When God calls you

It has been more than a month since I arrived in Japan and I have been constantly updating my friends and family on social media. Personally, it makes me happy to see people comment on my updates. Some appreciate Japan’s grandeur nature, friends send their pasalubong lists and others send their regards and well wishes for me. While I appreciate the generous comments of my friends, I had days when I felt weak and I struggled every day. I couldn’t find the comfort I needed from my friends’ words. I did not understand where the struggle came from. It’s quite impossible for me to not appreciate my current state in life because I prayed for this. I earnestly prayed for a teaching job in Japan and God gave it to me. He also placed me near where my friends I met five years ago also live. I wanted this for so long and definitely, this is not the reason why I felt empty.

However, as nights passed by, I felt the sadness of the country. I don’t hear people sing Christian songs, I don’t hear people say “God bless you”, I couldn’t even tell my students that Jesus Christ loves them. I knew for myself that although God has answered my prayer, there is something I needed to see and understand. I knew that the emptiness generated from me.

I tried solving the puzzle. Since I arrived here, I had not gone to church because of my work schedule. On Saturdays I work 11 hours and on Sundays I work 8 hours. I had no time to visit a church or get to join a Christian fellowship. The only free days I have are Mondays and Tuesdays, and these were the first two days of regular work. I looked for a Christian church but unfortunately closed their door just because they don’t have a weekday fellowship. I thought to myself, maybe it’s the lack of fellowship I get every Sunday that makes me feel empty. I forced myself to do daily devotions morning and evening but I failed. I prayed more than three times a day but it felt like I forget what prayed for after I said my “Amen”. People message me regularly, asking how I was and I would reply with the usual “I’m doing great! Thanks.” But I knew deep inside my heart I wasn’t.

Tonight, God called me and He shared me His unexplainable joy.

I was listening to my favorite song and this time, I sang it like I meant every word of it. The song says, “Oh how strange and divine, I can sing: all is mine! Yet not I, but through Christ in me .”

Neither did I hear myself sing nor the singers. I heard Jesus Christ talking to me. I heard Him telling me to take rest in Him and let Him do the work. What a wonderful reminder! I did not see where God is majority of the time I am here. I may have seen Him as the one who paved my way to get here but I did not see Him journeying with me ever single day. I was sad because I did not bring His joy with me. I set a purpose for myself and have completely forgotten that my purpose was set long before I arrived here. It is His race, not mine.

For more than a month, I have struggled with my faith, my lack of spiritual strength, my apathy to the gospel and procrastination in work. I have been praying but it seems like the words I muttered were just for the sake of saying something. However, God is so powerful that His presence, His reminder and His call can come across your heart- whatever you do and wherever you are.

God told me in Isaiah 41:13 that He is my Lord and my God, He holds my right hand; it is Him who say to me, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” He has made me glad and I am in awe!

I pray that the joy He gave me won’t leave me. I need it every second that I exist. I pray that hope and comfort will also be felt by those who need them. Please pray for me. Please, let us pray for everyone. He listens!

Sending you holiday wishes filled with warm love,

Justin

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Bacolod Cafes: A quick guide to café hopping in the City of Smiles

“I love weekends because I finally get time for myself.”

I’ve been following Singaporean blogger Andrea Chong (aka Drea), from her Instagram posts to her blog articles in dreachong.com. One article that caught my eye is “Bangkok Cafes: 3 Cafes in 3 Hours.” I loved this post because I’m a big fan of Drea, and I love everything about coffee. I’ve also been to Bangkok and I’ve been wanting to come back.

But then, I realized I don’t have to look far for great cafes: right here in Bacolod City there are Instagrammable cafes!

Before you continue reading, just a disclaimer: I’m relatively new to blogging, and I would like to acknowledge my good friend Ynna Jacildo, who helped me to overcome the initial awkwardness of taking pictures of myself in public.

Here are three noteworthy cafes Ynna and I managed to visit:

 

Studio Cafe

Found in the heart of Bacolod City, Studio Cafe serves one of the tastiest matcha lattes ever. It’s not difficult to find because it’s the official café of the well-known Avenue Suites in Lacson Street. The café serves not only coffee and cake, but also a variety of finger foods, sandwiches and burgers.

Aside from the matcha latte, what I really love about Studio Café is the atmosphere. Though the place is often packed with coffee enthusiasts, students and professionals, it still retains a peaceful vibe where anyone can study and hang out with friends.

