Notes about my holiday trip to the Philippines (Part 2)

Moved out and renovated a house in Cavite. Brought family to Cebu. Kawasan Falls. Vacationed in Davao for the first time. Got engaged.

Highlights of my 35-day trip to the Philippines. The first post is about when I brought my siblings to Cebu. 

Second up: Davao, and getting engaged.

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Wolen had to go back to his OJT at Orchard, Ces needed to train with the ICTSI National Team, and Ace had school. As my siblings left Cebu, I could finally give all my attention to one person. Jovi was a phenomenal host. I always tell him "thank you for everything" but no words could repay him. I figured I would just be a nice girlfriend and cook him a three-course dinner. So one night, I made him fillet muniere, roasted corn, apple salad with yogurt vinaigrette, and molten lava cake. He said, "Pwede ka na maging asawa."

In my mind, I thought: "You bet. Pag asawa mo ko sobrang sarap ng pagkain natin, derived pa from Paleo." Hahaha

Within a few days, Jovi and I packed for a wedding in Davao. The groom, Keenan Ugarte, was one of Jovi's golf friends. We knew that this might be one of the biggest weddings we will ever attend. The bride, Monica Floirendo and family, own the world-class Pearl Farm Resort. Do you know the feeling that something good is going to happen even before it does?

Buffet breakfast with my perennial date. 

Gotta love Davao, a progressive city. No smoking policy, metered taxi cabs, and wide, clean roads. 

One morning, I snuck out to try the pool and jacuzzi. 

A villa in an exclusive island is only around $300/night. Say what, Vegas?

I enjoyed staying at Waterfront because of the decor and this view. The floors were made of wood. I don't why, but everything just smelled so fresh. And the food -- our first lunch was at Vikings, at eat-all-you-can splendor only found in the Philippines. At night, we took a boat to Pearl Farm to attend the wedding's welcome dinner. I gouged on cassava, seaweed salad, and softest, freshest, tastiest humba (pork belly) of my life. Thank you to Keenan and Monica for being foodies. Your guests were spoiled!

Rough weather but overall, the wedding was luxe, the speeches were fun and food was crazy good. Congratulations again, Keenan and Monica. This is the wedding's official video: 

Davao is Jovi's favorite place because that's where he learned he passed the Bar exam, played his lowest round in PAL there, and won it with the team last year. On our last day in Davao, Jovi hired a taxi cab to drive us to the Philippine Eagle Center. In a small rain shed filled with mosquitos and mud, he kneeled down and asked:

"Tal, will you marry me?"

I was more stunned about the ring that I didn't answer for a few seconds. I even thought the whole thing was a joke. But there he was, Jovi, scared and sweaty that I might say no. How could I? God had given me the perfect man to be my partner for life.

Jovi and I shortly after the proposal. Beneath the Malagos Farm's, "Lover's sculpture."

Truth to be told, I would marry Jovi without an engagement ring. He often jokes about doing a civil wedding in the Liloan City Hall. Or a quick and cheap ceremony in Las Vegas. I actually wouldn't mind that. He didn't even need to propose, because my answer would be always be a yes.

In Jovi, I found a generous, self-less person who is phenomenal in taking care of me. Love, in all sense of the word -- being a good influence, accepting my tragedies and quirks, to keeping my feet on the ground wherever I was in the world. And also because he promised me a lifetime supply of puto bumbong. Hahaha

The next few days were a blur of friends barraging us about the proposal story, the giant ring, and wedding plans. My last day in Cebu was spent with his close friends in the Buyong beach house, sipping wine with kids playing on the side, and warning me: "You better be used to this." I'm marrying not only Jovi, but the context of his life. When I move to Cebu later in the year, I still wouldn't understand Bisaya perfectly. Nor am I assured that I'd adapt so easily.

Some of my friends are still in school, many still swimming in the dating scene. Am I too young? I still have personal matters to tend to in San Diego. Nevertheless, I said yes. It would have been had Jovi asked me earlier or even if this happened years in the future. It was inevitable, this is the man I'd marry anyway. And anywhere. 

