Boracay Faces Serious Environmental Threat

Decades ago, Boracay used to be a virgin small island (exactly located in the Panay island in Visayas of the Philippines) filled with unexplored natural resources (e.g. beautiful coral reefs, lush greenery, unparalleled white sands, etc.) and untouched by the commercial flair. Only a privileged few backpackers, nature and sea lovers had access to it exclusively relishing its pristine beauty. As a matter of fact not everyone of the island’s natives was aware of its existence; there was no opportunity for them to explore every nook and cranny of the place. No one has thought at that time that the island beach resort could be one of the top tropical beaches in the world or could hit the No.1 spot for the most coveted title of the World’s Best Island Getaway for 2012.

(Note: Photos below are exclusively for www.myusefultips.com’s use!)

As years passed, Boracay was gradually known in other parts of the country making it as one of the favorite places by the locals to spend particularly during summer time. Similarly, foreign investors and local businessmen started inhabiting the place, erecting structures and attracting international and local tourists to flock the place. Commercialization proliferated like a “hot pandesal” (hot roll bread) whereby anyone who has the “dough” can simply “roll down the dough with the pin” , so to speak, and undertake a business in the area, without much exhaustive proper planning, effective implementation and enforcement of zoning and related environmental laws, good management and community involvement.

While the respective owners of these business structures understandably had prior discussions with concerned local officials and eventually were able to obtain the approvals from the local authorities and the needed environmental compliance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), there have been many of these structures to date which have been identified as still not in conformity with the country’s environmental standards, as previously agreed upon.

In view of this, local city and environment officials have been prompted on their duties to enforce existing laws, observe and comply with the guidelines set forth. Various environment concerns were thrown at them by people in media and advocacy groups. As a matter of fact, there is one recent controversial case (the West Cove Hotel) wherein the owner was reprimanded and ordered to strip some parts of the hotel’s already finished structures and developed land area as it exceeded from what has been approved by the environment authorities. For more information on this, please refer to the previous reports/files of the ABS-CBN network. The hotel apparently violated the Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes and it was also ordered closed as it operated without building and mayor’s permits. Yup, you’ve heard it right guys! The hotel has been operating for several years without the said requirements? I smell something “fishy”!

The said incident is just one of the large structures built in the area which posed an environmental threat and adverse impact to Boracay’s unique beauty.

But how about other domestic polluters and pollutants in the area? How are they and their wastes being taken cared of? Incidentally, I have seen this bill board posted on one of the palm trees which says: “Let’s Help Keep Our Boracay Island Clean” and with a “No smoking sign”. I thought it was cool as the beach portion of the island is a non-smoking area.

But while strolling along the beach to breath some fresh morning air, I was dismayed to see some trash obviously thrown at a certain place, at the back of the store booths, which seemingly served as a dump site of whoever big shot or any braggart violator/s! Would you believe what I’ve discovered? It was a newly consumed empty pack of “Marlboro” cigarette! What an irony of ironies! There must be some people there who can pretty smoke much freely without being admonished. Shame, shame, shame on them!

And together with the empty pack of cigarette were other waste materials such as empty liquor bottles, plastic glass, candy wrappers and the like.

Moving forward, I was even more horrified to encounter a clear water line flowing down the white beach. I could have given you more or less the exact place, unfortunately, my cam’s battery was dead. I thought it came from a natural brook but as I came closer, it was a canal coming from the commercial establishments with an awful smell attacking us. My companions and I, in fact, had to jump to the other side of the beach road, very much aghast, so as to free our feet from soaking on the infested foul-smelling water. What we have encountered was unthinkable! This is something that should be immediately looked into by local authorities (at least from their level). Calling calling Boracay’s local authorities, specifically the Mayor of Boracay! I hope you and your boys could conduct an unannounced ocular inspection and together with the hotel/stall owners to clean-up the grounds of the beautiful beach. Perhaps, a massive environment related campaign, including sewage treatment, etc. should be conducted with all stakeholders in the area being represented, providing them a lecture and stern warnings particularly on the imminent danger if the same similar negative incidents are left untreated/unresolved.

While private sector/foreign investments in the area is crucial to the island’s economic development (e.g more taxes going into the city’s coffers, employment generation, etc.), it is also equally important for us to be more vigilant in the project monitoring and implementation so as to maintain the beauty of the island. There is nothing wrong with commercialization as long as everything is in order, i.e. there has be seriousness in environment standards compliance and law enforcement.

For Boracay’s visitors, what is essential is what is visible to the naked eye! I, for one, would still love to hear the chirping of the birds and the sounds of sea waves and sea breeze, to see the palm crests over the island, the white sands and the colorful beach waters, the tropical gardens around it and the amazing sunset during chill out time! This is what Boracay should be for all of us and because we treat it as our own, it is but prudent for us to preserve the island’s unique beauty and love the same just like our motherland!

I was actually tempted to scribble these words on the sand for you to know………….how I love the place!

Despite some “interesting” and disappointing glitches during my third day, I would still love to go back to Boracay in the future, if time permits. The place is indeed “toooo” good and “soooo” true and I would like to invite everyone to come and savor the beauty of nature!

This exotic flower from the hotel (I forgot the name, sorry) and the lei made of puka shells given to me made me feel very welcome throughout my entire stay in Boracay!

