From the Web: The Optimist Creed (Promise Yourself)

Promise Yourself


To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best , to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

Christian D. Larson

Travel: Timberland Sports and Nature Club

This entry isn't really solely about Timberland but it is mainly for TSNC because as I've compared it to two other comparative resort facilities (Caliraya Recreation Center CRC and Thunderbird Resorts Rizal TBR), this one stands out!

I have visited Lake Caliraya with Roland in April 2009. It was our first trip together and it was not bad for a start. The Caliraya Recreation Center is a Christian resort so the place was so alive when we went there during the Lenten Season. There were a lot of Christian organizations having their teambuildings and groups of families and friends of course.

Thunderbird Resorts Rizal was were I spent my 24th birthday, June of last year (2011). ISHI: Travel: Thunderbird Resorts - Rizal

Then for our Valentine's celebration, we stayed over the weekend at the Timberland clubhouse. In this sanctuary, if we find no other better place, we will spend our special moments in the future.

So, how do I compare? By rating the facilities with this grading system:

1-poor 2-good 3-average 4-above average 5-excellent

	Caliraya	Thunderbird	Timberland
Location	3 (2-2.5 hours from the Metro to Lumban, Laguna)	4 (30-45 minutes from Marcos Hiway – Sumulong intersection; free shuttle service)	5 (15-20 minutes from Batasan)
Guest Room	3 (1 queen size bed,1 double deck) -standard hotel room	5 (1 king size bed;drawing/ living room; private balcony) -showroom	4 (no central light, probably to encourage visitors to go outdoors) -deluxe
Toilet and Bath	2	4 (equipped with a bath tub)	3 (hot/cold shower system has no signs)
Scenic View	3 (man-made lake; lush hills and fields)	3 (Laguna bay; golf-course)	5 (Metro Manila skyline; Laguna Bay
Swimming Pool	3	4 (infinity; outdoor Jacuzzi style)	4 (infinity; deepest is 4 feet)
Restaurant / Food	4 (breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet inclusive; very small convenience store)	3 (buffet breakfast inclusive; Koi restaurant cannot accommodate all guests)	5 (American buffet breakfast inclusive; several choices; convenience shop offers baked snacks)
Facilities / Recreation	5 (prayer house, water sports, zorb ball, fishing, firing range, mini-theater for movies, horseback riding, mud slide, zip line, board games, billiards, wall-climbing, team-building facilities, playing field)	3 (mini-chapel, golf course, casino, outdoor playground for children)	5 (gym, basketball/ badminton/ table tennis courts, hiking, camping, biking, library with free internet, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, billiards, computer interactive center with PS3 and Wii plus computer games, toddler’s room, spa center, movie room, wall-climbing, )
Wellness	3 (massage service)	3 (massage service)	5 (gym, with separate room for floor exercise, spa center, jacuzzi/ sauna/ steam bath inclusive)
Child-Friendliness	4	2	5
	30 / 9 = 3.3	31 / 9 = 3.4	36 / 9 = 4

Good morning Timberland!

So yep. The chirping birds of the forest; the whistling blow of the mountain breeze; the echoes of dribbling balls and sporty voices; sounds of happiness; it is all there. Honking trucks and beeping cars; loud music; the flood of hurried people; not a hint of hustling and bustling is present. Air, noise and light pollution are all distant making it seem like heaven was closer.

Timberland at night.


the morning view. rolling hills.

The Timberland clubhouse is such a pretty place that it made us think of the future. It made me want to someday live in a neighborhood like Timberland's. Roland even mentioned that the venue is prefect for events celebrations because a lot would make it since it isn't far from the metro.

sky lanterns at night. it was soooo dramatic.
this is the same view of the Metro Mania skyline we had from our bedroom.

wonderpool!

so close I could almost taste it

Happy Valentine's 2012. Timberland Clubhouse. Feb. 11-12.

Timberland, wonderland!

Article: How to Execute Dream Plans

Steps on How to Execute Dream Plans:

1. Imagine being in the dream. A dreaming person ought to imagine well what it could actually be like living in his dream. And in imagining well, it does not mean seeing only happy faces, perfect health, or the ability to hoard wealth, but to foresee downfalls as well. Putting into mental imagery both the positive and negative probabilities of a dream plan will further determine the degree of commitment a person can sustain throughout the course plan. This initial step may seem too simple (since all dreams root from imagination) but here lies the cruciality of saving one's self from a terrible mistake: planning the wrong dream. Hence, include in daydreaming the disappointments, frustration and failure that can come along the way, then gauge if the dream is right for you and if it is still worth committing to.

