A View of the June 16, 2011 Lunar Eclipse in the Philippines

First quick blog here about the lunar eclipse visible in the Philippines this June 16, 2011.I decided to do a quick blog at around 2:55 am (tyime started) as me and my brother await for this celestial phenomena.

As I went out to check it at 2:58 am I saw that the Earth's shadow has already covered two third's of the moon's total surface. The sky is clear and the weather is perfectly fine tonight or today. It is really a nice sight to see. There isn't anything too special about how it looked like and you can just google away what a lunar eclipse looks like. At times like this I wish I had a decent camera (point -and-shoot or DSLR) to capture such phenomena but hey! I still have my computer, internet and imagination to capture it so not really that bad.



A few friends and fellow bloggers are also documenting the lunar eclipse this June of 2011. Hope when we look at the full lunar eclipse later, we don't turn into giant great apes! Oh wait... that is a full moon and only Saiyans turn when it happens.

Passing and Lighting the Torch on SM City Rosario's Seminar on Blogging

I was in SM City Rosario a little while ago and gave a talk to students and teachers regarding the basics of blogging. A few days ago Azrael Coladilla invited me and Iris Rebao-Pulga to be speakers in SM City Rosario's short seminar about the basics of blogging. I was a bit skeptical at first but eventually gave in. I said to myself that I must learn how to face one of my greatest fears in life which is public speaking. Thanks to the new found confidence I have acquired throughout these past few good years, I was able to overcome it after I started rolling and sharing my blogging wisdom.





I never thought that I would find myself speaking in front of an audience of 200 people which comprise of students and few teachers. I could still remember back at 2007 like it was yesterday, I was starting out as a clueless beginner in the blogging scene. I learned everything the hard way, committing every single mistake that a blogger should never do (in a monetization aspect that is) until I gave up. Later that year, the spirit of blogging called onto me (like the three ghosts of christmas past, present and future) so like a prodigal son who lost his way, I went back to blogging and the rest as they say is history.



It was my second time being in Rosario Cavite, it was a bit different from the first time I was there about 2-3 years ago. I believe they were just starting to build SM Rosario by then for I remember the area where the notable SM City now stand is a large construction site which caused heavy traffic in the narrow public road of Rosario back in the days. SM Rosario was spacy, homey and green. SM City Rosario uses natural lighting (like many SM City malls) to reduce lighting and conserve energy. I was a bit surprised to find out that we are going to speak on an open area in SM City Rosario's activity area but I eventually snapped out of a possible freak out moment. I waited a little longer and the rest of the team arrived.





Azrael started with a very engaging and interesting introduction to blogging. His talk didn't fail to amuse me and the rest of the audience. Taking a cue from the blogging master himself, I then followed up with a discussion about how to start a blog. I discussed about the basics of setting up a blogger (blogspot) account since it is the best and free platform to practice blogging and that is what I am more knowledgeable about. I also provided tips and various warnings on how to go about with blogging. Iris then closed the SM City Rosario blog seminar talk with kinds of blogs and monetization.





The talk was later followed by a question and answer portion. The audience was so active and eager to ask questions that bogs their mind (and I wonder why... hmmm insert dubious and sarcastic expression here hahaha) about earning money through blogs which wasn't even elaborately discussed but was vividly tackled in our discussion. We managed to effectively answer all of the questions. What concluded the Q&A segment was a teacher asking about blogging issues like intellectual property rights and blogging issues, that too was answered by various examples and our own personal experiences in the local blogging scene.





What made the whole experience memorable as how the two teachers heading the mob of students thanked us for sharing our knowledge. They told us that they were interested to try out blogging. We then told them that blogging is for everyone and that we are glad to impart the wisdom we earned through the years. It was life giving another life. Like passing of the torch to a new generation whom will continue on what most have established, creating, populating, helping the local Filipino blogosphere and the Philippines in general.



Again a million thanks to Azrael Coladilla and Iris Rebao-Pulga for the outstanding quality photos taken here. If it is a bit blurry then it is taken from my busted but still working digital camera hahaha.

