Day 7/40: Bucket List #7 Checked!

My bucket list number 7 which is attend a dance class just got crushed on my list! Woot! A few days ago, we started our unlimited dance lessons in Movement Dance Studio. I've long wanted to join one so when a co-worker mentioned that MDS was giving a 50% discount from their regular price of unlimited dance lessons for 30 days, we bought the discounted vouchers right there and then. I'm no dancer dancer, I even have a hard time memorizing dance steps even way back then, but I love it when I am able to follow and move to the beat of music right. So this class was a dream come true for me. We do not only get to dance hiphop, we also get to join their different classes in sexy jazz, belly dancing, zumba, cardio striptease and pole dancing beginner. And unlimited pa! Work lang ang kalaban kasi there are lessons held in between office hours. Good thing I love my job. :) It's an answered prayer. Yes, I pray for small things like this and I know God would love to listen us pray for small things like this, like a child. I know He have a gazillion big prayers to listen to. Parang ice breaker nya lang 'to from those serious, heavy prayer concerns but treats them all equally. Happy, happy! It's our 3rd day today. A good way to lose some pounds and to work out those blues! The teachers are fun and are good in what they do and the receptionists are the nicest and the friendliest! Photos below taken today while we wait for our next class:

The dance studio! One of my current happy place! :)

With Ate Jaja R waiting for our next class, Cardio Striptease.

And they have another home here in Shaw. A 5-minute walk from our place so hopefully we get to catch another 50% off discount from their regular unlimited lessons classes. Haven't increase my cash flow yet or thought of or found a regular sideline job that would allow me to spend on luxuries like this. Once in a while pwede pa. But for now, this is more than okay. I'm happy and kilig that I'm dancing again!

How about you, what is your current happy place? Share! ;) (Yes, I'm referring to you, my dear avid reader...Hi Bestfriend!)

Epic 2011

My first post of the year! Woot! I hope to finish this post in one sitting but boy this is gonna be quite tedious. Imagine compressing your one epic year in one post. I see too much mediocrity here. Listing all the fun and inspiring experiences and encounters that I so wanted to write about but was too lazy or too distracted or too busy. Excuses, excuses I know. But then again, allow me to run you down of the many (and I feel major) things/happenings in my 2011 that made me sum it up to one word: EPIC! This is just a rundown. Not only am I planning but wants to execute it, and write more about the adventures that have the asterisk after them below. And with more photos. But for now, allow me to share with you a glimpse of my 2011.

JANUARY

• We get to spend our December 2010 Christmas and January 2011 New Year in Punta Cruz, Maribojoc, Bohol with Nanay and the rest of the Balatayos.
• Attended Liveloud Concert, a worship concert organized by Youth for Christ.  Because I missed long praise fests with full band and my YFC Kuyas and Ates, I decided to come over. 'Twas fun! 

YFC Liveloud Concert. Photos by Jeremiah Toledo.

Christmas and New Year with the relatives and extended families in Bohol. 

FEBRUARY

• SFC Icon in Camarines Sur

MARCH

• GK Kalinga sa Bayan in Calauan, Laguna. My tweets below of the experience. Thanks to twitter I am able to document my GK adventures when I'm too lazy to blog. Hihi Which I know shouldn't been the case because it defeats the purpose of my reason to blog: to be able to share and inspire readers of the different human and love stories I get to encounter in my every GK adventure.
• Today was moving and inspiring and we met one cool priest who's into guns, pets, motorcycles and seriously helping the poor.
• "Hindi ko nga alam kung paano kami papatahanin bukas sa pag-iyak" - Tito Ompong on their last day of their 2-mo everyday feeding program 
• Kung pwede lang isa-isahin yung mga kuwento nila at ibahagi sa buong mundo. Kung may walking dictionary, sila ang walking Bible. *saludo* 

APRIL

• GK Bayani Challenge 2011* in Bantayan Island, Cebu with family and friends! Fun, inspiring, and definitely filled with love! 

Mission trip and a vacation (for a day) with the whole family!

Let the GK Bayani Challenge 2011 begin!

• Holy Week with the Oquinenas
• Talaba,tahong,kinilaw na isda,sinugba na isda,shrimps,leche flan,mais con yelo.Thank you for the sumptuous lunch,titos & titas of GK Cavite! 
• Trying out Banapple. Banoffee cake. Oreo brownie cake. Coffee toffee cake. Yum!

