An Autobiography of a Cat
“Cats are angels with fur.” – Sark
I believe that I must be really lucky to be born a cat. I can remember my early childhood. My mother was a big, orange cat, but I do not remember my father at all. I am sure he was a handsome fellow. It was Julie who saw me and picked me up. I was hungry. Someone had put me in a bag and threw me outside the school. I wondered why and still do. I was separated from my brothers and sisters and from my mother. I was hungry and wondering where to get my next meal from.
She placed me in the crook of her arm and took me home. I think I must have meant a lot to her. She fed me regularly and with warm milk too. Soon I settled down to be her pet. I began to observe things around me. First of all I noticed that not all creatures were as beautiful as us cats. For example, I noticed that Julie nor any of her fellow humans had tails. it must feel awkward but they did not seem to mind. I began to love them anyway. It did not really matter that they were not cats. They were kind to me and seemed all powerful.
I am glad about one thing though. I did not have to work. I saw the humans in my house working hard. They never sat still for a moment. It was as if life was one long series of activities. I felt sorry for them. As for me, I am glad that I have a freedom to do whatever I like and to go wherever I please. They seldom look for me except when they want to feed me. But then they do not have to. I am always around at meal times.
I have a simple life and that is why I think I am lucky to be a cat.
***(I don't know what to write so I decided to look for topics on the internet on what to write and this topic really inspired me, so I decided to write my own version as well. LOL)***
My apologies if I submitted an article here, it was supposed to be submitted to Filipino Readers community, my bad, I did not double check it. Thank you @heartbeat1515 for notifying me 😉😉😉
The Child in Me
Growing up, I had always loved watching cartoons, anime, and movies about fictional characters. Up until now.
My husband would often criticized me everytime I am watching cartoons together with our kids, because I would often get immersed with what I'm watching than our kids. I was actually the one who introduced **Frozen** with my eldest when she was still 2years old. Good thing though, she got interested in the movie and was even able to memorize the song "**Let It Go**" all by herself which is pretty amazing. I would often watch alongside my youngest now everytime she watched Disney shows in **Disney Junior** and **Disney Channel** like **Fancy Nancy Clancy, Vampirina, Mickey's Mixed up Adventures, Upin and Ipin, and Miraculous** to name a few (LOL).
When I was still a child, together with my siblings and cousins, watching animes was our favorite hobby. We have watched a lot of animes and other cartoons back on the days when animes and cartoons ruled over the airtime of the TV stations, from **Lupin the 3rd**, to **Flame of Recca**, to **Julio at (and) Julia**, **Cedy ang Munting Prinsipe (Cedy the Little Prince)**, **Sarah, ang Munting Prinsesa (Sarah, the Little lrincess**, and to the all-time favorite, **Dragon Ball Z.** I can enumerate more cartoons and anime titles but that would pretty much take up this entire article. We would always rush back home in the afternoon just to watch our favorite show.
Just when I thought that it was just a childhood hobby, I eventually didn't stopped watching animes and cartoons when I became a teenager. While the rest of my friends are busy watching dramas in the afternoon, I would power on our DVD player and would play **The Lion King Trilogy** instead.
Since animes are only aired then in the morning, I wasn't able to watched animes during weekends. It's a good thing though that one of our neighbors also loved anime so what he would usually do is download the said episode to a CD which we would altogether watch. They would often shoo me away since I'm the only girl but I would always insist on watching it. Who would miss a chance to watch an episode of **Ippo Makonochi** or **Baki the Grappler**, or **Shaman King** and again, ofcourse, the all-time favorite **Dragon Ball Z**.
Sometimes anime has more drama in it than a drama itself. Take for example **episode 483** of **One-Piece**, when Ace died. I cried river of tears watching this episode in the middle of the night. It was a good thing though that I was all alone since my roomates when out to party that time.
Aside from animes, I also love watching cartoons that has something to do with mythical creatures like mermaids, fairies, unicorns,ogres,witches,anything mythical or fictional characters. I don't know but I always loved and believed in this kind of stuffs. My all-time favorite? **TINKERBELL**! I have watched the entire series from **Tinkerbell** to **Tinkerbell** **and the Legend of the NeverBeast.** I just loved fairies and also believed in them up until now (LOL!). So when the sequel to the movie **Peter Pan, Return to Neverland** was aired, the part where Tinkerbell was losing her power since Wendy's daughter, Jane, didn't believe in fairies though she had already seen Tinkerbell, I joined Jane and the lost boys as they chant the words, *I do believe in fairies*, bringing back Tink's power.
As much as I love these mythical creatures, I also loved Barbie movies since some of them contains mythical characters as well like **Barbie in Swan Lake, Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 1 & 2, Barbie in Fairytopia, Barbie and the Magic Pegasus, and Barbie Fairytopia : Mermaidia** to name a few. Most of this I have watched when I was already in college and VideoCity was a trend. VideoCity is a rental shop where you can rent VCDs.
There are a lot of things that we find too difficult to outgrew or things we can never outgrew. Things that no matter how old we get,we will never get tired of doing, and in my case watching. I am already 30-something but my passion when it comes to anime and cartoons never wears off. I even feel like it grows more than before cause now, I'm also into reading mangas especially to animes that are already done airing but there's still a lot more episodes that hasn't been aired like **Kaichou wa Maid-sama,** and I'm getting more patient with animes that had been aired for like a long time but only to be continued now, like rumors in **Slam Dunk** getting its season 2 being aired, though I'm not sure if this is true.LOL! But all in all, this just proves that loving something that had been a part of your life is really difficult to let go so its either you let go or just accept the pain. Charot!hahah. Kidding aside, watching animes and cartoons and stuffs is something that I knoe that I'll never grow tired of.
How about you? What are some of the things that you're fond of doing when you were still a child that you still love to do until now? Comment down below 😉😉
***(All photos are from Dsearch.com)***
A "Million Dollar" Question
Who has not dreamt of getting rich suddenly? I am sure everyone has at one time or another had certainly dreamt of getting rich in an instant. in spite od all that the philosophers say about money not being able to buy happiness, few of us really doubt that it can buy most of the things that can give us happiness.
You might be wondering why I am writing an article about this. Reason to that is recently, I had been receiving a lot of emails from people who claims that a certain fund was sent to me or I was chosen to receive a huge amount of money from someone who doesn't have relatives who died, or winning a certain prize.
These are just some works of scammers who are trying to phish information which instead of gaining something, we might even lose some things that is very important to us, like our own identity.
But disregarding all these scamming stints, the big question here would be, ***what will you do if you get a million dollars?*** As for me, I know exactly what I will do if I do get a million dollars.
The wisest thing to do when I get such a large sum of money is to invest it so that it will grow. This makes sense don't you think? Why? It's because I realize that although the sum of it is quite big especially that we're talking about US dollars here, it can disappear quite fast I we start spending it. And if we're going to look at it, money that are not earned through hard work are easier to spend than hard-earned ones. So investing it, and not just investing but investing it ***wisely*** , I will be able to to get more money and then I can use that money to do a lot of things.
What will I invest in? Well, it will be **crypto currency and property.** Crypto currency, BCH to be exact, would be my first investment in mind. As we all know BCH had made quite a name now in the crypto world and some countries are also using crypto currency in different transactions like in Russia. So investing in these kind of stuffs, though risky would be a great investment. And of course, I'll just be investing a certain amount that I can afford to lose.
Property is another reliable investment. Purchasing properties especially in the metro and putting it on lease is certainly a wise choice for me.
Aside from investment, I will certainly buy us a house and lot. Buying a house and lot would be a priority since we don't have our own house. It had always been my dream to have our own house.
I will also try to open a business. And what's the best business right now? Korean food and stuffs since it is the most in demand products nowadays.
Would I give to charity? Yes, most definitely. Sharing something to charity is also the best thing to do especially it was a money that I never worked hard for.
