profound bliss

I went mountain climbing in Batangas last week, September 20. I don’t wanna say the name of the mountain yet until after I blogged about it (which is taking forever because I still have two places to blog about before that). I was wearing this Penshoppe shorts I always wear when I travel, and short-sleeved t-shirt, which allowed the mosquitoes to bite freely into my arms and legs. I actually had with me a bottle of OFF! but I forgot to apply it on my exposed skin before the climb. I only got aware of mosquitoes when we made a stop and saw them biting on my legs. And these were big ones. With white stripes on them. Ack! They were the dengue-carrying ones! I know it’s kinda late but I frantically applied the mosquito repellant during that stop, and all the while fearing I have already contacted dengue. When I got home that night, the first thing I did was to search the net about dengue. From medicinenet.com , I found this: The virus is contracted from t...

Who isn’t a fan of Harry Potter? Raise your hand. Part 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is showing November 19th. And for someone who hasn’t read the Deathly Hallows yet, I really wanna be surprised. Can’t wait.

Posting on Facebook where you’re going proves helpful if you’re looking for a travel buddy. You don’t really have to say you need a company, they’ll ask to come with you. In my case, I actually planned on going to Lucban alone. I just wanted to see Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center in Brgy. Tinamnan, and from what I have read, it’s a worry-free destination even if you’re alone. But a friend named Rachel – who used to be a neighbor - saw the post and wanted to go. Why not? I love going to places alone but it’s always fun to have a friend for company. So we met at the bus terminal in Alabang at 5:30 AM last September 12th. She had this Deuter daypack on her back and a Canon G10 slung on her neck. So posh. A far-cry from the Sandugo backpack and Kodak C813. LoL! Anyway, our bus left Alabang at exactly 6 AM and arrived at Lucena Grand Terminal exactly 9 AM. The trip could have been shorter if not for the stops Manong Konduktor demanded to look at merchan...

Ayan. Naunahan na si Venus Raj magkaroon ng TVC. Congrats to Veejay Floresca, Martin Bautista, Lex Librea and Aleq Africa – the four Filipinos who filmed themselves while watching the Miss Universe 2010 pageant – for being featured in this KFC Shakin’ Shots TVC. I’m sure they did the We Love Maria Venus Raj video just for fun. And after just some time, they cannot only brag about the over 2.5 million YouTube views, but also the left and right interviews plus this KFC commercial as well. Lovely.

Homaygad. Why was I not informed? LoL! It premiered last September 9 so they’re an episode or two into the season already. Time to torrent. Here’s the teaser: So TVD, GG, Glee… Oh lord.

I really hope they’re showing this here. I searched clickthecity.com and they don’t have “Easy A” in their upcoming movies list. How can a Gossip Girl fan miss this movie? Penn Badgley looks great: And I love the casting:   The trailer: How can you miss this? Oh well, there’s always the torrents if it’s not showing here. Edit: It’s gonna be shown in The Third World on November 10 .

View of Mt. Banahaw from Taytay Falls And I thought Mt. Banahaw is closed! Read this with the sad news of a massacre. Then read the advisory regarding the closure: Mount Banahaw still closed to Lenten pilgrims–DENR exec By Delfin Mallari Jr. Inquirer Southern Luzon First Posted 07:14:00 03/27/2010 Filed Under: Belief (Faith), Customs & Traditions, Religions, Environmental Issues LUCENA CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has announced that the mystical Mt. Banahaw will remain closed to religious pilgrims and mountaineers this coming Holy Week. “It [Mount Banahaw] has been abused for decades. Let’s allow the mountain to heal,” Nilo Tamoria, DENR Region 4-A [Calabarzon] executive director, said in a statement Friday. To many, Mt. Banahaw is inhabited by heavenly spirits. Many believers trek its slopes in hopes of experiencing something divine, particularly during the Lenten...

I have nothing against the Chinese, really. Even when they hanged Flor Contemplacion in mid-90s, I know it’s because their law requires death penalty for what she did. Even if OFWs in Hong Kong jump out the window to escape maltreatment, I understand that anyone in any part of the world is capable of maltreating their maids, not just the Chinese.   So really, I have nothing against the Chinese. I am even fond of them, more so when somebody gave me the link to this video. Watch and you’ll love them even more.