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I just drank a bottle of Minute Maid Pulpy. They say it’s got ‘no preservatives added’. Aw, c’mon…It’s bottled juice. Is that even possible? So I thought maybe… its good.

I didn’t believe it the first time I heard it’s got no preservatives added.  So I read the ingredients (even the fine print) and everything checked out! It really has NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED!  That means it doesn’t have ingredients that may turn out to be allergens, or worse…carcinogens!  Whew! Now that’s healthy goodness that tastes so good, I… can be refreshed without worrying about those chemicals!

So okay, it’s got no preservatives added. That’s really good, right?  Not just because it doesn’t have those icky, harmful ingredients, but it also means… you live healthier!

So far anyone who still has a hard time believing that Minute Maid has got no preservatives added – meaning it’s THAT natural, it’s almost like it’s plucked straight from the tree, it’s just as Mother Nature wanted your orange juice to be, it’s got nothing but the good stuff yes, none of those potentially toxic stuff that can harm your brain, kidneys, heart; cause tumors aargh- the list of preservatives’ bad effects just go on!!! Anyway, just to prove a point on just how good Minute Maid Pulpy is ’cause it’s got NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED, I’m gonna buy one just now!

Feels good to know about the real pulpy deal, right? C’mon show me a smile on the comment box, and you might win yourself a Really Pulpy Deal! (That’s a chance to win a Minute Maid gift pack simply by commenting. Sweet! C’mon you just might be picked as the lucky ‘commentor’!)

Love,

BernieMack

Oh, what did I just wrote? Haha! Well, if you like to have an extra income at this early in 2011, just try visiting Minute Maid Pulpy Orange contest on Facebook. Just follow the very simple instructions on how to make your own confession on Minute Maid’s natural and refreshing juice and have it posted on your blog. Aside from that, earn more points if you download and post some posters or banners of Minute Maid on your blog! You can win as much as PhP20,000 all for just following simple instructions!

So log-on to Facebook and enjoy the natural pulpy goodness!

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The Lobó-Batangas City Road, Verde Island and Mindoro Island

After scaling the mountains of Lobó, we head our way back to Manila. However, instead of passing by the main road going there from Manila, we went on the road less traveled—the coastal road between the town of Lobó and Batangas City, right along the busy Verde Island Passage. As for us, it is retracing back memories of one particular barangay along the lonely road—Ilijan…

The route was more than a 40 kilometer sojourn from Lobó poblacion to Batangas City, about 10 kilometers longer than the main mountain pass road where most jeepneys and cars pass. The route traverses the rugged and isolated barangays of the two localities, notably Barangay Banalo of Lobó and Barangay Ilijan in Batangas City.

The Off-Road

The first few kilometers of the road within Lobó were asphalted. We had a smooth drive towards Batangas City. There are numerous beach resorts along the way, although not those powdery white sand beaches. By the time we reached the border of Batangas City, this is where the rugged trail starts.

Beating the heat while riding the bike at Batangas

It is surprising to know that the Department of Public Works and Highways has categorized this particular road as a “national road” yet it remained undeveloped. Rough as it seems with several concrete segments, the road may be pahirap or burdensome but the beautiful vista of Verde Island Passage, Verde Island, Mindoro and the ever popular Puerto Galera is a sight to behold in that afternoon.

Ilijan-KEPCO Power Plant in Batangas City

Verde Island Passage was peaceful and calm. Verde Island looming on the distance while Mindoro and her mountains are shy over the horizon.

I haven’t seen that much vehicles plying this route except for some occasional motorcycles and jeepneys.

One of the few jeepneys that serve beyond Ilijan, Batangas City

Where the road traverses, it is wedged between the green mountains and the blue placid sea. At times, it is narrow and sometimes turns into a spillway. Along the way, fishermen drop their products with fresh bounties from the sea, my mom wanted to buy one—kaso walang ice box. I bet its good cheap!

Verde Island Passage and Mindoro Island, Calapan City Port at the background

Isolation and the rustic beauty of this part of Batangas City were suddenly contrasted by the looming chimneys over the horizon. It’s KEPCO Power Plant. We are welcomed again to Barangay Ilijan.

