Up Up and Away! (Baguio City)

This year, I’ve been to Baguio City twice – first was last January, then last June. Baguio has been my 2nd home and I don’t know why. But since 2005 (when I first went to here), I see to it that I’ll visit the place for at least once a year. Perhaps, there are lots of memories I have here and also, because of the place itself.

The name Baguio conjures, for both the international and domestic traveler, a highland retreat in the Grand Cordillera in Northern Luzon, with pine trees, crisp cold breezes and low verdant knolls and hillocks. Through the numerous decades Baguio has morphed from what was once a grassy marshland into one of the cleanest and greenest, most highly urbanized cities in the country. It has made its mark as a premiere tourist destination in the Northern part of the Philippines with its cool climate, foggy hills, panoramic views and lovely flowers. Being the ideal convergence zone of neighboring highland places, Baguio is the melting pot of different peoples and cultures and has boosted its ability to provide a center for education for its neighbors. Its rich culture and countless resources have lured numerous investments and business opportunities to the city.

Baguio City is approximately 250 kilometers north of Manila, situated in the Province of Benguet. The area of the city is 49 square kilometers enclosed in the perimeter of 30 kilometers. The developed portion of the city corresponds to the plateau that rises to an elevation of 1,400 meters. Most of it lies in the northern half of the city. The City is landlocked within the province of Benguet, thus bounding it on all sides by its different municipalities; on the North by the capital town of La Trinidad, on the East by Itogon and to the South and West by Tuba. With City Hall as reference point, it extends 8.2 kilometers from East to West and 7.2 kilometers from North to South. It has a perimeter of 30.98 kilometers. The City has twenty administrative districts among which its barangays are divided.

Baguio is 8 degrees cooler on the average than any place in lowlands. When Manila sweats at 35 degrees centigrade or above, Baguio seldom exceeds 26 degrees centigrade at its warmest. Baguio is very wet during the Philippine rainy season, which is from June to October. It gets the biggest amount of rainfall in the country, twice the volume of rainfall in the country as compared to Manila. However from November to May, Baguio becomes a tropical paradise, a refreshing break from the hot and humid Philippine climate. Christmas season is when Baguio glows with the nippy winter air. In the summer month of March, April, May, Baguio lives up to its title as the “”Summer Capital of the Philippines when thousands of visitors from the lowlands and Manila take their annual exodus to the city to cool off.

I had a chance to capture Baguio at night!

January 16-18, 2010

As I celebrated my 2nd year in Convergys, my team planned a 3 day vacation to get out of the metro. So, together with Aisah, Len, Jaja, Jhay, and Toni, we conquered the City of Pines. We stayed at Bloomfield Hotel (just infront of SM Baguio). It was an oasis where you can escape the hectic pace of travel and think more clearly, work more productively, rest more refreshingly. An environment that doesn't just shelter you, but inspire and reenergizes you. Situated at the heart of the exciting city of Baguio, Bloomfield offers fully air-conditioned rooms and showcases the most modern amenities.

June 18-20, 2010

Together with my transition team and, TL Diana and my partner QSPi Joy, we had the first team building in Baguio. This team is one of the best!

Team DIANAsoars with TL Jana, QSPis Joy and PJ, Bon, Carlos, Morris, Avel, Gee, Cycel, Fed, Kate and Shen at the Strawberry Farm.

What to see in Baguio?

The Strawberry Fields

On top of my list of what to see in Baguio are the strawberry fields. A trip to Baguio will always include a lovely stroll along the strawberry fields just outside the city proper. This seems to be one of the must do activities and places to go when tourists visit. You go ask anyone who's ever been to Baguio and most likely they've been here. It is only a jeepney ride away and you get to pick the strawberries you want to eat. Picking strawberries and taking pictures turns out among the top things in anyone's what to do list.

Here, you can pick your strawberries fresh from the farm!

Pizza Volante

Situated at 82 Session Road within the very attractive City of Baguio, Pizza Volante Restaurant offers customers and guests a taste of authentic Italian dishes, specifically pizzas and pastas. With a budget of 300 to 500 pesos, people can already enjoy loads of super tasty and delectable dishes at this Italian-inspired restaurant. Aside from the food, many people really love the efficiency of the restaurant staff, which regularly receives praises for their friendliness and quickness. Oh I love the fresh tomatoes on both pizzas and pastas!

