Yearender: It Comes and She Goes

"Even though I took a step back from things that the metropolitan world would describe as success, I could say that it is one of the best years of my life. It is the year when I discovered my love for the mountains, my affection for the waters and most importantly, my passion for traveling." - Paulakwatsera in Baler, December 2013 

My first job (2009 - 2010) allowed me to become a Mabuhay Miles elite member and be up in the air almost every week but even though I constantly travel during that time, I had the littlest appreciation of the places that I'd been to. Going back home is the first thing that I have in mind the moment I set foot on a new place back then. 

But 2013 is the year when I have discovered a comfort in dislocation. This is the year when I started to enjoy traveling solo, the year when I conquered my first summit, the year when I fell in and out of love in a week, the year when I almost died doing the thing that I love, the year that I experienced my highest highs and my lowest lows, and the year when I developed my love for travel blogging. 

Baler: Coming of Age and Uncovering That Secret Spot

I had planned to be somewhere extra special in celebration of that day when my parents screwed up their lives. I was thinking Batanes or Bali in Indonesia just so I could have bragging rights of being somewhere significant on my day. But just like most of my travels, out of no cognitive reason I ended up in a place east of Nueva Ecija.

If you do not already know, Baler is best known for surfing. I am no surfer nor am I a swimmer, and my surfing stint in La Union was probably out of pure luck or weak waves so there is no real reason why I choose to be here for my birthday. But I guess it is the mindless decisions that always lead me to the most blissful moments.

My First Not-So-Couchsurfing Experience

Couchsurfing

A global community of 7 million people in more than 100,000 cities who share their life, their world, their journey. Couchsurfing connects travelers with a global network of people willing to share in profound and meaningful ways, making travel a truly social experience.
With Couchsurfing, you can stay with locals in every country on earth. Travel like a local, stay in someone’s home and experience the world in a way money can’t buy.

I first heard of this website while researching an itinerary for the South Korea trip. I came across the blog Chronicles of Marianne and I've read about the author's couchsurfing experience in Korea. I thought it was interesting to get free accommodation whilst getting to experience a place on a local's perspective, safely away from the tourist traps.

I immediately signed up and was surprised with how massive the Couchsurfing community is in the Philippines. It turned me off a bit though because most of the meet ups in Manila are in a bar on a Thursday. Being that geeky introverted person that I am, I knew for a fact that it is not my kind of crowd.

The Cordilleras: Seeking Serenity in the Clouds

All this time I thought I was traveling to find myself, I didn't realize that I am just using it as an excuse to escape who I really am.  
It is not always about meeting truckloads of new people and ticking off a new destination out of your list every week. Sometimes living life to the fullest means appreciating the relationships that you already have, bringing joy to whichever place you are always in and being thankful for that awesome person that you already are.

The Cordillera Series
The Cordilleras: Baguio - Sagada - Banaue - Batad Itinerary, Expenses and Travel Tips
The Cordilleras: Seeking Serenity in the Clouds

The Cordilleras: Baguio - Sagada - Banaue - Batad Itinerary, Expenses and Travel Tips

DAY 1 - 11/14	Time	Price (Php)
ETD Manila via Victory Liner Caloocan	9:00 AM	450
ETA Baguio, take a taxi to AJ's Pension House	3:30 PM	50
Check in at AJ's Pension House	4:00 PM	1100 / 3 pax
Walk around Baguio City	5:00 PM
Dinner at Ganza Restaurant in Burnham Park	7:00 PM	700 / 3 pax
Walk around Baguio City some more and appreciate the night lights	8:00 PM
Back to AJ's Pension House, Lights out	9:30 PM

AJ's Pension House

10 Things To Do in South Korea

If you think watching Korean dramas all day everyday is enough to get to know the land of fermented cabbage and epicanthal folds,  I must tell you that are wrong. There is more to South Korea than kimchi, BB creams, insanely unblemished pale people and KPOP.

Below are the list of the things I did to get to know South Korea and eventually fall in adoration with this amazing country.

1. Visit Jeju Island.
Jejudo a.k.a. Jeju is one of the most magical place I have ever been to. No trip to South Korea is complete without a stop at Jeju. If I am going to visit Korea again, I will skip Seoul and head straight to this breathtaking place. The following are the must visit places in Jeju. 

Jusangjeolli Cliff

Itinerary for Seven Days and Six Nights in South Korea

First things first, Filipinos need a visa to visit South Korea. Below are the requirements to get a tourist visa:

1. Application form
2. Passport (should be valid for not less than 6 months)
3. Photocopy of the 1st page of the passport
4. Passport size photo
5. Photocopy of ITR
6. Certificate of Employment
7. Bank Certificate (you should have at least Php 50,000 in your bank account)
 
Note: 
- Visa processing is free.
- Visa will be released 7 days after the requirements were completed and submitted.
- Make sure that the email address on your certificate of employment from the company you work for will not be changed soon because the Korean embassy will do a background check and will require them to reply. In my case, it took me almost a month to get my tourist visa because the HR personnel put in a soon to be phased out email address on my certificate of employment. PFT.
-South Koreans DON'T NEED a visa to visit the Philippines. UNFAIR!!

We booked our flight to Korea last June via Zest Air/Air Asia, fare is Php 5,000. As compared to the promo fares in Cebu Pacific, this is more expensive but at least I only have to wait 3 months and the best part is that there is free food during the flight. :)

My Favorite Place in South Korea

“Don't you think it's better to be extremely happy for a short while, even if you lose it, than to be just okay for your whole life?”

― Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife

Aside from Girls Generation, there was nothing about South Korea that I liked. I am not fond of watching Korean dramas and I think Koreans in the Philippines are rude, loud, and annoying. I actually can't remember the reason why I agreed to book a flight to Incheon last June, probably just out of pure fandom of Chyng Reyes. 

Then a month after, a fateful day came and I met the most amazing guy in El Nido who happened to be Korean. I fell in love with him but he eventually broke my heart so it just made things worst between me and the land of BB creams.

Mt. Cristobal: In Limbo at the Devil's Mountain

WARNING: This is a very Dashboard Confessional post. If you are looking for hike tips to Mt. Cristobal please stop reading and click HERE.

This is probably the first time I ever traveled without doing much research. I just followed the itinerary that Kirk of Kirk Anatomy laid out. Maybe it is the travel fatigue and therefore I thought a mountain, just like it always does, could change my current mindset. After all, Mt. Cristobal is also called the Devil's mountain being that it is beside the holy mountain, Mt. Banahaw, so I expected a faith-changing experience.
 
As compared to Mt. Maculot and Pico de Loro, this is the most exhausting. The ascent is a constant assault but even so, I tried to keep up with our veteran guide, Tatay Jaime (the uncle of the Mt. Cristobal guide kuya Lucio - 09993903350). I distanced myself from the other 3 people I am with and opted to stay closer to him and talk to him instead. Partly because I wanted to get to know a local and to challenge my endurance to keep up with his pace, and mostly because my antisocial juices are overflowing that day.

With Tatay Jaime

Urbiztondo: On Wiping Out, Riding In and Running Away

 

I want something else, something more. I want to go and never go back. Because bite size travels don't suffice my hunger anymore. Because I know I should be somewhere else but here.

Dayhike Haywire: I Shouldn't Be Alive Experience

Reading back on my blog post about my first climb:

180 by Mount Maculot. I guess mountaineers will find the saying "Do not change the mountains, let the mountains change you." such a cliche but it is exactly what Mt. Maculot did to me. It challenged me, it dared my limits and most importantly, it humbled me. 

If Mt. Maculot gave me a 180, Pico de Loro gave me a roller coaster ride.  It took me to my highest highs and my lowest lows. This is an experience I would, and should, never forget.

As far as I could remember, it all started when I felt like someone is following us. I somehow saw a light of a cellphone at the corner of my eye and I thought that someone hidden in the woods is planning on capturing us and making us the main characters in an award winning suspense thriller movie. 
At that moment I asked my friend if someone back home knows where he is, he said no. This got me a little worried because no one knows I am at Pico de Loro either. We have one friend that we invited to go with us but we told her that this trip wouldn't push through because she is not able to join us. I ignored that feeling and we continued traversing the trail. After all, we already passed by the base station and we are an hour away from safety, or so we thought. We talked and talked and talked until the time we realized that we are not seeing trail marks anymore. We saw a couple of hints that we are on the wrong direction such as a water buffalo that is blocking the way and is staring at us, but we ignored it.

