Happy Anniversary, Zy and Les ♥

It has been a year! I am greeting my good friends Zyra and Lester for their one year anniversary. I am glad I am able to see true love with my own very eyes. I hope mine will come too, soon.

Thank you for letting me in your house, and eat, and stay.. (hehe parang ampon lang) >_<  Basta, thanks for everything. ♥

Happy anniversary!

I am striking two birds with one stone here. I am giving my friends a sincere greeting, and also this is an entry to their First  Bunny Anniversary Giveaway. If you also want to greet them, just click the badge below.

First Bunny Anniversary Giveaway

Happy new year to all!

“Big Ate Kuya” Day

Christmas is for children, as the saying goes. A simple gift will bring a smile on the children’s faces, and even more, spending a day with them and letting them feel the happiness that is Christmas.

So it was the day for the Big Ate Kuya Project. We have to be the big brothers and sisters to the kids as we spend time with them at the mall and make them happy to the extent of our efforts.

It was 8:30 a.m. and we were waiting for the jeep to arrive.

Let's have a little posing while waiting for the jeep.. with Kakai, Deza and Juan

The kids that we brought to the mall are the children from the CRC day care and Paradise Day care center.

Fetching the kids from the two day care centers.

We brought the kids to Festival Supermall at Alabang. I even asked these little girls with me if they have been to the mall, and they answered that they haven’t. I told them that they will enjoy the rides, and also ‘wag ilabas ang kamay sa jeep, okay?’

On the way to the mall

When we arrived at the mall, we went to Pixie Forest. We placed name tags on them so we’ll be able to know them and us too.

Introducing the Ate and Kuya for the day (Sir Mhon, Deza, Kakai and Me)

Also with us are the Rotarians. Ate Lala, Ate Kaye, and Sir Mhon with his friend Ate Dhang.

The Rotarians. Ate Lala, Ate Kaye, Ate Dhang and Sir Mhon

Of course, we held games for the delight of the children. One of those is the super all new, Trip to Jerusalem. ahehe >_<

Trip to Jerusalem

After that, they have been given badges for the rides at Pixie Forest.

The kids as they receive their badges for the rides

Picture taking first before lunch

Rotaractors Ate and Kuya (Arvin, Noeme, Toyo, Jho, Dhenise, Kakai, Deza, Me, Mitch, Juan and Dan)

Rotarians Ate Kaye, Sir Mhon Ate Dhang, Ate Lala and guest. (hehe, can't remember the name)

And where did we eat lunch? Of course, Jollibee! Kids love their spaghetti and chicken joy, and the sight of that happy bee.

1.Kuya Toyo & Arjohn 2. Kuya Dhenise & Luigi 3. Ate Jho & Anthony 4. Noeme helping the kids wth their food.

I invited my other friends too. Michelle and Jhepoi.

Mitch and Jhepoi.

The day won’t be complete without the gifts.

Distribution of gifts

Danilo: "Batang Ama" ahihi This girl really wants to be with Dan.

Before going to the rides

And we accompanied them to the rides.

Deza and the kids at the carousel

Waiting in line for the airplane ride

The kids at the airplane ride

These two are enjoying the ride

My “alaga” for that day was Kevin.

That's Kevin, my kid during the day.

Would you believe that ALL the kids fit in there in their excitement?

After a day of walking and talking and roaming around, the kids were accompanied on their way home.

On their way home, the children were tired and sleepy. (borlogs!)

I find it amusing that the children want to wear their party hats through the entire strolling. Until they went home, they were still wearing those.

Wow, Dan and Juan are still all smiles.

After that, we felt tired, because of all the walking. But then we know we had fun. And it was an extraordinary feeling to see the smile on the children’s faces that they will remember, and that we were part of the reason for their smiles. Thank God for the wonderful day.

The Big Ate Kuya Project is a joint project of the Rotary Club of San Pedro East and Rotaract Club of San Pedro East.

My Hectic December 17: Gift Giving and SBA

It was a Saturday, December 17. I had a very tiring, hectic day. Going from one place to another..  it was fun! And since it’s vacation already, I know that my time would be more useful for service to other people.

I started the day at 7:00 a.m. We were to visit three day care centers for the gift giving project. I was with our student volunteers.  The place (San Vicente) was kinda far and since we were tight on budget, we rented a jeep. We paid only P10 pesos each. The students were like sardines inside.

Students inside the jeepney.

I was sitting beside my good friend and co-Rotaractor Kakai. This girl sure is a dedicated person to what she does. She helps me every time I am to plan a community project.

Kakai and me.

First stop, day care center number 1. CRC Day care center. We gave gifts and also slippers for the kids.

Deza while preparing the gifts and the slippers.

The kids with their gifts.

Stop number two. Paradise Day Care Center. So I told you in my previous post of the 15 minute walk going to the center, and the loads of mud you have to cross (A Step up Day), before, I wore my new shoes, this time, I was ready with my slippers.

