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07 April 2018

My Zipline Adventure


One windy afternoon, I tried  vlogging on-the-air as I was in the zipline  at La Mesa Eco Park.

But it was an epic fail because instead of a video,  my Myphone unit revealed only one insignificant photo.

It's a good thing that one of my friends was able to take an amazing video of me.  :-)



Anyway, La Mesa Eco Park is an ecological reserve covering an area of around 33 hectares (82 acres) in Fairview, Quezon City.

The park offers the individuals, families and groups diverse recreation like swimming, horseback riding, touring the place in a horse-drawn carriage (kalesa), ziplining and many other enjoyable activities.

Photoshoot is obviously one of the most common purpose of visitors in the park.

And should one wish just to sit and eat or relax and savor the beauty of the place,  there are many benches in the area to do so.

La Mesa Eco Park is among the most-visited attractions in Quezon City.


15 March 2018

Amazing two-year old reader

Believe it or not, Echian Jaden Navos Ruivivar is only two-year old.

But his reading ability is so amazingly wonderful.

Please CLICK to watch him as he enjoys reading his pre-loved books.











13 March 2018

I Am a Lazy Blogger Striving to be a Better Vlogger

Please support me even if I am a lazy blogger for I am now striving at the same time to be a better vlogger.

There had been a number of drafts in this blog's folder that remained as it were in the past many months or even more than a year or two... and I'm sorry.

No amount of alibis could make a valid excuse for this blog that was not updated for more than two years.

Thus, I admit that laziness conquered me and that was it.

Anyway,  here I am trying to blog again... although I am not even sure if  any netizen could ever read this piece of mine now.

And if  you happen to visit this site,  my sincere appreciation for your effort, dear friend.

Once again,  I am trying to rekindle my spirit to write or blog again while at the same time,  struggling to become more techie to be able to enhance the videos for my VLOG.

Yes!  Believe it or not... I am also vlogging now although I can hardly edit my own vids and even with only my old MyPhone unit at hand.

I may not be a good vlogger yet I think I am enjoying it... and loving it for various reasons that I would reveal very soon. (Assuming as if someone is interested to know. hahaha)

Since I feel guilty for neglecting my never-improved blogging stint,  I will be blogging about some of my vlogs here.

I may not be a good vlogger but if you think I am worth your support, please SUBSCRIBE, WATCH and SHARE my videos @ youtube channel aiOme TV

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHDSV-sYzpWLcamwSL2qpPw/videos

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHDSV-sYzpWLcamwSL2qpPw/videos



Thank you so much.

10 February 2016

Mt. Binacayan: Step One to Greater Heights?

For the first time in so many years,  I went to bed barely past  nine hoping  yet  failing to achieve the elusive good six hour sleep  as preparation for an initial step to adventure that  I’ve been dreaming of before my arthritic knees and earthly self’s capacity to explore heights expires to my group’s first destination – Mount Binicayan.

Mount Binicayan is one of the legendary  mountain that was stopped by giant by Bernardo Carpio with his bare hands from collision that could have crushed the village along the river banks.  The other mountain is called Pamitinan.

To be sure, I started the day by taking a capsule of  RLR Squalene.  If only  I have a sufficient stock instead of the only have three capsules in my bag,  I should have taken more. Yet I had to leave te other two in case of emergency.

It was a drizzling dawn when I left home at 3:34  to the nearest tricycle terminal where Ma’am Sol Paguirigan and I met and took a tricycle ride to  Luver’s, Rodriguez, Rizal, where  the group started to gather at four in the morning.

Couples Sir Richard & Ma’am Dang Furuc and Sir J.R. & Ma'am Joy Sabulao;  mom & son tandem Ma’am  Teng & Charles Sabajas;  Sirs Donnel Dilidili, Alberto Velasco, JC De Vera & Elias Soriao and Ma’ams Jane Macagaling, Rio Ayuson,  Marycel Jacobe, Evangeline Dizon, Rebie Paz, Roniesyl Espina, Jinky Tuscano & Cristina Davalos were already there.  Later, Ma’ams Marjorie Bitong & Angel Bais  joined us few minutes later.

Except for the young Sabajas, a grade schooler & Sir Sabulao, a teacher at  Wawa National High School, everyone in the group teaches at San Jose National High School who decided to relax, and commune with nature  by taking the a less-traveled path in Rodriguez, Rizal - that led us to the Mount Binicayan summit.

