ISHI

From the Web: The Optimist Creed (Promise Yourself)

2012-03-15T18:52:00.005-07:00

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best , to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

Christian D. Larson

Travel: Timberland Sports and Nature Club

2012-02-15T10:53:00.006-08:00

This entry isn't really solely about Timberland but it is mainly for TSNC because as I've compared it to two other comparative resort facilities (Caliraya Recreation Center CRC and Thunderbird Resorts Rizal TBR), this one stands out!

I have visited Lake Caliraya with Roland in April 2009. It was our first trip together and it was not bad for a start. The Caliraya Recreation Center is a Christian resort so the place was so alive when we went there during the Lenten Season. There were a lot of Christian organizations having their teambuildings and groups of families and friends of course.

Thunderbird Resorts Rizal was were I spent my 24th birthday, June of last year (2011). ISHI: Travel: Thunderbird Resorts - Rizal

Then for our Valentine's celebration, we stayed over the weekend at the Timberland clubhouse. In this sanctuary, if we find no other better place, we will spend our special moments in the future.

So, how do I compare? By rating the facilities with this grading system:

1-poor 2-good 3-average 4-above average 5-excellent

	Caliraya	Thunderbird	Timberland
Location	3 (2-2.5 hours from the Metro to Lumban, Laguna)	4 (30-45 minutes from Marcos Hiway – Sumulong intersection; free shuttle service)	5 (15-20 minutes from Batasan)
Guest Room	3 (1 queen size bed,1 double deck) -standard hotel room	5 (1 king size bed;drawing/ living room; private balcony) -showroom	4 (no central light, probably to encourage visitors to go outdoors) -deluxe
Toilet and Bath	2	4 (equipped with a bath tub)	3 (hot/cold shower system has no signs)
Scenic View	3 (man-made lake; lush hills and fields)	3 (Laguna bay; golf-course)	5 (Metro Manila skyline; Laguna Bay
Swimming Pool	3	4 (infinity; outdoor Jacuzzi style)	4 (infinity; deepest is 4 feet)
Restaurant / Food	4 (breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet inclusive; very small convenience store)	3 (buffet breakfast inclusive; Koi restaurant cannot accommodate all guests)	5 (American buffet breakfast inclusive; several choices; convenience shop offers baked snacks)
Facilities / Recreation	5 (prayer house, water sports, zorb ball, fishing, firing range, mini-theater for movies, horseback riding, mud slide, zip line, board games, billiards, wall-climbing, team-building facilities, playing field)	3 (mini-chapel, golf course, casino, outdoor playground for children)	5 (gym, basketball/ badminton/ table tennis courts, hiking, camping, biking, library with free internet, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, billiards, computer interactive center with PS3 and Wii plus computer games, toddler’s room, spa center, movie room, wall-climbing, )
Wellness	3 (massage service)	3 (massage service)	5 (gym, with separate room for floor exercise, spa center, jacuzzi/ sauna/ steam bath inclusive)
Child-Friendliness	4	2	5
	30 / 9 = 3.3	31 / 9 = 3.4	36 / 9 = 4

Good morning Timberland!

So yep. The chirping birds of the forest; the whistling blow of the mountain breeze; the echoes of dribbling balls and sporty voices; sounds of happiness; it is all there. Honking trucks and beeping cars; loud music; the flood of hurried people; not a hint of hustling and bustling is present. Air, noise and light pollution are all distant making it seem like heaven was closer.

Timberland at night.

the morning view. rolling hills.

The Timberland clubhouse is such a pretty place that it made us think of the future. It made me want to someday live in a neighborhood like Timberland's. Roland even mentioned that the venue is prefect for events celebrations because a lot would make it since it isn't far from the metro.

sky lanterns at night. it was soooo dramatic.
this is the same view of the Metro Mania skyline we had from our bedroom.

wonderpool!

so close I could almost taste it

Happy Valentine's 2012. Timberland Clubhouse. Feb. 11-12.

Timberland, wonderland!

Article: How to Execute Dream Plans

2011-12-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

Steps on How to Execute Dream Plans:

1. Imagine being in the dream. A dreaming person ought to imagine well what it could actually be like living in his dream. And in imagining well, it does not mean seeing only happy faces, perfect health, or the ability to hoard wealth, but to foresee downfalls as well. Putting into mental imagery both the positive and negative probabilities of a dream plan will further determine the degree of commitment a person can sustain throughout the course plan. This initial step may seem too simple (since all dreams root from imagination) but here lies the cruciality of saving one's self from a terrible mistake: planning the wrong dream. Hence, include in daydreaming the disappointments, frustration and failure that can come along the way, then gauge if the dream is right for you and if it is still worth committing to.

2. Commit to the dream itself. I give way to a German quote in explaining this: "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way." Do your best.

