J.R.: [00:00:00] Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of 1000 Gurus with me, your host, J.R. Yonocruz.

J.R.: Today's guest is Hao Gagaring. Hao is a friend of J.R.'s, a coffee buddy, introvert and crafty individual. She is a self-proclaimed simple law abiding citizen. She doesn't consider herself an influencer or a content creator, but more of a memory creator. Personalizing and customizing things are some of her favorite hobbies.

J.R.: This was such a fun episode to record. I think I'm on a roll with my last three in studio guests all being super nervous. Hao mentions several times in this recording about how introverted she is, but she wanted to take this as an opportunity to step outside of her comfort zone, which I really commend her on. Despite the nerves. I think she did a fantastic job.

J.R.: I learned a lot about her background, her Labubu clothing and crafting online business, and how she was able to readjust moving to a new country when she was already an adult in her late teens and early twenties. What I really admire about Hao, and the main reason why I wanted to showcase her on the show is that she's one of the few [00:01:00] people in my life who has aspirations to create and do something, but actually executes on it. It's inspiring to me, especially as a fellow introvert and hopefully her story will inspire you as well.

J.R.: So without further ado, hope you enjoyed this episode with Hao Gagaring.

J.R.: Hello everyone and welcome back to 1000 Gurus. Hao welcome to the show

J.R.: for being here. So how are you feeling? I know you're totally not nervous. 

Hao: Yeah, not at all. 

J.R.: Not at all. Yeah. You can't tell 

Hao: at all. 

J.R.: Mm-hmm. Cool. So yeah, thank you again for being here. I'll go into how I know you, just so we can get this started. So we met around, I wanna say 2017 ish. I know it was around that time, like when I started teaching at the studio, the K-pop studio in Buena Park.

J.R.: Slowly over time we started to hang out in our karaoke crew. Most of us had the common interest in K-pop and dance, but eventually we started to hang out regularly, karaoke and other [00:02:00] things, and 

Hao: Filipino 

J.R.: stuff. Filipino stuff. Most of us are Filipino. Or Filipino at heart. And then we had significant others join the group.

J.R.: And so we're all around the same age group. Some of them are other former guests of 1000 gurus in karaoke crew, which involve Blessy, who's here? Joanne and Jay. Yeah. How organizes a lot of our fun events like she always creates like these cool little gif. I was gonna say how is one of my most craftiest friends?

J.R.: Yeah. But I think that's a lie. I think she's the craftiest friend. I think she's like first place. If you ever see some of these gifts they're just like these little things that you're like, where did you find this from? Or it's like themed, like if it's Harry Potter or one piece themed. So she's very crafty.

J.R.: She sources these things from no one knows where. I would say you're kind of like the mom in our group, or at least one of the moms because like you, you've made some of my favorite gifts. One of them was actually, I was planning on I was thinking about wearing my back pain shirt.

J.R.: Oh, I get the most compliments on that one. No, I wore on episode [00:03:00] four or five. Which is it's black pink, but it's in the style of back pain. And so I sent it to Hal. I was like, Hey, how can I commission a shirt this, like a sleeveless like gym shirt? And then she's like, okay, sure. And then she like made it for me and I always get compliments like, oh my God, I, I thought that said black pink was his back pain.

J.R.: I, I'm like, yes. So that's like definitely one of my nce. Very, yeah. Very timely. And then you also, another shirt I was thinking of wearing or bringing was our Rip California j shirt. So I thought of 

Hao: wearing it today too. 

J.R.: I think that's maybe too much ego for Jay. Because yeah. So his episode would've been live by the time you hear this episode.

J.R.: But, so our friend Jay moved to Phoenix and then, so as like a going away sort of fun thing, how made these shirts that was like, it looks like. It's like a box with his photo, memorial photo. It's like, it looks like a memorial photo. Like he's dead or something. But it's really just, it's Marcos 

Hao: idea mostly.

J.R.: Yeah, exactly. I'll wear it at the gym sometimes. And sometimes people will like stare, like, look a little bit too hard and they're like, is that a memorial show? And in my head, I'll never crack them. I'll be like, [00:04:00] yeah, he's gone. 

Hao: I hope he's happy. Wherever. 

J.R.: I hope wherever he's at, I hope he's happy. Jay.

J.R.: I just wanted to show for the video listeners. This is something that how just got me, it's like a little, like a seedy thing, but it has our 1000 Gurus logo. It's pretty cute. And so you can scan it on your phone and then it hacks all your passwords. Yeah. And so now I have it, or at least Hal will have it.

J.R.: Yeah, especially 

Hao: SS n 

J.R.: and yeah, 

Hao: like important stuff 

J.R.: like Yeah. Social security and everything, bank stuff. So I can just tap this and be like, Hey, check out 1000 Gurus. And then we just steal all their passwords and identity theft and everything. So yeah, that was a long intro. Any clarifications or what are you up to these days?

Hao: Yeah. It sounds about right. Yeah, that 

J.R.: sounds about, yeah. That's what we've been up to. Cool. Alright, we'll go into intro questions then. So the first one I think, you know, it's coming. Where does the name Harley come from? So, I know some of our friends call you Harley. I kind of met you as how Yeah.

J.R.: And you have two names. So like, what is, what's the difference? 

Hao: Actually, I'm more comfortable with how, because Harley is are you mad at me, [00:05:00] kind of thing. Because growing up, well, Harley is actually my legal name and my dad likes Harley Davidson. Like the brand. And so that's where they got it from and my aunties adjusted it.

Hao: 'cause I was supposed to be Hazel, but my mom or my auntie said it's too common. It's too much Hazel in the world. So I, I gotta be Harley for some reason. But it's kinda like growing up people think that I am. A man or like a boy. So, and my nickname is how, because of my, like being Filipino they make up names.

Hao: Yeah. And ever since I was like ever since I was a kid that it's just the name that I'm more comfortable with.

J.R.: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, for you guys, they don't know if you're not Filipino. If you're Filipino, you know, that's why I go by JR because Filipinos just love nicknames and so they're like, why is your name jr?

J.R.: I'm like, because it's a Filipino thing. I don't know how to explain it. So yeah, I get that. So we love nicknames [00:06:00] here. So what about why upside down photos? I don't know if you guys see how's Instagram or anything, but her stories, her posts are always like upside down. My head cannon is, one day you were using your phone and it was upside down and you posted it and you're like, oh.

