Sunrise From the City of Smiles

“There's always a story. It's all stories, really.

The sun coming up every day is a story.

Everything's got a story in it.

Change the story, change the world.”

― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky



Another day to make things right. Appreciate life. Live life out loud. We have 24hours every day, make each moment count.

Happy Not So WORDLESS WEDNESDAY to you all!

The Earth Moves

saw ripples in my coffee
thought it was magic,
but no! it was the earthquake...

The Ruins

The Ruins, Bacolod City

The Sunday after Christmas allowed me time to explore some parts of Bacolod City. Details of this visit are in my Tuesday's Tales!

Happy Wordless Wednesday everyone!

Scaling Heights...

You have to scale the mountain to view the plain!

This is a photo of Mt. Manadalagan. The IT Guy and I took it in one of our road trips to Bacolod from Cebu. I have been an absentee in this blog and I don't have any other reason other than I was just too preoccupied scaling some heights...It is just so fun to be back with Wordless Wednesday! 

Behold...

The King of the World!

The IT Guy took this photo in one our trips back to Bacolod City. We usually travel by land and we found this on at Don Salvador Benedicto...in the mountains! 

Today is an exciting day for Mariposa...I may be missing sleep but I am so up and too excited. I woke up with a text message which goes..."I have made up my mind, I am coming there to join you." This comes from a guy I have been courting to come here to head the IT Department. So this is good news and should eliminates some of my worries...and the IT Guy shares my excitement on this one too.

Anyway I've got to run now...have a meeting in 20 minutes and haven't taken a shower yet. I wish you all a super exciting Wordless Wednesday!

Picking Flowers

...from the garden of wonderful memories!

It is at the edge of a petal that love waits.
- William Carlos Williams

I took this photo several years ago at my Grandma's garden. I think I was only 17 then...and was the edge of a lot of things! That is the closest thing I could come up with because in this old photo was written the above line of William Carlos Williams. 

Happy Wordless Wednesday everyone!

Philippine Flying Lemur

PhotoHunt: HANGING

It doesn't fly and it isn't a lemur! 

But it got its name because of its nocturnal habit and the shape of its fox-like head which are are reminiscent of lemurs. This photo was taken in one of my trip to Bohol with the IT Guy. 

Please visit PhotoHunt's HQ to see what else are HANGING! 

Wish everyone a restful weekend!

From A Distance

The IT Guuy took this photo few weeks ago. This is the Port of Toledo City, Cebu. If we take the land trip going to Bacolod from Cebu and vice versa, we passby here.

Happy Wordless Wednesday everyone!

All About Dumaguete City

As most of you know I am in another city called Dumaguete for the training of my pioneer team, my Alpha Team! ;)

While this city is nearer to Cebu City as compared to Bacolod (where the call center is located and where I will be temporarily be based) it is just way different from Cebu...way different!

So for today, let me feature some facts and information about Dumaguete City which I learned first hand. So folks, here goes my entry for Thursday 13 --

1. Dumaguete is also known as the City of Gentle People. This I have no idea why. I just find it a label too difficult to keep, for one I have encountered several rude people here already...but while I know it is not fair to generalize, it is also not wise to generalize that they are all gentle. But then, yes that is what the city is known for. :)

2. Dumaguete City is the capital of Negros Oriental.

3. This is a city which I'd say has been trapped somewhere in time. The city does not have any cabs nor jeepneys (the public transport here in the Philippines). People here ride the motorcycles and the motorcycles with a side car which we commonly call as tricycle or pedicab.

See this woman? She is dressed well and most likely on her way to work. I cannot imagine myself in my corporate outfit riding one! The government they said does not allow franchise for jeepneys and cabs...amazingly crazy.

Needless to say this makes the like of Mariposa go nuts! I haven't driven for awhile moreso in a new and unfamiliar city...so I have to what, rent a car with a driver?! So crazy!

4. But I found a nice place to stay. Not a fancy hotel but very neat, people are very hospital and the place was able to host all of us. Yes we got the entire place for us!

This is Bolmon Guest House. If want to visit Dumaguete I highly recommend this place for you. I rarely make recommendations and this is one I am willing to promote for free! :) Seriously this place is just nice. Despite all the craziness that I have with transportation and at the other center, it is nice to know that I have a place to rest at the end of the day. This is like home away from home for me.

This is the terrace outside the room where I'm staying. Actually it is the suite. I can see sunrise from here...which I really love!

5. One popular landmark and one of of the city 's historic construction is the Dumaguete Bell Tower (Belfry). It served as a watchtower in ancient times and is now equipped with a lush garden. Devotees visit the place everyday to pray.

6. The Boulevard is Dumaguete’s most famous promenade and I have to admit, I love it, especially with the beautiful view of sunrise that it offers!

Lots of people jog here early morning and I enjoyed my morning walk here with my coffee!

7. Along the Boulevard is also a nice restaurant which I always frequent, Lab-as. It is a local term for fresh, as their specialty are seafoods.

