The approaching election

Here we are again. The election is coming and those aspiring candidates are becoming busy. Election plays an important part in a society and in a nation as a whole. In my country it is a very big event that sometimes leads us into conflict. Each candidate expresses his or her desire to serve and for this they are campaigning and persuading every voter to vote them. They are trying to get the people's trust to gain their votes. This is the time in which the power to choice a leader is in the hands of individual. How I wish that this election will never become an event of division as it usually happened, but instead, a challenge for humility and unity.

The Campfire

In Friday afternoon, the campers settled their camp right after the Investiture Ceremony. During the night they were having their campfire. Since I never had a chance to witness such event in my life, so, I took the opportunity of seeing it. I visited the camp on that night. It was amazing! Torches entered coming from different directions. They were from the north, from the south, west and east and were meeting at the center to lit and start the campfire. The children had their time enjoying the event. They had a group presentation and a yell. It was such a beautiful and successful event for the campers. Right after the campfire, all of them were headed towards their assigned room to pray before they went to sleep.

Back yard camping

Last Friday and Saturday, the boys and the girls scout had their backyard camping. In the Friday afternoon, they were invested by the scout masters and they settled their camp before it's getting dark. In the evening they have their camp fire before they sleep. On Saturday, they have done different activities. They take turn. In the morning the Star and the Kab Scout Campers did their out door activities. They had games while the Girl and the Boy Scout Campers did their indoor activities like cooking. After the Stars and the Kab Scouts, the Girls and the Boys took over to play games while the smaller campers make a paper bag. The campers were very participative in all the activities.They were all happy and enjoyed.

Vegetables garden

Fruits and vegetables are the most advisable foods for us to in take. But now a days, you cannot trust all the vegetables that are being sold in the market. To preserve them from getting rotten, some of the vendors put chemicals on them. Instead of getting nutrients from the vegetables, they will gradually cause us diseases or illness due to the mixed chemicals. To make it safe, having an own vegetables garden is advised. Fresh vegetables can be distinguished through their tastes. How? It has a little sweetness in it. This is more delicious than the one with chemicals. That is why, having our own garden is safer than buying.

Sugar cane

One of the Philippine product is the sugar cane. This is the sugar cane plantation in the Northern part of the province. This is a very vast land along the highway. A huge plantation like this is usually owned by a big time farmers. The so called Haciendero and Haciendera. They are form the well off family who are very established and prominent. Sugar cane tastes sweet. This can be tasted by peeling off its hard skin and suck its sap from the stem. Since it has a hard stem, it has to be broken first into pieces using the teeth. When it is broken, that is the time you can suck and swallow. Only its juice has to be swallowed while the broken pieces will be spitted out.

The view that never bores me

No matter how many times I looked at the sunset, I never feel bored watching it in a multiple times. I took many pictures of sun abated and each of them has something different from the other. I must admit that they were taken in the same place yet they do not look the same. Each setting has its own dominant color.In some other pictures, the dominant is orange while this one is blue. Each one has unique effect and has its own beauty. I could not imagine the hand of the master who created such fantastic scenery. This will makes me eager to look forward for the sunset.

Fish Refuge

What is it in the middle of the sea? Actually, this is the result of fishermen's cleverness. This is one strategy of attracting and gathering fish in a certain part of the sea. It is a bunch of bamboo floating in a slant position in a deep water. Bamboo floats, but single bamboo cannot be seen in a distance. To make it more visible farther, they were using a bunch of it. It tilted because, they put a heavy thing at the bottom. Aside from the heavy thing, there are twigs and dry leaves also underneath. These dry leaves and twigs attract the fish and they serve as the fish refuge. Usually, a school of fish stays there and fishers specially the owner will often visit there bringing nets and baits to fish.

The greedy coconut

The first time my brother-in-law visited our province, this was his comment. He told us that our coconut trees are greedy. I was puzzled about his statement and asked him what did he mean. He laughed out loud of my reaction and explained why. When I understood what he meant, I laughed at it too. He commented such thing because of the trees' heights. He was comparing them with theirs in his place. He said that in their place, the trees are only up to roof level or only surpasses about one to three meters from the roof of the one story house and are easily to harvest. But in our province is different, they are as high as six stories building. It seems that the trees do not like to give their fruits. I answered him. Well, the climber was able to manage it. How did they do that? They just simply chapped a little part of the truck enough for their feet to step on and they did it alternate until it reaches to the peak. The chapped parts will be there forever.