J.R.: I guess this is my thing now. So you just kept like that, but 

J.R.: No, 'cause I like taking pictures and videos and then before, like phones doesn't really have the favorites, so I would usually rotate it so that I know that I chose the picture. And so, yeah, I just started with that and started posting. And then I would say, I would tell people that I'm just helping you exercise.

J.R.: Like 

J.R.: it's like you're trying to give you you neck pain. 

Hao: Yeah, neck pain in your, 

J.R.: yeah. Neck pain in your area. So it was a way for you to like sort photos? Mm-hmm. Based on, so if it was upside down, it was like a favorite. 

Hao: Yeah. So it's easier for me to know, oh, this is it, this is it. So I can just post it like 

J.R.: right away.

J.R.: So it's a functional thing. So all the photos you post now are your favorite? 

Hao: [00:07:00] Yeah. Oh, I see. Those are my favorites. I like it. 

J.R.: It's very interesting because, well. I don't know about any of our mutual friends. Mm-hmm. But whenever I'm on Instagram and then I'll see like stories and it's like upside down.

J.R.: Like, oh, it's how's, I don't even know what the, it's usually something like you or David upside down. Yeah. And I'm like, oh yeah, this is how's story. And then you have to kind rotate it. And if you repost your story, you have to repost it upside down. Yeah. 

Hao: People usually do it like we, 

J.R.: we'll correct. It'll, we'll correct it so that the world is right side up.

Hao: It's also because I'm shy for people to look at me too. So I put it so so there's extra interest. You extra, so there's 

J.R.: extra effort to actually see you. Yeah. Mm-hmm. I like it. That's, that's actually kind of funny.

J.R.: First question, where'd you grow up, Hao?

Hao: I grew up in the Philippines? My parents are from a small town in the Philippines called PA Laguna. PAE is like the carving capital of the Philippines actually. So 

J.R.: carving capital? 

Hao: Yeah, like carving woods. Oh. Like a lot of creative stuff. I think that's where I got my creative [00:08:00] side. So pa actually means chisel like a tool that you use to carve wood. And so yeah, that's where my family came from and I think that's where creative influence and stuff came from and instilled into me.

Hao: Yeah. 

J.R.: It was in your family lineage. So when did you come over to the States and like why? 

Hao: I came here when I was a little older, like around 19 to 20 years old. I think I would say it's like a crucial age for people it's like you're finding yourself. Starting to do adult stuff. And my parents think that it's gonna be more opportunities for me. That's why we moved here. But for me everything is new. Even though I grew up in the Philippines and English is actually part of the curriculum. My parents enrolled me into a high school that enforces us to speak English. It's like an English school, but it's still different when you came here. 'cause my brain still thinks, and [00:09:00] like right now I'm life translating it in my head 'cause I'm thinking in Filipino, but I have to life translate it in English.

Hao: So it's still different, like the grammar structures. So I still find that hard till now. 'cause of course I grew up mostly in the Philippines and so all the mannerisms, all the grammars, tres are still living inside me.

J.R.: Were you excited to move over or were you kind of hesitant or what was your thought process as you're moving over and getting adjusted to states? 

Hao: I grew up mostly in the Philippines and all my friends are there. It was a really hard switch for me 'cause almost all of my life I lived there and I'm more comfortable there.

Hao: My friends are there and moving here and doing kind of a reset. Yeah. And when I first moved here, I was actually really scared even to order food because I'm like, what if I say it wrong? Or I'm not used to like small talk too. I'm very introverted. Mm-hmm. [00:10:00] So I, it's very hard.

J.R.: You know that stereotype, that Gen Z, they don't know how to talk on the phone, so you're just Yeah. I'm more of a typer. Like I told you, I type 

Hao: like I could talk to you for hours, like text me, but don't call me. Yeah. 

J.R.: And then you meet her in person. You're like, how come you don't talk every Yeah.

J.R.: I'm like. 

Hao: Who are you talking to again? It's 

J.R.: actually on online or like on the phone? I'm the same too. I was telling Hao this before, but it's that maxim of introverts kind of, think to talk and then extroverts talk to think, whereas like you can see the live as they're saying things.

J.R.: And then you can see how their thoughts are kind of progressing. Whereas people like us, we have to stop and think about something for a little bit and then say the thing. 

Hao: Yeah. 'cause I feel more organized when I see the words. 

J.R.: So then you move over here. What were your career or life aspirations moving here? So you said you were like 19 ish. Yeah. So what were you trying to do at that point? 

Hao: I actually don't know what I'm gonna do, because I don't know anything here. And like I said, it was a crucial age where [00:11:00] you are trying to figure out yourself and trying to see what life is out there.

Hao: So the fear for me is I'm a very introverted person. How I encountered that and overcoming the fear of conversing, I actually found a job at the mobile dental company where we go to different facilities and it's very diverse and it has a lot of race and ethnicities and different types of people that you can meet.

Hao: So you're like kind of forced to talk and interact with people. And so that kind of helped me in terms of interacting with people better. 'cause you hear more stories and stuff from different walks of life. So I think that really helped me. 

J.R.: In my head, I was thinking mobile dental clinic, people have stuff in their mouth and you're like, oh, so how?

J.R.: Yeah. Where are you from? Like, alright, alright. Like, I'm sorry, can't just you 

Hao: actually that's true too. Like why would dental, oh, I'm not gonna say anything Israel. 

J.R.: Yeah, yeah. 

Hao: But, but it's true. They like [00:12:00] to talk you when they're working on your mouth. 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Hao: And, and it'll be like, Ugh. 

J.R.: My, my friend Lisa, she's a dental hygienist.

J.R.: Yeah. 

Hao: And she's like, 

J.R.: yeah, people will just, keep talking and you kind of conversational or sometimes she'll hear other people mm-hmm. Other clients talking to other hygienists. Mm-hmm. And it's like, dang, she got someone's whole life story. But aren't you the dense office? Isn't there stuff in your mouth?

J.R.: Yeah, I could never talk one when I'm being cleaned or whatever. 

Hao: Mm-hmm. But they gave you breaks too. Right? 

