Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta wanderlust. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta wanderlust. Mostrar todas las entradas

miércoles, mayo 26, 2010

ang init sa tuguegarao!

i was late. i thought i was going to be here 3 months ago but for some unexpected and not so good turn of events, i was not able to fulfill my promise until much later.

mom, who also promised to visit Our Lady in Piat, was reluctant to go but after what had happened to me when i returned from mindoro (i had an encounter with mandurukot/hold-uppers. they were about 4-5 men), i took it as a sign that we should go and do it also as a sign of gratitude for keeping me safe and unharmed. i was very lucky indeed because my whole salary was with me at that time and my lumix too.

so mom, brother and me went there on a saturday to catch the sunday mass. mom wanted that we leave in the morning so we can enjoy the view. it's my first time to go to that side of the north and all i can say is, anlayo nya huh. i can reach ilocos norte in 10 hours but it took us 12 hours to reach cagayan valley even on a deluxe bus. but the view was also great. it's really a thrill going up north.

the view from nueva vizcaya


welcome to isabela province

all these i took while the bus was moving. lucky me i was able to take these shots. thanks to lumix too.


it's a wonderful feeling having knelt before Our Lady. the time i spent with her in the basilica was brief but worthwhile. i would have loved to stay a little longer but the weather was just too hot for me to endure. our little boy, mat, was not able to take it too. he got sick and so we left right after the mass. but it's ok. i know it wont be the last time i will visit her. i just hope when i come back it will be at the time of the cold season so i can go around and visit the callao caves as well.




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sábado, abril 03, 2010

busy holy week

this holy week is the busiest.

holy thursday, i was with these people


for this


our station was located right beside this


and since we were in pampanga, we get to see this from time to time


i left at 6pm to go to pangasinan with my bro and co. to attend the wake of his gf's lola. we left there almost midnight and received a shocking news. my nephew died the day before. cause of death: strangulation secondary to severe depression. please, sana wala ng sumunod.

good friday, we did the traditional 'libing' in our parish. i helped in dressing our image of maria cleofe, the bearer of holy water and incense used in the burial of our Lord.

today, black saturday, is the burial of my nephew. it was held in loyola memorial this morning





tomorrow, we'll do the 'salubong' in the early morn. i wish i'll have time to write the side stories before i leave again.




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miércoles, marzo 24, 2010

here again

yep, im still alive and kickin' and i haven't abandoned blogging into oblivion. happiness it is to be able to travel alone even if it's just an island away. i guess it's the thrill of going to a place for the first time without knowing even a single soul there. being vulnerable can be good sometimes. i was able to make friends with a lot of people and have seen a lot of places. my trip down south was also one of the most memorable because i have done a lot of firsts. they were quite simple though like riding in a motor bike for the first time but were definitely fun indeed.

the work was quite a challenge. landing on a medical officer 3 job after the 4 months of sedentary and catatonic life was hard at first. i had to refresh my knowledge and skills to the hospital work. to tell you honestly, i had mixed emotions during my first few days. there was excitement, feeling of inadequacy, fear, and loads of stress. i thought i won't be able to finish the ten days but as they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and i did feel stronger after wards. and i guess, i was able to appreciate my profession more. it's the feeling of being needed and making a person well that were the most rewarding and no amount of money can replace.

life there was simple yet i was able to enjoy my stay there. there were no malls and not even the famous jollibee was in sight. the people were warm and very accommodating. i remember, my fellow physician and i were invited to a birthday party where we had disco with senior citizens. i got quite drunk because i was not able to resist when they handed me a half glass of fundador brandy and a tall glass of mixed drink made of iced tea and grand matador. we danced our heart out with their favorite ballroom songs and some new ones. they were all 'game' not minding the signs of aging though i guess we all woke up with painful joints and back. i was also able to taste the creamiest home made ice cream my taste buds have known that even a haagen dazs can't beat. i wish i can bring home some as a pasalubong for mom and dad. they will surely love it as much as i did.

next month, i have to be back there again, and i will surely take pictures to show you all the beauty of the place.




