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Tracy Arm Fjord

September 9, 2019. Our second day in Juneau, Alaska.

From our hotel, we walked for about 15 minutes to the office of Adventure Bound Alaska, after breakfast.

We checked in for the Tracy Arm Fjord Tour at exactly 8am. While waiting for the other guests, I went outside and took photos of the seagulls and other birds.

Thirty minutes later, we were ready to depart. Our trip consisted of less…

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Highway 906 (Cateel to Nabunturan)

I had a hard time looking for details about this highway online.

It’s a good thing that we have a client who lives in Cateel and told us, that the road from Aliwagwag Falls going to Davao City via Compostela Valley is now passable. That’s good news right? Specially for people who want to enjoy more time at the falls.

Google map showed that it’s only 149 kms from the falls to Davao. And the travel…

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I just got back from a road trip with my family. Thank God for the protection , the fun and the camaraderie shared among us during our 2 day East Coast and Compostela Valley tour.

For a day or two, I forgot our pressing concern – the Mindanao Railway Station passing inside Monteritz Classic Estates, where I live. It is awful. Not the railway project. But the thought that the Phase 1 of our subdivision will be rendered invaluable and our neighbors sleeping under the railway station , has brought us many sleepless nights.

The last two days have been a great escape from the worry and stress over it. I’m sure you will feel the same way too if you’re in my shoes. Sigh….

So we went to Cateel, Davao Oriental where Aliwagwag Falls is located through Mati , the Capital City of the Province.

From Davao City, Cateel is more or less, a 7 hour drive via the coastal road. This is such a beautiful drive. Tiring but very pretty. The scenic views of our coastal road is so worth the long travel.

We left home around 5 in the morning. And after so many stops, we arrived in Cateel about 4 in the afternoon. ha ha… Yep it took us 11 hours! Why? There are so many “post card perfect” places along the way. So of course, photo ops are a must. That’s what road trips are made of, making memories along the way. And we did… 🙂 I will share more about it in my next blog.

Our home for the night was Edar’s Place. It is a simple Bed and Breakfast place in Cateel. Their rooms are clean. The food is delicious. The owner and their staff are amazing. They are kind and so helpful. I couldn’t thank them enough for their assistance. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. More of this in my next blog as well.

After breakfast the next day, we left for Aliwagwag Falls. From Edar’s Place, the distance is 16 kilometers. Via the concrete Compostela-Cateel Highway. This route is very scenic too, with the Cateel River just beside it. I wish they had view decks on this road because the turquoise colored river looks amazing, specially with the lush forest as its backdrop.

Aliwagwag Falls is just beside the road. You can actually hear the powerful rushing sound of the water before even seeing it.

And when you do see it, you just stand in front of it. Soaking it all in. My sister said she was teary eyed the first time she saw it.

I stood there for a few minutes. Mesmerized and in awe of something that is so beautiful and magnificent. I have seen Niagara Falls in Canada. And Tinuy-an Falls in Surigao. But this is different. The staggering height and the stunning beauty of this cascading waterfalls left me speechless. I stood there in silence, just taking it all in.

To say that it is amazing, actually , is an understatement.

I remember feeling this way when I stood on a glacier at the Icefields Parkway. When I experienced a winter wonderland at Lake Louise in Banff National Park. When I stood in front of the Grand Tetons. And when I saw the Rocky Mountains in Canada for the first time. Yes, that same feeling. It is so humbling. And for God to have allowed me to see such a splendid beauty, made me realize how blessed I am.

Traveling has changed me and my perspective in life. And this is one of those experiences which makes me love our nature more. I honor the people that are behind the protection of Aliwagwag Falls. And I honor God the most, for giving us Mindanaoans , this gift.

I encourage all of you to visit and experience the place for yourselves. And when you do, please respect it. Leave nothing behind. Most importantly, please take your garbage with you when you’re done. It is but right to leave the place as pristine as the way you first saw it. We need to love and protect the place so our future generation can enjoy it as much as we did. Thank you.

We paid P100.00 per head. That includes the environmental fee of P50.00 . The Mandaya Chieftain who talked to us said that it will be used to develop the place. The government passed a law to protect 11,000 hectares of land surrounding Aliwagwag Falls. That is to ensure that no damages will come to it.

Future developments supposedly include a horse trail going to the highest portion of the waterfall, the “Bangaw” (Rainbow) Falls. And the Sleeping Lady Falls, which drops down 150 meters from the top.

The Bangaw Falls is called as such because a rainbow comes out supposedly when there is a slight drizzle of rain. While the Sleeping Lady Falls is named after the mountain that looks like one near the said waterfalls.

I thanked the chieftain for helping in the protection of Aliwagwag Falls. And asked him to please continue doing so.

Let me share with you some of our memories.

There are picnic tables and chairs for those who brought food and want to eat beside the falls.

There are stairs going down to the water. But first you need to walk through the hanging bridge and the monkey bridge.

