Ishagit ug kusog.

This blog commences my return from blogoSiberia where I have, yet again, been idle for the longest time. I keep on promising myself to update just at least once a week yet I end up getting tired and all. But enough excuses that's not what I'm here for, I came back to write about my awesome week getaway with my friends, Cebu's Sinulog Festival.

Okay okay, I must admit that I missed out on the parades, especially the huge, colorful and creative floats and the annual streetdance competition with their lovely costumes and themes to match, we basically went there to pray by day and party by night (and-go-home-comatose-kind-of-partying).

We were supposed to arrive on Thursday but no thanks to the weather and our airline of choice, flights were cancelled FOR THE ENTIRE DAY. We got stuck in the airport for 14 friggin hours so imagine our demise with our high hopes and expectations ended up with just crapful of complaints and sighs.

Come Friday, we couldn't afford not to be there for the most awaited party event everrrr, LIFE DANCE SINULOG 2013. Eh eh eh eh eh ah ah ah ah, ohh Otto Knows definitely knows how to keep that song stuck in our heads. Featured DJ's like AN21 and Max Vangeli (the best set for me) and the awesome Joaquim Giraud (his cool 3-D visual effects and impromtu sets) just made the crowd go WILD. Like really wild! I was standing right in front of the DJ set so everytime I'd turn my back to look at the crowd, they were all jumping and singing along to the songs they were playing. It was crazy. My feet became a trampoline that night so imagine me going home with literally dead feet. But it was all worth it.

We slept the entire morning for the Saturday Procession of the Sto. Niño. Then partied like crazy at Club VUDU.
Sunday came, went to mass and to the streets to invade the street parties At Baseline which Sinulog is best known for.

Now, let me end the talking and let the pictures explain what I'm jibbering about. Sinulog will always be on the top of my highlights in my year. Always.

Human Nature Re-Launch in CDO

Last September 14, 2012 was the re-launching of Human Nature here in Cagayan de Oro. It's a social enterprise focused on natural and organic products which is a plus since I'm all about the use of organic products for skin care.

Human Nature was born from passion burned from Anna Meloto-Wilk, Dylan Wilk and Camille Meloto. They were Gawad Kalinga volunteers who saw the bitter realities of the poverty side of our country. Through this discovery, they were driven to make products from Gawad Kalinga farms which spur growth for a better environment and a source of livelihood for the poor.

What's more interesting is the company's principles which made me more inlove with Human Nature. There are 3:

1. They are PRO-POOR. Human Nature's goal is to provide a better source of livelihood to the Gawad Kalinga residents and communities. With their advocacy, the poor will be able to attain a stable source of income by employing the GK residents. 
2. They are PRO-PHILIPPINES which means their products are 100% made in the Philippines. Did I already mention that their products are all naturally-organic? They make use of the best agricultural goods that our country has to offer. It's like they make products from the Philippines and for the Filipinos to benefit especially the poor.
3. They are PRO-ENVIRONMENT. The raw materials are not produced from toxic-induced chemicals thus they make use of the naturally-derived products to nourish them. So no-no to pollutants for the Human Nature products indeed.

So here's the launching of the Human Nature here in our quaint little city of Cagayan de Oro:

Board Blues

And I'm alive...

Yes, it's been awhile since I've gone rogue here in my blog. Have I been busy? More like uninspired if you’d put it like that plus I’m way behind my scheduled deadline for a previous event I recently attended (I promise with good heart I’ll write about it soon).

So what’s up everyone? It has been awhile since I’ve put my hands on my laptop. If it’s any form of recognition I just passed the June 2012 Nurse Licensure Exam (round of applause and flying kisses to all thank you). NEVER as in NEVER (emphasis on the word) in my wildest dreams have I ever grasped the possibility that I would pass the board exam.

WHY you might ask? Three reasons:

First, well maybe because ever since Typhoon Sendong last year I have put a black hole curse on that board exam shiz. It came with frustration. I have prepared myself slightly intellectually, wholly emotionally and spiritually and well let’s just say I’ve gone to places far and beyond, did things beyond my capability (like pull an all-nighter to even bother to read some things I can’t recall having gone through in college because I never was the studious type of being), and to call all the divine interventions so that I will be prepared to take the board exam and BOOM, I wasn’t able to waltz in that examination room (given the very unfortunate circumstances that have happened which barred the possibilities for me to take the exam). The storm not only took away my home and my late dog but so did my future and put a huge strain on me and my family. So maybe I cursed all the bad beings with it.

