My Countryside: The Secret Garden

Aklan’s hidden treasure is Sampaguita Gardens. Located in the sleepy town of New Washington, this secret hideaway is a 15-minute tricycle ride from Kalibo airport. It offers a quiet respite for tourists looking for a restful alternative to party island Boracay, which is also found in Aklan.

The two and a half hectare resort is in itself a work of art, bearing the imprint of American artist Samuel J. Butcher, creator of world-renowned Precious Moments designs – a collection of teardrop-eyed children for every special occasion. As part owner of the resort, he is responsible for the creative designs around the area from his beautiful paintings on surrounding walls to sculpted doors masterfully crafted by locals.  The resort is managed and partly-owned by Ilonggo Jojo Sonillo, Sam’s friend and long time administrative and creative assistant in his Precious Moments Company.

Originally intended to be his retirement place when he bought the land in 2001, Sam decided to share his swimming pool with the community in 2002. As more Aklanons came to enjoy the place, they requested for a little canteen then a restaurant, rooms to rest in and a convention center to hold assemblies, until the property became a full-blown resort in June 2003.

Named after the country’s national flower and after Butcher’s nickname, Sampaguita Gardens is a special place for the young and the young at heart. The kind and humble artist designed his resort to be family-oriented and kid friendly, an environment where guests can regain a childlike sense of wonder and joy.

Indeed there are a lot of beautiful details in the resort that will leave you in awe. Upon stepping into its carved stone pathway, a first-time visitor would immediately feel the serenity of the area amidst beautifully landscaped gardens and the fresh air coming from the nearby ocean. One cannot help but feel the presence of unseen guests, real angels hovering around to protect and preserve this beautiful retreat. Around the area, Sam’s Precious Moments angel artworks reveal themselves to remind guests to be quiet and enjoy the peace.

Sampaguita Gardens’ focal point is Butcher’s residence called The Mansion, which displays his rare Asian finds and Thai-inspired designs and artifacts. His home beside the sea has become a favorite among students and guests who tour his living room and library and appreciate his collections with picture taking.
At the center of the resort complex, is Jojo’s Christmas Cottage, the only all-year round Christmas store in the Philippines and the resort’s souvenir shop. This three-storey Victorian house holds a selection of Precious Moments collectibles such as figurines, dolls, journals, children’s clothes, Christmas ornaments, local food delicacies and native products.

Other unique amenities include Sammy’s Circus Rides for children; Sammy’s Showboat set in a middle of a lagoon, a venue for children’s parties; the first Butterfly Farm in Panay Island and the Aquarium, a 43-feet structure which holds a variety of tropical fishes for kids and adults to enjoy.

Hotel guests and walk-in visitors should not leave town without trying the resort’s Oriental Flavors, the first fine dining restaurant in Aklan serving authentic Thai and Chinese cuisine. Apart from tasting the best spicy squid in town, diners will already have their fill with visual delights of the restaurant’s superb Chinese interior design.

“The long-term goal of the company is to develop the place into a unique, world-class destination,” says Sonillo.  The company seeks to do this by becoming a one-stop resort providing a wide range of amenities, excellent food choices, superb ambience, and quality services, all these at competitive prices.“We create new amenities every quarter, so that people can always look forward to something new,” he adds.

As a masterpiece-in-progress, the resort opened Jojo’s Fitness Center with state-of-the-art gym equipment and the Sampaguita Gardens Spa which offers their relaxing signature massage to soothe the weary traveler. Sam also built the Meditation Chapel which he designed as a smaller version of his famous Precious Moments chapel in Carthage, Missouri, known for his 2600-square foot ceiling mural of heavenly angels.

At the back of the resort is their Waterfront venue, an open space that can accommodate 500 people. It is a perfect spot for special occasions, since the ocean can be found behind it and serves as a beautiful backdrop to a wonderful evening. Meanwhile, the Precious Moments Gallery, a museum about Sam Butcher and his Precious Moments collection can be converted to a fine dining venue that can accommodate 100 people.

As an additional service, Sampaguita Gardens also takes its guests on a city tour to see the 70-hectare mangrove reforestration in Bakhawan Eco Park considered to be the best in Asia, Aklan’s famous piña weavers, the Ati-Atihan Village, Museo it Akean and the Pink Sisters Convent among others.  It also conducts day tours to Boracay island, and can make arrangements with its partner resorts to accommodate its guests.

Despite stiff competition from nearby Boracay, Sampaguita Gardens gem is Sam Butcher and Precious Moments.   “I’ve learned from Mr. Butcher: to share what you have with people, to place no price on beauty, to see people really enjoy your place, I cannot equate that to money,” Sonillo says.

Point of Origin:
Sampaguita Gardens
506 Rizal St.
New Washington, Aklan
+6336.264.3422

Uncovering a Gem

Discovering a hidden gem in GK Libmanan, Camarines Sur. Photo by Dan Bercasio.

Trissia Joy Aldave, 16 years old, from GK Libmanan village in Camarines Sur joined and won the Miss Libmanan pageant in Camarines Sur, beating 20 official candidates from 75 barangays. The Miss Libmanan contest is the highlight of the celebration of the town fiesta held on July 23, 2010.

Trissia grew up thinking she was ugly because of the color of her skin. The offspring of an African-American father and a Filipina mother, Trissia grew up in the poor area of Bagong Silang, Caloocan city where she experienced being ridiculed by her playmates, teasing her for having dark skin. The teasing made her feel insecure, resulting in her lack of self-worth and low self-esteem.

"Kapag sinasabi kong maganda siya, hindi sya naniniwala. Sabi nya kasi nanay nya ako kaya sinasabi ko yun. Nasasaktan ako pag mababa ang tingin nya sa sarili nya," shared Josephine Aldavia, Trissia's mother. (When I tell her she is beautiful, she doesn't believe me. She says I say it because I am her mother. I feel hurt when she thinks so lowly of herself.) In tears, Mrs. Aldavia related how happy she is that her daughter won Ms. Libmanan since now she would believe in herself because other people were affirming her that she was indeed beautiful.

As a single parent, Josephine brought her daughter to Libmanan when she was 11 years old after suffering from all the teasing from their former community. Having no home of their own, they became beneficiaries of GK Libmanan where they now reside.

Beautiful Trissia. Photo by Dan Bercasio.

Trissia, who is an excellent singer, was discovered by a talent manager and a Singles for Christ member Jerick Moral who saw her potential when he saw her joining a singing contest. He took her under his wing, trained her and encouraged her to join the Miss Libmanan contest.

Now standing tall at 5"8, and loving herself, Trissia credits the activities she joined in GK as a member of GK SIGA youth group which helped build her confidence. She realized that she is a valuable and precious daugther of God.

"Based on my experiences from the past, I learned not to listen to negative comments and to keep on dreaming," Trissia said, thankful for joining GK activities that restored her self-esteem.

Trissia, now represents the hidden beauty of GK Libmanan, whose poor residents have been restored in dignity and worth. Many more beautiful poor people are waiting to be discovered in many slum communities. Let us continue in our mission of restoring God's original design of beauty and abundance, restoring the dignity of our people and being proud of the beautiful brown color of our skin.

My Classic Ilocos

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern living, a visit to the Ilocos region is a journey back through time, like watching your favorite movie in sepia color. My Ilocano elders would often say that to look with confidence towards the future, one must first embrace the past, learn from your roots. Steeped in old-world charm, the spirit of Ilocos takes this adage to heart.

From Laoag, the capital city of Ilocos Norte, one can begin a renewing, spirit-filled journey in many of the region’s centuries-old churches whose quiet strength echoes the stories of old. Some horse-drawn carriages still take locals around the town for P10 per passenger.

Begin your visit to Spanish colonial churches at the Laoag Cathedral constructed between 1650 to1700. The Carmelite Monastery at P.Gomez Street has a serene, lovely chapel and unforgettable kamias sweets, a perfect gift for family and friends. 

A few kilometers away is Paoay church completed in 1894 by the Augustinian friars. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the best known earthquake baroque style church in the Philippines. One would be awed at the sheer massiveness of the place, with its large coral stones and 24 carved, exceptionally thick buttresses.

Across Paoay is the town of Batac where even the dead endure the test of time. Here, one can view the former President Ferdinand Marcos’s body (wax version) enclosed in a glass case, a piece of Philippine history preserved in a museum.

Nearby Currimao town is picturesque place to relax in some of Ilocos’ ancestral homes adorned with checkered windows made of capiz shells.  A visit to Sitio Remedios, a heritage village facing the South China sea is a must see if only to view spectacular, fiery sunsets.

One can stay in one of their seven Balays for a nostalgic experience of mid-century Ilocos Norte.  The heritage village dedicated to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage is a place of retreat for weary travelers.

Each balay with room sharing ranges from 4,000 to 14,000 per night, and is furnished with Ilocano furnitures, authentic crocheted bedspreads and inabel sheets. A renewing massage at the Ablon, an Ilocano term for healing massage, can also be had near the beach.

