Exploring Olango Island

And so, my VIP-ness was activated last weekend, again, at Olango Island. 

I am Sky, a Libran, an air-element. I love the outdoors, I love flying, zip-lining, water, beach, anything windy and yes, island-hopping. I have been to Olango Island and it's always an exciting experience, to be one with nature. 

Olango Island Group is located near Mactan Island and Cordova. It has six islets which scattered along the these municipalities. These are famous for dive sites, seafood trips and  other water-related activities.  For now, I will be writing about my seafood trip experience.  

This is actually my second time visiting the island. You can rent a boat ranging from P3500 to P5000 depending on the boat capacity. Either you can start your way in Olango Wharf at Mactan or at Portofino Beach Resort. From the port, the boat will be traveling about 30 to 45 minutes to the known stilt restaurants.

A few minutes after leaving the island, the first time you will notice, of course, is how the water looks like : deep, blue-green and patches of whites indicating a clear white sand beneath as you go farther. The scent of the sea that reaches your lungs makes the whole experience fun and exciting. 

book-hunting anyone?

Trip to malls isn't complete without being able to visit a bookstore. Oh, I can't help it, really. It's like, it has has some kind of an imaginary power or magnet that made me drawn to it.  It's like it has this certain powerful aura that every time I pass into it, I blinked, I paused and would check the bookshelves out.  And last weekend, on my usual  grocery schedule, I picked two. 

 

My mother used to tell me that when I was about two years old, I would love to play with any reading materials at home, which I usually ended up tearing them all apart (maybe I was fascinated with the properties of paper which gives out a sound when torn -- or maybe I was enjoying the little power I had "destroying" a thing at my age). And so, my mother, a school teacher, bought me hard-bound children's books for me to delight myself into. At school, not to brag, but I was one of the "elite" children who's one of the teacher's assistants to teach my classmates who had a hard time recognizing letters and how to pronounce it. My addiction to read followed me throughout school days. I would love to camp in libraries and oh, I love the smell of old books! It's like a drug. So addicting. Time also pushed me to write; from essay contests to publishing and contributing poems and articles to school papers. 

Best Bible Lovestory

 Movie Review : One Night With the King

Okay, so this is so far the best love story I've ever seen. Hopeless romantic, yes I am, I have been drawn to love stories in books, movies and stories of people around me. I too have my own love stories but this movie has something that drawn me to it; maybe the casts, the settings, fine clothing, cinematography -- oh, yes, her bravery and enthusiasm. 

I have seen this movie for a couple of times but like the dog-movie, Hachiko (one of my favorite movie too), it still gives me chills and a lump on my throat every time I hear her say, "This is my most valuable possession in the world. It is my past, my present and my future. And all of it is yours." Awww! 

And so I found something on youtube and thought why not share and write something about it here. I've heard Esther's story in the Old Testament before but really paid not much attention to it until I saw this movie. I've learned once again that love is not about what you could have in return but what you could give for love. Love is not just all about romances and all those sweet-nothings everyone experienced but true love means  willing to give his/her own life for someone, in this case, the whole race to be saved. Hadassah which became Esther was such a fine, young lady.  No one knows about her past but in the bible she was known be an orphaned and taken cared of by his old Uncle. Oh, such a long story but I suggest you to watch this movie.  You may click the link below for a trailer. 

   One Night with the King - Beautiful History by Plumb

( Youtube credits : JaimeR90 thank you for this buddy! )

Book Review : The Prayer of Jabez

And Jabez called on God of Israel saying, 

" Oh, that You would bless me indeed

  And enlarge my territory

  that Your hand would be with me

  And that You would keep me from evil 

  that I may not cause pain."

So God granted him what he requested.

- 1 Chronicles 4:10 

If asked why I chose this book, I'd say, "I don't know. It just happened. I just saw it, I was intrigued and I told myself I've got to read it." I've read about Jabez's name somewhere in the bible and thought of Why not hear, er, read this to know what's his story like?. And as the book's tag line said, Do you want to be extravagantly blessed by God?, I know I had to read it. Of course, we want blessings. In less than four hours, I finished the 92 pages --- in tears.

Note: Be sure to say a little prayer before reading the book, like what I normally do when reading an inspirational one. Let the Holy Spirit enlighten your mind and open your heart so you could fully understand what's in it. 

Glad I was at your Simala

Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. 

It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God.

Because of our faith, we know that the world was made at God’s command. 

We also know that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen. 

 ~ Hebrews 11:1~3

I am a pure Catholic. I have faith. I pray. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in Virgin Mary. So, sometimes, I do some pilgrimage to shrines and other holy places. My faith has made me who I am. I am stronger, I am confident, I am an optimist, I am a believer, I am renewed, I am loved!

I was hoping I'd visit the Holy Land someday; but of course, that would be a different story.This time, I will be featuring The Monastery of the Holy Eucharist or also known here in Cebu as "Birhen sa Simala". Situated south of Cebu,  the monastery is located in Marian Hills, Lindogon, Simala, Sibonga Cebu. It can be reached for about 1.5 to 2 hours (including traffic) by bus.

Beautiful Bohol Paradise

I am one damn proud to be a Boholano. Some people often judged Boholano people as "bisayang promdi" seemed to be living in secluded place, far from the modern world. Nowadays, Bohol has been getting a lot of attention with its usual beautiful beaches and improved tourists spots. Travel agencies have been including Bohol for their package tours which make the province seemed full during weekends. 

No one can best describe this paradise than someone living in one. I was  actually smiling writing this article. If ever I'd be born again and asked where I'd prefer to stay; I'd still say, Beautiful Bohol. Guides would sometimes prefer the tour would start from the center of the island; depending on where you're going to "land" in Bohol. Various sea ports can be found at Jagna, Talibon (from Pier 3 of Cebu) and Tagbilaran City (Pier 1 of Cebu) and an airport at Tagbilaran City and an "incoming new airport" at Panglao Island. These ports can be reached by fastscrafts (approx. 1.5hrs from Cebu) like Supercat, Oceanjet and regular ships and ferries.

Vacation plans? Highly-recommended : Bohol, Philippines

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

I believe everybody would agree with me : that sometimes, there is a bad day or a good day. That some time at a given moment, you're either too happy or too sad or both. That so annoying feeling when your papers got jammed on your printer and you're in a hurry; when you're stuck in a traffic and end up a minute late at work; when you forgot to set your alarm clock and ended up waking at noon --- yes, those things.....

Like me -- yes, I have been cranky lately. Must have been the weather. Or this annoying traffic I usually get stuck into while on my way to work. Stress perhaps. Bored. Maybe. I'm not angry particularly at someone, or maybe annoyed by anyone. Maybe hormonal. I don't know.

 As I watched the closing ceremony of 2012 London Olympics, one performance caught my attention : Eric Idle singing his song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life which was featured in 1979 film Monty Python's Life of Brian. It occurred to me, that, somehow, I need to loosen up a bit!