tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57580723623726525702024-03-13T14:17:10.901-07:00Balut The Slapsoil WandererWanderings, Adventure, Road Trips, Travel and Stolen Moments BloggerRunnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04240901419441992254noreply@blogger.comBlogger327125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-63652448376650097962024-03-11T01:34:00.000-07:002024-03-11T01:56:14.356-07:00Spruce Up Your Spring Wardrobe with Top-Notch Shapewear from FeelinGirlSpring is a time when flowers and lace are always a great choice to have in your
closets. However, it's not just this type of clothing that you have to put
together. <div><br /></div><div><div><b>What's the best wardrobe for spring?</b> </div><div>The best wardrobe for spring should include versatile, light and fresh pieces,
suitable for changing temperatures and milder weather. Therefore, choose pieces
that can be easily layered and removed according to temperature changes
throughout the day. Lightweight cardigans, denim jackets, and blazers are great
options for adding layers without overheating. Add a pop of color and pattern to
your wardrobe with printed blouses and tops. Flowers, stripes, and geometric
patterns are popular in spring and add a fresh, vibrant look to your outfits.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0MHkPFkqF8ilk3q-5ajxLwQeP9UykRXZgbTSO-AVoWFvm1IiUaE1Oid1-61B9tcEhatqdGjrJVz4i8_xYyFE49nO5FPxK9YbJb1b6Bacbzw-I4bvkzTOnMSelbP-znc3gmX5weZYXDK6LuxV3aRIRe5UFVagHttFEQN7n8O55ld8CQyXn3LYcXCm_C-K/s2400/BodySculptBacklessSeamlessShapewearBodysuit_14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0MHkPFkqF8ilk3q-5ajxLwQeP9UykRXZgbTSO-AVoWFvm1IiUaE1Oid1-61B9tcEhatqdGjrJVz4i8_xYyFE49nO5FPxK9YbJb1b6Bacbzw-I4bvkzTOnMSelbP-znc3gmX5weZYXDK6LuxV3aRIRe5UFVagHttFEQN7n8O55ld8CQyXn3LYcXCm_C-K/w480-h640/BodySculptBacklessSeamlessShapewearBodysuit_14.png" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Dresses are essential pieces for spring, as they are practical and feminine. Choose light, flowing dresses in fabrics like cotton, linen, or chiffon, which are comfortable and breathable. Midi dresses and shapewear with floral prints are classic choices for the season.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also choose pants and skirts made from
light, fluid fabrics, such as linen, cotton, and viscose. Pantacourt pants, midi
skirts, and culottes are trends that offer comfort and style in spring. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jeans
are a versatile piece that never goes out of style. Choose jeans in light or
medium washes for a lighter, fresher spring look. Straight-leg jeans, boyfriend
jeans, and denim shorts are popular choices for the season. </div><div><p style="text-align: left;">In footwear, see
comfortable and practical shoes for spring. Flats, casual sneakers, and strappy
sandals are great options to combine with different types of looks. Choose
shapewear in neutral colors that can be easily coordinated with several pieces
in your wardrobe. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Add a finishing touch to your looks with light, colorful
accessories. Printed scarves, straw bags, and pastel-colored jewelry are ideal
choices for spring. Don't forget to protect your eyes with stylish sunglasses
and add a hat to protect yourself from the sun.</p><p style="text-align: left;">However, to match all this you
can choose bodysuits and other <a href="https://feelingirl.com/collections/lace-shapewear">lace shapewear</a> that will help you when creating
styles and looks. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>What are the best shapewears for spring?</b></p><p style="text-align: left;">To choose the best shapewear for spring, it's important to consider pieces that
offer shaping and support, but are also suitable for warmer weather.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Seamless
bodysuits are comfortable and discreet options for shaping your body in spring.
Choose styles made from lightweight, breathable fabrics like microfiber or nylon
for all-day comfort.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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If you want something more comfortable for the night, nightgowns with light
compression are great options for shaping the abdomen and torso area, so look
for pieces that offer support without being too tight, so you can wear them
comfortably under lighter clothes in spring.</div><div><br /></div><div>High-waisted shapewear shorts are
perfect for softening the abdomen, waist and hips, so choose seamless shapewear
made from breathable fabrics to ensure comfort during hotter days.</div><div><br /></div><div>Seamless
shapewear leggings are ideal for shaping your legs and butt. So choose leggings
made from lightweight, stretchy fabrics that provide gentle compression and
comfort at the same time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Waist trainers are great options for defining the
waist and creating a slimmer silhouette, which is why they are great for
combining with skirts and even dresses to wear at this time of year. For special
spring occasions, a <a href="https://feelingirl.com/collections/seamless-shapewear">seamless body shaper</a> with a plunging neckline can be an
elegant and functional choice. Therefore, look for shapewear that offer support
to the bust and have adjustable straps for a personalized fit.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>What types of shapewear can FeelinGirl help me with this spring?</b> </div><div>FeelinGirl offers a variety of shapewear that can come in handy during spring,
helping you achieve a smooth, sleek look while maintaining comfort. Such as
seamless bodysuits, shapewear camisoles, high waist shapewear shorts and other
types of shapewear that will be able to further complement your wardrobe for
this time of year.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cfo_CMH_1Vp7XU61Vb5m2DwvbteY6cMUz2PseHDbNdhTUloGnDQpiWK1vfK73aF_lq1PXEkvtYjBSGVFGeDc4KRCV-yG3YVbtndMu8goaMv9Ca5s77jV034zz7aMcEMwLVYVZUcnhcSVZ2i5CCS_eggpHqB3bO3e_g-U7JP1ZPiALAxA3XhzGlz7Q_PZ/s2400/VNeckTummyControlThongBodysuit_4.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cfo_CMH_1Vp7XU61Vb5m2DwvbteY6cMUz2PseHDbNdhTUloGnDQpiWK1vfK73aF_lq1PXEkvtYjBSGVFGeDc4KRCV-yG3YVbtndMu8goaMv9Ca5s77jV034zz7aMcEMwLVYVZUcnhcSVZ2i5CCS_eggpHqB3bO3e_g-U7JP1ZPiALAxA3XhzGlz7Q_PZ/w480-h640/VNeckTummyControlThongBodysuit_4.png" width="480" /></a>
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In addition to also bringing comfort, quality and practicality to every moment
you need. With a wide range of possibilities for creating looks and their lace
line, they can also create an even sexier and more defined look for spring.
</div></div>Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-13063783482235239772023-09-08T02:08:00.000-07:002023-09-08T02:08:41.357-07:00Hello, Its Me, Hi <p> Hello, <br /><br /></p><p>I am just dropping by to tell you that I didn't give up. or gave you up. Although I was on the verge some three months ago. </p><p>I was wondering if it is still practical to keep you or if was I just wasting my time paying for your annual maintenance. I let you expire, and then at the last minute I saved you! Causing me more money than usual. </p><p>The truth is, I can't. I can't let you go. Letting you go will just be like letting go of a fourteen-year-old relationship. Yes, that long it had been. You've been a cathartic to me for all those years. </p><p>So let's hang out more OK? </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="'' failed to upload. Invalid response: Unexpected token 'N', "Not Found" is not valid JSON" border="0" height="266" src="https://www.blogger.com/img/transparent.gif" style="background-color: #d8d8d8; background-image: url('https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/i/materialiconsextended/warning/v6/grey600-24dp/1x/baseline_warning_grey600_24dp.png'); background-position: center; background-repeat: no-repeat;" width="320" /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-63336508767671966122020-05-17T18:43:00.000-07:002020-05-17T18:43:16.269-07:00Sunday Memories and Photographs: The Manila Cathedral And Everything Nice Around It 138/366<br />
Quarantine Day 63<br />
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It's funny when I read from somewhere how people classify the current date under "BC" which stands for "Before Corona" so it would read like AD (Anno Domini) and BC (Before Christ). <br />
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Thinking back from the last time I really had an enjoyable wandering before the lock down was mandated, the classification seems valid though. It gives you the feel that the last time you had the freedom to be out and wander was some hundred years back and not just some months ago.<br />
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More than 60 days into the lock down, we are all probably wondering when and where was the last time you had a nice wandering before the government-mandated lock down caused by the COVID19 pandemic forced us to stay put.<br />
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For me, it was a week before the declaration of the total lock down which was March 08, 2020 BC to be exact. It was a very happy chance! A happy chance because we never planned to visit the place where we enjoyed our time. It was a result of some unexpected changes from the original place that we're supposed to visit.<br />
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March 8 was the Sunday before my birthday. Days before that Sunday, I was following the activities of the "Veggie Drop Off" because apart from craving from fresh strawberry and lettuces, I sincerely wanted to support the cause of the Veggie Dropped Off which is to support our Benguet farmers. By Saturday, I learned that they will be at the Rizal Park (Luneta) starting at 5:00AM. I dragged hubby to Luneta and told him that it would just be a a quick buy since we still have to attend the Sunday mass. Unfortunately, when we arrived at Luneta, there were no more veggies. Apparently, the organizers had a last minute schedule change and the drop off happened in Quezon City.<br />
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Frustrated and not wanting to waste our prep time to be out that Sunday morning we drove to The Manila Cathedral since it is in the same traffic route. We're lucky to be there just before 9:00 AM and just in time to join the celebration of the Sunday mass. By this date there was already the warnings about the Corona virus so there was not a lop of people attending the mass or idling by the park. It was so different from the previous days I was in the cathedral and the nearby Intramuros.<br />
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It was one of the most solemn mass I attended. I'm not sure if it was because the cathedral wasn't so crowded or that people the are in a melancholy mood anticipating the threat of the virus. When the mass was over we explored the place. I can no longer remember how many times I've been in this place but as always, it always gives me a unique awe just being there. I can never get used to the magic that this place can bring. The church, the park, the Walled City, they never fail to amaze me. I always have the the urge to stay and simply idle while appreciating the vicinity of this old-looking city. The park and the public library in it has always been my favorite place to visit and to linger around. Too bad though that the public library is temporarily close (empty).<br />
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Nevertheless I was delighted to find that there was an on-going bazaar within the park fronting the cathedral. The bazaar was catering mostly to food and products from Baguio and Benguet. My husband is a bit hesitant to stay because of the virus threat but, he also can't resist to join me when I sit down in one of the red-checkered-covered-table lined at the side of the park to have a taste of lots of deliciously-looking food they were selling. We had empanada, banana queue, some street foods and some fresh juices. I think I ordered a piece of each of the food and I can't no longer remember all of them. What I can definitely remember is having to taste one of the the most appetizing fresh lumpia. Apart from the good food, the street vibe was just simply enjoyable. You just sit there in one of those cute tables while enjoying the yummy food in street-vibes in front of the breathtakinly-looking cathedral just beside the park. I learned that it was the last day of the bazaar's. They were ordered to close down at the end of the day due to the impending announcement from the government about the COVID19.<br />
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After that we go around the tiangge and I was lucky enough to buy some fresh bell pepper that the seller said were part of the vegie drop off from Luneta. I also got to buy Benguet coffee and the best sweet-tasting "kakanin". While waiting for all the food intake to settle down, we roam around the park. It was humid but there was also enough wind to balance the temperature and enjoy the park. Grabbing some poor-man's ice cream completed our Sunday park adventure! It had been years since I had one!<br />
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Earlier before heading out for Luneta, I never thought that I would have such an enjoyable day. While at the park I told hubby that we should be back next Sunday and bring the kids. I told myself that I wanted to celebrate the mass again here on my birthday which is the coming Sunday.<br />
<br />
Sadly, that plan did not happen. For that Sunday, my birthday was also the same day that the country-wide lock down was declared. Nobody is allowed to be out unless documented with a Quarantine Pass and for purpose of procuring basic needs only such as food and medicine.<br />
<br />
It was maybe the reason why that Sunday was so enjoyable. It was some sort of an omen.<br />
<br />
