Lodging In Lagen

When: October 12-14, 2005
Where: Lagen Island Resort, El Nido, Palawan

I never thought that for once in my life I’d be thankful that there were no network signals, no Internet connection and no television and radio. I am a city girl and I will always love the city and the technology it offers, but El Nido made me feel so blessed that God gave me a country having such a beautiful place. El Nido spelled rest and escape for me. Lagen Island Resort was situated in a lush forest, in front of the beach. How much lovelier can a place get?

We were in a beach front cottage. We didn’t have windows because what we had were glass doors separating the room from the veranda. Our cottage was facing the sea. Every morning we were greeted by the glorious view of the ocean meeting the sky and every afternoon the sun bids farewell as it kisses the sea.

I love lodging in Lagen.

Going Back

When: July 20, 2005
Where: Station One, Boracay

It was the last day of the media trip in Boracay. We were a few hours away from coming back to Manila. Back to work, back to reality.

Sometimes I tend to escape and hide from some of the realities of life. But I really need to get back to reality and face problems because they won’t disappear if I just try to escape…

Pictures You Don’t Like And How Short Life Is

When: July 19, 2005
Where: Butterfly Farm, Fairways & Bluewater, Boracay

I don’t like this picture because I’m hardly smiling. It was too freaking hot that day, and I came from walking alone along the three stations of Boracay. Yes, alone. Jane went to Mandala Spa that day so I went around on my own. It’s fine with me anyway.

But I like the place. I like the butterflies. It’s a pity that some of them have a really short life span. I was told about this one beautiful type of butterfly that has to wait for weeks inside a pupa, but when it finally becomes this butterfly with a lovely color it only has four days to live, four days to show it’s beauty, four days to enjoy it’s adulthood. How sad… Life is short. We should make the most out of it.

Dining In Bora

When: July 17, 2005
Where: Regency Boracay

I’m not really adventurous in eating. I rarelty try new dishes and types of food, but being a reporter in What’s On and Expat exposed me to different types of cuisine.

I’m not a fan of seafood, but when I went to Bora I really enjoyed it. I learned how to eat shellfishes and to enjoy other kinds of fish other than milkfish.

I also tried drinks that are new to me.

I guess I really have to be thrown to other places so that I would try out new things.

Fairways And Bluewater

When: July 17, 2005
Where: Fairways & Bluewater, Boracay

Fairways & Bluewater is located in Newcoast, Balabag, Boracay Island. It’s far from the stations of Bora. What it boasts of is that it has a golf course.

Jane and I stayed here during the media invitational by Johnny Litton’s PR company.

It’s so peaceful in Fairways. It has its own beach. No vendors will approach you and offer pearls or whatnots. And t’s far from the party crowd of Bora.

Museum

When: July 17, 2005
Where: Seawind Museum

A museum contains stories of people. Each artifact has a story to tell.

I have my own stories to tell. Some people listen, only a few remembers, fewer care.

Beach

When: July 18, 2005
Where: Station One, Boracay

I like going to the beach just for the scenery and the change in environment.

I don’t know how to swim and I don’t think I’ll ever learn.

Ilocana

When: April 23, 2005
Where: Malvu Beach, Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur

Both my parents hail from Ilocos Sur. My dad is from Santa Maria, while my mom is from Narvacan. I don’t go much to the province because it’s a very long ride, eight hours by bus.

I understand the dialect, but hey, just don’t ask me to speak it.

Boracay

When: July 17, 2005
Where: Boracay

This was shot during the Johnny Litton media invitation to Boracay. I was a writer/reporter for What’s On And Expat Newspaper for five months and this was one of my assignments.

This was my second time to go to Boracay.

Matanglawin

When: April 3, 2005
Where: San Pablo, Laguna

Ang Matanglawin ay ang opisyal na Filipinong pahayagan ng Pamantasan ng Ateneo De Manila. Naging kasapi ako ng pahayagang ito ng dalawang taon at kabilang ako sa mga tagalapat (layout artist).

Pagpapakahulugan sa Pangalan
Mapanuri (‘mata’)

• Metikulosong pagbibigay-tuon sa mga detalye, datos at kataga
• Kritikal na pagsusuri sa mga detalye at kabuuang konteksto

Nagbibigay-liwanag (‘tanglaw’)

• Ipinaliliwanag ang hindi agarang nauunawaan ng ordinaryong mambabasa
• Nagbibigay ng bagong pananaw

Marahas (‘lawin’)
• Walang inuurungan, bagaman nananatili sa etikong pamamahayag
• Matikas ang pagkakakapit sa naitatag nang pagkakaisa sa mga marhinalisado
• Walang kinakampihan, liban na lamang ang ordinaryong Pilipino, lalo na silang marhinalisado

http://matanglawin.org

Yearbook

When: Fourth Year College
Where: Ateneo De Manila College

These are the photos that I chose to be placed on my yearbook page. I like the contrast of the two, how big my smile was on the formal picture and how serene my look is on the "creative" shot. This shows my different sides. Like I always say in my profile pages in any site, I’m a little bit of everything and nothing of anything.