It is funny that I have already planned everything while it is yet near impossible for this to happen but there's nothing wrong with it, right? Imagining things actually helped me relieve stress that's why I always indulge myself into my own imaginary world. I have written actually an article about it, you might want read to read it, here's the **link****.** https://read.cash/@jekai_88/lets-talk-ab8942d2
How about you? What will you do when you get a million dollars? Comment down below
My Spot Trading Experience
It has been a while since I posted an update about my BCH Hodling. In order to achieve my #1BCH goal, I had made myself busy from other stuffs like faucet claims and learning. I am actually trying to learn the process of Spot Trading on Binance.
I have read @Laurenceuuuu and @Jane's articles about spot trading. Aside from the articles that I have read, I also watched some videos and tutorials about spot trading on youtube. I found some videos on what and how to properly do some spot trading. And the best advice that I have learned: **Buy Low and Sell High.**
**Buy Low and Sell High** is the rule of thumb when it comes to spot trading. It's simple as it is. Buy BCH as low as possible and sell BCH as high as possible as well.
My first day of Spot Trading was going smoothly since I was able to get $1 profit on my first try of trading. (I don't have pictures since I accidentally deleted it thinking that it was a different screenshot.LOL)
Everything was going smoothly, and I was on my 3rd sell. I set my selling price to $550 since BCH was still around that range up until a few days ago when BCH's price suddenly drops. It drastically drop to $450. So, my $15 drops to $12 in a span of 2days. I know it's not that much but for a first timer like me, it was already a big amount. I was actually on the verge of withdrawing the $12 back to my bitcoin.com wallet however I decided not to for I have faith in BCH and that it will pump up again like it always do. And it actually did!
I cancelled my previous selling order and created a new one, setting it to $455 since BCH's price was around $430. And I was able to sell it after a few a hours with that price since BCH's price increased today.
This is the current update on my spot account:
I still haven't recovered my loss and so does everyone but eventually we will all bounce back and gain profit more than what we loss. BCH is the most consistent cryptocurrency which I have my faith on, and it will bounce back for sure.
***For our goals are everyone's goal, together let's aim high and together let's achieve #1BCH. We are #Club1BCH at your service 😉😉😉***
The Betrayal
I have made a short post last night about how I was so inactive here in read.cash and I apologize for that. I was just pre-occupied this past few days because of our house. We are actually renovating the roof of our house.
The house where we are staying is actually the family house of my father-in-law which underwent a lot f renovation, from its original state which is made of bamboo to the current one which is concrete. But since the family is getting bigger and no one seems to like leave the house (which includes us.LOL), my father-in-law decided to renovate the house again. My husband along with his cousins had already finished constructing the walls so my inlaw decided to change next the top of our house. My father-in-law was quite confident in removing the top of our house since rain is very rare during this month. So when the trushes of the house was already fixed, we were just waiting for my brother-in-law to send the money so we can order the roofing sheets of the house. It took my brother-in-law though to send the money but we didn't worry much. However, a low pressure area was spotted in the Philippine Area of Responsibility. But the LPA was seen nowhere near our province so we just shrugged the thought of it. However, something unexpected happened. Thursday night, while we were watching television, I suddenly heard tiny raindrops. And I thought that it was just a drizzle and that it won't get strong. But i was strong the drizzle became strong and it eventually rain. It was raining inside our house. It was a good thing that I was quick enough to move our cabinets and drawers on the other room of our house. Luckily, the rain stopped after 30minutes. But the ceiling in our room was drenched with water that it was dripping inside,so we don't have a choice but to sleep downstairs. My husband and my father-in-law decided to put back the old roofing sheets as a temporary cover the following day. Thinking that it won't rain again, they just place the sheets on top of each rooms, which was a very wrong decision. On that night, it rained once again but this time it wasnt just a short one. It rained the entire night. My husband and my father-in-law was busy putting more sheets on the trushes while we were busy moving some boxes and other stuffs downstairs since they're already getting wet. We weren't able to sleep that night since we were busy making sure that we won't get flooded inside the house but it still got flooded inside. Water was all over the place, there are water inside our rooms and our beddings got wet.It was a good thing though that none of our clothes and appliances got wet.
Seeing our house in such a mess is very upsetting. We become so complacent that the weather would cooperate with us, instead it betrayed us. It caused us almost a huge damage if we weren't fast enough to act.
The sky today is brighter than yesterday,giving us a new day. Hopefully, the roofing sheets would arrive sooner so that we won't be worrying anymore about any rain to come. And thank you for reading this article, though it didn't do you any good, and the title is an example of click-bait 🤣🤣😉😉
○Be safe everyone!○
I would like to apologize for being inactive. Just a little pre-occupied right now since it had been raining for 2days now, and our house doesn't have roof since we're renovating it and our house is a mess right now. I can't think and create a good article right now. Hopefully, I can post something for the next days.
The Old Warrior
"The warrior's intention should be simply to grasp his sword and to die."
-*Kiyomasa Kato*
He was an old man. All his friends were gone. He was alone. At ninety years old, he was as healthy as a fifty year old man. He walked erect and without a stoop, though he was slower than he used to be. He had been a soldier, a warrior. Somehow he had survived all wars he had been to.
He was alone because his family had migrated to Australia leaving him here to fend for himself. He had refused to go with them, as he loved his country very much. He was looked after by a part time maid, whom he paid very well. The old warrior had only one past time: he liked to sit in the park and watch children playing. He sat there usually all by himself smiling softly at the children until it was too dark to see and he would then go home. He spoke to one. Deep within him, he had one wish: he wanted to die fighting, like most of his friends had done. Peace bored him.
Then one day it happened. He was sitting in the park late afternoon when he heard a muffled cry for help. Taking his hefty walking stick in his hand, he went towards the noise. A robbery was in progress. Two men had a young woman by her hair and were removing her jewels. The warrior in him awoke and he charged at them. Taken by surprise, the robbers took some time to recover. Then seeing that he was an old man, they pushed him aside and went on their deed, laughing all the while. The old woman staggered to his feet and struck one robber on the head with as much force as he could. The robber let the girl go and turned on him with a snarl.
Like a mad man, he struck out at them. Meanwhile, the girl's screams attracted other passers by who ran to the scene. When they arrived, they saw the two robbers in a daze. The passers by pounced on them ad restrained them while one man called the police. The girl went on her rescuer. He lay still. Then she burst out screaming.
The old warrior lay still, lifeless, and no more. He had got his wish and gone like a warrior- fighting.
My BCH Update
It's been a while since I started hodling my BCH earnings. I was actually using Coins.ph in receiving my earnings here in read.cash and noise.cash, and it was just only last week that I decided to hodl my BCH in Bitcoin.com. Although Bitcoin.com can only store Bitcoin and Bitcoin cash, it's still better than keeping it in my coins.ph account since I'm more prone on using the funds in it to purchase online which would really hinder me from hodling BCH (I'm easily persuaded if I see something online and I know I have funds.LOL).
I am using my Bitcoin.com wallet to store my earnings from noise.cash and faucetcrypto since I haven't received much tips from the random rewarder yet. Most of the tips that I've got recently are still in this platforms which I sometimes use to upvote articles. So far, this is what my Bitcoin.com wallet has:
I know it's not that much yet since I haven't really figure out what will I do. My initial plan is to deposit all my earnings from other faucets here like **Faucetcrypto**, I just need to reach the minimum 500 coins which is just a few PTC. https://faucetcrypto.com/ref/597837
**BCHJolly**, although, it's still a long way to go.LOL! https://bchjolly.com/?affiliate=c9f35055ea8040635fa9f85f47892133
and then **Coinpot** which I'm having an issue with.
As you can see, I haven't reached the minimum withdrawal amount and they are closing down by February so I only have until the 31st of this month to claim. I'm not sure if I could reach the minimum amount till then. I have already reached out to the support group if I could still withdraw it by then, hopefully yes but since this one's not sure yet, I won't be expecting anything from this.
