Driving school

marunong naman ako mag drive ng automatic talagang takot lang ako sa traffic. Yun yung dahilan kung bakit ng disisyon akong pumasok sa driving school, para mawala ang takot ko sa mga kotseng nasa paligid ko. Limang araw lang yung pinili ko, pinakamaikli dahil refreshment lang naman kelangan ko. May kamahalan yung 5 araw na yun pero inisip ko na lang na investment ko yun sa buhay ko, dahil habang buhay ko naman magagamit yung skill na yun. Hindi naman pwedeng pagwala akong driver wala din. Nag enjoy naman ako sa limang araw na yun, mabait pa yung tutor ko. linagpasan na namin yung basic dahil sa drive test kaya ko naman. Kaya unang araw ko, sa traffic agad kami. at ilang beses ako napatayan dahil my clutch yung kotse. Pero okay lang naman, dahil pagdating ng ika tatlong araw para na kong pro driver(yabang ko lang). Kung iisipin hindi sulit yung 5 araw ko, dahil dapat 1 oras sa isang araw, eh pagpatak ng ikatlong araw 45 minutes na lang dahil medyo mayabang na ko, mabilis na rin takbo ko, kaya mabilis din namin naikot yung sudad.

wala na kasi yung ate ko, pumunta na ng ibanf lugar, gusto ko sana ako naman ang mgdrive para sa nanay ko, kaya gustong gusto ko matuto, pero my mga bglaang disisyon na nagyari, kaya ngayon na marunong na ko mgdrive sa traffic, nghihintay na lng ako ng tsempo kung kelan ko yun magagawa. Sana bigyan parin ako ng oras para dun. Na ipangako ko kasi sa sarili ko noon na i didrive ko ang nanay ko, hindi man ng sarili kong kotse pero atleast kahit minsan nagawa ko yun.

My dad's single, abrupt decision, that drastically change my life. I don't really knew his plan, but I know deep inside it is for the best of everyone.

It frighten me just thinking about it, I don't really know if I'm ready for this. Nobody knows why he made this sudden decision, we had several explanation of our own, but nobody can actually tell. It frightens me, us, everybody around him.

This is very unusual of him.

He is only 53, too young to retired from his own beloved business and he commands me to take charge of it. He is simply giving it to me, to handle it on my own. The trust is so delicate I'm afraid to touch it, it might crash easily. He still  take care of the accounting and the orders but everything that happens inside the store is my concern.

I know, i can handle this, as long as he is there, i know everything will be okay.

My love story

Our love story was just ordinary like everyone else, we are two strangers who met and suddenly became a lover.

Everything began last 2009, it was my 22nd birthday and since my friends left for good and some already graduated, I was all alone in a big city. I remember my close friend Mark is still in the city, so I decided to call him and ask him out. I also asked him to bring some of his friends because it is awkward that we drink one on one. I'm a better drinker, so I might drag him out of the club in the end and he is way too big for me.

So he brought his best friend Perbz, and one of their friends, Ricky. I never met both of them before, so I thought. So we spend the night celebrating my birthday and sometimes I caught myself staring at him. He suddenly looks cute to me, it must be the beer.

I don't remember what happened that night, all I know it end up and he is my boyfriend already. I thought it was just the beer talking that we end up together that night. I'm not even sure if we're going to last for long.

Then the next day, my actual birthday, we ended up drinking again and this time, he ended up to my pad. I thought this was the game he was after. Well, I could play better.

I woke up the next day by him at my side. So we bid farewell and I knew that would be the end, so I thought.

The day came smoothly to me, not expecting him anymore. But he was back, the afternoon of that day, and still came back, everyday of the week that I was still in the city. We spend more time together; we went to mass and dine out together. We lived like a real couple. He stayed to my pad more than he stayed to his boarding house.

I already knew that he was a player, I learned it through time. Well who wants to have a guy who's a player? But it was hard to get rid of him; I was just waiting for the right time.

And the supposedly time came, he was about to graduate and I am about to get away from the city. I cried because somewhat, I already learned to love him.

But I don't really know what happened next, we still end up seeing each other through the summer, I used to visit the city and he is there. And suddenly, the unexpected thing happened, I got pregnant by him. Yeah, the perfect timing where we talked each other and when we are ready to let go, boom! Just like that.

Everything ends, but not us. With the existence of our child our bind became tighter.

2010 we got married and still trying to be strong. We are still trying to believe that everything will be okay. Still surviving and staying in love.

And I remember that Mark told me once that he already brought perbz to the apartment, the place we used to hangout. But Somehow I know he was telling the truth, I just don’t notice him then. We were at the same place but never knew that we going to end up together. I still wonder why cupid didn't hit us at that time and I guess Love also needs a perfect timing.

Minsan naiisip ko ang nakaraan at napapaisip ako, kung bakit ni minsan hindi ko nabalikan ang mga alaala natin.
Mahaba naman ang pinagsamahan natin, doble pa sa haba nung isang tao na matagal kong iniyakan. Iniyakan ko yun ng dalawang taon, pitong buwan lang kami. Ikaw naman, pitong taon, pero hindi ko maalala na iniyakan ko yung araw na yun. Hindi ko rin maalaala my sakit akong naramdam.

My mga oras din naman na maiisip ko yung tayo, pero pipilitin pa, hindi katulad ng iba, bigla na lang maaalala. Ewan ko ba, o sadya mapaglaro lang and tadhana.

Ikaw ang naging una, pero kung titignan, yung pangalawa ang una, dahil sa kanya ako umiyak ng sobra, sa kanya na saktan ng todo at sa kanya natutong lumaban. Unang pagibig, kung tatawagin, dahil lintik na pag-ibig yun, matagal bago nakalimutan at hindi ko din sigurado kung patay na nga iyon. Nakakahiyang aminin na napakabuluhan nung pitong buwan na yun mas makabuluhan sa pitong taon natin pinagasamahan.

