Freak accident, flash flood and faith

Davao city experienced not one but two 'major major' tragedies yesterday, the 28th day of June. First was the freak accident that happened along Mc Arthur high way, Matina, wherein 4 kinds of vehicle rammed with each other resulting to 3 casualties and multiple injuries. It happened at around 3 in the afternoon. I was at my cousin's place at that time when my uncle told us that there was an accident along Mc Arthur high way. When I learned about it, the first thing that comes to my mind was my daughter. It's already time to go home from school and they usually pass along Mc Arthur high way. I tried sending her a text message but I remembered she did not bring her cellphone that day in school. I was so worried that I immediately went home to check and was so relieved when I saw her playing with her cousins. Later as I watched TV from the local news, I learned that a dump truck carrying 50 sacks of cement was the culprit behind the accident. The brakes of the truck failed so it rammed 3 other vehicles including a bus, a public utility vehicle and a taxi. The impact was so strong that it literally crushed the two smaller vehicles. Two persons died instantly and later on the driver of the PUJ also died early this morning. May their souls rest in peace.

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

Another terrible news that happened yesterday was the flash flood. The sad part was that the people were caught unaware. It happened too fast that it took more than 20 lives and more were still missing. It was around 10 pm last night when rain began to pour heavily. I am still awake at that time, because I am chatting with my sister now based in USA. There was thunder and lightnings and I told her I had to cut short our chatting session because I have to unplug some electrical connections. Little did I know that some neighboring villages were already submerge in water. Residential places turned instantly like a river. It damages lots of lives and properties in just a short span of time. I did not know about the incident until morning when I was awaken by my friend's text message asking me if I am alright. I replied yes and asked her why she was asking me that. So she told me about the flood and it is only then that I learned the truth. I think this was the worst flood that happened to our city. Cars were swept away, appliances, personal belongings..etc. I can still vividly recall the super typhoon Ondoy last September of 2009 where I did experienced personally, because I am in Manila at that time staying with my brother's house in Pasig City. I have to flee towards a cousin's place in Batangas City and I was left with no choice but to wade through neck deep murky flood waters of Pasig just to get away from the flood. It was the worst experience so far for me. Seeing cars piled on top of another along the streets, it was indeed a horrible sight. Moreover, while we were trying to get to the bus terminal, we could not find any place to eat and we also had a hard time finding a restroom. Now, I could not believed it did happened to Davao too. Luckily, the place that I resided was not much affected by the flood but I really pity those families that lost not only properties but loveones as well. It was just a good thing that the city government of Davao was so prompt in helping the victims, especially the city mayor. Although there had been a lot of issues regarding the drainage system of the city and most people believed that it was the major reason why the said flash flood happened without a warning. Anyway as a dabawenyo, I think this is not the right time to point fingers especially in these trying times. It did happened to other places too, and I guess it is about time that all people, be it from Davao or not will indeed do something to preserve our environment or our mother earth to be exact. What goes around comes around, so if we do not help in our own little way, it is most likely that floods and other calamities are expected to come in the near future.

On the lighter side however, inspite of what happened, dabawenyos still stayed optimistic. Perhaps it is because of the people's faith in the Lord. In fact today is the feast of St. Peter and people trooped towards San Pedro Church to join the celebration. This is one of the oldest church and landmark situated mainly at the heart of the city. The flood did not prevent the people from attending mass and the church was still overflowing. Surely there are still a lot of things to be thankful for. So after the mass this morning ( my daughter and I attended the 11am mass ), free lunch were distributed, though you just have to endure the long lines of people just to get it. Nonetheless, I hope we will all join together to pray for all the victims as well as their families.