If the place is full of people, there’s no need to worry. Since it is part of Avenue Suites, there’s an extension of the café beside the hotel’s pool. And their Wi-Fi is excellent!

If I’m not mistaken, the place is open 24/7.

Maria Kucina Familia

To be honest, I wasn’t aware of this restaurant/cafe’s existence before Ynna and I went there. Now that I know about it, I am determined to make it known to more people. Thank you to Ynna for bringing me to this excellent restaurant in 24th Street.

Maria Kucina Familia, as is appropriate to its name, is a place for families. It welcomes its visitors with their hobbit-like door and pastoral ambiance. The place is great for family gatherings and parties for friends, because it is wide and has many private rooms which are available for booking.

I highly recommend the spareribs—it’s the most delicious I’ve tasted.

Maria Kucina Familia is open every day from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and in the afternoon from 5:00 PM until 10:00 PM. Also, there’s no Wi-Fi, so it’s the ideal place to date!

Coffee Culture Roastery

This place is also new to me because it’s far from where I live and work.

When you visit this place, the first thing you will see are some sacks of coffee and big coffee machines. I don’t know if these are used as part of the café interior design, or if the café is still being set up.

But I’m sure of one thing: their iced caramel macchiato. For a new café, I say this drink can pass any coffee connoisseur’s standard.

Another thing I like about this café is its Bali vibe—the surrounding bamboo trees and the Indonesian interior design and furniture really add to the tropical atmosphere. I think you will enjoy visiting this café and again.

 

I hope you appreciated this short blog entry! You may have your own opinion about coffee and coffee brands, but I believe the places I mentioned will meet any standard. There are many underrated cafes in Bacolod, cafes that offer food and drinks than Starbucks and Tom N Toms. I say it’s time to patronize our local brands—love our own!

Justin

 

Ps.

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/justinpolitico.

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A Teacher’s Battle

I know what the greatest battle of a teacher is: Apathy. This word is usually used to describe students but little did I know that the word apathy best suits me as a teacher.

When I first started teaching, I had experiences which prove that my life as a teacher is more than my job description. For example, one of my students last year joined the cheerdance competition for our school’s sportsfest. She enjoyed her practices for several days and nights together with her classmates and some other students. However, few days before the competition she told me that she decided to stop because she didn’t have sufficient money to buy a pair of white shoes as required in the competition. As her adviser, I didn’t want her efforts to go to waste and I saw her desire to join the competition. To solve the problem, I decided to personally give her my money just for her to buy the required shoes.

Before, I would go as far as calling my students’ parents and inform them that their child has been absent for more than four days already. I then would set up a parent’s conference and inform them the student’s classroom behavior, their progress and weaknesses.

Fast forward to present, I found myself different from what I was a year ago. Instead of personally asking my students why they are always absent, I just easily record their attendance without knowing their situation and proceed to my lesson. Instead of knowing their goals and dreams, I end up dominating the entire time sharing mine even if it does not interest them.

One time, my Supervisor talked to me and asked me how I was. I was honest enough to reply that I see myself slowly becoming apathetic. I knew that it would disappoint him but I did not know how to sugarcoat what I felt so I decided to be more straightforward. He was listening to me intently and asked me for concrete evidences why I considered myself to be one.

“I am more focused to finish my 1-hour lesson and more often than not, I lack motivation to give what my students deserve,” I replied without hesitation.

My supervisor patiently waited for me to finish until he told me something that helped me see what is wrong.

“That is scary. Do you know that the opposite of love is not hate but apathy?” he asked.

He did not dwell on his reply but I know that he wanted me to think about it. I then questioned my passion in teaching. Maybe I am slowly letting myself hate my work, my vocation but it needs to stop. I don’t want to be an apathetic teacher. I want to sympathize and empathize- to make the students feel that there is someone willing to listen to them and help them achieve their wildest and greatest goals in life. And it is my great hope that other teachers will realize this too.

Justin

 

PS. 

Thanks for reading my post! My journey however does not end here. For my photo journey, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @justinpolitico. Carpe diem!

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Gratitude 2017: Looking back & looking forward

A compilation of words for myself and for others who have fought hard, dreamt harder and worked hardest this year. And hopefully for the future.

