EDMARATION #TownExplorer

[Quezon City] ► EO Executive Optical: How to Get Eye Glasses in 3 Easy Steps

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Edmar Guquib at Thursday, March 14, 2019 0

Photos, videos and stories of town explorations.

There's a time for everything and how you lived your life few years back may not be appropriate today.

► I've come to a point where I've become conscious of what I speak, eat, do, or try.

► Becoming an adult exposes you to many realities and realizations in life.

[Quezon City, National Capital Region, Luzon Island, Philippines]

*If you're a hater of narratives and introspection from random introvert people, you could skip the narrative part and learn the process of getting eyeglasses from Executive Optical by scrolling down.

| 1 | [QUEZON CITY] ► SEE THE MISTAKE OF OTHERS AND YOU'LL BE DISAPPOINTED. SEE THE BEAUTY AND STRENGTH OF OTHERS AND YOU'LL BE INSPIRED. WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO SEE IS WHAT YOU BECOME.

Becoming an adult exposes you to many realities and realizations in life. In my case, I've started to value things I used to take for granted and one of them is my vision. I didn't want to wear eye glasses or contact lenses before because I've always been a believer of minimalism—the less objects, the less hassle.

You know, I've always wanted to be maintenance-free and carefree. I have always wanted to focus on minimal things that matter most for me so you wouldn't expect me to talk about the life of the neighbor you hate; or the break-up of a celebrity couple—it's too much for my time. Take note that I also follow some celebrities whom I like and those who inspire me but I would not spend much time talking about their personal life. Come on, less problems, less hassle.

I've come to a point where I've become conscious of what I speak, eat, do, or try. I've really changed a lot. When I was younger, I just wanted to just be myself and focus on the fun and living life to the fullest. I think, that chapter of my life is over. I'm now on an era in my life where every move that I make or every word that I speak is self-censored because modesty and decency should also come with age.

While it's so cool and fun to 'be yourself', this should not compromise your dignity and decency. For a guy like me who is new in adulting, it's important to be yourself but I believe I should act and speak my age. There's a time for everything and how you lived your life few years back may not be appropriate today.

Speaking of being minimalist, I'm still that person today but I've personally modified that concept. There are simple things in life that we should also pay attention to. As I become older, I've valued the importance of health and wellness—this includes a healthy vision so I decided to get my eyes checked once again and get those eyeglasses back because my vision is getting worse each time. As an avid traveler, I still want to appreciate the beauty of places and people with my optimal vision.

► How to Avail Eyeglasses at EO (Executive Optical) in 3 Easy Steps?

Yesterday, I went to the Gateway Mall-Cubao Branch of Executive Optical (optometry clinic) to have my eyes checked. The clinic is located at the Aurora Boulevard side of Gateway Mall, ground floor, below the LRT station of Cubao.

| 2 | [QUEZON CITY] ► THE EXECUTIVE OPTICAL CUBAO BRANCH IS LOCATED JUST BELOW THE LRT STATION AT GATEWAY MALL.

► Step 1: Choose a frame and the type of lens.

A cheerful sales attendant assisted me and showed to me the frames on sale (assuming I'm in need of new glasses). However, I didn't like the frames of the the items on sale so I checked the frames located inside a locked glass storage. I saw two frames with green temples so I checked those two. These frames are branded so they are much expensive with costs starting from 4,000 pesos.

Ask assistance from the sales representative after you've chosen one.

| 3 | [QUEZON CITY] ► THIS SALES REPRESENTATIVE CHEERFULLY ASSISTED ME IN CHOOSING MY FRAME.

| 4 | [QUEZON CITY] ► THE BRANDED FRAMES WERE DISPLAYED INSIDE A LOCKED GLASS CONTAINER.

For the lens, I chose the photochromic lens commonly known as the the transition lens. The price was ~1900 (discounted). It's more expensive than the other lenses but I wanted something that is more convenient and of course, minimalist and less maintenance—like I don't have to change for sunglasses in very bright places.

Take note that you don't need to get a branded frame. For fellows running short of budget, they have incredibly cheap choices. I chose the branded frame for personal reason (I was after the green temples).

Step 2: Wait for the optometrist to check your eyes.

After I've chosen the lens and the frame, I waited a little for my session with the optometrist. I entered the refraction room and my vision was assessed using the Snellen chart and other equipment I'm not familiar with.

| 5 | [QUEZON CITY] ► I TOOK THIS SELFIE INSIDE THE REFRACTION ROOM WHILE WAITING FOR MY PRETTY OPTOMETRIST.

| 6 | [QUEZON CITY] ► I TOOK THIS SELFIE INSIDE THE REFRACTION ROOM WHILE WAITING FOR MY PRETTY OPTOMETRIST.

| 7 | [QUEZON CITY] ► INSIDE THE REFRACTION ROOM WAS A SINK, DISPLAYED OPTOMETRIC STUFF NEXT TO THE MIRROR, AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS.

| 8 | [QUEZON CITY] ► THIS IS HOW A TABLE OF AN OPTOMETRIST LOOKS LIKE.