Ice in her alluring pasta pose.

Caffee Klatsch

 If you want a not-so-ordinary night out in Baguio - here's the top of my list! Totally cozy yet the ambiance was so great. Located at Sagittarian Unique Bldg. 39 City Camp Rd., Baguio City.

Toni live in Baguio! Yes, her first solo concert at Caffee Klatsch

Coffee, cozy ambiance plus acoustic band - very relaxing indeed!

Mines View Park

From its deck area we view the mining sites of Benguet Corporation plus the mountain ranges that sprawl as far as the eyes could see. Mines View Park is doubtless a favorite among visitors who take the trouble to trek up Baguio just to see this site again though seen a countless times before.

Standing 1,500 meters above sea level, Mines View Park is among the coolest parts of the Pines City. It is part of the vast range of the Cordillera Mountains. If we just look hard enough we’d see part of Camp John Hay across from it. But the majestic mountains are just among interesting things the site can offer. Just look around our immediate milieu and we’d see other features.

Another tourist spot in Baguio. No, not Jhay, it's Mines View Park.

Another thing that visitors are beginning to discover and really love is the freshly baked creamy and tasty ube jam home-made by nuns of the Good Shepherd Seminary within walking distance from Mines View Park. The pies there are also super. And don’t to forget to try their special Bulalo! Yum Yum!

Oh My Gulay!

Oh My Gulay is one attraction in Baguio that had eluded my attention. It’s exhillirating being in the midst of the artworks, the twists and turns, the eclectic, the absence of structure, the patch-art-work, the journey, the ever-changing. Some parts of the gallery look like a scene from a Dr. Seuss book with un-straight lines and un-perpendicular corners. Take a tour around the place, view the artworks, arouse your curiousity and find out what surprises await you around the next corner.  They also have generous servings of vegetarian pasta dishes. 

Dinner at Dampa sa Baguio. Pig-out it is!

Camp John Hay

Camp John Hay was an American military facility when the Philippines was under US control. It was primarily used for rest and recreation by US personnel. Today, since it's turnover in 1991, the place has its own golf course and campsite. Part of the action of the Fil-Am Golf Tournament takes its course here annually. Visitors can also see if they have a knack for horseback riding.

Can we forget Milo Van's pose? 

Session Road

A Baguio City tour is never complete without a stroll along Session Road. A lot of sights in Baguio come and go but Session Road has been there since the very beginning.

Baguio, being the summer capital of the country, was made official during the first session of the Philippine Commission in the summer of 1904, April to June. There was a lone road that led up the Baden Powell building where the session was held. Hence, the road has been called Session Road since then.

 

Traditionally, Session Road is often the first stop of a Baguio Tour. It mirrors the progress that the city has so far achieved. Moreover, sentimental visitors stop by the road awhile and ponder at the fact that their predecessors had also once trekked the olden lane and had done the same.

 

 

Baguio City remains one of the best places you can visit in the Philippines. The cool weather and the wonderful scenery are persuasive invitations to see and explore the different colors and flavors of Baguio City. It is truly a mountain resort that exudes a fine escape from the summer heat of the Philippines.

Of Love and Latte

Could the recipe for true love be as simple as brewing the perfect latte?

One hopelessly romantic barista serves up some answers.

I’ve been asked to write an article about love. About finding it, losing it, and maybe finding it again. Bet you’re wondering what qualifies me to do such. Unfortunately, I am no love doctor with a Ph.D. in Romance Physics nor an M.A. in Relationship Chemistry. I have had my heart broken not just once, so technically I still do not qualify as an expert by virtue of my vast experiences.

What do I know?

Well, let me tell you that I have an uncle that can mix you a mean cafe latte. He is a barista in Star Cruises. In all summers I’ve logged in at my tito's house, learning how to make cappucinos and espressos, I have also learned a thing or two about that thing called love. Just like coffee, both require a certain amount of care to ensure it is brewed to perfection. You will need the following:

-Water, purified of all fear of ‘what if she leaves me?’ or ‘what if she’s not Miss Right?’