J.R.: Right. So you just happen to, you still work in this field? Yeah, I do. So you just like, like I don't 

Hao: go out in the field anymore. It's more admin works now.

J.R.: How did you find this work? 

Hao: Online? I don't remember really exactly, exactly I got there, but I thought that it would be a good foundation for me to start here in the US to start like interacting with people.

Hao: The work that I do, we mainly focus on nursing facilities or like elderly people. So we go to the facilities and do their treatments. And mostly because this [00:13:00] might sound like a stereotype, but mostly Filipinos are nurses and so it's 

J.R.: what crazy 

Hao: and like it's easier to. More comfortable for me to be surrounded by makes sense people. So if you go to a facility for sure, there's gonna be at least one Filipino there. It's gonna be a nurse or a CNA or a LVN or social services. And so it, it brings comfort for me. 

J.R.: Not that I haven't had a Filipino nurse on the show.

J.R.: It's funny 'cause so I donated blood a couple weeks ago or last week. And all the nurses there are Filipino. And I was gonna say most, but I think all of them are, it's like a blood donation center at the UCI Medical center in Orange, but also at UCI on campus.

J.R.: Mm-hmm. And they all know me and they're all super nice, but it's like they're all Filipino and it's like when everyone's like, oh, how are you? And Hi. Did that. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And so the, one of the head nurses, Tina. Tina's such a Filipino name. Yeah. But she's super sweet. She's super nice. But yeah, they're all Filipino.

J.R.: One of the things that I wanted to ask was like, [00:14:00] why are these services important Or maybe what is it like working there? 

Hao: We also, not just skater to elderly, we also go to like subacute units and like TRC is it sub subacute?

Hao: Yeah. So like people that, it's not really functional mostly, so they can't really communicate with you. So they really need help for you to clean those teeth 'cause they're.

Hao: Actually, it's very important for you to to keep your oral hygiene because it links to a lot of diseases like respiratory infections and stuff.

Hao: And actually links to dementia too. So I would really recommend for you to keep your teeth as long as you can because it's really hard. And I've seen a lot of elderly and I've heard a lot of stories of having a hard time to eat 'cause they don't have teeth anymore. And it's just your health declines.

Hao: Everything falls because after all, mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body. And so [00:15:00] like nutrients, everything. And so it's really hard and fun. One thing that I can share too, that what, that I learned from working at the dental office is when you lose all your teeth, your tongue actually naturally expands.

Hao: Oh. So even if you have dentures, a lot of our old people, like if they have lost their teeth for a long time, it's they're having a hard time because naturally the tongue would push the dentures like out. And so even though they put adhesive there on the dentures.

Hao: It's gonna be very loose because of bone loss and stuff.

Hao: And so would really recommend for you to keep your teeth Yeah. As long as you can. 

J.R.: So the problem with having your tongue extended out is that it pushes out your dentures or, 

Hao: because right now your tongue is being tamed by your teeth right now. Right, right. So naturally it's right there.

Hao: 'cause if you think about it, like [00:16:00] tongue has a lot of senses, so it's gonna be there. 'cause what if you accidentally bite on it? So like your brain naturally puts it there like backwards. So if there's nothing that's keeping it back, then keeping it naturally Oh, it's keeping it 

J.R.: safe. 

Hao: Yeah. Gotcha.

Hao: Okay. Mm-hmm. Like in 

J.R.: case you accidentally bite it or something like that. Right. 

Hao: Mm-hmm. 

J.R.: Oh, that makes sense. 

J.R.: As the first expert or person I have on the show in terms of dental health that we're talking about. So maybe what is one or two things or important things to consider about dental health that you think people get wrong?

Hao: Would always recommend to floss 'cause that's what our hygienist would always tell us. Floss every day, do what flossing or whatever. Just keep your mouth clean. Go to your dental appointments. Don't be scared of the dentist. I know that the sound can be annoying for some other people.

J.R.: Every time I get my teeth cleaned twice a year. Mm-hmm. And then my dentist would be like, oh yeah, so you're flossing. And I look at it straight and now I'm like, oh yeah, totally.

Hao: Every 

J.R.: day I'm like, yeah. You can tell. Yeah. Obviously. Can't you tell? I floss like five times a day. Whatcha [00:17:00] talking 

Hao: about? Yeah. 

J.R.: I try my best. I don't know if you ever heard of this study, but there was like two indicators of a long life. One of them was flossing and one of them was like VO two max, which is like the amount of volume and your lungs can hold an oxygen.

Hao: Oh. And I think 

J.R.: to improve that, you do like cardio, like walking or Oh, really? Like, zone two, walking. I'm just kinda regurgitating stuff I've heard on other podcasts. Mm-hmm. But basically it was those two things and I thought it was interesting. It's like, oh wow, dental health and your cardio, your lung capacity is important.

Hao: I need to walk more. 

J.R.: Yeah. Well, so takeaway for the audience. Walk more while flossing. 

Hao: Yes. Multitask it, multitask. And you'll 

J.R.: live forever. 

Hao: Forever. 

J.R.: That's a good takeaway. More than 

Hao: a hundred.

J.R.: So that's a good takeaway. . So this is the thing I wanted to ask you about because like I mentioned, you're my craftiest friend.

J.R.: What I also admire about you, Hao is that you're very entrepreneurial. 'cause you have your own shops and things that you create and make, which I think is cool because not a lot of people do that.

J.R.: I have so many friends who are [00:18:00] also creative in different ways. And they aspire to have like a sticker shop or like an Etsy shopper, all these other things. But then they don't really do anything. And then I see you like actually doing stuff and having your own shop and shipping it out on unlike a small personal scale. And you mentioned too that you have made income from it. Mm-hmm. And you were able to, I think if I'm not getting this wrong, like Yeah. Go on a vacation because of stuff like 

Hao: that. I'm going on a vacation. Yeah. Because of that. Yeah, exactly. 

J.R.: Which is super cool. So I wanted to dig into that. I guess first question on this topic is what are some of the creative things that you do and like how did you get into everything?

Hao: I am the most random person, so whatever is in my mind that I want to do, I just write it on the paper and then I'll work on it. If I think that I can't do it, then I'll scrap it and then think of another stuff to do. Because crafting for me is very therapeutic. It's my way of distressing.