MAY

• GK Leaders Conference in University of Makati and Batangas. My second mission trip with everyone from Team GK Marketing! One of the craziest time of my 2011. 
• This was also the time of the year that GK1world's traffic shot up. Thanks to Manny Pacquiao, Charice Pempengco, Jasmine Villegas and Taboo of Black Eyed Peas. All of the news were released all in one day and with Tito Tony accepting the Nikkei Award in Japan, that was one great and blessed day which (turned into a week) in the life of GK. See tweets below. 
• It's good news Thurs Pacman signs up 2 b GK champion, Charice & Jasmine sing "One Voice" for GK, TM wins Nikkei Asia Prize!!
• TabBep: My song is a Latino / Filipino world anthem to show our unity within brown pea-ple and it's gonna be the anthem for #Gawad Kalinga
• We were absolutely thrilled when we saw the GK flag being waved in Manny's fight! See that?

JUNE: My birth month!

• Was able to book a PISO flight so I was able to spend 5 days back in Cebu with family and friends. A gift that I absolutely love. And thank you for the midnight surprise roommies! My personal wish for myself tweeted by me during my birthday below. I don't think I wasn't able to do all. Haha
• My 23rd year's resolution: must organize. must systematize. read, listen, learn, absorb, write, do. love more. travel more. laugh more.

It's a triple birthday celebration! Happy Birthday to me, Matt and Mark! :)

• Sagip Conference with Team GK Cebu
• Started my Digital Mentoring class and I was really excited and looking forward to it. It's been more than a year that I realized that I wanted to learn website and social media marketing and those related to digital marketing to be able to become the best for my job in GK and to share my knowledge and experiences along the way. I am grateful for all the opportunities of growing in that aspect that God has blessed me with. Hopefully more learning and sharing opportunities will come my way this 2012.

JULY

• Our fellow GK workers decided to take us around old Manila: Binondo-Quiapo-Intramuros. I enjoyed every moment of it. I don't mind the walking at all. I would've wanted to visit that place again so I can elaborate my experience. History never fails to interest me!

What we saw when we went around Binondo and Quiapo. I want another tour because I can't remember even one place that we've dropped stopped by because I didn't take down any notes and blogged about it right away. Or maybe because they're in Chinese names. Hihi

Intramuros. Been here twice. I love its old, Spanish feel with the preserved, cobbled streets. But I still want to take the Intramuros tour with Carlos Celdran.

• Andrew Lloyd Webber Concert. Thanks to the cast who got in touch with us for a GK Tour, we got free tickets! Woot!
• GK mission trip in Mindoro with Ate Bai's ACT.
• GK Dupax mission trip for the SIGA Barkadahan Camp. I miss youth camps! I miss serving the young! What makes this trip more inspiring is we were with the SIGA coordinators from Las Pinas who were once SIGAs in their respective GK communities. It's inspiring to see them all empowered and sharing their stories and having fun with the youth in our GK communities in Dupax del Norte. 

Fun SIGA Barkadahan Camp. I want to serve more camps with these young(er-than-me) people! 

AUGUST

• Princess Diaries with SFC CC1B chaptermates. :)
• I love the talks, sharings and the revelations. :) I love the cooking session and the yoga-like exercise. Thanks Ate @teacher_tintin ! :) 
• Had an inspiring weekend. We are daughters of a great King. We are captivating. We are princesses. We are His beloved. 
• Tagaytay with the roommates for the long weekend. 
• Tagaytay. Highlights: short trekking in Picnic Grove, waking up to a breathtaking view, ukay-ukay. 

Tagaytay for the long weekend and looks like someone's got the rock and roll sign...rock and rollin'. Cutie RB! 

SEPTEMBER

• The Igsuons decided to splurge on a budget trip to Puerto Princesa, Palawan that most definitely deserve a separate post. Two thumbs up!
• We'll go firefly and dolphin watching, cave spelunking, wildlife trekking, diving, swimming and see the Underground River when I bring my family the next time around. 
• I was in awe the whole time. God's majesty and magnificence and awesomeness truly reflects His creations. Breathtaking as always.

• GK Headquarters moved to a new location. Thank you Tito Gerry Choa of Profriends.
• Showtime experience with Joyce and Kervin! They are as fun live as they are fun on TV. Total riot!
• Our last SFC household fellowship. Both of my household heads are moving to another chapter in their lives, one for marriage, the other for career. Sigh. I hate goodbyes. But that was definitely one awesome night.

OCTOBER

• GK Expo
• GK Hope Ball
• Isabela bound with Tito Bien to check the GK villages in Kuya Dan's area and bring relief goods to our GK families affected by Typhoon Pedring.
• GK Global Summit in Sydney, Australia. Wasn't able to actually attend the event but I feel like it. Been following updates all weekend through.
• Taboo visited a GK village in Taguig after their BEP concert and he's coming back!
• GK TGIF

NOVEMBER

• HOME for All Soul's Day and All Saint's Day and to spend family time.
• Explored Lilim with the Igsuons, the del Rosarios and new found friends. Thanks Ate Cha and Tito Oscar for sharing your paradise with us!