Second, it came with more frustration. The earlier months this year was well let’s say excruciating would be an understatement. I attended a lot of thanksgiving parties because my friends were newly registered nurses. Attending those parties was like inflicting pain to me. It was the best of masochistic times. Consider it as one of the, if not the most, lowest of times for me.

Third? Since I wasn’t interested at all, my parents took me to the PRC so I can do all the filing (which by the way was easy and fast before you can say pie). Then I only reviewed for 10 days and barely touched the books I borrowed from my friends because I lost all hope (plus slothfulness was my best friend).

But you know what got me through it all? PRAYER. When I pray, I pray hard and really REALLY HARD hoping that God would really hear me. I think passing the board exam was 90% prayer and 10% whatever was left in my stock of wits. Needless to say prayer really does take you to places, I even earned an average which was WAYYYY more than I expected (I landed a line of 8).

It’s amazing what you can receive when you ask from God sincerely. He’ll take you to places you never thought you’d go, receive things you never thought of having and be blessed with so much than you thought you’d deserve. We all have an awesome God no matter what our religion is, Allah, Buddah or whoever we look up to, it only takes faith for us to be there, faith in our Creator, faith in our family on how they molded us to be what we are now, faith in our school from all the projects and those lengthy exams our very competitive clinical instructors gave us and most of all, faith in ourselves. We really do have to believe in what we are capable of because where would we all be if we’ll always see less of ourselves?

When we hit rock bottom, there’s no other way around but to climb up. We have to move forward. We can’t be stuck forever on whining about our lowest of times. Yes we may tweet about it or post a status on Facebook looking for all the sympathies in the world but that’s it, we’ll just be stuck there, on the bottom and be the star of the pity-party. We gotta fight it, when the going gets rough, we have to put the best tough face and move forward. The places we’ll all be after our downfall are endless and the best part is they’re very rewarding. Trust me, been there and done that. *wink*

And I quote from one of my favorite verses 

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7

xx

Birthday Wishlist

It's that time of the year agaaaaaain. This is after all my blog and I will post anything as I please as to HOPING someone out there will hear my wishes. 

This is my mandatory "birthday wishlist" post. Wala lang, feel ko lang, okay?

1. MOUNTAIN BIKE

I'm this close to having it, but my Dad won't simply allow me to have one. End of discussion. Maybe if I'm a year older, he'll be okay with the idea soon. (I wish!)

 

MYOH Launch Night in CdeO

Last August 17, 2012 was the Make Your Own Havaianas VIP Launch Night at Limketkai Center here in our lovely city of Cagayan de Oro. Celebrating their 50th anniversary, the event was more packed with excitement and fun surprises for everyone! I really had a great time.

Here I was choosing my own pair, I decided to get the Havaianas Fit. The colors looks so pretty here. I wish I got more of their color combinations! I've always loved Havaianas so imagine to my excitement when I get to customize my own pair. 

Havaianas celebrates its 50th anniversary at MYOH 2012

HAVAIANAS, as one of the most famous brands of slippers in the world, has always caught my heart. With its fancy colors and cute trinkets, the rubber pair of flip-flops symbolizes fashion, happiness, fun and excitement that has captured the hearts of so many. Who would deny such pretty colors and dynamic designs? It has always been a trend and it’s a fact that you cannot argue with.

With a few of my pairs, we have conquered the country together. From Boracay to Cebu to Iloilo, to Dakak to Pagadian to Davao to Surigao and to all the places I’ve been in the Philippines, I never miss out a moment not to bring my Havaianas with me. It’s so trendy I can pair it with any outfit I have in mind. Havaianas has always brought more wonderful memories as it decorates my feet with happiness and colors while I quench my thirst for fun and adventure.

Opening of Sweet Leaf Tea Cafe

Earlier this month was the opening of the new, cute and artsy milk tea house near LimKetKai Mall, Sweet Leaf at Rosario Arcade. 

Right inside the tea house is the salon. So if you decide to have your hair trimmed or your nails done, what better way to do it than with a milk tea to freshen up, right? 

One mountain at a time to a change of lifestyle

(repost from my Tumblr account)

I may still be far, far, far away to adapting that lifestyle change that I’ve always wanted, we always have to start somewhere, right?

Okay, so maybe I’ll confess that I’ve been putting some effort into shedding off some pounds lately. I was simply fed up with the feeling of not being able to buy clothes you like and hearing some so-so “compliments” on how much you’ve changed, physically. 