3. Make use of your resources. A farmer has no ability to perform an appendectomy in the same manner as a surgeon lacking skills to harvest crops. Each of us has our own learnt skills and abilities and there is no man who can do each and every task there is in this planet. Therefore, a person needs other people to do work that he has no knowledge of in order to execute a plan. For example, an entrepreneur dreaming of owning a restaurant will need a big sum of money. If he lacks funds, this person may seek financial assistance from his relatives, friends or apply for a bank loan. There really is no man that's an island. Seek help if you must. Ask for assistance when needed. And just so suddenly you might realize, the goal is almost within your reach.

4. Pray. This is a given. No doubt. But what to pray for? Of course, the man must pray for the dream plan to come as a reality. And pray that the dream plan is right for him, that from it will spring fulfillment, contentment and peace of mind. It is quite tricky to yearn for something one is not ready for. So pray for guidance.

5. Design a Plan B. There is no straight path toward achieving a goal. And there is no absolute guarantee of success no matter how detailed a blueprint is. So planning an alternative is not only a wise thing to do, it must be a must.

6. Wait. Once every effort has been exhausted and every possible resource or aid has been achieved and the dream plan seems closer than how it was and there seems to be silence from the universe and nothing else, the waiting time begins. As Paulo Coelho had it on his By The River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept, "Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worst kind of suffering." When everything has been done, there is nothing else a man can do at this point but remain vigilant of any sign and repeat the fourth step.

7. Open your senses. This goes together with the sixth. A waiting man must have his senses ready for the slightest trace of message from the universe or from heaven. He who waits must have eyes open to external signals and closed to worldly distractions. An expectant man should have a heart in tranquil in order to hear internal messages that he himself is delivering. So do not haste. Instead, continue to wait until your instincts tell you otherwise.

8A. Execute plan B. Only if the signals sent convey futility of waiting for the dream plan to happen. If a man finds himself living the other dream and not his first choice, he must rejoice. For his prayer was answered. For he has found the dream that's right for him. For he does not have to suffer living the dream that would just bring him anything but satisfaction and happiness.

8B. Grab it. Own it. Commit more. Pray more. And muster all the gusto in it.

9. Share the story. Spoken. In paper. Through music. To a stranger. To a baby. To a friend. To a pet. Because any man's words might be the message that another person from a distant town is waiting for.

10. Give back. Most importantly, give thanks by giving back. A man who has taken so much from the world must know how to give back. This is so because sharing makes the dream exist longer. And he must be aware that it can be greater than what he has received. Or that it can be given in small portions to many. Repeat fourth step.

"True success comes from within. It is a function of who we are and what we do. It emerges from the mysterious chemistry of our abilities and passion and hard work and commitment. True success is something we earn privately and whose value we determine for ourselves. The outside world can reward us with money, but it cannot anoint us with this deeper and more personal kind of success. "

-Peter Buffett, Life Is What You Make It"

Article: The Ovarian Lottery

2011-12-20T15:00:00.000-08:00

A fetus grows not in the womb of the woman it chose but of the woman who has won it by chance, by destiny, by lottery. Or it could be said the other way around. A mother gives birth not to the child she chose to have, but of the child who has won her by chance, by destiny, by the ovarian lottery.

Life is sacred they say. And in it is the unending quest of finding meaning and purpose of our existence as we spend each day dealing with various relationships. And the base of a man's emotional stability and social intelligence depends largely on his relationship with his parents. For the very first relationship every human will have of another person is that of his father and mother. And by the ovarian lottery, we have not the power to select our parents. We were left with no choice but to love them for who they are, no matter what they do, whether they have a stuffy bank account or have only little to provide.

This inability to choose our parents, I think, gives a little spice in our lives. It shoos away dullness and boredom in our existence. We learn to bend as we allow our parents to mold us into having acceptable characters and persona. We learn to focus and adopt vital lessons from their own life experiences. We learn to listen and not just hear whenever they talk with anger or frustration.

Admittedly and shamefully, when I was young, I wished to have different parents. I wanted to have a more beautiful and financially richer set of parents. Yes, more beautiful. I wanted my dad to be more stunning, healthy-looking, and bold. I wanted my mom to have flawless skin and clothes that do not smell of cigarettes. I wanted them both to have stable jobs that pay well, so they can send us to school with their own money and not just by scholarship, so we can afford family vacations on holidays like most of the families I know. This immature thinking led me to take for granted the relationship I had with my parents in my adolescent years, without knowing that someday it will eat me up inside because of regrets.

It's been almost a decade since my rebel days and I probably am still writing about this because of guilt. And I continue to write because along the way I realize a few more things in retrospect. I am wishing now to have time turned back though I know that wish is only what it is and could be nothing else. It's truly sad when you know that you have done something which you shouldn't have had otherwise. Because in this life, there is no rewinding. We only get one shot in each stage of our lives as we grow older and maybe wiser.