I also have another from **FaucetSpin** which have an achievable minimum amount of withdrawal. https://www.faucetspin.com/?ref=8253
These are just some of the faucets I have though I know it might not be enough. I'm also planning on getting into trading as long as I can figure out how to get pass the verification process on my app. I can't seem go get pass it though I am able to receive the verification codes sent to my mobile number and email. But as long as I'm able to get pass it, I'll start my trading following the advices by @Jane and @Laurenceuuuu on their articles.
Feel free to give me advices if you think that I still need to do much better than this. I'm open for advices, suggestions, and comments :)
"Together, we can create mountains."
Be safe everyone!
You might wanna try faucetcrypto. You can claim faucet every 30mins., or take advantage of its ptc,shortlinks, and offerwalls. I was able to withdraw many times since I started it so its super legit. Here's the link: https://faucetcrypto.com/ref/597837
Start of Something New
It was in 2017 when I first discovered cryptocurrency, with Bitcoin as the trend that time. I started earning bitcoin through captchas which was then followed by faucets and cloud mining. However, when I was scammed and lost all my earnings, I was demotivated. You can read my article How my Bitcoin earnings was scammed about the details. After losing a few bucks, I decided to stopped working with cryptos. I make myself busy with my kids and my niece. I always come along some ads about the different cryptocurrencies but I didn't gave attention to any of it. It was as if I was traumatized with what happened to me before it. And I thought that I'll never get back. https://read.cash/@jekai_88/how-my-bitcoin-earnings-was-scammed-f1a6966f
So, last November of last year, me and my nephews were talking about something when we started talking about read.cash and cryptocurrencies. That's when I started earning BCH. So far, I was able to earn roughly almost $100 through read.cash. Though I am unable to hold all these on my BCH wallet since I used it on buying stuffs for my kids, I am planning to start holding my BCH earnings from now start which leads me back to earning different cryptocurrencies again through different faucets and mining sites. I am also planning on doing trading stuffs but don't know where to until I saw a post on noise.cash by @Eybyoung about #Club1BCH. I don't know exactly how the club would work then and I was hesitant to ask. And then @Laurenceuuuu posted it again earlier today on noise.cash with the link of the article of @PVMihalache. That's when I get to understand how the club would work. I was so excited that I commented on the said article with hopes that I would qualify to be part of the said club, though I don't have any sponsors or anything. All I have is my determination to reach my first ever 1BCH. And I hope that this will be enough for me to be part of the said club. https://read.cash/@PVMihalache/club1bch-the-genesis-3051fcce
It's still a long way to go for me and the most important skill that I need right now to succeed is determination. For nothings is impossible for someone who is determined to suceed.
With the help of this support group, may this be the start of my crypto journey 😉😉😉
◎Be safe everyone!◎
Flavors of Ilocos
"FOOD is the ingredient that binds us TOGETHER."
Ilocos had always been a tourist destination for both local and foreign tourist. It's one of the most visited place because aside from its amazing tourist spots, another reason why people loves visiting our province is because of its delicacies.
Let me introduce to you the mouth-watering delicacies that Ilocos is proud of.
Vigan Longganisa
This dish had always been a favorite not only for every tourist but also the locals in the province. Vigan longganisa is pork meat and fat mixed manually with Sinait Garlic and stuffed into an intestine wrap. Vigan longganisa is quite salty and garlicy to taste making it unique from other longganisa of different provinces and is best paired with Ilocos vinegar or KBL( kamatis, bagoong,lasona(sibuyas)).
Vigan Bagnet
Vigan Bagnet is the Ilocano version of lechon kawali*.* Large chunks of pork leimpo, belly or pork sides, deep fried for at least two times until crispy. It is serve with tomato and onion with bagoong (fish sauce). This might be an unhealthy food but endulging our body with this food once in a while is not that bad at all.
Sinanglao
Sinanglao is beef innards and skin soup, flavored with bile and kamias.Vigan sinanglao are served at street side eateries in the morning since this is a go-to food especially during cold season in the province. It is also considered as a "hangover" soup, so this would be perfect for tourist who had enjoyed the night through drinking.
Poqui-poqui
Though it may sound weird, this dish here is a must try for every tourist. Poqui Poqui is made of roasted eggplant, tomatoes, and eggs. Healthy, filling, and delicious, it's a meatless breakfast or dinner meal that everyone will love.
Vigan Empanada and Okoy
Vigan Empanada is a Filipino street food with an orange rice flour dough filled with green papaya, Vigan longaniza and egg deep fried to make the outer layer crisp with a slightly chewy inside. This hearty snack is a must stay for every tourist as its full of flavor and is perfect after a tour especially around Calle Crisologo since this is where you could taste the best empanada, at Insiang's Empanadahan.
This is another Vigan favorite snack. Ukoy is made of rice flour, tomatoes, chives and shrimp. It goes perfectly with the Vigan empanada since both are best partnered with Ilocos vinegar and both are eaten while its hot to fully enjoy its taste.
Calamay
Kalamay is a famous delicacy made from brown sugar, coconut milk and glutinous rice from Candon City, Ilocos Sur. It is sold in pack and through modern packaging, vendor now uses polystyrene containers wrapped in cellophane, though the original form of calamay is wrapped in banana leaves or in coconut shells. This is a famous snack being sold by peddlers on buses or in bus stops to tourist.
Tinubong and tupig
Chichacorn/Kornik and Chichapop
These finger food would be the best pasalubong(souvenir) to officemates. These pasalubong is a great finger food to munch on during breaks. What makes it different from the typical kornik is that the Ilocos Chichacorn is much easier to chew because the corn kernels are puffed and it also comes in several flavors: Cheese, Garlic, and Sweet and Spicy.
Royal Bibingka
Royal Bibingka is not your regular bibingka. It is a popular rice cake that resembles a piece of mamon, or perhaps a Pinoy cheese cupcake at first glance, but it is a different piece of goodness that should not be ignored. It taste like a combination of cassava cake and espasol and it has a nice chewy texture. There are different food companies here in the province that sells royal bibingka that are individually uniqur, but for me, Marsha's royal bibingka is the best. It's sweetness and a little saltiness combined makes it delicious.
These are just some of the famous cuisines and delicacies that helps Ilocos made a mark as one of the visited tourist destination in the Philippines. Just hearing the names of these food will always made you think of Ilocos.
"It's always SURE, ILOCOS SUR!😉😉"
◎Be safe everyone!◎
***(All photos are taken from Google Images***)
The Zombie Apocalypse
This is just one of the many posts on social media that had been circulating for a while now which somewhat alarmed others especially those who are easily swayed. Theories of this zombie apocalypse kept on popping everywhere and being spread all through out the internet.
This one here states that it is based on the bible that there will be a zombie apocalypse on the 21st of February of this year. It is also the same day that corona virus will be over.
Have you ever watched "Train to Busan"?
To those who haven't watched the movie, it is a Korean movie about the cast being trapped in a zombie-filled train which is bound to Busan province. The zombies in the movie resulted from a leak at a biological factory in the South Korean countryside. This was shown in the beginning of the film where roads were being blocked off and, in a reveal sequence, a deer was struck by a truck only to be reanimated as a zombie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVK-OnHFuG4
You might be thinking why I am talking about the said movie the and the reason how the zombies came to be. Well, the reason why I mentioned about it is because of the current notion by some old people here in our place and this zombie apocalypse that they've been talking about.
As we all know, there is already a vaccine for the Covid-19 and here in our province, here in Vigan City to be exact, had already purchased the said vaccine from AstraZeneca .
And a lot of Bigueños are somewhat hesitant about taking the vaccine. Why? Because they are afraid. They are afraid that the vaccine might be the cause of their death or the worst, it might be the start of the zombie apocalypse. It may sound funny but for these old folks, it is something they don't want to happen.
It is difficult explaining things to them as they are already old, and as they would always say, you can never straighten up an old bamboo tree. But it is important to educate them on how to differentiate facts from fallacies. Like this zombie apocalypse. That these vaccine are created with intensive research and various testing to help us fight this virus. That they created this virus not to eliminate people, or turn people into zombies.
This scare in some was created by these social media post. Authors or owners of these post might answer that they only want everyone to know but this doesn't really help at all since there is no exact evidence or proof that this would really happen.