Can't wait for the Part 2 of this Lilim Adventure. I wanna take photos!!!

• My first Human Heart Nature Summit held in GK Enchanted Farm.

DECEMBER

• GK Planner 2012 is here! You want one? We still have them! :)
• Dinner with Saihai MMV. Three consecutive days with them drove me nuts. Aaaarrrgghhhh. Hahaha
• Social Media Conference with a social media nonprofit blogger that I really look up to, Heather Mansfield. 
• GK Operation Walang Iwanan in Cagayan de Oro, Dumaguete and Iligan. It was a devastating tragedy that cost the lives of hundreds of Filipinos but it again brought us together as one nation. And Team GK was there as always, on call. Everyone was busy in the relief centers, in ground zero despite the holidays. They all made me proud to be part of Team GK! A thought: I should learn and discipline to write my GK stories right there and then as to not let the inspiration "escape" me. I can do better than this.
• And...Cebu and Bohol for the holidays with the family. :)

There you have it, my EPIC 2011. It was a year of more self-discovery, more travel, more mission, more quality time with the family and friends, of goodbyes, of learning more, particularly for my work as GK's online marketing person, of meeting new people, of more inspiration and growing in faith, hope and love.

I would want to blog more this 2012 so I can give justice to the inspirations that I get to encounter in every mission, every adventure, every story of hope, faith and love that inspires me in one way or another. All I know is I continue to pray that God will use me powerfully and send me the right people and inspiration to bring me to a place where I am able to fully utilize my potential for His greater glory, to reflect His glory. Because that's the very reason of why I decided to tread this path in the first place. :)

My First Love

I have this dirty, little secret that I am about to reveal and I am going to shout it all out in 5..4..3..2..1..

I LOVE TO DANCE! I MISS DANCING! I WANNA DANCE AGAIN!

I've been watching dance videos non-stop in the last 2 hours (but our internet is crawling at this hour so I am able to watch only 3 videos in the span of 2 hours...haha) and as much as I want to hide it, I simply can't. So there, I've finally spilled the beans. I've been into dancing since I was a kid. From the tune of macarena to mmmmbop, sha-lalalala to hot in here in the early 20s. And I wanna dance again. It's been years since I actually danced a full song in front of a crowd. But I do have this strange thing. I usually dance in front of the mirror when no one's around. Haha. Sorry, but you can't just run away that easily from your first and true love.

The closest thing I have to dancing presently is teaching action songs to our kids in GK during GK activities. I'm not complaining or anything. The feeling of being able to teach a thing or two to these kids, returned with hugs and kisses and "sipon" is priceless, but I wanna dance away in wild abandon like I usually do back then. Break a move, learn new steps, twist your head, shake your booty. Something like that or even more. Not until recently have I accepted that there's no way that I can be able to get rid of the feeling that I wanna dance again. And I don't want to. So I'm looking for dance studios who are offering the cheapest dance lessons on weekends. Hmmmm. But I have yet to save for it and this would be my "first" formal dancing lessons ever. So I want to prepare for it. I even included it in my must-do list for 2011. Thinking about it makes me all giddy and excited! Sigh, this must be LOVE. Reminiscing about it brings out all the good memories I had with dancing and so let me leave you with the only decent photo I have while dancing onstage. And a STEP UP 2 video of their final dance that I'll be watching to cap the night. Enjoy!

My only decent photo, dancing during a YFC Regional Conference.

2011 Resolutions

I decided to come up with one and will try my very best to accomplish it. Reading this blog inspired me to have a one-year goal and planning out what I have to do to achieve such goals. For 2 consecutive years, I've been making "100 things to do for 200_". And for last year, I was able to accomplish 50% of it which is not bad at all. But still, it'll make you ask, how come I wasn't able to accomplish the other 50? Well, for some reasons, it is because I tend to NOT push myself when needed and I have this crazy attitude of sleeping things off. Literally, at times. I am aware that I have become so lazy that I tend to set aside a lot of things needed in my work, doing errands and achieving goals I've long set for myself. Yes, I believe being a sloth can cause such big personal rift and it affects your personal growth, gets in your way of wanting to be excellent in the work that you love and slows you down in achieving your dreams for yourself, your family and the people who needs you the most. It's getting way out of control so I am doing this 30 day thing. I just stumbled upon this blog and it actually contains a lot of good stuff. I am hoping to be able to follow some of those in the list (which requires me to do it daily) in the next 21 days, which they say creates a habit.

