Fire and Lights

20 Aug 2010.

It was Brigada’s 5th Anniversay at B*Side, The Collective, Malugay St., Makati City. It was a night of visual and aural stimulation, a few beers, good company, and good vibes. There was a momentary blast of torrential rain but it didn’t rain down on the night’s mood. How can it when you’ve got awesome DJ mixes, mesmerizing poi performances and Brigada’s Brazilian drum beats to get your hips sh-sh-sh-shakin!

This is a photo of Mic Mic Callo (a.k.a. Lady Fiammata) doing her signature fire dance move. I was mesmerized by her performance and by the contrast of the fiery yellow from the poi and the purple lights in the background. My heart skipped a beat when i was able to capture this photo!

Mic mic is a teacher/coach/performer extraordinaire of Planet Zips: Poi Philippines.

(28 March 2010)

Tamlangon Island

If you ever find yourself in Quezon Town, Palawan, please do allot a whole day or two for island hopping because there are so many beautiful islands to see, each with their own unique characteristics coupled with some interesting history. This is not Coron but it has its own charm. The fact that its part of the road less traveled makes the experience a little more interesting and a little more special.

Off we were on that bright and beautiful Sunday morning. The wind was strong and the sea was quite choppy that day. The South China Sea waves were high and wide, big enough for us to feel the “roller-coaster-in-my-tummy” sensation from time to time as we went up and down the waves. There were times when we feared for the boat but for the most part, being the daring family that we are, we were enjoying the adventure.

The original plan that day was to first make a stop over at “Mansirik Island” – a small but beautiful sand bar approx 30 mins from Quezon Town by pump boat (I’m really sure how long the ride was as I lost track of time).

Here’s a little story about the place. I was told that back in the 70′s (if I’m not mistaken), Mansirik Island was the spot where a German nudist colony which settled in Palawan, would go and, well, bask naked under the sun. They probably picked Mansirik Island because it was quite far from the town and provided the privacy that the group needed.

I saw the island from a far, I observed that there were hardly any trees save for two palms sticking out from one spot and large rocks that protruded from the sand. Not much privacy if you ask me. I guess the distance from the town was significant enough.

I was looking forward to go on Mansirik. I wanted to see and feel the place. Unfortunately though, the sea was too choppy for us to dock. The waves surrounding the island were coming from all directions and were furiously slamming against each other.  It would be almost impossible to get on the island without capsizing. Too dangerous. It was disappointing but the boatman said he knew of a better island which we could go to… and that’s Tamlangon Island.

———

Tamlangon Island was about 10-15 mins away from Mansirik, probably even longer as the waves slowed us down. At that point, the waves of the open sea have gotten quite big that they significantly dwarfed the pump boat. I have to hand it to our boatman who skilfully maneuvered the boat across the waves.

As we approached the island… we couldn’t help but hold our breath in anticipation. It looked absolutely beautiful!  It seemed so virginal, unadulterated, untouched…and so far away from everything. To make things even better, there was no one on the island except for a few transient fishermen who lived in a hut in a little corner of the island.

Approaching Tamlangon Island

It was paradise and it was all ours! Just imagine, nice fine light flesh sand, a nice long beach,  some greenery for you to explore, coconuts ready to be opened, wind blowing on your face, the smell of the sea, no other travellers to share it with… it couldn’t be more perfect.

Tamlangon Island

When we got to the beach my parents went to talk to the transient fishermen while  my siblings and I just let loose and went…crazy.  We ran along the beach, rolled on the sand, splashed in the water, took jump shots, and acted like we’ve never seen the beach before! THIS. This was the experience I was hoping for – being away from the comforts of civilization. Being there, disconnected from the frazzling urban life, I felt so… connected to the world.

.