The chained goat

Why it is chained? That was my question to the owner when I saw it. The answer was very simple, it attacks anybody. Actually it is very big but it looks small in the picture because of its position. It is a male goat with white color in the body and light brown in the head part. Its horns are sharp and strong and they were its weapons. When I came closer to it with my camera, the goat moves its front legs higher preparing itself to attack me. The owner told me not to go near because it is very strong that is why they chained it. So I back off but I still took a picture of it in a ready to fight position.

The Hen and the Nestling

When I went to my auntie's back yard, this is what I've seen, the hen and its chicks. The hen was scratching the soil looking something to eat while the chicks are picking the prospect food. Memories in my childhood came flashing back how the hen covered its chicks on its wings when a seagull or an eagle hovered over them. I've seen how brave it is to fight to anybody who came near its nestling. In fact it is very protective to its youngsters. Hen is the icon of protection. Though they are animals yet the hen shows its mother instinct.

Nipa roof.

Nipa roof. The Philippine national house is called Nipa hut. It is called Nipa Hut simply because its roof is made up of Nipa leaves. The wall and the floor was made from the bamboo. Every time I personally see a Nipa hut, my desire of building a Nipa Hut refreshes and played in my mine. Nipa Hut symbolizes the whole aspect of a Filipino. Simple yet it has a naive beauty. Filipinos are as simple as Nipa hut yet it has a beauty that others do not have. A hut made of Nipa attracts people. Even us native Filipinos still get attracted to it. Beaches and cottages are usually built by bamboo and Nipa.

Stitching Palm leaves

Another thing that keeps my sister busy is stitching palm leaves. This is called Nipa. Nipa is another kind of palm that grows beside the river.The leaves are being removed from the stalk. After removing them, they will be filed by six and folded them. The piece of sliced bamboo has to be inserted in the folded leaves. When it is done, that is the time stitching begun. The type of stitches used is running stitch until it reaches to the other end of the bamboo. When it is already locked, then the finish product is ready for delivery.

Weave Bamboo

This is the finish product of the weave bamboo. We call it Amakan. This can be used as wall, ceiling or decorative. Those who would like their house to be looked like native one, they will use this as decorative. For the ordinary people who can hardly afford to concretize their house, this can be used as a house wall and this will look awesome. This is what I want to be the wall of my dream house. One finish product is worth less than 200 pesos. This is cheaper than the other kind of product. What is good with this is that anything made from a bamboo is cold. It has a natural coldness than can soften ones temper.

Weaving the pieces of slice bamboo

We just came back from the province. We went there because our aunt died. We stayed there for two days and three nights. After the burial, this is one thing that keeps my sister and the children busy. They are weaving a slice bamboo. It looks very easy and simple so I even tried it my self. To my surprised, I realized that it was not as simple as it looks. Each piece is so hard to hold that can cut our skin if we will not be careful. This work needs patience because you need to slice the bamboo into thin pieces before you can weave them. It also needs presence of mind, otherwise the design will change. Good imagination has to be applied to create different designs.

My Obsession

Working in flowers makes me happy. While in fact making a wedding bouquet is my greatest obsession. The first time I made a wedding bouquet was unintentional. My colleague asked my best friend to do it for her wedding. But my friend received a call from somewhere in Mindanao. He went there without prior notice. For that matter I was obliged to take over. Despite of my obsession to make a wedding bouquet, I was still reluctant to do it for I did not have enough confident. When it was done, for me it was a big fulfillment in my part. From then I was able to gain confidence. That event had a greater impact because it was then that my hesitation disappear.

Simple Life

Life in the province is very simple. It is extremely different from the life in the city. Though there are many job opportunities in the city, but, every move you will make needs money. Unlike in the province, the lifestyle is so simple. Even though there is a scarcity of job, yet if you only persevere and use your resourcefulness, then you will never get hungry. Just like these few people in the picture, they are not there just to enjoy but to look for shells or anything that can be served for dinner. You do not need to look for an employer, everything needed for meals are just there around the corner all you have to do is to be an industrious, work hard and be contented.

The moon

Many times I tried to take picture of the moon specially when there is a star near it. Of all the moon's picture that I took, never did I get a clearer one. But this time, I would say I made it. It was as early as six in the evening, the moon showed up. That was a twilight time where there was still a blue part of the sky that can be seen. I was able to have a timing. I took my camera with me and stood up between the fences trying to get an angle of the moon. I was so glad of the result. At last, I've got it.

