pusang-kalye

Young Photographers Philippines ( YoPHO)

2010-07-26T21:01:00.007+08:00

The Young Photographers Philippines (YoPho) is a non-profit organization composed of students, young professionals, artists and media people whose main objective is to pursue their Passion for Photography and to mold the next generation of Filipino photographers.

YOPHO is a group started in the Nikon thread of digital photographers Philippines with the title "Nikon users below 25". It has now evolved to include non-nikon users and with the age limit extended to twenties and below.This is the next generation of digital photographers in the making. Taken from the words of Franz Lopez, one of the admins, "Its not just a plain hobby. for Money? for Fame? its more than that. it's for Passion."

find us in facebook....

With initially a few members, they had their first EB and photowalk on May 16, 2009 in Intramuros Manila attended by Aina Rosales, Andie Madamba, Bea Litao, Bruce Angeles, GJ Labasug, Jerome Cruz, Mae Navarro, Nico Servando, Rennell Salumbreand and Yem Castro.

from left: Yem Castro, Franz Lopez and Ian-- some of the pioneers of YOPHO

showing GJ in extreme left...one of the admins

The average age of it's members is 23. You even see 19 year-olds across the spectrum. All photo enthusiasts and very passionate about it. Some are now slowly making names in the field. One year on, more than a hundred people have signed up to join.Although some are no longer active and the final membership list is still in the process of refinement, this means countless EB's and photowalks.

courtesy of Franz Lopez

by Jason Gregorio

by pusangkalye

Bobbit Lim photos

And just to prove how serious this group is, they even organized the first ever tournament type photography event in the world as a prototype for the upcoming first ever Summer Photocamp in the country. This only a few months after their first year anniversary. It's learning while enjoying at it's best.

the awards night of extreme photo challenge @Astoria Plaza last June

I joined more than a month ago and was actually surprised to be the oldest in the bunch. I don't wanna care much about the age factor even if it is often the subject of jokes in our endless skype group chats. All I know is that I am enjoying the process of learning photography and that this group is just perfect for that cause.The members are fun to be with and you really learn a lot from them. They are very warm, and as long as you are enthusiastic to learn, you will be utmost welcome to join.

group photo in front of Binondo Church--by Franz Lopez

After signing up, it takes 2 photowalks/EB's before you could be put on probationary status after which you will be an official member. Last Saturday was my 2nd. It was the send off party of EUGENE, one of the members, who will be moving to the US.

pizza party @ yellowcab MOA

If you are interested to join, follow us in facebook or you can sign up in DPP and join our forum.Be sure to leave your details. There, you can learn some of the tricks of dslr use and join the discussion.

photo credits:
Franz Lopez
Yem Castro
Bobbit Lim
Jason Gregorio

check our links: http://yopho.multiply.com/
http://www.digitalphotographer.com.ph/forum/showthread.php?t=25084

CORAL BEACH CLUB Batangas

2010-07-19T19:47:00.020+08:00

note: 3 people guessed my contest trivia last time. GOYO, Feil Khun and Ardee Sean. I picked the winner via draw by lots. LOCATION: Binangonan Rizal.And the book goes to...drum roll --- Fiel-Kun. congratulations!!

I am growing weary of this alternating sunny and rainy weather with matching humidity beyond tolerable levels, my most hated time of the year when you don't know what to expect. Di nalang umulan kung umulan. Been hitching for a retreat. Good thing my friend offered her condo in Coral Beach Club in Matabungkay Batangas.......

taken in the bus yesterday.
Suddenly gloomy again due to the low pressure area above Manila.

Only 4 of us were available out of 6 who planned for it. I made a resolve that I will go there even if it takes only Teresa and me. Sure enough, the weather was cooperative last Saturday. You can reach Matabungkay for 2 hours if you have your own car. It took us 3 hours to commute.

CORAL Beach Club is probably the best resort in area. I am not saying this because my friend's husband is part of the consortium of foreigners married to Filipinas who set up this resort but because it is the most decent and luxurious place to stay.

Room rates start at 1,999 so I guess they are good. We didn't get to check them coz we stayed in my friends condo just across the street, a comfort afforded only to the owners of the resort. Since they live abroad now, they opened the place for rental should there be guests or families big enough to fit in one room. We had all of it for free.....

si Teresa parang Dona lang ah...hehe

The condo has a private pool so we were pacing back and forth from the beach to it. I noticed that other resorts don't have pools. The beach area is so so. Sand is fine but if you are looking for powdery white sand, don't go here. Matabungkay is just famous especially to foreigners because there is an Ayala-owned golf course nearby and some dive sites.

I could just stay under the tree and stare at the open sea the whole day....

Coral Beach club is complete with amenities, pool area, restaurant ( not all resorts have resto)cable tv, wifi connectivity, bar, play and hilot area. Prices are a bit expensive though. Full body massage is at 500 php per hour and the food is also pricey. What we did is buy our own food and cooked. That's against the rules of the resort .We were able to do that since we stayed in the condo so it saved us a lot on the food.

billiards area.....

With Rufo (extreme right)---
former colleague in Jose Rizal University and a good friend.

The good life. I just got back to Manila but I am already looking forward to another out of town retreat. haha

http://www.coralbeachclub-batangas.com/ppc/

how to get there: (commute) Bus- Taft Station near MRT to Lian : 152 php
Jeepney-- from Lian to matabungkay: 20php

Quote of the day:
Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down. - Oprah Winfrey

2nd blog anniversary contest......

2010-07-11T14:27:00.006+08:00

........yes. This post is for a contest. My blog turned 2 today. In as much as I try to be discreet about it, I think being able to blog for 2 years is an achievement. We are talking of dog years here where 1 year for them is equivalent to 10.5 for us. I am a very impatient and restless person. I easily bore myself as reflected in my endless change in career. But it seems that blogging is something that I can enjoy doing for years to come.

As a sign of my gratitude for all those people who shared my stories, I am launching this simple contest.

Just guess where this place is. ( DongHo Style). You simply have to mention the town and that's it. If more than 1 person gets the correct answer, I will pick from among them through raffle. Deadline for submission will be Friday this week, July 16 and the winner will be announced on the 19th-Monday ( as I will be out of town this coming weekend.)

somewhere out there....

The winner will relieve an original copy of my favorite book BEING HAPPY-by Andrew Mathews to be sent via parcel sponsored by my friend ALEX ( I was about to buy one when he offered his copy-still sealed and untouched-thanks lex)

I love traveling, seeing beautiful landscapes and meeting wonderful people along the way. Through this blog, I share these memories to the rest of the world.Thank you very much for sharing my life stories for the past 2 years. All of us has something to say, to brag, to celebrate. This is my way of celebrating my life. Through simple photos I hope you learn something.

