Why I love climbing mountains

My father asked me why I love climbing mountains. He said it was very exhausting, not a very  safe activity for a lady like me and consumes my savings. 

I laughed as an answer. It is because, he was actually the reason. He influenced me to explore mountains! Back then when I was little, He shared to me his adventures as a hunter back in his earlier days hunting for wild boars in the virgin forest of Isabela and Cagayan Valley. As I listened to him, my fondness for nature grows and I long to be on these places. Now that I had the chance to go, then I decided to set sail and of course come home safely to share my experiences with my family. Here are the mountains so far I have gone through:

Mt. Maculot 03.17.12

Mt. Batulao 08.17.13

Mt. Makiling 04.05.13

Mt. Timbac 12.22.13

Mt. Gulugod-Baboy 06.29.13

I just climb mountains for the surreal bliss I felt everytime I am at the summit. I love the idea that climbing mountains is just like making love, slowly and exhausting but will take you to the peak of the summit. Uh-oh... I encourage you also to climb :) Just try it, especially when you have the time and the resources. Bring your friends with you or your love ones. It will be surely fun!

Family + the wandering basang = Birthday Happiness

YEAR 2012... 

It was 5:50 am as I opened my eyes in a not so familiar place, a small room with a wide window. I opened it a little to let the sunshine in, to see the trees and the beautiful place.

Yes, i thought i was just dreaming but it is true. I'm here on Sagada on my birthday!

Seeing the scenery outside made it finally dawned to me that yes, i thought i was just dreaming but it is true. I'm here on Sagada on my birthday. Suddenly I remembered home and I miss my family especially my mama. Reading their early birthday messages, I was moved to know that they are planing to prepare foods for me tonight as I arrived home... I wondered why I was here, celebrating my birthday alone. To cut off the drama, I just remembered I had an egg pie ( I finished the lemon pie yesterday) in my bag and a cold yogurt from the nearby food house, the Yoghurt House. I just happily munched on the blessings.

Happy 22nd birthday to me :)

YEAR 2013...

Then came again, on my 23rd birthday, the hard headed and wandering basang (ilocano term for young lady) and that's me (!!!) was still away from home. I was on the muddy seashore of Quezon's long stretched beach and was with fellow volunteers picking seashells locally called "litug" for lunch. I joined an immersion activity organized by the a community development and outreach organization, the UPLB Bahay ng Pahinungod. i participated in the 10-day immersion program which aims to dwell with the people in Brgy. Sipa, Padre Burgos, Quezon and be familiar with their daily lives and routine. It was indeed a happy day of my life.

We had walked a long stretched of rice fields and hilly coconut farms just to reach the shore where there are lots of seashells. Most of the people nearby will pick the shells to make soup for their viand or sell them to those far from the shore.

We experienced how to provide and prepare our own lunch.

We did have a enjoyable moment as we savor the fruit of our labor that day, seeping hot and tasty soup from fresh litug and freshly catch fishes while enjoying the view of the beach.

Happy 23rd birthday to me!

 YEAR 2014...

My birthday is fast approaching... I do not have any travels in my mind for now because I promised to myself that the next time i will be celebrating my birthday, it will be together with my family, where my heart is truly at home. I am praying and hoping.... God's blessings are always delivered in His own mysterious way.

Rice + Chicken Joy + Bread = Fun

Yesterday, i had a chance to visit the biggest bread manufacturing in the country.

Gardenia Bakeries Inc. produced 6,000 loaf breads a day

It was also worth spending time with former classmates I have not seen for a while.

Nice to see you, Camille :)

I am lucky to had joined the CLSU Food Science department in their educational trip for their students.

First, special thanks to FST teachers who let me joined the trip :)

 The educational tour includes: