Masilungan

Ano pa ba ang silbi ng bawat umaga
Kung sa bawat paggising ay wala ka
Kahit sulyap lang sa iyo ay hindi natatamasa
Siguro ito na nga, tapos na.

Hindi ko na ipipilit kung ito talaga ang nakatakda
Kahit hindi naman talaga ako naniniwala sa tadhana
Kung ito ang makabubuti, hahayaan ko na nga
Na magwakas itong ating pagiibigan na akala nati'y di magsasawa

Pagkat iba na ako, iba ka na, iba na ang tayo
Mga pagkakaibang pareho nating hindi gusto
Marahil hindi natin alam kung paano tayo humantong sa ganito
Ngunit kailangan nating tanggapin ang pareho nating alam, kailangan na nating wakasan ito.      

D-day B-day

I logged in Zuckerberg's kingdom at 12/21/2012 06:00 GMT +8 and that early, it already annoyed me. People counting down to the end of the world. SRSLY. Another reason why I got annoyed though is that I haven't received any birthday greeting on my wall yet. Hehe.

I don't really make a big fuss about my birthday but I decided to make this year different. This year I decided to celebrate it with a small feast with my family. Well yeah, maybe at the back of my head I was thinking that if the world will really end on that day, at least I get to celebrate it with my loved ones. 

Funny how even my family was surprised that I celebrated my birthday with them and they kind of believed that it might really be the end of the world because of it. Well, it is not called Doomsday, its called getting old and appreciating the things you have in your life. 

Come to think of it, it was actually the best birthday I could ever remember. It was definitely better than last year. 12/21/2011, I just took the CCNA Voice exam, opened an account in Citisec Online brokers and renewed my Electronics Engineer license. 

Wow, I just realized that how I celebrate my birthday sort of determine how my year was. 2011 was a busy-productive-career-focused year, thus my 12-21-2011 activities. 2012 was a laid-back-finding-my-happiness year and that is why I decided to be with the most important people in my life. Oh well, too much for talking about my birthday. I am just excited with how 12-21-2013 is going to be like. 

 

 

Brian Viveros

For years, this image had been the wallpaper on my old phone. It's file name is viveros.jpg, a default name from the source I downloaded it from. I don't know why I am fixated to this photo/painting but I like the emotion that is being projected out of it. Conservatives would think that this girl needs help but I dunno, I believe that if she would look at generic people, she would think that we all are slaves of the norms and she would say that we also need help. Well, maybe its just me and my secret rebellious self wanting to be Amy Winehouse.

So I've lost my phone and this image but not my secret self. And today I was browsing through deviantart to find a wallpaper for my new phone when out of the blue I remembered about viveros.jpg. That name didn't mean anything to me before until after I googled Viveros.

Brian is the artist's name, a typical American name or so I thought. After browsing through his incredible works, Brian Viveros became more than a name to me and he might actually be the best Brian I ever came across.
Brian Viveros is the guy who made the image above. And I don't think it is an exaggeration to say that I LOVE all of his works. I am not claiming to be artsy but I think a work of art is great when it makes you feel a certain emotion just by looking at it. And for him to be able to convey that emotion to a generic person like me is amazing. 

I don't feel pity for his bruised female paintings, I feel envious because they are brave enough to say "I don't care what you think", do what they want and get to experience life. Unlike the pitiful generic people in their boring everyday suits. And yes, that is the Winehouse in me talking.

Oh and by the way, this is my home screen wallpaper:

 
I dunno if using his images without him profiting from it is illegal. As for my country, nothing cyber is illegal here.. :)  But I plan on supporting him by buying a Viveros shirt as a birthday and Christmas present for myself.

OMC

Ganito pala yung pakiramdam nun.

Dumb Ways to Die

My Facebook wall has been displaying great amount of drama lately. C'mon, I am trying to nurse a broken heart here. Trying to move on from a break up from an 8 year relationship is not that easy. I often find my slumber loving self, sleepless. 

There are times when I felt afraid that I might not be able to move forward with my life. And on my late night over thinking sessions, I sometimes think that I have lost the reason for my existence. Hence, the trending emotional posts on my profile.

Then a Facebook friend from thousands of miles away took notice and posted this on my wall:

I am in tears due to laughter that I have not had in a while. 

The video features the dumb ways to die but I realized that what I am doing is the dumbest way to die. To let my heart and spirit perish while I am still living. I am young and healthy and I should not be wasting my time in despair. I lost the love of my life, I got hurt, I cried, I changed my relationship status, I hated the world, now it is time for me to move to GREATER THINGS. The greater things that I know I deserve. =)

I bet my friend from North Carolina posted that video on my wall just to give me a good laugh and didn't really meant to tell me the things I realized from the previous paragraph but yeah, I am thankful that I have awesome hipster friends! =)
 

2004

Noong isang araw nanakam ako sa mga kantang sumikat nung 2004. At ang unang kantang naisip ko ay ang Lunes ng Spongecola. Lunes din kasi nung araw na yun. Tapos naalala ko na yung CD pala ng spongecola ang regalo ko sa kanya nung una naming mansari. Tapos dahil Lunes at gusto kong saktan pa lalo ang sarili ko ay pinakinggan ko sa Youtube ng paulit-ulit ang mga kanta sa album na Palabas. Ang ganda ng lyrics ng mga kanta sa album na ito. Hanep. Parang mga tulang sinaliwan ng musika.