If one wants to stay at the heart of Laoag city, there is also red-bricked Fort Ilocandia Resort nestled among fetching sand hills in coastal Calayab.

Boracay of the North

Laoag is a good pit stop on the way to Pagudpud, christened the Boracay of the North for its white sand beaches. From Laoag, one can take a tricycle to any Cagayan bound mini-buses such as St. Joseph, for an hour and a half journey to bliss. Some resorts like Kapuluan Resort in Pagudpud offers Laoag pick-ups and drop-offs for P3,000 one-way. Families and group of friends can also simply hire a jeepney for about P2,500 pesos.

On the way to Pagudpud, one must visit the old Spanish Lighthouse in Baranggay Burgos on the way.  Faro Cabo Cape Bojeador is set majestically on a hill overlooking the South China Sea and is the most accessible of all lighthouses in Luzon. The enduring lighthouse has guided ships in these parts for more than a century since 1892. A climb to the top of the lighthouse, about 79 winding steps is an experience in itself.

After Burgos town proper, one should pass by Baranggay Bangui to check out the massive windmills beside the Bangui bay, where the sea is driven by the wind producing a milky froth. The man-made turbines built by NorthWind Development Corporation is a best practice in renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere while providing 40% of the power requirements of Ilocos Norte.

It is also a beautiful pre-requel of some of the powerful waves of Pagudpud, which is also a good spot for surfing.

The atmosphere of Pagudpud is unhurried and rural, it is Boracay minus the crowd. The town’s idea of a perfect nightlife is an evening of good company and good food beside the beach followed by stargazing.

The Kapuluan Resort is not on the main beach but is a pleasant 10-minute stroll through coconut groves. It is an innovative resort that has distinguished itself by combining natural beauty and volunteer activities for its visitors like planting trees.

However, along the main beach are many resorts to choose from, the famous ones are located at Saud Beach and Malinga Cove, known as the Blue Lagoon. To get there from Pagudpud town proper, take a tricycle to Baranggay Saud which costs around P40 per trip (less than a dollar). In Saud, try Polaris Beach Resort which offers P1,000 per room, in the same shoreline as the renowned Saud Beach Resort.  

Meanwhile,  Blue Lagoon is a hidden bay found at Maira-ira Point. Reaching the place is quite tiresome for it is around 2.5 kilometers away from the highway and found at the interior part of Sitio Malingay. On the way is thick forest but it's worth getting to for its crystal blue water and fine white sand.

From here you can trek to the Nacatnagan Cliff, a virgin forest good for camping and communing with nature.  Also visit the Bantay Abot Caves and the Dos Hermanos Rocks were the delicious Ilocano seaweeds gamet are taken. 

On the way home, stop at Patapat bridge for photos, it is a winding bridge found at the foot of the cliff of the North Cordillera Mountain Ranges, often referred to as the “French Riviera of the North”.

Take a Stroll in Romantic Vigan

On the way back from Pagudpud to Ilocos Sur, one should pass by the first baranggay of Ilocos Norte, Badoc, hometown of Filipino painter Juan Luna where a copy of his Spolarium can be found in a museum. Less than 45 minutes along the way from here is Vigan, the unique Spanish city in Ilocos Sur.

Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. It is here where it is best to do recreational shopping while in the Ilocos region. The Kamestizoan district contains Calle Crisologo, a preserved cobbled stone street, a quaint road with lampshades where one can experience a romantic stroll through Ilocos’ colonial days where the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages offer a nostalgic musical background.  It is here that you will find antique items and their reproductions for sale as well as religious artifacts, look out for the infant Jesus sculptures. Hiring a calesa will take you around Vigan for P150 an hour.

A visit to the Padre Jose Burgos House contains the memorabilia of the martyred priest Jose Burgos as well as the ethnic artworks of the Tinggians while you will find beautiful collections of pottery and porcelain at the Magsingal Museum.

If you want to try your hand at pottery, visit the Vigan House of Pottery which produces burnay jars made of sand, fire-blasted in a huge kiln.  Also, you can learn from the hardworking,  Ilocano elders who patiently weave abel clothe at Camangaan. 

When it’s time to eat, get droped-off at Café Uno in  Bonifacio Street to partake of their home-cooked Ilocano dishes like pinakbet with bagnet, a vegetable dish with the renowned Ilocano pork delicacy.

Café Angela at Quirino Boulevard serves the best Vigan longganisa in a plate of garlicky rice, a must-try.

Adventurous ones should try eating at the public market stalls such as Gaizel’s to partake of the famous Ilocano empanada, a crepe-like concoction made with eggs, Vigan sausage and vegetables wrapped in a rice flour shell.

A perfect night cap can be had at Villa Angela with rooms ranging from 1,800 to 3,200 per night on peak season for 2 to 4 people.   A cheaper alternative maybe Granpa’s Inn, with rooms starting from P500 and kids can sleep in kalesa beds for a unique experience.

When returning home, one must not forget to take with you the delicious Ilocano rice cake from Tongson's Royal Bibingka at Florentino Street, just a street away from Plaza Burgos. Tinubong, a sticky sweet rice delicacy that's sold in bamboo tubes is also a must-taste. They can be found in the stalls at Calle Crisologo and Calle Plaridel in bundles of three to five sold along with fried tasty corn bits and basi, a native rum from sugarcane.

A journey to the Ilocos region is one to be remembered for years, reminding us of the lessons of the past so we can move forward into the future. Its centuries-old churches, lighthouse and age-old traditions reflect the Ilocano people’s resilient spirit and reverence for things that last.  


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Many thanks to photographer friends Adam Long and Dan Bercasio for capturing the spirit of Ilocos.

A Different Kind of Adventure

Six hundred individuals set out for an adventure of a lifetime, and found out they were one people all along.

The sun in Palawan was hot and perky at 10 in the morning. It cheerfully welcomed the planes from Manila as it landed in the sizzling tarmac. The new arrivals trooped to the Holy Trinity University in Puerto Princesa on Holy Monday, March 29.

Many have come from all over the country while some were left jet-lagged having traveled as far as the United States, Australia and Singapore. The team from Bagong Silang, Quezon City had arrived late as a local airline overbooked their flight. But they were happy, having stayed in a posh hotel, most of them not having experienced it before as they were all GK beneficiaries from Globe TM GK village, partners funding their trip to Palawan so that they could serve their fellow poor.

The team from Compostella Valley in Mindanao had patiently awaited for their arrival after having finished the customary tour of the “City within a Forest” and the world-famous Subterranean Underground River, about 3 hours away from Puerto Princesa.

Refreshed, they came early to the HTU gym, welcoming their fellow GK volunteers, people from different walks of life. Some of them were students and professionals from the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde. They all chose to forego their vacations and offer their Holy Week to be one with those who have been forgotten by society, the indigenous tribe of Palaw’ans who have settled in the mountains, without homes to call their own.

About 600 volunteers responded to the call to be heroes for the poor in the 5th GK Bayani Challenge at Rio Tuba, Bataraza, Palawan.

The Challenge Begins

Six non-airconditioned buses set out on a journey carrying the intrepid volunteers towards Bataraza, southern Palawan where they will build a GK community for the natives. Seventy-five members of the Philippine navy took to the ocean taking with them the local teams from Palawan and Bagong Silang. Everyone were expected to meet up at the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) village, the base camp.

However the bus that carried the Filipino-Americans, Australians and GK workers did not come on time, breaking down three times. Amidst the scorching heat and dust that could trigger an asthma attack, their journey felt like the Stations of the Cross. What was to be a six hour travel to Bataraza turned out to be 18 hours in reality with an evening pit stop at St. Joseph’s Church in the town of Narra, where a black-out took place at 12 midnight.

But thanks to the brave soldiers from the Philippine Marines, the foreigners were kept safe amidst security threats. Then it was back on to rough roads at 2 in the morning, arriving early Tuesday at RTNMC village, welcomed by fellow volunteers who have gotten ready to start building at the GK sites of Culimbawang and Bohoy.

The Eyes that said Thanks

The volunteers appointed to GK Bohoy climbed on massive mining trucks provided by RTNMC and Coral Bay Nickel Corp who were caring for the indigenous community. The nomadic tribe who were unable to read and write, unaware of their birthdays, welcomed their newly-arrived guests. Living in the mountains, far from government’s help, they wondered where all these people have come from.

Amidst the build activities, one of the natives Lola Daria sat along with her family outside an earlier completed GK model house in Culimbawang. She was observing her grandson at the Paraisong Pambata area where volunteer-teachers engaged the kids in a coloring activity. Asked how she was doing, water began to gather in her eyes. Despite the language barrier, she expressed more than words how she felt. She was grateful to the volunteers who have come to build their homes, feeling at last, they were not alone. Someone cared about them to have traveled so far.

Looking Back. Paying Forward.
Indeed, the farthest to have made the journey was a 5-man team from San Diego, USA.

Turning 60 years old this year, it was the first time for Felix Duyay to set foot on Philippine soil. Born and bred in America, his parents migrated from Camarines Norte. Along with a good friend from University of San Diego, Salvador Flor, they came to understand more of their rich heritage.

