Volcanic Wonders

Welcome to Mt. Pinatubo! written Nov. 9, 2012 images were self-photographed :) Panoramic Shot on top of the Crater :)

An active stratovolcano located on the island of Luzon, near the tripoint of the Philippine provinces of Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga. We all know what happened during the 1991 eruption that led to the formation of a lake on its crater. I've been so blessed to be able to journey through this historical wonders of nature with friends. Before my hangover fades away, let me write it all down to preserve the intricacies of our journey :)

Our day started last Nov 5, 2012 at 3:30am as our wake-up call. Everyone only had 3hrs of sleep from our previous agenda (church service > funny incident at lunch celebrating Alvin's bday > zoobic safari > dinner celebrating Alvin's bday again > groceries > 1.5hr drive to the villa in clark > panic mode > Jath finally arriving from his joyride). As we departed the villa around 4:45am, the road was still dark and empty. We were pointed to a different direction from someone who's not "tiga-dito" hehe. Few hours later, the sun begins to rise.

 

We made it to Sta. Juliana at 7am; registered at the local tourism's office, applied sunblock, geared up our things, then off to the 4x4 ride!

My group was lucky enough to have the roofless 4x4. We stood the entire trip on the bumpy road of lahar shouting, clinging on the bars, poking fun on each other, laughing, eating up all the fresh air taking pictures and just being mesmerized by the beauty of the surroundings. We still haven't gotten to the hike part yet!

The other group in their "roof-full 4x4" :p

Toblerone Hills ~ a foreigner naming it such. Obviously why :)

Notice the mountains behind and the hills? The latter are not really hills but are formed out of lahar

An Aeta community living in the middle of Lahar

Trailing up, you'd find more communities and schools

Our "roofless" 4x4 got stuck in this stream of water!

Finally! Jump-off Point

Minutes past 9am, we arrived at the jump-off point. Here comes the challenge! The sun was high up as we trek our way. It was still a smooth one. Everyone was enjoying the sun and the rocks, picture here and there. Imagine a vast open land with high walls on both sides; in the middle is a straight rocky path of around 20 meters (?) wide. Sometimes the terrain will take you through streams of water with current so strong it will push you along it's flow (similar to the one where our 4x4 got stuck). The streams of water we crossed was average of knee height. Hence, im proud to be wearing a Merrell sandals instead of rubber shoes (special mention to puma shoes haha).

    And the trek begins!

  And the picture never stops hehe..

Come 10am, we were so drop dead tired, or at least was I! The sun was already scourching my skin and the terrain was sloping higher with bigger rocks and a more narrow unlevelled path! We kept on asking Kuya Arman (our tourguide) how far the crater is. He said: "1/4 na tayo...ng 1/4"...  O.o

Bigger rocks ahead 

Come 11am, we sighted a rest station where we ate our packed lunch and had CR breaks. There was even a tank full of spring water, not to mention it's cold and free! Guess how much manong was selling a bottle of cold Coke up there? P80! "Kayamanan ang tubig dito!"

*No picture in this stop, I was so hungry!!*

Before 12nn, everyone was quite excited as we reached the signboard. This is it!! Stairs towards what we've been dying for!! But man, those were no ordinary stairs as they were so high reaching knee-height!!  Finally minutes after we exhausted all our strength, there I saw the gateway towards Heaven!! (With Jath sitting there as if claiming the first spot haha).  Everyone was elated! Exhaustion all drained away instantly!

 Not as elated as we look but really, everyone was proud of that moment!! :))

The crater was so much of a majestic view. The green-blue lake was like jewel to the mountains surrounding it. It is shallow on the shore side until there's a complete drop few meters from it. The shore with boats on it gave me a chance to rest there as I absorb every detail of this beauty. The bright sun added light to the colors of Mt. Pinatubo right before my very own eyes. Simply put, im in awe of God's infinite creation..

View from the top of the crater

My topmost fave shot!  All-Nature!

