Tag Archives: summer

Mt. Mayon ATV “Green Forest Trail” ADVENTURE & More of ALBAY

Posted on by

Are you in for some thrill and adventure? If yes, then this post might give you enough reasons to plan a trip and head to the Philippines to visit the Bicol region where I was born and where the famous Mt. Mayon is located.

I may be an introvert, but because I’m married to an extrovert who loves active sports, I thought I’d give him something fun for his birthday. Besides, introverts have to find a good way to burn all that accumulated fat from those months of hibernating, right? lol

If you’ll search Google, you’ll find a long list on how to shed those fats, but I’ll help you trim your search down and give you one of my best recommendations – riding an ATV. The Mayon ATV tour package is also popular for ATV rides that can get you closer to Mt. Mayon.

Getting Closer To Mt. Mayon

This is not my first time to ride an ATV, by the way. But trying one of the Mayon ATV tours is one of the items in my bucket list, which I mentioned in my previous article (“Those Cracks And Crevices Made You Beautiful Just Like Mt. Mayon”) because I want to experience how it feels to set foot on the volcano itself.

I would’ve opted for a hiking activity, but I am not sure if the local government allows it since Mt. Mayon’s status is on Alert Level 1. So I thought trying the Mayon ATV will be just fine. And it turned out to be the best choice.

The Green Forest Trail

Since I am low on media storage already here on WordPress, I thought I’d share our experience through a vlog I made on the “Green Forest Trail” offered by the Mayon ATV SkyDrive and also show the other places that we visited while we were in Albay.

The “Green Forest Trail” is a new 3-hour trail that they haven’t included yet (officially) on their list of Mayon ATV tour packages. I only found out about this trail because I asked the staff what is their longest ATV trail that will get me closer to Mt. Mayon.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see Mt. Mayon up close because it was cloudy and rained a little bit during that day. But for me, this kind of weather is perfect if you will be availing the longer Mayon ATV trails because you don’t have to deal with the sun’s scorching heat especially during this summer season.

The trail was a bit slippery though not too muddy. There were also some bumpy parts and sharp turns (I almost crashed to a tree), but no very steep slopes. I suggest taking another route going back to the base, especially if it is your first time riding an ATV, because you need to use both the left and the right hand brakes for the most part of your descent.

Discover Albay

By the way, here’s the complete list of the featured locations in this video and how much we paid for the products and services we availed:

YOUR BROTHER’S HOUSE TRIBAL VILLAGE (availed the Superior King Room @ Php 2,785.01 per night via Agoda)

IL MORSO RESTAURANT (availed the Dinner Buffet @Php850 per head)

CHILO BAR (cocktail drinks are worth Php100 – Php500)

MAYON ATV SKYDRIVE (availed the 2018 Mayon Lava, SkyWheel, and Zipline Bundle worth Php3,300 per pax and added a couple of bucks for the Green Forest ATV Trail upgrade)

It feels good to be a hamster even for just one day. 😅

Mayon ATV River Crossing Adventure

The video below was also taken while crossing one of the rivers that is part of the “Green Forest Trail” during our Mayon ATV adventure.

This part of the trail was very bumpy because of the bigger rocks on the river. But it’s very manageable for as long as you maintain your tight grip on the ATV handlebars.

I am not sure if this is just me, but I can hear the voice of a guy shouting “Welcome Home” in this video. It wasn’t our tour guide nor the other tourists behind us. I also asked my husband if it was him, and he said that he wasn’t shouting when we were crossing the river.

To be honest, I really felt Mt. Mayon when we got to the final stop of the “Green Forest Trail.” I touched the soil and when we started to descend, heavy rains started pouring as if Mt. Mayon was preventing me to leave. 😅

All in all, this was definitely one of my most “magayon” (beautiful) adventures here in Bicol by far. So yes, I’m definitely going back to Albay and try the other Mayon ATV trails, too.

P.S. I’ve heard a clip of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ song entitled “Die with A Smile” while scrolling on Facebook, and it just played on loop in my head for how many days now. So I thought maybe it deserves to be included in this article. Here’s a nice cover of this song because I can’t sing it well enough. lol

P.P.S. We are a coastal town and summer here means getting the freshest seafood, that is, if it’s not too pricey. And in my 39 years of existence, I discovered this interesting fact about the squid just now. Do watch the video below to know what it is. 👍

“Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.” – Psalm 144:15

When They Say Glam Up

Posted on by

Here’s a little throwback to those days when we were advised to glam up and dress to impress when meeting and interviewing business owners for our articles (one of my career highlights). These were also the days when I was chasing a lot of things, but ironically, I just didn’t know what I was really chasing. 😃

Circa 2014 taken at UP Diliman for a fashion review. These are the days when I weighed 10 kgs less than I weigh now. 😀
2014
2014
2014

I became a “jack of all trades, master of none,” and yet back then, I felt like none of what I was doing made sense. I was trying different paths because I wanted to challenge myself, and I was constantly looking for the next challenge to conquer. Until came the time when I asked myself what my purpose really is, what I am doing all of these things for, and is this all there is to life? In the Bible, King Solomon also had a similar realization at one point in his life.