In sub-groups, we took tricycles while others rode their motorcycles to the entrance of Pamitinan Protected Landscape  (PPL) (popularly known  as just ‘Wawa’ to local folks), which is one of the initial components of National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).  Due to its historical significance and biodiversity richness,  it was proclaimed as protected landscape by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 901.

At  exactly five o’clock in the morning, Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) Office   had already 72  registrants  - 16 Tour Guides and tourists from Rizal and Quezon City, 24 of whom  were bound to  Mount Binacayan and 32 to Mount Pamitinan.  And the line for  registration continued to grow   longer.

I talked with one of the registrants in line, CJ,  a private school teacher  from San Mateo, Rizal, who said that  it’s his fifth time to climb a peak in Rodriguez, Rizal yet he reflected excitement like the rest of the first time climbers.

Tour guides and tourists or mountaineers, experienced and newbie like me were required to register at DENR office prior to entering the gate of PPL with very minimal fee of Two Pesos. A table of some stuff for sale was also set up where one can buy tourist stuff like gloves and little souvenirs.

Each of us in the group contributed Eighty Five Pesos (Php85.00) for  the Tour Guides.  As we were twenty in the group,  we were divided into three because it  is also a rule that a tour guide can only lead seven to ten heads.

We also dropped by at the Barangay Office for another registration.

By five thirty, we were already treading Torres Road.  Darkness still enveloped the area.  Good thing, I was saved by my companion’s flashlights  (I had none because I found out only last night that  what I thought  available at home was not working anymore and had no more chance to buy one) from possible slip or fall (lampa pa naman ako) along the way.

We had banters while walking and I wondered how many in the neighborhood was taking acre of dogs. I  only heard one that seemed to withhold its bark, maybe, shy to scare the passersby.  Animal silence could even be attributed to the fact that they are used to strangers going to and from Mount Binacayan.

As we proceeded ascending the pathway and began to catch our breaths, the group minimized talking (we noticed that talking while climbing is more tiresome.:-)) thus,  resuming chats during short stops for picture taking.



By seven o’clock, I was already indulging myself  with selfies and joining group shots  by everyone’s camera and cellphone.
For the first time, I made it!



Our struggles paid off as we savor the heavenly break that Mt. Binicayan offered us.
Documenting our successful climb with a group picture at the summit of 424 m. high Mount Binicayan.
The 360-degree panoramic view  was breathtakingly  beautiful and the sense of fulfillment so overwhelming as I inhaled the cool fresh morning air from the summit of the 424-m high Mt. Binicayan.

The sun did not show up so we failed to capture sunrise from the top but I believe cloudy day was a blessing for me and everyone as it spared us from  shedding more ounces of  sweat and further struggle during our adventure to and fro the Mt. Binicayan summit.

Smiling for my cam's delight while catching breath: (l-r) Sir Elias, Ma'am  Sol and Ma'am Dang.

At almost a decade and a half to senior citizenship,  I dream of conquering more heights with the group with whom I enjoyed company during my first steps to a summit.

17 July 2015

Up-close with David Pomeranz

One day of October, 2014, I had a dinner with the six student journalists of Ang Gatdula, official Filipio school paper of San Jose National High School,at Robinson's mall, Cainta, Rizal before commuting to Rodriguez, Rizal.


The simple but decent  dinner was actually sponsored by the school because we just came from the awarding ceremony of Division Schools' Press conference where we bagged some awards.

I was window shopping near the scalator while waiting for the students who dropped by the rest room when one of them hastily came to me to ask who was that 'persoonality' being scorted by three guards to the elevator.

To be honest, I didn;t recognize him immediately but I thouoght he was ssomebody,  most probably,  David Pomeranz, the renowned American artist- singer and songwriter, performer and composer. and it was confirmed few minutes later.

I hurriedly approached him with my students in tow and asked for photo op as he was about to step in the elevator.

He paused, smiled and indulged us.

He even patiently watched and waited for me as I dug my stuff full bag for my digicam.

After introducing my students, he asked where we've been and when he learned that we came from a 'contest' and had some awards,  he congratulated each of them.

About five minutes later after our treasured personal encounter,  my students enjoyed a free David Pomeranz' concert where the Operation Smile Celebrity Ambassador amazingly performed some of his beautiful songs like Born for You, King & Queen of Hearts, Got to Believe in Magic and others.

It was indeed an unforgettable  beautiful day with David Pomeranz!
David Pomeranz in his amazing concert.