“It’s priceless for me. Going to the place where the people are. I’m impressed at the strength of the people, even with their struggles in life,” he shared. “There is more connection now, actually feeling it, my parent’s heritage,” he said while taking a break from building.

His pal Sal explained that one issue they faced in America was their search for identity. “My parents came as Filipinos. I look at myself as Filipino-American. My daughter was born in the US, she considers herself as American-Filipino. You have 3 sets of perspectives growing up. What ties it all together is that we are Filipino but there was no way to transmit that from one generation to the next as to exactly who we are.”

“This particular village is our connection to the homeland because this was where we worked at,” he said, grateful that “GK gives the Filipino-Americans the opportunity to connect with the home country.”

For Dr. Boy Abay, who left during the Martial Law years, it was time to give back. “We knew that when went to the US, it would take 20 years before we would return. It’s been 26 years and we’ve been blessed,” he said, “My dream for my country is to see the poor lifted up.”

A sentiment shared by fellow Filipino Curtis Alejo who lived a continent away, migrating to Australia in the 1980s, “I want to give something back, to give a lot of hope to our people. As I grow older, I want to share to our countrymen. I promised God if I am healthy, I will continue coming here to the Bayani Challenge,” he said.

A Vow Made. A Promise Kept.

It was another vow that anchored the heart of second generation Filipino-American Marcel Ocampo to the country that his parents had left behind. At 7-years old living in Olongapo, he saw a poor mother with her child living in abject poverty, their plight moved him and he made a promise to himself to do something about the injustice.

After 24 years, he came back to fulfill the promise he made to help the poorest of the poor. “It’s good to go back and get to know our brothers and sisters, to make sure we don’t forget one another,” he said.

Keeping his fellow Fil-Ams close to his mind, he wanted to let them know of their duty to their country, “In the Philippines, they lost the best and the brightest that could have turned around a nation, to seek a better life elsewhere, and those were our parents, that’s a big debt that we’ve got to pay back, we got to come back and make it right,” he said.

It was the desire to provide the same opportunities and blessings she has been given, that made Filipina-Australian Donabele Tungul return to her roots.

As a young child living in Iba, Zambales, she remembered having not enough eat, her parents having been unemployed because there were simply no jobs available for them.

“Keeping that memory in my heart, I thought, one day I will have a different situation in life and I’ll be able to help other people.”

“Now we are able to have a little to share. It’s not much but it’s something to share. I have learned that from my family, to have a giving spirit. It’s a Filipino culture that we have a very generous heart,” she said.

Fellow Filipino-Australian Joekarl Diaz whose family migrated when he was just 12 years old joined the Bayani Challenge to really live out the GK slogan, Walang Iwanan (Leave No One Behind).

“We are here to also send ourselves. The best present you can give someone is yourself and we want to show that in a more physical way, more than prayers and the money that we send through.”

Asked how it was to be a Filipino living in another country, he shared, “GK strengthened the Filipino blood in me. After it started its work in Papua New Guinea, I realized that my race is actually making a big difference in the world.”

“I’m a proud young Filipino in Australia. I’m making my mark. I’m not shy, reluctant about it, not anymore.”

One Team, One Filipino.

If there is one lesson to be learned from this Bayani Challege, it was that we have the same blood running through our veins, no matter where we came from in the world, wherever province we hailed from, whether one is rich or poor.

It couldn’t have been more aptly expressed by the teaming up of Ateneo and La Salle. “For the longest time, we have been rivals. What if for one week, we worked as a team. At the end of the day, hindi naman tayo Atenista, hindi naman tayo Lasallista, tayo ay Pilipino. It’s our core identity,” team leader Frank Chiu wisely said who brought along to their team beneficiaries from GK Baseco, Pingasama, Payatas and the Ateneo Maintenance Group who came to build for their fellow Filipinos.

Friends from Mindanao led by team head Bong Carmelotes who has been present in all the Bayani Challenges from Bicol, Bukidnon, Sulu, Palawan and most likely in Cebu next year, have been passionately building the country of their dreams. “Pangarap natin yung buong Pilipinas maging isang Paraiso na wala ng mahihirap.” (We dream for the entire Philippines to become a Paradise where there are no more poor people.)

With his team of passionate heroes from Compostella Valley, they committed to continue joining the Bayani Challenge as long as they live. “Habang may buhay pa, puntahan namin kahit saan. Para makatulong sa nangangailan, kasi may pag-asa pa ang Pilipinas,” ( As long as we still have life, we will go to the Bayani Challege no matter where it will be held. So that we could help those who are in need, because there is still hope for the Philippines), shared Aqui Santiago. He was the oldest volunteer at 62 years old. “Nakita ko sa build, nandyan si Jesus Christ, kaya everytime na build sasama talaga ako,”  (I see that during builds, Jesus Christ is there, that's why, everytime there is a build, I really join), he shared with tears in his eyes.

GK resident Francis Awa from Bagong Silang has was also present to give of himself. “Nagkaroon ako ng bahay dahil sa Gawad Kalinga, ibubuhos ko ang buhay ko sa bayanihan,”  (I received a home because of Gawad Kalinga, I will pour out my life in bayanihan - being a hero to my neighbor), he said with conviction.

Many lives changed that Holy Week. Many of them brought home lasting friendships and a renewed love for God and country. Leaving beautiful Palawan at dusk, Marcel Ocampo planted a knee on the tarmac, faced the setting sun, touched the earth and gave thanks for the land.

Many GK volunteers like him will bring home a valuable truth in their hearts, that wherever we are in the world, we belong to one family. We are Filipino and no one of our brothers and sisters should be left behind. The heroes from Mindanao had summed it all up beautifully: “Pareho-pareho lang tayong Filipino, kaya dapat magmahalan tayo.” (We are all Filipinos, let us love one another.)

Exploring Palawan

In beautiful Palawan today, arrived March 23 (Tuesday) at Puerto Princesa city, its capital. Refreshing to smell the sea breeze and to witness a really perky sun. The first night found us eating affordable Chao Long (Vietnamese noodle soup) at semi-al fresco Bonas restaurant along Manalo extension. The city was known to be a former haven for Vietnamese refugees.

Considered the largest province in the Philippines (Palawan, from the Chinese word "Pa-Lao-Yu" meaning Land of Beautiful Harbours) is remarkably sparse in population, around 750,000 people dispersed in 23 municipalities (from Busuanga/Coron in the north to Balabac island in the south). The largest baranggay in Metro Manila, Bagong Silang in Caloocan city, is actually more dense with over 1 million residents (and that is just one area in Manila).

The sense of community here can be deeply felt. On our first night, we went to the wake of the late Judge Filomeno Vergara and felt like the whole town was present! or were aware that he passed away. The Philippine flags around the city were at half-mast. We then slept at the Holy Trinity University retreat house and today at the home of kind CFC members Tito Raffy and Tita Tess.

I am currently in this beautiful island preparing for the Gawad Kalinga Bayani Challenge 2010.

About 50 teams (approximately 750 participants from all over the Philippines, US, Australia and Singapore) are headed to Palawan from March 29 to April 4 to build homes for the neglected Pala'wans, one of the island's indigenous peoples (IP).

Sharing their time, resources and sweat, they will work side by side with the indigenous tribe in building their homes.

The Pala'wans belong to the large Manobo-based linguistic groups of the southern Philippines. Being nomadic, the tribe do not legally own the lands they till, have no permanent homes and are unable to go to schools.

Residing in the forests, the Pala'wan's are the usual victims of injustice, often neglected and considered as second-class residents of the community. Basic services provided by the government can barely reach their temporary places, and they suffer from hunger due to extreme poverty and children cannot read nor write and deprived of basic life skills.

Concerned about the plight of the indigenous tribe, Palawan-based companies Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC) and Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC) partnered with Gawad Kalinga in 2006 to provide holistic GK communities for them, committing P10 million for 10 years to help the Pala'wan tribe to endure in this age, as part of their corporate social responsibility to the community here.

RTNMC and CBNC made all their mining machineries available for land development and committed to finance the construction of GK houses, multi-purpose building, productivity and educational facilities.

So far, six villages have been built serving approcimately 300 families; about 80 homes are on target to be built by next week by GK volunteers who are coming from all over the country to serve their fellow Filipinos in Palawan.

Seventy-five men from the Philippine Navy will be coming by ship to lend their strength while volunteers from the United States, Singapore and Australia are also flying in to help build in the two sites: Culimbawang and Bohoy GK villages at Baranggay Rio Tuba in the municipality of Bataraza, in the southern part of beautiful Palawan.

Kissed by Heaven 2

Yesterday (July 20) was the anniversary of our trip to Sydney for the World Youth Day. Although, I am getting older by the minute, I do still feel very much a kid at heart. I will always be a "wonderer" and a wanderer. I love exploring, discovering new things, stumbling upon miracles one after another. How else can I have survived Sydney with only $100 (a gift from a Tita) for 3 weeks. I reckon God must really love me :-) He has prepared the journey for me beforehand, allowing me to get to know good Aussie mates even before I even stepped to the Land Down Under.

