Who am I?

Tashi Delek! WHO AM I? Often times we ask this question to ourselves not really intended to get an answer but to somehow justify our existence. But what if you really wanted answers to that question? Can you fill one? Socrates once said "An unexamined life is not worth living." Piece of advice, if you really need answers, examine thyself! try the JOHARI'S WINDOW with your peers . Better be ready to accept criticisms and use them constructively. After that, list down all your findings about yourself. Then you will find answers, but then again you will find yourself asking yet another set of questions like "Is this really who I am? Am I really like this?" you'll see!

Here are some piece of me. Of course,  I have the prerogative not to write all.LOL!

I am the kind of person who would choose to sit on a table than on a chair if nobody is watching.
I am the kind of person who would run when climbing stairs. For the agony will be shorter.
I am the kind of person who would choose "paksiw na isda" over fried chicken.
I am the kind of person who would buy a pair of shoes even if what I wanted are the shoelaces only.
I am the kind of person who wouldn't say "I don't know" as an answer, instead I would say "I'll find out".
I am the kind of person who did count the days before the showing of The Breaking Dawn (did not even watched it yet).
I am the kind of person who counts the life in my years rather than count the years in my life
I am the kind of person who always in search for the intense presence of life.
I am the kind of person who would gladly suffer the consequences of the things I've done, rather than rejoice the fruit of the things I did not.
I am the kind of person who is not amazed of the ipad, ipod, iphone and whatever i's.
I am the kind of person who will never say " I could have been" 50 years later, because I was too afraid of the consequences of my actions 50 years ago...

Good Luck!

Road blocked! Stop? or detour ahead?

Tashi Delek amigos, amigas! You are travelling along an easy road, then at an intersection ahead you see that your way is blocked what would you do? Well that's the question that I'm asking myself for few days now. But I think Im gonna take the detour. Though it's gonna be a long, rough ride still I believe that it will lead me to my ULTIMATE DESTINATION.

I conducted a reality check and it turned out that my gears are misaligned and the means to my goal are not quite based on reality. I will keep sowing my seeds, coz we never know which of them will sprout, perhaps it all will.

Do not complicate, make it easier.

Tashi Delek! Have you ever realized how something made our lives easier somehow?. Some of my college classmates used to bring these two volumes of Medical Surgical Nursing book everyday except during clinical duty and its kinda bothering me somehow seeing them considering the books are over 2000 pages each! Lucky me, I don't have money to buy those books .LOL. Then there's this book dubbed as "MS made incredibly easy" that was introduced by our Doctor Instructor in MS, indeed it is easy to understand. I mean why do you have to read page after page of those two volume books if you can understand it in few sentences in "MS made incredibly easy"?

Yesterday at NAIA 3 on my way home while waiting for boarding time, I noticed this strange attitude of us Filipinos. Two of the crews of the Airline stood up at the gate, after a while you can see the passengers stood up also and rushed towards the gate to fall in line, as if they are really sure that its their boarding time. I mean why not wait for the announcement? Instead of standing at the front of the gate waiting for nothing. Every boarding time/flight/destination will be announced anyway. Its more comfortable waiting sitting than standing right? Its like the disseminated false information about radiation at Japan via SMS days ago. Majority of us panicked and forwarded the message as much as they can thus creating more confusion. Why not ask first the authority about the nature radiation.?

I was at SM Mega Mall looking for an internet cafe. I know there is Netopia in every SM mall. I had a hard time finding it considering the 6 or 7 floors and approximately 750 meters long mall. So I stopped and think for an easy way to find it, then ting ting ting! (incandescent bulb popped up over my head.LOL) why not use the directory? So I look for one and found it. Never thought finding Netopia is easier this way. All you have to do is query in and search, then the fancy state of the art touch directory will show you where you are exactly and give you detailed visual instructions to find what you are looking for . Isn't it that easy? (pictures taken using my aging mobile phone)




Lessons: If everything else fails, go back to basics! Little knowledge is dangerous. There is always an easy way, find it.

SoCaSoSe

Tashi delek!. This will be a late blog. It was January 1, 2011 4 AM, I am heading my way to Pasay Victory Liner Bus Terminal. I am a little bit tipsy that time, spent the new year eve with my old buddies. At the terminal, when the conductor called out for one chance passenger to Baguio no one answered, well because most of the passengers are traveling with their families, so from 5th in the line I answered me!, since I'm traveling alone. I climb up the bus with a smile in my face thinking (sometimes its better to travel alone).

