DUH

I feel so out of it these days. I think it's because of the cold, because Ruther will be leaving in a few days, because I feel like I'm going to be sooo depressed when I come to grips with the fact that he's in Japan. To be honest, I am so freaking scared about it, I just push it out of my mind whenever it tickles my thoughts. All I can do right now is just embrace Ruther a little tighter, talk to him a little more, take care of him as best as I can. I just know I'll be a wreck (again) when he's gone.

Evening Stroll

Love the beach during the day, love it at night... I really enjoyed this stroll with my family.

Photo taken January 18.

8

1. I have a cold. It's not pretty.

2. The weather is weird. I don't know whether it'll rain or not. I'm happy either way as long as the day is cool and relaxing.

3. Homemade Calamansi juice is really yummy! Hope it helps get rid of my cold soon.

4. Am so craving for fruits right now. Especially the ripe mangoes... Yummy!

5. Ruther's birthday is coming. I dunno what to get him still...

6. Wanna read all my books!

7. I wish Ruther were home.

8. Gotta do lessons with the boys, so... Ta-ta!

How Strong is Your Relationship with Your Guy?

Your Relationship is Strong

You've built the foundation of a great relationship, and it would take a lot to shake it. Through good communication and respect, you have a true love that can last a lifetime.

How Strong Is Your Relationship With Your Guy?

If the answer came out any other way than this, I would definitely protest. I know how I feel about Ruther and I know how he feels about me. Sometimes, I am amazed that our love is still going strong (and stronger). I thank God for always watching over us and for guiding and aiding us in our relationship. Ruther is my life and without him, I have no purpose for living.

Slow Day

Today was just a slow day for me. I suppose after all the activity and hype of yesterday's celebration (house blessing), I just wanted to recharge today. Of course I still had to do some of the chores but I napped longer than usual and tried to take it easy today. I think that I deserve that today. We even had halo-halo as dessert for dinner tonight. Great Sunday treat! Yummy!

Midway

I am midway through my book, Nighttime is My Time by Mary Higgins Clark. I was planning to read the Monk book but since I just finished with one, I thought of switching to another for the meantime. It's okay. Kind of dragging in the beginning but it's becoming suspenseful at where I am now. So yeah, am looking forward to finish this book in a day or two.

.....

I still cannot come to grips with the fact that Ruther will be leaving in 2 weeks. It's like everytime I think about it, it feels like a knife piercing through my heart. I said it before and I'll say it again: even if we have been at this for years, it never ever gets easier. Every parting is still painful, every departure another open wound. I wish that one day, in the very near future, my love and I will never have to part again.

Flight of Stairs

Going up the stairs towards the viewing deck to see the beautiful Chocolate Hills. I love this photo because I don't look fat in it. Hahaha!! =D

Bohol - Saturday - Part 2

The Chocolate Hills were a sight to behold. Scattered before us, the hills just seemed to fill the horizon. Since it is still early in the year, the hills were green instead of brown, but they were still amazing. All the green before me was just very relaxing. According to Wikipedia: Estimated to be at least 1,268 individual mounds to about 1,776, these cone-shaped or dome-shaped hills are actually grass-covered limestone hills. The large and numerous perfect domes vary in sizes from 30 meters to 50 meters high with the largest being 120 meters in height. Really astounding, isn't it?

While we were there, it was quite cloudy but there were times when the sun shone brightly and made the boys a bit cranky. I suppose in future visits to this viewing area an umbrella will be necessary. I must remember that. I can only imagine how hot it was going to be in the summer. Anyway, we took a lot of photos and then made our way to the souvenir shops below. We got some cute shirts for the 4 of us and I think they were nice souvenirs for this trip. There were still a lot actually but Manong said that he would take us to a place where we could buy more souvenirs and trinkets. We left Chocolate Hills and made our way to our next stop. Manong pretty much kept us in the dark about our stops which was a bit thrilling. We just did not know what to expect next.