I remember laying on my bed one night, worrying about where to get the money for my airplane ticket and wanting to give up the dream altogether and talking to God aloud about my anxieties. The next day, I opened my email, and lo and behold, someone wanted to pay for my ticket by sponsoring a cake sale on my behalf. How amazing is that! How great is our God! Thanks again Adrian, Winey, and the parish of St. Monica in Sydney. I was truly blessed by heaven through you.

I spent the next 3 weeks in different homes, getting to know the families of Aadrik, Adam, Indako, and Winey. Learning how to snowboard at Perisher Blue courtesy of good friend Ads (see Lessons from Down Under), walking at a North Shore beach with dear Kate, and biking at Canada bay. It was a beautiful experience, which to this day is vivid in my mind. Life is indeed about creating beautiful memories.

On another note, I remember the good Pope St.Benedict XVI saying, "Faith is everywhere." Indeed, much like the air we breathe. We can't see it but it doesn't mean it's not there. Faith like air gives us life. I breathed in the air deeply in a sky of clear blue. God is good. Life is good. May your dreams come true too!

Madrid 2011, here we come!

Lessons from Down Under: Look where you're going and No Worries!

Stepping into the Land Down Under was in many ways a leap of faith. A new place, and my first time overseas. I figured I would just pretend I did not know English and quietly amble by. But many times, I've had to look at fear in the face and tell it to step aside so I can get on to where I wanted to go and experience Australia at her best.

Letting go of my many fears was the best souvenir I am bringing home. Like the calm Sydney Harbour, I have learned how it was to go with the flow and to fully understand what they mean when they say "No Worries!"

It is a awesome event when dreams finally come true after years of waiting. I am pretty happy I stuck around for moments like these when there were times I did want to walk away. A little faith does reward you beyond your wildest dreams.

Stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing the unknown was definitely worth every risk and even every discomfort or pain. Facing your fear and insecurities seems to be the hardest part, and then the rest becomes as easy as a winter breeze.

I've discovered this while learning how to snowboard at the Snowy Mountains in Perisher Blue. God knows how many times I fell down and how painful it was, at one point falling down so badly and hitting my head (thankful for my helmet), waking me up out of my wits and thinking, dear God, that really hurts, but quietly lying there on my back and seeing the beautiful Australian blue sky, I felt grateful I was there, and I began to sit up grasping pure snow with my freezing hands.

There is simply nothing to do but not give up, stand up again, clutch the snowboard, walk uphill on my "moon suit" and ride again...until finally you get down that hill without falling down! and experience the relief conquering your fear of falling, by embracing the reality that you will fall down. Strangely enough, the less I feared falling, meaning - the moment I accepted the reality of falling and that it was alright to do so (after all it's part of learning) - I began not to fall and managed to balance my self on a snowboard for a perfect downhill slide. Amazing. Accept your fear, release it and you find your balance.



Perhaps it is the first and the last time I will ever go snowboarding but I will never forget the lessons it has taught me. I take to the advice of Ewan McGregor in his book the Long Way Round: Part of the adventure is to try. If you fail , then that's fine. As long as you have given it a good chance.

You never do fail as long as you learn your lessons well. From this once-in-a-lifetime snowboarding experience I am taking one simple but crucial lesson home, "Always look where you are going," this is the very first instruction our snowboard teacher gave us. Where your feet-strapped snowboard goes is where you are looking. I figured the same goes in life, where you set your eyes on is where you will most likely end up. So perhaps it is best to be keenly aware at where you are looking. And if you don't like where you are headed, why don't you change your direction by looking somewhere else? A place that calls to you... the way Australia has called me to explore her world.

It was fun going through the touristy places in Sydney such as well known landmarks like the Sydney Opera House. I was grateful to have had a chance to conquer my fear of heights by climbing the 134-metres Harbour Bridge courtesy of fellow adventurer, historian and "magician" Adam (who had the uncanny ability of getting freebies while leading the way to secret portals where we can get inside some of Sydney's famous spots for free by using his charms). At about 46 metres (the height of the Statue of Liberty all the way to its torch), I found myself in the middle section of the Harbour Bridge and felt my knees buckle while walking a narrow section where down below you can see cars whizzing by in the early evening. One cannot forget the heady feeling on top of that world. It's dizzying but exciting at the same time.

It's like you want to crawl the whole way through and get it over with. But we had to continue walking, grasping at diagonal cold steel bars until we get to the top where the Australian flag is perched. It was raining and lightning was all around us, but the fear slowly faded away upon seeing the city of Sydney and its suburbs lit like stars in an inverted sky. These are times you were glad you had persevered. It simply was magical. Our Bridge Climb leader tells us that kids are the best climbers because they never complain and all they say is woohoo!!! They have no idea about "fear" and they just savor every moment in wonder and a spirit of adventure.

Back on land and on another day, I remembered how it was to be a kid again while visiting the Sydney Aquarium and seeing a replica of the Great Barrier Reef with the large and endangered Grey Nurse sharks swimming about unaware of their human visitors outside their glass cages. Again, had to overcome that weird anxiety of the glass breaking in and we would be swimming along with them. Perhaps, that would not be scary after all. Seeing these great fishes was a sight to behold, the next best thing to seeing them in their natural habitat. I believe that they are well taken cared of here...Australia after all is big on conservation and taking care of their environment. One thing I noticed about Australia's domesticated animals (dogs and cats) is that they are so free and friendly, and not aggressive unlike the animals back home who are a bit feisty probably after having to cope with the difficulties of life in a developing country. I figured that if you weren't afraid of having no food or having to compete for food, and having your needs taken cared of by a loving family or an an efficient government, both animals and humans, will have no reason to feel defensive or aggressive because they already feel secure?

Or perhaps, that is just me thinking too much... I did find time to think more and sit in two of the classes of Aadrik at the Australian National University in Canberra, reputedly the premiere university in Australia. It amazed me that I could just enter the university and sit in and pretend I was one of their students. And realized I could never bring in someone inside my own university without he or she going through security and having his/her bags checked. The general trust the land gives to its guests here is simply overwhelming and I felt really free.

Winding down the last three weeks, I must admit I was enamored by the beauty that is Sydney but amidst its glitter and glamour, it was in fact -- the quiet walks in the Sydney suburbs to ride the train on my own, the bicycle ride along Canada Bay to see the inner Sydney harbour with Adam, the deep and meaningful conversation along Collaroy beach at the North Shore with Kate, and the delightful meals inside the homes of Aadrik, Winey and Adam while getting to know their families -- these were the very simple but more valuable gifts I will be taking home, beautiful memories I will be pondering on until the next adventure beckons.

Today, I am most likely to agree with playwright George Bernard Shaw when he said: "I hate it when I feel at home abroad." And don't you just hate it when you have to leave so soon. But travelers must always keep moving on, and there is always a next time. Perhaps, it is not the end but only the beginning of many wonderful journeys ahead over and under.

What's great is that, I am no longer afraid. And that all it took was a little faith... faith in the kindness of strangers and friends, faith in your self, and faith in Someone up there who takes care of your every need.

A Surfing Paradise: Siargao

Something I wrote a year ago. it is around this time (every September) that the annual International Surfing Cup is held in Siargao. Ah, surfing, one of the things I want to do before I die. hehehe. If you get the chance, do visit this surfing paradise.

Who would have thought that a small chocolate bar can put a tiny Philippine island on the map of the world?

Perhaps it was destiny that led American adventurer Mike Boyam into the shores of Siargao, stumbling on the surfing paradise while on a 40-day fast on the island in the late eighties. Sadly he died after extending his hunger days for far too long. Maybe if he also discovered the Cloud 9 chocolate bar in the local sari-sari store that American photographer John S. Callahan and fellow surfers Evan Slater and Taylor Knox have taken for sustenance while surfing the great waves in 1992, he would have survived too. But who knows?

Of one thing I am certain and that is Callahan did a great job naming the now famous surfing haven - Cloud Nine - after the chewy Filipino chocolate bar that allowed him to survive Siargao island, which was then a jungle, but had some of the most awesome waves the world has ever known.

The photos and article that Callahan published in the US Surfer's Magazine in 1994 did much to spread the word around about their great "discovery." Perhaps to the dismay of other explorers who have discovered it too but prefer to keep the island to themselves. Still who can keep a beautiful secret for too long? Since the publication, professional surfers have come from all over the world with other photographers in tow, making Cloud Nine more famous abroad as a destination than the whole of the Philippines.

It is the same spirit of adventure that Callahan and his companions possessed that one should take along with them should they decide to travel to the island. The same spirit of discovery I packed into my backpack on our way to Siargao. For the journey and the destination was exactly that, one great adventure and the best travel advice to consider is would be an open mind.