Circa 2013: Photo taken during my graduation pictorial’s creative shot (master’s degree in Special Education @ UP Diliman) na hindi ko natapos ang thesis because married life chose me. 😀
2013
2013

It was when I realized that it is part of human nature to always chase something and that the chase becomes meaningless when you lack the purpose for doing it that I went down the wrong path. Nope, I did not do drugs, just in case you’re wondering. But it was on this wrong path that I found God.

Circa 2010 taken in Boracay.
This will be the first and last photo of me wearing something like this that I’ll be posting here because I am now living out Romans 12:2. Even if it’s summer, you won’t see me wearing something like this in public. If God says my body is holy and sacred, then I have to treat it as such. There’s no need to flaunt to the world that God has given me a beautiful body and try to earn the world’s approval. I can still wear thongs if I want to, but only my spouse can see it.

When I was saved and became a born-again Christian in 2013, I started immersing myself in Bible reading. I was so hungry to learn more about the Bible, and then everything just made sense. Now I know why I had to meet a whole lot of different people and experience a lot of things, which I am all grateful for now. This Bible verse, in particular, changed my perspective on what a life’s purpose should be:

“Seek God’s will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:6

In the past, I was looking for a specific purpose in life, like I wanted to do this and be that. It was only when I became a born-again Christian that God made me realize I got it all wrong. Because the truth is that we only have one purpose in this world – to honor and glorify God.

Everything that we do and whatever we may go through, whether it’s good or bad, is always for the purpose of glorifying God and testifying to the world that He is real and He is the one and only true God. Seeking what God wants us to do every single day from the moment we wake up and following Him where He leads us is what gives our lives meaning and purpose.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” – Proverbs 19:21

Circa 2010: I look more like a 38-year-old woman here than Sisa Girl (2024). So, maybe I really am aging backwards. I hope that doesn’t apply to my cognitive abilities. lol 😂

Only God knows His purpose for us, and it is not for us to know beforehand. Our only duty is to wait until He finally discloses to us what He wants us to do and instructs us on the way we should go. Because this is how God teaches us to have faith in Him. This is how God tests us: how far are we willing to trust Him? And this is why we have to have a deep relationship with Him.

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.” – Hebrews 11:1-2

We just have to constantly communicate with God when it comes to what He wants us to do. Thus, prayers must be a constant in a Christian’s life. We can’t be Christians and never pray a single prayer in a day. This is how we communicate with God, and this is how we resist temptations when they start to distract our minds. Prayers help us focus on God’s tasks for us and realign them when we’re led astray.

I know some of you will be asking, “But how secure is our future with God?” I will answer this question with these Bible verses because I have proven them so many times in my life since the day I got saved:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

“LORD, You give me stability and prosperity; You make my future secure.” – Psalms 16:5

So now, I would like to dare you to dare God to prove to you that He is God. Are you up to the challenge? 😉 Because that’s what I did, and I can say that it was the best outcome – more than what I expected. Ah, the love of the Lord is just incomparable. 🥰

P.S. Salvation isn’t an overnight process where, after you surrender your life to Jesus, your life will be free from any troubles. It is a lifetime of sanctification – a grueling transformation where every day you subject yourself to constant discipline and self-control by saying “no” to the things that no longer honor God.

I am still struggling with a couple of weaknesses now, and I can’t claim that I have mastered controlling them. But I am glad that by God’s grace, I am no longer doing most of the bad things that I did before. Even though the enemy will remind me of my past, I can now confidently say that it is no longer my present and my future. Then, I let my mind shift its focus to the beautiful promises of God waiting for me when I obey Him and only Him. 🙏

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Summer Came In Early During The Holidays

Posted on by

A beach escapade during the months of December and January in our hometown won’t exactly fit your idea of a perfect getaway. Because it is during these months when super typhoons frequented our town, thus, you can expect rainy days for the most part of your vacation. In other words, it’s a bad idea to plan your beach trips in our place during these months.

We live in a coastal area. So every time we visit our hometown, nostalgic childhood memories of fun moments at the beach always make us want to relive those scenes. We then made it a habit to spend our family get-together during the holidays by nature tripping, which includes visits to the beaches and hot springs in our area. This is regardless if we have a rainy or a sunny weather.

Simple But Meaningful Holiday Celebrations

Last December, God gave us a sunny day despite the two super typhoons that left extensive damages on some properties in our town. Thank God, too, the electricity was restored before Christmas day, and most of the damaged houses were repaired by the 2nd week of December.

It was all made possible by the combined efforts of private organizations and good Samaritans who helped us recover from the onslaught of the typhoons. Since the entire town prepared for the worst case scenario, there were a few to no Christmas decors displayed in most of the homes. Personally though, I still wanted to put up our Christmas tree and other decorations just so we won’t break the yearly family tradition.

Mom disapproves the idea, however, and advised me there’s no need to go through all the hassle since we’re technically mourning my grandma’s death. It would be inappropriate that we’re all joyfully celebrating. Besides, we only have about 10 days left and the holidays will be over.