Life is sacred they say. And in it is the unending quest of finding meaning and purpose of our existence as we spend each day dealing with various relationships. And the very first relationship every human will have of another person is that of his father and mother. All of the relationship ties we have with other people may break, but that with our parents is sacred and shall never ever break. Because we won them by chance, by destiny, by the ovarian lottery. And we can do nothing about it.

So better make the most out of each day you spend with your parents. Strengthen your ties and make it unbreakable. They are your roots and each of your relationship with other people is influenced by it. In times you do not understand them, stop rationalizing. Do not think. Just love them, smile and say, "I won the lottery".

Article: Bicycles for Christmas

2011-11-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

NO TO JOGGING
I never liked jogging. For me, it produces DISTRESS instead of the EUSTRESS that joggers usually claim to get when they run. I could walk (fast-paced) all day just by being at my workplace and I must have been correlating work-related stress with jogging as an exercise, which in effect, makes me feel heavy whenever Roland urges me to go jog with him. Makes me feel bad when I turn him down, but I just can't force myself to jog.

EVEN FOR HEALTH
At this early age I already have Osteopenia (a bone condition that may lead to Osteoporosis when it gets worse) so regular exercise is very important for my health. However, I am not really fond of going to the gym or being active in sports (or even taking Calcium supplements). I'd rather lie on the bed for hours, watch television, surf the net or watch my niece amuse herself in her own way. Yes, a sedentary lifestyle is what I have.

WHERE ARE THE POOLS?
This was not the case in my youth. As a child, I loved swimming. I have tried jumping into the deep parts of the ocean. I have watched poisonous baby octopuses change colors as their means to ward off enemies. I have swam with clown fishes and Nemos. And up to now, probably I can still stay in the water all day without getting "stressed". Unfortunately, it is now quite inconvenient to go to the beach or even find a decent pool in the city. And when I say decent, I refer to those with a bit of privacy or exclusivity, and clean and clear water. We have them, but it can be expensive.

ALTERNATIVE: BICYCLING

Thus, in order for me to get going and have a more active lifestyle, we chose an alternative, that is, bicycling. So as Christmas presents for each other, Roland and I bought bicycles together on the last week of November, and gifted ourselves early with a lady bike (for me) and a mountain bike (for him). And it's a good thing that he likes bicycles too so I don't feel like I'm being selfish. (Actually, he's the one teaching me the do's and don'ts of biking on busy roads.)

I don't have the guts to go cycling alone. Yet. Because I don't have adequate skills. Yet. Just to put my two cents in. Time will come I may go alone because I've mustered enough skills. And I will ride my bicycle like I'm riding a motor bike. So to speak.

Our first trip was to the Christmas Bazaar at our town's city hall. Went there to eat. I was exhausted after that trip and had sore muscles the morning after. Second trip was to the grocery.
I can now use my bicycle to save fare expenses for grocery shopping.

Article: You Know That We Are Living in a MATERIAL WORLD...

2011-11-14T14:54:00.000-08:00

“Most people like to own things, you know, land, luggage, other people. Makes them feel secure, but all that can be taken away. In the end the only thing you really own is your story.” - Drover in Australia

Back in 2009, when the Ondoy tragedy happened, we had a few newly bought furniture at home. We live at an area in Marikina that easily gets flooded even when there's just continuous raining so our family has already gotten used to it. We've been living in this residence for years anyway. A good thing though, the floods don't usually affect the inside of our home since the design of our house was intently made for these occurrences. Until Ondoy struck. Most of our belongings lost their value.

Lesson learned: we should not get too attached to material things, humans are not made for materialism, life is not meant for materialistic ideals.

A fire can burn down and floods can wash away all properties one owns no matter how much investment was put in it. Material things are for short-term. The intangibles are not. There is more to life than keeping luxury items in your closet. There's more happiness in making one's self involved in humane and/or spiritual activities.

To be more concrete, here's an example. Let's say two young people allot the same amount of money for a stress-relieving endeavor. One purchases an LV bag, the other goes to travel. Who do you think would most likely achieve more lasting sense of peace and happiness? It's for you to answer.

Admittedly, I am materialistic. My closet is full of items which are not really useful. I keep old magazines which I do not intend to read anymore. I have clothes that are bought only because they look cute which I can't even wear for the reason that it's not my style. For some, things like such may be termed as "investments". I call them "junk".

How to get rid of junk? Here are a few ways:
1. Hold a Garage Sale - my sisters and I have been trying to limit the amount of clutter we've gathered through the years. Hence we decided to have a garage sale. We did it for a week and for each day we made sales, we earned a thousand. The income tripled on the last day. My mom decided to join us and we are planning to hold another garage sale on the first week of December.
2. Donate - I have tried donating books, clothes, shoes and other stuff to the needy people I've encountered in life, not only because I have a soft heart for the poor aged generation, but also for my old belongings to become another useful property to the materialistically poor. (I don't know why but whenever I see aged people walking alone on the streets, I oftentimes feel the need to hand them something.)

