profound bliss

I've passed by Lucena a number of times but never really had a chance to roam around the city even once. And when I learned about the city's weeklong celebration of Pasayahan sa Lucena (Chami Festival), I made it a point to visit the city to learn some on what the festival is all about. Armed with my cellphone's Google Maps application, I left the house at 9:30 AM last Saturday, May 28, 2011. The programme I found on Facebook said the Grand Tricycle Parade would leave the assembly area in Quezon National High School at 1 PM. With further research, I learned that the parade would pass by Merchant Street, turn right towards P. Gomez Street, proceed to Old Manila South Road then head straight to SM Lucena. It was almost 1:30 PM when I reached the Lucena Grand Central Terminal so I decided to go straight to SM Lucena which was the end-point of the parade. I learned, though, that there's no passenger jeepney that goes straight to SM from the terminal. I had to go to B...

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake has rocked the Philippines a while ago, May 23, 2011 at exactly 12:42 AM. The epicenter was 18 kms. N 2° W of MAMBURAO (OCC MINDORO) . Reported Intensities: Intensity IV - Ilijan, Batangas Intensity III - Tagaytay City; Malate, Manila; Puerto Galera; Alabang, Muntinlupa; Clark,Pampanga Intensity II - Malolos, Bulacan Intensity I - Nichols, Pasay I am in Taguig and was sleeping when it happened so I don't know if it was felt here. Did you feel it? via phivolcs.dost.gov.ph

The Mossimo Bikini Summit 2011 (Mr. & Ms. EcoTourism Philippines) is happening on June 18, 2011 at the Canyon Cove in Nasugbu, Batangas. View the 16 male and 16 female candidates here and here respectively. Then place your bets. Mine's numbers 2, 8, and 16 for the boys and number 6 for the girls.

After failing with Machete, Aljur Abrenica proves he's still relevant by starring in this new TVC for the Century Tuna Healthylicious Hotdog. Now how hotter can becoming a hotdog endorser make you? Watch:

Two weeks after climbing Mt. Batulao , my itchy feet couldn't wait to climb again. I helped K's parents in building a business which had a grand opening that week, and after all the pressure of finishing everything up in time, I decided to unwind a little. And what best way to unwind than to go out of town and climb a mountain? Well, at least for me. So I texted K two days after the opening day and invited him for a climb. Cool enough, he also has an itchy feet. So off we traveled to Sto. Tomas, Batangas for a Manabu Peak climb that morning of April 14th. It was both our first time to climb Mt. Malipunyo (where Manabu Peak is part of), and we both agreed that we wouldn't get a guide. Mountain climbing is an adventure in itself, but figuring out the trail on your own provides more thrill to the adventure. It's just a minor climb, anyway, and internet articles say the trail is pretty well-established so we figured it would be the best mountain of choice for those wh...

How would you like to play NBA 2K11 on a 100 square meter screen? Creativeworx Inc. will kick up the heat this summer by bringing PLAY BIG – a one-of-a-kind event where virtual athletes and fighters can have a larger than life gaming experience on May 20, 21 and 22, 2011. The CCP LED board, which measures 100 square meters, will be the screen for participants as they play NBA 2K11 using PS3 as their console. This is the first time in the Philippines that a screen this huge will be used for a gaming event. The press release: Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and Derrick Rose… on a 100 square meter screen! Yes, we’re kicking up the heat by bringing you PLAY BIG, a one-of-a-kind event where virtual athletes can have a larger than life gaming experience. Convert those NBA semifinals woes and joys into your very own epic tournament by playing NBA 2K11 on the giant LED board beside CCP. Show off your skills, wow the crowd, and get a chance to win Php10,000 plus your very own PS3 consol...

Justin Bieber had a successful concert last night at the MOA grounds and while it was sold-out and the audience for sure had a lot of fun, a lot of rants had been heard especially from the ticket holders of the VIP area. The VIP had seats and while it is a pop concert, most of the VIPs preferred to sit down – that, or also because the security told them to sit down. The Magalonas, on the other hand, who are Bieber fans and entertainers themselves, refused to sit down even if the VIPs sitting behind them were already complaining. They grooved with the music of JB who got kinda pissed cuz the crowd wasn't getting wild. Saab Magalona even tweeted, "Nakakahiya kay Justin Bieber sobra. Imagine he was performing grabe and yung nasa harap niya nakaupo hindi manlang naggroove at all!" Below is the video of Justin's encore and watch how he stopped in the middle of the song to tell the crowd that either they went wild or he would leave. And would you believe he was ...

The Alay Lakad from Ortigas to Antipolo Cathedral is a yearly thing for many. It wasn't my kind of thing before, finding it silly and nonsensical. It was a form of repentance as well as sacrifice to commemorate the suffering of Christ. But I knew only the minority of those who do have the true intentions. I knew it's better to just go to church or read the Bible and ask for forgiveness of your sins through sincere prayers, than to show the world you're doing a pilgrimage just for the purpose of showing off. I must admit I did the Alay Lakad last year just for the fun of it, but halfway through the walk, I realized sore feet and aching leg muscles make you more in touch with what Jesus Christ had to go through to save us. Not that we had to go through the same physical pain like those who choose to be nailed to the cross, but a little bit of pain makes your faith stronger (at least in my own experience). We were still in Antipolo last year when I made the vow to do...

I've heard about Mt. Batulao even before I started climbing mountains. Words about how pleasant and easy it is to climb, and how well-frequented the mountain is by mountaineers and non-mountaineers alike who just want to have a taste of the mountain, make Mt. Batulao a very famous minor climb. But that fact kind of made me shy away from climbing Mt. Batulao. It's very accessible; ride a Nasugbu-bound bus and ask to be dropped off at Evercrest and that's it. I climb for the peacefulness of the mountains. I climb for serenity. Thinking about climbing a mountain with so many hikers kinda makes me think twice. But at the back of my mind, I knew I had to climb Mt. Batulao at one point. And last March 27th, I found myself with K debating whether to climb Manabu Peak or Mt. Batulao. We both haven't been to Manabu yet and it would be an additional expense to hire a guide, while he already climbed Batulao last January with the MSOC (and I was in Mindoro when they invite...