It was around 11 a.m. and we were all getting a bit hungry so we were relieved that Manong took us to Loboc River as our next stop. (Loboc is a 5th class municipality in the province of Bohol - Wikipedia) There are these boats there that serve a buffet meal as it cruises the length of the river. It's like a floating restaurant. The fee was P280 for adults and half of that for kids. There were several booths (around 4 or 5) there and Manong pointed to one of them (Long River Cruise). These booths are where you get your meal tickets. It's like picking a restaurant. You can actually get to see what they are serving because there are photos of the food on these large poster boards. But we were so hungry we just wanted to get into a boat and have lunch. And since we didn't know where Manong was going to have lunch, we invited him to eat with us and paid for his meal. There were already a few people on board the boat when we climbed in. We also ate almost immediately and I was glad for that. I got some grilled fish, agar salad, grilled squid, pork barbeque, vegetables, and lots of fruits and maja blanca. Ruther got almost the same. Nikki ate some noodles and Ethan was not interested in food. There were still other food served on the buffet table but I thought if I ate any more, I would look like I was pregnant. While we were eating, the boat started to move and we headed upriver. Almost everyone took photos and videos and we were serenaded by this man who played a guitar. He was a lot of fun. But most of the time, we just took photos and admired the view. It rained a bit as we cruised the river but it made the mood all the more relaxing. I also spotted this group of women washing clothes in the river. Now that is very rural to me. Many people used to do that in Zamboanga but well, times have changed. Seeing those women just brought back a lot of nostalgic feelings. Anyway, we reached the end of the river and made our way down. Before reaching our stop though, we paused before this small covered dock where people young and old were sitting. When we approached, they started singing and dancing and pretty much entertained us. Again, we did not have to pay any fees but donations were welcome. After 10-15 minutes, we were on our way again and shortly thereafter, we reached the terminal. Taking a quick stop to the wash rooms, we then proceeded to Loboc Church which was only a few meters away from the Loboc River terminal.

The St. Peter Parish Church in Loboc is the second oldest church in the country. (Wikipedia) It actually looks old so I would not doubt that at all. I really love old churches. Ruther and I were married in an old church and it was wonderful. Anyway, we did not go into the church anymore because we still had more places to visit and we were pressed for time but I told myself that the next time we drop by Loboc, I'll get inside the church and light a candle. After taking a few more photos, we boarded the car and made our way to the wonderful tarsiers.

to be continued...

Bohol - Saturday - Part 1

I woke up at 545 a.m. to get an early start to our day. I slept earlier than usual the night before so I felt refreshed and ready to go. It was raining when I awoke but by 615, it slowed to a drizzle and I told Ruther (who was half-asleep then) that I would go to the beach to take some morning photos. I was so glad I decided to do that. It is rare that I get to experience something so wonderful. Yes, I see sunrises everyday but truly, sunrises at the beach are so dramatic. It's like everything seems to be more powerful, more exciting, more moving. I just snapped away. As the minutes ticked by, the rain stopped and the beach just slowly came to life. Even a playful dog went to the water for his morning swim and dried himself in the sand. It was really all so peaceful and wonderful.

We told Manong that we would leave Alonaland at 8 a.m. and Ruther wanted to have breakfast first so by 630 I headed back to our room. The boys were awake and fortunately, we got enough rest the night before so at around 710 a.m., we were heading for the beach to get some breakfast. Since Alona Tropical was the nearest restaurant, we decided to eat there. Seeing the beach one more time, the boys were really not interested in food but instead, they wanted to walk on the sand and throw pebbles into the water. Ruther ordered some banana pancakes and brewed coffee and I just got the plain pancakes and mango juice. The food was yummy and really satisfying. When we got back to Alonaland at 805 a.m. Manong was waiting for us so we immediately left the resort. It was such a cloudy day and I prayed that it wouldn't rain soon. Once in a while, the sun would peek through the clouds and I would be hopeful. Checking my map, I saw that Chocolate Hills was going to be the farthest place we would be going to. What I did not expect were the hilly winding roads. Hurriedly, I took my motion sickness medicine just to keep myself from getting too dizzy.

The first place we passed was the Bilar Man-made Mahogany Forest. Bilar is the name of the place and it was quite hilly. We did not stop for photos anymore because Chocolate Hills was still a long way away but Ruther did take some shots of the beautiful trees. They were really tall and shady. It really looked like a forest. I wonder how long it took for those trees to reach maturity. I hope it would be preserved so people could appreciate nature more.

Our first stop was at the Hanging Bridge at Sevilla. Sevilla is an interior town located some 36 kilometers east of Tagbilaran City. I could tell that this bridge was made of bamboo and ropes. I tried to go across it but it moved too much and Ethan was too excited and was hopping a lot I was scared we would fall into the river so I told Ruther to take my photo (quickly) and then headed for solid ground. Ruther and Nikki had their turn on the bridge too. We left some money in the donation box (there was no entrance fee) and then we were on our way to Chocolate Hills.Aesthetically extensive, Chocolate Hills are scattered throughout the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan in Bohol. (On left - Locator map of the Chocolate Hills. Dark brown indicates the greatest concentration of the Chocolate Hills in the Bohol municipalities of Sagbayan, Batuan, and Carmen. Light brown indicates a lesser concentration of the hills in Bilar, Sierra Bullones, and Valencia.)We made our way to the viewing area which was somewhere in the town of Carmen. When we reached our destination, it was around 930 a.m. We had to climb this flight of stairs to get a good view of the Chocolate Hills and we took photos as we made our way up. When we did get to the top, a sea of green met my eyes...

to be continued...

