𝖆 𝖓𝖊𝖜 𝖊𝖗𝖆

A glimpse of my journey and adventures.

[jpxdeus]

took this photo on my way to the bus station on my phone.

it's truly baffling and impressive how technology manages to capture time and preserve it through a picture. i guess modern times call for modern measures. it truly is a big leap to when cameras were just a thing for very rich people back in the day. now, everyone can capture anything with literally a click of a button on their phones.

impressive how humans think of ways to improve something that started way back. i guess our search for solutions to make our lives easier is paying off.

[jpxdeus]

Baguio was amazing! If it weren't for my exam, i would've never left lol

i actually never expected to have such an amazing time in Baguio because of the responsibilities i was leaving back home. i came there expecting i have to work half of the time and study for a big exam right after we go home but never actually did those lol i seized every minute of our stay in Baguio and explored as much as i can. i also have to mention the amazing climate there. i really love how cold it is in the morning and at night. it feels like i'm on a different country. not to mention the mist. i miss seeing mist around the trees because it looks and feels very mysterious and i'm all for it!

someday, i will definitely come back there with more time and money 💯💯

[jpxdeus]

Every year, we Catholics practice Visita Iglesia where we visit 7 or 14 churches to pray and reflect on the Stations of the Cross. This is a popular practice for Catholics during the Lenten Season and is usually done on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday. By visiting churches, we meditate and reflect on the suffering of Christ which brought us salvation. This practice is regarded as a form of penance and some believe that this brings them closer to God.

The pictures above are two of the 7 churches we visited this year with my family. Unfortunately, I failed to take a picture of the 4 other churches we went to as the church compounds are very busy and filled with devotees.

[jpxdeus]

Every year, christians experience the solemnity of holy week, where tradition and faith converge for a very meaningful observance. People often go back to their hometowns to observe holy week with their families and practice the traditions they grew up with. Philippines being a catholic-dominated country, holy week instantly becomes one of the busiest weeks of the year.

For families who takes care of "pasos" during the procession, this is more of their practice to devotion than merely just a tradition. For families like mine, we start to prepare for the procession 3 days before Wednesday. In my hometown, we observe 4 processions: during Wednesday, during Good Friday, the Soledad (which is also done on Good Friday right after the Good Friday procession), and the Resurrection or Easter Sunday (done very early in the morning around 3AM or 4AM). Every year, we set aside money specifically for the holy week expenses. The images above are a few of the "pasos" in my hometown that I photographed using my iPhone.

[jpxdeus]

i never knew that by going to manila for a work trip would unlock a new found happiness that's been locked up in me for a long time.

tbh, i prefer to live in a city rather than in the countryside. i know, i must be crazy for even thinking about it but, the city just speaks to me in a way that only i, myself can understand what it is saying. hopefully someday, when i am able to step in to the world of the hustle and bustle, i can once again find the happiness i felt when exploring manila.

[jpxdeus]

meet savannah and moe. they're more than pets. they're family to us! 🐕❤️

[jpxdeus]

rainy days in cities transform into a comfort place for me compared to when it is hot and sunny.

[jpxdeus]

i always loved taking pictures of the street because it's never the same. it's always bustling and always moving and i love that.

[jpxdeus]

learning how to drive is a necessity nowadays. it's sad to think that commuting is becoming more and more inconvenient 😕 i am a commuter my whole life and living in a province where jeepneys are not 24/7 is difficult because in the work that i am in, sometimes we are required to stay up late at night for events. this is extra inconvenient because there are no longer jeepneys available for commute at late hours which prompts me even more to learn to drive. in addition, there's also the rising fare due to the rising gasoline/petrol prices. the car i am using for practice uses up little gas while traveling to legazpi and back to our home (about 30 mins of driving) which is my usual route.

with these, i think that the government should address the rising costs for transportation to bring back the convenience of commuting and further circulate the ph currency within the country. this, i think, can solve a lot of problems in the transportation community.

[jpxdeus]

all we can do right now is to look back at the journey and never forget why we supported HER. the philippines is not yet ready for VP Leni .

But despite the odds not in our favour, what we showed in the months leading to this very moment is the true spirit of unity and volunteerism that no other group of people can understand. remember, my fellow filipinos, the fight does not end here. it's just the beginning. 🌸🌾

[jpxdeus]

it has been two years since the last holy week procession. tho this year, there were lots of restrictions, the people still showed up. this shows the culture of religion in the Philippines.

p.s. a holy week procession is a commemoration of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. it tells the story of His death and resurrection. each "karosa" represents a person or a situation that happened in His journey as is written in the holy bible.

[jpxdeus]

buildings/architecture around Albay, PH.

[jpxdeus]

buildings/architecture around Albay, PH.

[jpxdeus]

Savannah 💖💗

[jpxdeus]

there's nothing better than seeing nature blossom on its own.

[jpxdeus]

mt. mayon is the crowning glory of albayanos. aside from the terrific sight, there is also the legend of "daragang magayon" in which it embodies undying love - something that albayanos are really familiar with.

[jpxdeus]

sparks fly