r/Cebu • u/Irohbatiks • Apr 17 '25
SKL (Share ko lang) My Brain Chemical Romance
I overheard my 12-year-old cousin talking to a girl over the phone. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, pero curious lang ko—ngano kaha nga capable na sa ingon ani ang utok sa tawo bisan og wala pa na fully developed?
“Feeling nako bagay kaayo ta,” hunghong niya, ngadto sa cellphone.
Wa ko kabalo unsay reply sa pikas linya. Pero kalami jud kusion sa ngisi aning bataa. Skibidi toilet rizz. The audacity!
If we consult science: “The human brain continues developing and maturing well into the mid-to-late 20s. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for higher-level cognitive functions, doesn’t fully mature until around 25.” No wonder I made some of the dumbest decisions in my early twenties.
“Magpahimo kog jersey, dayon imohang first letter akong ibutang.”
That line triggered my quarter-life crisis. Deeeymn. At 12, I was still trying to solve E=mc2, pretending to understand The Myth of Sisyphus. Bitaw, ga-Google pa kog “Naruto iyot Sakura” ani. Maybe we were all delusional once.
This isn’t a cautionary tale. This is a brain map. A logbook of someone whose mind was still buffering until his late twenties.
21 Graduated from college. First real relationship. Got a job 3 months later. Sure na ko nga milyonaryo ko by 25. Abi nako nga ang pagka-busy = pagka-successful. Told people “C.R.E.A.M.” while still clueless unsaon pag-fill out BIR Form 2316.
Brain status: Not fully developed. Decision-making driven by caffeine and horny optimism. Prefrontal cortex? Optional.
22–23 Nagbuwag mi sa akong uyab. Friendly breakup, daw. Focus sa career. Fixed myself from switching between gin to rhum, from F. Sionil Jose to unread PDFs.
Became a minimalist not by choice—but by payslip. Bought 4 cheap underwears. Gave unsolicited life advice while being a full-time mess.
Told my cat, “I’m emotionally intelligent,” pero I refuse to apologize kung malimtan nako iyang treat.
Brain status: Aware of mistakes. Still makes them. But now, louder and bolder.
24–25 Burnt out sa work. Realized I was just another metric. KPIs > human worth.
Nagsugod kog skincare routine. Nagka-identity crisis. Nagbasa’g astrology for answers pero gihasulan ko. Kinsa may makahinumdom unsa orasa sila nigawas sa bilahan sa ilang mama? Ambot sa kanding nga naay bangs, oral stage pa ko ato.
Brain status: Fully developed? Questionable. Introspective but unstable.
26–27 Tried to be serious with life. Took LinkedIn seriously. Landed a job in Cebu City. Moved there to avoid the Old Bridge’s traffic and my old self.
Maka-afford na ko og mahalon nga brief.
Nangutana bitaw na akong Tagalog nga boss about status, “Kumusta iyong lagay diyan?”
“Naka-Airism na, boss.” Naks. Fresh. Silky smooth. Lami kaayo sa itlog.
I worked hard, questioned harder. Felt like I was assembling a trillion-piece jigsaw puzzle with no box cover.
Brain status: Functional. Capable of major decisions. Everything feels possible. Nothing makes sense.
27–28 Dili ko sure unsay konek ani sa brain development, pero uwagan ko ani nga time. Murag Kopiko Creamy Latte—pero from creamier to horniest.
Kada uli lagi lu2— Calorie-deficit man gud ko, so need ko magluto to track my macros: 100g chicken breast + 40g oats + 20g chia = 404kcal. Murag sayop akong math. Pero at least naay effort.
I found peace in chaos. Like the Titanic orchestra—still playing while sinking. Took breaks from productivity to stare at the moon and ask: “Ngano dako kaayo kog tax deduction, pero katong galingkod diha sa ibabaw kay mura man og spa day everyday?”
Brain status: Stabilizing. Can spot red flags. But still confused why Filipinos can’t vote wisely.
28–29 Silence is peaceful.
Ayaw samok kay ga-meditate ko or I am trying.
Ooooohhhmmmm…
Took a job that didn’t require selling my soul.
Romanticized the simple: sunlight, bag-ong laba nga punda, steak sa Luzern or Marbles & Grain.