Heath Ledger Dead

I cannot believe this young actor is dead. It's such a shame that he died so tragically. He was really promising and I liked him so much as an actor. This is a sad sad start to the New Year for US showbiz...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/22/heath.ledger.dead/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Actor Heath Ledger dies at 28

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Actor Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday of a possible drug overdose in a Lower Manhattan apartment, the New York Police Department said. The Academy Award-nominated actor was 28.

Ledger was found naked and unresponsive, facedown on the floor at the foot of his bed by a housekeeper trying to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse, said police spokesman Paul Browne. "Pills were found in the vicinity of the bed," he told CNN. "This is being looked at as a possible overdose, but that is not confirmed yet." Browne later told reporters some prescription medications were found in the room, including sleeping pills. But he stressed police have made no determination of the cause of Ledger's death -- that would be done by the medical examiner. He said the pills were not "scattered about."

No note was found and there was no indication of foul play, Browne said. Ledger was found at about 3 p.m., and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel about 3:30 p.m.

A crowd of onlookers, photographers and reporters gathered outside the apartment building after news of Ledger's death was reported. Police officers were guarding the doors.

Browne said he did not know how long Ledger had been renting the apartment, which he said took up the entire fourth floor. An autopsy would be conducted on Wednesday, said Ellen Borakove, spokeswoman for the New York City medical examiner's office.

Hollywood reacts
Condolences began pouring in from Ledger's friends and co-stars.

"I had such great hope for him," said Mel Gibson, who played Ledger's father in "The Patriot," in a statement. "He was just taking off and to lose his life at such a young age is a tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

Actress Nicole Kidman, a fellow Australian and close friend of Ledger's, said in a statement, "What a tragedy. My heart goes out to his family."

At the time of his death, Ledger had just finished playing the villain The Joker in "The Dark Knight," the latest installment in the Batman series. The film is to open in July.

Ledger was born in Perth, Australia, and named Heathcliff Andrew after the main characters of Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights." He began acting at a local theater as a child. Ledger's first American film was the teen comedy "10 Things I Hate About You" in 1999, and he immediately attracted attention from Hollywood. He passed up several scripts before taking a role in the Revolutionary War drama "The Patriot" in 2000 and "A Knight's Tale" in 2001. He also played a supporting role in "Monster's Ball," among other films.

"In a way I was spoon-fed a career," he told the Glasgow Herald in 2005. "It was fully manufactured by a studio that believed it could put me on their posters and turn me into a product. ... I hadn't figured out properly how to act, and all of a sudden I was being thrown into these lead roles."

Controversial role
But Ledger was perhaps best known for his 2005 portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in "Brokeback Mountain," about two cowboys who had a secret romantic relationship. The role earned him an Oscar nomination.

"I felt that choices were being made for me, so I feel this has been my time now to find the good stories and test myself," Ledger told the Glasgow Herald in the 2005 interview. "It has been an interesting year, where I finally have a sense of accomplishment."

Asked how he felt about filming love scenes with another man, Ledger said he and his co-star Jake Gyllenhaal simply focused on their roles.

"We can't say that we weren't nervous about it," Ledger told Oprah Winfrey in 2006. "But once the first take was over, it's like, 'OK. So what? It's kissing another human being. How are we going to finish this scene? Let's get on with it and let's get out of here.' "

In a written statement, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said it mourns Ledger's death, adding that his portrayal of Del Mar "changed hearts and minds in immeasurable ways."

Ledger has a daughter, Matilda Rose, born in 2005 to his then-girlfriend, Michelle Williams, who played his on-screen wife, Alma, in "Brokeback Mountain." The couple have since separated.
"He was just so respected in the industry," said Kim Serafin, senior editor of In Touch Weekly.
"It's just horribly tragic. He was just a fine actor and a good person, so this is horribly sad and very unexpected."

Bohol - Friday - Part 2

And there we were, stepping on the sands of Alona Beach.

The morning light made everything look so bright and vibrant. The sky was an electric blue and the wonderful coconut trees along the shore made everything look so lush. The water was calm and the boats and bancas adorned the sea. It was exhilarating having to inhale the sea air. I could tell that mornings are slow on this beach. On Alona Beach, you did not have to bring a watch. All you needed to do was to let go and live.