They move people safer

January 1, 2011 1 PM, it was my first time in Baguio City. First thing in my mind is to find the bus heading to Banaue, Ifugao. I had a hard time finding it actually, so I rode a cab and told the driver to bring me to the terminal I'm looking for. He mumbled with words (which I did not understood) I just said "YES that terminal please". when we arrived indeed it was actually the terminal I'm looking for, again I smiled thinking this is gonna be fun (sometimes it's beneficial to go with the flow.lol).

The Eucalyptus among Pine trees at PMA

Philippine Military Academy

Right hand wing of SM City Baguio

Classic Burnham Park



Lunch at Baguio City

Baguio City night skyline

SM City Baguio at night

So that was the faces of Baguio. The KMS bus headed to Banaue, Ifugao departs at 9:30 PM. Travel time is approximately 8 hours, but we arrived 1 hour earlier, that means I have to wait for another 1 hour before I can walk down the town and find a place to stay. It was so called outside, I never experience this temperature my whole life. My breath is smoking cold its creeping up to my body because I was wearing short pants and sandals. I had a little chat with an American tourist fellow passenger, he ask me why I'm not wearing hiking attire since I'm going to the terraces, I answered I'm not here for hiking anyway but to take photographs.(just for an excuse)lol.

I got a room for only 250/day so I was smiling again thinking that I can't find a 500/day room at Iloilo City but here in this special place there are a lot of those. The shower room has a sign "P40/warm shower, but i settled with the cold shower instead, thinking I can tolerate the cold water. Of course I was wrong, the water is literally near to its freezing point so I was heavily shivering as i ran to my room. lol.

One hour after I checked in, I checked out. I changed my mind, I will be heading to Bontoc (the capital town of Mountain Province also the portal to Sagada) a 2 hour mountainous ride. I took pictures of the rice terraces, the guide told me that the most beautiful spot is at Batad (where amphitheater terraces is located), I just nodded (Ok, I will just reserve that for my next visit). Before I depart I ate my first and last breakfast at Banaue.hehe

Courtesy of Mr. Tricycle Driver

I met an old couple along the way

The highest point of the road to Bontoc

I caught you Mr. Caterpillar

fog fog fog!

terraces at the view point

lodging house

Oh yeah, I forget to mention I brought maps and 2 books with me "The backdoor to Enlightenment" a philosophical book. If you have questions about life, and you want to be "enlightened" (note: you might be mistaken by the meaning of enlightenment in your mind) shall I say this is the right book for you, which in my case, the one I needed at that very moment.

I arrived at Bondoc at 1PM. Found a 150/day Inn. Immediately after a while I departed to Sagada without knowing that the last trip from Sagada back to Bontoc is at 1PM, which means I will be stuck at Sagada, nevertheless I continued my Journey.

I visited the caves and the hanging coffins but it all seemed ordinary to me (I was not amazed actually). I decided to walk down my way back to Bontoc since the last trip has already departed way earlier. It was 4PM then, I was walking for about 45 minutes. While enjoying the Pine threes, birds' melodic music, fresh air, cold temperature, blue sky and all the nature that could offer, questions popped up in my mind, like why am I here? Where am I heading?I even came to the point where I ask myself what should I do with my life?. I just giggled when I found out the answer to those questions, suddenly I get excited, I want to go home and put my plans into action. Then I realized how can I go home? I am literally in the middle of nowhere. lol.

GOD is good. HE sent a white truck to hitch me.Riding at the back of the truck lets you experience the magnificent wonders of His creations. I even saw a rainbow, perhaps He set it all up to show me HIS confirmation, a sign that I am heading the right track.

I spent the night at Mountain Province, enjoyed the cool night, took pictures of the town and headed back home. I decided to take the Tabuc City, Kalinga- Tuguegarao route. The travel is a bit rough and scary because of the mountainous road condition, but all in all it was exciting. From Tuguegarao I rode a backbreaking 11 hours bus travel to Manila then flew back to Iloilo City.

The Hard Way

The Sign

Break

Tunnel Road

Top load

Some friends asked me "What are you doing? Why do you travel alone? Aren't you afraid?" I answered "It is SO CAlled SOul SEarching.At first I travel to lose myself. Then after, I realized I did not lose myself, instead I found myself. No I am not afraid, because the more you're afraid the less you accomplish."

Note: more photos will be uploaded to this post soon. Negative and positive comments are welcome, feel free to drop one.