From the daily Asian Spirit 9 a.m. flight from Manila to Surigao del Norte, travelers are already blessed with a bird's eye view of the greenest mountains and the bluest ocean surrounding Mindanao, one of the three main islands in the country. Siargao is a small island off its north-eastern tip, a tropical hideaway peppered with coconut trees. To get there one must take a 4-hour boat ride which leaves at noon from Surigao province.

The water journey to Siargao island and back is a scenic journey where one can see surrounding islands and lush mangroves from the ferry. I, for one, was quite amused to see waves going about in different ways, some turning in a circle like a whirlpool, only to find out that island's Pacific Ocean-facing reefs are situated on the edge of the Philippine Trench, having extremely deep waters, around 10,000 meters deep. That's Mt. Everest turned upside down plus another 3,000 feet!

It is assuring to know that visitors do arrive safely and sound at the Port of Dapa in the island of Siargao. We came into the late afternoon and took a 20-minute tricycle ride into the municipality of General Luna which culminated a whole day journey to see the famous Cloud Nine. The travel took on a physical toll as my companions and I just had to call it a day and we rested at Patrick's on the beach resort, 3 kilometers away from the surfing area (Cloud Nine) in the town of Catangnan.

Early morning found us at the wooden jetty at Cloud Nine to look for the waves and the surfers but found none. We had not realized then that waves were dependent on the weather and the tides, and it is best to research first in the internet to see when the waves will be at its best. (See Yahoo! weather or www.patrickonthebeach.com for a surf forecast on Cloud 9).

Luckily we bump into friendly Australian Gerry Degan who owns the Sagana Resort, one of the better known resorts along the Cloud Nine area. He was also the event coordinator for the International Surfing Competition held every September, now on its 13th year. Like most of the foreigners who have discovered the island and fell in love with the place, he and his wife Susan and baby Lily stay in Siargao for most of the year, returning only to Sydney during the Australian summer.

Gerry talked excitedly about the recently held surfing competition despite a hang-over from all the merriment. He advises us to go back in the afternoon when all the surfers come back to the sea at high tide. He talks about the perfect barrel in which Siargao is famous for.

"When the wave tubes over you, you have to get inside the curl of the wave and ride through it," Gerry explains. That's the ultimate surfing experience that brought some 36 international surfers from Australia, Hawaii, the United States, Japan and Europe to the now surfing capital of the country. Gerry says, the surfing there is unbelievable, having the best surf break - a barreling right hander - in the surfing world.

On beautiful surfing days, one can catch the world-class wave which the locals describe as seawater curling into the outline of a number 9 with its tip turning to froth like clouds, true to its name Cloud 9.

When the famous surfing area turns to "Crowd Nine" in the peak months from August until end of November, and the Easter Season from April to May, surfers explore the island and find other waves to ride. A short boat ride from Cloud 9 out into nearby Rock Island, Stimpy's and find other breaks stretching right up to the east coast to Pilar, Pacifico and Burgos allows one to catch a good wave anytime of the year.

Australian surfer Wade Goodall who won the surfing cup with a $7,500 prize money from event sponsors Billabong and the Surigao provincial government, was all satisfied and happy: "It's a great event to be a part of. It is a great place, I love it. Salamat, Siargao," he exclaims.

What's a Non-Surfer Got to Do?

Watching surfers from around the world embracing the waves of Siargao is a delight to watch. But what's one to do when he or she doesn't surf?

"You can stay here for a month and we can take you on different tours everyday," says Andreas Mikoleiczik, German owner of Patrick's on the Beach resort who married a beautiful Filipina, Elizabeth. I've learned that the charming and rustic island have a lot of gifts to offer the traveler willing to spend quality time with her. Patrick's, for instance, has recently discovered Yohoho! Islands and Lagoon where couples and friends can enjoy a picnic or have a "pirate's feast" prepared by the resort, while cherishing the tranquil lagoon.

One can also take on a refreshing three island tour to Guyam, Dako and Naked islands for swimming, snorkeling, diving and deep-sea fishing. One can explore Guyam island in as little as five minutes for it is a tiny white island with no inhabitants, a great venue for the cast of the Pirates of the Carribean.

Dako, on the other hand, is an island with about 300 fishing families. It is great for snorkeling and surfing for beginners. Local surfers acting as tour guides also teach surfing lessons at P500 an hour with a guarantee that the student will be able to stand on his or her surf board after the session or your money back.

Naked Island, also called Pansukian island, has a pristine white sandbar that is some 200 meters long and is embraced by turquoise clear waters with massive coral reefs. Sohoton Cave located in the northern part of Siargao is also a beautiful place to explore along with its hidden treasures - exotic flaura and fauna and a rich marine life present in the area. Located in Bucas Grande (about 90 minutes from Cloud Nine), Sohoton cave has tunnels and lagoons, a jellyfish lake and a rainforest canopy that you can explore. One may also go kayaking along the largest mangrove forest reserves in Mindanao found in the town of Del Carmen.

One can arrange for island tours through their resorts or ring Jing Gurrobat (0910-2596493) for a half-day tour of Guyam, Dako, and Pansukian at PHP 1,500. Dodong Digman (0921-3246415) can also take you to an adventure to Sohoton Cave for PhP5,000 along with a rented boat.

Because of its deep waters, Siargao Island is also great for deep sea fishing expeditions. The island has an abundance of marine life such as the yellow fin tuna, mahi-mahi, and tanigue.

When not surfing, people here just chill, sleep on a hammock and spend time with one another while discovering the lost art of slow and meaningful conversations. Good companionship and partaking of good food together have got to be the best part of any journey.

Surfing the Palate

It's good to know that no surfer or traveler will starve in Siargao as the food choices have greatly improved from the usual chocolate bars to a variety of international cuisines being offered in the resorts.

"The quality of the food on this island is better than anywhere else in the Philippines," says David Motbey, one of the pioneers in the area and owner of the premier spot Cloud Nine Resort. He also happened to be surfing along with John Callahan when they first discovered the island and christened it Cloud Nine. Motbey shares that he has been to other places in the Philippines, and nothing compares to the depth of cuisine found here. Since many foreigners have started building their homes and resorts in Siargao, they have inevitably brought their native tastes along.

"They've got an international taste to the food. They make food good here," says David for a fact. Ocean 101 resort, also found along the Cloud Nine strip, gets lots of foreign guests. "Our customers suggest what to include in our menu and teach us how to cook it," shares its Filipino manager Michael. Their resort started as a small canteen in 2001 and has since evolved into a full-blown resort. Most resorts here have restaurants open to walk-in guests from other resorts.

Frenchman Nicolas Rambeau who built Pansukian Tropical Resort serves French cuisine while the Australians in the island are putting on their own food in the menu. Aussie David swears by his restaurant's Thai-inspired mango curry chicken, chicken and pork snitzels, and the local kinilaw which is fresh fish smothered in vinegar.

At Patrick's on the Beach, everything is also served fresh. A coconut is picked from its tree upon order of a buko juice. Since the food is prepared only upon ordering, expect 30 to 45 minutes waiting time. Their five-finger shell fish adobo rice, homemade yoghurt and Yohoho! mango rum are enough to welcome you into the refreshing island. The mango rum will definitely jumpstart your stay here with the tangy, strong kick of local gin tempered by the sweetness of real mango bits. Interestingly, some of the proceeds from the Yohoho! rum, P325 per bottle, will provide 5 nutritious meals to poor families with P50 going to the care of the environment, as part of the resort's efforts to give back to the community.

Sagana Resort is famous for its Seafood Mezze of sesame tempura garfish with ginger mirin dipping sauce and yellow fin tuna tataki. Siargao Inn's bar owned by Filipino female surfing champ Nildie with German husband Rico also serves great food and drinks. The Flying Fox bar is a must-see as when the dusk falls, flying bats fly over it from a nearby cave. No, they don't serve bats, but the food is great.

If you are craving for fresh seafood, the wet market is the place to find freshly caught fish especially tuna. You may buy fresh seafood and have them cooked in the small eateries near the wet market. You may also ask your resort to steam the fish wrapped in banana leaves or to cook them with dill herb so abundantly growing in the town like grass. "Pasayan," a local term for shrimp is also abundant in Siargao and even better tasting if freshly cooked.

One must not leave, however, without partaking of the "Surfer's Bread," a bread shaped like a surfing board, which is made in the homes by the natives of the island. Try get some at the local bakery or at Shat's Guest House along General Luna where they serve visitors this bread.

Having seen the surfing paradise myself and touring the town via a bumpy but nice ride on the habal-habal (motorbike), I sure am glad I had taken a step out of my comfort zone. Sure, there are risks to be taken when one goes on an adventure. Yet without these necessary risks, one cannot stumble upon some exciting discoveries along the way. Like the early surfers who ventured into the unknown, I learned it only takes a leap, or in this case, a surf of faith.

Where to Stay?

General Luna, the small town where Cloud Nine is located is a rural countryside where friendly locals reside. There are many young ones playing merrily about. Most resorts are found along the surfing area while some are located some 3 kilometers away. Most give a 10% discount off their regular rates in the lean months and up to 15% if you stay for a week or more.