The boys were suddenly alive, running to and fro, checking the sand, the water, the shells, the pebbles. They just wanted to take everything in. They waded in the cool water, checked out hermit crabs (who scampered away as fast as they could), and basked in the sun. While they frolicked, Ruther and I breakfasted nearby in the restaurant of Alona Tropical. I loved the ambiance. It was just all so relaxing, to eat and look out into the sea. After breakfast, Ruther and I changed and then pretty soon, all of us were in the water. While wading into deeper water (knee-high) I found some sea cucumbers and they were gently swaying with the water current. At first I thought they were trash but when I looked more closely, I realized they were sea cucumbers. I told Nikki and Ethan to tread carefully but of course, they were too busy swimming in their floaties to care. We also found lots of shells (but we put them back into the water) and also saw some fish in the water but they were sand-colored that they were perfectly camouflaged and unless they would swim fast, the boys had a bit of difficulty seeing them. The water was a bit cold so we headed for shore and while I made our names on the sand, Ruther took photos and the boys played with their beach toys. At around 1030 a.m. Nikki got sleepy and since it was still some time before we could get our room (it was occupied), we told him to just stay in a shade for a few more minutes. At 1130, we headed back and thank goodness, our room was ready. We brought all our stuff into the room and then I bathed the boys and in an instant, they were asleep. I loved our room. We ended up with Room number 15A and our neighbor in Room 15B was a foreign couple. Actually, I noticed that most of the vacationers at Alonaland were foreigners. Anyway, we have 2 twin beds, cable tv, air conditioning, refrigerator, a kitchen, and hot shower. Not bad for P1500 per night, right? Some resorts charge per person per night and I find their prices ludicrous. I mean, we're not all born millionaires! So anyway, after having a quick bath ourselves, Ruther and I headed for the canteen to get some water (the big gallon costs P60) and other necessary things. After unpacking some of our things, we were tired out so we drifted off to slumberland.

We woke up at around 4pm and Ruther and I were so hungry because we missed lunch. So we went to the canteen and they only served sausages there. We therefore had no choice but to order that. Ruther got bratwurst and I picked veal sausage. A plate cost P120 which includes the huge sausage, a piece of wheat bread and some mustard. I was skeptical about the price and the serving but when I tried the sausages, they were yummy so I didn't complain anymore. =D
At 730 p.m. we decided to take a family stroll along the beach. While strolling, we also tried to check out the restaurants that looked okay so we could pick where to have our dinner. We decided against eating at Alona Tropical restaurant again just so we could try something new so we walked along the shore to see which restaurants had customers and which had none. We decided to sup at Pyramid Grill (which has good reviews) and we ordered the chicken fingers and calamares with garlic rice. I wanted to get the grilled squid but I was afraid I could not finish it and it would simply go to waste. I didn't want that. When the food arrived, we tried it and it was yummy. After supper, we headed back home, rested a bit and then slept to recharge ourselves for our second day in Bohol.

Bohol - Friday - Part 1

I woke up at 245 a.m. last Friday (January 18) ready to begin our Bohol adventure. I woke Ruther up, got ready, checked the bags and then woke the boys up. At around 315 a.m. we were ready to leave. Russell (Ruther's younger brother) drove us to the airport and we were grateful that we did not have to get a taxi.

You would think that since it was a Friday, there would only be a few passengers/travellers. But when we got there, there was a queue leading to the entrance and then another queue towards the x-ray machines. Fortunately, there was a short line in the check-in lane so I felt that we were making good time. We paid the terminal fee (P200 each) which I personally thought was kind of too much, then passed through the final check-in. The waiting area was filled with people that there were many of them standing. This kind of worried me because I knew that the boys would want to sit down eventually. So we first bought some breakfast and then looked for a place to sit. We found a nice out-of-the-way place which was okay. The mood in the waiting area was kind of sleepy yet busy. Some passengers were so bored, some were busy chatting with family or friends, some were tinkering with their gadgets, some were eating and some were fast asleep. Occasionally, the paging system would break the restless mood urging the last few passengers to please board the aircraft now or requesting someone to come to the customer service counter or announcing the boarding calls. Shortly after we sat down, we saw this kiddie lounge and thought that maybe the kids would want to play in there while waiting for 515 a.m. to arrive. They did but only for a bit.

