Simplicity

Once you come to see things through the eyes of children, you will realize how you had been when you were younger. It is likely what seemed big then, is small now. Days seemed to fly by really slow and dragging, but once older, you realize that last year seems just like yesterday.

I had the chance to take photos of children while they were at play at a beach, which I am presenting now. The photos were taken as I spoke with them, my curiosity led me to ask them questions, which turned out to be, for me, very meaningful.

I followed them as they scoured the beach for shells, and glass. As they combed the shoreline, it came to me how simple and easy life seemed to be then. Their laughter filled the air as they ran, played with the dogs that strayed along as they chased after one another, dug in the sand and collected their prized finds.

As I sat and watched them regroup and walk away, there were many things that ran through my head. While we mature as we age, we tend to go after things we consider important that we sometimes forget to stop, and enjoy the things around us; the little things that we tend to ignore as we pace through the business of our daily lives. We worry ourselves with work, deadlines, expectations and standards that trap us; we fail to breathe, to remind ourselves that we need to rest for a while. Our lives have become complicated that sometimes we wish could go back to when we were younger.

The Bakery by SE: not your ordinary bakeshop

Not all cakes are baked the same and not all bakeries are plainly bakeshops. Once in a while, we look forward to treating our palates with baked goodies, which are not the typical store bought ones. From time to time, cheating (calorie intake is what I am saying) is crucial, to get the comfort food we deserve. In Zambales, a lot of local restaurants, cafes and bistros do not come short of satisfying your craving for delicious food.

 

 

Blueberry cheesecake is among the cheesecakes sold by The Bakery by SE. This delectable fare simply melts in your mouth and sets you in a relaxing mood.

The motiff of the cafe is black and white. Tables and chairs are either neutral or earth colors.

The pairing of cheesecake and lemonade makes it a perfect fare for a tiring day. More so, it could be perfectly paired with coffee or whine.

Look closely on the bottle of wine on the left. Not a fruit wine, but is made from seewead. An assortment of wines can be purchased from the bakeshop.

We had not gotten a chance to ask if these were for sale but I did purchase some of the banana cupcakes.

Chili oil, pastillas (candied Carabao milk), and preserved sweets can be purchased from The Bakery by SE.

Other than the local goodies (for pasalubong), The Bakery also has imported ingredients displayed.

An afternoon after taking an examination, my friends and I decided to stop by a place called The Bakery by SE. SE is actually the initials for “Sweet Elena.”

Simply, the place is called The Bakery, which obviously, by the name of it, refers to a bakeshop. But do not be deceived ; The Bakery is actually not Bread Talk. It is more of a café, somewhat reminiscent of a place called El Ideal in Bacolod City.

Our McDonald’s Story

How would you get someone back, the one you just realized you are in love with; someone who’s in love with someone else; someone who you have the least chance to speak with ever again?

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Almost four years ago, before the rainy season, I have made a decision to let go of someone, of my feelings for that particular person, and holding on to something that I know, then and now, is almost impossible to realize.

That person is you.

Love is a feeling. It inspires people, makes them insane, jealous and all emotionally and mentally confused. Life isn’t perfect but love, somehow, gives people a chance to be in their own fairy tale. Sadly, not all fairy tales have “happily ever after” endings.

We – you and I – do not have that fairy tale. We never had the chance. Our story is just two people, of could have been and might have been.

We met at work. The first time we saw each other, there was nothing special or exceptional, except maybe, for the fact that you looked nervous when you had the chance to introduce yourself and shared some tips during our training. It was amusing how you seemed uneasy while you were seated on a chair right in front of us. You were more tenured at the position that I applied for but your high pitched voice and somewhat disorganized way of discussing the topic made that moment funny.

You never made that “love at first sight” impression.

Random Photos 2017 – Food from Zambales and Beyond

I cannot attest whether the stomach is the best way to a man’s heart or not. I believe that food is not only a basic human need, it nourishes, eases the discomfort caused by hunger – and stress (that is unhealthy though) – and brings people together.

Food in the Philippines is a fusion of different flavors and influences. I have foreign friends and acquaintances who find Filipino cuisine unique in some ways and how ingenious we are in preparing meals and snacks. We use vinegar in cooking, which is not common in other countries. We eat cashew leaves, bamboo shoots, balut, among others. Nevertheless, similar to other cultures in the world, we have food meant only to be eaten in certain occasions, we prepare food based on tradition and belief, and we have techniques that are passed on from one generation to the next.

Food is good. I love eating, and food is best enjoyed free of charge. I rarely eat outside and when I do, it is more likely because it is free, cheap or it really is that good, or when I am really, really hungry – I am used to my mother’s cooking and somehow, the taste of home food is a standard measure. I dine out with friends and family. I eat street food, so I am not that fastidious in what I eat; unless, of course, if you will let me eat something icky or what they call exotic. I am not a fan.

Random Photos 2016 – People

Pictures can certainly paint a thousand words. There are pictures that evoke us, to think, to leave us in awe and wonder and sometimes, to feel.

Pictures tell stories and preserve them.

Smoke. A man’s face was covered with smoke as he puffed while driving a tri-bike (a tricycle). A child in the distance, who was going to school, looked back.