To see more of their photo coverage and their blogs you can follow them at facebook here:
Azrael Coladilla http://www.facebook.com/popazrael
Iris Rebao-Pulga http://www.facebook.com/irispulga

A Perfect Family Life at Avida Settings Cavite

I have always found my hometown Dasmariñas Cavite to be the perfect place to set up a perfect home for any kind of family. Not just Dasmariñas City but the whole region itself offers a perfect mix of rural and urban living. This is the reason why it is popular amongst retirees and foreign tourists alike.



If a family finally decides to set up their dream home, then their best choice is the Avida Settings Cavite. It is Avida Land’s four residential developments in the Cavite area. The community bolsters a number of serene family friendly feature and modern living. One that could testify to what Avida Land can offer is the retired couple of the Magno's.



The loving couple of Dr. Carlo and Carlota Magno previously lived and spent most of their lives in the United States before finally deciding to retire back to their homeland, the Philippines. Being used to both the best of both worlds that the United States has to offer, all they wanted is to spend the rest of their lives on a healthy community of young and retired couples like them.

“The American Suburia-themed community reminds us of our home in Southern California. We’ve lived there for so long, so we also wanted to experience that same quality of life in our retirement age." says Mrs. Magno, who now spends her time playing golf husband with Dr. Magno.

"Avida Settings Cavite gives me what I’m missing from our life in the US. Besides, Dasmariñas has become very memorable to me.” said by Dr. Magno, a former dean of the Graduate School of Business of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas and high-level executive of the country’s biggest telecommunications company. When asked what they love most about living in an Avida community he added "It’s the opportunity to live in a community where we can be a part in making it not only habitable but a community we can be proud of.”

The Magno's are enjoying every moment of their retirement. Though their children have already their own families, they would often visit them in their Avida homes.

“Though they have their own homes already, they love using our Avida homes as a place they can be together during special occasions for bonding purposes,” Mr. Magno claims.

“We had long prepared for this moment in our life when we can enjoy life to the fullest – no more children to send to school; no mortgages or loans to pay; we have enough physical and emotional space to do what we want to do; and we are now living in comfort far from the maddening crowd.” Mrs. Magno added

Even though the couple has finally living an almost perfect life at Avida Settings Cavite they added that their responsibilities to their children and grandchildren does not stop there. In fact they have already two homes under the name of their eldest daughter, bolstering the claims of a long lasting quality build and a perfect environment for the future of their family's future.

A February 13 2010 Mini-High School Get Together at Fisher's Eco Farm Paradise Resort

It is all about reconnecting bridges. Even though time and career has separated us apart, we should still find ways to reconnect and reminisce those happy days of goold old clean camaraderie and friendship. Last Saturday February 13, 2010 (a Day before the much commercialize Valentines Day and Chinese New Year celebration), we went to Fisher's Eco Farm Paradise Resort in Burol Main, Dasmariñas Cavite, Philippines for a mini high school reunion and here are some of the photos I "BORROWED" from their Facebook (I will ask permissions to them tomorrow for it's already late to ask) hahaha.



The Terrific Trio strikes Again! This time we wreck havoc at the Fisher's Eco Farm Paradise Resort or locally called Fisher's Farm Resort.

If a picture tells a thousand words then this series has a billion (oh come on! you don't have to do the Math!?!)

Let me rewind to the afternoon before the actual reunion as me, Dante, Alvin, and Diana have planned on what to bring the next day. So we (Dan, Vin, and I) decided to go to the public market to do some market errands. My first time going to the wet and dry market with them with out me spending a single cent! Harhar

As we went back to Dante's place we have agreed that the call time would be before 5 in the morning so that we can settle the reservations on the resort earlier, to avoid conflict of reservations with other families. It was a Saturday and it was expected that the resort would be full of them.

So I went home and slept through the entire evening and was woken up by both my cellphone alarm and my mother. It was 4:30 in the morning (I hate being late with these kinds of things). So after gargling, and tidying up I proceeded to Dan's place and arrived there at exactly 5 am. And guess what Alvin (the sponsor for the entire outing was nowhere to be found!) and Diana was the only one awake that time. A high school classmate and friend Richelle sent me a text message confirming that she was on her way to Dan's place. So by pass 6:00 am she was already there. Dianne, Dante and Diana's daughter was already awake playing with me. We watched various Disney shorts in Youtube which I later realized that I haven't seen some of the Disney movies which includes sleeping Beauty, Mulan, and Alladin. I teased Alvin, who later arrived at 7:00 in the morning (imagine that!) for not considering the call time, but eventually we have no choice but to accept his lateness for he was the one paying for the entire thing! Hahahaha

We six arrived on the resort and were the few people there on the resort. We took some first shots then the gang later followed as the day went through.



