There are moments when we want to know more about ourselves. Siguro pagod tayo, lost sa career o buhay natin that we don’t know what to do anymore, so ang usual at madaling gawin is manood ng inspiring videos o magbasa ng motivational quotes. But soul searching? How would you do that, right? Pero ibahin niyo ang Isidro “Sid” Umali ng Brand Republic, he has his ways. Ngayong Go For a Ride Day, let’s all learn from him dahil alam niya kung paano ang the best way gawin ito.
Teach us your ways, Mr. Soul Searcher!
“Sir Siiid, wala pong Wi-Fi.” Sa linya palang na ‘yan, for sure alam niyo na kung ano siya sa BR — our very own IT Manager/Team Leader of the HR Department. At tahimik lang ‘yan si Sir Sid but he’s like a superhero in the eyes of BR employees kasi kung wala siya at ang Wi-Fi, paano na ang work? All around din siya ‘cos he can act as your dad in different TikTok contents. Plus, on time palagi mag-in and out sa work with his reliable motorcycle — yes, rider din siya! But let’s get to know him more, para makakuha tayo ng tips sa soul searching journey.
Sir Sid worked under BR’’s CEO for another company in 2012 before the agency was even launched. Kaya kung iisipin more than 15 years na siyang nagtatrabaho. At dahil matagal-tagal na rin siyang part ng workforce, marami na siyang pinagdaanang stress at pagod. Dito na nakahiligan ni Sir Sid ang pagmomotor since ito ang ginagamit niya sa pagpasok sa work, “Mas mabilis kasi kaysa mag-commute lalo pa’t wala pang ride-hailing apps noon tapos graveyard shift pa ko,” he said. True enough, mas convenient and practical naman talaga — less stress and hassle.
But of course, as mentioned kanina, we can never avoid stress sa work. Kaya naman, he found ways that would make him feel better, and that is by going on a ride, bike, or hike. “Gusto ko ‘yung mga adventure,” and when asked kung saan ang pinakamalayong napuntahan niya using his motorcycle, “Bicol, Sagada, and Baguio — mag-isa rin ako nun.” We also asked kung bakit niya ginagawa ‘yun at sabi niya, “Nakaka-relax kasi tapos nakakapunta ka pa sa lugar na may magagandang view and natatry ‘yung mga kakaibang pagkain.” And for the past 12 years na ginagawa niya ito, ganoon pa rin ang nafi-feel niya, “Iba kasi pakiramdam ‘pag nag-mo-motor; ‘pag na-fi-feel mo yung hangin. Ganoon din ‘pag sa bundok, peaceful.” Siyempre we were curious kung bakit ito ang naging hilig niya. For him kasi, “Physical lang ‘yung pagod, mas mahirap maka-recover ‘pag mental [‘yung pagod], so pahinga na rin para sakin.”
The Soul Searching VL
Thinking about it, it’s funny how Sir Sid is known to put ‘soul searching’ as the reason for his Vacation Leave (VL). However, for him, it was a journey to find himself, in a sense na he knows na it clears his mind and releases all the stress na na-experience niya. He went to Malaysia to hike at mag-soul search doon, but unfortunately before pa sila bumiyahe there was an unforeseen circumstance, so hindi na rin sila natuloy sa hiking. But what he did was he pushed through pa rin sa Malaysia and ginawa na lang niya ang iba pa niyang pwedeng gawin doon. But of course, he can’t go without a motorcycle so he rented pagdating doon and roamed around the country. Luckily, he still enjoyed it because he was able to meet new people (even fellow Filipinos) and experience their culture. A different kind of soul searching but he was able to unwind and know more about himself.
Now, as much as possible, he still goes on a ride or camp kahit sa malapit sa Metro Manila — like Tanay. Usually, he does it spontaneously and tuwing weekend, “Nakakatulong kasi na-re-refresh ka and pagbalik mo sa work mas mabilis pumasok new ideas. Kumbaga sa computer, nakapag-reboot or nag-restart ka na.” Aside from this, he also learned to be self-reliant because even though you go hiking or riding as a group, you still need to be prepared. Dapat may complete gear ka at emergency food & water kasi expected na dapat na magkakaroon ng problems or emergencies. Also, not everytime may makaka-help sayo, because what if mawala ka, right?
Going on an endless journey
There are many things that we can do when we feel lost, tired, or need to discover who we are. And one way that will truly help us? It is to allow ourselves to get lost — literally. We can immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature, travel without a destination, or explore unfamiliar places. Minsan, ‘pag nasa isang lugar ka na bago sayo, mas nakikilala mo ang sarili mo ‘cos you get to do things that you don’t usually do, process your thoughts and situations more thoroughly, and feel emotions na parang bago pa rin sayo kahit na-experience mo na before. In this way, you come to know yourself better.
However, maybe endless journey talaga ang self-discovery, we’ll never really know our deeper selves, baka aspects lang. And perhaps we can be like Sir Sid who knows what to do whenever we feel lost — and that is to simply take a step back — so we can find ourselves over and over again.
“And perhaps we can be like Sir Sid who knows what to do whenever we feel lost — and that is to simply take a step back — so we can find ourselves over and over again.”
So beautifully written, and very enlightening! Taking notes from Superhero Mr. Soul Searcher: Sir Sid for my own self-discovery. 💖🌻