[] ZiPaC []

Welcome back to me. After a week rest and gloriously celebrating the UNDAS ( its not equal to UNO and DOS... its actually equal to UNO - 1 and Das - a spanish term meaning day... I learned that, the morning I asked people why UNDAS and not UNDOS! haha... shame on me.. thanks budsk for that information...) somewhere in the middle of the Philippines, I am all set for the hagardous days to come. Gone are the resting hours and the happy-go-lucky times. I must go forth with my life after that peaceful engagement with nature. But before ever leaving off the past and venturing to my present and my future, I would like to inform you all that I've seen the other side of the world.

I have been here in my computer desk, living a life centered in the midst of technology. I thought everything was easy with all the stuff and gadgets that we have. But traveling to a place, where progress is not of immediate concern, showed me that their was something better. Their is something better than having a mechanized life, where all things are too organized it chokes you into it; better than your french fries that needs ketchup to balance the flavor; better than appliances that shuts you off of your perseverance. It takes a week of living in some mountain range where the sea is its base for a teen like me to understand that I've never seen everything yet.

Ever want to know where I've gone? Here are some of the things that makes my image of that somewhere:

It is a place you would...

>> appreciate sea foods (even small fishes) because the taste was so supreme that it takes no condiments to fix things up...

>> understand the difference between "panggatong"-cooked and stove-cooked meals... (rice is better cooked in "panggatong"... promise..)

>> see a rampaging priest over a broken microphone in the middle of the celebration of the holy eucharist... ( he even threw it to the person in charge.. I was so shocked that I drop my jaw down because of the his reaction)

>> find a single mall in a town and not even having Ayala, SM and Robinson in its name. (there were rumors that SM wasn't given permit to build there because the town's leader owns the said mall...)

>> like to go home when the clock hits 6pm because almost all stores and shops closes at that time... ( it seems creepy when the only light you see is the street light...)

>> pay P60 for a tricycle ride for about the same distance as UP - diliman to SM North... ( actually it changes: 55 when the sun is up but a sorrowful 60 when the lights are out...)

>> take refuge in the worst Airport and Seaport... (my nephew told me that... spare me the guilt...)

>> dis-orient your senses... ( wake up with the sound of noisy roosters and smelly pigs...)

>> smile and nod in everything you hear because you simply dont understand; and if ever you understand you wouldn't know how to communicate back...

>> discover that the only person that gets the higher priced items in the market are those who looks like from another place...

>> notice people staring at tourist (local or international..) as if they have one eye and a million mouth...

>> learn people calls you by your ancestral being... (they call me... "puya ni Viring"- child of Viring... Viring is taken from my mother's name Virginia who lived there during their childhood days...)

>> take sight of the highest shrine ( we climbed that... I wish that adds to my Holy-ness..) and the biggest bell in asia and third in the world (it was made out of 70 bags of coins...whew!)..

I have experience much in my visit there. It was not all fun, but each and every act i've done made me a better person. What I have here in the city is very much different from what I was in the province. It was more minimal but though that set-up, I did not have a hard time dealing with things. It is more leisure than work. I would love to go back there and experience more of that place. I might be back there next summer and hope that you yourself would care to visit such a wonderful place...

[] WoRK MaTTeRS []

I am a day and a half away from leaving off again to somewhere. Ive been telling my friends its somewhere in the middle of the Philippines so I must tell you the same simply to avoid the jealousy (haha) . Before I ever go leave again, I thought of posting another entry. I might be off for a little while (about a week... Il be back on Sunday 11/04/07) so better yet leave a little issue on you people.

When would the Government argue with morality and the Religion on Ethics? I must answer the question with a simple word as "NEVER". However, it appears that my country is an exception. Well, for those who might not know, My home land is a 3rd world country somewhere in the south east of asia. It is an archipelagic country artfully tagged as "The Pearl of the Orient Seas." We have been devastated by political turmoil for as long as I can remember and I believe these very thing caused us this inappropriate disturbances.

I don't like discussing things political in nature but I cannot simply disregard these happenings that I have heard over the media about the reactions regarding the presidential clemency given to the past president (the president befor the present one..) of our country, guilty of Plunder. What was the thing that bothered me the most? Over the radio, a bishop, which we better hide the name for civility sake, says "Sana pagisipan na lang nila bago sila magbigay ng pardon.." ( I hope they think things up before simply giving pardon...)

.

He, the bishop, is actually on the side of not letting the 70+ old president off. I must say that I myself wouldn't want that old rag to be walking on the street again. However, where have gone the "let's forgive everybody eventhough they've done wrong " value of the church? How about the " Even God forgives why can't you" principle? It is simply problematic that people could be too tactful to go against their own art, especially those that are known for not just doing the art but being the art. Couldn't he at least say " what ever happens is God's will, lets not go against it..." ?

The CBCP forever has been peeking into government issues. I simply don't know with them, but weren't their a dichotomy over the two main sectors of the country? What are they interfering for? I simply think such matters of discourse is not a part of their holy-ness and there ultimate wisdom of the bible. This misevalutation of the dichotomy has made a big problem for the country. The bishops stand on their ground saying they are good so listen to them (We are the Word of God.. ??? what damn blasphemers...) but they, driving into the state's war, have devalued their good nature. Like the statesman, theyv'e all gone to be the same ravishing beast of power, hoping to be the one believed by the mass. Shameless are they for they have forgotten the word of God... ( can I be a bishop now? I'm better than them... not a good joke... I'L NEVER BE A BISHOP!!)

[] Sem Break []

I'm technically free as a student. The sem-break has already began. I have many plans for this month, some of which involves me getting off the Metro. Ive been trying to do stuff off of the polluted city streets and within the confines of mother nature. What fun must have awaited me for so long? I do believe I am worth having a comfortable vacation after a hard-sem's work. After this I'd be back to the university again, doing academic works and making sure a good resume may arrive after my school years(damn all the people... do we really have to study to get a high paying job? hmmm). So, it is just right for me to have a break with all the stress.

I was somewhere in the northern part of the country last week. I really thought it would be cold out there but to my dismay, Its simply as cold as our car's aircon. Yes, it is quiet cold but not as cold as it used to be ( I've been there before... a couple of time earlier). I didn't even need to use my sweater / jacket ( I actually brought 3 sets) to be able to carry on with my adventures there.( I used the jackets though.. bandwagon... everyone was wearing one... hahaha..) Though not approved of what have met me there, I still had fun. Its actually not the temperature that we visited rather the stress-free ambiance. One of my companions even suggested to us that sleeping under the pine trees does well to your self-conception. I would want to try that but I was too ashamed to do so. (Maybe next time when no one is looking at me...)

Here are some pictures:

( i'v also posted this in my friendster account.. and there are also more there not posted here.. hehe...)

113th step... and still more to go... urghhh...

Shhh... Holy Sanctuary... Psst! PICTURE!

This is what we call non-sense shots... here we have myself... Following Rules...

( so not abram!)

Almost a day ending in mines view...

Another non-sense take... wooo... a sight to behold...

( we namedBaguio - "Comfort room Capital of the Philippines... you'll usually find many of these here..haha...)

One of the best food... grilled coconut in banana leaves...

they call it here... "tupig"

Technically, the biggest strawberry I ever saw...

(We shot this while my parents was busy buying fresh vegetables in La Trinidad.. )

ohhh... We were too late... We planned to pick strawberries fresh... but we came too late...hayz...

The Lumbang brothers minus one... the other one was in subic that time...

(shot inside our ride)


The other side... and now smiling...

Another shot...

(If you bother to ask... The white thing on my cheek is powder... I was eating bavarian cream doughnut before that shot...)

Waiting for snacks to be served... let's have a picture first moment... haha...

By the pine tree with my dad...

Pose for the camera... Yiiii...
(My favorite shot of that vacation... nice one, isn't it?)

You know what, getting a day off or a rest period isn't that bad. I assure you the more relax you can be, after you go back from the vacation, the better you do when you continue your daily choirs. Don't deprive yourself with even a little fun.