For the year 2012, I want to be different. I don't want to keep things that are not actually useful for me anymore because they might be of greater value for others. So before the year ends, I will get rid of my "junk".

My 2012 Goal: instead of being materialistically rich and intangibly okay, i hope to become materialistically okay and intangibly richer!

P.S. People, try to donate. And do it personally. The feeling it gives can't be burnt or destroyed, it's priceless.

Travel: Leyte's Visayas State University

2011-10-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

Tacloban City's Daniel Romualdez airport is so-so. It is small and the facilities are not up-to-date, especially the comfort room where dippers are used instead of the more modern methods. Upon checking out, numerous cab and van drivers would welcome you by offering service to drive you to your destination anywhere in the island at their so-called cheap rates. It's a good thing we found a driver who doubled as a tour guide. He even let us take pictures at the famous monument of Gen. Douglas McArthur.

We went straight to the hometown of Roland's grandma: the town of Baybay. This was also the first time he has visited the province and his first encounter with their relatives from Leyte.
Baybay is quiet and the people are laidback. I am not sure for what reasons the town was declared a city since there's not much to do within the area and there are very few establishments compared to the bigger and actual cities of Ormoc and Tacloban.
My impression of Baybay is actually saved by the VSU campus.

VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY

We checked in at the Visayas State University in Visca. It is similar to University of the Philippines Los Banos in terms of environmental richness and even has its own garden beach resort classifying it as a resort university. For the time we spent in Leyte, it is not impossible to just stay here for there's a lot you can do around; you can swim either on the beach or in the swimming pool, you can visit the museums (which we failed to do), go mountain climbing (has hundreds of species they say), or just walk and bike around its 60hectare campus grounds.

Lodging: We stayed at the Apartelle. It's cheap at 200/person/night with air-conditioner, unlimited purified drinking water, hot and cold water for shower and housekeeping services. There are many available cottages that can accommodate couples or even bigger families. Food: Since VSU is a university, there are a lot of canteens and cafeterias you can choose from so finding something to eat is not a problem here.

Bicycles are available for rent at the university's Bahay ng Alumni. If there's none available since there are only 2 units, you can just borrow bicycles owned by the students or employees. We were lent by cooks and the lawnmower guy. And they really refuse tips.

Surprisingly, there's a hospital located inside the campus.

Baybay, Leyte's beach is lined not just with sand, but has a rocky shore. We tried to swim but the big stones were just unbearable. Ouch! But hey, the water's crystal clear.

A giant squid sold to us during lunchtime for Php100. We didn't buy it.

There are a lot of things I've learned about the ways of life of the people there. What I find most distinctive is that everyone converses in Bisaya. I guess it's the same as to the other parts of Leyte. Lesson: never converse in a language that people you're with do not understand. It's very very rude. And did I mention that it's rude?

Nothing spectacular on this trip but, still, it's a good experience to have learned about the simple lives of the people there and the practical and cultural differences we have in Manila. It's still a breath of fresh air having escaped to a relaxed and serene environment.

Travel: LAKE DANAO

2011-10-30T16:53:00.000-07:00

Lake Danao is a beauty. Otherwise, it wouldn't be declared a national park. Unfortunately, just like most government-run natural centers, it is poorly-maintained. We visited the site while we were on vacation at Leyte, a province on Eastern Visayas. It is located in the city of Ormoc.

The road to this national park is indeed a 'rough' one. Well yes, there is a concrete pavement that leads to the lake but it seems the construction of it was rationed.

By the entrance, there is a Php10.00 fee which is being collected by a woman who I doubt has the right to collect those fees no matter how small.

This was the first time I ever tried swimming in a lake and doing so reminded me of Lake Placid and Anaconda. I never dared to close my eyes or put my head under the water. It's creepy.. That is also why Roland didn't swim. Still a great experience though.
The serene Lake Danao with its floating bamboo rafts can offer a great bonding experience for family vacationers. Only if the government and/or department of tourism will refrain to avert from the potential of our natural wonders.

Lake Danao deserves more!

Article: Late Realization: MY LOVE OF READING, I GOT FROM MY FATHER.

2011-09-24T17:40:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, I dreamt of having my own library probably because I grew up with a love of reading. Most kids get scolded for prioritizing fun and play before doing assignments from school. In my case, I get scolded because I cannot drop the book I'm reading. In grade school, it was Sweet Valley Twins and the Nancy Drew series. Trending since my first year in high school was Harry Potter. In the university, however, were nursing books.

Because I was too busy earning a college degree, I forgot all about my love of reading. I was no longer as thirsty for new short stories or novels to read because I did not have the luxury of time anymore. But when I finished all what has to be done in preparation for practicing my profession, I slowly regained my first love.

