CEBU CEBU

 

    Sure, when you speak of Visayas, many things comes to mind... food, feast and lots of places to go to. I first sat foot in this part of the country last 1997, as a bridesmaid to our friend and stayed at McArthur Park in Leyte, had a picture at San juanico bridge and Mcarthur monument but it seem I cannot scan and post the pictures, I don't think it will have a quality output. Might as well, go back and try my Nikon dc300...save money for that.

  Boracay is another place I visited in 2004, our stay were purely work related and 2 days was not enough to enjoy our stay, specially if your working, so again, I need to comeback. im not a beach buff, but I do need to take good pictures of the world famous beach. It was my first time to ride on a Supercat going to Cebu for another Presidential  engagement, though I stayed in a 5 star hotel with no less than the PGMA, again it was a spoiler for its purely work that I did not get to appreciate what Cebu has to offer that time.

  This time, I  was fortunate to be included in the delegates for last year's PNA Convention in Cebu that I really got to enjoy my visit  (albeit my 1st day LBM bouts) . We were able to see the famous Magellan's Cross, Basilica de Sto Nino and a night cap seeing from atop the whole Cebu.

 

                                       

                                                          At the Basilica de Sto Nino

     

Magellan's Cross

  

 

Atop Marco Polo Hotel

MINDANAO ADVENTURES...

       I never really dreamed of  landing in any foreign soil either for work or just a visit. I felt I would be contented here and  I knew opportunities for travel was only for the rich. My only provincial travel in college was that of Baguio City, Agoo, La Union for our community health care and Zambales and Clark Field which even on a tight budget was already big thing for us.  I opted to apply in the military so that I could still go places for minimal fee or sometimes free ( via C 130). I had my share of local travel when I was assigned in 1999 at  2ID in Pili, Camarines Sur (Our hometown I only visited when I was young), and experienced my first Penefrancia Festival, traveled to Albay, Sorsogon  and Bondoc Peninsula but not as a tourist but to conduct medcap and other CMO activities so we did not go around that much because of security reasons.Those times, I was not  able to capture its beauty because we were mostly just passing on the road. I know I would settle in Bicol in the future once I retire so maybe that would be the only time I will enjoy my stay at my province, see you soon.

   My first Mindanao assignment in 2000, was both an eye opener and some sorth of a cultural awareness for me, knowing this was my first time to have a glimpse of  another faith and culture. I easily got  adapted   and all I did was to enjoy the people and the sights in the whole of Cotabato and ARMM areas.I was also assigned at Gen Santos City and from there was able to visit the Tuna Wharf and Balut island, the smallest island on the Southernmost portion of the Philippines. ewho could forget  Lake Sebu, the home of the T'bolis in Surallah, South Cotabato. Unfortunately,the  all out war of  the AFP against the MILF  erupted and that made us all busy with combat casualty care but still I knew,there are still sights to be visited...someday.

  I went back to Mindanao in 2002-2003, after my 2 years assignment at AFPMC  and off  to my dream assignment...Jolo, Sulu and WESTMINCOM, Zamboanga City . Though  most filipinos regarded the place as dangerous  and home of terrorist, it did not scared me off, in fact It has even deepen my desire to serve and care for our soldiers in that place . All along, I had proven that terrorist problem were not only  Sulu's problem but the world... and danger lurks everywhere...even in our own homes and streets. The only way to outlived that wrong impression is to enjoy the other side of it... the beauty of the place and it's people, which i did. Surely it was no fun to see soldiers getting wounded and killed but again the allure of the place is indeed not a perfect background for the savagery. I went back there upon my request in 2008-2010 and appreciated even more further because I have more than enough reason to comeback. I am sure that Jolo, Sulu was my snappiest and both my happiest and  saddest assignment. I gained and loss 2 of my bestfriends there.

      I was only able to visit Cagayan de Oro and  Iligan City before I left again for Luzon assignment as my despedida for myself...But I know in time I will be back there in Mindanao and I will make sure everthing I will set foot will be captured just like all the people I met there which up to now has been a biggest part of my life and career. So I will not say this yet...Memorable.. for I will soon return.

                                      a common sight during sunset, inside camp, Zamboanga City

    

               At Sta Cruz island, Zamboanga City, only 20 mins via rubber boat away from the camp

 

                                          At a Rubber plantation,Pamtsaken, Sumisip, Basilan

At a beach in Jolo, Sulu

White Water Rafting in Cagayan De Oro

many things to offer at Mapawa Park

At Maria Cristina Falls

  Ooops, I forgot the pics of Tinago falls which was really captivating, made me wonder why they want to hide it (tinago)...Hmm, sure I gonna comeback as we promised, so little time then... more pics as I continue my Mindanao assignment...

                                                                 AROUND SYRIA

     Literaly, on the other side of the fence, Side B (Syria) has also so uch to offer, my experience with this country was a total learning experince for I never knew about their culture and history. i did not even know we have OFWs here not until I saw a  sign in the shouk in Tagalog offering "Murang Alahas para sa mga Pilipino".
    My firts visit is the Malaoula, it is a 3 hour drive from Camp Faour, knowing Syria is an Arab country, I was awed upon learning that one of the oldest Catholic church in the world is at Malaoula. It is also the only place in the world who still converse in the dialect that jesus once spoke, the Armaic.