Hindi ko na nasubaybayan ang Spongecola matapos nilang maging sobrang sikat, pero hindi ko na sila masyadong naririnig ngayon. Pati na rin ang iba pang mga bandang nagumpisang sumikat noong 2004. Matapos ang walong taon, may mga ilan na nanjan pa rin pero hindi na kasing husay ng mga kanta nila dati yung mga inaawit nila ngayon. Marahil ay tuyo na ang kanilang bukal, ang bukal na unti unting inuubos ng pagkamulat sa buhay, responsibilidad at pagtanda.


Ngunit kahit wala ng mapiga sa dating umaapaw na bukal, ang bukal ay nanjan pa din. Pwedeng balikbalikan upang sariwain ang masayang ningning ng nakaraan.

Pulpul Pulitika

"Kahit saan ka mapunta, kahit maliit o malaking kumpanya, may pulitika. Ang dapat mong matutunan ay kung pano sumakay at makipaglaro sa agos."

Yan ang payong nakuha ko mula sa isang katrabahong kaibigan nung sinabi ko sa kanya na sawa na ako sa Corporate Bullshit. Sa totoo lang hindi ko gusto ang sinabi nya pero batid ko sa isip ko na may katotohanan ito.

Naisip ko, totoo nga ba? Wala na nga bang ibang paraan kundi lunukin ang pulitika. Kaya nga ba ang pangarap ko ay manirahan sa isang bundok sa New Zealand na magisa. Ako ang magtatanim ng sarili kong pagkain, gagawa ng sarili kong bahay, iigib ng sarili kong pampaligo, gagawa ng sarili kong keso, maglililok ng sarili kong sapatos at bahala na ang mundo na maghukay sa sarili kong puntod. Tingin ko mas magiging masaya ako dun.

Nakakasuka na kasi ang ginagawa ng mga tao para lang umangat sila kaysa sa ibang tao. Tunay ngang ang tao ang pinakadelikadong nilalang sa mundo.

Hindi, hindi ako papayag na malunod sa pagpapaalipin. Hindi kailanman. Masyadong mainam ang ipinagkaloob sakin na utak para gawin ko iyon. At ito ang pag-asa ko. Kitakits sa KCON Business Stream!

 

SEx Day 4: The Conclusion

The conclusion? 3 days is not enough to fully experience what SOCSKSARGEN has to offer. We weren't able to go to Tuka Beach in Kiamba, to Gumasa Beach in Glan and to the lavish provincial capitol of Sultan Kudarat. 

Actually after booking our 3 day trip to General Santos back in March, I was worried that there is not much that we could do in this part of the country. Unlike the more popular Bohol or Palawan, I thought SOCSKSARGEN has nothing to offer other than the chance of seeing Manny Pacquiao. I WAS WRONG.

From South Cotabato to Sultan Kudarat to Saranggani to General Santos, all of these places has something remarkably good to offer for tourists. Beautiful place, friendly people and good food are the three things that pretty much summarizes this region for me.

Whether you are looking for a fun filled adventure or a relaxing day at the beach or both, I highly recommend SOCSKSARGEN for you. 

The rest of the SOCSKSARGEN Experience:

SEx The Day Before

SEx Day 1: Lake Sebu Adventure  

SEx Day 2: Bumming in Saranggani

SEx Day 3: White Water Tubing 

SEx Day 3: White Water Tubing

We woke up to another cold morning in SOCSKSARGEN due to the heavy rain. We were worried that the downpour will go on throughout the day and that we will never get the chance to go on White Water Tubing, the climax of our SEx (SOCSKSARGEN Experience). I guess the force above heard our prayers and maybe liked our sun dance routine that the rain cleared just in time for sunrise.

The Sunrise that looks like a Sunset

Breakfast

After breakfast and paying out dues at Lemlunay, we bid this breathtaking place goodbye to head onto the highlight of our vacation. Along the highway just outside the resort, we went aboard a van with a bunch of friendly people bound to Maitum (Php 80 / each).

The travel time from Maasim to Maitum is about an hour but it felt like just 15 minutes because I enjoyed the beautiful sceneries of the mountains, the sea and the fields. We arrived at the crossing and rode a habal-habal to get to New La Union. 

Habal-habal ride to New La Union

Kuya's habal-habal is very pricey, Php 500 for 2 persons round trip. It is worth a taxi ride. Like most people in this part of the country, kuya is very hospitable and also partly because we have no other choice as he is the only habal-habal rider available, we agreed to his price.

This place is called New La Union because the ancestors of the people here are from La Union (the Northern part of the country which is thousands of miles away from Saranggani). This is also the reason why people here speaks Ilocano and not the usual Bisaya.

