Dear Younger Self

You're young but you're not getting any younger. Time goes on but don't forget that the "trip is short". You're here temporarily. You're just passing through, and while you're here, remember the things that matter most.

Stand firm in your faith in God. Apart from Him, you are nothing, and you can do nothing. Life is full of uncertainties and challenges. Life is not a series of chances but a series of choices. You always have a choice. You may sometimes fail but the Lord allows failures to give you lessons that make you stronger. Choose to obey His will because He knows what's best for you. Grow in the grace and knowledge of God. He is a way maker, miracle worker, and promise keeper. His goodness and faithfulness never fail. Your faith in God gives you hope amidst the uncertainties of this world.

Make time for things that last. You're a woman with simple wants and dreams. It is alright to dream big but don't let your desires become hindrances to living with a purpose. Love and care for yourself because you cannot give what you don't have. Yes, you are an introvert but you are not an island. Reach out and touch someone's life. Make a difference that glorifies your Lord and Savior.  Love your family because friends may come and go but your family will stick with you through thick and thin. Above all, love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind. Serve Him with your time, talents, and treasures. Invest in eternity.

Enjoy the trip. Yes, life is a journey. Enjoy the highways and byways, ups and downs, highs and lows, bends and turns, potholes and rough roads,  detours and u-turns, delays and cancellations, while never losing sight of the final destination.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). 

Unforgettable Taiwan

It was almost a year after my transplant and my nephrologist allowed me to travel abroad. So, I immediately booked a tour package to Taiwan for me and Bobby. 

Day 1: From Taoyuan airport, we met the 21 other joiners, our Filipino guide, and the local guide. We were brought to a restaurant halfway to our first destination for our late lunch. At Chung-She Flower Market, we were wowed by the beautifully landscaped flower gardens of various species and colors. We had just started our tour of the farm when it rained. Despite our raincoats, we had to cut short our visit because it seemed that the downpour would be prolonged. The next stop was the National Taichung Theater with its unique and modern structure and interior design. Dinner was a buffet hotpot then, we checked in at our hotel in Taichung City. After settling in, we walked to the Miyahara Shop which is famous for its Harry Potter building interior and ice cream shop.

Day 2: Before leaving Taichung City, we drove back to the Miyahara Shop to see the building structure in daylight. According to our local guide, the building used to be an eye hospital many decades ago, and when it was sold, the owner made some renovations but retained most of the building and made the roof and the interior modern. The Painted Anime Lane is an alley where the walls of the houses are painted with anime and cartoon characters. The next stop after lunch was a shop showcasing Taiwanese pastries but the highlight of our stay was making our own mini pineapple cakes that we got to taste. Yummy!

At the Chiang Kay-Shek Official Residence, we wandered around the gardens surrounding it. The Rose Garden of the former first lady was full of colorful blooms. There were beautifully landscaped gardens of topiaries, foliage, and other flowering plants. After dinner, we checked in at our hotel in New Taipei City. Bobby and I visited a local coffee shop to cap our day.

Day 3: At the Pingxi District, the only place in Taiwan where sky lanterns are allowed, we joined another couple in writing our wishes on our lantern before flying it. To retain this famous tradition as a tourist attraction, we were told that locals are paid NTD 10 per expired lantern retrieved as a mitigation measure to the environmental issues associated with the practice.  In the same district, we visited the Shifen Waterfalls. The hike to the biggest waterfalls in the series was refreshing. At the National Revolutionary Martyrs Shrine in Taipei City, we watched the much-awaited 20-minute changing of guards.  Our last stop was at the Shilin Night Market. There was a lot of street food. When there is a long queue, it means that the food sold is a bestseller. We ate xiao long bao and taro ice cream wrapped in crepe. Yummy!

Day 4: The commercial part of the tour was the Jade Handicraft featuring jewelry and various products made of jade. Next was Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan, where shops of famous signature items occupy several floors. After lunch, we proceeded to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, a national monument erected in memory of the former president of the Republic of China. The last stop was at the Ximending Night Market for the final pasalubong shopping before heading to the airport for our return flight.

What did I appreciate most about Taiwan, particularly the three cities we visited? I loved the green landscape, tree-lined streets and highways, pocket gardens in the urban areas even along drainage ways, and the way they value and protect their natural environment. 

My First Kidneyversary

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Today is my first "kidneyversary" and I  celebrate it with my son, my kidney donor. It has been a year of experiencing God's goodness and faithfulness through the many challenges we have overcome after our surgery. Truly, God is a way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, healer, provider, and so much more. Cyril and I are good and doing well by His grace and mercy.