Adik Sa Papel

When: Fourth Year College
Where: Ateneo De Manila University

For: Yearbook Creative Pic

I collect paper.
I collect stationeries.
I like books.
I make scrapbooks.
I love to write.
The things I like are connected to paper.

Graduation

When: March 19, 2005
Where: Ateneo De Manila University

Graduation for me meant two things, hello and goodbye. Hello to a new phase in life, hello to the real world, hello to working. Goodbye to studying, goodbye to a lot of people, including Sean.

One Burgundy Plaza

When: College Years
Where: One Burgundy Plaza, Katipunan Ave.

16M and 15K had been my home during my college years…

UPD

When: College Years
Where: University Of The Philippines, Diliman

I had a choice between studying in UP Diliman or studying in Ateneo De Manila. I ended up choosing to study in Ateneo. Sean studied in UPD. I have no regrets in the choice I made.

Grad Ball

When: March 28, 2001
Where: The Peninsula, Manila

A Night To Remember Too

The ballroom majestic, full of lights
Tables arranged beautifully
Loaded with delicacies
The air filled with music
The dance floor inviting

Lights, flowers, candles
Same as before
Would things happen the same way?

The dance now with someone else
To the soft music
We cared about so much else
As we moved on the dance floor
Both our eyes wandered
The two of us isn’t everything

The music like a lullaby
The dance a cradle rocking me softly
I’m not dreaming
It’s real
I don’t want it to end
But unlike then, I know it would end

But we stayed a little longer
The music continued to play
Until it finally fades away
The lights dim
Dim till there’s none
And we’ve stepped-off the dance floor
The ballroom dark and silent
The night coming to an end
It may be over
But not everything would be

This was the night that Sean and I said I love you to each other. But since things were a little complicated together, we only became a couple after two months. We were together for almost four years…

High School Graduation

When: March 27, 2001
Where: Philippine Science High School, Main Campus (Diliman)

PSHS Hymn
by Mario Taguiwalo

Philippine Science High
Thou stands above with thy thoughts that lift
And fit all thy sons with wings
To lend us flight in the sowing of our gifts

Oh, Philippine Science High
Thy wisdom arms our youth
As we reach for our dreams, as we strive for our goals
As we search for the untarnished truth

Philippine Science High
The PSHS in us will grow
And go as we wonder o’er
The crests and troughs of the sea of life that flows

Oh, Philippine Science High
Thy light our beacon be
In our path through the world, in our fight for the right
In pursuit of a glorious thee.

PSHS Hymn - Filipino Translation

Philippine Science High
Patuloy mong itinataas
Kaming ‘yong mga anak
Sa paglinang ng aming kakayahan

O, Philippine Science High
Dunong mo’y patnubay
Sa aming pangarap, sa aming hinahangad
Na katotohanang lantay

Philippine Science High
Sa aming puso’y lumalago
At sa’n man magtungo,
Magpapatuloy sa dagat ng buhay

O, Philippine Science High
Liwanag mo’y tanglaw
Sa amin ay gabay sa landas ng buhay
At dakilang minimithi

I love the rock version we did of the Pisay hymn during our graduation. Pasaway talaga Batch 2001!!!

Prom

When: February 17, 2001
Where: PSHS Multipurpose Gym, Philippine Science High School, Diliman, QC

This was shot during my fourth year prom. Sean was my promdate. It was a weird night. That was the night that he told me that even if I study college in Ateneo, he’ll always visit me. We were best friends, though obviously we felt something for each other more than that.As a token, he gave me a silver necklace with a heart pendant and I gave him a silver bracelet. Along with that bracelet I gave him was a framed poem.

Here’s the poem:

Vision of Love
(January 18, 2001)

Some things are hidden
Envisioned only in silence
A scene only the heart sees
Not by the eyes, not comprehended by the mind

A vision of pure hope, pure peace
Understood only by the heart
Seen by the soul
The spirit appreciates
In the silence of darkness
Nothing else is felt,
but the calmness drawn from the sight

Clear
Radiant
Inspiring
Thought enhancing
In full glory
Captivating
A vision of love

On My Own

When: March 13, 2000
Where: Camp John Hay, Baguio City

I hate being lonely, but sometimes I want to be alone and on my own…

Swing

When: March 13, 2000
Where: Camp John Hay, Baguio City

I’ve been looking for a swing since the moment we arrived in Baguio. I just want to ride a swing. I just like the feeling, especially when you’re up.