I’ve been pre-occupied lately that I’ve already forgotten to blog about my recent adventure. Last June 14, I went trekking again along with other friends. This trek has been postponed several times due to the bad weather but after a long wait we were able to push through with it.
6:00 AM was the call time for our group so again; I got up early preparing the stuff that I needed to bring.It’s too bad that not all the guys were able to join this hike. Jogs had a competition so he passed. We reached the foot of Mt. Arayat at around 7:00 AM and started our trek. At first, I thought that it’s just going to be easier than our Haduan since it’s just continuous uphill hike…well, I thought wrong! The fact that it’s a continuous uphill hike made it a lot harder. I felt like I was dragging my legs.The scenery was nice though. It’s like I was on the set of the book “Twilight” that I was in the forest of Forks…hehehe… It took us roughly 3 hours to reach the point they call White Rock.There we met some hikers from Manila who spent the night at the summit and did flag raising as part of the Independence Day celebration. We had a little photo opt and after they left, we decided to have lunch there and rest for a while.
After our lunch, we continued with our hike, we were told that it’s another 1 hour hike for us to reach the summit. I was like, “that’s just another hour…I was able to do it for 3 hours already…it’s gonna be easy”…If you noticed, I always tell myself that, “hey, it’s going to be easy”…that’s actually my way of motivating myself.hehehe… going back, it indeed took us another hour before we reached the summit…the trek was more strenuous and I was like, “Jen, you have no choice…you’re already here…go try to reach the summit.”
When we got there all the pain that I was feeling suddenly went away! The feeling was soo amazing…the scene is breath-taking. We had a nice chit-chat with the army guys stationed at the top of the mountain and got to know about how they live there. After an hour or two stay there (and of course after our photo opt), we decided that I was time for us to go back. On our way down, the trek was a lot easier….until it rained hard. We were drenched by the heavy rain while we’re going to down the mountain. The trail was muddy and slippery. While walking along the grass fields, I kept on asking Papa Rics, “Are we there yet?” and he would just say, “Malapit na.” That type of conversation went on for like 1 hour. It took us two and half hours to reach the foot of the mountain. It was one heck of an adventure and I’m up for it again! By the way, for our next trip, we’re planning to go to Miyamit Falls…gotta save up a lot of energy for that one…hehehe….

In my recent post, I was talking about my inclination to mother nature and how I wanted to join Papa Rics on his adventures. Well, I didn’t wait that long…Papa Rics and his pals went back to Haduan Falls…this time, I was with them! Yep yep, you read that right, I went to Haduan Falls yesterday. Not with a bike though…yesterday was a pure trek.

Our call time was 8AM so I was awake by 5:30 in the morning preparing my stuff. When I got to our meeting place at Clark Maingate, everybody’s already there: Papa Rics, Jogs and his girlfriend, Yay and his girlfriend and his sister. The group’s ready for the adventure.

Haduan Falls is located behind Clarfield so we went to Clark’s Gate 14 and looked for a guide. Jogs has been there soo many times already that we really don’t need a guide anymore, so we just took one with us. We started to hike at around 8:30 in the morning, the sun is already high but not that hot yet. The trek was very strenuous. It was not a continuous uphill walk, there were lots of downhill trekking as well which made it a little harder. The trek going to Haduan Falls last for about an hour or so. We walked, stopped for a little photo-opt, then walked again, and climbed some rocks. We even had to pass this waist-deep water to get to our destination.

After doing all of that, we finally reached our target point…the Haduan Falls. The moment I saw the falls, man, all the exhaustion that I felt during the trek suddenly disappeared…No kidding…the place is just breath-taking! The water is really cold and nice. We swam…well, they swam I just dipped myself into the water coz I don’t know how to swim (well, I’m actually looking into taking swimming lessons now…hehehe). Then we climbed the falls and went to the other one above it. Jogs told us that the falls above the first falls that we saw is actually the Haduan falls. It was higher and more beautiful. When we headed back to the first falls, we were challenged to jump off it. I declined and went down. The others took the challenge except for me and Jogs’ girlfriend. After eating, they dared me one more time. I took the challenge this time. I can’t go back being the only one who didn’t jump. I gathered all my courage and jumped off the freakin’ falls! And I did it! Jog’s girlfriend did it too. So we went back with no regrets coz all of us jumped.

On our way back, the trek was much more strenuous. The sun is very high and it’s scorching hot. I felt like my throat was drying up so fast and I was running out of air. I had a hard time pulling myself up on the very steep uphill climb that we had to do…but hey, I made it. I was able to write this blog so it means I still got home…hehehe…

It was a very fun adventure that I will never forget….we’re actually planning on our next trek already. Our next stop: Arayat Summit!