 Panoramic Shot on the shore inside crater :)

 Panoramic Shot :)

Winner Shot!  (Wena and Kris missing lang :c )

 

Time tells us now to get up and start trekking back before night reaches us. It's around 1pm when we started to head back. For me it was a lot easier than trekking up. However, some of us started encountering injuries like slipping down the stream and bumping onto a rock. I myself had toe cramps and both of my Achilles' heels were bleeding due to the scraping of my sandals on the sunburnt skin. It was a long exhausting trek going back plus our longing made it even seemed longer.

 Moses with the cane and Joshua :p

Imagine my feet now with the tan-line of that sandals O.o

At last, we reached the jump-off point at 5pm. We already sat on the entire 4x4 ride exchanging stories and painting the nature in our memory bank for the very last time. That was, for me, my 2nd best memory of Mt. Pinatubo with sunset views on the wide mountains.

Picture with Kuya Arman, our ever-ready tourguide :)

P.S. Sabaw na kami lahat during that time hehe..

Everything was amazing. Even the people who lived there were really warm and accomodating, esp Kuya Arman who assisted us the entire trek to the point that he might be risking his own life in that kind of work. He earns P400 on a day-trip aside from his carpentry profession. He told us stories about Mt. Pinatubo, the eruption, the experiences with other trekkers, and many more sentiments. He was fast to aid us of our injuries. The locals there were friendly enough to wave at every stranger they see.  The Aeta community we saw have banana trees around their nipa houses as their living.  It's really humbling, at least for me, on how they can live with such simplicity in touch with only what nature offers. They also wanted to experience Manila life.  As we crossed the middle of lahar with a nice sunset view, Kuya Arman was also in awe of it. I then told him that there's not much of that in Manila. Somehow deep inside of me, I would also like to experience their kind of life where everything is just simple, where you wake up each and every day to the wonderful creations of God surrounding you, where you are reminded almost always that God is the beginning and end of all things. Other than that, almost everything is meaningless already :)

We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.

-Anais Nin (french-cuban writer)

My blueprint in CELINE

NOTE: This is not a speech. Hahaha..
November 2009 ~ July 2012

My blueprint in CELINE

Working in Celine Marketing Corporation has been a learning experience. I was in a position of Brand Associate Trainee under Celine Local Shoes: R&D and Merchandising. What do I do? Well I try to keep up with the trends, train my eyes on spotting good shoes from bad. I come up with a batch of local shoes for Celine brand. I monitor my “babies” (shoes) and feed them as they become healthy (or get sick, sad to say). I wouldn’t mention anymore the intricate descriptions of my job as to shorten it. Bottomline, I revolve around shoes and shoes and endless shoes everyday of my working life.

Sounds fun isn’t it?  On a moment there, yes it is. You get to work with fashionable or talented people and be inspired. You get to be ahead and involved in the creation of a trend. You get to know the newest merchandise before it gets to the market. You get to design the kind of shoes that you like and let the market buy it afterwards. You get to choose the kind of materials, style, cut and comfort;  leather, satin, suede, snake skin; sandals, slides, pumps, gladiator;  stilettoes, wedges, platforms, chunky heels;  low-cut, mid-cut, high-cut; you name it, I’ll develop it!  It feels like Imelda-Marcos-turned-into-a-designer!  You get to feel elated when your shoe creations start growing.  Plus the perks, you get to have free shoes and employee sale items!

On the other side, if you are assuming that I have a lot of shoes, well, I don't know if around 30 pairs of it could be considered a lot.  But they're all in my closet sleeping!  Since I started seeing shoes each and everyday, my appetite for them became lesser and lesser!  I was more interested in creating shoes than wearing them!  And so, yeah, for my co-workers who's very observant, I am always to be found wearing flats (sandals or ballerinas) that's easy to stroll around with; sometimes even just flip flops O.o

Working there for 2.75 years (yep, 0.75 years calculated hehe) really made me a happy person no matter how busy work may be, as I enjoyed my job and was fulfilled with my vision during the time I applied. My vision was to climb the corporate ladder and be able to contribute in the industry. I even remember asking the company President, Mrs. Vicky Chan, if job rotation was possible. Yes, I wanted to learn every bits and pieces and be successful in the field of fashion! And before I forget, my thesis was all about shoes as well!  I made a Collapsible Heeled Shoe!  So there it is.. Shoes since college until July 2012.

