Hey Hivers! I hope there’s still room for a neophyte blogger here at Hive. My name is Aimee.

![1638767898604.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/23wqkN1yD6yH6ZbhqEmd7VsL9jE1KAovR2b5GKUqBaKbLQSbQXmmiEWiov39xcwhJuKRE.jpg)

You can describe my personality from my second name; lighthearted, carefree, and always wanting to be on top of the world. I was born on the 20th of September, a Virgo, ergo I’m also practical, sensible, and loyal 😉. I love the softer shade of turquoise and mint green, anything that resembles the green pigment of the ocean. ![1638767899249.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/242Nh7wC4d5vofqnQ4fyacv4KbAE6qtrUufYBUEMN1ahGjFxUmpYiHdT69TNWK8R9Vd48.jpg) I own 5 adorable dogs. I have 4 tattoos and will probably add more soon. Some quirky facts about me: • I don’t like egg yolks and raisins that much • I’m obsessed with the color mint, although I’ve never had clothes with that color ![1638764354076.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/AJoJZ2TaihSX5mQFL1brRhNojJGwNiFgrMQ6v1JvM377cSm8ksW8Mg66FuMd62M.jpg) Born and raised in the Philippines. I live in a 4th class component city called Isabela City, a de facto capital of the province of Basilan just off the south coast of Zamboanga Peninsula.Some people call it “The Eluded Paradise” because, all that comes to their mind when they hear its name is: terrorism, bombing, war, and chaos. But behind those frames of reference, there’s a lot of majestic things and resources that Basilan can offer. Here are some photos shot by a local photographer from Basilan. ![176994346_6023395691011313_5494852641507376106_n.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/EoAYHk3VFmPiH2dqTVevUUj6Eos9vCYeHvLPgdymMzQeTmPqgtcTJwTGPXE978Ugwcx.jpg) ![240119342_6698675313483344_4624107922788713747_n.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/23u5b6gYLZUSxZysicjHmvVJqjtn7j5jQh19daPPLpA8BfjByKVSno6uN8M2bwsXxH1hf.jpg) *Photo courtesy of Al Dous via https://www.facebook.com/dudut86* After graduating, I promised to give myself the chance to enjoy and get out of the city for a while. So, my best friend and I thought of selling baked goods (since we’re still unemployed back then) and we were able to raise enough funds for our trip. ![1638667121282.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/23vsG1WfmETjBxswCJe5RA7YgwWWsHJjvk6T4FbtxpERSegrGKQ6J8tRiThhV8jpeJtCs.JPG) We went to Dumaguete via ferry. After exploring some attractions in Negros, we went on the next trip. We sailed to the nearest island in Dumaguete located southeast of Negros called Siquijor Island. ![1638667121237.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/EpC8RgtpLadoBSNaSn6YmC6KLnwfbMW1A2fk1Sd9exFXUXNH9qNY7EYc5GBLHnevXfi.JPG) ![1638666700162.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/AKGZh8F8vuC8todKCC7sJsiJDxk6bZJxbtovnnfiwSDGxr1ERYMRsv2K5uzNMrZ.JPG) *Mabinay Spring Resort* And that 1-week trip was the first travel that I had. A trip that we worked one’s fingers to the bone to raise our budget. A few months after that quick escape, it was time to look for a job. I moved to another city to look for opportunities.

![1638765248737.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/23sURQCPqR2YEUz9DxLVgrsF1QZQVDucKdo3jQC4ERqwX9UfBpmBGK7DWC9AvTvDU2Kh5.jpg)

![1638765248956.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/23tGbqxaTWgBVMsqausULmxc9UDHBMo3zfviwFfRBbLGYGLwiECcpPB1dDRBVUrKg6uSp.jpg)

Luckily, I immediately got a job here in Cebu. Why Cebu? Well, some special guy made me do it. He encouraged me to give it a try and for some reason, I didn’t even think twice. When I made that decision, I got high hopes for many possible and impossible things. And sadly, he was one of the “impossible things” HAHAHA, anyway, moving forward. ![1638765248771.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/23w2jBZi8FwKGUzymBzEGavHKqaBTfAcZkerbQdEMZzHtkfnmAfPq6gaEYrej5LcMNo7v.jpg) It’s been 2 years since I moved here to Cebu and it was a bit unfortunate and bad timing after a few months because a pandemic happened. Some of my plans on exploring Cebu were canceled due to lockdown and restrictions. As soon as restrictions were progressively lifted, vaccines were already available and covid cases were slowly dropping, the first thing I wanted to do is visit the beach and start taking freediving classes. ![1638766228797.JPG](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/243q94UxYkqHd3oR4AGjbMq57jpr5hpGkrQRiqdReQYf2tkJebcBVu2CyG14QJxQ7bEqp.JPG)*Bohé freediving intro class* I really can’t tell what my passion is because I try to introduce myself to many new and hyped activities to do in life. From playing instruments—baking—photography—freediving to God knows what I want to learn next. HAHAHA. But right now, I spent most of my free time freediving and editing photos. ![1637995771047.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/23wM2MjDjgcNUBahJKkoQKfa6wr2GG3U7qJgTbZkaVPZATkFNpH9LGeuJPVg3QTYc2T4i.jpg) I fell in love with freediving for various reasons. I know most freedivers will think of this thought as cliché, but freediving is where I find my inner peace and bliss. Whenever I’m in the sea, may it be diving underwater or on the shore, it’s like the saltwater runs strongly through my veins. ![1637995771015.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/23vrgCdMMx8sVPSm8LFPfanxSh4QgdcxNEcWQknaEUxxSckHifbF5dDLoE9f5HXqS3tCf.jpg) On weekends, more often than not, I’d be hitting the beach particularly in Panagsama Moalboal, a peninsula on the south-western tip of Cebu. ![1638765248688.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/23wWwKUzGaEjZttM2xDdYUwRjTYS2V1yUr9pchjoACtQtXuDXwbQs96WDYGDYczEY6LqH.jpg) ![1638766228820.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/23tSKho1jH7iP5F9pyFht1nQUtqmPcUFMKfxjBRAhX4tFNiuRkkS8g1EdG45oqYFsR9Mq.jpg) ![1638765248858.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/242DNSvbTdUTRG77DvS5wYyetuzx4eySmT8AFEFrxeW8wpAKK7WcJaVipVJdBEfnjn6jv.jpg) Aside from freediving there, I also made a few local friends around the area. ![1638769991968.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/EpJXDSdTvApQfFPoLKVHEWPZhATKxg6VR3VJqomrYPx6rmzzkZTwwiGBsKS89tNQgsa.jpg) I met them because of my frequent visits to the beach during the time that I was just starting freediving. That’s where I met two FREEDIVERS slash HIVERS. I met @indayclara and @ybanezkim26 and from there they introduced me to HIVE. ![1638767899384.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/Eo6AnafZ4cqDMh6F9htLDyRnEpAhD4PgrnNPSsV1NEqw96uGHETaL6hKtvpSgiorj9J.jpg) ![1638767899715.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/aimimitan/Eo8KejeWj6m272FrjPNQ2kNv8rXNnuGDEpPUJUHGMXdK826wDYxMQWgpqsgEM5zrF9w.jpg) And the story goes on. 😊

Aimee Tan