1. Dear Me

“Boy you have fought a hard fight this year.

i am sorry.

i say it a lot to others, to the animals and even to the world we live in but i don’t say it to you. i look back upon this year and i wonder when the hope lighting the way disappeared. the once ignited flame was lost in the shadows and there was no room for it in the self-pity i shrouded you with.

dear me,

the new year is almost upon and i want to be better for you,

help me better.”

Source: wnq-writers.com, Writing prompt #69: Write a letter apologizing to your body for any hatred and ingratitude you may have expressed

2. Lessons I learnt this year

“#1 Don’t make home out of people. They leave, they leave all the frigging time. Save your heart from the sorrows. Be independent and put yourself first. Self love is not selfish.

#2 Dreams do come true after all but that doesn’t mean you can sit still and do nothing. You have to work your ass off for it then it’ll surely come your way.

#3 Friendship doesn’t fill the gas tank. Not gonna elaborate on this, we all know this!

#4 Love yourself. Buy that dress even though it comes with a hefty price tag, read the book that you have in your shelf for the longest time, wear make up, paint your face as your heart desires, sleep for 12 hours, sleep the whole weekend away, sleep for 1 hour if that’s what you want. This is your life, you can’t let people dictate what’s supposed to be yours.”

Source: wnq-writers.com, Writing prompt #73: Write about the lessons you learned this year

3. God met me

I met God today. And He wasn’t angry. And He wasn’t disappointed. And He wasn’t upset. Just hopeful. Just patient. Just forgiving. Just what I’m not.

I met God today. And He told me that He’d always be there. And He told me I need to stop trying so hard. And He told me that He loves me.

I met God today. And I cried. And He held me tightly. And I was confused.

I met God today. He was nothing like the world says He is. He is infinitely more. He surpasses everything. He said I didn’t need to know everything.

I met God today. I listened. I learned. I was wrong about many things.

I didn’t meet God today.

God met me.

Source: thesovereignword.tumblr.com

4. What is happiness (for some)

“I’m beginning to recognise that real happiness isn’t something large and looming on the horizon ahead but something small, numerous and already here. The smile of someone you love. A decent breakfast. The warm sunset. Your little everyday joys all lined up in a row.”

– Beau Taplin

5. It is well with my (our) soul

” we should remind ourselves of the Gospel. we should remind ourselves of where we were and who we were before Christ, and how He graciously and lovingly picked us up and breathed life into our corpses. we should remind ourselves of who we are in Him and the beautiful and glorious future before us because of Him.

this is why despite the tragic or difficult circumstances we may be facing in this temporal world, this truth remains so: it is well with our soul.”

Source: be-though-my-delight.tumblr.com

To you my dear reader, everything is going to be okay. It’s okay to be tired. It’s okay to get hurt. It’s okay to be sad. Because you’re alive. You’re breathing. Let 2017 be a lesson and let the future give you hope. In Jesus. With Jesus.

Justin

Where will two long weekends bring you?

August is probably one of the least and most favorite months of the students this school year because of the following reasons: firstly, August holds the exam week and everyone knows how terrifying examinations are (especially if it is Mathematics or any subject with numbers in my case). Secondly, it has 2 long weekends which everyone including teachers look forward every year. Who doesn’t like long weekends? For most people, long weekend means longer sleeping hours and longer time to bond and reconnect with our circles. In addition, we do not want to waste long weekends, right? As much as possible, we need to think of activities we cannot normally do on Saturdays and Sundays and that includes road trips and overnight camps. If you live near the area of Bacolod, here are some of the places I got to visit during last month’s two long weekends. Plus, these places are economically practical and near!

 

Many people prefer to spend their day appreciating nature with its trees and rivers. If you are one of them, Don Salvador Benedicto is the perfect place for you. With its mountains wrapped with the vibrant wild life of both flora and fauna and its fresh air and water, you will surely enjoy the place. You can even have a Vietnamese Iced coffee at 70 pesos! Cheap thrills as they say!

Approximately two hours away from Bacolod City and a fifteen minute boat ride from the port of San Carlos lies the beautiful island of Sipaway. The island is composed of variety of resorts which usually results to a difficulty in choosing which place to stay because each resort includes beautiful cottages and is surrounded with crystal blue waters. The island is also serene and is a great pick if you want to be totally away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

If you are hungry for an adventure such as walking distant places and hiking mountains, Mayana Peak is a good choice. Located between the city of San Carlos and Don Salvador Benedicto, Mayana Peak offers an amazing view of its mountains and the sea of San Carlos beneath it. The place also provides native coffee and snacks for a cheap price.