Going coconuts

Sammy plays with the Sand

Vicente Skim Boards

There’s an interesting story told to us about Tamlangon.  A German man once lived on this little  island. He found this place while island hopping and fell in love with it. He decided that he wanted to stay there; to live the simple island life in isolation. …Then again, I wouldn’t bet on the isolation. No man is an island. I’m sure he had some ‘company’ from time to time. I don’t really know much about how he lived and how long he lived there but according to the story,  one day, his dead body was found floating near the island.  As to why he died, people could only speculate. According to the story I heard, he got drunk, went swimming, and drowned while out at sea.  How people would’ve known that is beyond. Quite odd, don’t you think? Whether it’s true or not, it sure does add an interesting little twist to the history of the island.

So there we were playing on the beach. We were so busy having fun that we didn’t realize it was lunch time. We didn’t bring any food with us but there was nothing to worry about because food was abundant on the island. What was for lunch? Freshly caught  fish and squid grilled over wood and stone plus  freshly opened coconut. (Very Robinson Crusoe). We bought the fish from the transient fishermen living there. We didn’t have any utensils or plates so we had to eat “island style” – leaves, hands, and coconut husks. I gotta say – squid, fish and coconuts never tasted so good. The squid and fish were so fresh and the coconuts were really sweet (Fact: Coconut trees which grow by the sea produce  sweeter coconuts than trees found inland)

opening the coconuts

Eating freshly opened coconuts on Tamlangon island

My bro eating coconuts

Island style dining

I know they say you shouldn’t play with your food but if food was this fun. Why not? My sister Joanna ate squid and got the ink all over her hands. Instead of washing it off, she decided to play with it.

Playing around with squid Ink

We couldn’t resist ….

Yah, we’re a little crazy. It runs in the blood.

After lunch and goofing around, we would’ve loved to stay longer although the boatman was getting agitated as the sea was getting rougher. We had no choice but to go. I must say though, it was a great way to really start the trip. I really enjoyed my time in Tamlangon Island. It is one of my favourites.

This is the beauty of taking the road less travelled. You find these little known places…the hidden gems of a destination.. and you have the satisfaction of discovering something new, something wonderful, something different, something not everyone knows about. It’s not every day you get unadulterated enjoyment of the place  all to yourself, just like our trip to this island. I bet, as Palawan gains popularity, more and more people will find their way to Quezon Town and more and more people will “find” this little semi-secret island. I guess that’s inevitable but at least we know it was ours for a few hours.

Ok. Next stop… Tabon Caves.

————-

To see previous Palawan posts, please following links:

1) The Great Palawan Escape (Introductory Post)

2) Arriving in Palawan and Quezon Town

]]> http://www.patriciaspot.com/2010/07/23/the-great-palawan-escape-tamlangon-island/feed/ 2 http://www.patriciaspot.com/2010/07/20/dear-blog-of-mine-and-dear-friends/ http://www.patriciaspot.com/2010/07/20/dear-blog-of-mine-and-dear-friends/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:10:35 +0000 pat http://www.patriciaspot.com/?p=512

Dear friends and family who have been waiting for the other Palawan posts,

Yes yes… I’m so sorry. I know you have been nagging me to continue and I will. Better late than never right? Palawan will still be there, my experiences are, thankfully, noted down (yay for mini notebooks for those random notes to help refresh my memory later)….

More to come. Thanks for prodding me and telling me that you liked the first few Palawan posts!

Beyond the Palawan posts, it inspires me to write more. I wish I could dedicate at least one half day a week of unadulterated, undisturbed time to write. A time when I don’t have to think about other responsibilities, other things on the “to-do” list, other people asking/request me to do this or that, and the hulabaloo and what not’s of daily life.

But well, that’s why we gotta learn to balance it all right?

————–

Dear blog,

I’m so sorry for not updating you. I have a backlog of content waiting to be written and drafts of the long long over due Palawan trip to be completed. Inspiration comes in the worst of times… when I am in the middle of working. At the end of the day, sometimes I’m just too brain dead to type. That is why I’ve begun meditation to keep me going and to help me focus so that I can do what needs to be done (work) and I still have enough energy to do what I want to do (dance, blog, and what not).

Stay with me, yah hear?

