I love birthdays. Your natal day is something to look forward to. A day when your mother was busy puffing air to get you out of this world, and as you celebrate another year, you commemorate that maternal sacrifice. And you could not help but think of a better way to celebrate life. Partying, eating, and praying. That's one of the best ways to celebrate your day.

Haruki Murakami, one of my favorite authors edited one novel entitled Birthday Stories chronicling strange birthday experiences. As James Urquhart wrote, "Birthdays are the one day when one might expect to be made a bit of a fuss of, and the best stories catch the awkward tension that surrounds wanting to be noticed."

Well, I do want to be noticed, to be surprised and to chronicle my life this year. My birthday is something not to be noticed, falling on Friday the 13th- one of the day some people avoid. 13th being an unlucky number. But no. I don't believe in it. Nothing bizarre happened on that day. For one, I am sure one lucky lady- celebrating THE day not just for 24 hours but for a week! Can you get any luckier than that? :D

To show you how lucky and blessed I am, let this be a visual treat for my year.

YOU ARE LUCKY ....

....when your kasiopao's mom tells you look young and beautiful on your dress.
Her exact words, "Hala day, mura lagi kag bata ug gwapa kaayo sa imohang suot."
and thinks you are thin (!) and famished. She still has good eyes, mind you. :))




...when your colleagues call you Bunsoy, pamper you and feed you yearly with the traditional pancit and bihon for long life. :D




...when your girlfriends decided to have a band, Happy Freaks and have your first semi- public concert.☺
♫ ♪ We are family, I got all my sisters with me, We are family
Get up everybody and sing ♫ ♪



...when your girl friends are the epitome of craziness.



...when your group decided to reenact The Beatles' Abbey Road walk at midnight and the taxi drivers just stopped.



...when the hands of the person taking the pictures are shaking yet your smiles are like sunshine emanating.



...when you go home and your sister makes you a nanny.
Hey I'm not complaining. I love these chikitings! :))



...when your birthday becomes a children's party!



...when your birthday becomes a reunion of sort. The iGATs, elementary and highschool buddies reunited.


...when you are with your loved ones.



...when you meet new friends with the same passion.
Trekking to Hubo and Sandig Falls at Brgy. Linan, Tupi, South Cotabato for Walk for Earth 2, a post-Earth Day celebration



....when being one of the boys inspires you to be more physically healthy! :)





...when you are one with Nature and mesmerized by God's handiwork.



...when you have someone who understands and supports your fanaticism to football.
Got my darling Ronaldo Cristiano (from my brother-in-law) and Andrei Arshavin (from a common friend. whoooohoo!) jerseys, Arsenal banner (from my hunk brotha Hernan) and Manchester United's banner (upcoming promised gift from my poging tito Amor).




...when your ULTIMATE CRUSHES made your day extra special.
Jimbolicious (will be proposing next time. haha!) and Surfer Dude hottie Luke Skywater surprising me (i'm the only person he tweeted that day! paimportanmte ako eh. CHOS!) :D
and your super friends' efforts to surprise you is really heartwarming! To Manins and Ate Fetus, labsyooou both to pieces! You made me so giddy, feeling like a high school swooning teenager. haha!




...when you live life as if you just turned 18!



yeeehaaa! La vita e bella. Life is beautiful.
THANK YOU LORD FOR THESE BLESSINGS! :D

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"Count your life by smiles, not tears,
Count your age by friends, not years."

"The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age." - Lucille Ball

Davao City- Big beads of sweat are streaming down from striker Ian Araneta’s temple as multitude of girls and young children are lining up for his autograph. But he didn’t mind. The Smiling Assassin is certainly enjoying the experience. As it was our turn to have our picture taken with him, one of the mom of the young football players told us the light is not good. So we dragged Manong Ian for a better lighting. My friend from the media got our pic blurry. The second time we are with a group. I want a pic with him badly. Solo! So we go back again for another picture taking. Manong Ian noticed me lining again. “Daw kapila mo na ni ah?! he remarked shaking his head and smiling. Sorry naman Manong. Crush na kita eh.
One fangirl shouted, “Kuya pakissss!” Now that's one damoves. *wink*



(Oh di ba kasabay ko lang si Madonna. host of regional GMA. Echosera ako eh! haha) :))

FYI: Before their Cinderella-like win in Vietnam, the team had a 10-day training camp in Davao. Never did they expect to be an overnight celebrities. But they are not complaining. Certainly, our mixed breed national team and Ilonggo putbolistas deserve all the limelight they have worked hard for.

Yanti Barsales and Roel Gener are not spared from the mob of high school and college girls trying to have their pictures taken. These two, considered one of the most senior members of the national football team just shook their heads, even still amazed at the attention. They are very supportive Kuyas giving way to the new breeds, young and single Azkals. :)


Chieffy Caligdong has a different charm. He’s surrounded by the older women members of Lion’s Club. They hugged and talked with him for a couple of minutes and Manong seems to enjoy their company. Ibang level ang kamandag mo manong! 




But nothing compares to the fans swarming the youngest member of the team, the goalie from Cebu, Admin J’s Batman Paolo Pascual. We are competing with hordes so I called, “Papa P, Pooooopeea Peee” He looked up and laughed. Fangirl Rule Number 1: get his attention. Check!





My kasiopao Krizzy, an Azkal fan-convert


Good thing the fil-fors are not here. I can’t imagine the crowd and People’s Park might not be able to stand the mob.

ooh, another fangirl moves. To have an excuse to talk with them longer? Act as a reporter! Haha. I got a short interview with Manong Ian and Roel.

Here's Azkal Striker number 23 thanking their Dabawenyo fans. LISTEN

Same with other fangirls' experience, I proved how approachable and funny these guys are. While having their pictures at the stage, Kuya Chieffy and Roel pointed to the sky ala- F4 pose. Sense of humor, down-to-earth attitude and passion. That’s what these guys we root for, in and out of the pitch.




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PS. I was mum regarding my early out at the office for this encounter. But I wasn’t able to hide for long. Yesterday, early in the morning my former officemate texted me: “Kita kayo imong dakung ngisi sa Una ka Bai nagpapiktyur sa Azkals. Hahahaha!”

Translation: I saw your big smiling face in Una Ka Bai (GMA regional channel) having your picture taken with the Azkals.

Nyeeeeeek! Naulaw ko da. (@_@)

Azkals Ian Araneta, Yanti Barsales, Roel Gener, Chieffy Caligdong and Paolo Pascual helped local 2010 K1 kickboxing world champ Steve Grandeza in lighting the torch for the opening of the Davao 1st Summer festival last April 29.



City government of Davao in cooperation with the Private sector- Small Hotels Association of Davao, Davao Association of Tour Operators and Davao Tourism Association, Davao Travel Agency Association, GUIDE- Davao, Davao Cooperative Center for Visitors and Convention, and Davao Airline Operators Association, led the organizing of the first summer festival. The month-long festival highlights different sports like Frisbee tournament, motocross, adventure race, marathon, golf, horse show, and football. Sports tourism is one avenue, Davao City is developing for promoting the city and Mindanao.

“Let us make develop Davao City’s sports and show that having healthy lifestyle is one way to promote our place.” Inday Sarah Duterte said in her welcome remarks.


Azkals, Steve Grandeza and Summerfest organizers with Davao City Mayor Sarah Z. Duterte

Sports tourism is viewed as another come-on for enthusiasts and locals. Beating the summer heat with healthy body and encouraging future athletes. For the schedule of activities click this.Local government units (LGUs) support are very crucial for sports development. The Cinderella-like story of our national football team shows we can truly excel in an area we are good at despite the odds. Local athletes, sports enthusiasts and young football players of Ateneo in their jerseys gathered in the fields of People’s Park to witness the event and to have their pictures and autographs by our own Azkals.