I will continue blogging because I want to continue growing and learning with you guys.........

Digital Photographer Philippines 4th anniversary

2010-07-05T07:49:00.007+08:00

erBonifacio High Street literally became a photographer's haven last Saturday as Digital Photographer Philippines celebrated it's 4th anniversary with a whole day of Free Workshops from the country's top photographers as well as live judging and after party.

never seen as many megazooms my entire life.....

From 300 last year, the participants totalled to 1,800 this year. That's a lot dslr's and megazooms. The lectures didn't start until 12 1pm. Good thing we arrived 9am coz the line in front of fully booked was already long when we got there.

fully booked exclusively closed for the event

I met with friends Alex and Jaypee who are also photo hobbyists @ MRT -Ayala just in time.With JP is another enthusiast Coy who we met for the first time. And since we were early, we got the chance to talk about photography 101, take pictures of ourselves.........

Coy, Alex, and Jaypee......(using my kit lense)

using Alex's prime lense...(linaw-halatang-halata yung pimple.hehe)

.......and met the members of TEAM d3k who are very active in the DPP forum as well as another blogger who is also into fashion photography John Michael Torres Bueno of www.kumagcow.com. He has his picture featured in the latest dpp issue. Had the chance for a brief photowalk on the way to market market where we ate lunch together since seminars didn't start until 1pm.

team d3k ( the nikonistas--or nikon babies)

photowalk with team d3k....

Back in the halls of fully booked, the place was jam packed. It's hard to move around. The first lecture I attended was that of Jay Jallorina about Episcapes: Creating Extraordinary Landscapes. jay is one of the country's finest landscape photographer. For a newbie like me, I learned loads of stuffs about how to get amazing pictures. He was generous enough to share some of his works. He is a fluent speaker coupled with good sense on humor.

Jay Jallorina on episcapes.....

Other lecturers are BIG guns like Jo Avila, Pilar Tuason, mark Dimalanta, Paco Guerero, John Mateo Ong, Jay Alonso, Raymund Isaac, Jay Tablante and Xander Angeles with topics covering landscape, portriats, sports, cosplay , photoshop, lighting, fashion and many more. There was also a live shoot.

my take on the model.....

Makes me excited to think that I have a new field to venture into. New people to meet with a different passion in life. In as much as photography is an expensive hobby, it could really be rewarding. Who knows, I might quit teaching and be a full time photographer. That's way beyond the future though, for now, I'm still learning the ropes and want's to simply enjoy it. This event really gave me lots of insights about the craft and inspired me to learn more. What I need now is a good workshop on the basics of photography. I need to understand my gadget more. That will be my next goal.....

I am sorry but I see progress around me.....

2010-06-28T17:13:00.006+08:00

I tried to avoid being too opinionated in this blog. Over the years, I realized that there's no point being too pushy with your opinions unless your main objective is to change the world. But I am no messiah, nor a reformer. I have grown tired of that stage in my life when I tried to influence people and draw them into my sphere of mentality.There is an ongoing battle within me, and i realized that changing people around me is not the best way to move forward. I have to wage it from within.

Having said all that, I hope you forgive me if I mention about this little debate i had with a friend. You see, being a self-employed person doesn't mean I am completely detached from mainstream society. As a Filipino netizen, I take track of what is happening in and out of the country. I rejoice at our achievements and I weep at our misfortunes. I am still a proud Filipino. Less noisy but still pretty much involved. Like during the national election---one single event which has a very significant effect on the lives of 92 million of us.

ortigas district from wack wack heights condominium.....

That was the time when I realized that my best friend and I has drifted apart (in our perceptions of everyday life) Maybe because I have already become practical and he remained idealistic. Well, his candidate won. I wish all of us good luck. I hope it will not be 6 years of NOTHINGNESS under an incompetent president. I hope all 9 years of uninterrupted economic growth would not just go down the drain...........

And then the latest argument. I TOLD HIM THAT I SEE PROGRESS EVERYWHERE. He begged to disagree adding that he can't even feel it. I felt sorry for him because I do. I see it and feel it. I understand. Not everybody's benefited from the past few years of economic gains but hell if you say that you don't even see it.

Greenhills San Juan with wack wack golf and country club

Eveybodys aware that I was in my friends place last week. And one thing I like about her location is that it gives you a 360 degree view of the metro---or say almost (except Bonifacio Global City). The photos of Makati, Ortigas and Greenhills here are proof of the rapid development that's going on.....it's all around us.

the ever Vibrant Makati Business district....

Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers and billboards. ~William Arthur Ward

Yeah, it is difficult to recognize but I guess you agree with me when I say that you need to see it first before you can take advantage of it. Maybe some people don't see progress because they don't want it or maybe beacuse they are afraid to seize it........

an unexpected call....

2010-06-21T14:22:00.010+08:00

Good thing my uncle from Bulcan canceled their visit to St. Monique coz my friend Alma who now resides in Singapore with her family is in town.............

so as sooon as she phoned us last Saturday, we canceled all appointments and went straight to megamall to meet her.....

I caught up with them at superbowl after almost 2 hours of travel--- 1 hour of which wasted in Ortigas District due to heavy traffic. It suddenly rained heavily that's why. Made me realize our heavy reliance on police traffic enforcers that's why the traffic gets jammed whenever they run for cover during heavy downpours. Good thing they were still in superbowl when I got there.

namiss nya ko. hehe

Afterwards, she invited us to her condo in Wack Wack for a drink. This is where she usually gather her friends every time she's back home. We usually drink first before we go bar hopping kung kaya pa.

wack wack heghts condominium from their twin towers...

I also caught up with Rufo and Heidi here, my former colleagues at Jose Rizal University -HS division where I taught chemistry for 1 year. I missed my old buddies.

Rufo and Heide....

Also present was Jay-Ar, Alma's friend from Singapore.

Jay-Ar and Alma

The evening was basically spent chatting----catching up on each others lives and lotsa eating. para lang patabaing baboy pag nandito kami.

At around 1:30am, we suddenly decided to go bar hopping. Got to Quezon Ave at around 2am and were surprised to find big comedy bars like circo, laffline, punchline and the like not accepting customers anymore. Last song na raw sila, aga naman. Frustrated, the girls finally decided to get dirty. We entered this place where matronas usually go. Please don't make me say the word anymore. hehe. Good thing was with my wife kaya game kami. 1st time naming pareho. hehe.