An equipment was placed on my eyes. The optometrist manipulated the equipment then assessed my vision by asking me if my vision was clearer. After I've found out the clearest vision, she took note of the calibration and chose the right grade for my eyes—50 on my right eye and 100 on my left eye. The optometrist told me to walk and test if I would get dizzy. Unfortunately, the 100 lens got me dizzy so it was reduced to 75. I was diagnosed with astigmatism.

Step 3: Pay at the cashier

After the optometrist scaled the right lens for me, I was asked to pay at the cashier then I waited for 20 minutes before my eyeglasses was released.

► Ending Notes

1. Take care of your glasses by wiping it only with the clothe given to you. Avoid alcohol, perfume, and other liquids and chemicals as these may damage the lenses.
2. Take care of your eyes as much as you take care for your heart after a heart break.
3. Do you want your brand to be featured on my blog or interested to hire me as a brand ambassador? Shoot me an email and I will reply as fast as lightning.

Below: Doing the #BuwanChallenge by Juan Karlos Labajo with my new glasses from Executive Optical.

#BuwanChallenge pic.twitter.com/pwUbi3WuaB
— #TownExplorer (@edmaration) March 14, 2019

Executive Optical has branches nationwide. Get your eyes checked and have that eyeglasses in 20 minutes. | end |

Maps Showing the Location of #QUEZONCITY

► FOOTNOTES, DISCLAIMERS, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, ETC

✈ This post was filed under the category "Sponsors and Featured Brands." You want your brand to be featured? Shoot me an email at edmaration@gmail.com.

✈ The maps I used on this post are from maps.google.com.ph.

✈ The insights, condition and name of places or properties I mentioned here are based on the facts and situation on the day of my visit. Take note that you may have a different experience when you try the activities or see the properties/places mentioned here. Names of places and properties may also change by time.

UPDATE HISTORY FOR THIS BLOG POST
► 14-March-2019: This post was published.

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[Manila] ► Why My Principles Changed from Y.O.L.O to REALITY?

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Edmar Guquib at Monday, March 11, 2019 0

Photos, videos and stories of town explorations.

This story is episode 06 of a blog series.

While it isn't bad to travel non-stop, the question is could you sustain it without compromising your future?

► Now that I'm getting older, my responsibilities also sank in all of a sudden.

► I'm the eldest child in the family and I found myself riding the bus-of-life without money to pay for my fare.

[Manila, National Capital Region, Luzon Island, Philippines]

| 1 | [MANILA] ► NONE IN OUR PAST IS A MISTAKE. IT HAPPENED BECAUSE WE NEED TO LEARN AND GROW.

Everything has an ending and this first LRT ride of mine was not spared. After all the encounters it has allowed me to experience—both gave me grin and frown, I had to wrap things up and call it done. Nothing is permanent, much less infinite.

The jam-packed train from Doroteo Jose LRT Station brought me to my final quest—of career, future, and adulting. This train journey, as I mentioned in the previous episodes, was both a literal and a metaphorical journey. It's about reaching a certain destination in Manila and reaching my aspirations in the middle of uncertainty.

| 2 | [MANILA] ► OUR LAST STOP WAS THE UNITED NATIONS AVENUE STATION.

The train ran with chaos inside—under the vividly calm blue sky. The train apparently accommodated a multitude more than it could handle. The space inside shrank. Everything became a shared space in a sea of strangers, including the air we breathed.

The rush hour, on the contrary, reminded us not to rush. We had to take it slowly or else we would lose our focus and vigilance. This was it.

► Changing my Principles

Mommy Lourdes guided us on our way to Aguinaldo agency, a legitimate recruiter of nurses wanting to work in the United Sates. The moment I left the LRT station, I had mixed emotions because I ate my own vomit. I swallowed my own words. You know, I've always told my friends I don't want to work in the United States but now I'm here losing my words of honor.

Money-wise, I'm ok. I mean, I'm easy to please. I was trained by my father to be contented of what I have. My standard of living is low. I can live without the expensive extra convenience as long as I can do the things that I love. Doing the things I am passionate about are my driving forces to live my life to the fullest. As long as I have resources that could sustain my simple passions, I'm fine with it. These are the reasons why I said I don't want to work in the United States (aside from their toxic society full of extreme ideas that create unnecessary ways to be offended: e.g. manspreading, feminism, sexism, breastfeeding in public, etc).

However, I realized I was too selfish. Everything I did was for myself. I earned just enough to satisfy myself so I didn't need to have more because I was already happy for myself. I was blinded by the wrong concept of Y.O.L.O that taught me to become irresponsible of myself and my future.

About two (2) years ago, my father turned 60 years old and he is now a senior citizen. I was caught off guard all of these years that I was frigid, selfish, and insensitive of the realities of life. My parents are ageing and I felt like I have never done anything yet to give back.

Again, one of the worst 'Western ideals' that influenced me was to believe that children are not required to give back to their parents because it is the responsibility of the parents to raise their kids well. While it's somehow true, this principle was way too extreme now that I'm already an adult seeing my parents getting older. I found out that my Asian culture prevailed and it was more enriching than following the Western culture of leaving their parents at home care facilities while they focus for their individual work or businesses.