Arriving in Palawan

We arrived at Puerto Princess airport 27 March, Saturday, late afternoon. Joel, our driver and our ad hoc tourist guide/Mr. Popular Palawan (he had friends everywhere!) was was already there waiting for us with the van which we used for the rest of the trip. Before setting off for Quezon, we passed by the grocery and bought mosquito nets, mattresses, candy for the kids we’ll be encountering in Kalatagbak, and some supplies for the first part of the trip. It’s a wonder how we were able to squeeze in the groceries and those mattresses considering the whole family of 7 kids, my parents, ate Lina (a native of Kalatagbak) plus all of our bags already stuffed the vehicle. We managed somehow.

From there, we set off for Quezon town. Because of all the baggage, I was forced to cram into a little corner in the back row. It was an uncomfortable 3 1/2 hour night drive, especially when we passed portions of bumpy dirt roads. Despite the discomfort, there was something about that ride which I liked – the darkness. We drove through long unlit roads. It was a if Palawan’s sights was a surprise and the darkness the gift wrapper. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a place where the only thing illuminating my surroundings is moonlight and where the next street lamp is kilometres away. When I looked up out the window, I saw a deep dark blue-black sky dotted with stars, and when I looked back, I saw nothing but the dust stirred by us driving by, illuminated by nothing but the van’s hind lights. Trailing behind the dust was total darkness that was sometimes broken by the headlights of an occasional vehicle. It was exciting, especially when I opened my window at one point and heard the waves crashing along the shore parallel to the road we were travelling on.

The excitement lingered for a while until my behind began hurt. My legs were beginning to feel stiff and my body needed space to stretch. To make it worse, Sammy, my youngest sister let our her first, “Are the there yet?” line. I was beginning to get really restless. I only relaxed when Joel announced that we were close. “Thank god”, i thought to myself.”

Arriving in Quezon Town

We finally arrived at Quezon around 9pm past and checked in at Joavech Pensionne (scroll below for details on the Pensionne) where we were warmly greeted by Julie, the accommodating and cheerful manager of the pensionne. The location looked really welcoming and comfortable, whether your idea of a good holiday is a warm bed and some FoxyBingo for a week, or a hike across the mountaintops.

Joavech is nice and quaint little place which has everything you need.  Don’t expect it be fance but you can sure its affordable, the rooms and bathrooms are very clean, the beds are comfy, and they have air conditioning. For meals, local Palawan fare is served. Lodgers have to talk to Julie in advance regarding the meals as they don’t have a set menu. You may tell her what your meal preferences are and what your budget is and she’ll work around it. What can be cooked depends on what is available in market. They serve pork, beef, chicken, and seafood but I would suggest you go for the seafood. Quezon town is right by the sea therefore, the fish you get is really fresh…and Julie, together with the ‘chef’, cook great simple seafood meals.

Joavech Pensionne, Quezon Town, Palawan

Joavech Rooms are just right if you are not fussy.

Speaking of food, she had prepared for us scrumptious dinner of nice hot Seafood Sinigang and some vegetables (I was too tired to take a picture). It was perfect after a long trip. We were exhausted from all the travelling but excited nonetheless excited since the next day, we were set to go off exploring islets and the Tabon Cave.

28 March 2010,  a Quezon Town  Sunday Morning

It was nice to wake up to a charming scene after a 3 hour night drive– the orange-y hue of sun rise, little blooming yellow flowers scattered across the lawn…and I was breathing fresh air. I thought to myself, “Hello Quezon, it feels so good being away from Manila!

yellow flowers (I forget the name of this flower)

Quezon town is little town located 155 km South from Puerto Princessa. As the jump off point to the Tabon Caves, it was given the title “Cradle of Ancient Philippine Civilization when archaeologist Dr. Robert Fox discovered the Tabon Man, skeletal remains carbon dated to be 22,000-24,000 years old, in the Tabon Cave Complex.  The town is also the access point to some lesser known spots around the area such as Sidanao Island, Double Island, and Tumarbong Falls.