Well, another day spent having fun with friends. Good memories as I call it. And as I said before, I made it a creed in life to simply be good to people, to value them and make good memories with them for those memories are the only thing that you can keep forever. Friendships and relationships end, but the good memories will linger.

the morning after----I look so wasted...hehe

Woke up past lunch Sunday with a heavy head and painful back. We'll, that's how it is. Good thing home-service massage is already common these days......sarap ng life.

“You can't always sit in your corner of the forest and
wait for people to come to you... you have to go to them sometimes.”--winnie the pooh

Independence day @ Kaffe Razzo

2010-06-14T20:09:00.006+08:00

If you want to taste coffee comparable to that of Seattle's best or Starbucks but less the price, there's one I can recommend. Might sound like a cliche but I will risk what little credibility I have on this one.....

the early bird (s) , Andy, Ahmer and Allen...

Located in Aurora Blvd. a few blocks away from SM-Sta. Mesa past UE-Ramon Magsaysay is this chick cafe called Kaffe Razzo. Sounded Italian to me at first so I was surprised after knowing that the inspiration is actually the tagalog word kapiraso which could very well describe the small space it occupies.

...despite that, this small shop will surprise you in more ways than one. Aside from their signature hot or cold coffee, they also serve meals from sisig to chicken terriyaki, from sandwiches to burgers. You can find what fits your taste and budget.And oh, wi-fi here is also available here.......

a small place with so many things to offer.....

my personal favorite....cold Hazel Caramel

good coffee +

delicious food =

happy kids.........( parang feeding program lang-lol)

All in all, 12 bloggers were invited for the soft opening of the cafe and I am grateful to be one of them. Kuya Edsel, the owner and all his crew were very accommodating. We spent hours here after the nice meal chatting with each other and kuya Edsel.

too comfortable, feels like home.

parang si Jeff lang masaya---lmao

The Owner/ Manager kuya Edsel @ the center and his crew
(thanks a lot of the warm accommodation)

the bloggers....in full support of the soft opening.

........and since it was only 8pm when we finished, we decided to go somewhere to continue the Independence day celebration---blogger's style.

the P1 Society

Most are from the south, so they have the numbers. So twas MOA grounds again, in the same pub, PIER ONE. Here, we met other bloggers. My first time to see Rj, Caloi and Ollie. Ahmer joined us later on. Back then, there were only 9 of us. Now there's 13 . Adding Allen and Victor who did not make it---that's 15 all in all. The society is growing. Hope to see more bloggers next time.........

PS: Pier One Society. wala kasing kasawa-sawa sa Pier One....sana di corny.hehe

Aquatica: the musical fountain @ Manila Ocean Park

2010-06-09T10:58:00.013+08:00

I remember that the first laser water experience I had was in the now defunct EXPO Filipino in Clark Pampanga. That was way back university years when it was newly opened. I thought the setting there was far better than here in Manila as we sat on the lawn and below us is the man-made lake. Gave me a date-in-the-park feeling. First time to sing Lupang Hinirang with images projected on water......

....and since they have this bundle ticket promo in Manila Ocean park when we visited for only 500php, I thought, why not try it out. Has been a long time. Good thing I brought my tripod that night. Had better pics this time, not the best as I am yet to learn the ropes of dslr use but far better than not having any reinforcement at all......

here are some of the shots.......

....I heard Sentosa also has a similar attraction, something we missed last time as we had to rush to the airport to catch our flight back to manila so I really couldn't compare if this one is better than that of Singapore or not......

....I love the story that goes with the laser water show ....it's localized, even the name of the characters are. I think it's an original as I have never heard of this tale before. It's like listening to your elementary school teacher telling stories about malakas and maganda, ang alamat ng pinya all over again........

...one thing I noticed though is that the building in the background could sometimes look annoying and unfit to the grandeur of the laser water show. It's an eyesore. Would have been better if it's not there.

......All in all, the show is spectacular and is really a must for the whole family. It compliments the oceanarium experience. The bundle ticket will save you 200 php so you might as well take advantage of it.

I didn't expect much for this Manila Ocean park experience but if I may admit, I really had a good time. Something that you will enjoy doing once but the one-time experience will surely satisfy and surprise you nonetheless......

manila ocean park

2010-06-07T11:53:00.010+08:00

Say goodbye to summer, goodbye to outdoor activities too....looks like my activities will be confined indoors. sigh. It's going to be a long rainy season so I guess I better look for something to do during boring weekends without necessarily going far.

One classic example is the Manila Ocean park which is just behind Quirino Grand stand in the city of Manila.

This is something I don't fancy about. Had received a lot of invitations in the past but I turned them down. I thought I have already seen too much in Sentosa Singapore and again in Subic. Few weeks ago though, my family visited me here in Binangonan and so I thought of taking them to Enchanted Kingdom. But as soon as I realized that I will be spending for all 7 of us...I backed off. So we went to Ocean Park instead.

Well, I heard that the company behind it is the same with the one which manages that of Singapore, so I thought of checking the difference.

The entrance area and ticket area is rather not impressive. Still have a lot to improve. Given the time. The picture below is where you wait for your turn to buy tickets. give you the feeling that you are in the Big Dome waiting for your drivers license test or say at SM food court waiting for a friend before picking anything.

The promo tickets could be bought in the booth before entering the building, but in the case of my sister who opted for the regular tickets, she waited here for eternity. I don't know what's with their ticketing system but it's annoyingly inefficient.

One inside the oceanarium though, everything is smooth and pleasing to the eyes. The Oceanarium has 7 sections, Agos, Bahura, Laot, Buhay na Karagatan, Ang kalaliman, Pagi and Pating.

It's in the 4th stage where we spent most of our time marveling at the fish and taking pictures.
The 25-meter underwater tunnel is better coz I thought the walkway is wider. Plus, they don't use travellator so you can stay there as long as you want without worrying you are keeping others from taking their turn.

the tunnel...where we stayed for more than hour.....

my brother Albert....wala lang.....

And there's more. Past the underwater tunnel is a parade of giant aquariums after another. This place is huge.

Ang Kalaliman’s resident fish are the jacks - well-known among anglers for the spectacular fights they put up when hooked on fishing line.

provides an unmatched and truly remarkable encounter
with the explosive richness of the underwater world.......

could also be a perfect romantic spot.....

my favorite part of the oceanarium.....

One of my favorite spot inside the oceanarium. Here, you can watch as stingrays from many different species glide from above as you stand beneath this unique overhanging tank. Distant relatives of sharks, stingrays often evoke a mix of emotions such as fear, awe, and fascination.

