The Philippines was included in the National Geographic’s list of “25 Best New Travel Destination in the World in 2010,” and it cited the country’s ancient cultures, structures and biodiversity as main reasons to visit the Philippines.

The magazine, in its November 2009 Adventure issue, said that the Philippines has “as many islands as the Caribbean and some of the most spectacular reefs on the planet,” adding that travel organization have “finally gotten wise.”

The list is directed at “travelers who want their dollars to do more – for others, for the planet and for themselves.” The “25 brand new adventures” presented by the National Geographic were described as “all of them just right for right now.”

The article further said that Wilderness Travel is organizing a trip to the Philippines in May 2010 which will “lead clients high into the 5,000-foot Cordillera Central then deep into the world’s most biodiverse marine environment.” It will be a 12-day trip to the Philippines which costs $3,300.

The Philippines was described by Wilderness Travel in its website as a country which boasts of breathtaking hiking routes through ancient rice terraces and scenic mountain landscapes, cultural encounters with the Ifugao people and world class snorkeling in the “Coral Triangle.”

All of these will be experienced by travelers who would sign-up for the trip.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy Gaa said the inclusion of the Philippines in the list shows the global community is “taking note of the natural and cultural wonders in the country as well as the efforts to protect and preserve them.”

If you are into Xbox games and is looking where to buy xbox live codes, there is a site I have stumbled upon, which sells this. It is the BuyMMOAccounts.com. I have seen the site before when I was looking for World of Warcraft accounts. I just found out that they also have xbox 360 live codes. When you purchase xbox live points from the site, the codes will be delivered to you through email, and you can start playing in less than 30 minutes. Check out their sites for more details on the Xbox games Gold Membership they are offering worldwide.

If haven’t heard it yet, here’s a shoutout for you. Zenni Optical, the online source of prescription eyeglasses has New Arrivals of more stylish design frames to choose from. Visit their site to the Holiday Fun Eyeglasses that will make you see better and look good at the same time. If you’re on a budget, the $8 Prescription Zenni Glasses are still available.

Yes! You can indeed say that I am one proud father, seeing my daughter’s Cinderella story in the same list as Zorlone, Justin and Jennifer.

Her story was picked as one of the winners in WOOF Writing Contest for October 23, 2009!

Angel is in the winners’ circle along with these great writers!

In my previous post, I wrote about my 11-year old daughter and her modern-day Cinderella adaptation.

She wrote it for a presentation in their school club’s meeting. Her teacher liked her story, because it has a different approach and not the usual mushy fairy tales plot.

The proud father in me liked her story too, so much that I featured her as a guest writer in my Short Stories Blog.

Not contended with that, I entered her story in the weekly WOOF writing contest where she was picked as one of the winners!

Now, I’m even more prouder of my daughter!

Congratulations Angel!

Call me a stage father, but I just have to brag about it. My daughter Angel is also I writer. I guess I’ve already said that I couple of times in my blogs.

This time she was asked to write a script for a story, and she was given a theme even! She was required to write a modern day Cinderella story, and so she did!

All by herself.

You’d think she’d go for the typical ragged lady with evil stepsisters and a fairy godmother type, right?

She didn’t! And I’m really puzzled how she was able to come out with the story. Still, you can see shades of the Cinderella story in her version… or am I just being biased?

Well, you be the judge. Read Angel’s adaptation of the Cinderella story in my Short Stories Blog where I featured her as my guest writer.

This coming Christmas, there will be a lot of changes… but all for the better. For one – my attitude about it. Last year, I wasn’t really receptive about it although we celebrated it for the sake of the kids. This year, we will celebrate it still, but I’ll make sure that I will have the Christmas spirit in me.

We’ll still have Christmas biscuits and Christmas candy, and other goodies under the Christmas Tree. I will try to add more surprises for the kids under that tree this year.

And the games, I need to think of more games that are not too childish for my growing up kids and yet not boring, because they are still, no matter how they grow up – kids. Well, the family favorite ‘Pinoy Henyo’ will definitely be included. It’s always one of the best love games of the kids.

The food… let’s see… I need to work on this… think of something that would be different this time, and yet not too challenging for me. I tend to give up easily on the kitchen. I need to find too, some recipes that requires little or no onions at all, lest I’ll cry again.

Like I said in my other blog, one change that I’ll be taking this year is I’ll try to switch to the healthier tea and drink less of coffee. It will still remain, coffee that is, but there would be less of it in the coming days.

I hope I can keep with the last one, which I believe is the most challenging one for me.

I once met a writer from a magazine during a product launch in my previous employment. Chatting with her, I said I am frustrated writer. I wished to write when I was younger.

She replied, “There’s no such thing as a frustrated writer,” and she added, “perhaps, the only frustrated writer is one who has a pen without an ink.” I remembered her words (though I don’t remember her name nor her face). Maybe that’s true… there’s no such thing as a frustrated writer.

Thanks to blogging, I found a medium to vent out that so-called frustrations.

