I’m Back! Catching Up After a Year Off
Welcome back to the Sherwin M Podcast! Wow, it has been a minute – actually, over a year! Looking back, Episode 14 dropped in October 2017, and here we are near the end of October 2018. Time flies!
I thought about doing a specific topic, but decided this episode would just be a catch-up, sharing what’s been going on during the long break.
What Does “Anong Balita?” Mean?
So, I’m calling this Episode 15: Anong Balita?
- Anong / Ano: What
- Balita: News
It literally translates to “What’s the news?” but it’s a very common Filipino greeting, basically our way of saying, “What’s up?” or “What’s been going on?”. When cousins or friends call, that’s often how we start the conversation. So, Anong Balita with me?
The Biggest News: We Bought Our First House!
The main reason for the long hiatus and the biggest update is… my wife and I bought our first home! We became homeowners a few months ago (prior to this recording).
It feels amazing, and honestly, a bit unbelievable. We bought a brand new build after months of searching, saving like crazy (picking up extra projects), researching the home-buying process, and talking to friends who’d already done it. It was definitely an adventure, scary at times, but we finally pulled the trigger.
I’m actually recording this from our new house, in our much bigger bedroom! Most of the past year was focused on saving and then the whole process of finding and buying the place. I’m incredibly happy and proud. Even paying the mortgage feels good right now!
I’m looking forward to sharing more homeowner stories in future episodes – like the joy (and frustration!) of telling the kids, “Go to your room!” or “Clean your room!” now that they actually have their own rooms. Although, my oldest (panganay) still likes sneaking into our bed in the middle of the night. My wife says we should enjoy it while he still thinks we’re cool!
Listener Mailbag: Shout Outs to Errol & Arthur!
Even during the break, I heard from some of you, which was awesome!
- Errol: She messaged me on Facebook a few months back asking about new episodes. I explained I’d just been super busy with life (mostly the house stuff!). She mentioned enjoying the podcast, especially Episode 8 (Kain Tayo Part 2), and appreciated hearing about shared experiences. Thanks so much for reaching out, Errol! Sorry for the delay, but here’s a new episode!
- Arthur: He also messaged via the Facebook page, saying he likes the episodes and how I explain Filipino culture and phrases. Thank you, Arthur! I really do try my best to explain things based on my own experiences, and I love hearing that it connects with listeners.
Feedback like this is fantastic, so please keep it coming via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, wherever!
Quick Hello to Ronnie
Also, a quick shout-out to my friend Ronnie – glad you’re back in the state, man. Hopefully, we can chill soon!
Recording Again from the New Digs!
It feels great to be recording again, especially from the new house. Finding the time has been the biggest challenge, but I’m happy to be back behind the mic.
Wrapping Up This Update & Looking Ahead
So that’s the balita from my end! Just a quick update episode to let you know I’m still here and share the big news. I have plans for another episode soon, so stay tuned for that.
Thanks so much for listening, especially to those who reached out during the break. I’ll see you all on the internet!
Tagalog Words
- anong balita – what’s new
Intro/Outro music by Emapea – Lofi https://emapea.bandcamp.com/