Cheers, Jovi Neri!  

Notes about my holiday trip to the Philippines (Cebu, Part 1)

Moved out and renovated a house in Cavite. Brought family to Cebu. Dated in Kawasan Falls. Vacationed in Davao for the first time. Got engaged.

Highlights of my 35-day trip to the Philippines. First up, renovating the house and bringing my siblings to Cebu.

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When I arrived in Dasmarinas, Cavite on December 18th, I came home to a house half-filled with cement and some furniture. My family just moved out to a partially finished house. The kitchen floor needed tiles; the window was covered by a piece of wood. Within ten days, we finished the floor and window and painted the dining room. We moved out of the old house, cleaned, varnished the cabinets and purchased supplies. Thanks to my best friend Jonathan, who was a house guest but turned out to be a carpenter. It was my responsibility to create a comfortable home for my siblings, and I did. After some coughs and feverish bouts, I flew to Cebu.

For the last three years, I've been spending New Year's Eve with Jovi and his family. This trip is different -- for the first time, I'm bringing all my siblings with me. I promised them lots of new friends, food and ocean.

Wolen and Mikkel, on our way to Kaw-oy

Ace swam in the ocean for the first time. Ces took the cob webs out of her bathing suit.

We did all the touristy Cebu stuff, then jumped from one family lunch to another.

Ces doing the cover story for Philippine Inquirer Golf

The number one ranked golfer in the country! Keep it up, baby cakes.

 There were my loves -- Princess bantering with Jovi, Ace trying to speaking in english to Mikkel and Pio, and Wolen gnawing on Conching's and tablea tsokolate. Even Jovi's dad took out their boat, "Jersey Girl," to take us to lunch at Kaw-oy. I felt so happy that my siblings are finally witness to what I do in Cebu, to how Jovi and his family take good care of me, and simply, how Cebu life is in the holidays. A few weeks later, my grandmother reveals to me that Ace "wants to buy tickets back to Cebu already."

(To be continued...)

Travel: Birch Aquarium

One morning, I set out to brace the 5-North traffic to get to Birch Aquarium at Scripps. I heard about it from a docent in my tour of Torrey Pines. The adult ticket was $17. (Note: You can get a $3 coupon from this website.)

As soon as I got in, I enjoyed an empty aquarium almost entirely to myself. On the left side is what I call the "Environmental Awareness" room, where you'll read about global warming, the effects of carbon dioxide excess, and how everyday, simple acts can help our planet.

The first thing that stood out for me was the reporter's booth. You can read three topics from a teleprompter. This time, I chose "heat waves." The script read:

"For skiers and snowboarders, enjoy the Sierras as much as you can. With the rate of global warming going now, the snowy mountains might just be a thing of the past."

Snow-capped mountains, a thing of the past?

Unthinkable. I still want my future kids to enjoy seeing fish in freshwater, squirrels on golf course, or snow and dry seasons alternating in Mount Laguna. These are the things I'm enjoying in my lifetime. What can we do everyday to limit our carbon footprint?

1. UNPLUG all appliances and electronics when not in use.
2. Recycle.

I left the "Environmental Awareness" room and walked across to the real "Aquarium." Dark-lit, with several dozens of tanks filled with fish, jellyfish, planktons, crab, starfish, etc. 

Man-made kelp forest. 

I thought of a friend, Anna Oposa who is spending a good chunk of her adult life advocating for Save the Philippines Seas. And also the cousin of my boyfriend, Esperanza Garcia, who is moving to the Philippines to push for sustainable energy.

When I left the Birch Aquarium, I felt two things: happiness and sadness. Happiness, that modern technology and environmental advocacy has allowed millions of human beings to take a peek of ocean life. Sadness, because human beings are the number one reason of that exact life is decaying exponentially. I enjoyed the Birch Aquarium, and I can't wait to bring my sisters there. By then, I could teach them to be more frugal -- one of the best ways to contribute to saving our ocean life.

