i- Travel : ANY PLANS THIS HOLY WEEK?

There are a lot of places in the Philippines where we can be able to meditate and have a break from the busy streets of Metro Manila. Most of which can offer the serenity and the fun experience that would make you wish you were always there during the Holy Week. J   

Kuyba Almoneca: The Whisper of a Cave

Palawan is known for its caves’ stalactites and stalagmites. Bunches of these majestic rock formations are found in the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR), one of the 7 wonders of Nature. But, Puerto Princesa Palawan has a lot more tantalizing “cave trips” to offer.

One of the rising tourist attractions in Puerto Princesa City is the cave that once whispered to its owner when he visited the land being offered to him by a friend. That time, it was just a barren land and seems really useless. But as time passed by, as they were building a rest house on the area, they found out that a magnificent cave lies under it.

It was named “Kuyba Almoneca”. The term “kuyba” is a “Rinconada” term for Cave since the owner was from Nabua, Camarines Sur. That’s why you might as well have a discount if you are from the Rinconada area. J

As you entered the cave, figurines of angels and saints welcome you with serenity and magnificence. Rock formations reveal an image of Jesus Christ and the three angels. Little stalactites are still forming while water continuously drops on its tip. The cave does not show its end point yet for there are still untouched dark parts.

Above the tunnel- like cave are the Stations of the Cross, the Nuestra Senora De Penafrancia Chapel, and stands that have verses from the bible; that makes it a perfect place for penance. You will also be inspired by the “Disiderata”, a prose poem written on 1927, attributed to Max Ehrmann.  Well, I’m not saying that you might not find and read it somewhere else but, reading it with such an ambiance full of serenity will really make what the poem says sink within you.

Kuyba Almoneca also offers a restaurant and Conference halls suitable for seminars, trainings and Camps. You might as well dwell in their tourist “baluys”, another Rinconada term for a “House” and meet Kuya Neil, the owners’ special son, who keeps on asking for phone numbers of  guests, especially of the girls. No worries, he will just text you “good night” and “good morning” as what my girl friends saidJ. 

KAWA- KAWA HILL: The Hill without a Hilltop

You would never find anything special when you come to see the Kawa- Kawa Hill from afar. It is just a hill blanketed with rich green grasses. But once you reach the top of it, you will be awed by its hidden curious shape resembling that of a “kawa” or a large Chinese cooking wok. The glory of the top view would reveal the extraordinary amphitheater- like crater. Indeed, the hill has no hilltop.

Kawa- Kawa Hill is situated in California Village, Brgy. Tuburan, Ligao City. It is a 236 meter land form located in California Village, Barangay tuburan, Ligao City; 1.5 kilometers away from Legaspi City, and 1 kilometer away from Iriga City.

What makes it more majestic is the clinging view of two marvelous Mountains- the Mt. Masaraga and the the perfect coned Mt. Mayon of Albay, plus the stunning view of Ligao and its neighboring Municipalities.

The hill is also famous religious destination since right at its rim that is brilliantly- molded- by- nature, lays a larger than life size Stations of the Cross. Devotees and religious groups often go to this place during the Holy Week to do their penance while having the serenity and the wondrous stations that line in the 500- meter path to the crater extending around the hill rim.

Aside from the Stations of the Cross, Kawa- kawa also have Philippine Eagle Scout Advancement Camp and Facilities, volleyball court and horseback riding site. Local entrepreneurs are also selling their products on the slopes of the hill like the “dinorado” rice, pineapples and other vegetables, and other local products.

           

            Kuyba Almoneca and Kawa- Kawa Hill are just two of the places to check out during Holy Week and on Holidays. Philippines have a lot more undiscovered wonders. I- travel will expose these hidden places that are proofs that Philippines is worth visiting. A haven of breath- taking wonders that makes it really the dreamland of Asia.

BREAKING THE NEWS: THE TRUTH ABOUT FLESH- EATING BACTERIA

“Bandila”, a late news program of ABS- CBN network broke its silence after the controversial report about the spreading flesh- eating bacteria in Pangasinan turned out to be clad. Bandila Anchor Julius Babao said last Tuesday, that it was not their intention to scare the people about, rather they just want to inform them about it.

On February 24, the program aired the report of Jasmine Romero, who was geared with mask and protective suite while interviewing two patients from Villasis and Santa Barbara in Pangasinan. She described them having “decaying” skin due to the “mysterious disease”. In this report, she said that a flesh- eating bacteria is slowly spreading in Pangasinan.