30 November 2014

Bond of Love, Anthology of 50 Poems

I  was in one one of the low point of my life when a colleague asked me if  I ever wrote a poem. When I replied that I did,  ,she told me that she seemed to have seen my name in a little book of poems published by the Iglesia Ni Cristo.

I was so delighted even without seeing it yet.  I almost begged her to bring it the following day.

So here it is - a wonderful surprise at the midst of  lonesome days. My poem entitled 'The Wisdom' that was first published at  a God's Message magazine issue years back was  included in the Bond of Love, an Anthology of 50 Poems published in commemoration of the Golden anniversary of BUKLOD, the church's organization of married  members.

This is indeed a blessing to be grateful in my lifetime.


31 October 2014

Happy Birthday, Brother Eduardo V Manalo

     Greetings with love to Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, Executive Minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo. I may only had  shared a  "handshake" with him once but  he'd been a part of my life as he continuously  touches my heart and mind, like he does to millions of other individuals in the world. For me,  he is the best-ever living transformational leader  of these times.

09 October 2014

“Invest in the future, invest in teachers”

This year’s World teachers’ Day  theme, “Invest in the future, invest in teachers” summed up my experiences as a youth who dreamed of anything but to be a teacher who literally invested for the future when I took up Bachelor of Secondary Education twenty seven years ago. For indeed, it was a spur-of-the moment decision then that was bound to help me coped up during one of the lowest points in my life.

 It may sound a clichĆ© yet it is a fact that poverty did not pave the way to realization of my plans when I was young.  It had instead offered me two inconvenient choices towards my future – quit my college dream or persevere to pursue a teaching course in the only state university in town.

If I couldn’t be the moon, I could be a star and take the future just the same.  So with a rather heavy heart, I used the Two Hundred Fifty pesos from my mother to secure further education. 

After four years of struggle as college student while I worked/served as library aide tutor, vegetable vendor and barangay secretary, I got my college diploma and passed the Professional Board examination for teachers that followed.

However, I traversed a different path of life and dared not to practice my profession until sixteen years later.
A financial tragedy hit my family that prompted me to apply for a teaching position so I can have a stable job. It was a door opened to me to a room with more open windows.

Much more than the financial compensations are the wonderful emotions which are beyond the worth of gold. 

There were times when I was summoned to the principal’s office or to the guidance office because of my errant advisory class members.  Which later I will tell them same repetitive lines: “Do you know that for my whole life as student before, I was never called to such offices for misbehaving?  But now that I am a already a teacher,  I am always called because of you.” Yet they were the same students who lead the line to offer me flowers and wave the banners for me during Teachers’ Day.

There were times when I had to ask the canteen people for pay-later foods just so I can feed students who were suffering from stomachache for missing meals because of no food to eat.  Yet they were the same students who always said thank you for big and small deeds.

There were times when  I felt disappointed to students who seemed so slow to comprehend simple lessons.  Yet they were the same students who were all-smiles and grateful only because of line of seven grades.

There were times when I felt like emotionally tortured sounding board to students whose life were far worst than I had because at such you ages, they had dysfunctional family, extreme poverty and illicit drug exposure. Yet they were the same students who brought me happiness when they kept their promises never to give up striving for positive changes.

Through the years, hardship may increase while monetary rewards may prove just enough yet, I hope that good deeds tremendously prosper as I continue to mold the minds and touch the hearts of students through my little ways. For truly, there is a special sense of fulfillment in the teaching profession that led me to realization that my college diploma was, after all, one of the best investments I made in my lifetime.


16 September 2014

Esquire September 2014 Issue

More out of curiosity, I panicked to secure a copy of this Esquire magazine  when I read posts of some friends who were so eager to have one but didn't know where to buy because it was selling like fast like good hotcakes.  The issue has an exclusive feature on  The 3raserheads  with enclosed CD of their first new songs in over a decade..

I could have believed it because it was the only copy available at the Seven Eleven outlet that I visited.  I was even hidden that maybe,  someone was planning to return and purchase it. One of the crew even looked surprised that there was still such a copy in their magazine rack. 

Almost a month later,  I found a store in a mall that still has a tall pile of the magazine for sale.  I am just not certain if the publication reprinted more due to insistent public demand.  

Anyway, for those who missed the magazine, you could contact me and maybe I can do you n errand-buy & ship the magzine for you at your own expense, of course.>-)


12 September 2014

28 July 2014

Musical Firework Display

Musicial firework display during the few minutes countdown to the Iglesia Ni Cristo Centennial on the eve of  July 26, 2014.