From Drop Box

Weekend fun at Passig Agro Eco Park

Yesterday we had an opportunity to visit the Passig Agro Eco Park located at Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. It is primarily a government owned project by the provincial government of Davao del Sur. The project is still on going but we did appreciate the place already. It was like a man made island where they put some extra large rubber tires as its foundation. And since it was an island, there is no electricity available except for those solar panels that they installed for lighting up the lights at night. Grilling and cooking food is strictly prohibited because of those solar panels which restricts naked flames nearby. If planning to go to the island, you must bring enough food and drinks because there is no store nor restaurant for now. It is really a surprise for us that there are a lot of nice places to visit which is just so near Davao City. We reached Barangay Bato in less than an hour from Davao, and from the entrance along the high way we just looked for a nice parking space and took a 5 minute walk towards the port leading to the island. They also constructed a wooden bridge for their visitors comfort and the view of the mangroves which they really preserved is really awesome.

Upon reaching the port, there were little boats waiting to bring visitors towards the island. They usually charge 10 pesos per person which will take about 5 minutes more or less to get there. Since it was just 7am, the view was so breathtaking and I cannot help but do a random clicking with my digital camera. It was indeed nature at its finest. My friends and I really enjoyed the trip.

The island was just small but it is really rich in biodiversity. If only I have an underwater camera, I could have took a lot of good underwater pictures. Large starfishes are simply everywhere and my daughter even tried to grabbed one just to know what it feels like. We also saw a sea snake and some jelly fishes swimming freely. It was also cool to see different forms of fishes which I just usually see inside the aquarium. They also planted some dwarf coconuts in the island for that really tropical ambiance. Anyway here are some of the pictures that I took there. Hope you will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed taking these photos.

A glimpse of Davao City

Today is the feast of St. John the baptist and we had an unexpected visitor at home. My first cousin from my father's side came in to visit us because she had been in Davao attending a seminar in line with her job. She just took the chance to meet her relatives here since she haven't seen us for more than a decade already. My cousin was so surprised how things had changed a lot. In fact she got lost upon going to our house. When we finally meet each other again, we were so excited updating with each others lives that she decided to stay for another night so we could also tour her around the city before going back to her hometown. So the day was basically intended for a quick city tour with my sister and I acted as her guide. Here are the places we visited earlier with the pictures that I took myself..

We went to a durian candy factory outlet called Durian World located at Mc Arthur high way, Matina. Durian fruit is abundant in our city, that is why Durian candies and delicacies are also a popular pasalubong or treats for family and friends. My cousin was so happy because she bought her durian goodies at a much cheaper price compared to buying it from the mall.

Next we brought her to the Shrine of Infant Jesus of Prague located at Shrine Hills Matina. This shrine is known to be miraculous. I can really attest to that since most of my prayer request were granted by making a prayer of petition here. We also decided to attend the afternoon mass and was really inspired by the priest's homily. The place is really solemn so there is no distractions at all and you could really feel the presence of God during the mass.

Our next stop was at Jack's Ridge located also in Shrine Hills. It is just a walking distance from the Shrine of Infant Jesus of Prague. The view was so breathtaking from the top and you could really appreciate the beauty of the city. The place is a also a known tourist spot, with nice restaurants, swimming pool, piano bar, coffee shop, function halls and a souvenir shop, surely, it is one place in Davao that is worth visiting.

My cousin wanted to buy some souvenirs so we brought her to Aldevinco Shopping Center located at CM Recto Ave..also one of the places which is popular to tourists and local visitors alike. Here you can find items which are really affordable and can even haggle with the price. Lots of money changers outlets too, for a fast and hassle free currency conversion.

After shopping for souvenir items, we decided to take our dinner at Mang Inasal. I like their chicken barbeque and dipping sauce, the taste is just right. This restaurant has also a nice homey ambiance. Just the right place when you want extra loads of rice because of their unlimited rice promo. :P

After dinner we did have a grand time at the Ayala Abreeza mall. It is the biggest mall in Davao at present, which opened just last month. We did a little shopping too. I really like this mall because it is very spacious and you can find shops which is fairly new to the people of Davao.

After spending more than an hour of roaming around Abreeza, we were so tired that we wanna revive our energy by trying out starbucks coffee this time. So yummy that we still does not want to go home and instead decided to go to People's Park as our last destination for the day.