We got up early, shook off the drowsiness, got ready for Sunday Mass, and headed off to the town church to hear Mass. It was Palm Sunday that day, the beginning of Holy Week. We went to buy our own Palms and entered the church. When we arrived, it was almost full. It seem like everyone in this little town was up early this Sunday.

Its always interesting to witness Holy Week in different parts of the Philippines, especially in the provinces. The main rituals remain constant but it seemsevery province injects its own unique way of carrying out this Catholic practice. In Quezon town, they anointed twelve representatives (twelve apostles) tasked to carry out a task for the Church, all throughout Holy Week. I forget what task it was (I think it was to collect donations in different parts of the town).

The Twelve Apostles of Quezon Town

Waiting for the palms to be blessed

After the Mass, we headed back to the pensionne. Waiting for us there was a breakfast of Lamayo (tuyo or dried fish) egg, rice, fruits and instant coffee (no brewer yet ). I noticed that the dried fish in Palawan is different. It’s not as salty and the dried fish that we get in the city and doesn’t have that fishy smell. Even their vinegar is different. It was less acidic and had a nice flavour.

The breakfast

It was a pretty leisurely breakfast. There was a lot of excited chatter about what we were going to do that day. After breakfast, we got ready, boarded the van, and Joel drove us to the Quezon wharf where were supposed to board our pump boat. On the way there, we stopped by the local market to buy some water and food supplies as we were going to be out the whole day. Sometimes, I wonder how alcohol companies come up with brands for their cheap alcohol because while buying water, I saw this…

Yah man, the elixir for vigor.

My sister who was there as well, started joking around with the owner of the store…

Joanna: Sino po umiinom niyan? (who drinks that?)
Sales lady : Ah! babae, lalaki, matatanda. (oh! Women, men, older people)
Joanna : Anong ginagawa nila pagkatapos? (What do they do after??)
Papa: Natutulog! (THEY SLEEP!!)
Sales lady : *tries very not to laugh*

I, on the other hand, could not stop myself from laughing! If you knew my sister, you’d know how she would’ve looked and sounded while asking the question – with that mischievous but clueless look and almost monotone nonchalant tone of voice. Crazy, crazy girl.

We got what we needed we went straight for the warf where the reserved pump boat was waiting. If you stay at Joavech’s, Julie and the staff can help you book a boat for your trip to the Tabon Caves and the surrounding islands. Julie was able to reserve the municipal boat for us. The municipal boat looked slightly bigger and better maintained than the other pump boats. I would think that they reserve the use of that boat for some important people and politicians therefore my family and I felt very V.I.P.(either that or Julie is just really good and goes the extra mile for her lodgers!)

We excitedly boarded the boat and got ready for our destinations – The Tabon Caves and the “Secret Island I refuse to name”.

Travel Tips and Tidbits:

Joavech’s Pensionne
Manager: Julie Abiog-Respicio
Mobile number : +63-9194040054
Postal address: Joavech Cafe & Pensionne, Poblacion, Quezon
Email : vjmarespi@yahoo.com

Room rate : approx Php 600/night
Meals : Php 90-150/meal

Boat : approx 2000/whole day

How to get to Quezon town:
(Travel time: estimated 3-4 hours)
1) Rented Van (contact me/leave a message if you want to get Joel’s contact #)
2) Bus – find them on Malvar St. near Puerto Princessa City Public Market.

For more info you may call:
Municipal Tourism Office of Quezon : 09182390296

]]> http://www.patriciaspot.com/2010/05/08/arriving-in-palawan-and-quezon-town/feed/ 3 http://www.patriciaspot.com/2010/05/03/the-great-palawan-escape/ http://www.patriciaspot.com/2010/05/03/the-great-palawan-escape/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 12:15:44 +0000 pat http://www.patriciaspot.com/?p=443

Welcome to Palawan (taken at the Tabon Caves)

Seven Days in Palawan…

…was not enough to really experience everything that this beautiful island has to offer. One will need to stay about a month and a half or two. There is a whole myriad of things to see and experience – rich forests (some remain unexplored), high mountains, clean flowing rivers and waterfalls, placid lakes, enormous caves, endangered wildlife conservation, bursting marine life, and of course, absolutely beautiful beaches whatever part of Palawan you’re in. If want to go nature tripping, adventure seeking, get a taste of some geological history, and have an out-of-the-box experience…go to Palawan.

