Hi! My name is Joanna and I'm from the capital city of Eastern Samar, Borongan, Philippines. ![1740397451939.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/2432UWV1UjTW8wPQ2ACCbLpWbrMi97BoWZc9n8UhJTSfQs66s2NryG6Y3cYU6YEbHRDky.jpg) Borongan is now becoming a popular tourist destination because of what the city has to offer. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/245mLzUHe81AKxwMoCDTTgkgkLkUQZefqfN9YfLLXhcynauDXnVGpm7rRUaz2FtWrYfh8.png) [Source](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=5a31cca9ef420a11&q=borongan&udm=2&fbs=ABzOT_CWdhQLP1FcmU5B0fn3xuWpA-dk4wpBWOGsoR7DG5zJBjnSuuKZNj-6zieDk_gkn6CyymgG_tEVFNWvBwycIom9C80ERCaRZHqbffUDH1MKSQCMLuyDqWzYHi4KAK2sm7zJaDQJhAobBFZjyM5dMq6lqdSVKUQkhbHXGCQOvnYC_sPi7lNxnZ0g4SprO2g3zve_htrgXqVwB8WB_3zhN0lDyhJ0vw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiFmde0ydyLAxUjklYBHa4AKVMQtKgLegQIDhAB&biw=1366&bih=547&dpr=1#vhid=0IlprNxxs-TXsM&vssid=mosaic) Aside from our annual Padul-ong festival, ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/23xpFHWjLGro1KjkA8iMSE2dpK4Gu2SKNEx7rHs58fVzyKsYHy39XsMazjqgvrbLZTkn4.png) [Source](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=5a31cca9ef420a11&q=padul-ong+festival+in+eastern+samar&udm=2&fbs=ABzOT_CWdhQLP1FcmU5B0fn3xuWpA-dk4wpBWOGsoR7DG5zJBjLjqIC1CYKD9D-DQAQS3Z6fZ--OaZn3DMTxQWxLIg4h6o98dVfjDc4u0Js8CGScwEJQsncF4W986My5lNKRwLHxIFA97OYzkCqYo8f2gE-kexZPG_2_e-nqZklamUkrimwSM-E6dAmOQ3dotJWqxF-WzxYoqpEaDLbcAxDdhXwFqIly9g&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi4r87_ydyLAxUQs1YBHfGpDVMQtKgLegQIDxAB&biw=1366&bih=599#vhid=HmZJSN1GXVvWMM&vssid=mosaic) We also have annual national competitions like surf in the city.

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/EoptwyVym4LuGwsszmWgRFLUi6DMuqLe6Gye2S34S8nDNXWgrHnFWdQh6mpfC7QLaMV.png) [Source](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=5a31cca9ef420a11&q=surf+city+borongan&udm=2&fbs=ABzOT_CWdhQLP1FcmU5B0fn3xuWpA-dk4wpBWOGsoR7DG5zJBki0xbyJIUgVJnlXKXyPv8hKB4_YLhfzpVfGXtDVP4BlSvHRCOFpeW0RVJMsvOzvTQSKcJqzAQLU40YJ-beD1vPohuhtau-Fx4ffKGSERWMv7iCe6nRyHljVMhieRsPoyTPg0OUn0XLwD5rbZXPL_81g9j84KTkAsTgHMz5UqkzgXv2hew&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi4j7iUytyLAxWKp1YBHTRSH1cQtKgLegQIBhAB&biw=1366&bih=599&dpr=1#vhid=uj92ObGWFIhoGM&vssid=mosaic)

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/2423oBaSYefiT5JGAZFQDFz18RrUXhtAMU5pXwvpvAmzW2aPADm1NAXDiYcSLWpSHGf3n.png) [Source](https://www.google.com/search?q=borongan+beach&sca_esv=5a31cca9ef420a11&udm=2&biw=1366&bih=599&ei=d4q8Z42LB7Xl2roP3_GK0AQ&ved=0ahUKEwjNosC-ytyLAxW1slYBHd-4AkoQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=borongan+beach&gs_lp=EgNpbWciDmJvcm9uZ2FuIGJlYWNoMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBhAAGAUYHjIGEAAYCBgeMgYQABgIGB4yBhAAGAgYHkjgEVCKBViIDnABeACQAQCYAWegAb8EqgEDNC4yuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIHoALrBMICDRAAGIAEGLEDGEMYigXCAgYQABgHGB7CAgoQABiABBhDGIoFwgIEEAAYHpgDAIgGAZIHAzQuM6AHgxw&sclient=img#vhid=WuUxjDTqZ3c59M&vssid=mosaic)