I no longer have the book collection from my youth aside from a few literature compositions of Filipino writers. Most of my books now are from serious Coelho, romantic Sparks and touching Albom. Adding to it is a collection of magazines as well; Reader's Digest, Cosmopolitan, Cosmo Philippines, Glamour, National Geographic (from my daddy), et cetera.

Just so suddenly, I decided to sell my books. I've sold them all except for a few meaningful ones. It surprised me that giving my books away would make me saddened. I recognized the slight tinge of pain as similar to the loneliness I felt for losing a loved one. It was then that I understood it all, my love of reading, I got from my father.

Travel: Thunderbird Resorts - Rizal

2011-06-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

"we got the showroom and a little rain,
a pretty deck view and no casino game."

Roland and I selfishly spent my 24th birthday at the Thunderbird Resorts - Rizal. From our area, it takes roughly 30-45 minutes of rural-like driving to get to this resort as our route is via the Sumulong Highway going to Antipolo. With its location not too far from the metro and its rates not too pricey, this facility is A-okay for short overnight weekend getaways.

The majority of this resort's visitors come to play at the Fiesta Casinos, which operates for full 24 hours. We've already had a chance to visit the casino last year (November 2010) when Roland's aunt invited us to see the place as they gamble. We loved the place even though we visited at night that's why we decided to come back and stay overnight so that we can enjoy completely the relaxing atmosphere at this part of Rizal's region.

I'm unsure what seemed to be an issue with our room reservation but we got to stay at the showroom. Maybe a blessing in disguise, our room was upgraded for no additional fee. Happy birthday!

My favorite feature of the resort (aside from the super comfy bed):
the pool!

Roland, I, and our hamburgers. Haha!

Midnight snack: Complimentary birthday cake from the Koi Restaurant.
Choice of 3 flavors.

What I like most about Thunderbird Resorts - Rizal is that it is lush and quiet. And even with the Fiesta Casinos as its main feature, families don't need to stress about their kids' safety. With its casino theater out of sight of the main lobby, no one would know when a concert is ongoing where the young gamblers and rich old people are at stakes.

Thunderbird Resort Rizal

Eastridge Avenue, Binangonan, Rizal, Philippines

www.thunderbirdresortrizal.com

(+632) 651-6888

From the Web: Life Just Isn't

2011-05-20T15:08:00.000-07:00

Life isn't about keeping score.
It's not about how many people call you and it's not about who you've dated, are dating, or haven't dated at all.
It isn't about who you've kissed, what sport you play, or which girl or guy likes you.
It's not about your shoes or your hair or the color of your skin or where you live or go to school.
In fact, it's not about grades, money, clothes, or colleges that accept you.
Life isn't about if you have lots of friends, or if you are alone, and it's not about how accepted or unaccepted you are.
Life just isn't about that.

But life is about who you love and who you hurt.
It's about how you feel about yourself. It's about trust, happiness, and compassion.
It's about sticking up for your friends and replacing inner hate with love.
Life is about avoiding jealousy, overcoming ignorance, and building confidence.
It's about what you say and what you mean.
It's about seeing people for who they are and not what they have.
Most of all, it's about choosing to use your life to touch someone else's in a way that could never have been achieved otherwise.
These choices are what life's about.

-an advertisement from the superbrand Nike

Travel: SOLOMON'S PARADISE, PATAR, Bolinao

2011-02-01T18:42:00.000-08:00

Pangasinan. Tourists often visit this Northern Luzon province to see the famous Hundred Islands located in the town of Alaminos. However, only a few discover that just an hour away is a hideaway town which from way before belonged to the seas rather than the islands.

This is the location of Bolinao on the map of Pangasinan. From Manila, it takes about 5-6 hours of travel by land to reach this distant town of caves and corals. Absolutely worth the travel though.

The coast of Barangay Patar is where the major resorts are. But if you really want the experience to be comfortably 'all natural', I recommend checking in at Solomon's Paradise. I am not sure but this could be one of the cheapest resorts in the area. There are only 4 nipa cottages for guests so privacy should not be a worry. No need for a hired tourist guide because the Australian owner, Brett, will give you every detail of what the town has to offer. His Filipina wife, who ironically did not come from Pangasinan, cooks the meals for their guests.

What's really great about this resort is that the beach is left untouched. The cliffs that were formed by the waves still remain the way it was naturally made, unlike in other parts of the coast where some were put down in order to make way for commercialization of the resorts. The Cape Bolinao Lighthouse can be seen from the cliffs which is just 5 minutes away. This place is perfect for snorkeling, diving and even fishing.

For the adventurous, this could be a piece of heaven.

Jumping off the cliff could be thrilling and fun, but not when the waves are mad.