Dayhike Haywire: Mt. Palay-Palay/Pico de Loro The Descent

While on our way back to the summit and the campsite, the view of the coastline and Mt. Palaypalay are still very visible. We do not want to go down, I mean who would with these view in sight.

Dayhike Haywire: Mt. Palay-Palay/Pico de Loro The Ascent

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go."
-- T.S. Eliot

I intended to stay home until my foray to South Korea in September to conserve money and energy. But I just can't say no to an opportunity for a great adventure simply because I know how bad it feels to be filled with excitement and later on be turned down by your friends when all is set, so I halfheartedly agreed to do a day hike in Pico de Loro. Thank goodness I agreed because on the eve of the climb, life gave me a blunt dose of reality and left my pride and heart broken so I am in dire need of an adrenalin rush to revive shattered self.

Solo in El Nido: Romancing Nature in a Honeymooner's Paradise

Sometimes we get lost, sometimes we find love.

Read title again: Solo in El Nido: Romancing Nature in a Honeymooner's Paradise. I came up with this line a week before my flight to Palawan. It is because this is how I envision my trip will be like. Sitting alone in the beach staring at the horizon in the midst of couples holding hands while walking by the sea shore.

I arrived in Puerto Prinsesa morning of June 26 without any expectation. All I wanted was to meet a few interesting people and to have a new destination to write about. I never thought that in this trip, I will turn out to be not so alone.

Solo in El Nido: Things To Do

I am not adventurous when I am alone so this list is not out of the ordinary. Just a number of things I did/should have done in El Nido with my own opinion on how I can do them better next time.


1. Island Hopping

This is a no-brainer since it is what this place is famous for. 45 out of the 7,107 islands in the Philippines can be found in El Nido. People from all over the world travel thousands of miles just to swim in its waters.
Unlike the other island hopping destinations I've been to like Pangasinan, Sorsogon and Boracay, island hopping in El Nido will require you to choose from Tours A, B, C or D. Every corner of El Nido town has a travel company that offer these tours. 
If you are alone, you do not have to worry because they are going to be the one to create a group for the tours. If you are on a limited time and budget, there are combinations tours A-C and B-D. If you are on a group, you could also rent your own boat and choose your own island adventure. 
The most popular tour is Tour A-C and being the mediocre traveler that I am, it is what I choose. Although in my opinion, Tour A-C is too fast paced as you only get to stay at every beach for 30 minutes so you don't really get to enjoy each one. Combination tours is good if you are just after taking a lot of good pictures to show off but if you want to relax, swim and appreciate nature, doing tours A, B, C and D separately would be ideal. Or better yet, rent a kayak and explore.

7 Commandos Beach

Solo in El Nido: 4 Day Itinerary and Expenses with Solo Survival Tips

In as much as I would like to be the outdoorsy adventurous person that I seem to be, I value the importance of clean toilets and so I am back to chasing white sand beaches and get-more-than-what-you-pay-for accommodations. 

I can't remember when and why I booked a flight to Puerto Prinsesa. What I recall is that El Nido is what I have in mind while completing the online booking. I do realize that El Nido is known for being one of the top destination for honeymooners and anniversary-celebrating couples, so I thought it will be interesting to go there alone, and because of that my second self induced solo trip was confirmed. (My first solo trip)

I wouldn't say that I enjoy traveling alone more than traveling with someone. I think that traveling with friends is more fun but being alone while in the road is something that I like to put myself into once in a while to put my wanderlust alter ego to test. Also, dragging and begging friends to come with you to your dream destination is frustrating and tiring.

So I found myself lost in a place where there is an influx of tourists with pointy noses, blonde hair and blue/green eyes. Being a Filipino traveler, at times I felt out of place. I actually never got to know a fellow Filipino that is having a vacation in El Nido. Most of the friends I met are locals and friendly folks from another country but even if I have to speak English 80% of the time, I did have a good time.

