Simon Says.

On Jogging

2012-01-22T00:09:00.005+08:00

I declare, that from this day on, I'll make jogging a daily habit.

No more excuses.

(Overcooked) Pork Adobo

2012-01-19T18:37:00.006+08:00

And so today, I decided to cook pork adobo for my dinner. I was hoping the dish to be perfect but it turned out overcooked.

But it's still yummy though.

:-)

Second chance

2012-01-17T16:33:00.023+08:00

Two months and two days have passed since I said goodbye to you. I could still remember how painful and hard it was to let you go.

I had given my reasons for leaving you. You also had given yours. But even if the reasons we have for leaving each other may appear valid and just, I could not still move on.

Part of me says I made the right decision. But how can it be right when, until now, I still lament with the outcome of that decision. How can it be right when, until now, you're still the one I want to share my future with.

I regret my decision of leaving you not because I don't have you at my side now. I regret it because, when we were still together, I could have trusted you instead of showing you my doubts. I could have made you feel happy instead of making you feel miserable. I could have opened up everything about me and my past instead of being selective with what to share. And I could have been selfless instead of being selfish.

Now, in my sober state of mind, I could not deny, that I still care for you, babe. And if I'll have a second chance, I will never let you go again.

Photo Credits: Leo Edano

Anawangin Cove, Zambales

2011-11-07T13:48:00.012+08:00

The picturesque beauty of Anawangin Cove has been circulating in the different social media sites nowadays. So as to have a personal encounter of this famed beach, a friend of mine invited me for an overnight stay on this enchanting place together with some common friends.

When we arrived at the place, we were all amazed with the cleanliness and poster-perfect view of Anawangin. Along the beach are clusters of pines trees which can make you feel like you're not in the Philippines. The place is so ravishing and relaxing.

What's adding serenity in the place is it's being remote and out of coverage from cellular sites. You could totally relax in the place as no one could bother texting, calling, or emailing you.

As for our accommodation, we just setup a tent like what all the other tourists do. There's no establishment that will provide for your bed. Everything is camping style. Tourists are also advised to bring their own food and cooking stuffs as there are no stores their, although there's a makeshift along the beach which only sells the most basic items like rice, water, firewood, etc.

At night, you could set up a camp fire near your tent or go into night swimming without worrying about your valuables. The place is very secure as there are local authorities who ensures the safety of its tourists and their belongings.

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Below are some of the pictures that were taken during my Anawangin Cove getaway. Enjoy!

Love and Respect

2011-10-08T20:31:00.010+08:00

There's a lot of things I need to learn. There's a lot of things I need to understand. Such are my realizations today after a wholesome date with my babe.

Love is not just all about hugs and kisses; and definitely not all about sex. To love is to respect.

I love you, babe.

On Writing

2011-09-29T01:15:00.011+08:00

Sometimes, no matter how eager you want to write, you just could not express perspicuously the thoughts you have in mind. Just like what happens now.

Good night.

Wandering at Tagaytay with my babe

2011-05-10T22:48:00.060+08:00

Going into an unfamiliar place like Tagaytay with my babe has always been on my must-do-list. We have already spent several nights together when I was still in Manila but travelling with her in a romantic place like Tagaytay is something that I have been planning to do.

So while I was in Manila last month to take an entrance exam for my post-degree program at UP Diliman, I grabbed the opportunity to travel with her in one of the most-liked cities in Luzon, Tagaytay City.

Me and her in an overnight at Tagaytay is one of the most memorable experiences I had so far in my 21 years of existence.

And these pictures below are some of my attempts to document my escapade with my babe at Tagaytay.

Sitted on the farthest seat, I can't wait to see my babe in a few minutes at Dasmarinas, Cavite.

While crossing the overpass on my way to SM Dasma, I found this sight of the mall nostalgic. We have been here once with my babe.

“Some roads aren't meant to be travelled alone” -Anonymous

After fetching my babe, we crossed at another overpass. This time, we were heading on a mall where the bus would fetch passengers who are going to Tagaytay.

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

Being not able to book a hotel prior to our trip, finding a place to stay was the first thing we did. But just as hunger hits us on the stomach, we decided to chow down on a small restaurant and eat our first meal in the place. The Bulalo was just so perfect for that shivering cold night at Tagaytay.

Finally, after few walks and inquiries, we found a very cozy hotel that fits our budget. The room is just so perfect for a couple who wants to enjoy each other's company and experience the fresh air of Tagaytay. Basically, the room has no AC unit but the cold breeze from the Taal Lake makes it more romantic and placid.

It was 6:00 o'clock in the morning. The bed is empty but the other smaller room inside this room is not. The two of us decided to take the cold shower together.

“We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lost sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.”

After packing our things up, we're now ready to tour around Tagaytay and its magnificent parks. We were both excited to jaunt on the many good sights that this city is known to offer.

“Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” -Benjamin Desraili

There's something to this hotel that makes me haunt for it. I don't know if it's due to the company of my babe, who I loved and enjoyed travelling with; or is it because of the warm ambiance that this hotel had accorded us; or both. Whatever the reason is (which I can't seem to figure out until now), the hotel was so affable and cozy.

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” - Bill Bryson

Sitting on a pavement while waiting for the KFC to open at 8:00 am, I find the weather of Tagaytay so perfect. It's sunny yet the air was very cold. And this same cold breeze makes my mind go wander. It made me see things in a brand new perspective. While seated next to my babe, I can't help but be more appreciative to life.

The entrance gate of People's Park, our first destination.

I will never forget how happy I was at this very moment, to have my babe in my life. While she's busy taking some pictures of me, inside me is a voice who wants to scream to the whole world how he love his babe so much and how happy is he with her.