Kung iisipin, maraming panyayari satin na pwede kong isumbat sayo, pero pinilit ko na lang manahimik, dahil alam ko, nasaktan kita ng sobra sobra pa. mas mabuti na siguro makita ng tao na ako ang masama, kaysa isipin nila na ikaw. Iyon na lang ang tanging bagay na pwede kong ibigay sayo, sapat na yung kabayaran sa sakit na sa tingin mo ibinagay ko sayo.

Ikinukwento ko ito hindi para isumbat lahat sayo, o linisin ang ano pa mang pangalan ko, dahil matagal na nagyari ang tayo at hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang mga bagay na nagawa ko nun. Itong mga alaala ito ay pilit ko inisip hindi sila dumaan na parang jeep sa alaala ko. Pero nakakalungkot dahil itong mga ito ang tanging alaala ko sayo, sa pitong taong iyon, ito ang nangingibabaw.

-Naalala mo ba nung tayo pa, ipinaguhit mo ang mukha ko, pero pinaguhit mo rin ang mukha ng isa pang babae kaklase mo din

-Meron kng pasalubong na stuff toy malaki yun, pero meron ka rin bingay sa kapitbahay mong babae, stuff din, pero maliit ngalang.

-Meron kang bagong cellphone, hinihiram ko pero hindi ka pumayag dahil hnihiram din yung ng isang kaibigan babae(sino ba talaga ang girlfriend mo?)

-Meron kang kanta para saken, pero meron ka din kanta para sa iba.

-My oras ka para sakin, meron ka din oras para sa kanya, at hindi ko lubos maisip kung bakit pinipilit mong pagsamahin kami nung mga panahon na yun. Nakakainsulto sa parte ko, kung bakit,wag nalang, ayoko ng pahabain pa ito dahil hindi naman ito ganun kaimportante.

Naisulat ko ito para na lang siguro my maisulat ako para sayo. Naisulat ko na ang mga kaibgan ko, mga unang pagibig at anak ko at hindi naman patas na basta basta na lang kitang kalimutan.

Ngayon, naisip ko kung bakit hindi ako na saktan, dahil hindi ko alam kung naging masaya ba talaga ko sayo. Hindi ako mapiling tao, pero ang maging masaya ang tanging gusto ko. Siguro ang pitong taon na yun kung naging masaya ay isa rin sa mga alaalang masaya. At malamang iiyakan ko din iyon.

hindi ako ngsisi dahil bata pa tayo nun. Dahil bata, karapatan natin mgkamali at masaktan. Pero kung ngayon yun, malamang hindi din yun aabot ng pitong taon, dahil mas malakas na ang loob ko upang ipaglaban ang simpleng kaligayahan ko.

Nagkasakitan tayo noon, pero hindi na yun sapat na dahilan para kamuhian pa kita ngayon. Hindi naman ako galit, sadyang may respeto lang ako sa asawa ko para pagaksayahan ka pa ng oras. At hindi ko rin kaya maging kaibigan ka, hindi dahil mahal pa kita, dahil wala na rin kabuluhan ang lahat. Alam kong ganun, dahil minsan na din natin pnilit maging magkaibgan pero hindi maganda ang naging resulta.

Salamat na lang sa mga panahon na nanjan ka sa tabi ko at maraming salamat na pinilit mo na rin lang  kalimutan ang lahat.
Salamat na lang siguro ang masasabi ko, dahil hindi ko kaya magsorry dahil alam ko, patas lang tayo.

O ayan, hindi na ko bubuwistn ng konsenxa ko dahil kahit papanu, nagin parte ka na ng blog na ito. :)

Barbie cake for Barbie

my sister in-law turns eighteen and just like I promise her, I gave her a cake as a gift for her celebration.

Since she was nicknamed Barbie, the cake design that pops in my head was a barbie cake. I know it exist because my sister also had a barbie cake on her 18th birthday bash.

And since I had a thing for cupcakes, I bought cupcakes as well and made it special with picture on top of it.

 

                        

  

I made a tarp design, but unfortunately, i run out of time because of the short notice.

 i know my cake and cupcakes made the party a little bit special.

 The cake my be long gone by now, but i know the happiness it cause is enough to last for a little bit. And for that i'm happy that i made a difference.

The mistress vs the secret affair

                               

 

Itong dalawang pelikulang patok na patok sa pinas ngayong taon. Maraming naghintay para mapanood ito at marami din kinilig habang nanonood. Aaminin ko, isa din ako sa ng hinintay at kinilig rin dahil dito.

The mistress si bea alonzo at si john llyod cruz a bida. Ito ay isang kwento ng bawal na pagibig. Kung saan si bea ay isang kabit, kabit ng ama ni john llyod. pero bago pa malaman ni john llyod ito mahal na nya si bea. Sa huli hindi pa rin sila ngkatuluyan dahil sa situasyon nila.

(At dahil sa dalwang ito, kaya gustong gusto kong mapanood ito.)

The secret affair si anne curtiz, andi eiguiman at derek ramsay naman ang mga bida. Ito naman ay kwento ng love triangle. First love ni andi dito si derek kung saan naman naging gf nya si anne na kaibigan ni andi. Sa huli, wala ng katuluyan sa kanilang lahat.

(at dahil kay anne curtis kaya ko to pinanood)

Hindi ako kritiko ng mga pelikula,pero kung ako tatanungin, sa opinyon ko, mas maganda ang unang pelikula (pero sekreto lang, medyo bias ako, fan kasi ako ni bea at llyodi (:). Mas maraming emosyon na pinakita, mas maganda ang takbo ng kwento, Walang boring na parte.

