Category Archives: Thinking out loud

The lessons I learned from surfing

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I am no surfer. I fear the deep. I fear drowning. You see, fear limits oneself from accomplishing things. But what if, fear is taken out of the picture? What do you get? Adventure!

Here are the lessons that I learned from surfing:

1. Take out your prejudices. Take out your fear. Go and face the waves.

2. Be observant. At the start of the demo, take note of how things are being done. Watch other surfers do it.

Thanks to Kara Santos for this photo

3. Focus. Listen to what your instructor tells you.

4. Believe in yourself that you can do it and you will.

5. Persistence is key. When you fall off the board, try again. Practice makes perfect. Cliche it may sound but this is true especially if you’re just starting out.

6. Don’t forget to smile despite everything.

7. Never let failure stop you from going on. And you’ll be surprised that after the nth try, you have succeeded. You have conquered the waves!

Photos are taken in Bagasbas Beach, Camarines Norte.

You may want to read a related story that I wrote for Rappler.com: Bagasbas: A beginner’s surf spot. 

 

How travel made me jump from a ship to a “balangay”

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“What is my path? Should I walk straight, turn left or take the shortcut?And if I take this turn, am I on the right path?”

In life, questions like these arise at a time when we want to move to the direction that our heart desires. The heart knows when the question has been answered. The answer might not come right away because challenges were along the way.

If you were to choose between riding a luxury cruise ship and a balangay (the ancient wooden boat used by the ancestors during pre-colonial times), what would you choose?

BEFORE THE JUMP: At the luxury cruise ship, you’re one of the elite. Your peers envy you because they see you as rich and a successful person in your ship. Everything is on that ship so you don’t need to go out. The ship has its own entertainment, movie house, swimming pools, and mini-golf course. But the ship does not allow you to explore the places longer. The ship visits the port of call every other day. Sometimes, you only have a day and then you’ll get back to the ship. Everyday becomes a routine. Deep inside you, you want to know the world better. You want to take your time in appreciating the world and its people.

Then one day, you wake up. You had enough of the boring routine in the ship. You want to jump out of that ship and start your adventure aboard the balangay. There’s the risk of jumping out of the ship. You know that the waves would be rough. It won’t be an easy journey. You might drown in the water or you might get lost. People won’t understand you. Some would think you’re crazy because you already have a comfortable life. Yes, you were financially comfortable but emotionally unhappy.

Then again, you gathered enough courage to take the risk and brave the path. Eventually, you jumped from the edge just like when Jack told Rose to jump when the Titanic was sinking.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE JUMP: Yes! I jumped from the ship to the balangay. It was an exhilarating and liberating jump. It felt really great to be the captain of the balangay, take charge of my destination and be the explorer that I wanted to be. It opened up to a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have discovered had I stayed aboard the ship.

It made me realized the dreams that I’ve been longing to fulfill: writing for travel/inflight magazines, getting into stock photography, being an entrepreneur (starting out a business soon? nothing final but I have taken baby steps), building a passive income stream, and traveling longer to wherever I wish to go.

Sometimes, it’s not a smooth sailing journey. Storms do come. But my faith is stronger than the storm. I just say a prayer and the sea will be at peace once again.

So far, here are the LESSONS that I LEARNED from Traveling:

1. When you get stranded literally and figuratively (Yes, I got stranded in September 2011 in Puerto Galera due to a typhoon and almost missed my flight to Vietnam), don’t panic. Breathe in. Breathe out. Use your time wisely wherever you are. There’s always a way to get home. Stay positive.

2. Treat your parents like your friends/ barkada. They don’t want you to be alone and would volunteer as travel buddies. They would even ride motorcycles just to join you in your adventure. (Yes, my parents don’t like riding motorcycles but they couldn’t say no to me when our hosts picked us up via motorcycles from Can Tho City on the way to our homestay near Cai Rang river in Vietnam).

3. “Don’t talk to strangers” << This line is not applicable when you're traveling alone. Do talk/converse with strangers. Who knows? They might just help you when you’re in need. (When I was in Iloilo, I was clueless on what multicab to ride in going to La Paz and onwards. I asked the help of the traffic enforcer. The person went out of his way and helped me hail a ride to my destination.)

