Baguio City:Summer Capital of the Philippines 2017

We went to Baguio for the APLA Church Discipline and Sound Doctrine and some APLAcation because it is the Panagbenga Festival too.

Day 1 Feb 22 Wed

0200H ETA Manila left at around 11pm from Lucena via flying bus : )
0900H ETA Baguio  Pine Breeze Hotel 40 Bokawkan Road cor. P. Burgos Street,
Baguio City Check-in
1030H Lunch Good Taste Cafe and Restaurant Bar Carino St.
1200NN  Cafe by the Ruins
1300H  Burnham Park roaming ,biking
1500H  SM City Baguio
1600H  Pine Breeze
1800H Fellowship
1830H Devotional Pine Breeze Conference Hall
2100H Spend time with Amor from Cambodia Church
2300H my shut eye

Baguio houses on a hill

Devotional

Day 2 Feb 23 Thursday

0700H Meet up for Baguio Tour
0800H Tam-Awan Village Entrance Fee 50Pesos
0900H BenCab Museum
1100H Strawberry Farm La Trinidad,Benguet -Strawberry Picking 1 Kg 500Php
1200H Marosan's Restaurant (starts at 70Php/pax)
1300H APLA Half-day class, 1 PM – 5 PM Gestdan Centrum
1930H Silab Welcome Bonfire Night Pine Breeze
2230H Spend time/Prayer Time with Cecil (Batangas)
1200H My shut eye : )

Tam-Awan Village entrance

BenCab art work

 Ate Jasmin from ICOC-Isabela

                                                       

Strawberry picking

Bencab Museum 

APLA class Day 1

Day 3 Feb 24 Friday

0500H  My Wake Up call/QT

0600H Washroom Line up : )

0800H Breakfast

0900H APLA Class Day 2 Gestdan Centrum

1830H Dinner at Sizzling Plate Carino St, Baguio, 2600 Benguet with ICOC-Isabela team

2200H Doodling /Drawing "The Ant"

2300H My shut eye : )

Day 4 Feb 25 Saturday

0500H  My Wake Up call/QT

0600H Washroom Line up : )

0800H Breakfast

0900H APLA Class Day 3 Gestdan Centrum
1830H Roaming around Baguio with K Rolly,Jesse and Tita Annette
1900H Ili-Likha Artists Village with Baguio and Dagupan disciples
2030H Dinner at an eatery
2130H Ukay Ukay
2300H My shut eye

PC ni Juan 

Ili-Likha 

forgot the name of this eatery -affordable and --salty and burnt hehehe

Ukay -ukay night

Day 5 Feb 26 Sunday

0500H Panagbenga gang meet up : )

0600H NBI breakfast : )

0800H Panagbenga Grand Float Parade

1300H Lunch together McDonald's

1400H ICOC Baguio Sunday Worship Service Pine Breeze
2000H Pine Breeze Cottage spend time with T. Annette
2200H Roaming around Pine Breeze area with hubby enjoying the weather
2300H My shut eye

Panagbenga Festival Parade

Noodles,movies and stories

Day 6 Feb 27 Monday

0500H  My Wake Up call/QT

0600H Washroom Line up : )

0800H  Baguio Tour
Mine's View Park
Good Shepherd for the Strawberry Jam
The Mansion
PMA
Camp John Hay
Cemetery of Negativism
1200H Pasalubong
1800H ETD Baguio
2430H ETA Manila
0500H ETA Lucena : )

Mine's View Park first time together

Baguio 2007

Good Shepherd

The Mansion

with Leziel ICOC-Naga

with Marivic ICOC-Cebu

PMA Museum

The Mansion

trying out the traditional clothes 

PMA-ers

Himig Ko Handog Ko 2016: Season 5

2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Generosity Encouraged
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

-There will always be poor among us, but God, who sustains our physical and spiritual needs, will enable us to flourish and in turn serve others.I don't view this as a duty but through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, I believe that we can be compelled to help others without expecting anything in return.

This year's Himig Ko Handog Ko is similar to the first season because volunteers sang Christmas carols to the beneficiaries and gave them food packages right after-this is actually where the project's name came from. Ang Pasko ay Sumapit,Noche Buena and We Wish You a Merry Chritmas were the line up of songs this year.

