We had another trip to the City of Pines with the kids this summer. This time we took them to the Lourdes Grotto which is a Catholic place of worship where one could have an excellent view of Baguio City.
Devotees from all over the world visit the place each day. We were greeted at the entrance by a brown friendly dog.
I took one deep breath at the foot of the first staircase and wished myself a lot of luck climbing the 252 steps. Already exhausted from roaming the rest of the city I knew I had little energy left.
I remember a time, not so long ago....when I met friends online who changed my life and made me want to know...what made them smile, what made them glad...what they wished and prayed for in life....When I was sad and sorrow haunted my nights, they were there to make me laugh and with just a word or two they made me feel alright....
....that everywhere I went, I was never bored, frightened nor saddened...I walked each path, straight or winding with love in my heart for all the beauty in nature that reminded me of them......
.each blade of grass, each color in the sky, each flower, each rock...made me feel home at last...
....and in this huge world of ours when the sun sets each day to offer us rest...I think of them from miles away and say "thank you for the gift of friendship".."thank you for painting colors on the walls of my simple life...you are my home, away from home..my salitype society family...this place we dearly call "bahay-kubo"...I keep inside my heart and will treasure, for all eternity....
It is a blessing beyond compare to have people in this life who live from across the miles yet whose heart each day touches mine...my Salitype Society sisters who inspire me in everything I do have changed me in ways I can never fully explain...
but can catch in photos...
in hills and plains...
Being married to someone who works to serve and protect my countrymen, holidays always are celebrated on a special time which means either late or early. I was quite lucky the other day as I got to be treated by the hubby to an early Valentine celebration. Nothing fancy as always but nevertheless meaningful.
We found this restaurant that had the usual cute decorations that made me reminisce the first time I fell in love with someone.
My date chose to feast on chicken and rice and on sauteed squid, his all time favorite.
While I ordered "fresh lumpia"...fresh vegetables wrapped with egg crepe with sweet tasting sauce garnished with peanuts.
We shared a dessert that I enjoyed so much! Cooled fruits in season mixed with milk, topped with ice cream served in a coconut. I loved scraping off the coconut meat at the bottom and savoring its creamy taste.
Afterwards he bought me what I love the most these days...pink roses! aaahhh with roots so I got to plant them at home to continuously shower me with blooms.
And then there were these heart-shaped donuts that completely melted my heart...that I didn't whine too much when he had to be called back to work before midnight...not without a promise of perhaps being able to take me out on Valentine's eve itself...who knows, I just might be lucky again...
Love isn't about the amount of time we spend together but about that wonderful, hard to fathom feeling of wanting to be with a person all the days of our lives....
Though this may be a few days late......Happy Heart's Day dear friends...do spread the sweetness....
I have always loved watching the sunset yet my love for it has become more intense when I met my Salitype Society friends. This purpose driven blog of ours which aims to touch lives through sponsoring a child's education has made taking photos for me almost like a prayer at heart.
...for how do you not become happy and content having sisters who think of you each time they see your favorite hue? This bag is a tangible evidence of a friendship that knows no distance. It was won in an auction by Betchai at the Tapulanga Foundation Fund Raiser Dinner she attended with our sister Chay. It reached me several weeks after and has brought tears to my eyes knowing that our friendship is so alive despite the distance. So the first chance I got to watch the sunset after I received the bag, I took it with me...and off I went to dreamland for that one sweet day I would be viewing the sky change colors with my TSS family.
Thank you so much for helping us continue with our vision to help make a difference in the world through the things we love doing...,catching photos and typing rhymes...we love you all dear friends, oh so much...
...My son and I were walking home this morning when we passed by our neighbor's yard and saw these puppies...awww my son had such a hard time parting from them...honestly, me too :-) sigh....
From the Farm where I used to be alone with my thoughts
Until I became a part of The Salitype Society
And embraced the unique friendship of wonderful women whose love for life has changed mine in ways I can never completely describe...
