No Worries

"Hakuna Matata - No worries for the rest of your days"

~Swahili Phrase

The picture was taken in our school science garden.

Hakunana Matata is the magic phrase for a natural born worrier like me. That's me 20something years ago, before I went back to teaching. Now, the word "worry" was offered a little room for rent in my life hoping that soon it would finally found a new house to occupy.

See what teaching done to me. I'm becoming less of a worrier and more like a clown....well sort of. Clown to make my students alive and to my friends, for them to be happy.  Hahaha!!!

Take time

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life"

~Socrates

I thought when you pour out your effort, heart and all at something you will be fulfilled. But they don't. Being busy doesn't always equates progress, self satisfaction and fulfillment. Now, not only my head but also my heart knows that we cannot make it for the lost time. We don't have the future yet, we only have the present so might as well live one day at a time and enjoy life. There are far more awesome things out there. I know it.

The way home

"Our way to practice is one step at a time,

one breath at a time"

~Shunryu Suzuki

Caleruega

In life, sometimes we have to take detours. But time will always come, when you'll feel that you had reached the end of the road and there's no other way than to turn around and go back where you truly belong.

Wallflowers

"I don't need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod;

my shadow does that much better"

-Plutarch

Wallflowers? Nope, just when we wanted to. Right guys?

Wear your emotion

"Nature always wears the colors of the spirit"

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nature wears the colors of the spirit.

When I was a teen, I was fascinated with pink. 

I stayed faithful to it until I fell in love with red. A color I despised before. 

But can you believe that now, I am in awe with yellow? A color which made me puke when I was young 

(no exaggeration).

Although this sudden changes in my favorites brought confusion in me, I at least came to the most acceptable reason I can think of. And that is, "we wear our emotions". And by that I mean my color depends on my mood (hope that makes sense)

Bridge over troubled wated (jk)

"Cross the bridge when you get there"

I am such a worrier, like worrying is my hobby. 

And most of the things I worry about never happens,

and they concern the future. I tend to over think things.

Duh, it making me sick.

Can I just be happy go lucky sometimes,

and cross the bridge when I get there?

Rainy Days

"Anyone who says  sunshine brings happiness

has never danced in the rain"

-unknown

At Fort Santiago during a friend's birthday celebration

It's ironic how I love rainy season but I'm a weakling at cold temperature. Anyways, I believe we're in the transition period and meaning to say rainy season is on it's way, hooray for the raindrops lover like me.  But the truth is, rainy days makes me nostalgic about my childhood. It reminds me of cancelled school days where I spent the time home sitting near the window writing, reading or sleeping. Well, need I say more?

Because today is my day

"There are  exactly as many special occasions in life 

as we choose to celebrate"

-Robert Brault

On our way to Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental

Because today is my day, I will live as if everything is a miracle (Einstein), look into the world with optimism and grace and thank God for all the blessings.

Thank you very much to all of you for your greetings on Facebook, Twitter, text messages and Emails and on Instagram. You made my day extraordinary and super special.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Anchor

“If we are always arriving and departing, it is also true that we are eternally anchored. One's destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.”

-Henry Miller

The stern of Golden Vulture and that rope ties to the anchor

If only it was allowed, I will sit on that part of the boat. Not just for the salty fresh air, but it's a good spot to take photos.  And what I feel now is best described on the quote above. It's hard to put the words together.

Sail Away

"He that will not sail till all dangers are over must never put to sea"

--Dr. Thomas Fuller

A cargo ship for companion while on board the Golden Vulture.

Is that a big wave to where the vessel is heading? (knees trembling not then but right now, gee I didn't noticed that until today, on the picture)

I guessed that we're only 30 minutes away from Puerto Galera when we encountered this cargo vessel. At this juncture, I was on my right state of mind (sleepy though ) and well acquainted with the sea again. No more jitters uh? Yes, I'm kinda boastful like that to even stare at the tiny bits of water that were about to hail my face only the boat is covered and it's HUGE. Hahaha.

And no I'm NOT BUSY today....just LAZY

How to overcome trauma

"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for"

-William Shedd

MSL's Golden Vulture picking passengers in Puerto Galera

This  huge boat which can board 150 passengers ditched my trauma of the sea and boat per se after that bumpy whirlwind ala roller coaster adventure in Quezon Province. Upon seeing it, man I had that boasting feeling of declaring war with the waves. Bring em' on and rock our boat. After almost an hour and a half ride in the wide sea under the hot sun, we set foot in  Puerto Galera. Then the fun begun.

Note: To overcome your fear or trauma from a previous sea adventure, make sure you go up aboard a big boat and station yourself near the life jackets, okay? 