7. The Quezon Park is another beautiful area with some stunning tree lines and a huge play area for children and a venue for concerts and exhibitions as well. A cultural program is being held every week in this park, the Tayada Sa Plaza.

8. Silliman Univeristy. This is definitely one icon Dumaguete has...to a point that I sometimes would say to myself that there is not Dumaguete without Silliman. They are just synonymous to each other. 

9. And the Silliman Beach is a beautiful place known for its relaxed and serene environment. Visitors can also enjoy some popular water activities here. It is especially popular with the younger crowd.

10. The place is famous for Sans Rival.

 11. I love Cafe Antonio! After several nights of searching for a nice coffee shop I finally found a place to stay and enjoy my coffee.

12. The people in Dumaguete speaks the same language/ dialect with the people in Cebu! WOOT! I get to finally talk in my Cebuano dialect. I missed it when I was in Bacolod because people there speak Ilonggo.

13. And finally if there is one thing I need to tell people who visits this place, you are in for an adventure. Should I come back here I will make sure I bring casual clothes to get to ride with their means of transport. This is a place where I feel I am way overdressed even going to work. This is one place I can't stay long...unless I have the IT Guy with me who make sure I get most of the things I need. LOL

That's it for today people...Happy Thursday to all!

Taking New Roads

“Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps, 

down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision.” 

~ Ayn Rand

Happy Wordless Wednesday everyone!

Heroes...

PhotoHunt: MEMORIAL

(Libingan ng mga Bayani)

Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God.

I took this photo several years back when I visited the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial also known as the "Libingan ng mga Bayani". 

It's Memorial Day in the US and while I'm on the other part of the world, today I'm one with the American people in remembering all who died and fought for democracy and independence. My prayer goes to all of you, I salute you all!

Please visit PhotoHunt's HQ to see more interesting MEMORIAL!

I wish you all a great weekend!

[ADD]

It may be in a way cheating...but I so want to join Fun Monday and I would really love to share this entry as I believe it is very fitting to tis week's themere. The Church Lady is hosting Fun Monday...you may check what others have!

Finally It...

RAINED!

 

Better late than never! Happy Wordless Wednesday everyone!

My Sunset Sky

Clouds come floating into my life,

no longer to carry rain or usher storm,

but to add color to my sunset sky.

~Rabindranath Tagore

Happy Wordless Wednesday everyone!

Hobby Farming

While I am trying to calm the storm in my schedule, I am slowly making my list of things to do once I'm over my busyness. As most of you know, I am always forward looking. Ha!

If there is one thing that this place has that I can't find in Cebu, it's space. And I mean it literally. Here are vast of land...plain land for that matter. In fact as I have mentioned in one of my recent post, the house I got has a good space for garden. Well, as I stare at it every morning with my coffee I see that it can be more than that. I think it can accomodate the new hobby which I have been contemplating for months now - hobby farming.

I am a lover of veggies and that makes me miss Cebu. For whatever reason it's a bit hard to find fresh vegetables here and the way they are priced are just ridiculous. In Cebu we were able to grow some veggies in our garden and so I thought I might do it here. So for the past days I have been reading about farming.

I can't wait to have something like this in my garden!

Finding A New Home

And when the day arrives I'll become the sky 

and I'll become the sea 

and the sea will come to kiss me for I am going home.

~ Trent Reznor

The past days were manic days for me. Half of last week were spent meeting with different vendors for the new call center that I will be joining/ managing. It was the first time to be working closely with my new boss and so far it was fun. Last weekend I had to hurriedly prepare for my trip. As I have mentioned, I will be moving to a new city where the new call center will be built. Just about 30 minutes away by plane and I guess 5-7 hours by land, depending on the route. We took the land trip coming here and this is one of the first few photos I took.

So I am here now, in my so called new home. It was a bit hard finding for a place, and I was so ready to give up and was decided to just stay in the hotel forever. Ha! But well, today I found a nice house within a subdivision and it is well guarded. It is a two bedroom house, with a garden, garage and a garden! Yes, I have to type it twice for emphasis. I am just so happy to have a garden, as that is one place I love spending time with. Though it cost me a lot because I had to pay 2 months advance and 2 months deposit (and it is quite pricey than I expected) I'd say I'm happy to have found it.

And now that I have found a place and will finally be able to move there from the hotel, reality has slowly sunk in. I will miss my family and I will miss the IT Guy. Soon Mom and IT Guy will go back to Cebu and I'm just hoping work will be more than enough to preoccupy me. 

I think I just typed a chapter of a book. I will try to write more about this new place and my new life as I get to settle slowly. I wish you all a happy mid-week!

Happy not so Wordless Wednesday everyone!

P.S. Happy birthday Papa! I miss you!

Wish You All Wealth and Success!

We just celebrated the Chinese New Year and we will have different related activities for the next 2 weeks. A tradition that the family gets to keep for the most part is the giving of red envelopes. I, personally is fond of giving red envelopes may it be new year or any special occasions such as birthdays. I'm sharing you one here. I wish you all success and prosperity for 2010! May this be your best ever!