Mount Maculot: A Beginner's Insight on Mountain Climbing

My First Climb

Beaches are for pussies. 
I never realized what that phrase really meant until today. When I sort of organized a Mount Maculot day hike with my officemates, all I was expecting was a good cardio activity. Sure, I could run a whole 5km without stopping, I do Yoga, Pilates and, at times, Zumba so climbing a "beginners" mountain should be an easy thing for me. Right? Wrong. There is so much more to mountain climbing than breaking a sweat.

Ignis

Unang sulyap pa lang ay batid ko na

Ikaw ang papawi sa lamig at pangungulila

Kaya sana'y tupdin yaring pagsusumamo

Nitong nagyeyelo kong pagkatao at puso

Sa init mong taglay ako ay nahalina

Ang nais kong liwanag sayo'y natamasa

Sa taglay mong lagablab ako'y nasasabik

Kahit pa ako'y mapaso, sayo ako'y magbabalik

~and on that note, I shall now end this obsession with le gorgeous neighbor.

Luna

Kulay dilaw

Abot langit ang tingin

Iihip ang hangin

Saka ako’y mapupuwing

Lalabas ang luha

Hindi sinasadya

Kay lawak

Kay ganda

Hindi na mapipikit

At saka tatangis

Ngayon ko lang

Nasilayan ng ganyan

Waring may sinasabi

Siya ba o ang tibok mo?

Ayoko ng ganito.

Ang itim na tahimik

Kay lungkot tulad ng dati

Walang katabi

Wala ang mga bituin

Pumapaimbabaw,malungkot pa rin

Goodbye Philippines

"Answer with what you see, not with what you hear." 

Yan ang tip samin ng instructor nung isang araw na umattend ako ng klase sa Niners, isang review center para sa exam sa IELTS o International English Language Testing Sytem. Ito ang exam na kinukuha ng mga taong gusto mangibang bansa. Karamihang ng mga immigration agencies ay pagpasa sa IELTS exam ang unang requirement para masimulan ang pagproseso sa pagganda ng buhay mo.

Sa loob ng klaseng iyon ay kasama ko ang may humigit kumulang sa 100 taong nagnanais na iwan na ang Pilipinas at iwaksi ang kanilang pagkaPilipino. Mga taong iiwan ang kanilang inang bayan para pagsilbihan at ialay ang kanilang dunong at propesyon sa isang banyagang bansa. Masisisi ko ba sila? 

Soaked in Sorsogon Day 3: Paguriran Island

Soaked in Sorsogon Day 1: Bulusan and Irosin

Soaked in Sorsogon Day 2: The Beaches of Matnog
Soaked in Sorsogon Day 3: Paguriran Island
Side Trip: Camarines Sur Water sports Complex

We were dropped off the signage of Paguriran Island beach resort. It is at the left side of the road. One thing to note is that Paguriran Island is a small Island that you could reach from the mainland via foot since the water in between is very shallow. 

That small island is Paguriran Island

If you plan on staying overnight, there are three resorts in front of Paguriran Island that you could choose from. This is quite confusing because they don't have different names. All 3 resorts share the name "Paguriran Island Resort". Probably because the three owners are relatives however they are not in good terms. Each has something bad to say about the other. It is sad because I think this family feud is whats hindering the development of this place to its full potential. 

Soaked in Sorsogon Day 2: The Beaches of Matnog

Soaked in Sorsogon Day 1: Bulusan and Irosin
Soaked in Sorsogon Day 2: The Beaches of Matnog
Soaked in Sorsogon Day 3: Paguriran Island
Side Trip: Camarines Sur Water sports Complex

April 21, 2013

After 8 hours of sleep in Mateo's Hot and Cold Spring Resort in Irosin, we woke up at 5 AM. Even if our room is non air conditioned, we were able to get a good night's sleep. Our favorite tricycle driver, Kuya Jovan, picked us up at exactly 6 AM to drop us off the Irosin Centro where the buses and jeeps bound to Matnog pick up passengers. We were told by the other tricycle drivers that jeep and buses doesn't arrive until 7 AM, our itinerary for the Day 2 of our Sorsogon Adventure requires us to be in Matnog to meet our boatman before 7 AM so we decided to have kuya Jovan take us to Matnog for Php 300. Judging by it's distance, Php 300 is a reasonable price. Travel time from Irosin to Matnog is 30 minutes.