Then it was time to board the plane and we hurriedly made our way to the line. We were seated on rows 20 and 21. Nikki and I sat in front and Ethan and Ruther sat on the back. I SMS'd my mom and sister that we were in the plane and that I had to shut off my phone. The flight was uneventful maybe because I slept almost the whole time. During that time, the sun slowly came out and it turned the sky into different shades of blue. Nikki and Ethan were quite behaved and I was glad for that. The flight took only an hour and fifteen minutes so pretty soon, we landed at Tagbilaran Airport. It was quite small. When we disembarked, I turned on my cellphone and SMS'd my mom that we made it safely. We quickly took some photos of our arrival. It was a bit funny because many of us were snapping away and the guard was busily trying to shoo us to the arrival area but no one seemed to heed him. We just wanted to take as much photos as we could. So anyway, after that, we went to the terminal and then got our bags. I hired a pick-up service and I just had to look for my name and then we found our driver. Respectfully, we called him Manong (which roughly means "older brother" and a hierarchal marker, it is to be used to refer to anyone who is older than you within an individual's family, but could also be used for non-family -Wikipedia). We were pleased to see our service was quite new, air-conditioned and not old and battered down.

We made our way through the city and then as we left Tagbilaran, the scenery slowly transformed itself. Gone were the small buildings and houses and the busy streets. Along the way were fields of green, coconut trees, banana trees, lush hills, nipa houses, cows and carabaos here and there. It was very rural. And I loved it. It reminded me so much of Zamboanga. Anyway, it was quite a long ride. It took us about 30 minutes and Manong was driving quite fast. We got to Alonaland okay but check-in time was at 12 noon and it was only 8am. Since they did not have a restaurant (only a canteen), we decided to go to the beach, have a meal and spend the morning there while waiting for noontime. We walked down a path leading to the beach. I did not know what to expect and as we got nearer, palm trees shielded the beach from view. When we stepped out into the clearing, it was breathtaking...




to be continued...

My Pet

This is my pet White Paw. He should be my boys' pet but well, I take care of him so I suppose he's really mine. I don't mind. I love animals. I used to be a dog lover because we have a LOT of dogs back home in Zamboanga but after having Sushi, I know now that I love rabbits more. Not only are they low maintenance, they are very cuddly, smart, very affectionate and so quiet. They are so perfect for me. I love this photo of me and White Paw because he looks so cute! Look at his tiny paws!! He's also growing so fast! He looks so much like a stuffed toy here I just want to squeeze him!! Hahaha! I love my White Paw. =D

Forging Character

A wonderful read. I encourage everyone to take the time to peruse it. It's very insightful...


FORGING CHARACTER
by Mark Hamby

Over the past twenty-four years I have observed many students who graduated from Christian schools and homeschools yet still lack the confidence, purpose, and skill to follow their dreams. In fact, rarely do they even dream about their God-given destiny. As a young college student, I changed my major numerous times. During that very critical time in my life, I lacked both direction and character--the two important elements that awaken a person’s drive to become all that God intended him to be. Contrary to popular opinion, this kind of character is not determined by one’s actions, but by one’s values. Focusing and modifying a child’s actions apart from their values leads only to hypocrisy, distorts reality, and clouds one’s judgment for a life’s calling. One of the least understood concepts in life is the connection between inner character and the development of skills to pursue one’s purpose in life. Inner character, skill, and purpose are the driving mechanisms behind true greatness. If what I am saying is true, then the development of one’s character is the foundation for life, assuming, of course, that one has a real relationship with the God who created him with a designed purpose.

Character is formed, or rather forged, on the anvil of life. I can distinctly remember an event which genuinely forged my character in the area of work ethic. I was twelve years old, and we needed a new sewer line for our house. Rather than digging up our newly paved driveway, my father decided that a trench could be dug under a thirty-foot-long concrete patio, thus redirecting the sewer line. My dad was an iron worker, and since this was his busiest time of the year, he asked me if I would dig this trench before he came home next week. With a smile, he assured me that it could be done, “one shovelful at a time.” Immediately I began to plan how this could best be accomplished, or rather, how I could do the job with the least amount of work. I remember thinking that there must be a machine that could burrow under this patio and with the press of a button—presto! Finisio! Because I feared my dad, I didn’t dare refuse this task; but I knew that Mom would come to my rescue when she saw the hardship that had been placed on her only son. I really had no intention of digging this trench knowing that it was an impossible task; if I complained and held out long enough, Dad would surely come to his senses. Two days before his arrival, I hadn’t found any solution to my dilemma, and Mom wasn’t ‘cooperating’! In fact, she kept reminding me when Dad would be home.

I remember this as if it were yesterday. Just a few hours before Dad came home, I began digging into the solid clay (it seemed like clay). I dug one foot under the patio and knew that this was impossible and impractical. Surely Dad would understand. Well, Dad didn’t understand! In fact, as soon as he came home, he went out to inspect my work. Without saying a word, he began digging. “What’s wrong with him?” I thought to myself. “Go ahead and dig, you’ll see!” But the dirt was flying and Dad was digging. He had worked hard all week while I worked hard trying to figure out how to get out of work. After about twenty minutes I couldn’t take it anymore. I went out, took the shovel out of his hand and began digging. Again, he reminded me that if you persevere and don’t give up, you can accomplish anything.