Sea Weeds

There are different kinds of sea weeds. They differ from color in shapes and in purpose. There are sea weeds that can be eaten and there are some that serves as a nestling place of sea urchin. Some are attached in the stone and some are not and they are just simply floating like those in the picture. Though the water is crystallize but it is being messed up with sea weeds that are floating. There are times that the crabs and fish shelter themselves in the floating weeds. This will also serve as refuge of some of sea creatures. They even lay eggs in there

Para-sailing

Last Sunday we went to the beach to celebrate our thanks giving for the newly conceive life of our friend. The name of the resort was Rendezvous. We chose that resort because it is more peaceful, not so crowded nor noisy as the other Resorts are. A minute later we saw a couple enjoys in Para-sailing. Watching them made me look forward to such kind of adventure. I've never been into that ride. My flesh shiver seeing them almost fell down the water but I also felt relieved when they move high. This is one reason why tourists get attracted to come here in my country because of these beach events.

Valley

During our adventure ride to Dalaguete, I was expecting that we could only see mountains and no other land formations due to the scenery along our way. But when we arrived it took me a big surprised, it was not purely mountains at all. In fact, there is a beautiful valley in the midst that can be over looked from our location. You can see a rice field and a rice terraces at the side of it. I have seen there are few houses situated down the valley and they are quite distant from one another. I would say that the valley is inhabited by few people. Though it looks near yet it is a little bit farther. That white thing in the picture is a narrow road into the valley. They said that there is a short way to go there but you have to pass through the weeded area in the forest. I wanted to go there to explore more, yet we did not have enough time. Maybe next time, I will.

Adventure ride to the mountain of Dalaguete

My nephew met a girl from Bulak, Dalaguete in the Southern Province of Cebu. He went there to propose and meet the girl's parent. Before he goes, he and his father agreed to follow him to ask the girl's hand. The next day, Sunday we went up there in convoy bringing foods the way Filipino tradition is done. It was a good adventure because we do not know the place. The road was narrow, dusty and rough. When we passed on a very steep slope, the multi cab that was ahead of us did not make it, so the passengers jumped out and pushed the cab. We cannot increase the speed due to the narrow and rocky road so we need to slow down. It was funny because we passed by the cows along the road and the color of our car is red. The cows reacted against the color and the other one attempt to chase us. We shouted and laughed. My heart beats fast. Along our way we saw high mountains.The view was terrific and fascinating. What an adventure.

Sea urchins in my province

For a nature lover like me, would really enjoy visiting in a places like my province. Though it is at the foot of the mountain, yet it is also near the seashore. But I prefer to be in the shore than to climb up the mountain. In the seashore, you can see a lot of fascinating things like sea urchins. There are many kinds of urchins but I was not able to take pictures to all of them only these two. The black one is very painful when those tiny black strands pierce into your skin. It usually stays in the sandy area or under the rocks.The stripe one usually found beneath the sea weeds wrapped by them. It is not dangerous because the tip of every strand is not as sharp as the black one.Only its secretion is very itchy. Even though these two differ in many aspects yet, both of them are delicious.

Tranquility of the sea

Early six in the morning, this is what I've seen at the back of my sister's house. I hurried in to the house to get my cellular phone because I wanted to take picture. The sea water copied the color of the sky . The tide is moving high thus, the water is rising up. The breeze is so calm and the water is so serene. The water is as flat as the ironed cloth and the movement can be seen only if there is an object touches into it. The one down the water is my cousin. He is there catching small octopus in the water for meals. That is what we used to do when the water is as peaceful as this.

The masterpiece of the Master

In my week of stay in my home town, I enjoyed taking pictures of the things around which I could not usually see in the city. I could not imagine the wonders of God in seeing the beauty of nature. Who can make the sun sets every afternoon? Who can change the color of the sky as beautiful as this? What a wonderful art! An art of miracle made by God. This is the masterpiece of the master. By just looking at this scene, all the burdens that I carried and all the stresses that I have lightens up. Scene like this strengthened my faith that truly there is someone who made these things the master of this masterpiece.

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Rice Terraces

Rice Terraces gives us pride. It is the eighth wonder of the world. This was built thousand years ago by the native Filipinos called Ifugao. This eighth world's wonder is a proof that Filipinos are hard-working and self reliant. Mountains had been cultivated by the natives in a stairway form of rice field. Due to the beauty of this spot, tourists keep on coming in and out just to see the wonder of rice terraces. There are countries who got fascinated with it and tried to build and copy it. Though they may be able to replicate the rice terraces yet we cannot deny the fact that we are the original and that is our heritage that we try to keep.

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