~~~~~<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The Cathedral of Manila </b><br />
Dedicated to the Virgin May under the tite of the Immaculate Conception, elevated as a bishopric by Pope Gregory XIII, 1578; then raised as an archbishop by Pope Clement VIII, 1595. First (181-1583), second (1591-1600), third (1614-1645), fourth (1681-1751). fifth (1760-1852), sixth (1854-1863), and seventh (1879-1945) cathedrals on this site superseded by the present eight structure. Build following the designs of Fernando Ocampo with stained glass windows by Galo Ocampo, (1956-1958). Elevated to the status of basilica, moti proprio, by Pop[e John Paul II, 1981. (Source: The Manila Cathedral signage)<br />
<br />
The cathedral is located at Beaterio and Cabildo Streets in Intramuros, Manila.Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-8328074337966874002020-05-10T16:41:00.000-07:002020-05-10T16:41:01.756-07:00Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical 131/366<div>
Quarantine Day 75 </div>
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~</div>
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I'm not here to do a review for this one great musical, </div>
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Aside from the reason that I don't have a formal training in doing a review for stage plays and musicals, I feel so incapable to even discuss this one great creation. An all Filipino one! </div>
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<br /></div>
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My purpose here is to tell everybody to go watch it! So as not to miss one half of your life!</div>
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Set your heart to be ready though. It's not one for a soft heart or for "kilig" moments. It's heavy and tragic. It might make you cry or in my case, I ended up with a heavy but happy heart! </div>
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<br /></div>
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The good catch is that you'll be on for a treat for a non-stop Eraser Heads songs played by a live band! That alone is a good good reason to watch this musical plus that you can do it in the convenience of your home for free! Aside of course for the great performances of Filipino theater actors. </div>
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This is the best entertainment one can offer during this time of pandemic. Thank you for the generous heart and the genius mind of the people behind this musical. Not only that you brought theater closer to the Filipino people but, for giving the theater experience for those who can not afford to go to real one. And that is a majority versus the ones that can afford. </div>
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So my dear fellow Filipino, watch it! Watch it and you might find yourself in one of the characters being portrayed in the play. It might be a hard realization but, it might teach you a good lesson. I found mine and learned the lesson.</div>
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<br /></div>
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~</div>
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Credits:</div>
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The photograph posted is a screenshot from the musical being played on my tablet posted here for the purpose of sharing the greatness of the musical. With no intention to violate any copyright infringement whatsoever.</div>
Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-42828165667721410862020-04-26T18:47:00.001-07:002020-04-26T18:47:11.734-07:00Sunday Thoughts And Photograph: Hello Summer, Stay Please?117/366<br />
Quarantine Day 42<br />
<br />
<br />
Are you really here?<br />
<br />
I'd like to see you, feel you!<br />
<br />
But the crowned virus is out there to get us!<br />
<br />Wait for us please?<br />
<br />
Bear with us?<br />
<br />
Stay a bit longer?<br />
<br />
The virus didn't like you, you know that?<br />
<br />
So we need you to stay a while longer please?<br />
<br />
Probably more than a hundred days is better<br />
<br />
Stay summer, please stay...<br />
<br />
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***<br />
The photograph is taken in the summer of 2019 (last year). From one of the beautiful beaches in Nasugbu, Batangas. Dark shades, waterproof mobile cam and some shells collected from the beach are among my summer treasures. Take me back.<br />
<br />Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-50918269125104417462020-04-19T14:57:00.000-07:002020-04-19T14:57:46.335-07:00Sunday Song, Prayer and A Photograph: Why The Happy Birthday Song? <br />
110/366<br />
Quarantine Day 35<br />
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I was listening to the Sunday Healing Mass (televised) today which is being officiated by Father Oscar Orbos.<br />
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This had been a usual in the house even before the lock down brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Every 6:00AM on Sundays, I open the television and our home celebrates the mass via the television. But, of course we still attend the actual celebration later in the day.<br />
<br />
One of the lesson that struck me most during this celebration is the advise that Father Orbos gave before his final blessing. He reminded about washing hands. He said that instead of singing the Happy Birthday song, why not say the "Hail Mary".<br />
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Thinking about it I realized its one sensible advise. My birthday happened last month on the very day that the lock down took effect and there was really nothing "happy" about it. Birthday celebration in this time of pandemic is not the best thing to do when other people are mourning for the death of their love ones and that most people are struggling with their survival.<br />
<br />
Call me crazy but I actually counted the number of words comprising the "Happy Birthday" song and the "Hail Mary". The Happy birthday song has a total of :<br />
<br />
39 words - if you sing the song in full<br />
16 words - if you sing the first part of the song only<br />
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The Hail Mary has a total of 41 words, 42 if you include "Amen" in your prayer. It will not only make your hands cleaner by praying the litany rather than singing the Happy Birthday song which right now is actually untimely, She might actually be listening too. She always, always listen.<br />
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The photograph of the Virgin Mary was taken from Lake Bulusan located at the Bulusan Volcano National Park when I explored the Bicol Region some two years back. It was one of my unforgettable exploration where I thought I felt quite a number of miracles.Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-49540526045453538802020-03-15T03:00:00.000-07:002020-04-12T20:29:11.303-07:00Merry Month of March No More 75/366<br />
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Today the 75th day of the year, the government announced that the Enhanced Community Quarantine should take effect on midnight tonight. ECQ for most people is a subtle term for lock down.<br />
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Today happens to be my birthday as well. Today will encompassed all previous birthdays that I considered the most memorable ones as today is undeniably my most unforgettable.<br />
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Yesterday, amidst the anxieties and panic caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, I was lucky (and smart) enough to score myself a birthday cake from SnR. I remembered to snatch it from the rack and took advantage of the discount as well. We did an early grocery shopping before the lock down takes effect to secure home necessities grabbing on cleaning and hygiene materials. I bought just enough and throw dagger looks to those who were obviously hoarding. I hoped I was able to help a bit by doing my part of just buying enough and sending signals to those who were hoarding (laughs).<br />
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Though I can no longer call my birthday month a "merry month" as it would be cruel and insensitive for the world or at least to where I am located to say so, I just thought that I could have even just a cake to blow and whisper my one important wish as I believe in God, angels and birthday wishes. I am using my wish card for this year. <br />
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Dear God, I only have one wish for today and that is to please heal us, the world from this pandemic, the corona virus COVID-19. Forgive me for being too ambitious for making this wish but please God, please.<br />
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<br />Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-23147247580208549802018-05-13T01:52:00.002-07:002018-05-13T02:13:25.286-07:00Sunday Story and Photograph: Me and Ed Sheeran on Mother's Day<br />
I don't have Ed Sheeran in my saved Spotify playlist.<br />
<br />
Not because I don't like the guy or his music but, because I don't feel the need to add him on my personal saved playlist because you can literally hear his music EVERYWHERE! At work, in classy or cheap shops, taxis or any kind of commute or to whatever place that music can be played Ed is there. Almost all singers both famous, wannabes and you-tubers are doing covers of his music to the point of making his Perfect song IMperfect (sigh*).<br />
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Anyway it's perfectly understandable. Who wouldn't love Ed Sheeran? Apart from him being a genius song writer and possessing an awesome voice that gets to your heart's core, the guy is also (freaking) adorable with his "all-time-casual-attitude, cutie smiles, ginger head plus looking like Ron Weasley.<br />
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Personally, I love Ed Sheeran's music because most of them is written from the (his) heart meaning, they are all so so true. They seem to be always written as a story that anyone who listens will know WHAT happened and HOW to feel.<br />
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So what the adorable Ed has to do with (my) Mother's Day?<br />
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If you had been following this blog you will know that there are several things that pulls me (back) to writing/blogging. Sometimes its the "rain", "a song lyric" and always is "my being a sucker for sad things". And hard as I try not to but... Mother's Day really makes me feel sad. In spite of my age and me being a happy mother I can't help but, this day always drives me back to my fourteen year old self - the year when I lost my mother.<br />
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So here I go again finding myself reunited with my old lappy browsing old photographs while listening to whatever music Spotify play in my headset-piped-ears with the strong urge to write without any specific topic in mind. All I know is that huge piece of sadness again is back hanging in my chest.<br />
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And for some twist of fate Ed Sheeran suddenly played. The melody is familiar but the lyrics... I think this is the only time I really listened to it... and I cried... once again I cried on Mother's Day... and I write...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>SUPERMARKET FLOWERS</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I took the supermarket flowers from the windowsill </i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I threw the day old tea from the cup</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Packed up the photo album Matthew had made</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Memories of a life that's been love</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Took the get well soon cards and stuffed animals</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Poured the old ginger beer down the sink</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Dad always told me. "don't you cry when you're down"</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>But mum, there's a tear every time that I blink.</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Oh I'm in pieces, it's tearing me up, but I know </i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>A heart that's broke is a heart that's been loved.</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>So I'll sing Hallelujah</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You were an angel in the shape of my mum</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>When I fell down you'd be there holding me up </i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Spread your wings as you go </i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>And when God takes you back we'll say Hallelujah </i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You're home</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I fluffed the pillows, made the beds. stacked the chairs up</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Folded your nightgowns neatly in a case </i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>John says he'd drive then put his hand on my cheek</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>And wiped a tear from the side of my face</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>I hope that I see the world as you did cause I know</i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>A life with love is a life that's been lived </i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>So I'll sing Hallelujah</i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You were an angel in the shape of my mum</i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>When I fell down you'd be there holding me up </i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Spread your wings as you go </i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>And when God takes you back we'll say Hallelujah </i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>You're home.</i></span></b></div>