So we decided to celebrate the holidays quite simply instead. And yet the grace of God made it possible for us to cherish every moment spent with every member of the family. Indeed, we don’t need lavish decorations and extravagant feasts to enjoy bonding moments with the family.

Why Christ Was Born

Just enjoying the presence of one another is more than enough. God must have instructed us to plan the summer outing earlier this year. Because He knows we won’t have the opportunity during the COVID-19 outbreak.

December 2019 was a very special month of bittersweet experiences. And yet, it was also the month when I really felt the presence of God and became much closer to Him than before.

In fact, I was once again reminded of the reason why He sent Jesus Christ to be born in this world. This made me think. What could be God’s purpose why I was also born 3 days ahead of Jesus? Let’s find out together in my next article. 😀

Receiving God’s grace in every moment,

 

The Role of Climate Change and Rice Tarrification Law in Rice Production: Agri Talk

Posted on by

Before I begin the actual article, I’d like to share an update to those of you who have been following my blog posts lately. And let me begin by saying, thank you to all those who prayed for my checkup – the doctor’s initial assessment turned out negative. BUT, she suggested I still undergo the 2D and 3D mammography tomorrow. We will get my other test results tomorrow, too, but it will be assessed by my doctor on Saturday. The battle is not over yet, not yet.

But life must go on – I am still breathing and I am still walking. So, let’s keep the ball rolling. 😉

What Do Experts Have to Say About the Rice Tarrification Law?

For today’s article, I will be sharing about the Rice Tarrification Law recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Since a majority of our family’s agribusiness revolves around rice farming, I had to do a lot of research on what this law entails and what are the different opinions of industry experts on the matter.

Here are some of the articles I was able to dig up:

“Rice Tarrification Bill Enacted Into Law”

“Rice Tarrification Law Good for Farmers, Agri Group Says”

“Rice Tarrification Law: Farmers Worry; Lawmakers Wary”

“CARD MRI Holds Forum on Rice Tarrification; Vows to Launch Related Module for Its 6.2M Clients”

The Rice Tarrification Law basically proposes a better alternative to consumers by lowering the market price of rice through minimal import restrictions, and importers pay a 40 percent tariff only. Tariffs collected will be distributed to farmers as incentives and financial assistance which the government will provide through programs irrigation, new grains, fertilizers, etc.

This law also aims to eliminate rice traders and middlemen since the tariffs will go directly to the rice industry, experts said. But along with the elimination of rice traders in the agri system sprouts two new challenges – rice cartels and rice smuggling.

The latter poses a new threat since there will be those who will try to evade paying the tariffs imposed by the Bureau of Customs. The challenge to the government is this – will there be other security agencies who can monitor the imported rice that comes in? For one, we don’t have enough border patrols.

The emergence of rice cartels would also mean an even stronger market group to compete with. The challenge here is this – will small-time local rice farmers, who cannot pay enough for the tariffs, get the chance to buy imported rice or still have a chance to sell their produce locally and earn a decent profit?

Yet another challenge is this – with the unresolved cases and ongoing graft and corruption in the country, what is the assurance that the farmers will receive their due share of the tariff proceeds?

When I called my Dad and Mom last Saturday to check up on them and talk about this matter, as expected, the conversation lasted for 2 hours. 😀 That’s one thing about our family, it is like a debate team. We love to discuss, analyze, and assess matters with little oppositions and contradictions here and there but can honestly escalate to an actual debate later on. lol Just kidding. 😀

My parents advised us to let this year pass since this will be the adjustment period, so to speak, for registrations and all. Next year will be the time to assess whether this new law will indeed benefit the local farmers or not. I suggested to my parents that if this means producing rice for personal consumption only, maybe it is about time we explore other crop ventures – the initial proposal of my siblings and I for the new family project.

The Toll of Climate Change on Rice Industries

DSC_0430_edited

Local rice farmers are facing yet another challenge brought about by the extreme heat wave. Dad told me we are experiencing El Nino this summer – severe drought. The last time this happened was back in 2008. My Mom said time will come when intervals between seasons of El Nino will be shorter with the ever-worsening climate change and heat wave.

Extreme drought for farmers means lacking sufficient ricefield irrigation which will then result in lower crop yields a.k.a. less or no profit at all. According to Dad, farmers right now are in dire need of sufficient water supply since rivers are almost dried up. He shared how two farmers started to drill on their ricefields hoping to tap into a good water source such as a spring, but to no avail.

Every drilling activity costs 15k. This means that if you attempted to drill twice, you shelled out 30k already. It’s a big waste of money unless you were able to find a water source asap so you won’t have to spend more. If you’re unable to get the water supply that you need for your crops, they will all dry up with huge losses on your end than gains.

An Outpour of Blessings

God, in all these circumstances, was good to my Dad. Maybe it’s because I pray about the farm every night? 😀 Nah, I won’t take the credit because I know it is all God and God alone.

Dad shared how he “luckily” drilled through a major source with overflowing water and not just a trickle. It was more than enough to irrigate all his ricefields. I told Dad it was indeed a wonderful blessing and maybe he can share the water supply to nearby ricefields and ask the owners to pay for it since the water will be coming from our land.