Year 2011, I started experiencing a vision shift.  It felt like as if my primary purpose of working was fading away.  To sum up in one statement, I felt burdened towards the social welfare.  Looks far, isn't it?  I didn't plan for it to happen.  It sort of just came knocking in my heart, and as much as I tried ignoring it, there was no peace.  It felt like I wanted to achieve something which I still don't know what or how.  Talk about quarter-life crisis!  For a period of time, I was frozen and felt a drag in my work.

During those moments, God talked to me through the following verses:

Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

Eph 6: 5-6 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

One thing is clear.  The "heart" was mentioned consistently.  In everything, the heart should be the drive towards our actions and goals.  The heart should be heard or there would be no drive at all with the things you do.  BUT in line with this, in your heart, there, God should be, as the Master of your life, as He is our Creator and Designer of everything!  Only by then will you be able to work out of purpose and joy beyond what the daily duty calls of.   Work for money, but be sure to spend it wisely.  Work for your family, but be sure to treasure your family beyond work.  Work for success, but be sure to use your success to empower others.   In everything, there should be purpose which drives us far beyond our capabilities.  It is the purpose where you'll see God working in you and through you!

I believe God led me in Celine to experience the fulfillment that I was searching before, and to really appreciate all the learnings and trials that came along the way. It was a stepping stone that took a lot of effort and hard work. Trainings, contributions, and enlightenment from my boss, Mam Joy Chan-Tan, and my co-workers (you know who you ALL are). Relationships built with people that’ll be treasured in immeasurable ways. Most importantly, it was a journey that brought me to another new vision that I have right now.  Even though it is still unclear, I am at peace that I am one step closer to finding out His purpose for me.  God indeed kept His promise of being with me, and I know through my journey ahead, where He now calls me, He will always be by my side :)

Please take note again that this entry is not a speech! hehe..  Regards to everyone! :) 

Prinze; In Memories

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." ~ Mark Twain

After 13 years of having a close companion at home, the time has finally come to say goodbye..

 

After bath; 2 y.o.

      Prinze was a Japanese Spitz breed with a little mix of Poodle.  He stayed with us for 13 years, having a fighting spirit to endure his health problems that almost caused his life, twice.  I remember one time when he was so sick he couldn't manage to walk.  Prinze was around his teenage years back then. One day, he gathered all his strength to climb up the stairs until he fainted. We figured he was trying to reach us, sort of letting us know about his state.


       Last May 14, 2012, Prinze already took his final breath. It was of old-age. Last few months prior, he was doing nothing except lying down, eating, and sleeping.  He merely couldn't walk that long as we need to carry him every now and then for his number 1 and 2.  He was blinded as well with cataract which is common amongst old dogs.

Sleeping on my bedside; 3 y.o.

   
     Prinze was like no any other dogs.  He may looked so friendly and adorable yet many of my friends called him a monster :)) He's so smart; a guard-dog built in a playdog's body.  He would often sprint fearlessly towards strangers, sometimes leaving shallow wound marks on them hehe.  Even if he was on leash, he can manage to break free!  Then would later cough out and cutely gasped for a breath of air :)

      When Prinze was young, he would always go up to my room and sleep beside my bed.  He would then wake me up on 6am for me to open my door so he could go down and pee.  I was so irritated that even on weekends, I still need to wake up early just to let him down!  I finally trained him not to sleep in my room until he got used to it :( how i missed those nights.

At the kitchen dubbed as Lolo Prinze; 5 y.o.