The best time to go is during summer when there is minimal pressure from the atmosphere and tide pulling. We went there last month, which is the first month of the year, and it was almost impossible to swim due to the superbly strong splashing of waves. Unless you're a really good swimmer, it could be fantastic.

Someday, we will see you again.

nearby places to visit:

Patar Beach - "Boracay of the North"; as they say, the best things in life are free. no entrance fee. with a few souvenir and food stalls around.golden sunset eh?

Enchanted Cave - underground freshwater pool. privately owned. entrance fee is Php50.
there are trustworthy lifeguards, floaters and a rope for off-limits areas. gets eerie on the deep and dark corners but safe.

the outer grounds of the property is full of corals, a sign that Bolinao was once underwater.

Cape Bolinao Lighthouse - with old ruins of quarters. sadly, it seems like no one maintains this site.

WHY BOLINAO?

Seeing the majestic cliffs of Patar, Bolinao emphasized the notion of His existence.
Bolinao is a great place to rejuvenate.

Music: Life Is Free by Arkarna

2011-01-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

You could be popular
You could be wanting more
It doesn't have to be that way
This could be beautifull

Are you really gonna make it happen
Seems a whispers sometimes louder than a scream
Are you really gonna make it happen
Life is free

You could be a checkout girl
You could be beautifull
You give your all but it's not enough
Is that the way it is?

Are you really gonna make it happen
Seems a whispers sometimes louder than a scream
Are you really gonna make it happen
Life is free

Keep the dream alive
Don't be affraid
I'm suffering my life away
You know
That's all I've got to say

Are you really gonna make it happen
Seems a whispers sometimes louder than a scream
Are you really gonna make it happen
Life is free

I first heard this from a complication CD of pop-alternative songs I bought way back in high school. Almost a decade has passed but the message it delivers still lingers at the back of my head whenever I need to boost up in life.

The song made an impact as soon as I heard the first few lines because with its brevity, it has the astounding power to inspire and drive. Telling us that we could be anything, anyone we wish to become. That life may be unfair but we just have to live by it and not dwell on negativity as that's just the way it is.

None of my acquaintances know about the band or the song making it obvious that Arkarna did not make it big. At times however, as they sang in this piece, it seems a whisper is louder than a scream. Lucky are those who have already listened to and felt the power of Life Is Free! If you haven't heard of this, the hidden message is yet to be unfolded. Close your eyes. Open your ears.

From the Web: DESIDERATA

2010-11-19T19:44:00.000-08:00

when I first read this piece of writing from one of our textbooks in grade school, it never left my thoughts since then.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann

Article: Vagrant Teachers and the Herd Instinct.

2010-09-13T23:33:00.000-07:00

On the streets of Metro Manila, it is quite typical to see street vagrants. These are the nomads of the now, wearing dirt all over their body, talking to unseen companions, seeing non-existent objects. They, as we call them back in college, are the schizophrenics. The herd instinct upon seeing this type of people is to avoid them. Because they are crazy and dangerous, disgusting and scary. We, the members of the herd cannot be blamed though, for we are not trained on how to deal with these out-of-their-right-mind vagrants. But these people, they are blessings.

People at their curious states sometimes ask why certain things exists. (Just like when we question what the purpose of termites are and what their role is aside from eating the wood from our homes.) And it is in the same instance that we may wonder why God allows these people to exist and suffer and eat from the trash. To me, one of God's many instruments in communicating with us are these vagrants who teach us simple yet important lessons in life.

Each day on my way to work, I see at least one of them. And each instance is a reminder of how blessed I am regardless of the difficulties, negativity and insecurities I have in this life. And they make me appreciate what I wouldn't otherwise: my family and job. These vagrant teachers teach me not to give up, that everyone must strive to pursue living the life we were gifted with. They inspire me to continue finding the way to my dreams and goals because I am more able and I have a stronger support system.

If you see one of them, might as well listen to what they are silently preaching. They could have a message for you. And listen to your heart. Give thanks for their existence and show gratitude by giving something in return. It could be money, food or clothes. Or even better, a shelter. We may not understand them fully and we may get frightened, but it's okay. These vagrant teachers are not made to feel bad about you ignoring them. Just don't ignore your heart.

Travel: Manila: ugly on the outside, lovely on the inside

2010-06-02T22:08:00.000-07:00

It's a disgrace that the number of blog entries about Manila's downside is arising but we cannot blame these bloggers (especially foreigners) because sometimes what they say is true and I guess there's no point in lying for this matter. Undoubtedly, it is a dismay for a person who has lived all his life in a clean city with unpolluted air and controlled population to see the typical crowded streets of Manila, more so if he finds out about the ever-increasing crime rate in Metro Manila. Even I have never dreamt of living at the heart of Manila (I come from the eastern side of the metro), and I never will. But the challenge arises from here. In a place of black smoke and poverty, where do we find hidden treasures?