2. Commit to the dream itself. I give way to a German quote in explaining this: "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way." Do your best.

3. Make use of your resources. A farmer has no ability to perform an appendectomy in the same manner as a surgeon lacking skills to harvest crops. Each of us has our own learnt skills and abilities and there is no man who can do each and every task there is in this planet. Therefore, a person needs other people to do work that he has no knowledge of in order to execute a plan. For example, an entrepreneur dreaming of owning a restaurant will need a big sum of money. If he lacks funds, this person may seek financial assistance from his relatives, friends or apply for a bank loan. There really is no man that's an island. Seek help if you must. Ask for assistance when needed. And just so suddenly you might realize, the goal is almost within your reach.

4. Pray. This is a given. No doubt. But what to pray for? Of course, the man must pray for the dream plan to come as a reality. And pray that the dream plan is right for him, that from it will spring fulfillment, contentment and peace of mind. It is quite tricky to yearn for something one is not ready for. So pray for guidance.

5. Design a Plan B. There is no straight path toward achieving a goal. And there is no absolute guarantee of success no matter how detailed a blueprint is. So planning an alternative is not only a wise thing to do, it must be a must.

6. Wait. Once every effort has been exhausted and every possible resource or aid has been achieved and the dream plan seems closer than how it was and there seems to be silence from the universe and nothing else, the waiting time begins. As Paulo Coelho had it on his By The River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept, "Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worst kind of suffering." When everything has been done, there is nothing else a man can do at this point but remain vigilant of any sign and repeat the fourth step.

7. Open your senses. This goes together with the sixth. A waiting man must have his senses ready for the slightest trace of message from the universe or from heaven. He who waits must have eyes open to external signals and closed to worldly distractions. An expectant man should have a heart in tranquil in order to hear internal messages that he himself is delivering. So do not haste. Instead, continue to wait until your instincts tell you otherwise.

8A. Execute plan B. Only if the signals sent convey futility of waiting for the dream plan to happen. If a man finds himself living the other dream and not his first choice, he must rejoice. For his prayer was answered. For he has found the dream that's right for him. For he does not have to suffer living the dream that would just bring him anything but satisfaction and happiness.

8B. Grab it. Own it. Commit more. Pray more. And muster all the gusto in it.

9. Share the story. Spoken. In paper. Through music. To a stranger. To a baby. To a friend. To a pet. Because any man's words might be the message that another person from a distant town is waiting for.

10. Give back. Most importantly, give thanks by giving back. A man who has taken so much from the world must know how to give back. This is so because sharing makes the dream exist longer. And he must be aware that it can be greater than what he has received. Or that it can be given in small portions to many. Repeat fourth step.

"True success comes from within. It is a function of who we are and what we do. It emerges from the mysterious chemistry of our abilities and passion and hard work and commitment. True success is something we earn privately and whose value we determine for ourselves. The outside world can reward us with money, but it cannot anoint us with this deeper and more personal kind of success. "

-Peter Buffett, Life Is What You Make It"

Article: The Ovarian Lottery

A fetus grows not in the womb of the woman it chose but of the woman who has won it by chance, by destiny, by lottery. Or it could be said the other way around. A mother gives birth not to the child she chose to have, but of the child who has won her by chance, by destiny, by the ovarian lottery.

Life is sacred they say. And in it is the unending quest of finding meaning and purpose of our existence as we spend each day dealing with various relationships. And the base of a man's emotional stability and social intelligence depends largely on his relationship with his parents. For the very first relationship every human will have of another person is that of his father and mother. And by the ovarian lottery, we have not the power to select our parents. We were left with no choice but to love them for who they are, no matter what they do, whether they have a stuffy bank account or have only little to provide.

This inability to choose our parents, I think, gives a little spice in our lives. It shoos away dullness and boredom in our existence. We learn to bend as we allow our parents to mold us into having acceptable characters and persona. We learn to focus and adopt vital lessons from their own life experiences. We learn to listen and not just hear whenever they talk with anger or frustration.