But, Provincial Health Officer Anna De Guzman said that it is not true since the case studies suffer from other skin disease. She confirmed that the patient from Villasis is a leper who suffers from adverse drug reaction while the other patient from Santa Barbara was ailed with psoriasis.

Speculations also said that this might be from the prophecy of a self proclaimed Indian Prophet on 2010 in which he said that a flesh eating bacteria will spread in Pangasinan.

Yes, it is indeed a serious disease, but no, it’s not contagious just like what the reports say.

Flesh- eating bacteria is a term popularized by media which refers to a disease called necrotizing faciitis. This bacterial infection targets the fascia, a layer just below our skin and spread along the flat tissues.

Necrotizing Faciitis may be caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes. This bacteria is a member of group A Streptococci which commonly causes sore throat (pharyngitis) and the toxic shock syndrome which is also a rare condition. Members of group A streptococci result to mild infections and mostly, they do not even produce symptoms.

Patients who contracted necrotizing faciitis may suffer from symptoms like swelling, redness and pain on the affected area. Blisters may show on the skin. Vomiting, nausea and fever and other flulike symptoms may also be felt. On the onset of the bacteria, a wound would allow it to target fascia and after 24 hours the bacteria have completely invaded it. the pain is described as more than that of the appearance of the wound. Late symptoms may include the decaying of the skin (gangrene), scalling, discoloration and peeling of the skin.

The disease may be treated with antibiotics. Early treatment is critical. Intensive Care Unit (ICU), when hospitalized is required. Surgery to remove the skin or the layer may also be an option.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), Philippines has no cases yet of patients who contracted with flesh eating bacteria; and now that the news spread regarding this “mysterious disease”, DOH is trying its best to educate Filipinos regarding the truth about this disease.

WORDS OF THE DAY (JANUARY 22. 2014)

rem·i·nisce [rèmmə níss] intransitive verb

tell about past: to talk or write about events remembered from the past

    

I'm not so sure about it, about how I felt that time. No words can describe that; agony, hatred, sadness, frightening, wretchedness; those may perhaps but aren't enough or suited to explain it. All I know is that I hate how I felt that time; I hate it so much that I don't want to feel the same way again.

gone [gawn, gon]

adjective

absent: absent after leaving somewhere

He left us that day; for a faraway land. I remember those times when he leaves for work; that feeling of emptiness and silence? It feels like it; but this time, the stirring emptiness and loneliness was doubled, no tripled; because this time his absence is not just for few weeks or months or years but forever.

laugh·ter [láftər]

noun

act of laughing: the sound or an act of laughing

I remember him joking around. I remember him laughing and kissing me, and calling me "Nonoy"; I miss the way he calls me that. And then their petty quarrel; mama would always go serious over his jokes that is why she always get angry about it; and then he will just laugh at her. And then he'll dance; that dance I wish I'd learned. I remember all of those little chances vividly; I wasn't spared with much time, that's why those things were always in my mind, stored and valued.

jeal·ous·y [jélləssee]

noun

being jealous: jealous feelings or behavior

But he's gone; and ever since I was wondering what it feels like when he’s around. How would it feel having someone like him as you grow? I wish I had the chance to ask advices because they say that he's great at it. I wish I have him near me so that I may not feel lost in these unfamiliar places. I wish he too can read all my articles; or maybe comment on my every posts or perhaps like my photos in facebook. I wish I could compare heights with him; or maybe ask him to watch me act on my first play. How I wish he's there; but, he's gone.

mem·o·ry [mémməree]

(plural mem·o·ries)

noun

ability to retain knowledge: the ability of the mind or of a person or organism to retain learned information and knowledge of past events and experiences and to retrieve that information and knowledge

Papa, I miss you so much. Don't worry about us; Ate's doing great. Your “baby” has a job and got a lot of suitors now. Kuya will grauduate this March, he will take the board exams after so please help him do that math things just like before. Leiriz is joining those contests just like me. She goes to national competitions and such; and she'll be in high school next year. Mama is better now, don't worry about her, she's doing fine. I'm doing great too, I met good people and new friends here. I'm on my route of becoming a journalist, and just as I always say, I'm doing great too, we are all doing great so don’t worry about us.

love [luv]

noun

undefined: can’t express how much I love him.

You may be gone now, but still you are in our mind and in our heart. I love you Papa! :) 

In loving memory of my mentor, my bestfriend, my father,

AMANO COLLADA IBARRETA

September 11, 1954- January 22, 2008

The Horror of Horror Movies

Many are hooked up with horror movies. All the ghosts, the psychotic killers, the criminals, the bizarre creatures, monsters, oozing blood, vampires, cannibals, and sharks interests most of the movie goers. They are also awed by the cinematography and movie effects of each of those films which seem real; too real and too well planned by genius artists and writers. But what if you found out that some of these films were based on true life events?

THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE

This American horror film directed by Scott Derickson was based on the true life events of Annaliese Michel, a German Catholic girl. She was diagnosed with epileptic disorder and serious mental disorder which then believed by two priests as full possession. Michel was exorcised 67 times for 10 months before she died of starvation. The priest who performed the last exorcism which lasted for four hours was accused by the state with negligent homicide.

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR

This movie was an adaptation of a novel written by Jack Ketchum. It was based on the true life events of a girl named Sylvia Likens who was kidnapped, tortured and raped by her neighbors on a basement. The movie turned out to be very sadist and cruel. But, what most disturbing thing was, criminal records say that Ketchum’s novel was not an imagination but a real events which happened on 1965.

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

This movie was inspired by a murderer named Ed Gein who uses human skin and bones to make clothes and furniture out of it. The movie, directed by Tob Hooper, showcased the murder of two victims was found out to be based on true events, but the way they were killed and how the murderer make masks and trinkets out from their skins were imagination. But, the base or main plot of the story was true though.

OPEN WATER

Sometime ago, there was a scuba diving expedition were a couple named Tom and Eireen Lonegon was separated from the others. Since then, they were not seen, even their bodies. This accident was the basis of the film which was directed by Chris Kentis. He assumed the horrible that would have happened to the couple that they were attacked and eaten by sharks, even if there were no evidence that it did happened.

ZODIAC

The story of Zodiac was written by a cartoonist Rober Grey- Smith. He became obsessed with knowing who Zodiac Killer was. His investigation surpassed even that of the top cops. Zodiac kills his victims and in their wake, he leaves letters to distract the authorities. Director David Fincher and Screenwriter James Vanderbilt spent 18 months about the Zodiac murders before producing the movie.

These are just few of those horror movies that are not just bore out of imagination but bore out of bizarre life events as well. It does happen in the real world and these movies, just like novels, paintings, sculptures, and plays documents life.   

ARE YOU JEALOUS?

                                                                                  

Jealousy is the mother of all the conflicts that are published into books and filmed novels. Jealousy is a key ingredient so that awesome stories are born. But only few of those readers or movie watchers knew how dangerous that word is.

But why do people get jealous?

When we are jealous we tell ourselves a story. We tend to let our wild imagination make a story that is enough so that we may feel bitter or unhappy because of his advantages or possessions. We know the exact words to use so that others may find him suspicious because of that advantage. We say things that are beyond the truth because you want him to be less than you are; or because you want to be that guy or you want to have that thing. 

“People get jealous because of our selfish desires. It starts with the preppy jealousy where you wish you could have that too. But way further than that, when we are too jealous to have that thing or that feature we will do all of those ways so that you can be better than him and he will be lesser than you are. ” - Megellano Rainer Fenis.

“People get jealous because we are intimidated by others’ possessions”, Mishael Occiano, a journalism student from Ateneo de Naga said. 

Remember that day when you were jealous with the new phone of your sister, or the new pencil case of your classmate, her awesome long blonde hair that you wish you also have but you just can’t, because you were born with a black curly hair?

Those were the days that you are horrible; you actually do things that are horrible. You make your sister believe that her phone is so horrible and she has to regret buying such poor thing. You actually stole that cute little pencil case and wrote your name in all caps, for emphasis, and lied that your mother gave it to you. And worse case, you went to salon for hair re-bond and have it dyed with blonde. But in the end, you found yourself ruining yourself and not those you wished to ruin.

        

       “For me there are three reasons why people get jealous. First is that when you do not have enough trust to a person. Second when you want to seek much attention to someone, and lastly when you truly love someone and you cannot imagined or even dreamed that this special someone will spend the rest of his or her life in the others arms.” - Katya Vargas

“Jealousy is a hungry emotion that we tend to be fed. By being jealous and doing horrible things we do those horrible things. We look at someone who is making his way to the top as a competitor and find ways to pull him down. That makes “jealousy” a dangerous word.” - Parul Sehgal, a talk giver of TEDtalk.com

Jealousy as described by them focused on the self desires. Desires that make us do horrible and terrible things. But what if, we look at those that we jealous as someone to look up to. Or else, at least be proud that someone has done great or is great enough to have those qualities? Yes, maybe pulling him down could make him look bad, but could that make you look good? Isn’t it better to see yourself with that someone whom you look up to when you already reach the top?