Philippines: About Typhoon Yolanda

Since Typhoon Yolanda (international codename: Haiyan) hit the Philippines a few weeks ago, I've been holding back tears whenever people ask how are my relatives at home. I reply, "My family is safe and blessed, but there are so many other people that died." Thousands dead and millions more affected, losing friends and family, livelihood, and property. How are you even going to rebuild when all of humanity around you has been wiped out?

Here in San Diego, we don't even see much of the typhoon news in mainstream media. So all the more I appreciate the concern -- my neighbor Dianne came over, my supervisor Adam asked, even my docent tour guide inquired.

As soon as I sat down to edit today, Worldbeat Center's Makeda cornered me. She said, "Crystal, I'm doing two benefits for the typhoon relief. I was inspired by you, and I know that you'd be happy that we're doing something for your country." I stopped for a moment, trying to soak in the magnitude of what she said. 

For me? 

I've only known Worldbeat for two months, coming in a few hours a week to produce their show. But they've included me in meditation, schedules, activities and prayers. With tears and thanks, I am at awe for the concern my workplace has shown me. Perhaps it's about appreciating the work I do for them. Even bigger -- they are proving to me that genuinely good people all around us every day. 

Please keep sending help and prayer to the Philippines. This is the organization that Worldbeat trusts.

If you're in San Diego, please attend our benefit on Friday, November 29th.

Travel: Torrey Pines State Reserve

I found it odd that no local has mentioned it or brought me there. Yet, all of the guide books recommend going. If you check Yelp, it even has stellar reviews. How come the Torrey Pines State Reserve isn't so popular?

When I drove there this morning, I witnessed one of the most picturesque scenes in front of my eyes.

Torrey Pines State Reserve - Beach Trail

My goal today is to take the free docent nature walk. They have it every weekend and holiday at 10AM and 2PM. From my experience in traveling, I learned that it's best to hear from locals to guide and walk with you. It's just better to have a background about a place to fully grasp what you're looking at. Here is our guide, Christine, and the rest of the group.

State Park docent, Christine. The three girls of the group are doing a high school assignment.

Facts from Christine:

1. The San Diego County is the "birdiest" county in all of U.S. It's a migration path between Mexico and Alaska. Same with whales that travel from Baja, Mexico to Alaska, where they birth and breed.

2. Torrey Pines only grow naturally in two places: here, and off the Santa Rosa Coast. You'll be able to identify a Torrey Pine by counting five sprouts. (P.S. I also learned to approximate the age of a tree by looking at its horizontal branches).

3. We thank Ellen Browning Scripps and Guy Fleming for the Torrey Pines State Reserve we have today. The lady bought some of the land, and donated it to the city to be "cared for it perpetuity"; the gentleman created trails, built the Lodge, and spent his life looking after the land. In the 1920's the city of San Diego raised $900,000 to prevent it from becoming another commercial property. There's an honor book at the Lodge that lists all those that contributed, even just for a dollar.

After the tour that took over an hour, I headed on my own to the Beach Trail. Here are some of the views I found on the way:

Linda Vista (Pretty View) Sandstone Formation

Torrey Pines State Beach. That's the Pacific Ocean on the left.

Beach Trail - 1/2 mile walk with a 300-feet elevation

Stairs up to Broken Hill trail - a plan I aborted because I'm too sore from Bikram Yoga

A path to nearby Black Beach -- a famous nude beach in San Diego

My first thought after seeing this was just how blessed America is in natural landscapes. Second thought: I want to bring my family here with me next time. The trails are so clear and easy. The views, spectacular. Plus, the beach is just so near, we could spend all day here. No where else will I find Torrey Pines growing alongside prickly pear cacti, with sandstone formations and the Pacific ocean in the back drop.

Now, the Torrey Pines State Reserve is officially my favorite place in San Diego. What's your favorite spot in your own town? 

