Kalye Serye/AlDub Creating History

The phenomenal TV Skit Kalye Serye and AlDub tandem continue to make buzz and history. Aldub fans registered more than 10 million tweets for the first ever romantic date. I am amazed that even international news magazine online (International Business Times, India Ed) featured Aldub.

Eat-bulaga-aldub-kalye-serye-maine-mendoza-met-car-accident-alden-richards-dates-yaya-dub-647254

Yesterday, I read an article that Aldub fever has caught Walt Disney.  I will wait for the day Aldub and JOWAPAO will be featured in Ellen Degeneres Show.  If that time comes I can hear Lola Nidora saying, "Eh, di Wow!", in comedian Babalu's tone. :)

I dare not analyze what makes them a big hit,  I will just continue to watch the series daily and have a hearty laugh.  :)

Love is in the Air

priceless reaction of Alden ;)

Wow, I am so fixated with watching Kalye Serye of Eat Bulaga that I go to Youtube to watch the series I missed.  I find myself reading Alden Richards news and videos about him in Youtube daily! It seems watching the daily show is not enough, I even followed his twitter and FB account. Well, he is a nice young man who wants to make his mother proud of him and help his family.  He gained more popularity due to accidental AlDub loveteam.

Who would not be endeared to his refreshing face and cute dimples? :)

Image taken from his FB account

Before the phenomenal Kalye Serye and Aldub came into fruition, I was hooked watching Korean TV series in Youtube.  I watched these dramas til dawn in the morning.  The actors I like are Lee Jong Suk of Doctor Stranger and Pinocchio and Kim Soo Hyun of My Love from the Stars.

I have read some suggestions from Alden and Yaya Dub fans for a remake of My Love from the Stars.  That is something to watch out for if GMA Network will heed the suggestion.

A Kalye Serye Fan

Next to Manny Pacquiao, the phenomenal tandem of AlDub can stop street congestion in Edsa. People are glued to Eat Bulaga (GMA 7 Noontime Show) when the segment Juan For All For One Juan begins.  I am one of those avid followers of Kalye Serye - where the love story of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza a.k.a Yaya Dub is told.

I don't really like watching Filipino TV series because they are too melodramatic. I actually prefer to watch Korean and Japanese TV series.  However, I got hooked into watching Kalye Serye and following the development of the relationship of AlDub because it was something new.  They don't rehearse their lines and although they follow a story line or probably read a prompter, still the reactions or acting becomes spontaneous.  They are spontaneous and hilarious.

The creative writers know how to make new twists and turns so the story each day isn't dragging.

I had a good laugh with the pictures of Lola Nidora exposed in the internet.

Copied from Inquirer.Net

From Inquirer.Net

Likewise when it was revealed that Lola Nidora is part of triplets!

From Abante Online

People are analyzing why Kalye Serye / AlDub became a big hit, what I can say is just enjoy the show.  Laughter does good to the body and it's nice to forget the stresses of daily life.  :)

Thank You Again, God!

It's been more than five months since I underwent a major surgery.  When I looked back, it seemed surreal because God is in control of everything.  God has made me fully accept His way of healing me.  I have undergone total hysterectomy and no longer capable of child-bearing.

For one year I explored and tried for an alternative to get rid of myoma.  I desired to become a mother of two or three kids someday so I wanted to preserve my uterus. I cried and prayed hard but God has a different plan for me.  I just surrendered to His sovereign will.

We can never understand the ways of the Lord but what we only need to do is trust Him. 

I thank God for a successful surgery, guiding the hands of the doctors and making me recover quickly. The Lord also provided my financial needs and people who took care of me while recuperating.

Cheery Moment: Fellowship with Brethren

Simple joys in life are free. I treasure the moments I am with my spiritual family.

We shared stories and laughter over a scalding Arozcaldo, Pancit and Bilo-Bilo.

Sleepover at the church to get up early morning and pray. Conversations with God is very important.

Lunch at Hodori's

Whenever my palate craves for Korean food I think of this resto in Baguio City, Hodori Korean/Japanese Restaurant located at Mabini St. Taste and value for money is excellent. Ambience is good but can still be improved.

I took my churchmate to this restaurant when we visited Baguio in December 28. She seemed to like the food because she asked me the name of the resto and location.

I learned something valuable from this trip that I will always remember when traveling in limited time. If you want to pack as many activities as you can, select a cuisine that can be served fast. A Korean meal isn't complete without side dishes. The restaurant served us four side dishes, three types of sweet vegetables and kimchi. Well, it took us two and half hour to finish lunch. We can't go for a dessert in another joint because we have few hours left to see La Presa.

