LP 73: Lakad

Kuha to ng aking cellphone habang naglalakad kami sa heritage street ng Vigan. Pamangkin ko ito. Inuunahan nya kami dahil gusto nyang ipakita na kaya na nyang umuwi mag-isa. Hay.. parang kailan lang na nagpapakarga pa ito sa akin tuwing may lakad kami o pauwi kami galing sa isang lakad.

LP 72: Hapunan

Eto ang hapunan ng kapatid ko nung minsang kumain kami sa Rai Rai Ken sa Baguio. Para syang rice toppings na may seafood at vegetables. Sayang at di ko na maalala ang pangalan ng inorder nyang ito. Gusto ko sa Rai rai ken dahil masarap at nakakabusog ang pagkain. Minsan sobra pa ang serving nila sa kaya kong kainin. Pero napansin ko, ewan kung sa branch na ito o dahil medyo taghirap na tayo, parang kumonti ang serving na nila ngayon. Sana ay ibalik nila ang dati para masulit naman natin ang binabayad natin.

LP 71: MERIENDA

Eto na ata ang pinaka-cute kong nameryenda kamakailan. Gawa ito ng aking pamangkin kaya may korte pang mickey mouse yan. Nung bata ako mahilig ako sa pancakes. Linalagyan pa namin ng food coloring ito. Ngunit minsan linagyan namin ng green na food coloring. siguro dahil bata, nagmukha syang kulay gulay at di na nain kinain ito. hehehe!

Athlete Kuno

Later I would be attending the mini parade for our office's mini Olympics. For the 2^nd year I will be playing badminton again but for a different team. I really don't know how to play badminton but because I play tennis, people from the office, assumed that I would be good in badminton. Big mistake! The two sports are very different. Although they may be similar in the sense that you have to hit a "ball" over a net to the opponent's, they have very different rules and style. Sa bola na lang. The shuttlecock is way lighter than the tennis ball, so with the racquet. Going back to the games from the previous mini Olympics, I did manage to snag the 3^rd spot in the singles game and the 1^st spot in the doubles game (thanks to my partner). So, with that record, my new team has decided to make me a player in the badminton games again. Hopefully, I won't disappoint them. I accepted because I was avoiding being forced to play volleyball or basketball for which I honestly don't have the energy or the skills for. I don't plan to play in the singles game but I would if I have to, I think I'd be much safer in the doubles game. Hehehe! Sigurista!

Ilocos Tour Guides

This has been keeping me busy the past months. I had been undergoing training for tour guiding under a program of City government and TESDA. With the creation of the Metro Vigan Coordinating Council, other municipalities, adjacent to Vigan, have been included in Vigan's tourism plans. Each municipality sent their representatives and I, together with 6 others had been fortunate to be selected to represent the Vigan team. After the training, we hope to be competent UNESCO certified tour guides.

This program has not only taught us heritage information regarding our city and municipalities, but has also developed our personalities. Before this, almost everyone in the group was scared to stand in front of the class or a group to say anything, even a well-rehearsed prayer. The training exposed us to different people from all walks of life and gave us the confidence to face them and share the knowledge we have acquired. Now, we are filled with information that we hope to impart to visitors of our town.

LP 59: Alam Mo ba?

Sabi nila ang paru-paro ay isang buwan lang ang buhay. At Alam mo ba na pag kumuha ka o nanghuli ng paru-paro sa Baluarte dito sa Vigan ay pababayaran ito ng limang daan? Isang munting kaalaman at "trip advisory" para sa mga balak mamasyal balang araw dito sa Vigan.

LP 57: Nang Matapos

Ang litratong ito ay kuha nung huling kalesa sa kalesa parade nung nakaraang viva vigan festival. Nakakalungkot na tapos na ang pagrampa ng mga nakakatuwa at ang gagandang kabayo at kalesa. Kasabay ng pagtapos nito ay sya ring pag-uwi ng ilan sa aming mga bisita nung fiesta. Kulang na kulang ang oras na nagkasama kami ng mga kamg-anak naming minsan lang namin makita. Pero kahit na ito'y isang pagtatapos, alam kong maraming maaalala na magagandang karanasan sa kasiyahang ito. At kasasabikan ko ang mga susunod na taong pagdidiwang ng Viva Vigan Festival

LP 56: Simula Pa Lang

Nung long weekend dumating ang aming kaibigan na si Jojo kasama ang dalawa nyang katrabaho na sina Carlo at Rodel. Dumating din ang pinsan naming si Dino at ang kanyang kasintahang si Amy. Nagpunta kami ng Pagudpud. Bago lang kaming magkakakilala pero nakakatuwa at nagkapalagayan kami ng mga oob agad. buong weekend, sa pagdiwang ng Viva Vigan Festival, kami kami ang nagkasama-sama. Napakasaya ng aming mga araw. Ngayon na nagsibalikan na sila sa Maynila at pumapasok sa kanilang mga opisina, nararamdaman namin ang pagkakamiss sa isa't isa. Ganun kaganda ang naging samahan namin. Pati ang aking ate na si Owen ay nakisama sa amin at nag-enjoy ng husto. Ngayon pa lang nagplaplano na kami ng aming susunod na bakasyon. Simula pa lang ito ng isang magadang samahan.

aNCESTRAL HOUSES OF a dIFERENT eRA

Being a part of the City Council, I have been lucky to be able join in their annual lakbay aral. Although, I envy my colleagues who have gone as far as Bicol in their past trips, I am very grateful for the places I have been able to visit because of this opportunity.