-A certain measure of diversity-be it in the form of coffee beans or unique personalities-combined in an airtight container that will allow pressure to build up.

-A man and a woman, preferably hot for each other (or with the potential of warming up to at least the prospect of friendship).

Now bring to a boil. in barista-speak, this is the moment when water and ground coffee first make contact, the former extracting flavors from the latter, in a manner that will drip and percolate for you an aromatic cup of espresso.

In courtship terms, this is when boy-meets-girl, when the first blush of infatuation floats up to the surface. This can take anywhere from 22 seconds to 22 months, depending on the temperature set on your machine. Agitate the coffee further with Saturday night movie dates, text-messages embellished with smiley faces and animated teddy bears, cute phone calls at 1 a.m. involving favorite colors, movie-defining-moments and soul mates, and stolen first kisses. (That last one is my personal favorite.)

Now top with the velvety-smooth froth of friendship, sweeten with promises kept, and you’ve got yourself the perfect cafe latte. Right? Well, not exactly.

In my experience, I know that no matter how you faithfully follow a recipe to the letter, you don’t always get the perfect cup of joe each time. Love-that other four-letter word I know-is much harder to concoct than coffee.

At some point, you’ll learn that no matter how hard you play by the rules, make all the right moves and try to be Mr. Perfect In Every Way, you don’t always get the results you hoped for.

Or the girl you pined for, for that matter. Because when reality rears its disappointing, pink-bubble-bursting head, you’ll realize Life doesn’t always play out the way you wished it would.

The girl who once adored your lattes can snap out of it and proclaim you’re no longer her cup of cappucino. Just. Like. That.

Suddenly, you find that all that’s left is a mug half-filled with day-old coffee that’s cold and stale and depressing. So you cry, you curse, you deny, you blame, you rewind, you wish, and pray a novena to every saint you know that things go back to exactly the way they were. And no matter how often you kneel in Baclaran or how many candles you light at morning mass, your instant replay never happens.

So what do you do? You wipe away your tears, take your cup and empty it of all its contents. rinse it under a running tap, making sure all traces of stains along the rim and down its side as well as leftover grounds at the bottom are washed away.

Then, you start over. First, scoop yourself a generous batch of mountain-grown roasts, finely ground so that every granule is bursting with prospect of a new adventures, experiences and relationships. Pour water purified of all your bitterness, rejection and self-pity.

Now press ‘brew’. As you hear the machine whir, gurgle and sputter to life, close your eyes. Revel in the heady aroma of fresh coffee in the throes of being born. You may not see it yet, but by just inhaling its sweetness, you hold the promise of good things to come in your heart the way you would a silent prayer. You dream of a cup so wonderful, so richly golden brown, encircled by a lush ring of cream so perfect you can already taste it.

And the moment you hear it streaming into your cup you realize why you had to give up the last brew. Something much better was on its way to you.

And you’ll be thankful you waited. Because you know in your bones, in your heart of hearts, that this one’s going to be a keeper. And you wonder why it took so long for you to realize that.

But then again, better latte than never.. .

"There is no remedy for love but to love more." ~ Thoreau

The Sweetest Love Letter of My Life (PART2)

Let me give you a sort of guide for you to be appreciated by PJ.

It's a list of DO's and DONT's to PJ.

DONT's

1. DON'T MAKE HIM WAIT. He suffered a lot of waiting from me. Give your time to him. Make him feel special. Give your attention to him. It's not bad at all.

2. HE IS VERY PICKY ON FOOD. There's a lot of food that he's not eating. Examples are onions, garlic, tomatoes, etc. I've already lessen it it but there's still a lot that you need to know. Bear with him. You'll get used to it.

3. HE IS VERY LAZY. We are both lazy. It's because we're both working had\rd for our family. Because of that, understand him if sometimes he'll ask you to do things you are not usually doing for others.

4. DON'T ARGUE WITH HIM. He is a debater. We often argue on small things. Hehehe! I'll miss it big time! If things aren't working well, don't argue anymore. Just listen to him and everything will work.

5. DON'T LET HIM FEEL THAT HE'S ALONE. This is one of my biggest regrets. He doesn't deserve it. He'll always accompany you anywhere, anytime. Please return the favor to him. Always go with him without asking why. Sure thing, It's worth it. If only...