I, myself, really don't believe in stuffs like this for I know that this are just created by people with creative and some of their predictions are purely coincidence. What I know is and what everyone must always remember is to keep our faith strong and to always pray to God/Allah for this pandemic to end. Lets put our faith to the rightful One.
◎Be safe everyone!◎
PS: Let me just share this meme 😆😆😆
Hidden Treasures of Ilocos Sur
We all know that Ilocos Sur is a province that is known for its various tourist destination that is really enticing to both local and foreign tourist. However, the provincial government doesn't stop from what is already known to the public. The provincial government, spearheaded by our beloved governor, had always been on a lookout for places that can be develop as a tourist spot. Some In this article, I'll be introducing you some of these amazing places that will surely be a hit.
Pantar Mangrove Forest, Brgy. Villa Hermosa, Santa Cruz
If you want to visit a place that allows you to commune with nature and enjoy scenery you don’t get to see every day in the city, you should try to visit this place. Due to the degradation of mangroves, the provincial government along with the LGU, they have started this project which resulted with a positive review since the place has become an attraction. You can enjoy the scenery while riding a boat.
Kalubungan Farm View, Brgy. Guimod Norte, San Juan
If you enjoy going camping with your family or friends, this is the best place for you. This place is also good for team building as they offer a lot of activities that you can enjoy, like kawa bath, swimming, fishing, and camping.
Olympus Eco Park, Brgy. San Luis, Cervantes
A nature get-away for those who wish to take a break from the city's concrete gloom, this private property just opened last December. And although, the place isn't fully develop yet, there are already a lot of people who had visited the place. Olympus Eco Park offers a lot of activities that everyone can enjoy like horse-back riding, biking, and camping as well.
Salcedo Leisure Park, Brgy. Balidbid, Salcedo
The Salcedo Adventure and Leisure Park is the perfect spot for those seeking silence from the chaos of the world. There are nipa huts that can be rented, or you can also bring your own camping gears. The place is so relaxing so its a perfect getaway to just enjoy nature.
Mt. Tupira/Caniaw Radar Station,
For all bikers and motorist who likes to challenge their energy and stamina, this place is the perfect place for you. Its summit is almost 700 MASL, the mountain attracted not only the hikers but also the cyclists and bikers seeking for a more challenging uphill climb. Another reason why this is a great place to visit in the morning is because of its sea of clouds.
Skyline Sea of Clouds, San Emilio-Quirino Road
**Skyline Sea of Clouds** is located near the border of San Emilio and Quirino, Ilocos Sur. When you're on top of that mountain, you can see the beauty of nature and a lot of clouds that can surely make you feel relaxed and can make you forget all your problems. If you're looking for a place wherein you can feel the presence of a paradise, this one is the best for you.
These are just some of the hidden treasure of my beloves province. All these are given by God to this province and is really worthy of praises and worthy to be taken care of.
◎Be safe everyone!◎
***(All photos are from CGV Travel Stories)***
Since the bot doesnt really tip everyone the way it used to be, I just decided to use whatever is left in my wallet to upvote fellow authors' articles. It may just be $0.01but I hope you would appreciate it 😉😉
Since the bot doesnt really tip everyone the way it used to be, I just decided to use whatever is left in my wallet to upvote fellow authors' articles. It may just be $0.01but I hope you would appreciate it 😉😉
It's 2 and 20!
I was not supposed to write any articles since I'm so demotivated since the random rewarder is always MIA.LOL! But it's another milestone worth celebrating since I started with this platform.
I don't know when I exactly started here but since read.cash tells us how long we started then there's no denying how 'old' our account is.
I was inactive for almost a week so it's only know that I have checked that I've been with this platform for 2months now! Yay! And I have already had 20 subscribers! Wuhoo!
A lot of things happened from the first time I started using this platform, especially last month. Read.cash helped me become my daughters', nieces', and relatives' 'Santa'. I was able to earn roughly around $100 for the month of November and December. It was a big game changer from having a zero balance on my coins.ph account to a couple of bucks which I used to shop online.
I am just hoping that the random rewarder would be generous enough again and would notice, not only me, but everyone who haven't received tips from it.
Since this is just a short post, let me share with you what I have for snack today: Bihon, buchi, and vegetable wrapped (lumpiang gulay) 😋😋
Again, happy 2 months! And to many more! 😘😘
The Best Gift Ever
"The best gifts come from the heart, not the store." - Sarah Dessen
What is the best gift you ever received?
*This is one of the three questions that* @Eirolfeam2 *gave as part of her giveaway challenge and this would be my second entry as well.*
We have varying interpretations of what the “best gift” to ever land on our hands is. It could be as grand as a weeklong overseas trip or as simple as a smile on the face of someone we desire in secret.
For some, material things are considered as the best gift evee. But for some, it is more than just material things bought in store. It is more than temporary happiness that these material things provide.
If your going to asked me what is the best gift I ever received? It would be my daughters.
My eldest came into my life in the most unexpected time of my life. I was 21 at the time and just recently passed my board exam. I am just starting with my career and was busy preparing to become a public high school teacher then. I was devastated at first when I realized I was pregnant. She was never part of my plans. All I want to do at that time was to abort her. But then I realized, solving a mistake with another mistake is not the right thing to do. That's when I started to love the tiny human being inside me. From then on, I know that God gave me this little child for a reason. I may have experienced a lot of trouble and pain while I was still pregnant with my eldest. But I was able to endure that up until I gave birth to her. I was grateful having her for she fulfilled the essence of my womanhood: being a MOTHER.
It was a few days after my birthday that our youngest came into our life. I was expecting her to be a he ( 😂😂) since everyone was telling me that the baby in my womb is going to be a boy, making us excited since I really wanted a son. Although I was a bit disappointed for a few minutes, I was so happy seeing her right away. I wasn't able to see my eldest then because I was asleep during the operation ( my deliveries were both via CS ), I was only able to see my eldest when she was already cleaned and ready to breastfeed. My youngest was a happy baby, she was also full of energy. She was the happy pill of the family especially when she was able to talk almost fluently before she even turned one. I have actually written two articles about her : My Ferocious Four and Let's Dress Up https://read.cash/@jekai_88/my-ferocious-four-4d254b01 https://read.cash/@jekai_88/lets-dress-up-daeeead9
My daughters might not be the best for others, but for they are both a blessing and a gift I never asked for that God had given me whole heartedly.
They might quarrel a lot like most siblings do but having them is the best thing that ever happened to me. They filled my emptiness. They fed my soul with so much hunger for love and care. I cannot do the things that I do if not because of them. They serve as my strength whenever I feel weak and there's nothing I can't do for them. I may receive or achieve a lot of things, but nothing could compare to these two bunch of happiness that I have.
Life may offer me a lot of things but nothing compares to the best gifts that I had already received, my children.
A Good Life
**"The purpose of our lives is to be happy." -*****Dalai Lama***
What is a good life?
This had always been a question that is sometimes too difficult to answer. It may seem as an easy question but finding the right answer is somewhat difficult since not everyone has the same definition of what a good life. It therefore comes as no surprise that people are still looking to discover what it truly means to be living the good life.
Every human being aspires to live a good life. The problem is, we all define the phrase “good life” differently. Some are looking to live an honest life, full of integrity, joy and happiness. Others seek wealth, social status and fame, as they hope these aspects will help them to live the good life. In fact, they directly associate the good life with money and material belongings.
When it comes to living the good life, we almost all have a certain idea how such a life should look like. So, what really is a good life? Let me enumerate what a good life is for me.
A good life is:
*having financial freedom*
When I say financial freedom, it's not just being rich. We can achieve financial freedom even we're not rich. As long as we are able to pay all our bills without worrying about what we eat the next day. As long as we can provide our family's needs and wants as well once in a while, that I consider as financial freedom.
*having peace of mind*
Sleeping every night without worrying about a single thing or two, that is what peace of mind is. Knowing that you haven't hurt anyone, you are fair, and you don't involve your in such wrong activities, these gives someone peace of mind. Not everyone has peace of mind for some, if not almost everyone, had done something wrong once in their lives.