It was one o’clock in the morning, but I did it! That entire time my dad was watching from the bedroom window, and when he saw me break through there was a grand applause of royal encouragement. I will never forget that moment. In fact, something happened to me that day that has remained with me ever since. Part of my character was forged that day and to this day has been an essential component to my life. That experience fortified my determination to accomplish whatever task God calls me to, no matter how difficult or impossible it may seem. In fact, I believe that those six hours spent under a patio prepared me to do what I’m doing today. You see, “the testing of our faith works endurance. But let endurance have its perfect work...that you might be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.”

Do you see the spiritual significance of enduring difficult tests? It is significant because when we endure, there is a “work” that is being accomplished—the work of forging our character which prepares us to be complete (perfect), lacking in nothing. Now that’s one reward worth pursuing. And there should be a reward. Our children need to learn that God gives special rewards that are the result of forged character. Forged character prepares us for our future, and galvanizes our determination to accomplish any task. “See a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings…” The Hebrew word for “work” carries the meaning of “polished.” When our work reaches a level of excellence—a polished work—we will receive our greatest fulfillment, reach our highest goals, and truly represent our Father as we should as a son or daughter of a King!

Though it is true that children need to learn that endurance forges character, prepares for life, and propels one to persevere, there is also a danger that must be addressed. The danger that I speak of is the root cause of many fallen leaders—pride. From our examples, our children must understand that the character traits of endurance, perseverance, and determination leading to great accomplishments cannot bring true fulfillment apart from humility. There is something very appealing about a diligent, skillful worker who is smiling, appreciative, and thankful. Without humility, determination will lead to accomplishments void of relationships. Humility is the recognition that all of my abilities and opportunities are gifts from God. Humility is portrayed in an attitude of thankfulness even for difficulties, with the realization that this, too, is a gift of God.

May the qualities of inner character, skillfulness, and humility unlock the door to a prepared, purposeful, and powerful future.

Mark Hamby is the President of Lamplighter Publishing. Their latest resource for parents is "Character to the Core". Take a look! You can pick a character trait to learn about... and also get a great corresponding list of recommended books.

So Close

Only 3 more days to go! I am so excited! I am more than halfway done with the packing. All I have to do is pack our slippers, cellphone and camera battery chargers, some snacks, the boys' bottles, the camera and some other last-minute stuff. I am so psyched! I really really hope that everything will proceed as planned when we get there. Ruther and I agreed that we will indeed, spend the first day at the beach so everyone could soak up the sun, sea and surf immediately. Then Saturday, we'll have the tour. Hopefully that won't last the whole day so the boys could have another swim. Then Sunday, we'll see if we could hear mass in one of the churches there. I think it will be quite an experience for all of us.

Here's hoping that everything goes wonderfully on this vacation...

The Phone

I don't know why but for some strange reason, I suddenly thought about those old phones the other day. You know, the black ones with the rotating dial. I realized that I miss those kind of phones. Sure, the push-button one is highly convenient but I think the old phone was more fun. Sure, it was irritating to use the old one especially when you dialled the 4th number wrong and had to hang up to do the whole dialling process again. But I find the rotating disc so cool (I used to wonder how, upon dialling, it would get the phone number right in the end). And, I love the click-clickety sound of the dial as it makes the turn everytime. My favorite thing was whenever I had to dial zero because it was like winding it up fully and whenever I would use the end of a pencil to turn the dial.

I guess that old phone was okay to use years back because I remember that telephone numbers only had 4 figures before. Also, it really seemed like there was just so much time to spare in the past. I mean, it's not like today, when we get so frazzled if we can't call through in 5 minutes. Auto-redialling was not even possible with the old phone and yet, I survived. I suppose it was also because my friends' phones were hardly busy 24/7. Today, is another matter entirely. You can't NOT have auto-redialling. The tip of your finger would chafe calling customer service or making airline reservations (just experienced that the other day when I had to book our tickets to Bohol). Things have just changed a lot and I guess that old phone can still survive in a peaceful laidback village or a quaint bed and breakfast or a quiet little city. But for the metropolis, I guess the push-button phone (and cellular phones) is here to stay.

Almost Here

We were at church today and I suddenly realized that it will only be a few weeks more before Ruther leaves again for Japan. I was not really thinking about that because when you think about it in days, it seems like there's still a lot left. But when you think about it in weeks, it just seems to shorten it a LOT. So somehow, it depressed me. I hardly paid attention to the mass (I'm sure God will forgive me) and just held Ruther's hand all throughout. I just want to mold myself to him as much as I can while I still have him. I know it will be hard again once he's gone and I know that when I am alone again at church I will feel his absence stronger than ever. I know it's not going to be a happy situation and as much as I hate it, I have to overlook it because in all honesty, what else can I do?

