with Marissa. Blogging can be a lonely avocation. But it can be immensely rewarding when you get feedbacks from people and then meeting those who claim to (ahermm) fanatically read your blog.For a blogger like moi, this is heartwarming because it means am not just talking to the wall. I am glad that my online persona strikes some as nice and approachable (because this is how I am too, in real life) and it means a lot when readers-turned-friends take the time to email and meet me, especially when they come from other countries and only visiting the ... Continue Reading...

This site supports the One Day of Blog Silence on April 30 in honor of those who died in Virginia Tech and other crime victims around the world. Let us all say a prayer for them. Close to home, this blog particularly grieves for Julia Campbell, the Bicol-based US Peace Corps volunteer who was found in a shallow grave last April 18 in the tourist spot of Banaue, Ifugao. Reports state she could have been murdered after going on a solo hike to see the famed rice terraces of Batad. Shame that a great woman can encounter such fate, and in a country she sought to help ... Continue Reading...

Writing this in Ayala Center Cebu's Netopia while waiting for a ferry ride to Leyte. Geez, I can't believe I missed the Supercat to Ormoc by a few precious minutes. I was about to say my alleluia to this shipping company for having a very informative website, now it turns out their published online and print media schedules are not what it is in real life. Point in fact: what they really mean when they say 11:35 a.m. is that the boat departs at 10:45 a.m. Being no freakin' psychic, how was I supposed to guess that? I guess my mistake was failure to double-check and be ... Continue Reading...

Sorry, I don't have the figures on how many Koreans are there right now in the Philippines. All I know is that they are everywhere!! (and am not exactly complaining because after all, we are supposed to exercise tolerance towards other races). They are omnipresent, especially where I live and work. Manila may as well be christened Koreatown. Is it good or bad? You tell me. I can just give you the signs on why Koreans are invading our world: 1. You begin to greet your cellphone callers with "Yo-bo-se-yo!" (and you're not even a rapper :P) 2. Your good morning/good ... Continue Reading...

Happy Valentine's Day to all. There couldn't be a more relevant time to receive this email than today, of all days! I have to admit this surprised me but life certainly gives us what we deserve. Here goes: Annalyn, Someone forwarded me this link and article almost a year ago. You see, I happen to be the 'Betsy' in the article. I have been happily married since this happened, I have not seen 'Ron' for a very long time. I am not writing to correct anything nor air my side but I just want to know how are you related to 'Ron' since you mentioned you know him. ... Continue Reading...