6. DON'T COMPARE HIM TO OTHERS. There's only one PJ in this world and he'll never change for you. Promise! I'm telling you, he's too much for you to look for other man out there.

7. DON'T HIDE ANYTHING FROM HIM. Tell him everything that he needs to know. He has the right. PJ will tell you everything you need to know. He will not hide from you. In return, please do the same thing.

8. DON'T LIE TO HIM. I'm telling you, he has his ways to know everything. You don't have to tell him every detail but don't ever lie to him. Sometimes, he'll suspect on you even if you are telling the truth. Understand him because he only loves you so much and don't want to lose you. Just give him a hug. Everything will be ok.

"We always believe our first love is our last, and our last love our first."
~ George Whyte-Melville

The Sweetest Love Letter of My Life (PART1)

Let me give you a sort of guide for you to be appreciated by PJ.

It's a list of DO's and DONT's to PJ.

DO's

1. PAMPER HIM. He loves it when you treat him as a baby. Arrange his stuff, clean his things and even use a towel to clean his body. He's really a childish one.

2. APPRECIATE HIM. Always say what's good in him. He might tell you that he is just simple, but believe me, he loves it when you're telling him that he looks good.

3. ENTERTAIN HIM. He loves to watch movies, eat in Kenny Rogers and sing in a videoke. He is a frustrated singer. Even he's not a good singer, give him still a standing ovation clap. Make him laugh as often as you can.

4. SERVE HIM. He deserves it. He is very hard working. Everytime you're with him and he's tired, give him a massage. He'll definitely like it.

5. HIS SIBLINGS ARE SO SPOILED TO HIM. If you want the "PJ LOVE", better be good to them. If you will have a chance to meet them, impress them. They love to eat and go to the mall. They are very nice kids. You'll love them like your own brother and sisters.

6. SURPRISINGLY, PJ CAN MAKE A GOOD ADOBO. Ask him to cook adobo for you. Im going to miss it! You'll find out why. The taste is odd but delicious. I never told him that I liked it, so when your time comes, tell him it's the best!

" Love is a condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own."

~ Robert Heinlein

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Fathers are one of the most influential persons in our lives, they leave no stone unturned to help us out of every crisis and express their unconditional love towards us. They have always been our guide each and every day of our lives. Now, it is our turn to convey our love and respect toward him. They have been our inspiration, motivation, and have quietly and deeply influenced at the nook of every path of ours. Father’s Day forms the most appropriate occasion to convey all our appreciation and admiration towards our dads. There are often situations and times, when we forget to hug our dads, kiss and tell them that we love them like they do to our moms. Most of us would agree that we assume our father to be the provider for the family. From the time, when we worship our beloved pops for all that he knew and all that he could, we move on to become a rebellious teenager, when we make it a point to argue about everything and anything that he advises to us.

This Father's Day, show your Dad how much you love and respect him and how much you care for him.

I've had a hard life, but my hardships are nothing against the hardships that my father went through in order to get me to where I started.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD! I love you so much.. .

Quitters Have No Place

To quit means to leave, go away or discontinue activity. Men usually quit when they are in the midst of a race. Suddenly, you start thinking and ask yourself if it is enough reason for you to stop and put an end to all what you have begun.

Courageous, fearless and most importantly, strong, is what a heart should be. Challenge is always wonderful and it consist of several advantages. Its obstacles and difficulty is a blessing, challenging us to strive harder and over come our weaknesses. It gives us the chance to struggle and achieve our goals. Never walk away from what we have begun, instead, strive to learn.

To be a failure once is not a reason to give up but instead look upon it like a challenge. You must stand and try again. You must show that you can do better than what is expected from you. Failing is the opportunity to start again. Believe that you have the heart to do it, for the essence of being a success is to keep moving. Never stop fighting.

Quitter have no place. Only those with enough endurance survive. I have figured that race is not always for those who are swift but also to those who keep on running and do not mind the pain. Falling and making mistakes are the stepping stone to success, it curves you to be a fighter, to have control on difficulties and most of all, to be a survivor just like what they always say – that there is no gain without pain.

