Souvenirs from Cebu

These are things I found in Cebu City during my 3 day visit there last summer. There were so many things to look at. Good I was able to capture them. The place to be when it comes to buying souvenir items would be the one inside the compound of Lapu-Lapu monument. There, you can find anything from seashells, guitars, wallets, beaded bracelets, banig bags, and shirts with Cebu logos. Here, take a look..




It's really wonderful how such exquisite products are created out of seashells.


Don't you worry guys, these are not real. No frogs were killed in the process.They are just purely imitated objects made out of leather.



These are all thumb sized key chains that are sold for at least P10 each.

Here, I found these native bags inside Mactan airport. As much as I wanted to buy one, the price was higher than I expected. So I just took one snapshot of it to make my day.

summer leaves

Here are some of the photos I had taken during my island hopping in Cebu this summer. As I was standing under a tree nearby the seashore, I happened to look up and there I saw how vibrant and colorful those leaves were. Later did I realized the leaves had already been dried up. Nevertheless, so elegantly vibrant and beautiful especially when rays of sunlight hit them. I thought the light reflected by the water added colors and life to the leaves. I am so fond of these pictures because these remind me that there is always something good to look forward to...Everything begins and ends well...just like a fallen leaves...

secret garden

Last summer of 2008, my sister and I went to Tagaytay to visit Caleruega Church. That was the second time I saw that place. But the experience was quite different than the first time. I never had a chance to see the beauty of the place the first time I went there. We were having a retreat then with my college classmates, no time to roam around the vicinity. But now, I was able to capture the beauty of the place. Here are some of the beautiful things that made the place so special.

Bad hair day and all

I never thought that cutting your hair short was really liberating. I used to have long hair all my life. I have always been afraid to try something new. Indeed, I'm not a risk-taker. But sometimes, we do unexpected things out of sudden burnout or feelings we can no longer suppress. And what's nice about it is that, it actually feels good.

I was disturbed by what I saw an hour ago on the television. It was a special documentary by Anderson Cooper of CNN about the on-going situation in Congo. What I had witnessed was something I could not even imagine. You know the feeling when you watch a horror movie and you just keep thinking and thinking about it that you can't even sleep at night? What I saw was way more terrifying than that. So I'm writing about it to let it out.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, civil war is happening. And women has become the victims of this dark battle that has taken place. Well, I have heard a lot of problems happening in Africa such as poverty, lack of education facility, poor water, and AIDS...but I have never really taken some time to understand how and why this is happening until now.

Looking back, I realized this is not something new. Way back in Philippine history, many Filipino women served as sexual slaves for the Japanese soldiers during World War II. They were called the 'comfort women'. Growing up, I read a lot about them. Many women suffered so much and they were in deep pain. And I thought power often dictates cruelty. And at my young age, I convinced myself this too shall pass. Time changes people. We have a better understanding about peace and equality. We can always choose a better leader in our society. Our social consciousness has evolved. But now, it is happening again. Hundreds of women in Congo are being raped everyday,and being witnessed by the community, literally! Even young girls with ages 6 experience gang rape!

All these are happening because of civil war. I realized now, when power is at stake, women always become a commodity. During world war II, comfort women became a symbol of power and authority established by the Japanese. And now, in Congo, they use women as a weapon of war. I dare say that this is not because those evil soldiers of war steal women and act on their sexual perversion, but merely to let the society know that they have the power and authority. They don't even go to a private place to do that. Instead, they let the husbands, family to witness their cruelty.They chose to impose their authority by spreading terrorism. They believe breaking the morality of women is the best way to show that they are the leader of the community.

We all hear a lot about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the war that's happening in Africa is much older.,and way deeper. Before, I only knew that African countries held the most inflicted with HIV/AIDS. I thought of poverty and prostitution as the reasons. Well, actually, it is the wounded society that caused the disease.

What what what?

I have been thinking about quitting my job. Everyday I do. The moment I sit on my workplace, and turn on the computer, I have this feeling of anxiety. I don't like the idea that my boss is actually 5 feet away from my desk...and everyday, she would remind me--ah sorry, she would tell me what to do first, then next, and so on. She knows everything I do 'coz she actually sees what I do and not to do. She never lets us be. There comes a point where I feel like I can't do this anymore. It's not healthy. I want to quit and find a new job but I just don't know why I am still here. Oh gosh, what shall I do now?

take it away

I'm confused. And for what? For something so simple yet complicated.

Well, I guess I need to find something to laugh about.

not over yet

Someone said you have to experience pain to experience life. And I was thinking...is it always like that? What if the thing that causes your pain is actually the same thing that lets you experience life.

I thought my heart just stopped when she died. I honestly thought that was the beginning of the end.

And I'm glad I was able to keep things together...atleast I hope so. Still, whenever I get happy, at the back of my mind, I feel it's not right. Maybe, I'm still stuck there. Maybe, after all I'm not over with all that. People just see the surface, beneath that, they are absolutely clueless.