I know they will take the offer than to let their crops completely dry out and earn nothing. Dad will be able to help other farmers irrigate their crops and save on drilling costs and he can also recover the amount he spent for drilling and pumping for water – a win-win situation.

By the way, the average pumping cost for ricefield irrigation is 150php per hour. So I asked Dad how long does it take to completely fill up one ricefield, he said it’s overnight and sometimes it takes days depending on the size of the ricefield. Indeed, there really is more to farming than planting the crops, letting them grow, and harvesting them without doing anything. Yes, it is nowhere close to gardening. I was totally wrong. 😀

What better alternatives do rice farmers have?

I browsed the internet for better options not just for our business but for other local rice farmers, too. I found online groups and websites where they share information and discuss different agricultural practices that are on par with the drastic climate changes – how farmers can adapt to these changes.

These organizations are the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations’ International Fund for Agricultural Development (UNIFAD), and Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD). You may check them out through their social media channels if you’re also in the agribusiness industry.

One topic that requires urgent attention now is about how climate change can affect biodiversity and how biodiversity, in turn, affects food production. I realized that my Dad and other rice farmers were just worried about water supply. And yet what I’ve found out was something more catastrophic than that given the alarming depletion rate of earth’s natural resources. This is where the imbalance comes in, which, in turn, can affect how we produce our food.

One scary thought, or rather, challenging question I had after my research is this – will our children or the future generation still have enough decent food to consume in the next decades or centuries, perhaps? I am promoting two advocacies now in agribusiness and they are sustainable agriculture and local food movement. These two encapsulate the mission of the new family project that my siblings and I are working on.

In our own little ways, what can we do to support these advocacies?

I’ll have to discuss this in the next article because this post’s too long already. 😀 But here’s one to motivate us to do something and this is also one of my core beliefs when it comes to creativity: “Where there are seasons of drought, there is ingenuity.” The geniuses of our time and the times before made a lot of discoveries and inventions out of a lack of something.

How to Be Good Stewards of God-Given Resources

But let us not forget that God owns everything that we have and we are only stewards of what He has entrusted us. He will be the one to provide us everything that we need so we can continue the work that He has tasked us to do.

I am praying for summer rain in Bicol and all other rice-producing regions. Rain during the summer season is a miracle. But I have a God who makes things possible and I believe in miracles because I have faith. So, I say, it will happen. 😉

And yes, I pray for a healthy body, too. Because there are a lot of things that I still need to do and my body’s the vessel to move around. But then again, not my will but His will and not my plans but His plans always. ❤

“The earth is the LORD’s, and all it contains. The world, and those who dwell in it.” – Psalm 24:1

P.S.

Is there any pill cuter and girlier than this? The bright pink got stuck in my head it helps me remember when I should take them. 😉

I’m also squeezing this article in real quick because I still have other articles to do at work until the end of this week. I just want to get this off my head – like lice. Off with your head! Errr, off with the lice! I mean, off with the thoughts. 😀

Summer In My Hometown

Posted on by

Just a couple more days and summer will officially start. Who’s ready? 😀

This is the season, next to Christmas, that people in any part of the world are excited about. Who wouldn’t?

Summer is beach.

The vast seas with its crystal clear blue-green waters and gentle splash of waves; the bright sun and the soft tickle of sand on your toes; the seafood fiesta…ah yes, I can just go on and on.

DSC_0867

My childhood memories were filled with unforgettable summer moments with my family. It would start with the birthday celebration of my Dad, beach getaways (our province is home to virgin beaches), and the usual busy farm work.

DSC_0426

Back in college, one of our sem breaks was scheduled during the summer. I’ll never forget how our Mom would ask us when will be our last day in school. She will then ask us to come home and help with the farm work since it’s harvest time, we need more farm workers than usual, and we’re in-charge of their lunch and snack – more helping hands to do household chores. Being the youngest, I was tasked as the dishwasher. Hmm, why is it that the youngest in the family always wash the dishes? Can anyone tell me whose law was it and where did it first start? I’d like to rally against and abolish it. Seriously – with a smile. 😃

But anyway, I loved the training. It became a part of the memorable experiences I’ve had back when I was a kid. Piles of dishes can give you that extreme frustration but a lasting fulfillment when done – an accomplishment. It kind of made me proud to see them shiny, clean plates stacked up high in our dish rack. Oh and let’s not forget the huge pots and pans. Yes, that’s quite an achievement for a kid. 😀

Summer is always there.

Now, things have changed. There are some summer days when I wish to visit our home because “home is just where the heart is.” But my brother told me just a few days back that circumstances will always pull us far from our comfort zones. Yes, it’s always a part of adulting. But always, we will always go back to where we came from.

And yes, we always move forward wherever life takes us because that is just how things go. It’s been years since I last visited our hometown during the summer. Circumstances will not allow me at this point but I am just glad our family business project there is finally rolling. I am still praying though for God’s guidance, protection, and sustenance to be upon our parents and other siblings who will help monitor the developments.

But one thing I am forever grateful for is that I have sunkissed-filled memories that are worth reminiscing over and over again. I may have a “pile of dishes” to do now, but I’ll finish them somehow.