Samantalang ang pangalawang pelikula ay medyo my boring na parte, yung mga bangayan sa internet, hindi ko nagustuhan. Pero sinasalamin nito ang buhay ng mga kabataang pinoy, mga sosyalera, mga part goers, mga liberated na kabataang pinoy. Aaminin ko, naging parte din ako ng ganitong henerasyon, kaya ayoko nito dahil hindi ko nagustuhan ang parteng ito ng bagong henerasyon.

Hindi ko alam kung sino ang mga inspirasyon ng mga direktor at ng mga script writter ng mga pelikula ito, pero hindi ko gusto na ganito na pala kababaw ang industria ng pelikulang pilipino. Puro love triangle, kabit at puro na lang awayan. Hindi na wholesome, hindi na pangpamilya.

Pilit natin ginagaya ang mga pelikula ng mga banyaga, minsan hindi na tama dahil ipinipilit sa cultura natin ang cultura ng Iba.

Hindi ko naman sinasabing masama yon, ang punto ko lang, nagiging inspirasyon ng mga kabataan ang mga napapanood nila. Malaki ang kinalaman ng mga nakikita ng mga kabataan sa pgkatao nila. Dahil dito ngkakagulo gulo ang sanay dapat na pagasa ng bayan.

Sana sa mga susunod na panahon, maging magandang impluwenxa naman ang mga pelikula, na kukunan ng aral ng mga kabataan, malay natin, magbago ang kabataan dahil ng bago din ang mga masasamang impluwensya sa bansa at yan sana ang gusto ko makita, ang pagbabago sa mabuting paraan ng kabataan.

Hindi naman masamang mangarap kahit pa minsan minsan lang.

Fake Friendship

They say it was amazing when a stranger suddenly became your friend. But I say it hurts big time when you reverse it, when a friend turns into a stranger.

I knew how it feels to lose a friend. But what hurt most is that, that friend is like a sister to me. A soul sister that well, became a snake I think.

A lot of people say that we look alike; they thought we are biological sisters. We look more alike than my true siblings. We used to go bargain hunting, talk over fraps and over margaritas. We shared countless of moments; even other people became envious of us.

I really don't know why people always get distance with her, she always lose friend, she says no one understand her or people used her.

I used to defend her, love her like a sister; she became my confidant, my sister in crime.

But the time came that she did to me what I assumed she did to everyone else, to gossip about me. Spilling every secret I confided with her, spreading every dark story of mine. She criticize me, defined me and she sadly accused me. I thought she would understand but no, maybe that's her way to your life, she will confide and love you and hug you and kick your ass big time. And that kick is enough to wake me up to an illusion that she created.

Now we don't talk anymore, I hardly see her even if she's just around the neighborhood. I stop hating and caring when the wound healed. Even though I don’t speak to her, I still heard same old story, like what she did to me, she's still doing to others over and over again.

I don't hate her anymore. There is a reason enough for her behavior, but I don’t want to dig the old wound, just don't care anymore. She is just a random people to me now, someone who belonged to my past.

I already forgave her for what she did; the damage was not that brutal, the wound finally healed. But accepting her like a friend is not that easy anymore. She maybe a smart ass, but I am now wiser on my own.

I do admit the time came that I miss her company. I miss our sisterly bonding and I realize that missing her is only part of moving on. Now that I get older and gain more understanding, I just wish she find someone better that will change her for a better her.

And I don't worry about her anymore, because I do believe in karma and confidently I would say that it was a big karma that she loses me.  

Coco's Mate

This is coco's second time for mating. The first one gone well and we are hoping this second one will be better.
We really don't have stud this time, not like the first time, Lance was my uncle's dog. So we let the shooter look for a stud for us. Since we don't have enough fund for it, and we really not sure if we can trust the stud owner, we decided to agree for a puppy share.

Little did I know that the studs owner was a brother of an old friend. It was quiet overwhelming knowing that I know the studs owner. The stud name was shadow.

The mating last for three days, it was not easy like the previous one, Coco was hard this time, though the first day gone so well.
She was quite bad tempered that makes the situation aggravating  The shooter needs to gag her because she literally bites, It was depressing looking at her while in a gag.
The third day was not good like the first, but better than the second.

The mating was done by now, we are in the two months waiting period for her to give birth to her little ones, if by chance she was pregnant, and we hope she is.

And I hope this time she will give us a little bit more.

Singapore Getaway

   Another adventure to share, my very own Singapore getaway. Yes, it was not really part of the plan to visit Singapore that soon, but to some significant circumstances, we decided to have a tour, Me, my sister and my mom. 

   We had a travel agent of course, they took care of the tickets and the city tour. We only had half day allotted for the city tour, the rest of the three days, we are on our own. Fortunately, my sister knew someone there and she offers to be our tour guide for half day.

   We arrived in the hotel at around nine in the evening. We stayed at Fragnance Pearl hotel at 21 Loring 14 Geylang, little did we know that that place was not safe, the moment we step on the premises of Geylang, prostitute was everywhere. It was luck that we didn't bring the kids with us. We stayed at the hotel for the first night, We just purchase some food at the nearest 711.

   The next morning the coach fetch us at around nine in the morning for the city tour. There are already four people in the excursion bus, three adult Filipino and one kid. Then we pick up another couple, American I think. Unfortunately, the coach job was just to drive us around, so it was not really a good tour, no one explain to us or share the Singapore culture, we have to learn it own our own.

   Our first stop was in Espalde park, where we saw the Singapore river( I think) and some structure I hardly know. I never learned them because no one explained it. Base on my observation, the museum was one of those structure. We passed in an underground tunnel to take pictures of the magnificent river, with its tall building as a background.

                   

      We dropped by just outside the Ruffles hotel to take pictures. The coach didn't explain the significance of that place but Google says is a colonial style hotel in Singapore and one of the word's most famous hotel. 

