My 2ish FREEDOM day!

Last May 31st, I celebrated my 2ish birthday at work. Everyone at work was wondering why I was at work. I decided postpone my vacation leaves. I was supposed to celebrate my birthday in my playground, Palawan. I guess it was just another day for business.  

However, I wrote my life learning before my FREEDOM day ended. I learned many things and still need to learn more things about life. Here are some of my reflections about life and things I learned about myself and people:

1. I already reached the point of my life that I don't have to impress anyone just to be accepted or to be loved.
2. Some people come to your life as blessings others come in your life as lessons.
3. Over-thinking ruins your life. Life is simple and short. Don't waste it!
4. God never gives you challenges that you wouldn't win. Face it like a real woman and never loose faith in him. Praying helps and it does work.  
5. I hate BS (bullshit)!  I'm too old for this!
6.  You can never please everyone especially trainees.
7. Travel... Travel...Travel...Travel...Travel...
9.  Run, Train, Pole dance, Hike, Climb, etc :)
10. Thank God for a great family,  friends, and my precious dog- Sir Charlie.
11. I have an amazing career! Despite of being exhausted and crazy changes in schedules.
12. Love, value and take care of myself even more. Getting your and being "FREEDOM" is awesome! Oh yeah! Wink...Wink...

Missing you...

The year is about to end and I just got my new Starbucks planner. Looking back to the past months, I remember the people I lost. They are so dear to my heart. Sometimes I still cry remembering them. Wishing that I could have just one day with them. Hug them, tell them how much I miss them and inform them the good news, I'm now the epitome of my name, FREEDOM. If I could turn back time, all I want to do is say I LOVE YOU and tell you not worry. Everything will be fine... I miss you!

There are days that I think of you and still feel the warmth of your smile and divine comfort of your hug. The weird thing is that every time I think of you, you still make me smile. And sometimes when I'm feeling down I would read your text about what you've said about my smile.
Sometimes I would imagine the sound of your laugh that would echo in my heart. But what can a person do if they're far apart.You would do your best to move forward and hope for the other person happiness. I've come to the point that all I can do is HOPE and not expect. Pray that our paths would cross again then smile at each other without any regrets and say "It was nice to see you."  I miss you dearest friend.

Lost in Translation

For the past few days, I've been yearning for silence. I felt that something was missing. I felt restless and uncomfortable in someway that I couldn't explain. Then, I talked to my good friend "Tater" (not real name) and expressed my yearning for silence. I could barely grasp the idea that I needed to stop, listen and figure things out. I told him that I just want to sit on a bench, look at the world and savor the silence. Just listen to the world and keep still. I guess being surrounded by people all the time and talking all the time makes you miss the time savoring your own  . I kinda lost myself in translation. I really need to learn to leave work once I logged out from the system. Savor the time to be still, breathe and tell myself that I've done a great job at the end of the day.

I was watching MTV Inside Lady Gaga Outside. She said that there was a point while she was doing tours she kinda lost herself. She said "I have been traveling around the world and it's getting smaller. I miss New York." She knew that she wants to be even better in her craft. She wants to give more creativity and passion for her fans but she was kinda loosing her touch. She was too immersed to what she loves. She had to stepped back, go home to New York spend time with family and friends and savor her alone time with her bicycle, Henry. She said whenever she rides Henry around town, she feels that the world is bigger because it will take her a long time to get back where her house is located. Not like when she in a plane or in a car, she felt the world is smaller and linear. She takes the time to look around her and see the bright neon lights of New York.

As she was telling her story, I realized something. I was feeling the same way. I was too immersed at work, the thing that I'm passionate about, teaching/training people. I'm confided in the four corners of the training room. I forgot that I need to breathe and focus on myself. I need to breathe so I can even be better on what I do.

I guess one of the things I miss is to explore the world on my own. Going to a place that I've never been to and get lost... get lost in translation... in a good way. But I know I don't have that much leaves to explore the world in full blast. So I need to find balance first with work, being a grad school student and play.

I need to find my inner peace first... silence...

closing time for 2010...

2010...

been there...

done that...

lessons learned...

shed tears...

endured an unbearable pain...

closed the chapters in my life and moved forward...

2010...

learned more about myself...

spent time... time for solitude...

for a moment i was at peace...

spent time reflecting and discerning...

2010...

traveled a lot...

learned a lot about life...

saw the undeniable beauty of the Philippines...

learned to survive on my own...

got lost... laughed and... 

found the way on my own...

met artists, mountaineers, surfers, and other unique individuals along the way...

saw their beauty and how beautiful to be different in their own little way...

2010...

embraced the warmth and support of my family and friends...

they saw my beauty and my strength...

commended my achievements...

Now... 2011

new beginnings...

adventures await...

the adventurer is hungry for more exploration...

challenges both personally and professionally...

ready to take risks...

even more determined to climb, to dive, to surf and to survive what life will throw and offer me...

I will continue to live and love life to the fullest...

before the year ends...

