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! :)

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

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.

What are you thankful for? (A Thanksgiving celebration post.)

"Girls, let's do a thanksgiving celebration... prepare a list of things you're thankful for." I received this text from my friend Cai.

"Sure, will do. When are we doing this? On our Christmas celebration?" I replied back.

"No, Thanksgiving nga. Around November 24," she replied.

"Ohhh... THAT Thanksgiving! Game!" I texted, laughing at myself for not getting that one right away.

For some reason, the Thanksgiving holiday is not normally celebrated in the Philippines. We put more emphasis and importance to Christmas than this one, well probably since we don't share the history of its origins with US or Canada. Anyhow, though we don't have a specific day for this, we Filipinos do thanksgiving celebrations at any given day or time of the year especially whenever we have a special event we want to be thankful for, like graduation, passing a board exam, buying or moving in to a new house, a promotion, etc. (Oh, not to mention our hundreds of local festivals celebrating a good harvest and all that).

Here's Some of our Thanksgiving List

It's true that we are to be thankful everyday. But it's a different feeling, I realized, when my close friends and I have gathered together over dinner to give thanks for our blessings. It was so encouraging to hear all the things my friends were grateful for this year. It simply reminded me how great our God is in our lives in the past eleven months:

... One of my friends was thankful for her getting engaged this year and for the safety and protection they as a couple experienced in Japan during the earthquake and tsunami.

... One was grateful for her being assigned in the US for work. It helped her moved on with things or with someone.

... One of them is happy about how things are going on with her career and MBA studies (plus her high grades) and didn't forget to be content even with the simplest things, like having free lunch outs.

... A guy friend is delighted with the video projects that he has received and is currently working on as well as his budding friendship with this certain girl.

... And speaking of projects, one of my friends has also been getting more make-up gigs and is finally doing what she loves. What's good is that she has a loving husband to support her in all that she does.

... To reciprocate, another friend is appreciative of her beautiful wife and all the provisions that they have as a new couple: a condo, paid appliances, and other blessings.

... Another one was ecstatic about their Japan visa being approved and that they'll be celebrating their Christmas there. Even better is her good health so she can enjoy this altogether.

... One friend is thankful for her restored relationships, realizations and the dream God has placed in her heart. She's elated to pursue this and will take it one day at a time.

... And lastly, one of us is thrilled about finding fulfillment in her work, being able to finally manage her finances and starting to diversify her portfolio, and for being able to fund her trips locally and abroad.


Time to List Down Your Own

What are YOU thankful for? Share your gratitude with your friends and family. Say why you're also thankful for one another. Be amazed by God's faithfulness and how he has moved in your lives this year. :)

PS. No turkey was harmed in our own Thanksgiving dinner. :)  

TRAVEL... while we're young, wild, and free... :)

A number of my friends in Facebook recently shared a link to this article about reasons to travel while you're young. We couldn't agree more with what Jeff says:

1. Traveling teaches you to live an adventure
2. Traveling helps you encounter compassion
3. Traveling allows you to get some culture

True, true, and true!

"Yeah, but..."
The writer says that these words never were more fatal words spoken:

Yeah, but… what about debt? Yeah, but… what about my job? Yeah, but… what about my boyfriend (or dog or car or whatever)?

“Yeah, but…” is pernicious. Because it makes it sound like we have the best of intentions when really we are just too scared to do what we should.

It allows us to be cowards, while sounding noble.

Most people I know who waited to travel the world never did. 

I have always marveled at people who were courageous enough to quit their jobs and travel. They are definitely past that "yeah, but..." stage. I've been reading about their fascinating stories in a Couchsurfing forum. I met someone in my travels who actually did. I've also encountered several people who were on their "gap year." (A gap year, according to Wikipedia, means taking time out to travel in between life stages. It is also known as sabbatical, time off and time out that refers to a period of time. They take this time to travel, engage in volunteer work overseas or undertake a working holiday abroad.) I think such a thing hardly exist in the Philippines.


Here are my own "buts"...
I envy those who can take a sabbatical or gap year with reckless abandon. Most of them have let go of their excuses. "If not now, when?" someone told me. Good for them! For my part, I still can't get over my concerns:

But what about my budget...? Taking a time off to travel for long period means you need a lot of cash. LOTS OF IT. (How does one break a bank?!) It's not easy saving up for the big haul given my current Philippine monthly income (I learned from a backpacking talk before that a Round-the-World (RTW) trip costs around US$ 25,000!) and if I were able to gather already, I'd probably be not-so-young anymore.

But what about the bills I have to pay and other personal matters? Monthly bills are always there and I also have personal family obligations that would be hard to leave for a long time. I'm not sure if I would understood. You see in the Philippines, young ones stick with their family up until before they get married. I know that's odd for other cultures, but that's how we honor our parents and family relations.

But what about my next job...? So let's say I did it, who would take me in once I get back? I'm in a good company now, would I be able to get the same kind of job in a prestigious company when I return? It would be a huge risk for me.

