It’s been months since Carmina last posted on her Google Maps. I started doing it just for fun, exploring new places to dine and travel, and sharing those spots with others. Back in 2017, I wasn’t even blogging yet. Over the years, I received numerous email updates about changes, but in September, the removal of followers on Google Maps felt particularly strange. There’s no point in complaining about it. I decided not to close my account, as it wasn’t an option, but I did delete all the photos I had contributed over the years. I have fond memories of seeing which photos were popular and had hoped to share them with you. It was surprising to see how many views my pictures had accumulated. While deleting them, I noticed that many restaurants and bakeries no longer exist, with some marked as unknown on the map. Most of my photos were from the pandemic period, a time when I could fully express myself and write about the food I enjoyed. Let's take a trip down memory lane with Carmina th...
How many names do you have? I have so many nicknames other than my real name. I have an Aunt who calls me Ching Ching every since I was a little girl. I have a relative here in the Philippines she cannot pronounce CH she calls me Jinky which is not my name at all. I’ve told her several times that is not my name, but she has a hard time pronouncing CH and adds a J instead. I stop explaining it to her and just respond to Jinky as she calls me. My in-law’s calls me Chinks. My cousin calls me Carmen. My best friend calls me Carmie. No one knows I am Carmina only people who don’t know my nickname. When a package arrives under Carmina they wonder who is Carmina. When you have kids of your own you become their Mom a sign of respect. To everyone outside the home people think I am the foreigner or in tagalog balikbayan (guest) because I don't look familiar when they see me. When you start dating when you’re young your boyfriends would call yo...