Budget travelers can opt for middle-priced accommodations ranging from PhP 500 per night budget rooms to P3,500 per night for superior rooms. Most resorts offer rustic, basic beach houses. Some cottages are made of bamboo and nipa. Some rooms are concrete with basic bed and ceiling fan. Superior rooms have air conditioning but can be unnecessary when people are out catching the waves or exploring the island most of the time. The resorts have good bathrooms with running water, a far cry from the early days when the island had no potable water and electricity. Now, some resorts have internet connection which one can use for free or for a fee, a great amenity for those who want to escape to a tropical hideaway but still want to connect to the world.

CherrieNicole Resort in General Luna has a swimming pool for those who want to swim indoors and cannot swim in the rocky shores of Cloud Nine. For those who want luxury accommodation, Pansukian Tropical Resort is an option. The resort has 5 villas and 3 garden cottages overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Getting Around

Asian Spirit flies daily to Surigao Del Norte from Manila at 9 in the morning, enough time to catch the 11:30 am ferry ride to Siargao Island. From Surigao airport, the Eva Macapagal Passenger Terminal is 20 minutes away. As of this writing, there are only two boats, Montenegro Lines and Angel, which travels daily to Siargao Island. The ride costs P200 and takes 3 to 4 hours. Upon arrival in Siargao Island at the port of Dapa, one can take the tricycle for P25 pesos at 7 people max for a 20 minute travel time on well paved road to the municipality of General Luna where Cloud Nine resorts are located in the town of Catangnan.

To get around the town General Luna, hitch on a habal-habal (motor bike) for P10 each person and P20 going to Pansukian, around 7 kilometers away from Cloud Nine. A hired van will cost P3,500 per day. You can also rent a tricycle for P250 for half a day and P500 for the whole day. Tricycles are not readily available outside the resorts except those located in the Cloud Nine surfing area. It will be best to contract a tricycle or habal-habal upon arrival for a bigger group.

For a tour around Siargao island, you can rent the habal-habal for P500 whole day or be toured around by a local guide for P800 using his habal-habal. Contact Jing Gurrobat (0910-2596493), Dodong Digman (0921-3246415) or Arcelito Blase (0918-4344831) to help you get around on their habal-habal or tricycle.

Getting back to Surigao city from Siargao is no mean feat especially when you've grown accustomed to the relaxing time at the island where time seems to stand still. Please note that the boat to Surigao leaves early at 5:45 am and another one at 6:30 am. Don't be late or you'll have to wait another day.

And while you're waiting for your flight back to Manila via Asian Spirit's 1 pm flight, you may opt to go around Surigao city and drop by the wet market to buy fresh fruits such as the delectable mangosteen at P40 per kilo and lanzones at P25 per kilo.

Travel Tips

1. Have enough cash on hand. There are no automated teller machines (ATM) in Siargao as of writing. It means you must also consider changing your currency before you get to the island Siargao. There is a Western Union in the town of Dapa in Siargao where you can send and receive wire money transfers. You will receive your money in Peso currency. Major banks and ATM are found in Surigao City which is a 4-hour boat ride away. Some of the resorts accept credit cards but most prefer to be paid cash. Patrick's on the Beach provides cash advance on all major credit cards and can change most currencies including US Traveler checks.

2. Buy your boat ticket in advance. The boat going back to Surigao from Siargao Island leaves very early at 5:45 and 6:30 in the morning. It would be best to buy your ticket at the Dapa port the day before you leave so as to avoid the inconvenience of having no seats and standing up throughout the 4-hour journey. This is inevitable during the peak season when there are plenty of travelers in the island. You can buy your ferry ticket for the next day's trip (P200 one-way) after the current boat leaves. Allow ample time to get to the port area, leave your resort 30 minutes in advance.

3. Bring First Aid Kit. Since it is a tropical hideaway and the nearest hospital is in Surigao city, do take with you a first aid kit to address possible scrapes and injuries while surfing or island hopping. Also bring anti-nausea medicines to help you during the boat ride going to the island. It would also be best to bring and apply a mosquito repellant lotion to protect you from the itchy bite for a relaxing sleep throughout the night. Include sunblock and moisturising lotion as staples for visiting a tropical hideaway. For emergencies, there is a health care center offering first aid at the Boulevard in General Luna.

4. Bring a Flashlight (Torch for Aussies). A flashlight and alkaline batteries will come in handy as the island experiences occasional power failure.

5. Stock up on Load. Pre-paid mobile subscribers are advised to bring enough cell phone credits to the island as it can get difficult to get load around especially when there are many people needing them during peak months.

Discovering Beautiful GK Libmanan

The province of Camarines Sur in the Philippines is a hidden beauty discovered recently by many adventure-seekers. Development in the area is taking off – including the CamSur Water Sports Facility in Pili known for its world-class wake-boarding.

But one of CamSur’s real treasures is found in the quaint rural town of Libmanan, a place that buses en route to the region’s tourist attractions Mayon Volcano and Sorsogon's gentle whales must inevitably visit. Nowadays, travelers don’t merely pass through on the way to these natural wonders but that they are also drawn to GK Libmanan, where a bed and breakfast lodging has been built, a haven for weary travelers like me.

I discovered this GK village one sunny afternoon, just a hundred meters along the highway. Tired as I was, walking into the wide open field behind the village energized my body, and talking to GK residents sitting alongside a native hut refreshed my soul.

Here I met Mang Bienvenido Nierves, an 80-year old farmer who has been tilling the land of various tenants all his life. “Life is easier here”, he says of life as a caretaker on the GK village’s farm.

It’s hard to imagine how life is any easier now. He works under the scorching sun, is the first to rise in the morning, and the last to leave the farm, just as the sun is going down. But taking in the sight of freshly sprouting greens of chili, eggplant, monggo, and various root crops, I can almost feel the years of burden being lifted up from Mang Bien as he quietly inhales the fresh air.

I admire his patience and perseverance - most urban dwellers his age would take a much needed vacation after so many years of hard work. But Mang Bien is content, knowing his labor is not in vain. He is feeding not only his family, but the whole village. Though his province is regularly struck by typhoons and heavy rain, sometimes destroying the crops, he simply plants again. And every Saturday, the whole community joins him to help in a “grand bayanihan,” where village residents plant and tend their designated patch of land, which Mang Bien has lovingly cared for the week before.

Mang Bien does not have to worry about keeping the community clean as others manage this task: clean-up of GK village pathways, maintaining the beautiful flower beds, and keeping homes clean and orderly. The kapitbahayan (neighborhood) is well organized, working as a team with a common vision.

Such joyful energy permeates the whole village as the residents take care of their environment, retaining a sense of peace knowing they will have what they need, with food from their well tended vegetable gardens beside their homes.

Village residents are genuinely happy and their joy is simply contagious. As a city-dweller used to multi-tasking - doing a hundred things at once - I was amazed. What is the secret to this thriving GK community, I wondered? It was everything I envisioned a GK community could be. Indeed, perhaps Mang Bien does not wish for a vacation because being in GK Libmanan feels just like having a vacation.

I discovered the secret when talking to the community president at the village sari-sari store where they sell rice and household items at an affordable price.

“A lot of things changed in me, my character, and the way I related to people. My vices were removed, it’s like I drew closer to a loving God,” shared Ariel Sael.

Ariel was a former drunkard and admits he did not care about the plight of his family and five children - only himself. “It was as if my mind was enlightened since I came to GK,” he shared.

“My wife thanked me. I asked her, ‘why are you thanking me?’ She said, because I grew out of my apathy.”

Where in the past he didn’t care whether his children had enough to eat, he is now deeply invested in their education, and eager to teach them good values by being a good father. “I cannot return to my former life anymore. Why would I go back to that, when I know now that it was wrong?”

It is this life-changing grace that is the secret of GK Libmanan. “Visitors keep coming back to us because of the transformation in the people,” community organizer Jim Salazar reflects. Tito Jim is one of seven couples from Couples for Christ who are the caretaker team of GK Libmanan, daily sharing their time, resources and love with the residents.

When asked about what major change has happened here aside from the eighty-five colorful GK homes, “Their faith in God. Before they asked, is there really a God? No! Because he is not helping us.”

“Now, it’s not like that anymore. They now believe that there truly is a God and that there are people who love them,” he says.

“My dream is to see all the children here finishing their studies,” dreams Cecile Deomano, who is in charge of teaching values formation in the village, and supports her husband Agoy, the village’s Project Director.

“I accompanied them to scout for furniture for the GK health clinic they were setting up. They were so excited window shopping like they were buying for their own house. I thought, “There’s another secret”: loving the beneficiaries like your own family - you give only the best to the ones you love.”

“We are very much taken cared of. It’s actually sad when they are not here even for a day. We are like one family here. They are our mother and father in GK. We love them very much,” says Ate Grace, as she thinks fondly of their caretakers.