There are portions on top that have shallow waters. It’s like having mini pools where you can wade your feet or dip in it to cool off.

We surely, had FUN!!!! 🙂

My sister with my brother inlaw. Nephews and niece, Angel.

Jason, my accounting staff.

My family.

Father and son. Ruben and Blaire.

After an hour or so, we got cold and decided to leave.

Before I forget, if you’re wondering if they have nice bathrooms, shower facilities and changing areas – Yes, there is. So don’t worry. And they are clean too!

Here’s a photo of the bathroom where we changed.

Thank you Aliwagwag for a fun experience. Till we meet again….

Goodbye for now… But we will surely meet again.

Aliwagwag Falls I just got back from a road trip with my family. Thank God for the protection , the fun and the camaraderie shared among us during our 2 day East Coast and Compostela Valley tour.

#Aliwagwag Falls #cateel #Davao Oriental

Christmas Reflections

December 24, 2018

Reflections

This season is not about gifts, given nor received.

It is about God sending his son on earth to save humans from sin. It is about God’s love for all human kind. Regardless of race, religion, status in life, achievements, etc. It is about Jesus’ obedience to his father. It is about Mary’s obedience to the will of God and giving birth to her son, Jesus Christ.

It is…

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US Road Trip 2018 - Chicago To Mississippi

US Road Trip 2018 – Chicago To Mississippi

This entry is 3 months old. I started writing while we were in the U.S. but got sidetracked with family visits , road trips and shopping. Hence, this very late blog on our fall visit to America.

We left Davao on September 18. PAL was late. And I panicked because we had a 12:30p.m. EVA Airways flight going to Chicago, the same day.

I am glad that our trip from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 wasn’t bad,…

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#chicago #Memphis #Mississippi #missouri #Tennessee #us roadtrip

On Inflation II

A) How does it affect us?

Let me explain. If a person is earning P10,000.00 per month, his/her income has devalued by 6.4% because of inflation. Devaluation means the reduction of value of a currency. In lay man’s term, we lost (nalugi) by 6.4% or P640.00 pesos per month.

Is it bad? Of course, yes. That P640 means fare money, fuel money or rice money for ordinary citizen.

But look…

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#philippine inflation

On Inflation

On Inflation:

Inflation in lay man’s term means there’s too much money in circulation. Thereby affecting the people’s spending and the cost of goods. Let me elaborate, when people have money, people tend to spend. And when people spend, the prices go up because there is demand. This is the normal reason of inflation.

Sometimes, it is caused by stimulation done by the government. The government…

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Highway 906 and 907 (Mati to Nabunturan Route)

To those who are wondering about Mati to Nabunturan Route, this blog is for you.

Work brought us to Mati, Davao Oriental sometime in March this year. And from there, we had to proceed to Nabunturan, Compostela Valley for another meeting the next day. If one had to do such in the past, that would mean going back to Tagum City via Surigao-Davao Coastal Road. But not anymore. In the recent years,…

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#cold spring #hot spring #Maragusan

Limketkai Luxe Hotel (Cagayan De Oro City)

The hubby and I have been traveling the past weeks for work. And one of the hotels we stayed at was Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan De Oro City. Our first visit was sometime in February. The King Room. Another business trip brought us to this hotel again earlier this month. Both times, I have been so impressed with their staff. They were very helpful and accommodating. Check in was always fast…

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Mindanao - Highway 955

Mindanao – Highway 955

Highway 955 came as a surprise to us. I never even knew that it existed, if not for our GPS. The hubby plotted a route to Cagayan De Oro City, after my meeting in Gingoog last month. Google showed a shorter route compared to that of AH (Asian Highway) 26 . And so we took it, not knowing that we will be traversing on a mountain road all the way to CDO. Gory picture reminding motorists to travel…

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Petrified Forest National Park

No , I am not in the US to date. I am just so delayed in my update on this blog. Sorry. We visited Petrified Forest National Park in the Spring of 2016. This may have happened two years ago, but the memories seem so real still. The place is awesome. And history is a very good teacher that all of us can learn from. That does not get old. So here’s my story which I think is better late than never.…

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El Savores Davao

We found this two storey restaurant by accident when we were passing by Surveyor St. in Dona Vicenta , coming from our office. Since it was already late, the hubby and I decided to stop for lunch. We did not know what to expect. But it was something new, so we thought, “why not”? Glad that we did. Because I found so far, the best chicken adobo I ever tasted, from this restaurant. There were so…

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#Davao City #great food #life is here #Philippines #Restaurants in Davao

It is 3 a.m. in the Philippines as I write this, three hours after midnight. 🙂

And what better way to start the year than greet you all a HAPPY and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!

To be honest, I just woke up. ha ha. And since I cannot go back to sleep yet, I thought I’d write my first blog for 2018. Hopefully, this signifies more articles here this year.