Hao: Whenever I am able to put my ideas into life, that's why I am into like creating. I would also say, because I am a very introverted person, so, I tend to [00:19:00] just be on my own little world most of the time and it's helping me 'cause I really have a really bad attention span and it helps me like focus.

J.R.: What are some things that you've made. Obviously I know as a friend, but what are some things that you do in terms of this creative outlet? 

Hao: Mostly stickers. Lot of customs, DIY things that you can think of. I make shirts. Right now I'm into Labu Boo. So I make stuff for Labu Boo. 

J.R.: So from my understanding, when we last talked about this, you design or you.

J.R.: Curates or source outfits and then you sell them. Is that correct? 

Hao: Yeah. And my mom is a big part of this 'cause she makes most of them. Like, crocheting is her hobby. And so one of her hobbies, so I am, it started with her making an outfit for one of my bubu. 'cause I only started with one to be honest.

Hao: And now I have this much like 10 or something. And now only 10. Yeah. Only 10 maybe. Oh. And I floss every day. Yeah. Oh yeah. I [00:20:00] floss them every day too. Nice. You know how many teeth like Yeah. It's like 90 to floss every day. So, so anyway yeah. And it started with my mom and so yes, my mom actually was, got sick for quite a bit and she, well she was recovering.

Hao: What helped her, I think is also to. Be mobile? Is it like be Oh yeah. Like just mobility and mobility. Yeah. Just working on something. Yeah. So yeah, working on something And I actually started posting it and started carrying the la Booboo with me and with the outfit that she made. And like people started asking where I got it from.

Hao: And so I started posting those outfits and people people would ask me where I got it from and I would say, it's from my mom. And so I posted it just so people could buy them. And when people buy them, my mom gets really happy and giddy. And so I'm like, okay, we'll continue this. And it got bigger. 

J.R.: Does she make every outfit?

J.R.: Or how do [00:21:00] you 

Hao: Not every outfit. Most of them I would curate pieces and bits and pieces and then I would combine it. I think that's why people like it better. 'cause it's already a set instead of like. One individual, like 

J.R.: outfits or individual pieces.

J.R.: Mm-hmm. Like a shirt or something? 

Hao: Yeah. I thought of making merchs to replicate the merchs, you know, how kpop merch can be so expensive. 

J.R.: Could you walk us through this whole process? So you started off with making an outfit.

J.R.: Mm-hmm. Someone's like, oh, that's cool. And then you're like, oh, maybe I can post it. Mm-hmm. And then maybe sell it. 

Hao: Yeah. 

J.R.: So how does the process of, does someone first ask for an outfit or do you have a whole listing or where do you come with the outfits? Or is it demand first then supply?

J.R.: Or how does it work? 

Hao: Yeah, so I sometimes it's very random. I would think of things. Tina has been on a concert, so I thought of, oh, maybe I can make the merch, like little merch for her labubu. That's where the merch came from, like the idea came from. Mostly something that's trending or random things that I think of. 

J.R.: So you think of a random thing and then what happens there? You post it and [00:22:00] people find it and they wanna buy it? Or how does it work? 

Hao: Yeah. I usually make it to a point where I would think that I would like it first so that if it doesn't work out, then I could still keep it 'cause I would still like it.

J.R.: Oh, okay. So you're like, oh, I think this would be a good idea. Yeah. So then you make it yourself. Yeah. And then you post it on Instagram or something?

Hao: Mostly Instagram. Sometimes TikTok if I have time. 'cause it also takes a lot of effort to actually take pictures, post it, make the listing. All the whole process. And it's only gonna be done by me. Like my mom would do creating, but everything else is gonna be me. 

J.R.: So it's like one at a time. Mm-hmm.

J.R.: And you just kind of make it, and then if someone wants to buy that one, they can buy that specific one. 

Hao: Mm-hmm. 

J.R.: Gotcha. So then do your customers, they find you on either Instagram or TikTok or something, and then how do they buy it? What's that process? 

Hao: I usually post mine at this shop called Merca.

Hao: It's like Etsy, it's like an online store too. People would ask me like, why not here? Because I already [00:23:00] started here and I already have like customers there. And that comes back to that shop and it's on its own.

Hao: I know on its own it is already really hard to manage. Right. And if I expand more

J.R.: to another platform 

Hao: Yeah. And it's inventory is really hard to manage too. Like I have a lot of pendings to do right now. I have a lot of things that I need to take pictures of and edit, make videos so that.

Hao: One thing also that they don't tell you when you start a business is you're gonna be forced to be like a creator at one point because that's how how're you're

J.R.: meaning like, like you content creator.

Hao: Yeah. Because at some point, because that's how you're going to advertise.

J.R.: So then when you said you have pending stuff, you mean from a marketing side. But do people come and like commission or ask for certain things and do you have a backlog like that? 

Hao: Yeah, when I started exploring the merch for K-Pop, there's actually a wide market for it.

Hao: So people would comment that they would actually [00:24:00] want to pay money for it. And I was like. Hmm. Maybe I should do this more. 

J.R.: So people were commenting about like how they would buy it. So then if somebody wanted like a labu outfit or something.

J.R.: Mm-hmm. How does that process work? Do they just DM you or is that they requested

Hao: Yeah, they could. Yeah, they DM me or

Hao: Yeah, mostly also my coworkers I brought Labu to work too. Yeah. And so my coworkers also would try to ask me like, do you have this kind of outfit?

Hao: Or some of them, and then, can you make this for me?

J.R.: So I have two different sort of questions. One of them is, what are your aspirations for this business or side businesses or things that you like working on?

J.R.: Like the crafting? So what are your aspirations in terms of scale? And I wanna touch upon this because some people think when they think of a business, they think the ultimate goal is to have a billion dollar bus. You know what I mean? Like it's that sort of thing. Yeah. But there's different, that would be nice, but Yeah.

J.R.: But there are different levels of what people want to do. And so I'm curious like, what are your aspirations? And usually some people ask oh, did you [00:25:00] wanna scale it to be higher? And sometimes people don't. So what are your aspirations? 

Hao: This one I'm doing it because it makes my mom happy first of all because she's happy when someone buys her stuff.

Hao: And it's just something that I like to do right now. Who knows how long I am I'm gonna be into Labubu. I'm not taking it seriously. I still have work. And so this is just like a part-time that I thought that I could make money on the side.