(The sand design below was constructed by an 8-year old boy. This is for a small amount if visitors wish to take a snap of it. Very artistic!)

Boracay: Where Beach Fashion Enthusiasts Thrive!

We were billeted in a hotel which is ideally located right in the heart of Boracay’s commercial zone. While the shopping center is only a 15-minute walk away, it took us an hour to actually get there as there are lots of small shops and fascinating spots along the way to hop in, selling beach and non-beach apparels, jewelry, coastal crafts and art articles, from authentic to counterfeit items and the so-called Triple A” (a newly coined jargon I’ve learned from one of the salesgirls). I understand that “Triple A’s” are copy cat of branded items, mass-produced but looked exactly the same and made out of a quality raw material. As such, the warning sign of “caveat emptor” or “let the buyer buyer” may have to be observed in some of these interesting places.

For blogging purposes, I got this Ambercombie and Fitch light pink/light blue lounge shorts, made of fine microfiber soft cloth at 5 measly bucks (roughly 200 pesos)! It was bought for several reasons: first, pink color’s cool; second, for necessity; third, it was of good quality; fourth, price was great and fifth, fit was “awesomeness”! Believe it or not, even the A&F tag and the logo appeared intricately embroidered, as if it was a real one, in fairness! I just forgot to bring my newly purchased A&F cardigan and shirt at the Ambercombie&Fitch store in New York, for comparison purposes as far as the label and logo are concerned. Nevertheless, it was a good buy, a value for money thing!

Another beach item which grabbed my interest were various types of beach hats for men and women sold by walking vendors and in small store booths. Unfortunately, I left my cam when I bought this pretty dark pink brim hat with a sash and a ribbon on it. This costs, only $5 bucks (hey, it seemed the $5 bucks was the “d’ figure” for that day, huh!) compared to those being sold inside the mall boutiques at higher prices ranging from $6 to $15.00.

The price mark-up could probably be due to related expenses (e.g. rent, manpower and other utilities). If you happen to see these hats being sold at leading departments stores in fashion capitals in the world (the Harrods in London, Macys in New York or by fashion designers in their respective showrooms), for sure the price tags for the same would be at exorbitant prices. Absolutely, the branded tags on your hat will make it more pricey. The more famous the designer, the higher the tag price!

There are several kinds of bags around the area as well . Beach, tote, shoulder, hobo, sequined, shelled bags and even coin purses too, they have it there. The tote printed bag which I got was a bonanza! It was the last piece in the store and so it was given to me at a special price. Probably that was really intended for me! The cotton cloth is a printed batik in purple color with a full silk lining inside. Its handle is a brown round wooden beads; comfy and easy to hold. I think it would be a great gift for someone or I could keep it for myself or probably make money out of it! Anyone interested?

Another one is this cute red body bag which is made of silk cloth and wood decorated with all kinds of shells, beads and sequins. Really rich in embellishment! These are being sold for $7. Wow! For the price and the quality, you can’t go wrong. Such great value! There are coin purses and trinkets made of woven abaca materials. Cute stuff but nothing extraordinary!

Boracay is for art connoisseurs. Local artists have their own way of showcasing their skills and crafts in painting. It could be on a canvass, or simply in a new shirt, or would you believe even on key chains.

You can have it personalized, with designs to your specifications. This shirt below is a simple one, but the “sun” was embossed for stunning clarity. Did you notice that? Love it!

Beach sandals, sneakers, flip-flops, and slippers abound in the area. Notable ones were those made in Brazil: Havaianas and Ipanema. However, the locally made footwear brand “Sandugo” was almost everywhere and I thought this brand could go a long way!

Oh, if you’re a fan of swim and beach wears, I have seen crazy-cute ones but the rest were just too sexy and daring for my taste. They have a run down of the latest and the trendiest styles that you can wear. I am not really a swim wear buff, so I didn’t get one. Fine for my tapering wallet!

While the day was mostly spent for walking and walking and window shopping, it was worth doing. My legs and feet didn’t feel tired because I enjoyed the variety the place could offer, the fresh air, and the little things I acquired during the day! Just like any other fashion enthusiasts, I happen to love to window shop! The Boracay mall and the stalls along the shore is now one of my favorite places to find unique and one of a kind vintage treasures. And I think it would be yours too!

My next blog about Boracay would be quite intriguing. Keep coming back guys!

Boracay:The ParadiseTo Beat! – My Second Day

I woke up the next day looking forward to having a glimpse of the beach at daytime as it was getting dark and raining when we reached the island the other day. Note that in tropical islands like those in the Philippines, weather can be erratic and unpredictable, and so I was skeptical of the events that would be in store for the Boracay visitors at this time of year. When I rushed out of the hotel room, I was glad to see the morning sun smiling; its beaming rays extended to the hotel’s veranda made me smile too! I thought it would be a great time to plunge into the beach waters knowing that it could be hot and humid all day!

The hot native “tsokolate eh” or the “chocolate e” (heavy hot chocolate) served during the buffet breakfast literally perked up my day! It tasted like real chocolate (lol)!

(Note: Photos below are for exclusive use of www.myusefultips.com only. Hence, no reproduction is allowed!)