Upon exiting the oceanarium, you will go through a wide variety of shops and restaurants.. Weather you looking for pasalubong---cheap or expensive or simply want to eat or drink, they have it. The maze which leads you to the exit is like a big shopping mall where you can find what you want. If you don't have spare money, window shopping will still be utmost entertaining.

All in all, I can say that this place is enormous and while there are areas of weakness, that means there's still a lot of room for improvement. You might be hesitant at first, but this place could offer more that you thought it could.
---------------------------------------------

entrance fee: 400 adults , 350 kids ( oceanarium only)
300 pesos---laser water show
500--- combo ( save 200php)

up next: AQUATICA: the laser water show

check their website: http://www.manilaoceanpark.com/

2nd bloggers M&G .......

2010-05-31T13:48:00.013+08:00

I thought I hate going to MOA. Ikaw ba naman magbyahe ng 2 oras na tanghaling tapat---shuttle, tricycle, fx, mrt and then another jeepney ride. Tapos pawis na pawis. My patience is simply short,I hate the commute.

But I guess I'm starting to love the place. It's now the 2nd time it became a venue for blogger's M & G. Yesterday was bigger and wackier. It started with only four ....Allen, Jepoy, Glen and me.

As usual, Sunday, daming tao. So we decided to find a coffee shop where we can sit, wait for the others to come or say respond to our text messages and plan for the next thing to do. Seattle's Best is the perfect spot.....buti nalang uso na ang iced coffee. kape sa katanghalian, baka magalit si Lars Glen ha.hhee

Glen, Jepoy and Allen @ Seattle's Best.

Since it's only 3pm and others will not be coming until 8, we decided to watch a movie---THE Prince of Persia, which Jepoy reviewed as---okay sya. period.

queuing for the movie tickets....

Allen , almost falling the pit while walking at the red carpet. hehe

Di na kami nag-usap masyado sa movie kasi sayang lang ang laway. Nakakagutom rin naman kahit panu so Jepoy treated us in Super Bowl. Ganito pala si Jepoy pag gutom, kaskas lang ng kaskas ng card.So tama pala talaga ang balita sa salary bracket.lol

my first time to try Super Bowl ( honestly) The food is really good. Made a very good impression on me.....

food tastes better when it's free....

And since busog, kailangang lakad-lakad ng unti para ma-burn ang kinain. Allen took advantage of it to take pictures around for his new blog....And for me to give back the credit ( line ni citybouy) to Jepoy by taking yummy pictures of him. Yan, kayo na ang decide kung yummy o hindi.wala nakong kinalaman dyan.lol

Glen and Jepoy ....who is yummier????

It took us hours to finish kasi tagal dumating ng 2nd order ng rice, so yun, nawalan na kami ng gana. We didn't finish the food so we had some packed for our student---Allen. Baon sa skul.lol

The time we went out of the resto, 2 bloggers has already been waiting for us at PIER ONE on MOA grounds. ( Jay) Enjayneer and (Julius) Soloden....

L-R: wickedmouth, below the dotted line, citybuoy, manilabitch, pluma ni jepoy, enjayeneer, soloden, and shuttertechture....

with me around.....

Later in the night, 3 more bloggers joined us..... Citybouy, Jeff , and below the dotted line. As soon as YG started to talk, that's when things spiced up. Lalo pag yung trio na nila ang bumanat. I love the funny lines and the explosive revelations. As to what those expose's are...wag nyo nang alamin. taking from the words of Glen and Jepoy---gugulo lang buhay mo.lol

__________________________

Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster. Your life will never be the same again.

---Og Mandino

meet NICK Khun.....

2010-05-27T17:27:00.013+08:00

Sounds like the member of the Korean boy group 2PM ayt? That's exactly where I got the name of my new dslr camera. Meet Nick Khun, my nikon d3000.

I thought photography makes me happy so I purchased this dslr. An upgrade from my old GE digital camera. Thanks to some advices from friends, I finally gave up on pursuing Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38.

And if the photos in Banaue and Sagada are of any basis, I think I made the right choice. For an entry level dslr Nikon d3000 seems to be the perfect pick.

want a more bullish camera..........

Key features:

* 10.2megapixel CCD sensor.
* 3x 18-55mm Zoom-NIKKOR VR Image Stabilization Lens
* 11-point autofocus system.
* Split-second Shutter Response.
* Guide mode. (perfect for beginners)
* 3-inch color LCD monitor.
* In-camera Image Editing
* Automatic Image Sensor Cleaning
* Active D-Lighting
* ISO sensitivity from 100 – 1600
* Split-second Shutter Response
* Compact, light and durable.

Took some time for me to decide between this and the entry level of canon---1000d. One blogger friend said I have to feel it, touch it and use it and I will know it is the right brand for me. I have been familiar with nikon since 2 of my friends also use the same model. One more thing I like about it is that it looks sturdy and stylish. The 1000d looks midget to me. I want a more bullish camera. hehe

And since I am now a certified NIKON BABY, I wanna share the 90th anniversary ad of nikon. I love the song. I love the history.

Of coarse, it's more about the skill of the photographer so I guess I still have a lot to learn. With this new dslr at hand though, I feel more excited to travel as I would be able to capture the magic moments in crisp, rich colors.....

Kiltepan Sunrise....

2010-05-24T08:14:00.002+08:00

I think I am a lazy person. At every opportunity, I wake up as late as possible. One reason why I have never tried simbang gabi. But Sagada made me wake up early for the sole reason of seeing the sun rise. Incredible. That's because of Kiltepan.......

Had to wake up 4:30 am for this one. Was not part of the original plan but since we failed to go to lake Danum, I thought it would be best to salvage this one before leaving for Manila.

Some hike to get here but a ride would be more comfortable if you already have sore muscles like ours. Along with Aiden and Su, our Korean buddies, we set off to see this talked about place.

One of the main attractions here is the clouds, if you are lucky, you can see lots of them covering the the spaces between mountains. Such beautiful sight would make you imagine walking through them. But there were only a few clouds the day we came......and a big cloud, single as it may be, positioned itself directly where the sun is supposed to rise. what a timing.

But we can't let even that spoil the fun. As the sun rises, you realize that there's much to marvel as you become more aware of the view below, the lovely terraces of the nearby village, the river cutting through the valley and the verdant trees. Such a perfect setting for watching the sunrise.

I wonder how it is like spending the first sunrise of the new year here. Sagada is really a wonder to behold......

