To keep myself busy beyond daily routines and online work, I decided to start a diary—one that will last the whole year. A diary for a man in his 40s might sound funny to some, but this time, I truly want to document everything. I don’t know yet how I will keep up, but I’m grateful that, by the grace of the Lord, I’ve managed so far—despite my health not being in the best condition since early 2024.
So many things have happened, and this year I want to see clearly—the balance between blessings and hardships that life in 2026 may bring.
I started the morning of January 1 with hope—hope for healing. Breakfast was simple, just leftovers from Media Noche. I went on with my usual routine, doing what a heart patient can safely do: tending to new plants, cleaning the house, sweeping the floors, and washing the dishes. Our housemaid was on her rest days, spending time with her family, so I handled things myself.
The first day of 2026 went well. I still felt those familiar, strange sensations related to my heart condition—feelings that come and go—but I managed to keep my blood pressure and heart rate stable today, for which I am thankful.
I watched the ending of my favorite series, Stranger Things. Dinner was early, as always, at 6 PM. After that, I found a new kind of peace—praying the rosary before bed. I started praying the rosary daily during the second week of December, and it has slowly become part of my life.
January feels scary. In both 2024 and 2025, January was when I was rushed to the emergency room because of my heart. I pray with all my heart that it will not happen again this year.
Last night, I also thought about starting something creative: posting an Instagram story every day—my top 365 alternative and metal songs. I plan to share each song with its meaning. If I stay consistent, my IG stories will be busy this year too.
I’ve been writing many articles about Stranger Things because I’ve been truly hooked on the series since it first premiered in 2016 with Season 1. What drew me in wasn’t just the story or the characters, but how deeply it touched my nostalgic heart. The old music from the 1980s—and the decade itself—evokes a time that felt colorful, vibrant, and full of life.
It reminds me of simpler days, when people actually talked to each other and communication felt more real and personal. Every episode of Stranger Things feels like a trip back to that era. That’s why, even up to Season 5, I couldn’t let go of the series—it’s not just a show to me, but a reflection of memories, music, and a simpler world we once knew.
One of the scenes I love the most is when they play Dungeons & Dragons. That game felt wittier and more imaginative than most modern video games today. There was a special kind of happiness in being with your circle of friends, hanging out at a friend’s house late into the night, and then riding your bikes home together. It was simple, but it was real.
I’m sure modern kids rarely experience this kind of bonding anymore. Everyone is focused on their own screens, their own games, or is busy with something else entirely. Back then, the bond felt stronger because there was no overwhelming, tech-driven distraction. Communication was genuine, friendships were deeper, and moments like those—captured so perfectly in Stranger Things—are what make the series feel so personal and timeless.
After nine years, countless bike rides, a suspicious number of Christmas lights, and enough synth music to resurrect an entire decade, Stranger Things Season 5 finally closed the gate—for good. And yes, it ended exactly how a show like this should: emotionally satisfying, slightly indulgent, and just self-aware enough to know when to stop.
Ang mensahe ng ending ay malinaw: about ito sa pagkakaibigan at paglaki. Hindi lang sila lumaban sa mga halimaw ng Upside Down, kundi sa pagbabago ng buhay. Dati, mga batang naka-bike lang sila. Ngayon, kailangan na nilang harapin ang realidad ng pagtanda at pag-move on.
Hindi rin umasa ang ending sa malalaking twist. Instead, pinili nito ang emosyon kaysa pasabog. Mas importante kung ano ang naramdaman ng mga karakter kaysa kung gaano kalaki ang final battle. At dahil dito, mas tumama ang ending.
After Mike lays out the future of each of his friends, they turn the tables on him. What becomes of the Storyteller? Mike goes on to become a professional writer, crafting stories inspired by the lives of his friends. With a touch of sadness, he admits there is one story he can never tell—the truth about what really happened to the Mage. Eleven (El) is the designated "Mage" in the group's Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, representing her real-life, powerful psychic abilities.
David Bowie - Heroes
Iminungkahi ni Mike na ginamit ng naghihingalong si Kali ang kanyang kapangyarihan upang itago si Eleven, para makatakbo ito papunta sa mga tunnel habang nahuli ni Kay ang lahat ng pangyayari at yun ang pinaniwalaan niyang totoong nangyari. Ang El na nakita nating namatay ay hindi ang tunay na El, kundi ang huling projection ni Kali.
According to Mike, no one knows where Eleven went. But he likes to imagine that she’s in a beautiful place, far away from everyone. (The end credits confirm that this place is Iceland.) We then see Eleven looking out at a stunning landscape, with twin waterfalls and a small town in the distance. Max, crying, asks how they can be sure this is true. Mike answers that it’s simply what he chooses to believe, and everyone agrees that this is what they believe, too.
Sa huli, the Duffer brother left the fans thinking, wala tama o maling sagot kung buhay nga ba si Eleven or tuluyang nawala sa pagunaw ng upside down world. Kaya nasa iyo na kung maniniwala ka kung nabuhay ba o namatay si Eleven. Natuklasan ba ni Mike ang isang loophole, o lumikha lamang siya ng perpektong kuwento upang tulungan ang kanyang mga kaibigan na “umunawa,” ayon sa huling hiling ni El?
For me, the ending is satisfying, not because everything is solved, but because it stays true to the heart of Stranger Things: friendship, growing up, and cherishing the past. It’s bittersweet, nostalgic, and quietly powerful—a finale that makes you reflect on your own childhood as much as the story itself.
