Baguio Trip

Just came from a very impetuous trip of my life.. Baguio City!!

Oct 21 2010 - While having our cigarette break, I told my friends that I wanna visit Baguio City. It has been 3 years since the last time I was there and that I feel like I need something to loosen up.. So I need to travel. Baguio - was first thing that came up on my list! I told my friends (Valerie, Kennette) my plan and they agreed to come with me. Since it will be Kennette's first time to visit the place it added more excitement!!

Oct 22 2010 - At 11:00PM we left for Baguio City!! It is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon of the Philippines. Established by Americans in 1900 and it was designated as the Summer Capital of the Philippines. Anyway, you may want to Google the place to know more about it.


The Plan: To do a one day tour at the place. So, after we had our "yosi" break, I then started to do the itinerary.


We arrived in Baguio City at 5:00AM. We looked for a place where we can leave our things. And at exactly 6:00AM we are already at the famous Session Road.

Kennette and the Session Road

At 7:00AM - We attended mass at Baguio Cathedral Church

8:00AM - We're already strolling at Baguio Botanical Garden and made a stop at the famous haunted house of the city "The White House"


The White house - built on 1920′s, was home to the Laperal Family, the oldest clan in the city. Japanese soldiers occupied the house at the height of World War II. Most of the family was brutally murdered in the house. According to stories, the last Laperal, Roberto died of an accident by slipping and hitting his head.

9:00AM - We're at The Wright Park where you can see The Mansion. It is where the President of the country resides when he/she is in the city.

Mines View Park is the most visited tourist site in Baguio. It stands on a promontory overlooking Benguet's mines and the Cordillera Mountains.

We went back to the place where we stay to get some rest. We're so tired the three of us fell asleep - unable to finish the remaining places to go. Hahahaha! As soon as we woke up we decided to have a late lunch at A. Luna St - 50's diner.

I had "Guys in the hood" (Chicken, Porkchops, Spaghetti, a slice of pizza, a slice of garlic bread, Potato wedges and veggies on the side) and Vanilla Ice cream shake

Kennette ordered "S/S" (Shrimp and Steak with rice) and Chocolate ice cream shake

Valerie had a huge "Fish Fillet Sandwich with Potato wedges", "Chicken Potato Salad" and Vanilla Ice cream shake

Can I just say that they have an amazing menu!!!! I mean the ice cream shake is to die for!! Big serving ever and really inexpensive!! Ugh!! I wanna go back... NOW NA!!!

Anyway, we ended our day visiting the mall, SM Baguio and had our Starbucks. It's imperative for my good friend Val to have a taste of the city's Starbucks. lol

At 9:30PM we're on our way back to Manila. We arrived at 4:00AM. "Back to reality" just like what they say but as long as I am with my friends.. I would love to be in this reality.

Happy Birthday Joseph Joseph III

I received a call at 5:21PM last August 07, 2010 and it was from Ate Grace - my good friend Jose's big sister, asking if me and the others have plans to go out. It was raining hard the whole day so I thought I would be staying home. Then she asked me if I could gather the people close to her brother for some small dinner at their place (Greenhills, San Juan). In short, she's planning to surprise her brother, then I said "YES!"

As soon as we're done talking the next thing i did was to message my good friend Valerie to let the others know "the plan"

8:00PM at the Negrete's place!

So I went to the office to meet the fellas and at 8:00PM we were cruising the stretch of EDSA with heavy rains. It was not easy locating the place at night especially with our driver (Valerie) not good with directions.. hehehe. Thank God for BlackBerry and its GPS we arrived safe and sound at P. Guevarra

The birthday boy was definitely surprised seeing us. He was so speechless and laughing! If only he had known we're coming he could have changed his clothes for the "event"

We had a lovely dinner, ice cream and wine.
Went home around midnight.

It was a really great evening to spend with good friends!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSEPH!

- Birthday boy Joseph and Kennette -

- Spaghetti, Fried Chicken, Menudo and Sapin-sapin -

- Birthday Cake!! -

- Nikka, Nicole and Valerie -

Joseph's nephew Ice blew the candles out.. hahaha!

The BlackBerry 9800 R003

Yes, it runs with an OS 6.0. I guess I am one of the luckiest person to try this out. Since this one has not yet been released. I was even advised not to post anything on my FB, since my boss knew me as the one really updates my FB.

I got this on July 22, 2010. Our president (DBA, as what we call him) gave me an opportunity to take a glimpse of this amazing work of RIM. These were given to him by Brightpoint located in Singapore, one of the biggest distributor of BlackBerry, where our company get our BB stocks to be sold in the Philippines. He handed me over two BlackBerry 9800 for unit checking (the one is busted) and set up. The one that was working is for GRV (The Big Boss) and the one busted is for DBA, has a JVM Error 523 this means that the firmware is corrupted and re-installation of firmware is needed for it to be useful again.