_________________
ride: 450 php
guide: (optional)-- I see no need for it unless you still don't know which is the cliff and which is flat ground.

echo valley and the hanging coffins

2010-05-20T17:33:00.008+08:00

.....when I had a chat with Dianne, the granddaughter of the owner of Sagada resthouse, she said that one of the best time to visit Sagada is during pyesta ng patay ( All Saints Day) coz they celebrate it in a strange way there. Instead of using candles, they use logs.....it's crazy she said...as early as 3pm, people are already lining up in the church to get their logs blessed before they proceed to the cemetery. And the moment they start firing those woods, the whole place becomes dark of smoke. Bonfire and gimick ng mga tao dito.....

And of coarse, during the old days, people didn't put their dead in the cemetery, they are placed in wooden coffins in fetal position and are hidden in areas like caves or cliffs, and so the hanging coffins of echo valley is another famous destination in Sagada.

It's near the town center, so no need for a guide or ride. All you need to do is locate the church.....

Saint Mary's church of Sagada....

getting ready for the group jump in the church ground...

parang sa Koreanovela lang......

......past the church is the cemetery. We learned from the guide that you don't have to pay for the space here to have your dead buried.Probably the only Catholic Cemetery free of charge in the Philippines. And if I may say so, one of the most picturesque cemetery in the country.....

those trees seem to be watching over the dead....

the group carefully listening to our guides lecture....

Further down the cemetery is ECHO Valley, here, you can scream all you want and could really hear your echo when you do so, thus its called such.

the trail to echo valley....

wonder why it's called echo valley?

Along the way, you can see several coffins under the rocks....

a little more climb on the opposite hill and you will see the famous hanging coffins.....

naka-hang nga......

see the chair...that's where the dead person was seated before he was placed in the coffin....

If you noticed, Justine was not in the group photo. He was told by his girlfriend not to have pictures in the place, and he abided fearfully. hehe. Since we went here straight from Bomod-ok falls, we were already starved. Had lunch in the only resto in Sagada offering Korean food. Owned by a Filipino though so the versions of their Korean food is not as authentic as that of Manila...and it took eternity to serve. Ganun talaga dito siguro sa Sagada, wala pakong nakitang resto na nasatisfy ako sa service nila. Even sa log cabin patagalan din.....

After lunch, we checked some souvenirs down the road and from there parted ways coz our new buddies had to go spelunking with Aps....we took our time in the afternoon to relax and enjoy nearby establishments like the Ganduyan Museum and Sagada Weaving

Ms Christina, the owner and curator of Ganduyan Museum lecturing a group of visitors...

old Igorot baskets.....

such rich collection....

We were actually surprised to find out that such rich collection is privately owed. Had the chance to have a small talk with Ms Christina ( who is by the way a cancer survivor) and she said the government denied her of assistance several times and is willing to cooperate with her only until she decides to sell the whole place....and so she has given up and decided to just maintain the place on her own.

with Ms Christina.....

Our last stop for the day was Sagada Weaving, just a few meters from the municipal hall. We checked their stuffs and they are quite expensive. If you plan to buy in bulk be sure to go there during your first day as they are to be ordered. We later found out the reason behind the high prices.....

when you see these weavers in person...you'll get to admire them and understand why.....

Teresa pretending to know how to weave.....

Indeed, your Sagada experience will never be complete without learning more about the way of life he...Sagada is not just about beautiful cliffs, waterfalls, caves, and terraces. It's about the people who you will admire for creating such a wonderful place on earth---one which is a fusion of man and nature....

SAGADA SERIES: Bomod-ok falls

2010-05-17T09:55:00.007+08:00

I mentioned that if you are in Sagada for the first time and don't even have a clue what is in store for you you might as well want to take the next bus back to Baguio upon seeing the crowded downtown. But wait till you see the outskirts, anywhere you go in all directions, it simply is paradise on earth!!!!

On our first night, after the SUMAGING cave experience, I was smoking in the balcony of Sagada Guest House when I chance to meet 4 Korean students from Subic.

new buddies... Aps ( our guide) Tim, Su, Aiden, and Justine with Teresa

We started with chitchats then I realized they are clueless as to where to go. So I asked them to join us in our trek the next day which they delightfully accepted. Destination---BOMOD-ok Falls.

We hired a jeepney for 600php. ( I advise that you get one, the hike down and back from the set-off points is enough to kill you.hehe) We climbed up the jeepney and really got to enjoy the view and the fresh morning air from top.

Justine and Aiden enjoying the ride.....

There are 2 drop off points Banga-an and Aguid. We took Banga-an on our way down....some wonderful views during the hike....[[on the way down]]

will you not be inspired to hike in a view like this?

parang nasa bangin lang...hehe

spring or autumn?

resting in a very unlike place....

all smiles-----Justine and Tim

Teresa getting ready for the shoot.....

our guide had to climb a big rock just to take this shot---kudos Aps

if you have no idea how big those terraces are...look at the people below

para lang akong tatay nila...lol

the famous Bomod-ok Falls. Good thing it rained for 3 consecutive nights prior to our visit. Last time I hear, there's almost no water left to fall. The down part, the water was a bit muddy so twas not a good time to take a dip.

We fancied on the big rocks instead as our guide Aps maneuvered into them so as to take good shots. Again, look at the people in the picture above to get a rough estimate of how tall this waterfalls is.....

another set of friends who caught up with us in the big falls....

pahirapan umakyat dyan sa mga malalaking batong yan.....

On the way back....our guide instructed us to take another route, a rather eaier one in AGUID. This is good coz taking two routes would give you another angle into the landscape below. Every angle in this valley is simply amazing.

[[time elapse photography]]

the other village.....AGUID and their rice terraces.

we had to hike to that village to catch on our ride back to the center of the town

The climb up has proven to be more challenging, good cool air occasionally blows, fills your lungs and reaches your soul.naks

The final photo up the hill before going to the next destination.......echo valley!!!!!
감사합니다 (gamsahabnida).....

my first spelunking experience.....

2010-05-12T20:51:00.022+08:00

spe·lunk·er

n. One who explores caves chiefly as a hobby; a caver.

---------------------------

I admit, I didnt know that word before going to Sagada. All I know is that we will be entering a cave and the idea scared me to death. But here's the back story first. The jeepney was a bit slow coz it was already 11:30 am when we reached Sagada. Upon entering Bontoc, I sudenly noticed that the area is rocky compared to Banaue. I thought it looks barren in some areas on the way up to Sagada. Pnce in Sagada, I thought the town proper looks like a small version of Baguio with all those buildings stuffed in a small space with pine trees adoring the surroundings.Seeing all those campaign election posters was a bit distracting coz even trees were not spared. If it's your first time here, you might say " so this is it? nothing much to see".

We were starving so before going to our respective Inns, Hazelle proposed that we go to Yogurt house first for lunch.The famous yogurt house it is then.

