Curbside Stories

My photo taken by my travel buddy. I am not wearing an appropriate beach attire, again. It was five years ago when I  first visited  Munting Buhangin Beach Camp in Nasugbu, Batangas together with my two friends. It was a random trip borne out of boredom. Yesterday, my travel buddy and I only planned to have lunch in Tagaytay City but we ended up driving to Batangas. We initially thought of going to a resort we haven't visited yet, in fact, we inquired at Canyon Cove--but we ended up in Munting Buhangin again... The white sand beach that is overlooked by a neighbor members only resort--Terrazas De Punta Fuego. Me waiting for the sun to set  in one of the tents. I noticed they added more tents to accommodate day tour guests. They were also painting and repairing cottages as one of the preparations for the summer vacation. The same nipa cottages that are lined up on the beach are still there. The entrance fee for day tour is Php180 but if ...

This is a late post. Before the start of the first regular work-day of the new year, my family and I went to Kaybiang Tunnel in Maragondon, Cavite. It is a new road that leads to Nasugbu, Batangas. This is not a regular road-tunnel, though... it is the first in Cavite. It boasts a spectacular view of the South China Sea and the mountainous side of Cavite. When it was formally opened last year by President Noynoy Aquino, it opened a new gate for adventure seekers like me. It is around 40 minutes drive from our house. There is no traffic. When we got there, there were a bunch of motorcycle riders going to and fro the tunnel. There were also families who pull over from time to time to take pictures of the magnificent view. This photo was taken halfway through the tunnel. My son enjoyed screaming and hearing his echo. That's me. Obviously, the tunnel is 96 kilometers away from the Rizal Park in Manila. This photo was taken from the Nasugbu side of t...

I am currently studying for my comprehensive exam on the 18th. It is one of the requirements for me to finish my MBA. It has been twice postponed and I am hoping that it will not affect my thesis timetable.  While having a hot chocolate drink break from studying, I read the bible for some inspiration.  By surrendering our lives to Him and to His will, we get to understand how our faith works in our lives. 

I am close to finishing my MBA. I am going to miss this university, a lot!  Wish me luck on my last semester. God bless!

I have a lot of things to be thankful for, the first one would be I am still alive today to greet the new year. Last year was a breaking point for me, to re-think about the life I wanted to be for me and for my child. Although there were many disappointments, the blessings that were given to me are more than enough for me not to hold grudges. I got promoted, I think it was the best part. So, what will 2014 have for me... I bet, it's still the best! Happy new year to all! God bless us!

I am not into poetry but this winning piece by Lily Myers made me feel otherwise. This poem so profoundly explained how men and women differ in their views about personal image. Read on... Across from me at the kitchen table, my mother smiles over red wine that she drinks out of a measuring glass. She says she doesn’t deprive herself, but I’ve learned to find nuance in every movement of her fork. In every crinkle in her brow as she offers me the uneaten pieces on her plate. I’ve realized she only eats dinner when I suggest it. I wonder what she does when I’m not there to do so. Maybe this is why my house feels bigger each time I return; it’s proportional. As she shrinks the space around her seems increasingly vast. She wanes while my father waxes. His stomach has grown round with wine, late nights, oysters, poetry. A new girlfriend who was overweight as a teenager, but my dad reports that now she’s “crazy about fruit.” It was the same with his parents; as my grandmother became frail an...

Photo from here . What can you say about having extravagant Christmas parties before we hit the holidays? I know it only happens once in a year but ever since the typhoon Haiyan left Tacloban City in Leyte and other parts of Visayas literally flat, I feel like there is no sense having Christmas parties with tons of leftover foods and drinks when you see images of families who beg for food in the streets. I find no reason for spending parties in plush restaurants when there are still families who have no roofs to protect them from the weather. I applaud those companies and families as well who, instead of having parties this yuletide season, opt to donate or spend a day or two of charity works. I mean, at this point of economic hardships and calamities, we must be more sensitive to the feelings of others. Let us be more generous in giving to those who are most needy because I believe that if we are generous to others, God will also be generous to us.