I am one happy soul because I got to take a break and be away from the monotonous sound of the school’s hallway and the routines of my work. I think you need a break too- it’s important and essential. However, it is best to enjoy your long weekend with your friends and family. It is quite rare these days.

To end this, here is a good quote I read on tumblr you need to remind yourself each day:

“How beautiful is it to know that your feet have walked the grounds of many different countries and your skin has felt the air of many busy cities.”

Ironically, mine is a peaceful city and not the busy one. Do not forget to join my little adventures on Instagram @jmpolitico!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYe3zjrAdSE/?taken-by=jmpolitico

With gratitude,

Justin

Bali, Indonesia: Its beach life & whatnot

Last Tuesday, June 20, I spent the whole day traveling around the island of Bali looking for something (or someone) that might surprise me and I know for a fact that there are surprising things and people in Bali. My eyes were hungry for more sceneries Bali could offer after our trip to Ubud. On that day, Bali never disappointed me- and will never disappoint anyone I believe. I got to experience once again the lush tropical life I have been looking since I was on the island.

On our second day of exploring Bali, here are the spots I visited and loved and wish to visit again:

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Culturak Park
Located in Ugnasan, Badung Regency, Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park is a place where Indonesia’s culture and history are sketched. The place has an amphitheater for the traditional Indonesian dance & play, garden for prayer and worship, and coffee shops for food, drink and shelter.

Hotel Nusa Dua Bali

Maintained by Bali’s Department of Tourism, Nusa Dua Bali is a collection of premium hotels settled in one massive land area beside the island’s white sandy beaches. Theme parks, enhanced smaller islands, crystal blue waters and elegant hotels are just some of the things you will see inside this hotel community.

Dreamland Beach

Stating the obvious, Dreamland Beach is awesome and unforgettable. It is rich with nature’s gifts: white fine sand, gigantic carved stones and cold blue sea water. This place is popular to surfers because of its huge unstoppable waves but it is also dangerous for those who do not know how to swim because of its uneven sea ground.

Uluwatu Temple

The center of Bali’s history, art, culture and religion, Uluwatu temple is popular because of its story that focuses on the prayer life of the Hindus, its setting which is on top of a cliff, and its sunset which is definitely visible to all the tourists looking at the horizon. Heads up, the place is also full of monkeys which are quite bipolar.

Kecak Ramayana & Fire Dance at Uluwatu Temple

They say that every visitor to Bali should see at least one dance and if you plan to see only one, then this should be it. The combination of ancient ritual, dance, drama, sunset and cliff setting make Kecak Ramayana and Fire Dance one of the most spectacular dance performances imaginable. Accompanied by a choir of chant and singing men to be a memory that will stay with you long after you leave this, The Island of the gods.

Many people say, Bali is beautiful and fun because of the pictures they see on the internet. The truth is, fun and beautiful are two words which are not enough to describe Bali. Bali is more than majestic, it is more than wonderful, it is more than amazing. Bali is a gift. Bali is life.
Justin

PS.

Inviting everyone to follow me on my instagram at justinpolitico and if you have questions, don’t hesitate to email me at justinpolitico@gmail.com.

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Ubud, Bali: Appreciating Indonesia’s love for nature and more

When I hear the word Bali, the first picture I always imagine is a beach- white fine sands, crystal blue waters and tropical fruit stands everywhere. I bet you too think the same way because those are the usual images we see on advertisements. Well, what you think is correct however, here’s a better news for you: Bali is more than that. It is more than the beaches and its blue whiskey waters that  we always see on travel magazines and Google. This article is all about our itinerary during our first day in Bali and what more treasures the place could give you.

On our first day in the island of Bali, we went to Ubud. I am sure that most of us are familiar with Ubud. It is one of the most visited places tourists explore whenever they go to Bali. In this part of the island settles some of the hidden beauties which give value to Bali’s nature, culture and life as a whole.

Ubud’s Monkey Sanctuary

A sanctuary for hundreds of monkeys or even thousands and is considered a sacred place for prayer and worship. You need to be careful though, these monkeys do not think the way we do.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace

Fact: Indonesia is a highly-agricultural country just like the Philippines. What’s more? This rice terraces is surrounded by local coffee shops facing the paddy istelf. Who would have thought that a rice field would look as beautiful as these pictures?

