I am a 30-something Filipina involved in development work. Much as I am in love with traveling, meeting new people and having new experiences, I find more passion in using my skills and talents in helping shape a better future for other people, especially the rural poor. It's a bonus that I get to travel while I do just that.
And oh, I'm a real sucker for good food, especially the ones that look great in photographs. And yes, I really do want to change the world. :D
Before the Wider Role of Volunteers training ended, each of the participants were given several VSO- and Philippine-related stuff. One of which, is a Philippine map packaged as a tourist information brochure. The first page of that brochure showcased the famed cobbled-stone path of Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Entrance to Calle Crisologo at Daylight (this probably is how it looked like in old photographs)
I even heard one of my co-volunteers-to-be exclaim that Vigan, as portrayed in the photograph, seemed like such a beautiful place. True enough, Vigan really did look amazing in that picture. It presented an old world charm that no matter how similar, still looked different from Intramuros’ streets and Iloilo’s old houses. There’s just something about Vigan, especially Calle Crisologo, that commands people’s attention and captivates hearts. I know so because I too, despite thinking that it may be an overrated form of admiration, felt transported back in time as I walked through the cobbled-stone street. Continue reading Walking through Vigan’s Calle Crisologo→
It’s 2AM, the rain’s pouring heavily and my eyes are screaming for rest. I was about to actually. But then, I saw a post that said “and just like that, August is over”. And I was like, “Yes, August is over indeed!”
Actually, I think I realized this already since I greeted everyone with a Merry Christmas, typical for us Filipinos who celebrate the longest Christmas season ever. But before I stray to that topic, I wanna return first to the present and to my more immediate future. Yes, it’s already September 1. This also marks the beginning of the 30 days and 30 nights countdown I would be doing for the next, well, 30 days and nights.
Feeling the heat of Dry Season 2010 (At the back of NIA Nayom-Bayto RIS Office, Sta. Cruz, Zambales)
Whenever people ask me what I do for a living, they always end up saying “I love your job!” after I give them the answer.
No, they don’t say those words because I make a pot of brewed coffee in mornings and afternoons. Nor do they say so because my job allows me to help about 22,000 farmers in the Philippines. Neither is it due to the fact that I am working with an internationally-known bilateral development organization. It’s simply because this job allows me to travel every now and then in different cities and provinces of the Philippines.
I’m supposed to sleep already but since I remembered my upcoming backpacking trip across six countries in South East Asia in four weeks, I went back to tripline.net and tried to make my “trip line”. Here’s the product. I really hope I can raise the funds for this, especially since I’m slacking off with my other work!
Anyway, since I am on WordPress.com and not on WordPress.org, I can only share here the picture/general map. If you want to know where I’m going exactly, click on the Map to be redirected to tripline’s website. Once you get there, click “Full Screen” on the lower right side and then click the play icon. This has music in the background so if you don’t wish to get you bosses’ ire, don’t open it in your office without a headset on, ok?!
There’s also a list of places to be visited plus a little information just before you play the video. So, read on if you wish.
I’m supposed to be sleeping already but since I can’t really sleep yet, I decided to write the post for Ice Giants as part of my “Tribute to Kadayawan coz I can’t be in Davao” series. (intro written two nights ago! changed below!)
I’m supposed to be working for moolah already but since I wanted to share the joys of eating and as I promised to write a new post for my “Tribute to Kadayawan coz I can’t be in Davao” series, here’s a post on Ice Giants Desserts and Snacks parlor at Damosa Gateway Complex in Lanang, Davao City. (Supposedly for Lyndon’s but let’s skip that one first!)
Chocolate Giant: Chocolate Ice Cream, Choco Fudge Brownie, Choco Wafer Sticks, Oreo Cookies, Choco Pillows, Chocolate Chips, Choco Syrup and other Choco Stuff plus very fine shaved ice topped with marshmallows and milk mix. To die for!
The Diarist Wanders 