So I listed down goals/things to work on/things to do for 2011 below:

• Be on time.
• Wake up early everyday.
• Stop procrastinating in everything.
• Lose weight. I weighed myself yesterday and I currently weigh 56 kg/120 lb.Have a regular form of exercise.
• Track down all my expenses.
• Spend time with family when in Cebu.
• Go on mission trip with the family.
• Keep in touch with old friends. Greet them in their birthdays (which I suddenly stopped doing even if you see it in Facebook. Dunno why. I'm weird like that.)
• Meet new people.
• Write more often.
• Read a lot of books.
• Travel more. (CamSur, Bantayan Is, Cebu, Bohol, Puerto Galera, Iloilo, Boracay, Australia)
• Increase traffic of GK1world. Hits will be 250,000 at the end of the year. Registrants will increase.
• Have a regular prayer time.
• Learn a lot about online marketing.
• Find other source of income online.
• Laugh, hug, smile more often.
• Be more grateful.
• Take lots of photos.
• Pay all debts.
• Increase sales of human heart nature.
• Crush out 10 things-to-do in my bucket list.
• Minimize drinking sodas.
• Be a more positive person.
• Be organized.
• Stop complaining.
• Deliver best performance at work ever.  I want to be excellent, for God and country, for our GK communities.
• Take up a class in dancing. I miss!
• Drink more water.
• Stay away from junk foods.
• Learn from every struggle and trial.
• Take time out to rest.
• Be open to surprises.
• Adjust to changes.
• Live and enjoy life to fullest! And love in wild abandon! :)

Major, Major 2010

2010 is the best year of my life. I wanted THAT to be the title of my first post for my year end review. But a very inspiring man thought and wrote about it earlier than I did so I make do with a lame one. See his exceptionally inspiring write-up here. But I promise you, THIS, will be a great post! Well, I'll try. So here it goes...

What makes YEAR 2010 the best one I've ever had in my 22 years of existence? What sets it apart? Well it had some highlights that beat the highlights of the rest of the 21. Know what I'm saying? Read on...(not in any particular order)

1. Turning 18. My sister turned 18 last year and so did the rest of her barkadas. Her highschool barkada had become one of mine since I've spent almost every other weekend with them since they all got involved in GK and YFC. I've seen them grow and bloom for more than 3 years now and I can't imagine my sister's life, and my family's too, without them. So I was present in every one of them, well except when I moved here in Manila for work last April. 

Lynlyn's bestfriend, Totot, turned 18 last January at Crown Regency.

My sister, Princess Lynlyn (in pink), turned 18 last February in VDR's Multipurpose Hall.

My sister's barkada in Deedee's 18th soiree in Waterfront, Lahug.

2. Finished college. And I finally did! Nightmares totally over! Woohoo! I hated that I have to wake up feeling uninspired and uneasy just because school days meant facing scary professors and difficult course subjects. But knowing that I need a diploma to pursue the path I want to take, I don't really have much choice but to keep on going. And having smart and witty thesis mates and batch mates makes school more bearable. It pushed me to fight the urge to just give up and skip classes more often. Teehee. I will never forget the feeling of hearing that I passed all my subjects and finished our incredibly cool thesis which is one of the major, major requirements to walk through that long aisle of our school gym for graduation. See our thesis story here.

With my thesis mates Mayang, Knyl, Me, Twinkle and Jorge  in our thesis defense get-up.

With my supportive parents during my graduation day.

 3. Working full time for GK. My life long dream. True story. When others dream of becoming an engineer, or a doctor or a celebrity, I dreamed of being able to touch and inspire people in a massive way, thus my choice and life long commitment. It was not really difficult for me and I thank God for supportive parents who never asked me for anything in exchange of the years that they took care of me, showered me with love and provided me with good education. I was blessed that I was given the free will to choose the path that I want to take. A path less traveled but I truly love and I know I would be able to give my best. Read about my adventures in the first few months of working for GK which brought me to Subic, Camarines Sur, Tarlac and Laguna.

Our Subic Adventure. Water and Rescue Training.

Our Laguna Adventure. Turning over of new GK homes and ended up that day trekking and riding rafts alternately.

Our CamSur Adventure. We ended up walking the 3 km run. Haha Long story.

 4. The Moving Out. This I have to do after I chose my GK path because I'll be assigned in the main office which is in Mandaluyong. It wasn't difficult than I thought it should be. I just have to keep reminding myself that I'll have long Christmas vacations to be reunited with the family again. The urgency of the work and the "biglaang" decision pulled me out from the comforts of family, friends and the familiar environment of Cebu which allowed me to grow as a person and as a Christian. I am grateful to my GK family for being always there to guide and watch over me as I dock on a new chapter of my life. And not to mention my roommates and my teammates/office mates. Thank you y'all!

My roomies, ate Melai, Joyce and Ate May.

Team GK Marketing (where I belong) and GK Partnerships Group.