Jeric Melarpis and Gladys Masilungan spearheaded this year's outreach program.We had 25 beneficiaries 23 of which is chosen by DSWD whom we have tied up with to be able to reach the poorest of the poor in our city.The other two are our members from Mauban and Padre Burgos respectively. Our more than 50 sponsors gave donations of cash and food items.Volunteers of about 12 people with the help of Barangay Parent Leaders, went to some of the cities depressed areas in the neighborhood near the vicinity of waterways Dumacaa River and Iyam River in the following Barangays;Dalahican, Mayao Crossing, Market View and Ilayang Talim.

heart heart

Season Five

groupie

More Pictures by Jay and Carlo

First Caroling Night
Second Caroling Night
Last Caroling Night

The Visayas :Dumaguete and Siquijor Trip 2016

I love making itineraries and using it as an outline to remember my trips.Husband and I have this privilege of traveling together as our work schedule permits-which is pretty flexible so it is so fabulous.I can't say our trips are very budget friendly,it largely depends on the destination.If it doesn't require airfare and hotel stays,then I'd say it is gonna be easy on the budget.

airport scene

Hotel Camila

Sunday Service -Siquijor Ministry updates

Century Old Balete Tree

130 + steps to crystal clear Cambugahay Falls 

Cambugahay Falls,Lazi Siquijor

Cangclaran,Lazi

Good morning !

Salagdoong Beach hotel

Salagdoong Beach

Salagdoong Beach cliff diving

Salagdoong Beach

This year we attended the Church History APLA (Asia Pacific Leadership Academy)course.Our main reference book is Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley.This reads like a novel and I had a hard time putting it down because it is really engaging.I especially love the background stories of some of the most famous influencers,how certain scriptures brought them epiphanies and enlightenment that somehow led to their conversion.It sheds light to how denominations sprung and how people fought for everyone to go back to the basics of obeying God's word and how it became really bloody.And now many are still at it.

The class itself was of course very alive,it is not your typical boring History Class-well this is me,I love history,facts and everything about the past centuries,I'm an old soul (what doctrine is that! LOL) and I'm glad that I have read like half way through the book and skimmed the rest of it so I was able to follow the lecture.And thanks also to Monica's summary of learning points from Manong Rolan that she posted on FB : ) ,it made it easier to digest.

And many call this Aplacation because after all the learning, you go on vacation!This means extended stay or early check-ins or both.This time I had the chance to visit relatives in Siquijor.My Aunts weren't there but their cousin Uncle Dore was there to meet us and tour us around the island.This is something I learned from hospitable people.You really have to get out of your way to make them feel welcome.This is a Filipino trait called hospitality!This is so lengthy already so here's our IT:

Day 1 Nov 23 Wed

01AM ETD Lucena to Manila Airport
0730AM ETD Mnla to Dmgt
09:00AM ETA Dmgt! there was a slight delay
09:30AM breakfast @ Hotel Camila (booked thru AGODA)
11:00AM early check-in it's supposed to be 2pm : ) they are very nice
03:00PM Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries
05:00Pm SWOT Meeting -sit in : )
10:00PM back to Hotel

Day 2 Nov 24 Thu

07:00AM Boulevard walks/QT
08:00AM breakfast at Bethel Guest House
09:00AM APLA class Day 1
12:00NN lunch talks with the Aquinos and Pasoquens : )
05:00PM End of first session like whoaaa!

Day 3 Nov 25 Fri

07:00AM QT /Reading
08:00AM Breakfast at Hotel Camila
09:00AM APLA Class Day 2
12:00NN Lunch together with Benk,Jeffrey and Edmond at one of the many eateries in the university town
05:00AM End of session 2 be like ...inspiring!
07:30PM Double Date with Jessica and Benk at Mifune Japanese Restaurant
11:00PM back to hotel

Day 4 Nov 26 Sat

7:00AM QT/reading
08:00AM Breakfast at Hotel
09:00AM APLA Class Day 3
12:00NN Meeting with South Luzon G2
05:00PM End of APLA course
06:30PM Monica's birthday celebration at Hayahay Treehouse Bar and View Deck
11:00PM Back to the hotel

Day 5 Nov 27 Sun

7:00AM QT/reading -not done yet LOL
8:00AM Breakfast at Bethel Guest House
9:00AM Worship service and fellowship
12NN Pier boarding for Siquijor
01:00PM Siquijor,Siquijor pier
02:00PM Uncle Dore picked us up : )
03:00PM Lazi Church,Century Old Balete Tree and fish spa
03:30PM Cambugahay Falls descent and ascent LOL about 130+ steps
04:00PM Cangclaran House
04:30PM cooking the chicken from the backyard -thank you chicken
06:00PM Dinner with cousin Arnold,and travel companions and new friends Alice and Oscar : )
08:00PM spectacular star gazing and firefly sight seeing - saw about 4 shooting stars I was so wonderstruck I yelled!
10:00PM lights out

Day 6 Nov 28 Mon

Legaspi,Albay:Metro Legaspi Christian Church's 20th Anniversary 2016

Metro Legaspi Christian Church's 20th Anniversary

Scriptures from the Sunday Message by Bong Aquino entitled:

On a Mission

Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

I Pahalagahan ang mga tao

1 Corinthians 12:12
 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

II Our Greatest Encouragement is Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

-Do not focus on people i.e if they don't something,I won't do it too.The reason for everything is because Jesus is Lord.

