Pagmamalaki Nga Ba?

Para sa Lahat:

Sa mga panahon ngayon, halos karamihan ng mga Pilipino ay nagiging aware na pagdating sa pansariling kalusugan. Kaya nga nauuso na ang mga fun run, biking, scuba diving, trail running, mountaineering at iba pa. Aminin natin ang katotohanan na sa bawat pagsali natin sa iba’t ibang events, kaakibat na dito ang pag-bayad sa registration fee sa mga organizers na para sa mga event shirts, ballers, at ang paborito kong bag tag.

May napansin lang akong komento ng isang kaibigan tungkol sa pagsusuot ng mga outdoor paraphernalia, kahit na wala sa isang event. Hindi ko naman masyadong ikinabigla ito, pero napaisip ako ng “konti lang” sa komentong iyon. Ganito ang pagkakasabi: “Bakit ang hilig ny’ong magsuot ng mga ganyan? (pertaining to my PM shirt and event baller) Siguro pinagmamalaki nyo yan sa iba no?” 

Dahil sa pag-akyat ko ng bundok, andaming nagbago sakin, kasama na ang pananamit. Hindi ko naman ikinakahiya ang tunay kong pagkatao (Iam a half Filipino, half Filipina) sa iba, maski sa mga readers ng TravellingCup. Nais ko lang pong ipaalam, dati medyo pasexy ang peg ko, pagurly effect kumbaga, ngunit dahil sa mountaineering, naiba lahat pati mga pananaw ko sa buhay.

Anyways, going back to my concern, okay lang sana sa akin yung sinabi nya, the statement was okay, but the way he said that statement, eh medyo bumigat ang batok ko. Hostly, I was offended on the way he said that. Syempre, dahil sa pagkulo ng dugo ko, agad naman akong rumesbak: “Hindi naman ako/kami nagmamalaki sa iba, na porket naiiba ang mga interes naming. Ang pagsuot ng mga singlet, event shirts ay hindi nanganggahulugan ng pag-papasikat. Ang salitang “NAGMAMALAKI” ay isa sa pinaka powerful na salita, na narinig ko this month, in many ways. 

Personally, I am wearing my event shirts at souvenir shirts na galing ng iba’t-ibang lugar, HINDI dahil gusto ko itong IPAGMALAKI at ibandera sa mundo. Hindi ko ipinapaalam na ako’y hardcore sa napili kong interes sa buhay. Isinusuot ko ang mga ito dahil binayaran ko ito, ginastusan po naming ito at sayang naman nasa tokador lamang at pinakikinabangan lamang ng mga ipis bahay.

Para sa lahat, matututo po tayong magpakita ng respeto sa kapwa po natin. Ugaliin po nating wag manghusga, laho’t higit na hindi natin alam kung nakaka-offend tayo ng ibang tao. Hindi ko pwedeng i post ang shirt na yun for some reasons. Maraming salamat po!

What’s Good in Saying Goodbye?

In every ending, initial reaction of human being is to feel sad; it mostly happens if there was harmony and joy when you’re together.  People would say, it’s really hard to lose someone that plays a great role in discovering yourself. It’s hard to lose people who serve as your friend and family.

For 4 years and 7 months, I was with my previous BPO Company. May 18, 2013 I rendered my last day due to retrenchment. Legally speaking, everything was really fine. But, leaving those people that I was working with for a long time, wasn’t fine, I was in post traumatic stress for few months. And as a result, tinamad akong magwork at puro lamyerda lang ginawa ko. Dapat siguro may law tayo regarding traumatic stress kapag nahiwalay tayo sa mga office mates natin no?

Ilang araw palang ang nakakaraan, pinasok ko ang isang trabahong hindi ko masyadong gamay, hindi ko masyadong alam, hindi ko masyadong naiintindihan; sa kadahilanang hindi ito kasama sa mga pinag-aralan ko sa kolehiyo. Ang tanging alam ko, KAYA KO TO! Sabi nga ni Tyra Banks, “You want to be on TOP?” well, kahit bottom ako, hahaha, pinanindigan ko talaga na kaya kong mag-excell sa field na ipagkakaloob sakin, kahit na may kakulangan pa pormal na edukasyon subalit nakakalungkot mang isiping sa unang pag-kakataon ako ang unang sumuko.