5. Ultimate Family Time. I am super happy that in a span of one year, I was able to visit my Mama's hometown, which is in Iloilo, and Papa's, in Bohol, again. Haven't been able to visit Iloilo that much since we moved in Cebu 9 years ago. Our cancelled Palawan trip turned out to be a blessing in disguise (but at that time, I wanted to swim all the way to Puerto Princesa just to attend the Bayani Challenge). I miss living in my grandparents' farm and doing farm chores like feeding the chickens and ducks, sending the carabao and goats to their grazing area, climbing on our siniguelas, mango and santol trees to name a few. So ecstatic to see my Nanay Estelita in Iloilo after almost two years! We also just recently spent our Holidays in Bohol which made us spend time with the Balatayos, see my Nanay Odag whom I miss the most and reconnect with nature.

With Nanay Estelita, my mother's mom, who I haven't seen for 2 years already. It's great to be reunited with the rest of the Laridas.

With Nanay Odag, my father's mom, which we never fail to visit every year since Bohol is a P150.00 boat ride away from Cebu.

6. GK's 7th Anniversary! The culmination of the GK777 campaign last 10/10/10 which gathered about 60,000 people from across the globe. Happy 7th GK! I am very proud to be part of such inspiring movement!

7. Faith Journey. I am officially a member of SFC. Yes, I finally am. Thank you Kuya Fredney for the invitation and for SFC Makati for taking me in and allowing me to grow and deepen my faith slowly, but surely.

...those are the major, major reasons why 2010 will be majorly special and the best. But I wouldn't mind if 2011 could beat that! 2010 has allowed me to grow as I adapt and adjust in the many changes that happened and that will continue to happen. But I am grateful for everyday that I am able to say "thank you" to our Maker for sharing every waking and sleeping moment with me, for just abundantly blessing me. 2010 held lots of surprises, new learnings, many firsts, and a dozen adventures. A year of forgiveness and moving on. A year of taking a leap of faith, making sacrifices and making bold decisions. A year of conquering my fears and pursuing after a dream. A year of creating new and keeping the old relationships beating: meeting new people, having a new family away from home, being in touch with those who drifted apart, and keeping in touch with those who are miles away. Indeed, it was a year full of love, inspiration, hope and faith. And the greatest of all of these is...LOVE.

Filipino Bucket List

I was just finishing my bucket list (I edited the bucket list I've written years ago...) when I came across this Filipino Bucket List. I was doing some "bucket list hunting" online while doing the editing. I decided to google "Bucket List of a Filipino" and tadaaaa, I came across a blog that wrote more of a checklist for us Filipinos. And I wanted to do it too!! Thus, this blog. Haha.


Just place an X by all the things you’ve done and remove the X from the ones you have not.

(x) Walked in the flood --- I also did try swimming. No kidding. Back then, when I was a kid and germs and dirt are my friends.
(x) Ate balot (and penoy) --- This I totally looooove!
(x) Ate kambing (goat), ( ) aso (dog) or ( ) bayawak (giant lizard) – I would like to try dog and the bayawak. But just once please.
(x) Ate adidas (chicken feet), helmet (chicken head) or isaw (chicken intestine) --- This I totally loooove too and crave for!
(x) Rode a tricycle
(x) Rode a karitela
( ) Rode a trolley by the houses along the riles (railroad)
( ) Been to the Rice Terraces --- Excited to do this. Sagada!!
( ) Shot the Rapids at Pagsanjan
( ) Gone to the Lanzones Festival
(x) Ate with your fingers on banana leaves --- Boodle fight! A staple GK activity during GK builds.
(x) Ate Taho
( ) Ate aratiles --- What's aratiles again?
(x) Attended Simbang Gabi ( Midnight Mass ) – But never finished the whole set. Must include this in my bucket list.
(x) Played Patintero --- All these street games, I miss!!
(x) Played Tumbang Preso
(x) Played Piko
(x) Played Sungka --- I want to have my own sungka set!
(x) Played with Spiders (Gagamba derby)
( ) Climbed a coconut tree
(x) Danced the Tinikling
(x) Got on a jeepney where you had to stand
(x) Got on a jeepney
() Caught fish in the canal during a rainy day
( ) Participated in Ati-Atihan
(x) Eaten fish head
( ) Got drunk from lambanog (coconut wine)
(x) Attended a Prosesyon (Procession of the Stations of the Cross) during Holy Week
(x) visited an inmate at Bilibid prison
(x) Gone to Baguio – once
( ) Gone to the Sagada
( ) Gone to Palawan.
(x) Gone to the the Visayas --- Bisaya RULES!!!
(x ) Gone to Mindanao --- hoping to travel all throughout Mindanao!
(x) Lived in any other part of the Philippines – Luzon now
(x) Cut class – Guilty. If this means the same as going home just because you don't want to attend that certain class.
(x) Told manananggal, aswang stories during a brownout or rainy night
(x) Slept under a mosquito net
(x) Slept on a banig (mat)
(x) Polished the floor with coco husk (bunot)
(x) Tasted durian --- Tasted and that would be my first and late. Just can't stand the smell.
(x) Ate pandesal filled with condensed milk
(x) Dunked pandesal into hot coffee
(x) Rode a kalabaw --- our "sundo" in Iloilo. I miss my Tatay Diko. :(
(x) Took a bath under a “poso” or by the “ilog” --- BOTH!
(x) Used a pumice stone when taking a bath
(x) Tumulay sa kawayan
(x) Kept vigil at the Cemetery for Nov. 1st
( ) Had their first date in Luneta --- I am doing this!! haha
( ) Have gone inside Malacanang
(x) Gone shopping at Divisoria --- I love the energy of the place!
(x) Has serenaded or has been serenaded (harana) --- We do this in Bohol every time a neighbor celebrates his birthday. Fun!
( ) Gone to Camiguin Islands
( ) Gone shopping in Quiapo
(x) Eaten champorado with chokolate and tuyo
(x) Eaten dirty ice cream – sorbetero ice cream is LOVE!
(x) Greeted your grandparents or elders by kissing their hand or having them touch your forehead
(x) Seen Taal Volcano
( ) Watched the sunset by Manila Bay --- before the Luneta date, we must stopped by here first. Haha.

