Months after...

Blog.
So it's been two months since my last post. Seems like Blog.com has done some changes that I got a little confused when I logged in.

Haircut.
I went out yesterday for an appointment at a salon. I went to a different one compared to where I've always been going these past more than half a decade. My hair hasn't been cut for 9 months, from my old salon, so it has become really long and the style I wanted this time is very short. Not pixie though but it's below my earlobe.

Quarantine.
While inside the Grab car, I noticed the traffic of both people and vehicles. Seeing them felt a little like how things were before the quarantine. It's good for the economy. I just hope everyone's taking proper precautions.

Metro Manila is still under quarantine. I have no idea when it'll be fully lifted, or at least 75% lifted. I hope it'll be soon, but everyone's safety is of course the priority. We've been under (various) quarantine for almost 6 months now.

For selfish reasons I want it to be lifted soon. I'd like to say "at least some changes in the travel restrictions like permission for obvious non-essential travels," but that would mean headache for us working at the border control, especially my agency. Besides, I wonder if issuance of travel authority would also resume soon.

I want to travel overseas again. This may be against the preference of most, if not everyone, but I want to travel to China. The country may not be included in my planner's "travel destination" wish-list, but it's always on earmark, whispering from time to time at the back of my head. I'd love to fly to Shanghai, stay there for a couple of days and have a few more spent in Hangzhou. I'm thinking of at least 5 days total trip to both. Aah, my wandering feet is itching for some adventure. Perhaps I'll push for 7 days, so that means avoiding SLs.

Now Playing: Ikimonogakari - Sakura

First Half 2020

Time flies. In just a couple of hours, the first half of 2020 will be coming to an end. Six months came by too fast. And they were not uneventful.

My, oh my. Who would've thought that Taal Volcano would threaten almost the entire Island? Then came a pandemic. Who could've thought this generation would experience a pandemic?

As I work at the international borders, I've been exposed to a lot of people. I've been feeling fine and wasn't particularly worried for myself. But I worried and still do for those around me. So I decided since the beginning of March not to go home yet. I thought I should distance myself. I just happened to be ahead of our government's decision to put the metropolis in community quarantine.

Since then until now, I've been staying at the dorm. A lot of my meals were ordered via Food Panda or Grab Food. Thankfully when the community quarantine in NCR was changed to GCQ, sis Aya got me some home-cooked dishes. Her mum cooked them. And now I feel like turning into a chibi version.

Looking back, to keep my insanity, I decided to stay away from news about CoVID-19. I would check from time to time, but I eventually dropped it. Most of my "research" times were spent watching Chinese dramas. Yes, I got hooked. Then after the last C-Drama I've watched, I got spent most of my time reading manga.

I wonder what lies ahead for the second half of the year. I hope everything gets better.

Now Playing: Coldplay - Magic

Scourging Heat

I'm supposed to leave today to claim my Quarantine Pass at the Barangay Hall. But I got held up this morning, because I was watching Pretty Li Huizhen. I still haven't left though I'm on the last episode now. All the more, I thought, I couldn't leave because just now I went to the dining area to get some almond milk. Man, I never thought I'd get surprised by the heat any more. I never thought it could get any more scourging. With this heat, I could and would not leave any more. And I thought there's a tropical depression.

Now Playing: Jackson Wang - Papillon

Out of PH again

I got to have my second overseas trip after almost 6 years, on my goddaughter's birthday. It's another five-day trip. I also realized recently that both destinations - Taiwan and Hong Kong, respectively - are Chinese autonomous territories. I wonder when I'd be able to visit mainland China. I'm so looking forward to that.

The days before our departure were quite stressful due to the travel clearance I had to secure. I only had a week left when I found out. Thank God all went well, but it was not that easy. I had my travel clearance the day before our departure.

Come the day of departure. I was so pleased to see my passport stamped again though it's a new one so technically it's the first stamp for the renewed passport. But I only got stamps from the Philippine Immigration as Hong Kong's does no such thing, both for arrival and departure. There will be no passport-evidence that I went to Hong Kong.

