Tag: beautiful life

Life Lately | 02

This should have been posted last August 01, 2020 around 8:50PM.

Whenever people ask me kung kumusta na ba ako, I always replied, “Okay lang.” “Okay lang naman ako.”

And someone asked me, “musta ka naman dyan?” And I replied, “Kumusta na nga ba ‘ko?”

That hits me. Kumusta na nga ba ako in the real sense of it.

So here’ s my life lately.

It’s almost half of 2020. August na. Maya-maya lang 30 years old na ‘ko. (OMG!)

So yeah, how’s my life at the start of the year? Or how’ s my 2020 so far? A lot happened! As in! Pandemic. Lockdown. New normal. New lifestyle. New life routine. Closure from the past. And everything else.

Start of the year is a blast. Why? Because someone important to us came back. Inay is so happy. Tatay is here. Finally! After 10 years I think of not being with us, andito na siya ulit. Bit awkward at first, kasi hindi ako sanay na he’s around. But as long as inay is happy, then I’m good. I know I’ll get used to it soon and I know I’ll get there.

Taal happened.

Then COVID-19 happened. Damn. I never imagined that I would get to experience this global pandemic. You know, lockdown. Minimal movements, a mask is a must. Mass gathering is a no-no. No leisure activities. No travel diaries this 2020, I guess. From ECQ to GCQ to MECQ and MGCQ, oh boy name it! This 2020 is crazy!

And then this someone from the past who got to say sorry and tell his reason why left back then. Though his reason is still quite vague to me, it’s fine. As long as he is sorry for what he’d done, it’s all good. I just want him to be happy.

And I’m starting to open up to other people. I can now somehow tell my stories to them bit by bit.

All in all, I would say that I’m doing totally fine. Though may mga changes sa life routine ko, like hindi ako everyday nakakauwi sa bahay dahil nga sa COVID-19 na ‘to, it’ s okay. Kahit na wala masyadong gala or wala talaga, okay lang. Kahit napostponed yung pagpunta ko sa concert ng Ben&Ben sa Clark, okay lang. Kahit na walang travel goals, okay lang. Kahit na wala pa rin akong jowa, okay lang. (HAHAHAHA) Kahit na mukhang dito ko sa apartment, magse-celebrate ng birthday ko, okay lang.

There are still a lot of things to be grateful for. Walang nagkakasakit sa family ko. I still have my job. I still able to pay my bills. Seriously, I’m happy and well.

So, for the question “Kumusta ka na nga ba?”, my answer is, though may mga moments na nadi-disappoint ako, napu-frustrate ako at times, umiiyak ako minsan, I’m doing well.

This twenty-something gal is still happy, still loved and still beyond grateful! 💛

P. S. This 2020, I also got my first tattoo. (on my next blog soon)

Rookie of The Rockies 2017

Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.” – Barry Finlay

It”s been a week since my friends and I went hiking. We climbed the peak of Mt. Maculot, one cold Saturday morning.

Mt. Maculot is situated in Cuenca, Batangas, which is about 947m tall. It has three parts- The Rockies, Summit and Grotto. You can reach these three destinations through traverse day-hike. While some just took the route to the Rockies only, we decided to choose the Rockies-Summit-Grotto traverse and it cost us Php 800.00 for the tour guide.

We arrived at the town of Cuenca around five in the morning. We had our registration and we also met our tour guide, Kuya Elmer. It is our first time hiking as high as Mt. Maculot. What we have in this hiking are just one loaf of bread, bottles of water, chips, body strength and courage.

We had our prayers first, for our safety and guidance. We started our trek about 6AM, and our first destination was The Rockies. The trails is really challenging, it will test your stamina real hard. I lost count how many times we took a rest, and while we are resting, sabi samin ni ate na nagtitinda ng suman, “naku pag narating nyo na ang tuktok ng Rockies, sabihin nyo naman worth it.” At yun naman ang gusto namin, kaya tuloyy ang trekking.

Hindi birong pawis ang nailabas ko dito, agang work-out. When we hiked, the weather was not so fine, medyo umaambon, so sabi namin walang sunrise kasi maulap. But we keep on praying na sana pagdating namin sa taas may clearing and ta-daa! Yaaay! Worth it nga!

You’ll have a perfect view of Taal Lake. Ang sarap sa feeling! Ito yung pakiramdam na pagkatapos ng paghihirap, walang kapantay na saya ang malalasap mo. (Literal, ito yun mga bes!)

At sobrang naappreciate ko at natutuwa ako sa mga tao na nakakasalubong namin na naghahike din. They’re saying “Good morning, Ingat kayo and God Bless!” They are so friendly and approachable. All you have to do is wear your genuine smile and you’ll have a circle of friends in just a snap.

After Rockies, Summit naman. But before going to Summit, we had our lunch first to have our energy back. Going to summit, the stuggle is real. Parang four times yung hirap kesa papuntang Rockies. Dahil nga sa medyo hindi kagandahan ang panahon, medyo umulan ang foggy pa, kaya talagang maputik at madulas yung daraanan. Grabe talagaaaaa!! I slide and stumble twice because of the thick mud and slippery trail. I felt like my knees are shaking because of tiredness and maybe muscle pain. Thank you to our tour guide, if not for him, I think I could not make it.

Lesson learned: Before you hike, prepare your body well. Do some stretching to avoid body pain.

After an hour or two, here we come Summit. Lamig!

Final destination: Grotto. Pagbaba ng Summit, super rapelling talaga ang kailang gawin. Dahil sobrang tarik ng dadaanan, kailangang humawak sa mga lubid para makababa. Konting lakad pa ang ginawa namin at Grotto na. You’ve got the perfect view of the whole town. Sobrang relaxing!

Pababa sa grotto, sementado na ang daan siguro para mas madali sa mga bumibisita lalo na kapag Holy Week para sa Station of the Cross.

At 2:30 PM, matagumpay kaming nakababa ng Bundok Maculot. Sobrang nakakapagod, talagang mauubos ang lahat ng lakas mo pero sobra din nyang worth it. Sobrang fulfilled ka pagbaba mo ng bundok. Talagang napakaganda naman nga ng kalikasan.

Lahat ng pawis, putik, tawa at saya ay babaunin ko sa aking alaala. Napakagandang experience ang pinalasap sakin ng Maculot.

Nakaya ko, kaya mo din. Conquer Maculot and fall in love in it’s beauty.