Sidequest #1 | Is It Time to Give Up Gas? EVs, Chinese Cars & MIAS 2026
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Welcome to the very first episode of The Baggage Counter: Sidequests. No schedule, no set formula, just raw, straight-to-the-point conversations about what is happening right now.
With gas prices hitting absolute record highs this week, we had to hit record and talk about the reality of driving in the Philippines today. We are breaking down the real-world differences between EVs, Hybrids, and Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs). Is it actually time to trade the internal combustion engine for a battery, or is the local infrastructure just not ready for the daily Manila commute?
We also get into the massive shift happening at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) 2026 this weekend. Chinese car brands are officially dominating the floor and taking over the market, bringing a massive wave of new energy vehicles and tech that is completely changing the landscape. We discuss what this means for local car culture, the future of traditional project cars, and whether the legacy brands need to step up their game.
Drop your thoughts in the comments: Are you making the jump to a hybrid or EV, or are you sticking with gas until the very end?
Pack light, and welcome to the Sidequests.

In an unpredictable world, hobbies are the one thing millennials can actually control. This week on The Baggage Counter, we dive deep into the realities of adult hobbies and why having a personal outlet is essential for keeping our sanity.

Whether you are new to car culture and fixing up a 2004 Nissan Sentra, a Vespa enthusiast riding with your club, or spending your free time building Legos, collecting Beyblades, and buying Fortnite skins, we explore how these projects keep us grounded.

We get straight to the point about the "budol" lifestyle and the true cost of our interests.

How do you balance adulting with your passions?

We discuss exactly how we justify the costs of our hobbies to our wives and to ourselves. We share the realities of budgeting for the things we love while making absolutely sure that all our bills are paid and all our family responsibilities are met. You can fund your passion and still be a responsible partner.

Stick around until the end of the episode to put your right hand up and join us for a formal "hobbyist oath" dedicated to the projects that keep us human.

It’s Holy Week, and we’re at The Baggage Counter for our most personal episode yet.

Joshua (Galactic Shark), the grandson of a Bishop and son of a former Pastor, and Daniel (Chairman D), the son of a Pastor, are finally unpacking the weight of being a PK (Pastor's Kid).

We dive into the stark contrast of our current lives: Daniel is still active in the church, while Joshua chooses to maintain his faith outside the church.

We are getting straight to the point about how we survived the crushing pressure and expectations of growing up with a thousand eyes watching our every move. We discuss the hard truth that church people are capable of being far more judgmental than those who don’t even believe in God and sometimes the people who don't even go to church show more compassion and grace than those preaching from the pulpit.

You’ll definitely want to stick around for our "Blind Items" segment. We are revealing some juicy and shady behind-the-scenes stories that we witnessed firsthand while growing up in the ministry.

Whether you are still in the church or you left to find your own peace, this Holy Week special is for you.

Episode 2 | Split Screen: Same Game, Different Players

Is being 33 actually playing life on hard mode?

This week on The Baggage Counter, Joshua aka Galactic Shark and Daniel aka Chairman D are diving into twenty years of friendship and why being a millennial in 2026 feels like a constant battle against gas prices and exhaustion.

We are breaking down how two people can stay best friends for two decades even when their daily lives look completely different.

Joshua gets real about why he has absolutely zero FOMO when it comes to the family life. He has mastered the art of JOMO, the joy of missing out. He gets the peak uncle experience of spoiling Daniel’s kids and soaking up the fun, but he gets to hand them right back the second a tantrum starts or a diaper needs changing.

We also take a massive swing at the "barkada expiration date" myth. Some people think you have to ghost your friends the second your lifestyles diverge, but we think that is just a lazy excuse for becoming a boring person.If you can only be friends with people who are carbon copies of you, you do not want a best friend, you just want a mirror. Whether you are out here buying collectibles or diapers, the bond shouldn't change just because the daily emergencies do.

We wrap it up with a survival tip for everyone feeling like they are falling behind. Stop comparing your messy reality to everyone else’s curated highlight reel.

Check your bags, find your seat, and let us know what you are carrying this week.

Drop your heaviest baggage in the comments and we might just feature it in the next episode.

Episode 1 | Safe Mode: Loading the 30s Survival Guide

Welcome to the first shift at The Baggage Counter.

In this episode, Joshua aka Galactic Shark and Daniel aka Chairman D unpack the invisible weight of being 33 and tired. After a 20-year friendship, they compare the contrasts of being a married man over 30 - balancing the 24/7 "algorithm anxiety" of a content creator with the high-stakes pressure of a dad raising two girls.

We’re diving into millennial burnout and why we cling to nostalgia to survive the present. From the "hard work is a lie" controversy to the "Redundant Baggage" roast of hustle culture, we explore why resting is actually an act of defiance.

Drop your bags. Find your seat. We’ll get back to the heavy stuff later.