Welcome 2008!!!

2007 is about to end. (Grabe ang daming nagpapaputok sa paligid. Kawawa ang mga aso ko! Sana lang din walang maputukan.)

Whew! What a year has been for me.

Hehe halos lahat siguro ng pwedeng maramdaman ng isang tao naramdaman ko this year (lalo na sa latter part of the year): extreme happiness, extreme sadness, fear, love, certainty, uncertainty, longing, disappointment, denial, anger, jealousy, enlightenment, comfort, security, satisfaction, embarrassment, pride, confidence, strength, anxiety, helplessness, reassurance, excitement, confusion, courage, faith, hope.. and the list goes on.

Hay...life is a non-stop rollercoaster of a journey, a continuous reassessment of priorities and values...Minsan madadapa, but we just have to stand and keep going. We actually have no choice but to keep going.

I just hope 2008 will be a lot better for me and for everybody.

--=oOo-OO0OO-oOo=--

TO GOD:
Thank you for everything that happened to me this year...
for the good times and for the trying times.
Thank you for listening, and listening...and listening...
Thank you for understanding and making me understand.
Thank you for the lessons learned.
Thank you for every single tear that made me stronger.
Thank you for the inspiring people and events.
Thank you for the talents and strength.
Thank you for the people who loves me and I love.

Thank you for just being there.

Cheers to a happy and promising 2008!

Noche Buena Pictures

There's my Kuya Jerrold na superbusy sa games ng laptop. That's my mom in green. Jay-AR, Papa, our Lola and obviously, I'm the one taking the picture.AND. I made this. My own double chocolate mocha refrigerated cake!

Family Picture @ Christmas Day

Since I was a child, we go out in the family to have our picture taken every after the mass...

Just want to share some of our family pictures taken during Christmas days :)


1983
Wala pa ako d2...I don't know where is this taken, pero malamang sa simbahan hehe.


1985
I am 9 months old here.
This was taken in the Batangas City Plaza . Tanda ko? Hehe I just assumed but I'm sure this was taken at Batangas City Plaza, hehe. Our youngest ay di pa pinapanganak.
(Left to Right: Ate Vick, Kuya Oldest, Papa, Kuya 2nd, Me and Mom)




1986
One year and nine months old na ako d2 =) Wala p dn si youngest. But he's already born on September... I guess di pa pwede lumabas kase he's only 3months old here. Baka naiwan sa bahay.





1988. One of my favorite family picture. Hehe kompleto na kami =)

1990
Siyempre sa Batangas City Plaza ulet after
the mass =)


1992
Hindi naman masyadong mainit sa lugar noh? Youngest is too preoccupied thinking if the bird he's holding is already hungry. LOL


1993
I have no idea why Oldest is not here...siguro namamasko.

2005. This was already taken @ Camiling, Tarlac's Plaza... Of course after the mass =) 2006. We asked a stranger to take the picture, hehe.
2007. Taken at home sa Tarlac.
Only youngest and me are
present. Brother 2 is busy
in the computer and Oldest
is with gf's Family @ Baguio.

How I Spent My Christmas

Bago ako magkwento , I want to greet everybody a Merry Merry Christmas! May the spirit of the Lord be with us always!:D

December 24, 2007

• I woke up at 10:00 am.
• I checked my e-mail till 10:45. Nagpaalam na din ang aking 1st Kuya with gf papuntang Baguio.
• Me and my 2nd brother went to Camiling to buy food for our Noche Buena at 11:00.
• But before that, we need to withdraw money from the ATM because the grocery stores here only accept cash...Pero naman, all ATMs in the town were off-line except for one, so expect na sobrang haba ng pila...at pag sinabi kong sobra, as in sobra talaga. Pumila kami till 12:30 and when it's almost our turn, -------nag off-line lang naman. Hay grabe talaga bad trip!-----ang kuya ko, hindi ako hehe kase ako natawa nalang, Pasko kaya. Bawal ma-bad trip hehe. So we have no choice but to go to Tarlac City, 30-45 minute-drive from Camiling. We arrived there at 1:15. At dahil pagod na kami at gutom, kumain muna kami 'til 2:00 pm.
• We decided na dun na rin mag grocery. Dahil sa dami rin ng namimili, natapos kami ng 3:30pm.
• We arrived in our house ng 4:20.
• And grabe, sobrang grabe kase would you believe na from 5:00pm til 11:50pm e nagpe-prepare ako ng food for our Noche Buena? I only do this tuwing holidays, ako ang nagsisilbing katulong sa bahay hehe. Dinner lang ang pahinga. I'm so pagod na talaga by this time.
• I took a bath at 12:00MN
• 12:30am we had our Noche Buena, masaya naman pero kulang kami ng isa. Pero kasama naman namin ang Lola.
• 1:00 we opened our gifts...kodakan moments...
• Gising ako with my 2 brothers 'til 2:30

I just noticed na halos walang gising nung Noche Buena sa compound namin. Ewan ko kung bakit... To think na dumating pa ang pinsan ko from Hawaii. Last year kase may party and pa-games pa. Usually kase during Christmas and New Year nagsasama-sama ang lahat ng Tubay clan...But I learned kinaumagahan na di nga daw sila nagising hehe.