This year our itinerary consisted of a trip to the CALABARZON area of Region 4. I tell you, this area is so rich in culture and ancestry. From the artist-ladden town of Angono to the grand ancestral houses in Quezon, all I can say is, "I had a blast!"

I'm a visual person, I appreciate arts through my sense of sight. Paintings, Photographs, Costumes, architecture, sculptures, sceneries, interior designs, these things i appreciate... and I appreciate it well. On a travel tour, I can be eating biscuits the whole time, I wouldn't care as long as my eyes are full with beautiful artworks. A particular place that really regaled my senses was the Gala-Rodriguez house in Sariaya, Quezon. It was spectacular! In its history, its architecture and interior design. The furnitures were so opulent and the people taking care of the house were so accomodating. They had a program ready for us, now where else would a simple tourist/government worker be received with songs and a glass of lambanog? Only in Quezon! It was a pity that we arrived so late in the afternoon, although the incandescent bulbs from the chandeliers gave the tour its own charm. When asked to compare Sariaya and Vigan, both having an abundance of well-preserved ancestral houses, I could only say that they cannot be compared because they were of different eras. Both are to be commended for the efforts to preserved their ancestry and heritage. Their beauty reminds us of what we have lost during wars.

Not to be ignored was our sidetrip to Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon. We were just suppose to look around for 15mins. but how can someone go all the way to Quezon and not experience all that it has to offer? Thinking that the bus wouldn't leave us anyway, we climbed the 292 steps all the way to the top of the grotto. The statue was massive! Our guides told us that it was the largest Kamay ni Hesus statue in the Philippines. We had a hard time having our pictures taken with it because we looked minute beside it. The climb was tiring to say the least, but the experience was well worth it. It ws like seeing scenes from the karosas during processions at Semana Santa, only it can't be moved because it was affixed to the ground.

Most importantly, I will never forget this trip because of the wonderful people who accomodated us and took their time to accompany us in our "lakbay". The tour guides provided by the Province of Quezon were well-versed, obliging and friendly. We learned so much from them. Our generous host Cong. Erin Tanada also served us a very filling and superb buffet for lunch even if we arrived really late. Words are not enough to express our deepest gratitudes for their generosity and hospitality. Quezon may be a day of travel away from Vigan but I wouldn't think twice if the oportunity to go back comes along. I know that there is still much that Quezon has to offer to the traveller. I wish we had more time to explore and experience everything about Quezon.

Update... Missing in Action

Sorry po kung di ako nakakapost dito sa blog ko... I just came from our lakbay aral and syempre tambak work, had to catch up. Now busy ulit sa upcoming Viva Vigan Festival! Post na lang po ulit pag everything clears na.

LP 52: Paboritong Litrato

Ito ay isa sa aking mga paboritong litrato dahil isa ito sa mga una kong kinuhanan noong nabili ko ang aking DSLR. Pero syempre hindi lang yun ang dahilan, pakiramdam ko ay napaka-sweet ng magkapatid na ito. Bago ko mailabas ang aking camera ay sinusubuan pa ng kuya ang bulingit ng ice cream. sayang at nasa loob ng opisina noon ang aking camera dahil yun sana ang gusto kong kuhanan. Pero kahit na di ko inabutan yung pagmemeryenda nila, natutuwa pa rin ako sa litratong ito dahil ramdam pa rin naman ang pagiging kapatid at kuya nung batang lalaki dito. Habang binabantayan nya ang kanyang kapatid, e inaaliw nya ito sa pagpapakita ng iba't ibang mga bagay na interesante sa kanya. Aakalain mong malungkot ang magiging dating ng larawan dahil mga batang kalye sila, pero mas maaantig yung puso mo sa kainosentahan at pag-asang dinudulot ng larawan. Sa mga bata, minsan, kahit wala silang mga materyal na pag-aari o may kahirapan ang kanilang mga buhay, nakikita pa rin nila at na-aappreciate ang kagandahan ng paligid at ng buhay.

Earth Hour 2009

Article from WWF website

It was literally Earth’s darkest hour – but the 7107 isles of the Philippines shone the brightest.

When the clock struck 8:30 on Saturday night, the 28th of March, over 15 million Filipinos in 650 major cities and towns switched off lights for 60 minutes to join the world in celebrating Earth Hour – an initiative of WWF, the Department of Energy, Green Army Network and SWITCH movement. Organizers are jubilant at the sheer scale and success of the movement nationwide.

Boosting the effort is broad corporate support, led by sponsorships from Philips, SM Supermalls, Pilipinas Shell, Malampaya Joint Venture Partners (Shell Exploration, Chevron and PNOC), First Gen Corp., Energy Development Corp., Meralco and Ayala Land.