4. Smile and be a friend to the locals. When you got a friend, you won’t be a stranger to wherever you are and you won’t feel alone. (When I visited the Trappist Monastery in Guimaras, I met Nanay Basyon who toured me around and even gave me blackberries (not the smartphone but the fruit.) She was very accommodating and made me feel at home).

5. Don’t take shortcuts. It might be a faster way to get to the destination but it might be unsafe. Better safe than sorry. (This happened during my quest to the Panaloran Spring, which the locals of Sitio Guisi recommended. More of this on separate post.)

6. You don’t need to be rich to travel. You need to be wise on how to spend your money and where to spend it. It’s just a matter of living within your means, proper budgeting, and building a stream of passive income.

7. You can live life to fullest when you follow your heart. You don’t find happiness. You create it. You live to be happy and make others happy.

8. Last but not the least, never lose your faith. When you’re lost, just call on HIM. When you’re down, HE will carry you through. “The yoke that I will give you is easy and my burden is light. Come to me and I will give you rest.”

Traveling has changed my life and brought out the best in me. I know I’m ready when I face my Creator. If HE would ask me: “Anak, how did you live your life?” I’ll answer HIM with a smile, “Father, I had lived my life to the fullest. I had used the gifts that you’ve given me. I traveled the world, explored the wonders of nature, and motivated people to live their dreams. And of course, I had loved.”

This entry is part of the 17th Pinoy Travel Bloggers’ Blog Carnival with the theme, “Leap of Faith: When Travelling Changed My Life” hosted by Reiza Dejito of Wander If You Must.

DOT announces new tourism campaign

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new tourism campaign

A new leaf has turned for Philippine tourism. The Department of Tourism revealed the most awaited campaign for the Philippines.

“Finally the Philippines has a simple truthful answer to what has always been a simple question,Why should I go to the Philippines?” said DOT secretary Mon Jimenez.

“When you are asked, why the Philippines? Because, it’s more fun in the Philippines,” said Jimenez. The secretary then showed the new logo to the media.

Jimenez furthered that the new tourism campaign will be more competitive. It’s a campaign designed for the people.

“We have to challenge for attention. Tapos na po ang adjective campaigns [We're done with the adjective campaigns],” said Jimenez referring to campaigns that use adjectives such as amazing and incredible.

“It’s the Filipino people that make all the difference. The people are the differentiating factor. The Philippines is not just about beautiful sights. Tayo ang unique,” added Jimenez.

The tourism secretary also announced that starting 2012, there will be no 21-day visa restriction.

‎”Starting this 2012, no more 21-day visas. If our competition offers 30-day visas, that’s what we’ll offer. We’ll give visa on arrival,” said Jimenez.

The Department of Tourism also disclosed the new website of Philippine tourism: http://www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/

Here’s a video of the logo:

*****

What do you think of the new campaign of the Department of Tourism? What will you do to promote our country?

2011: A year of bold and daring adventures

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December 31, 2011. The last day of the year brought me to memory lane. Reminiscing my travels this year made me realize how blessed I am. I thank God for letting me experience bold and daring adventures which made me learned lessons worth remembering.

Here’s a summary of my travelholic year: 14 Flights. 6,085 miles. 16 provinces. 1 international destination. Yes, I love numbers except when you add mathematical signs (“,).

Let’s take a look at how the year went:

JANUARY

  • Lingayen, Pangasinan was my first destination where I first saw this huge specie of fish Arapaima and heard about the Chinese pirate Limahong.
  • After Baguio, we proceeded to Pugo, La Union, where I zipped happily up to the point of getting stranded just to get a good zipline photo.
  • From La Union, we went all the way to Capas, Tarlac, where we spent the night for the early climb to Mt. Pinatubo. This was the most memorable travel in January. It felt great to reach the crater of this historic active volcano. From being destructive, it has built a reputation as one of the must-see destinations in the Philippines. It claimed lives before. Now, it’s giving livelihood to the locals. I haven’t blogged it here yet.

FEBRUARY

  • February made me believe that dreams do come true. My dream to experience Batanes was finally fulfilled. I got the chance to get inside a lighthouse, jump in front of a lighthouse, watch the sunset at Naidi Hills, drink water from the Fountain of Youth, be blown away by the winds at Racuh-A-Payaman, meditate at Chamantad Viewpoint, wear a vakul, do cartwheels infront of Nakabuang Arc, meet inspiring Ivatans, earn great friends, and most especially, discovered “something” that made a mark in my life today.
  • Thank you Lord! Thank you to those who supported me to win the blogging contest of SEAIR (which I joined for the 3rd time). I’ve written a total of 7 blogs about Batanes. Yet, I have so much more to tell, which you’ll read in 2012.

