The best time to visit Korea is in autumn, the time when green leaves turns to orange, red, yellow and pink.
At Nami Island
The joys of summer fades with the falling leaves but the promise of spring lives on.
One of my fondest memory is watching the colors of autumn.
Please lang, wag ka pa fall.
via Yale Experience
El Nido is a municipality of Palawan, Philippines. Known for its white sand beaches, coral reefs and the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago, a group of islands with steep karst cliffs. Miniloc Island is famed for the clear waters of its Small and Big lagoons. Shimizu Island has brightly colored fishes in its corral reefs.
July is vacation month for Valerie which means I and sister Patricia Angela need to file our vacation leaves to journey together in a place we have never been before. We took the flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa and Camarih Transport van going to El Nido. The view was breathtaking but I cannot take pictures, zigzagged roads and steep cliffs in some areas with alternating green landscapes of rice fields and mountains.
Bacuit Bay noontime.
Bacuit Bay ferry terminal view while taking breakfast.
Kayaking at Big Lagoon
Clear waters and colorful fishes
Big Lagoon
Pocket of beach in Payongpayong island
The Rock
The Crew of the Boat
Siete Commandos Beach
Carabao driven cart on the way home.
Next trip Cambodia.
Family and self, looking inside and grateful to God for the good things and the challenges that made me a better person. I may not have those I wished for but I got better options in the long run. I am learning more and expanding my choices in leading a life of purpose. Touching base with myself and other people’s lives-my first page for 2016 with Valerie’s painting.
A time to seek and find. I always heard about Lake Sebu and wondered why the pictures posted are not lake but waterfalls.
There are 3 lakes in Lake Sebu, a municipality which was formerly a part of Surallah. Lake Lahit and Lake Seloton and the biggest of the lakes is Lake Sebu which is an inverted pyramid in shape (going down) and at 345 hectares, one can imagine why the place is named after it. It just gives me goosebumps that if you drowned in the lake, your body will surface in 3-5 days. Our T’boli entertainers told us to throw coins in the water as sort of payment for safe passage.
our boat for cruisin the lake from Punta Isla Lake Resort
the adjacent boat where kids are waiting to dive for coins to be thrown
the floating restaurant with tour around the lake
View of the lake from the church
Falls number 1
Falls number 2 (I only saw 2) and this is where the place near zipline end and where we proceed to other places in the South.
My next travel, Tablas, Romblon.
Feeding time at the Enchanted River
river without beginning or end, not found yet
Someone tried and died trying to see where it started and ends
Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur
Feeding time with music and no one allowed to stay in the water.
517 years old Bitaog Tree in Magallanes, Agusan del Norte
The Philippine Centennial Tree
Memory of a Father
Twenty two years and seven months ago, our firstborn came into this world. We have not really prepared for her coming. I have two ob-gyne for my consultations, one in the province and one in the camp, thinking I can have my delivery wherever I may be with the obstetrician knowing my history and the child condition.
When they are still in love with swimming, how fast time flies.
My work demands that I travelled long distances to attend court duties even if I am already on my eight months of pregnancy. I travelled to Pangasinan by bus to testify in one of the cases I handled and I have pillow to give me some comfort but the road was so bumpy with so many potholes and unfinished construction. I was able to go home although there was already pain in my stomach.
That night, at around 12 midnight my bag of water broke. we tried to go to the nearest hospital. It is not yet my delivery date so I was also not prepared although we have stock up on things that may be needed for the new baby. The nearest to our place is Fabella Hospital but there are no vacant rooms and patients are already occupying the hallways. We were referred to St. Mary’s General Hospital, an old hospital with new doctors.
When you are not in the picture , you got literally pasted
The duty that night. Doctor Oray is newly graduate and with little experience in assisting childbirth. I had long waiting time for the baby to come, it was already day time and the pain is almost killing me. By 10 in the morning after much coaching, the baby decided to come out by normal delivery and see the world, it was already dry delivery and medicines did not ease the pain, I can almost feel it this day.
I did not see the baby because I fell asleep but I know I have the right baby since she is the only female baby in the hospital. Not too long after giving birth, I had profuse bleeding and Dra. Oray had already left the hospital. The next duty doctor was a male and more compassionate than his female counterpart. I was brought back to the delivery room and the stitches were removed. My uterus was cleaned and it turned out that some parts of the placenta were not flushed out which caused the bleeding. It was like having another child birth but I was awake at that time praying I live for my baby.
You were alone looking outside and I know you also prayed hard since you are no longer responding to questions. You were looking outside the window and pacing in the lobby and in the room. I cannot describe how you felt and I fully appreciate that even if you did not share the pain, I know you felt it too. You told me later that we need to name the baby, her second name is to be Angela after your grandmother and that I have to choose the first name. I remembered my grandmother so her name is Patricia Angela.
You were a good father, you washed nappies, bottle-fed her and rocked her in your arms until she is sleeping soundly. The second daughter came after five years and she did not experience lack of care. She was always in your arms even if she was big enough to be carried. I love the look of love you gave your daughters. It makes me feel sad that you did not and cannot dance with them on their debut, for that reason, they also decided not to have a debutante party.
You may be in heaven but your love will always remain with us. Happy Father’s Day in heaven.
O 
A museum can be found inside the Baluarte in Vigan City.
The place is really impressive from the entrance area where pony driven calesa style vehicles can be hired to the cages of animals and the museum where the collection of animals killed by the owner can be found.
What really interest me after leaving the Baluarte is that it’s the owner is a former Chief of Police which I found out only upon arriving atthe Vigan City Police Station. What a pleasant surprise.
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May 6 is the celebration for the unveiling of marker recognizing Vigan City as one of the seven wonder cities of the world.
He is not a champion, he is only after the money and that has not placed him in a higher ground.
sjanima 