Quote from David Meerman Scott

Marketing, PR, Branding Tips and Ideas

If you're job hunting, how are your accounts helping your future employer find you?
If you're an organization, how are you reaching your audience?
If you're a brand, how are you communicating to your market?

I'm currently reading a book by David Meerman Scott, a marketer/strategist and best-selling author. I find marketing and PR quite fascinating, because that's how people and organizations present themselves to the world. For example, people like Oprah or Anderson Cooper will never be unemployed just because of their strong personal brand. It's how you make money, meet people, sell ideas. And the fact that branding is extremely relevant today, either for business or personal reasons.

This question above is opens the the first chapter of the book.

It made me think how I -- a media producer looking for a job -- can help my employers find me. Is my LinkedIn up-to-date? How are they going to know about my experience in production? Or that I'm a successful student-athlete with awards to my name? And this just isn't personal, this question applies to your organization/business/blog/agency too. Just think about it.

"How are existing advertising and media relations programs working?

College Survival Tips (and Living in San Francisco)

In 2009, Academy of Art University in San Francisco offered me a golf scholarship. From a meager 18-year old Filipina girl, to now a well-equipped, working woman, I was transformed by learning about production, culture, art education and survival skills. In four years I spent there, I’ve been awarded three All-American honors for my golf performance and high grades. 

Life as a student-athlete in art school: 5AM workouts, three-hour long classes, 18 holes in the afternoon, art projects at night. All in one day.

As a way to reciprocate all the blessings in my time there, I'm sharing tips on the many important points I've learned. Those generic, “How to Survive College” or “Guide to Freshman Year” teaches you nothing else beside keep your head down and study. I, on the other hand, crafted this survival guide on how to flourish in college / live in the city of San Francisco / study art.

1. Explore the City

I only got out to explore the city during sophomore year. I should have started earlier, because there’s so much to see! Even though going out usually means spending money, it doesn’t have to be. San Francisco Walking Tours is an organization by volunteers, who are assigned to each neighborhood and will expertly walk you through it. I went a little crazy and have done about fifteen of them... but hey. (insert img-2. Caption: Shameless photo collage of all my SF Walking Tour adventures.)

My favorite is Linda’s tour called, “Taste and Tales of North Beach.” Every Wednesday, she will come out and meet you with a bag of food: dark chocolate, Bruschetta bread, salami, etc. These are all samples from the several food, coffee, library, and secret spots you’ll discover on her tour. I love her so much that once, I had to ask my teacher if I could leave class early and go to her tour instead.

Another site I always check is Fun Cheap SF. It is always constantly updated and genuinely fun to peruse. Once, I watched Shakespeare’s “Othello” play for free. They post so many parties... Anyway, it’s like the sophisticated Craigslists version of every event happening in the city. Click away!


2. Apartment MUST-haves:

a. Rice Cooker - saved me $$$ from eating out and/or getting fat. I bought brown rice by the kilos, and ate everything with rice. Eggs, ham, Filipino dishes, dim sum, chicken strips. I use my own small rice cooker everyday, and it’s one of the best investments in the four years I’ve lived here.

b. Airtight Containers - Think of cheeses: delicious, useful. Then think of them rotting in a few days because, First: you cannot finish the whole chunk. Second, you simply forget about them. Here enters the air tight containers. Coming in different sizes, this is one of the few things that assured me I’ll be fed. During my nine-hour class days, I have several of them filled to the brim with beef steak and rice, buttered potatoes or pasta. Bonus: You will save Earth from wasteful food-throwing.

c. Baking Soda - The ultimate everything-er. From whitening teeth, to cleaning out burned microwaves, baking soda is the most powerful weapon for your naturalist/cheap/noob-expert needs. Yesterday, I cleaned out tea stains from my porcelain cups. In a minute, it’s whiter than new. I also add baking soda to my laundry, making my bleached socks even whiter when it dries. For cleaning floors, you’ll notice clarity most industrial cleaning solutions can’t even try. Baking soda is a MUST in your kitchen.

