to an end so I’ll make the most out of it, and lastly, being comfortable with my own skin.

// 10.2023 ig carousel: @joshleyson

#film #wanderlust #analog #music #summer #polaroid #philippines #travel #travels #photography #beach #boracay

[joshleyson]

summer 2023 on film

El Nido + Puerto Princesa

shot entirely using Fujifilm Simpleace 35 mm camera

☾

“Some of the earliest memories I can recall are of my mother instructing me to always “save ten percent of yourself.” What she meant was that, no matter how much you thought you loved someone or thought they loved you, you never gave all of yourself. Save 10 percent, always, so there was something to fall back on. “Even from Daddy, I save,” she would add. Stop crying! Save your tears for when your mother dies.”

- Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner

This was a part of my 10%. To be able to disconnect. To breathe. To try to heal and maybe, that would be the last thing that can save me.

So happy to finally go back to the majestic islands of Palawan for the third time after a year, this time specifically in El Nido (and a side trip in Puerto Princesa). The last time I’ve been to El Nido was 5 years ago when I flew back to Manila with a copy of my leg X-ray and prescription meds after my first vehicular accident. But this time, amidst the Betty super typhoon, I and my friends were still able to pull it off safely and enjoyed wandering from one island to another, relaxing on the beach for hours, and having lots of mango shakes! This trip I also finished which I feared to be my Book of the Year which is that quote from above. Michelle Zauner literally took me on a surprisingly, meaningful journey which was a great accompaniment for my 6-day vacation trip. Also, I’m planning to compile my “recent book list” of the year just to break the usual “travel beach photos” trend on this page (I know 😅). I still have a lot to post from this trip but this dump of photos captured on a Fujifilm summarizes the beauty of nature and the summer season that’s so real, quaint, and frozen in time, but will always hit me with a wave of comfort and familiarity.

Goodbye, summer. See you next year ☀️

J.

🎥 watch the short mood film here:

//

FOLLOW ME:

Instagram/TikTok/Twitter: joshleyson

(Music by GIVEON. All rights belong to him and his publishers. For personal and non-commercial use only. Stream his great music on Spotify and Apple Music.)

#photography #travels #travel #philippines #wanderlust #analog #polaroid #film #summer #fujifilm #disposablecamera #disposable camera #35mm #reels #tiktok #el nido #palawan #vlog #giveon #music #indie #pop

[joshleyson]

#PalawanPart3 El Nido Edition

I still have a lot to post from this trip but this IG carousel would suffice for now. 

summerboi 4ever, ☀️

J.

Instagram, (and also TikTok), Twitter: @joshleyson

#summertimegladness

#wanderlust #philippines #film #analog #travel #summer #photography #travels #Palawan #El Nido #crying in h mart #michelle zauner

[joshleyson]

i will always always always love your posts. ang gaganda 🥹💕

Messages like this never fail to make me go 🥺🥹😍😭. So thank you so much! Let's be frieeeends, Tumblr peeps! :)

[joshleyson]

1994

Some pictures I forgot to share during my recent stay in the Island. T.S 1989 will always be my vibes. I can’t wait for the last week of this month to come as I’m going back to the beautiful islands of Palawan for the third time. More of that soon :)

December, 2023. Boracay Island, Philippines.

Follow me on Instagram & Twitter: joshleyson

#polaroid #photography #travels #travel #wanderlust #film #philippines #analog #summer #taylor swift #1989 #the eras tour

[joshleyson]

Life, so far... + summer 2023 first dip 

I find it strange that every time something "major" happens in my life--you know, things worth sharing--I am less inclined to communicate, or have the sheer muscle to write about it, or at least share tidbits of lessons, or any proof of life on this tiny little webosphere called Tumblr. Maybe this is how life actually felt, a world where you have to deal with the whirlwind and harsh reality that wraps around you, from personal to professional life. Needless to say, I finished 2022 with so many huge changes in my life, some of which I consider victories for which I am glad, while others were so tragic and painful that the grief still lingers to this day. But, as I always say, the pain becomes liveable. To cut a long story short, I'm still alive. These major changes in my life have been something I've never been accustomed to in the last ten years, but I know and trust that, as scary as it may seem that I'm really on my own now, I know I'm still that adult on whom my younger self can rely, and I often doubt that, but I have to believe in it because I have to.

Anyway, one of the things that bothered me this year was realizing that turning a year older last month means I'll be saying goodbye to the life of a twenty-something pretty soon. While I am grateful for what this decade has done for me and the opportunities it has provided, I am also concerned about what the next chapter has in store for me. I'm always thinking about what other "major shifts" I'd be willing to take and make, as well as the priorities that will remain and alter. Anyway, I'm humbled to be able to celebrate my birthday on the beach at a private resort in Bataan. I was going to return to "The Island" (now synonymous with Boracay), but I decided against it owing to time restrictions and the fact that I had just been there three months before. Although it is still March, the sun is already at its peak summer energy, and I can't wait to relax and lay back on those beach trips planned for this year, as well as the books I intend to read. 

So much for this wee update, I guess. What are your summer plans? Any book recommendations? 

J.

follow me on instagram & twitter: joshleyson

#film #photography #summer #beach #nature #polaroid #analog #travels #travel #wanderlust #philippines

[joshleyson]

THE BLESSED UNREST

#TRAVELS #film #super8 #nature #polaroid #photography #analog

[joshleyson]

inthequiet #2 // mind maze

10/13/22

I'd like to believe that my reality is less complicated than what's going on in my head, and that patience is one of the possible cures for all of my anxieties. This insta generation has wired my mind to think that everything has to be done immediately rather than waiting for specific things to happen, and I know that this is one of the causes of my burnout; the lack of patience, and why I'm still not at that level of mental stability. 

But I am trying.

I just have to make it a mantra for now. One more time. Louder than ever. That my reality is less complicated than my mind thought it should supposed to be.

Now breathe...

I learned a very timely concept today called "catastrophizing," which is overestimating the likelihood or consequences of our worst fears, and I have to write the takeaways on these pages because there is no better slap-in-the-face advice that I have this morning than this. First, stop time travelling. Stay where you are instead of dwelling in the future or the past. We can never be too prepared for what is to come, and sometimes the outcomes aren't as bad as we expected. Second, think gray. Life isn't black or white, so stop emphasizing what's on black. Maintain your position in the middle. Find a middle ground when things don't go as planned. There's a lot more one way or the other than being on the opposite ends of our plans and decisions. Finally, try to maintain your motivation. It is critical to remind ourselves of the things we have overcome in the past and the greater likelihood that we can do so again.

While on my last sip of this tea, I realized that indeed our fears are valid but most of them aren't facts and I want to believe that. And for now, I just wanna bask on the moment of where I'm at, wrestle and hustle to be at peace with this reality and that one day I am content of what, where and who I am so far on this journey.

J.

#inthequiet #journal #film #kodak #35mm #reflections #travel #photography #analog