KEPCO Power Plant

We have been here before, have stayed over the weekend and have liked it. My dad has a project there during the construction phase of the said power plant. It was a busy small barangay facing Verde Island and the sea. I remember when the locals told me about the 1994 tsunami that wrecked havoc in Mindoro and some areas of Batangas and the winds that they fondly call habagat. I can remember the beacon of light from Puerto Galera that guided the ships in every night and the morning when the king of Mindoro Mountains—Mount Halcon, stares its majestic prominence over the Verde Island with the warm sunrise of the east. Those days of simplicity come knocking back when we passed by Ilijan once more.

The Steep Road to Montemaria

With the power plant that supplies electricity for most of southern Luzon and Metro Manila, Ilijan became a community of importance. Back then, the road leading here was rough and made of dirt. Now, it is cement and asphalt all the way! Passing by Montemaria (see the article, click here), through the industrial sites of JG Summit and Shell. After the long arduous road, surprisingly we were back at civilization—surprisingly at SM City Batangas!

Batangas City--as viewed from Montemaria

One of the industrial sites at Batangas City

It’s more than 40 kilometers of journey, 40 kilometers of my family’s adventure and 40 kilometers of nature and industrial beauty. Contrasting images of rustic beauty and conquering urbanity.

View The Road Less Traveled-Lobo to Batangas City in a larger map

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Valentines Day is fast approaching and so is the season of displaying love from the simplest way to the most sophisticated. Yet, are you far from your loved ones? Do you like to send them something sweet and thoughtful? Is it something that would they really appreciate and think that you care? Do you like to give them a piece of your love and passion as if you are just nearby? Well, worry no more. Island Rose keeps relationships alive by giving service to the people who would like to deliver flowers to their ones they love anywhere in the Philippines!

Straight from the farm, the roses are sent to your loved ones anywhere in the corner of the Philippines by just logging on at www.islandrose.net and you choose from a variety of Philippine flowers with bouquets and combination like the classic Grand Gala with its passionate red; Cool Water bouquets with its lavender coloured roses; and for that fiery Salsa bouquet. Or how about trying send that “love notes,” three roses as well? All these are available on Island Rose.

And you’re just in luck this Valentines Day! Island Rose is giving you a 10 percent discount to its products and services by using this Valentines Day coupon code: VDAY022010 upon ordering. This discount code is valid until February 20, 2010.

So, this Season of Love, distance has never been a hindrance for love to conquer and bridge people’s lives. Keep relationships alive and passionate with Island Rose.

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Toledo City, Cebu

I never got it to the 2:45 PM trip from Toledo City in Cebu to San Carlos City in Negros Occidental. I’ve got late leaving Cebu City due to some obligations at the Museum. So I waited here in the port in which we’re going to depart at around 5PM for Negros. I wonder if there are still buses plying Don Salvador at that time? Or else, I have no choice but to take the longer route, grueling 5 hour trip to Bacolod City via Escalante-Cadiz area. Whoa!

Anyway, this city was known to be the center of mining during the 80′s and 90′s. It was the site of Atlas Mining, which extracted copper from the rocks of Cebu. During those days, it was the heyday of  Toledo’s economy. After it was closed, the city went to its laid-back mood again.

Toledo City Port

There’s nothing much to see in Toledo City except that it is the most important port among the 3 ports in western Cebu. A transit point for Negros which is a 30 minutes away by fastcraft, an hour and a half by ordinary ferry.

Since I did have a limited time, I wasn’t able to see Toledo’s hidden wonders. I’ll find time next time, but right now I have to cross Tañon Strait to go home.

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I wouldn’t make it long and complicated with adding up the details. I’m currently listening to the mass being held in Manila Cathedral. I didn’t make it on her wake, but with prayers and dedication to the proclaimed “Mother of Philippine Democracy,” it’s a sad day.

The weather somehow cooperates. Rain pouring because the heaven is mourning, but the sun shines because we also celebrate her life and what she did. Seems that we’re tracing back to the “heaven’s mandate.”

It made me realize though that we as human beings have a mission in life to fulfil. As I was reading “The Fifth Mountain” by Coelho, I later realized the full colour of Tita Cory’s life, from her sufferings to her victories. Somehow, she became one of my institutions of inspiring to live life to the fullest. Somehow, it made me realize that having faith in God doesn’t meant suffering and pain as most people would thought of. Somehow, it made me think that in this life, there are some things that we take for granted but needs focus and emphasis. Somehow, the sacrifices that she made as a housewife and a viuda made me realize that strength doesn’t come alone but through support and through faith.

