Dolled Up

If only I can put on make-up this way daily... :-)
Kamukha ko pala si Charo Santos!  :-)

My Take: It's More Fun in the Philippines

Okay, I admit.  This one's not an original idea.  This blog post was inspired by the latest ad campaign from the Department of Tourism.  Thanks to the internet, people from all over our 7,107 islands are coming up with all sorts of their versions of It's More Fun in the Philippines.  And yes, I too, have been bitten by the bug.

I'm far from being a professional photographer, but I just want to share with you, my dear readers, some pictures I've taken in my travels and some photos my big bro took using my camera (point and shoot type ha, not DSLR!).  So I searched through my hard drive and here are what I found.  All pics, by the way, were not photoshopped or edited by any means.  I took all pics, except for Pictures #1 and #11 which were taken by my brother.

Can't get enough?  Let me give you some more.

And for my finale....

You may repost these images but please remember to trace back the link to this blog.


How about you?  Can you share some photos that show how it really is more fun in this country?


Use the Harbara Font and learn how to make your own It's More Fun in the Philippines photo. 
Once you're done, you can generate your meme here.
To see others' works, you can click here.  Chuvaness already did a banner too.


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Pictures 1 and 2 were taken on our family vacation to Boracay last April 2010.   
Picture 3 was on a recent DepEd Pasig outreach program to the Bicol region.
Pictures 4, 5, 6 and 7 were on our church's small group's 2009 Holy Week escapade in Occidental Mindoro.  
Pictures 8 and 9 were from our family's Ilocos Christmas vacation for 2010.
And finally, Pictures 10 and 11 were taken in Sun Valley Estates in Antipolo City. 

Bicol: Circa 2007 and 2011

I've always wanted to travel and tour around our entire country.  Of course, it's a privilege to see other nations in the future, but I'd like to explore our own first whenever I have the opportunity to do so.  After all, I haven't seen the rest that has made the Philippines a popular destination for foreigners once again.  Seeing the countryside and significant landmarks, mingling with the locals, sampling famous food from a particular region, and getting to know a province's history and culture never fails to refresh, recharge and re-energize me.  But aside from the benefits I get out of traveling, I feel that I need to do this every now and then as a citizen of this country to keep my passion for PHL burning.  How can I be passionate about something I do not know that much, right?

For today's blog post, allow me to talk about a province I had the chance to visit three times :  Bicol.  The first time I set foot in this province was in 2007.  It was a short stay -- only two nights -- and it was because I gave a short talk on technology and how to use a book which I co-wrote with some friends.  It broke my heart to see school children not having enough materials to learn.  It's really a heart-tugging scene seeing all the dilapidated classrooms, thatched roofs, nearly empty libraries, and teachers desperate and wanting for more training and professional enrichment.  I think that experience forever changed the way I looked at education, learning and teaching.  In Manila, we hem and complain to no end.  In Bicol, they were thankful for anything they were given and offered.  Their land was beautiful and the soil was rich --- yet people were impoverished and under-educated.  Here in the city, nothing is ever good enough in our eyes.    

My first trip to Bicol was so short that I only got to tour Legazpi and Naga.  Half the time we spent sleeping in the bus.  The trip took 12 hours before we reached our destination via Peñafrancia Bus Line.  When our team got there, I immediately buckled down to business.  I talked for the entire day, thankful to have an audience that deeply appreciated our coming.  After the day-long seminar-workshop, we retreated to the Gaisano mall for a quick dinner, and laid down to rest, tired and spent from the many hours we were on the road.  The following day we spent it touring the place, scrambling to buy all the pili nuts I could lay my hands on, grabbing all the native bags I could afford, and capturing some photos of the Mayon volcano.  Before I could even learn a few Bicolano greetings, we were already packing our bags for Manila.  As shadows of Mayon volcano slowly faded from my side of the window, I silently prayed for a chance to visit this wonderful province again.  God answered my prayer; six months later, I got to visit the province second time around, albeit shorter --- a mere overnight stay, again for a business-related reason.    

I took this picture of my first time to catch a glimpse of Mayon volcano.

The ever-elusive volcano wasn't in the mood to be photographed, apparently.

Glorious background in mid-day.  After many unsuccessful attempts, I finally had my first souvenir photo of Mayon in all its perfect cone behind me.  This was the grounds of that school we visited in 2007.

The team and the school directress

Care for small talk?

This is the famous cafe that serves the best that this land has to offer: pasta cooked the Bicolano way.  Take your pick from their sauces (not your usual Pinoy or Italian style):  Bicol express or laing!

Yes, it's so affordable. I wish they would set up a branch here in Manila!

Parting shot before I boarded our bus 

Last December 8, I went to Bicol for the third time.  This trip meant much more because this time, I was a participant in an outreach program to the schools in that region.  I'm so thankful to my supervisor who offered me the chance to take part in this outreach cum leisure trip.  We spent a total of four days and three nights, and for this trip, I was able to see not only Legazpi and Naga, but also Camsur and Sorsogon, where we spent the nights.  We distributed shoes and books to about three different schools from all over the region as representatives of our beloved city, Pasig.  The trip was long and tiring; but seeing the smiles of the people and the happiness they felt made it all so worth it.