Yughort house's interior.

with Carlo, Hazelle, Heidi andDon

We ordered Pork in Bechamel Sauce and Baked chicken with Potato Rosti and Vegetable Salad. Odd but isn't everything supposed to be tasty when you are hungry? I honestly didn't enjoy the food.For 190 php each, it's not worth the price. One more thing, I didn't feel any warmth in their service, people here don't know how to smile and the place is really messy and too congested for me. When we got the receipt, it was written in a piece of paper so we thought----what about registering with the DTI???? enough for the negativity.

Oh, it rained before we were able to leave the place. One of the most strange summer I experienced, 3 consecutive afternoons and nights of rain. Of all times, why now? We walked further down the street to check George's gust house but they were full. Our reservation was cancelled because of our unexpected overnight stay in Banaue so I couldn't complain. We went back to the municipal hall uptown where we registered and started searching for a place to stay. Just around the corner is Sagada Guest House. A nice little Inn where you can stay for as low as 200php per person. Might not look very appealing outside but nice and comfortable inside. I like the homey feeling here.

Since it was raining a bit that afternoon, we decided to go caving, este, spelunking daw. Got and guide from Sagada Genuine Guides ( SAGGA) and were all set.

hiking to Lumiang Burial Cave

We hiked despite the rain, it's actually near, so don't bother about hiring a car especially on your way there coz you might miss the burial site in Lumiang cave.

the wooden coffins of Lumiang cave

the lizard---a symbol of good luck to the natives of Sagada

Aps---our guide from SAGGA explaining the intricacies of the burial site.

Lumiang cave by the way serves as the entrance if you want to do CAVE Connection which is not advisable for beginners.

gracefully surviving the long summer drought

the terraces in the village below are fun to look at

Another 5 minutes walk and we were in SUMAGING cave--view is still splendid amidst the rain.

the steps of SUMAGING cave

these rock formations at the cave entrance could get intimidating

Spelunking at Sumaging has 3 stages, the 1st is the ascend--through slippery slope. In this stage, you have to be slow and careful. The eyes don't get adjusted to the dark yet so it could add to the challenge. You really have to do the crouch position and you need to hold on to muddy rocks with poops of bats hanging just above your head. Ito yung let's get down and dirty part. Mabaho ang popoo ng mga bats.hehe

The 2nd stage is the part where you get to see a lot of rock formations. They look slippery in pictures but not in real life, they are fun to step at. Here, we took lots of pictures. Our guide is a PRO in taking pictures and he is very careful, he took good care of my new camera......

note: sorry if most of the pictures include us in it. we were engrossed in the whole process. sensya

Our guide Aps--telling lotsa funny stories of the rock formations

The 3rd stage is the"" take the plunge stage"". There's no helping it but you have to get wet up to your chest as you have to walk through cold water.....

the cold water is waiting down there....

And then it's back to stage 2 and stage 1 for 2.5 hours all in all. We were so relieved as nothing bad happened to us inside. It pays to have a good guide.A few people who don't listen to their guides usually encounter injuries. Was our first, and the experience was really liberating especially for me, natanggal ang kaartehan ko.hehe. And I conquered my fear and my misconceptions about caves and I have a certificate to prove that.....

more info: guide fee: 500php( a must)
ride:         400php (optional) better rent on your way back-you'll be very tired by then
               OUR GUIDE: Aps--- 0928.609.6819
               SAGGA's website: http://sagadagenuineguides.blogspot.com/

the BANAUE-Bontoc link.....

2010-05-07T21:59:00.012+08:00

......we left Hapao 6:30am so as to catch the one and only jeepney ride to Bontoc which leaves at 8:30 am. Otherwise, we can take our chances on buses passing by Banaue at no definite intervals.It will take another 2.5 hours of fun ride to get to BONTOC, the capital of Mountain Province for the cost of 150php.

the one and only jeepney trip for the day----yung red.hehe

Some usually take this route to Sagada as it passes directly trough the viewpoints of BANAUE rice terraces. After the ascend, your eyes will feast into different views so be sure to keep them wide open coz you don't want to miss the scene.

imperfections like this one actually adds beauty to the place....

steep but picturesque.....

soil erosion, nature's way of keeping the balance....

...and as they say, life is a journey, not a destination. In this particular trip, I made it a point to meet new friends. I know it's our honeymoon but the world is not just about the two of us. We are here to explore, not just the place, but the people and in the process, get to understand ourselves more and our relationship....naks.

new friends, Hazelle and Heidi...taking advantage of the scenery

Different mountain, different scenery. All a pleasure to look at......

terraces still dot many areas where small communities are located....

Pine trees give me a different sensation....they communicate and tell me, I'm in a different place...

those tress are lining up as if they're climbing the hill one by one....

a journey with a thousand mountains begin with a single step......

simply beautiful.....

surviving the rocky slopes.....

the car looks miniature in this terrain....

Honestly, I like this route far better than the Sagada-Baguio link. The zigzags are less ruthless and the view is far more diverse and pleasing to the eyes.....

..............next stop: Sagada

awed by BANAUE.....

2010-05-05T18:04:00.012+08:00

Somebody warned me that Sagada is not a place for honeymoon. True enough if you are to make a baby in the process. The terrain, cold weather and the endless hikes will make you forget about doing it here. But for couples who are willing to explore themselves and the depth of their relationships, this is the place to be......

And so we set off on a journey to the Mountain Province on the 28th of April. We left Manila 10pm to BANAUE via autobus. Fare is surprisingly low at only 400php.( Florida buses are better and they have more trips daily-but their number is always out of reach---I guess that's true to any big companies, the bigger they get, the more they become out of reach)

........and so after 9 hours of grueling ride, we finally set foot in Banaue, our first stop.

Teresa with newfound friends, Zaldy and Ariel....

It has been my wish to see the 8th wonder of the world. And it sure is majestic. The terraces is just a 20 minute uphill tricycle ride from town center.They call it VIEWPOINT. There are 2 spots to take photos so be sure not to miss both. Also Be sure to register in the TOURIST information center first so that people know your whereabouts.

taken in Banaue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

starting to feel comfortable with the locals.....

And there's a back story to that, we were supposed to be here on the 27th but we got delayed.When I tried to rebook our tickets, I met somebody who is a local of the area. His name is Zaldy and so I told him that we will visit him. Surprisingly, he lives in Hungduan, another area famous for their terraces known as HAPAO.....

Hapao is another town in Ifugao, 45 minutes by jeepney amidst breathtaking view.....it rained the night before we came so there were many areas with landslides.........

in the middle of nowhere....

You see mountains and mountains of rice terraces...nakakalula....

on the way to Hungduan....