December 25, 2007

• Nagising ako ng 8am.
• Nawalan na ata kami ng ganang lumabas kase nga kulang kami pero we went to Camiling at 10am para kumain sa labas, kaso ayaw naman ng Kuya ko. KJ kainis, naglalaro kase sa laptop ng games. Apat lang tuloy kami. Kaya lang humilwalay din ako kase I have to meet a friend and attend the mass.
• After the mass bumili kami ng gifts kase pupunta kami sa first birthday ng isa naming inaanak. Grabe hanggang pasko namimili pa rin ako ng regalo kase 2 pa pala ang di ko nabilhan.
• At 3pm we went to the birthday party.
• At 5 pinuntahan naman namin ang isa pa naming inaanak. Her mom who's in Italy kase asked us to visit her son and take a picture of him with us para naman daw makita niya. Pero di kami nagsucceed kase ayaw ng bata na lumapit sa amin. After a number of habulan and taguan, suko na kami.
• We also visit an old friend na sa tagal tagal naming di nagkita-kita e napakalamig naman ng pagtanggap sa amin. Tuloy masama ang loob namin :(
• Nakauwi ako sa bahay ng 6pm...
• We ate our dinner and konting kwentuhan...then the guys are now watching a commedy movie, ako eto nagbblog hehe.

Nakita ko naman na masaya halos lahat ng mga tao. Yun nga lang wala kaming family picture. Meron, kaya lang di kami kumpleto. Tapos di pa ako nakasamang kumain sa labas. Tatlo lang tuloy sila. On the other hand, I'm happy kase nakagala ako hehe. Nakita ko rin crush ko nung highschool, hehe. Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Happy Birthday God!
I wish that your wish may come true! Always be happy. I love you sooooooooooooo much! Thank you for being my everything. =)

Christmas Thoughts & Emotions

I just finished wrapping gifts for my family, frends and inaanaks in Tarlac. I'll be going home with my brother tomorrow for the Holidays. Tomorrow is also my Papa's birthday that's why all of us needs to be home (Our youngest is already at home since the other day and our eldest in Baguio will also arrive tomorrow with his girlfriend). =)


CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS...

Stressful Gift Buying
I never thought buying gifts for this year's holidays would be that stressful. I've been cramming to buy gifts since Monday for the Christmas parties, friends and officemates here in LB...And I only bought the gifts to be brought home this evening. Grabe ang pila sa Robinson's dito...parang di naghihirap ang Pilipinas...ang daming tao sa lahat ng bilihan ng kung ano. :-O

Conflict Schedules
I wasn't able to attend the sorority's Christmas party because I had attended another Christmas party with my close friends. I tried to drop in the sorohauz earlier but nobody is home yet. Sadness...=(

Sympathy to Someone
I know someone who will not go home this Christmas because wala siyang pamasahe. Gosh...it's Christmas. I believe that everyone should be home with their families during this time of the year. Naisip ko tuloy, ilan ang Juan dela Cruz na di makakasama ang mga mahal sa buhay because of the same reason :( If I'm only filthy rich...bibigyan ko lahat ng Filipino ng pamasahe to be home this Christmas.

Maybe Our Christmas Will not be as Happy as Before...
Every Christmas, my family will go to church together (since last year my Mom will go to a separate church [born again]), eat somewhere and will have our picture taken --our Christmas Family Photo. Masaya...always very memorable. But this year would be I guess a lot different...

My brother in Baguio just texted awhile ago that he'll not be home on Christmas because he'll go back to Baguio on the 24th and only be back home on the 27th. Kase his girlfriend just arrived from Hongkong last December 16 and will leave to Canada on the 26th kaya sasamahan niya daw. Nakakainis lang but I guess ganon talaga. That's part of growing-up... =(

And the biggest family problem...we'll decide what to do with our youngest. I don't want to go to Sorsogon this Christmas (God, it's our vacation). But I think we really need to for us to be able to talk to the parents of the girl. Kase naman, tsk tsk. Their too young to get married. Di pa nga sila graduate pareho eh. Basta walang ikakasal (for the mean time). Hay...ano kayang mararamdaman namin pag nagharapharap na kami sa bahay...My poor brother :(
On the other hand, if you will look at the positive side, in fairness magkakapamangkin na ako at magiging lolo at lola na ang mga papa at mama. Hehe I feel excited. =D