*living in harmony with your family and relatives*
We always hear or watch about feud in families, feud that is always caused by money and jealousy. It's so difficult being in a family that doesn't have unity and cooperation, a family that's being ruled by pride.
Living the good life means living a life that sets you free. A life that satisfies and fulfills you, that adds happiness, joy and a sense of purpose to your life. But it also means to live a life that is worthwhile – a life that makes a contribution, instead of being solely self-centered. The good life is a life that is not primarily wasted with mundane activities. Instead, it adds value and contributes to making this world a better place.
Going back to the question, what is a good life, we can simply say that it is a life that is in balance and fully satisfies and fulfills, a life that is filled with happiness, joy and pleasure over simple things and a life full of gratitude.
So the real question here now is, Am I living a Good life? That I'm not sure.
Ever since I had my own family, these kind of life is what I am hoping to have. Our life as a child was very difficult. My father was a soldier and my mom was a housewife who is also a drunkard. So most of my father's salary that he is sending would always end up being used to purchase liquor , so my mother would always live like a one day millionaire, purchasing liquor here and there for her friends. She would just buy us something for lunch and dinner on that day. So the following days, we will be left with nothing. And when my mother wouldn't have any money left, she would be so hot=headed that she would always beat us. She was always like that. The only time that she would be nice is when our father is around and it would only last a few days. I never had a peace of mind as a child, and there was never peace in our family for I grew up hating my mom. So when I had my own family, I wanted my children to have a good life that I never experienced.
But, sad reality, I still don't feel that I have a good life. Why? I admit that I personally don't have financial freedom yet, since I still asked money from my father and siblings, especially now that I don't have any worked yet. But what really made me say that I'm not living a good life? Ever since me and my husband got married, we never had a very peaceful relationship. We would always end up fighting. There are times that I wanted to call it quits by every time I want to do it, I'm always reminded by our kids. I don't want my kids to have a broken family like me. For the 9 years of us being married, I never had any peace of mind. I'm always at the edge thinking what the future would bring us.
However, I realized one thing. That I am the key of my own happiness. And that every family has its flaws. And I must start being grateful and make the best of what I have right now. My family may not be the best, it's way beyond being good as well, but for everyone to accept and love my family, I need to love and accept it first. I may not be living a good life now but I'm going to make sure that I'll achieve the good life in the future. And I'll start it by being grateful for the family that I have now.
@Eirolfeam2this is my entry for your giveaway challenge.
https://read.cash/@Eirolfeam2/celebrate-my-21st-birthday-with-me
it might not be the best, but atleast I tried. LOL :)))
You might be asking why I re-published my article "New Year:New Beginning". The article was unpublished by the bot since the article was not revised yet before it was published. I accidentally hit the publish button instead of the save draft button. I know it will get unpublished so I just waited for it to be unpublish for me to revise it. I am just hoping that this won't affect my account.
New Beginning for 2021
"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called OPPORTUNITY and its first chapter is NEW YEAR'S DAY." - Edith Lovejoy Pierce
The New Year stands before us like a fresh chapter in a book. It's a new opportunity for us to achieve what we were not able to achieve this year since it was a struggle for everyone this year.
This coming new year, it's about time for us to plan ahead of what we want to be and what we want to achieve.
Looking on the things and events that happened, I am writing down my new year's resolution.
**Becoming a better person**
I had shared this on noise.cash before. It's difficult to admit that I had done a lot of bad things, and when I say bad, it's really bad, but not as bad as killing or what.lol. Kidding aside, I want to divert from those evil ways and be a better person not only for myself but for my kids.
**Start a Meditation Practice**
I have read some scientific studies that show the many benefits of meditating. Meditating helps improve our mood, it reduces stress, it lessens anxiety, and it even increases your brain’s grey matter — which is involved in muscle control, sensory perception, decision making, and self-control. Meditating can also help me become a better person. So this year, I'll try meditating to improve my well-being.
**Learn Something New Each Day**
Learning something new every day helps us to have a better understanding of the world and how it works. Before, learning was kinda difficult, fortunately, the internet makes it incredibly easy to learn new things nowadays. Youtube was my teacher when I started learning to cook and when I planned on learning how to play guitar. Hopefully, I'll be able to continue learning something new.
**Stop Procrastinating**
Procrastination had been the most likely to be at fault for not achieving our goals this year. So for this coming year, I'll stop procrastinating and start getting things done in a timely manner.
**Become More Confident**
Confidence is important because it is our belief in our own abilities and in our capacity to get what we want. Confident people are said to be happier, more relaxed, more likely to take chances, and more likely to succeed. I admit that sometimes I lack self confidence for I always thought that I am not good enough. Fortunately, there are ways to become more confident. These include giving ourself credit for what you do, cultivating our inner advocate, and taking consistent action toward the achievement of our goals. So I'll try to make 2021 the year the year to boost my confidence.
**Be More Conscientious**
In addition to being confident, we need to be conscientious. Getting organized, being punctual, these are just some of the ways that could help me be more conscientious.
**Bring More Peace Into our Life**
I think I can safely say that we all want more peace in our lives. And by this I mean more inner peace, contentment, and serenity. Resolve to bring more peace into our life in the year that’s about to begin by accepting what is, practicing non-judgement, and teaching our mind to become still.
**Be Kinder to Yourself**
We may not be able to control how kind other people are to us, but we can always control how kind we are to ourselves. This upcoming year, let's start believing, respecting, and treating ourselves well. Let's be a good companion to ourselves. In fact, take it even further. Make 2021 the year we fall in love with ourselves.
**Create a Positive Attitude**
Having a positive attitude opens our mind to new possibilities, it makes us more resilient, and it can even help us live longer. Greet the New Year with a smile and resolve to stay positive, no matter what happens.
**Be More Grateful**
I included this in my new years resolution because I feel so ungrateful sometime, and that I am not contented with what I receive or what I already have. So this 2021 , as part of my resolve on being a better person, I'll make sure to be more grateful and contented with what I have and the blessings that I'll receive. Being grateful will also help me to overcome adversity and allow me to get along better with others.
These resolutions are just my guide but these resolutions won't be possible of I won't take actions and take this resolutions seriously as wel. With these resolutions, I know 2021 will be an opportunity for me on becoming a better version of myself.
So, let's welcome 2021 with positive vibes and joy in our hearts!
Happy New Year from my family to yours!
Read.cash : My Source
I was working as a call center agent in Pasay City and was on leave when news of lockdown was released. I was on a panicked since all my things were in my boarding house in Pasay, including all my documents. Another reason that alarmed me was my job.
Working in the BPO industry is not that easy. Once on leave, we must report back to work after leaves are finished. And since I was on leave and here in Ilocos then, there was no way for me to report back on time since travelling outside the province was also stopped. I don't have any other ways to go back. So I asked if I could stay here while waiting for the lockdown to be lifter and luckily they agreed.
Another problem when it comes to working in the BPO industry is the "No Work, No Pay" policy like any other jobs out there, so we don't have any means or source of income. The only hope that we had then was the financial assistance from my brother-in-law who is working abroad but it was not enough since they are also experiencing the same problem. It was just a good thing that financial aid from the government was given, like SAP.
The lockdown was extended, and my coach has called me multiple times, asking when I can go back, which I know that I can't go back so I had no choice but to submit a formal resignation. I become unemployed in a glimpse, but I don't have a choice.
I was unemployed then so was my husband who was also working in Manila but was able to come home before lockdown. It was difficult since our savings was gradually decreasing. It was a good thing though that my sister-in-law gives us money in exchange for taking care of her daughter.
My daughters' birthdays were made possible because of my inlaws' help. But Christmas season was fast approaching and I was having a hard time since Christmas had always been an important event for my kids.