With the under-23 PFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers held last April 28-30, the national team hopes to find the future Azkals all over the country. Here's the complete list of the U-23 Quarterfinals

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I have not lived.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

"There is an intense but simple thrill in setting off in the morning on a mountain trail, knowing that everything you need is on your back. It is a confidence in having left the inessentials behind and of entering a world of natural beauty that has not been violated, where money has no value, and possessions are a dead weight. The person with the fewest possessions is the freest. Thoreau was right." ~ Paul Theroux, The Happy Isles of Oceania

For us, to trek a mountain is to relive, to go back worshiping nature and to relish what is still left in this fragile ecosystem. Last Holy Thursday and Good Friday, I made my first journey to T'boli to reflect and visit one of my home town's diverse ecosystem: Lake Holon.



It was an unplanned trip. A spontaneous decision. As they say, “mas mabuti pa ang di planadong lakad, natutuloy.” A day before going home, my parts Eli invited me to join their trek to Lake Holon ( Holon is a T'boli term for Lake. So Lake Holon is redundant! It is also known as Lake Maughan before but I don't know why and when they changed the name)!. Bored,stressed undelayed Mt. Apo climb (that made me so frustrated) and the goal to push my stamina, made me to say Yes even without thinking! How long can I endure the full trek? I was tasked to get the tent in Gensan (General Santos City) but since I finished some work late and my kaartehan of putting blue nail polish took some time, I left Davao quite late and the person can no longer meet me to give the tent. Sorry naman but it didn't deter my spirit. I called and texted all friends and relatives for tent and after several minutes, and the provider is just near: my bestfriend! I was right not to worry since He will provide. :)

All set! Ready and prepared.


Woke up very early, checked the things to be brought and the made some muscle stretching. It's my first time to trek to the lake and also my first time to truly visit T'boli! :)
The South Cotabato Capitol boys- Eli, Kuya Julz and Kuya Dodz and I rode the bus to Surallah then a van to T'boli. We just met some of fellow climbers inside the van. Joining us are the family of Ms. Rowena, her son Jello, niece Clyde, Donna and her husband. A team with unplanned trip but full of moles on their feet. In short, mga lakwatsera/os!! perfect.

A one hour motor ride to Brgy. Salacafe and then the walking begins to Lake Holon. The trip commenced with prayers, jokes and meeting other trekkers. Our team, Kuya Dodz and I are the green horn babies. Kuya Julz of Tourism Office and Eli of PPDO are adept at climbing mountains and hinterlands of South Coatabto as they are part of the documentation team, doing all the AVP (audio video presentations) to promote the province. They shared their recent trip to Brgy. Linan, Tupi with botanist Dr. Nelson Pampolina of UPLB. Brgy. Linan is home to tukay mal (small monkey) or tarsiers (It is endemic in the area and not only in Bohol. :))

Tarsier Sanctuary in Ba' Linan, Brgy. Linan, Tupi, South Cotabato


A two-hour trek of up hill and slippery stones, and a breathtaking view at the water streaming from the lake. Then you'll be greeted by the crater beckoning you to its womb as if saying, "My child continue the downhill trek and you'll be rewarded." True to its sense. The cramped muscles, the beaded sweats are nothing compared at the calmness you will feel when you see it's beauty. Placid. A sleeping giant. The center was said to be a source of strong magnetic field where General Parker's helicopter crashed during the 1990s.

The next day, the sun rose, with clouds billowing, the mountains clear outline, the lake calm yet thriving with life.

Photo by Eliezer Garcia




Some young men were already taking off their shirts, taking a dip amidst the misty atmosphere. Some are patiently waiting for their morning catch. A boulder lush with green sturdy trees serves as a boundary going to Brgy. San Jose, General Santos City. The lake is well protected. Still full of tilapia and other freshwater fishes. Shampoos and soaps are prohibited. It didn't win the title as the 2003-04 Cleanest Lake in the country without strict implementation of the law. And I hope this will be maintained.


