Retro 60s and 70s Party Teaser

In the company that I am working for, Employees’ Night Party is held yearly.  Instead of the annual Christmas Party as observed by other companies, we prefer to hold the party after the season has simmered down.  It is because during the Santa Holiday Season out group of restaurants are the busiest entities in the metro.  We are actually the servers in others’ Christmas Parties!

And after the busy service during Christmas season, we seem to be ready for a Halloween Party because everybody looks like a zombie by the end of the season.  Nevertheless, during the kris kringle season, I would publish posters counting down the number of days prior to the day of the Employees’ Night so as to build up some excitement.

retro-posters

a collage of “countdown” posters i published in the office

Employees’ Night is held usually on the second or third week of January.  And every year, a theme is appointed.   This year’s theme is Retro 60s and 70s.  The styles, fashion and music of the 60s and 70s era.

Every year my co-employees looks forward to our Employees’ Night.  Almost all of employees would participate in donning in an outfit based on the party theme.  I am just as excited as the rest of them.  And to add more excitement, I created a cute video which features some of my co-employees who has lived during the cool 60s and awesome 70s…

Thank you peeps for submitting your cute cool retro photos! I love them all.  Let show everyone how an awesome party should be done.  See you at the party!

Eksayted na ko…

Live, Love & Sparkle This Christmas

I was a bit nervous that Christmas might be cancelled.  Reason?  I thought Santa would die of laughter because someone told him that I was no longer naughty and gone nice this year!

christmas tree like tree in queenstown new zealand

christmas tree like tree in queenstown new zealand

the manger in bethlehem where baby jesus was born

the manger in bethlehem where baby jesus was born

merry christmas! (inside a chapel in bethlehem during the recent israel visit)

merry christmas!
(inside a chapel in bethlehem during my recent israel visit)

I hope that your Christmas will be full of fun and laughter and may you live, love and sparkle in the coming New Year!

Mabuhay, Umibig, Kuminang! Meri Krismas…

Stupidly Expecting for Dami Im

In my recent journey to New Zealand, I got to spend a very short period of time in Australia.  It is because my flight from Manila to Queenstown was via Sydney.  It was a 3 hour layover at the land down under.

While at the Sydney airport, I was ecstatic because despite the fact that chances of bumping into my favorite Aussie celebrity was like asking for the heavens to give me the greatest love life I don’t deserve, I was still positively expecting some mystic phenomenon to happen.  I was not expecting to bump into Kylie Minogue or Hugh Jackman nor Cate Blanchett or Chris Hemsworth.  I was not expecting Australians to bestow me a red carpet welcome.  I was not expecting the mayor to hand me the key to their city.  I was actually hoping to see Australia’s singing diva, Dami Im!

dami-im

dami was not popular yet during my visits in sydney...

dami was not popular yet during my visits in sydney…

I know it’s stupid but as soon as my feet landed on the grounds of Sydney, my bizarre and inexplicable hope for Dami Im to be at the airport!  And since I don’t have any photos to show, it means this longing did not transpire.  I guess the heavens was smart enough not grant such a wish, otherwise, I would not have left the airport in time for my journey to fresh Queenstown.

Let me just satiate and mollify this stupid wish by posting and listening to Dami Im’s latest single “Fighting for Love”.  I actually prefer Dami’s live performance during the X Factor TV show than the actual music video of the song…

Na-aning-aning lang sa Sidni…

Window Seat, Scenic Flight, Happy Me

With the pretty numerous travels I had, domestic and abroad wise, I developed the preference of being seated at an aisle seat.  I am no longer the kiddo who prefers to be assigned at a window seat and stick my nose on the glass window every time the plane has to take-off or land at its destination.

My reason for particularly preferring the aisle seat is because I hate excusing myself from other seated passengers when I need to stand and proceed either to the pantry or the toilet of the airplane.  Seating on the aisle seat also gives me the pleasant feeling of being seated at a much bigger space! I can even extend my “long-legged” legs towards the aisle especially during the hours when lights are off and almost all passengers are in deep sleep.

But in my recent trip to Queenstown New Zealand, I was left with no choice but to rest my skinny butt at the window side of an airplane.  It is because the airplane that I, Joesel, Karen and Denton took was a small cessna plane that goes around the Queenstown region.  It is so small it does not have an aisle and only fits us and the pilot.

happy inside the hangar

happy inside the hangar

the gang! (banggang)

the gang! (banggang)

pilot alex assisting denton on his seat...

pilot alex assisting denton on his seat…

selfie muna

selfie muna

up!

up!