Roland and I had our first encounter of Manila during our trip to Intramuros. On that occasion, we visited the famous Fort Santiago, Casa Manila, Manila Cathedral and the church of San Agustin. We liked the place because the feel it gives us is new to us. That is when we decided to discover more about Manila. We agreed to check in at a hotel for a couple of days so that we may explore the vicinity and see for ourselves what it's like to walk at the Luneta Park.

Here are a few of the many photos we have of Manila:

Intramuros is also called "the walled city"

the well-known gate to Fort Santiago leads to the Rizal shrine and museum

the Manila Cathedral is famous for its Pipe Organ

horse-drawn carriages are a normal everyday sight in the old towns of Manila

the ceiling of the San Agustin Church

the Casa Manila Museum is one of the many projects of Imelda Marcos during the 80s period

Museo Pambata

Ermita

Paco Park

“Maraming beses na kitang nilayasan (so many times i’ve left you)

Iniwanan at iba’ang pinuntahan (left [you] behind, and went elsewhere)

Parang bababeng ang hirap talagang malimutan (like a girl that’s so hard to forget)

Ikaw lamang ang aking laging binabalikan.. (you’re the only one I keep coming back to..)

Manila!

-by A Side

Article: So Your Life Will Be Beautiful

2010-03-19T18:36:00.000-07:00

Look at the beautiful things in life, so your life will be beautiful... -Dr. X, M.D.

My patient's doctor is full of wisdom. And he shared it through this statement. I was inspired as he made his rounds and spoke of this as it proves that he does not care merely for his client's physical well-being. If most of our doctors would be like him, then can we really be one of the world's best.

Travel Weekender: SCIENCE DISCOVERY CENTER

2010-02-03T03:12:00.000-08:00

Roland and I wanted to try something different one weekend and this is where we ended:

The Nido Science Discovery Center at SM Mall of Asia, Pasay, Manila

This place is one of the most frequented sites for student field trips nowadays, but if you're thinking about a big crowd of students getting in your way, no need to make a fuss because the ticket sales person will warn you first of the exact number of populace on site prior to making you pay the entrance fee. Good customer service there.

My favorite feature of the facility is the Planetarium. Feels good to be a kid again!

This experience brought me back to the memories I have as a kid. The time of living the life of a simple child with a heart that only calls for freedom to run around like her feet are idle, raise voices and shout at the top of her lungs, and move carelessly not minding what the world has got to offer when the time arrives.

We all miss the Peter Pan lifestyle we once had right?

There is a garden in every childhood,
an enchanted place where colors are brighter,
the air softer,
and the morning more fragrant
than ever again.
~Elizabeth Lawrence

Music: Maria Mena

2009-11-09T09:47:00.000-08:00

Maria's songs are nothing but lyrical! Here's a few of her lines:

I guess there's just a part of me that likes to bring you down just to keep you around
Cuz the day you realize how amazing you are you're gonna leave me
-You're The Only One

I think I have a problem, I think I think too much.
I've been taught to hold back my tears, and avoid them.
But you make pain into something I could touch.
-Fragile

But I can't sleep when your gone
And you say "what's another day?"
-What's Another Day

Another reason I like her is because she has the touch of real artistry, writing crafty songs instead of crappy.

Career: Stellar's IP Relay

2009-08-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

Stellar Global Solutions Philippines (SGSP) was the first ever company I worked with, not to practice my profession, but to do something worthwhile as I await my licensure exam results. This was how I planned it all when I was in college, not just to earn, but because it was easier to make myself busy than just stay home and do nothing. And the job pays really well. Yes, it's a call center. But way better than the usual. Plus, it's just in Araneta Center, so convenient.

The type of work at Stellar as a communications assistant (CA) is unlike the typical call center scenarios most people imagine it to be. We do not dial people's numbers to make sales or receive calls of complaints or enquiries which makes it less stressful. We receive IP Relay or i711.com calls from the United States deaf community via the computer with the call recipient's number on the screen. The CAs dial the number out and types every single detail heard at the other end of the line (just like in movie subtitles) and whatever the deaf caller replies, we voice out to the call recipient no matter how garbled the written message could be. Then the conversation goes from there.

It may sound complicated but believe me, distress only comes from having nothing else to do in this job. It can be difficult sometimes to just sit down all day and stare at the screen and type and speak. Because time runs sloooooww..... Thus, patience is a must for one to be an IP Relay agent. Another is typing speed; when I applied for it the requirement was 40-60 words per minute. And of course, the most basic of all is the ability to speak English with a neutral accent.

I stayed with Stellar for 9 months, from August 2008 to April 2009. I had to leave because the time came already for me to practice my profession and I might regret it if I didn't. Honestly, I had difficulty adjusting to the pay the hospital gives and the surge of stress was shocking. But this is the wise decision; to pursue nursing.