Busy yet Unproductive

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life"

-Socrates

Despite the busy schedule, I can feel that there's no accomplishment to something you poured more than an ample time with. It's tending the worst of me instead of extracting the best. Sacks of time loaded on a truck of chores you doesn't believe in and on monotonous repetitive motion gone to waste. The barrenness of a busy life is severe than a decaying tree. Goals without aim, decision of the powerful and objectives of the few.

A Bane or a Boon?

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous"

-Aristotle

Water Hyacinth a.k.a Water Lily

Water Hyacinth is not only a competitor to rice crops, it also alter the free flowing water in the river and other bodies of water. When I was a child I wasn't aware of those facts because it's a major source of playing materials for me during cooking session with little friends. I also came to admire it's attractive flowers.

Discovering that it has fibers, textile manufacturers found a great way to maximize the use of this flowing creature into something that humanity can use. And instead of mass destruction to avoid clogs on rivers, they converted it to textile. 

A proof that even a bane can also be a boon.

Ilog Pasig

"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown,

for going out, I found what was really going on"

-John Muir

The view of "Ilog (River) Pasig" inside Fort Santiago, Intramuros

A river known for it's greatness and an important transport route during the Spanish Era in the Philippines is nothing but a dead river. All the pronounced character it showcased during it's golden times were mere remnants of the past. Thanks to the industrial development and negligence of the people it served.

Refuge

"Everybody's going through a lot of stress these days,

no matter how well off you are and how many advantages you have,

it's a stressful time in everybody's lives.

-Chris Frantz

Life is indeed full of matters which stresses out not only our physical body but our precious mind. And in those times of trouble, when one seek a refuge, there's no other place I could think of than one which is close to nature. Old yet lavishing, not different but unique. A quiet place to run in search for solitude.

Someday I'll  built a serene space like this and complement it with a Dedon's Orbit or the Daydream to woo calmness and soothe the aching heart.

Rock formation of Borawan Island

When life is tough, stand like a rock

-Sey

The rock formation of Borawan Island

Borawan, an island which was once a secret paradise is gaining popularity among wild adventure seekers. Derived it's name from two well known tourists spots destination, it resembles the famous rock formation of Palawan and the white sand beaches of Boracay. 

Campers who are fond of rapelling can opt for this destination. Though not grand as the other rapelling destination, it will suit the purpose, to think that this island will let you experience two leisure/adventure in one destination.

The Light of Hope

Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.

-Anonymous

A ray of sunlight while lying inside my tent at Borawan Island

It's a bliss to wake up in the morning, knowing you're safe from a bumpy ocean ride . There's the ocean in front singing a lullaby at night and ticks as a clock to wake you up, the fresh air to breathe and the light of hope falling on my knees.

This is one of the days I woke up with so much gratitude in my blood stream. For every beat of my heart I am uttering prayers and at that very moment, I know life is precious and worth the living no matter how rough the road ahead is.

Do you know what lies ahead?

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.

Only through experience of trial and suffering

can a soul be strengthened, ambition inspired , and success achieved.

-Hellen Keller

Dampalitan Island, Padre Burgos, Quezon Province

It was early in the morning but the sun was never there. I blamed it on the bad weather that accompanied us there. Who would imagine what lies ahead, when no one has a grasp of our deadly end.

We took chances when we ventured out for this trip to Quezon Province. Plan's completed and just needed to be executed so out we went. We woke up with this sight in Dampalitan Island on the second day of our island hopping adventure. Black clouds succumbing the vast ocean. Needless to say, we suffered rough rides aboard the boat which I thought was bound to our end. But thank God, he just shook our sleeping soul and from that day forward we became more thankful with the life we have. Lessons learned the hard way they say, but it's all worth it.

Missing Summer

"I miss the days when summer vacation was about relaxing and hanging out with friends.

Now it's all about working and squeezing your friends in when you can""

Anonymous

Munting Buhangin Resort in, Batangas 

I know I found the most perfect quotation which is way too unrelated with the picture. I'm doing scavenger hunt when I found this picture and I suddenly felt nostalgic with the summer season. It was early in the morning when I took this picture during our summer trip in Munting Buhangin in Batangas, an outing not with my friends but that of our company. That's why I felt the quote above is quite related somehow. Right! Oh Summer. It's more fun in the Philippines.

Where the sky meets the sea

I go to nature to be soothed and healed,

and to have my senses put in order.

-John Burroughs

The picture was taken  from the top of Capones Lighthouse when we went to Anawangin. We had a great time though I was really afraid of the height. This is the part when I really appreciated nature and it's a wonder how the sky seems to meet the sea and the mountains.