I was there, riding on that LRT from Cubao, to execute my baby steps as I also regain my consciousness back to reality after I was hypnotized by unrealistic social media posts I saw—like quitting your job to enjoy life to the fullest because of the You Only Live Once (Y.O.L.O) concept of giving it all now and not thinking of the future! It's a crazy idea to quit your job now and come what may! So beware of the lies of social media. As a travel blogger, my exposure to these ideals is plenty. While it isn't bad to travel non-stop, the question is could you sustain it without compromising your future?

Now that I'm getting older, my responsibilities also sank in all of a sudden. I'm the eldest child in the family and I found myself riding the bus-of-life without money to pay for my fare. I was sure I was heading somewhere but everything was unplanned with no direction at all. I didn't know what's waiting ahead of me in the future and I have not made any effort yet to at least become future-proof.

My parents are ageing. I'm getting older, planning to settle down, and wanting to build my own family. My younger brothers see me as their savior. My little cousins regard me as their role model. What the...! I felt like I was so un-ready and nasty at the same time. The pressure on me is high!

I took a sigh as we crossed the busy streets of Manila on our way to the recruitment office along General Luna Street in Ermita because this moment was indeed a big decision on my part.

► A Change of Heart + Ending Notes

While me and Alex used our millennial skills to look for the location of the agency using our gadgets, Lourdes, on her 50s, used her instinct to find the right direction. We, millennials, failed to see it from our digital maps while Lourdes was able to locate the office by seeing the position of the sun and the elevation of the birds.

| 3 | [MANILA] ► THIS IS AN ALLEY LEADING TO THE EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE CAMPUS WHICH IS VERY NEAR THE AGUINALDO AGENCY.

The agency was located inside a fenced compound. Inside the compound was a group of Indian students in white uniform. They probably are here in the Philippines to study. I was curious why they were inside the compound. I approached the store where they were staying and found out that it was a restaurant offering Indian dishes. Ah, ok. It made sense.

After a while, we entered the office and found myself still hesitant to file my application because my previous YOLO self was telling me many "what if-s". Applying for a job in the United States seemed so easy for nurses now because the demand is really high as long as you survive the most difficult part—passing the NCLEX examination which I already did.

| 4 | [MANILA] ► THIS IS OUR 'DREAM CIRCLE" COMPOSED OF LOURDES, ALEX, AND ME. OUR CIRCLE SHOWS THAT AGE IS IMMATERIAL IN DREAMING FOR A FUTURE YOUR ARE ABOUT TO BUILD. MOMMY LOURDES, IN HER 50S, IS EVEN MORE ENTHUSIASTIC THAN US, MILLENNIALS.

As I had second thoughts, I was reminded of my ageing parents and also my actual age. I guess I made the right decision although this would sacrifice all the things I have already planned for my future here in the Philippines. After all, when you become an older adult, your mindset also changes. I'm now in a critical period in my life where I need to take responsibility for my parents, build my own stable career, and prepare for a future family of my own at the same time. It's hard, but challenge accepted. So I took my first LRT ride to build my future and here I am, starting this journey. It's no longer just for myself. It's for everyone I could possibly help and inspire. Goodbye YOLO! Hello reality! I just had a change of heart. | end of Blogserye 006 |

▼ BLOGSERYE 006

► BLOGSERYE 006: MY FIRST LRT RIDE | You're on the Episode 06 of this series.

▼ Episode 01

[METRO MANILA] ► My First LRT Ride: Thoughts And Reflections | Imagine that good feeling when I experienced the Metro Manila LRT for the first time and it exceeded my expectations!

▼ Episode 02

[QUEZON CITY] ► Cubao LRT Station: My First LRT Station in PH | I was with fellow nurses. We were going somewhere, a place where we could do the first step of maximizing the potential of our nursing career and this LRT station was part of that journey.

▼ Episode 03

[METRO MANILA] ► Cubao To Recto Via LRT: Symbolic Ride For The Nurse In Me | You cannot be your old self all the time. You need to transform for the better and powerful new you.

▼ Episode 04

[MANILA] ► Recto LRT Station: Why I Felt So Rich? | The pathway we took revealed to me a reality that's facing Manila's urbanity now. Manila is the capital city of my beloved country but she is facing challenges right now.

▼ Episode 05

[MANILA] ► Doroteo Jose LRT Station: Grabbing an Opportunity | ...listening to the words of the experts are fascinating but hearing the stories of normal individuals are more heartfelt and genuine because they share stories based on what they feel and what they have experienced.

▼ Episode 06

[MANILA] ► Why My Principles Changed from Y.O.L.O to REALITY? | You're currently on this page.

Maps Showing the Location of #MANILA

► FOOTNOTES, DISCLAIMERS, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, ETC

✈ This post was filed under the category "Travel Diaries". See more posts related to this below.

✈ The maps I used on this post are from maps.google.com.ph.

✈ All photos are mine.

✈ The insights, condition, and name of places or properties I mentioned here are based on the facts and situation on the day of my visit. Take note that you may have a different experience when you try the activities or see the properties/places mentioned here. Names of places and properties may also change by time.