Did I just hear someone say “grit”? 😀

Forever Grateful for Sun-kissed Memories

And when I’m done, I know the fulfillment is everything after the endurance, patience, perseverance, and discipline. Summer will always be there, anyway.

Well, unless something will blot out the sun and we’ll have a solar eclipse for all eternity. It is impossible but maybe we should ask Science if there are chances of it happening in the near or far future. 😀

Again, for now, let me just reminisce the memories of the not-so-distant past about flying kites in open fields, climbing trees to gather the fruits of summer, attending town fiestas, swimming in hot and cold springs…all during summer.

Last but not least, I pray that my future kids will get to enjoy these moments, too. They are, by far, one of the best memories any parent can give their child. 🙂

“It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth; You made both summer and winter.” – Psalm 74:17

Praising God for summers,

NewBlogSignature_edited_edited

P.S.

If you plan to visit our province, check out some of these cool places. These are not sponsored posts, by the way. Happy summer, everyone! 🙂

I Love Bicol (Part 1): Masacrot Spring

I Love Bicol (Part 2): Siama Hotel

All The Way To Tagaytay

Posted on by

Another long overdue article here. 😀

I did mention in my previous articles I have quite a pile of article drafts for editing and publishing and I am in a rush to publish them all (hopefully) while I am in a period of waiting and time is still on my side.

The summer escapade for me and hubby along with his family for this year was in the cool breeze of Tagaytay. We just had to take advantage of the summer season before the rainy days start to fill the last quarters of our calendar. It was a short holiday break thus the rest of the family members were all free to have this short family time and get-together.

It always is a privilege to spend some quality time with the family despite the busy schedules and varying demands of priorities in life – something that is far too precious to waste. My parents are in Bicol which is a 17-hour land travel to get directly to our hometown. Now that is something that I don’t have the privilege to do. Going to my hometown meant allotting 1 day for travel time then another day to rest which, after doing the Math, requires at least a week if you want to make the most and the best out of your family get-together. Simply put, visiting my family in Bicol is synonymous to careful planning ahead of the scheduled visit.

But well, this is the part where I need to thank God for technology. Skype made the term “homesickness” just a term. Again, family time meant quality time and this requires we set aside time for this despite the busy schedules. If most of us have the same free time, my family and I are able to Skype with one another once a week. And Skype-ing in the family means this – the minimum talking time is 4 hours starting at around 9 or 10pm.

Wuhaaat?!?! 😀

Yep, you can already hear the rooster crowing and we’re still on our “high” conversing with one another. Well, that’s for us, women in the family. For the men, 2 hours is the maximum and they bid their “goodbyes” in the middle of our conversation. The ever popular difference of men and women, eh? 😀

Anyway, going back to the Tagaytay escapade, we tried the Pamana restaurant with its awesome overlooking view of the Taal Lake and the food was superb too. I only captured shots of some dishes though, the long trip sure made us all pretty hungry.

I also loved the interiors which exude the ambiance of an old Hispanic house. Indeed, the concept of the restaurant matched with its name “Pamana,” a Tagalog term for heirloom/inheritance.

2017-04-16-07-26-38

Captivating, isn’t it?

P_20170412_182038_BF

We also scouted for anything new in the area which includes this food park called “StrEat.” We didn’t get to try the food stalls though as it’s flocked with a huge crowd when we got there. The next day, there was no plan where we will have our summer escapade. We’ve been traveling without a destination actually and we came to that point of giving up and just head back home because all the resorts we’ve inquired were fully booked. Well, it’s summer so we kind of expected that.

When we were on the verge of turning back, voila, God gave us one resort that’s not so jam packed with visitors but the place was nice (and budget friendly) enough to bond with the family. Hotel Monticello was indeed “heaven sent”  hubby and I actually thought it’d be perfect for a wedding reception too. We couldn’t spend overnight though as we’re only geared up for a day tour. When we arrived, we had all the pool to ourselves which means this – LOTS OF SELFIES! Hahaha 😀

Nope, don’t get me wrong, I seldom take selfies. You can actually check my Instagram account for that. I just choose moments best for selfies and those moments that are not. And I only take selfies when nobody’s around, not even my hubby. 😀

Hotel Monticello

Selfie moment. My ever seldom selfie moment. 

20170414_160219

But really, when it comes to moments, there are just those that a camera snap isn’t enough to capture them all. I guess that’s the reason why God created our memories, an infinite storage at the back of our heads where every single memory is captured and safely stored.

So this one article is up in the memory of my head, but in case I have amnesia days or years from now, I have WordPress to retell and rewind them for me. Ah yes, the joys and perks of blogging – your online journal indeed. 🙂

P.S.

WordPress, please don’t ever shut down. Like, EVER. 😀

Oh and check out this amusing video of my hubby and sister-in-law. Reminds me of my brother and I – siblings moment, they are. 😉

 

 

My Kind of Summer Swimwear: Nonconformist

Posted on by

So, you must be wondering why I am oh-so-fueled with energy to write more than 1 post for this month. 😀

Answer: I am making the most of my idle and waiting time lest I become busy the following months – again. We can never tell, so I am letting those ideas out in the open. Oh, and yes, before I forget them.