The Philippine Arena at Night


Pictures taken few  minutes before July 27, 2014.











24 July 2014

Talumpati ng Kagalang-galang Benigno S. Aquino III Pangulo ng Pilipinas Sa pagpapasinaya ng Ciudad de Victoria


[Inihayag sa sa Bocaue, Bulacan, noong ika-21 ng Hulyo 2014]
Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.
Tinuro po sa akin ng aking ama, na ‘pag nagtatalumpati, may kausap, tignan daw po sa mata. Pero talagang napakalawak po ng ating kailangang titigan ngayon lalo na po ‘yong mga nasa taas ng balconahe. [Applause] Sana po ay sa kasuluk-sulukan ay nagkakaintindihan pa rin tayo. Salamat po.
Binabati po natin ang lahat ng bumubuo ng Iglesia ni Cristo [applause], sa pangunguna ng inyong Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan na si Ka Eduardo Manalo. Binabati ko po kayo sa nalalapit ninyong ika-100 anibersaryo. Narito nga po tayo ngayon upang saksihan ang makasaysayan ninyong pagdiriwang, na lalong nagbibigay-kulay sa inyong sentenaryo: ang paglulunsad ng Ciudad de Victoria. Angkop nga po ang pangalan ng lugar na ito—na may kahulugang “Lungsod ng Tagumpay”—lalo pa’t sinasalamin nito ang mga nakamit na tagumpay ng Iglesia sa nagdaang siglo [applause].  Mula po sa pagkakatatag ng Kagalang-galang Felix Manalo, hanggang sa patuloy na paglago ng inyo pong kongregasyon, tinitingala ang Iglesia ni Cristo, hindi lang sa ating bansa, kundi maging sa iba’t ibang panig ng daigdig. [Applause]
Talaga naman pong ikinalulugod ko ang pagkakataong maging bahagi ng pagtitipong ito. Personal nga po nating sinusuportahan ang isang institusyong tulad ng Iglesia sa maalab na paghubog ng inyong mga miyembro bilang mga tapat na alagad ng ating Panginoon. [Applause] Nagsisilbi po kayong tulay upang mapalalim pa ang pananampalataya ng inyong mga kasapi, at maigting ninyong ginagabayan ang buhay ispiritwal ng napakarami nating kababayan. [Applause]
Lubos po din tayong humahanga sa matibay ninyong pagsasamahan sa Iglesia bilang isang pamilya at komunidad. [Applause] Malinaw po sa akin: Hindi natatapos sa loob ng kapilya ang inyong pagbubuklod at pananampalataya. Hindi kayo nakukuntento sa pangangasiwa sa araw ng pagsamba; dinadalaw din ninyo ang inyong mga kaanib upang personal silang kamustahin [applause], at aktibo po silang hikayatin na makilahok sa mga gawain ng komunidad. Sa paraang ito, nababatid ninyo ang kanilang kalagayan at ang mga suliraning nakakaapekto sa kanilang kilos at pasya; nagagabayan n’yo sila upang mapatibay ang kanilang ugnayan sa kapwa, at ang pananalig sa Panginoon. [Applause]
Tunay pong isinasabuhay ninyo ang mga dakilang aral ni Hesukristo. Ayon nga po sa Aklat ni Juan, Kabanata 13, Bersikulo 34 hanggang 35 [cheers and applause], nang magbigay ng bagong utos si Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad, sabi po: Mag-ibigan kayo. Kung paanong inibig ko kayo, gayon din naman, mag-ibigan kayo. [Applause] Kung kayo’y mag-ibigan, makikilala ng lahat na kayo’y mga alagad ko. [Applause]
Nakasaad naman po sa Aklat ni Mateo, Kabanata 25, Bersikulo 40 [cheers and applause]. Alam ho n’yo po, napapag-isip ako, bakit mag nag-quo-quote po ako sa bible [laughter], maski matagal ko nang kasamahan parang, nabibigla ho. Anyway po, nakasulat nga po: Anuman ang ginawa ninyo sa isa sa pinakahamak na kapatid ko, ginawa ninyo ito sa akin. [Applause]
Kongkretong patunay nga po ang paglulunsad ng Ciudad de Victoria sa diwa ng pagkakaisang nangingibabaw sa Iglesia ni Cristo. Naipatayo ito mula sa buong-pusong paghahandog ng inyong mga kasapi, kaakibat ang hangaring makatulong sa mabubuting gawain at misyon ng Iglesia. Patunay din po ito sa tayog ng mithiing kayang maabot ng mga Pilipino, at sa kakayahan nating makipagsabayan sa buong mundo. [Applause]
Nandito nga po tayo sa strukturang inaabangan na ng lahat—ang Philippine Arena, na kikilalaning pinakamalaking dome arena sa buong mundo. [Applause] Tunay nga pong pambihira: Sa kapasidad na kasya ang 55,000 katao, higit raw sa doble ang laki nito kaysa Staples Center sa Los Angeles, California. [Applause]
Pero batid nating itinayo ang strukturang ito, hindi para makipagpaligsahan. Ipinagawa ito para sa banal at dakilang layuning noon pa man ay pinangarap na ni Ka EraƱo Manalo [applause]—ang magtaguyod ng espasyo upang maglingkod at ibahagi ang biyaya ng Panginoon sa lokal at pandaigdigang komunidad. [Applause]
Bukod sa Philippine Arena, nasasabik din tayo sa uusbong ditong iba pang pasilidad na maghahatid ng benepisyo, hindi lang para sa mga kaanib ng kongregasyon, kundi pati na rin sa lahat ng ating kababayan. Taos-puso po tayong nagpapasalamat sa Iglesia ni Cristo sa pagmamalasakit ninyo sa ating kapwa; tunay pong [applause] ipinapamalas po ninyo ito, hindi lang sa salita, kundi sa gawa. [Applause] Maraming salamat po sa pagiging kabalikat ng ating administrasyon sa pagsusulong ng mabuting pamamahala.
Sa pag-aambagan nga po ng sambayanang Pilipino, nagbukal ang tinatamasa nating malawakang transpormasyon sa ating lipunan. At sa trabaho po nating ito ng pagsusulong ng reporma, hindi maiiwasan na mayroon tayong makakaaway. Mayroon pong iilan na anuman ang gawin ko, gaya ng pagdalo rito, ay maghahanap pa rin ng puwedeng ibatikos. Paalala ko lang sa kanila: Kung kapwa ko Kristiyano, tungkulin nating magmahalan sa ngalan ng Panginoon [applause], sa halip na maghasik ng agam-agam at ‘di-pagkakaunawaan. Bilang mga tagasunod ng Panginoon, lagi sana tayong magtulungan sa pagtataguyod ng ikabubuti ng lahat; lagi sana tayong maging bukal ng pag-asa at paglingap sa ating kapwa, lalo na sa mas nangangailangan.
Muli po, maligayang pagdiriwang po sa Iglesia ni Cristo. Nawa’y patuloy kayong maghatid ng positibong ambag at mabuting impluwensiya sa sambayanang Pilipino [applause]; pagpalain pa sana kayo ng Diyos ng marami pang biyaya at tagumpay hanggang sa susunod na daantaon.
Muli po: Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat at maraming salamat po.