She may not be the perfect president. She may not have lived up to the expectations of the Filipinos after EDSA Uno. She may have weathered several coup d’etat attempts. She may have not eradicated feudalism. But she brought back what is supposedly for the Filipino people…democracy. And somehow inspired us all to live with the democracy that was restored after 2 decades of totalitarian rule.

And as 2 decades have past, the wounds were healed, at least. There is something about our mother. There is something about Tita Cory. Now, she is with Ninoy and God, her mission fulfilled. It made me realize that we too have a mission to fulfill as Filipinos. It made me realize that being apathetic does not do good to our society. Apathy is somehow we have to combat. Apathy is what Tita Cory fought within us. That we, Citizen Pinoy, are responsible for the actions of our countrymen, ourselves as Filipinos. That change comes from us and not only just a marked social revolution. She’s really the “ilaw ng tahanan.” Ilaw ng Bayan!

Somehow, Corazon Cojuanco Aquino touched my life even though I do not know her personally nor somewhat close to the Cojuancos or Aquinos. But somehow, there is something about her that made me sad learning about her death. There is also somehow a reason to celebrate as well. Life, dedication, passion, love of country, love of family, sacrifices have reasons, suffering ends.

The skies mourn her passing, but the sun shines at the same time. Tita Cory is no longer here, but as what Coelho said, “she went back to the Great Spirit.” She is everywhere now, somehow more powerful and omniprescent than she was still in her mortal life.

For us Filipinos, we may not live in a perfect world. Corruption lingers after EDSA Uno. Feudalism still lingers and power still to the elitist few. Yet we couldn’t just leave Tita Cory’s legacy burnt to ruins, we couldn’t blame her. We still have a long way to go but she made a move that a housewife has done so greatly. It’s time that we, the Filipinos, should continue our struggle to achieve the true meaning of democracy. That we Filipinos have a responsibility to fulfill. That we Filipinos should learn our lesson from the history. That we Filipinos shouldn’t take things for granted. We still have to carry on with this struggle. Kumilos/maghulag kita!

To Tita Cory: “Talagang di ka nag-iisa! Mabuhay po kayo!”

Mabuhay ka Tita Cory! Madamu guid nga salamat sa imo nga pag-guia sa amon halin sa kadulom sang diktaturya pakadto sa demokrasya! Madamu guid nga salamat! Padayunon tani namon guihapon ang imo nga kausa, sa pakigbato sa korupsyon, sa pakigbato sa matuod nga demokrasya para sa katilingban kag sa banwa sang Pilipinas!

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Monday morning, Miong woke up and prepared for the day. Sip of coffee and pandesal, taking a shower and leave his house at Bucandala in Imus, Cavite…work time starts at 8AM but he doesn’t like to ruin his perfect attendance record, he woke up early…very early, like the sun’s rays hasn’t touched the faces of those who wait for the buses bound for Lawton and EDSA. Miong joined them, many of them waiting in Aguinaldo Highway…Comes a bus, it was another standing ovation. Upon reaching Imus Bayan, the bus was already jam-packed and Miong had positioned himself in the most comfortable way, learning up the kama sutra of everyday commuting.

As they were going north-bound, the world stopped. And it did stopped, for an hour Miong stood in the bus full of people…somewhat agonizing, together with the passengers, he waited for 30 minutes or more then goes the bus speeding up like there is no tomorrow. Miong experienced “buhos,” an everyday occurrence to any Caviteño commuter…

It’s like this, every rush hour a sheer volume of vehicles pass by Cavite’s sole main thoroughfare to Manila, which is Aguinaldo Highway. The said road is already 25% oversaturated as stated in the provincial government website between Bacoor, Imus and Dasmarinas. Then during mornings, the surge of vehicles going to Manila creates an enormous strain to the un-expandable 4-lane highway, therefore the traffic enforces counter-flowing or occupying all four lanes solely for the north-bound vehicles to speed up the drain of vehicles from Cavite to Metro Manila, thus like a bucket of water being poured out in huge volume or “buhos” in Tagalog. What happens to the south-bound vehicles? They stay for 30 minutes from a point thus creating a several meters (to sometimes kilometers!) parking lot! It goes the opposite way during the afternoon-evening rush hour which sometimes lasts all the way late night! Well, that’s the fact most Caviteños have to live with.