--- The place is famous because of it's beautiful beaches and very hospitable people. Visitors really love coming here because aside from the beautiful sceneries, we also have a popular supermarket, a mall, grilled food by the sea and some fastfoods. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/Eq7LsNMp5tMi911bpz4YrP1TVzxMHn4APfGLjBN3PhhDVPEKXy3R7wBZ5gYkygvCevN.png) [Source](https://www.google.com/search?q=savemore+borongan&oq=sa&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7Mg0IARAuGJECGIAEGIoFMg0IAhAuGJECGIAEGIoFMgwIAxAuGEMYgAQYigUyEggEEC4YQxivARjHARiABBiKBTIGCAUQRRg5MgYIBhBFGDwyBggHEEUYPNIBCDExNzFqMGo5qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D,ik:CAoSLEFGMVFpcE9GUmk1WUI0SV9kaTlJRmFkQjRROW5BNXFNeVM4NlZleElXUG1u)

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/23xA1pKduWfeQthnPdb6zMQJGsL1yBFEGZBSTfHZ3w2cMjkAhc8SWNUEqWSrPZDddWG4g.png) [Source](https://www.google.com/search?q=jollibee+borongan&oq=jo&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MhIIARAuGEMYrwEYxwEYgAQYigUyEAgCEAAYkQIYsQMYgAQYigUyDQgDEAAYkQIYgAQYigUyDAgEEAAYQxiABBiKBTIKCAUQABixAxiABDIGCAYQRRg8MgYIBxBFGDzSAQgxMjgxajBqOagCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D,ik:CAoSLEFGMVFpcE9way1JQlNuM3M3X3ByYzJQdUF1T2pZOGYtRWxlRXZKal9ZSUpE)

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/EoCh9h2a1D2mQPdJ4HvBDkUfjBuPucxXBmSMT55nhXWwfQYcRKLZH9kP9Md2r8QJ3y6.png) [Source](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=5a31cca9ef420a11&q=mang+inasal+borongan&udm=2&fbs=ABzOT_CWdhQLP1FcmU5B0fn3xuWpA-dk4wpBWOGsoR7DG5zJBv10Kbgy3ptSBM6mMfaz8zDVX4b2W1tiDkb3uUgOX2bJR15_aBP5My9bscopum8Oq71A479z8OTO1mzEU1aIg8rtGtUUYU3EtY-3XnFuZlQkFRHYtuLnbH6F5z1QL9LoPi8MkfiOLmpavqYgzQNT0SsK2w4gBRwPpqZ6PH1pigKR3gpUkw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj70oi4zNyLAxUBm68BHSIJAaIQtKgLegQIEBAB&biw=1366&bih=599&dpr=1#vhid=9ArJKghnt86DiM&vssid=mosaic)

--- Our main mode of trasportation is tricycle. It's almost the same as the toktok in Thailand although what we have is kind of more open than the toktok. Borongan is also popularly known to be the home of one of the most popular talk show hosts and manager in the Philippines, Boy Abunda.

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/23y8sbAMTncubLBtHyQUSZ5MESWyqarmGYcVCdoKqitCCVzs5635ZA1wYaFkGMehJ4As2.png) [Source](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=5a31cca9ef420a11&q=japan&udm=2&fbs=ABzOT_CWdhQLP1FcmU5B0fn3xuWpA-dk4wpBWOGsoR7DG5zJBki0xbyJIUgVJnlXKXyPv8i55c5HrZwki5zR2rxm-wqp5toS3Of3UkxuJeodU4Gn0cvG5OKWkSEXa_2BzWfVGvsP8NE82Sc2hVJbw9KpoqIN0YOCoYfwd4zoWcIrxysu9zSE3YgeOow0pfcArt9iG3nQfUjaPVed-YBy9KIGZx36t_-kTA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlgtOAztyLAxXsaPUHHV9TAIsQtKgLegQIChAB&biw=1366&bih=599&dpr=1#vhid=jbeMUygYQL9oQM&vssid=mosaic)