After having the complimentary buffet breakfast (yum, yum, yum !), we proceeded directly to the beach which was only a few steps away from the hotel’s dining area.

It was truly relaxing and refreshing to see the beach so close and feel the warmth of the sand and water. I had to remove my Brazil-made havaianas slippers so I could soak my bare feet into the wet white sand along the shore. The sand’s powder white/soiled white were soothing and the beach was astonishing! It was very colorful, the sea water looked like a rainbow from afar but only thing, it had no shades of red and orange colors. However, the yellow, green, blue, violet and indigo shades were evident. The light greens and yellows could be seen in the shallow waters, while as I looked from afar to the depths of the sea, the light blue, light violet, indigo and dark blue hues were somewhat manifested; as the sea waves moved, the colors changed. Was I hallucinating? I don’t think so. You have to experience it to believe me!

Along the sides of the beach were coconut trees which to me served a number of useful purposes: e.g. beautification, protection from the angry sea waves as the sturdy trunks of the trees block the latter when it ferociously crash the beach, and most of all it also could serve as a romantic spot for lovers and honeymooners to spend under the shady tree! Hmmm, day dreaming!

Perhaps, I am one of those from tropical countries surrounded by oceans and seas who is still reluctant to swim. Seriously, I merely immersed myself into the shallow waters, bending my knees and treading the waters by moving my arms, really couldn’t swim, not even a dog paddle. Poor me! Know why? I acquired this semi-phobia of seas and oceans, I almost drowned during my childhood. But I overcame such fear factor and that’s why I still look forward going to beaches and pools.

While we were excited to embark on our swimming escapade, it started to rain. You see when it rains and is accompanied by winds, small sea waves are being formed. And that’s what really happened. It was my first time to experience being in the sea waters while raining. It was fun to play with the small waves, it was very very nice! The feeling was sort of being in a spa taking a shower with a gentle massage. The ripples of small waves was practically doing a soft rub down on my back! What a luxurious nature bath!

And so, after savoring the coolness and gentleness of the sea waters, we decided to have a walk and look for a hearty meal. We were thinking for a fresh sea food galore, which Boracay island is also known for. There are a lot of dining areas, bars and restaurants which would cook for you a variety of sea foods (e.g. crabs, lobsters, prawns, all kinds of fish, scallops, sea shells for soup, etc.) according to your preference.

However, if you are a food connoisseur and prefers to cook food by yourself, you can simply go to the public wet market and buy them directly from the fishermen or the fish vendors. There is also a Budget Mart where you can get mineral/springs/purified waters, all kinds of drinks (local and imported), personal needs and a lot more. There’s practically no problem as far as food and drinks are concerned.

Subsequently, we toured around and found all kinds of people walking and frolicking in the beach. There were families spending quality time together, football buddies, camera conscious and photo buffs and would you believe, even newly graduates with their graduation togas and caps on, had much enjoyment in the island.

Various commercial establishments already abound in the area. The shopping outlets are almost everywhere, from branded stuffs to native local wears and accessories. I have a useful tip to share with you guys. For a certain similar product for instance, you may try looking at the things being sold by local small entrepreneurs. They have these makeshift store stalls or booths located along or a few steps to the seashore where certain souvenir items, handicrafts and latest trends can be acquired at a much lower price ( with your bargaining prowess of course!) vis-a-vis those located inside the “d’ mall”, Boracay’s commercial district.

Boracay is also famous for tattooing activities, especially for the teens and tweens and enthusiasts. You can have a henna tattoo for only a P100.00 to P400.00 ($2.50 to $10.00) which could last for weeks or a month, depending on how you handle it. However, if you are prone to or you have history of allergic reactions, just don’t dare to have your most sought design or letters printed on your skin, it might not be advisable. There are cases where temporary hennas can cause skin allergies. Hair braiding is likewise a trend in this island resort, both for men and women.

At night, some hotels offer a fine dining with full bar and with a lounge to relax on. It is usually being set up in a makeshift tent near the sea shore. In the hotel where I stayed, a seafood dinner buffet was offered for only $14.00 per head and an additional $11.00 if you decide to have unlimited cocktails just along the beach side. Said dinner buffet can be enjoyed with an amazing music performed by local music band group wonderfully singing all music genres.

While the band was taking a break, the diners would then be entertained by fire dancers. Fire dancing is one of the many great features Boracay is known for during night time. In our case, what we saw were young boys (yes, they were boys, clothed in a girl’s wardrobe, they were actually legitimate gays!). They were probably in their late teens or early tweens and I should say experts in fire dancing, doing some acrobatic acts, creating unique backward and alternating moves, graciously dancing to the tune of pop and sometimes bohemian/middle eastern music. They went around the diners’ tables and made them feel of the heat of what they’re holding on (ooops I was not sure of the thing but I know there was kerosene poured on it). Amazing, thrilling but could be dangerous too! Even the passersby/onlookers were enticed to stop by (outside the tent) and watched the daring fire dancers, for free!

Whew, the second day was a hectic fun one! I thought the third day would plainly be strolling around the white long beach and do some window shopping mostly in the booths of the small local entrepreneurs. Oh, Boracay is definitely the place to be…. to beat! See ya in my next blog!