That's when read.cash was introduced to me by my nephews and nieces. At first, I was hesitant when I heard that the earnings here is a cryptocurrency, I was reminded of my bitcoin being scammed in 2017 which I eventually wrote as my first article. After posting it, I stopped visiting read.cash. But because of my nieces and nephews persistence, I was able to take read.cash seriously. And I was so grateful about it.
Read.cash had been a big help for me. I was able to earn enough that I was able to buy my kids their wishlist, which they send to "SANTA" but because of the pandemic, Santa was not able to come according to my youngest.LOL. I was also able to buy some for my inlaws, my husband, my nieces and nephews, and to our inaanaks. Because of read.cash, Christmas was still my kids favorite events (aside from their birthdays, of course.lol)
Writing articles here on read.cash really helped me not only financially. But I was also able to bring out some emotions and feelings that I have kept for a long time. I was able to share some experiences in my life. It also hones my ability as a writer.
2020 may not be the best year for me, but it brought read.cash to my life, and I am grateful for that.
A Reason to Smile
Two days left and will be bidding 2020 goodbye. A year when the world experienced a total change. From a wildfire, to a vulcanic eruption, to the death of a legend, and finally, a worldwide pandemic. All these events had a great impact in everyone's lives.
2020 had given us the scare and a scar that will always remain in us. However, despite these events that happened, there is one good thing that it gave us, something that we never expect to to happen : the healing of Mother Earth.
Because of the lockdown that every country had imposed, Mother Earth had eventually healed from all manmade destruction. The air that we breathe in was cleansed because factories had stopped and less smoke from cars, the forest had recovered because illegal logging had stopped, rivers and oceans are slowly recovering from all the pollutants because no one is going anywhere causing pollutions.
Despite the inhuman activities by humans, some of us are still doing our best to give back to the planet. To make use of the free time in their hands, people are turning to gardening and doing small-scale agricultural activities. People are also growing vegetables at home, in their balconies, and backyards, for their consumption. Homegrown produce is said to be more nutritious than the ones at the stores. While this may seem a little small, every plant contributes a small amount to a greater purpose – the breath of life.
The COVID-19 lockdown has claimed many lives globally, but has also made us watch the planet heal from behind our windows. While the lockdown does lower the toxicity levels in the environment, the question is – **can we sustain these practices?**
As they said, practice makes perfect, let us continue the good deeds that we have done this year. Let us continue helping Mother Earth restore its original glory, although it may take quite some time, every small steps that we do is a great help.
As we are approaching a new year, let's be a better human being, to other human beings and to our Mother Earth. Let's become Mother Earth's guardian for a better tomorrow for our children, and for our children's children, and for the future generations more.
A Song for You
Music had always been a part of everyone's life, either a music lover or not. Music helps us relieve stress, it can also be a pasttime for some, it also help in keeping us sane in times that we felt so alone. Although music change as time passes by, we can never deny how important music is in our lives, especially for the older generations.
Songs from the 70's, 80's, and 90's are actually one of the best, if not the best. You can hear a certain story in every songs. Stories that we can somewhat relate to and that really touches our hearts that we can't stop our own feelings as we listen to it.
Songs are usually created through emotions, and feelings of the song writer. But have you ever thought if any of those songs were created because of real-life events? Well,in this article we're going to talk about some of the songs that were based in real-life events, or experiences that the song writer or the singer had.
**Tears In Heaven & Circus - Eric Clapton**
"Tears in Heaven” is one of the Clapton’s most heartbreaking songs, but do you know the story behind the song?
Clapton wrote this song as a tribute to his 4-year-old son, Connor, who was only four when he died after accidentally falling from a 54 story apartment while playing hide and seek with his nanny.
Circus was also another song that Clapton has written for his son. Circus is a rueful look back on the last night Eric and Conor spent together.
The track was written during Clapton’s 6-month hiatus from music after this devastating event.
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree - Tony Orlando and The Dawn
This song has been a hit when it was released in 1973. But do you happen to know the story behind it? L. Russell Brown and Irwin Levine wrote the song after Brown read the story about it. It was about a soldier coming home from Andersonville Prison in the Civil War and he was going to Pennsylvania. Since the soldier was gone for three years, he wasn't sure if his girlfriend waited for him or looked for another guy, so he told her in a letter that if she still wants him, she just need to tie a yellow handkerchief around a big oak tree, but he was nervous to look that's why he asked his co-passengers to look at it for him. And when they reached the said tree everyone was screaming and cheering since the tree was filled with yellow handkerchiefs.
Darkness - Eminem
In this Eminem's song, which talks about the pain and challenges of a person suffering from depression, Eminem absorbs himself into the character of Stephen Paddock, who is responsible for the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. Em explores similar feelings of him performing at a concert to Paddock committing mass murder.
Save The Last Dance For Me - The Drifters
Save the Last Dance For Me is a story of dignity amid thwarted expectations. Lyric writer Doc Pomus wrote the song about his own wedding day, a beautiful occasion which was marred only by the fact that he could not dance with his bride, as convention demands. He had contracted polio as a child, and as a result, had to rely on crutches or a wheelchair for mobility. Doc write his lyric of quiet jealousy on the back of that wedding invite, remembering the reception, and how he felt as he was forced to sit and watch as his new wife danced with his brother Raoul. And while the suggestion that she might be tempted to be unfaithful was added to heighten the drama, he made sure that his lyric trod the fine line between possessive and pleading, gently reminding his lover to save her best affections for the wedding bed.
**"Don't Stop Believin" by Journey**
One of the greatest rock hits of all time was inspired by a conversation that Journey's keyboardist, Jonathan Cain, had with his father shortly after he moved to LA in hopes of landing a big break. He asked his dad whether he shoud just give up wherein his dad answer for him to not stop believing.
BONUS: "Bad blood" - Taylor Swift and "Swish swish" - Katy Perry
Taylor Swift and Katy Perry had made some noise in the music industry when a feud arises between them. And since both of them are known singers, what else can we expect from them than too make shade in each of their songs. Although, they had already made amends, the ruckus that they created would always remain the music industry.
These are just 5 of the many songs that had a story behind them. Isn't it just great how amazing these artists are that they are able to put into writing these events that had happened to them? And almost all these songs was a hit! So the next time that you have experiences that created a big impact to yourself, why not talk to someone who can create a melody or music on it or you can just post it here on read.cash!😄😄
"Be careful with your decisions in life, for they might change your life forever."
(Photos were all from google.com)
The Stingy Random Rewarder 😂
This past few weeks, my nieces and nephews are complaining about how stingy the random rewarder is. According to them, from getting a dollar or more tip from the bot, it was decreased to either $0.05 - $0.10 tips per article. This has actually led them to be de-motivated on writing an article for this site.
It is also the same concern of one of my followed author that she is unable to receive tips from the bot as well which she actually shared through an article.
Another author who I'm following on noise.cash also shared her sentiments that the bot hasn't tipped her article and that it has been a week since it last tipped her.
A few days before Christmas, I had posted 2 or 3 articles, and I was lucky enough to receive either a $5-6 tip from the bot making me think why they said thelat the bot is being ungenerous. I was even telling (boasting to be exact.LOL) my neices and nephews that nothings has changed on my end when it comes to tips.
Not until a few days after Christmas, when I posyed 2 new articles, I was actually expecting another tip blast from the bot. But when I checked my account the following day, I was dissappointed to see that my wallet was only added a few cents. LOL! I decided to write another article, and to my dismay, it was still the same.
That's when I realized that the random rewarder is indeed getting stingy. I can't even earn a hundred peso in a day wherein I am able to get to 200-300 pesos before.
Since we don't know how the bot tips us and what it's guidelines is in tipping authors, I guess, writing a more informative and interesting article might help. Just like what the random rewarder said, "The more interesting article is for the audience, the more I tip." But that's not always the case since the bot is getting a little ungenerous for all of us.
Although it doesn't really de-motivates me, but I find it a little disappointing because I've been accustomed to the bot's generosity. But I always remind myself that earning thru writing is just a bonus for me when I first joined this platform. Improving my writing and researching skills is my main purpose why I signed up. So to whoever who is demotivated because of the stinginess of the bot, always keep in mind the reason why you have signed up. Always go back to your intention. But if earning money is your main goal, then we can't do anything about that. 🤣🤣🤣
My Canadian Dream
"Quitters never win; Winners never quit.'
