Mexico Moments

We visited Ciudad de México, Mexico for a few days. Our primary purpose is to watch the Concacaf Champions Finals of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC against Cruz Azul. They lost (badly) in the end but it was a great experience to watch a historic event.

We spent a few days in the city before and after the game. I tried Café de Olla (Mexican coffee). We ate tacos and other Mexican food. We also visited Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Teotihuacan Pyramids.

Café de Olla (Mexican coffee) in Mexico

I would love to go back again in Mexico soon.

Half Marathon at BMO Vancouver Marathon 2025

After trying the 8k at the BMO Vancouver Marathon 2024, I went back to running a half marathon at the BMO Vancouver Marathon 2025.

I finished the 21.1 km run in 2:11:47, which is a little faster than the last time I ran there (2023). It is a little slower than what I got last year at Vancouver Half Marathon 2024 but comparing the same route means a little improvement.

The record for the run according to the Strava app was 21.62 km in 2:11:48 . It also said I got a few best efforts: Half Marathn (02:08:38) and 20k (2:01:34).

It's good to be back and the postcard with personal results is a great souvenir. I'm hoping I can run again next year.

Top 4 for 2024

Here are the top 4 highlights of this year for me, in no particular order.

New App: MP2 Calculator

I released a new app called MP2 Calculator on Android and on the web (https://mp2calc.sweldongpinoy.com). MP2 Calculator is an app for computing how much your MP2 (Modified Pag-IBIG 2) savings may grow based on actual dividend rates. I have built the MP2 Calculator Android app using Kotlin and Jetpack Compose and the app is now my first to be developed using 100% Jetpack Compose.

Fastest Half Marathon, First 8k

I ran my best (so far) half marathon at the Vancouver Half Marathon 2024 with a record of 2:10:52. It was a few minutes faster than the previous record I had, which was at the same race last year.

I also ran my first 8k at BMO Vancouver Marathon 2024.

Play Store Listing Certificate

After the previous certificate expired this year, I took again Google Play Academy’s Play Store Listing Certificate.

Work in Progress

I have been working on an app with a startup based in France which we have released publicly this year. My co-authors and I am also working on the third edition of our book How to Build Android Apps with Kotlin, which should be available soon on Packt and on Amazon.

I also released updates to my apps and projects, including the 2025 changes for Sweldong Pinoy and Budget Pinoy and toll fee increases for Toll Pinas.