A Second Glimpse of Boracay After A Decade – The First Day!

Ten years ago, I organized a workshop together with other lead agencies for certain government officials and staff held in Boracay Island, Philippines. The said workshop was all expenses paid, including first class accommodation and lodging, partly funded under a USAID grant for four days and three nights. It was specifically held at Club Panoly, an exclusive beach resort in the said island, about 15-minute tricycle drive from the island's commercial center or the so-called "d' mall" of the main long white beach, as popularly known today.

Despite it being an official trip, the organizers reserved a half day tour to scan the place which provided the participants the chance to briefly visit nearby virgin islands showcasing enchanting caves and nature exploration. As Club Panoly is located on the other side of the island and the fact that we were there on official weekdays, it seemed we owned the resort as we were away from the maddening crowds of the main long beach. The amenities of the resort was at that time at par with other world top notch beach resorts. Rooms were first class and an outside private pool with jacuzzis were inviting. There were sports related areas, spas, food and bar drinks. During that time, the main long white beach was relatively not yet fully developed. As a matter of fact, there were only a few hostel establishments and cottages, and the commercial areas were done under a makeshift native “nipa” huts from palm tree leaves. But my stay in the island was limited not being able to savor the beauty and freshness of the environment, leaving the place with a sigh in frustration and with my footprints on the powdery white sand gradually being washed away by the serene blue green waters!

(Note: Photos are exclusively for www.myusefultips.com use, hence not for public consumption)

Last week, a great opportunity knocked on the door. It was an invitation to spend a 4 days/3 nights stay in the main long beach of the Boracay Island. I thought it would be a sweet reunion with the beautiful island after a decade, although not in the same exact location. I had no idea what was in store and how the tour package would be. But learning from the CNN news that Boracay has just been chosen and named as the world's best island getaway by Travel and Leisure, I became very excited about it! Boracay occupied the top in the list, followed by Bali in Indonesia, the Galapagos Islands, and Maui (see below).

Travel + Leisure's top 10 island destinations in 2012:

1. Boracay, Philippines – 93.10

2. Bali – 90.41

3. Galapagos – 89.55

4. Maui – 89.53

5. Great Barrier Reef Islands, Australia – 89.28

6. Santorini, Greece – 89.20

7. Kauai – 89.09

8. Big Island, Hawaii – 87-95

9. Sicily, Italy – 87.8

10. Vancouver Island, British Columbia – 87-48

The first day was indeed filled with crazy incidents, fun and surprises from the very start of my second journey to the Boracay island! Check what happened.

Firstly, we were actually stocked inside the plane parked in the runway for more than two hours ! Okay great, the passengers of PR 24_ were asked to board the plane as scheduled but only to be told after 30 minutes of waiting while on our respective seats with belts already bucked safely on our waists, that the plane could not leave as the international airport in Kalibo, Aklan was experiencing a so-called air traffic congestion! The good pilot announced that he had to wait for further instructions from the airport's air traffic controller. Wow, air traffic? It may sound absurd , right? I was not too convinced of the reasons given us behind the flight delay. Air traffic could more likely happen in a very busy air transport hub such as the JFK Airport in NYC or even the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. But not Kalibo! Anyhow, we waited and waited until finally the plane left after more than 2 hours of delay from the flight schedule. Thankfully, the plane reached the Kalibo International Airport safe and sound but with the observation that the said airport was not quite busy after all! If I were invited to a speaking engagement in Boracay or if I were a businessman wanting to get that lucrative business deal, everything would have been screwed up due to the flight delay. Good, I was going there this time merely for pleasure! Nevertheless whatever the reason was, I would like to credit the pilot's efficiency and apologetic manner of comforting the passengers and compensating for the delayed hours by shortening the plane's travel hours to only 38 minutes, compared to the normal 45 minute ride. Oh, and for the airline too! The jumbo jet departed even at no full capacity. I noticed that we were only few passengers in the said flight. Wow, that was incredible! A round of applause for that!

However, the 38 minutes actual air travel time took us more than two hours in effect to reach the destination due to the delay in the plane's take off, just couldn't bear it! The said airline's compensatory action did not resolve the flight delay issues, not at all!

Secondly, the van that transported us to Caticlan for another two hours patiently waited for the plane's arrival despite the delay. That was another surprise! But we had to share the van with a couple of passengers who likewise made similar transfer arrangements.

The 2-hour trip to Caticlan was smooth with the lush greenery and tropical plants in full bloom as if welcoming me for the second time.

Caticlan's jetty port terminal seemed to have been well developed compared to my first step on the town's sea port.

The hotel staff and driver warmly welcomed us and carried our luggage to the motorboat which was already waiting for us to transport to the Boracay island.

It was like my own humble boat as we were the only passengers,. It was so comfortable compared to other motor boats where passenger seats have to be filled up before the boat leaves.

As a matter of fact, the boat's poor tired crew were even confident to take a nap while cruising the harbor!

The 15 minute motor boat ride was splendid! Nature spoke to me and I was filled with gratefulness.

I should say, the transfer fees paid for under the package tour worked so right! As they say, it really pays to pay for comfort and convenience! Ton of thanks!