Hoping that things will fall into place before the year ends.
Patience is indeed a virtue but you also need to move and make things happen.

Be silent in moments you need to be, and observe the world.
Listen to your soul as it whispers you to either to step it up or to slow down.

Live the moment you have.
Learn to love your passion and draw strength from it.

Open your arms and hands, feel the wind go through.
Grab opportunities in front of you.
And soon enough you'll take that flight to the endless possibilities of life.  



 

PART 3: SURFvivor the TRAVEL FACTOR way!

October 30, I woke up quarter to 6 in the morning. I went out side my cottage. It was my check out day in Monaliza Surf Resort. I was mesmerized by the majestic, the beauty and the force of the waves. It was breath-taking. I inhaled the cold, fresh, sea breeze. It was so calming and I was so at peace. Then, I asked Nanay, the owner of the resort, if I could have a cup of hot water for my coffee. We talked for a while, then she gave me a cup of hot water. I ate my breakfast (a cup of coffee, a small can of Century-corned tuna, Skyflakes Garlic crackers and Quaker Oat cookies). I had the perfect, scenic breakfast view- the beach and the LU waves. After that, I packed my things and took a bath. I was so excited while I was taking a bath. I wanted to meet the group. Then, I got a call from Aica, one of the travel consultants of Travel Factor. They've arrived and were eating their breakfast at the Surfer's Retreat Restaurant. I was even more excited. Finally, I checked out, said my goodbye to Nanay and started to walk to Surfer's Retreat Resto.

There they were! The Surfvivor LU group! Aica, Eden, Keng, Paula, Tina, Allan, Rene and Don. They were still kind of beat up from the long travel but they were full of enthusiasm to surf. We introduced ourselves, had small talk. Then, we went to our resort, San Juan Surf Resort. We changed into our surfing gear and were informed that we're about to surf in Bacnotan Beach, since the waves in San Juan were too strong for us.

When we arrived to Bacnotan, we chose our instructors and listened to the basic surfing moves, then off we went to the sea! Kuya Jazzie was my instructor. He's a really great surfing coach. He made sure to look at my stands and the way I surf, so I can improve. And I did! I was able to stand, balance and surf easily. I was able to get hang out of it. He made me paddle on my own and even taught me how to turn my surf board on my own as well. He also made sure that I catch really great waves. I was getting addicted and even made more enthusiastic to surf. I wanted to surf the whole day, non-stop. While we were waiting for a good wave, we had talked all about surfing. I asked all the questions about surfing especially the tricks and tips and about Kuya Jazzie's experiences as a professional surfer and instructor. Oh yeah, some how he was delighted about my performance and the improvements I made. Surf's UP!!!

In between the surfing lessons, the Surfvivors chilled out in the beach, look at the hot surfers- guys and gals, took photos, mesmerized the great LU sunset and most of all enjoy each others company. There were a lot of "kulitan moments" when we were in the beach and while we were in the jeepney back to the resort. Everyone had a blast and some of us, including me, wanted to surf more the next day.

Evening came and everyone was a bit tired and hungry. Jorge and Lan arrived, our new bunkmates, and joined the evening socials. And the rest was history that evening.The surfvivors who stayed in San Juan Surf Resort had a great evening- good talk adult talk and chilled drinks. I leave it to the imagination of the readers.

Everyone was dead asleep the next day, except for Jorge, Lan and me. We were supposed to surf that morning. But just decided to skip it since we wanted to watch the surfing competition on the other side of the beach. Besides, our surf instructors were also competing that day. Honestly, I was so amazed with the professional surfers. On how they rode and played with the majestic and powerful waves of San Juan, LU. Well, since I'm an ambitious person, I wish that someday I could surf the waves of San Juan as well. Oh yeah, Don and Allan were up early as well. They wanted to shoot surfers in action.

The time came when we had to leave the surf camp and we took photos in the resort .We ate our lunch at MIDWAY GRILL. They offered great food in very reasonable prices. I ordered Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich with French Fries(199php) and refillable ice tea (35php). With our stomach full and appetite fully satisfied, our journey going to our last pit stop began.

There we were, in our final pit-stop, at ISDAAN in Tarlac. It was my first time to go there and boy it was really a huge place. Talk about gigantic, crazy, unusually statues scattered everywhere. Everyone went around the whole restaurant or should I say a resto-park. Scary looking people were roaming around as well, as part of the Halloween theme and celebration. As usual the surfvivors didn't leave a chance without taking photos while waiting for dinner orders to be served.

Dinner was done and last wee-wee breaks before we hit the road back to Manila. Everyone was settled on their seats and got to their sleeping positions.

Surfvivors are back to their reality again but gained new friends and new surf experiences, and top of that hungry for the next TRAVEL FACTOR adventures.

Me too... I was hungry for the next TRAVEL FACTOR adventure. I'll definitely sign up and explore more the beauty of PILIPINAS.

PHOTO: From one of the albums of the participants of SURFvivor La Union