Noong mga unang linggo, medyo magulo, kumbaga, hindi masyadong maarok nang aking pang-unawa at murang pag-iisip ang mga bagay-bagay. Kung may nose bleed, that time? My brain was bleeding and memory full. Kung kaya kong magbigay nang numero sa salitang “effort,” gagawin ko para mas maunawaan nyo. Yung natural kong kakayanan, natural kong talino (medyo mababa) maglalagay ako nang “1effort.” During the first two weeks of Product Specific Training, I gave “3effort,” ay kulang ng “S” “3effortS” pala, ganyan ako na challenge sa aming leksyon. Ang tanging bala ko lamang ay ang aking natural na pang-unawa, natural na ganda at positibong pananaw sa buhay.

Sa simula palang, akala ko hindi ako mag-eenjoy dahil siguro na threaten ako sa mga aurang naramdaman ko sa bawat taong nasa training room. Na threaten ako (initial reaction of animals yun e) dahil  pasikat ako at ayokong may pasikat pa sakin. At totoo yun, hindi ako nag-enjoy dahil hindi sapat ang salitang “enjoy” to describe what I felt. Naging MALIGAYA ako, lubos ang aking kaligayahan at ligaya rin ang naibigay ko sa kanila, alam ko yun, o nagfifeeling nanaman ako. Kaya sa ngayon, “LIGAYA, Ligaya Ang Itawag NYO sa Akin.”

Maybe you’re thinking why am I including this post to my travel/lifestyle blog and it’s even not related to travel. PWEDE BA! Blog ko to, wag kayong umeepal, ipopost ko ang gusto kong ipost. Wag kayong nangingi-alam sa mga desisyon ko! HINDI, GANITO YUN. For me, the topic of the training was not basic, it’s advance and since all I know are only the basics, anlaki nung in-adjust ko to cope up with the lessons. And to relieve the stress that we feel, we make sure to have few buckets of beer sa MetroWalk, then lakad papuntang McDo Julia Vargas, pero nagchange location kami dahil ang gulo namin, sa may Shell Meralco nalang kami. Sa lugar na yun mas nahubog ang aming samahan at pag-kakaibigan.

After passing the exam and other exercises, we were endorsed to production under supervision. I thought, I already learned and acquired everything. But during my first day, I was shocked and was totally stressed! Yung inakala kong alam ko na, ay nasa 40 percent pa lamang pala nung nasa katotohanan. It was the longest and tiring day for this year. Habang ako’y nasa bus at kasalukuyang nililisan ang Kamaynilaan, pauwi ng bahay, blangko ang aking isipan habang nakatitig sa kulay dalandang bukang liwayway. Marahi, iba’t ibang ideya ang nasa balintataw ng ibang paseherong nagmamasid sa akin. Ngunit, patuloy parin ang aking pagtitig sa nuoy papasikat palang na araw. Doon nagsimula ang ideya kong magsulat nang: “What’s Good in Saying Goodbye.”

“What’s Good in Saying Goodbye?” for me, it’s the new start, it’s the new beginning after the ending. Remember, start first before the ending and after ending is a new start. It is a cycle, it keeps happening again and again. Never forget that learning is constant and will be permanent. You may not apply what you’ve learned today, but there will always be tomorrow.

At sana po ay meron kayong natutunan kahit katiting sa sulating di-pormal ko na ito, kung wala kayong natutunan, wag nyo nang pilitin. Patapos nanaman ang taong dalawang libo’t labintatlo, kaya asahan ang mga bagong estorya nang aking pagtuklas. Maraming Salamat.

United4PH Run 2014

UNITED4PH RUN 2014 is a run for a cause hosted by Sabit Sabit Mountaineers together with UP Red Cross Youth. It will be on January 5, 2014 at the University of the Philippines Diliman Academic Oval. This event aims to help our fellow Filipinos in need. Proceeds will be coursed thru Philippine Red Cross of which will benefit the victims of earthquake and typhoon in the Visayas. The event will be covering the race distances 500M, 2.2K, 4.4K, 6.6K and 11K. Everyone is invited to join this historical event where we, Filipinos, will unite for our country. Mark you calendar and start your 2014 season by running and helping our countrymen.