Even if they were not loved as much, Tito Jim shares, “The love from our hearts that we gave to them, even if it does not return to us, it will be given to others.” He recounts the story of a village child who suffered an accident: the whole community gave whatever little money they had - even money set aside for tuition - to get the child to the hospital. If in the past, every man was concerned only for his own survival, here they have truly learned how to love.

“I want to help others too. Even if you don’t have money, you need to help out of your own heart,” affirms Kuya Ariel who continues to build the unfinished homes for his fellow beneficiaries even without being asked.

Love begets love. And people learn more from what you do than what you say. I learned these things in my brief stay in GK Libmanan. The kapitbahayan learned from the example of their devoted caretaker team. And where does this team, in turn, get their strength to love so generously?

“Not everybody is given a chance to serve in this way. We are blessed,” shares Tita Cecile, who together with her husband faithfully attends their weekly household meetings in Couples for Christ, where their strength for service is renewed.

“We are not rich, we are very ordinary people, but I have proven that when you say you will serve him (God), He will provide. In the two years that we have been serving GK, we never lacked for anything,” says Tita Cecile, who is herself sending 6 boys to school.

God did provide abundantly - not only for their family, but for the whole GK village as well - and blessings pour in steadily.

Today, GK Libmanan is expanding in a new direction: Two bed and breakfast cottages are under construction, sponsored by Governor LRay Villafuerte to augment the livelihood of the residents, in addition to the farming and the slippers made out of native fiber.

More and more visitors are coming! Some, like GK Builders Corps nurse volunteer Heather McPhee find it difficult to leave, so inspiring is the hope and transformation shown in GK Libmanan.

And one thing for certain that will draw visitors back to this village is the people - for such treasures I would return again and again.

Beauty and Clarity

...Leaving for Cebu province this weekend on good eyesight is a blessing in itself. Though I have a difficulty reading things up close, that I have to move away at a distance, I am able to manage. It's great to see a macro-view of the beauty of my beloved island. I am deeply blessed and grateful.

And when I thought I knew everything there is to know about my father's province, I am amazed at the things I have discovered.

The highlight of the trip for me was going to Olango Island to see the migratory birds who have come all the way from the North Pole on their way to breeding grounds in Australia and New Zealand. They have made Olango Island, a 30-minute boat ride off the coast of Mactan, a refilling station where they eat the abundance of marine life and replenish themselves to fuel them for 3 days of non-stop flying.

I guess what amazed me most was talking to one of the caretakers of Olango Wildlife and Sanctuary who had so much to share, informing us that the birds come there from September to December and February to May. He had a name for each bird (which reminded me of Adam in Eden who was tasked by God to name each of his creation).

Olango was indeed like paradise to me. We waited for the low tide to see the birds feeding, walking on sea shells so as not to scare the birds- careful not to go too near as they will fly away. I realized that birds of the same feather do flock together literally... was blessed to see a red shank, and the cattle egret. And then the clouds at nearby island let out a crisp lightning bolt, and we had to hurry back to land as the rains came.

I will never forget the peace in that protected sanctuary. And I pray it will always be such. I hope to visit it again when some 8,000 birds who have circumnavigated the world come there in the peak season. What an amazing site that should be. But seeing even a handful of them was fascinating enough for me.

What amazed me more was realizing the great wisdom God has incorporated in his creation. "Each bird is assigned by God its own fish to eat," relates our guide. This means that each bird will never have to go hungry nor fight with other birds for food because they were wired to eat only a certain kind of fish and their physical structure was lovingly designed for its hunting and feeding.

Reminded me so clearly of the truth:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:25-34)

The truth was affirmed to me again when we visited the Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary at Basak, Pardo, Cebu city. I was blessed to talk with Mang Osmon Jumalon, the son of the pioneer who began the butterfly haven in the country which has since been followed by Marinduque and Palawan. In Cebu, however, the butterflies are safe and not propagated for business. He related that each butterfly species is drawn to the scent and color of specific plants. A butterfly will be drawn to his specific plant.

"To attract butterflies, have flowers, but if you want them to stay and sleep in your garden, have plants," according to Mang Osmon. He said that flowers serve like restaurants to butterflies, they feed on them, but they stay and breed on their preferred plants and trees. What the Jumalons did, while stumbling on the discovery by accident and mere observation, was to plant specific plants in order to attract different kinds of butterflies, some of them flying all the way from forests of nearby provinces. Amazing what God has done to "assign" butterflies their specific food as if the plants were calling to them. I know, so much like man, how God equipped us with specific yearnings (things that we are passionate about) and assigned us for his specific purposes...

I was blessed to release a caterpillar turned butterfly fresh from its cage. I hope it is safe and will continue on its journey...

A proper thank you to God is only fitting from me and my butterfly... What a journey it has been, Lea Salonga sings, and the end is not in sight. But the stars are out tonight and I'm bound to find my way...

Thank you Father.

***
Other highlights of the trip:

1. Sponsored and billeted at the one and only Hilton Mactan Resort and Spa for a three-night stay (yes, thank God, we were not to pay for it as it would have caused an arm and a leg :)

Enjoyed sleeping-in so much that we got left by our flight and had to wait at Mactan airport for 15 hours to catch the latest and cheapest flight to Manila, arrived 12 midnight, exhausted but happy)

2. Ate the most expensive burger in the Philippines at a whopping P1800 ++. Again, thankful that it was sponsored for a photo shoot. The Wagyu Burger was made from the premium Wagyu beef raised in Australia. Wagyu, is actually a Japanese breed of cattle that produces highly marbled beef that gives astounding flavor and tenderness. It's fat melts at room temperature and throughout its lifetime is said to be fed a special diet of beer, sake (Japanese rice wine) and special grains.The Wagyu breed is genetically predisposed to intense marbling, and produces a higher percentage of unsaturated fat than any other breed of cattle known in the world. Some say (though unconfirmed) that the cow is not allowed to walk and are hanged on the wall and massaged so as to have tender meat.

The beef was really tender although by itself it has bland taste, that is why perhaps the burger had prosciotto (like bacon) to add saltiness. In general, I enjoyed the once-in-a lifetime experience of eating the aristocratic beef...but honestly I feel sad for the cow :(

3. Eating at Laguna Garden Cafe in the Cebu Business Park and talking to the chef. Eating Tagalog food in the Cebu province, seemed to taste even better especially the melt-in-your mouth puto-bungbong and baked oysters.

Yes, I feel truly blessed. Thank God! :)

Magayon Bicol

Just got back from Bicol early this morning. The memory is still fresh on my mind and I feel renewed. I wish I could share the same peace with my colleagues and give the much deserved rest that they need. The energy in the office is pulsating. It takes a while for the body to adjust. Maybe with the rest I can give so much more.

I think I fell in love with Bicol…but not as attached as I would normally be. I think I have grown up too from years before when I would really be attached to a place. There’s this place that we went to, a house by the sea,that is like a perfect scene from a movie.

What a really beautiful country…

We visited several GK sites from Camarines Norte to Camarines Sur.I am inspired again by the passion of the caretaker team there and the beneficiaries…

I think there would be one moment where I can say I was definitely attached…it was in GK Labo in Daet, Camarines Norte…a child approached me and asked me to stay and sleep with them. I will never forget you Herminia, I will definitely return…

God also gave me a perfect gift this Sunday morning. Woke up at 5:30 am to spend time with God and the sea. God gifted me with a sunrise. Ah, what a blessed sight. Words fail me.



I can still see it in my mind. I’ve never seen a sunrise on my own and I’ve never seen the sun actually rising. It was truly amazing. God paints really well. He uses the bright, yellow palette to paint a sunrise and the deep hues in the sunset. Thank you God for the sunrise!

Thank you for making my dreams come true. Now, as we saddle up for work, I hope I can give more with my fresh eyes (though my glasses were broken in the trip)…. I think I may not be needing it especially that God allowed me to see beyond what mere eyes can see.

Top 7 things I loved about this trip:

1. Sunrise at Dolo, San Jose, Camarines Sur
2. GK sites in Jose Panganiban, Calabanga, and Labo especially Herminia
3. Bicolano food especially laing and pinangat
4. Trekking to the port where the light house was
5. Swimming in the sea in the early morning
6. Doing an Interview while driving with the long winding road ahead
7. Lots of Laughter (Thank you Kuya Red and ate Angie!)

The only downside: Eating too much
---
Heart song: What a Journey it has been by Lea Salonga

The Light Bearers

I received an anonymous message that said, "A ship is safe in harbour, but that is not what ships are made for." The insight jolted me from my work routine that slowly robbed my spirit away. I took it as a sign from heaven, that it was time to move on. From then on, I decided to embark on an uncertain but exciting journey trusting my heart to guide, as Santiago did, my favorite hero for all time in Paulo Coehlo’s The Alchemist.

This Andalusian shepherd boy left everything behind to pursue his dream, traveling across the Egyptian deserts to find his treasure. He gave up the sheep he has grown to love and the security of the land he knew by heart to step into a world unknown. The first time I read his story, I admired the courage he had to follow his calling; thrice he lost his possessions but he pressed on with greater faith to find his treasure.