Hao: Now I am using some of that money to take my parents into vacation. My mom got sick and while she was recovering there was a timeframe where she lost her short-term memory and she doesn't know what's happening.

Hao: 'Cause one thing that I told her if you get better, I'm gonna take you to a cruise. And then, so recently, she's like, I think I remember you telling me like, look, my memory might not 

Hao: be that good, but you said, yeah, you told 

Hao: me you're gonna take me on a cruise on hour. You like, 

Hao: Yeah.

Hao: They're my dad and my parents like your [00:26:00] anniversary. And I'm like, about that actually. You're right. And so I'm very thankful that she's cleared to go to a vacation. I was like, okay, we can do it now.

J.R.: That's cool. So for you, it was something that you enjoyed doing. Mm-hmm. It was like a passion project. Yeah. And you get to work with your mom. Mm-hmm.

J.R.: And so it's a double benefit. And now you can also go on vacations. That's really cool.

J.R.: I guess the last thing I wanted to ask on this is for people, since you're not only very creative and crafty, but you're entrepreneurial. Do you have any advice for people who have similar ideas?

J.R.: Like maybe they're also creative and they wanna try to start a side business or something. Do you have any advice for how they can get into it? 

Hao: I would say just do it. Do it not Nike sponsored, but 

J.R.: yeah.

Hao: Just do it. Just try it. I mean, nothing's bad's gonna happen if it fails so.

J.R.: What do you think stops people from just doing it?

Hao: At first what stopped me is will people really buy this stuff? But

J.R.: like, will it work?

Hao: Yeah. Will it work? I think that's the main thing.

J.R.: I was watching this video actually this morning at the gym of how [00:27:00] to do something, it's called Fear Setting. It's an exercise where the reason why people don't do anything is 'cause of fear. Yeah. And what stops them is this sort of ambiguous, oh no, I'm scared that the world will explode and I'll die. Mm-hmm. If I do this thing. Mm-hmm. And so what he recommends is you write it down because when you actually think about, okay, what is the worst case scenario?

J.R.: Mm-hmm. 

J.R.: And when you put it onto paper, your brain is like, oh, actually it's not that bad. Mm-hmm. And then the second question is. Okay, if the worst case scenario, how can you mitigate that? Mm-hmm. And it's okay, worst case scenario is I throw all of my life savings into it and it doesn't work, and now I'm broke and I have to live under a bridge.

J.R.: And then the next question is, okay, well can you do something that scales it back? Meaning like mm-hmm. If you wanted to start a business, you don't have to throw in all your money. Could you do a proof of concept risk? And that's, yeah. Yeah. Like risk mitigation. Yeah. So I think about that as okay, so what is the lowest proof of concept, lowest amount of risk that I can do in this direction, just to see how it goes.

J.R.: And then I can iterate. If I don't like to do it anymore, I can stop.

J.R.: And it's not like I invested a hundred thousand dollars into a McDonald's and now I'm stuck. [00:28:00] But it's yeah, I just paid, some, like a little bit of money for our website. Like mm-hmm. I put some effort into an Instagram, but that's pretty much it.

Hao: Yeah. 

J.R.: So if you just kind of write it down and maybe plan a little bit and then just try it, it's very low risk, right? 

Hao: Yeah. And also maybe they don't really have the time to do it, to execute plans.

Hao: So maybe that's also a reason why.

J.R.: let's say they come to you and be like, okay, I would love to do my own thing, but I don't have time. What would you say to them then at that point? 

Hao: Well, if you really want something to work and if you want positive results to your craft, then you would make time for it.

Hao: Yeah. There's no reason to. 

J.R.: Whenever I get the time reason or excuse, I always tell them. It's well, you're already doing things. So clearly those things you're doing are important to you. And so it's more of an issue of priority. Yeah. Not of time. Because we have the same amount of time.

J.R.: And so I think I would also recommend for the audience, I guess if they're curious about this stuff. Think about what you spend your time on. And maybe you do want to [00:29:00] just watch tv. Mm-hmm. Or Netflix or whatever. Try to do something creative because you'll be surprised at how fun it can be to actually work on something.

J.R.: Not to scale it to be a million dollar business, but even to just to do a creative thing just to start. Yeah. Yeah. For people who like us, who like maybe try to do something, it's actually more fun and you kind of end up wanting to do more of it. Yeah. Which is like a positive feedback loop. So I'd recommend just try to do something.

J.R.: Yeah. You know, small baby steps, right?

J.R.: Oh, here's another thing I heard about. I saw another video that was like, "passion follows competence."

J.R.: Mm-hmm. And so the maxim is follow your passions.

J.R.: Mm-hmm. And that's, people are like, I don't know what I'm passionate about. And then, so usually how you approach that is, well, what do you, what like to do in, what do you like to do? And what are you good at? Yeah. And when you follow those things, usually you're passionate about something that you're actually good at.

J.R.: Rarely are you passionate about something that you suck at. You're like, oh, I suck at bowling. I love doing, it's usually when you develop skill first. Yeah. So therefore you should try a lot of things. Develop skill. Mm-hmm. And then your [00:30:00] passions, I believe will come out of that, right? 

Hao: Yeah. 

J.R.: Okay. Anything else? Otherwise we'll move over to our third topic. Any of the things we missed 

Hao: surviving so far? Yeah, surviving. Okay. 

J.R.: More than halfway. Alright, so this last topic, we won't go too far into it, but it is like being introverted and adjusting to a new country.

J.R.: So you already answered this, but you moved to the states when you were like in your late teens.

Hao: The sad part is as I was busy adjusting my life here, of course my friends and other people that I kind of left there in the Philippines are also busy going on and figuring their lives.

Hao: Naturally there was a friendship drifting. I'm thankful for being born with technology because at least if, even if we don't really talk that much, we still see each other from time to time. The world won't stop for you and so you just gotta live with it and continuously living.

Hao: One phrase that I saw recently. As you mature, not like you think that nothing is more of a loss, it's more of a redirection. It's like [00:31:00] a lesson or protection and realization.

J.R.: So I guess just to go back, you said that it's reframing of how people see loss. Mm-hmm. But it could just be redirection or refocus. 