In the meantime...
Though I have these what you may call "excuses," my dream to travel the world hasn't been buried in the deepest of my heart; it still remains afloat. But I figured I'll only remain dreaming if I don't do something about it.

Meanwhile, I'm still going to travel. Occasionally take a vacation leave. (Maybe not for a year yet or RTW). Do travel photography and blogging. I'll continue to save up. Start looking for other things where I can invest in and grow my income. Research. Talk to people who have done so. Prepare like it's really going to be done.

There is no “I can’t” anymore. I'm in charge. The only thing holding me back is me.

"A journey to a thousand miles starts with a single step." 

--Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu, 

Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)

The Things I Take for Granted (my post-birthday post)

Back at the start of 2011, I had a word that would describe what I was expecting 2011 would be: UNCONTAINABLE.

The power of words. Indeed, it IS.

As this year's chapter draws to a close and as I become nostalgic again celebrating my birthday, I'm awestruck by how God has been moving in my life this 2011. But before that, I have to be honest that I have been bothered lately by the littlest things... If should get an iPad 2, when I could get my camera upgrade, being hassled with commuting, my unpaid credit card bills... Ugh, I realize that these concerns are just so minor!

I'm reminded by God's goodness again when I heard Jessica Cox's testimony yesterday morning. She's a single engine pilot, taekwondo black belter, pianist, motivational speaker (among other things) with NO ARMS!

Here's a feature of her in Ellen's Show:



Having seen that, I'm no longer going to enumerate God's blessings to me this past year. I believe it is personal and I guess you've witnessed it in some of my posts (and I don't want to appear "showing off" to anyone). Instead, I'm going to be thankful for the simplest things I'm able to do which I've been taking for granted all this time...

- Being able to sip my cup of coffee in the morning
- Clothe myself in my favorite dresses and accessories with my two arms
- Type my travel blog entries in my laptop
- Hold my camera and take photos
- Use my QWERTY phone to email / text my friends with my two hands
- Use utensils to go on a food trip
- Brush and dry my short hair
- Do channel surfing with the remote
- Get lost in a book and flip its pages
- Prepare and design my powerpoint decks

I could go on and on...

...So you think you've got a big problem? Think again! :)

The sad news: We're driving tourists away...

Being a passionate traveler myself, my eyes would brighten up everytime I talk about the beautiful places in the Philippines to foreigners I've met. I could randomly help a traveller here and would go to a Lonely Planet mode, giving info and tips about the places that I think are worth recommending. One of my friends even branded me as “Ms. Mabuhay Philippines” because of that (hahaha!) and I guess you could see that enthusiasm in this travel blog. “If tourism were just about all the beautiful things that a country had to offer, we would be top on any traveler’s list–because we DO have EVERYTHING that a tourist would want to enjoy on a well-earned vacation.”

Having said that, it just depresses me to hear news such as Ninoy Aquino International Airport being voted the worst airport “for sleeping in” on the same week that Air France-KLM announced a phasing out of its Manila-Amsterdam route. I couldn’t agree more with Nina Terol-Ziacita’s article when she said that while our country has the perfect touristy allure, “we also have MANY of the things that would drive ANYONE away from ANY country: an inefficient bureaucracy, a horrible public transport system, heavily polluted streets, chaotic urban areas, beggars and street urchins loitering on the streets, crime, corruption–name it, we probably have it.”  That's why come news broadcast time at night, I would step out of our living room because I'm seeing the same kind of bad news over and over (and we all get so numb of it already, and that's another sad story). They've just become the usual icebreaker if you find yourself striking up a conversation with someone on the street.

*Sigh* The problem of the Philippines, as Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez himself had pointed is that, "We haven’t really acted like a tourism country. We’ve got an airport that doesn’t look like it wants to welcome visitors and make them stay; we’ve got a terrible public transport system and public infrastructure that discourages people from exploring any town or city in this country; we’ve got a tax regime and a business climate that discourages investments; we tear down historical landmarks instead of preserving them; we’ve got corruption; we’ve got garbage. In short: aside from our innate creativity, our laughter, and the genuine warmth of our people, we’ve given foreigners many reasons to stay away from us, from the level of policy formulation all the way to policy execution. It’s poor governance over the last few decades that has made us a weak tourism brand."

I don't only look forward to what Sec. Jimenez "rockstar of advertising" can do to our tourism industry, not only for President Aquino and his administration's projects to finally take place... I'm waiting for the whole country to get our acts together! Nope, I shouldn't just wait. I'll do something to make Philippines a little bit better in my own way. I hope you also do. We've just got to want this change SO BAD. 

*Some places I'd like to visit in the Philippines next year:*

Bantayan Island, Cebu. From Eric Brian Ouano, Flickr. 

 Batanes. From Anton Diaz, Our Awesome Planet. 

Coron, Palawan. From Anton Diaz, Our Awesome Planet. 

My own "social experiment."