My only dilemma that time was that where will I get the OS 6.0?!! Since it has yet to be released even the BlackBerry Universe does not have this OS. I checked every forum in this whole universe hoping that I tremble on a leaked version. None! And so I approached my Boss if we could somehow ask RIM to provide us an OS 6.0. But we were asked to do this request with Brightpoint. Brightpoint is so generous to provide this request together with the new Desktop Manager 6.0. However, it took me one week for the busted one to be fixed. The first file sent was corrupted and the POC is out of the country (he was in China) and it would take time before he could go back to Singapore. But in any case, thanks Brightpoint! =D

I fell in love with this handheld - instantly! It boots up faster than they used to be. A faster browser. The touchscreen is more like of an iPhone, very far out from the Storm series. If you are not a fan of touchscreen (like moi) it still has a signature QWERTY pad, just slide it (that's why it's called the Slider, lol). You can play YouTube without installing third party applications. It has a 5.0 MP camera. Bigger screen ('coz it's as big as the Storm) - A Storm and Bold in ONE!

RIM has definitely a lot of things to be proud of on their BlackBerry 9800. Check the link for you to see.

http://crackberry.com/blackberry-6-review

Saint Benedict Medal

This is Saint Benedict of Nursia Medal. This was given to me by one of the Bosses in the office. She read my status on twitter how scared I was that night (like somebody was beside me on the bed and looking at me) and then I told her my experiences with these elements. One of them happened three years ago, while I was sleeping somebody pinned me on my bed. Funny yet scary but I am the only one in my room. Before the "pinning" happened I heard three knocks on my door which I did not adhere to answer. This is a really scary and disturbing experience. I am a believer of ghost but I am much a believer of God.

The Medal's Symbolism

On the front of the medal is Saint Benedict holding two things. He holds in his right hand a cross, to which he was incredibly devoted and, in the left, his rule for monasteries. In the back there is a poisoned cup, that when the saint made the sign of the cross over, it shattered. A jealous enemy had given him this cup and a loaf of bread (also poisoned) that a raven carried away. Above the cup are the words "Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti" (The Cross of our holy father Benedict). Surrounding the figure of St. Benedict are the words "Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur!" (May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death) as he was always regarded to the Benedictine as the patron of a happy death.

On the back there resides a cross. On the cross are the letters C S S M L - N D S M D, initials of the words "Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux! Nunquam Draco Sit Mihi Dux!" (May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my overlord!). At the top of the medal is the word Pax (Peace.) Surrounding the back of the medal are the letters V R S N S M V - S M Q L I V B, meaning "Vade retro Satana! Nunquam suade mihi vana! Sunt mala quae libas. Ipse venena bibas!" (Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities! What you offer me is evil. Drink the poison yourself!)

This medal can be used in numerous ways

• on chain around the neck
• attached to one's rosary
• kept in one's pocket or purse
• placed in one's car or home
• placed in the foundation of a building
• placed in the center of a cross

Here are some of its uses:

To destroy witchcraft and all other diabolical & haunting influences. To impart protection to persons tempted, deluded or tormented by evil spirits. To obtain the conversion of sinners into the Catholic Church, especially when they are in danger of death. To serve as an armor in temptations against holy purity. To destroy the effects of poison. To secure a timely and healthy birth for children. To afford protection against storms and lightning. To serve as an efficacious remedy for bodily afflictions and a means of protection against contagious diseases.

This one was already blessed but for the sake of knowing how it is being done..

Medal of Saint Benedict is sacramental that may be blessed legitimately by any priest or deacon -- not necessarily a Benedictine

The following English form may be used:

“

V: Our help is in the name of the Lord. R: Who made heaven and earth. V: In the name of God the Father + almighty, who made heaven and earth, the seas and all that is in them, I exorcise these medals against the power and attacks of the evil one. May all who use these medals devoutly be blessed with health of soul and body. In the name of the Father + almighty, of the Son + Jesus Christ our Lord, and of the Holy + Spirit the Paraclete, and in the love of the same Lord Jesus Christ who will come on the last day to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire. R: Amen. V: Let us pray. Almighty God, the boundless source of all good things, we humbly ask that, through the intercession of Saint Benedict, you pour out your blessings + upon these medals. May those who use them devoutly and earnestly strive to perform good works be blessed by you with health of soul and body, the grace of a holy life, and remission of the temporal punishment due to sin. May they also with the help of your merciful love, resist the temptation of the evil one and strive to exercise true charity and justice toward all, so that one day they may appear sinless and holy in your sight. This we ask though Christ our Lord. R: Amen.

”

The medal is then sprinkled with holy water.

Reference:

Saint Benedict Medal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Benedict_Medal