I’m thinking about posting some of the recipes I cook here on my blog (not now, maybe soon, maybe when I’m more “expert” as you may say) because in the adapting the healthy lifestyle commotion I’m putting myself into, I would really want to use this motto I’ve tied up: LET’S EAT OUR WAY TO FITNESS. Yes that’s right! Most of the people I know who want and/or who are desperate to look like Alessandra Ambrosio, Megan Fox, Zac Efron or Chris Pine (someone ring the fire alarm, I just dropped the hot-people-bomb names) are into crash dieting i.e. eating three pieces of Skyflakes a day and relying on water to relieve hunger. Plus getting completely rid of rice, RICE, RIIIIICE! It’s my staple! It’s delicious! I can seriously eat rice and nothing else to go along with it, yet other people were able to live with the idea of not being able to eat rice and maybe not eat anything at all. Where do you think do these people can get all the necessary nutrients their body needs? I ponder on that and maybe it’s probably one of the many reasons (besides lack of determination and just being a plain slob that I already am) I never liked the idea of dieting. That’s why I always tell my fitness buddy/boyfriend to never ever crash diet and eat right. That’s what I’ve learned and it sounds just right.

So I figured why shouldn’t I try eating healthy foods rich with nutrients yet help me kick off some unnecessary weight? (The idea of South Beach Diet comes into mind) After all, food is my first love! Then photography, traveling, etc would follow that. I’ve been cooking a lot ever since I was way back in 4th or 5th grade and I could recall that I’m an avid fan of pasta which I’m mostly cooking. Uh-oh, carbs, too much, bad idea. Chosss.

So yes ladies and gentlemen who are again spending a little bit of wee minutes of your valuable and precious time, lo and behold my masterpiece which I’d like to share on what I’ve cooked so far from the long point I’ve tried to explain earlier. Pictures only, you won’t get any recipes from me in the mean time (that is assuming, AGAIN, that someone is actually reading this blog).

Live young, Party Wild, Be Free

repost from Tumblr account.

I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose, fire away.

Ricochet and take your aim, fire away.

Shoot me down, but I won’t fall.

I am Titanium.

I’d rather not use the party motto as the title of this blogpost. It sounded too dark. Heehee ^^

Last June 1, 2012 was the party that made waves in CdO, or at least in the little heart of Bayabas, the SUMMER SETS IN PARADISE BY HIGZSNAPS. This was just too amazing for words to describe it! Lots of booze and friends came! Hooray! Plus DJ Mark Daquiz as HS Resident DJ and Lexter Da Vyrus from Killerbee as our guest DJ to rock the night with their awesome mixes.

Not only was this party bound to happen because summer was about to end and we needed to continue our tradition of always ending the summer with a twist, we also hosted this party to launch our company Higzsnaps Eventology and Digital Group. If you happen to need any event organizers/photographers/make-up artists and/or a DJ, feel free to contact us! We’re happy to do any events such as weddings, debuts, birthdays, baptisms, anniversaries or any party/event you have in mind. Please do contact us.

I had the chance to be a DJ/Host for the party. It was crazy! Everyone was up and game to do anything (except stop dancing for 3 minutes). So, let the photos be the judge as to our definition of FUN.

With Thea, Lilian and Paula. Gorgeous girlfriends!

Paula breakin’ some style.

Thea, so slim already!

Scattered Islets from Britania

Repost from Tumblr account.

Last Mothers’ Day, my family and I decided to go on a 3-hour roadtrip from Butuan to discover this beautiful and serene untouched set of islets, all surrounded with lush blue waters and pure white sugary sand. Once you get to San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, you get welcomed by this sign directing you toBritania Islands. It’s a wonderful location for beach bummers such as myself and just appreciating the natural beauty of what our country has to offer. We may hear places like “Boracay, Palawan, Batangas, Bohol” as the must-to-go destinations every time you want to hit the beach but there’s also a lot Mindanao has to offer. I suggest you try Surigao, there are so many places to go to once you are there! 

Once you arrive at the port area, friendly people greet you and offer you to avail their bangka as your means of transportation to enjoy the island-hopping experience on these wonderful islets. As our tour guide mentioned, Britania Islets was discovered just a year ago. Talk about true, virgin beauty of nature.

And now let the picture speak for themselves as I share to you my experience from Britania Islands from Surigao del Sur.