New Year, New Hope, New Beginning.

We, Filipinos, will rise up for our country.

We will raise our flag and hands attentively.

We will sing our national anthem wholeheartedly.

United, we will run for our country.

REGISTRATION FEE:

2.2K - 100PHP

6.6K - 200PHP

11K - 250PHP

Family 4.4K - 500PHP

Kiddie 500M - 50PHP

*Inclusive of Race BIB, Freebie and Donation for the Visayas Victims.

NOTES:

1. Family 4.4K category should be composed of three (3) to five (5) family members.

2. Kiddie 500M category is for kids with age of five (5) to ten (10) years old ONLY.

3. Claiming of Race BIBs and/or singlet will be on the date of the event, January 5, 2014, at 4-6AM. We'll provide a claiming booth for an organize distribution.

4. Purchasing/buying of Single of optional for only P170 pesos.

REGISTRATION:

Register online at United4PH Run 2014 Online Registration from November 18 - December 22, 2013.

 photos and information credits from Sabit Sabit Mountaineers

My Packing Suggestion

When I posted on facebook about being a Red Cross volunteer, I received positive comments from my friends who want to give their time and effort to the victims of the Typhoon Yolanda. I am a volunteer for two days now and I noticed that many Philippine Red Cross headquarters are getting more volunteers for manpower but less goods. 

We visited DSWD in Pasay City last November 12, 2013, but we were unable to help them because their headquarter is small and a lot of manpower from the volunteers were there, so we went to Red Cross Mandaluyong City but since we’re done with repacking for the last two days, so we loaded those goods to the trucks. After loading, we tried to do something else just to help, but still we don’t have goods to pack.

So here’s my suggestion: Why not DSWD approach Philippine Red Cross (vice versa) and help each other. Since DSWD has more goods and manpower but less space, why not sharing those goods to available Red Cross centers that don’t have the goods. And also, PLEASE OPEN MORE SATELLITE centers for repacking. This weekend, expect for more volunteers so WE NEED MORE centers.

Philippine Red Cross

Today is November 12, 2013 - this was my second day as a volunteer of Philippine Red Cross. So, after packing the goods and put in the sack, its time to put it inside the cargo truck. Look, the volunteers were really giving their best to help, while I was just staring to them. Since there were a lot of volunteers in this location, we decided to go to DSWD Pasay City, I was with Te Sha. But unfortunately when we're already on coastal road, I received an update that DSWD is not allowing more volunteers. So, we went back to first location and helped them.

I donated my time for the Victims of Yolanda

I celebrated my birthday last November 7, thursday, and I was at the office that time with my new office mates. November 8, 2013, Friday - the super typhoon Yolanda hit the provinces in the Visayas. Some provinces were in Signal No. 4, which is the strongest typhoon signal. A lot of provinces in the said region were affected by the typhoon; as a result they lost everything including lives and ways of communication. Please check the photos below:

Kojie San Men

I was browsing my photo files in my laptop when I saw these pictures. These pictures were taken during the Kojie San Men product launching at 7th High, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig or Makati City - I don't know, this issue is still under hearing at the court. Anyways, I was invited in this event because I won a blogging competition and two movie tickets for "Taken 2" at Shangri-La Cineplex. 

Hardys: It Gets Better with Time

Holiday season is the most awaited season of the year. Here in the Philippines, this season starts early; from September up to January of next year. This season is the perfect time for picnic, parties, food and of course wine; as it blends the taste to our tongues. Wine gives a huge impact in building relationship with your friends, family and loved ones during your conversation.

Aside from holiday season, traveling is the best way to enjoy life. In this interest you can enjoy both the tourist spots and native delicacies served with delicious wines. Wine can add up an amazing experience where ever you are; regardless of your province, city and country.

Biak na Bato

Bahay Paniki Cave is one of the highlights of Biak na Bato National Park. This park is located in Baranggay Biak na Bato, San Miguel, Bulacan. It was declared as national park in 1937 by the former president Manuel L. Quezon. Biak na Bato (split of boulder) This park was the location where Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo signed the Malolos Republic (first Constitution of the Philippines.)