New La Union

For the price of Php 150 / each we were able to experience White Water Tubing at its best, just right after the rain. Now we know why it was raining earlier that day, so we could have a higher water level and the best rapids! Everything does happen for a reason. :)

Wicked Rapids!

With the Best Guide, Kuya Bans

After a quick shower a.k.a. banlaw, we again got on our expensive habal-habal ride and was dropped off the van terminal that is bound to General Santos (Php 80). We arrived at General Santos, took a tricycle to KCC mall (Php 10) and had our lunch at around 3 PM.

Dessert at KCC Mall

Because Amigotel said that their generators are not working and there is a rotating brownout in GenSan (I appreciate their honesty), we decided to stay in Jovinaj Travellers Inn which is a Php 8 tricycle ride away from KCC mall. We took the De Luxe room (Php 1,150) with hot and cold shower and free wifi.

Jovinaj Travellers Inn

After utilizing their free wifi service, we decided to go out and eat our dinner at Antipolo BBQ Station, an idea I got from Chasing Philippines. It is the best Isaw I have ever tasted, not to mention cheapest. Each BBQ and Isaw stick costs only Php 5. Antipolo BBQ station doesnt have fork and spoon available, so everyone must eat with their bare hands. Something me and my friends enjoyed so much that we probably consumed the most number of bbq and isaw in our entire lives.

Antipolo BBQ Station

BBQ at Isaw

 After consuming 7 sticks of ihaw-ihaw goodness, we walked around and as if we were not full enough, we bought green mango and tuna siomai from the vendors around Gaisano Mall.

Green Mango and Tuna Siomai

In our last night in SOCSKSARGEN, we again took advantage of the good food this region has to offer. We then resigned to our room to once again utilize the fast internet at Jovinaj and to wake up early so as not to be late for our flight back to reality. 

 

The rest of the SOCSKSARGEN Experience:

SEx The Day Before

SEx Day 1: Lake Sebu Adventure

SEx Day 2: Bumming in Saranggani

SEx Day 2: Bumming in Saranggani

A cold morning commenced Day 2 of our SEx (SOCSKSARGEN Experience). From a good night's slumber, we woke up at 5:30 AM and was able to be ready for breakfast by 6:30 AM. Unfortunately it wasn't early enough because we missed the fog in Lake Sebu but it we were still able to get a good view of the sunrise.

Sunrise in Punta Isla

One thing to keep in mind when ordering a meal in Punta Isla is that they take time in preparing the food. Probably to keep it fresh and served hot. Their normal serving time is 30 - 45 minutes, not the usual fastfood waiting time we are used to, so it is best to order it in advance. After a few sighs and follow ups, we were served a sumptuous breakfast.

Steamed Okra and Talong and Chicharong Tilapia

Durian Coffee

After breakfast, we checked out of Punta Isla at around 9 AM and got in a van bound straight to GenSan. Then from GenSan Bulaong Terminal, we took a tricycle (Php 50 / each) to the waiting shed where all the Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum bound jeeps and van are stopping to get passengers. After around 15 minutes of waiting, a jeep (Php 25) bound to Maasim picked us up and dropped us off Lemlunay Beach Resort. It is not hard to locate this resort as it is just along the highway and you'll know you're near once you get the sight of the breathtaking Saranggani Bay.

Pristine Blue Waters

WOW, just wow..

According to my internet research, Lemlunay is a T'boli word which means a good place to go into afterlife. Well it is a beautiful place, quite posh as compared to the nature-ish Punta Isla. We took an ocean view room good for 4 worth Php 2,500. Quite pricey for budget travelers but I must say it is worth it. Spacious room, hot and cold shower, clean towels, and a nice view of the beach from your bed. Not bad at all.
 

The blue water is so tempting, we wasted no time in getting to our swimming clothes and bask in the sun. The Saranggani Bay is not as calm as the snorkeling area in Boracay, thus me and my friend didn't went too far from the safe zone. There is no sea shore or sand here, just a stairway that leads you to the deep waters. There is no guide to watch over us while we were snorkeling and we were not brave enough to swim around so we weren't able to see the other corals but the fishes we saw are beautiful. The best I have seen actually, better than the ones in Boracay. We even saw two beautiful fishes flirting. Too bad we didn't have an underwater camera to capture their love affair which hopefully is not a secret. :D

Snorkeling at Saranggani Bay

After getting tired of fighting the waves and waiting for the eel to move away from the rope in the above picture, we decided to just soak in Lemlunay's infinity pool and channel our inner Anne Curtis. :)

Awesome Infinity Pool is Awesome

We then capped off our day with a delicious dinner and a few drinks over free wifi. SOCSKSARGEN people are really lucky to have awesome chefs that make these delish dishes possible.  :)

Chicken Parmigiana and Pork Humba

Chicken Ceasar Salad

Bottles Speak for Themselves

The rest of the SOCSKSARGEN Experience:

SEx The Day Before

SEx Day 1: Lake Sebu Adventure   

SEx Day 3: White Water Tubing