Anyway, this is a late post since summer is already over and the rainy season has welcomed its way already here in the metro and in some provinces. Last summer getaway, I was undecided what to wear for my swimwear. I do have a lot of two-piece swimsuits, but I am not sure if I could wear them and swim without a cover-up.

While the rest of the world during summer is revealing too much skin with its very daring two-piece swimsuits (praying for a change), I can only be grateful to God for fashion designers who opted to create swimwear that will preserve the dignity of women and not be treated as sex objects with their skimpy outfits. These outfits aren’t only comfortable, but are fashionably elegant, too.

2017-04-27-17-07-35

2017-04-27-17-12-38

I personally LOVED these swimsuits because they easily dry up, are lightweight, securely padded, have an undershorts/bikini attached underneath, and they’re made of silky fabric that glides and never sticks on the skin, even when sweating.

Of course, who likes to change outfits often right after swimming if you don’t like to walk around in your two-piece swimsuit?

I can wear this around comfortably, no cover-up needed. You can also wear this swimsuit as a dress for your lunch date at the resort without the whistles, the catcalls, and the “heavy” stares. If you know what I mean. Oh, and yes, it’s very convenient, too, if you want to travel light for your summer getaway – a swimsuit and a dress in one, no shorts and no cover-up as added extras in your baggage. 🙂

P.S.

I purchased these swimsuits at SM Department Store and Farmer’s Plaza (Cubao) flea market at almost the same price (a reasonable one) – 500 PHP. I saw similar swimsuits being sold online, and they tag them as three-piece swimsuits.

[Paul said,] “I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.” – 1 Timothy 2:9

Holiday Gift Ideas: Shop Early!

Posted on by

Hello, lovely readers! 

Bells are ringing, children are singing.

Oh wait, did I hear that Christmas is coming?

BER months are indeed fast approaching. 

Now, what are we buying?

Buying for gifts, you’re asking.

Never worry about anything because here is a little something. 

So there went my futile attempt to be a poet.  😀

Seriously though, holidays meant a lot of things but it is synonymous to this word as well – rush. Everything is in a rush. How do we avoid this so-called “rush” ? The answer is this – prepare and shop early.

Buying Christmas presents in advance and scratching them off your long list is such a life saver. I usually do this often during the holidays.

But first, who are our recipients of these awesome gifts? On top of the list is our families of course, followed by relatives, friends and coworkers or bless someone randomly.

Then again, another dilemma is this question – “What will I buy for each of them?”  

Honestly, thinking about choosing the right holiday gift ideas can be cumbersome and overwhelming. But allow me to make choosing a lot easier for the lady recipient: How about a tote bag?

Very simple, eh? BUT this isn’t your ordinary tote bag. These are custom-made from photographs of anything and everything by yours truly. I love to share so I am sharing these for you to have for keeps. No art is ever called art without the artist’s individuality showcased in it, as they say. These printed tote bags carry each in itself a particular story – a memory so to speak. So, I am sharing to you a bit of my life’s journey in each item. Do bring me along in your journeys too – wherever they may be and whatever it may be. 😉

This one tote bag for example illustrates a photo during our first summer vacation as a couple in Zambales, Philippines. If you were enamored by the pristine waters and pure, white sand, you can actually plan a trip and head on over there to see the beauty for real. You don’t just have a photo as memorabilia, but also a bag which will remind you always of the beauty of the place for as long as you often use it.

57da435390d051de0fbe8ac8_1024x1024

dsc_0037

Another in the memory lane is this precious red rose (which I preserved for sentimental reasons) symbolizing an everlasting love – the first I received when hubby and I were still dating. Thought about editing it to make it look more rustic and not look like your typical red rose because it’s a special one for a special you.

57cad4fe8a6a5f4c4fb4de0f_1024x1024

dsc_0324

These are also some of the bags featured in this recently created collection which is a variety of different kinds of themes and concepts from black and whites to macros and landscapes:

If you want to browse for more tote bag designs, you can check out more of the collection in this website:

http://shopvida.com/collections/christine-lailani-ginete-rome

Oh, and if bags aren’t that alluring, the other collection I am starting might capture your interest like these awesome sleeveless tops:

57d979ee6dbeab9739e0ab52_1024x1024

57da49dd90d051de0fbe8de3_1024x1024

Happy shopping and wishing you all a VERY advance happy holidays! 😉

P.S.

I’d like to thank VIDA for this one great and wonderful opportunity and most of all to God for bringing in people to share what they can share and help the community. This is also in support of the Literacy Programs that VIDA offers to their makers to learn to read, write and do basic Math skills.

Stay tuned for more upcoming designs, my dear readers. Let’s continue sharing our God-given blessings and bless others too! ❤

Much love,

Tin

Hidden Paradise: Bicol’s Virgin Beaches

Posted on by

If I will be allowed to be proud of something, that I will reserve for the beautiful beaches that my hometown offers. I grew up in the province and as a kid, summertime with family means scouting local beaches and nature hopping from rivers, falls to springs and mountains.