Attack every problem with enthusiasm and try to see an opportunity in every problem you encounter. The harder you work, the harder for you to surrender. In the end, the people who fail are those who do not try hard enough. A successful man makes mistakes but do not quit: will learn form his mistakes and try again. Expect success and you will be successful. Quit and fail!

" Life is like riding a bicycle. You don't fall off unless you plan to stop peddling." - Claude Pepper

Discouraging DISCOURAGEMENT!

I woke up one morning and the first thing that I felt was…DISCOURAGEMENT! Yes, discouragement. That dragging, cynical, nothing-is-ever-to-work state of mind, where you start wondering why you are even trying.

I’m sure you’ve also woken up discouraged. And then, what did you do? Probably you soldiered on: smiling when people asked how you were, trudging ahead with the expected, all the while feeling that you must be the only one who has voices in your head saying you’re doomed, its just a matter of time, the sky is falling NOW.

I want to share you this inspiring article about dealing with discouragement, which begins by reminding you of this: You’re not the only one who gets discouraged. Especially when you are trying to make some changes in your life, discouragement seems to be a part of the process.

You’ll have good days, you’ll have bad.. You’ll have confidence, you’ll have doubts.. Part of becoming who we are involves encountering new adventures. While we hope they’re always peak experiences, our growth and discovery come from the downsides too.

Life is full of failures, rejection, and more than just a fair share of discouragement. And while some people can immediately brush themselves off, others can enter a negative cycle of thoughts that persists for weeks, months or even years.

So, drawing from my own day of discouragement, I thought I’d share with you some helpful tips on how to overcome discouragement.

Step One: Basic Truth – Discouragement is a state of mind!

Listen to your mind. Has your life really changed that differently from two days ago when you were feeling positive, anticipating that things would work out, and having a good day? Probably not. You may just be tired, needing support, or had small setback, and that is triggering your negative mind talk.

Step Two: Allow yourself to be discouraged.

Our natural tendency when we’re feeling bad is to deny the feeling, or to make it go away immediately. But it’s important to acknowledge your feelings. You’re human! You have ups and downs, good days and bad days, and you really shouldn’t try to be a robot. If you have to cry, then do it. If you want to slam some pans around, or yell in the shower, do it. Recognize your feeling, so you can truly move past it, not make it go away and have it pop up inconveniently later in the day.

Step Three: Lower your expectations temporarily.

Are you setting unreasonable demands on yourself by setting the bar too high? Do you expect much from your lover or friend? Or feel that the world is exerting pressure on you? You might be a perfectionist. While I admit that I’m sort of a perfectionist person (belief that no matter what you attempt, it is never “good enough” to meet your own or others expectation), I’ve come to realize that it’s not a healthy pursuit of excellence. So to overcome it, I selected realistic people who are not perfectionist in their own life and become realistic with what I can do. Likewise, I concentrated on being more objective about criticisms and about myself. And if someone criticizes me for making a mistake, I acknowledge the mistake and assert my right to make mistakes.

Step Four: Change-up your routine.

This one may sound silly to you but it works. Deliberately do things throughout the day that are different from your usual actions. Discouragement is usually accompanied by the thought “This is never going to an end, this is never going to change.” So change your day to show your mind that it’s wrong, even if it’s a small start.

Step Five: Get Active.

The feeling of discouragement usually slows you down physically. You may feel like doing nothing. Sometimes, what you need is rest, and that will pull you out of your slump. But if you rested and you still feel bad, then take some action. Take a walk, go to the gym, and get your energy going.

Step Six: Get some help and support.

Consider some new ways to be supported. It’s time to stop doing it alone. There’s usually more than one solution to a problem. When you fell discouraged, it’s often because you keep trying the same solution, instead of changing things up.

Step Seven: Apply your spiritual practice.

Do you believe in prayer? Ask for help. Have you been learning to meditate? Sit down, relax and do it! Use that practice.

Step Eight: Remember, tomorrow is another day!

Sometimes, the best thing to do is to wait and see what tomorrow brings. Take one step today, have a good dinner, some time with friends, a good night sleep, and often you will then have new energy to bring your challenge the next day.

" Men's best successes come after their disappointments." - Henry Ward Beecher.