The Rainbow Warrior

There will come a time when the Earth grows sick and when it does a tribe will gather
from all the cultures of the World who believe in deeds and not words.
They will work to heal it...they will be known as the "Warriors of the Rainbow."

As member of the International organization Greenpeace, I was amazed that they were visiting General Santos City and bringing Rainbow Warrior for the whole generals to witness. What is even more amazing is that, The SOCCSKSARGEN Bloggers were invited by Greenpeace to go aboard the ship on a VIP treatment, that means without having to line up just to be admitted and tour the boat on limited time.

I brought the kids with me hoping they could have a glimpse of the ship, but I am glad I did because they got more than the glimpse, they got a lesson to learn about the advocacy of the ship and Greenpeace.

MY Rainbow Warrior is is part of a three strong fleet of the Greenpeace ships, she took her name from an old native American prophecy as seen above. The ship has a lot of stories and one of the best is that it brings information to the people around the world about what we are doing to destroy our world, and teaching us how we can counter the attacks that we are doing, in short, it teaches us how to save Mother Nature.

MY Rainbow Warrior

Bloggers going aboard the ship

Amrit, the Indian crew wearing blue, talks about the stories they had with the Rainbow Warrior and how some people have attacked the ship, and yet failing to move it.

Aboard the ship!

My family aboard the ship

Bloggers pose for a group shot on the rudder

You know how much I love Mother earth and how I have been trying my best to do my part in saving her. It's just that so many people yet, do not know their part, and my hats are off to Greenpeace especially their crew, who has loved it very much that they do volunteer works just to spread the news in turning the tide, protecting the world from coal power plants and instead use renewable energy and saving energy as well

Renewable energy is good, it will not be a danger to the environment, and will not endanger us from the effects of global warming which, unknowingly to others is happening now.

I say we must do our part in saving the world getting warmer and warmer because of the things we do to destroy it. We can at least save it by spreading the news and ask the president to join us in enforcing renewable energy and not destroy the world by allowing investors who will kill Mother nature by setting up Coal Power Plants in our areas.

Let us help turn the tide! Let us all yearn for a greener world and greener Philippines! Click the link here to read more about Greenpeace and Rainbow Warrior, and the SOCCSKSARGEN Blogger's visit aboard the ship.

Bloggers, Lahat Magaganda!

This has been today's craze, and a lot of people have been complaining how embarrassing we are to other countries already because of seemingly copying their works. The Department of Tourism has this new logo, which definitely looks like the tag line of Umagang Kay Ganda.

I wonder if they ever got originality, don't they have a think tank to think better on these logos? I wonder if they truly copied Polska's logo too?

Oh well, dahil kopyahan na lang pala ang drama, the husband made this:


This basically applies to all bloggers, especially my friends, hindi lang from SOCCSKSARGEN, hehehe...

Di vah?

One Good Story You Don't Want to Miss

i have read this from paulo coelho's blog and i cannot help but share this to all of you as it made sense to me and has given me a good lesson about LIFE.

the story of the pencil goes this way:The Pencil, Paulo Coelho

A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter. At one point he asked:

‘Are you writing a story about what we’ve done? Is it a story about me?’
His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson:
I am writing about you, actually, but more important than the words is the pencil I’m using. I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up.’

Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn’t seem very special.
‘But it’s just like any other pencil I’ve ever seen!’

‘That depends on how you look at things. It has five qualities which, if you manage to hang on them, will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.’

‘First quality: you are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand God, and He always guides us according to His will.’

‘Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpner. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterwards, he’s much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you a better person.

‘Third quality: the pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.’

‘Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.’

‘Finally, the pencil’s fifth quality: it always leaves a mark. in just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action’

if you want to read more 20 second reads from the great writer, Paulo Coelho, hop on to his blog.

A "Kafe Balos" Trek to Mt. Matutum

Last Saturday was my second time in Prk. 8, Kinilis, Polomolok, South Cotabato. The first time I went there was on an assignment, I was tasked to document on the kafe balos or kapeng alamid story because the boss wanted me to have it featured in the magazine I was handling. That first experience made me swear i will be going back, and sure enough, even brought friends with me.

At first I was hesitant to bring them there because as techies and internet savvy people, they might not like it there and might want some wifi-ing instead. But the plan was pushed through, thanks to the host, Sir Fred Fredeluces, formerly from Mahintana Foundation who has been a good friend to me, and mentor during my "proposal drafting" time in Mahintana.

Everyone seemed excited since there were messages on my FB on what to bring, and told them they could bring some candy stuff for the kids. At first, only 3 confirmed their joining, but we still planned to go with it anyway. I was just surprised that those who did not confirm was there too early for the assembly.

So armed with our cameras, 13 of us, off we went to Kinilis, with a mission to document the making of kafe balos, one the most expensive coffee in the whole world, and can be found in Polomolok, South Cotabato. In this post though, I will only share the fun the group had while trekking, and the kafe balos story will follow. I will share to you pictures of how fun it has been, and wish that you will experience this yourself.

This was seen on the way to heaven on earth. Beautiful Mt. Matutum, a dormant volcano in South Cotabato, amidst the pineapple plantation of Dole Philippines.

And this is what welcomes you there in Prk. 8, Kinilis. Cold crisp fresh air similar to that of Baguio and Tagaytay's, though, less the pollution. On a clear day, one can already see General Santos City wharf and the International airport.