Although the opening of the Coastal Road Extension to Binakayan is forecasted to be finished before a new administration takes place in 2010, I doubt it would resolve the monstrous traffic jam in Aguinaldo Highway, where most of urban concentration and population of Cavite is concentrated. The LRT South Extension project from Baclaran to Bacoor Cavite has been there…planned…and still a plan…until now, it’s still a plan…bummer!

Vehicles from Kawit and northern Cavite stop during a buhos operation at Bacoor

South-bound vehicles rush during an ongoing "buhos"

A relief though, Daang Hari was opened to the public and now Caviteños have the option to go to Manila through Alabang (Imus to Alabang is just within 30 minutes!)…but majority of the public utility vehicles either bound for Lawton, Pasay or EDSA will still ply the length of Aguinaldo Highway.

Not unless new infrastructure can take place in this growing province, people will suffer, the economy will suffer a backlash, investors turned off and poverty strikes. Is there a lack of political will amongst the Cavite LGU, who’s ancestors paved the way for our nation’s independence or is it just political luck was not on their side? Good question but the bottomline is, the residents and Cavite constituents will still suffer from this chronic disease.

Tips on How to Survive a Cavite traffic:

• Newbie here? Good luck! You should be early waking up when you’re in Cavite. Chances are, either you are at the rear portion of the bus or you’ll stand and be crammped with other standing passengers.
• Did I say early? Oh yes, be early…give a leeway of 2.5 hours at least from Imus at least (longer for those coming from Dasma) and your time of work. Chances are, you’ll arrive in the nick of time. But Mondays? Don’t take a chance on it! Wake up earlier than 2.5 hours prior to work time!
• In this day and age, for men, be as gentleman as possible…give the seats to the elderly and disabled and with children…but for healthy and/or sexy women, it’s your call…after all as what they say, chivalry is dead…pantay na ang karapatan ng lalaki sa babae daw.
• Mondays are Manila-bound rush hours…wherein most people go to Manila on Monday morning.
• Wednesdays are Baclaran days…expect the buses and jeeps to be filled up to the brim and traffic at Baclaran in Parañaque.
• Fridays are “uwian” or going back to suburbia rush. People are rushing to Cavite and beyond. Expect that the traffic either starts at the first bridge after the toll plaza or just a few meters from the toll plaza! Good luck!
• Christmas and bisperas-Kwaresma…like any other road in the metro during these times.
  
• Hold the railings…or fall!
• Bring hanky, it comes in handy especially when someone beside you emit ummm….o-oh!
• Entertain yourself. Bring a book or an Mp3 player. If morning, you can do camwhoring at the bus and say “I survived another traffic jam in Cavite!”
• Patience is needed. If possible, pray a rosary or chant “ohhmmmm……”
• Smile. It works!

Buhos will stay unless traffic went better in Aguinaldo Highway.  For as long as the government remains mum, the Caviteños take charge and courageously go on an everyday battle of stress and traffic management. Onwards a battle against the gargantuan disease that has been choking the province for years!

And Miong tucked his headset and started playing mp3 songs from his player…cruising.

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Just got home from the longest vacation I had in recent days. Almost 2 weeks and a half I stayed at my hometown, sweeping the said “festival season” of Iloilo City, starting from Dinagyang and all the way to Jaro Fiesta (although I really like to stay for the Paraw Regatta but well…priorities in the times of crisis). OK, lets just start it, I’ll be preparing a liturgy of Iloilo Dinagyang later so I’ll start with the latest…which is the Feast of Our Lady of Candles in the district of Jaro, Iloilo City which is dDubbed to be as the most opulent religious fiesta in Western Visayas.

Known for the flocking religious devotees, perdon sale, cock fighting, festive mood and the “market in the plaza,” it defeats the city’s premiere festival, the Dinagyang, in paralyzing traffic and setting a half day holiday for most offices in the city. This is the Ilonggo’s top religious feast, besting Dinagyang in terms of devotees. But hey, the feast starts several months before February 2, the feast day of Our Lady. The Jaro carnival and agro-industrial fair at the Plaza will start set up as early as Christmas. Talk about early preparation, hehe! But as pictures from the past suggest, this has been a tradition to most of Jaro townspeople during the feast. It is where people from different corners of Panay converge, showcase and sell their goods from Balasan’s famous bibingka (rice and coconut milk cake), ornamental plants and expensive earthenware. La Milagrosa The festivities center on veneration of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Candles, the patron saint of Western Visayas, and yes personally crowned by the late Pope John Paul II upon his visit in Iloilo in 1981.

