I have a new home! :) Visit me there!

The Traveling Havaianas has packed up! I'm moving to Wordpress! So this is the official announcement--please visit my new blog address:

http://thetravelinghavaianas.wordpress.com

Who knows, I'll have my own domain name soon :) But meanwhile, I'll be keeping my blog updated with anything related to travel and photography so you can come back for more. My new address is more fresh and clean, and even if I'll miss this (my Blogger), my passions will carry on and will flow from there. Place it in your bookmarks; see you there!

The Traveling Havaianas... 2.0

This blog is moving to a new home soon! Something better this way comes... ;) See ya soon!

Keep calm and read on! Thanks for your support. :)

It's More Fun the Philippines (The Traveling Havaianas version)

The moment I read in the tweets and heard the buzz going around the latest Department of Tourism campaign, It's More Fun in the Philippines, it got me really excited because I KNOW for myself why it is so. It's something I could relate to. As a travel photographer, blogger, and advocate, my feet have taken me to different places in and outside of the country. Yes, many have impressed me and I've had a great time in them but needless to say, there's no place like ours. It is home. This place is just... FUN.

As what Atty. Ted Te in his commentary said, "Ask any Filipino who has ever stayed away from the Philippines involuntarily.  Ask them why they choose to look for Filipinos when they get to whichever part of the world they are in;  why there are community gatherings;  why there is always the inevitable search for the Filipino store.  Ask why we choose to carve out a small patch of PH anywhere we find ourselves in.  Because it IS more fun in the Philippines."


I'd like to thank the DOT for jumpstarting this open invitation to all to find out why the Philippines is more fun. For reminding us that despite its eccentricities, we have a country to be proud of. For igniting once again, unity, to have one spirit, one soul, and for striking a chord in us that this place, where we are born, makes us truly alive.

I have my own share It's More Fun the Philippines memes. I encourage you to make your own. HAVE FUN! :)

My Awesome Planner for 2012.

I've long quit collecting stickers for the Starbucks 2012 planner (and collecting calories from their toffee nut latte frappuccino). I've decided I won't join the bandwagon and get pressured buying coffee just to have this planner--which almost everybody else has. ;)

But... I got this really Awesome Planner which I think suits me! It's designed for the foodie and travel lover. Thanks to Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet who came up with this planner. :)

(Photo from Anton Diaz.)

Cover of the Awesome Planner 2012. 

Suggested travels perfect for each month. 

The monthly calendar which contains the 2012 Philippine holidays,
festivals, fiestas, and other events. It also has weekly pages.
(Photo from Anton Diaz.)

One of my favorite sections. The travel vision board, where you
can post your dream destinations for the year.

The vision board. (Photo from Anton Diaz.)

The planner also features different road trip destinations for each month and also a directory of 100 go-to restaurants. I'm already looking forward to filling this up throughout 2012... :) 

For more details of the Awesome Planner and how to order, check out www.facebook.com/AwesomePlanner. 

2012 is Going to be Legendary and Full of Breakthroughs!

The ancient Mayans have foretold it.

Nostradamus has predicted it.

The Carpenters sang and asked, "Don't they know it's the end of the world... it ended when you said good bye?"

Jay Sean and Nicki Minaj told us to party like it's going to happen.

Not intending to sound apocalyptic, if you knew that this is going to be your last year, how would you live differently? What would you change?

Whether or not you believe that 2012 will be end of the world, I believe it's time to live it as if it were your last. You have to make everything you do count. Be more authentic and more deliberate about how you spend your time. There's no turning back.

Here's my own prediction or declaration for 2012. It is going to be legendary. Unless you believe in those doomsday theories, everyone else I know have that glimmer of hope and anticipation that the coming year is going to be more awesome and full of BREAKTHROUGHS. I believe it and I claim it so too, in each area of my life.

Below is how I've envisioned my 2012 would be. I'm saying it in pictures that I'm going to experience life to the full this year. :)

Dreamboard: Legendary 2012 by Libby Malibiran :)

I believe only God knows when the world will end. For our part, let's live a no-regrets life and make the most out of every moment this 2012... Cheers!!! :)

* * * 

"Live Passionately... living each day as if it were your last.
Love Completely... showing others love that transcends and transforms.
Learn Humbly... growing through your problems and pain.
Leave Boldly... creating a legacy that will impact generations."
--From One Month to Live book
by Kerry and Chris Shook

"I'm not a tourist."

"I’m not a tourist."


"I don't wear socks with sandals."


"My adventure doesn’t stick to a schedule."


"I stand where empires rose, fell, and rose again."


"I travel for the little details." 


"You’ll never know if you like something until you try."

Here's my blog's video for the day featuring G Adventures' ad campaign. It's my sentiments exactly on how I want to travel. :)



Earth from G Adventures on Vimeo.

* * * 

G Adventures organizes travels and adventures to all four corners of the world (and everywhere in between).  Their trips embrace authentic accommodation and local transportation to bring you face to face with the world’s most fascinating cultures, customs and awe-inspiring wildlife. You don't merely see the world; you meet it, shake hands with it and get to know it on a first-name basis.