Hao: Yeah.

J.R.: What were some of the hardest challenges moving over to the states. Usually when people move here later in life.

J.R.: Mm-hmm. It's what are some challenges, but also what are some things that you've gotten used to and culture wise and some things you haven't gotten used to. 

Hao: McDonald's doesn't have rice. Ooh, rice and McDonald's. Yeah. And I was like, I got here. And it's like, why? Where's the rice? And no red hot dogs. I grew up like with red hot dogs I feel 

J.R.: At McDonald's?

Hao: No, not McDonald's, but in like super supermarkets. 

J.R.: They don't have any here 

Hao: now they do. Oh, I think, yeah. Okay. They have it. I think it's, I don't know if it's a food coloring like America. Yeah. But yeah. 

J.R.: Yeah. Yeah, my and my aunts and uncles used to cook a [00:32:00] lot of like eggs and red hot dogs. Tosino and longanisa, like the whole Filipino breakfast spread.

J.R.: So I have two little cousins. One of 'em a girl, one one of 'em is a boy. And the girl always ate the eggs and the boy always ate the hot dog. Their dad always cooked. Just those two things. Uhhuh. And it was so funny 'cause I'm like.

J.R.: Why do you guys just only eat the hot those most people, they eat both, right? Mm-hmm. And you kind of mix it in and mm-hmm. It kind of compliments each other, but they're so 

Hao: separate. I only 

J.R.: eat eggs and I only eat the hot dogs. Oh, 

Hao: that's funny. 

J.R.: Yeah. I don't know why. Maybe they've, they're in college now, so I think that 

Hao: do ventured into others.

J.R.: They probably ventured. I hope so. What else? Anything else that you haven't gotten used to or have gotten used to? 

Hao: I can't think of anything right now, but 

J.R.: or things that are shared, 

Hao: the money, I don't know what the money looks like when I first moved here. I don't know who's in the bill.

Hao: So, but then I know that there's like numbers on the side, but don't feel now. Who, the present. Who the, no, not the president. I know them. I just don't know how they look too. I didn't grow up 

J.R.: here. 

Hao: So [00:33:00] you 

J.R.: know the number, obviously the numbers are there, but mm-hmm. You mean you don't know who the people 

Hao: are?

Hao: Yeah. The person who is in the bill. 

J.R.: Yeah. Most even Americans don't know who they 

Hao: are. Oh really? 

J.R.: Well, I mean, you know, there's like Benjamin's, right? Yeah. People, those are hundreds. Washington's are one who's five? Lincoln. Just my memory now. See? Made you 

Hao: think now? No, but I'm 

J.R.: like, I'm sure average Americans don't, they're just like, here's a 10 or 

Hao: here's a, but now it's like tapped out 

J.R.: who's 20?

Hao: I don't know. 

Hao: I don't remember. 

J.R.: Is it? I was like, is it that racist guy? Like no, actually I'm sure they were all racist at one. Anyways. Okay, so 

Hao: language barrier too. Language 

J.R.: barrier, yeah. That makes sense. And you're still translating from the gala? Yeah. My 

Hao: head right now is translating. Translating.

Hao: You're sending, you're sending the 

J.R.: info live from the Philippines and it comes back? 

Hao: Yeah. It makes round drip. It makes round 

J.R.: trip while you're, your internet speeds pretty fast.

J.R.: Is there anything else that helped you adjust to this new place?

J.R.: Like what do you think helped? 

Hao: I would say having [00:34:00] my immediate family here really helped me. Instead of being by myself alone. My friends, I mean my sister's friends, 'cause they're mostly Filipinos. It's easy to reconnect and they also speak the language, the Filipino language. So like we talk, and though I'm not close to them that much, it's still easier to adjust if there are people of the same culture.

Hao: Yeah. 

J.R.: Also, maybe K-pop finding competition. Yeah. Actually 

Hao: you're right. Yeah. Yeah. That's. On my list too. When I first moved here, my I suddenly stumbled into a video where this group is just randomly walking into the Han River, I think in Korea. So I was watching this video and I got curious on this group because they're like, they look so diverse.

Hao: So the group that I'm talking about is got seven. The members, most of them is from different countries. And so I felt like I kind of [00:35:00] relate to them at some point because they are also from different country and they are forced to be in Korea to train. And that's even harder because they don't even have their families with them, unlike me.

Hao: And so, and they're doing something that they're passionate about. And so it inspired me and it gave me comfort to actually support them too. I like their music and just the way that they bond and hang out, like random videos that I saw. And eventually I had BTS too, like after seeing Got, 7.. 

J.R.: That was the first class you and Tina took for me was Got7. 

Hao: That's how I met Tina actually. Yeah. From God seven. Oh. 

J.R.: How long before taking my class was that, like, when did you guys first meet?

Hao: Probably a year. 

J.R.: Okay. Yeah. Did you dance before or how did you 

Hao: When I was a kid actually. Yeah. Filipino. 

J.R.: Right. I, I mean, aside from that, obviously she danced Filipino, but like, I was curious what your level of experience was by that point. 

Hao: So when I was in elementary, I used to be in a group that dance and competes, [00:36:00] but then I moved on to a new school. The high school.

J.R.: Competes Like what, like what kind of dance?

Hao: Random, most likely, like pop songs. There's this, is it a Girl group? I could have blessy like correctly me on this, but it's, they're called Sex Bombs.

J.R.: Mm, yeah. 

Hao: Those are the type of dances that we would dance to. 

J.R.: It was like Filipino pop. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. 

Hao: So those are the dances that we would do as a kid. 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Hao: And compete with it. We won a couple of times too. 

J.R.: Of course. You won. 

Hao: No, but 

J.R.: typical Filipino childhood, you just 

Hao: dance, you just forcing.

Hao: And my parents were actually surprised that I joined that group and I'm like, you are joining. What? Because they, they don't really force any whatever we want. They, so they're very supportive. So yeah. I joined it without consulting them first, and so I was in a group and. Suddenly. Next thing we know we are winning.

J.R.: Yeah. Wait, what age was this or what grade? 

Hao: I was in elementary, so very young, like nine, eight. And then suddenly I had [00:37:00] to move to a different school. So I stopped. Never danced again.

J.R.: Anything else we left out or you wanted to cover? Otherwise we'll go into rapid fire. 