South Cotabato, my hometown is rich with diverse flora and fauna. It's my first time to see a frog with two horns we nicknamed “devil's advocate frog”, butterflies in varying colors (bloody red with pointed wings; bright yellow with black and white spots), beetles and still luscious forest.
photos by Eliezer Garcia


Endemic species abounds but are threatened to be endangered by massive 'development' projects coming in.These are God-given gifts, that cannot be easily replaced and valued by money. We as humans must protect, we as stewards of these creations. But sadly, greed, unequal wealth distribution and in the name of 'development', we are willing to destroy these.

South Cotabato with the taunted “biggest copper deposit” in Tampakan is now embroiled with open-pit mining and the strong opposition from the local people. The strong civil society groups pushed for the passage of the Environmental Code that banned open pit mining. Tampakan is part of the Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and part of the Proclaimed Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape (Proc.552). It is considered as a watershed and provides moisture all year round for agriculture yet being contested for the rich minerals underneath.

When we destroy one ecosystem, can we build a biodiversity corridor for its replacement?

Once diversity, century-old trees, and watersheds are destroyed, we can not replaced it overnight. It can never be valued in monetary terms. Whilst the 'host community' of mining is small and can be subsidized by the company, how about the thousands of farmers downstream? How about the millions of people needing water? SC critical-minded people are determined not to be victims of a mining-dominated future. but I do hope the legislators will take their part too.

Kuya Julz and I had a lengthy discussion on our frustrations and hopes for the environment. We even talked about the patent issue. I even remembered I was told that our own waling-waling was already patented by a perfume manufacturing company abroad. Kuya Julz also shared that out of several endemic species found/ discovered in South Cotabato, only one was published by a Filipino while 8 was published by foreign experts. We have a few remaining experts. We lost them to greener pastures abroad or to death and negligence as what happened to Dr. Leonardo L. Co (botanist died between military and NPA crossfire). Those who remain are unsupported. UPLB for one have the experts but with lacking and dwindling State support for research, they would rather focus their energies to hybrid product development than study how to protect and preserve the endemic species.

Patent. Copyright. And biodiversity. Where one area of struggle between developing and developed countries continues.

Another concern is the culture and the arts. When Local government units (LGUs) open an area for tourism, how does it ensure that the natural habitat for flora and fauna are not disrupted as well as the people in the community?

Another question on our bubble thoughts: We want to preserve the environment, we aim for sustainability for the next generation but is today's generation value these? Or has the youth becomes too attached to the virtual world? Kuya Julz was so proud with his daughter Lexi, he brings her along to his climbs to let her discover the wonders of nature. We are happy to see high school graduates under SPES program appreciating the nature courtesy with their boss. Youth when taken with proper guidance will rediscover its environment.

Another thing is how do we promote tourism locally? We dream of Hongkong, Europe but have we discovered our own place? :) I vow to promote local tourism,and to know more our hometown beyond Lake Sebu and the famous resorts. Next month, I'm looking forward to my climb to Brgy. Linan.

What struck me is the road. Barangays Salacafe, Laconon and New Dumangas' huge tracts of lands are occupied by Sumifru and Dole for their bananas and pineapples respectively. Yet there is no road improvement. The companies have already started here on 2000, yet the roads are left not much to be desired. Most of the places we went in my work promise paved roads in order to entice people to let the companies enter. But the roads to Salacafe are slowly eroding, turning into a river when rain pours. Very unsafe especially for motorists and its passengers.

One thing this trip taught me is the Pinoy's unyielding, everyday encounter with Death. A natural daredevil, our idea of risk is different. We would not eat fish from the sea where there was a sunken ship (fearing that fishes eat the dead bodies) but we are willing to cross the busy street, and rode a motorcycle no matter how difficult the road is.

Going to T'boli, 2 persons (a conductor and another passenger) rode at the back of the full van.


Going down after our overnight stay at the lake, we rode the habal-habal. All you have to do is shut your eyes real tight, never move and pray you'll still be whole when you arrive downtown. I prayed and thought of my insurance plan. My white blood almost got drained. My heart almost jumped when we pass this treacherous passage and when I learned the motorcycle we are using is even older than the driver! HUWAAAAT??!!?