There you go. That was fun! I need to do all of these! Hope to be able to share my (edited) bucket list here soon too. Paalam!

DAY 4: Journey

It's 10 PM and we're on our way to CamSur to prepare for the International Marathon. Just finished watching SALT. Makes me miss watching Jackie Chan movies with all the kicks, punches, and rollings and the fact that he does all the stunts excites me. Good thing the bus is "sosyal" so I don't have to bear watching those Japanese movies with morbid scenes that buses usually play on their TV. Rejoice! It's gonna be an 8-10 hour travel so that means I have time to blog and to pray and well, time to sleep. Woot!

I loooove and miss travelling and that's what makes me excited for this trip too! I think the love for travelling began way back then. Road trips, boat rides, those were my first forms of travel. Riding a plane cost a fortune back then. But we were so lucky that we have a number of relatives in the Air Force so we get to ride a couple of military planes more than I've ever ridden commercial planes as of the moment. But airports truly fascinates me and I can stay in one for long hours. I think. Haven't tried it though. I just love how airports are able to bring out different emotions in people. The heaviness in one's heart when a loved one has to depart and the anticipation and rejoicing that awaits the arrival of a loved one.

We were lucky to have an Ilonggo and Boholano descent so we get to travel a lot since we were young.My family just loooooove road trips, may it be just short or long hours spent on the road. We would tag along with Papa in his mission trips as this is his way of introducing us what he really is passionate about: God, country, family.

Travelling opened my mind and helped me learn a lot of new things and that's why I want to travel more. It has opened my heart to endless possibilities of being able to reach out and serve others. Travelling in groups gets me all giddy and I cherish those times that I get to travel alone. And I dream of travelling the world! Who doesn't? But I would very much like to be able to see and explore every island here in the Philippines too!

And as they always say, life is a journey. I too believe it is. To reach the final destination is the goal but it is important that we'd allow ourselves to enjoy the sights and scenes as we go through life. To overcome the bumpy and muddy rides, the traffic jam, the pitfalls, the scary waves, the raging wind and the storms. Make time for those that matters most which for me is my God, my family, my friends, the people who have been there for me, and those that need my love the most, the least. I am but a storyteller of these wonderful lives that I get to encounter from day to day. 

Take time to read a book, say a prayer, thank a stranger, thank a loved one, say sorry, write a letter, draw, dance, bathe in the rain, sing, walk, run, jump, stargaze, start a conversation, laugh, cry, breathe, and love. For when God welcomes you in your final destination, He will surely ask you if you were able to open your heart, if were you able to love. So as we continue to search and take our own journey, may we always be grateful and be reminded to love with all that we are, not counting the cost. For He first loved us.

DREAM.

I dream that one day
Our voices will somehow fill the earth
With joy forever
I dream that someday
Our wishes will somehow soon come true
And last forever

I dream that one day our songs in some way
Will bring a bright tomorrow
Full of love full of hope full of joy

I see this one day
When all the world will hear us
That someday when all will stand before us
Singing one song together
Everywhere singing
We are gonna love you people of the world
We are gonna make you a better world
We will all respect you people of the world
We are gonna make you a better world

...and I dream that one day, that good news will abundantly fill the web and all other sources of media. As an administrator of GK1world, Gawad Kalinga's online nation-building machine, I feel I have this burden and privilege and opportunity to share inspiring and life-changing stories to the rest of the world. So you should too. Help us flood the web with inspirations from ordinary people living out extraordinarily.