Admittedly and shamefully, when I was young, I wished to have different parents. I wanted to have a more beautiful and financially richer set of parents. Yes, more beautiful. I wanted my dad to be more stunning, healthy-looking, and bold. I wanted my mom to have flawless skin and clothes that do not smell of cigarettes. I wanted them both to have stable jobs that pay well, so they can send us to school with their own money and not just by scholarship, so we can afford family vacations on holidays like most of the families I know. This immature thinking led me to take for granted the relationship I had with my parents in my adolescent years, without knowing that someday it will eat me up inside because of regrets.

It's been almost a decade since my rebel days and I probably am still writing about this because of guilt. And I continue to write because along the way I realize a few more things in retrospect. I am wishing now to have time turned back though I know that wish is only what it is and could be nothing else. It's truly sad when you know that you have done something which you shouldn't have had otherwise. Because in this life, there is no rewinding. We only get one shot in each stage of our lives as we grow older and maybe wiser.

Life is sacred they say. And in it is the unending quest of finding meaning and purpose of our existence as we spend each day dealing with various relationships. And the very first relationship every human will have of another person is that of his father and mother. All of the relationship ties we have with other people may break, but that with our parents is sacred and shall never ever break. Because we won them by chance, by destiny, by the ovarian lottery. And we can do nothing about it.

So better make the most out of each day you spend with your parents. Strengthen your ties and make it unbreakable. They are your roots and each of your relationship with other people is influenced by it. In times you do not understand them, stop rationalizing. Do not think. Just love them, smile and say, "I won the lottery".

Article: Bicycles for Christmas

NO TO JOGGING
I never liked jogging. For me, it produces DISTRESS instead of the EUSTRESS that joggers usually claim to get when they run. I could walk (fast-paced) all day just by being at my workplace and I must have been correlating work-related stress with jogging as an exercise, which in effect, makes me feel heavy whenever Roland urges me to go jog with him. Makes me feel bad when I turn him down, but I just can't force myself to jog.

EVEN FOR HEALTH
At this early age I already have Osteopenia (a bone condition that may lead to Osteoporosis when it gets worse) so regular exercise is very important for my health. However, I am not really fond of going to the gym or being active in sports (or even taking Calcium supplements). I'd rather lie on the bed for hours, watch television, surf the net or watch my niece amuse herself in her own way. Yes, a sedentary lifestyle is what I have.

WHERE ARE THE POOLS?
This was not the case in my youth. As a child, I loved swimming. I have tried jumping into the deep parts of the ocean. I have watched poisonous baby octopuses change colors as their means to ward off enemies. I have swam with clown fishes and Nemos. And up to now, probably I can still stay in the water all day without getting "stressed". Unfortunately, it is now quite inconvenient to go to the beach or even find a decent pool in the city. And when I say decent, I refer to those with a bit of privacy or exclusivity, and clean and clear water. We have them, but it can be expensive.

ALTERNATIVE: BICYCLING

Thus, in order for me to get going and have a more active lifestyle, we chose an alternative, that is, bicycling. So as Christmas presents for each other, Roland and I bought bicycles together on the last week of November, and gifted ourselves early with a lady bike (for me) and a mountain bike (for him). And it's a good thing that he likes bicycles too so I don't feel like I'm being selfish. (Actually, he's the one teaching me the do's and don'ts of biking on busy roads.)

I don't have the guts to go cycling alone. Yet. Because I don't have adequate skills. Yet. Just to put my two cents in. Time will come I may go alone because I've mustered enough skills. And I will ride my bicycle like I'm riding a motor bike. So to speak.

Our first trip was to the Christmas Bazaar at our town's city hall. Went there to eat. I was exhausted after that trip and had sore muscles the morning after. Second trip was to the grocery.
I can now use my bicycle to save fare expenses for grocery shopping.

Article: You Know That We Are Living in a MATERIAL WORLD...

“Most people like to own things, you know, land, luggage, other people. Makes them feel secure, but all that can be taken away. In the end the only thing you really own is your story.” - Drover in Australia

Back in 2009, when the Ondoy tragedy happened, we had a few newly bought furniture at home. We live at an area in Marikina that easily gets flooded even when there's just continuous raining so our family has already gotten used to it. We've been living in this residence for years anyway. A good thing though, the floods don't usually affect the inside of our home since the design of our house was intently made for these occurrences. Until Ondoy struck. Most of our belongings lost their value.