Me, while doing my thing at the hills of People's Park.

After making it to the summit of People's Park, we headed back to the base camp where the motor vehicles are waiting for passengers going downtown.

Before going to the Picnic Groove, we decided to drop by the nearest makeshift stores at the base camp to buy some fruits.

At the Picnic Groove, finally.

"The contrived tree rends a healthy workload."

A small kubo inside the Picnic Groove Park.

Right before we headed ourselves back to Manila, me and my babe dropped by at Tagaytay Starbucks, enjoying our remaining hours of stay together at Tagaytay with an iced coffee latte and an exchange of conversations.

...

Without a doubt, our whole trip at Tagaytay was very memorable. This has been so far the best place that me and my babe has ever been to. And we are looking forward to visit this place again before she will leave the country.

Hakuna Matata

2011-05-01T13:10:00.013+08:00

What could be more relaxing than this? -Staying at home on a Sunday afternoon; doing nothing but eating milo rice, dried fish, cucumber salad, and a left-over sunnny-side-up egg cooked by no-less-than your beautiful mom; and watching your favorite tv show.

Yes, such is my life here in our rural village. Enjoying free-from-noise environment, relishing fresh air, taking pleasure of pristine beaches, and just taking things one step at a time.

No spoor of rush.

Up In the Air

2011-04-12T00:42:00.015+08:00

Up in the Air. Another one good movie that every young professional of their twenty something must watch. The movie requires wisdom for you to understand it the way it should be understood.

I don't want to tackle more on how the movie goes. I'll leave that to you to search the movie synopsis with google.

What I realized after watching the movie is that, like me, and everyone who are young and vibrant professionals of their twenty something, all of us share the same sentiments, in one way or another. We are all Up in the Air should we be talking about what we really want in life.

Most of the time, we are caught unguarded with choices like big salary versus a dignified job; to pursue our acquired degree or shift to another career path; to settle a job within our comfort zone or to explore new places and bear all the consequences; the list in infinite.

Out of no choice, whatever it is that our reality provide us, we are taking most of our decisions from there. But the truth of the matter is, we are actually capable of defying our reality and our very own set of agreements, and pursue the desire of our inner soul.

Reality is subjective anyway. Isn't it?

Hongkong- First travel abroad

2009-12-01T21:50:00.007+08:00

Hongkong was my first trip abroad. We planned this trip 3 months ago. I owe this trip to my friend Jet and his cool mother because they were the ones who initiated this trip.

During the whole duration of our escapade, the weather was gloomy but it does not rain. So we really enjoyed walking and strolling around the good sites of Hongkong, especially the two most visited ones: The Hongkong Disneyland and the Hongkong Ocean Park.

So here are some few tips for you guys so you can make the best of your Hongkong trip:

Look for a good all-in package. Most these packages are worth-it. But wait, most of these packages also offers a cheap and uncomfortable hotel. So you better check some reviews of the hotel that is included in the package. There are lots of hotel reviews that you can get from the internet. If it happens that the hotel has good reviews, then go for it. Otherwise, you can negotiate the provider of the packaged tour to book you another hotel.

As for the extra allowance, a Php5,000 is enough for the side expenses that are not included in the package.

One more thing, if you really want to get the most out of Hongkong, research the places that most of the locals are going into. For example, you might want to see a football tournament in a beautiful stadium in Hongkong. It's up to you.

As for the food, most of the restaurants in Hongkong are serving american-sized dishes. If you want to be frugal with your food expense, you might consider ordering a dish with a partner so will just pay half of the amount. Try their famous local delicacies as well.

PS: If I were to rate my trip in Hongkong, on a scale of 1-10, it must be 6. Everything was good, as a first-timer, except for the hotel that we were into. It was unfortunately unbearable for me. Then I was not able to do some side trips as well. And to tell you the truth, I was not able to do the things that I recommended above becuase I was on tight budget during the trip. But as the old cliche goes, there's always a next time! :-)

...

Below are some of the selected pictures taken during the trip.

Hongkong DisneyLand

The famous Lady's Street

My Hongkong tour mates.

The Sixth Sense Gadget

2009-02-01T12:47:00.000+08:00

One of the things that the researchers of Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MIT) is doing right now is the portable “sixth
sense” device powered by commercial products that can seamlessly
channel Internet information into daily routines.

Basically, the device can turn any surface into a touch-screen for
for computing, controlled by simple hand gestures.

Not only that, the gadget can also take photographs if a user
frames a scene with his or her hands, or project a watch face with
the proper time on a wrist if the user makes a circle there with a
finger.

You might wonder how does it work, well, it's not as complicated as
what you might have thought it is. As for the first version of the
gadget, the MIT wizards cobbled a Web camera, a battery-powered
projector and a mobile telephone into a gizmo that can be worn like
jewelry. Then, signals from the camera and projector are relayed to
smart phones with Internet connections.

Aside from taking photographs, what's cool even more about this
gadget is that it can recognize items on store shelves, retrieving
and projecting information about products or even providing quick
signals to let users know which choices suit their tastes.

The gadget can look at an airplane ticket and let the user know
whether the flight is on time.Thus, it can recognize books in a book
store and then project reviews or author information from the
Internet onto blank pages.

The gizmo can recognize articles in newspapers, retrieve the latest
related stories or video from the Internet and play them on pages.

With the gadget, you can use any surface, including your hand if
nothing else is available, and interact with the data.

But according to the MIT researchers, they are still improving the
gadget to make it perfect. Thus, according to Patty Maes of MIT, "Maybe
in ten years we will be here with the ultimate sixth-sense brain
implant."