Inspired by his spirit, I summoned the courage to venture on my own and finally pursue my true passion, hoping to change the world with the power of words. So, I left the ‘security’ of the corporate world to the utmost concern of my mother, to step into a new world.

It meant letting go of the fringe benefits of my former job and starting from the bottom. I also endured the anxious questions of well meaning friends, but I knew it was time to trust my own heart, as Santiago did.

Sacrifices have to be made when one pursues her true calling. It was a hard transition and yet my spirit was amazingly alive. I knew I was where I was meant to be at this moment in my life. I realized, new beginnings always start with a journey (back to yourself and to God).

Early this year, I was assigned to go on a journey across the beautiful archipelago. I felt the excitement and apprehension that Santiago felt as he sold his sheep to get a ticket to Africa to get to his treasure. The Philippine islands are so diverse that going to Visayas and Mindanao felt like going to another land, having different languages and a diversity of cultures. It was a once in a lifetime adventure I needed to take, a refreshing change from previously being kept at my desk, day-in day-out. Now the outside world became a training ground.

With a pen and a notebook as my bestfriends, I went on the journey in search of my own treasure – stories of ordinary people leading extraordinary lives. I had to find living Santiagos who pursued their dreams amidst difficult circumstances and uncertainties.

I had my own version of the old king, the merchant, the Englishman and the alchemist: guides whom dear Santiago providentially met in his journey and helped him get to his treasure. I encountered the same kindred spirits in my own travels as I was blessed to meet inspiring people who are living treasures of this country. I believe they were sent my way by divine providence because I would never have found them on my own.

Like Santiago who learned great lessons from his friends, I feel humbled by the real life stories I have heard from these simple folks with special dreams. Their struggles and victories have left a deep impression on me and I am truly grateful to learn from them.

I was amazed by the confessions of a single mother who had no money but had a strong faith that encouraged her to up the first spa in Iloilo from borrowed capital from friends and clients. Now, she has paid her dues and her spa counts million-peso returns. In Cebu, I find a kind woman, a mother of two who quits a prestigious high-paying job that allows her to travel the world, to be with her family. But heaven had a better plan for her as she was encouraged to put up her own fashion accessories company. Not only does she bring jobs to her community and get to spend time with her family, she also gets to share her province’s creative genius to the world.

I am also amazed with the life story of an American artist who worked as a janitor to feed his family. He created his own thank you cards for friends because he had no money to buy them, until his works were made into sculpture by a famous Japanese artist and Hallmark eventually carried his drawings in their greeting cards. Now his artworks and figurines have thousands of collectors around the world. He is not a Filipino but he chose to live here and left his country to embrace our own because he has fallen in love with the Philippines. How blessed are we.

I must also honor the life of my favorite author, Paolo Coehlo, who was sent to a mental institution three times because he thought differently. He was not insane though, he was special and had a unique gift to share to the world. Now his books, including my favorites The Alchemist, By the River Piedra I sat down and wept, and his manual, the Warrior of the Light, has touched many and continue to impact on millions of lives.

I realized there are lots of ordinary people leading extraordinary lives simply because they followed their hearts and were not afraid to dream. You and I have met true alchemists, people who turn lead into gold – their dreams into reality.

I have been blessed to stumble upon true alchemists in my travels, people who evolve like gold, refined by the challenges and obstacles they have overcome. They have discovered like Santiago did in Coehlo’s fable that they were capable of performing miracles in their own lives. Like the shepherd boy, they also realized that their souls were a part of God’s soul, and if God was with them, then anything was possible.

This is one of the greatest lesson I’ve learned while reading this book and in my journeys it was affirmed in the people I’ve met. They have discovered the real treasure within and recognized their value in the greater scheme of things. I have also learned with Santiago as pointed out by his alchemist friend that when something evolves, everything around that thing evolves as well.

This simple but profound truth was revealed in the true alchemists I've seen in the flesh. I discovered that as they sought to better themselves and realize their potentials, the people around them including their families, employees, and their community became better as well.

Because of their decision to follow their dreams, they managed to improve the lives of others. In lighting their own paths, some of their brightness were also cast upon others, such that they were inspired and began to also believe that they too can realize their own dreams.

These true alchemists are light bearers. The very people we need in this dark and cynical world. They shine brightly, quietly in their God-given corner, sharing their lights to those who want to rise to their destiny.

The Book of all books speaks of them, these children of the light. "You are like the light for the whole world…No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl instead it is put on the lamp stand, where it gives light for everyone in the house," Matthew 5:14 says. "In the same way your light must shine before the people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven," Jesus teaches us in his Sermon on the Mount.

They are ordinary people, like you and I, only they had great faith and believed in their dreams. My hero Santiago in speaking to his heart reveals, "Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him." Coehlo encourages his character further, "To realize one’s Personal Legend is a person’s only real obligation." He explains the truth about alchemy that it is "discovering the treasure that has been reserved for you."

I am completely hooked on his story as he relates, "God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you."

I understand these must be signs to us, one has to look no further but to his heart, and consider his gifts, which are his talents and interests. I listened to the light-bearers and often hear that the secret to success is to do what you love! Follow your dreams and the money will follow. Few take the advice though, and do not want to take the risk. They leave their dreams at the back of their minds, because the bills cannot wait, while their spirits die a little death each day. "Unfortunately, very few follow the path laid out for them—the path to their Personal Legends, and to happiness," Santiago’s heart spoke to mine.

The light bearers I know have received financial blessings as a reward but I learn an important lesson as this is secondary to realizing their fullest potentials. Their true treasure is the joy and contentment that comes with doing what you were made to do."And there were others, who were interested only in gold. They never found the secret." the alchemist warns us.

I realize that a true alchemist is one who by fulfilling his dream, brings life to others. Knowing this I learn to distinguish between authentic dreams that are life-giving and selfish ambitions that corrodes a person’s heart. The one lesson we need to take from light bearers is the abundance of their faith. The deeply spiritual Coehlo shares his faith with us as he makes Santiago realize, " If God leads a sheep so well, he will also lead a man." This gave him the strength to continue on his journey, and hopefully give us the courage to do the same.

The stories of these true alchemists as well as the fable of Coehlo assures me that --anything is possible to one who believes. It’s also heartwarming to know that a loving God really wants us to fulfill our destiny and is more than willing to help turn our dreams into reality. He supports our dreams because He has placed them in our hearts. Our Father in heaven is the ultimate light-bearer who sends us a child in a manger to give us hope so that we may have life and have it to the fullest. It is not too late for us to dream again, now that a light has been given to show the way, one who speaks directly to our hearts and tells us to go on.

"You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say," the alchemist advises us. Why do we need to listen? "Because, wherever you heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure," the alchemist echoes the words of our Savior.

God wants us to succeed just as the old king hoped that the shepherd boy would find his treasure. It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. "Dreams are the language of God," says the old woman Santiago seeks for advice.

We need to dream again like a child, to have the kind of faith that moves mountains. Coehlo in his manual, tells us that "The Warrior of the Light behaves like a child. And he remains in touch with God through his innocence and his joy, without ever losing sight of his mission."

He shares further the value of a child’s heart in the Alchemist, "Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives." He consoles us that no heart has ever suffered as it goes after its dreams because "every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity."

As I look back on my own journey, I discover that God indeed has a plan for me as well as for you. One guiding star I have turned to as my pursue my dreams is one anecdote shared by my ninang Sr.Rafaeli. The little secret, she says, is a verse from Psalm 37: "Make the Lord your only joy and He will give you what your heart desires." She says that God certainly knows the desires of your heart. He knows what will truly make you happy.

The key, is to "surrender all that you are to Him and He will fulfill all your desires." As I boldly pursue my passion, it is really a blessed assurance on cold nights when I am faced with doubts and obstacles, that there is a loving God who really wants the best for us. If only we trust Him and ourselves.

A personal mantra that has kept me going is this: "For there is nothing impossible with God," Luke 1:37, the Angel Gabriel reveals this to Mama Mary as he announces that she would conceive a child miraculously. I believe our dreams, are also children born of the Spirit, with God’s grace and our hard work, is there really anything good that is impossible?

It is only natural that we feel the fear of losing what we have as we pursue what we truly want. "But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same Hand," says the alchemist. And when you can’t go back to your old self, "you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward. The rest is up to Allah (God), including the danger," says Coehlo who offers us one of his best advises.

Now, as I finish reading his book for the third time, I am thankful for the lessons I have learned in my mind’s journey with Santiago. Each time, I read it I learn something new even when I know the story by heart. As fellow travelers in this life, the world is always teeming with new possibilities. I have visited some of the places I've been to before, but everytime I return I discover new things I've never noticed. That is because, we and the world we know continue to evolve.

While Santiago's journey has ended, my my life’s adventure has just began. I bring with me his inspiration. His story and the real alchemists I have encountered in my journey continue to affirm my faith that indeed, anything is possible to one who believes.

(Photo courtesy of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, Philippines)