<br />
<b><i>The story behind the song </i></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Ed Sheeran's grandmother was very ill during the time he was making the record and she passed away at the end of him making the record. He wrote the song as a tribute to her grandmother. He wasn't initially going to include the song on his album "Divide" but during his grandmother's funeral his grandfather encouraged him to." <b><i>(CTTO/Source: Web)</i></b></blockquote>
<b><i>As for my story...</i></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.balutmanila.com/2012/05/sunday-story-and-photograph-i-held-you.html" target="_blank"> I Held You Till Your Last Breath</a><br />
<a href="http://www.balutmanila.com/2014/05/131365-when-you-lose-mother-mourning.html" target="_blank">When You Lose A Mother The Mourning Never Stops</a>Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-69000387319745491402017-01-08T16:56:00.000-08:002017-01-08T17:01:41.414-08:00Sunday Poem and Photograph: She Who Loves The BeachIt’s the second week of the new year and the official summer time in tropical Philippines is still two months short and yet all I’m thinking about is the beach.<br />
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While people were stressing themselves with the holiday rush and parties, I was busy hopping from one beach to another. I know this sounded weird but as I’ve said on <a href="http://www.balutmanila.com/2017/01/happy-new-year-2017-is-in.html">my new year's post</a>, I’m having flighty feet lately and my body has been shouting to spend time with nature specifically to the beach. But, family and work obligations got in the way during the summer so when I got the chance to take a vacation I grabbed all the opportunities! The hell I care about the cold December breeze I went beach and island hopping! I even ignore a gorgeous year-end party at the Palace Pool Club and declined other holiday-related invitations.<br />
<br />
Out of itchiness and longing, I even spent time (and money) to an urban man-made beach in the city. However, it just worsen the longing rather than it served as a temporary remedy. The longing stays… and persists. <br />
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Why?<br />
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Well I feel that life is incomplete if you didn’t allow your being to have enough commune time with the beach. For me it’s a catharsis…<br />
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b>No words can express </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b>Her depth of contentment </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b><br /></b></span>
<b style="font-family: papyrus;">As she walks along the beach,</b><br />
<b style="font-family: papyrus;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b>As the waves laps against the shores.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b>They create the rhythm of her life </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b>Balmy breezes kiss,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b>Her sun-bronze skin, </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b>and she wonders...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b>Could there ever be a greater destiny</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b>Than to be born with a love </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b>For the treasures of the sea? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b>“She who loves the beach”</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sEiAD9Ted7c/WHLb8OsBMDI/AAAAAAAAGfI/3jdILEcmSeA/s1600-h/me%252520beach_n%25255B23%25255D.jpg"><img alt="me beach_n" border="0" height="406" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1IL7NV35cM4/WHLb86RQ8cI/AAAAAAAAGfM/VgtAmF5x2xQ/me%252520beach_n_thumb%25255B21%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="me beach_n" width="531" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "papyrus"; font-size: medium;">Location: Sabang Surfing Beach, Baler<br />CTTO: Poem</span></div>
Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-14469454794654350502017-01-08T05:14:00.000-08:002017-01-08T05:14:09.145-08:00Happy New Year! 2017 Is In!Happy New Year!<br />
<br />
I’m typing this while still figuring out what photograph I should be using for this post as I really don’t have an idea to where this post is going. I just really wanna say HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!<br />
(redundant I know… sigh).<br />
<br />
So maybe to add some sense(less) words to this post, I will just randomly mention what happened/changed or whatever with me in 2016. Personally, nothing significant really except that I gained weight (which actually is continuous.. another sigh). Hmmmn.. what else…<br />
<ul>
<li>I’m back being workaholic (my family says)<br />
</li>
<li>I write less but read more - different kind of stuff. My fingers though still has this constant itch to unite with the lappy to post even the most senseless story like this one.</li>
<li>I’m having flighty feet lately and tried to give in to it as long as my schedule and budget permits.</li>
<li>I don’t have major goals except to be happy and chill! and I think I’m succeeding (smiles) <br />
So I think my year is just good enough.</li>
</ul>
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For this year, I guess I’m just gonna continue my goal – to be happy and to chill! So what about you guys? Specially my blogger friends... I miss you all by the way! </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kGATHGrikwU" width="459"></iframe>Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-85743594313802007742016-09-04T12:48:00.002-07:002016-09-04T12:48:34.023-07:00Sunday Quote and Photograph: Forgive Them Anyway–Mother Teresa<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S2HIeAsWH68/V8x4lKReo4I/AAAAAAAAGeM/mLDvqueTu-4/s1600-h/Mother%252520Teresa%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><i><b><img alt="Mother Teresa" border="0" height="484" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s78tupDO9Qw/V8x4myE7LvI/AAAAAAAAGeQ/-VL_YRvsMMg/Mother%252520Teresa_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Mother Teresa" width="388" /></b></i></a><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. <br />Forgive them anyway.</b></i><br />
<i><b>If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.<br />Be kind anyway.</b></i><br />
<i><b>If you are honest, people may cheat you. <br />Be honest anyway.</b></i><br />
<i><b>If you find happiness, people may be jealous.<br />Be happy anyway.</b></i><br />
<i><b>The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.<br />Do good.<br />Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.<br />Give your best anyway.</b></i><br />
<i><b>For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.<br />It was never between you and them anyway.”</b></i><br />
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***~***</div>
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The photograph subject was from a pamphlet given to us along with some rosaries by the missionary nuns when we visited <a href="http://www.balutmanila.com/2011/11/missionaries-of-charity-home-of-joy-for.html">Missionaries of Charity Home of Joy for the Sick Children</a> in Tondo, Manila, Philippines.<br />
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I took the photos earlier today as I woke up inspired by the news that Mother Teresa of Calcutta will be canonized. Then I posted this at around 6:00 PM on a Sunday, 4th of September 2016 while watching CNN's current news that the noble Mother Teresa has just been named a SAINT!<br />
<br />
She’s now Saint Teresa but I still prefer to call her my Mother Teresa.<br />
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***~***</div>
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TRIVIA/FACTS:<br />
<br />
Mother Teresa is known in the Catholic Church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta since her canonization today 4th September 2016. She was an Albanian Roman Catholic nun and missionary born Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu on August 26 1920 and died on September 5, 1997. She founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic religeous congregation which run homes for people dying of HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis. <em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Wikipedia</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></em>
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***~***</div>
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This post first appeared on my: </div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ7j1Epg-80/?taken-by=balutmanila" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/BalutManila/status/772380454846595072" target="_blank">Twitter</a></div>
Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-29536832244617519462016-08-15T01:28:00.001-07:002016-08-15T01:31:09.797-07:00Sunday Thoughts and Photograph: The Mojos Are BackIt’s Sunday and raining heavily everywhere, my whole hypothalamus system is celebrating yey!<br />
Sunday is usually my laziest day of the week. When the family is not out during Sundays, this is when you will literally find my body littering and loitering in every corner of the house except in the corners where the wifi signal is weak ha ha. This is the time when I’m ignoring the dusts, the sink, the laundry etc etc. This is the time when my being OC is in immunity mode. <br />
<br />
Though sometimes my being a mother interfers with my lazy Sunday when hubby and kids specifically request for a dish or menu that they missed from my cooking. If not, then we are all dependent to food delivery or eat out on Sundays. You can also call this as my procrastination day or whatever term that is synonymous to being LAZY! yes LAZY!<br />
<br />
Sunday was also (used to be) my union day with my lappy and other gadgets that’s why in spite of my being busy with my regular job and motherhood, I still managed to create blog posts from time to time. Reading online about miscellaneous topics was also my time to sneak in my blog hopping. <br />
<br />
Then suddenly… for some reason that I can’t really recall (until today) I stopped blogging, blog hopping and stop doing things related to blogging. HIATUS! Even updating my social media accounts became lesser, to the point that my Instagram “The366DaysAttempt2016” was also affected. Though I have daily photos to post, my interest became as tasteless as the sugar brand “Equal”. <br />
<br />
Today… tonight… I found myself reading stories in Wattpad, I rested for a while to stay away from the lappy’s heat but before I left my swivel I grabbed one of the books piled on my home desk beside my lappy. As usual It’s one of Jessica Zafra’s which later I realized I’m done halfway with the book but… unfinished. Just like the rest of the books that I started some six months ago. <br />
<br />
After the book break I remember I was googling something when I chanced upon <a href="http://jayradarafol.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-woman-behind-balut-manila_12.html">a link that mentioned about my blog site</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ci0r6oYwu4Y/V7F6RkePtKI/AAAAAAAAGdI/HOVAAkaE_AY/s1600-h/Bos%252520Coffee%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Bos Coffee" border="0" height="484" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kyGNL-LhIH8/V7F6TKO5QMI/AAAAAAAAGdM/eEYlN1DAV4A/Bos%252520Coffee_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Bos Coffee" width="299" /></a><br />
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I won’t detail how this made me feel “emo”. But after reading the link I started typing away.<br />
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Finally I am materializing what I have planned with my “The366DaysAttempt2016”. I picked a skeleton post from my Instagram and created a full blog post.<br />
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This post first appeared on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJGt0ohAueW/?taken-by=balutmanila">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/BalutManila/status/764943342497071104">Twitter</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_dt4tzRXB54/V7F6UDJZ_qI/AAAAAAAAGdQ/fbQE4Gi-2uE/s1600-h/Instagram%25252008152016%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Instagram 08152016" border="0" height="484" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uoOrGrZQYwc/V7F6VRX6MBI/AAAAAAAAGdU/KkhXUVuCVoI/Instagram%25252008152016_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Instagram 08152016" width="392" /></a><br />
<br />
The scene was captured at past 3AM on a Monday but this was a scene the whole day of Sunday, 14th of August 2016.<br />
<br />
Books, Wattpad and Open Live Writer are all present on this Sunday – the whole day. This means that I’m back to reading real books and online and OMG blogging! <br />
<br />
Hope the mojos would stay and not only an effect of my pluviophile heart and brain. Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-17539139082747046382016-08-08T07:55:00.000-07:002016-08-14T02:41:03.015-07:00Today Is A Good Day To Write - Sharing My Pluviophile Playlist<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><b>7:55AM on A Monday, 8th of August 2016</b></i></div>
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If you happen to see a lady standing under the rain capturing the moment in
still photo or video - that is probably me!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zMtXVKhapSw" width="459"></iframe><br />
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Up to you if you consider me insane. but hey don't you know this is the
reason why I chose a waterproof mobile phone? So I can capture the rain
anytime that I'll be caught at the moment.