Lesson learned: we should not get too attached to material things, humans are not made for materialism, life is not meant for materialistic ideals.

A fire can burn down and floods can wash away all properties one owns no matter how much investment was put in it. Material things are for short-term. The intangibles are not. There is more to life than keeping luxury items in your closet. There's more happiness in making one's self involved in humane and/or spiritual activities.

To be more concrete, here's an example. Let's say two young people allot the same amount of money for a stress-relieving endeavor. One purchases an LV bag, the other goes to travel. Who do you think would most likely achieve more lasting sense of peace and happiness? It's for you to answer.

Admittedly, I am materialistic. My closet is full of items which are not really useful. I keep old magazines which I do not intend to read anymore. I have clothes that are bought only because they look cute which I can't even wear for the reason that it's not my style. For some, things like such may be termed as "investments". I call them "junk".

How to get rid of junk? Here are a few ways:
1. Hold a Garage Sale - my sisters and I have been trying to limit the amount of clutter we've gathered through the years. Hence we decided to have a garage sale. We did it for a week and for each day we made sales, we earned a thousand. The income tripled on the last day. My mom decided to join us and we are planning to hold another garage sale on the first week of December.
2. Donate - I have tried donating books, clothes, shoes and other stuff to the needy people I've encountered in life, not only because I have a soft heart for the poor aged generation, but also for my old belongings to become another useful property to the materialistically poor. (I don't know why but whenever I see aged people walking alone on the streets, I oftentimes feel the need to hand them something.)

For the year 2012, I want to be different. I don't want to keep things that are not actually useful for me anymore because they might be of greater value for others. So before the year ends, I will get rid of my "junk".

My 2012 Goal: instead of being materialistically rich and intangibly okay, i hope to become materialistically okay and intangibly richer!

P.S. People, try to donate. And do it personally. The feeling it gives can't be burnt or destroyed, it's priceless.

Travel: Leyte's Visayas State University

Tacloban City's Daniel Romualdez airport is so-so. It is small and the facilities are not up-to-date, especially the comfort room where dippers are used instead of the more modern methods. Upon checking out, numerous cab and van drivers would welcome you by offering service to drive you to your destination anywhere in the island at their so-called cheap rates. It's a good thing we found a driver who doubled as a tour guide. He even let us take pictures at the famous monument of Gen. Douglas McArthur.

We went straight to the hometown of Roland's grandma: the town of Baybay. This was also the first time he has visited the province and his first encounter with their relatives from Leyte.
Baybay is quiet and the people are laidback. I am not sure for what reasons the town was declared a city since there's not much to do within the area and there are very few establishments compared to the bigger and actual cities of Ormoc and Tacloban.
My impression of Baybay is actually saved by the VSU campus.

VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY

We checked in at the Visayas State University in Visca. It is similar to University of the Philippines Los Banos in terms of environmental richness and even has its own garden beach resort classifying it as a resort university. For the time we spent in Leyte, it is not impossible to just stay here for there's a lot you can do around; you can swim either on the beach or in the swimming pool, you can visit the museums (which we failed to do), go mountain climbing (has hundreds of species they say), or just walk and bike around its 60hectare campus grounds.

Lodging: We stayed at the Apartelle. It's cheap at 200/person/night with air-conditioner, unlimited purified drinking water, hot and cold water for shower and housekeeping services. There are many available cottages that can accommodate couples or even bigger families. Food: Since VSU is a university, there are a lot of canteens and cafeterias you can choose from so finding something to eat is not a problem here.

Bicycles are available for rent at the university's Bahay ng Alumni. If there's none available since there are only 2 units, you can just borrow bicycles owned by the students or employees. We were lent by cooks and the lawnmower guy. And they really refuse tips.

Surprisingly, there's a hospital located inside the campus.

Baybay, Leyte's beach is lined not just with sand, but has a rocky shore. We tried to swim but the big stones were just unbearable. Ouch! But hey, the water's crystal clear.

A giant squid sold to us during lunchtime for Php100. We didn't buy it.