Every day that we were there, we always had an agenda and a schedule to follow.  I didn't mind as structure can be good many times.  Otherwise, I would have missed out on a lot of good things if I went to this trip DIY style.  In the mornings we'd go visit a particular school.  Have lunch back in Sorsogon, then tour in the early evenings.  I visited the Cagsawa ruins, the Peñafrancia Church, Naga, Legazpi, Buluran hot springs and lake, and took a lot of pictures for posterity.  My only regret is not seeing the famed butanding.  December supposedly is the best time to go and see the whale sharks in Donsol; however, it was raining like crazy when we got there, so we had to cancel our whale shark-sight-seeing trip.  Di bale.  On our next trip to that island, I'd definitely not pass up the chance to say high to those amazing sea creatures. 


Bicol may be rich in terms of natural resources, but the region is also almost in tatters from all the typhoons, floods and other natural disasters from recent months. There's so much to rebuild and rework, but I believe with its charming beauty, resilient people, high-quality products and vast potential, Bicol can turn into a very promising, and soon, more developed region.

This is us on Day 2.  Day 1 was practically spent on the road driving from Manila to Sorsogon.

On our second day, we donated books and shoes to Palanas National High School in Sorsogon.

This is the 4th year high school class from that school.

After the day's outreach, we spent some time dipping in the Buluran hot springs. 

Bagong ligo!  Hahahaha!

This is Day 3 of the outreach. See those plastic bags on the right side of the pic?  Those were the shoes we gave the people from this school.

This is another resettlement school we visited on Day 3.

Yes, I heart Pasig. :-)

We went crazy over the pili nut products and woven bags!

Hoarders!  Hahaha :-)

Fun shot at Cagsawa ruins.

Mayon volcano was supposed to be behind us but it was foggy. Boo.

Another fun shot

It started to drizzle, hence, the rain drops on our photo. 

Mayon, however, started to become more visible.

Beautiful and breath-taking.

Yay for this photo

...and another one :-)

at CamSur

Agenda #1 on my next return to Bicol

Definitely, this won't be the last time I'll see Bicol.  I have reported back to work, and in fact, the new year is almost here, but I still miss the cool, misty air in Sorsogon, and the truly delectable dishes we feasted on --- laing, pinangat, santol sa gata, and so on.  The other day I told Mr. M about all the wonderful things we experienced while being there, and I told him of my desire to go back.  I'm so lucky blessed to be engaged to a guy who shares my wanderlust!  Haha!

This coming 2012, I'd make time to sit down, read my Philippine history books again, and make a list of all the amazing provinces I'd like to visit someday, and by God's grace, with Mr. M as travel companion.  That's what Bicol did to me.  This trip has got me all fired up with nationalism and patriotism.  I won't even attempt to criticize those who are in the government agencies now, and who are responsible for caring for their own spheres of authority and jurisdiction --- that's not up for me to do.  But I do hope and pray they do a good job taking good care of our lands and developing our people.  These are our national treasures.  

How It All Started

When I upgraded my relationship status from 'being in a relationship' to 'engaged' on FB, I was swamped with comments (apparently, many people noticed hahaha!). My phone kept ringing and for about a week or two, family and friends were endlessly inquiring about details related to weddings. My sister gave me all her wedding magazines (take note, from 13 years ago!), while my sister-in-law started making suggestions on which particular suppliers to book. People from the office greeted me with excitement, and people from the church expressed their willingness to help and coordinate, etc. As for me, I just want to bask first in this moment as I know it will soon be replaced with wedding-related trepidation and euphoria --- an altogether whole new world for me.

And I realized I haven't even blogged about how it all began for Mr. M and I. Yet. Well, here it is now.

Have a blessed Christmas and an exciting New Year!

*****
Our love story started with that fateful Tuesday night of July 31, 2007 when I heard an announcement in the Makati Evening Women's Class of Bible Study Fellowship International (BSF) that there was going to be a prayer meeting the following week, a Wednesday night, at Crowne Plaza Hotel, for a possible start-up of a BSF class. To make a long story short, I walked into the hotel lobby and asked directions for the meeting place, not knowing I would walk deeper into what God has planned for my life. That day, August 1, 2007, I would be in the same room as M, though we were never formally introduced to each other. The facilitators arrived on the dot, and after a brief introduction about BSF and about the purpose of the meeting, we each introduced ourselves, and then we started praying. All I could remember was that the guy sitting in front of me was from NEDA, but I was too focused on what was happening that night that I barely remembered him. Before the meeting ended, it was announced that the class we have just prayed for was to be a Young Adult Class, the only class in BSF where single people can meet and be together for a Bible study. It was interesting and inviting; however, it was still uncertain when it would materialize. So we just continued praying.