Something happened to me after being prayed over last Friday night by a deacon.  My heart is filled with gratitude and praises to the Lord for my divine healing.  The Lord honored my heart's desire.

I am also grateful for gifts God bestowed in the church to take us to maturity.  God has appointed us a pastor who is in sync with God's Symphony. 

My heart is singing with praises to one living God, Jesus Christ. 

I just want to shout Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!

Catching up With Friends

I had a wonderful time catching up with friends from Suth last January 7.  One of my friends, Cris, is leaving for Abu Dhabi on January 14 so Lora organized a get together on short notice.  She informed me Tuesday night that they were coming to their house. We had a trip down memory lane, talk about foolish things we did.

They already know me that even when I say I would come I can still change my mind.  :)  So as early as 8am Lora was checking already of my whereabouts.  Cris texted Joy if I was already there and she replied "if she's here, she's here."

Glad to hear Joy talked about the joy of motherhood.  Happy to see Cris she made the right decision of getting married.

Quick Trip to La Presa

La Presa is familiar to you if you watch the daily telenovela Forevernore.  The TV program which become a hit not only in Philippines but even to Pinoys abroad.  La Presa is the name of the sitio where the main character Agnes lives with her family.

The sitio is located outside Baguio City, real name of the the place is Sitio Pungayan, Cabuyao, Tuba Benguet. The location where the show is being filmed is near Mt Cabuyao where the famous "Mickey Mouse" (radars) is located.

Tourists flock to Baguio City to enjoy the cold weather and visit the famous sitio and Manor Hotel or better known as Grande Hotel in Camp John Hay.  Since I studied in Baguio City and my churchmate also lived in the city before, we decided to visit only the new tourist spots like Ben Cabrera's farm/musuem in Asin Road and Sitio La Presa.

Let me give you quick guide how to reach La Presa via public transport.  Jeepneys directly bound for Sitio Pungayan are very few.  You are lucky if you can get a direct ride to the place since it will costs you only less than 30 pesos per person  The alternate option is to ride a jeepney bound for Green Valley and get off at Police Outpost.  There are van or FX for hire waiting at the Outpost.  One travel will costs you 150 pesos.  We happened to overhear two make up artists looking for a ride directly to the sitio so I talked to these people to join me and my friend and split the cost of 150 pesos. ;)

Thinking it was late afternoon already and we might not get a ride back to Baguio City proper, we asked the driver to wait for us and advised him he could get more passengers so we can split the costs again.

I have never set foot in Mt Cabuyao or the radars.  It was only when I got to Sitio Pungayan that I saw the radars nearer.  It was really cold in that area.  I was shivering and had to wear a sweater with hood to keep myself warm.

At the entrance of the sitio there are stalls selling sweet goodies and vegetables.  It is a proof that shooting the telenovela in that place created tourism/business for locals.

From the main road, you have to walk a little or more than 250 meters.  Agnes' house is located a little downhill.  The crowd that you see in the background are all tourists.   I was a little bit dismayed because I was expecting strawberry fields in the area but what they have are fields of potatoes.

The slope is a bit steep and we were panting on our way up.

The signboard is always busy, hard to get an opportunity to have this marker alone for photo op.  My friend has to squeeze in the crowd to get our chance. :)  We never had the chance, the tourist (we asked a favor to take our pics) was mindful enough to angle the camera without taking the other people in the picture.

This is the house of Agnes. Well, even the bench is busy.

This is the kitchen.

A Tribute To My Pastor

Seeing a smile on this formidable old man brings joy to my heart.  He is the pastor appointed by the Lord to take care of my soul.  I heard him preached the first time when I was five years old but the message about rapture is forever etched in my young mind.  I guess that message quickened my heart, book of Proverbs states the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Later on in my teen life I sought God and I was directed to Pastor Fidel's church.

I have seen his high and low points in the ministry and he continued walking with God.  He was humble enough to say sorry to the congregation when there were bad decisions made.  As a church member I stood by him even when we accepted another doctrine for I know that if I am predestined bride of Christ He will make sure I end up in the right track.  God steered the pastor in the right direction and the church went back to preaching and living the absolute Word of God which is the Bible.

During the low points of my life, I seek God's wisdom by getting an advise from my pastor and I request to be prayed for.  I am grateful that God gave me a pastor who really was in love with Him and has burden in his heart to make sure the flock he is ministering God's word to will go to heaven.

Tonight Pastor Fidel celebrated his 65th birthday.  All four children are all grown up and professionals now organized the event for their dear Daddy.  

It's my birthday!

Thank you Lord for adding another year in my life.  Grateful for all the spiritual and material blessings you have given me.  I am amazed with your unconditional love to me. I am sorry for murmuring and complaining during the times I was having a valley experience as I get shortsighted and focused only on pain.