A small family resort hidden in the outskirts of Dasmariñas Cavite. It features nice cottages and five different sized pools.



We are the terrific trio of friends who have been classmates and friends since 5th grade and high school which has been extended up to the present. To infinity and beyond! Christopher (Chris A.), Dante (Di-an), and Alvin (Vin)



They are the latest addition to the Terrfic Trio, Dianne (my God-daughter) and Diana (Dante's wife). Of course that's me looking with much amazement in a swampy green pond surrounding our cottage hehehe.



Of course the event with out be complete without a little "cam whoring" (a term so much hugged and used by people these days) on the side.



Here is the Terrific Trio plus one... my God-daughter Dianne

Later more former classmates and friends joined us and here are the photos to tell it. World, meet my friends whom I so proud to introduce to you.

Richelle, Diana, Dianne, Me, Dante, alvin and Irish









The place isn't call Fisher's Eco Farm Paradise for nothing. Here is Rochelle with her partner on camera fishing on the resort.





Dante, Alvin, Andy, Christopher. Andy later joined us in the outing. He is my oldest classmate and friend because we go back as old as the first grade in elementary school. He was online the night before the outing and Alvin invited him over. Once there we did a lot of catching up with each other. It is great to see an old friend doing great.









Around 2:00 in the afternoon, Francis and Alvin bought two bottles of The Bar. I knew it right then and there that I will be a hard time time later which indeed later happened.



Francis, Alvin, Dante, Andy, Me and Duds (Rochelle's partner). I don't recommend drinking and swimming for younger people or those who can't control their alcohol especially when swimming with friends. Let's just say this was just some sort of a little get together and get to know small booze to lighten up even further the environment.





This is me after two bottles of the bar with five friends taking alternating shots. I am not the heavy drinking type so what usually happens to me when reaching my limit is I either my perception is altered (dizziness and sleepy eyes) or throwing up. Eventually, the throwing up state was postponed up until I reached the house. Thank the gods for that.

Around 3:00 pm we finished the two bottles which made me sleepy, I still manage to go to the pool for a last dip but I can feel my eyes are getting heavy. By 4:30 I went back to the cottage and wait for our time in the resort to be up. During that time, I really can't help my eyes but to drop and take a short nap.



Rochelle teasing me while I am down for the count. Luckily that being sleepy is the only effect of too much alcohol in my system, my reasoning is still intact. I know other people who technically loose it when drunk and I am glad that I am not that type. I am the throwing up type hahahaha



We finally decided to call it a day and went out of the resort to meet a former schoolmate and their classmate, Christine as she tried to at least showed her presence in the last minute of the mini high school get together.

It was a great pre-Valentine celebration because I don't have someone to spend the Valentines Day with so the mini reunion was enough to make me thankful for having such loving and great bunch of people whom I consider friends. Hope they can take the chance to comment on this post (nagpaparinig? hahaha).

Yes to Dasmariñas City! I Became A Part of the History of the Cityhood of Dasmariñas

December 03, 2009 (Thursday) - Last November 25, 2009 - Wednesday, a local holiday was implemented Dasmariñas Cavite to give way to the plebiscite regarding the cityhood of Dasmariñas in Cavite.



From the Municipality of Dasmariñas Province of Cavite to Dasmariñas City - The Official Dasmariñas History courtesy of Wikipedia...

Cityhood

1997-1998

HB08931 was filed by Congresman Renato P. Dragon with other cityhood bills of Imus(HB 08960) and Bacoor (HB (08959). It was filed last February 11, 1997 and read last February 13, 1997. Committee Report N0. 01361 was submitted on December 17,1997. It was approved on the third reading by the House last January 10, 1998. It did not push through as a Republic Act and no plebiscite happen.

2000

HB099883 was filed by Congressman Erineo Maliksi last March 13,2000. It was first read last March 13,2000. It was approved on the Second and Third reading of House last March 15,2000 and March 27, 2000. It was transmitted to the senate on March 28, 2000 and received on March 31, 2009. It did not push through as a Republic Act and no plebiscite happen.