And so I’ve been pretty much under the radar in the “social networking” world lately. It’s not mainly because I’ve been busy with work the past weeks (well, I really WAS), but I just felt like giving up that habit. It's like, let’s say, quitting smoking ingrained as a daily ritual—I turned cold turkey, or something. There wasn’t a major event that happened to me which triggered this decision. Don’t get me wrong okay, I didn’t turn into living like a hermit, a snobby, anti-social being… Turned to anti-FB or anti-Twitter perhaps? Not really, but I realized that I don’t like the general idea that it’s ALL OUT THERE (their privacy settings, no matter how private you set it, is just crap). Was I fooled by these social networking sites all this time? Maybe. But let's just say that I'm a bit wiser now.  

So here's my social experiment. What will happen when I've refrained from it? What will I now do then? Well, I felt that it’s about time to go back to really getting in touch with people intimately (and privately) again.

The tendency then was to “watch” people to update their lives in the News Feed. It’s like watching a newscast on TV: here are your friends, broadcasting the minutest and mundane details of their lives, yet there’s a glass wall separating you and them. You see their comments, their photos, Oh so, she likes to party. That one, I get it. Then you tend to disregard or put-off asking them “how are you?” in its truest sense since you already know what’s happening with them. But do you KNOW, really? 

I was once read a quote saying, "If someone wants to be a part of your life, they'll make an effort to be in it." Isn’t it great to receive a “how are you?” out of the blue because he/she truly remembered you and not because you shouted out or posted something in your Wall? Because they really want to know what you're going through, what's deep inside of you apart from and beyond your shared location, links, or "likes"? I think it would even feel better if you stop being too much of yourself and do the same. Just give.

I figured it’s about time to get REAL once again. To build REAL relationships and not just superficial and practically virtual relationships. I'm so glad my VG friends, even if we don't post that much or comment in each other's post, everytime we see each other every week, our conversations seem endless. That's what I want. Not just the trivial. Not just shallow. Time to get REAL. 

So that's my social experiment. Let's see my world could change. :)

Signs that you still haven't moved on (from your recent trip)

It's been exactly one month since our homecoming from our amazing race. And the hangover still lingers!

I guess it's now embedded in me. It seems that I'd always find something that I associate with our trip. There's always something to relate with our backpacking experience. It feels like coming from a break-up that everywhere you go, everything just reminds you of your ex. That I'm-still-not-over-him-and-I-just-want-to-reminisce kind of feeling? Yeah, that one.

Perhaps you're like me, you can tell that these are some signs that I still haven't moved on (from my trip, that is):

• Experiencing the non-stop rains lately reminds me of our Vang Vieng days...

• Waking up in the morning looking for banana pancakes... Then buying groceries to make one the next day.

• Going to a Thai restaurant to satisfy the craving for Pad Thai and Thai milk tea. (And complaining to my travel buddies that in Thailand, it was only 20THB for the milk tea...).

• Having a "backpacker's nook" BBM group with my travel buddies and just randomly reminiscing about the anything about the trip at any given day. (And we still memorize EVERY detail of it).

• Playing songs from our backpacking soundtrack, watching movies, reading books that have the setting of the countries that we went to.

• Having the usual conversation with your other friends and will suddenly insert, "Oh, in Cambodia, it used to be like this...", "Oh, in Laos, it was like that..."

• Preaching to friends who plan to go backpacking about our tips, ideas, and anecdotes.

• Changing my Facebook profile picture every several days or a week or so, and every photo is still from the trip.

• Getting green with envy everytime I hear others who are still NOT finished with their backpacking trip having a great time.

• Procrastinating about preparing for my next "minor" trip (local and not backpacking). Planning for the next BIG one may be highly unlikely to push through soon, so I just hang on to those past memories...

• STILL blogging about THE trip one month after.

To celebrate our happy monthsary from our homecoming, let me end with this song:

"I walk along the city streets you used to walk along with me,
and every step I take reminds me of just how we used to be.
Well, how can I forget you, girl?
When there is always something there to remind me."

I want to go to Peru!

I love going to "lost" cities! Exploring the ancient infrastructures, trekking the ruins, learning the mysterious stories behind it, taking photos... there's something about these places that give me a different high. (This is probably the reason why I enjoyed the Temples of Angkor so much the moment I stepped there.)

I'm reminded about another ancient city in Peru: The Lost City of Inca: Machu Picchu. Today, July 24, marks the 100th anniversary of the rediscovery of this city. In 2007, this was elected to part of the 7 New Wonders of the World. What makes this trail challenging is the trek to the hilltop to get to the grand complex. It's located 7,000 feet above sea level and nestled on a small hilltop between the Andean Mountain Range, which soars above the Urabamba Valley below. What makes this more alluring are the mysteries of this Inca structure. Many theories have emerged, but historians and archaeologists are still unsure of the function.

Photograph by David Evans from National Geographic.

(Take a virtual tour of Machu Picchu here).

It's a long way from my country but at least we don't need a visa going to Cusco, Peru. With the celebration of its 100th anniversary of discovery, I'm sure more travelers will flock here. Though I may not be able to go this year, this is definitely on my bucket list! :)