I consider my sitting at the window side for this specific flight as the most stunning flight I have ever had so far.  It’s a stunning 30-minutes flight that features the beauty of the whole of Queenstownship, the grandeur of the Gibson Valley region, the quaintness of Arrowtown, the intricacy of the Shotover Canyon, the serene Wakatipu Lake and the majesty of the Remarkables mountain ranges.

This scenic flight gave me goosebumps! I never expected that I would be so blessed to breathe, smell and see for myself up in the sky the magnificent beauty of Queenstown, New Zealand!  Only a crazy stupid soul will complain of being seated at the window side when the dazzling view out in the open would be an astonishing beauty such as this.

Sobra sobra! Owber sa ganda!

Quote

Facebook has recently put words into my mouth.  And this is what according to Facebook is my personal quote:

20160924_210127.png

I would like to believe that these powerful words and intelligent thought really came from me. Thanks heaps Facebook for such an amazing job! Hahaha!

Bur seriously, if I’m to relay a personal quote on Facebook or in any other social media format, it would be…

Neil's Quote

‘Di nga? Mamatey?

 

Pokemon Go is like LIFE

One observation that I realized while playing Pokemon Go is that there are two categories of players.  One category are those who are simply lucky while the second category are those players who needs lots of perseverance so as to level up in the game.

Those I consider fortunate are the ones whose place of stay are within the range of a Pokemon Stop or Pokemon Gym.  While those who has to struggle by walking or driving around to locate a Pokemon stop or gym are the ones who were not blessed enough by the heavens of Pokemon gods.  It can therefore be deduced that playing Pokemon Go is simply like L.I.F.E.

Some were sanctified with the divine providence and need not endure the labors and struggles of life. These are the same as the Pokemon Go players who seem bored with the game for it posts very simple challenges because Pokemon Stop or Pokemon Go ranges are placed right above their roof.

slowly but surely

slowly but surely

wow! that was a long walk

wow! that was a long walk

On the other hand, others needs to battle it out with life’s circumstances so as to achieve fortune, prosperity or even simple joys that life has to offer.  These as the same Pokemon Go players who needs endurance to walk around and be exposed to various environmental elements so as to locate a Pokeon Stop or Pokemon Gym.  And I guess, these are the same players who cherish every Pokemon characters that they find so as to add up to their Pokedex.

It’s unfortunate though that in both domain – that is the Pokemon world and the real world – I am ill-fated to fall in the second category.  I live in a place where I have to walk far so as to reach a Pokemon Stop or a Pokemon Gym.  And I am part of the world’s population who has to scuffle, battle and tussle with life’s circumstances so as to achieve what I need to achieve.

This makes me realize that in the category that I belong, playing Pokemon Go is difficult but finding a Pokemon and levelling up in the game is definitely sweeter.  And just like in my real world and in the true game of life, my achieving and winning if compared to those who were born richer and wealthier is definitely sweeter!

Hay buhay!

Three Immediate Benefits of Playing Pokemon Go

It is official!  I am part of the world’s population who has been bitten by the Pokemon Go bug.  And my avatar is aptly called Nengkoy (of course!).

It’s my third day of playing this massively popular game.  And at this early point in time, I can already identify three major benefits of playing Pokemon Go.

stylish pokemon go avatar... appropriately named NENGKOY

stylish pokemon go avatar… appropriately named NENGKOY

First, playing Pokemon Go entails lots and lots of walking.  Thus, I will be consuming lots and lots of unwanted body fats and calories so as to search around for those lots and lots of elusive monster Pokemons.  As a matter of fact, according to my Samsung S Health isometric app, I was able to achieve my walking goals on the first 2 days of my joining and playing this game.

a PIDGEY found inside my unit trying to fit my Marc Jacobs slippers...

a PIDGEY found inside my unit trying to fit my Marc Jacobs slippers…

Second, playing Pokemon Go requires the use of mobile phone’s Global Positioning System (GPS) as well as the aptitude in reading maps.  Aside from, being able to appreciate the architectural, historical or cultural value and significance of sites chosen as PokeStop, my poor navigational skills will have no choice but to improve and be sharpened so as to search for those hard-to-pin-down Pokemons.