This castle built among the stone has both a romantic and historical significance.

               The church where picture taking was not allowed inside, leave it to your memories.

   We also had a chance to vist the Old City of Damascus which dates back 200 years AD. It has an awesome architectural design and hundreds of historical places inside to include the old shouk (market) , The biggest Mosque

We travelled 4 hours to Palmyra, In the mid 1st century AD, Palmyra, a wealthy and elegant city located along the caravan routes linking Persia with the Mediterranean ports of Roman Syria. The site was awesome thinking this was once a very busy and populated city then.

Thats not all, the beauty of the whole Damascus has not escaped my site and I feel like I am on top of the world...

HOLY LAND

      May 2010 to Oct 2010- Who would have taught that as a self confessed sinner deservicng of punishment and Karma has actually recived a very unusual gift... seeing the most visited and the probably the top most in every ones  wish to see in their lifetime...The Holy Land, it was my first travel outside the Phil and this added to my apprehensions then, wandering what's in store for me for I was only focused on doing my job as Medical Assistants at UBDOF, nothing more. I did not even know that we are heading to Israel and I only had little knowledge about places of religious and historical significance thereat, everything was new to me.

      After arriving at Israel on 4 May 2010, a day after, we already visited Yardenit ( the Baptismal site of Jesus at the Jordan River.

Just after a few weeks, wehad a call with our fellow filipinos, Missionary nuns at Tagbha Benedictine Monestery  and within their Monestery lies the Stone believed to be the site where Jesus placed the loaves and fishes he produced for his multitude of followers, one of his major miracles. The Sea of Galilee is just a few walks away where Jesus was believed to have walked on water to save a crew of sinking boat ... we even had a chance to take a dip during our stay.

         July 2010, was memorable indeed for I was able to spent my 40th birthday at the Holy Land, spending  overnight at the Dead Sea before going to Jerusalem where most of Jesus spent his days preaching and even the place where he spent his last remaining hours. Within Jerusalem, you could visit the Wailing Wall,Pool of Bethesda, Church of St Anne, believed  to be the mother of Mary, Room of Last Supper, St Peter Church, and the most visited by pilgrims, the VIA DOLOROSA where one could follow the same path Jesus took before he was crucified.

The last of Jesus' journey ended on the cross which was situated at the Chuirch of the Holy Sepulchre.

At the adjacent hill is the Mt of Olives and Getsemane Church (Agony Church)where Jesus spent his last remaining hours before he was taken to prison.

Pater Noster church at Mt of Olives (where jesus gave his famous prayer " Out Father in heaven, your name shall be blessed..."

     We have also visited Nazareth,the town where angel gabriel appeared before Mary and told her she will gave birth to Jesus. There you couild see the Church of st gabriel, Mary' well, the Synagogue where jesus preached on the Sabbath.

Around 1 1/2 hours away from our Camp, we could pass by Capernaum, the town of Jesus and also served as a base for most of Jesus' activities, it is where he met peter and the other Apostles.

Within distance is the Mt of Beatitudes, which is the site on the sermon at the Mount " Blessed are the..." and where Jesus gathered his disciples for the last time.

I was lucky for I have visited these places more than twice during my stay there thought it's just unfortunate i was not able to go inside Bethlehem, because we waited for the gate to open and only to learn we were at the wrong gate.and time ran out already for our group. nevertheless, i had so much blessings already. who would have thought. I was at the best place on earth without spending a single money for that, the UN allowance was enough. Thank God for this opportunity.

MY UNDOF EXPERIENCE

 

Last May 2010, I was fortunate to be a part of the 2nd Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights as part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). This is a 6- month Peacekeeping mission to ensure that peace between Syria and Israel is maintained. With other 3 NC officers, we were detailed as Medical Assistants to our troops and at the same time to other nations serving there to include India, Japan,Polish,Canadian,Nepal and the two host countries. There are 2 main Camps, Camp Ziouni in israel where I stayed and Camp Faour at Syria.Since then, every 6 months, the AFP sends a Batallion sized contigents to perform our mandate.

          

The entrance to PhilBat at Camp Ziouani

 

I've been trying to lose weight in ages, thought I am into running, my choice of food has limited me to chicken and no or half rice meal only . Still it did not prevent me from looking for the best food in town. Anyway, this is the best  reason why I was forced to sweat it out, so that I could still eat what I crave for. This one is the crispiest (delicious soy) chicken I tasted so far at 4 fingers at SM North Edsa (near Yakimix), It would be good if you'll eat with groups (family or friends), there is no small serving.

Fresh start (as blogger) at age 41

I have always been good at keeping memories, good or bad and for years I have to say i had a life worthy of my own Biography... I had a routine childhood activities  and a boring life as a teener ( because I have never really enjoyed the usual teen gimiks) so I need not to blog on those stuff ( many many years ago )and instead I will share my adventure (and keep the  misadventures), excitement and new found wonders in my life which all started when I entered my Military Life...