Keep your spirit high!

It is a reality in our existence that everything is not within our control. All that we could positively deal with is our attitude – how we would look at each submerging situation in a much lighter manner – it’s our own line of attack. Changing one’s way of thinking towards things is, indeed, a very good approach to coping with stress which is so common in an environment where everyone is required to be always on the go.

If truth be told, last month was very stressful for me – stressful in a way that I almost stopped thinking about how to deal with every piece of my priority. I was too behind my quota at work and I could barely figure out a way to strike it right at its eye. I also had some research papers presented for my graduate class and I could say that such was a product of my mediocrity. Not to mention, I also hardly complied some of the requirements in one of my subjects in the graduate school. I could have done better but there’s no way to look back because no matter what, everything has been done and change is awkward when doing it backward. Nevertheless, I learned from it and all I could do now is to learn from such experience and move forward with a better perspective.

I believe everything is doable with a positive spirit. I just need to learn to set priorities and as Stephen Covey suggested in his best-selling book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” you need to put FIRST THINGS FIRST. It all needs to start with the questions “What are my priorities?” and “How can I logically put them together?” With these questions, obviously, there is no time to waste for every moment counts for every preference. I might find it difficult to pack my sleepy head off to work on a graveyard shift. I might find it difficult to keep myself awake while working with my clients in the other side of the world on an eight-hour shift when everyone else in the neighborhood is enjoying the comfort of their bed. I might find it difficult to work with my course works after spending the whole night at work. Everything might be so difficult but no one ever forced me do what I am doing. It was my choice and it’s all up to me how I am going to work on them. Failure is not an alternative so I’ll work this out with passion. As a line in the Holstee Manifesto goes, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you don’t like your job, quit… start doing things you love.”

If every moment in life is a battle to win, then I need to be the victor. After all, this is my own life. From now on, I will keep my spirit high!

"Every day might not be good, but there's something good in every day."  - Anonymous

To my followers and fellow bloggers:

I am back to blogging and, yes, I could rant again. What a relief! Happy reading folks! If you’re still dropping by, please let me know by leaving some words in the comment box. At least, I would know that I am not talking all by myself here. (laughs)            

  

26

"The tragedy of life is that not it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it." - Anonymous

I miss my blog and I am sure it misses me too. I don't know if I still have readers here or they have forsaken me like what I have done to this blog for already a couple of weeks or months ago. Anyhow, I am compelled to tell a story today because it's not just a day -- it's my BIRTHday.

I was brought to this world 26 years ago and since this day is the 26th year, it brought me back to vivid memories letting me linger to how I lived life. Those reflections made me agree with Danny Kaye who once said, "Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can." If life is a great big canvas, we should make it as colorful as it could be. Thus, living life to the fullest.

This day, I want to share a huge bottle of champagne to everyone who made my life as colorful as it is. Thank you for helping me paint my huge canvas. Cheers, my dear ones! Live life and live it well! 

 

Pinoy Buko King Made it World-Class

He is Felipe Tacogdoy of Bohol and fondly called by the villagers as "Pepeng" or "Nong Pepeng" for those who are younger than him. He's one of those ordinary people in the village but he's different due to his extraordinary ability. In this video, he showed the world what he is capable of doing. 

The BlabberMath: Coming Out Soon

Creating a mathematics blog has always been a plan of mine. However, the thought of not being able to regularly update it  was a limitation I set that's why there were always delays in the fulfillment of the plan.  It's because unlike a personal blog, you need to thoroughly review everything you have written before you publish it. Accuracy of the mathematical facts to be posted would be an utmost consideration or else one would  only provide misleading information about an already established science.  No one would also like to read twisted or questionable facts. Mathematics as a science is governed with well-proven laws and theories which took mathematicians years or decades of overcoming contradictions.

Now thoughts have been finally put together for the launching of a blog which will hopefully ignite the interest to the subject which has always been considered by students as monster or a burden loaded in their shoulders. Initial posts taken from the previous mathematics articles I wrote have been placed in the line-up of posts and the blog has already its blogspot hosted domain. Few more articles recently wrote for my Research in Mathematics class in the graduate school are just to be added.

There's no definite time for launching yet but I'll surely inform everyone when I am launching the blog. It would not make your nose bleed. I promise! 

Violin and Cello Rendition of Beatle's "Let it Be"

I was stumbling upon the web when I luckily found this video of two talented teens playing their rendition of Beetle's "Let it Be". Without second thought,  I became a fan of the 15-year old Violinist Michael Province and 16-year old Cellist Nathan Chan. This video reminded me of the high school class I handled for the longest time in Thailand as majority of them were into music.  Enjoy watching!

Creeping Captivating Camotes

 

Consuelo Wharf, San Francisco, Camotes, Cebu

 What else could you think after a long week at work?

A walk in the forest? A day of relaxation in the beach? A long drive or a road trip? A view of fascinating landscapes and seascapes? Well, simply let your imagination fly with the wind and think of any ideal vacation you could think of then bring your mind to Camotes Islands in Cebu , Philippines and you'll realize that what's in your psyche is more than just mere imagination.


A two-hour ferry trip from Danao City, Cebu brought us to the captivating group of islands named Camotes which is composed of four municipalities namely San Francisco, Poro, Pilar and Tudela. San Francisco is the biggest among the four municipalities and home of most of the tourist attractions. According to the owner of the homestay where we lodged for a night, only Pilar town is separated from the municipalities. All the rest are connected by bridges.



The trip itself going to the island was fascinating because we were accompanied by friendly dolphins showing their hospitality to tourists visiting the island. We arrived in Consuelo Wharf in San Francisco town around two o'clock in the afternoon and did a hike around the nearby village.  The hike was so disturbing as there were two motorbike drivers who followed us all the way forcing us to take a ride but thanks to the rain which saved us from those stalkers (hahaha!). Later on, we decided to rent a motorbike and driving around the town was really a good experience. We rented the motorbike for only 500 pesos and it already allowed us to visit different spots in the place.

 

A serene view at Lake Lanao Park - an
enchanting work of nature.

 Our first destination was Mangudlong Rock Resort. Too bad, the sea wasn't that good that time so bumming on the beach wasn't a good idea. We then headed to a private owned beach house to see what the place could offer. The longest stop was in the enchanting Lake Danao Park. One would really wonder how a huge body of freshwater could exist in the middle of seawater. The park is vegetated with lust green trees of different species. Visitors could go for boat ride around the lake or enjoy a simple meal in a small floating cottage. We saw locals in the area weaving leaves of local plant called silo-silo and just a trivia, they celebrate Silo-Silo Festival once a year.




White sand beach at Santiago Bay.

 The next destination was San Francisco town proper which boasts its baywalk and clean surroundings. Almost every house in San Francisco is tag with the name of the owner and a local said that it's part of their cleaning and greening program. The town is a recepient of Cebu governor's environment program award. It has also earned mentions in international environment programs such as the Geneva convention.

It was already late in the evening when we headed to Santiago Bay to get some place to stay. Some of the hotels were already fully booked and they're quiet expensive so we ended up staying in a homestay which is just walking distance to the renowned Santiago White Beach. The following morning was a wonderful breakfast along the shore followed by refreshing rest under the heat of the shining sun.

We went back to San Francisco town via coastal road where the views are more fascinating. We then headed to the enchanting Timobo Cave where the crystal clear and cool water is just so tempting for a refreshing bath. However, the time was so limited as we needed to go back to the pier for our trip going back to Cebu where another week-long work awaits. We left Camotes on a gloomy afternoon when the sun was about to set telling us that another adventure awaits us when we come back.