A few years ago, when I was just busy searching online different job postings, I came about an article written by a Filipino. The article is about his journey of working in Canada. The article contains how long he had applied online to various websites, how long before he got an interview, how long he has waited for his papers to be processed, and how long before he was able to go to Canada. It was a long journey and process, but everything was worth it once he was there, according to him. And reading his journey inspired and motivated me to follow his footstep.
I really don't have any plans on going outside the country, but because of different stories that I have read and personal experiences of people whom I know, it made me think that it might be a good decision to give it a try.
I first tried applying in Thailand to be an English teacher since Filipino teachers are indemand then. I was able to apply in a private school and was hired. However, circumstances did not allow me to continue. So, I decided that Thailand might not be the place for me.
I then tried applying to Hongkong and worked as a DH. This decision was part of my Canadian dream since my aunt who worked as a DH in Canada was able to cross-country from Hongkong to Canada. I was able to find an employer who I was able to personally communicate with. When I thought everything was working out well, that's when the problem came about. My husband was not in favor of my decision.
Going back with the article that I have read, I checked various website as well where I can apply directly in Canada. That when I came about sk.jobbank.gc.ca. The site contains plenty of job postings, especially for nanny positions. I started applying there, and I was lucky enough to find an employer and set an interview. Everything was going smoothly not until the employer asked me about driving a car and having a driver's license, which has NO as an answer. After that, I never heard from that employer again. So, I continued looking for other employers. I was able to get a couple more interviews, but when everything is going smoothly, the question about driving a car and having a driver's license always ruin everything.
I am almost on the verge of giving up, since its been a year now since I tried applying but with no luck. However, a certain line from one of my mentors while I was still working as a call center agent always keeo me going. He said, "if you give up now, you wouldn't know what will happen next. So never give up, no one succeeded the first try, not even on the second try. Just focus on your goal, and you will somehow get ther."
I may not be there yet, but I know, somehow, someday, this dream of mine will come true. And I believe in the power of my dreams.
How about you? What dream do you have that feels like its almost impossible to achieve? Let me hear about yours in the comments section. 😉😉
IPON : An Ilocano Craze
When we say 'IPON', almost every Filipinos would say 'SAVINGS'. But when you are talking to an Ilocano and you say 'IPON', I can assure you that there will be sparkle in their eyes with a big smile for this 'IPON' is very special to us Ilocanos.
What is this IPON I'm referring to? This IPON:
Ipon, which I would usually call as million fish, is an Ilocano name for the fry of the various species of gobies that spawn in the sea, but which spend most of their life in the fresh-water streams of the interior. Ipon had always these effect on Ilocanos everytime that they are in season. As they are gathered in huge quantities, lot of ipon sellers would be seen in wet markets.
It is also called a lunar fish because they only appear after counting ten days from full moon. The harvest season usually lasted for 3-5 days in a month. Fishermen usually harvest once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
***COASTLINE OF SANTA, ILOCOS SUR DURING THE HARVEST SEASON OF 'IPON' (photos from tupanggala.com)***
How do they catch ipon? Village folks or the fishermen would ride on their boat to the center of the *puyupuyan* or estuary of the sea where the *ipon* are. Once they reached the puyupuyan, they would do the what we called *daklis* or pulling of the huge net, helping each other to trap the fish. They transfer their catch to the boat and bring it to the ladies on the river bank for them to wash and clean by the use of gakko, a woven strainer. They again place it to the *banyera* and dispose it in the wet market.
It is just amazing how Ilocanos go crazy over ipon when it is in season. Most of the locals trooped to the market to buy a kilo or so of this *ipon*. Even if it’s expensive on its first release at a rate of Php 400-600 per kilogram, they would grab it. They wouldn’t mind the expensive price as long as they can get some to cook and eat for dinner or lunch.
It's not only Ilocanos here in our country would go crazy when it comes to ***ipon***. Ilocano communities in the United States, especially, in Hawaii and different parts of the world, they would often request for this ***ipon*** from their relatives here in the Philippines.
Ipon are cooked in different ways. We have:
Ipon soup
Scrambled egg with Ipon
Tortang Ipon / Ipon with egg
Kinilaw na Ipon / Ipon salad
Paksiw na Ipon
Or you can just simply make it into bagoong or fermented ipon
Some might think that it is much better to buy bagnet which is the same range as ipon, it doesnt hurt to buy since its not always available. Despite the expensiveness of this ipon, Ilocanos are still waiting for its season as ipon had always been a part of our lives.
Source : https://www.tupanggala.com/santa-ipon-harvest/
ilocandiatreasures.com
Bustanar Scenic View:Bali of the North
Bali is an Indonesian island known for its forested volcanic mountains, iconic rice paddies, beaches and coral reefs. And a lot of people has this in their travel bucketlist. Couples and honeymooners dreamed of visiting this place because of its beauty. However, not everyone has the privilege in visiting this magnificent place because of money, while some is because of time.
But don't you know that our country had always have magnificent places that somewhat could be compared to these places? Let me introduce to you Bustanar Scenic View.
This BALI-inspired tourist destination is only a quick drive from Sta. Maria town proper. Located in Brgy. Pacang, Sta. Maria,here in the province of Ilocos Sur, Bustanar Scenic View is a magnificent place to visit.
You can enjoy the Bali-vibes you've been dreaming without breaking your bank. Experience the famous nest and a small hanging swing just like in Indonesia.
The summit of Bantay Sakripisyo is also a great place to reflect and pray.
Shoot pictures with everyone with different love quotes and interesting things hand-made with great effort by the developer/s.
The place is still being develop, though at this stage it already great place to visit and relax at this troublesome days because of the pandemic. Friends, lovers, well anyone can go here, just observe that everyone who visits the place is wearing their respective masks correctly at all times and social distancing is done right.
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
Happy Holidays!
(Photos and information are from CGV Travel Stories )
Let's Explore Ilocos Sur!
Ilocos Sur had been one of the tourist destinations up north. Ilocos Sur has a colorful cultural heritage with exciting tourist spots, centuries-old structures and unique dishes. As Ilocos Sur reopens its doors to tourist, let's explore the places that local tourist can visit.
Calle Crisologo, Vigan City
The most famous and major tourist magnet in Vigan City, Calle Crisologo is full of Spanish-styled houses that gives people of this generation a glimpse of the Spanish Era. This is also where you'll see the famous cobblestone streets that represents the city's image. It is one of the streets in the Philippines where you can still see and ride an actual calesa. It was restored to its pre-war beauty and the only town during World War II that was saved from destruction because of a love story. Legend has it that a Japanese General, who married a Filipina in Vigan, promised the parish priest that he would save the town from destruction from the retreating Japanese if he would agree to take care of his family.
Baluarte Resort and Mini Zoo
Baluarte Resort and Mini Zoo is a must-visit spot in the province due to the exciting activities that people of all ages will surely enjoy. This hundred-hectare zoological park and resort complex is owned by the former Ilocos governor and now mayor of Narvacan, Luis “Chavit” Singson.
Dubbed as the Home of The Big Cats in Vigan, they take pride in their 8 Bengal Tigers, 6 White Lions, 2 Leopards, among other kinds of animals, even those that are endemic to the Philippines. Animals like ostrich, spotted deer, and donkeys roam freely in an open area where visitors can interact with them closely. There are also cages housing other animals like camels, zebras, and reptiles. The main attractions of Baluarte Zoo, of course, are the white lions, tigers, and leopards. Tourists are allowed to get close to them and have a memorable moment captured in a photo. There’s no need to worry about getting bitten because these big cats are tamed by animal caretakers. Live animal shows for tigers, lions, and reptiles are also scheduled four times daily.