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jueves, febrero 04, 2010

frustrations of a photographist (anoh daw???)

hi there. it's been a while since my last maayos post (seriously maayos to kahit ganyan ang title haha). i have been busy with post processing and posting pictures from our calatagan adventure last weekend. i was so happy that my first ever photo in panoramic view got a good review and won me a free accommodation on my next visit to calatagan. (heehee so happy. thanks sir willie!!!). i was also happy that some of my shots fared well with those from my other companions who were dslr users. but i still have a few frustrations not owning a better camera. let me show you why...

exhibit 1:


this is another panoramic view taken at the lighthouse. i could have took more sky if i were using a wide angle lens here.

exhibit 2:

again, the beautiful sky is lacking in this picture.

exhibit 3:


can you see the little green ones that look like miniature pine trees behind the coral? they look nice, no? my camera cant capture those without the blur.


exhibit 4:



honestly, i like the way the sunset was captured here. in some of the pictures i saw, they were focused more on the sun's spherical figure. im more interested on its rays. but i still do believe that i could have captured more if i can adjust the shutter speed and aperture of my gadget. what do you think?


so is it time to have one like this?

nah, don't think so. besides, i still believe im not yet into that level plus i love candid shots. i can't do that with a huge camera. maybe a micro four thirds or an lx3 will do for me now. later nalang siguro ang dslr when im older or maybe when i feel the need for it (and have the mooolah to buy hehe).




(photo by Neil)

that's my sister's P&S that i borrowed for the trip. hindi ako nahiyang ilabas yan kahit lahat sila naka dslr haha. well sabi nga sa peyspuk, hindi lahat ng naka- dslr ay photographer at katulad din ng laging sinasabi ng aking friendship na artist, wala yan sa camera. =) PEACE.

see more of the photos i took in my flickr and feel free to give comments and suggestions so i can improve on my shots next time.




My answer part 2:

wag nyo nalang pansinin ang 1st part ng post ko. maganda lang kase ang kanta. honestly, hinahanap na din ng katawan ko ang pagod, puyat, at sakit ng ulo at katawan ng buhay ospital not to mention dealing with the biatches, the kiss-ass, and the gods (note: hindi ako masokista). i just feel that it's high time to get out of my comfort zone, test my limits and prove again what i am made of. at isa pa, gusto ko na din umalis dito sa bahay. it's not because i don't like being with my family. it's just that i want to live on my own. gumawa ng mga sarili kong diskarte sa buhay. mga ganung bagay.





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domingo, enero 17, 2010

TGI Friday and Saturday

all burned out from the passing week, two of my boy buds, N and R, and I decided to meet Friday night and have dinner in the mall. it was already 8pm when N and I met in the northern end of QC. we were really running late but i was glad we made it to shang before 9pm. N is able to drive that fast in the city already. hehe. R was not able to make it to the dinner though. he was still at work until 9.30pm, attention Selecta!!! its that late awready!? N and I ate at pepper lunch and decided to join the HP contest just for fun. I loved the photo he took of me. sad that i don't think we'll win because the picture was printed out in sepia coz the printer is already running out of ink. kamusta naman yun. but it's okay. after all, we were there to eat and have a good time. and having choco lava cake and ice cream is a bliss already. we met R after and decided to have a midnight snack (for us but dinner for R) in a lugawan sa kanto. sarap ng lugaw na yun. hehe.

its always fun going out with my boy buds. we talk anything under the sun, laugh our hearts out at anything funny or not, hang out even in simple places and still have fun. they also give the best advice in the world although you got to be strong to take them coz they will just say it flat. no sugar coating. no pasakalye. i guess that is the ultimate proof of my being one of the boys. i can take their advices in a constructive way and not get hurt even if they are displeasing to the ear.


the three of us. it was the second time i wore my yellow pointed flats.

saturday, i went to rizal with mom and aunt to attend a surprise birthday party for my cousin. she turned 57 this year. yup, my cuz is that old already (but for the record, she's not the oldest among all my cuz). it was held in a small farm-resort. i decided to stay in the mango trees and lie in a hammock while they were having fun inside singing their hearts out in the videoke. i was also able to meet my pamangin sa pinsan, C who is going to apply for fellowship (yup he is definitely older than me) this year in the same hospital that i wanted to get in. he did a good job explaining to mom the highs and lows of being a doc. thanks, C.


me reading while lying in a hammock and enjoying the fresh air. lahvet!