Goa Gajah Temple

Another sacred place to visit in Ubud is the Goa Gajah temple. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, rivers and prayer temples and caves, the place is highly spiritual and is rich for historical and cultural stories for the Indonesians and tourists.

Ubud Art Market

We concluded our trip with Ubud’s Art Market. This is one of the most crowded places in Ubud because tourists flood the market every day. Variety of souvenirs are being sold in this place made locally by the people of Ubud.

If you think that is everything about Ubud, then you are wrong. There are more places one needs to explore in this place. However, time was not on our side so we had to go back to our hotel. On my personal thought, Ubud is one of my favorite places I got to visit. Not to mention the restaurants the place has which means great food as well!

Have you ever been to Ubud or probably you want to visit Ubud soon. Don’t forget to share your thoughts about the place and you are welcome to ask questions about Ubud, Bali. Just add me on my instagram at justinpolitico or email me at justinpolitico@gmail.com.

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Justin

April and May taught me…

It is exactly the first week of another academic year and everyone seems to be very busy. I have been observing my working environment and teachers are acting restless and students appear to be too hyped by the fact that they have to face new classmates, teachers and more complex subjects. However, I did not want pressure to prevent me from spending quality time with people I love to talk to. I know for a fact that when proper classes start, I will have a rare opportunity to sit- just sit and talk. This gave me an idea to spend some quiet time with my friends and intellectually engage about random valuable insights April and May taught us including life, love, disappointments and more. As we closed our conversation I learned that most life lessons are needed to be learned learned the hard way.

1. Wait and rest.

“After two years of working in preschool, I decided to stop because I lacked fuel. My desire of working in a different discipline I was trained for became lesser and later on, emptied. I didn’t know what I was waiting for. All I knew was, I needed a complete rest. Sure, I needed a job but, I have to find one that perfectly matches my wants. Despite the financial problem, I had to look at my situation positively and sure it was. While waiting for about a month or two, I found myself and I realized that I was getting old- priorities change and so are my perspectives about life. I have to look at my disappointments positively and look at our responsibilities as our life’s purpose rather than burdens.”

2. A friend sticks closer than a brother.

“I learned that there will be plenty of moments in our lives where we need to go to our friends first because they are more understanding and has lesser prejudices than our family. In life’s rough moments, they too are our family, sometimes more than a family. Living independently is fun and liberating. I can do whatever I want! No one is there to tell me that what I am doing is bad or that I am not allowed to do such because I am too young. However, that is just the first picture. When things settle and I need to be inside my room, everything becomes sad. One word is enough to describe the life of an independent nomad- sad. Ntot that I like dramas but, I always want to go back to my friends because shenanigans are made better with them.”

 

3. Facing life one day at a time.

“One thing that I hate the most about society is when people tell you that you need to have this because you’re getting old. What is worse is when people compare you to another person they think is better than you because they want to tailor your future and not what you want your life to be. The standard of the beauty of life becomes too opinionated and has been other people’s perspective not yours. It may sound cliché but I learned that I need to take life one step at a time for one main reason: I do not want to follow other people’s clock because I have my own time. I want to live my life the way I want it to be and what God calls me. So instead of rushing things up, I will wait.”

Life is indeed eventful! Some changes may occur in a snap while some will take a snail’s pace to start. The good news is- it ends and we learn. However, it is still up to you whether you want to accept the lesson or not. The beauty about life all boils down to one thing- learning. Should you want it the easy way or the hard way? Everything depends on you.

Justin

Old Vs. New: Two-day caffeine exploration

Cafe Molinos’ roof deck is wide enough to cater different circles or barkadas. It is located just behind Fortune Town’s SaveMore supermarket.

Everyone loves coffee- that’s what I believe. Aside from wearing the latest fashion trends, teenagers today love to spend much of their time in coffee shops, talking and stalking with their friends. (I know because I do.)

This week, me and my friends had a two-day coffee and food searching just inside the vicinity of Bacolod City. The first coffee shop we visited is one of the well-established cafeteria in the city and is known for its “Baba” cake: Bascon Cafe located in Lacson Street. The next day, we then decided to try Bacolod’s latest Cafe Molinos found in Fortune Town just behind their SaveMore supermarket.

 

Bascon Cafe, 14 Lacson Street

Bascon’s Pesto Pasta is absolutely one of the bests in Bacolod. We also ordered Baba cake and iced macchiato- too sweet and too good.