“The Great Palawan Escape”, that’s what I call it because it really felt like one. We were away from the city, sometimes without cellphone signal, sometimes without electricity, practically no internet during the whole stay and only a few people knew where I was going off to (I liked the idea of “disappearing” for a while). For seven days my family and I went on an adventure and travelled to different points in Palawan. Being lovers of the road less-travelled, we decided not to go to two of most popular destinations in Palawan - El Nido and Coron. Both are undoubtly very beautiful places and are definitely on my list of spots to travel to, but on this trip, we went elsewhere..(be jealous). Along the way, we made some awesome discoveries, had some cool out-of-the-box experiences and met people with interesting stories to tell about how Palawan is evolving into a place where people are very keen on Sustainable Development (I loved this very much but we’ll talk about that some other time).

Our itinerary was not for the dainty or fussy. My mom, the one behind it all, made sure it would unforgettable for the whole family. When she said, “Make sure your bags are easy to carry around. I prefer you use a backpack if you have one. Bring comfy clothes and rubber shoes”, and wouldn’t tell us the exact itinerary, I knew we were in for something. And “SOMETHING” it was – 7 beaches, 6 islands, 2 (well.. more than) caves, 2 rivers, 1 waterfall, sleeping in a run-down three walled bahay kubo, turbulent seas, mountains, forests, rocky unpaved dirt roads, boat rides.. we hopped from the east side to the west side… in seven days. She kept us constantly wondering about what was coming next.

It was a really awesome trip. There was a lot that we saw, experienced, and definitely a lot learned (not to mention, we had SO MUCH FUN). I shall tell the stories little by little, by destination. For now, I’ll share with you the itinerary…

The Palawan Itinerary

The Itinerary
(Please stay “tuned” for the upcoming posts)

1) Quezon Town : 27 March – 29 March
Highlights : Tabon Cave, Tamlangon Island

2) Kalatagbak : 29 March – 30 March
Highlights : A beautiful spot on the top of the mountains called Balugo, Bagong Pag-asa Foundation, The Bristol family

3) Narra : 30 March – 31 March
Highlights : Crystal Paradise, Rasa Island

*Road to Sabang – 31 March
Highlight : Estrella Falls

4) Sabang : 31 March – 1 April
The Underground River, The Mangrove Forest, Taraw Resort

5) WWF Boat : 1 April – 3 April
Honda Bay, Snake Island, Starfish Island, Pandan Island (we wanted to go to Turtle Bay the seas would not permit).

If you want to go trip like this, don’t forget…

- Bring lots of Sunblock
- (!) Citronella Oil to ward off the mosquitoes and prevent Malaria.
(You can choose to use Off lotion or drink Malaria Prophilaxis, both of which I don’t prefer)
- Acapulco ointment (for insect bites, particularly Nik Nik a.k.a. sand mites)

You’ll need : a trusty driver and rent a van service.

We hired Kuya Joel. He’s a really fun, cool, and quirky guy who loves cracking jokes, telling stories, and joining in on the adventures. Beyond merely knowing how to get to one place to the other, he knows a lot about Palawan…Not to mention he has friends almost everywhere we went (very helpful when you need little extra help from other people)

Name : Joel Danelles
Number: Please contact me if you want to get it.

more food photography at foodiemanila.com

*some photos courtesy of Carlos Palma and Maki Eduardo

Anyone whose been to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur will tell you that the food is one of the best things they love about those two places (I have yet to hear otherwise). I’ve been to both and I regularly find myself craving for their local fare. The smells, the flavours, the spices.. oh I miss it. Unfortunately, unlike Singapore or KL, we don’t have hawker centers or mamak stores (Malaysian carinderia) in the Philippines.