Happy Wordless Wednesday everyone!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

This new year is all about BIG things happening, and this is quite true for Mariposa. As most of you know we always celebrate Chinese New Year, and I did share our moments for the past years now, remember 2008 and 2009? So the past days had me, the IT Guy and the entire family busy preparing for the big day. 

Last week I already did my advance visit to the Taoist Temple and we should go back there tomorrow. My decision to leave work earlier and stay at home first before starting the new job just made this new year the best so far. I'd say the best because for this particular one I'm able to spend more time at the kitchen and was able to plan everything out. Woot!

The house was more than ready for it as IT Guy did some of the decors...as you can see  here --

We also prepared some money in red envelopes for the traditional monetary gift. In Mandarin we call these red envelopes Hóng Bāo, and Lai See in Cantonese. We do this not only on new years by the way, but also on other special occasions such as birthdays and weddings.

Here we hanged some of in one of the small tree in the garden --

 

  

 

Here is a closer look!

We also prepared some food for dinner and of course the traditional new year delicacies --

 

I did my favorite beef caldereta. I made it a little more spicy than the usual to help welcome the year of the metal tiger. I also made sure there are enough veggies on it for health and longevity. The IT Guy did the spaghetti. As most of you know, noodles are for long life and the nephew love it! The rest are the usual, spring rolls, sweet and sour fish, lechon kawali and other desserts. One things unusual here as you may have noticed is the whole chicken, and it is really WHOLE, as you can see, it still have its feet  and head. Yes, we have this every new year too so symbolize completeness. Got this particular tradition years ago when I visited mainland China.

 

For the other usual delicacy, we have the traditional tikoy, macy, huatki, chibiko and of course, my favorite fortune cookies!

  

We also prepared some candies and chocolates!

 

And of course some dried sweet plum, jelly candies, dried pineapple and sweet potato candies! 

All those, and some other which I feel no need to be mentioned is more than enough to make the table so crowded! 

I also have to mention that IT Guy took care of the fireworks part (he always does anyway) and this year is just AMAZING! I did not take any video as I wanted to enjoy it and just really watch and enjoy. He told me he found a new supplier and we plan to have another firework display soon! Maybe on the nephew's birthday. 

So here are some snapshots of the celebration we had last night --

 

  

 

Once again, Gong Xi Fa Cai to all of you! That is how we greet in Mandarin, and while we say it differently in Cantonese, Gong Hey Fat Choy, just for everybody's info, they're both written the same. =)

 Congratulations and Be Prosperous!

The Port of Cebu

IT Guy took this shot inside the boat on our way to Bohol few week ago. This is a facet of the port of Cebu.

Happy Wordless Wednesday everyone!

Crowd Control Measures

Have you ever organized an event which requires you to do some crowd control? And I mean not just yelling and asking people to stay calm and orderly. =)

Well I was into even organizing many years ago and I'd say one cannot just underestimate the need to facilitate traffic, impose security and do crowd control. I was very young then and had to seek help from experts in my explaining to me measures for crowd control.

 

Crowd control requires some planning, expertise and some products which will help in assisting the crowd. Depending on the type of crowd, crowd control may vary from a simple putting up of barricades to setting up stanchions. On top of that, one may need additional manpower to make sure everything is being followed accordingly. 

Barricades can be of different forms. For instance, the government here imposes no jay walking and they use those orange traffic cones to make sure nobody crosses the street nor no cars making illegal U-turns. There are also fence barricades which I have used when I had outdoor concerts. But the best one I've tried so far are stanchions as these let me use retractable belts and or ropes. In almost all of my formal events, especially the indoor, I have used this one. I am happy with the fact that it lets me choose the color of the ropes and do some prints on it. That allowed me to customized it according to the theme of my events. I have used it in bridal fairs, product launch and other political events with some VIP guests.

So if you are to organize your own event, grand or personal, you may want to consider this aspect more than anything. Nothing ruins a nicely organized event than a chaotic crowd.

Claiming Rights

IT Guy has been quite busy this week. The wife of this supervisor just passed away and a very good friend of his is on critical condition --both cases were caused by brain injuries. Very sad...quite awful.

I couldn't give out much details about the supervisor's wife who just passed away but I can tell what happened to his friend. When they were still in their high school IT Guy recalled his friend being pushed some bullies in their school. After that his friend has been absent from the class for days. He was reported to have been vomiting. There were some episodes of headaches after that which eventually they tossed aside. Few years after he was diagnosed with some brain complications and the main cause of which is that brain injury he incurred several years ago. This is not an isolated case at all. This happens to a lot of people who got into accident without a thorough check-up on the extent of the injuries they have incurred. Most of the times it is already too late for the victims to react and the ones who caused them damages had been freed. This is also one of the many reasons why I don't like the IT Guy in a motor bike. I am just too scared of accidents. It is an advantage to some states that has brain injury lawyer available to guide victims in making sure they are well taken cared of. In most cases here, the moment the victim is able to walk a release from further liability is done. Very sad, and quite unfair. IT Guy's friend now is shouldering all medical expenses and it is the same with other accident victims here.