   Thai hock-keng I wish I got the right name for it, is a temple where Thai and Buddhism had fusion, two religion at one temple. 

   Chinatown was the fourth stop. We didn't get down from the bus because it was too hot and the time was so little and the driver parked the car a little far and due to my moms condition, she can't walk fast. Though I went down to grab some bottled water.

   The fifth stop was at Ginger garden and the six stop was the most awaited one, the little India. We went to the little India arcade and eat samosa at the nearest restaurant, named Bikanervala.

the last stop was the Arab city, we were only given like ten minutes, so we just decided to stay inside the excursion bus. Beside it was scalding hot.

Our city tour was just 4 hours we wished we had a better tour guide and at least one day so we can really enjoy it. If we just knew, we just toured ourselves, besides the taxi drivers are honest and nicer and a better tour guide. So, at around noon, the tour ended and we decided to let the coach drop us at Vivo city, where my sister and her friend,Ate Athen had planned to meet.

While waiting, we ate our lunch at Baguette where I grab a saigon sandwich and a coke.Ate Athen arrived shortly, we start the afternoon tour at Sentosa boardwalk, we walk a little far to reach the center of Sentosa. Upon arriving we eat at the food court where a variety of food are offered. Different cuisine  from different races. We let ate Athen, our tour guide, choose the food to be tried and it was awesome, even now, I miss the taste of cattle fish.

We already reach the center of Sentosa, where we saw the rotating planet of Universal studio.  We also dropped by at the Hershey store and Canydilicious, where we bought some candies and chocolates.

Then we took a taxi cab going to the street market where we eat noodles, spicy shrimps and different kinds of satay. Then we call it a night. Ate Athen still accompanies us to our hotel and she went home after.

My sister flight bound to Qatar was eight in the morning of the following day, so she was not with us when we toured the zoo. We arrived at around eleven in the morning at the zoo. It was only me and my mom, we just took taxi cab. I hope I brought my daughter with me because I know, she will enjoy herself more than I did. The sight of the living animals made my heart melt. It was amazingly real, that, I will treasure for a lifetime.  I ride the elephant and it was a fun ride. We  leave the zoo at around four in the afternoon. We just ride a taxi cab back to our hotel and waited for the bus that will bring us to the airport.

It was really a short trip, like it just happened half a day. Singapore is not SG without the Merlion, but unfortunately we had no time to visit it. So I am still looking forward to go back and see with my own eye the famous Merlion. But anyway, everything is still SG, I'm happy that at least I had time to visit the place I dreamed to live.

more pictures:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151151087215017.444894.739720016&type=3

Thousand Splendid Suns-Khalil Hosseini

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan’s last thirty years—from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to the post-Taliban rebuilding—that puts the violence, fear, hope, and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives—the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness—are inextricable from the history playing out around them.

Propelled by the same storytelling instinct that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once a remarkable chronicle of three decades of Afghan history and a deeply moving account of family and friendship. It is a striking, heart-wrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love—a stunning accomplishment

I was too affected by this novel. I'll admit this is one of those few adult novels I read, I usually love reading pre-teens and love stories and real life stories and those fantasy novels. It took me off guard reading this. Well I guess it is time to jump out of the comfort zone of my own genre.

I don't know whether because of the brutality about Muslim culture or because of my understanding what it felt being in the war, that touches my soul big time. And it sucks being in both situation right at the same time.

I don't have anything against the Muslims, but I am glad I was not one of them. My heart, my mind and my soul would die, and I don't know if I have the strength to survive its culture. I am strong, but I don't think I am that strong.

I would say I was culture shocked and felt a pang of sadness that I can’t explain. I was culture shock about the Muslim life, how a fourteen years old young girl can suddenly become a mom. Those young girls who can marry a man as old as their grandfather. How those young girls be a slave of man's lust. How those young girls can be unloved when their older husband finds a younger one. How can such man marry a lot of young girls and how can a parent give their young girls away. I can never understand its culture, and I will be happy not knowing it anyway.

I felt sadness about those people whose life suddenly ends because of the selfishness of other human being.  You will never know when a blissful laugh, will turn into a sudden grief. I felt sadness because of those children who doesn't have the chance to feel love, to enjoy education and to have a children of their own, because they have died young.

Maybe one of those children might change the world, might be one of those successful people who would save our world today. One of those children might invent something big, or can explore outer space and find a second earth. We will never know, because they died and no one mourns for them.

Now I do understand when they say some of the children never enjoy their childhood. Their childhood are stolen for them, they never did enjoy it.

I suddenly fear death, I never thought about it, but it creep me now. How would I like to die? Can I choose it? Would I die young and brave? Or would I die with sudden death. I am afraid of it, I will no longer see my daughter and embrace her, and I would love to grow old with her. And I hope this creepy feeling will leave me as soon as it came.

I am thankful though that I did enjoy my childhood, I learn to write and read, I learn many things and I am happy being part of a culture where woman, like me, can express herself.

Reality strikes me hard and I am glad it did.

Caramoan Islands Adventure

    When my sister came home for a vacation last May of this year, she treats the family for island hopping adventure. Me, my husband, my daughter, my niece, my nephew, my two cousins and my two more sisters together with Issa, my sisters boyfriend from Jordan, had a Caramoan adventure.

   From CWC(Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex), we rented a van going to Sabang port. We left the said perimeter at 5:30 in the morning and it takes about 1 and half hour to reach the port. The boat that will take us to the Caramoan island is limited. It was summer that time and there's a lot of tourist already waiting for their turn to ride the boat.  Fortunately, we are already on the list of the upcoming boat.

   From Sabang port, it takes two more hours of boat ride to reach Caramoan Island. We arrived at the island port at around 10 in the morning, a jeepney was waiting for us. The jeepney brought us to the inn where my we are going to stay

           

 

There are two rooms reserved for us, after we ate are meals and rested for awhile, the island hopping began.