One of the dishes I miss the most? Hainanese Chicken Rice (or just Chicken Rice).

For some time now, I’ve been on the hunt for really good chicken rice here in Manila. I’ve come a across some restos and food establishments that serve Singaporean and/or Malaysian fare but they just don’t seem to hit that spot. At the end of the meals, I was often left wanting and only half satisfied.

One day, I came across a post by a popular food blogger praising a dish to high heavens. And I quote: “I’m trying to remember when I last ate something so good I cursed every bite.” She was talking about Stevie’s Hainanese Chicken Rice. Chicken rice that good in Manila? If it is so, I HAVE to try it.

So for our Friday treat, my colleagues and I decided to place our order. We called Stevie on a Thursday to place in our order to be sure its ready the next day. Orders must be made a day before so that they can prepare it fresh. Friday, went to pick it up at 11am so by the time we get back to the office, we’re just in time for lunch.

My colleagues – Carlos and Maki – and I were lucky enough to meet Stevie Villacin himself. When we got there, he was busy in the kitchen but was nice enough to come out to talk to us. We were greeted with a smile by this jovial fellow. He seemed like a really nice person – very warm and sunny. You know what they say about happy chefs… happy chef = happy food = happy eating!

Stevie Villacin

I would’ve wanted to stay longer and find out more about Stevie but he had to go back into the Kitchen (busy day perhaps?). There’ll be a next time for sure. Besides, we were dying to eat.

When we got to the office, we rushed to pantry and took some pictures of the food. Carlos did some food styling while I couldn’t care less about composing my picture as the smell was just beckoning. I took a snap shot and dug in.

Who can give a damn about photo composition when the smell is just beckoning..

As I went to get my share, all poise flew out the window. Shovel chicken into plate. Scoop rice into plate. Dabble sauce on chicken and rice… rush to spoon food in and…oh..my…god. It was damn good. I’d say Stevie can make it better than the Singaporeans/Malaysians (I’m kidding)…if only the chilli was spicier. Stevie had to tone it down for the Filipino palette.

I just kept on going. I’m not quite sure how much I ate but if I’m not mistaken, I think I finished three servings. Yes, this petite little thing ate like a football player today.

Its been a while since just one dish satisfied me like this.

Finally, I found the best chicken rice in Manila (and probably the Philippines??). Now can anyone tell me where to find good Asam Laksa?

Some info:

An order consists of one chicken and on the other tray, the rice. With that comes four sauces – garlic ginger, sweet soy, chilli, and some of the sauce the chicken was cooked in. Its good for 3-5 people, depending on how much you can eat. Chin, the Malaysian partner of my boss was able to finish half an order.

Orders must be placed at least a day before and must be picked up at Stevie’s place. Deliveries are done only for large orders which is equivalent to 8 trays of chicken.

Price: Php 950 / order

Stevie Villacin’s number : 09065084155

Its 2:00 am 4^th Jan 2010. In a few hours, the world will start beating its busy pulse. Its back to work and back to school. Yes, the festivities of Christmas and New Year are now over. It’s been a good two weeks. But before the wheels of 2010 start to turn and accelerate, I want to make my own personal adieu to 2009.

Goodbye 2009.  It’s definitely been a crazy ride. I still can’t believe how much happened within the 12 months that have passed and also the changes and surprises that happened along the way. The odd events around me, travels, the changes in career, the new people whom I met along the way, the old dear friends outside the Philippines whom I got to see again, the farewells I had to make to people who decided to leave the country, the new things I’ve learned, getting the courage to little by little step out of my comfort zone, the humbling experiences, the realizations and shedding of old baggage.

There’s a lot to be thankful for and I truly am grateful.

Inspired by my colleague Carlos, I want to send out some love to all those who were part of my crazy 2009.

To my Malaysian friends (and Pinoy friends in Malaysia). Thanks for the warm welcome I always receive from you guys whenever I go there. It’s partly what makes Malaysia feel like my home away from my home. You guys are an awesome bunch. I hope to see more you of in the future. Congratulations to the those who wed last year and are now mommies/daddies and mommies/daddies-to be! Time flies doesn’t it. I still remembered how we partied back in 2006/2007.