Personal note: What I like about Bascon is its size which makes me wonder how the heck do they manage this cafe. It is small compared to other coffee shops in Bacolod but you will never feel too crowded. Their tables and chairs are smartly arranged, covering the entire area available. They also serve the food quicker compared to others. No wonder why Bacolodnons love this place and why it is always visited by the tourists. Good food and good service will indeed always put you on top.

I love the place so much because it gives you a feeling of home. And I also love elephants because they are always alone.

As a food lover, I will never get tired of eating in Bascon. It is easy to find and the access to it comes in many available forms: public jeepney, taxi, Grab car or personal car.

 

Cafe Molinos, B4 L1 2nd Road Fortune Towne

You will know that you are inside Cafe Molinos when you see an intricately designed cup logo on each chair- talk about branding & leaving a mark! Aside from that, the place is not limited to coffee alone but it also serves Filipino dishes for lunch and dinner such as roasted chicken covered with gravy sauce, Philippines’ own roasted milk fish and crispy pata. The place is very affordable and you will never regret ordering these variety of dishes because everything just comes together in your mouth!

Personal note: Being one of the newest go-to places in Bacolod I recommend you to visit the place during lunch time because people are not as many as afternoon’s coffee time. I think so.

More awesome facts about this cafe:

The place is instagram worthy not just inside but also outside and actually, on top too. If you don’t like eating your food in an airconditioned room, then you have at least two choices: the roof top or under the shady Indian Mango tree. With these locations, you can capture great moments with your friends, family and/or date.

One more thing, they lend books to their visitors. Which means that the cafe does not just want to fill your tummy but also your brain. Of all the food chains in the city, I am sure that books have become a rare extra service to the people.

The cafe’s mini-library has plenty of books to choose from: fiction, nonfiction, self-help books and the likes. Coffee and books are life, note that.

For some students, going out and eating may seem to be a little difficult thing to do as of this time because you don’t have enough budget yet due to your summer escapades. Nevertheless, when your pockets become full and you finally decide to treat yourself, do not forget to visit these places.

One more tip: These two places are good study areas with your classmates and  barkadas too. Not just during evenings because you are too young to study with beers. (*insert laugh)

For more captured moments of mine, don’t forget to follow my personal instagram account at justinpolitico or andotherwrittenworks.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVABSRJg-Dq/?taken-by=justinpolitico

Have you been in these cafes too? What are your opinions? I hope we both have the same.

Until next time,

Justin

A Secret Garden in Negros

This is my second official blog entry! As summer is coming to a close, I thought I would write about one of the great places I got to visit: The Garden of Luisa in the municipality of La Castellana.
This place is a bit hard to find; even with the GPS, my friends and I got lost a couple of times. And the road leading up to the place is really rocky, so you might want to bring a sturdy vehicle for the rough terrain. The exhaustion of the trip was replaced by relief and excitement when we entered the garden.
Here are some of the reasons why you should go to Garden of Luisa:

Privacy
This place is perfect for families, couples, teambuilding, and barkada outings. In the middle of the garden is a bungalow with a beautiful interior design. You can reserve the place for more than 20 guests. Once you rent the place, outsiders are strictly prohibited. You can have the place to yourself to relax without worries: you can take a swim in the pool, admire the flowers, eat the fresh fruits in the garden and cook your meals.

The house has two big rooms that are fully air-conditioned and three bathrooms.

(This is the entrance door to the house. Upon entering the door, one will feel the rustic atmosphere of the house because of their plants and antique displays.)

Picturesque
Imagine waking up early in the morning and seeing the majestic Mount Canlaon with the sun rising behind it. You can also feast your eyes on the vibrant colors of the green leaves and flowers, the clear blue sky in the morning, and the orange heavens during the sunsets.

(During our stay, I decided to sleep inside the tent facing Mount Canlaon because I wanted to see the mountain the moment I go out of the tent. However, I woke up earlier than I planned because everything inside my tent moistened including my pillow. A blessing in disguise because the view was definitely magnificent.)

(Another reason why I love the garden so much is the fact that their trees are covered with lights. The tree became more beautiful with raindrops on it.)

(Variety of cacti are also displayed around the house. Some are rare and new to my eyes.)