Motion Picture of Life

Tashi delek! Its been 11 months since my last post and its kind of funny that this is just my second post. I can't remember when and why did I lost the drive. But anyway, I will try to post now as much as my time can. This one will be about the movies that brought the greatest impact to my life. All of the other future posts will be about Blag Bleg Blig BLOG Blug!.lol

"You never really knew a man until you stood in his shoes and walked around in them." ~Atticus Finch
TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD (1962) is based from the book of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning book. This classic movie came into my interest because I was intrigued by the title. What I am thinking was "Is it about birds? how come it is black and white?" then I started searching about it and eventually watched it. Well personally the whole idea of this motion picture is about racial discrimination in United States back then. Atticus Finch the protagonist is a Lawyer who defended a black man charged of rape. Black man back then (1962) are slaves. The odd thing about this movie is that Scout, daughter of Finch call her father by his first name Atticus. What will you get? So much lessons and powerful words that will surely move you. To sum it up, this movie inculcates that to kill a Mocking Bird is a sin, because Mocking Birds does no harm at all, but to mock.

"Follow excellence and success will chase you." ~Phunsukh Wangdu
3 IDIOTS Is this for idiots or intellectuals? Well its for both actually or shall I say it's for everyone. Laugh out loud then after a minute you'll find yourself crying. All about the college life of the 3 IDIOTS at a highly recognized Engineering school. It displays passion to what you really love to do and friendship at it's strongest bond. Plus enjoy the musical part of this Indian movie. Note that every Indian movie has a musical part, its their some kind of a trademark. All izzz well!
" Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes." ~Edmond Dantes

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO shown us that not all education is learned in school. In fact the most important is learned outside the four corners of the school room and in this film inside the four corners a prison cell. Betrayed by his best friend Edmond Dantes spent half of his life with unimaginable suffering until the great escape that will make him a count.

" Do not let anyone define your limit because of where you come from, your only limit is your soul." ~ Gusteau

RATATOUILLE what again? nice name for a rat!, my first impression. This is animated adventure of Remy, a rat who was born with natural connection to food guided by his ghost culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau. He dreams to become a French chef, in spite of the obvious problem, he is a rat! He formed an alliance with the garbage boy and the adventure begins! It was not really my intention to watch this film, it just happened that my nephew was watching this and I was annoyed by his giggling, so I got curious and eventually watched it two or three times more. LOL. I discovered that ratatouille is actually a stew. The exact pronunciation is /rat-uh-too-ee/ or /ra-ta-twe/ either way is correct. It's fine, don't worry if you mispronounced it, I use to pronounce it RATATOWLIE! lol.

"It is only in the mysterious equation of love, that any logical reason can be found." ~ Dr. John Nash
A BEAUTIFUL MIND I watched this after six years from its original release date. I thought to myself, how could I miss such beautiful, powerful movie?. It was introduced to us by our Psychiatric Nursing professor, thanks to her. Russell Crowe portrayed the wonderful life of Dr. John Nash in this adaptation. A Nobel Prize winner for economics despite of the fact that he is living in his delusional world of Schizophrenia. What would you do if all the things that you have known to be true is merely a product of your beautiful delusional mind?.
"What did you ever do to change the world?" ~ Trevor Mckenny
PAY IT FORWARD What would you do if your teacher given you an assignment to think of something that will change the world and put it into action? Well this little boy Trevor Mckenny took it seriously. He got this idea of instead of paying back for a favor, why not pay it forward three times?. I do admit I shed tears for this movie so better prepare a hankie!LOL. Sometimes the simplest idea can make the biggest difference. So if someone did a favor for you, don't pay it back instead pay it forward TO ME!.lol
"Always account for variable change." ~unknown
21 Yes! its Black Jack if you were thinking of it. Ben Campbell an ace MIT Mathemagician student who is willing to do everything to be accepted in Harvard Medical School (did I say Med Sch. hmmm). He count cards in Vegas every weekends together with his 5 brilliant school mates and Professor Rosa. He is only doing it to raise money for his Med Sch, but something happened. He lost everything but gained a life experience. My favorite scene is when Ben was asked by Professor Rosa to choose one door out of three. It's about Variable Change. Watch the movie so you will know what I mean. I tried it myself (that Variable Change) and I proved it to be true. Winner winner chicken dinner!
"You got to take chances for the things you care about." ~Dr. Andy Harrison
Eight Below Ever wonder what does eight stands for? Well they are Maya, Max, Shorty, Dewey, Truman, Shadow, Buck, and Old Jack. Yes they are all dogs, sled dogs to be specific and are mostly Huskies. These dogs will touch you somehow in a way a human never did. It is all about friendship beyond species. Set in Antarctica discover how Jerry Shepherd (the protagonist) did everything beyond any means for friendship.
"Save the one you can, the rest learn to let go." ~Ben Randall
THE GUARDIAN If you ask me to watch it again, yes definitely I will, even if it will be my ninth time.lol. Ben Randall a veteran coast guard rescue swimmer who used to be at the top of his game will change Jake Fischer's life forever. Randall forced to teach at "A" school (school for US Coast Guard's elite Rescue Swimmer) after an accident during a rescue mission. Jake is an ex swimming varsity and is highly regarded to top the "A" school. He broke every record set by Randall except one, when with one man left and a broken winch, Randall held the man by his fingertips for the entire flight to land, resulting in extensive injuries to his hand and shoulder, a record that could never be broken. Discover how the egos of these two brave man collide and found out that they are very much alike. This film is a tribute to the brave men of US Coast Guard who live their lives with this words "So others may live."