2008-2009

The idea of converting Dasmariñas into a component city was again proposed after failure in 1997 and 2000. Recent unofficial surveys have shown that the municipality's inhabitants are now willing to push forward with cityhood.

House Bill no. 5258 converting the municipality of Dasmariñas into a component city was filed by Congressman Pidi Barzaga last October 03, 2008. It was read last October 06, 2008. It was approved by the House on Second and Third Reading on October 7 and November 17. It was transmitted and received by the senate last November 17 and 20 of 2008. It was passed by the senate on Second and Third Reading last October 28 and November 05, 2009. It is received by the President of the Philippines last October 14, 2009 and signed as Republic Act 9723 last October 15, 2009.

COMELEC Resolution No. 8682 in connection with the November 25, 2009 plebiscite to ratify the conversion of the municipality of Dasmariñas province of Cavite into a component city pursuant to Republic Act 9723 dated October 15, 2009.

Republic Act No. 9723 was ratified by the registered voters of Dasmariñas through a plebiscite conducted last November 25.2009, converted the municipality of Dasmariñas in the Province of Cavite into a component city to be known as the City of Dasmariñas. There were about 44,000 voters who cast the plebiscite ballot in the town’s 1,508 polling precincts. The yes votes won overwhelmingly. The yes votes got 36,559 while the no votes got 8,141.

Lone District of the City of Dasmariñas

The city of Dasmarinas shall have its own legislative district in the 2010 elections.

A bill was filed by Congressman Joseph Abaya with co-authors Congressman Pidi Barzaga and Crispin Remulla. The bill is supported by Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senator Richard Gordon and Senator Ramon Bong Revilla. It was approved by the president of the Philippines as Republic Act 9727 last October 22, 2009.

However Republic Act 9723 (Dasmariñas City Charter) section 64 also includes the City of Dasmariñas shall have its own legislative district to commence in the next national election after the effectivity of this Act.

More about Dasmariñas City here...

I have noticed banners about the plebiscite of the cityhood of Dasmariñas and was curious on how will it happen... and on this date I've first exercised my right to vote (Yup, I am one of those first-time voters) and all my questions have been answered. Just when I thought that my first time to exercise my vote is on the upcoming 2010 election, came this Dasmariñas wide plebiscite.



We got up at around 6:00 in the morning because mom thought that it was gonna be as chaotic and crowded as the previous national elections, she was wrong. The whole process only took minutes and the prescint was't even that crowded. We went there together with the wife of the former barangay captain to exercise our vote. After a short meal (rice soup) courtesy of the barangay (I do not know what is the meal for, whether it is to bribe us to vote yes, but my vote would not be affected by such gimmicks... I will stick vote "Yes!" hahaha). We were able to get to the local voting prescint (local elementary school) via the public utility jeepney which was also commissioned by the new barangay captain who was the daughter of the former barangay captain.



We were guided to our voting prescints which only took us some minutes. Once there, we were ask to sign the voters registration sheet and place a thumb mark on it. The nail of my right index finger was tainted with a blue indelible ink and was handed out by the election marshal with the official voter's paper. There was a blank box where we could either say "Yes" or "No" to the cityhood of Dasmariñas and I wrote a big...Yes.

The whole process just took 5 minutes and we all head back home. After a day or so, I found out through a friend who called me that Dasmariñas is already a city. I know I am sloppy for not knowing the outcome of the plebiscite too soon for I may have ask mom or the barangay captain for the results, but hey! I was still enthusiastic and happy about the transformation of the municipality of Dasmariñas to the City of Dasmariñas. I became a part of the history of Dasmariñas, Cavite and probably the Philippines. I lived the day that I came to see the progress of our hometown Dasmariñas.

Bloggers Retreat To Cavite: A Town's Delight in Republic of Cavite Restaurant Bloggers Event Experience

Last September 05, 2009 (Saturday) yours truly together with the rest of my Metro Manila blogger peers traverse the road of Aguinaldo Highway to Governor's Drive for the Town's Delight Bloggers Event in Republic of Cavite Restaurant in Trece Martirez Cavite.