Here are some of the pics from my little adventure at Haduan Falls:

Everywhere you go now, you’ll always hear the names Hayden Kho and Katrina Halili. Everyone seems to be talking about the much publicized sex videos of Hayden Kho with Katrina and two other women. This issue even reached the senate and on the news, this is all you hear.

I’ve seen the videos myself and I also got enraged by them. I agree with Sen. Bong Revilla, such act is a doing of an insane man…. Isa nga s’yang buwang. Hayden Kho is a pervert of the highest kind.

Watching his apology, I could feel nothing but appall. Being a woman, I feel for his victims whose lives he has ruined. I mean, the dignity of these women had been trampled and I can empathize with them. This will forever be marked in their lives. I just don’t understand why Vicky Belo could condone such acts and still has the face to defend this perv. I strongly believe that Kho should be punished for all of his perversions.

Hayden Kho is a one big A**HOLE!

Just heard the news about my friend, Papa Rico. He’s got another addiction now…Cycling. I remember back then, we would always talk about how he wants to have a mountain bike. I would actually tease him during that time (as we normally do to each other) that it will take forever for him to get one because mountain bikes are quite expensive and he’s too “old” for it. Then we would just laugh about it. I never thought that he would actually get his own bike and join the “eTel bikers” as I would name them and explore different places.

I know how cycling can help you health-wise and all…so I’m happy for him. I actually got a little envious of him. When I saw the places they’ve been to, man, they are just breath-taking! I’ve always had this inclination to mother nature ( I don’t know why…hehehe…). I wish I could go with them some time. I’m actually thinking of trying this hobby/sport out one day…someday… but for now, I’ll just settle for my “stationary bike” here at home!

Here are some of Papa Rics and his buddies’ pics:

It’s been forever since my last post. I guess I have been deeply immersed in my self-created chasm. I’ve been thinking about a lot of things lately…mostly about how my life had turned out. Funny as it may sound, I do….

While I was surfing the internet, I found this very interesting term, “quarter-life crisis”. This is actually the first time I’ve heard of this. According to Wikipedia, the term is named by analogy with mid-life crisis. In the context of the quarter-life crisis, however, it  occurs shortly after a young person – usually an educated professional, in this context – enters the “real world”. After entering adult life and coming to terms with its responsibilities, some individuals find themselves experiencing career stagnation or extreme insecurity…ya da ya da…

Reading through the article, I thought I saw a glimpse of myself and how I’ve been feeling lately. I now know the term for it. I’ve been telling my friends that I feel under-achieved…that I should be someplace else doing different things and not where I am right now. There are a lot of things that I wanna do…I want to achieve…but can’t seem to get the chance to do so…it’s a struggle.

The feeling sucks! Big time! I just hope that I will be able to surpass this darn thing, whatever crisis it is and be able to say, as my favorite blogger says it, “I claim my place in the sun.”

It’s been two days since I got back from my weekend getaway to Singapore…another one of those Cebu Pacific’s promos that I took advantage of (I’m beginning to love this airline…hehehe).

It was a very short trip but I had so much FUN! I got to see good ‘ole friends and got to go around the place. Grace or Ate Lah as I would call her, became my official tour guide. She showed me and some of my friends who were with me in this blissful trip around.

Singapore is such a wow-er. I got to see the beautiful place, taste the food that it has to offer and how can I forget their MRT station…I ‘ve been able to memorize some of its stations…Dhoby Ghaut, Boon Lay, Chua Chu Kang, Punggol, Ang Mo Kio…and many more to mention…hehehe…

It is such a wonderful place and I wish I could have stayed longer but hey I gotta go back. Like I said, it was just a weekend getaway…one that I will never forget…well besides the fact that I had to put on liniment on my legs while on the plane coz the pain was killing me. On our flight home, I have already decided that I’m going back there and explore more of its beauty….hopefully it’s soon! (Calling the attention of Cebu Pacific….LOL)

Here are some of my pics on this blissful trip:

a Free Mind - http://francismagalona.multiply.com/

a Free Mind- http://francismagalona.multiply.com/

I woke up this morning thinking that this will be one of the ordinary days I’ll have in my life…Got up, prepared lunch and went on to prepare for work. While fixing myself for work, the television was turned on and tuned in to Eat Bulaga, though I wasn’t really paying attention to it. Then suddenly, Vic Sotto and the rest of the “dabarkads” appeared on the screen looking terribly sad. At that very moment, I knew something really bad happened, then it was confirmed when Vic Sotto said:

“Sa lahat po ng nanonood ng Eat Bulaga…ikinalulungkot po naming ipaalam sa inyo…that Francis Magalona…passed away…this…12 noon. Marami s’yang iniwang alaala sa’tin dito sa Eat Bulaga pati na sa larangan ng musika. We will surely miss him pati na ang buong industriya. We request everyone to pause for a moment for prayers for the eternal repose of the soul of Francis. Our condolences to Pia and family…Kiko, we love you.”

