Haler Baler…

Posted on February 10, 2016 by heavenliner

One measure to prove that a traveler is so fascinated by a holiday destination is when he experienced the wanderlust to come back. It is the strong desire and the itching feeling of wanting to return and re-experience the stunning sights and striking sounds of such captivating destination.

I have done a lot of returning and re-experiencing of various spellbinding tourist destinations myself both locally and internationally. And one destination that has recently been added up to this beautiful list is Baler. In less than a year I am back visiting this countrified town of Aurora Province here in the Philippines.

What I particularly loved about Baler is that there are so much to see, do and explore. And that every spot is so overwhelmingly beautiful. Add to that are the surprisingly affordable restaurants and food establishments that offers fresh, delicious and hearty meals.

To further substantiate that I am truly captivated by this place, I returned back with Nengkoy and my family for them to see and experience for themselves how much fun I had the first time I visited. And true enough, Baler for the second time around did not fail to amaze the traveler in me.

A very long rickety yet enjoyable Hanging Bridge

enjoying the sea breeze at the baywalk

me & nengkoy posing at lukso-lukso beach & islets

the millenium tree! one of the largest trees in asia..

the surf is up at Sabang Beach!

magnificent Mother Falls!

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the view up the lighthouse hill…

And what is even further amazing about this return is that members of family were equally amazed by the beauty, warmth and hospitality of this gorgeous province. I wont be surprised if I will again be back in this province and say “Haler… Baler…”

Babalik-babalik pa mor…

A Song For The Person At The Final Gate Of The Last Mushroom Kingdom

Posted on January 21, 2016 by heavenliner

It’s eight in the evening on a Thursday. I am (again) alone with no intentions of doing anything except think of the last couple of decades. Yeah, in the last couple of decades, I did not seem to have encountered the right timing for me to meet my supposed correct and destined significant other.

It may have been a lifetime, but this will not discourage me from constantly praying and hoping that the right one, in God’s beautiful time will simply arrive. And yes I guess, when it comes to love — same as when buying ice cream — some actually prefer to wait in line even if they can get the same thing from another store without queuing.

But waiting and working on this for the last couple of years seem to become quite more of a difficult task. Each time I got to meet someone, work on a possible connection and ends up with nothing was like playing Super Mario Brothers all over again. I was like the Mario (of the Nintendo arcade game) jumping on top of Koopa Troopas, breaking bricks and climbing flag poles, crawling through sewages and kicking Goombas only to be told at the end gate of the Mushroom Kingdom that the person I am looking for is in another castle.

And yet, may I already be on the latest Super Mario Galaxy Deluxe version or not in the stage of my life, I will not stop playing. I will never stop wishing, I will never cease finding and I will never tire hoping until I meet that partner who is meant for me at the ultimate and final gate of the Mushroom Kingdom.

And when I got to meet that person at the final gate of the last Mushroom Kingdom I will definitely gonna sing this song…

ken ay bi yor…

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Posted on January 16, 2016 by heavenliner

I enjoyed it sooo much! It is beautifully written. It’s as joyful as it is heartbreaking. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is a book that knocked me off my ass!

captivating!

I loved how the author painted the characters Theodore and Violet. Their characters worked so well together. They were so opposite yet so the same. Their characters were presented in a beautiful interwoven style just the way I liked it. You get to see, hear and feel both of their perspectives.

You will get so invested in the characters of both Theodore and Violet. It is a book that will make you fall in love with these two and – without giving away anything – will later reduce you to tears and will make you badly miss them.

I particularly got so captivated by the character of Finch. I love the way he adopts a persona. Though perceived by others as someone who is weird, he can become somebody that is either a slightly different version if not a better version of himself. Add to that is his adoring wit. He could be very funny and quirky yet so deep, romantic and definitely full of sense and essence. He is such a unique character every reader I guess would be snuck up and drawn in by his passionate persona.

such beautiful words…

All The Bright Places is one of those few stories that would slowly and gently grab your heart as in like you have fallen so much deeply in love. And yet after sometime it will crush you into emotional bits and pieces. I was not happy with the ending but it is one ending that is a must to make this book a remarkable book. The heartbreaking twists at the end parts of the story would make you get to love it.