***

 I spent my birthday with my precious sisters and brother in Christ and relatives.  I had lunch with two sisters and early late lunch/early dinner with a different group on same restaurant (Mang Peping's).  For the first time in my adult life, someone else other than a family member bought a birthday cake for me. :) Sister Malou and Brother Emer brought me a carrot cake.

Feeling Grateful

Tomorrow's my 39th birthday and can't help to reflect what God has done in my life and how I fared.  Well, I made some good decisions and bad ones in life but the latter still turned out to be blessings in disguise.  I am so glad to be a Christian.  I thank God for all my journeys in life. 

Supergirl, am not! But I know that God is with me in all my journeys.  He said "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

They say life is not meant to be lived in one place.  When I was a kid I never dream of seeing the world outside of Philippines but God has given me the opportunity to travel and I never stopped making my bucket list of must-see places.  The inset smaller pics in the above was taken in 2004, my first ever trip out of the country.  These were taken in Isle of Man.

God is our Healer

Two years ago, I was diagnosed with adenomyosis at 9 cm. After 18 months the fibroid tissues grew into 12 cm.  With the growth of the fibroids pain followed.  My monthly period were heavy and painful.  I decided twice to undergo surgery since the doctors I consulted all recommend surgery when am ready but circumstances and faith changed my mind.  The doctor will not only take the fibroids out but including uterus and ovaries.  It means no more chances of becoming a mom and scares me losing internal organs.

I hold on to faith that God can heal me without going thru surgery.  I prayed hard and my brethren also prayed for me.  Lately the symptoms are becoming more unbearable but I keep praying to God.  I know that God has put in my heart to stand firm for my healing request.  God is the author and finisher of our faith.


I begged and cried to God last night and this morning to increase my faith and heal me now because my condition gets in the way of serving Him.  There are times I could not attend church services because of pain.  This morning I saw a change in me.  I begin to ignore the doubts and keeps reaffirming God's promise for God will always fulfill His words.  God has given me a verse. Luke 7:13 "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said unto her, Weep not."

I lift my praise and gratitude to God for healing me.  My days of pain and discomfort are over.  The battle with fibroids is over.  Thank God!

Falling in Love

Had a great time at the church today.  While we were singing and praising God, I felt joy in serving God.  I am so glad to be called Christian, a follower of Christ.  As I go through this journey, the Lord is making things an experience to me not just knowledge.  Lately I keep thinking how good it is to be dedicating my life to Him and serving Him. I can't imagine a life outside Christ.  I am so glad He called me and chose me.

My prayer is that He will draw me closer and that I will fall in love with him more and more.  Even in the midst of my trial I will continue to thank and praise the Lord.  Walking with God is not always a walk in a smooth road; there are humps and rough road along the way but at the end is a great reward.  The pastor said during our previous communion service that following the will of the Lord is easy if we fall in love with Him first.  Yes, like in a natural relationship you can look beyond the not so good characteristics of a person if you are madly in love with Him.  Not that God has not so good characteristics but what I meant is that there is no tough act if  you are doing it with so much love in Christ. :)

Here is a nice worship song.

It's September!

Christmas carol played on radio station woke me up this morning.  It hit me Christmas season has set in and this also signals my birthday will come up soon. 

Philippines never missed to start celebrating Christmas on September no matter what is the condition, rain or shine, economy up or down, war or peace.

However, I started it earlier because I watch movies with Christmas themes as early as June. :)

Exploring Bohol Province

**Updated**
From Cebu City we traveled two hours to go to Tagbilaran City, Bohol via Supercat Ferry.  Unlike my experience in going to Batam, Indonesia the sea was very calm that day we traveled to Bohol.  The ferry was air-conditioned and had big LCD showing Hollywood films.

My Cebu trip was more of revisiting Filipino Heritage as most of the places we visited are historical sites.  On the other hand, Bohol trip was a nature trip.  We visited famous places - Bohol Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Conservatory Park, Butterfly Garden, Loboc River, Man-Made forest in Bilar, Bohol Bee farm in Panglao Island and Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (CHAP). We also visited a musuem and the Blood Compact monument.

In Bohol we hired a tour guide to drive us to these sites.

May 21 - Our first destination was Chocolate Hills since our plan was to go to the farthest place first but we had to make stops in between because we can't resist to take snaps of the wonderful green scenery.

