Best Travel Blog

Oops! Don't get me wrong. I'm not referring to this blog. Read on. Bobby discovered Ivan About Town while searching for some photos for his research work. He immediately forwarded the link to me with his positive comments about the site. Best Travel Blog at the 2007 Philippine Blog Awards. Wow! I scanned the posts and truly, he deserved the award. His blog is so informative. His writing style is simple that I always feel and visualize the many places he had been to. As if I was there too. And I admire the photos. He has captured the moments and sights very well. And what makes his blog extra special? It is not just about his personal travels but his heritage advocacy.

Back in Cebu City... after 16 years

Cebu City, Queen City of the South. After 16 years, the city has become more crowded and highly urbanized.

I was back in Cebu City when I attended the Joint RACO-RMIS Coordinators' Meeting on February 5-6, 2009. Doc Teddy and I, RACO and RMIS coordinators of STARRDEC, respectively, flew in the day before the meeting started. After resting for a few hours in our respective rooms at the Cebu Business Hotel, we walked to the site of Magellan's Cross. The landmark is just a few blocks away from our hotel which is located on the oldest street in the Philippines, Colon Street. The historical site is where the original cross, now encased in tindalo wood, was planted by Ferdinand Magellan on April 21, 1521. After the short visit, we walked another few blocks to a market to look for danggit and other dried fish. We might be on the wrong side for we didn't find any so we traced our steps back to where we originally came from... the hotel.

We all agreed to have a taste of what Cebu has to offer so for our first dinner, we all trooped to the City Grill, which is noted for its Sutokil (sugba, tola and kilawin), and ordered our sinugbang seafood. Our group of four savored seaweed salad, grilled talakitok, squids and shrimps, and tasted Doc Teddy's order of grilled liempo and longganisa. Burrp!

The first day was so busy with plenary sessions, workshops, and the simultaneous breakout sessions that we finally ended at past 11 pm. The following day, we had to wake up early and leave at 5:30 am for our walk to the market... danggit bay and all the other stuff Cebu is famous for.

After the closing program, our group rushed to SM Cebu (as if it's different from the other SM malls or maybe, just for some photo ops) then on our way to Magellan's Cross we passed by another landmark so we got off our taxi (again for more photo ops). The Heritage of Cebu Monument, built by renowned artist Eduardo Castrillo, features some of Cebu's important heritage sites and events. The artist is a relative of CvSU's Laya at Diwa creator, Jonnel Castrillo.

Unfortunately, we had no time to explore the other historical landmarks and must-see destinations in Cebu City. Next time?

Fortune Plants and Chain Letters

I have three fortune plants. This week I noticed one bearing flowers for the first time. Then something flashed in my mind. They say that it's good luck when a fortune plant flowers. Unfortunately, I don't believe in luck. What does a flowering fortune plant have to do with what's going to happen to me? What's the connection? Of course, it's giving off oxygen. The same goes for chain letters. Sorry guys for those e-mails that I have to ignore because I don't believe that something bad will happen to me if I didn't reply or send them to ten others. Or the sender will think that I didn't value our friendship. My life is simply not dictated upon by flowering fortune plants nor by chain letters.

Mini Me Turns 19

She's called Junior by my co-worker. Why? Because she's a mini-me. She just doesn't like it when people compare us especially when we are mistaken as sisters. Ahem, there's a 25-year gap. And she's 19 now. Very much the same Amyel that used to be. Simple. Timid. Reserved but a good friend to those who are close to her. I can see myself in her. Sentimental. Sensitive. Can't do without a planner. Definitely not a compulsive buyer! Gifted... Yes, we have clashed at times. Maybe because like poles do repel each other but it is usually a mother-like-daughter-like-mother thing. She's young and she has a long way to go. May she continue to be a God-fearing girl. That's all she needs to reach her dreams. And I love her.

Getting Healthy in 2009

Health is wealth. It may be an old cliche but it's the truth. As always, my new year's resolution is to be a better person. This year, it's going to be a healthier me! My cardiologist emphasized to me that there are three important things in hypertension: diet, stress management, and exercise. I told him that I do good in diet and stress management. It's an exercise that's lacking. So, Bobby and I started our 30-min brisk walking ritual every weekend morning starting November 2008. The CvSU athletic field is witness to people like us who have experienced the lung-filling and heart-pumping excitement of walking or jogging for good health. It makes me smile to see the Flanax boys (for they remind me of the TV commercial showing two brothers racing on their bikes), Lola (with or without her companion, and our scripted story about her), Pink Panther (the guy in pink running shoes), and the many others including the irregulars in their fashionable sportswear. Go for good health!