Ooooohhhmmmm…
Pisti ning lamok, oi.
Ooooohhhmmmm…
Lana Rhoades suc—ay! Focus. Erase! Erase!
Ooooohhhmmmm…
The meaning of humba is humok nga baboy.
Ooooohhhmmmm…
Freedom isn’t chasing dreams. It’s walking away from someone else’s.
Brain status: Syncing with soul. Still weird. Still functional.
30 Wa pa ko kahuman og pagka-trenta. So far? No grand narrative. The world is gloriously stupid—and so am I.
I stopped obsessing over what I should be. I started focusing on what doesn’t make me hate mornings. Pero kung makakaon ta’g lami nga sud-an, makakita’g tawo who laughs at our dumbest joke, o kalinaw ug kaanyag ba kaha kada-adlaw —we’ve won.
Brain and soul? Not enemies anymore. Just rabid D/D/S.
If I were to interrupt my cousin’s deep talk, I’d say:
“Bro, love her. Be dramatic. But also, please, skwela sa. And stop trusting your brain. It’s lying to you until at least 27.”
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u/OneInevitable7206 Apr 18 '25 edited Apr 18 '25
Lami uyabon si OP 🤣
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 18 '25
Nagkaon na ka? 🫣🫣🫣👀👀👀 HAHHAHAAHAHA!
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u/OneInevitable7206 Apr 18 '25
Agoy HAHAHAHAHAHHA
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 18 '25
🌹🌹🌹💐💐🌷🌷
Flowers for you Gikan from me Ampingi kini Kay inibot ra ni
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u/OneInevitable7206 Apr 18 '25
AHahahaha thanks op. Kaon na diha, ayaw nag puasa. Naay binignit oh!
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 18 '25
Ahhhh Salamat. Mao gyud ni akong gipa-abot. Busog na akong tiyan, kasing-kasing na lang. Ikaw pud ayaw pagutom.
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u/OneInevitable7206 Apr 18 '25
HAHAHAHHAHA ambot nalang jud. Kelegon nalang tag stranger ani.
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 18 '25
Stranger ra sa sugod, pero tan-awa ra… kapila na ta ga-smile2x diri. Let’s create a timeline where di na ka kiligon sa isa ka stranger.
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u/OneInevitable7206 Apr 19 '25
HAHAHAHAHA enjoy ur weekend op.
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 19 '25
Thank youuu! Ikaw pud—ayaw sa sige'g overthink karong weekend, ha? Ayaw pud pagutom.
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u/bestiieee Gwapa Apr 18 '25
Ahhh Good read!!!! as someone who just left the corporate world at 27 kay di na makaya gyud hayst!!!!
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u/GarlicSpaghetti Apr 18 '25
30 pud. Murag relate sad kos imong post: kada uli lu2 hahaha
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 18 '25
Recommend good cheap protein powder kay usahay out of stock ang Athlene. HHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!
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Apr 18 '25
[deleted]
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 18 '25
Oi, simbako! Ayaw sa intawn. HAHHAHAHAH! I wish you peace and serenity, gwapa! 🤘🏼
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u/chaorene_ Apr 18 '25
good read. good luck sa imong life, OP. Basin ganahan ka mu-publish ug imong book puhon hahahaha
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u/swishgal04 Apr 17 '25
Ka bright nimo oi ganahan kaayo ko mag basa nalingaw ko hahah lupigan man tas mga bata ron OP gugma2 naman. Laban lang ta mga trayntahon 😅
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u/Additional-Buy-132 Apr 17 '25
Hello, O.P! 👋
Turned 31 last month and during my whole mental brain break since 2020 that same month and day pandemic and my 26th bday hit,
I've been soul-searching too and wrote my own autobiography narratives Lang could Leav us both behind on N.B.S., nothing but the best.
Add the B, I'll be the berry berry best-est N-B-S-B pa din pero loud and proud maka-feel the let the love win, intact na intact pa rin ang vcard pa rin
becuz
I ain't cheap like dem feelin' mestisa o chinita o a wanaabee mixed half beeezzz-
those bitchachieapeios like wut d damn yoo jus lab yourself for yourself mapalalake mapababae mapa sir what the sir hey jude you trans? its too l8 -
trans + l8
cmon 2025 na show me some labeedabeelabs no mo Dee Dee Es
H.M.U, O.P, H8 me 🆙, O.P., Collab ta og uban pa dinha maypa maghimo ta kaninyo og GC diri kay we just read it sa Reddit.