Oftentimes I miss Stellar, the work, the pay, and its people. The company's still young and it's not perfect, but it doesn't matter now. Happy moments are what's highlighted in my memory because this is where I met him. Roland.

((Our first picture taken together.))

From the Web: Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

2009-06-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

Stanford Report, June 14, 2005

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.
I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?
It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.
And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.
It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:
Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.
None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.
Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.
I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.
I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.
I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.
During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.
I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

My third story is about death.
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.
I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.
This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.
Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.
Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.
Thank you all very much.

-Steve Jobs

Travel: the Pasig River Water Ferry

2009-05-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

Roland and I wanted to try something different and decided to go on a tour of Manila. At first, we planned to visit Intramuros and nearby places such as the old churches and the museum Casa Manila. Since the area is a bit far from our place, we wanted to maximize our trip and go see other interesting sites so we searched the web.

Through research, we chanced upon articles about the Pasig River water taxi. This is the first instance I've ever learned about this mode of transportation which is a good alternative for metro travelers because it is more spacious than transit trains, cooler than jeepneys, and probably safer amongst all other for coast guards spearhead the ferry operations.

Our final plan? To find the nearest ferry terminal and ride our way to Intramuros and walk the streets of Manila wherever destiny would lead us. Exciting ;p

The ferries have a television and are air-conditioned. Each vessel has its own toilet too.

yes, the river looks stinky. but nope, it doesn't smell!

the Manila Post Office.

Use of cameras are strictly prohibited within the Malacanang vicinity "for security purposes" the guards have said.

our final destinations on ISHI: Travel: Manila: ugly on the outside, lovely on the inside

From the Web: The One That Got Away

2009-01-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

♥ it would be a great feeling, in the end, to be able to say to someone, "Hey you, you're the one that ALMOST got away." ♥

In your life, you'll make note of a lot of people. Ones with whom you shared something special, ones who will always mean something. There's the one you first kissed, the one you first loved, the one you lost your virginity to, the one you put on a pedestal, the one you're with... and the one that got away.

Who is the one that got away? I guess it's that person with who everything was great, everything was perfect, but the timing was just wrong. There was no fault in the person, there was no flaw in the chemistry, but the cards just didn't fall the right way, I suppose.

I believe in the fact that ending up with someone, finding a longtime partner that is, does not lie merely in the other person. I can actually argue that an equal part, or maybe even the greater part, has to do with the matter of timing. It has to do with you being ready to settle down and commit to someone in a way that goes beyond the little niceties of giddy romance.

How often have you gone through it without even realizing it? When you're not ready to commit in that mature manner, it doesn't matter who you're with, it just doesn't work. Small problems become big; inconsequentials become deal breakers simply because you're not ready and it shows. It's not that you and the person you're with are no good; it's just that it's not yet right, and little things become the flashpoint of that fact.

Then one day you're ready. You really are. And when this happens you'll be ready to settle down with someone. He or she may not be the most perfect, they might not be the brightest star of romance to ever have burned in your life, but it'll work because you're ready. It'll work because it's the right time and you'll make it work. And it'll make sense, it really will.

So that day comes when you're finally making sense of things, and you find yourself to be a different person. Things are different, your approach is different, you finally understand who you are and what you want, and you've become ready because the time has truly arrived. And mind you, there's no telling when this day will come. Hopefully you're single but you could be in a long-term relationship, you could be married with three kids, it doesn't matter. All you know is that you've changed, and for some reason, the one that got away, is the first person you think about.

You'll think about them because you'll wonder, "What if they were here today?" You'll wonder, "What if we were together now, with me as I am and not as I was?" That's what the one that got away is. The biggest "What if?" you'll have in your life.

If you're married, you'll just have to accept the fact that the one that got away, got away. Believe me, no matter how fairy tale you think your marriage is, this can happen to the best of us. But hopefully you're mature enough to realize that you're already with the one you're with and this is just another test of your commitment, one which will just strengthen your marriage when you get past it. Sure, you'll think about him/her every so often, but it's alright. It's never nice to live with a "might have been," but it happens.

Maybe the one that got away is the one who's already married. In which case it's the same thing. You just have to accept and know that your memories of that person will probably bring a nice little smile to your lips in the future when you're old and gray and reminiscing.

But if neither of that is the case, then it's different. What do you do if it's not yet too late? Simple...find him, find her. Because the very existence of a "one that got away" means that you'll always wonder, what if you got that one?

Ask him out to coffee, ask her out to a movie, it doesn't matter if you've dropped in from out of nowhere. You'd be surprised, you just might be "the one that got away" as well for the person who is your "the one that got away."

You might drop in from out of nowhere and it won't make a difference. If the timing is finally right, it'll all just fall into place somehow and you know, I'm thinking, it would be a great feeling, in the end, to be able to say to someone, "Hey you, you're the one that ALMOST got away."

Source: The Manila Times
By: Mark J. Macapagal