My Wish
How I wish this Christmas will still be a happy day for my family. Sana... Pati lahat ng family at bawat isang tao sa buong mundo sana maging happy to the highest level. Magdilang-anghel sana ako. O:)

Di ko na alam talaga

I had an interview yesterday with my-boss-to-be-if-ever-i-decided-to-get-the-job-in-LB...and he showed me my office-to-be-if-ever...and I didn't like it... no air conditioned room, no laptop with internet connectivity...no everything...hehe...but the nature of my work will be, I guess a lot easier in terms of scope but my boss-to-be is kinda seryoso...scary.

Sa Cavite, the office is so sosyal...the work, the same...but Indang Cavite is so malayo, far from kabihasnan but malapit sa Tagaytay :)

Or...I'll go somewhere else. Sa Manila...Sa Makati...O sa ibang planeta kaya? Hehe.

Hay....Ano na ba talaga? Please God give me a sign.

The Baby Is Now A Lady

I'm so happy to have captured Fiona's evolution, haha.


Baby Fiona

Fiona Dalagita
Lady Fiona =)

CLOSED

Overwhelmed.
Sured.
Confused.
Hurt.
Disappointed.
Disillusioned.
Enlightened.
Decided.

Whatever...

No room for you anymore.

Argument

Bakit hindi ikakasal e buntis?
Bakit ikakasal e buntis lang naman?

Powtaness

This afternoon my mom txted my brother that our youngest has a problem. My Kuya phoned him at 9:20 but he's not answering he's phone...9:30 PM our youngest txted my brother...

...I knew it! Powtaness!

Wow Philippines Series: Baker's Hill and Crocodile Farm, Palawan

Baker's Hill Palawan

Baker's Hill is the only amusement Park in Puerto Princesa. Though the place, is not that big, I'm sure that you will enjoy the place, especially if you have kids with you.

I really enjoyed taking pictures with the life size statues in display around the park...Plus the food there is soooooooo good. My personal favorite is their pizza and special ensaymada. :p

Crocodile Farm and Nature Farm

Welcome to Crocodile Farm and Nature Park
I had my picture taken with the baby crocodile. You'll have to pay Php30 for the pose. ..its worth it naman because this is my first time na makahawak ng crocodile. And madami na ring famous personalities ang nagpapicture dito with the baby crocodile...one is FPJ (their pictures were on display), hehe.

Wow Philippines Series: Sabang Beach

Before you reach the Underground River, you'll stop at Sabang Beach. By here, a ferryboat will take you to the Park.

Sabang Beach. Sooooooooo serene and peaceful.

Ferryboats that will take you to the Subterranean Park...
Picture, picture...Hehe

Wow Philippines Series: St. Paul Subterranean River National Park

All week long, we wished (with our fingers crossed) for the sun to shine for us to be able to go to the Underground River and other tourist spots in Palawan. And it did, in our last day! So we spent our whole day going to as many places as we could.

First stop for the day is the St. Paul Subterranean River National Park.

Wonderful sceneries on our way...Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park was declared by Proclamation No. 835 on March 26, 1971. It is located in the West Coast of Palawan, 81 km north of Puerto Princesa City. Picture, picture...This cave is a UNESCO protected "World Heritage Site."It is the longest navigable underground river in the world which features cathedral-like caverns and domes. The stalactites and stalagmites formation resembles like religious images, fruits and birds.
Look very closely. This rock formation resembles the half face of Jesus Christ. There are other stalactites and stalagmites formation which resemble other religious images like the holy family and an image of the Virgin Mary. A stalagmite formation that resembles a corn.Another stalagmite formation that resembles puso ng saging. There are other formations like that of carrot, onion, bacon, mushroom and many many more kaya lang di ko nakunan ng pictures, hehe.Other stalactite and stalagmite formations inside the cave...

More photos @ http://kentubay.multiply.com/photos/album/60/St._Paul_Subterranean_River_National_Park

Wow Philippines Series: Tabon Cave & Natural and Cultural Heritage Museum of Palawan

In the morning of Friday, our visit to the local government of Quezon, Palawan marked the end of our work in the province. In the afternoon, Mayor Ronilo Caputilla of the municipality of Quezon, entertained our group by showing us their museum and the famous Tabon cave complex.