My Reflection:
Our God who created the Universe,who draws people to himself,I praise you.Metro Legaspi Christian Church had been around for 20 years simply because of your great mercy and grace.I pray for them to be strengthened and united as they love one another and grow even more in their convictions that it overflows to those around them.May we not forget our great commission from Jesus who is our only hope,able to do anything,give up everything and go anywhere for you wherever you may call us because our focus is Jesus alone,throwing off everything that hinders us especially the sins that can easily entangle us.
===========

In support for the 20th Anniversary of Legaspi Church last September 18th,the Metro Lucena group went to the home of the majestic, perfect cone volcano -oh let's not forget it is also very active and was at a heightened alert that time.The seven of us got on the van and braved the long grueling drive to Bicolandia. We had a flat tire and ate pineapples while waiting for Manong who cooked up a piece of tire to patch up our blown up tire for who knows how.But we were told that in that particular part of the road there are some traps so you could stop and have your vehicle fixed in one of the machine shops around the vicinity. Bam!But who knows.It was part of our fun experience I think.

We sang to the tune of many decade songs saved by Bernard and it totally made me go back in time.I didn't sleep the whole time because it was my first time going to Legaspi anyway.So ,because we were a long time coming,Beng and Bong waited probably for hours at 7-11 and were looking sleepy when we got there.And because it was the Feast of Penafrancia (and General Bato was there),the signal was cut off so we couldn't contact them.Anyway we went to Kambingan Restaurant and I liked their adobong kambing,So after that off we went again and settled at Hotel Liatris.We got the standard room.It was quite new and still clean.My husband didn't arrive until the morning so I was alone,but it didn't feel creepy.

Kambingan Restaurant in Daet with Bong and Beng Gulapa 

Hotel Liatris

The next morning we went touring ,our first stop was the Cagsawa Ruins.It was so cloudy so we didn't see the top of the famous volcano.Husband tried the poses to trick your eyes into thinking the church bell fry was tiny,he did a couple of poses with tiny people around.I loved that there are still farmlands and the old paintings of Mayon and pictures from school text books that I saw when I was a kid was actually in front of me.I love the trees and the rice paddies and even the stones from the ruins.

Cagsawa Ruins

Majestic Mt. Mayon

Cagsawa Churh

The next stop was Sumlang Lake in Camalig,Albay.We missed the road leading to it because the signage wasn't big enough.You can see the Mayon with unobstructed view while sitting on a balsa-but it was still cloudy that day- so I just saw half of Daragang Magayon.

Gigantic Chicharon

Sumlang Lake 

Sumlang Lake

After our balsa ride we went to Hoyop-hoyopan Cave also in Camalig.It was about a 30 minute drive from Sumlang Lake.The air was cool in the cave.It was spacious and non-claustrophobic for me, there was just one part where we had to squeeze ourselves in.Mike who was over 6 feet was able to get out so I think it is still spacious.There was no crawling too-thank goodness- to get to the other cave chambers.What I noticed was the stalagmites that were cemented back into place-it looked really unnatural.I think the highlight was the dance floor or ball room-the floor was made of concrete slab.The guide said the people used to gather there for guerrilla meetings and later on, even parties.

Hoyop-hoyopan Cave

a short walk to Hoyop-hoyopan Cave

In the afternoon,me and hubby had a chance to catch up with our friends Ilona and Rey and their cute children at the Embarcadero where you can take a picture with the big letters that spell out Legaspi.Then we headed to the venue to help out with the decor and set up.There was rain shower that night and we had a good time fellow shipping with the disciples.Hubby hung the banderitas again like what he did when we were preparing for the 5th anniversary of Lucena church.Then,we had dinner with the other couples at the church building while the single's had their mixers party.We talked a lot about the cheesecake from Koffee Klatch.

The service was attended by family and friends and disciples from all over.There were tons of food and they had fun and games after the service.We had to leave because of the long drive back home.The gang didn't forget the seafood at Ching Larry's so we felt we really had to eat dinner there.I got their number off the picture I took of their signage and Marie placed the orders and we were full and that people was my great journey to this lovely province.

Seafoods restaurant in Tagkawayan

Fashionising:

Plaid Block Top from Hallohallo Mall P168