I am a 46-year-old widowed mother of two teenage boys. I love travelling. I am happy that I was able to visit 7 beautiful cities from Visayas and Mindanao February of last year. It was just really quick but the memory will stay for as long as I live. I wish to be able to travel around the world. If given the chance, I would want to visit Japan first. I want to be able to meet one of my students who is from there. She and her kids have been my students for more than five years already and it will make me really happy if I could meet them personally. It would be fun to be able to visit the places my students told me about. --- ### Passion in life When I am watching the shop and there's not a lot of customers, I take the time to do what I also enjoy doing-crocheting. It's so fulfilling to see the products I make from a single strand of yarn. I usually make coin purses and bags from it. This while listening to classic oldies music. ![FB_IMG_1740240885223.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/23yTso2yvELdDVYgk8VAxTgD3PME2ZpqXgGrWmtGXMd3Sf42dvwiVcG5CaU5FGt875sHT.jpg) I am a nurse by profession ![Screenshot_20250224-224614.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/243Be1ij54xrXD7zuYKRvkYYKrbweLBsHTHCDGMM2onsPFmQLCdYZ1QoZuf8r3CncoN15.jpg) but I have been working as an ESL tutor for almost 13 years now. ![Screenshot_20250224-224459.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/23yJbT7rsnhKLsnn5VP8oqPkiPcW7PP3FvF7junhXDR2bX3h5uCnP1LHJ2t6naEnvhGg5.jpg) I love it that I get to meet different people of different ages, cultures and nationalities all the time. It's like being able to travel and talk to a lot of people from the comfort of my own little work station. I used to be in the BPO industry before my WFH journey began. It was right after my husband suddenly passed away in 2009. I was torn between working and being a full-time mom then, considering that I was left with a 2-year-old and an 11-month old kids to tend to. Good thing I came across some platforms which allowed me to search for a work-from-home setup. Aside from my my day job. I also run 2 small businesses. I own a thrift shop, called ukay-ukay in the Philippines and a homebased pastry and sweets shop. Being a solo parent is not an easy feat. I need to work really hard so I can provide for our needs. ![FB_IMG_1740241049660.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/EoEr1kb65UWVR651oinDRU2bYQLYN3PesmbpDF4xHVpY1zdnjpzTsYDu42Qw6TBP7pc.jpg) My sons, Johan and Gave are now a couple of years from being grown-ups. I sometimes cannot believe that I was able to raise them to who they are today. It is my dream that they become the best that they can be. ![FB_IMG_1740239392188.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/ALHRiQXEqMMbgC6EJ9NLGDGKKh86adRtWxGtRsz8MTDJHUnDpWCH9TQCw4nSVax.jpg) Aside from my sons and the businesses, I also spend a lot of time taking care of our pets. I am a self-proclaimed animal lover. I would take care of all kinds of animals if I can. In my home, there are a lot more animals than humans. I currently have 23 cats, 2 dogs and 5 pigeons. All of them has corresponding names and they are not just our pets, they are family. Just imagine the amount of money I spend for their food, lol.

![FB_IMG_1740241210334.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/23wqcGzj6sVyErxzTfLGnY6pycpkfr4Wwf393xH31ap6xncQw4y1Uy2nQFHLBr16p7mst.jpg) ### My Pets

![1732942951315.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/23rBFjmLDSAgn598V3J9sF9YXhqXcDLbohZcDZdiSkVbJJ9pykxcGoVCiU9bvSjdKXzPN.png)

--- ### How I learned about Hive I recently came across some posts regarding hive blogs and it really caught my curiosity. Being in the online industry for quite some time, I tend to want to try whatever is new. I started searching about this platform from every socials that I have until I saw a post from a Facebook page of certain Intoy Bugoy. I sent him an inquiry and he has been so kind as to include me in one of his onboarding sessions. I couldn't be thankful enough. It's nice being a part of a community. I used to be a splinterlands player and I really enjoyed it. It was fulfilling that I got to explore one of the faces of the gaming world and I think it's now time that I be introduced in the blogging industry as well. It will be great to get to know other people from what they write about their lives and their experiences. Who knows, I might even gain some new blogger friends just like I still have some friends I met when I was still actively participating in the splinterlands community.

![Screenshot_20250222-231743.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/23t7FH5suY8R8SSL4KG2SLFLAg7FHR8jgzvDjPUwRvUKk4K76SK7hDUzZzGaT8rxbkuug.jpg)

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/joannawanabee/23xp47bYYwrAPHZnFENUABj7kBgRTipow4epYuQSqWjV9J12BoMveQhAEGjwcLrztp3rR.png)

--- That's it for my intro blog. Thank you for welcoming me. Looking for ward to seeing you in my next blogs. Ciao!- Joannawanabee