Somehow, I think 5 stars aren’t enough for such a remarkable book. I will definitely give it as many stars as those shining in the entire universe because All The Bright Places truly deserves them.

Nakaka…!

Two Glances and a Pinch

Posted on January 10, 2016 by heavenliner

Two glances and a pinch is what made my day today. These very simple acts are the movements I made that totally made my day different from the rest of the days that has passed. I know that such is a silly thought for such an old soul like me. But today I was feeling like I’m in my first few weeks of high school, shivering and shuddering because of an absurd chance of mingling with a person of infatuation.

The Christmas Season has passed, a new year is on a roll and last year’s events and highlights are now officially a memory. But today is some kind of a different highlight. I received two short glances from the person I have been thinking, wishing and praying for and that I got to give a light pinch to that person’s arm before I walked away.

Walking away, I felt the electric current in my right hand. The lucky hand that pinched the arm of my object of infatuation. And as I walked away, I felt my left hand being so jealous of my right hand. And while I walk away, I can feel my lips curving into a happy shape known by all as ‘smile’.

While the electricity in my right hand starts to wane as I walk away, I wanted to let everyone near me to hear me shouting, “Hello, all of you! It’s a beautiful day! A perfect day! A day of possibility!”

Santa Maria!!! Salamat!

Xender: The Factotum

Posted on January 9, 2016 by heavenliner

my samsung note 5 xender app

The modern world of mobile operating system has been at a war status for quite some time now. The debate, debacle and competition has been so steep, it has actually divided human existence on the planet. It is either you are an Android enthusiast or an iOS devotee.

Techies and interface experts around the world devote heaps of time and brain cells to improve their respective operating system. These techies are out to outsmart their competitor.

With all these rivalry, society has remained divided. Thus, a bridge, an emissary or an arbitrator that can cross and convey impressions from one side to the other is needed so as to keep this world a safer and peaceful place to live in.

A mediator, a go-between, a factotum. That is how I would generally describe Xender, a cross-platform file transfer and sharing app. This amazing app enables Android files to be accepted and recognized in an iOS and vice versa.

xender is one of the first few apps i downloaded in my new ipad air

I have been an Android user for quite some time now but has been an iOS user prior to it. Now that I have a new Apple iPad Air (which I received as a gift this recent Christmas season), I am no longer worried of not being able to intermingle my files between these pugnacious operating systems. And what is more amazing is that its free! Using the Xender app, is like enjoy the amazing features of both Android and iOS worlds.

Dawnlowd na…

Christmas 2015 at Nengkoy’s Place

Posted on December 26, 2015 by heavenliner

Spending Christmas Eve at Nengkoy’s place has always been festive, cheery and hilarious. My general feeling every Christmas Eve at Nengkoy’s is like that of sailing into the supermoon with my family or it’s the feeling of being the biggest doll among all dolls in the babushka doll. Everyone’s positive energy resonates which gives light to what a happy Christmas should be.

Celebrating the holidays has made my family even closer together. And I will never exchange for anything the time I would get to spend Christmas Eve at Nengkoy’s place.

Hilaryus!

Thanks Pia For Such An Awe Inspiring Gift

Posted on December 25, 2015 by heavenliner

thanks pia!

Christmas 2015 in my country, the Philippines, is merrier than the usual Christmases in the past. Aside from festive, there is an overwhelming feelings of pride. This is because, five days prior to the actual Christmas Day, me and my fellow Filipinos received a very special and awe inspiring gift. It is the gift of being so proud to be a Filipino.

Thanks to the beautiful, witty and very regal Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, the Philippine candidate who won the 64^th Miss Universe pageant! Her winning the coveted crown which the whole country has been wishing, praying and craving for in more than 4 decades has made all Filipinos feel so proud, happy and jubilant.