So that's the end of our quick tour and we went home almost past midnight already..and mind you, I still manage to write this blog..even if I am sleepy now..So see you next post everyone..Hope you enjoyed my recent post..Thanks for reading :)

xoxo

Craving for chicharon with sukang pinakurat

Wow.. who could resist this mouth-watering pork cracklings a.k.a. chicharon baboy paired with sukang pinakurat ( spicy native vinegar dip ). Been having food cravings since yesterday and this one is definitely fulfilling. I just made my own version of sukang pinakurat, since I haven't bought the commercial one. Here's how I made it. I just added vinegar, dash of salt, cayenne powder, paprika, white pepper powder, sugar, crushed garlic in a bowl, mix it with fork and viola..a homemade native vinegar dip with a personal touch. Come on. Try it at home. Who knows it can fill your cravings too :).

The joys of blogging

It is 10:49 pm..practically my day is not yet over. I wanted to write a new post for my blog site but my mind seemed a bit lazy to think. So I just decided to browse some other bloggers and read their posts too. Being a newbie, I wanted to learn more and dig deeper as to why other people enjoyed blogging. I mean gee, it is really not easy to think of something to write in just a snap of a finger. Sometimes the brain will also yell..hey you! stop it I'm not in the mood right now! :)..Well, on my part though I have been enjoying so far, even if my brain is in it's resting mode right now, I was still able to write this one. It was just a pity that I have not think about this a long time ago, I could have blog like crazy already. It was a sort of like an experiment at first but I enjoyed it a lot, in fact I changed my template design a lot of times already and it was a thrill adding some new elements. Gosh, I could become a computer whiz in no time at all :P . Yet I know I still have a lot to learn and hopefully I could really gather a lot of readers on my blogs. Just the joy of sharing to people some pieces from my thoughts can really be exciting. So I am looking forward to lots of new blog posts in the future..but for now i guess its time to say goodnight. Being sleep deprived is not good, I maybe able to blog about it too one day. Till next time.. xoxo

Food trip @ Nanay Bebengs

When my friends and I wanted to have a bonding moment, we usually wanna meet in a restaurant especially when we do not have a lot of time to spare. One of our favorite bonding moment is an eat all you can food trip. But with all the buffet restaurants popping out like mushrooms nowadays, its really hard to decide where to go. Just recently, we decided to dine at Nanay Bebengs. This is one of the first restaurants in Davao City that offer buffet dining and it is one of my favorite too. They have a wide variety of food choices which really caters to filipino taste . I so love their kare kare and grilled 'panga'..not to mention those salads and desserts that are simply yummy. Just thinking about all the food makes me crave for more ( you can forget your diet for awhile :P ). I can really give two thumbs up to their cooks. It's one dining experience that we really would like to do again in the near future.

My precious flower girl

The month of June was considered a wedding season. Lots of girls wanted to be called a " june bride ". For me, june is a very special month. Not only it is my birth month, but also because my real name was derived from it. Anyway, this week, I attended two wedding ceremonies. First was the golden wedding of my parents in law and the second was the wedding of my first cousin. On both occasions, my daughter acted as the flower girl. It was really a great pleasure seeing my kid walk down the aisle in her cute little basket full of flowers. No amount of money could pay for it. I wish all little girls will be given a chance to become a flower girl even once in their life. For sure it would be a very unforgettable moment for them. It was all worth it. :)

As a flower girl during her grandparents Golden Wedding taken at Sta. Ana Church, Davao city on 14th June, 2011.

As a flower girl during my first cousin's wedding on 16th June, 2011 at San Pablo Church, Davao City.

Taken some few years ago at a friend's wedding. She's 4 yrs old in this photo.