I keep this personalized key chains until that one sweet day when I can hand them to each one of you with a real hug and laughter under the smiling sun...
Cheers to another year of friendship!!!
I love you all so much Salitype buddies and you our dear friends who keep inspiring us to make a difference...
I was finally able to treat myself to a photo walk on the Northern side of the Philippines last summer and been meaning to share with you the one-day trip but somehow the idea just skipped my mind altogether the past weeks. I would love to someday tour all of you in one of the most historic cities of this country...
It is around eight-hour ride from Manila but around one and a half hour drive from the nearby city which is Laoag which could be reached by plane daily.
There are so many bell towers in the world but there is this one bell tower that will forever be painted in my heart...the Bell Tower of St. Augustine Church in Bantay, Ilocos Sur Philippines which i also got to visit in my one summer day trip to the North.
The St. Augustine Church is one of the oldest in the country having been built in the 16th century
Its bell tower stands majestically to its right atop a hill.
and is surrounded by time tested iron fence...
adorned by flowers from centuries past...
as i went nearer i felt a rush of excitement inside me together with the wind that was really blowing on my cheeks..the old staircase and the gate seemed to tell me a thousand and one tales from long ago..
and as i reached the highest peak and watched the birds go flying by up in the sky i was totally mesmerized that i still can not find the words 'til now to describe the happiness inside...because i was with someone from my past, whose heart i've hurt, crushed and torn but forgave me once and for all up there by the bell tower where a friendship that shall live on forever was sworn...
There is this one place in the Philippines that I never get tired of visiting. Well, it happens to be just an hour and a half drive from our home...the city of Baguioconsidered as the "summer capital" of the country because of its subtropical highland climate.
It is a city located at the Northern part of the country, some 1,500 meters above sea level and could be reached either by land or air. It is around six hours drive from Manila.
The last time I took a trip to the city of Pines was six months ago with my two kids and the hubby. I also happily shared our summer Baguio memories here.
One could get a bit dizzy with the winding road but the view of mountains, trees, sunflowers and clouds may easily wipe away one's wobbly sensations.
Pine trees with their evergreen characteristic, found almost everywhere in the city are such a soothing spectacle anytime of the day.
Join me as I walk and relish in the splendor of some of the flowers found at the Botanical Garden.
I'm poor at naming flowers but I'm sure the first one is a Dahlia and the last one is an orchid...Would you be so kind as to name the other four? There is one more thing I am sure of..."that nothing in all the world could compare to the beauty of God's creation".
My one fervent wish is for all of these not to cease to flourish.
Now here is one pony that looked so pretty. I didn't ride one this time but simply admired its garb and colored mane.
The metropolis is replete with works of art to marvel at. It is a place where most artists would find inspiration. This one makes me think of liberty and peace...two things that make this life beautiful.
and then there's Burnham Park where boating is the main attraction...simply watching the decorated vessels floating and the flowers on the alley calms one's spirit..
People, from all walks of life love hanging out in this park. I see myself one day sitting on a bench there under the shade of a tree perusing one of your published books by then my dear blogging friends...I hope though it won't take that long a wait...
Now who wouldn't fall in love in such a romantic cold place? I myself once upon a time spent hours on practically the same bench talking to someone I now call the hubby. Funny how places could spell the future.
Meet my mom, my travel companion for the day standing on the patio of the biggest shopping mall in the city overlooking the rest of the place and the cathedral which I failed to explore then. Mom taught me humility and kindness, things that money can never buy.I personally think that moments spent with one's mom as an adult are so precious because not everyone gets that chance in this busy life. And I thank God everyday for keeping her healthy and as cheerful as she is and each night the kids and I pray for all the mothers in the world.
Now..souvenirs in all shapes and color abound such that if you are willing to spend just a little bit, you most certainly will go home not only with Baguio memories but SHARED HAPPINESS....when you give them away...