3. Call 311

I’m an international student from the Philippines, so I needed time to adhere to US road maps. That, and I’m also always getting lost. Calling 311 from your phone is the direct line to the MUNI bus lines.

Advance tip: After dialing 311, type in 112 on your phone and it will take you to a real person. He will answer questions on how to get a destination or bus stop or nearest everything that will take you back to humanity. The 311 line has saved me from paying for expensive cab rides, and it’s an assurance that wherever you are in SF, there’s a helping hand (voice).

4. Kinda Avoid the Tenderloin

Before I even came to the city, a sophomore volleyball girl toured me around. In a sudden serious tone, she said: “I walk to the buildings even past midnight, it’s safe here. But there are areas you need to avoid, like O’Farell. Never walk there at night.” It’s an advice I took by heart, and I believe served me well all these years.

In San Francisco, there’s an area called the ‘Tenderloin’, which unfortunately covers a big part of downtown. Virtual Tourist highlights those areas for you. (Disclaimer: Like all else, the Tenderloin can be okay -- especially housing there is cheap -- but caution is always needed.)

I avoided the streets inside the red marks, also known by locals as "the Tenderloin."

5. Watch This Video About Productivity

My friends, art school is boot camp. Every class syllabus states that we are to spend ten hours for each homework every week. If you have the typical four classes, multiply that by four and you have an average of 40 hours per week of assignments. How do you balance school, social life, and a fulfilling experience altogether?

What have always served me well are productivity techniques. 99u is an excellent site with so much to share. From them, I found this comprehensive and concise explanation about how to manage time better. Bet you that will help.

The Science Of Productivity - http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUC552Sd-3nyi_tk2BudLUzA&v=lHfjvYzr-3g&feature=player_embedded



6. Learn About What Our School Is Offering

One faculty member once revealed to me that we have the most extensive system for help in and outside of classes. We have ARC tutoring, the ESL Department, Career Services, etc. If you’ll ever need someone to look over your paper, send them 500 words and they’ll correct it for you. Even one-on-one tutoring on any type of subject or software is available.

Academy of Art is extremely generous in providing us whatever we need. Recently, that is the free CS6 Adobe Master Suite Collection. Go to the Industrial Design lab and you’ll have dozens of Cintiqs. The MPT department has a RED camera and the Fashion department free subscription to top magazines. Did you know that you can borrow free DVDs from our library? I just rented Black Swan and Dark Knight. If you’re looking for a book that’s not catalogued, they’ll order one for you. Find out what your department -- what our school -- is giving away for free. That is a lot to be said for those who continue to be ignorant and miss out.

Advance Tip: AAU students get discounts all over the city! Ask first before you purchase. Examples are every art and supply store, most restaurants and eating establishments, even movies. Check out this list to find out more.

7. And Moreover

Piggy-backing on the fact that our school goes out and beyond to support us, these are top two of my favorite departments:

1. Campus Life - They organize out-of-town trips, such as this upcoming Yosemite one. For $100, you’ll get three days and two nights stay at a cabin and get free food, transportation and park tickets. I’ve gone twice, and met enduring friendships along the way. The other past trips included Las Vegas, Monterey Bay, Tahoe and Disneyland.

2. Recreation - is this website! I take advantage of them the most, because I think it’s important for a term called, “Productive Pause.”  I go to Leila Swenson’s yoga classes at least once a week. I’m somewhere here in this picture. 

AAU Recreation classes have Aikido, Hip hop, Belly Dancing, Swimming, Rock Climbing, etc. They even have midterms and finals massages and expert online chats about wellness, all either very cheap or free. Just check their facebook page for the different class schedules.

It all boils down to my self-promise of work + life balance. It should be great that you’re in an art school, or living in one of the most geographically beautiful cities in the world, and at the same time, come home knowing proper work is done. These are nuggets of wisdom and hope the list guides you as it did mine. 

Genuine happiness is knowing how good things are.” - Marianne Williamson

MAX life.
Love,
-C.