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Dunno why, but the rain is my cathartic to a lot of things, It makes me feel
calm. Makes me think logical. Makes me break the hiatus on about anything.
Motivates me to write (and I'm redundant on anything about the rain so forgive
me).
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<br />
Anyway, you might have noticed by now that this is not the first time I posted a rain video on my social media accounts. I think just the other night I also posted one. Though I didn’t like that one much because there was lightning and thunder. It's not calming nor cathartic. I like the rain but not the storm .<br />
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So just to make this one different, I'm going to share another idiosyncrasy of mine on being a pluviophile. When it's raining I'm playing songs about rain... go ahead laugh! But you might want to listen to my <b>"Pluviophile List"</b><br />
<br />
10. Rain by Creed<br />
9. Early Morning Rain by Peter Paul and Mary<br />
8. Crying In The Rain - Cover by A-Ha<br />
7. Rhythm Of The Rain By Cascades<br />
6. November Rain by Guns N' Roses<br />
5. Have You Ever Seen The Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival <br />
(This is a 1970's song but I also like the 2006 Rod Stewart cover)<br />
4. Tag-ulan by After Image<br />
3. Ulan - (I love the original by Rivermaya but) Bamboo's version is gold<br />
2. Ulan by Cuesh<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"> 1. Sa Tuwing Umuulan - Earser Heads Cover (Regine Velasquez cover when I'm feeling "emo")</span></div>
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I just listed ten songs but there's actually more. What about you? Do you play songs about rain when it's raining? </div>
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***</div>
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P.S. </div>
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If anybody is searching among my list the song "Basang-Basa Sa Ulan" by Aegis - it's not in there but I play it when I'm trying to annoy a person who's on emo due to a heart problem . I usually play this song when the person is least expecting it and it never fails to make everybody laugh ha ha.</div>
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*****</div>
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This post first appeared on my </div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BI1kBXVAbul/?taken-by=balutmanila" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/BalutManila/status/762529257876754432" target="_blank">Twitter</a></div>
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Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-43136079768099448922016-03-26T22:10:00.000-07:002016-09-04T02:46:56.689-07:00The Windmills On My MindI’m writing this around 5:00 AM on a Black Saturday, 26th of March <br />
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I’m still fascinated by the feeling I experienced when I get to come near and see with my own naked eye this fascinating creation – a WINDMILL! <br />
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<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0ABB7CC8-30EB-4F34-8080-22DA77ED20C3:5e206be2-2b13-45fe-bdfb-4657370a2caf" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 374px;">
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<a href="http://www.kizoa.com/Video-Editor-Movie-Maker/d62840922k1461131o2l1/the-windmills-of-my-mind"><b>The Windmills Of My MInd</b></a> - <i><a href="http://www.kizoa.com/">Kizoa Video Editor - Movie Maker</a></i></div>
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54 MW Pililla Windfarm - Sitio Bugarin, Pililla Rizal</div>
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The WINDMILL which actually is a product of human technology but I confess that I am soo soo fascinated with it. So you must understand that I will be narrating my experience through this post with much feelings to the point of over reacting (forgive me)! <br />
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Seeing a real windmill is actually in my secret bucket list that is why the wind farm in Ilocos Norte is in my travel list this year so I can see the Bangui Wind Farm. While waiting for my hopeless schedule to free-up so I can sneak the Ilocos Norte travel plan, I came across a post by a fellow blogger about a wind farm in Pililla, Rizal. I was like – OMG! it’s technically within Manila!<br />
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So you can’t imagine my excitement when while we were driving through the mountainous and beautiful roads of Rizal during our annual Vicita Iglesia, I spotted a glimpse of the gigantic tall windmills towering among the mountains of Rizal!<br />
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I was screaming excitedly to my husband that we need to get off! And when we reached the foot of the hill where the windmills are planted , I was over excited that I didn’t even feel the burning temperature of the vicinity. I ignored the burning heat, the dust and vehicles that were driving through and out of the hill. I completely forgot everything! I was just looking up astounded by the sight of the windmills.<br />
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<strong>CONFESSION:</strong>When I came very near the foot of the windmill, the sight overwhelmed me. I was drowned was engulfed by an unexplainable feeling while watching the blades gracefully but powerfully rotating in front of me. I became more fascinated by nature - unbelievably thinking how STRONG the wind that can make these gigantic blades to wheel. <br />
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While hubby was taking my photos with the windmills as back draft, I was actually checking my back from time to time I was paranoid with the idea that the giant blades will slash my back. Crazy thoughts I know but it’s actually what I felt.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e53GAdDzQ38/V8O7WHPk2NI/AAAAAAAAGds/DoNHb04XPfQ/s1600-h/Windmill%2525202%25255B19%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Windmill 2" border="0" height="484" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nSX_nGA3MPQ/V8O7XqACoCI/AAAAAAAAGdw/V1iIcdj6z9E/Windmill%2525202_thumb%25255B14%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Windmill 2" width="364" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0j-TKlAyo8k/V8O7Yye204I/AAAAAAAAGd0/41_ygpkeSRQ/s1600-h/Windmill%2525201%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Windmill 1" border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u_JIrld4fNY/V8O7aL-3PDI/AAAAAAAAGd4/HNTPewL7HfM/Windmill%2525201_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Windmill 1" /></a></div>
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<strong>TRIVIA:</strong> <br />
One of my most fave TV advertisement when I was young was the “Dutch Maid Milk” commercial. I’m not sure if anyone out there can still relate to this (LOL). The reason why I like this ad is because there were windmills on that advertisement (another LOL to myself). When I’m mentally writing stories (yes I do that) with farm setting, there’s always a windmill in my mental illustration. This is how much I’m fascinated with windmills back then and till now. <br />
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<strong>FACTS:</strong><br />
The <b>"Pililla, Rizal" Wind Energy Service Contract</b> granted to Alternergy Philippine Holdings Corporation (APHC) covers an area of 4,515 hectares. This Wind Energy Service Contract (WESC) has two phases, Pililla Wind Power Project and the Mt. Sembrano Wind Power Project. The project consists of 27 wind turbine generators grouped into three clusters with aggregate capacity of 67.5 megawatts (MW). The said project, after completion will interconnect to Meralco’s Malaya-Teresa 115 kilovolts (kV) transmission line located just 10 kilometers from the project site <em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Wikipedia</span></em><br />
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<strong>MORE FACTS:</strong><br />
The title of this post is inspired by the song titled "The Windmills of Your Mind" by the French composer Michel Legrand and English lyrics written by American Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman. The song was introduced in the film "The Thomas Crown Affair" in 1968 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in the same year. Several great singers recorded this song but I love the version by Barbara Streisand and Jose Feliciano. <em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Wikipedia</span></em><br />
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The same song is the background music in the video on this post.<br />
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<strong>~***~</strong></div>
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This post is part of my “The 366 Days Attempt 2016” and first appeared on my:</div>
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BDZ6ZB3r3JU/">Instagram</a> </div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/BalutManila/status/713601808543797248">Twitter</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/balut.manila/posts/944583145657383">Facebook</a></div>
Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-39473174800758900582015-11-27T03:24:00.001-08:002015-11-27T03:36:18.599-08:00Random Thoughts: There Is Always Something To Be Thankful For Everyday – A Special Thanksgiving PostI woke up today in a messy room and bed disoriented on what day is today. I look at the calendar hanged from a distant wall but it made me more confused. Not that I’m suffering from an early stage of alzheimer’s, it’s just that for almost a week now I am working on night shift because I need to complete a training course for my new job appointment. I haven’t been getting enough sleep probably because my body hasn’t been adjusted to the new schedule plus, I came from a company party last night. All of these factors made my body clock turned upside down. I also have cough and cold since yesterday, probably the effect of fatigue and lack of sleep. Sigh…I am stressed and sick I know. <br />
<br />
As I attempted to call someone’s name, I realized there’s silence around the house. Ah! probably everyone already left. As I look at the wall clock to check on time, I instantly confirmed that I’m alone at home by this time of the morning. <br />
<br />
Walking out of bed I caught the view of stack of old boxes from the store room just outside our room. I saw the boxes as if they's are giving me an accusing look and telling me “waiting for you”. They are the Christmas tree and décor boxes that has been waiting for me to set-up since mid-November (the usual date that I used to set them up). And it is just 28 days before Christmas. Sigh… gotta move my fat **s soon! Yes I’m stressed, sick, alone at home with lots of clutter and behind with a lot of things. <br />
<br />
As I go down and straight to the kitchen I saw more clutters. Obviously, our family schedule is so messed up (specially mine) that no one is available to tidy up the house. The funny thing this is that in spite of all the clutters it doesn’t bother or annoy me at all. The untouched batch of hubby’s shoes in the stairways (he never learns to organize his shoes in the shoe racks) instantly reminds me that today is Friday because he is yet to be back tomorrow, Saturday from an out of town trip. Sonny boy’s necktie which is obviously lazily thrown at the back of one of the dining table’s chair reminds me that he’s wearing casual outfit today and he’s done with his OJT interview. The (not so) little girl’s rubber shows reminds me that she’s wearing her leather shoes today with her regular school uniform therefore it’s not PE day today. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XiyfTqdt0Lk/Vlg8op9jtUI/AAAAAAAAGcE/oBBBeDssc6E/s1600-h/DSC_0485%25255B28%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="DSC_0485" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hhyW9jyOrys/Vlg8pU8auRI/AAAAAAAAGcI/ZviblKkG1rk/DSC_0485_thumb%25255B13%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="137" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 35px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_0485" width="242" /></a>All of these made me smile plus the sight I found in the kitchen table (which has more clutter than everywhere else). Pandesal, ham, cheese and a (broken) sunny-side-up egg is waiting for me. Aaah just in time for my growling tummy! As I prepare my coffee, some thoughts made me smile the more. I suddenly felt the kisses and whispers while I was asleep early this morning… those sweet kisses and whispers of "love yous'" while telling me that they need to leave for school. <br />