To my three closest friends – Alex, Joan, April – there’s just so much to say. Even if we don’t see each other every day since Alex, you are in KL; April, you are in Vancouver; Joan, you are back studying and busy taking care of your juniors… it doesn’t change anything. We always seem to pick up we’re we left off. Its a rare thing.

To Ayka. Thanks for the nerd attacks, the random whatevers, and the rocking at out gigs while you were here. You finally got your SG dream which may not as dreamy you would’ve imaginel. But hey, the good things will roll in. Trust me.  If you believe it will come, it will. I do miss hanging out but that’s all part of having to move away. Don’t worry woman, we’ll still see each there

To Nikki. Damn it girl. Why do you have to leave too? Who will be my clubbing buddy? Who will be my random chika session buddy? Your flight to Australia is around the corner. It’ll be a couple of years before our threesome (you, me, April) will be complete again. Those were good times. Nevertheless, I’m happy you were still able to come back here to the PH, albeit briefly.

To Katie. My cool, hot cousin who returned to NYC after a not so brief visit to the Philippines. Too bad we didn’t get to hang out that much while you were here. Blame it on work. At least we got to hang out a bit. Good luck in Polesque! (Did I spell that right?) Show ‘em your pole dancing prowess. I promise, when you come visit again, I won’t be so darn swamped with work. At least we got to hang out for a while.

To the friends from the college Polsci days. So we’re drinking wine together now? What happened to cheap alcohol and beer? I can’t help but be amused at this. I guess we’re all “growing up” now and getting more serious (really?) therefore our “preferences” are evolving. Haha! Right. Good luck to the graduating lawyers and politicians to be and congratulations to those who are doing well now! You guys are awesome.

To family. Oh wow. What to say to a big crazy bunch of people whom I call family? I love you guys.

To the Nuffies, my colleagues. So guys, it has been an interesting 2009 hasn’t it. It was far from perfect but it was great. Thanks guys. I’ve been learning a lot from each of you. My hope is that things get better for the whole team. Let’s kick ass this 2010!

To my former colleagues from Marcus Evans Philippines and Malaysia whom I got to see this year. I’ll never forget my Marcus Evans days.. ever. It was you guys that made the experience worthwhile. One can go insane working for Marcus Evans – the stress, the crazy demands from the big boss… Thankfully, I stayed sane because I had to you guys to make me laugh until cried. I hope we can manage to in touch.

To my other great great friends. Thanks for helping me out when I need help. Thanks for enduring the drama. The clubbing, the gigs, the hangouts, the travels and all the random whatever’s. Thanks for the stories, the laughs and teaching to become better every time.

(Special mention) To airports. I’ve stepped into you a lot this year. Every trip has been a milestone in my 2009. My Bali trip with the family last March, my trip to Malaysia to attend Zak’s wedding, going to Vigan when April visited the Philippines, going to Singapore for the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards, and then going to back to Malaysia for some training (and seeing friends in Malaysia). What can I say, I’ve got a mole on my sole. There has been a lot of drama because of you. Its been good.

Oh.. and I just have to say, its not every year you have cars exploding a few meters away from you office!

So many more people to thank… if only I wasn’t sleepy…

2009 has passed for what its worth, it was a good year. I want to welcome 2010 with open arms, an eager mind, and an open heart.

On the eve of 2010, we had full Blue Moon which was right above us when the clock stroke 12mn. It’s a good sign and a good omen. 2010 is going to be awesome.

I feel like a cripple who’s learning how to walk again after her cast has been removed. And seriously, I know how it feels like.I have broken my foot in the past and I have gone through the process of learning how to walk again. Its knowing how to do something which was supposedly second nature to you (and something you love) but you just can’t at that moment because the very thing that allows you to do that action is the very thing that’s preventing you from doing it. I know very well how to walk (step, step, step) but it was very difficult because my leg was atrophied. I needed time to build the muscle so I could do something I loved once more – walking.