Upon arriving at the Matnog port, boatmen approached us offering their boats for Php 2,000. It is a good thing that Lakwatsera de Primavera suggested a person named Eddie Evasco (0926-1404577). We contacted him a day before and he offered us his boat for only Php 1,300. Tatay Eddie is a Kagawad and once we told the flock of boatmen surrounding us that we are already in contact with Mang Eddie, they immediately stopped bugging us.

Matnog Port, just 2 hours away from Samar

Soaked in Sorsogon Day 1: Bulusan and Irosin

Soaked in Sorsogon Day 1: Bulusan and Irosin
Soaked in Sorsogon Day 2: The Beaches of Matnog
Soaked in Sorsogon Day 3: Paguriran Island
Side Trip: Camarines Sur Water sports Complex

April 19, Friday, in a bus along EDSA, 6:30 PM.  

'Twas a reminder of why I would never consider working for a company that would require me to pass by EDSA. Coming from Alabang, I've been stuck in traffic for more than two hours and I am still three MRT stations away from Cubao. 

And after what felt like a thousand curses, I finally arrived at Araneta Center. As what I've said, I am not an EDSA-type of person so I don't know where the Bicol bound bus stations are. I asked a couple of sidewalk vendors, and even they do not know where it is. WTF. I felt like they are playing some scheme on me, no one seems to want to help and they would just blankly stare at me and then look at each other. 

Oh, Metro Manila. Your polluted air had affected the minds of the people that inhabits you. Thankfully, in a few hours I will be free from you and I will be once again reunited with fresh-air-breathing genuine people and their warm smiles. This is one of the reason why I travel, to remind myself that there is more to this country than the insurmountable amount of shit, literally and figuratively, in the Metro.  

The Bicol bound bus stations are just along the south bound lane of EDSA, near the Cubao MRT station. At 7:00 PM, we still don't have a bus ticket for our Southern Luzon escapade. The popular bus companies: Penafracia, Isarog and DLTB are all fully booked. Me and my travel buddies thought our Bicol trip will be doomed until we came across the Piltranco Bus Terminal. 

The bus conductor of Amihan Bus Lines told us that they still have plenty of seats for the bus bound to Legazpi and that the one that we will be riding is an express bus with only one stop after 5 hours. We thought we were so lucky to find this bus by chance until we were halfway along the trip. It isn't an express trip. It stopped in Makati, in Alabang, in Turbina, in Quezon, in Daet, in Naga, and in every person needing a ride in Legazpi. It took us more than 13 hours to get to Legazpi. I am not complaining though, I still think the two hours bus ride along EDSA is much worse than the 13 hours shakey ride to Legazpi.

Outbreak BGC 2

A zombie infested run in a yuppie infested place like BGC, you already know that it's not going to be as realistic as Outbreak Enchanted Kingdom. 

I've been skeptical ever since they announced that the fifth outbreak (1 - Nuvali, 2 - BGC, 3 - EK, 4 - Cebu) will be in BGC again. I read reviews on the first zombie run in BGC and it wasn't good. But as a birthday gift to my persistent cousin, I agreed to register us to this fun run. 

This is our second time to join this event. The first one was in Outbreak Enchanted Kingdom on October 31, 2012 when I went as Nyan Cat. Halloween, Zombie run, inside a carnival with only Zombies inside, it is the perfect setting to psyche the runners. It is a huge success and it is really hard to top it off.

The Script Live in Manila

Not too long ago The Man Who Can't be Moved was the only The Script song that I know. It is also because of this song and it's popularity that caused me to think that The Script is just another overrated band. 

Ever since my friends heard that this band is going to come back and have their second concert here in Manila on March 31, 2013, they've been restless. We bought our tickets 4 months before the concert because they are too paranoid that the tickets will ran out fast like the band's first sold out concert in 2012. Truth is I was wondering why my friends are too crazy about this band. 