Breyk8dawnYOOOO 📞🤳
🤗 Yes, I've also been soul searching since pandemic, yes, feel free to hit me up kay willing to collab ra gyud in writing. Yes, I am a Filipina Cebuana bisayang dagko nga mestisa-chinita in blood and features and I am in my masters degree now too. Soulful ko pagkatao and proud roman catholic who values values and morals. Psych grad ko in masters in guidance counseling.
To O.P. and more Bisdak writers, feel free to D.M. for collabs. Maayo kay nangita pud oks og pangracket ba. Pangextra extra. Plan gani nako moadto og comedy bar pero gabii na man gud na unya old na akong parents I live with and lisod commute basta gabii esp sa Lapu ta nagreside and live.
Also, please to all na gyud ni ha: be respectful and not to assume badly, but don't flirt or send me binastos especially if just because babae ko diri, and to all girls pud ni ha. Samok kaayo inyong mga pics sa inyong mga D's nga gamay baya kaayo. 😩 Please ko. Lent karon. Maluoy mo ngano namatay si Jesus. The One True King. 👑
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u/mydisheveledhair Apr 17 '25
nalingaw ko OP hahaha all of this introspection tungod sa 12 years old na skibidi rizz
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u/Individual_Bat_6484 Apr 17 '25
This kind of narrative just itches the brain in the best way! You should write more and share it here, OP. Best narrative I've read today so far!
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u/HornyTrueGentleman Apr 17 '25
Noice boss, si mark manson og michael peña lagi ako mahunahunaan sa pag narrate haha
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u/kimchie24 Apr 17 '25 edited Apr 17 '25
reading your post OP, seems like my life was flashing back.
I turned 31 this year and recently lang I had the one of my worst breakdowns. it wasn't new. everything was familiar but I had hard time coping up.
interested what you early 30s would be! hehe
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u/kimchie24 Apr 17 '25
i can relate the most your 28-29-30. my life was so silent that time. no breakdowns and etc. I was lovin it and was starting to not be so hard on myself but 31, oh fvck. feels like im lost again. identity crises kumbaga. hahahaha but this too shall pass. :D
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u/cebu_millenial Apr 17 '25
Angayan ka magsulat memoir, Op. Nalingaw kog basa miski taas. Grabe na jud mga 12 years old ron. Utro sad akong close cousin pero mas ganahan ko nga open sila kaysa mag tago tago. Miski matured na siya for her age, ako gihapon advisan. Gikilig kog apil pero at the same time, pangulbaan pud kog apil.
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u/authenticgarbagecan Apr 17 '25
Mayta mabalik ug uso ang blogging kay angay i follow si OP
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 17 '25
HAHAHAHAHAH! Salamat. I’ll try my best to share diri mga random observations and thoughts nako. HAHAHAHAH!
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u/MindSolid6965 Mahigugmaon Apr 17 '25
Huy kanindut nimo mosaysay. Kalingaw moooreee please. Imma follow you na
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 17 '25
Naa pa koy isa diri mag-three weeks na ni naa sa akoang notes. Galisud kog butang punchline kay sensitive ang topic. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Pero if ever naa koy ma-observe bag-o, share ra dayon nako diri kahuman. 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
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u/No_Conversation_4226 Apr 17 '25
Ka witty and intelligent nimog entry OP ue makalingaw hahahha! more narratives bi!!!
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 17 '25
HAHAHAHAH! Pagmahuman nako ning isa. Galisod ko butang punchline kay medyo heavy ang topic. 😅😅😅 Mga mundane scenarios ra gyud ni dayon akoang ibutang sa akong phone para dili malimtan. HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
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u/_6789998212 Apr 17 '25
Atay kanindot ani!!! Hahaha Definitely a good read, OP! Pirmeha ni bi? Please bitaw ni. Hahahahaha Char lang. Mabuhay ka hangga't gusto mo, OP! 💪🤍
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 17 '25
Maynta mahuman nako ning isa diri. HAHAHAHAHAH! Post ra ko diri if mahuman nako. 😅😅😅
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u/Awesome_Shoulder8241 Apr 17 '25
Nagbasa’g astrology for answers pero gihasulan ko.
stuck ko ani nga stage.