It is through this that I got to appreciate nature at its best in its original beauty. Yes, that kind of beauty that is not tampered by man or any modernization. I have somehow developed this kind of appreciation when it comes to what is beautiful and having gone to commercialized beaches such as Boracay, I must say that I wasn’t fascinated that much at all compared to the ecstatic feeling I get every time my eyes lay upon the sight of paradise in its original state – how God created them and not how man created them.

It was this appreciation that taught me to love nature and care for it as if its part of me. I actually wanted to promote in our province, in light of this, an advocacy to tourists and locals alike how to enjoy nature’s bounty and yet at the same time, preserve its natural beauty. Commercialization of beaches as tourist spots means a flock of tourists which is also equivalent to more use of resources as well as more litter. The latter is what becomes far too common in all commercialized beaches.

I do not mean to be selfish and enjoy the luscious and diverse beauty that nature can offer just by myself, and yet it saddens me to know the fact that not all tourists have the same kind of appreciation and concern as I do. Seeing a single trash along the seashore is enough to make me furious and the first thing that goes into my head is this – how irresponsible the person who threw this trash is. Now this is something I should not do, for it is not right – judging and thinking negatively about any person. It is similar to committing a crime in God’s standards.

Instead of that accusing thought though, I might as well divert my thoughts how I could partner with the local government units in preserving local beaches which include but is not limited to informing the public (tourists and locals) about a policy that will implement stricter discipline when it comes to taking good care of nature. And I mean STRICTER DISCIPLINE.

I told my husband that this summer, instead of going to commercialized and expensive hotels and resorts (being the practical me), I suggested we visit my family in the province, celebrate Mother’s Day there and scout for local beaches which is what my family would usually do during summertime. So we went to this beach which is a 30-minute drive from home and we usually spend our family outing there during the summer and once during Christmas. What we saw next was the ultimate paradise deal.

DSC_0894

Mt. Bulusan in the background, the province’s active volcano.

DSC_0896

Combination of patches of seaweeds and sand.

DSC_0884

This beach is an inlet with a rich and diverse marine ecosystem and at the end of the reef is the Pacific Ocean. Pretty deep this ocean. So if you are not a swimmer like me, better stay a little closer to the shore. My husband is adventurous and yet when we both saw the different sea creatures we found in the reefs, we were fascinated and yet a little scared at the same time. He started joking that there might be a great white shark which somehow got inside the shallow reefs as there were plenty of other sea creatures to feed on.

DSC_0910

Something pink underneath.

DSC_0917

There’s the edible seaweed.

DSC_0908

My foot was here.

DSC_0906

Funny hubby with his signature wacky pose.

DSC_0901

That’s me introducing the rock.

2016-05-12-05-36-33-772

Well, I told him it is a possibility and yet it should not stop us from exploring what else that inlet could offer. Besides, my family and I have been there a couple of times already and we never encountered or heard any incident on shark attacks or a jellyfish sting even. Although we did see this jellyfish-like sea creature which we could not identify whether it’s an eel, a variety of a jellyfish, or a sea snake. It looked harmless though as local kids were poking and covering it with sand. We tried to uncover it after they left but we couldn’t find a solid object to remove the sand away. Besides, it is still heaving so we know it is still alive.

DSC_0882

Local children covering the slimy sea creature with sand.

DSC_0885

Low tides are a great opportunity for me to explore what is on the ocean floor. Being a lover of Science (probably because my Mom used to be a Science teacher), I love exploring everything most especially when it comes to nature. I even thought that maybe I would’ve ended better if I pursued a degree in Biology. But that is not God’s plans for me. Or maybe it is, I just don’t know. Yet. *smiles*

For me, the sea is such a vast expanse of space for exploration. It’s very ironic though because I do not know how to swim. Now you must be wondering how did that ever happen. Well, I am wondering about that too. *wink* But I never let anything get in the way when it comes to pursuing things that I am interested about.

So going back to our seafloor exploration, we found a live snail, a small one. And hubby and I enjoyed observing how it attempted to raise “himself” up back to its crawling position. I didn’t know that a snail has a tiny claw/hook of some sort and it is fascinating to know that that hook was strong enough to lift itself up despite the heavy shell. We wanted to take a video of it but, unfortunately, we left our cameras already because decided to swim and explore and we didn’t bring any waterproof camera case with us.

Oh and I can’t forget this edible seaweed. We eat them raw and just dip it in lime juice. It is a perfect side dish for barbecues or grilled fish. We call it as “lato.” We saw local fishermen harvesting them during low tide somewhere before the reef ends and big waves from the Pacific Ocean hit the side of the reef or the wall of the continental shelf.

DSC_0909

The Pacific Ocean and the continental shelf.

DSC_0919

Our harvest.

DSC_0889

DSC_0888

Harvesting a big one.

DSC_0886

We got to the beach about lunch time and after 2 hours, the tides begun to rise. Hubby and I waited as each small patch of dried seaweed start to be submerged in water again. We did swim nearby when the water level became high enough but because it was late in the afternoon approaching night time, we decided to leave and let nature have her rest too – it was feeding time for the sea creatures. Yep, we don’t want to be part of their food chain so out we went and just took photos around.

