Things to do in 2026 and beyond

100 things that I don't know that I should miss in my life

A curated list of 100 things I may not know that I should experience or not miss in life, in no particular order of importance, but arranged to inspire myself, and so are you:

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Experiences that expand my world

• Visit a remote Philippine island with no signal.
• Watch a play at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
• Walk alone in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language.
• Spend a night in an ancestral house in Vigan.
• Tour a Spanish-era church and ask the priest about its history.
• Get lost in Intramuros with no map.
• See the Northern Lights at least once.
• Visit a UNESCO heritage site outside the Philippines.
• Go on a solo road trip across Luzon.
• Ride a slow train through the countryside.

Creative and artistic moments

• Join an improv class (yes, even as an actor).
• Write and direct a short film—even on your phone.
• Paint something abstract and hang it in your home.
• Watch a silent film in an old theater.
• Memorize and perform a monologue by heart—just for yourself.
• Record your own voice reading poetry and play it back.
• Attend a backstage rehearsal of a major play.
• Make a documentary about your neighborhood.
• Collaborate with a visual artist.
• Try stage managing a small production.

Human encounters you won’t forget

• Listen to a stranger’s life story in a café.
• Interview a World War II survivor.
• Have a heart-to-heart with your oldest living relative.
• Sit beside a child and ask them about their dreams.
• Volunteer for a cause that makes you cry.
• Talk to a street vendor about their day.
• Reconnect with someone from your past—even if awkward.
• Hug a person who really needs it.
• Say sorry to someone you hurt.
• Say “I forgive you” even if they don’t apologize.

Soulful and inner work

• Take a vow of silence for one day.
• Spend one weekend offline.
• Write a letter to your future self.
• Meditate during sunrise in nature.
• Watch the stars with zero distractions.
• Let go of something painful—and release it with ritual.
• Read a sacred text from a different religion.
• Go on a retreat with no phones, no goals—just reflection.
• Keep a dream journal for a month.
• Light a candle for someone you lost.

Nature encounters to remember

• Hike a mountain before dawn.
• Swim under a waterfall in Sagada or Aurora.
• Plant a tree and name it.
• Sleep under the stars without a tent.
• Observe birds in their natural habitat.
• Feed animals in a wildlife sanctuary.
• Surf even if you’re scared.
• See fireflies in Palawan or Donsol.
• Trek to an old crater lake.
• Experience the sea during a full moon.

Lifelong learning

• Learn to write with your non-dominant hand.
• Read a book from a banned list.
• Learn how to say “thank you” in 20 languages.
• Take an online course on something obscure (like Norse mythology).
• Study your own family genealogy.
• Watch a foreign film without subtitles.
• Learn sign language basics.
• Memorize one famous speech (try Martin Luther King or Jose Rizal).
• Learn how to read your birth chart.
• Try solving a Rubik’s cube.

Professional lessons that matter

• Say no to a high-paying opportunity that doesn’t align with your values.
• Mentor someone younger than you.
• Pitch an idea that scares you.
• Get rejected and bounce back stronger.
• Be on stage or camera with no script.
• Negotiate your worth without guilt.
• Work with people who challenge your perspective.
• Present something live to a skeptical audience.
• Learn to say “I don’t know” confidently.
• Build a passion project that pays nothing—at first.

Simple joys and guilty pleasures

• Eat street food in a hidden alley.
• Cook your childhood favorite dish for friends.
• Drink halo-halo during a storm.
• Dance in the rain in your neighborhood.
• Watch a sappy teleserye and cry.
• Ride a tricycle at midnight while singing karaoke.
• Laugh until your stomach hurts with old friends.
• Eat alone in a fancy restaurant.
• Wear your fanciest clothes on an ordinary day.
• Watch your favorite movie three times in a row.

Financial and Legacy Thinking

• Save for something that inspires you, not just what you need.
• Set up a fund for someone else’s education.
• Create a will—even just a simple one.
• Buy land or a space that’s meaningful, not just profitable.
• Donate anonymously.
• Spend for an experience rather than a gadget.
• Learn how to do taxes by yourself (once).
• Write your “financial regrets” and learn from them.
• Build passive income—even if small.
• Gift a book that changed your life.

Legacy, Purpose, and the Long Game

• Speak at a school where you once studied.
• Write your personal manifesto and share it.
• Record a message to your future grandkids.
• Leave a thank-you note to your mentors.
• Help a stranger reach their dream.
• Plant something meaningful on your birthday.
• Build or help build a physical thing that outlasts you (a mural, tree, school desk).
• Tell your life story—even if you think it’s “ordinary.”
• Apologize to your younger self.
• Let your heart break wide open and still choose to love again.