Finally, we've reached the Boracay Island with some rain showers but it didn't spoil our first night. Immediately, we went out to explore the place and I was just so amazed of the throngs of tourists in the area mostly Asians (Koreans, Taiwanese, Chinese and Japanese), Europeans and Americans, despite the fact that it was no longer the summer months in a tropical place like Boracay. The island's commercial center where shopping and dining areas are situated appeared to have already been explored by all kinds of inhabitants. Name it and I thought every race in the world is being represented. You get to see various kinds of relaxation services too and everything you tried is always for a fee but very affordable. Apart from finding quality handicrafts in the island (e.g. handmade bags and jewelry made of shells, abaca, pearls), you can also try getting a henna tattoo or a beautiful hand painted shirt.

There are also expert massage treatments, bars, internet cafes and other beach activities (e.g. scuba diving, snorkeling, sail and banana boating, kite boarding, jet ski, windsurfing, among others). In fact, a man offered us for a boat ride to other nearby islands for only $25 bucks for a group of 5 (after applying my price negotiation prowess!). Awesome!

Since it was late in the evening already, I had to call it a day and take a rest for the next exciting adventures, the remaining days of my getaway!

See you guys on my next blog, more about Boracay!

A Brief Tour of Niagara Falls – A Remarkable Feel!

Featured Article – By Wenn I.

My long time good friends back home were given the opportunity to visit NYC for the nth time but never got the chance to go upstate (Buffalo) to take a peek of the world-famous Niagara Falls. Last month, some of them who are leaders of local church organizations attended a 3-day conference in New Jersey. Among the delegates to the said conference were my friends who are known for their exemplary contributions and service to their respective local communities in Cagayan de Oro City, namely Judge Evelyn and husband Engr. Kelly, Atty. Rene, the couple Dodo and Helen Sescon, Jun Dominguez and Ric Santillan. Surely, the conference itself for all of them was a once in a lifetime event as it was a gathering of heads and active members of religious organizations throughout the globe.

After the said conference, they spent some more weeks for shopping, tours and more getaways. While in NYC, my humble place in Ozone Park served as the home base of most of them while they were busy looking around the beautiful and scenic spots in the city and visiting houses of other home town buddies who were eager to invite and bond with them too. It was a worthwhile experience on their part as they have been able to see some of their former town mates and also got invited to take a few day tours to nearby NYC's tourist destinations like the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Trump Tower and other towers in Manhattan, Rockefeller Center and the St. Patrick's Cathedral. They had the chance to visit my local parish, the Holy Child Jesus Church, for the Sunday service and got to have a picture of the church premises.

The highlight of their NY tour was the trip to Niagara Falls. We were all very excited and looked forward to spending this trip a more enjoyable one. As a matter of fact, we left at the wee hours of the morning as I wanted them to relish every minute of the travel so they will forget the fatigue it could bring due to long hours drive. We were joined by other friends, namely Totoy and Melet Lantoria, Cora and Ding, who were very generous to share us their time and treasure. They drove us to wherever we would want to stop in going to and coming from our destination. As usual, picture taking was always part of the fun not only because of the amazing scenery that the state of New York could offer to its visitors but mostly of the group's spirited personalities which made the camaraderie and the trip more lively!

We had to stop by at some of the beautiful parks and enjoyed frolicking under the spring time's heat of the sun, savoring the smell of the leaves and barks of the trees around us, listening to the tweets of the birds and filling our hungry stomachs with some prepared delicious food. As a matter of fact, I have an anecdote to share which merely popped up out of nowhere while we were busy preparing the food on one of the vacant tables in the park. I asked them if they would like to eat ham. Cora, one of our van mates, replied with another question: “Is it Baboy, Wen?” I retorted back innocently, “No, it's pig”! (For those who are not so familiar with the vernacular term, “Baboy” and “Pig” are the same. Baboy is the Tagalog term for pig in the Philippines). There was giggling and laughing to our hearts content!

Finally, we arrived at our destination after 8 long hours but never felt any weariness at all. Immediately, we checked in at the Holiday Inn Hotel which fortunately is just a walking distance to the dockyard of the boat called the "Maid of the Mist". We left some of our belongings in the hotel so we could scan and roam around the area.

So as not to waste the remaining hours of the day, we rushed immediately to the place where the boat's located. Only four of us braved the ride and were able to experience the delight that one can get from riding the maid of the mist, enjoying the water rushing all around while exploring the roar of the Niagara Falls. Oh, some of our companions really missed the fun particularly the view from the Canada side! It was surrounded by the mighty Falls, good we were provided with a raincoat for protection, otherwise we would be soaked with water, just like the rest who preferred not to wear the jackets so they could feel the coolness of nature even though they appeared like mga “basang sisiw” literally ("wet chick") at the end of the ride!

It was an amazing and thrilling experience since as we get to see the roaring Falls up close, it gets even more mightier! Truly incredible! There was an added bonus because of the colorful rainbow appearing behind the Falls. No wonder tourists kept on visiting the place just to get to see the gigantic amazing Falls!

The following day, we hopped inside a boutique souvenir store called “Maids in the Mist” where we bought some “pasalubong” or presents for folks back home.