The famous HAPAO Rice Terraces

Here, we were told by locals that their rice terraces are distinct from that of banaue in such a way that theirs are STONE WALLED build centuries ago. Our hosts were so kind that despite their simple abode we decided to stay overnight to get the feel of how it is like living in the middle of it all............

right in the middle of the action...

We were informed of a wedding ceremony the next day. Too bad we had to get moving to reach our final destination SAGADA. An unexpected stop it was. Sure glad we did.....

about getting institutionalized......

2010-05-03T17:12:00.013+08:00

If you noticed, I was away for almost 2 weeks. Never been off that long for quite some time given the nature of my work. But finally, got my most deserved break and a major life event prompted me to do so.

My wedding.....

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

Yes, I was finally married to Maria Teresa Catabay on the 25th of April 2010 after 10 years of being together.A decade of engagement made me think that marriage is just a piece of paper since I have already considered her my wife long time ago.

We have the greatest pre-nuptial agreement in the world. It's called love.

Few months before this big day, something snapped, a very big mistake I made finally took its tool on me and almost ruined everything. But we survived yet another storm and now I regard this wedding as a blessing from God.

For some reasons I thought I am too young to get married. Maybe because there was a hesitation in me to mature.But if marriage is our last, best chance to grow up, I really want this one.....

I am very happy that I finally ended up wedding my best friend, my soul mate. I am looking forward to spending my life's journey with her. And though things could suck sometimes, we are willing to stick it out.....now, I can seriously say I am so excited about married life.....cheers to that!!!!

the Magic Lagoon

2010-04-19T13:23:00.002+08:00

We came across this wonderful place while on our way to the main beach in Subic after Ocean Advenure. They call it magic Lagoon. It's a bar and grill restaurant with a twist.

Here, you have to do it the traditional way, the fun way---they let you rent a bait, go to the big pond, wait till you catch a fish, bring it to them to cook and wallaa....you have a meal.

Had the chance to talk to some of the kids waiting for their chance to have their fisrst catch. They were very excited as the fish in the pond are big they say. But they complained about the fact that they have to pay for the fish they catch plus a cooking charge.hehe. clever resto.

Even so, everybody's for the fun of it. If you have a pond as beautiful as this in the middle of the city why not?

my new buddy from QC....

nice view......

who wouldn't want to fish here? I can wait for hours....

This is really a refreshing way to dine out. Be sure though that you are not starving upon getting here or else you might end up jumping in the water and catching the fish yourself......hehe

ocean adventure subic.....

2010-04-12T13:03:00.009+08:00

......thought of trying some establishments in Clark the other Saturday since it's the only interesting place I can think of in Pampanga, well, not quite coz I realized there's not much to see or do in this former Navy base aside from a lunch out in Fontana perhaps which I didn't feel like doing.

Come on, it's summer. I have to drag myself to the beach or anything close to it. Time to get some tan----as if di pako mukhang Ita.lol

We got as far as Subic. Destination Ocean adventure.

For 500 php entrance fee, you could already watch 4 shows. First in our list was the HIGH DIVE which features professional divers from other countries. Yes, I was surprised that they employ Caucasians. Gives you an International feel. They are good.World class diving talaga.

They were also funny. But the final act was indeed heart stopping. One of the divers climbed as high as
85 feet in the air. Took courage to look at him as he drop. If you fancy on taking photos afterward it's okay, they really know how to interact with their audience.

Next stop was Walk on the Wild Side, an animal show, this time featuring wildlife of the forest. Being promdi and having played with wild animals in the prairie, I was not excited at all.

I thought the DOLPHIN SHOW was really good. Far better than what we saw in Sentosa. Unlike in Singapore Ocean Adventure has a covered amphitheater which allows uninterrupted view and a comfortable shed against the sun. And the dolphins here are far talented.lol

The show opened with the playing of some local drummers which gives it a cultural flavor. The host, who happens to be a Caucasian was very lively.

One thing I like about it was the part when the trainers themselves got in the water and started making tricks with the dolphins. Great show.

How I wish I could be tossed like that by dolphins. hehe
This presentation is packed with action, smiles, interesting information, and an important conservation message.I anticipated that the 4th and last show will be boring, as it features only one sea lion. But I was wrong, it was equally entertaining.

All in all it was all worth it. And if you can't have enough, there are lotsa OCEAN themed stuffed toys that you can buy in their Gift Shop. Oh, and they also have a Discovery Aquarium just in case you have time in between shows.

One more thing, if you are planing to commute to get here, forget it. It's deep inside SBMA so better find somebody who has a car. Cheers~~

For more info, check their webiste:
http://oceanadventure.com.ph

holy week in Pampanga

2010-04-04T20:44:00.009+08:00

Holy week in the Philippines is the only time of the year when shopping malls are closed, when atm's are offline and when the transit system is out of operation from Maundy Thursday till Easter Sunday. If you don't have cable tv, you might end up agonizing over old films played over local channels.

I usually spend this time with my family in Pangasinan but a 6-hour ride is just excruciating so Teresa and I ended up in Pampanga to meet our friend Ariel.

Ariel in Pampanga...

Since the meeting place was San Fernando, I dared him to take me to Barngay Cutud to witness Maleldo 2010.

“Maleldo,” a contracted Kapampangan word meaning “holy day,” has been used here to refer to the crucifixions that have become the focus of the international media every Good Friday. Here, local penitents carry the cross up a hill then have themselves nailed to it.

Maleldo 2010, Cudud Pampanga

Cudud is a 15 minute ride from SM-San Fernando. It was already 2:30pm when we got there and there was already a very long line of cars parked on the both sides of the street stretching more than 3 kilometers to the site. Along the way, you occasionally see hooded penitents beating their bloody backs with bamboo floggers.

and that's real blood....

It feels painful seeing it in person.My first time up close. We were advised to stay away or else blood could could stain valued shirts. I noticed that there are so many tourists joining the long walk back and forth amidst the heat of the sun.

I had no idea what to expect. When we got there, this view really chilled me to my spine.

feels like being in Calvary....

...and those are real people nailed on the cross

We went up the hill to see things up close. Ariel got the chance to capture those moment while Teresa and I were just fixed there in awe............

ready to be nailed......

the passion of Christ?

On our way down, we saw one previously crucified interviewed by the press.While other go straight to the ambulance and the hospital, he was up on his feet with a big smile on his face.

still active after the the crucifixion

I didn't know how to feel. I heard that the Catholic church doesn't recognize the legitimacy of this festival. But Faith and Spirituality, like love is expressed in different ways.If this is these people's way of expressing their faith, I can't help but admire them for their resolve......

photo credit: Ariel a.k.a Sebastian

on meeting other bloggers.....