Lastly, it’s fun!  This I guess need not be explained.  Pokemon Go will not be explosively popular worldwide if it ain’t fun at all!

Magtago na kayo! Let da geym begin…

Palawan & Me: Saying Positive, Staying Positive

According to Nengkoy, if you have anything good to say, SAY IT!  That has been one positive mantra that I have learned from my mother.  With this viewpoint, let me express two awesome thoughts.

First is to applaud the beautiful tropical island of Palawan for besting all other islands of the world.  Congratulations to Palawan for being chosen as the number one island in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards.

got Nacpan Beach in El Nido  all for myself

got Nacpan Beach in El Nido all for myself

Big Lagoon

Big Lagoon

Though I am very much elated by this awesome recognition, I am a little sad because this once hidden place of a paradise is slowly being discovered by world travelers.  I would love to keep Palawan unspoiled.  I hope that the blue and emerald green waters, the jungle-filled mountains as well as the incredible and colorful wildlife both underwater and on land of this beautiful paradise will be well preserved.

Second is to convey gratitude to my Facebook friends for “liking” my profile picture.  I am delighted and overjoyed because it is the first time ever in my being an FB account user that my profile picture reached more than 200 likes.

my most "liked" FB profile

my most “liked” FB profile

Thank you FB friends!  Your “likes” in some ways makes me stay positive! I am not a popular FB account user, but my reaching 200+ likes felt like winning the award for being the best island of the world.   And just like Palawan, I think I need to preserve my positive bearing and uncomplicated being because I’m starting to get “popular”! Hahaha!

Parang Palawan, pasikat na ako!

Pater Noster: Prayer For Life

Just like missing prayers before a meal or going to sleep I missed writing about the Church of Pater Noster. Also known as the Sanctuary of the Eleona, Pater Noster church is located on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

pater noster church

pater noster church

lords prayer in its first two language...

lords prayer in its first two languages…

Being a Catholic, my not writing about this place felt like heresy of some sort.  It is because this special spot, where I and my sister visited when we were in Israel, is where Lord Jesus believed to have taught the Lord’s Prayer.

Not all Catholics were blessed enough of being able to see and experience what it was to be like in such a special place.  Honestly, I consider Pater Noster to be one of the highlights of me and my sister’s tour of the Mount of Olives.

This 4th century Byzantine church is serene and beautiful.  And underneath this massive structure is a cave which I think is considered the holiest spot of the area for it is believed to be where Lord Jesus taught his disciples  the ‘Ama Namin’ (translation: Our Father) prayer.

highlight!

highlight!

selfie inside where it's taught

selfie inside where it’s taught

searching for the tagalog version...

searching for the tagalog version…

got the ilonggo version

got the ilonggo version

feeling so blessed...

feeling so blessed…

The walls of the structure are placed with multilingual plaques bearing the Lord’s Prayer in different languages.  Feeling proud Pinoys, I and my sister failed to locate the plaque in Filipino-Tagalog language.  We nevertheless was successful in locating the English and the Filipino-Ilonggo prayer versions.

Saying the Our Father has always been part of my prayer, in whatever form or state of mind I am.  And I may miss saying prayers before meals and before sleep but I will forever be so thankful that the stars has aligned for me to see and experience this holy place where the prayer for life started.

Oh ‘di ba, ang banal banal ko na??  

Cool Tuguegarao Adventure 2016 Video

Worry.  That is my initial feeling when the plan to go to the province of Tuguegarao has finally been confirmed.  I was worried that my super hot body might assimilate with that of the hottest place in the Philippines.  I was worried for it might have an effect on mankind and the environment   I was worried that the integration of my mega hot body with that of the blistering climate of Tugegarao may cause the planet to explode!

my gosh... that is one hot dude! (in my dreams) hahaha!

my gosh… that is one hot dude! (in my dreams) hahaha!

But I was wrong because by the time I stepped on the tarmac at Tugegarao airport all I could feel was coolness.  I knew right away that this super hot spot in the Philippines would be one cool place to stay.  I was wrong because the only blazing hot was the weather everything else were sooo cool and refreshing.  The people, the food as well as the beautiful scenery were something to chill about!

To summarize my adventure with colleagues MJ, JB and Willie, here’s one refreshing video.  I hope that Ben Rector would equally be cool about my using his awesome song entitled Brand New (no copyright infringement was intended) in this video…

It was a blast!

Sa sobrang init, gusto ko nang mag dyaket!