"It is not how much you give, but how much love you put in the giving. If you cannot feed a hundred people, just feed one. If you judge people, you will have no time to love them." ~ Mother Teresa
MOTHER TERESA: The Legacy If you watched all of the nine movies above, be sure to watch this for finale. A documentary film about the life, death, after death and everything else in between of an extra ordinary woman who never wanted anything else but to serve the MAKER. It was shown here how the world mourn her death. Almost every political leader, every walks of life, every religion Buddhism, Roman Catholic, Jews, Islam, Hinduism name it, are all present in her burial. She may be gone but the impact of the unconditional love that she have given to the world will never be forgotten.
These movies are all my personal preference. Opinions and reviews may vary in a personal basis. Again don't be too harsh to a newbie. Feel free to drop a comment.

A Glimpse of Concepcion Islands

Tashi delek! Hello everyone, For the record this will be my first post. Concepcion group of Islands is blessed with white sand beaches. The famous of them all is the Sandbar Beach which is located at Bulubadiangan Island.

If you are lucky enough to arrive at approximately one meter high tide, the astonishing work of nature will welcome you with its glazing white sandbar that stretches the entrance of Resort.





The Resort is owned and maintained by a family which I forgot to ask their family name. The owner is called Manong Sonny together with his son Rex who manages the resort. One thing about this resort that differs from among others is the hospitality and accommodation. From the moment we arrived until before we sleep at night, we were accommodated with our needs very well.

HOW TO GET THERE?

Before doing so you must first contact the resort for them to arrange someone to fetch you at Concepcion Port. From Iloilo City you can ride an HPQ bus at Tagbak Terminal which will bring you directly to the Town Proper of Concepcion. Otherwise if you choose to ride the CERES liner bus, you may drop at Sara Central Terminal and ride the the jeepney to Concepcion. Either way, both will cost you around P150.00. The boat fare will costs you about P1,500.00 back and forth. Below is some of the scenes that will capture your senses and relax your mind.








ACCOMMODATION

Most of the cottages costs around P500.00. There is one cottage which is powered by Solar Panel that costs around P800.00 has its own comfort room and a mini kitchen for cooking. The rest of the cottages including the house of the owner is powered by a generator which is turned on only when the sun sets until 11PM. There are two common comfort rooms, a large cooking and barbecue stand. You may ask the owner to cook for you but you will be charged a certain amount, otherwise you may cook your own food for free of charge. There is no store there, so I suggest buy all your necessities before going to the island. During the night you will be provided with clean beddings, pillows and blankets. You may wish to bring your own tent and set it up, provided you must ask permission first to the owner of the resort.



OTHERS

You may ask the owner of the boat that fetched you for island hopping to discover more the beauty of Concepcion Islands. The rate is P500.00 per island destination. I suggest you go to Agho Island. Personally it is the most beautiful of them all. It is so vivid and peaceful. Together with the shining white sand and the overlooking mountainous islands background surely you'll enjoy your vacation as much as I did. If you are a photography geek, you may wait for the king sun to set behind the mountains. Below are some of the photos from Agho Islands and other scenic views.




















Don't be too harsh to the first time blogger. Feel free to drop a comment below.




Sandbar Island Beach Resort
Contact: 09068197516
Look for Sonny or Rex