The said image, which is located on a pedestal in the facade of the Cathedral, is said to be miraculously growing. A lot of stories and legends or kwentong bayan surround this image which is the center of veneration among most of Salognons (Jaro natives) and Ilonggos alike. Fiesta Bueno! The usual fiesta morning starts with series of mass dedicated to tha patroness and it will go on until night fall. Outside, devotees flock the image of the Candelaria while some are lining up to get a blessing from the laymen called palapak, wherein the small statue of the Virgin will be placed at the top of your head. On the feast day itself, just don’t expect any of those street dancing mardi-gras unlike in most of the Visayan festivities. This is in a good old school tradition of foot procession with the Jaro Queen, chosen from one of the rich families of Jaro (this year’s Jaro Queen hails from the Chan clan [of the singer-song writer Jose Mari Chan], Angelica Chan). Along with her princesses and the rest of Jaro residents, devotees and students mumbling and praying the rosary while making their way in the streets. And illustrious caros bringing the saintly statues along with the procession, of course in the last portion of the said line would be the Lady of Candles in all her full bloom caro. Solemnity amidst the frenzy of the festive day. Jaro Fiesta Queen But take note, the princesses and queens are eye-catchers. One would not look away with these girls as they wear expensive gowns of Filipiniana. Some say that it makes the streets of Jaro a fashion runway. A Child and the Jaro Perdon While making their way in the streets, the rest of the crowd, either frantically buy the last stock of perdon or blessed candles. Every year, they change colour, for this year its green. Bulangan Olympiad Another thing that is associated in Jaro’s feast is the grand old Filipino tradition of cock fighting…but guess what, these are not just any ordinary sabungan because the pusta or bet would run from a thousand to sometimes hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions. No folks, I’m not exagerrating. Its a known fact all over the region that the hacenderos of Negros, old rich families of Jaro like you know who and what and other affluent afficionados, go here to play a high-stake gamble that would bid Casino Royale byebye! Cockfghting aficionados from all over the region coverge in Iloilo Coliseum at Barangay San Isidro. The Tips to Commuters I’ll be writing this in my rough Hiligaynon (Ilonggo language) and later translate it to English:

• Kon piesta sang Jaro, kabalo man kita nga isiraduhan nila ang mga dalan pasulod kag pag-gwa sa Plaza Jaro kag sa mismo nga district proper sini. Kalabanan sa mga jeep, naga-divert sang ila nga ruta ukon manaog ka lang sa dapit Plaza Jaro.
• Indi parehas sang Dinagyang nga nagaselebrar matag-weekends, ang Pista Jaro magatupa ini sa Pebrero Dos, amo na kis-a weekday ang pista, laban-laban maga-half day ang pipila ka mga opisina sang gobyerno ukon mga pribadong kumpanya, depende sa ila nga desisyon.
• Kon magahalin kamo sa ciudad kag makadto kamo pa-Leganes, ginaabisuhan kamo nga magpanaog sa Desamparados, sa Huwebesan dason lakton nyo asta Tabuc Suba.
• Pirmi mag-halong sa mga kawatan. May mga tawo gid nga wala sing kunsensya…kaluluy-an sila!
• Pag-abot sang alas-kwatro, dira na magasugod ang prusisyon nga nagadugay sang isa ka oras ukon masobra pa. Dira na magasugod ang inyo nga marathon.
• Kag para sa naga-selebrar, enjoy kamo kag indi pagbutanga sing malain nga buot kon makigpyesta ka sa Jaro. Magsinadya kita!

For more pictures of the Feast of Our Lady of Candles, click here. Or, you may view it here:

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Perhaps the most notable among all of the cemeteries in central Iloilo would be the cemetery of Janiuay, some 30 kilometers from Iloilo City. This is the town after Cabatuan, so if we started our trip there then its just 15 minutes away.

Janiuay town is settled in the foothills of the Panay Cordillera which its fertile valley is irrigated by Suague River. The church itself is new after some of the guerillas burned the old Spanish colonial era church in World War II. What is remarkable heritage site here is not in the town proper but several kilometers away from the town plaza, another place for the dead…the Filipino-Hispano cemetery.