Its the same with writing. Its been a while since I’ve written something which is for others to read (aside from my last blog posts. Those were warm ups). I don’t know how good I am but I’ve always loved writing. I keep a notebook with me where ever I go to write down or draw the most random things. But for that’s as far as it has been ever since I graduated from college. Its as if my mind has atrophied from years of not being able to churn out compositions, papers, forced creative writing (which I did enjoy despite it being forced and graded).

I’ve been craving to create something and this is the easiest and best way I know. (Next would be dancing but that’s another story for a another time.. and that another muscle I’ll need to rebuild)

So here I am -
Overcoming that fear of “what if no one reads me”.
Reactivating an atrophied mind and building muscle.
Learning to write again.

…I remember when I finally got to walk again. I was really happy. I never took my foot, nor walking, for granted again.

Do you remember what it was like being a kid in a candy store? Or if you had the chance to step into Toys ‘R Us when you were a kid, do you remember what it felt like? Two words : child-like wonder (was that three?). That “woooaah” moment with your mouth hanging open as you just stare in amazement.

That’s how it is for me when i see fireworks. I become eight years old again.

Last Saturday, 21 Nov 2009, was the first Saturday of the World Pyrolympics. And of course, this pyrotechnics fanatic didn’t allow herself to miss out!

For those who don’t know what the World Pyrolympics is, its where the world’s best pyrotechnics teams come together and compete by showcasing awesomely dazzling fireworks displays. If I’m right, this is the 4th World Pyrolympics but the first time for it to be “pyromusical”. Think colorful explosions in the sky synchronized with music.

And yes, this happened and is going to be happening for the next couple of Saturdays in Bonifacio Global City, PHILIPPINES. You don’t get this just anywhere folks.

Last Saturday, Germany and China took the stage. This Saturday, it’ll be Canada and Australia. 5 Dec will be Japan and Italy. For 12 December, it’ll be South Korea and US. The last Saturday, 19 Dec  will be the fellowship of fire where the Philippines will be participating.

Here are the videos of the displays for Germany (courtesy of Vince of WhenInManila and Anton of Our Awesome Planet):

Germany (part 1)

Germany Part 2

The next one is part 2 of China’s display. When part 1 is posted by When In Manila, I’ll post it as well.

Between the two, I think China owned it! I wish you were there to see it. The video doesn’t do justice. Its just too bad that it rained during China’s set. I thin thats the reason why it became very smokey.

What do you think of the view from which the videos were taken? Best seats in the ENTIRE house ain’t it? That’s where I will be the coming Saturdays. Wooh!  Ask me where. Maybe I’ll tell you.

By the way, general admission also has a GREAT GREAT view. Its only 200 pesos for a ticket. Its well worth it. My friend and I watched from the SVA (special viewing area)  which is right in front of the launching point. The view was great as well.

I’m very excited to see what tricks in the bag the other countries have. I’m looking forward to Japan and Italy. I hear they are countries to watch out for. Italy won in the last World Pyrolypmics. Japan is very secretive about their fireworks shells. They refuse to see to foreigners. That’ll be a very interesting night. We’ll see.

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After the fireworks … chill time

Chika sessions with Nikki

Apple Martinis and Margaritas at New Orleans after the Pyrolympics

I’m pretty excited to be here on WordPress with my own domain. Hello friends!

Right now, using WordPress seems a bit daunting – new dashboard, new controls, more features than that of blogger… I’m only learning the tech side of a lot of things. Being semi-dyslexic, I can be quite slow with technical details. With a little patience and a LOT of focus, and help from some friends, I’ll get this blog up and running.

Themes-wise, I’m yet to learn the codes and techniques for HTML or CSS. I want my blog to be ME. Later on, I would like to create a blog thats catered to giving helpful information to its readers. The blog theme? Still no idea.

There is a lot to learn but I know learning WordPress will be really helpful in the future. Its not just for blogging, you never know for what purpose this tool can be used for.

Looking forward to establishing my little place in cyberspace.