<br />
These all made me smile. In spite of all the clutters in our lives, there will always be something to smile about or to be thankful for. Some things which are more important than being stress, sick and worried.<br />
<br />
HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone! I know that this is an American tradition and is not an official occasion in the Philippines. But heck at least it reminds us to be thankful for our blessings even the simplest ones. Isn’t that by just waking up this morning alive is something to be thankful for? So HAPPY THANKGIVING to all of you! Whoever and whatever. Cheers!<br />
<br />
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***</div>
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<br /></div>
But wait… What is that blazing red light blinking at the side of my home desk?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b4gJsZvSoE8/Vlg8pz5Y4RI/AAAAAAAAGcM/woL91bcCcbc/s1600-h/DSC_0491%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DSC_0491" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IprynwXs9T4/Vlg8rbtLS0I/AAAAAAAAGcY/ZYUnEJChzeM/DSC_0491_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="DSC_0491" width="274" /></a><br />
<br />
Oh jeez! it’s my mouse! Tsk tsk tsk…Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-79104761087410990692015-10-17T19:37:00.000-07:002015-10-19T00:25:15.566-07:00Thank You Is The Order Of The Day And A Special Greeting Too–To One Super Guy Named MarioI’m ignoring the fact that it’s already mid October because I’m supposed to post this last September. And as usual alibis alibis blah blah…. STOP!<br />
<br />
Anyways, as I mentioned from my last post that “I have been wanting to write about for months now and this is to say an official and BIG THANK YOUs to a number of good people that I am blessed to encounter with in cyber space.”<br />
<br />
Here’s one super guy who never fail to surprise me as in an out of the blue SURPRISE! He did it<br />
again! Yes that surprise when one day I found my name tagged in some social media posts with this!<br />
<br />
A doodle! <br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NSNNjYoIHlo/ViMCNVp4qhI/AAAAAAAAGZk/V9BOwHXMtyk/s1600-h/Doodle%252520B%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="Doodle B" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0gS1MNnIsMA/ViMCXFRcsEI/AAAAAAAAGZs/tL7rtiGTJEM/Doodle%252520B_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Doodle B" width="274" /></a><br />
<br />
Aaaaw! Isn’t that sweet! It really made my day <em>(mas kilig pa sa AlDub ha ha).</em><br />
<br />
Wait there’s more! He did not make only one doodle but a LOT of doodles! And to top it all, he posted them on his <a href="http://www.unplog.com/2015/08/the-egg-doodle.html" target="_blank">blog</a>! <br />
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I’m really amazed with this cause I already know that apart from he’s being one good looking guy (chos!) he is also one good blogger/writer. But this artistry is wow! I’m really really amazed with his keen for details. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A7gQijqT-mM/ViMCm0x3IbI/AAAAAAAAGZ0/jO7g2ROqYjg/s1600-h/Doodle%252520by%252520Super%252520M%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Doodle by Super M" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UpM-of7HJ3A/ViMCzTBCXXI/AAAAAAAAGZ8/7NVDO6PJYZw/Doodle%252520by%252520Super%252520M_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Doodle by Super M" width="471" /></a><br />
<br />
I said that because I totally “dig” what’s behind the doodles that you made for me. I read your thoughts Super M! and let me share those thoughts to the people reading this.<br />
<br />
1.<b> Characters wearing shades</b> – these are ME! My blogger friends knew me as someone who always wear shades which I think is really funny. (The reason behind the shades by the ways is that my eyes has a bad case of astigmatism. Sudden exposure to light and sun can make me instantly dizzy.) <br />
<br />
2. <b>“Tse” by the lady at the right</b> – Exactly me. An expression that I replied to Super M when he first joked that I just share the doodle of another blogger whom I share the same first name initial “B”. <br />
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3. <b>“Peyborit” (Favorite)</b> – Well, Super M “claims” he’s my favorite ha ha. Oh well...<br />
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4. <b>“Run”</b> – As most of you know I have a passion for <a href="http://www.bloggerrunner.com/" target="_blank">running</a>.<br />
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5. <b>“BM” and the “eggs”</b> - is of course for “Balut Manila” <br />
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6. <b>“Blogger Celeb”</b> written upside down at the bottom near the edge – is for “Celebrity Blogger” that they call me which amuses me until now. (<em>Ikaw ang nag-pauso neto Super M no?) </em><br />
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7. <b>The "positive chaos" of people and things around the whole doodle</b> – is how my life and blog is. It feels and look so hype, so full and so everything. <br />
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The details is so unbelievable and I really love them.<br />
<br />
So BIG THANK YOU to you Super M! As I’ve said people like you is one of the reason why I can not give up on blogging. I would also like to send my special greetings for you. This is not a belated one cause I knew that it was your birthday (am not posting the exact date here), but I didn’t greet you in any of your social media profile because I want to make this special greetings from my own home. <br />
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HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Super M! I wish you all life’s wonderful blessings. I have one more wish though… apart from your doodle craze post, I hope you will find the time to write again a post that is something like my <a href="http://www.unplog.com/2012/07/sukob-na.html" target="_blank">"peyborit"</a> post of yours. <em>Umuulan kasi</em> while I’m writing this. <br />
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Again THANK YOU and Cheers!<br />
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***<br />
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To know more about Super Mario, you may check him out here: <br />
<a href="http://www.unplog.com/2015/08/the-egg-doodle.html" target="_blank">Blog: UNPLOG by Super M</a> – mind you people he’s one GOOD writer<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Mar.Verdan" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br />
<a href="https://instagram.com/mar_verdan/" target="_blank">Instagram</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/mar_verdan" target="_blank">Twitter</a><br />
(TIP: Ladies, as far as I know - he’s single wink*)Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-8965110901248199322015-09-13T09:20:00.000-07:002015-09-13T09:26:18.692-07:00Thank You Is The Order of The Day– To One Fine Lady From NorwaySince it seems like my blogging mojo is a bit back, let me prioritized what I have been wanting to write about for months now and this is to say an official and BIG THANK YOUs to a number of good people that I am blessed to encounter with in cyber space.<br />
<br />
Let me start by saying a HUGE APOLOGY and THANK YOU to one sweet blogger friend who thoughtfully responded to my published post back in January of last year - “<a href="http://www.balutmanila.com/2014/01/10365-book-is-added-to-my-wish-listthe.html" target="_blank">A Book is Added to My Wish List</a>”. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_OC8hMiJ37w/VfWXXO_mWuI/AAAAAAAAGYc/OBJuWh-GtRE/s1600-h/Image00020b%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Image00020b" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pv2VcFMkk54/VfWXYPY1yUI/AAAAAAAAGYk/rqa74c5WZmg/Image00020b_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="184" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00020b" width="244" /></a><br />
It caught me by surprise when one day around March last year (my birthday month) I received a registered mail notice from my local post office. You see this kind of registered notice doesn’t say much about what’s on the parcel so you don’t have a choice but to actually check at the post office what this is about.<br />
<br />
If you have been following this blog you will know how much I hate dealing with government offices. Their “system” never fails to drain the very minimal bits of patience in my body. But I didn’t have a choice then so I summoned my guts and gathered the remaining stock of my patience and checked about the package. As as I expected I ended up very annoyed and upset because all along I knew that the parcel is supposed to be delivered to my door step and yet for their God-forsaken-reason they turned it into a “mail-for-pick-up-parcel”. I was upset because my annoyance about the situation had taken over my excitement for the parcel. It sort of ruined the surprise factor feeling when you received a surprise from someone. Know what I mean? <br />
<br />
Then probably out of my disappointment I messaged the sender to simply let her know the parcel’s delivery status. However, when I went back reading our convo on a later date to collect some delivery details, I realized that all through out our convo I really sounded disappointed about the parcel which I am really not. I don’t think it was ethical on my part to even bother the person who sent me the gift. Jeeez I should have slapped my own face! <br />
<br />
It was not my intention to sound upset to the person who sent the parcel. however, I feel like I really did (sigh). What was I upset about was the situation where I am trapped between rebelling against the postal system but at the same time I can’t just ignore the parcel because it is very important to me not because of it’s material value but because I know that it was specially sent to me and those special thoughts are included in that parcel. <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qCnVzX-6gTk/VfWXZxTmnWI/AAAAAAAAGYs/7gOaBM3Yl8Y/s1600-h/Image00001B%25255B14%25255D.jpg"><img align="right" alt="" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y4dB0jh-enw/VfWXatO6mVI/AAAAAAAAGY0/7I1n8zosBlM/Image00001B_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="" width="243" /></a>To make the story short, I was able to collect the parcel after some time when my head cooled down. And when I finally got it I was really overjoyed and my plan was to write a special thank you post to surprise back the sender. But… in my intention to make the post a special one.. it resulted to a much-delayed post until it dragged on to my blogging hiatus days. The “surprise thank you” almost did not happen… until now.<br />
<br />
So I would like to say my HUGE APOLOGIES and THANK you to <a href="http://joysnotepad.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">one fine lady from Norway</a> who has always been very kind and thoughtful not only to me but to everybody I know that she knows. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z7ljGhoBGno/VfWXb309kCI/AAAAAAAAGY8/5REPgCrbSaU/s1600-h/Image00004%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Image00004" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1hq2qyN_W-s/VfWXdEvb9UI/AAAAAAAAGZE/Ox7kH3cb9jc/Image00004_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="417" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00004" width="545" /></a><br />