I was ready with my slippers!

On the way to the day care center.

Paradise Day Care Center

Stop number 3, Birthright daycare in San Vicente. We just have to walk from one center to another. The kids interacted with our student volunteers in the games and gift giving. I was happy to see them realize also the joy of making other children happy.

The Volunteens dancing with the kids.

Pres. Mhon of Rotary San Pedro East with the kids.

After three day care centers, we still have to donate toys for the “Maaga ang Pasko sa Jollibee.” And I really like the bear toy I am holding. It’s really cute. I used to hold that in our office and I tried to steal it! (hehe) But I know a kid will be happier when this bear reaches him/her.

The cute bear to be donated. That's Deza at the center, singit. >_<

We were about to go home and we instructed the students to ride in fives in one tricycle. But then, there was a pick up truck which offered the students a free ride going back to San Pedro town proper. God is good. I know these students have tight budgets as well. And they were ready to ride it!

The students on the truck.

Good luck at the ride!

On our way to Jollibee. With Juan and Deza.

At Jollibee United. The bear, along with other toys, was donated to Jollibee’s “Maaga ang Pasko.”

Goodbye Teddy, make a kid happy..

After that, I had lunch and I got gifts to be brought to our district gift giving of the Rotaract Clubs of District 3820. And where is my destination? Lucena, QUEZON!

On my way to Lucena.

So there. At 12 noon, I was at the bus in Alabang and I even had the chance to watch the Jose Manalo parody of Willie in Eat Bulaga. That was really funny. I asked the conductor of the bus, about the number of travel hours, and he said four hours! Huwat??

The call time for the gift giving was 1 p.m. Gosh, will I ever get there?

I have waited in the bus. After two Jason Statham movies, which were good by the way, I finally reached Lucena at 4:30 p.m. I have to ride a jeepney and a tricycle going to the Dalahican Fish port. (Hong layo!) I arrived at the location around 5 p.m.

It was raining kinda hard in Lucena.

Define five hours of travel gosh! After five hours, I finally reached the Dalahican port. The gift giving was over but my gifts are still good for the kids there because they told me that other kids were not given gifts. I also paid for the club contribution for the shirts and slippers that were given to the kids too. Special thanks to IPDRR Roy Casipit and DRR Jaypee Ursua of RID 3820.

with District Rotaract Representative Jaypee.

And I didn’t stay there for long. I took a picture of SM Lucena. I was waiting for the bus that time.

SM City Lucena

I planned to ride a bus going to Alabang. But there’s something else. I want to go to the Saranggola Blog Awards. So I rode a bus going to Cubao instead. The bus stopped at Sariaya and I ate my dinner there. It was 7:00 p.m. This is a do or die.

Adobo at Sariaya Quezon

After two movies again, and four hours of travel. I finally got to Mandaluyong City at Tivoli Gaardens Residences for the Saranggola Blog Awards 2011. It was almost 11:oo p.m. I made it!

Me at the SBA.

I was able to meet other bloggers that I admire and others whom I just met. I was really star struck that time. I didn’t know that the SBA would be overwhelming for a newbie like me. I haven’t felt the tiredness of the whole day travel I took. I guess I’m just glad that I was there.

Sarangola Blog Awards. Image from John Michael's Fb account. www.kumagcow.com

I arrived home at 3 a.m. Kinda late, but the day was meaningful and fun packed for me. I thank God for a wonderful day.

A “Step-up” Day

One Saturday afternoon, me and my other co-Rotaractors went to Paradise Day Care in San Pedro. We conducted the “Step-Up” Project in which we donated slippers to the children who live in the former dumpsite.

With the slippers and food, we rode in two tricycles going there. It cost us almost a hundred pesos. So it’s kinda far from the civilization. And look at the road that we crossed…

The view of the road from the tricycle I'm riding.

So as we got off at the gate, we have to walk a little longer and face the challenges that the mud has spared on us. It has rained for several days, and going there is not that easy. A 15-minute walk is on the way.

Daan number 1: trails with banana trees.

Daan number 2: Carl tries to get to the other side of the "mudway"

Daan number 3

Daan number 4

It’s like a different challenge, and we’re taking it level by level. And when we got there, I looked at my new rubber shoes. It’s now embellished with mud! I didn’t care much about it anyway. I can just wash my shoes.

My new rubber shoes.

I am glad I didn't slip in the mud. >_<

One of the things that community service has made me realize is how lucky I am. This time, making me realize that I have my own shoes and slippers at home, and these kids don’t have any.

The Paradise Day Care is a day care center located in an isolated small village in Barangay San Vicente, San Pedro, Laguna. (You saw how isolated it was.)

The children at the Paradise Day Care.

So we started giving the slippers and let them chose which fits them and what they like.