Passing by Loboc River

Green, green....

a foot bridge damaged by the earthquake in 2013

Opposite the foot bridge is an old church also ruined by the quake

We have been traveling for more than an hour already and I noticed there are very few vehicles on the road.  There are no tricycles as well.  I did not see a single sari-sari (small grocery store) store. I engaged in a small chat with our driver cum tour guide to get to know better the Bohol way of living. Mang Tony said people buy their stuff once a week in the market and all other needs/foods can be taken from their backyard or farm. It was simple living.  And that also explains why there are no giant malls like Robinsons and SM in Tagbilaran City.

Bohol's main source of income is farming and tourism.  However, when earthquake hit the province last year tourists influx declined according to Many Tony.

If you feel like engaging in a little adventure go to CHAP.  You can do bike zipline here and also view the chocolate hills from a viewing deck. Try also their resto.

Next stop was Butterfly Garden where we experienced to be like the beautiful butterflies. :)

 You can't missed this 5-kilometer stretch (more or less) of huge trees on your way to Chocolate Hills - man-made forest in Bilar, Bohol.  It was relaxing to drive thru canopy of trees.  We wanted to stop for a while but Mang Tony told us we will do it on our way back to Tagbilaran City.

Finally, we reached the famous Chocolate Hills.  According to folklore tale, the hills were tears of a giant man who was jilted by his loved one.  Wikipedia said those giant mounds are made of limestone covered with grasses which turn to brown during summer (hence it looks like chocolate from afar).

Loboc River Cruise - you should never missed this.  We went for a cruise while having lunch and enjoying short entertainment from locals. One of the boat staff regaled the tourists by singing pop, rock and country music.  At night, dine in Loboc River while fireflies lit the surroundings (we skipped this as we only availed of 8am - 5pm tour).

My Cebu Trip

For almost two years I didn't go out on a long trip, it was all work or just plain rest from work due to health issue. Last week I visited the Queen City of the South (Cebu City) with a friend and we also traveled to the City of Friendship that is Tagbilaran City. However, I made a mistake in booking the return trip to Manila via Mactan Island (Cebu) so we had to return to Cebu again. Now I learned my lesson that if I will do backpacking or visit other nearby provinces, I will surely check out if there is an airport and if I could exit via that place.

We left Manila past 3pm but flight supposedly was at 2:15pm. We boarded on time but takeoff was delayed due to traffic congestion.

We reached Mactan Airport nearly past 4pm. Mactan Island to Cebu City proper is 30 minutes drive however if there is traffic it can take you 45 minutes to an hour. It took us 45 minutes to reach Maxilom St.

You can chose either metered taxi or fixed rate taxi. Mactan - Cebu City is Php475 if it is the latter. However, I selected metered taxi because I am optimistic traffic won't be that horrendous. Yes, there was traffic along the way but meter fell only up to Php302 overall. Riding metered taxi was a good choice.

Took this snap while we were stuck in the traffic

The first order upon arrival was to find a decent hotel in Cebu City (Sampaguita Suites and Palladium Hotel are affordable ones) and next one is to have a taste of Cebu Lechon. :) I was told by a colleague to try CNT Lechon but our hotel was nearer Zubuchon at One Mango building.  Off we went to the latter.

Cebu Lechon, Ginataang Langka and Lemongrass with Lime Juice

Can you resist eating lechon?  Looks yummy!

To be honest, what I really enjoyed from this meal was the Lemongrass juice.  The lechon was tastier than the lechon in Manila or Pangasinan but it was a bit salty.

May 20 - We made plans to have day tour of Cebu City.  Most of the places to visit are of historical or religious sites.  We opted to check out historical sites only since we are non-Catholic.

We checked out tour agencies on their  day tour rates and it is quite expensive.  They charge Php2000-Php2500 per head.  So what we did is negotiated with a taxi if he can tour us for 3 hours only for Php900. Boy, we nailed the deal. :)

Here is our itinerary.

Cebu Heritage Monument - quickly revisit Philippine History by visiting this site.

At Cebu Heritage Monument Park the caretaker was kind enough to take our photos and explain each side of the monument.

Next stop was Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House.

Another tour of musuem was Casa Gorordo.

Go to Intramuros of Cebu City, that is Fort Sn Pedro.

Last stop with our three hours tour was the Taoist Temple.

View from the top of the temple

I recommend KaonaGrill near Lapu Lapu Camp.  Food and customer service was great in this resto.  We capped our half day tour in this resto.

We went to Tagbilaran City in Bohol via Supercat Ferry at 3:15pm same day. We continued our Cebu Tour on May 22.  We hired the same cab driver to tour us around Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova. Don't miss out in trying Lantaw, floating resto in Cordova.

Dine with this amazing sea view.

I can't resist having my picture taken in front of The Big Foot building.  I dream of working in an animation film.

Don't miss out in checking the Guitar factory in Mactan Island.  Cebu produces best guitars in the country.