Excited

I'm really excited for this family trip to Bohol next week. I have already started picking the clothes we will be bringing with us, the things we will need as well as the food and snacks for all of us. I have yet to arrange the itinerary but so far, we have arranged a pick-up service on Friday when we arrive so that's one less thing to worry about. I would not want to be hounded by service rentals when we leave the airport terminal. It would just be too irritating and frustrating and I don't anything to faze me when we get there. Since we will be arriving early (7am), we're thinking of hitting the beach rather than do the tour then. We might not be too prepared for an immediate tour so we're thinking of taking it easy during the first day and then having the tour the next day. Hopefully, we will be able to contact a good tour guide when we get there so that our Saturday will go smoothly as we expect it to be...

Only 6 more days to go...

I Heart Chocolate

Chocolate and I go together like milk and coffee, like moon and stars, like peanut butter and jelly. You get the idea. Here I am slicing a chocolate cake for our New Year's Eve media noche dinner. Mmmmm... Doesn't it look ab-so-lute-ly yummy? =D That's Mama behind me...

Tickets... Check!

Today, we finally got our tickets for our trip to Bohol next week! Yay! We already made a list of the things we have to buy and bring with us and I think it will be quite a load because well, I do want us to be prepared for anything (and I mean ANYTHING). We scouted around for some snorkeling gear and I was shocked at the prices! I'm not looking for anything fancy at all. Just something that will make me see the fish and underwater life and allow me to breathe while my face was underwater. The most expensive gear we found was around P1200! I remember the last time we bought a snorkeling set in 2000 was less than P500. What a difference!! I'm not buying a set if it would cost this much. Maybe we will just rent 2 gears for Ruther and me when we hit the beach. Anyway, I have yet to prepare the itinerary of our trip. Hopefully, we'll have more adventures than misadventures.

Yay!

I finally was able to make bookings for our family trip!! After having headaches from checking travel and tour packages in the newspapers and the internet, we decided to not push through with Boracay (it's just too risky and too costly to go there and have problems after we arrive) and instead, we're going to Panglao in Bohol instead. It also has the white sand beach and at the same time, we feel that we will be able to see more places while we're there. Just to give you an idea, here are some of the sights included in our itinerary:




Chocolate Hills
Tarsier Watching
Sikatuna National Park
Baclayon Church and Museum
Dolphin and Whale Sighting (seasonal though)
Punta Cruz Watchtower
Loboc River Cruise
Butterfly Dome
Bohol Bee Farm
Hinagdanan Cave
Mag-aso Falls

and if we still have time,

Loay Bolo-making and Nipa-weaving Industry, and Bilar Man-Made Mahogany Forest

I am already looking forward to seeing the place!! We've reserved a room in a place along Alona Beach which is in Panglao Island. I am also looking forward to snorkeling with Ruther, just like we did during our honeymoon which feels like ages ago! Anyway, I'm sure the boys will have loads of fun as well. Since we were not able to take advantage of the airline promo fare, we're paying around P5000 each (roundtrip fare). Fortunately, the place we're staying is cheap at only P1500 per night for the room so that is a relief for our expenses because we will only spend P3000 for 2 nights. We still have to have money for the tours around Bohol because going around on a rented vehicle will be costly than usual. But still, for this new adventure, I'm sure it will be well worth it. I'm keeping close tabs on our expenses though. Have to make sure we won't overspend and regret going to this excursion.

See you next week, Bohol!

Lunch

Luncheon at Chef D' Angelo with my family. Love spending time with them...

Not So Sure

I'm not really looking forward to going to Boracay with the family at the end of the month after reading in the paper about flooding and seeping sewage and smelly water in the vicinity of White Beach. I just don't want to risk going there and then having to experience these things as well. It would just be too expensive and too bothersome for the family. Furthermore, when I read this editorial from today's Inquirer, I was all the more decided to forego the trip and instead choose Bohol or Puerto Galera. I think that for more affordable prices, we could all have fun and at the same time, see sights as well. So tonight, Ruther and I will talk more deeply about this and hopefully, we will come to a decision about a destination.