We went there at 5am, so we had no time to have breakfast, we brought pan de sal and sandwiches, and was downed with brewed kafe balos. it was really satisfying, we had good laughter while munching pan de sal and getting ready for the trek, realized that kafe balos gave us more energy.

This is just one of our stops, since we had to trek with a slower, enjoying pace, after some 20 minutes or so, we had to stop and get some air, the way up is not that steep, but it will surely make you catch your breath. And every stop we had, we were ready with our smiles, as every stop is cam-whoring time.

On top of the high hills going up the coffee plantation, we saw a great view, and perfect for another batch of camera-clicking.

This is inside the forest already, we had to stop for a few minutes as the guides and Sir Fred was telling us not to touch a certain plant as it gives an itchy sensation to one who touches it, That plant, as it was also my first time to see it was the poison ivy. See the largest leaves on the pictures, that's it.

See, we never got tired, there was laughter along the way.

And when we were inside the thick forest of Mt. Matutum, and inside the coffee plantation, we were amazed at the trees, the largest and the tallest I have seen in my entire life. Ranging from 20-35 meters tall, the trees were protected as Mt. Matutum is a protected landscape. They die natural deaths with their roots upright when they are already feeble.

The group stayed inside the forest for more than an hour to document the civet poop which makes the yummy kafe balos. We weren't expecting any alamid or Paradoxorus Philippinensis because these cats are nocturnal and they only pick the ripest cherry beans on the plant. Going back, we were filled with knowledge and amazement at how the community in Kinilis were able to help preserve nature while also experiencing sustainability in their livelihood.

Resting after the trek, waiting for the yummy lunch. And while at it, some of us still had fun clicking the shutters.

And when in a tribe, do as the tribes do. We truly had so much fun!

While waiting for lunch, we were entertained by beautiful music coming from this paglong, the tribe's native guitar. With only two strings on it, you will be amazed at what beautiful music this can create.

And here's what we had for lunch. A reward for our stomach for surviving a trek halfway to Mt. Matutum.

pakling, grilled native chicken

native tinolang manok

grilled tuna

Sa pagod namin, ubos ang pagkain sa hapag-kainan.

But we can never forget the fun we had, even if we were stopping from time to time to gasp for air, we had fun with our guides, our sherpah...

Obviously, we had FUN, and the adventure touched my friend's hearts, we plan of going back this December to do community service for the B'laan children. The Rotary Club of Polomolok, knowing we went there for this event, wanted to come with us on our next hike and they will be bringing doctors and dentists with them, for a Christmas Medical Mission together with the SOCCSKSARGEN Bloggers.

To Doc Remo, Donna Mae, Ariel, Joy, Kyawster; thanks for the pictures!

A F-U-N Adventure!

Hiyaaa there!

The SOCCSKSARGEN Bloggers had been to an adventure last Saturday, and 'tis one adventure that's already my second. However, it truly feels FUN when you have companions with you on a trek to the mountain. Here are some pictures, the story will follow!

large and tall trees ranging 25-30 meters tall!

Bloggers inside the thick forest of Mt. Matutum

At the peak of a hill! Smiling while gasping for breath!

It was such fun! So I'll definitely update you with the whole story, later maybe. I gotta run for work! Tada!

The Real World

It's just my second day in the new office, the Department of Labor and Employment and with my 2 days there, I have realized that I truly have a lot to be thankful for. And, I am grateful that I am more blessed than the others out there.

Realizations flooded through me while just observing people getting in and out of the office. I realized that the many people who needed work were too much to ignore.

On my first day as I was seated on the first table from the entrance, I was approached by a lanky girl who asked where she could get a permit for the minors. I asked how old she was and why she wants one. She told me her parents can no longer send her to school, and that at 16, she has to look for work and help pay the bills in her home.My second day went through with encoding skilled worker registrants, and the pile was heaps. I remember encoding a civil engineer with his license still new for he has just passed the civil engineering licensure, and he is looking for work. The form asks what job you'd like to get, and his answer was plain and simple: service crew.

I pity them, there are a lot of jobless people in the country, most of them misplaced or even laid off in their particular works, and are willing to gamble their intelligence just because they need a job, be it a simple service crew position. Gone are the days when a licensed civil engineer is being hunted down by good companies for the reason that you have passed the exams. Gone are the days when almost all parents need to send their children to school and get diplomas, today, some parents are willing to let the kids stop school just to earn for a living. This may be painful for the parents, but had they some choice, I wonder if this will be their move.

Sorry for them may be a harsh thing to say but I truly am sorry. I know not why this has happened to our dear fellowmen, of course we all have our reasons for not getting to good school, not having to get good jobs, and not having to get support from the government. If only I can make this world a harmonious place to live in, I would gladly wave my magic wand.

But truth is, that is something I cannot do. I want the best for these people, but in my heart, maybe even in the president's heart, he cannot just make magic out of this hubris from our other government officials. Their arrogance and ignorance of the situation just makes it all the more worse for the country.

But there's one thing we can do, we can PRAY!

Work to eat!

Today StartsThe Climb

New work begins today and I am praying for wisdom and understanding on the things I am supposed to do. Well, it's been a good week, and the vacation I spent with my family back in my hometown was superb, I had a good time to think, re think, unthink and think again.


Today starts another adventure and this is probably the start of God's telling me, that this is my time to shine in order to have a better future. Not that I have not shone before, but I guess, this is another level to work for, and I am at it, NOW.

Wish me luck, today is the day, I will reach for the stars.