       Prinze likes to stay in our kitchen as the floor tiles were colder.  There was a swing door that leads to our garden where he was trained to pee and poop.  What's so cute is that he learned to push the door on his own! He would stand about 3-4 feet away from the door, lighting up his momentum, eyeing on the door as he instantly runs and pushes through! After his business is done, he would then call us to open up by scratching the swing door with his nails O.o

      Whenever Prinze did something wrong, like peeing inside the house, we would just call out his name.  He already knew why.  We'll ask him to come.  He will slowly walk towards the spot with his head down.  As we raise our hands to give him a little discipline, he would start trembling even before our palm reaches him.  Then with his big brown eyes, he would try to look up with his head down, sort of saying "i'm sorry".  Those were the days when he was still young :)



Groomed Prinze; 6 y.o.

      Speaking of young, when we first got him from a friend, he was so small and fearful.  He wouldn't want us to carry nor touch him.  As we drive home for his first day with us, he got out of our car and tried running away as fast as he could.  I was running after him with bare feet during that rainy day!  Thank God there were passersby across the street to block his way.  He hid under a small tree, shaking, and we got him out.  I carried him inside our house, dried him up as he stayed in our den.  I frequently visit him there, played games with him, until that evening, he quickly trusted me first amongst my family members.  He would be following me wherever I go! Up and down no matter how many times!  That went on for days :)

Senior Prinze; 12 y.o.


    There were many good memories that our companion had left us.  Today, I'm at peace that he is now in a better place.  It pains me to feel the loss of a great companion, yet Prinze will always remain with us that help built this house a better home.. :)


Prinze happy...



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Disobedience

“Delayed obedience is disobedience.”  A friend once shared to me this striking phrase.  Now it’s sinking in me on how I as well have delayed my obedience to God.  

I’ve thought about it, with a lot of considerations in mind.  I’ve prayed about it for months and was finally certain that God wanted me to do this.  I came to a point almost accomplishing the task; like all planets were really aligned for this to happen, yet I was held back, due to that “almost” factor.  And so it got delayed until I said to myself that prolonging it wouldn’t be that bad.  I’ll get to stay longer in my comfort zone and enjoy the pleasure it offers.  After all, I’m still uncertain what’s next.  And so I made plans; big plans that would compensate my current state.  I’ve missed out a lot of commitments due to that.  Almost everything was going well; almost except my heart.  Deep inside, it still troubled me that I kept on setting aside God’s voice.  

There was a night that I cried to God confessing my disobedience.  I poured out everything to Him for I know I’ve sinned on delaying to obey.  That maybe my sincerest prayer committing to God the big plans I made – whether it pushes through or not, it’s all in His hands.  I was half-hearted all throughout the planning.   But after praying, I felt a different kind of peace, like God forgave me and that He allowed me to embrace and enjoy my current state while I still can.  Now more than before, I was excited for that big plan of mine.

Time is joyously nearing for that plan to happen.  Yet one day, the unexpected occur.   Last night, I found out that someone in my family was verbally diagnosed with malignant tumor in his thyroid needing for a surgery.   I was speechless for a moment primarily to the concern of the medical result and secondly on the effect it’ll make crushing down the big plan.  Is this God’s answer to my last sincerest prayer?  After expecting so much from that plan, now it's already vague.  Maybe He really wanted me to obey ASAP to the extent of this.   

Maybe He wanted me to learn many things: to obey Him on time for God is always on time, to consult Him first before planning instead of planning then surrendering (the latter way can be disappointing especially when God answers no after you’ve already made plans), and to learn to accept God’s answer for He is the Sovereign God, All-knowing, Perfect in His timing.   

Thinking about it now, I know I have no right to question the fall down of the big plans for I remember praying to God surrendering it all in His hands.  I know God is guiding us through this time.  And I definitely learned many things from this!  Unexpected things do happen.  Looking at the brighter side, I know God will open new doors for me.  I hope I’m now ready to say “It’s Time”.

Deadlines

Found this video from a random "craftist" blogger :)  You'll be amazed how kids could be so creative -- thinking outside the box :)