Reasons why people go into freelancing

There was a time when you had to take an official leave from work to be able to travel and relax. With the emergence of the mobile worker and opportunities for freelancing arrangements, it has now become possible to travel and still do some work.

There are many pros and cons when it comes to freelancing. On one hand, you have control of the work hours that you want to render or be selective of the projects you have to take. On the other hand however, freelancing does not guarantee a steady income and does not provide other benefits that a full-time employment may bring.

In my case, I like freelance writing and here are my reasons:

I like to work at home and spend more time with family
A no-brainer. I like to work at home and spend more time with family which is good if you’re a dad to three almost grown-up kids.

I do not like to commute
I don’t like traffic, which unfortunately, is a daily challenge if you live and work in the city. Commuting can be very draining and can zap that creativity even before you set foot in the office.

I don’t like a 9 to 5 routine
I have nothing against people with regular jobs. For many years, I once had a few 9-to-5 jobs too, but nothing beats managing my own time and working at my own pace.

I like to travel
A few months ago, I had blast writing about “travel,” while I was actually on a road trip with family.





I work best when I’m alone
Freelancer writers are often thought of as these nerds curled up in a tiny corner typing away. This is not untrue, and some (including myself), are often very productive while working alone while in their jammies.

I don’t like do the same thing over and over again
As a freelance writer, I sometimes don’t necessarily like what I write. However, I can always anticipate that the next writing gig will be something new.

I like to juggle different projects
The magic phrase for freelancers is “time management.” I like to believe I have it figured out and thus, juggling a few gigs here and there becomes an enjoyable experience.

I like to challenge myself
Freelance writing challenges me to go out of my comfort zone. As a freelance writer, I am compelled to write about things that I have zero knowledge on. I once wrote a product review of a conveyor belt and it took me three cups of coffee before I came up with a fairly decent copy.

So there. My Top 20 reasons why I became a freelance writer. What are yours?

How to have a great time in Baguio's Burnham Park

Visiting Burnham Park

Burnham Park is perhaps the most iconic of all tourist destinations in Baguio City. Rich in history, the park is always part of one's itinerary when visiting the "City of Pines"

A short visit

So we went to Baguio City for a short, one-day vacation and our choice of accommodations was a nice traveler's hotel near Burnham Park. The good thing about the hotel is that it is not too pricey, and is very near 24-hour convenience stores, restaurants, and bars.

Also, it was a stone's throw away from Burnham Park, which was a good thing. We were only staying for a day and a night and it won't be practical if we spend the whole day going to the usual tourist spots.

Things to do in Burnham Park

Stroll.The morning after, we went for a short stroll. The stroll in itself is worthwhile activity. It was quite early, around 6am, but there was a sizable crowd of park visitors including joggers, vendors, etc. milling around Burnham Park.

Jog or walk. We saw a lot of joggers around the park, mostly belonging to the younger set. There was also quite a crowd of people simply walking and enjoying the chilly morning breeze.

Do "Zumba." There were several groups doing "Zumba," which continues to gain popularity as a fun way to exercise. Good thing that Burnham Park has enough space for these groups. Each group has its own beat box and instructor. I did a quick count and saw at least five large groups of Zumba enthusiasts dancing to 80s music beats.

Rent a bike. There were bikers on rented bikes, both grownups and children, zooming in and out around Burnham Park.

Rent a boat. At around 6:30am, operators of boats for rent on Burnham Lake were not yet open, but there was already a crowd of families and groups queuing to rent boats. Burnham Lake is another icon in Baguio City.

Taking photos

The first thing I did was take my camera and take photos of the sunflowers and the garden surrounding Burnham Park. This was a notable experience, as it was my first time to capture honeybees, darting in and around large flowers.

Overall, it was a very good trip. This goes to show that if you're on a tight schedule, one very good option is to just go to Burnham Park and enjoy what the park has to offer.