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THANK YOU Joy for your thoughtfulness of responding to my post. I am so sorry that I failed to thank you immediately or even confirmed with you when I already received your gift for the reason that I already mentioned. And I really hope that I did not offend you in any way when I messaged<br />
you about the delivery status. I am feeling guilty ever since. Please know that I appreciate this very much and words can not express how much this gift means to me. THANK YOU! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--bWpWMIQJ70/VfWXeiFsZFI/AAAAAAAAGZM/7knt8F07_oc/s1600-h/Image00017%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Image00017" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q1ATbhWK9lI/VfWXgKxqrXI/AAAAAAAAGZU/6HVDMjuPqeo/Image00017_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="420" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00017" width="550" /></a><br />
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By the way, Joy ordered and sent me these books through Amazon.com and it’s supposed to be a door-to-door delivery but those bozos from my local post office managed to put their hands on it.Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-72350870019091171762015-09-01T23:56:00.000-07:002015-09-13T00:11:02.468-07:00The 36th Manila International Book Fair (2015)Time really fly so fast! <br />
<br />
It’s our favorite time of the year again and I want to share it with you so you can save the date as well!. <br />
<br />
Oh wait I just realized that due to my over business last year I was not able to share our 2014 MIBF experience. Well forgive me, it’s part of my <a href="http://www.balutmanila.com/2014/01/1365-prelude-to-365-day-blogging.html" target="_blank">unsuccessful "365 Day Blogging Challenge"</a>. And ok I will really try (no promises though) to share something about our 2014 MIBF experience one of these days but for now, I’m inviting you all to this annual event and see for yourselves why am I sooo excited about this!<br />
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The 36th (BIG WOW!) Manila International Book Fair (MIBF 2015) is happening on September 16 to 20, 2015 from 10AM to 8PM at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex. <br />
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<blockquote>
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vkvLAUyZTvg/VfUeCMQpBBI/AAAAAAAAGYE/ljn0_DzZa1o/s1600-h/MIBF%2525202015%25255B10%25255D.jpg"><img alt="MIBF 2015" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KTzTMYB2Lyg/VfUeFy9l8iI/AAAAAAAAGYM/SezM1my9WyY/MIBF%2525202015_thumb%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="MIBF 2015" width="484" /></a></blockquote>
<blockquote>
They have around two hundred numbers of exhibitors on the list (Yes I counted them ha ha) and an exciting schedule of special events that you can find <a href="http://www.manilabookfair.com/schedule.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</blockquote>
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<blockquote>
See you all at the fair!</blockquote>
Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-17346509535793013652015-08-30T23:49:00.002-07:002015-08-31T00:48:28.419-07:00Sunday Thoughts and Photographs: Calm and Serenity By The Bay<blockquote>
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Yesterday Saturday was a mad day in the main avenues here in the city and I myself was not spared from the chaotic experience. Coming off from the last day of work for the week and carrying two boxes of pastries for my family, I dashed out of the office building and took a public transport with much excitement to start bonding with my family starting on this Saturday afternoon. I’m already imagining the scene of me sitting relaxed with my family after taking a refreshing shower and enjoying a movie while indulging with the sweets I brought home.<br />
<br />
But that was far from the reality because the vehicle I’m on is not moving and it has been over 30 minutes. I told myself "relax, at least you’re in an air conditioned transport". However, the 30 minutes dragged on to an hour, then two, and more…. to think that my regular commute to and from work on ordinary day is just 15 to 30 minutes only. But today…tsk!<br />
<br />
Being used to <a href="http://www.bloggerrunner.com/" target="_blank">running</a> and walking long distance I was tempted to walk the way home but it was raining and I’m wearing work clothes that are not that comfortable to be walking with, plus that I’m carrying two boxes of pastries. There is no way that my small umbrella can totally cover me and the pastry boxes that surely will not stand the rain.<br />
<br />
I arrived home very tired and pissed (sorry for the word). All the good mood and excitement gone specially when I see in the news what causes such traffic. I don’t want to touch that matter on this venue anymore because forgive me, I had done so much social media ranting for this incident. By the way, my husband and son arrived home later complaining the same traffic experience.<br />
<br />
Today so as not to add anymore annoyance to our weekend my family and I cancelled any plan of going out and decided to stay home the whole Sunday. The blessing to this is that it gave me the time to write some of my thoughts and do one of my favorite leisure which is going over our random family photos. <br />
<br />
Probably fate felt what I needed at that moment that I chanced upon these photos. Let me share them with you. The photo captions are product of my current state of mind which is really longing for calmness and serenity.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>The patient cats</strong></span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y75olzvOkyc/VeP0pYLYZGI/AAAAAAAAGVA/P4h09058fJ0/s1600-h/Image000034.jpg"><img alt="Image00003" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JMtfeNqTfBk/VeP0rHxAZ0I/AAAAAAAAGVI/FohzZM2dSyc/Image00003_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00003" width="274" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uwMWuIyORwo/VeP0sqo4tXI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/m8EwmWvPcbg/s1600-h/Image000044.jpg"><img alt="Image00004" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2O-Z6ECOmbI/VeP0uH29-0I/AAAAAAAAGVY/CpvG76fmucw/Image00004_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00004" width="274" /></a><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">The Fisher King</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></strong>
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VLyTvCqbfs0/VeP0v7qsz3I/AAAAAAAAGVg/ZpD8QoEMyrc/s1600-h/Image0001313.jpg"><img alt="Image00013" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yC1Bxijom_0/VeP0x_hEb3I/AAAAAAAAGVo/juIFQxQTopc/Image00013_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" height="332" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00013" width="580" /></a><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">The Fisher King and the Patient Cat</span></strong> <br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></strong>
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RmjyYI466pM/VeP0zcMw-uI/AAAAAAAAGVw/sh3YbvP3ipU/s1600-h/Image000074.jpg"><img alt="Image00007" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4U-h93ca0T0/VeP00zxTC8I/AAAAAAAAGV4/ZWsq3czDLZ8/Image00007_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00007" width="274" /></a><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">The Serene Harbor</span></strong><br />
<b><br /></b><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5bL-pzWNJQg/VeP03skAiSI/AAAAAAAAGWA/C-veV9PU-pQ/s1600-h/Image000115.jpg"><img alt="Image00011" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yc_PI4Pafsg/VeP05CouUuI/AAAAAAAAGWI/xNn-l07OCBg/Image00011_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="328" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00011" width="573" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6-vn1SY0rcA/VeP06lyBgCI/AAAAAAAAGWQ/gNcGdQlyjeA/s1600-h/Image00015.jpg"><img alt="Image00015" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QRs3RwxlRfY/VeP08fnze9I/AAAAAAAAGWY/oylolKoXbks/Image00015_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="349" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00015" width="587" /></a><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">The Silent Lamps</span></strong> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2gXN1wk0jFU/VeP0-OPFTYI/AAAAAAAAGWg/7Wsz1Q-3lHc/s1600-h/Image000175.jpg"><img alt="Image00017" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mriPdhAFAbk/VeP0_i80WeI/AAAAAAAAGWo/yBcPiCy1hJI/Image00017_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="329" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00017" width="575" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5Rlx1VdASoo/VeP1DBhr_hI/AAAAAAAAGWw/wTJPxxuW0sM/s1600-h/Image000194.jpg"><img alt="Image00019" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xTrpZKsY5js/VeP1E1rcF9I/AAAAAAAAGW4/unf2hcTozJw/Image00019_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00019" width="274" /></a><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Anchored and Mirrored</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></strong>
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HU1ffZG5fts/VeP1Gr6GF2I/AAAAAAAAGXA/RrK6Wsi8ogs/s1600-h/Image0002310.jpg"><img alt="Image00023" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hPBUJDcOfn4/VeP1IXehMvI/AAAAAAAAGXI/SI8MUxz72S4/Image00023_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" height="325" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00023" width="568" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fh6IFEGmjYQ/VeP1J9DC8kI/AAAAAAAAGXQ/9Y0X4Gw-syk/s1600-h/Image000265.jpg"><img alt="Image00026" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-osrFlnfUaXo/VeP1LZlVZdI/AAAAAAAAGXY/xGdKhrL9-lg/Image00026_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="326" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00026" width="571" /></a><br />
<br />
I took these photos using my young daughter’s new mobile phone, a Huawei/Honor 4C model and were randomly taken while I was <a href="http://www.bloggerrunner.com/2015/08/todays-run-some-basic-full-body.html" target="_blank">running around the bay one rainy Monday morning.</a> I was testing the quality of the 13 mp camera of the phone so these photos were posted without filter. <br />
<br />
What do you think of the quality of these photos? And does this gives you the feeling of serenity and calmness as well? Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-57986421050967966082015-08-19T11:59:00.000-07:002015-08-20T08:49:00.921-07:00Gone in 14 Minutes! Lebron James Rise Tour<div align="center">
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo is from the email confirmation sent by Nile Philippines for the ticket claiming</span></em></div>
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ixaZoex68gQ/VdTRROn8AvI/AAAAAAAAGUA/fRQwPBSupxM/s1600-h/The-King-is-Calling3.jpg"><img alt="The King is Calling" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-duYLdkhfEKg/VdTRSVYG3mI/AAAAAAAAGUI/TdT8OMjf51c/The-King-is-Calling_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="The King is Calling" width="540" /></a><br />
<div align="left">
<br />
And I’m definitely coming!</div>
<br />
Remember my <a href="http://www.balutmanila.com/2013/07/lebron-james-live-in-manila-witness.html" target="_blank">disappointment some two years back</a> when my idol Lebron James came to visit Manila for the first time and I was not able to see him because I failed to get a ticket in spite that the tickets were for free? Well this time I got lucky! I am finally going to see my idol Lebron James in person! <br />
<br />