   The same jeepney brought us to another port where two smaller boats are waiting for us. (I already forgot the names of the island, but I will describe it in the best possible way)

   The first island was really beautiful, with its blue water and white sand. We spend some time here, the children and the girls swim for a bit while the guys climb to see the lagoon. We take pictures as many as we can and swim in the salty water as much as we can. No matter how long we wanted to stay, we have to move on, there are still more islands to visit.

                   

 

  We didn't stay long at the second island.. It was too hot and less shield. We just stayed for few minutes, just enough to take pictures and swim for a little bit. We keep on running because our bare feet cannot take the heat of the sand.

                        

 

    it was in the third island where we stayed for hours. We ate are lunch and spend half of the afternoon swimming. My two years old daughter, refuses to step on the sand, maybe it feels creepy under her feet. We take pictures and swim until we are tired of it. I remember putting a life vest to my daughter and we swim at the middle of the water. She was singing her heart out, with the tune of her favorite cartoon, Pororo. She was so happy until she had to step on the white sand again.

                   

 

    In the fourth island, some of us didn't get down from the boat. It was a small island with cave and tall rocks. We just waited for the rest to take some pictures. We passed the Gota Island, where the survivor shows took place. It was really a nice island, too bad, it was forbidden that time. So we all just have to stare at it.

   The fifth island was packed with a lot of people. Maybe, that was the last stop of every tourist.  The difference is the island has a gray sand. My daughter was so happy with the it, she spend the entire time, swimming .The sun was about to set when we left the island. It took us about 15minutes to reach the port.

  We are all tired when we reached the inn, some of us slept earlier than the usual. The other stayed up till dawn.

  We have to wake up before eight in the morning so not to miss the boat or else, we will stay there until the next morning.

   And that ends our Caramoan adventure. We forgot to purchase a shirt but it doesn't matter, the memory will  last a good time.

   It was wonderful adventure, a moment to cherish. Not everyone can afford such an expensive tour, thanks to my sister for treating us this. Another experience I enjoyed another story to share.

Top places I want to visit here in the Philippines

Of course, I want to explore my own country and I'm dying to explore it actually. Here are the top places I'm dying to visit.

(1) Baguio City      

Baguio is gifted with a variety of cultural, historical and scenic attractions that make it an important and interesting destination, Favorited by local and foreign tourists, whole families on vacation, honeymoon couples and large convention groups.

Boasting great natural beauty, chilly weather, a tourist-friendly people and extraordinary vistas, the City of Pines is the culmination of your search for the idyllic escape from the tropical heat of the Philippine lowlands.

(2) El Nido Palawan

     

     El Nido is located about 238 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s capital. El Nido is bordered by the Linapacan Strait in the north, the municipality of Taytay in the south, the Sulu Sea in the east, and the South China Sea in the west.

   Bacuit Bay is composed of 45 islands and islets, each with its own unique features. Most of the islands in El Nido have pockets of fine white sand beaches and coves – perfect for sunbathing and picnic lunches. Within some of the islands of El Nido are ancient caves with fascinating dripstone formations formed by millions of years of weathering action by rain water trickling into crevices and cavities. In other islands, stretches of limestone walls conceal a world of calm lagoons.

   El Nido’s most fascinating features are the majestic karst limestone cliffs which stand guard over clear waters. Crevices in these limestone cliffs are home to swiftlets (Collocalia fuciphaga) after whose edible nests (“nido” in Spanish and the main ingredient for the gourmet nido soup) the town takes its name.

(3) Cebu City

   Cebu is a city on Cebu Island in the Philippines. It is known as the Queen City of the South. It is one of the most popular destinations in all of the Philippines for foreign tourists. It has the largest sea port in the Philippines, the second largest Air hub and the second largest city in the country. It is the fastest growing large city in the nation with an annual growth of over 5% per year. Cebu is a booming metropolitan area with all the conveniences of a modern city. At the same time, it boasts of natural resources like countless white sand beaches (both commercial and untouched), as well as historical sites that reflect its cosmopolitan past: from the birth of Christianity in Asia, to early commercial trade with Mexico and China, to vestiges of the American colonization of the Philippines.

  

(4) Bohol

 Bohol is the tenth largest island in the Philippines. It is one of the bigger islands in 'the Visayas', the group of islands in the center of the Philippines.  Bohol is, together with 72 small islands around the main island, an island province of 4117 square kilometer. Agriculture, together with the tourism, are the two dominating economic sectors of the main island Bohol.

For tourists who make a tour through the country, Bohol has three main attractions. These are the tropical forest, the smallest monkey in the world and the  'Chocolate Hills'. For 'sun, sea and beach lovers',  there are a lot of possibilities for snorkeling, diving in the unpolluted waters and relaxing on the splendid beaches on some of the surrounding small islands. The Bohol province forms absolutely one of the places to stay for  a longer period.

(5) Davao City

   The City of Davao (Filipino: Lungsod ng Dabaw) is the largest city in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines and the country's largest in terms of land area. It has the third most significant metropolitan centre in the country. It is also the center of trade, commerce, and industry in Mindanao.

Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines. Davao City is also one of several cities in the Philippines that are independent of any province. The city serves as the regional center for Davao Region (Region XI). It has a population of 1,530,365 (2011 census), making it the country's largest city outside Metro Manila and the second overall with the cities of Metro Manila combined. In recent years, Davao City has emerged as the business, investment and tourism hub for the entire southern Philippines. The City Mayors Foundation ranks Davao City as the 87th fastest growing city in the world, and it has been listed by the FDi magazine as the 10th "Asian City of the Future".

The city has good beaches and mountain resorts, and is close to diving spots and the highest peak in the Philippines, Mount Apo. It was awarded by the Department of Tourism as the "Most Livable City" in the Philippines in 2008.