The nation edged out all other countries for the most number of participating cities and towns, trailed by Greece with 484 and Australia with 309 - proving that Filipinos can rise up to the challenge of climate change.

The inaugural Earth Hour in 2007 involved just two million people in one city – Sydney in Australia. Some 53 million in 371 cities in 35 countries took up the rallying cry in 2008. This year’s overwhelming participation reflects growing global concern over climate change and the inability of the world so far to craft an effective global response. Organizers hoped for the participation of at least 1000 cities and towns worldwide.

At least 3943 communities from 88 countries across 25 time zones heeded this year’s call. Again, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who pitched in to find light amidst the darkness.

Ang galing! I'm so glad I was able to be a part of it. I was reading the last part of Harry Potter Half Blood Prince. I used a flashlight to read it when we had to close lights. sakto 1 hour i finished the book. galing. Nakakapagtaka na sa isang oras na yun ang hirap din pala knowing na may ilaw pero di sya pede buksan. Pero when i read this article sa Philippine Star, i felt proud because a lot of Pinoys took part and I and my family decided to take part too. Kudos sa WWF and Earth Hour organization kasi if not for their information drive, di siguro ganun kalaki ang impact sa madaming tao. The last years, nakikita ko sa TV and would resolve to join pero i would forget tapos parang napaka-insignificant naman ng contribution pag ikaw lang. Pero ngayon dahil talagang pinaghandaan at dinessiminate nila ng mabuti yung info, lahat sa bahay alam kaya lahat nagparticipate. Sabi nga ng sister ko dapat twice a year sya e. Congrats din sa lahat ng sumali!

LP 51: SAPATOS

Eto ang aking paboritong sapatos (sa ngayon). Isa syang Ed Hardy creation. Di ko alam bakit ang sikat sikat nito noon. Sabi ng iba dahil daw sa design, personally, pag nakikita ko yung mga design nya e naalala ko yung mga nakapintura sa mga gilid ng mga bus at jeep. Pero dahil ito ay bigay ng aking ama noong sya'y magpunta sa Vietnam, mahal na mahal ko itong rubber shoes ko na ito. Isa pa, napaka-comportable ng sapatos na ito sa aking paa kaya lagi kong ginagamit. Sobrang dumi na nga nya at di pa maalis yung mga mantsa, linusong ko pa sa ilog. hehehe! Hindi po ako nakasali sa mga nakaraang LP dahil sa pinagawa ko ang aking lente. Tinubuan sya ng fungi. Salamat naman at naayos pa sya at di kinailangan palitan. Kaya ngayon maya't maya ay pinapaaraw ko ang aking lente at bumili na rin ako ng drybox. Sana di na maulit ang pagkakaron ng fungi ng aking lente. Happy LP sa inyong lahat!

Raissa

Check out and join this awesome blogcandy from sassy designs by susie here

Another blogcandy from Sonia here

LP 48: BAG

Eto ang mga bag na tinitinda sa heritage site dito sa Vigan. Ang gaganda ng mga kulay. Ngunit sa tingin ko di sya katutubo dito. Parang gawa sa ibang lugar pero tinitinda dito. Dito ako nalulungkot minsan dahil andaming produkto dito na di naman talaga gawa ng mga Ilokano. Parang feling ko, baka nasasapawan na ang aming mga sariling produkto. Pero naiintindihan ko naman ung mga negosyante. Gusto lang naman nila kumita kaya okay lang at buti rin naman at nakikita ng mga turista ang produkto ng ibang mga bayan dito sa Pilipinas.

LP 47: Bulaklak

Nakalimutan ko ang pangalan ng bulaklak na ito. Actually isa syang cactus. Iba iba ang kulay ng mga bulaklak ng halamang to. May pink, red, yellow, fuchsia at ewan kung totoong may asul pa (feeling ko tsismis lang yun. hehehe). Ewan kung bakit nagkaron ng panahon na sobrang naging sikat ito sa amin at halos lahat ng bahay ay meron nito. Sobrang naging expensive pa nito at umaabot pa ng libo kung bibilhin mo. Akala ko naman ang hirap nyang buhayin o palaguhin pero madali lang pala. Ngayon, nawala na yung pagiging uso nito pero sobrang dami pa rin nito sa mga bahay bahay. Siguro ay nagsisisi na ang mga taong gumastos ng pagkalaki laki para lang sa mga halaman na ito. Ayon pa nga sa feng shui ay malas itong ilagay sa harapan ng bahay dahil ito ay cactus nga at may mga tusok tusok sa kanyang stem. Maganda man ang bulaklak ng halaman na ito, sobrang naging exaggerated ang pagsikat nito kaya ngayon ay parang nakakaumay na syang tingnan. Parang lahat ng sulok ng Vigan e meron nito. Pero ito ay dulot lang naman ng sobrang pagsikat nya dito. Kung di sana naging ganun ay siguradong ma-aappreciate ko pa rin ang kagandahan ng bulaklak na ito.