Thanks to the people behind this tour who thought of a different way of getting a ticket to James live appearance compared during the last visit. They were probably overwhelmed from the humongous turn out of crowd during the first visit when the fans stayed overnight just to secure a ticket that will be distributed the following day at Nike Park in Bonifacio Global City in Tagig City. How can I forget those people who endured the heavy rain and camped outside the Nike Park. I even befriended some of them. <br />
<br />
This time the organizer provided a link where fans can get tickets. The registration is supposed to be from 9AM to 11:59PM on 14th August but guess what! The registration closed 14 minutes after it opened! Yes it was a freaking FOURTEEN MINUTES only! <br />
<br />
I was at work during the designated registration time so what I did is to give (STRICT) instruction to my son that he should be online before 9:00AM and if he won’t be able to secure a ticket would mean a “No allowance for a month from me!’ Ha ha ha kidding. My son is also a James fan so I’m sure he will do his best to get the tickets. <br />
<br />
So lo and behold we have two tickets! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oSLyIAxfqao/VdTRTkQXxpI/AAAAAAAAGUQ/q-yPF-jeVSg/s1600-h/Rise-Beyond-Belief7.jpg"><img alt="Rise Beyond Belief" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-idZMtx6EyvM/VdTRUXS5NII/AAAAAAAAGUY/4JZgypA5QCU/Rise-Beyond-Belief_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Rise Beyond Belief" width="413" /></a><br />
<br />
The idea is to get at least four tickets for the whole family. But my sonny said that after his first successful registration there was an instant message that the registration is already full. This was confirmed later by the people of Nike Park in Glorietta, Makati who emphasized how lucky we are to get at least two tickets. They were in fact very impressed that we were able to secure tickets. They said that there are still a lot of people who are inquiring how to get tickets and most of them are willing to buy with a tempting price offer. Just like the first time huh!<br />
<br />
Our tickets are “General Admission” but nevertheless I’m still happy about it. Thanks to my angel who probably has one of the “fastest fingers” among the Lebron James fans ha ha. <br />
<br />
Obviously I’m very excited for this event that it motivated me to post again on this “home”. It amused me big time that this event broke my blogging hiatus. Well I hope the “breaking” will continue after the show and post another one so I can share my Lebron James experience with you all!<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>***</strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<strong><em>Basketball Superstar Lebron James is arriving in the Philippines for the second time on August 19, 2015 to take part in the Nike Rise training camp where he will mentor young Filipino basketball players. The announcement of the final “Rise” team is on August 20, 2015 at the MOA Arena.</em></strong>Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-62164455390333679032015-06-21T02:16:00.002-07:002015-06-21T02:17:50.680-07:00Sunday Quote and Photograph: Father and SunsetA father will always be there to make sure that you wake up to a beautiful sunrise,<br />
And stays with you throughout the day to lead you to the most beautiful sunset. <br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pLMGC0UXOy0/VYZ_sOjh6VI/AAAAAAAAGSw/76jSmhX3z9g/s1600-h/Image00001%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Image00001" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nn_kiryOXi4/VYZ_tXojxvI/AAAAAAAAGS4/mr5K3DHxS8M/Image00001_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="428" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00001" width="538" /></a></div>
<br />
Happy Father’s Day to all you GREAT FATHERS in the world!<br />
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
~*** ~</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
Photo was taken at Station 1 in Boracay Island where my family witnessed one of the most spectacular sunset. Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-14485032158292661292015-06-13T23:57:00.000-07:002015-06-13T23:57:55.656-07:00Sunday Poem and Photographs: Say Hello To An Old Friend<br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0LJI8ueqq2g/VX0kaS3LDKI/AAAAAAAAGSE/q3vnQwPwGAo/s1600-h/IMG_20150606_071733%25255B37%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_20150606_071733" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vjkTX2SF5bQ/VX0kbbdSUKI/AAAAAAAAGSM/MnKV8bTa2N8/IMG_20150606_071733_thumb%25255B34%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_20150606_071733" width="364" /></a><br />
As you walk along the winding path of the Esplanade<br />
That embraces the gentle curve of the Iloilo River<br />
Say a silent prayer for the long-lost loyal friend <br />
That we had covered with filth and almost forgotten <br />
<br />
When it went out to meet the sea each day <br />
Bearing the heavy burdens of our wasteful rituals<br />
We feared that it would never return, in anger and <br />
In protest against our reckless ways <br />
<br />
Sing Paeans at the top of your voices <br />
To those who brought back the River to life <br />
To those who remembered a friend from days gone by <br />
To those who cared and saw the beauty beneath the grime. <br />
<br />
A once dying river now glimmers with hope sublime <br />
It still goes out to sea by the moon in its appointed time <br />
It silently gathers the wealth of the waters <br />
And comes back faithfully in fair of stormy chime. <br />
<a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sbUY3slW9_M/VX0kcMsHuAI/AAAAAAAAGSU/hl_QaT3tuas/s1600-h/IMG_20150606_071926%25255B25%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_20150606_071926" border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B-nf0MoMzBI/VX0kc0X2RLI/AAAAAAAAGSc/2RSuQN4zc30/IMG_20150606_071926_thumb%25255B22%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="IMG_20150606_071926" width="364" /></a><br />
Say hello to a long lost blogger… and that’s me.<br />
It’s been a while since my last post. Well believe it or not I was about to make a series of posts starting to my earlier summer escapades and also my annual Vicita Iglesia traditional post when suddenly my home phone and DSL went gone for the _nth time just right after the Holy Week break. It just came back in the first week of June at the very night that we are leaving for an out of town trip and believe me I was no longer surprised when it’s gone again when we came back after a week ! Wow! Isn’t that amazing? <br />
Anyways, I will just release my frustrations about my ISP provider on another cover so as not to cloud the reason that inspires me to create a blog post at the first chance that I had. <br />
Let me share with you a beautiful poem I found while strolling one Sunday morning in the Esplanade of Iloilo City during our recent vacation. I’m sure you will find the wordings as mesmerizing as the place where I found it. <br />
I just want to give credit to the person who wrote this poem and a BIG kudos to the people who really did a good job in bringing back the Iloilo River. It is such a huge gift to the people of Iloilo. <br />
The place is so awesome so I will be sharing more photos and hope additional information about this place in the coming days.<br />
Meanwhile, have a blessed Sunday everyone!Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-1405470876404288392015-03-04T18:11:00.002-08:002015-03-18T05:55:40.961-07:00Hello March!No I’m not asking March to “please be good to me.” Instead, I will be good to March and for the rest of my life. <br />
<br />
Most people usually set goals and (unfulfilled) promises at the beginning of the year, while the weird me have this habit of setting them when my favorite month comes in.. It’s simply because March is my birth month and I thought it is just logical aiming to be even a bit better starting in the month a year is added to one’s age. <br />
<br />
So this “Merry Month of March”. the vampire me is celebrating a great milestone that a living human should be proud of! I will be celebrating the half century of my existence in this world with you mortals! LOL!<br />
<br />
Of course there’s a lot of “going-ons” in my hyper-active old mind which revolves around the word “mature-fun”. I hope that I can share the worthwhile things with you and keep the unworthy parts to my rising archives.<br />
<br />
But first, I need to find back my blogging and running mojo. Hmn… for blogging, I hope this post is a sign that I found it back. For running, <a href="http://www.bloggerrunner.com/2015/03/im-nuts.html" target="_blank">oh yes I definitely did!</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-STrPctxLVQE/VPe5MrfLtiI/AAAAAAAAGQk/eLTGkd2iMTg/s1600-h/Image00001%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Image00001" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lW46LQvjAgY/VPe5OaBVmPI/AAAAAAAAGQs/Bl59FtHwqcI/Image00001_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="323" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00001" width="543" /></a><br />
<br />
Actually, I know I’m not making sense on this post ha ha. I just want to post this awesome picture that my friend captured while I was enjoying the beautiful sunset in Agas Beach in Puerto Galera. <br />
<br />
Hope you will join me as I go back blogging either talking sensibly or senseless. After all that is what life is made of… senseless and sensible.Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-41383197900933110572015-01-12T03:29:00.000-08:002015-01-12T03:37:34.834-08:00Sunday Song and Photographs: What A Wonderful World<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OEF0XsgMyR0/VLOvYjb6ECI/AAAAAAAAGPc/i7gFFKkpFUY/s1600-h/Lettuce%252520Field%252520at%252520Strawberry%252520Farm%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Lettuce Field at Strawberry Farm" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-n0wIIHjnp40/VLOvatmCdhI/AAAAAAAAGPk/dz1VBvQbUws/Lettuce%252520Field%252520at%252520Strawberry%252520Farm_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Lettuce Field at Strawberry Farm" width="484" /></a><br />
<blockquote>
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qc0JpRAgGI0/VLOvcG6AY4I/AAAAAAAAGPs/v5igzLT4hYw/s1600-h/Strawberries%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Strawberries" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Jx3leFpubfI/VLOvfltYl4I/AAAAAAAAGP0/AgP2mDc2la0/Strawberries_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Strawberries" width="484" /></a></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<em><strong>I see fields of green... red berries too... and i see them bloom... for me and you... and i think to myself… what a wonderful world.</strong></em></blockquote>
Sigh… I made up those lyrics referring to the song “What A Wonderful World”. The words I used were inspired by the fields of lettuce and strawberries at La Trinidad, Benguet in Baguio City where my family spent the Christmas holiday. <br />
<br />
I was in a sad and uneasy mood actually while I was writing this. It was after being awaken by a strong earthquake at past 3AM on a Sunday. I’m sure people from huge part of the Philippines specifically from Luzon felt the same uneasiness that I was into. It was one hell of a shake! The kind of the most unwanted feeling that anyone would want to wake up with specially on a Sunday. That kind of shake takes me back to the horrific memory of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_Luzon_earthquake" target="_blank">July 16, 1990 earthquake</a>, one of the most horrifying experience in my life.<br />
<br />
It also immediately took me back to the horror it brought to Baguio City, one among the hardest hit by that horrific 1990 earthquake. That thought gave me a shudder because it was just some two weeks ago that my family was in Baguio, City. It is just sad that while I’m still savoring the still-fresh happy thoughts from that family vacation then it was suddenly replaced by a shivering thought. It was a will power to positively hope and pray that no one’s got hurt. <br />
<br />