Pool cleaner. A man cleans the swimming pool at Otel Pampanga in San Fernando.

Siesta. An old woman takes a snooze in the middle of the busy crowd in Manila. Street vendors occupy sections of the street, which also affect the flow of traffic in the metropolis.

Motorcycle accident. A man cries in pain as bystanders witness an accident at a busy section in Pampanga.

Billboards. Signages block the skyline in populated areas in Manila such as this one. The women at the center carry plastic bags of goods as they walk past a store. Lines of store, such as the souvenir store on the left, can be found underneath elevated roads.

Nurse on call. Traffic is a problem in Metro Manila because of congested streets like this one. Sections of the street are used by drivers as parking spaces (tricycles and pedicabs in this case), which limits the space and blocks the flow of vehicles.

All in a day’s work. A man and a woman were cleaning up their makeshift stall in Manila after selling their goods. Stalls along streets are common in many places in the country and they are often referred to as “talipapa.”

Graffiti. A man on a motorcycle drives by a establishment that has a wall covered by writings.

Cheers. The participants raised their glasses during the launching of the new campaign TxtMed. The project is a flagship between Land Bank of the Phillippines, Smart/PLDT and RiteMed, which aims to loan medicine to government employees.

I have not so much stories to share so I browsed through the files in my phone and found the photos I am sharing with you today.  I am not a professional but a person who likes taking photos.

For now, I have been using my phone’s camera, and I think that it did the job. These photos were taken using my Zenfone Max.

Rice mill. A man checks the quality of the rice after the husks were removed from the grains. Rice is a staple food in the Philippines.

A woman walks on a flooded section of a street in Manila. Dirty water, such as this can cause diseases, including leptospirosis. Road projects that remain unfinished clogs the streets.

Shadows at sunset. Urban areas require more streets to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles that pass by city roads. Traffic is a serious problem in NCR.

Umbrella. A group of people crosses the street in Manila. The heat in the city can be very scorching and although umbrellas can protect people from the sun’s rays, the rising heat index is another issue.

Colorful lights under the bridge. A street child plays under a bridge in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Urban runway. People in the city are almost always in the rush.

Circular shed. This unique waiting shed is located at Botolan, Zambales. A man sleeps soundly although this is a very cold, rainy morning.

Taking a turn. A man delivering water waits to take a turn at a U-turn.

A young couple under a building’s shadow. A young couple stops before a crossing.

Changes

It is safe to say that change is inevitable. The world continues to evolve each day and although it is cliché to say, nothing is permanent in this world, except, maybe, those proven constant in Mathematics and Science.

We transition from the past to the present and to the future. The past is history and it is a permanent mark in each person’s life. It is a time forgone, some forgotten but cannot be taken out. The future is something we look forward to, it is an unrealized time. Today is a gift – it is called the present and what we do today can make or break us in the future.

The very lesson we learn is that things are doable, we can change ourselves and we adapt to changes. We resist changes because of fear or maybe because they are not what we expect or picture them to be. Trying a new approach on things, something that we are not used to, can be a source of stress and we often conclude will not bear the result we think it would bring.

Random Photos 2016 (1)

Being busy at work does not mean not getting the time to have a refresher. Work and work without enjoying the fruits of one’s labor is dull. Taking some time off from work and busy daily routines to breath and smell the roses is not wasting time — it is finding time to rejuvenate from all the stress and worries. It is seeking adventure. It is finding peace and happiness.

I am not a pro when it comes to taking photos but here are some of the photos I have taken so far.  I hope you will enjoy seeing the photos as much as I have taken them. Good day to all!

We found this colorful display in April, before the city’s celebration of their festival.

It was raining lightly during the time this photo was taken; hence, the droplets on the lens. The three-storey building on the right is an old movie house. This is in front of RMTU Main Campus’ entrance.

The best smile. Mango Festival features a street dancing competition each year.

Hello, Stranger

 

Hello, Stranger

Our paths have crossed again.

It has been a while –

I’m wondering how you’ve been.

 

Once Upon a Stormy Night

 

And in the night sky, the lightning struck

As if a silver blade slicing through the dark;

The charcoal clouds that dawdled from the heavens

Disturbed by the thunder that broke the silence.

 

The powerful wind blew from different ways

Our umbrella struggled like a leaf in a daze;

My heart could have melt when you held my hand

Your palm drove off the cold with a reviving warmth.

A Beautiful Afternoon at RMTU Candelaria

Part of my work is to assist in the conduct of seminars, meetings and trainings. This gives me an opportunity to go places, learn, share ideas and be inspired of what I am going to write next. More than a month ago, we visited Ramon Magsaysay Technological University’s Candelaria Campus, formerly known as Candelaria School of Fisheries.

After the meeting, I had an opportunity to walk around the campus (the part that RMTU owns). It is small. There are asphalt stone paths as well as covered walkways leading to the key buildings. It is far from the town proper and took us about five minutes from the highway to the campus by car.

The Administration Building of RMTU Candelaria Campus.

The ambiance in the campus is backward. It has that provincial feel (the characteristic is colloquially referred to as “promdi” derived from the phrase “from the province”).