Vibe and Atmosphere
I like the place because it is old but well-maintained. The house has aged gracefully. It is full of pictures from the early 20th century, and it features a collection of limited edition books of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and some fascinating novels. The house is furnished with many antique artifacts and figurines from all over the world, like samurai swords from Japan, traditional puppets from Indonesia and imported vases from different countries.

(A beautiful statue of a Japanese woman just outside the door of the house. This colorless design adds to the vibe of the house, giving it more meaning and beauty.)

(The rest of the pictures are the books being displayed in the house. I was even tempted to get one but I was able to stop myself. Kidding!)

There are so many other reasons why you should experience Garden of Luisa. And don’t worry about your meals; the friendly stay-in caretakers will be more than happy to cook for you and attend to your personal needs.

Need a getaway from stressful work? Come visit Garden of Luisa!
Have you been there too? Share your thoughts below!

Till next time,

Justin

2017 Summer & other stops

This year, my summer was fully booked. My planner was not enough to fill the plans I had for April and May. The sad part is, summer is finally over and now is the time to remember and reimagine what happened during this year’s break- a time away from work and responsibilities.

I first had my two-day break with my co-teachers in Mount Canlaon. During our trip in the mountains, I was once again wrapped with the beauty of nature. There was not too much pollution and the city was slowly becoming mute by night.

 

One of the breathtaking views Mount Canlaon offered. The viewing deck overlooks the seas on the other side of the island.

Another spot we got to visit in Mount Canlaon was the famous Centuty-old Balete tree. According to its history, the tree has been standing for about 400 years. What makes the tree more beautiful is its appearance. You can go inside the tree and pass from one side to the other.

Other places we visited were Highland Spring Resort and Mount Canlaon’s vegetable market which sells fresh vegetables at their lowest price.

Few days after Mount Canlaon, I then went to the City of Love, Iloilo City. Together with my other co-teachers, we attended a seminar at Colegio de Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, Iloilo proper. For three days, we spent almost 8 hours in the school for the seminar. We didn’t spend too much time outside the school except for dinner. Other places we visited were Plazuela and SM City Iloilo.

We traveled to Iloilo City at five o’clock in the morning. I did not like it at first since it was too early but this was the sunrise. Too beautiful for my eyes!

My summer seminar did not end there. During the second week of May, we attended another training under the Languages Department. I went to Tagaytay City together with our Department Head and my great friend and co-teacher, Grace. Our trip to Manila was quite rough because of too many turbulence. It was one of the worst plane rides I had but we still managed to arrive safely.

Pictures can be deceiving. The day was great but the flight was not.

During our stay in Tagaytay, we asked Google regarding the city’s must-visit places and we went to at least 6:

1. McDonald’s Tagaytay overlooking the Taal lake.
2. Coffee Beans and Tea Leaves with its European vibe and Swiss-like architectural design.
3. Dreamland Arts & Crafts Cafe covered by dream catchers and boho figures.
4. Bag of Beans which I consider to be one of the best restaurants.
5. People’s Park and its strawberry flavored Taho.
6. Sky Ranch and its Super Viking ride I will never ride again. Never. Ever.

Outside McDonald’s Tagaytay near Dreamland Cafe.

The facade of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaves, Tagaytay.

Inside Dreamland Arts and Crafts Cafe with their dream catchers. Interesting fact, it is open 24/7 and sells fresh fruit shakes. Literally fresh.

My favorite spot in this restaurant. We ordered strawberry milkshake, caramel macchiato, vanilla milkshake and shepherd’s pie.

If you want to see not just the Taal Lake but the rest of the city, try People’s Park. You can also rent a telescope at 20 pesos for 10 minutes. Not bad!

Finally, the number one on our list- Sky Ranch. It’s a place for people of all ages except their rides. I got an acid attack after riding the Super Viking ride.

 

If you think my list is done, then you are wrong. The last stop on my list is the Garden of Luisa. A private house with a 12-feet deep pool. We had our overnight team building there with the whole Senior High School Department where I work. If you want to think deep and appreciate nature, then do visit the place. It is clean, fresh, vibrant and full of life.

Here are some pictures I took using my Canon EOS M3 camera:

The first picture was taken early in the morning around five. I woke up earlier than I planned because the tent I used started to moist. The rest of the pictures are random shots that the place offered.

This finally ends my first post after one year of not writing. I hope you had the same fun I had this summer. Now, it is time to go back to reality and welcome another school year as the days progress. The feeling is mutual- we all love summer. One thing is for sure though, it does not end here.

 

Justin