Usinkable

Can you hear the sirens off in the distance?

The world outside seems cold and weak

But here with you now, I'm lost in this moment

'Cause your're the only one that I need

I count every second that ticks by

I only want you here by my side

Unsinkable, unsinkable

Unsinkable, unsinkable

These voices echo in the darkness

I want to let out what you hold inside

Your are more beautiful than you'll ever know

What's behind those troubled eyes?

I count every second that ticks by

I only want you here by my side

Unsinkable, unsinkable

Unsinkable, unsinkable

Is it unthinkable?

That we're unsinkable?

We've kept our heads above the water

Reaching for the sky

We battled for this time

We walked the firing line

Please reach out for me

And show me that you're mine

Thank you, The Next Step, for inspiring dance.

The River Running

As a family, we used to go out of town once every summer, since school was out. This time, the trip was different, because we did not go too far away to beat off the heat.

End of May last year, we went to Villa Felomina, a natural spring resort located in Indang, Cavite. We relocated from Manila to Cavite when I was barely a year old and so this is the province where I grew up in. But I did not know that there is such a place as this in my home province.

The spring where we swam was actually a river running between a forested cliff and a steep valley. The water was cold and refreshing. In the middle of the spring was a big rock. It was half submerged into the water, which reminded me of the Marooners' Rock within the Mermaid's Lagoon in the story of Peter Pan. We sat on the rock when we got tired of swimming.

To our surprised, there were little fish that swarmed and nibbled on our feet. They were the same fish that were used in some specialty spas where they bite off the dead skins of customers. They went in and around our toes, on to our legs and tickled the soles of our feet as they fed.

It was one of the most relaxing spa treatments I have ever had and it was really nice to see those fish in their natural habitat.

There was an artificial cement bridge built over one side of the river, perhaps to control the flow of water or to make a mini waterfall.

Being amidst nature is always a magical experience, with the gushing of water in the river and the chirping of birds on the canopy blended so well in a beautiful melody that made you just want to close your eyes, breathe in, and join the dance.

I hope that this place would be kept pristine.

Now that my siblings and I are a bit older, with work and all, it is just getting harder and harder to find time for family. So I am more than grateful for times like this that we could get together as a family and especially within beautiful places that always remind us that the Lord is good and His love endures forever.

And find pleasure in all their simple joys, remembering her own child life, and the happy summer days.
-Lewis Carroll

Todo El Mundo

People, can you feel it
Let the music come and take you on
It's very simple, just believe it
Let me prove that nothing can go wrong

Feel it coming from underneath
It's everywhere, it's what we breathe
Let the music control us tonight
No matter color or who you are 
Don't believe that you can't go far
So I just want you to know

Todo el mundo
Should be dancing in the streets
The world keeps moving
And we ain't losing
If we keep dancing in the streets

Freedom, it's inside you 
Let it out, go 'head and move your feet
Follow the rhythm, do whatever
Just as long as you will dance with me

Feel it coming from underneath
It's everywhere, it's what we breathe
Let the music control us tonight
No matter color or who you are 
Don't believe that you can't go far
So I just want you to know

Todo el mundo
Should be dancing in the streets
The world keeps moving
And we ain't losing
If we keep dancing in the streets

Thank you, Danny Saucedo, for wonderful music.

Video from Danny Saucedo Vevo

A Speck of Sand

Often times I’d feel very frustrated and disappointed in myself. I’d beat myself up thinking about my shortcomings, about my failures, about my unfulfilled plans, which makes me feel bad about everything else. Until one day I stumbled upon this photo posted in Facebook showing particles of sand under 250x magnification. Each granule looked very beautiful and varied. Some grains looked like tiny spiral shells, all the others looked like fragments of shells.

I didn't believe it at first so I had to verify it and browsed through another website about sand. It's true. The picture was legit and unbelievably beautiful. Common sense would tell you that sand is made up of silica, but that is only one component of sand—pieces of corals deposited by waves and shattered shells and other kinds of minerals make up sand. Every grain of sand is different in different parts of the world, that’s why it comes in many colors—black, brown, white, even pink.

I’d read it all up in this very interesting site, Inspiration Green. Learning about all this made me realize how great God is, how awesome nature is and how lucky I am because I get to experience nature everyday. How wonderful it is that even a minute, seemingly insignificant thing such as a grain of sand could hold so much beauty and splendor within it. This also made me realize that I am but a mere speck of sand in this universe. But I am a creation of God and that alone assures me that I am worthwhile. We are all specks of sand and we all make up this beautiful beach called life. And for sure, there will be rough currents and waves of challenges ahead, but this speck of sand will rise above to the surface.

This Side of Paradise

Countless times have I been to El Nido because of work. And I am very grateful to get to go to paradise every once in a while to coordinate weddings. Around June last year, I went to El Nido with my friend Irish for nothing but leisure. No work. No deadlines. Pure bliss.

It was also the first time I stayed at El Nido Cove Resort. It is one of the resorts under the umbrella of El Nido Resorts. The unique thing is that it is the only one that is located within mainland Palawan. Convenient to get there too, since it is only 15 minutes away from Lio Airport by van and airport service is already provided by the resort. El Nido Cove has one of the best views of sunset overlooking Bacuit Bay and Cadlao Island.

Before heading to the resort from the airport, Irish and I got to explore the town a bit. We bargained for about 4 kilograms of cashew nuts for each of us in the market and shopped for shades. We also visited the Central Office where I got to meet Sir Bernard, my contact for weddings, whom I only used to talk to over the phone.

As we came to explore more of El Nido Town, which is really different from the posh island resorts I have been used to, we found that there exists a certain charm on this side of paradise. On the other side of paradise we know as El Nido, there is a thriving village, a school, a church, a market.  At El Nido Cove, there is a even greenhouse where the resort grows its own produce. Awhile back, I have heard of stories about Inigtan Farm where they raise organic "happy"pigs and poultry to be supplied to the island resorts. Sadly we were not able to visit the farm, but perhaps we will be able to do so next time.

After a whole day of island hopping on our second day, the resort treated Irish and I on a private dinner although we did not really asked for it, mainly because we were not a couple. Kidding aside, it is one of the gestures of the resort staff that made us appreciate them all the more. I ordered sweet and spicy crab for dinner. It was the biggest single crab with the fattiest roe I had ever devoured. I. Can't. Even.

Anyway it was kind of a mellow night and Irish and I talked about the activities we had done so far, and we came to talk about the places we wanted to visit someday with the rest of our girl squad. And about how we are slowly but surely fulfilling our dreams and reaching for the stars and all that cheese spread over the loaf of our lives. In case you didn't know, Irish and I are buddies way way back at the university. She is now working for an international airline. So she gets to travel a lot as well, but mostly for work but it doesn't feel like work. Perks. Of. Working. In. The. Industry. But the thing is, all that most people see in the work that we do is the "leisure" part of it, and not the sacrifices and challenges that come with working in hospitality industry. But it's okay I guess because people only see what they want to see.

Ultimately, what I took home from this trip is that there is always another side to paradise, to the places we visit, to the work we do, to the lives we lead, which we need to see and acknowledge and accept. And if maybe we learn to accept the not so pretty side of paradise, then maybe we get to appreciate the pretty side of paradise even more. And maybe by accepting the ugly aspects of our lives, we get to transcend them, as we continue to work on the best versions of ourselves and towards our dreams. So here's to more adventures and mellow nights that bring forth the philosophers in us.

Vi går från askan och rätt in i elden,
vi två kommer alltid bestå
For at the end of the day, du skulle dö för mig
som jag dör för dig

Photos by myself and Irish Lara Lubi.