INSPIRING WOMEN

Oh these women made their lives worth living, remembering and inspiring that even after their deaths, mistakes probably, flaws even - they definitely STOOD UP FOR WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN...



http://ph.she.yahoo.com/photos/10-inspiring-women-in-the-world-1331276433-slideshow/

I AM WOMAN! I am strong, I am invincible.

This song - I AM WOMAN is originally by Helen Reddy . is a classic favorite of mine, I just saw it when I watched the Sex and the CIty 2 movie.
This is my “breather” song. Whenever I feel down and needs a boost, apart from my chocolates… I sing this song… even in the shower, while driving, while walking, anywhere. Whenever I just need to feel good and feel beautiful, I just play this song.

I will now share it to every woman out there who might need some boost  some time…

Besides, it is from my all time favorite series and movie, Sex and the City. I think, no other characters can portray this song best… love it… :)

Lyrics are here too.. enjoy. Feel good. Feel light. Feel that you are a woman.. Because we deserve to have the best same as everyone else…

 

                                                                                                              I am woman, hear me roar

In numbers too big to ignore

And I know too much to go back an' pretend

'Cause I've heard it all before

And I've been down there on the floor

No one's ever gonna keep me down again

Oh yes, I am wise

But it's wisdom born of pain

Yes, I've paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to

I can do anything

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am woman

I am woman watch me grow

See me standing toe to toe

As I spread my lovin' arms across the land

But I'm still an embryo

With a long, long way to go

Until I make my brother understand

Oh, yes, I am wise

But it's wisdom born of pain

Yes, I've paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to

I can do anything

I am strong (strong) 2x

I am invincible (invincible) 2x

I am woman

MINDANAO ROAD TRIP

(Cagayan De Oro, Bukidnon,  Iligan City, 

Lanao del Norte – Lanao del Sur)

---

     CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – said to be the City of Golden Friendships because of its gold deposits and the friendliness of their people… It is also that it is the Gateway to Northern Mindanao – I think this one I have to say yes without a blink basing from my experience when I was there.

I think it was like some 2 – 3 years ago that we went to CdeO, I was with the family of my Tito Johnny Wong, my dad’s Fil – Chi bestfriend. He owns a big piggery farm and a convention was held there. He brought me and my mom with them.

    As usual, plane rides, hotels, transportations were good. We probably got lucky to get  a good travelling agent that booked us in the best accommodations. Plus, the convention itself was held in the nicest places in CdeO. So, having said that, and after signing in to the convention proper, and getting our buffet stubs (which was Chinese foods by the way) for the last dinner ball of the convention… let the picture taking begin and the “pasyalan” rolling. J

     We were able to hire one van, ( I think this is common there) and the driver and his companion serves as the tour guides already.

In the city proper, we only went to the Limketkai Center, the convention center, and the mall that never fails me “wherever” – SM City CdeO.  

     So the tour guide offered now their  tour packages..

     First and last stop here in CdeO, was the gardens of Malasag… it was one hell of trekking a hill. Gardens all over, tribal houses, and native women weaving, a hanging bridge which I did not cross… it was all in all – tiring, cold, and literally breathtaking!! But kidding aside, when we reached the top part.. “the almost” 360 degrees view of the city was right in front of me… and it took me a while to go down again... 

     A must try also while in Cagayan is the NIGHT STREET FOOD STRIP!!! As in, ihaw-ihaw in the street – whole plaza with tables. Lots of choices, happy people, party mode for everyone. I think a lot of tourists really go there.

     Next day, we had a long drive.. long means almost 6 hours, in the van. I was told that we will be going to some nice tourist spots… But I did not know that we will be touring almost  5 provinces of Mindanao.

BUKIDNON – oh how sweet it is to drive by at your long, dusty, pineapple-filled wide roads!!!!!!

Now from what I remember, our First stop was BUKIDNON – the Del Monte province!!! Sadly, we did not make the supposed tour at the plantation due to lack of coordination. (that is just one sad part of it). Unfortunately, We did not get to taste the sumptuous pineapple marinated steak of Bukidnon ala Del Monte style!!! 

We also visited this Monastery of the Transfiguration. very quiet, peaceful and makes you feel so closer with God.

ILIGAN CITY – falls, falls, falls and Gloria’s old house!!!

It was after about 2 hours when we reached ILIGAN CITY. Here, we ate at the restaurant  - ihaw –ihaw – lechon manok – strips in front of the Tinago Falls which, If I remember it right was in front of the ANCESTRAL House of GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO.  And again, after eating, a little rest, we were back in the van of Manong tour guide!!!

LANAO DEL NORTE-SUR – 

Oh MARIA CRISTINA – Look at you!!!

It was probably after another hour when we finally reached these high gated long roads with wild sounds of rumbling water… I was excited… like a kid, my head is turning from left to right, back and front – and again… where is the falls??? WHERE COULD THIS LADY CRISTINA BE?? You see, my excitement has been dying to come out of my system maybe since I was in Grade 5 or 6 maybe… My PAPA (grandfather on my mother’s side – SEGUNDINO LIBRADA DIAZ, …) has been telling me stories about the tallest falls in the world- Angel falls, and here in the country is Maria Cristina. It was just in my Sibika books, it was only discussed by elementary teachers – not ever imagined that I will be here… it is to my surprised that there was a lot of, oh no, a bus load full of tourists!!! From all nations, from different Phil. Provinces. We were first toured around the hydrogen plant – the falls supplies electricity to almost the whole of the Lanao province.           After that was picture taking galore – and of course – the falls as the main backdrop!!! And then we were asked if we would like to visit the dam and the 5 floors high – tunnel down the earth!!! – After hearing that... all said – “YEAH!!!!!”… So there we go, and we asked, what do we see under??? Funny that we asked this like maybe after reaching the second floor deep length of the tunnel!! And they just said actually nothing – but machines, and caves, and an altar at bottom end of the tunnel… ok. That ends all the questions. It was compensation enough that if we all die reaching that very deep tunnel… we have God at the end. But we were surprised to see the different rock formation we saw… several stalagmites and stalactites served as wall decors throughout the tunnel. Then after the long wait, we reached a simple rock altar with the image of maybe around 3ft of the Sacred heart of Jesus. Then we got out – alive of course… and one more surprise... we were on top of the dam!!! Whoa!! We all asked, how did that happen??? Actually I forgot the explanation, but the tour guide explained it well with logic!!! I just forgot. =).