There are a lot of things I've learned about the ways of life of the people there. What I find most distinctive is that everyone converses in Bisaya. I guess it's the same as to the other parts of Leyte. Lesson: never converse in a language that people you're with do not understand. It's very very rude. And did I mention that it's rude?

Nothing spectacular on this trip but, still, it's a good experience to have learned about the simple lives of the people there and the practical and cultural differences we have in Manila. It's still a breath of fresh air having escaped to a relaxed and serene environment.

Travel: LAKE DANAO

Lake Danao is a beauty. Otherwise, it wouldn't be declared a national park. Unfortunately, just like most government-run natural centers, it is poorly-maintained. We visited the site while we were on vacation at Leyte, a province on Eastern Visayas. It is located in the city of Ormoc.

The road to this national park is indeed a 'rough' one. Well yes, there is a concrete pavement that leads to the lake but it seems the construction of it was rationed.

By the entrance, there is a Php10.00 fee which is being collected by a woman who I doubt has the right to collect those fees no matter how small.

This was the first time I ever tried swimming in a lake and doing so reminded me of Lake Placid and Anaconda. I never dared to close my eyes or put my head under the water. It's creepy.. That is also why Roland didn't swim. Still a great experience though.
The serene Lake Danao with its floating bamboo rafts can offer a great bonding experience for family vacationers. Only if the government and/or department of tourism will refrain to avert from the potential of our natural wonders.

Lake Danao deserves more!

Article: Late Realization: MY LOVE OF READING, I GOT FROM MY FATHER.

When I was younger, I dreamt of having my own library probably because I grew up with a love of reading. Most kids get scolded for prioritizing fun and play before doing assignments from school. In my case, I get scolded because I cannot drop the book I'm reading. In grade school, it was Sweet Valley Twins and the Nancy Drew series. Trending since my first year in high school was Harry Potter. In the university, however, were nursing books.

Because I was too busy earning a college degree, I forgot all about my love of reading. I was no longer as thirsty for new short stories or novels to read because I did not have the luxury of time anymore. But when I finished all what has to be done in preparation for practicing my profession, I slowly regained my first love.

I no longer have the book collection from my youth aside from a few literature compositions of Filipino writers. Most of my books now are from serious Coelho, romantic Sparks and touching Albom. Adding to it is a collection of magazines as well; Reader's Digest, Cosmopolitan, Cosmo Philippines, Glamour, National Geographic (from my daddy), et cetera.

Just so suddenly, I decided to sell my books. I've sold them all except for a few meaningful ones. It surprised me that giving my books away would make me saddened. I recognized the slight tinge of pain as similar to the loneliness I felt for losing a loved one. It was then that I understood it all, my love of reading, I got from my father.

Travel: Thunderbird Resorts - Rizal

"we got the showroom and a little rain,
a pretty deck view and no casino game."

Roland and I selfishly spent my 24th birthday at the Thunderbird Resorts - Rizal. From our area, it takes roughly 30-45 minutes of rural-like driving to get to this resort as our route is via the Sumulong Highway going to Antipolo. With its location not too far from the metro and its rates not too pricey, this facility is A-okay for short overnight weekend getaways.

The majority of this resort's visitors come to play at the Fiesta Casinos, which operates for full 24 hours. We've already had a chance to visit the casino last year (November 2010) when Roland's aunt invited us to see the place as they gamble. We loved the place even though we visited at night that's why we decided to come back and stay overnight so that we can enjoy completely the relaxing atmosphere at this part of Rizal's region.

I'm unsure what seemed to be an issue with our room reservation but we got to stay at the showroom. Maybe a blessing in disguise, our room was upgraded for no additional fee. Happy birthday!

My favorite feature of the resort (aside from the super comfy bed):
the pool!

Roland, I, and our hamburgers. Haha!

Midnight snack: Complimentary birthday cake from the Koi Restaurant.
Choice of 3 flavors.

What I like most about Thunderbird Resorts - Rizal is that it is lush and quiet. And even with the Fiesta Casinos as its main feature, families don't need to stress about their kids' safety. With its casino theater out of sight of the main lobby, no one would know when a concert is ongoing where the young gamblers and rich old people are at stakes.

Thunderbird Resort Rizal

Eastridge Avenue, Binangonan, Rizal, Philippines

www.thunderbirdresortrizal.com

(+632) 651-6888