That is until that faithful Sunday, I just finished listening to Greenday's Awesome as Fuck Full Concert in Japan and I still have 3 hours left on my work shift. Out of nowhere, I decided to search for a full concert by The Script in youtube so I'd know what to expect on their much hyped 2013 Manila comeback, and after I clicked that first The Script video, I was hooked.

Para sa Lalakeng Umaapoy ang Talampakan

Kung hindi ka lalake at kung hindi umaapoy ang talampakan mo, wag mo ng basahin ito dahil masasayang lang ang oras mo na sanay nagamit mo para pagyamanin ang kaalaman mo gamit ang internet.

Pero kung ikaw yung lalakeng umaapoy ang talampakan, para sa'yo ito. Alam kong hindi ka naman mahilig magbasa kaya hindi mo ito babasahin ng buo at pupunta ka na agad sa ending. Pero please lang basahin mo lahat.

Mag-isa sa Magalawa Day 2

Mag-isa sa Magalawa Island Day 1

My alarm woke me up at 5:30am. I looked outside the window and saw that it is still dark. Despite 9 hours sleep, I am still very sleepy so I snoozed until it was 6am. After seeing a bleak light in the horizon, I decided to get out of bed and wait for the sun to grace my presence.

Breaking Dawn

Mag-isa sa Magalawa Day 1

Mag-isa sa Magalawa Day 2

I have traveled alone often enough to know that it is not for me. Because of my previous job as a field engineer.. errr, technician, I've been to Rosary Heights, Mulanay, Narvacan and Guihulngan all by myself. And I hated all of those trips wherein I have to go solo. To think that I am an introvert which means I have this constant need to be alone which should also mean that going solo should be my preferred type of traveling, right? No. I hate having to talk to new people, I hate being vulnerable, I hate not having my own private space, I hate having to ask for directions, I hate being ridiculed by the locals, I hate dirty restrooms but.. I love traveling. And that love is enough to give me courage.

Horns Up

Noong isang araw ay umattend ako sa Investor's Forum ng PhilEquity. Sa totoo lang, wala akong account sa PhilEquity o Wealth Securities at kaya lang ako nakaattend ay dahil sa isang kaibigan kong nagtatrabaho sa PhilEquity.

Ang event na ito ay ginanap sa Auditorium ng Philippine Stock Exchange at ang mga talagang invited lang ay yung top 200 investors ng PhilEquity. Kaya ayun, puro Intsik na mga nakamamahaling bag at relos at cellphone ang kasama ko. Nakakatawa kasi low battery ang HTC Sensation XE kong cellphone nung araw na yun at ang lumang Nokia 1208 ang gamit ko. Bukod pa dun, nakacasual na damit lang ako. Kumbaga sa isang Hollywood movie, para akong African American sa isang White Party. 

Sa mga nakakakilala sa akin at alam kung gaano ako ka-mahiyain ay alam na ang normal na magiging reaksyon ko ay umuwi na lang imbis na isiksik ang sarili ko sa isang kaganapang hindi nababagay sa akin at nagpapalapot ng aking laway. Pero nung araw na yun ay parang sinapian ako ng kakaibang kapal ng muka. Umupo ako sa tabi ng mag-asawang Intsik na nakaLouis Vuitton at Iphone5 na nasa pangatlong row mula sa stage. Keribels. 

Isinuot ko ang salamin ko para makita ko ng maigi ang nagsasalita sa harapan at kinalimutan ko ang lahat maliban sa isa, ang aking pagnanais na matuto.

Marami nga akong natutunan. Isa na dun ay ang mga mayayaman talaga ang nagpapatakbo sa mundo. At kahit ilang People Power pa ang gawin natin para patalsikin ang mga corrupt na opisyales ng gobyerno para mabawasan ang kahirapan, hindi sila ang tunay na kalaban.  