The year 2017 has been good to me and my family. The most significant thing was that my mom had a stroke and half of her body was paralyzed while I was in the U.S. last fall. But with therapy and lots of prayers, from family and friends, she has recovered fully. YES, FULLY! 🙂 Miracles do happen…. Thank God!

If there is one thing I realized, it is the fact that life is so fleeting. Things change in a second. So let me share with you what I wrote a few days ago.

My Crazy Thoughts 3:07 a.m. 12/29/17 Davao City, Philippines

Life is so short.

So love your parents. Love your family. Despite and inspite of. Be kind to others, even if it kills you. Help if you can. Say no if you can’t. Yes, it is okay to say no.

Shut up when you can’t say good things. Be honest. Be responsible. Complain if you must , but be nice about it. Don’t lose your composure. Be classy.

Be true to yourself. Follow your dreams. Don’t give up. Quitters always lose. Get out of a bad relationship, no excuses. Love yourself. Don’t be afraid to cry when the goings get rough. Stop the hate. Forgive. And try to forget. Yeah, easier said than done but well…. it’s a test of will.

Stand for what you believe in. And say something. If you can’t be part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. Don’t spend what you cannot afford. Save. Save. Save. And don’t count the chicken before the eggs hatch.

Invest. In your future. In relationships and people. Believe in yourself and what you can do. And please don’t be lazy. Work hard. Respect yourself. And don’t live for dole outs. People work for what they have. So why won’t you? Why don’t you?

Travel. Enjoy nature. Run barefooted on the beach. Walk the trails. Throw a snowball. Pick up clams. Or pine cones. Smell the flowers. Sing to and/or with the birds. Dance with a love one. Watch the sunset together. Road trip together. Take a deep breath. Listen to the wind. To the sound of the falling leaves. Climb a mountain. Picnic in a lake. Try fishing. It is fun. 🙂 Write a song. Don’t be afraid to try new things.

Life is so short. So love your life. Spend it only with the people and the things that matter to you. Stop wasting time.

Start and end the day right. Say thank you to God. Say I love you, to your “John”.

Here’s to a better version of ourselves in 2018… Cheers. 🥂🍾🍷

MY HAPPY MEMORIES IN 2017:

With John. At the wedding of my nephew.

Family get-away with staff and the rest of Allea Team.

My US Family. 🙂 (L to R) Jonboy, Jane, Lindsey, Joan, John, Darren, Delana, Austin, Me, Mommy, Heather and Seth.

With My Sister. The one next to me.

Grand Regal Hotel, on a party.

At Pearl Farm, on her birthday.

With Friends for Life.

With best friends, Luzette and Paz.

With High School friends. (L to R) Tess, Desiree, Fely, Me and Joy.

MY TRAVELS:

With John in Antelope Canyon, Arizona.

At Little River Canyon, Alabama.

San Franciso Park.

At Yosemite Falls.

In El Capitan, Yosemite.

Yosemite National Park.

At Horseshoe Bend, Arizona, U.S.A.

Jack Daniels Distillery, Tennessee.

At mommy’s. Mississippi, U.S.A.

Monument Valley, Arizona-Utah Border.

Celine Dion’s Concert, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Chicago Concert, Mississippi, U.S.A. Selfie before people filled up the place. 🙂

Taiwan Airport, while waiting for our boarding time.

MY ACHIEVEMENTS:

For all of these, thank you Lord. It has been a beautiful and blessed year.

Praying for a blissful and more blessed 2018 for all of us!

Thank you everyone for making me a part of your life!

HAPPY NEW YEAR……… 🙂

Goodbye 2017 , Hello 2018!!!! It is 3 a.m. in the Philippines as I write this, three hours after midnight. 🙂

#CIPS Designee #eden nature park #Kembali Coast #Pearl Farm #realtor in Davao #us roadtrip #us travels

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS , my family and friends…. Thank you for spending time with me. God bless us all!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

It is freezing where I am right now. It was -2’c (28’f) when I woke up. The picture above was taken around 6 in the morning today. I went out and braved the cold to check if there’s frost on the ground. ha ha. That’s the Filipina in me talking. You see, we never have frost nor snow in my country. So this is really a treat on my part. 🙂 So for this chance to spend a frosty thanksgiving, I am…

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Little River Canyon National Preserve

The Entrance to the Park. Coming from Georgia, the hubby and I took a detour and visited Little River Canyon State Park in Fort Payne , Alabama. I love road tripping in America because there are several road options. “Back roading” almost always turn out to be a beautiful drive. Specially during fall when colorful leaves on the trees, decorate the highways. It was a cold day. To a Filipina, a…

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I Heart You.... :)

I Heart You…. :)

This heart shaped sandstone can be found in Antelope Canyon, Arizona, USA. With light passing through its crack, the canyon changed its colors again to a combination of red, orange and gold. Nature is amazing…. Antelope Canyon, AZ

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#antelope canyon #Arizona #heart sandstone #Page

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