We give thanks to our doctors for guiding us through the laboratory tests and prescribing the medicines to ensure our recovery and progress; to all the hospital staff for their assistance, reminders, and fixing our appointments; and to our family, relatives, friends, and brethren for the support and most especially for praying for and with us. Last but not least, to Papa Bobby, for serving as our chef, driver, nurse, runner, etc. God bless you all.

We firmly believe God will see us through. He will never leave us nor forsake us. And we will honor and glorify His name, and serve Him for the rest of our lives. 

Zamboanga Peninsula

Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao, Region IX, consists of three provinces, namely: Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay. This region has five cities and we visited three: Pagadian City of Zamboanga del Sur, Dapitan City, and Dipolog City of Zamboanga del Norte.

Bobby and I were supposed to visit Zamboanga del Norte only. I booked our flights two months in advance but googling before our travel led us to have a side trip to Pagadian City. Upon arrival at the airport, we proceeded to the integrated bus terminal and boarded the first bus bound for Pagadian City. It was a regular bus trip that took us four hours on the road (120 km) with passenger pickups and stops at every town bus terminal. 

Pagadian City is known as the "Little Hongkong of the South" because of its terrain. The city is the provincial capital and regional center of the Zamboanga Peninsula. We dropped by the provincial capitol, the city hall, and the city plaza; and strolled at the boulevard before having our early dinner in one of the restaurants in the area and headed back to our hotel.  That was a breeze! We left the following day for our return trip after breakfast.

The earliest trip we caught was a regular bus trip again, so after four hours we arrived at the Dipolog City bus terminal. After a quick lunch, we boarded a van for our trip to Dapitan City 20 km away. We were supposed to stay in our hotel for a night and stay for our last night in Dipolog City but we agreed to stay for two nights because of the homey feel of our hotel. Besides the city has a relaxed atmosphere unlike the other cities. We rested for two hours and had Korean corndogs by the boulevard for snacks while waiting for the sunset. At the boulevard is the landing site of Rizal when he was exiled in Dapitan. People started to occupy the area as we watched the sunset by the bay. Our dinner was at the recommended restaurant for chicken and pork barbeque. We also had grilled fish.  One more cup of rice, please. Yummy!

The next day, we went to Dakak Park and Beach Resort for a half-day tour. We were glad we arrived early to have our selfies minus the crowd. The resort is in a mini cove hence ideal for swimming. We left after two hours and headed to the Rizal Shrine. A ceremony commemorating the 122nd death anniversary of Josephine Bracken just ended so there were many visitors at the shrine. We had our guided tour of the museum and the various replicas of structures present during Jose Rizal's exile in the area. A visit to the shrine is a must because of its historical significance.

Before heading to the airport in Dipolog for our return flight to Manila, we toured the provincial capitol, city hall, plaza, and Sunset Boulevard.  We had a yummy seafood lunch in a grill restaurant by the boulevard.

We hope to visit the third province of the peninsula, Zamboanga Sibugay, next time. Puhon!

Happy Island Catanduanes

Catanduanes, one of the ten smallest island provinces in the country, is the 62nd province in my Project 82. 

From the airport, the tricycle driver brought us to a restaurant in the town proper for breakfast. Guess what? Silog meals? Nope! We had authentic Bicolano ginataang tuna and ginataang (again?) langka. Yummy and affordable dishes at One Two Sawa Restaurant! 

The island is famous for its waves and beautiful beaches, hence we visited two of them in Virac. First was Tampad Beach, known as Talisoy Beach, for its "Jesus Face" rock formation on one side of the cove. Second was Batag Beach noted for its rock formation along the shore and its natural arch which is great for taking photos, especially during low tide events.

The third destination, Puraran Beach in the municipality of Baras on the eastern side of the island, is the surfing capital of the province. There are more visitors and resorts/inns in the area. Like the two beaches, the coastline is long and wide with golden sands and rock formations.

Aside from the beaches, the must-visit spot on the island is the Binurong Point, a 30-minute tricycle ride from Puraran. From the registration area by the beach, it took us 30 minutes to hike up to the top with a local guide. What made it more difficult was the humid weather at past 2 p.m. But it is all worth the trip because the scenery is like the rolling hills in Batanes minus the trek. Wow! You can feel the howling winds and hear the roaring waves of the Pacific Ocean. Thank God I got to conquer Binurong Point nine months post-transplant. 

Dinner at Puraran Surf Beach Resort where we stayed overnight was memorable because of the spicy buttered lobsters and a thick grilled slice of tangigue. Yummy!

There are more recommended places to visit in every town but we only had two nights and transportation is quite hard if you are not traveling with a group. The cost of fuel per liter is Php 20 higher than Cavite prices.

Overall, Catanduanes is gifted with natural beauty and kind people. Plus, the local cuisine is so yummy! 

Happy Bobby and me in the Happy Island Catanduanes. 😊