Source: http://www.gov.ph/2014/07/21/speech-of-president-aquino-at-the-inauguration-of-ciudad-de-victoria/

21 July 2014

Inauguration of Philippine Arena


To God be the glory!

Today is truly a special day for the entire Iglesia Ni Cristo brethren as Philippine Arena; one of the Centennial centerpiece projects of the church is inaugurated.

The 51 thousand-seater arena situated in the  Ciudad de Victoria, 75-hectare tourism enterprise zone in Bocaue, Bulacan  was established by Iglesia Ni Cristo in time of its Centennial Celebration on July 27, 2014.

The magnificent Philippine Arena which worth over  $200 million-worth built to withstand strong earthquakes and super typhoon winds. Its design is inspired by the narra and banyan trees and has a dome spanning over 3.6 hectares. 

The church hired Populous, Buro Happold and Hanwha, respectively the architectural, engineering and construction firms design and build this structure that was featured on that was featured on Discovery Channel’s “Man Made Marvels” in December 2013.

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Photo credits to: https://www.facebook.com/EagleNewsPH


31 December 2013

Welcome 2014

My gratitude to my family, relatives, true friends for life, colleagues, clients, students and online friends who played a part in the 2013 chapter of my life.

May 2014 be a blessed year for all of us!

22 October 2013

IEMS-Philippines

I am posting these International Express Mail Service Rates @ Philippine Post Office for my own (and others' as well) reference.  Because the last time I checked,it is not available in their website.:-(