Risky but very exhilarating. (Part of my work is riding habal-habal; the main course of my field adventures. But that ride in T'boli is relatively 'safer' than my habal-habal/ skylab ride to Brgy. Hagpa, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon). Salapi na lang, langit na!


But despite all of these, I fell in love with the place. I learned to empty my mind and just sit still. I learned that it's not good to talk at night at the campsite (even it sounds like a whisper to me), everybody might be listening.hehe. Trekking is a way to make new friends and renew friendship. It is also a good test for endurance and stamina And having strong-able men as companions will make your life easier. haha!



To the PPDO and OT boys, thank you for the invite. I feel pampered. See you again this May! :)

I lived in written word, books, letters and drafts of things. It sets me in normalcy. My head is filled with phrases from books, films, songs and these words were my solace. To write and read is to weave a protective and seamless cocoon, to drink a potion that would allow you to flee invisible, to take a tunnel no one knew. With a silken line of blue or black ink, I spun a world full of emotions; sometimes imaginary men and women who suffered the harsh edges of reality.

When I watched Letters to Juliet, many memories rekindled. Love letters sent to Juliet of Verona – Shakespeare’s damsel in the tragic story - asking for remedies for the matters of the heart.

Those envelopes and yellowed papers containing the emotions one held for another person. I heard so much of love affairs that blossomed and chronicled by paper and pen. Penpals marrying each other. As this love month ends, I can’t help but think, how many of us still writes on paper and receives letters? With the advent of new technology- social networking sites like Facebook, twitter, tumblr, cellphones, emails and what-have-you, writing on paper becomes antiquated. Some would argue that not using paper is one way of saving trees. But forgive me for not taking this argument, the sentimentality of paper remains. Keeping journals for instance. I used to write anything that comes into my mind, doodles and sweet nothings, ideas that just popped out when you’re at your reverie.



How many of us complain, that we can no longer write unless we see our thoughts on the computer screen? Are our hands can no longer keep up with our fast thoughts? Or due to nonpractice of writing, we are afraid we can no longer decipher our own handwriting?

Time is disintegrating in our hands with the flimsiness of burned paper, pages of ashes, anxious minutes and hours, like the agitated and fleeting times of clandestine lovers who know that the countdown to their separation has begun as almost as soon as they see each other.

I still keep the letters I got from family, relatives, friends and (ahem!) suitors. Nothing beats the feeling of receiving and opening an envelop—- the anticipation, the giddiness. Broad strokes of the pen, the handwriting that has become familiar, showing the personality of the person. I love my bestfriend’s Maryland- trained handwriting. Neat and precise. They were trained during elementary days to make their notes clean and clear. She’s our favorite Secretary! And we used to write each other letters even without occasion. Those youthful exuberance of sharing anything, of making cards and writing what we have talked about the other week- about crushes, family problems and just being happy for the company.

I’m fond of every item and the memories they bring. A person goes through life losing so many things; you want to keep what’s left. How can I throw anything away when everything has it’s own meaning?

Whilst the new technology gives us an opportunity to “communicate faster and easier”, so much have been lost in our memories. It easy to delete a message in a second. While it is romantic to tweet or post your feelings on her/his FB wall for the public to see and ogle at your affair, letters show your imperfections. As Ashton Kutcher wrote:

“We haven't lost romance in the digital age, but we may be neglecting it. In doing so, antiquated art forms are taking on new importance. The power of a handwritten letter is greater than ever. It's personal and deliberate and means more than an e-mail or text ever will. It has a unique scent. It requires deciphering. But, most important, it's flawed. There are errors in handwriting, punctuation, grammar, and spelling that show our vulnerability. And vulnerability is the essence of romance.”


So keep those pens and pad. Write. write. write.
Pick colorful notes. Take your favorite pen and write something for Someone. That would surely make his/her day. :)