My ways to save on school expenses

Whew..week one of the my back to school fever was already over..So far, the transition from summer vacation to school time was kinda smooth sailing. Perhaps I couldn't have done it without much preparation on my part. As a single mom, I am really so particular about saving up and trying to stretch every peso a little bit longer. With all the "F" and "B" parents are encountering ( I mean fees and bills, not food and beverage haha ), we really have to be creative enough to think of ways to save. So, here are some of my tips to save on school expenses.

1. I usually make two kinds of list just before the school starts. My first list was for all the things to do. Having a to do list is an effective way to getting yourself on the right track of doing things right and not forgetting anything. Sometimes my list also comes with the budget if an entry needs to be paid. The second list was the things that I needed to buy. Like notebooks, pencils and other school things..I'm really forgetful at times so a list certainly was a great help for me and I would not likely buy the things that are not needed anymore, which means savings on my part.

2. I do usually checked some things that can still be used, like school uniform, shoes, etc. If it's still in good condition, why buy a new one. Kids will also learn to become wise spenders when they mature. Plus they will learn the value of recycling :P. Your closet will thank you too.

3. Pay the tuition in full. Most schools gives discounts if you pay for the whole year. It's not that big but at least you will save something. Plus you will be stress free of going to school from time to time just to pay for the tuition. It's a big savings on time and transportation expenses too. You'll will be paying it anyway, so if you have a budget, pay it in full.

4. Sometimes is it wise to buy school things way before the classes starts like as early as summer vacation. Most malls offers as much as 50% discounts on shoes, bags, notebooks etc.. when you purchase earlier. It's also a cool way to avoid the rush.

5. Hiring a carpool to fetch my daughter from home to school and vice versa is also a way of saving on my part. When she was in grade 1 and 2, I used to accompany her to school and fetch her during dismissal time. Yet the downside of doing it was that she will ask me to go eat first at Mc Donalds or to the mall before going home. So, I get to spend more as a result. Now that she had a carpool service, I save time for myself too by doing other things. I think it also teaches kids to be more responsible on themselves alone.

6. Give school allowance just enough for your kid on that day. Some parents do gave their children allowances on weekly basis. But kids can get impulsive when they have a ready cash on their hands. With all the stuff luring them to buy, sometimes all their money will be gone just before the week ends. Sometimes, I do prepare lunch and snacks for my daughter too. Yet there are times I also wanted her to choose what food to buy for lunch at school so she will learn how to handle her expenses as well.

Back to school fever !

Today is the first day of school for the year 2011-2012. Had to wake up early to get things ready. For parents, school time means lots of work, expenses and selfless sacrifices as well. It's a learning proccess too, we get to know our children more as we watch them grow on daily basis. So this morning, was kind of a special day for me. I only have one student to attend to ( my daughter ), since my son opted to study in his grandparents place. Nonetheless, I can't help but feel a bit of stress as I tried to make all things settled.

My daugther was so excited too, she will be in grade three this year, wondering who would be her new classmates and teachers. We had to hurry up because she does not want to be late on the first day. Secretly as a mom, I am really happy to see her eagerness to go to school. So as soon as we arrived, we immediately looked for her name as to what section she will be in. We searched for her room which is located at the third floor of the building. Gee, I was thinking if I will be the student, I could easily loose 20 lbs. of weight in a year without even trying, just by going up and down the stairs..lol. Well, of course I could not help but pity the kids, saddled by very heavy bags full of school things and books, I wonder if their growth will not be hindered..Awwww..I hope not.

After sending my daughter to her room, I also made my way to the cashiers office to pay for her books. Had to shell out more than 6 thousand pesos for the books alone ( for the whole year ). If you really want good education for your kids, there's a price to pay too..( I'm not complaining though..lol ). Anyway, a lot of parents were already there ahead of me. Its so funny to think people really like to do things on the last minute ( yeah I'm guilty ). I had to endure the queue for three long hours just to get to the counter. Luckily for us, we were given seats, otherwise we could have been candidates for varicous viens already..hahaha.
well,I did finished my transaction the same time as my daughter's dismissal. They had been dismissed early since its just the first day. For me it was the right timing too in time for lunch because I am really really starving at that time.

At the end of the day..all went well. Im sure this school year will gonna be fine, inspite and despite of the some future setbacks. I believed parents really ought to get rewards. All the medals in the world can never compensate the love they have for the kids. So goodluck everyone...

A cup of coffee..anyone?

Its friday morning..and I was home alone. My 2 kids were fetched so early by my parents in law's driver for a gown and suit fitting in time for their 50th wedding celebration soon. Ever since my husband and I separated five years ago, It would always be that way. They will just let somebody fetch the kids when they need them. Anyway im already used to such set up but this morning I was kinda feeling blue. I dont know what happened, but my mind was like in a sudden fast forward mode. A lot of issues flashed before me..especially aging and getting old..Of course I am not expecting for a grand 50th wedding for myself because I knew it would not likely to happen anymore. I was just thinking maybe it would be so sad to grow old alone. Kids would eventually leave you for their own lives to live..Ugh!!..reality bites but I just wanna shrugg it off my mind because its not the right time to feel sentimental. Luckily for me, I always have a life saver whenever I feel blue..and yeah you guess it right..a cup of coffee. Okay, I admit that I am a certified coffeeholic. My day is simply not complete without that daily dose of caffeine. It picks me up when Im down, gives me extra energy and BINGO..I feel so alive again. There is really something about coffee that makes it more magical for one's being. There are studies that says coffee contains anti oxidants that brings health benefits for the body, and yet some says too much caffeine can also wreck havoc to one's health..Hmmmm..what the heck..what I know is, Im enjoying my coffee right now..It kicks my blues away..Whenever I sip a cup, It felt like Im on my feet again..So what are you waiting for? Enjoy a cup of coffee today and immerse yourself in its decadent aroma and magical powers..like what it did to me..Thanks God its friday and thanks God for the coffee. :)

My camera loves to take ghost pics :)

       Do you believe in ghosts?..Of course most people nowadays didn't take the hypothesis that ghosts really do exist, including me of course, except maybe if I get to encounter a real one literally, God forbids!!!..I admit I'm a whimp. By the way, I talked about ghosts because for some reason my digital camera took a ghostly image not once but twice in different locations. I did not have the chance of showing it to someone who can prove if its real or not..it was kinda scary just looking at those pics..I mean,  hey why do they want or allow me to take their photos if they were really real ghosts?..whats their reason?..I dont even know why..
      

       The first ghost pic was taken at a resort in Samal Island, I took a picture of my 2 kids along with my 2 nephews. I was not able to make the right settings so its was kind of blurry. It was really dark when i took it. I did not bother to delete  it even if I knew it was blurred. However, when i uploaded the pictures in my computer, I was surprised there were 5 kids instead of only 4. A ghosthly image of a boy going down the stairs was visible..

         Here is the next ghost pic..It  was also taken in a resort, this time in Sarangani province during the summer vacation last month. It was 5 am, and I just took some random pictures of the early morning view. Again, when I uploaded our pictures in my computer, another ghostly image appeared, some kind of a mist but when you try to look at it harder, its was an image of a man wearing a black shirt as if posing and want me to take him a picture. It was so scary because I was alone at that time. All my companions during that trip were still in bed. Try to take a closer look at the picture and you can agree with me that it had a face..awwwww..scary :(

       By the way, these pictures are unedited. So its up to you to judge if it is  real or not.....So, feel free to comment :)

Just because I wanna Blog

      Hi everyone..Welcome to Misty's World..I decided to start blogging because I feel the urge to do so..I think blogging is a cool way to inform, to express your views and maybe release some stresses in life too..I have always love to read and write even when I was a child. So I guess its about time I can put my passion for writing in good use. To be honest, even now my mind is already bombarded with thoughts and ideas on what topics to blog about.. Ohh geez never thought this could be so exciting... :)..I've always believed that life is beautiful. Every little thing counts and every little experiences are priceless..So let us all savor and enjoy each and every minute of our journey in this thing called life..