A funny incident happened once again while we were inside the said boutique store. While Judge Evelyn was so preoccupied looking for an awesome shirt for her lovely “unica hija”, she handed over and entrusted me her shoulder bag which was filled with her very important travel documents (eg. passports and tickets) and her treasures (cash and jewelries) to top it all. After buying all the things she wanted from the store, I was surprised to see her face looking so worried. So, I got worried too. I thought she was not feeling well or perhaps not happy with the things she bought from the store. But there was something bothering her that she got into a panic, we were told she couldn't find her bag. As a matter of fact, she asked me about it and in all candidness, I merely assured her that her bag is probably just inside the store and no one will get it. So, everyone helped in looking for her bag all over the store. While Judge Evelyn was closely scrutinizing the people inside, probably using her legal and investigative intuition, she saw this woman in the mirror standing and bringing along her bag. And guess who the woman was………Lo and behold! It was me! I was carrying my bag on my left arm and hers on my right. Oh my gosh, was that a minor slip of memory or sheer senior moments for both of us! No one even remembered that an event happened earlier before the said lost and found incident. That was hilarious which made all of us laughed and laughed and laughed!

As we were about to depart the place, we reminisced of the happy things which happened during the previous day. We had to rest for a while providing our generous driver laughter and the energy to move on to another destination….the shopping spree! On our way home, we stopped by at Woodbury Factory Outlets, one of NY's largest shopping outlets. They were amused to acquire some of the branded quality items at competitive prices, lower than those being traded in NY's Manhattan area and even way far lower than the prices back in the Philippines for the same products.

While it was a brief vacation for all of us, the fond memories still lingers. I was deeply touched and happy that some of them had chosen to stay in my humble place. After New York, each one has its own itinerary on hand. Some proceeded to other states in the U.S. to visit relatives and friends and I am sure it was a non-stop fun for them! They are now back in their home country safe and sound, with God's blessings and probably still having that remarkable feel of the Niagara Falls!

Persons Are Gifts….

“Persons are gifts…..they come all wrapped so differently, some so loosely, others so tightly, but wrappings are not the gifts”…., and so the song goes. A nun taught us this beautiful song in our teens and its simple lyrics struck me more than its melody which is pleasing to the ears as well. I’d like to thank her for this, wherever she’s now.

We’ve met interesting people in our lives and we’re just grateful for the opportunity to have encountered them, right? There are some of us who have remained faithful despite the distance and the absence of visibility (if there’s such a thing) and keep the friendship open, but others would simply disappear without leaving a word. Friends make us happy, they put smile to our faces, frowns and wrinkle lines as well when they start to be nasty once in a while. Generally, however, they are gifts to us by God.

The past few holidays (Christmas and New Year’s Day) were the appropriate times for us to express and send warm greetings to our friends, old and new, either via electronic mail or other means of communications. Greetings that would make them feel that they are treasured and remembered particularly during the said important occasions.

Aside from sending greetings, one of my favorite things to do is wrapping gifts. It’s part of the fun of gift giving and I enjoy doing it even if the gift is not as expensive as the rich and famous would hand out to their family and friends. In these austere times, there are also inexpensive wrapping materials available in any store. We just have to be creative and resourceful. In my case, I found some of my leftover wrapping papers, including my favored japanese paper and the colorful glittering strings which give a “pop” to the gift.

Take a look!

Would you believe that some of these wrapped gifts have not been sent out yet? Hmmm….busy body huh?

It would be good if we give without expecting something in return. That’s a nobler and genuine way of giving. However, we feel glad when we receive something too. Just like kids, we are also excited to open our gifts and see what’s inside. We all would love to receive gifts regardless of what it is. And we should be grateful for whatever is given us.

Don’t mind the wrappings and the gifts….it’s the THOUGHT that counts anyway. The givers, the people behind it so to speak are the true gifts to us by God, indeed!

By the way, the song ends like this: “…We are all persons, we are all gifts, so let’s have a grand exchange of gifts”.

p.s.

To satiate your curiosity, some of the humble gifts received by me were: two-toned (violet/black) one shoulder DKNY dress, Abercombie & Fitch summer tube dress, high-heeled brown snake skin Naturalizer shoes, Vera Wang printed scarf, Kenneth Cole white cardigan, Gap striped shirt blouse, Hollister white blouse shirt, evening sequined bag, 2 shawls, pin, candles, semi-precious stone pink bracelet, stainless utensils, a mirror, fashion biggie ring, Nine West bootie, U.S. Polo Assoc. shirt, chocolates and nuts (Almond Thins with cranberry dried fruit), Eddie Bauer socks, and a host of Bath and Body works and Victoria Secret beauty stuffs.

Wow! What can I say….

To my dear family and friends, thank you so much for the thoughtfulness!

Simbang Gabi – A Rewarding Experience

Simbang Gabi ( literally translated in English as “Night or Evening Mass”) is famous to many Catholics worldwide, especially to Filipinos. As mentioned in previous blog posts on the subject, Simbang Gabi is also better known in other countries as “Misa de Aguinaldo”, Misa de Gallo or “Dawn Mass”. Traditionally, it is being undertaken during the Advent season of the liturgical year in preparation for the Christmas season. Simbang Gabi normally takes nine days of novena masses in the wee hours of the morning (about 4:00 a.m.) of 16th December and ends on the eve of 24th December.

