Despite the lack of posts for two weeks due to work and studies, I have been wanting to write about what 2014 has been doing in my life.

In January, I celebrated the new year with my family in our humble home. We didn't light up any firecrackers but we still ate food and greeted each other at midnight. I also spent that morning traveling to Olongapo with my Mom, two titas, and one cousin. We visited the Merzas, our relatives from my grandmother's side.  Since it was a day trip, we traveled back home early in the afternoon. That night, I went to Genesis bus terminal in Cubao with two of my greatest college friends and we traveled to Baler, Aurora. We surfed, practiced yoga, ate, and visited one beautiful tourist spot. Being with the family and friends was a great trip to start the year.

A day of firsts.

Classes resumed once more and I was back to work and to my MA classes in Eduk. Though I missed the Christmas vacation a lot, I was energized and off to a good start. I also fasted for 5 days alongside my Victory churchmates. God guided me in making my faith goals. This time, I survived liquid fast and one-two meals each day. There was also another great challenge that God made me face. It was to stand up for my rights as an employee and let our voices be heard. After the meeting, our concerns were addressed and every detail was explained as it was supposed to be from the start. All thanks to God!

Back to school with a smile (:

February was filled with love.  Despite the great list of things to do, I felt God's love everywhere I went. I rekindled myself in His embrace as I faced each day. He guided me when I wrote the students reports and conducted the Parent-Teacher Conferences. He also boosted my strength when I started writing and rewriting my mock thesis Chapters 1 and 2 and preparing my Chapter 3 for my Educational Research class. Also, God even gave me a greater challenge when I found out that I am supposed to write another set of Chapters 1-3 for my Special Education research class. I could not complain neither to God nor to my teachers. So I accepted the challenge with a calm heart and mind. I can do this through God who gives me strength! I also continued my yoga practice despite my lack of budget and time. I entrusted my financial concerns and time management to God. And so far, I have been attending at least once or twice a month. (:

Even my commitment to volunteer in church this year has been renewed. I am now committed to joining the Kids Church Ministry for it is the only ministry that I could afford to give my time. There is no need to practice throughout the week and no need to attend rehearsals on Saturdays or early Sunday mornings. I just need to be early before the service twice a month. Honestly, I will definitely miss Music Team. But the right ministry for me was part of my faith goals. I know God is leading me back to my first calling which is to teach.


As for Valentine's Day/Love Month, I  have enjoyed and learned a lot from the It's Not That Complicated series in church. I was also blessed by the lovely people who kept on showing me love and care and inspired to witness my future love story that God has started to write for me. I know it is going to be beautifully written. For now, I will continue to have wonderful dates with my God.

Though I am not sure what God has in store for me in March and the rest of the year, I am sure that he will give me challenges that I can face and breakthroughs that will bring me joy. I am inspired to do more things for Him!

When I was a young student, class fieldtrips usually make me excited and happy. I really enjoyed riding in a bus with my preferred fieldtrip busmate and buddy. Now that I am a teacher, a fieldtrip still makes me excited and happy. It is just that it is more tiring compared to teaching at school and simply doing my job.


Last Friday, January 17, we went to a fieldtrip to Ocean Adventure, Subic Bay, Olongapo City. In the bus, one of my students celebrated his birthday with a box of Cello's Doughnuts. Whew! The three hours and a half away from Manila became more fun. I have been to Ocean Adventure before. So this was my second time. The first time was a school fieldtrip too. It was three to four years ago. The place looked almost the same!










Our students had a good time. There were just some moments that could have been better such as our lunch meals being changed at the last minute. We were supposed to have chicken tempura. Our lunch meal became adobo. Another thing was the seating arrangement during the dolphin show. The people sitting on the front seats could not really see well. We were not even allowed to stand up because we might cover other people's views as well. Due to this, the kids were having a hard time seeing the show. The elevation of each row should have been done better. But the good thing was the trip ended in a happy note because nothing else went wrong, noone got hurt, and nothing was lost. It was still a successful one.


The hardest part was stopping myself from buying these cute cuddly stuffed toys..

O_O

Recently, I have dealt with some serious matters concerning my career. I won't elaborate much on it here. But I really felt like things have been starting to happen again. So I immediately knew that God was telling me something.. for the second time around. This trip has been a part of the awakening.

Have you ever went to the Ocean Adventure? Tell me about your experience.

Looking back on my childhood years, I have been to Zambales a couple of times. But I have never had a clear memory of this province until I made this trip with my family and friends of family in a wonderful weekend last April.


Zambales is a province in Central Luzon. In approximately 4-5 hours from Quezon City, Metro Manila, the route includes a drive along North Luzon Expressway towards Subic, Olongapo. From Subic, travel could get easier towards Zambales and its nearby towns to Olongapo.