From their site: You'llNeverForgetIt.com, they're currently holding a contest where in you can send creative submissions featuring your own 'unforgettable moment'—a time when you broke out of the typical tourist 'bubble' and made a real connection with the world at its boldest, brightest and most beautiful. If you're chosen, you'll be one of three winners to embark on an unforgettable trip to one of the hundreds of destinations served by G Adventures. You'll be joined by a videographer and photographer who will chronicle your adventure which will be featured in print and online as part of the next G Adventures campaign. They're accepting entries until December 31, 2011! I have to think, think, think now! :)

The Longest Way...

I came across this guy who traveled from China to Germany just by walking, back in 2007. He called this project "The Longest Way"--as it is the longest way from a daydream to a dream.

Based on his blog thelongestway.com, he did walk about one third of the initial way, from the first day (of his 26th birthday) until the downfall about a year later. Then he stopped. He got a haircut and shaved off his beard, and took a plane home.

Then he came up with a new plan: go back to university, get a degree, didn’t think about walking for a while. (Check his plan here).

His name is Christoph Rehage. He got numerous awards from film festivals across the globe and his video has been going viral since 2009. Here's his travel from Nov. 9, 2007 to Nov.13, 2008, on foot, 4646km through China, unlimited beard and hair growth, condensed to a 5-minute video.

It doesn’t matter what dream you choose to follow, as long as you have one. Go follow your dream, and laugh while you’re doing it! --Christoph Rehage

In The Process of "Dreamboarding" for 2012...

Spring cleaning in my desk in the office--check! "Boxing day" of my old stuff from my closet and my room--check! Deleting my hundreds of emails in my inbox--check! Planning my financial budget and opening additional bank and trading accounts for the new year--check! "Dreamboarding" for 2012--that's next!

It's the last week of the last month of the year... Hurrah!!! :) Above were just some of the things that's been keeping me busy this last week. Year-end season has always been exciting for me. I've made this annual tradition for myself of making that list of "accomplishments" for the past year as well as "faith goals" for the coming year. I just learned that the term for the latter is called "dreamboarding" -- a creative way to visualize what you want to happen in your life by crafting a collage of images that resonate with you, to symbolize your goals, priorities, and motivations.

How I Dreamed This Year Would Be

Here's what I did last December 2010, my dreamboard for 2011. My theme was: UNCONTAINABLE 2011.

This has become my wallpaper in my PC at home and posted in desk. And it did inspire to take charge of my 2011. As you can see, most of the images portray travel, places, and photography. Others are about the most essential: having a closer relationship with God and true friends; while there are two images that also show my desire of getting a condo in Newport and a car.

I've declared back in the beginning of the year that 2011 is going to be uncontainable. And boy, I was in for a ride! It took me to new heights, to places I've never been before, and to things I've never done before. This blog is just one of the testimonies to it. I may not have obtained those material things yet (they're just MATERIAL things anyway), but I must say I've definitely become rich with new insights and experiences. :)

But wait, there's more!


Wait 'til you see 2012. Though I'm still in the process of creating my dreamboard for 2012 (I'll post it as soon as it's done), I believe it's going to be more awesome! Watch out, 2012, I've been waiting for ya!

* * * 

Just a plug: Writer's Block Philippines is having a Dreamboarding workshop on January 10, 2012 (Tuesday), 6:00-9:00pm in Quantum Café, Makati City. Instead of making the typical list of new year's resolutions, why don't you do you own dreamboard instead? More details of the session here.

Lessons Learned from Washi / Sendong (a Tribute to Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, North Mindanao)

My previous white water rafting
adventure in CDO River.  Who would've
thought that this same river would
wash away hundreds of homes? :( 

My heart breaks everytime I see those images from the recent tragedy in North Mindanao because of Typhoon Washi (international name) or as we locally call it, Sendong. I've had personal and business travels in those areas and I've witnessed Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Bukidnon's beauty. Now, I've seen the total opposite. I couldn't imagine that it would be this devastating.

Ma. Cristina Falls in Iligan

After my trips there, it has become one of my favorite places (and people) in the Philippines. And so as Christmas drew near, I gladly did my own share of giving back to the people of CDO and Iligan. Hope it helped in a way. I also would like to share these slides from Ms. Marvin Isidore Macatol from Facebook. I hope we all learn something from it.





Recalling Sendong: Did you really understand what just happened?

 * * * 

TREES

by: Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Corporate Woman Meets the Triathlete: Kirs and Moi Pre-Nup photos

Kirs and I go way back in college. We've gone a long way and we practically know each other's ins and outs. I'm just so happy to see her bloom and so in looove. Though Kirs and Moi are from two different worlds--Kirs , a power dresser enterprise account manager in a huge telco, Moi, a swimming coach and champion triathlete, I know they're a great pair and they are in good hands.

Here's some of my pre-wedding photos I took of them in Crosswinds Tagaytay. It's a memorable place for them since that's where they first met. Looking forward to their wedding next year!