It’s so awesome to be Pinoy this Christmas. Thank you Pia for this awesome feeling!

Panalo tayo ngayong Pasko!

Merry Christmas 2015

Posted on December 24, 2015 by heavenliner

The Holiday Season is the chance to remember what matters most. And for the many families around the world, the Holidays are the joyous time, a time to reunite.

But for families who are apart because their loved ones need to attend to work and serve other people (nurses, hotel staff, restaurant crews, police force, security guards, etc.), this time of the year is especially hard. Christmas time also serves as a reminder that affected families too of these hardworking people have to sacrifice. To all the men and women who needs to work and be on duty on this joyous time, thank you.

Please know that you have my highest respect and gratitude for sacrificing and be away from your families this Holiday Season. To you and your families, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. May we all experience metric tons of peace and happiness this Christmas!

Maligayang Pasko!

Celebrating the Heart of Filipino Christmas

Posted on December 16, 2015 by heavenliner

Yearly, without hardship and difficulty, I can easily capture and feel the spirit of Christmas. But not this year. I guess I can attribute this to the still very hot weather due to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon, my having no time to do any Christmas shopping as well as the need to do and attend to the tons and loads of work in my office.

screen-grabbed from the video! cool foreigners indeed!

Thanks to Philippine Airlines because after seeing this heartwarming video, I can somewhat feel what seem to be a elusive Christmas spirit.

The short happy video captures the magical energy and some unique elements of a Filipino Christmas which foreigners seem to marvel and be surprised about. Seeing this video made me realize that no one in the world celebrates Christmas like the way Filipinos (like me) do.

Tumitibok-tibok, sumisinok-sinok! Tenks PAL!

A Superstar Tropical Destination

Posted on November 28, 2015 by heavenliner

El Nido was never in my bucket list. It is because, before I was able to create mental notes about my bucket list, I have already been to this paradise of a place. My recent trip to El Nido was not my first. I was in this tropical paradise more than twenty years ago. I remember during that particular trip, going to El Nido was even more difficult than how it is now.

it felt like owning the whole stretch of this beautiful beach paradise

cheers!

Reaching and travelling now and then to El Nido is like reaching for the stars! More than twenty years ago, underprivileged tourists like me could not afford to pay for a private plane that would bring me to El Nido. Me and my friends had to travel first to Puerto Princesa and take a bumpy public transport (a huge non-air-conditioned truck transformed into a bus) that would pass through the never-seem-to-end super dusty dirt road for 12 long hours. Now the easy, smooth and air-conditioned land travel from Puerto Princesa to El Nido (though still a lot of time) would only take about four to five hours.

What is so distinct about the El Nido tourists more than 20 years ago is that majority of them were foreigners. Except me, local Filipino tourists then would comprise of either from (i) very rich families; (ii) corrupt political personalities; and, (iii) stylish showbiz superstars. Now, it is so heartwarming to know that more local tourists from the middle class spectrum of society could already go and marveled at the beauty of El Nido.

beautiful

big lagoon

twin beach

Local tourists from rich families more than 20 years ago may have gone bankrupt; corrupt politicians more than 20 years ago may have been jailed or whose souls are now burning in hell; and, stylish showbiz superstars may have gone baduy (outmoded) and laos (obsolete) but the majestic beauty, charismatic energy and mesmeric attraction of El Nido remains the same. Glad to know that El Nido continues to be the country’s superstar tropical destination!

peaceful and very relaxing

Because of its splendid attractions, I have just revised my bucket list. It is because I have included El Nido and that I have to experience all the marvelous sites that it has to offer. Right now this paradise has four island hopping tours (A, B, C and D tours) plus the inland travels going to a fresh water falls and the Nacpan/Twin Beach. This now gives me reason to return!

Ang ganda naman kasi.

Nengkoy

ruminations & travesties of the favorite yet naughty son of Nengkoy

Tag Archives: a little thing called love