Aside from the animals, another attraction inside Baluarte Zoo is the Safari Gallery, which features a wide display of Singson’s collection and memorabilia of his hobby as a hunter. You’ll see a display of preserved wild animals Singson got from his hunting activities in foreign countries. If you are not a fan of animal hunting, you may choose not to enter the gallery.
Bantay Church Bell Tower
Sitting on top of a hill, the historical Bantay Belfry is not only a must-see sight in Ilocos because of its historic and cultural significance but also because of the panoramic view of the towns of Vigan and Bantay from the highest portion of it that can be climbed.
The Bantay Bell tower was also known for as one of the location shoot for the movie, "Panday" by the late Fernando Poe, Jr.
Pinsal Falls
If you are an adventure lover, then this place is for you. The breathtaking Pinsal falls is a very popular destination in Ilocos Sur because of its natural yet mesmerizing landscape. It is located in Brgy. Baballasioan, one of the barangays in the far end of Sta. Maria, which borders Pilar, Abra. It is also accessible via the 9-kilometer concrete road so it is almost a 20-minute journey from the town proper. From the drop-off point, it would be almost only a hundred meters walk away. It might be tiring but it's all worth it once you get there. Swimming and diving are best here due to the very deep pools but if you just want to relax, then climbing up the steep falls where the basins of water are located.
Admission is free but if you want to rent cottages, it normally ranges from 100-250 pesos. Due to the distance from the main road , there is still no electricity here so night swimming is not advisable.
Sta. Maria Church
The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (Nuestra Seniora de la Asuncion) commonly known as the Santa Maria Church is the parish church of the municipality of Santa Maria. The church was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 11, 1993 as part of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, a collection of four Baroque Spanish-era churches.
The Santa Maria Church is an attraction to both tourists and Catholics in Ilocos Sur. It is not only a reminiscent of the four centuries of Spanish domination of that area but also a unique structure with a diversified architectural design of bricks and mortar. It was built on top of a hill not only as a lookout and a citadel but as a religious center during the early administration of the region by both the friars and soldiers of Spain.
Tirad Pass
Mount Tirad is a 1,154-metre (3,786 ft) mountain peak near Cervantes. It ranks as the 3rd highest mountain in Ilocos Sur and the 446th highest mountain in the Philippines. Tirad Pass on the mountain holds a significant place in Philippine history, having been the site of the 1899 Battle of Tirad Pass where Gregorio del Pilar was killed.
**Bessang Pass**
The Bessang Pass Natural Monument is a protected area and memorial that commemorates the victory on 14 June 1945 by Filipino soldiers serving the U.S. Army Forces in the Philippines Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) over the Imperial Japanese Army in the Battle of Bessang Pass which led to Japan's eventual surrender and end to World War II in the Philippines. It covers an area of 693.32 hectares (1,713.2 acres) and a buffer zone of 427.79 hectares (1,057.1 acres) in the municipality of Cervantes. The mountain pass was initially a component of the Tirad Pass National Park, declared in 1938 through Proclamation No. 294 by then President Manuel Luis Quezon. On 10 August 1954, it was established as the Bessang Pass National Shrine with an area of 304 hectares (750 acres) by virtue of Proclamation No. 55 signed by President Ramon Magsaysay. The national shrine was finally declared and reclassified as a natural monument under the National Integrated Protected Areas System in April 2000 through Proclamation No. 284 by President Joseph Estrada.
Santiago Cove
Santiago Cove is dubbed as the "Boracay of Ilocos Sur" because of its white sands.
Plaza Salcedo
Plaza Salcedo, named after the Spanish conqueror, Juan de Salcedo who subdued the early native settlement in Vigan and established upon it Villa Fernandina for the monarchs of Spain in 1572. With this, Juan de Salcedo founded the third of many Hispanic settlements in the Philippines. It was in Plaza Salcedo where Gabriela Silang was executed by public hanging in 1763.
Vigan Cathedral
Vigan Cathedral, canonically known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Vigan. It serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia . It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site declaration for the Historic Town of Vigan in 1999.
Hidden Garden
Vigan’s so called Hidden Garden is not really hidden at all. Well, it is way out from the city center, and one needs to either ride a tricycle or hire a calesa to access it, so I guess it is partly hidden in a way.
The sprawling garden started out as a personal venture for retired engineer, Francis Flores. It started to really blossom and guests started to pour in. Eventually, he opened the place to the public in 1991 and it became one of the usual stops with the calesa tours in Vigan.
Hidden Garden is really intended for people with green thumbs. Here, one can find all sorts of ornamental plants for one’s landscaping needs. Yes, they are for sale. Every mom who has a small patch of ground would definitely love this place.
These are just some of the wonderful places that you can visit here in the province of Ilocos Sur. There still a lot more that you can enjoy once you are here for sure, because it's always SURE here in ILOCOS SUR!
Sources: https://primer.com.ph/travel/2019/02/03/vigan-travel-an-interactive-wildlife-adventure-at-baluarte-resort-and-mini-zoo/
https://primer.com.ph/travel/2017/02/07/bantay-church-bell-tower/
https://awesome.blog/2011/08/captivating-calle-crisologo-in-vigan.html
https://www.tupanggala.com/pinsal-falls/
https://xenonbrianna.weebly.com/places-to-visit.html
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Since Christmas is just around the corner, 6 days more to be exact, let's talk about the legendary character that every kids and kids at heart really love : Santa Claus!
Santa Claus is also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, or Kris Kringle. He is generally depicted as a jolly, white-bearded man, with spectacles, wearing a red coat with white fur collar and cuffs, white-fur-cuffed red trousers, red hat with white fur, and black leather belt and boots and carrying a bag full of gifts for children. He is said to bring gifts to well-behaved children or coal to naughty kids. He is said to give gifts on the night of Christmas in, December 24th, or during the early morning hours of Christmas day, December 25th. He is said to live in the North Pole, where his workshop is and where his Christmas elves makes toy. With the help of his flying reindeers, he is able to finish giving gifts to children all over the world.
Fun fact about Santa Claus
Did you know that the image of Santa Claus we all know and love — that big, jolly man in the red suit with a white beard — didn’t always look that way? Prior to 1931, Santa was depicted as everything from a tall gaunt man to a spooky-looking elf. He has donned a bishop's robe and a Norse huntsman's animal skin. In fact, when Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly in 1862, Santa was a small elflike figure who supported the Union. Nast continued to draw Santa for 30 years, changing the color of his coat from tan to the red he’s known for today.
Santa Claus's modern image, according to wikipedia, was further popularized by The Coca-cola Company's advertisement in the 1930 when artist Fred Mizen painted a department-store Santa in a crowd drinking a bottle of Coke.
Haddon Sundblom was the one who develop the advertising images using Santa Claus wherein he used his own image for the now famous Santa we know.
Sundblom's inspiration on drawing Santa was Clement Clark Moore's poem, "A Visit From St. Nicholas" or popularly known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas" where Santa was described as a warm, friendly, pleasantly plump and human.
Sundblom’s Santa debuted in 1931 in Coke ads in The Saturday Evening Post.
Sundblom created his final version of Santa Claus in 1964, “Things Go Better with Coke".
Did you also know that Academy Award-winning animator Alexander Petrov brought the Santa to animated life in a 2001 spot inspired by Sundblom’s 1963 advertisement? Award-winning director Alexander Petrov and Pascal Blais Productions (PPB) have brought the Coca-Cola Santa Claus character to life in a 30-second spot for Coca-Cola and agency McCann Erickson titled "Classic-Sundblom." This is the first time the character has been animated since it become Coca-cola's icon for 70 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJpOX8C2Mhc
Santa has been described as a positive male cultural icon. He had always been viewed as someone spreading joy and happiness. That's why he is always loved by people all over the world and the most awaited person by children during Christmas Eve. Let's be Santa, someone who is all about peace, joy, giving, and caring for other people.
Happy Holidays!
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/company/history/five-things-you-never-knew-about-santa-claus-and-coca-cola
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meet-haddon-sundblom-creator-of-coca-colas-santa_b_5a3935a2e4b0578d1beb7326
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