 

Well… travelling Mindanao is really an experience. No matter how different the languages may be… still, one characteristic of Filipinos really shines – At SM they truly got it all for you. Lol!! But seriously, the Filipino hospitality is a treasure and the foremost tourist attraction that only US can offer all over the world. Not only that we shoudn’t be a tourist in our own country – I think we should also be the number one promoter and patrons of our own beauty!!!!

Ok, see you around. I still have some packing to do before my next stop…. I WENT TO BOHOL STRAIGHT FROM CAGAYAN DE ORO VIA A “FERRY” THAT WILL DEFINITELY NOT SLEEP – it will be my first time to ride this small ship!!! It will be an overnight voyage on the Mindanao-Visayan seas!!!

 Holy crap… heaven help me!!!

describing life from google

just saying...
here are the random pictures of my life... 
(all from google when i was browsing)
they all reflected and explained 
my state of mind, life and heart ...
enjoy...

Sacrifices 
and
happiness

 

Choices
and 
decisions

 

Loneliness
and
fate 










 




Everything has its time… time to be gone and be back. 

Time to 
love,
laugh
and leave…

what if my time is out?????

I am now jailed by my own decisions of not letting go of those things that should have been set freed a long time ago.

I am now counting the years of my existence and happy are those who have found their rightful places in this Earth.

 

A friend told me to just go with the flow… he said: “ ayos lang yun, sumama ka na lang sa agos… para hindi ka masaktan” … I said: “ what if I’m about to reach the end of a waterfall”…  he said: “ e d ayos, mataas ang tatalunan” …  Me: [with so much things on my head that I wanted to explain to him…] I just answered with doubt and with a smile: I’m afraid of heights !!!

maria cristina falls - i took it when i went in Cagayan, Iligan, Bukidnon, etc

Funny! Short, true, but still funny! We have just equated our lives to the, perhaps, rapids of a river! We have just compared our maybe sad lives to the waters falling from the falls.

  

Boredom, 
like misery,
loves
company.
Drunkness
and sadness 
are always best with friends!

my ecstasy of questions

I have just realized that decision making should not be the hardest part of letting go, but instead, it is the “after party” of the deciding (main event)  And now, I know, I can never decide, because I never wanted to attend the “after party”.

 

 Life was never the same. And it will never be. It is true that we can never bring back any part of yesterday. I will only have pictures in my memory of both satisfactions and regrets but never contentment. 

I just can’t help but sometimes question my own life, and yes sometimes my God, Why!. Why is it that if He has control in all of this, in all of me, has he allowed these things to happen to me, knowing that I will not be ok afterwards…  with a heart full of doubt, it just hit me… true enough, that it is because of all these things that I was able to be ME now. That I was able to hold on the same cross that I thought I was carrying… I was not carrying it after all.. it was lying on my back to assure me I can make it through all these mess, I – Myself – have gotten into.

                                                            

No 

one 

is to

blame. 

- but me!

It just makes me so f*&%!ng irritated and really pissed to hear people complain and always blame others for their own miseries and desperations. Diba sabi nga, when we point the blame to other people, may natitira pang 4 na daliri na nakaturo din satin. Can’t you stop and think, maybe the problem is not with all of us, and maybe it was you all along!!! Maybe it was you after all? Maybe we were all like this because of you!

CHANGE...
CHANGE 
FOR THE BETTER!

As always, after all the turmoil and ecstasy that I have dealt with… still, I am standing strong. I am not really happy and proud of where I am now, but at least, I don’t know how it happened or who taught me… because still, I am not losing hope that like what Bob Marley will always say.. “Everything is gonna be alright!   

the enchanted kingdom roller coaster, always seen never riden

Life will always be that roller coaster ride… and sadly… I have never been in a roller coaster… 

But I’ve travelled by plane, by cruise, by ship, by boat, by a car, a 4x4, name it… all with a bumpy ride, and went out of it alive…

Maybe my survival will depend on my next ride.. It is for me to take and for me to finish… as long as it is not a roller coaster!

 I cannot afford to just cross the bridge when I get there.. I need to be ready before the bridge, because maybe after I cross it, there is no turning back of what I have left in the other side…

the very famous bridge in Paris where Carrie kissed Big - my dream scene in my life!!!

iceberg - true beauty lies beneath

 and finally.... the best ever reason why i still believe... the beauty of my life do not depend on what is just infront of me.. my beauty is not only skin deep.. it is this big heart inside and the good mind on top of my head that always give me hope, strenght and wisdom to move forward and carry on!!

... I AM BEAUTIFUL NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY!!! HAHAHA

So don't you bring me down today.. or not ever!!!

I am like my chocolates... sweet. dark. reliable. your happy vitamins!

THIS IS ME.. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT

and this explains it all... haha!!