I woke up that day at exactly one in the afternoon, which means I am dreadfully late for the event. It was supposed to start at 1:00 pm so I panicked and felt hopeless that I may not be able to attend it. Luckily, after a split second, I gathered my guts again and decided to still attend the event (even I am that late). Funny thing was that the venue is just some half hour drive from our hometown Dasmariñas, Cavite and there I was, betrayed by my own body clock hehehe.



It was drizzling that time because of some aftereffects of the storm has just left the country. While on the road to Trece Martirez, Cavite, I kept in touch with the bloggers already on the venue and they have already started which adds up to the pressure and made me think that I may probably be too late but thank goodness I am not. I arrived there to find two bloggers who were invited and in the same situation as I am and we three proceeded to the venue, Republic of Cavite behind Trece Martirez City Hall.



What was noticeable is the similarity of the venue for the Town's Delight Blogger event to that of the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit Cavite. See for yourself here:



The Aguinaldo's Shrine in Kawit Cavite





This obviously is the reason why the venue was named Republic of Cavite... from the original seat of power of the first Republic of the Philippines lead by the First President of the Republic, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo



Some familiar faces greeted us on the venue and mentioned that they were warmly welcomed by the people of Town's Delight and Republic of Cavite. We were also welcomed to the Bulwagang Cuenca of the Republic of Cavite.





We later, helped ourselves with the very fine cuisines served at us on Town's Delight Bloggers Event at the Republic of Cavite Restaurant.











While dining we discussed a few things about Trece Cavite, some blogging concerns, and the latest technology and movie buzz. We were offered to try the Cafe' Amadeo, black coffee from Amadeo Cavite which was really strong. I haven't tasted any black coffee for a while now but it can really awaken one's senses once you take a sip or two of the strong coffee.



We also tried the Salabat Iced Tea (Ginger Juice) which was kinda unique. Besides the fact that it was served with ice (I usually drink it hot), it was also sweet and very tasty though it still retained that distinct soothing ginger feel on the throat aftereffect.





We also sampled Authentic Filipino delicacies and desserts.

After trying out all those wonderful dishes by Town's Delight and Republic of Cavite, we went on a tour and was directed to the Republic of Cavite's Showroom.







Town's Delight The Caterer is not your typical caterer for they have been professionally celebrating 35 years of culinary expertise and food services, and still counting. When you are looking for Elegant yet affordable catering services with top-notch food services, Town's Delight is definitely your pick. You can visit them at their official website here:


http://townsdelight.com/

We still have some time to spend by then, so why not see the rest of the Republic...



We visited the actual Republic of Cavite Restaurant below the Bulwagang Cuenca which goes towards the direction of Munting Tagaytay...



The Munting Tagaytay area resembles the scenic view of the actual Tagaytay Picnic Grove in Tagaytay City. We took a snapshot or two from that venue.




After that small excursion to the Republic of Cavite's version of some of Cavite's most popular destinations (Kawit Cavite and Tagaytay City) we called it a day and was sent home with a bilao of Town's Delight Desserts...



To put it to our own language...
Isang bilao ng pasalubong ng pagkasarapsarap na kakanin handog ng Town's Delight at Republic of Cavite ng Trece Martirez Cavite.

The History of Trece Martirez (Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite)

Thirteen well-knowned citizens of Cavite who were captured by the Spanish Government for the alleged conspiracy and aiding the revolution in Cavite on August 31, 1896. Though the thirteen were innocent, they were still sentenced to death by an unfair trial. The thirteen were shot in the afternoon of September 12, 1896 in the San Felipe Camp in cavite. The name of the Thirteen martyrs were:

Luis Aguado, Eugenio Cabezas, Feliciano Cabuco, Agapito Conchu, Maximo Inocencio, Maximo Gregorio, Jose Lallano, Severino Lapidario, Victoriano Luciano, Alfonso De Ocampo, Francisco Osorio, Hugo Perez, and Antonio SAn Agustin.

Our last stop was the Trece Martirez Monument at the side of the Governor's Drive and took some pictures before calling it a great day at Trece Martirez, Cavite. Together with the Metro Manila Bloggers we went home with a great Trece Martirez experience thanks to Republic of Cavite and Town's Delight The Caterer.