San Antonio, the fourth out of thirteen towns, was our destination in Zambales. It has fourteen barangays including Pundaquit, wherein we stayed and spent our nature trip.



Capones Vista Beach Resort, which is a private beach resort located at the heart of San Antonio, showcases the beauty of the Capones Islands. It has a good number of houses and rooms, big and small, depending on the number of people staying. It composes of a cafeteria and bar in front, shower rooms, outdoor tables and chairs, and two pools--a 6 feet square-sized pool and a square-sized kiddie pool that was semi-infinity pool. Overall, the resort has a classy and fresh vibe. It was such a beautiful place to stay considering the price.


The resort gave us a family room with two beds, a cable-ready TV, a bathroom, and a veranda in front. Located just across the swimming pool, we got a good view of the whole resort.

One restless island hopping to Anawangin, Capones Island, Camara Island, Nagsasa Cove, and Pundaquit Falls could be the perfect itinerary. But one day of a relaxing island hopping could include a trip to Anawangin, Capones Island, and Camara Island or could even be interchanged with the other two. I was surprised to find out that there were many things to see here. No doubt nature lovers would love this place.



With two days to spare, we scheduled our boat trip to Anawangin first. We rented a boat and a nipa hut with a bamboo table and built-in bamboo chairs. Our family friends brought cooked lunch and rice for our picnic lunch. Because we arrived in the island nearly 12 noon, we had no choice but to eat. All of us were starving!


Exploring Anawangin could have been more fun if we have gone to the Nagsasa Cove and visited the Pundaquit Falls. But we had no time left so we just swam, roamed around the campsite, and attempted to look over the forest at the back.










Next, we walked over Anawangin's sandy beach towards the rocky side of the island. Here, many people were enjoying taking pictures while the clear blue water and neverending waves were splashing beneath their knees.






In our itinerary, the islands came in next. Before we headed off to the islands, we first visited the lighthouse sitting on top of one island. But the current was really getting bigger and we had to swim towards the island so we voted off the lighthouse. We made straight to Camara Island, wherein a beautiful pebbled shore and surrounded by green and rocky background came to view. Breathtaking! We jumped out of the boat a few meters away from the shore.

And the real fun comes in...




Then we discovered a great place to relax, have fun, talk, and take pictures.





At around 3 o'clock, we left the island and the boat carried us back to Capones Vista. We had a hard time docking the boat due to the waves. But the boat men soon found a place a little far from the resort. We all had to make this heavy sandy walk.



While the sun on the background was slowly coming down, the single women relaxed in the kiddie pool and talked. The sun was still shining brightly but the pool was slightly lit, shielding us from the sun rays. We got no pictures to prove it but it was one of the best and most beautiful times.



One more thing, the sunset in Capones Vista was a must-see. With a panoramic view of the sea, anyone would wish to gaze at the radiant red orange sun and skies forever.

With plenty of time to spare during the evening, we drove for an hour and a half to Olongapo City wherein we visited the M/V Logos Hope and had dinner at Coco Lime. Usually, it could only be a 30-minute drive but a traffic jam impeded it.


For the second time to some of us and the first time to most of us, we entered the ship with pretty smiles and excitement. My Mom got pretty excited with the books she found that she totally bought a bunch while my Dad resorted to the CDs of different Christian artists. I just bought one book I could use for teaching. Nothing much really changed with their stocks. This time, I got a few pictures of what's inside from my brother's phone. Sorry, they were all cookbooks... GAAH..



Eating at Coco Lime was the perfect way to fill up our empty stomachs. We ordered various foods which we ate happily. The pineapple rice is definitely a must-have! If someone could only franchise this restaurant in Manila, then it would have been a big hit already. Way to go, Coco Lime!





The following morning, the resort served us our breakfast at the outdoor table in front of the pool. It was nice complimentary breakfast. I forgot to take pictures of the dishes but they were alright. They asked us our orders late at night while we were hanging out in the veranda. By the way, the whole place was Wi-Fi ready.

We checked out at 11 o'clock and had lunch at Espresso Cafe, Subic Bay. They served us literally BIG pizzas, overflowing pica picas, pasta, steak, and fries.




Anyone could definitely have the right to say, "How unhealthy!"But it did make the hunger go away.

Then we bid our goodbyes several times until we parted our ways in Mindanao Avenue. Before I forget, Quezon City people should take this road to the expressway because it is much easier.

Haaaay. Zambales, you are unforgettable. How I wish I could make another trip to the beach before summer ends but looks like I would only have summer classes and city hang outs waiting for me.