Sa discussion ay sinabing nakatulong daw sa ekonomiya natin ang eVAT at ang pagpaprivatize ng mga ibang kumpanya ng gobyerno at pati na rin yung pagsasabatas ng Oil Deregulation Law. Lahat ng ito kung unang titignan ay kontra mahirap pero itong baboy na nakakurbata sa harap ko ay sinasabing maganda daw ito para sa ekonomiya. Maganda para sa mga negosyante. 

Putangina. Ano? Bigla kong naisip na ano kaya kung pagbabarilin ko yung mga tao dito. Naisip ko kung bakit mga inosenteng sibilyan ang pinagdidiskitahan ng mga rebelde. Hoy mga engot! Eto ang tunay na kalaban.

Lumipad ang isip ko ng mga ilang minuto at bumalik ulit ako sa tamang huwisyo. Wala e. Ito na talaga ang sistema. Sadyang bayani nga talaga ang masa. Sila ang sumasalo ng lahat ng mga kagaguhan ng mundo.

Dapat ba akong maging si Bonifacio o si Rizal. Si Bonifacio na iwinaksi ang sistema at lumaban mula sa labas, o si Rizal na pinagaralan ang sistema at winasak ito sa mula sa loob. Sa totoo lang pareho silang namatay kaya kahit ano pa ang piliin ko ay pareho rin lang ang kahahantungan.

Sadyang malakas ang agos na ito para labanan ng isang maliit na isdang tulad ko. 

UP Fair 2013

It is February 15. The day after the mass-retail-made-up-celebration called Valentine's day.

Yesterday, I have been trying to control myself to not post any anti-Valentine status and I succeeded. But residue photos of flowers and chocolates and all those crap in my Facebook news feed today are really testing my bout. 

Oh well, what a better way to celebrate Single Awareness Day than to rock out in UP Fair with my single and fabulous friends.

No, we are not bitter at all. These girls constantly remind me that it is better to be single than to be unhappily attached. That it's better to discuss our dreams of traveling the world than to complain about each other's spouses. I have always thought that single people are just too picky, but I realized that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being extra critical when it comes to choosing someone that you will spend the rest of your life with and give up your dreams for.

And again no, Disney princesses didn't fucked up our expectations about love. It's more of how Joan of Arc, Amelia Earhart, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, Emily Dickinson and Marie Curie showed us what we are capable of. 

Ok, enough of the heavy stuff, here are the fun we had in this year's UP Fair.

The Abot-kayang Ticket

Rock Climbing, Deadly Roller Coaster, Small Circumference Flying Fiesta, Deadlier Octopus 

Leche Flan, Takoyaki, Ihaw-isaw Madness

The Bands

Blogilates

She is Cassey Ho and her social media sites bear the name of Blogilates. I thinks it means Blog + Pilates. She is famous for her Pop Pilates videos. Pop Pilates meaning she base her Pilates/Cardio/HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts on pop songs such as Taylor Swift, One Direction and Maroon Five songs.

Like tons of her other followers, I love her energy, how she motivates you to push yourself to the limits, how she tells you a story during a really hard workout to try to keep your mind off quitting, and how she makes you sweat like a pig while saying you look beautiful.

I first came across her in the virtual world when I was browsing some Yoga videos on Youtube and I randomly clicked on one of her videos. Until then, I was hooked. Her fitness calendar had been the wallpaper on my laptop since September 2012. I have been trying to religiously follow the workouts on her calendar each day for 5 months now. Yes, I've been devoting at least 30 minutes of my everyday life to her if you would like to put it that way.

Before her, I thought I was already fit coz I could do more sit ups than most of my male friends and I could run faster than any of my female friends. I was wrong. After trying her workouts, I  oftentimes find myself out of breath and wanting the 30 seconds side plank to be over. I realized how my balance suck and how weak my arms are.

This is the workout video that made me humble, it showed me I have a long way to go when it comes to fitness and that my biceps and triceps are such pussies. Darn, I really hate side planks! :D

Meanwhile, this is my favorite Pop Pilates video because I observed myself get better in doing this workout upon repetition and perseverance! Before, I have to stop while pulsing in duck squats but now, I could follow the whole video in a breeze.. :)

So there, the reason for this post is because there is not much fitness entry in this blog which is weird because exercising is part of my daily routine.  Just see my desktop post-it below.. :D