Hao: Not really. Okay. We're going ready for rapid fire. This is the 

J.R.: fun one. So they're rapid fire questions, but you can take as long as you want to answer up to 10 minutes.

J.R.: Billboard question. If you could put up a sign for millions of people to see, what would it say?

J.R.: Non-commercial, probably metaphorical. 

Hao: Work it till you make it. I know that the real saying is fake it till you make it. But for me being true to yourself and being authentic to yourself would go farther than pretending.

Hao: And so it could also free your mind and soul. So I like being just be yourself. Mm-hmm.

J.R.: That makes sense. Because when you say fake it, people are gonna think, oh, so I'm supposed to be inauthentic. I like that.

J.R.: What is one of the hardest challenges you face, and what did you learn from it?

Hao: I would say that it's actually the language barrier. And so, it's really hard till now. Like I'm struggling right now, [00:38:00] like I'm panicking inside. I'm just, maybe I look like I'm calm right now, but I am dying inside 

J.R.: slowly weathering away on the inside. This is one thing that I am 

Hao: Yeah. And I'm trying to overcome too.

Hao: Being on a camera Yeah. And talking to people more. 

J.R.: You're doing great. And plus, thank you. What if no one sees it then you're good. Right? Okay. 

Hao: That's 

J.R.: the, that's the mom. 

Hao: I'm on camera, I'm on the tv. 

J.R.: That's the positive thing about not being viral is like, okay. Worst case scenario, no one sees it. Cool.

J.R.: Self-inflicted wound. Do you have a story about something that's gone wrong in your life and you can't blame anyone? 'cause it's your own fault? 

Hao: Okay. I have two for this actually. One is I am really picky with restrooms. And so when I wa used to work on the field with the providers and we would go to facilities, we all know that public restrooms can be dirty.

Hao: And so ever since I, I was a kid too. I had to be transferred to a different school because I have to pick it with the restroom. Oh. And I won't drink [00:39:00] water because water makes you go to the restroom. 

J.R.: Oh, I see. 

Hao: And so it caused some in infection. Infection and it reached my kidneys and like on my blood too.

Hao: So Yeah. Don't do that. Yeah, just buy like toilet, like you can buy individual packed toilet seats or covers and wipes too. So. Don't be like me. Yeah. 

J.R.: And also hydrate. 

Hao: Yeah. Stay hydrated. See, I'm drinking water. 

J.R.: You're like, see, I'm drink water. Yeah. You're like, blessy. It's like, you see, I ate one broccoli.

J.R.: What? 

Hao: Yeah. At least, right. 

J.R.: If you could redo one thing, what would you do differently? 

Hao: Do you remember Doge coin? Coin? Or like, or the crypto? Yeah, the crypto. My sister encouraged me to buy some stock, like from like you, if you have extra money, just buy some.

Hao: And so I did at the lowest of it. And so I could have really made a lot of money if I want to. But I was talking to Dee, and then I was talking and accidentally sold it when 

J.R.: [00:40:00] Oh, what? Yeah. I 

Hao: could have went up. 

J.R.: And So wait, you were talking to him and while talking to him, I was accidentally sold it.

Hao: Yeah. I accidentally sold it and now I. But 

J.R.: how did, okay, so you're talking on the phone? Yeah. Or like in person? 

Hao: Uhhuh? No, on the phone. On the phone. I was on the phone and I'm like trying to navigate the app. Oh. And I'm like, if I could redo it, I'm not gonna touch, touch it. So David's, why 

J.R.: you not rich? 

Hao: Oh yeah.

J.R.: I see, I see. Yeah. I mean, we all have those moments, right? Where it's oh, I shouldn't have done that. But then why didn't you rebuy it at that point? 

Hao: No. 'cause it's already expensive for me to buy it. Like, oh, it's not worth it for me. So it went. So 

J.R.: it went up and then you sold it? Yeah. Okay. So you made some money.

Hao: I made some money, but I could have made more, basically. But then actually for me, like in my head, stock markets and cryptos is actually a form of gambling too.

Hao: And losing money is like very important to me. Yeah. Like same if even if I lose $20, I feel like I should have spent it on money. Or coffee.

J.R.: Or coffee. [00:41:00] Money's important to me. And so is coffee. Yeah. 

Hao: Staying caffeinated, caffeinated 

J.R.: and sort of hydrated. 

Hao: Yeah. 

J.R.: If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be now? 

Hao: I would just say have faith and more confidence to yourself and you'll be okay. Not have to always please everyone. And choose your battles.

Hao: Always try to choose your battles. As long as you know to yourself the truth and your parents or like your family knows the truth and your loved ones knows the truth, then just continue protecting your peace. 

J.R.: In the last few years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has improved your life?

Hao: I would say this is also one thing that I'm trying to work on right now. It's overthinking.

J.R.: You're thinking about overthinking? 

Hao: Yeah. Like right now I'm super overthinking. There's so much information in my head right now that's going through in my head. What David always tells me is to live in the present. And not to worry about the future too much because [00:42:00] what if you look back and all you remember is you worrying and not being able to enjoy now. Fear is a byproduct of your imagination. And don't waste your time worrying on something that you can't control. And live in the present. And stay out of your comfort zone if you want to grow.

J.R.: Yeah. Fear's the mind killer. 

J.R.: What significant event in your life shifted the way you see things?

Hao: Like I said earlier, my mom got sick recently. She complained about headache and next thing we know she has stroke. And so it shifted me in a way that it reminded me that life is too short and that I have to really make the most out of it, and they're not getting like younger, so I need to really step up and do my best to be there too for them.

J.R.: How do you define success?

Hao: I would say it's going to be my parents because they have, my parents have four kids and [00:43:00] it's really hard to raise four kids in general. And they were able to raise us in a very caring and loving, supportive environment that I'm really grateful for. I don't even know if I be able to raise one, especially in this economy.

Hao: So, and they were still together through it all until now. And I think these days that's very rare for people to have that, your parents still together. And so I am really blessed to have them still. So success for me is being able to raise kids that are now okay with each other, very supportive.

J.R.: What is something that you've been pondering recently or something that you often think about? 

Hao: I've been pondering about if I am really gonna be able to raise a kid, I know I like to joke about I love returnables.