I dream of a better world where each of us would learn to live selflessly and bring out the best in everyone. Hope you'll share the same dream too. I'm inviting every storyteller (all of us are) out there to join us, become a writer, be part of our team in GK1world, and it doesn't matter wherever you may be as long as you are living the GK way and have lots of juicy and inspiring stories to tell. 

P.S. Good news and inspiring stories at http://gk1world.com. All this drama came when it hit me that all I read every day are news related to violence, disaster, kidnappings, accidents and all other dreadful news. I remember there was a time that my papa forbid us from watching the news cause all it does is scare and discouraged us. So there. And that's why, every chance I get, I tell hopeful stories that I encounter in my every GK experience and in this GK journey.

And I am excited about our upcoming GK GLOBAL SUMMIT 2010 in Singapore even if I can't be there. Be there with them in spirit, prayers and via chat to update the rest of the GK family who can't make it too. So stay tuned to www.twitter.com/GawadKalingaHQ and LIKE our Facebook account: Gawad Kalinga (Official Page). Woot! Help us spread the GK virus and the nation-building disease that it brings. For love of God and country. WALANG IWANAN!

Another Journey Begins.

our team with the rest of the teams from Visayas wasn't able to join the bayani challenge in Palawan. frustrated for a while but all along, that was a blessing in disguise.

why a blessing? first, been praying that i'll get to visit my mama's hometown in iloilo this year, right after i finish school, and tada, i did. spent a day and a half in iloilo with our team for the bayani challenge (supposedly). i realized i just miss the farm, and the carabaos, and the ducks and chickens and the "buhay- probinsiya" in a farm, but most especially my lola and my titos and their families. second, i get to spend the holy week with my family, especially with papa who travels a lot, going to church together, going easter egg- hunting and roadtrips. we just loooove roadtrips!. a blessing in disguise because a week after that i have to decide to pursue a dream that i've been praying and hoping for so long, work fulltime for GK. yey! supposedly, i have to leave on May pa. but then, calling calls! :) third, the funds my brother raised for me(aaaaawwwww) for Palawan was immediately transferred to my funds and allowance for the first few months of my fulltime work, of course with the permission of my sponsors. 

Embarking on another journey of my life, a new chapter in the story of my life which is actually not about me at all. Manila. New people. Old friends. MRT. LRT. Commuting on my own. Big and modern buildings. Colorful GK Houses. Campaign posters everywhere. Making a choice. Boarding house. Away from family. A family away from home. But  amidst all that is new and what is to come, I thank God for bringing me here and for sending the right people and the resources needed for this journey. As the light comes streaming in our room each morning, I constantly pray for strength, courage and inspiration necessitated for every challenge that comes my way. Excited to be working with inspiring people who are passionate on uplifting the lives of the poor and grounded in God's love. Allowing God to lead and drive me through the voyage that He has called me to travel. Blessed to be part of His army fighting this seemingly impossible battle against poverty. Yet, impossible is nothing when God is at work. Completely putting my trust in God' s promise that when you decide to live your life for Him, everything will fall into place.

...and i get to crush out two things from my bucket list: getting a degree and working in GK. yaaaay!

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Bucket List

  i've decided to come up with my bucket list, thanks to Bo's article about 100 dreams. this took me months to finish just because. haha! usually people stop at 100 but i didn't and i think i'm even adding more things to do. hoping and praying that i get to do all this in my lifetime. this list ranges from simple things to do to crazy stuffs. yay!! brace yourself, this is gonna be a loooooooooooooong blog.

• get a degree/ finish school
• work fulltime for Gawad Kalinga
• learn how to drive a car/ get a license
• take up crash courses in photography, dancing, writing, drawing
• join a pilgrimage
• meet Bo Sanchez and Paulo Coelho
• become a writer
• compile all pictures in a scrapbook
• join a marathon or a race
• witness CFC being restored
• have a spiritual adviser, a priest
• interior design a room
• witness a meteor shower
• wish on a falling star
• stargaze
  