(6)Sagada

   Sagada is a part of the Mountain Province in the Philippines. Going there may be a bit of a challenge because from Manila, Sagada is 15 hours away thru land. From Manila, you must travel thru a 7-8 hour drive to Baguio and another 6-7 hour drive to Sagada. There are buses and, for the more adventurous type, even jeepneys available from Baguio that directly drops you to the municipality of Sagada. The last two hour drive is not for the faint of heart because most of it is rough road over a steep cliff so it is advised that if driving, make sure your car is in great condition and assign the safest driver among your friends to be the one on the wheel.

   The view going up there is majestic enough that that alone made me plan another visit next summer. That is only the view while driving, it’s that beautiful. The Cordillera mountain range is paradise to every nature lover. Make sure to open your window while driving because the type of air that this destination has to offer can't be found anywhere in any city. The scent smells of real mountain dew and trees which is a luxury, especially to city dwellers.

   Once you reach the town of Sagada, a number of affordable and small hotels are aplenty. Some locals offer rooms of their own houses for rent for a day or two. After you settled in, make sure to drop by the city hall to start your adventure around the place. You just have to register and the friendly locals will assign you a tour guide for a small fee. This is very advisable especially for the first timers. They can also provide transportation to the destinations you would want to go to.

     The hanging coffins, the traditional way of how the Igorots bury their dead, is one of the more popular tourist spots in Sagada. Aside from this, there are numerous adventures Sagada has to offer. Spelunking at Sumaging Cave, trekking at the mountain ranges and white water rafting at  Mountain Province are some of these. Each one is very safe to do with the help of the tour guides. The mix of culture and adventure is the greatest thing the tourism of Sagada has to offer. May it be roaming around town trying every traditional food the locals has to offer, the morning wake-up call the elderly Igorots do with a gong at hand, the scenic views everywhere, to the activities everyone can enjoy.

(7) Vigan, Ilocos Sur

   The City of Vigan (Ilokano: Ciudad ti Bigan; Tagalog: Vīgân; is a 5th class city in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It is the capital of the Province of Ilocos Sur. The city is located on the western coast of the large island of Luzon, facing the South China Sea.

It is a World Heritage Site in that it is one of the few Hispanic towns left in the Philippines, and is well known for its cobblestone streets, and a unique architecture that fuses Philippine and Oriental building designs and construction, with colonial European architecture.

According to the latest Philippines census, it has a population of 47,246 people in 9,193 households.

   Former Philippine president Elpidio Quirino, the sixth president of the Philippines, was born in Vigan, at the current location of the Provincial Jail (his father was a warden); and resided in the Syquia Mansion.

(8) Cagayan De Oro City

   The City of Cagayan de Oro; ( /kəˈɡaɪən deɪ ˈɔəroʊ/ kə-gy-ən day ohr-oh; Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro; Filipino: Lungsod ng Cagayan de Oro) (abbreviated as CDO, CDOC, CdeO or Cag. de Oro), is the provincial capital of the province of Misamis Oriental in the Philippines. It is nicknamed the "City of Golden Friendship" (Dakbayan sa Bulawanong Panaghigala-ay in Cebuano, as the phrase appears on the city's seal).

   It serves as the regional center of the Northern Mindanao region and is part of the Metro Cagayan de Oro area. According to the 2010 Census, the city has an estimated population of 602,088 inhabitants.

(9) Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro

   Puerto Galera is a soothing vision of shimmering seas surrounded by lush mountains. It is considered one of the most beautiful and developed beach resort community in the country.

   Starting from "backyard tourism" wherein local residents accept local and foreign tourist as stay-in guest, the island’s tourism has flourished. In the course of time, several hotels, resorts, inns and restaurants have mushroomed within the area.

   There are a thousand things one can do here. Landlubbers can pitch tents, light bonfires, play volleyball, toss a Frisbee, go beach-hopping, watch the sunset, gaze at the stars, hike, go rock climbing, carom off on a motorcycle, discover Oriental Mindoro’s other tourist spots or simply live it up.

   But water is certainly the main attraction of the island. Crystal clear and shimmering especially during the hot summer months, the sea framing Puerto Galera is ideal for swimming, sailing, surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving. In fact one doesn’t have to go by boat to get to a dive site. Within a kilometer from the coast, schools of Moorish idols, trumpet fish, frog fish, lion fish and leaf fish weave in and out of thriving corals and sea anemones while species of starfish – from the speckled red-and-white to the neon-blue Pacific – rest on the sandy floor.

   High Season at White Beach, Puerto Galera A Castle Resort at Sabang, Puerto Galera

Gradually sloping beaches – with the terrain ranging from powder white sand to grainy dark sand to smooth stones to rough coral rubble – comprise a large chunk of the island’s 25 thousand hectares. And while the Department of Tourism’s last count pegs the number of resorts at 115, pockets of isolated and virtually resortless coves and beaches are tucked between massive rock formations.

   Outside of minor glitches, Puerto Galera is a tropical paradise that is both rustic and thriving. By day it echoes with the soft breeze and the pounding waves. At night, it comes to life with heady laughter and the clink of wine and glasses, only to segue once again to the barest whisper of the elements.

(10) Boracay

     Boracay is a small island of the Philippines located approximately 315 km (196 mi) south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Boracay Island and its beaches have received awards from numerous travel publications and agencies. The island comprises the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak municipality of Malay, province of Aklan. Administered by Philippine Tourism Authority and the provincial government of Aklan.

In 2012, Boracay has been named the Best Island in the World by an international travel magazine

sources: www.wikipedia.com

perya II

   Akalain mo, nagkaroon nga ng perya 2. Ngayon naman kasama ko ang asawa ko, ang anak kong si Daja ang kapatid kong si Shane at ang pamangkin kong si Tisoy. Pumunta kami ng perya, pangalawang beses ng mga babae, unang beses para sa mga lalake.

