Hello 2015

Courtesy of philpost

2015 is the year of the wooden sheep. A year when green is the lucky color to attract money, a year of prosperity, luck and opportunity.

My Boracay Holiday

The deaths of Cory Aquino and Michael Jackson were on headlines the last time i went to this idyllic island paradise in the northwestern tip of Panay island,  The shorelines then were lined by plastic walls to ward off the Habagat winds while talipapa and famous fruit shake bar got easily flooded as the high tides reached past the shores. Today while Marian and Ding Dong were too excited yet totally engrossed with their wedding preparation, the 2nd floor view of my  Nami room stand witness to a perfect sun, Russian backpackers in the nearby  Zapravka, Sergio mendes melodies and colorful paraw serenely studding the clearest blue oceans. Erwin our butler made sure i was given the perfect room after ascending through the frightful bamboo elevator to reach this hillside group of cottages. It was a setting so familiar yet too different because the jacuzzi in the porch is now missing. Familiar because of the hospitality and the seclusion  from the noise of station 2.

I am so excited. I ran for the porch, and took a breath of fresh seasalty air, selfies, and realized that no matter what they say, with the rapid island development at the expense of environmental degradation, pollution, crimes, traces of corruption, this island remains to be the best island getaway to forget everything else and to just be yourself. Just for a moment.

Food Trip in Boracay

Dreamy sunset

Longaburger at sunny side cafe

Smoked tanigue sandwhich, Nami Resort

Deep fried Mars chocolate bar, Los Indios Bravos

Chicken Masala, Los Indios Bravos

Eat, pray, love. Eating is a must in every traveller's itinerary. Boracay is a food critique's paradise with hundreds of restaurants and cafes to choose from whether Filipino or Indian cuisine to Russian. Name it. And its probably available. Thanks to some Tripadvisor recommendation. Indeed, sometimes they can nail it.

Sagada trip

The bus difital clock says 523 in the morning as we stopped at the nice Eatery as part of this 6-hr drive to Baguio. The trip was extremely comfortable-each one had their own lazy boy seat, soft and clean blankets and pillows and were given a midnight snack of crackers and mamon. After 20 minutes of rest the bus went off thru the early dark hours of the morning and i still cam appreciate the brightly lit full moon in the west.

Prayer Before Meals

A postcrossing message which warmed my heart...

"Dear Chris,

Thank you so much for your card which touches my heart very deeply.
The devout mood of the card is heartwarming and attractive and humble.
An effect of the card is so strong that I can hardly find words (in English).
It is a real jewel to my collection.
Thank you for lovely stamps,too.
Thank you for sharing this art experience with me.
Wish you a happy weekend and all the best!

Love, Marja"

Note: This is one masterpiece by Vicente Manansala, one of our National Artists for visual arts

on Meditation

"Your mind is your instrument. Learn to be its master and not its slave."- Remez Sasson
above photo-Varanasi,  2011

Really Love to See You Tonight- John Ford Coley

Tagum city for the first time played host to a world renowned international artist, who's late 70s hit, "Love is the Answer" became the only non-disco song in the Top 10 billboards chart. The Tagum audience definitely enjoyed most of his popular songs on the radio, ranging from the romantic, Just Tell Me You Love Me and I'd Really Want to See You Tonight. The Audience of course missed England Dan who departed a few years back. The almost two hours concert left the audience yearning for more after that heart wrenching Encore.