Our flight (PR 306) was delayed for an hour with another hour of delay in retrieving our luggage. I don't know what caused the former but the latter was due to some rains when we arrived in Hong Kong. So much for inconvenience.

While still up in the air within Philippine territories, I got to take a shot of Metro Manila. I can't really say it's an unpleasant shot as I know how congested the capital region is. I guess I just got curious on what could be done to make things better.

However, how willing are Filipinos to make things better? Such do not happen in days or months. Are Filipinos willing to pay the price? I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

23 May 2017

Today, as of 2:50 PM, I can count at least five things I am grateful of.

First, I was not late. I came in at 0355H though logged in a minute later due to fingerprint issues.

Second, we had free breakfast. But I wonder if I should stop receiving any.

Third, I saw and was able to speak with C#4. I had a lot of sneak peeks before number four.

Fourth, I saw and was able to speak with C#3. There were a lot of glimpses. I was even able to see up close though just the back because C#3 came in at our turf. And before I left, I had another glimpse.

Fifth, the favour from Ms. MAQ-C. Such kindness was and is good enough for today. Forget the first four things and I'd still be fine. Moreso, I was reminded of God's justice and mercy. I've had both in her office.

Now Playing: Vivaldi - Four Seasons

Manila Cathedral

I always take time to look at the Manila Cathedral whenever I am in Intramuros. First, it's a default to pass by the cathedral when leaving, at least for me, the walled city. Second, it's just a piece of art that is hard to resist.

During one of my visits in Intramuros, I happened to look at Manila Cathedral in a somewhat enchanting way. It was more like I got enchanted.

It was almost sundown so the lighting in the sky kind of added to the enchantment. Manila Cathedral looked, to me, like a cathedral in Europe, somewhere central. It was beautiful.

Binondo

I saw this article from Manila Bulletin's Panorama about Binondo that made me long to visit the place as well as others that had been historically significant.

A couple of weeks after reading this, I saw Dr. Crickette's post about "Planning A Binondo Foodtrip." Man, I haven't really thought of going on a food trip in Binondo but the Panorama article and the blog entry caused me a change of heart. Because, why not?

Speaking of change, I decided to invite two groups of my friends for a food trip in Binondo, separately. Both agreed though one eventually made some changes. We'd still have food trip but no longer in Binondo. Doesn't matter, because what's important is that we'll be together having fun.

Now Playing: Idina Mendez - Defying Gravity

Manila Cathedral

It's been more than a decade when I had the chance to visit Intramuros for the second time. For the third time, it's been almost two decades since the first. I've loved Intramuros since I first came during my fifth grade in primary school.

On January 25, I got the chance to go to Intramuros again and was spared with a couple of minutes to walk around. As I passed by the Manila Cathedral, I thought it had some European feel, which was no surprise. If only I could stare at its dome for hours, I would. I just sufficed myself with a couple of photos but this one is the better shot I had.

While walking along the streets of Intramuros I thought to myself if our national heroes also walked the same path. It feels nice to be in the same place where they used to be.

I will never get tired coming back to Intramuros. Well, the travel is not that convenient but it's always worth it once you get inside the walled city.

Now Playing: Joey Ayala and Bayang Barrios - Walang Hanggang Paalam

The UST Chronicles

Sort of.

Last night was my second time at the University of Sto. Tomas. Yes, I've only been in UST twice albeit living on earth for almost three decades now.

The first time I went there, and on my own, was during the graduation night of Perry, which was around 5 years ago. Wow. It was that long! It still feels like just a couple of months ago. Haha! If I don't know Perry's age, I would've thought so.

Last night was my first time going to UST with a "service." The trip from SM North was quite cozy. It felt familiar. Perhaps because I've just passed by España Blvd. last Wednesday night on my way to Recto to attend the graduation of the 'third round' of Campus Alpha.