we left at 5pm to attend another birthday party, this time in the upscale wack wack village. Ninang E's mother in law celebrated her 85th birthday. we were in awe when we arrived in their 6000 sq.m land which have, apart from their mansion home, its own veranda enclosed in glass (and fully airconditioned) which can hold as many as 10 big tables for 50 guests. we were told it's going to be a simple dinner with family and close friends but there we were, eating dinner with an orchestra playing at the background (which I later learned were Bernie Pasamba's group. His string ensemble were former members of the Manila Chamber Orchestra).

mother, as she is fondly called, has a rag to riches life story. she was a former basurera pushing her kariton in the streets of Clark with her children. her first business venture was buying ukay- ukay clothes per kilo and reselling them. then she moved into buying surplus home appliances from the port to sell them in manila. from there, they were able to buy land in our province and in the later years developed it to a subdivision (Pleasant Hills). mother has always been business minded and never afraid of doing business ventures. mom told me that mother remained to be simple despite her riches. she recalls, they always see each other in our town's palengke and buy recados together. she's still fond of going to divisoria and eat in the local carinderia. they also have this running joke in the family that they say went from plaka to casette tape, to cd to dvd- they always answer "walang pera" when asked by people. haha. ang kuripot pala ni mother.



ninang E is the one in red. she has 8 children who are all grown up and she has apos already. but she's still pretty and sexy, di ba? i wish i will be like her in my older years.




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domingo, noviembre 01, 2009

can't get enough of you

it's been week since we've been to calatagan and i am still raving about it.



this is me at Ronco, a beach resort owned by Mr. D who gave us such a warm welcome. the place was so relaxing. this photo is so far my favorite picture of myself. credit goes to neil.




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lunes, octubre 26, 2009

the wanderlust princess left a set of footprints in Calatagan

this is not good. i have fever today and a terrible headache. plus my chest hurts too.

i've been to calatagan last weekend. it was a blast! i have met some of the rich and famous people in their own respective fields and i was floored having a glimpse of their simplicity. truly, calatagan is the "hamptons" of the philippines coz a lot of the upscale and famous people owns a property there.

the best thing about the trip is that i was able to see the "hidden treasures" of calatagan such as the Faro de Punta Santiago lighthouse which is currently not open to the public due to some legal issues concerning its ownership (a bad, influential yet famous person put it in his name and tried to put up a resort there. grrrrrr. that really made me so mad. what a total a*hole!) and there's no road that leads to it since the neighboring lands are all privately owned. this is really sad because the lighthouse is the oldest structure in calatagan. i am truly blessed to have known kuya derrick who starting an advocacy to restore the heritage sites in calatagan incuding the lighthouse. i instantly became a member of the organization.

i was just sad that i was not able to take any pictures because i failed to bring the memory card of my camera. arrrggghhh! i am also forced to buy lumix soon so i can bring it on our next calatagan adventure and other series of trips for the advocacy.

anyways, these are some of the pictures taken by oompa woompa girl (OWG).

with neil. sunset was stunning! this was taken on top of the lighthouse.

Faro de Punta Santiago lighthouse






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sábado, abril 26, 2008

trip to batangas

these were some of the pictures from our retreat in calaruega










on our last day, i went to madel's hometown (Bauan, Batangas). on our way there, we get to take a pic of fantasy world.



we had a side trip in taal. this is the taal cathedral. the largest church in asia.


sábado, marzo 15, 2008

the past few weeks...

airsoft with my boy buds


bicol med mission. picture taken at phivocs viewing deck


my last day at the community. my big group together with the city health officers of marikina

viernes, febrero 01, 2008

my best friend's wedding part II

in tagaytay, we also had fun taking pictures. talaga naman game na game sa mga posing!

'tabihan nyo naman ako'

'hay john, sayang hindi natin makita ang lake.'

coffee toast. to our friendship from then until forever

si reggie at ang tissue


posing a la matrix by reg and neil

mga pare, san ba lakad natin? nakontak nyo na ba ang mga epektos? kelan ang deliver? (hehehe)

cute namin?

my new primary pic at friendster. kunyari stolen shot ito.

look at this house! it looks old but it's beautiful.


the bridesmaid and the best man

the couch

men in black

i love this pic! picture perfect

isa pa ulit!

may mini pond din sa sonya's. for nature lovers talaga

and off we go to the wedding

kasama ang anghel sa gilid ng simbahan

here comes the bridesmaid

church on the hill