The electricity didn’t go off and the phone lines and cellular signals were still up = all’s good so far. Thanks to technology the bits of news came automatically on the social media feeds. Unlike before that you still have to wait for hours to hear the details from radio or television. It was immediately reported as a 5.7 magnitude but later confirmed as 6.0 with epicenter in San Antonio, Zambales, Luzon, Philippines. And thank God as I’m writing this there was no casualty reported. (By the way I remember posting an article on <a href="http://www.balutmanila.com/2012/02/what-to-do-during-earthquake.html" target="_blank">"What to do during an earthquake"</a> which I think is advisable to read from time to time.)<br />
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***</div>
The photos were taken at Strawberry Field in La Trinidad Benguet, Baguio City Philippines which I initially posted on my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/The%20photos%20were%20taken%20at%20Strawberry%20Filed%20in%20la%20Trinidad%20Benguet,%20Baguio%20City%20Philippines%20which%20I%20initially%20posted%20on%20my" target="_blank">Instagram</a> account. <br />
<br />
The song “What A Wonderful World” has a lot of versions and covers but nothing beats the original version by Louis Armstrong which was released in 1967. I realized I haven’t heard an unlikeable cover so far but in spite of the hundreds of version, it conveys no other message other than "what a wonderful world God has created for us”. All what we need to do is to take care and appreciate it while enjoying every moment of our existence to this wonderful world.<br />
<br />
I also wanted to share the original lyrics of this beautiful song.<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<strong><em>I see trees of green, red roses too<br />I see them bloom for me and for you<br />And I think to myself what a wonderful world.</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em>I see skies of blue and clouds of white</em></strong><br />
<strong><em><br /></em></strong>
<strong><em>The bright blessed the day, the dark sacred night<br />And I think to myself what a wonderful world.</em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em>The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky<br />Are also on the faces of people going by</em></strong><br />
<strong><em><br />I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do<br />But what they're really saying is I love you.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em><br /></em></strong></div>
<div align="center">
<strong><em>I hear baby's crying and I watched them grow<br />They'll learn much more than I'll ever know <br />And I think to myself what a wonderful world.<br />Yes, I think to myself what a wonderful world.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em><br /></em></strong></div>
THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS WONDERFUL WORLD! A blessed Sunday everyone. Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758072362372652570.post-62819986436175953762014-10-31T08:46:00.000-07:002014-10-31T08:48:39.115-07:00Who’s Calling Me?… At The Underground Cemetery<div align="right">
<em>30th of October</em></div>
<br />
I think I have mentioned several times that I am not a spooky or a skittish person. Prankster will just waste their time playing pranks on me because there would be no satisfying reaction that will come out of my annoying face. To perfectly described it “Basag and trip mo pag ako ang tinakot mo”. ha ha. Probably this is the reason why I came out with <a href="http://www.balutmanila.com/2012/10/my-10-halloween-related-wish-list-re.html" target="_blank">My 10 Halloween-Related Wish List</a> post. I don’t easily get scared.<br />
<br />
But this does not mean that I don’t have scary experiences. I have a lot actually and most of them are strange and un-explainable. Most friends told me that those things usually happens to people that does not get scared easily. Hmn.. if this is true it’s not quite fair!<br />
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Let me share to you one particular story that happened during one of my road trips in the area of Quezon and Laguna with my “adventurista” friends. <br />
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This happened when we explored the Underground Cemetery in Nagcarlan, Laguna. It was right after we visited three very old churches in the Laguna area also and we were trying to catch the opening of the “Anakalang Festival”. It was already late in the afternoon and the sun is already setting when we arrived at the Underground Cemetery.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rDeKUWm9xWQ/VFOsKd25SRI/AAAAAAAAGL4/iqezWxCMeQY/s1600-h/Image00003%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Image00003" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YEf7wmCPvdI/VFOsL2BOWbI/AAAAAAAAGMA/5PqlXAvEj4g/Image00003_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="402" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00003" width="526" /></a><br />
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An ambiance of serenity welcomed us when we reached the place. The front façade is impressive by how it looks and how it is being maintained. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WS5QHQVmZ2o/VFOsNiI7PfI/AAAAAAAAGMI/V0WxkztGwYg/s1600-h/100_6178%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="100_6178" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/---lwskca8I0/VFOsPLcH6DI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/l4-cZe7XtQg/100_6178_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="100_6178" width="364" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Db8S13gYN7o/VFOsXGGIZpI/AAAAAAAAGMo/gGzf-YAnjUc/s1600-h/Image00007%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Image00007" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IScIxJTarP8/VFOsZlGShvI/AAAAAAAAGMw/Y9zigmo0EHs/Image00007_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="439" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00007" width="564" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3E7hRh5ISfo/VFOsb97Q2lI/AAAAAAAAGM4/n4f5PS1P6iQ/s1600-h/Image00012%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Image00012" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-D678zdB3VX8/VFOsdtFS0_I/AAAAAAAAGNA/iX7ZietM6NI/Image00012_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="445" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00012" width="572" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pjeNqwJVvsE/VFOsfOmlYPI/AAAAAAAAGNI/lFLKTbRNYD0/s1600-h/Image00017%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Image00017" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WHRDJDnsynw/VFOsgYYuZ7I/AAAAAAAAGNQ/lHTnQ47QTiw/Image00017_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00017" width="364" /></a><br />
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I am amused that there is a registry at the entrance for visitors – reminds me of a visitor’s registry when you are visiting a wake (grinning).<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-N4Imw6Fikns/VFOshw74CkI/AAAAAAAAGNY/nQvJ6tI9Ieg/s1600-h/Image00008%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Image00008" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pSja0M9SiWM/VFOsjKB5g1I/AAAAAAAAGNg/1lO165X_dCQ/Image00008_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00008" width="364" /></a><br />
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As the front park has a very welcoming ambiance, it is very much different when it comes to the underground part. I must admit that it’s a bit creepy when you are taking the stairs down going to the under ground. It gets more creepier around the altar. I was (seeing) imagining lots of things while looking at it.<br />
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It was quite challenging taking the photos because we were prohibited using the camera flash.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jqLk5b881Rw/VFOsk2i-J0I/AAAAAAAAGNo/NwY8neD3g2A/s1600-h/UCUs%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UCUs" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4Z0NsYp-lNo/VFOsmTTT5ZI/AAAAAAAAGNw/5sEEyegFHBo/UCUs_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="430" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UCUs" width="563" /></a><br />
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I find the stairs leading to the main exit as an interesting spot to have my solo photo taken so I asked my BFF to take my photo. The stone stairways is strangely cold which made me very uncomfortable sitting there.<br />
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As I my BFF is counting the 123 queue I can feel my phone vibrating in my pocket – someone’s calling. <br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-879z_NfPaa8/VFOsn6trIWI/AAAAAAAAGN4/5lAfCGQrQdw/s1600-h/UCMe1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="UCMe1" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZCWw_AB7Liw/VFOspGjNIAI/AAAAAAAAGOA/VLlHXoJWlaE/UCMe1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="UCMe1" width="364" /></a><br />
As soon as I heard the camera snapped, I quickly pulled up my phone from my pocket to check who’s calling. At the same time, my phone also stopped ringing/vibrating. When I saw the name on the missed call on my phone screen, I climbed out of the stairs leading to the exit running. Everybody automatically followed me. I’m not sure if they also ran because I was trying to catch my breath when I reached the open air again. <br />
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My BFF who knows every inch of my being “me” was eyeing me suspiciously. I can see on her face that she knew something’s strange is going on. She automatically asked? Who was that? Who called you? I hesitated to answer for a while then I answered… <br />
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You! You were calling me at the very same time that you were taking my picture. And I asked her where is her phone though I knew fully well that her phone is inside her bag. She gave me a confused look so I showed her my phone screen wherein her name is registered in the “missed call” <br />
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My BFF then quickly locate her phone from her bag and found that it was screen locked but there was indeed on the dialed number is my name. Yep. She was calling me at the very moment that she’s taking my picture… while I’m seeing with my two eyes that she is holding the camera right on my face and not a cell phone. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--Wk_YOI3xd0/VFOsrVs3kZI/AAAAAAAAGOI/95qiAENBiew/s1600-h/Image00280%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Image00280" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TS7Gul_dhno/VFOss5tXmEI/AAAAAAAAGOQ/SMCxOB5Fdtg/Image00280_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="484" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00280" width="364" /></a><br />
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<i>The Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery (Filipino: Libingan sa Ilalim ng Lupa ng Nagcarlan) is a national historical landmark and museum in Barangay Bambang, Nagcarlan, Laguna supervised by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. It was built in 1845 under the supervision of Franciscan priest, Fr. Vicente Velloc as a public burial site and its underground crypt exclusively for Spanish friars, prominent town citizens and members of elite Catholic families. It is dubbed as the only undergorund cemetery in the country. Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagcarlan_Underground_Cemetery" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></i></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MvO8EdVCWvA/VFOsvJU06nI/AAAAAAAAGOY/G6aVc2P11WA/s1600-h/Image00034%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Image00034" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dBMmwWw07F0/VFOsw6YUbcI/AAAAAAAAGOg/S19OcdJ2zno/Image00034_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="439" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Image00034" width="574" /></a>Baluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14287283363516305668noreply@blogger.com12