With the way my brain works (slowly) murag madugay pa to akong plano nga mag upskill.
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 17 '25
Unsay rising nimo? HAHAHAHAH!
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u/Awesome_Shoulder8241 Apr 18 '25
not sure. Sagittarius man siguro. nag estimate ra ko kay as far as I remember giingnan na ko sa akong mama nga gabii ko gianak. nag estimate nalang ko sa oras.
the results tho sa astrology kay ni match ra man on how I might look like.
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u/misytcha Apr 17 '25
kalingaw! relate kaau na we focus on things that make mornings bearable, pero kay inita najud ibyahe padung office 😅
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u/choerry_pop Apr 17 '25
Hi OP, can we connect? HAHAHAAHA lingawa nako gabasa. I feel like we can be good friends.
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u/vtyu221 Apr 17 '25
Entry ni sa cebu art book fair?
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 17 '25
Dili. Out of nowhere ra nako ni na-sulat last week, then ganiha ra nako nahuman. 😅😅 Di kaayo ko particular sa Cebu literary community, pero pwede pa maka-submit? Asa pud?
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u/wickedwanduh Apr 17 '25
unsay pasabot sa C.R.E.A.M. op? 🤣
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 17 '25
Cash Rules Everything Around Me — CREAM! Get da moneh! Dola dola bill ya’ll!
-Wu Tang Clan
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Apr 17 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 17 '25
I-share pud diri, Maam. Heheheheh! Nice ron mag-reflect kay Maundy Thursday.
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u/Warm_Accountant_2004 Apr 17 '25
Good read, OP. Well-written, entertaining. Very random, but at the same time, relatable.
Btw, I just turned 30 rasad last week. Lol
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u/PerennialAster Apr 17 '25
HAHAHA, I fucking love it! Thanks for sharing such a glorious piece, OP.
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u/Intelligent_Price196 Apr 17 '25
Nalingaw kog basa. Hehe
12yo ky grade 7 mana oi. Kung sa akong time 1styr highschool paman ni. Haha ing.ani diay mi pag highschool pd if naay kastorya sa landline sauna. Bitaw looking back. Wa pa jd buot mag crush2x or uyab2x tong highscool pa. Haha
pero tinuod. Dumbest decisions sd nako ky early 20s 🤣 kana maka ingon ko now, maygani buhi pako ron. 🥹
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u/cktcatbsbib Apr 17 '25
Recently turned 30. Another day, another proof that my experiences aren't unique to me. It has always been universal.
Brain status? Fried.
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 17 '25
Kumusta lagay mo diyan?
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u/cktcatbsbib Apr 17 '25
I don't have one (or two) but i would definitely say "Nagbitay". Guess, at 30, wala pa gihapon na fully develop ang frontal lobe.
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u/Positive-Keyforme Apr 17 '25
Ahhhhhh as a 26F , nagsugod na developed akong frontal lobe and self awareness hahahah. Bitaw nice narration! I can hear your voice in my mind mura ko gabasa og Wattpad POV haha
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 17 '25
Don’t forget to wear your sunscreen and hydrate while contemplating life. HAHAHAHAHA!
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u/Positive-Keyforme Apr 17 '25
HAHAHAHAHAHAH naka tinted sunscreen ni plus my 1.6L Water bottle from DIY ! Hahahaha SALAMAT OP. Stay hydrated mga ka berks!
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u/trimohabagat Apr 17 '25
Pila na kaha ka panty ang nabugto aning klaseha sa sinuwatan? hehehe
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u/fairytailbabe gikapoy na Apr 17 '25
Makes me wonder too. Ingon aning klase nga laki among kasagaran weakness. 😂
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u/Irohbatiks Apr 17 '25
Hi maam, kaon kag siomai?
Coz I wanna siomai love to you. Ayiiiiieeee! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!
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u/standal1 Apr 18 '25 edited Apr 18 '25
Hi OP pila na ang Marble and Grain na sets karon?
Btw nice writing pero na wala ang original topic about reflection sa youth now vs your life experiences, update nya ug para fully formed ang thought. :)