Going back in UST, I realized that the UST Hospital looks better than I imagined. Or maybe they already did some renovations. Whatever it may be, I didn't think USTH would look the way I saw it last night. I've only seen the exterior. I'd love to come inside, but hopefully not because I have a kin or friend who got hospitalized.

By the way, the reason I went to UST was to attend the beauty pageant Karla was joining. Unfortunately, I didn't have any ticket and couldn't reach Tita. Ergo, there was no option left but to follow the rule: No ticket, no entry. I didn't mind though because I was sort of "following" the hierarchy of needs. I was already hungry. I just wanted to eat.

I reckoned that missing the pageant gave me an opportunity to roam around. I went to their park. I don't know if it's official name is "UST Park" but I'm calling it with such name. And I liked it. I'd love to go back to UST, whenever possible, just to be at the UST Park. But I believe the best time to be there is at night. It's a quite place. Peaceful indeed.

Walking at the park was refreshing. I loved it. I also noticed that they have benches made of lumber, real wood. One of the things I've asked myself was, "Why didn't I become a furniture designer?" I like furniture, especially those made of wood. I like wood, anything made of wood. I actually won't mind standing in front of a wood piece/art/product for a long period of time. Even if it's just a simple handrail made of wood, I wouldn't mind staring at it longer than most people could stand.

Moving on, I noticed that they have 'posters' of the "major events" that led to Jesus' crucifixion. I happened to take photos of two 'posters' as they caught my attention.

"Mary and John at the foot of the cross"

I thought there's something about "at the foot of the cross," then I realized that yes, LET US NEVER LEAVE THE SIDE OF THE LORD JESUS. Also, staying at the foot of the cross reminds us who and what got Jesus nailed to the cross. It is because of us. It is because of our sins.

I used "is" instead of "was." At first I thought it was ungrammatical, then I remembered a passage in the Bible that says, "crucifying Him again," or something like that. So it made sense. "Is" is better than "was."

I loved the park, or my stay at the park last night. Thoughts of its venerability yet withstanding the modern times were soaring in my head. And yet it felt serene. I could sense that there's something in store for UST. Why not? It's the oldest university in Asia, since 1611.

The road goes on and on...

While taking a seat, another poster "caught" my attention. I imagined it beckoning me as if having something to tell me.

I'm referring to "The Agony in Gethsemane," which reminded me of the Lord Jesus' passion in pleading before God for our sake. Indeed, He is our Chief Intercessor, our High Priest. Also, there's #2. There really is something about number 2. Anyway, I took my time to do what I had to do since I got the names since Sunday last week.

My "roam" around the park seemed to be perfectly timed, sort of, because when I was closing in prayer my Tita called to tell me that they're about to leave [the Medical Auditorium, where the pageant was held]. Also, my walk back to where the van was parked was enough to give me time to wait for Tita, Lola, and Karla. It's way better to wait for them than being waited for.

I left the UST Park with a prayer, left the University of Sto. Tomas with the innermost desire to be back. I love its tranquility at night.

Back in Manila.

So I am back in Manila. It's already been 2 days actually. And thus my 4 months of stay in Baguio City ended, so far. I'll be back of course, unless heaven forbids, for there remains my family. I also want to return to Prime Hotel to visit its management. I already miss those people. But it's good to be back in Manila, though I miss the cold weather of the Summer Capital. I'm looking forward to seeing my friends again.

I have returned to do someone a favour. Let me correct that. I am back to return someone's favour. But I actually see it more as a duty to the family who took care of me all these years. I no longer have an agenda on my own. I no longer live for myself. As I've said (at least to myself), I'll go where God wants me to go, Hades included if needed be. No worries as long as I am doing the will of God.

The 6-7 hour trip from Baguio to Manila was pretty eventful, in the sense that I had a lot of realization. Learned a lot. It was, I'd say, sentimental. Sweet even. It reminded me of my every trip to Isabela.

Now Playing: Citipointe - Dominion