   Hindi na ko sumakay ng merry go around, yung anak at asawa ko na lang ang hinayaan kong sumakay. Total hindi pa naman din nakakasakay asawa ko, kaya siya na rin ang pinabayaan kong umalalay kay daja. 

   Habang nasa merry go around sila, sumakay naman ng ferris wheel si Shane at si tisoy. Ako, naghintay lang sa mga kasama ko habang ng picture picture, masaya na ko dun.

          

 

     Sumakay naman ng bumper car yund dalawang lalake kasama si Daja. Kami dalawa ni Shane tawa na lang ang ginawa. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi sumakay si Shane, siguro boring para sakanya ang bumper car.

   Dun kaming dalawa sa hurricane sumakay. Mini roller coaster ang dating nun, buti na lang hindi ako kumain dahil talagang susuka ako kung nagkataon! Ibang iba ang feeling ng mabilis at biglang liliko at biglang baba at dahil dun, hinding hindi na ko sasakay ng roller coaster! Tama nag na experience ko yun. Masaya na ko na nalaman ko ang ganun pakiramdam. Pero hindi na ko uulit, kahit kailan.

   Para lang naman ganun ang sinabi ko nung una kong sakay sa ferris wheel, sumakay pa din ako ulit kasama ng asawa ko. Pinapili kasi nya ko kung yun ferris wheel o yung octopus, sukang suka na nga ako at namumutla pa at hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko pang mgpaikot ikot ng mabilis napara kang ihahagis, Kaya ferris wheel na lang.

   Kung malasin ka nga naman, nasira pa yung ferris wheel at nasa pinakataas kami. Anak ng ferris wheel naman. Buti na lang hindi ganun nakakatakot pag nakahinto, pero ang imahinasyon ko, umabot sa final destination! Siguro inabot din kami 20 min. Dun sa taas, nung naayos na, bumaba na din kami agad, kawawa naman yung mga batang nghihintay samin batong bato na.

   pinakahuling sinakyan namin ay yung horror train. yung anak kong 2 at kalahating taon lang ang natakot! Bukod sa nagsayang kami ng pera nagsayang din kami ng oras. Anu ba naman nakakatakot sa pagpalo sa kisameng dingding ng tunnel ng horror train? At naman, hindi pa nilang ginawang glow in the dark yung mga suot nila para nakikita sila. Dismaya pero okay lang. Nakatulong naman kami sa mga taong gumawa ng ganun kalokohan. Sana nabusog sila sa pinagbayad namin.

   Hindi completo ang araw sa piyera kung hindi kami kakain sa street foods, hepa line kung tawagin ng asawa ko. Talagang masarap kumain sa ganun, wag lang araw araw at siguradong hepa aabutin mo. 

   At hinding hinding hindi papayang ang anak ko na hindi sya makabili ng laruan. Kaya ayun, binili namin ng baril barilan na bubbles ang lumalabas.

  pagod pero masaya naman kaming umuwi, at hindi pa ako nakaka get over sa dinanas ko sa hurricane. Atleast my bago akong experience nung araw na yun, Ang pakiramdam ng sumakay sa roller coaster, first time ko yun, at hindi ko alam kung kaya ko sumakay sa mas mahaba pang ganun. Pero masaya na din dahil kahit isang beses sa buhay ko, ngkaroon ako ng lakas na sumakay sa ganung rides.

opps... Nagpaplano pa ng part three. My octopus at sea dragon pang hindi nasasakyan, maiipon muna ako ng maraming lakas ng loob.

Random facts about me

(1) I CRY WHEN I GET ANGRY
-Unfortunately I can't help it. I cry when I'm really angry, no matter what the reason is and no matter who is behind it. I usually cry when I am  in the peak of my emotion. It means I can't handle the feeling anymore that's way I burst out.

(2)I EAT CHOCOLATE WHEN I'M UPSET
-yes I do believe eating chocolates will make you feel better. Any kinds of chocolate. Cakes, candy, pastries and even hot chocolate drink. That's why brownies is one of my favorite food.


(3)I AM A BAD COOK
-Never trust me in the kitchen. I don't even know how to fry a fish. let alone cook a good meal.

(4)I LOVE BEING ALONE
Yes, I love being alone for time to time. It help me check everything and reflect on my own life

(5)I AM A SNOB


I'm not really pretty and I'm not rich either. But I'm really a snob. I am not that friendly, the same reason why I don't have a lot of friends. I just learn to guard myself to strangers. Cause stranger can hurt you deeply.

Yung puntong sising sisi ka na. Yung pakiramdam na gusto mong tumakbo, Pero hindi ka makatakbo.
Yung pareho pakiramdam ng sukang suka ka na pero wala kang masuka.

Yan ang pakiramdam ko ngayon. ganyan ang pakiramdam ng pinilit kang pumasok sa isang sitwasyon na ayaw mo. unting unti nitong linalamaon ang kalayaan na dapat sana'y maligaya mong nagagamit. Parang ninagaw ng isang batang  kalye ang iniingat ingatan mong kalayan. Ninagaw ng isang impostor na batang kalye.

Yung pakiramdam ng pag sakripisyo sa isang bagay na walang katuturan.
Para ka lang ng sulat ng essay na hindi mo lang naman ipapasa.
Yung pakiramdam na gamitan na na lang. Wala ng pagmamahal na dapat ipaglaban. Para lang walang katapusang giyera na mamatay na ang inosente.

Hindi ito ang pinaglaban ko. Hindi din ito ang kinalakihan ko. At hindi ito ang pinangarap kong buhay. Ang buhay na puno ng lungkot at pagsisisi.

Parang isang bilango, ngpipipiglas upang palabasin sa kulungang cemento. Walang hangin, walang araw, isang madilim na palagid ang lugar na hinihangin sakin.