This bridge serves as the connection going to certain parts of the park. Balaong and Madlum Rivers are both located in this national park. The local government built a river wall in each side of the river to protect the soil from soil erosion. The trail going to each highlights are cemented for protections. In this park, three caves can be found. These caves were used by the Katipuneros during the Spanish Colonial lead by Emilio Aguinaldo. Please click the links in yellow to see more photos and its historical value.

(Photo above) Ambush Cave or Yungib 1. To know more about this cave, click here: Ambush Cave

(Photo Above) Hospital Cave or Yungib 2. To know more about this cave, click here: Hospital Cave

(Photo Above) Imbakan Cave or Yungib 3. To know more about this cave, click here: Imbakan Cave

Another highlight of Biak na Bato National Park is located on the other side. Here you can find Madlum Cave, Bayukbuk Cave and other caves located near Mt. Manalmon. This part is the home of adventure; you can try rock climbing, spelunking and other outdoor activities. You can also check my Bulacan solo-backpacking details here: 30 Hours Historical Adventure in Bulacan.

How to Get Here:
(For Biak na Bato National Park)
Take a bus from Baliwag Transit Cubao going to San Miguel (just tell the konduktor to drop you off in tricycle terminal to Biak na Bato.)
Take a tricycle to the location.

Five-Star Bus Terminal EDSA-Cubao, bus fare is 117pesos. (Cubao to Camias)

Departure: 4:37AM  -  Arrival in Camias: 6:35AM (Total Gas station)

Took Tricycle going to Mt. Manalmon jump off point.

Mt. Maculot

The photo above was taken on Feb. 22, 2013 at the Rockies of Mt. Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas. After the incident happened to Mr. Ayson at the same spot, many rumors arose about supernatural stories. The nearby residents said that there were ball of lights in the air specially during Holy Week season. Stories about ghosts also spread in this place. But look! my photo is remarkable. Click this link: Mt. Maculot for more photos and our story.

Molo Church | What to Visit in Ilo-Ilo

This was part of my Negros Solo-Backpacking | Day 2

So, from Ong Bun Pension House along Ledesma Street, I took a jeep going to this church. Minimum fare for the jeep fare, travel time is within 30 minutes, depending on traffic. The people were so great, because they instructed me where to go and where to stop. The ambiance of the weather was cool and not so hot but still I was sweating, maybe because of my stomach. Read here why: Day 1. But, when I saw the tower of the old church, I was amazed!

Molo Church (St. Anne Parish) is situated in front of the town plaza.  Molo is actually one of the seven districts of Ilo-Ilo City which formerly called Parian (Chinatown) because the residents here were mostly Chinese. Then it was changed into Moro because of the frequent arrival of Muslim pirates from Mindanao, but later evolved in Molo – Wikipedia.com

While walking in front of the church, I found this huge monument that looks familiar. The structure is like an Egyptian structure and the dome is so perfect. The landscape perfectly matched the white structure.

Here's what you can find at the park, there are green trees and grass and blooming flowers. Beside the park is the mini-carnival.

It was built in 1831 by the Ilonggo artists and it is the proof that the residents are really great in terms of arts. This church has Gothic-Renaissance architecture and it’s the only one outside Manila. It is made from coral stones with egg whites mixed with sand for some parts. August 4, 1886 when it was visited by Dr. Jose Rizal when he was on his way to Manila from exile in Dapitan to pray and see the gorgeous paintings (today, no longer existing)

Dome is always part of many old churches in the world. Look at the dome in this church, it's like the Dome of St. Peters in Vatican City. Molo church survived from different calamities because it is very sturdy. It served as an evacuation center for the civilians during World War II. In 1992, the National Historical Institute declared it as a National Landmark.

HOW TO GET HERE:

From Ilo-Ilo City, you can take a taxi or jeep with Molo signboard. Just tell the driver to drop you off on the street by Molo Church.

WHERE TO STAY:

If you have business like hotels, pension houses, restaurants and such, you can email: dharzie@travellingcup.info