Hao: So like you borrow them and then you return it. 'cause you can only be responsible. Yeah. So I can only borrow them for a certain time and then, oh, you're [00:44:00] crying. Okay. Bye. So yeah. But then if you really have one, you cannot return it back. It's non-refundable. Oh. That's not how that works. No, darn.

J.R.: Do you have a favorite hot take or something that you think most people wouldn't agree with? 

Hao: Maybe just in our culture, Filipino culture, is the taboo of sending your loved ones to a nursing care facility because they said that you're being ungrateful for it. But for me, you're actually, if the situation is really up to the point where you have to send them there, then there must be a really deeper reason. And you're actually sending them there is way better because they have more benefits there. They are left in the care of professionals that really studied for what they are for. And I've witnessed and went to a lot of different nursing home facilities and I've seen them. They have pretty fun activities there too.

Hao: You have a social worker that would send [00:45:00] services for you. There's everything that they do for the patients that to make sure that they are taken care of. So even they would send like dental care, optometrist or podiatrist. So I think it's actually one of the wisest choice instead of trying to do it on your own too when you're not really knowledgeable with how to take care or equipped to do that.

Hao: Yeah. Equipped to do it. They also have therapy sessions and everything that they would need. I would think that before judging people that sends people to nursing home facilities, maybe think about why.

J.R.: That makes sense. Like instead of. Going on the stigma and judging. Mm-hmm. You could do your own research and see what it's like, and there's a reason why a lot of people go there. Mm-hmm. And it could actually be a better situation. Like you're saying. Mm-hmm. I like that.

J.R.: I'm gonna jump forward. Any favorite books, movies, videos, articles or media that you share or recommend the most?

Hao: One is already shared by Blessy, the Three Idiots. I like that movie so much too because we're twins.

Hao: But [00:46:00] if it's more recent, I would recommend watching how to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies and When Life Gives You Tangerines. 

J.R.: Those are movies. 

Hao: Yeah, those one is a movie and one is a series both in Netflix. 

Hao: It gave me more perspective into life.

Hao: In terms of being more connected to my family and appreciating them more. Actually, I haven't finished when life gives you tans. 'cause I always have to prepare mentally every episode because it makes me cry every episode. Yeah. Oh, how many super happy? How many? 

J.R.: One season.

J.R.: How many episodes? 

Hao: One season? I don't remember how many episodes though. 'cause I haven't finished it. Okay. Finish it. Yeah. 

J.R.: Yeah. I'll link it so people can check it out. Okay, cool. We have reached the end of Rapid Fire. Congrats. You can exhale now. You survived. You survived. 

Hao: Oh no. 

J.R.: We have our last question.

J.R.: So we always end with gratitude. Shout to my mom. So Hao, what are you grateful for? 

Hao: I am grateful for the inventor of air conditioning. No, I'm grateful. It's true. And we're done. It's [00:47:00] really hot these days. I'm grateful for my loved one's health and I hope that. They're far from being sick. It's really hard when your loved ones are going through some hard times in terms of sickness and health.

J.R.: Do you have a final ask from the audience or any final takeaways you'd like them to have from this conversation? 

Hao: I would say what's your life after work? What do you do for fun? What most like what people do for fun these days? I would like some advice and suggestions. 

J.R.: Oh, you want to ask them for?

J.R.: Yeah. Oh, I see. But you know what you do af your life, so that's your handle. That's why it's a joke. Yeah. 

Hao: Alright. There's life after work, of 

J.R.: course. All right. Well, I was gonna ask, where can we find you? Social media handles, if people wanna see what you're up to or connect, where can they find you?

Hao: I'm sure JR will link the Yeah, like the, these accounts. 

J.R.: Yeah. 

Hao: They can mostly find me these days. Caddying for someone at Goldfield. 

J.R.: Just a random person.

Hao: Yeah, a random person. No joking. But [00:48:00] yeah, I'm more active through Instagram mostly. The ones that J.R. will link for sure. Yeah, you can check out what you're up to and if ever you are working on a care facilities or a nursing home that needs mobile dental company, maybe reach out to, if you want I won't say the name because for privacy reasons too, but if you're interested on mobile dental company.

Hao: Yeah. That was service for elderly and TRCs or like psych places. Yeah. 

Hao: I like that. It's like a, it's like a plug for your work, but also to protect them from privacy. You won't say it. Yeah. 

Hao: It's more my privacy. I see. That's cool. 

J.R.: Cool. I like it. All right, Hal, that is it. Congrats you survived. Thank you for being here.

J.R.: I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, so thank you for 

Hao: making it easy for me. Yeah. No, I'm, yeah. I feel like I'm warmed up now. 

J.R.: Yeah, you're warmed. I got, that was the second, third person say. Okay, now we're at the end. I feel comfortable. Okay. 

Hao: We can start again now. I think we can start, 

J.R.: yeah. Now.

J.R.: Okay. Well I'm glad you had a good time. I appreciate [00:49:00] it. I'm gonna take a lot of notes.

Hao: Hopefully like some people would get something at least. Yeah, yeah. I'm sure they'll just a very simple citizen of United States America.

Hao: She 

J.R.: got her bio. I spruce it up, but she's like, I'm just a simple citizen. 

Hao: Yeah actually, I'm gonna go say something about my bag. My cousin made this bag, she carved it herself. So cool. It's like a wearable art. So like she's from Pa de Laguna, so yeah, something, a piece from where I came from. Yeah. 

J.R.: And it can be a defense tool if you wanna pack someone 

Hao: with it. Yeah. It's very, it's a wood actually. 

J.R.: So, or if someone wants to punch you, you hold it up and then they hurt their hand. Yeah, 

Hao: I would recommend checking her out. Her name is Charming Bmore. I'm really proud of her and I really love her 'cause she's also one of the influence that I would like to share.

J.R.: I like it. All right, so I'll do my final sign off.

J.R.: Thank you guys for being here. I really appreciate it. Thank you. Be sure to like, follow, subscribe, leave us five stars. Leave Hao love in the comments. Thank you. Reminder to always be kind to other people, especially yourself. And remember that you can always learn something [00:50:00] from someone if you take the time to listen.

J.R.: So thank you guys for being here. 

Hao: A friend that listens.