In the U.S.,especially in NYC and particularly for Filipino migrants, the Simbang Gabi is celebrated during night time by various parish communities. One of the parishes which observe the said tradition is the Holy Child Jesus Parish in Queens where Filipino parishioners are treated to a spiritual enlightenment via the full 9-day Simbang Gabi. But the said celebrations was highlighted by the Annual one-day Simbang Gabi held at St. Patrick's Cathedral, whose overall chairman for this year's event was Linda Bolano.

The traditional Simbang Gabi held at the Philippine Consulate is something unique as it gathered various organizations in one roof, celebrating and completing the 9-day novena masses. This arrangement dates back to 25 years ago and it has been a tradition ever since by Filipino-Americans that even the Archdiocese of New York re-considered its earlier decision to terminate the holding of the said masses in the said official venue. The Archdiocese had probably recognized the importance of holding the said masses at the Philippine Consulate as the latter had served as the place where majority of Filipinos could claim it as their own, particularly with the “parols” or Christmas lanterns being hanged and lighted up, thus the feeling as if they're back home. The celebration of Christmas at the Consulate (or the newly coined “Pasko sa Konsulado”) actually serves not only as a soft mantle or a temporary cure for nostalgia while far from loved ones but it also provides everyone the opportunity to meditate and ponder on the role of the Blessed Mother in their faith and to prepare spiritually for Christ's coming. The singing and chanting of Christmas carols, the bonding among fellow countrymen and the food being shared thereafter are simply add-ons for those who attend the said events.

The Holy Child Jesus/St. Mary Gates of Heaven Choir group was invited to be part of the sponsoring organizations on the 7th day by providing liturgical music for the said event. As indicated in previous articles about choir organization, liturgical music is an essential ingredient in any Eucharistic celebration. Aside from the fun that you get from singing, you also double your points as far as gaining graces and indulgences. In addition to the homily delivered by Msgr. Oscar Aquino, JCD during the celebration, the Philippine Consul General to NYC, Ambassador Mario de Leon likewise emphasized on the need for his fellow countrymen to continue their generosity for the welfare of their native land, especially those in need. On the other hand, DCG Tess Dizon-de Vega shared her thoughts on the relevance of Simbang Gabi and mentioned briefly about the life of St. Lucy, whose feast day happened to be on the same day.

(Note that the above photos are strictly for exclusive use of www.myusefultips.com, hence not for reproduction).

Among the sponsoring organizations on the 7th day were: Saladmaster, Nabuenos, USA, Fiesta Auto Insurance, San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila in NY, Inc., Team United Maharlika Foundation, Inc., Filipino International Community of America, University of Santo Tomas Nurses' Alumni Association, Pangasinan Association USA, Inc. and the Our Lady of Manaoag Society in America, whose President Nida Cortez actively participated. One of the sponsors for the 6th day of the Simbang Gabi was the Ay Borongan Association where their choir performed during the said momentous occasion (see photo below).

After the event, everyone went home with renewed spirit, more joyful and full of hope for the coming years.

A Winter In Fall – An Amazing Experience!

Fall and Winter seasons of the year are entirely separate and distinct from each other. Fall is sort of a prelude to winter. It provides everyone living in temperate climates an opportunity to prepare for the coldest time of the year.

In the U.S. for instance, people would start changing their wardrobes, storing their summer clothes and dusting off their boxes of old and relatively new but unused winter clothing. Some older people who can afford to move to warmer places would opt to spend winter time in the said places, whereas those who have no choice for lack of affluence in life, have to struggle and learn to adapt to the situation.

The same situation happens in plants and animals. They have have their own way of planning and saving for the “rainy days”, so to speak. Because of their natural instincts, some animals like birds during fall would start migrating to other warmer places so they can survive. While other animals like the squirrels would remain and hide in any kind of winter shelters with their food which have been gathered during the late summer and fall seasons. Even plants too. In fall season, leaves of most of the trees wither and disappear, leaving only the trunk and branches which are most of the times covered with snow and ice during winter time.

Today, the east coast of U.S.A, experienced an unusually winter-like weather in fall time. It is a rare occurrence as normally snow fall specifically in New York does not happen, especially in the month of October, which is approximately still 2 months away from the first day of winter time which is on December 22nd. This happening may not appear strange to some but for me, there's some sort of a weird feeling. Not sure if you've read my blog in March this year, entitled “The First Taste of Summer in Spring Time….(see link http://www.myusefultips.com/?cat=439), we likewise experienced a summery feeling on the 18th of March, which was still winter based on the 4 seasons' calendar. Thus, for this year alone, we have effectively encountered an early summer and an early winter! What a mere coincidence! An amazing experience indeed!

Nevertheless, I simply loved watching the heavy snow flurries this morning falling down on my umbrella. It was beautiful to look at as they danced gracefully to the tunes of the wind and rain!

While the snow fall in NYC was pretty friendly, it was a different case in other parts of the east coast which were badly hit by a powerful snow storm.

In any case, for whatever scientific explanations there might be about the said rare occurrences, let's just hope that it yields positive results for all of us.

Based on weather forecasts, the temperature in the days ahead would be normal again, hopefully in its 50s!

Take care everyone and enjoy your Halloween night!

Love Is In The Air – What’s the Big Deal?