Me and Jho guiding the kids in choosing their slippers.

Deza aiding this little guy.

This is one pair of cute slippers, angry bird-leaf style!

Who says we can only see this in Rated K?

And now, they have new sets of slippers. I know their slippers wouldn’t last as much as we expect. But I know that this will be a big help for feet protection as they walk in the village.

The kids with their new sets of slippers!

On our way back, we had fun in crossing the mud as most of us are “madaldal” by nature.

On our way back.

Carl, Grace, Juan, Jhoane, Chard and Deza.

It has been a long journey going there and back, but I would describe it as a worthwhile experience. The deeds may be simple but we know that we left the children with smile on their faces, and that goes the same for us. I thank God for the wonderful day.

(The STEP-UP project is a project of the Rotaract Club of San Pedro East and RC San Pedro East.)

Palawan Trip: “Gusto ko lang, Mag-beach”

After my first time to ride an airplane (My First Airplane Ride), it was also my first time to visit the wonderful place of Palawan.

And these are my friends who were with me.

Kim and Virgel, yeee ♥ Tophe, the chubby, and his cousin Ariane who toured us in Palawan.

Just as we arrived, I asked Ariane, if there’s a beach there. All I kept on saying was “My beach ba dito?”, “Makakapag beach ba tayo?”,”Okay lang, basta makapag-beach tayo..” I was like a pirated cd player. >_<  I really want to dip my body in the waters surrounding the island.

So.. did I get to the beach?

Palawan “Bukid kung bukid”

After our arrival, we went straight to a farm and a prison. (Yes! But of a different kind)

While we were riding a van, I felt the air, it’s different from the air that I feel everyday. It’s kinda cold and I know it’s clean. It gave me a very nice feeling. Not mentioning the ambiance of the place, very “barrio” and provincial. It’s like as almost the description of the stories of Manuel Arguilla. (Kung baga, define “bukid.”)

Princess, Kimi, Virgel, Tophe, Me and the farms of Puerto Princesa.

Look at it, isn't it majestic?

I took the shot that afternoon. My eyes missed this.

Crocodile Farm and Iwahig Prison

At the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center.

We also stopped at the Crocodile farm. Of course, we saw a lot of crockies!

The farm had a lot of crockies! Small, medium, large, super large! But Lolong was not there.

Kimi was able to hold and carry this animal, and I can't! >_< (Duwag daw ako)

We also visited the Iwahig Prison. I just said a lot of “wows” because this sure is a different prison.

At the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm. (Gosh, am I really that small?)

The inmates there are free to roam around the compound. And it doesn’t look like a normal one with steel bars or something. Very peaceful for me.

Ariane said that this building is the oldest of all of the houses inside the compound.

After the short trip, we ate at the house of Tophe’s cousins and uncle. We ate rice and this, crabs!

We ate this. So hard to crack the shell, but delicious!

High in cholesterol but very delicious. I’m just glad that I don’t need to worry when I ate a lot of those.

Old school poso.. yeah!

On the second day, my friends were excited to see the underground river. I said, okay, “pero gusto ko pa rin mag-beach”    (I was not so interested with the underground river that moment.)

But they said that since we were there, we have to see the place. It’s like a non sense Palawan trip if we didn’t go there.

Underground River

Yeah? You were saying something?

The next day, we woke up early to get to the terminal going to Sabang. It’s a long two hour drive, but I was not bored because of the things that I saw during the travel. I even talked to the foreigner couple sitting beside me in the van.

Hello Sabang Puerto Princesa!

After two hours, I was kinda excited to see the said one of the just declared “New seven wonders.” Voting period ended Friday and it was announced Saturday night. And we were there after that happened!

So according to the map, we are at the left side, and we have to ride a boat going to the right side. hehe.

On our way to the underground river cave.

Welcome to the Puerto Princesa Subteerraanean Underground River! Whew! Kahaba..

So you still have to treck.. and wait to see the majestic view of the cave.

Wow, we made it!

This was taken using Tophe's cellphone camera.

He looks serious but he's really funny during the tour inside the cave. Makes the tour inside even more enjoyable.

Inside the cave, we saw a lot of rock formations. We were riding with an interesting and funny boatman.

After the trip to the river, it was a two hour drive again back to the city of Puerto Princesa. We arrived at 4:00 p.m. I almost lost my hopes of going to the beach. But then they said,”Sige, may time pa naman.”

And so… I got to the beach! (Parang ako na lang ang naging dahilan. >_<) Thank you, thank you!

I made it to the beach!

Yehey! ♥

I love Palawan. ♥

I will surely be going back to Palawan. I had a really nice trip. Thanks to my friends who were with me, and Ariane, for being a wonderful companion. ♥

TABA 2011~ I Nominate..