Natural and Cultural Heritage Museum of Palawan

See the third & fourth picture in the first row? That's the stuff you will find in our 1000 peso bill. That is the manuggul jar found in Tabon Cave. This burial jar has a cover which features two men rowing a boat, suggesting the belief of the early Filipinos in an afterlife that one reaches after crossing a mythical body of water. It is dated to as early as 710 - 890 B.C. The Manunggul jar was declared a National Treasure of the country.

Tabon Cave Complex

The Tabon cave complex is located on Lipuun Point, Quezon, Palawan . It is a 138-hectares, of rugged cliffs and deep slopes, discovered by Dr. Robert B. Fox and his team of Archaeologist from the National Museum in 1962. The discovery of the caves have yielded important Archaeological find - Fossil human bones tentatively dated from 22,000 to 24,000 years ago. Of the 200 caves found in Lipuun Point only 29 caves were fully explored, including Tabon Cave, which were found to been used for habitation and/or burial sites by ancient people.

Our very tiring but fascinating journey to Tabon Cave.

Tabon Cave was declared a Museum Reservation Site by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 996 in 1972 by the Philippine Government. Out of the 29 explored caves, only three caves are available or open for the visitors. The Tabon cave complex is currently being maintained and managed by the National Museum.

Suggestions: Wear rubber shoes or a comfortable footwear because some parts of the cave are slippery at dadaan ka sa matatarik na hagdanan paakyat. Also, make it your first stop, if you're planning to see other tourist spots in the province kase kung pagod kana, di mo na maaakyat ang lahat ng caves, just like what happened to us. It really requires a lot of energy para akyatin ang matatarik at matataas na hagdan at slopes. And if you're afraid of heights, just like me, di mo maeenjoy ang pagakyat. Hehe.

Wow Philippines Series: Estrella Falls, Palawan

We spent the next 5 days of our stay in Palawan working...and of course sa kalagitnaan ng bagyong si Lando. Sobrang busy talaga. So just for the purpose of relaxing even just for an hour, the group from Palawan who's with us, took us to Estrella for lunch.

Estrella Falls is situated in Narra, Palawan and is referred to as one of the cleanest inland bodies of water in the Philippines.
This is my moment. Hehe...Grabe the water is soooooooooo crystal clear and sooooooooooo icy cold. If only we have enough time and the rain didn't start to fall , we will extend our stay there even just for another hour.
Suggestions: Bring food and water because I didn't see any stores in the place, though there are grilling areas near the cottages. Of course, bring swim wear =)

Wow Philippines Series: Honda Bay, Palawan

It took me some time to post this... Medyo naging busy kase ako sa ibang bagay. But here it is, my 8-day stay in the province of Palawan, trying to find time for play in between works. Our first stop is the Honda bay.

HONDA BAY is located at Sta. Lourdes Tagbanua, Puerto Princesa City, a 25-35 mins drive from the city. It is is comprised of several islets with wonderful white sand beaches which have become popular swimming, snorkeling and diving destinations. The best recognized islands of Honda Bay are Cowrie, Bat, Snake, Canon, Pandan, Starfish, Lu-Ii, Senorita, Meara Marina and the Arreceffi Island which contains the luxury Dos Palmas Beach Resort.

From the Sta. Lourdes dockside, pumpboats could be hired to take you to the island of your choice. The boat cost us Php1,800. Some islands also require an entrance fee; others are privately owned, thus, permits from the owners are necessary. A pumpboat ride from the dockside to the different islands is from 15 to 50 minutes. If you have the whole day, then it is possible that you can set your feet in all the islets, but if you have only half a day like us, then you will be limited to only a few islands. Nevertheless, this island hopping experience is a great way to start a whole work week here in the province.

Cowrie Island
This is a cowrie shell which Manong Bangkero gave, as a remembrance of our visit. Di kami pumunta sa island but according to him, this shell is abundant in the island. Obviously, the island is named after the shell. Hehe

Pandan Island

Dos Palmas

Snake Island is named after the large population of seawater snakes dwelling in the island. Hehe joke lang...no snake, just the island with shape like a snake. This is where we spent our time taking pictures. Snorkeling was also great around Snake Island...and it's fun feeding the fish since they'd all be swimming towards you as you hold a piece of bread. That’s why make sure you have snorkels with you; you’ll be missing a lot if you don’t.
Would you believe me kung sabihin kong napilit lang talaga akong magpapicture?Pambato Reef
















Thanks for the life vest, I was able to swim. Snorkels from the wharf can be rented for PHP100.



Bat Island. Named because of the large fruit bats coming out of their holes at sundown for their evening feed.

Grabe I have never seen so many bats before.
Suggestions: Make sure you bring water and snacks with you, since things are expensive in the wharf and on the islands...And if you really want to enjoy the place, allot 2-3 days to have a wonderful and satisfying experience.