As the song goes, Love is in the air, everywhere I look around, Love is in the air……

February 14 or Valentine’s Day (V-Day) is here once again! So, what’s the big deal?

For couples, partners and lovers, this is just the time of year where you could have that awesome valid excuse to go out, spend money and freely express your love and affection for one another. Absoultely, it is wonderful to be in love!

For busy bodies and workaholics, the V-Day is something special, so special that it’s only this day that you get the chance to take time out and tell the person in your whole life how important they are to you! Funny but true!

For ladies and girls exclusively dating with someone, this is the chance to clamor for special treatment from your boys, otherwise dump them if they reason out or if they ask for something in return coz they’re not and they will not be your right “man” in the next phase of your life. Sorry guys, when you want to woo your girl, do it in a right way and to the best of your ability and capability!

For single ladies out there, it is okay to be single and there’s nothing wrong about it especially if you’re happy with your life. If you still have the urge to hunt someone, go out from that shell and socialize. Who knows, an all girls-night out on V-Day would be the night you've been waiting for! A prince charming may see you there or perhaps the ngiht could be even a hell full of fun than being with a male someone with so much pretense and who can’t even engage in an intelligent conversation at all. If you simply want to stay home, keep yourself productive and treat yourself with a nice book to read or go out and buy a bunch of roses and chocolates for you!

For haters of V-day, I understand what you’re going through. You may be someone who have loved and lost, just had an ugly break-up, making you cringe about “cupid” things and cynical about love during this time of year. There is nothing to fret and worry about, there are better gorgeous men waiting for you, so get out of hibernation mode!

For advocates of anti-consumerism/commercialization, this is another opportunity for you to shout to the whole world that you do respect love and commitment but loathe the negative sides of a commercialized, media-sensationalized and a fairy-tale like concept of love. With your campaign, people from greeting cards, floral, chocolates, pet owners, stuffed toy industries to restaurant, theaters, hotel and motel magnates would be pressured to start to think and have at least that social responsibility in their businesses.

For me? Yeah, what about me? Oh, my V-day would be low-key just like the previous years, see this? O_O so happy! I let the day pass greeting my loved ones sans cards and all. A mere call and a note is enough for me. Everyday is a V-day for me anyway. Being grateful and appreciating someone’s love and kindness should be done often and not only for a day. Anyway, V-day for a day will be over and what about the other days?

For all of us! Let’s be reminded that LOVE is a wonderful gift from GOD , so let’s share this gift with others and spend it in a Godly way with prudence and respect. Happy heart's day to all!

Managing Post-Christmas and New Year’s Presentation – Tips and Thoughts

The first day of class after the Christmas break was something to look forward to. Just like me, the kids probably had a happy excited feeling about their post Christmas and New Year pageant, particularly those who were in the main cast of the presentation. Before the play date, I was quite jittery which made me entertain negative thoughts about classes being cancelled due to impending snow storms, and therefore the play may no longer be pursued which could make us all frustrated. Anyway, I shunned the said negative tendencies and prepared myself for any eventualities.

Come the big day, 9th of January, thank you God it was a sunny day and no snow fall! I was surprised to see most of the kids already in the auditorium on time, as had been told. More amazing was that they were on their “something red” attire, i.e. red dress, red blouse, red tees, red shirts, red sweat shirts and cardigans. They made sure that they looked their best and I was just wide-eyed and fascinated at the looks of these young creatures!

Similar to any of the organizers, together with my colleagues, we made sure that everything was assembled before the play. The audience platform was starting to fill up and the parents were as anxious to see their kids being part of the show as they came in early too. As a matter of fact, they helped us arranged the seats for them. What a kind gesture from the parents!

We were doubly working hard to get everything in place, from stage production, logistics, costumes and the program agenda that made me forget I would act as the emcee of the play. Noteworthy to mention were the Christmas lanterns made by the kids themselves and which were part of the stage decor. Said lanterns were patterned after my own lantern at home. Here, take a look: (photos in this post are properties of myusefultips.com and therefore not for reproduction by the readers)

The presentation went well, as planned although there were some areas which could have been improved better. But you know, kids are kids, they are playful and not professional child actors and actresses. It was fun seeing them do their part from the main cast to the group chorus singing "Glory to God" and "Yes, Yes Lord" in four languages (English, Spanish, German and Polish) and with action too, it was just lovely as well. The narrators of the play were awesome, the Virgin Mary did very well and of course Julius Caesar, how can I forget him , even with a brief acting part, he made an impact on the audience!

While it made me proud to see young people getting involved with the school’s activity, what the kids did, however, made the parents more proud of them. The parents liked the play to which we’re grateful! After the play, the kids were treated to munchkins dunkin donuts and fruit juice courtesy of my colleagues, so thoughtful of them to share with us.

In any form of teaching or sharing knowledge to anyone, particularly to young minds and hearts, I would say that visual presentations like a stage play through music or drama could be an effective medium of instruction. Christmas and New Year are just the perfect seasons to do this kind of activity. The message will be sent across easily and effectively, and the children would have a vivid memory about the play when they grow up. This is one great way to get the kids excited about God’s word, HIS humble beginnings and HIS love for us!

My Useful Tips

Category Archives: Holidays