2010-03-30T08:16:00.013+08:00

Finally got the courage to get out of my comfort zone and meet some bloggers. DongHo actually invited me several times to go with his group but I declined since I am not ready to run with the BIG BOYS yet. Well, I saw a few big time bloggers like Anton of OUR AWESOME planet and Mica of MICAMYX as well as Aileen Apollo of AN APPLE A DAY but it was during a blog summit. Last Saturday was different. I met four bloggers in a day and had the chance to really interact with them.

It started in Shagrila Mall with supposed to be Glen and Jepoy. I Was surprised Glen was with another blogger Marvin coz Jepoy is in the southern tip of the Metro. Had a small chat over Starbucks until the 3 of us got bored. Glen decided to meet with Jepoy and another blogger Andy in MOA so we thought it would be cool to get to know them too.

Marvin, Glen, Andy and Jepoy.....

pacute lang--hehe

I was surprised upon seeing Jepoy---coz the picture of him in my mind was completely different. My bad, I didn't read his blog before the date. Well, he is brimming with good humor and is far more gorgeous in person. hehe. . I was shy at first so I guess they thought I was indifferent. Sorry guys, really, hope I can make amends to that. A happy life is a social life, I guess I suck at the social life. lol. Other than that though, i had been keeping with my painful back. My back pains has really got so serious last week so I was conscious all along that it really hurts frk*n big time. As a bonus, there's even Andy--the warm Andy with his cute little smile all throughout the trip.

kanya-kanyang corner.hehe

You heard it right. We didn't end up malling (in MOA), they suddenly decided to go on road trip to Tagayatay. Cool. I like people like them. Always ready for adventure. Made me feel too old though coz they are all in ther early 20's. hehe. Not bad. So Marvin and I canceled our appointments for the rest of the day No regrets, the whole thing went smooth. Dinned at Teriyakiboy overlooking the lake. We were all shaking while eating coz the wind was really cool. I have with me a jacked but I didn't bother wearing it. You don't get to experience the chills in Manila, even in Binangonan these days.

gutom na si Jepoy. hehe

I was quiet most of the time but deep inside I was savoring the experience . Twas my first time to be with strangers on a road trip but I thought it was really cool. They are fun to be with. We got back to manila at around 11pm. They invited to drink in CCP area but I opted to be dropped at Wensha Spa along Roxas Blvd instead. Sorry guys. Sakit talaga likod ko e. alibi.hehe

Thanks Andy and Marvin for the good company, Glen for being the brainchild of this meeting and Jepoy for the smooth and safe drive plus gorgeous smile.lol.If it's true that a happy life is a social life, then I should hang around with people like them more often.........

photo credits: GLEN (wickedmouth)

on friends and my fascination with skyscrapers......

2010-03-25T23:38:00.008+08:00

I said it. I made an article about the frustrating exploit of my friend married to an Irish man in search of a house in the Philippines. To put closure to the story, they decided to go back to Ireland empty handed. And so before flying back they invited us for a drink. Drinking San Mig light in broad daylight? what about that? hehe

So glad I got the chance to see them though before leaving as Damien and I never run out of topics of discussions. He is fun to talk to. Very opinionated like me, but never insistent on his views. At one point, he complained about their hotel in P. Burgos so he invited us go upstairs just to see it ourselves. Really far from the promotional pictures on the web I guess. If there's one thing a little nice though, it's the view from the balcony. lol

Along Makati Avenue

The city of FORT BONIFACIO from P. Burgos St. Makati

And with this I hope I could soon buy a camera so as to pursue my passion for taking photos of skyscrapers.

I can't also wait for their next holiday here. Hope lotsa things will be more diffrent that time. A new ptresident and perhaps, as Damien hopes, a new law on foreign land ownership. We'll I really hope so Damien, there have been many attempts to amend the constitution in the past but to no avail. Filipinos are just not emotionally ready to make changes. Not yet.

Teresa, Damien and Jen back in the hotel....

One thing for sure, your next travel here will be a blast as I personally offered my services as a planner and guide for your out of town trips. And I will not allow jen to object. hehe. You will definitely get more sun and tan here next time. For now it's goodbye and see you soon......

on foreign land ownership.....

2010-03-20T12:23:00.005+08:00

My friend Jen from Ireland went back to the Philippines last week with her husband Damien not just because she's sick of the cold weather in the Northern Hemisphere but so as to purchase a property here. Yeah, she decided it's about time to own a house.

And so she visited me here in village and asked for my help. Everything went on smoothly and she actually liked it. But on the night that they are about to decide, something snapped. Whilst watching tv, Damien, her husband saw a program about foreign land ownership in our country. To cut it short, they learned that if at any rate Jen dies, Damien cannot own the house and lot.

"Currently the general rule is that only Filipino citizens and corporations or partnerships at least 60% Philippine owned are entitled to acquire land in the Philippines."

Jen has to give up her dream house and lot for the mean time

Fair enough, for us. Coz that's our law. But I also feel the concern of her husband. We'll that's unfair he said. In Ireland ( a tiny European country) All the things that they share as conjugal properties will be transferred to his wife in case he dies.

So what's with the protectionism? I think our constitution needs a quick fix. It's outdated and backwards. How can a country as poor as ours be so unfriendly to foreign investors? While other countries are trying to lure them to tgheir shore, we are doing everything to boo them out. How's that?

One bright side, Damien can own at least 40% share in a condominium unit purchase. Maybe they will just settle for that. sigh

doctor doctor I am sick.....

2010-03-11T21:14:00.007+08:00

Visited Marvin in the hospital today since he was confined in the Medical City yesterday due to reoccurring high fever. Kinda odd coz at first the doctors said that it was dengue and this afternoon they said the dengue is cured but now has Malaria . Weird. Makes me think therefore that it's part of the delaying tactics they have just to prolong his stay there.

Can't blame me for my paranoia.The room costs 2,500 php per day and professional fee is at 4,000php on daily basis aside from the laboratory and medicines. To be fair, the Medical City is definitely a world class hospital and they have one of the best facilities in the country and probably some of the best medical practitioners. But last year, the same thing happened to his dad. It took them 3days to finally arrive into the conclusion that his dad has pneumonia. 3 days for pneumonia ? Isn't that outrageous?

Say they really had thorough examinations and all, but that long? Well, I just hope they give straight answers as the most annoying thing would be paying 20k or 30k for a few days of confinement for an ordinary pneumonia. sigh

whatever it is, I hope for a speedy recovery for Marvin.