Every month thereafter, we started meeting to pray about starting up a BSF class. But I would see M again only once after that August meeting at Crowne. At around this time just before 2008, the leader of the Evening Women's Class was already inviting me to be part of the leadership. After much thought and prayer and consultation with my mom, I said yes. However, shortly after that, the leaders of the start-up young adult class called me up to invite me into leadership too!

I was in a very big dilemma. I wanted to go to the young adult class because it was much nearer, and because it needed more help getting organized and set up. But I have already said yes to the evening women's class in Makati that I would join them there. So I prayed to God that if the leader of the Makati class would release me and give me her blessing to join the Young Adult class without me mentioning these things to her, then I would know that God really wants me to go there. I wouldn't want to destroy relationships and dishonor my commitment, so I surrendered everything to the Lord. To my surprise, the leader of the Makati class called me up to give me her blessing to join the Young Adult class, and to pray for me and for the group's start-up class.

As 2007 ended, we started accelerating our preparations for the opening of the pilot BSF Young Adult Class in June. We started conducting home-based prayer meetings and invited prospective attendees to briefings. The following year, on March 5, I saw M again. This time, he sat next to me. He was mesmerized by the pomeranian dog of the owner of the house, but I didn't know that he was looking at me too. We talked for a short while, then before I knew it, it was already 7:00PM. The prayer meeting started soon after, and before we ended the night, the leaders got all our emails. They emailed us a letter the following week, thanking us for coming and encouraging all of us to keep on inviting attendees.

The following day, I got an email from M! One email led to another until finally, he asked me out for a cup of coffee on April 19, 2008 at Bo's. We've been talking everyday of our lives ever since then. But it was nothing romantic or whatsoever. The Young Adult Class finally opened in June, and he faithfully attended every class until the time he went abroad.

He left for England on September 11, 2008 to study at the University of Manchester. But we would encourage each other with emails and daily conversations through Skype. At around October of that year, the Young Adult Class ended, and sadly, it did not meet the required number of attendees so it was discontiued. See, God orchestrated it just so I could meet M! :-)

M started making his intentions known at around Christmas of that year. But he had to wait for July of the following year to formally ask me to be his girlfriend. It was difficult being away from him, but God was good. He used that time of separation to build me up further in terms of character and commitment, which were what I would need to be in a relationship with M. I believe God also used that time to train him and mold him, since it wasn't easy being all alone in a foreign land and being without all the comforts and perks he used to enjoy here in Manila. That experience in England forever changed how he looks at life, and how he manages his time and money --- which has influenced much of how he handles our relationship.

We became a couple on the 30th of August of that year, the same day we were celebrating our church's 26th anniversary in Araneta Center, Cubao.

By the grace of God, we'd be tying the knot very soon. :-)

Summer, Interrupted

Gosh, it's almost December and I haven't blogged six months' worth of stories, milestones and events.

Anyway, I was in and out of the hospital for the most part of the summer and latter half of this year.  Infection hear and there, and add a back surgery that left a long scar right across on my upper left back.

When my doctor saw the massive cyst protruding from my back, and the infection it has brought, she didn't let me go and instead, operated on me for about two hours.  It was painful, but I had to go through it.

Hayyy.....I think of all the backless dresses I had been wanting to wear.  Goodbye to them for now.  Hehehehe ;-)

Vedasto Leather Bags

What sort of bags do you use?

My mom and my sister both love leather bags.  When they shop for bags, they always make sure they are made of the finest leather.  They don't need to be branded as in YSL or LV, but they must be in leather. I guess this is where I got my taste for such kind of bag material.

When I first attended my classes in UP, I noticed this cute-looking booth selling a number of fine leather goods.  A small crowd had already gathered around the booth, and the vendors quickly sold their wares.  When I checked it out, it was Vedasto Leather Goods.  I've been hooked since then, and have actually purchased a few items from them.  Take a look at the pics below to see why:

 Brown leather goodness

 I'd like to have one like this

 This is perfect for weekdays

 Simple but nice-looking design

 Banig-inspired design

 Leather bag with a striking color: Red!

 Long-strapped shoulder bag

 Don't know the color of this one

 It's red again!

 Vegetable tan leather is love ;-)

 I actually bought the pencil cases in this design

 Plain black shoulder bag.  Fits a folder perfectly

 More neon / bright-colored bags

 Something to put your wallet and a few beauty essentials

Two-toned beauty

Vedasto makes leather bags, purses, wallets and brief cases.  They also make traditional giveaways like key chains, cups, mugs, and other products depending on orders.  All goods are 100% Filipino made.

For more info, please contact:

Vedasto Delos Reyes / Paulyn Delos Reyes
Telefax : 02-9224668
Mobile:  0921-6975574 / 0918-9441265
Email add:  vedasto_leathergoods@yahoo.com
Website:  http://vedasto-leathergoods.page.tl 

* All pictures were taken from the Vedasto website.