Back at Sandari

my Mt. Batulao experience reinforced my obsession to roam and explore. i've gone to a number of places already but most of them were work-related and side-trips (taking advantage of the work-related trip to roam the vicinity). for this year, the forest trekking adventure organized by Sandari Batulao is my second non-work-related and non-side-trip escapade :)

schedules were checked and cousins were rounded up to join so i could share the outdoor experience with them.

and what better way to road test my new kicks! ;P

there were two batches scheduled for the trek and my group was included in the 2nd batch at 1:00pm. we left the house by around 9am to avoid the hassles of being stuck in traffic caused by road widening projects, pipeline repair projects, etc. plus, we planned to have lunch at Picnic Grove as a side-trip.

then again, traffic has now become part of living wherever in the Philippines so we did not escape the inevitable. it also rained a little upon reaching Tagaytay so lunch at Picnic Grove was crossed out. we worried about coming in late.

but the heavens were smiling upon us as we reached our destination a couple of minutes before our schedule. plus, the first batch haven't returned from the forest yet, so we still had time to eat lunch and shoot some pictures :) talk about being lucky :D

pre-trek photo-op at the marketing/sales office of Sandari Batulao

after our hearty lunch, we filled up some forms and after the orientation, two vans transported us to the forest reserve.

never go outdoors without this

some lovely 'shrooms

downhill towards a footbridge

take five with bro on the giant roots of the balete tree

photo op with our official photographer ;)

signed on the big tarp at the end of the trek

the Forest Trek gets our thumbs up!

climbing Mt. Batulao

when i was younger (so much younger than today! hehehe!), i made a mental bucket list--a list of what i wanted to do and/or where i wanted to go. one of them is to climb a mountain. i have always wanted to do that and vowed that i must fulfill it on or before i reach the big 3-0.

21 months after my deadline, just when i thought it will never happen, i finally got the chance.

the climb was organized by Sandari Batulao and was conducted on April 16, 2011.

unfortunately, i wasn't able to reach the summit because my shoes gave up on me halfway through the climb. i had no choice but to stay and wait at peak 8 while my siblings and friends continue to peak 10 (the summit).

nevertheless, the climb was an enriching experience. though my body got tired, my spirit was refreshed. being outdoors, high up the mountain and seeing God's creations felt so great.

thanks to all the people at Sandari Batulao for organizing the climb, thanks to all my fellow climbers, thank God for the good weather. maybe next time, and with sturdier shoes, i will reach your summit, Mt. Batulao. 'til next time :)

A day at the La Mesa Ecopark

A day of fun with family and nature.

with cousins, aunts and nephews

keep walking...

active play is more fun!

and they conquered their fear here.

Other scenes...

It's actually my second visit here and if i have more time, i'd come here often. It's one of the few places in the city where you could see lots of greens and enjoy the fresh air. My usually funny uncle found the park a nice place to escape from one's worries and stressful situations. Indeed it was.

So put on your most comfy shirt/tanktops, shorts or jogging pants, and shoes (or slippers...anything comfy for long walks), put on some mosquito repellent (although i hardly saw any mosquito), and you're ready for the park. Bring extra shirts and hand towels ...and don't forget your SPF.

More information about the park here.

Anniv pics

Photos courtesy of choir mate Bing.

- - -

SLC's Anniversary celebration @ San Lazaro Hospital Pediatric Ward...

'Dr. Jollibee' doing his rounds

flanked by the kids-at-heart!..... and yeah, the balloon has to match the shirt! ;P


this was supposed to be a 'wacky' shot with Fr. Jun

and here's a more decent one

same cast as last year...
but we're open for applicants
;)

The other cake

As previously mentioned, i made another cake and brought it to the office today. I was so excited that i forgot to take a pic of it.

The cake kinda looks like this:

chocolate cake with pink icing and colored candy sprinkles.
they loved it!

The cake was small so i thought of adding some chocolate cupcakes so that everyone can have their share of the goodies.

It was like a feast of cakes because we also had a store-bought roll cake courtesy of another colleague who earlier "pledged" the cake.

Of course, it wouldn't feel like a birthday celebration without some pancit so some friends chipped in to order a big platter of Pancit Malabon while some thought of buying soda for our drinks.

It was a lot of fun sharing the food and sharing laughter.
The simple pleasures of life...

For Mama

It's been raining for most of the day and what better thing to do than to curl up in bed on a Monday night after a day's work.

But that's after i finish packing the banana bread and peanut butter cookies i baked to be transported to HK for my mom. Cousin-in-law will be flying on Wednesday morning and mom will meet him at the airport in HK.

It's about time my mother gets a taste of what other people have been raving about.
;)

Transformation

From boy to girl!...

One of our supervisors gave her a pair of girly sandals and dared her to wear the footwear during office hours so she could see it being used. So our rugged, groovy-mama-of-two colleague traded her comfy running shoes for those girly sandals.

Extra challenge moment!

;)

Home

It was around lunchtime when i got an SMS from Ted's younger brother, checking up how i've been since the last time i was with them in Bulacan.

I had the chance to hang out with Ted and his family during their town fiesta last week and i had a blast. Nothing fancy though. What made it such an enjoyable, albeit short, stay with them was their simplicity and warmth. I was so overwhelmed by their hospitality and their openness in accommodating me. I really felt like a bisita, which i was not accustomed to, and they wouldn't let me help out in the kitchen even if i wanted to.

At some point i even felt a bit awkward because during meals, i was always the one who finishes last. Alvin (Ted's bro) was pretty vocal about his observation, to which i reasoned out that i was taking the time to appreciate the food. Mababaw lang ang kaligayahan ko sa pagkain 'Vin.

+ + +

It's always refreshing to hang out with people like Ted and his family. They don't have much, but they have each other. There is that openness among each member of the household and freedom of speech is not suppressed. The even make fun of each other or joke about themselves. Every moment was light, candid, spontaneous.

And yes, i really felt "at home" with them.

+ + +

So when Alvin texted me "next year ulit?"
I didn't hesitate to reply "sure! Oo ba!"

Pagpasensyahan mo na lang ang kabagalan ko sa pagkain ha...

+ + +

Salamat po ulit sa Borlongan Family sa pag-ampon sa akin last June 23&24.
Sa uulitin po!

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Island souvenirs

We came....



We saw....

We had a blast!

I'm still having a "summer hangover." ;p