• experience a romantic date: moonlit dinner by the beach
• meet more inspiring people from GK especially from other countries
• give gifts and letters to everyone i know
• witness the giving birth of a baby
• celebrate my birthday in a GK site
• start a collection ( conviction shirts of God, country and environment)
• keep a memory box/es
• try different foreign cuisine
• hits of blogs: 100,000
• start a mini- foundation with family and friends to send lots of kids and teens to school
• get a passport
• live outside the country for a month 
• play an instrument ( a guitar)
• visit a prison
• visit a psychiatric ward
• visit an orphanage
• adopt a kid
• learn another language
• read lots of books
• write lots of letters
• read the bible from cover to cover
• try yoga and capoeira
• be in a sports team
• wear contact lens
• see my younger siblings graduate from college and be successful in their own chosen field especially arboy
• find a good school for arboy for college
• spoil my parents endlessly with material stuffs and travelling
• watch a concert. already watched lots of concert but i would want to watch a concert of hillsong and don moen
• highschool reunion
• college reunion
• maid of honor for bestfriends mishy and ryka's wedding
• see Mishy become the best teacher, Ryka, the best surgeon and Felice, the best CPA lawyer
• fall in love with a great guy and get married
• have my dream wedding (wedding at the church, reception by the beach)
• have kids and be a mummy
• watch theater
• go on mission to Africa and to other countries
• go on mission to far-flung places in the Philippines
• travel to other countries alone
• slow dance
• photograph myself underwater
• spend a whole day on a hammock, reading a good book, by the beach
• be in the middle of a field of flowers
• plant and harvest rice (did this in iloilo in my lolo's farm. super fun especially when we're wet and muddy all over)
• climb trees ( we do this a lot in the province, but i don't think i can climb anymore. haha!)
• sleep on a nipa hut
• sleep on a tent (lots of times, thanks to GK builds and YFC conferences and girl scout campings)
• plant a tree (we even planted a mangrove when we were in Sorsogon)
• have a pet
• ride a carabao
• cross a hanging bridge
• overcome my fear of heights
• have a GK legacy village in honor of my parents
• build our family's dream house, an eco-house.
• try pottery
• start a business with family and friends, a social enterprise
• meet the pope
• sing in a bar...haha..no kidding!
• own a laptop and a point and shoot cam with DSLR features e.g. Canon
• try painting
• go shopping in Divisoria, Quiapo, Bangkok, Hongkong, Singapore, US
• serve a youth camp or CLP somewhere in Europe or US
• celebrate 50th wedding anniversary of Ma and Pa
• have a painting portrait of the whole family
• own a toyota grandia for the family
• build an organic farm for papa- with greenhouse
• build a family rest house in Bohol (this doesn't mean i'm going to build all of these alone, fund to be exact, with my siblings of course)
• field trip with the family within the country
• travel outside the country with family
• go on mission with the family
• give papa a home entertainment showcase
• and for mama a kitchen showcase
• big, big family reunion with family on both sides
• do wall- climbing, mountain climbing, rapelling
• do water rafting
• jetski and banana boat
• iceskate
• parasail, parachuting(?), ride on an air balloon
• ride a cable car
• ride a train
• ride a yacht
• go bungee- jumping
• do the height thing just like in Crown Regency
• scuba dive
• see snow, make a snow man and snow angels
• island- hop
• ride a horse and an elephant
• plunge into a waterfall
• bathe in a river 
• swim with the dolphin and the whales
• see a great white shark upclose
• go cruising
• host in an event with lots of people
  
• road trip in Luzon and Mindanao
• road trip in the US
• Europe trip
  
• learn how to cook
• swim through the Pacific Ocean
• visit a museum
• visit an amusement park (check: but i want to go to Disneyland, too. haha)
• see the Magnificent Mayon Volcano, Maria Christina Falls, Chocolate Hills , San Juanico Bridge
• visit Banaue Rice Terraces and the Underground River
• go caving
• visit GK sites in other countries
• live to see GK established in Cebu and in my school, USC
• visit a palace, castle
• visit a vast forest and a safari
• see the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House, St. Peter's Basilica, Hollywood
• visit Jordan River and Gethsemane Garden
• visit a desert
• ride a helicopter
• ride a tanke de guera, military ship, military plane, military truck
• serve GK in US and Europe
• visit all the beautiful islands in the Philippines, 7,107
• visit my dream places outside the country (i've been making a list)
• visit 7,000 GK communities ( we had this conversation with papa that we have to visit at least 7,000 GK communities aroud the world in our lifetime. but i think 7,000 times in one site will do. haha)
• live to see that Human Heart Nature be an international brand.
• visit a zoo
• be a godparent
• bathe in a fireman's hose bath 
• stay in the community of CFC for life
• attend GK Global Summit and GK Highway of Peace
• paint and landscape a GK house
• step inside a mosque
• have a Muslim friend
• live away from family for months, stay in a boarding house
• donate blood

how bout you? why not write your dreams down. it's fun and inspiring and it'll make you dream big, not only for yourself, but for others as well and at the same time and i think it'd remind you to pray more, not only to ask God to bless and grant you what you dream of, but to be able to thank Him everytime you get to crush out and fulfill every dream. Good luck with your bucket list!