After hearing this, I felt a sudden gloom come over me…I cannot call myself a true-blue Francis M fanatic but I am one of his fans. I admire him…I respect him for his talent and his contribution to the Filipino music and to the Philippine movie industry.

When the news came out about his illness I had nothing but hopes that he will surpass it…Francis M is Francis M…I know he can survive it. But I guess, no matter how strong his will to survive may have been…his body couldn’t just take it any longer and God knows that this will be the best for him for He won’t let His son suffer much longer.

I know, deep in my heart, that though Filipinos had just lost a great talent… a true patriot… Francis M…”The Man from Manila” is already in a better place with his creator.

Francis M., you’ll never be forgotten…may you rest in peace…and thanks for the Kaleidoscope World you shared with us!

The long wait is finally over, the winners of the 81^st Academy Awards were already revealed. I was actually surprised by the result. I was expecting “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” to bag most of the awards…I guessed wrong. “Slumdog Millionaire” is the biggest winner. What is “Slumdog Millionaire”? I didn’t even know such movie existed. Well, probably, this movie is indeed a good one, coz if not; this movie won’t be winning Best Picture and Best Director. Also, I feel very happy because Heath Ledger got the posthumous award for Best Supporting Actor…another point to his legacy…As I’ve mentioned on my previous blog….I soo love Heath and I’ll forever be proud of that.

Anyways, here’s the list of the winners:

(The Associated Press )

Picture: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Actor: Sean Penn, “Milk”

Actress: Kate Winslet, “The Reader”

Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”

Foreign-Language Film: “Departures,” Japan

Original Song: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Original Score: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Jerry Lewis

Film Editing: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Sound Mixing: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Sound Editing: “The Dark Knight”

Visual Effects: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Documentary, Short Subject: “Smile Pinki”

Documentary Feature: “Man on Wire”

Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”

Short Film: “Spielzeugland”

Makeup: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Costume: “The Duchess”

Art Direction: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Animated Short Film: “La Maison en Petits Cubes”

Animated Feature: “WALL-E”

Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire”

Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, “Milk”

Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

BTW, Hugh Jackman did a great job in hosting the event…such a hottie!!! And oh, I’m going to watch “Slumdog Millionaire” and see for myself if the film really is a masterpiece. =)

Caylee Anthony

Caylee’s Grand Parents and Casey Anthony

Months had passed since the day I first read the news about the missing child in Orange County, FL. This news actually caught my attention and I read about the succeeding events regarding the case.

Caylee Anthony was the 2-year old toddler who was reported missing in July 2008.Her mother Casey Anthony became the primary suspect for the disappearance of the child. The search for Caylee was launched. A lot of people helped to find the missing girl until December 11,2007 came. On that day, they have found Caylee’s remains placed inside a black garbage bag. Hearing about this news somehow broke my heart though the first time I heard about this news I never really had a hope that they would find this little girl alive. I was just hoping then that they would find her no matter what state.

Months after the discovery of her remains, news came out. Evidence found at the Anthony’s home is linked to the evidence found at the woods where they found Caylee’s remains. Her mother, Casey Anthony, is charged with murder in her death.

I just hope that justice will be served to whoever is responsible for the death of this poor little angel.

Paulie, my friend and former coach once told me, “If you don’t have anything good to say…just don’t say anything at all.”

You’d probably wonder why he gave me this advice…well, if Paul was asked to describe me, he would definitely say, “Jen, she’s misunderstood.” True enough, people’s first impression on me would always be…I am a snob (believe me…I am not…hehe). Probably because I look intimidating. (again, am not…lol). There are times wherein the words that I say are being interpreted negatively though I never meant it that way. So, Paulie, gave me an advice. He told me that I really need to think hard before I utter the words that I’m going to say. But being the chatterbox that I am, I find this advice to be hard to do. So he came up with this other advice, “If you don’t have anything good to say…just don’t say anything at all.”

I blogged about this because, there’s this one recent incident that reminded me of this. An acquaintance cracked a joke pertaining to me and I found it a little off…I wanted to respond to the joke but being the “mean” that I am, I knew that there’s a possibility of offending this person with my joke…so what I did is instead of spilling my very scrutinizing joke, I just smiled and thought to myself,

“Jen, if you don’t have anything good to say…just don’t say anything at all.”