MARCH

  • The 2nd leg of the Lakbay Norte was even more exciting. What could be more thrilling than going against 6-foot high raging waves just to set foot on the elusive Palaui Island.
  • In Tuguegarao, we feasted on the sumptuous pancit batil patong. We left Cagayan Valley with good memories. Cagayan Valley has the most hospitable Filipinos that you’ll ever meet.
  • Ilocos Norte made me see the natural wonders of Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, the gushing waters of Anuplig Falls, and the La Paz Sand Dunes. It was my second time to experience sandboarding and the 4×4 ride. Nonetheless, there’s always something new to discover.

APRIL 

  • From Luzon, we flew to Leyte, Visayas. It’s in Leyte where MacArthur fulfilled his promise to return to the Philippines. From Tacloban, we endured a three-hour ride to Bato, Southern Leyte, the hometown of my Mama. It’s my first time in Eastern Visayas together with my family, cousins, aunt, and lola. We went swimming in Canigao Island, caving in Hindang, roadtripping in Maasin and Padre Burgos, zipping in Sogod, and plunging in Gunhuban Falls.
MAY
  • May was supposed to be a summer month but climate change ruined our trip to Bais City, Negros Oriental. The dolphin-watching turned out to be a bird-watching activity at Manjuyod Sandbar. The rains continued to pour in Dumaguete City. Nonetheless, the popular Sansrival and the search for Casaroro Falls in Valencia made my trip worthwhile.
JUNE-JULY
  • In between typhoons (last days of June and first few days of July), my friends and I traveled to the Bicol Region, home of the pili nuts, for the first time. Camsur welcomed us with open arms, up to the point of getting stretched literally and figuratively at the Camsur Watersports Complex, where we tried wakeboarding.

AUGUST

  • Travel Hiatus. We were supposed to go to El Nido, Palawan but schedule won’t permit us. From 4 confirmed buddies, we were down to two so we just decided to postpone the trip for next year. And yes, we have our tickets.Hopefully, in June, I shall see you El Nido!
SEPTEMBER
  • Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental–I wouldn’t have visited this place if not for an assignment. Most divers both local and international visit Galera for its rich marine life. Puerto Galera gave me a not-so-good experience. It was somehow traumatic to be stranded in the island in the middle of the typhoon. It also meant being away from the loved ones. I almost didn’t make it to my flight to Vietnam. God was so great that my flight was at 11pm of Wednesday. I was only able to return home at around 8 in the morning. I don’t know if I’ll ever return to Galera.
  • Who could resist buying a seat sale if it would only cost you Php 1,800 roundtrip to go to Vietnam? Of course, the travelholic in me won’t let that opportunity pass. It was in September when my folks and I left a rainy Philippines. We thought we had eluded typhoon Pedring only to find out later in the days of our trip that the typhoon went to Hanoi, Vietnam. Thank God, we were in the south of Vietnam.

OCTOBER

  • Travel Hiatus. Time to take a break and of course, gather funds.
NOVEMBER
  • My birthday week adventure in Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Misamis Oriental was epic. Imagine, 10 hours of land travel covering 378 kilometers from Bislig to Cagayan de Oro. Hinatuan Enchanted River and Tinuy-An Falls were worth the long journey. My travel buddy J and I were fortunate to have a friend like Alfie, who welcomed us in her home in Cagayan de Oro. We’re so grateful that we also went on a roadtrip from Cagayan de Oro to Dahilayan, Bukidnon. This trip completed my goal of traveling yearly to LUZVIMIN.
DECEMBER
  • Travel Hiatus. Time to write and reflect. It’s also the month of giving back to the community which we did last December 17 at a remote village up in Mt. Makiling.

2011 has been a year of growth. It has taught me to take risks, to deal with the uncertainties, and to face the challenges. All of these made me stronger, braver, bolder–better. Thank you Lord for all the lessons that you made me learn. Thank you Lord for the people who became part of my 2011. Thank you Lord for all the blessings and for more blessings to come.

Farewell 2011! It was a roller coaster year! I enjoyed it nonetheless.