Built through forced labour and was finished in 1884 under the supervision of the Agustinians, Dominicans and Don Placido Martin, this one hectare cemetery has baroque and gothic designs incorporated at the portals, the stone and wrought iron fences, the camposanto and the walls of the niches. As reported by the Philippine Commission during the American colonial era, this one is truly remarkable.

The cemetery sits on a hill with three wide grand stone staircases (which comes from a quarry some 25 kilometers away) leading to the grand portals. It was said that there were statues at the flanks of the wall, as if like sentinels guarding the departed, but unfortunately was lost in time.

It is quite unfortunate though that the said cemetery is somehow looking quite neglected. I hope the clergy and the local people would bring back its grandeur or even take care of it because this cemetery has been a major contribution of their ancestors with blood, sweat and tears.

How to Get There:

Just like going to Cabatuan, just take a jeepney from Iloilo Central Line Jeepney Terminal at Ungka, Jaro District. Take a jeepney with the sign “Janiuay” or “Badiangan,” “Calinog,” “Lambunao” since all of these jeepneys will pass by Janiuay. By the time you reach the plaza or terminal market, just take a tricycle and tell the driver to send you to patyo. The cost of fare would be more or less P40 from Iloilo City then P25 for one way if you are to consume the rest of the seats for the tricycle.

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Ito na marahil ang kauna-unahan kong post na nakasalin sa wikang Pilipino sa blog na ito. Ito’y bahagi sa aking taus-pusong pagsuporta sa kilos na ito laban sa kahirapan o kasadlakan.

Sinasabing karamihan ng mga Pilipino ngayon ay nasasadlak sa kahirapan dahil na rin sa nangyayaring krisis ekonomiya ng mundo. Dahil na rin sa pangungurakot ng iilan, tila naipagkakait sa kanila ang kagandahan ng buhay at ang pag-asa ng pag-asenso. Marami sa ating mga Pilipino ang hindi nakakakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw dahil na rin sa mahal na presyo ng bilihin at pati na rin sa pang-gatong o gas.

Ang kahirapan ay isang malalim na konteksto. Hindi lang ito kasalatan sa materyal na bagay, kundi pati na rin sa kakulangan sa pagbibigay halaga sa karapatang pantao na halos nilalabag sa ating bansa araw araw. Kung ipinagkait mo na rin ito, para na rin itong pagpapabusabos sa mga taong nangangailangan ng wastong pamumuhay.

Ang kahirapan ay hindi ganoon kadaling sugpuin. Dahil ito mismo ay nakaugat na sa atin, sa ating kamalayan, sa ating lipunan. Ang pagsugpo sa kahirapan ay hindi lang sa pamimigay ng salapi sa mga namumulubi, kundi bigyan sila ng masaganang pamumuhay sa pisikal, materyal, ispiritwal at natatamasa ang karapatang pantao. Ang isang lipunan ay nawawala sa mga kadena ng kahirapan kung ito’y ating babaguhin mula sa ating sarili at silyaban muli ang diwa ng bayanihan sa isa’t isa.

Magkaisa tayo laban sa kahirapan. Tulad ng isang komyuter na kailangang bagtasin ang peligrosong daan, kailangan natin itong harapin upang makamtan na natin ang totoong kaunlaran na gustong matamasa ng bawat Pilipino.

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So, its the start of a new beginning for my blogging life. Anyway, I only took interest with blogging just 2 years ago. I just write out of frustration and wanting to express my ideas and thoughts through the net. Along with that was my experiences with my travels, my praise and my rants.

Traveling has one of the things that I’ve been doing since several days after my birth (yes, I was able to have my first plane ride by December 1985, a few days after my brith). And eversince then, wherever my parents are, I was there. The inquisitive mind and the instinct to explore new places, faces and traditions had never waned. Too bad I never wrote it in a diary, nakakatamad kasi tapos kung may diary ka, aasarin ka na bakla ka kasi ang diary daw ay para sa babae. Sayang!

I never stopped traveling. It was, is and will be my passion. But the difference is that I do not just do sightseeing, but immerse with the culture. More than just an average tourist, I’ve been always fascinated by the things behind culture…For me it adds flavor to the place.

So, it is a new beginning for me. I might be writing in 2 languages. One in English and the other in Filipino (and might be using vernacular) so that I can share my thoughts and experiences not just the digital elites but for the masa as well. The guide for everything Pilipinas (and who knows, labas Pinas, hehe!!)

Kaya Tara na! Taralets!
Visit the blog at: http://www.taralets.co.cc