TABA 2011

The Annual ‘Kalsada’ Blog Awards or simply The TABA 2011, by its creator Zyra, is now on its 2nd year. And I am supporting it by posting my nominations.

After a year in blogging, I have met a lot of bloggers whom I look up to and admire, and even if this is just a simple thing to do, I am heartfully nominating them in return for letting me read wonderful posts.

I hereby nominate the following bloggers for the The Annual “Kalsada” Blog Awards 2011. ^_^

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Bino of Damuhan ~ After three years, I think he deserves to be nominated. I haven’t known of other “institusyon nang bloggers” aside from him.

Best Filipino Blogger of the Year:

Anthony Carlo of Ang Mga Kuwento sa Buhay ng Supladong Office Boy ~ I like the way he narrates with matching natural sense of humor.

Otep of Libre Lang Mangarap ~ We know why.

Goyo of Goyo’s Adventures ~ Even without much pictures, I’ll read his post up to the end and be amazed with his wits.

Best English Blogger of the Year:

Leah of Iam Super Leah ~ She can express herself very well.

R18 Blogger of the Year:

Kwatro Khanto (ahihi.. Sorry poh..)

Pinaka-Bibong Blogger of the Year:

Jason of Jezonhamster ~ He never fails to make everybody smile.

Pinaka-Teking Blogger of the Year:

Kuya Bon of Taragis ~ The latest gadgets and posts about it? He’s got it.

Pinaka-Gwapong Blogger of the Year:

Xander of A Boy Named Xander ~ Very cool and has interesting posts.

Pinaka-Fashonistang Blogger of the Year:

Mei of Meichagas.com ~ Girl, this one’s for you.

Pinaka-Galanteng Blogger of the Year:

Bernard of Tagni-Tagning Ideya ad SBA. (Human instinct.. >_<)

Most Active Blogger of the Year (Blog Category)

Bino of Damuhan

Leah of I Am Super Leah.

There you go. I hope you could visit their sites too. Just click the links. Have a nice day.

Girl Bonding at Star City

It was a holiday. My friend Jhoanne had the idea of going to Star City. (I thought she was just kiddin’!)

I thought we’ll just stroll in the mall or buy something, but she’s one serious lady.

When we arrived at Manila, it was 12 noon and the place doesn’t open until 2 p.m. So we strolled for a while, bought coffee at Starbucks and ate at Yellow Cab. Wow! (Sosyalin kunwari.. >_<)

A nice seaside view with matching delicious coffee..

Yellow Cab pizza and an order of Charlie Chan pasta.. Hmm.. Delicious!

After eating, we went to the wash room. I used the faucet but it was not working. Of course, I wouldn’t expect that place without a faucet not functioning. Then I saw this handle below the sink, and we saw a sign right in front of us that we didn’t notice at first.

I didn't see this one! (Nanunuklaw ka ha??)

AHHH.. So that's how it works! >_<

Well, after that serious incident, we walked to Star City and bought tickets. I had been to Star City once, when it was far from what it looks like now. Now, it looks like a mall and you can go there even if it’s raining.

Ride all we can!

Jho told me that we’re going to walk a lot and I was wearing my heeled-sandals. So I bought a pair of slippers. There were lots of nice stores there. I mean, they had a lot to offer! Slippers, souvenirs, stuffed toys, key chains, dresses.. they’re colorful!

I bought a pair of slippers.

When she saw this ride Viking, she hurriedly asked me to ride it. It was like the Anchor’s Away of Enchanted Kingdom. Anyway, I sat at the middle. >_<  She pulled me and said we should sit at the end row.

My golly! I’m not used to riding and deciding right away. I’m not prepared! haha!

Anyway, after that, I was able to get into more complicated rides. Thanks to the Viking warm up.

It's not my first time..! hehe

We tried this ride, it hurt my neck!

At Snow World. We were just wearing shorts and slippers. It's darn cold!

I was looking at the Star Flyer here. I thought I can't ride it, but I did!

At Pirate Adventure. They had interesting exhibit inside, but I felt dizzy after because of the rotating boat.

And we bought these Minnie Mouse headbands. Aren't we cute?

I had a great time that day. I was happy that the weather was with us. Thanks Jho for the happy experience. (And for the pics too, you see I had no camera that day.)  Thank God for a wonderful day. ♥

I Support Otep of “Libre Lang Mangarap”

I vote for “Libre Lang Mangarap” for the 2011 Philippine Blog Awards Blogger’s Choice.

Libre Lang Mangarap

Dreams, aspirations, ambitions… whatever you call it, each of us has one, or probably more. I do believe that the best things in life are free. And for my friend Otep, he juts these  down and weaves them into accounts of stories that he shares to his readers.

And I have become one reader of his blog, and eventually, his friend. He’s like giving the feeling that it is indeed free to dream!

To my co-U-blogger, good luck to you. (I hope to see you in person. hehe >_<)