But try as I might, there is still a difference between blogging and prints, so somehow, the ‘frustrations’ lingered… until…

Finally, The Inspirational Book came out of the printing press, and is now available for release.

Now, I can really say that I am no longer a frustrated writer!

Because this book, which contains 27 inspirational stories from bloggers all over, has three of my own personal stories.

My three personal, real-life stories, share with the readers different experiences in my life – my daughter’s contest, my Eat Bulaga experience, and the day I fullfilled a promise to my wife.

My stories, and 24 more beautiful and inspiring stories, complete the line-up in this Inspirational Book project.

And I would like to request my readers, my friends, and everyone who happens to pass by this post – if you’re looking for an inspirational book, or perhaps a gift idea this coming Christmas, visit my friend’s blog to know how you can order your copy of the book.

If you are here in Angeles City, and wants to have a copy of the book, leave your comment here and I will personally deliver your copy.

This book is the fulfillment of my dream.

Thank you very much.

Assuming the dual role of both parents since I became a single father, it is not surprising that I would lean more on the ‘masculine’ side of things and sometimes dismiss about the ‘feminine’ side, which is what most mothers’ priorities are.

Cooking food was fine, and so was doing the laundry. But it has never occurred to me that I should also be wary of my children’s appearance too. You know, personality, get-ups, fragrances and the like. Maybe I should developing a keen sense on those, after all, my children are no longer kids.

When I go to supermarkets to buy groceries, it’s mostly food and some basic hygiene essentials, like soaps, toothpaste, shampoos and alcohol. The closest thing I got to ‘vanity’ products were lotions, baby cologne, and baby powder.

I haven’t really thought of buying womens perfume for my daughter or mens cologne for my sons. Maybe it’s high time that I do, their world is getting bigger now… and I’m starting to see less of them in the house during weekends.

How to start? Where to start? Being a non-sociable person, and one who was never really concern about my ‘personality,’ I have a long way to go. But of course, my social life story doesn’t have to be my kids too.

Ooh, the joys of being a single parent.

He was featured last March as a modern-day hero by CNN because of his simple act of teaching poor children how to read and write. His trademark ‘kariton‘ (push cart) always goes with him wherever he goes on a mission.

That recognition has brought Efren Peñaflorida to the Top 10 CNN Heroes of the Year where he will be receiving $25,000 during an awarding that will be held in Hollywood come November.

Aside from that, Efren will also have a chance to win an additional $100,000 if he wins as the CNN Hero of the Year, where the winner will be chosen through online voting.

To help our fellow Filipino win, please vote for him at CNN.com/Heroes, the online voting will end on November 19 at 6 a.m. Eastern Time.

The CNN statement said:
Efren Peñaflorida gives Filipino youth an alternative to gang membership through education. His Dynamic Teen Company’s 10,000 members have taught basic reading and writing to 1,500 kids living in the slums.

Let’s all vote for Efren Peñaflorida for CNN Hero of the Year. I’m sure whatever rewards he receives will go the continuations of his noble mission.

And while I’m it, I’d like to call once again for continued support for Filipino Architect Gonzalo Raymundo, who according to the latest comment was already trailing behind a finalist from Portugal.

Vote for Gonzalo Raymundo here

Support our fellow Filipinos! Support our kababayans!

Architect Gonzalo “Jun” Raymundo, 55, based in Quezon City saw the announcement of a design competition on the web. Seeing that it was easy to join and there were no fees to pay, he came up with a design and joined. Now, this Filipino architect is one of the top 10 finalists in prestigious Guggenheim Art Shelter Competition.

The Guggenheim Art Shelter Competition is an international contest where in Guggenheim and Google SketchUp invites designers, both amateurs and professional to submit a 3-D shelter for any location in the world using Google SketchUp and Google Earth.

There were nearly 600 contestants from 68 different countries who submitted designs that have met the competition requirements. The submission of entries was closed last August 23. The 10 finalists were then selected by students from Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture for the People’s Prize award which will be chosen through online voting.

On October 21, the People’s Prize winner will be announced together with a special Juried Prize chosen by a panel of experts. October 21 is the 50th anniversary of Guggenheim Museum.

Raymundo’s design entry was called “A Bamboo Shelter in a Garbage Dump City,” which is shelter made of indigenous material built on a concrete base in a garbage dump in the Philippines. The bamboo wall represents a strong sense of camaraderie or bayanihan (community cooperation) to signify that “where there is unity, there is strength.” His work collectively symbolizes “sustainability and hope.”

The Filipino architect said his design was inspired by the story of Salim and Jamal of the movie Slumdog Millionaire. “I was deeply touched by the scenes in the garbage dump so I came up with a 3-D shelter design entry using a bamboo wall representing the Filipino spirit of bayanihan of strength and hope,” he said.

As of the time I’m posting this, Raymundo is leading the online voting with more than 8,000 votes. To support Raymundo and vote for him, visit the voting site here.

Support our fellow Filipino. Support Architect Gonzalo Raymundo.

Here’s a picture and video of Raymundo’s entry: