Shangri-la Boracay

For a poor small town boy like me, Shangri-la is jaw-dropping dead gorgeous. Definitely, the best hotel and resort in Boracay!

So this is the cherry to my 2010.

Happy new year everyone! 

Everybody loves differently

Sad fact no. 12:

Because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to

doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

The Crescent Moon Café

The world is beautiful when the heart is full of love.

I saw the quote etched on an old wooden dresser of the café. This, and the glowing kois, the lush ambience, the alagao wrap-up salad, and the healthy food either picked from a tree or fished from their natural habitat, made me fall instantly in love with the place.

You’d surely get a yes when you propose to someone under the beautiful crescent moon.

The Crescent Moon Cafe

Ascencion Road, Brgy. Dalig

Antipolo City, Rizal

Tel. No.: 658-3866, 630-5854

My Three Golden Rules on Friendship

Just in case one day, we become friends, just remember three simple things:

First. Don’t ever make me feel alone, all by myself. Most especially if you’re there, if you are near, if you are just around the corner.

Second. I won’t mind if you don’t tell me everything. Just don’t lie to me. But in case you did, give me one very good reason to forgive you.

Third. If you done me wrong. A simple sorry will do. If you have a hard time saying sorry, a bribe or a piece of chocolate is acceptable.

I don’t want to harbour anger. I just want to give love, the most beautiful thing life could offer.

I already forgave you. A long time ago.

Myth of the Human Body Exhibition

One museum. Too many dead people.

But I learned something new today – that a man’s testes are asymmetrical. They were naturally made like that for the sake of humanity. And it isn’t a myth.

Note: Exhibition is not for the faint-hearted. Picture taking and touching of the plastinated human bodies are prohibited. But some visitors just love breaking the rules anyway.

Myth of the Human Body Exhibition

Neobabylon Building 9, Bayani Rd.

AFPOVAI, Taguig City

Tel. No.: 889-5467, 889-1724

Mt. Batulao: Walking on the Shadow of Time

I was supposed to go to Batulao last August 23, 2010 for my birthday, but it did not push through due to unforeseen cosmic reasons. Ever since I kept wondering, “Had I conquered Mt. Batulao then, would the bloody August 23 Hong Kong bus kidnapping have been prevented?”

Sometimes one simple action could trigger an event with complex consequences. What if? Sadly, there are some things that are beyond my control.

But I'm happy I'm climbing again.

A Spanish galleon sails to present precarious time

Spanish galleon played an important part in Philippine history. Had it not reached our shores in 15^th century, I’m certain our country would have not been subjugated under Spain, named Las Islas FIlipinas, and our history would have taken a different course.

So when I heard that the replica of Galeon Andalucia would dock in Manila, I went right away one Saturday to witness the ship that not only first engaged the country in galleon trade but also stirred it’s fate.

I thought it was an easy and fast public viewing. I was wrong. I was very wrong. The queue of people wanting to see the vessel rivals a Justin Beiber concert. Hehe. To make the long story, wait and agony short, I was able to see Andalucia after almost eight hours of standing under different weather conditions ranging from extreme heat to heavy rain showers accompanied with lightning and roaring thunder. Thank God I survived the ordeal, with my day energy only coming from the pandesal and Milo I had for breakfast.

I know the events organizer did their best to control, pacify and satisfy the maddening crowd… but they could have done better. Better. Due to non-assurance that everybody could get in because of the limited number of people allowed to experience Andalucia, I felt pity for the hordes of students who were so excited for their supposed to be educational fieldtrip that got cancelled. I felt sorry for those who waited forever but wasn’t able to pass through the gate, those who got soaked, and those who gave up. But I also take relish from the sights of a cute little girl stuck under a small umbrella with her mother and two siblings singing “rain, rain go away”, Pen Medina getting lost in the crowd, dripping wet-look Cecille Guidote Alvares appeasing the mob, to people chanting and cursing the guard who shooed away the tourists still behind the gate by lunchtime. Filipinos always try to find happiness under very blood-cuddling situations.

But it was really hope, my patience, persistence, M. Scott Peck book, and umbrella that kept me glued in line. When I want something, I am ready to part the sea if that’s the only way I could get it. No kidding. After all, eight hours of waiting is nothing compared to 500 years.

Pamitinan and Wawa Dam

People celebrate their birthdays with spaghetti and a big cake. That’s the norm. But I’m not the norm.

Balesin

Paradise found… after three hours of land travel from Manila to Real, Quezon… and another nine hours of boat ride (all inclusive of one stop over, getting lost in the middle of the sea in the middle of the night, with some people hungry, panicking, and exhausted) from Real to Balesin.

But upon reaching the island, the agonizing wait was oh so worth it!