A Feel of Korea... in Baguio City

Ever since I became a Rain-fan, I've been dying to go to Korea... I've been saving up for a trip and checking on Rain's schedule (If I'm going to spend about P80-100k for a single trip, I might as well make the most of it by coinciding it with a big Rain-event in Korea). But alas, nothing has come up yet...

In my frustration, I opted for the next best (or at least the cheapest) thing to a Korean vacation. I went to Baguio. A friend told me that because of the cool weather at this time of the year and the ever-growing Korean population in this summer capital, one would have at least a "feel" of Korea in spring. Aaahh, when you're as crazy as I am, that should be good enough.
So, on March 7-9, I went up to Baguio with my Ate Ruby's family (husband, Nelson and kids, Neigel and Nadine). Spending for an entire family (especially one that's seemingly always hungry as theirs) on a weekend vacation is no laughing matter. But I should say, it was worth it. This family is probably the best to go on a trip with because they are so "mababaw" and so appreciative. They don't hide their amazement even at the smallest thing (like the "smoke", the kids were insisting, coming out of their mouths because of the cold). Everything is a "wow-moment" for them. Their excitement and enthusiasm are infectious. And they thrive on anything and everything free. So I, at least, didn't get short-changed at the hotel's buffet, not to mention the use of its toilet facilities.

Here's sharing with you some pics from our Baguio weekend...

On the road...

Baguio City at 13 degrees on a mid summer day... Sarap!

Exploring Burnham Park & Session Road by foot...We stayed at the Burnham Suites... Not bad at all...

The Yaps celebrating 10 degrees weather with a night-stroll... The Mansion, Camp John Hay, and Mine's View Park...
Is there any city in the Philippines without an SM Mall? At least their version is energy efficient - no airconditioning needed...On the way back home... Lunch at the "Isdaan" in Capas, Tarlac...

Let It Go...

At one time or another, we had all been dealt with life's blows. The choice is upon us to either sulk and dwell in our misery, or to stand again, dust ourselves up and move on.

Many of us are sad because we continue to hold on to our past. Another secret to happiness that I've discovered is to forgive - the past, people who have hurt us, and most importantly ourselves. Oh, it's not easy, I know. But it starts with that decision to at least try. And when you find yourself happy again, you'll look back with a smile, as you pat yourself on the back and say, "It's a good thing you let it go..."

CLOSING CYCLES
by Paolo Coelho

One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through.
Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters - whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished. Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end? Did you leave your parents' house? Gone to live abroad? Has a long lasting friendship ended all of a sudden? You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened.
You can tell yourself you won't take another step until you find out why certain things that were so important and so solid in your life have turned into dust, just like that. But such an attitude will be awfully stressing for everyone involved: your parents, your husband or wife, your friends, your children, your sister, everyone will be finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life, and they will all feel bad seeing you at a standstill.
None of us can be in the present and the past at the same time, not even when we try to understand the things that happen to us. What has passed will not return: we cannot for ever be children, late adolescents, sons that feel guilt or rancor towards our parents, lovers who day and night relive an affair with someone who has gone away and has not the least intention of coming back.
Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away. That is why it is so important (however painful it may be!) to destroy souvenirs, move, give lots of things away to orphanages, sell or donate the books you have at home. Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world, of what is going on in our hearts and getting rid of certain memories also means making some room for other memories to take their place. Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them.
Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered, your love to be understood. Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else.
Nothing is more dangerous than not accepting love relationships that are broken off, work that is promised but there is no starting date, decisions that are always put off waiting for the "ideal moment." Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished: tell yourself that what has passed will never come back.
Remember that there was a time when you could live without that thing or that person - nothing is irreplaceable, a habit is not a need. This may sound so obvious, it may even be difficult, but it is very important.
Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life. Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust. Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.