I share the editorial from Inquirer here:

Boracay bomb
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:09am (Mla time) 01/07/2008

MANILA, Philippines - It does not take frequent visits to the famous white beaches of Boracay to realize that rapid growth is strangling the small island. Even a first-time traveler will notice, if he keeps his eyes open, that the crowded tourist destination has become even more congested. Growth has put a great strain on the island’s support systems, including those that carry potable water to the hundreds of resorts, bars and restaurants operating on the island and those that carry wastewater out.
Ask the regulars who are back in Boracay this week for an annual wind-surfing competition; quite a few will say that the world-famous island they have grown to love is an environmental time bomb.
Consider the numbers: Now a multibillion-peso industry, Boracay tourism probably attracted some 700,000 tourists last year—up by 200,000 from the half-million arrivals recorded only two years previously. To meet the explosion in demand, many investors are seeking to build more resorts and restaurants; pending applications include those for two 400-room hotels.
In an ideal world, these are applications that should be approved with all possible speed. But growth in Boracay has reached a stage where the paramount concern has shifted, from asking whether the island has enough rooms and facilities to service the continuing increase in tourist arrivals, to asking how much time the island has left before unchecked development leads to a collapse in services. To put it in terms appropriate to the modern fairy tale that is Boracay tourism: Is rapid growth killing the goose that lays the golden eggs?
The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources is putting together an “environmental master development plan” that should help provide the honest answer to that essential question, but the process depends in part on the successful implementation of a six-month suspension in new construction projects that Environment Secretary Lito Atienza announced last August.
Unfortunately, five months into the suspension, Atienza remains in a tug of war with the municipal council that governs Boracay. The other day, in a stunning admission of inutility, Atienza said: “We advised them [Malay, Aklan Mayor Cicero Cawaling and the municipal council] months ago to stop all development projects on the island before the studies that are being made by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are completed. But it seems that construction there continues.”
It “seems” construction continues? Can’t Atienza say for sure? If Boracay is important enough for the country’s tourism prospects and as a regional development template, can’t Atienza take the time to verify ongoing construction projects for himself?
We agree with Atienza’s controversial suspension order; we share his premise that while continuing development is welcome, environmental sustainability is now the key standard of growth. But we must wonder at Atienza’s resolve. His suspension order was greeted with immediate resistance. A month after it was announced, the newspapers reported that construction projects were still ongoing. The town mayor hemmed and hawed and said a municipal council resolution was needed to put the suspension order into effect. Five months later, the resolution remains unpassed, and Atienza is reduced to admonishing the local mayor about the consequences of his inaction.
The local government would have to answer to its people, Atienza said, “if they persist in not implementing what is correct and mandated by law.” And in the meantime, the Boracay environmental time bomb is ticking.
If Atienza and Tourism Secretary Ace Durano are serious about keeping Boracay as a viable tourist destination for the next generation, they have many options to choose from. Atienza can re-impose his suspension order, on the grounds that it had never taken effect. Durano must put his department’s dollar-earning weight behind the order, and convince the municipal council which depends on the tourism dollars generated by Boracay that the suspension is in its best interests. And together, Atienza and Durano can make the case for development, not on Boracay, but on the Aklan mainland. After all, it is only 15 minutes away from the famous but now overcrowded beaches.

Sweethearts

Together in the New Year. I know it's going to be a great year just having him with me.

I love you sweetie!

The Heartbreak Kid

Ruther and I watched this movie last night. I didn't like it much. It was just so-so. It looked too much like a Ben Stiller movie and I really don't love his movies that much. I think it's because of all the swearing or because somehow, it's like he plays the same character in his flicks all the time. I don't know. Somehow I just didn't like it. I like Adam Sandler's movies better. They are more tasteful and I usually like the chemistry he has with his leading ladies. Anyway, in The Heartbreak Kid, Stiller plays Eddie who falls in love with Lila in a whirlwind romance. They get married and then on their way to their honeymoon, Eddie discovers that he and Lila have nothing in common and begins to doubt their relationship and think that getting married to her is a mistake, even moreso when he falls in love with Miranda a girl he met at the honeymoon resort. And the story goes from there. Anyway, if you want to read a better review than this, then go here. It's so much more explicit than what I wrote. My say? Don't waste your time watching this movie.

Family Trip

My sweet hubby wants us (the family) to go to a beach resort this month. He was thinking of Boracay since I haven't been there yet. I would love to see the place but looking for a great travel/tour package is such a headache! I've checked websites and newspapers and so far, I haven't seen something that would be suitable for us. I very well would not want us to spend too much for this trip so I'm trying to check all options and all possibilities so that we could get our money's worth and have a great time as well. We're planning to have the trip at the end of the month so this means, I have to search more and search hard so I could make reservations by this week. Sigh. Hopefully, we'll be able to get a nice place for us and push through with this family trip.

It's 2008!

Happy family. Happy New Year.