DSC_0926

High tide is finally here.

DSC_0931

White sand it is.

Indeed, they are right when they say that in order to keep things balanced with nature, you have to know your limits. Hubby usually is the adventurous type and is always on the go. But this time, it made me smile when I saw him learn to have this respect and love for nature out of awe and fascination. This was the same kind of awe and fascination that I first had when I was a kid which made me love and care for nature because I have learned to understand our relationship with it. We felt guilty though when we showed some locals the seaweeds that we were able to harvest and they said it was the right one but they usually pluck the stems out but leave the roots so it could reproduce. *insert sad face here*

But it made me smile still. It means that they already know their limits as to the proper use of nature’s resources and how to take good care of her and this will be very essential in informing tourists like me about the limitations/boundaries between man and nature. 🙂

DSC_0881

God’s awesome creation. ❤️

I Love BICOL (Part 1): Masacrot Spring

Posted on by

I was born in Bicol, a region located in Southern Luzon, and I’m a Bicolana, which is the term commonly used to refer to local women. For local men and locals in general, we use the term Bicolano. I only transferred to the metro when I took my bachelor’s degree in UP Diliman, but I guess I will always be a nature lover wherever life takes me. I grew up loving nature so much because of this – Bicol offers a vast expanse of luscious flora and fauna, and its rich local biodiversity makes it one of the famous places to visit here in the Philippines for ecotourism.

You can also find the majestic Mt. Mayon volcano in Bicol, which is known all over the world for its perfect cone. Though we are located in the ring of fire housing two active volcanoes, they are actually the few things that made our region a tourist spot. Other must-visit places in our region are the hot and cold springs, which can be found at the foot of the volcanoes such as the ones found near Mt. Bulusan volcano.

Tin Ginete

Mt. Mayon Volcano in Albay

Hot springs are very common, but I am not sure if you have heard of cold springs in a tropical country – and I mean, ice cold spring.

In this article, I will be featuring one of the cold springs in the province of Sorsogon in Bicol that my family and I visited last May 31, 2015 – the Masacrot Spring.

So, why the name? “Masacrot” is a Bicol term which means “astringent.”

Astringency

Some foods, such as unripe fruits, contain tannins or calcium oxalate that cause an astringent or puckering sensation of the mucous membrane of the mouth. Examples include tea, red wine, rhubarb, and unripe persimmons and bananas.

Less exact terms for the astringent sensation are “dry”, “rough”, “harsh” (especially for wine), “tart” (normally referring to sourness), “rubbery”, “hard” or “styptic”.[73]

When referring to wine, dry is the opposite of sweet, and does not refer to astringency. Wines that contain tannins and so cause an astringent sensation are not necessarily classified as “dry,” and “dry” wines are not necessarily astringent.

In the Indian Ayurvedic tradition, one of the six tastes is astringency (kasaaya).[74]

– WIKIPEDIA

They say that the water in Masacrot Spring contains some minerals, which make the water astringent. But it is potable and considered as safe to drink.

Tin Ginete

Masacrot Spring

The blue-green waters of the pool will captivate you enough to make you want to dive right away regardless if you’re a pro swimmer or not. The pool was hand-carved, and the natural environment surrounding it offers an ambiance perfect for communing with nature. This was the second time we visited Masacrot Spring. I could barely remember anything during our first visit because I was only 5 years old back then. All I could remember was that there’s a very cold pool that exists in this world. 😉

Tin Ginete

Pristine, crystal blue-green waters.

Tin Ginete

Hand-carved pool.

Taking a plunge in this cold spring can only be described in one perfect word – invigorating. YES, that is a definite. You literally will get the chill the moment the cold water touches your skin. Though I wouldn’t advise taking a dip in the pool without moving for a long time because it is REALLY that freezing cold.

Locals visit the place during the peak of the summer season when weather temperature rises to as high as 39 degrees Celsius. But let me assure you that nothing is as refreshing as a cold spring dip during the hottest months here in the Philippines.

Tin Ginete

Masacrot Spring pool.

The bottom of the pool isn’t cemented, and the clay–like soil tends to get slippery so take extra caution when walking around the resort. Some parts of the pool go as deep as 6 feet. So if you are not a swimmer, better rent or bring your own floaters just to be safe.

Tin Ginete

Don’t forget your swimming floaters. 😉

The cold water is free-flowing too so the water stays clean even if the place is jampacked with visitors during the peak season. They also have a lot of cottages where you and your family can relax, and there are grill stations for cooking barbecues and fish. Now, that makes me hungry. 😀

Tin Ginete

The perfect summer snack: unripe, sour mangoes with shrimp paste.

Masacrot Spring is located in Bulusan, Sorsogon and if you will be coming from the airport in Legazpi, Albay, it will be a 2-hour drive. There are a lot of options when commuting via public transportation going to the resort, but I suggest renting a van or a jeepney that will take you there and pick you up for a hassle-free vacay for you, your family, and your friends. 🙂