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.