Isang impyerno ang kapalit ng isang buhay na langit na minsan ipina mahagi ko.

Unting unting parin pipiglas, para mabawi ang ng hihingalong buhay na naiwan. Hahayaan kong masukatan, hahayan kong matikman ang kamatayan. Makapiglas at makaalis lang sa impyerong ibingay ng isang impostor na bata. isa palang demnyong ng tatago sa mascarang bata.

My journey

Contentment is what I feel every time I look back to my life.

My life was not a perfect journey, but it was a happy one. 
It made me who I am today.

I spent my childhood years playing outside with friends.
I learn to trust my playmates and to forgive my enemies.
I learn to laugh really hard until my tummy aches. 

I tripped and learned to heal the wounds.

I got stinky and dirty but I learned on my own.

Through high school,
I learn the feeling of crushes and love at first sight.
I learn the feeling of losing a good friend from losing a fake one.
I learn the different kinds of Friend, true friends, fake one, friends with benefits and friends that turns to be an enemy behind your back.

Everything about friendship takes place. 

College life came and changes me big time.
I know the feeling of living alone and to trust a stranger.
I know the feeling of crying alone and to long for a mother and father. 

I know how great the pain true love will give you when it comes to a sudden halt.

I fought a battle several times, I lose more than I win.
I learned how to strengthen my defenses and I learn to fight alone. 

I know the feeling of being wild, young and free.
And above all this, I learn to love myself more.

Now that college is over and I’m in a real world already, 
I find it amusing how some of my friends never learned to grow up.
They are the way they are when I met them.
And they stayed that way no matter how long the journey seems.

I took a different path from them. And that way, I learned really hard.
I jump out of my comfort zone and face the fears in my life.
I learned life the hard way and that change me big time.

I gain my own wisdom and I learned my own strength

I saw a life in different perspective. 

Jumping out of my comfort zone made a big difference.
Maybe if I don’t have the courage, I won’t be this way. 

I am not a perfect person; I have my own flaws and indifference.
But as far as today I can say, I am better and I am stronger than I was.

My what if

Almost half a decade had pass since we first met.
Those years that we are together are already in daze, some are totally forgotten.
We haven't seen each other for the pass three years, I wonder if the feeling died out.
We loved, we hated, we shared dreams and hopes
A feeling of connection, unexpectedly tied us together

But fate played better that time,
No matter how hard we fought,
Fate planned the battle really hard.
fate left us with nothing but to surrender.
and the battle ended.

leaving me with nothing but a lost love, a lost hope, and lost dreams.
A scratched that never fully healed,
left me with never ending questions of what if.

Now, half decade had past,
i wonder if you still remember me.

Through these years and through the years that's about to come,
I know, deep inside that you will always be my what if.

sayang perya

   Nagbonding kami ng mga kapatid  at naisipang pumunta sa perya. Mag fifiesta na kasi sa katabing lungsod kaya may peryahan, semi carnival ang style. Minsan lang ang perya dito, hindi tulad sa Manila, whole year round may carnival.

   Hindi kasi ito yung peryang ordinaryo, meron ito ngayon na Ferris wheel, mini roller coaster.  bump car, carousel at marami pang rides.

   Una naming sinakyan yung carousel, dahil yun lang din naman ang alam ng 2 taon kong anak. Pero walang kabayo sa carousel, elepante, giraffe, camel at zebra meron. walang kabayo pero sulit dahil may Safari!

Tatlong minuto din kami ngpa ikot ikot, nahilo na lang ako ng kakaikot.

   Sunod namin sinakyan ay yung bump car. Kasabay ko sa kotse kotse yung anak ko, tuwang tuwa naman siya.parang ang bilis lang nun, hindi pa nga umaandar yung kotse ng kapatid ko tapos na agad! pero masaya.

Sunod na sinakyan namin ay ang ferris wheel kung saan nagsisigaw ako ng napaka lakas. Sinigaw ko sa buong perya n hindi na talaga ako sasakay ng ferris wheel. Bumaba din agad yung isa kong kapatid at pamangkin ko, kasama kasi nila yung anak ko, takot na takot na.

   Sunod nami sinubukan ay yung swan, kung saan iikot ka ng mahina at bibilis ito habang tumatagal. Nangalay yung kamay ko kakahawak dahil kung hindi ka hahawak, lilipad ka palabas ng sasakyan.

Yun na muna sinakyan namin, hindi muna namin susubukan yung iba dahil hindi ko sigurado kung pwede yun sa anak kong dalawang taon at sa totoo, kulang na rin yung perang dala namin.

Kumain din kami sa tuhog tuhog, street foods Sa english, Nalakadlakad sa tiange kung saan nakabili ng shorts yung mga kapatid ko at tsinelas yung anak ko. Hindi ko ma isip kung bakit ang hilig hilig nya sa tsinelas at kung bakit sa karami raming color eh, violet nanaman napili nya. Sinales talk din pala sya nung tinderong natitinda ng laruan, kaya ayun, my laruan syang paru-paro na itutulak mo at gagalaw yung pakpak. At sigurado ako, hindi pa ng isang araw, sira na yun.

  Gabi na din kami nakauwi, magtatatlong oras din pala kami dun, parang ang bilis lang. At sinong nagsabing hindi nabibili ang kasiyahan? At sino din nagsabing hindi ito mahal? Kung iisipin, ang simpleng kasiyahan tulad sa pagsakay ng rides na yun ay mahal din pala. Pero okay lang yun, ano pa ba ang mura sa panahon na ito? Ang importante lang naman, masaya ka, masaya sila at ang iilang taong kasama ko sa peryang yun.

balak namin bumalik sa isang lingo, maiipon ulit ng pera para sa panandaliang kasayahan.