Feeling of Liberation on a Motorcycle

Last weekend, I finally was able to set foot in mainland Mindanao after twenty seven years of existence. I have been to quite a lot of places in Luzon and Visayas and the only province I've been to in Mindanao is Camiguin but its actually an island off the northern coast of the second largest island in the Philippines. I was very happy to be able to finally do it after numerous postponements.

I went with my friend Rona and we spent our weekend in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental with a side trip to Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. We stayed in her cousin's house which was very accessible from the city center. Overall the trip was exhilarating! Though for this instance we did mostly touristy things. It was also an overdue trip between Rona and I since last year we were initially planning to go to Ilocos but due to scheduling conflicts as I was already starting my internship in VSMMC we had to postpone it. This time due to convenience and a little bit of financial matters we decided to change the venue to Northern Mindanao since we will have a place to stay and the expenses will not surmount to huge deficits between us. I'm glad we did. Every thing about the trip was delightful.

The highlight of this trip for me was traveling to Bukidnon from CDO in a motorcycle. My parents would've not permitted me to proceed once they find out I will be jumping on such form of transportation. I told them we will be taking the bus. My parents have an absolute no riding in a motorcycle rule at home. My mom had a cousin who died in a motorcycle crash and my paternal grandfather had an accident while riding on a motorcycle years ago. So a motor bike for them means at least harm or a death sentence. The only time I had ever ridden on a motorcycle was six years ago on a mountain climbing trip to Mannungal. It was the driver, two of my friends and I on a road full of curves and it was slippery.

This time I loved the feeling of the cold fresh air hitting your face, surrounded by long landscapes of greenery - from pineapples to pines, and just simply enjoying the breathtaking beauty of nature. Plus the temperature was 20 degrees Celsius! It was a nice change from the usual humidity here in Cebu City. It was a liberating feeling being able to visualize how gorgeous are the unspoilt virginity of nature's finest while being surrounded by lush views and a blue clear sky above with interesting cloud formations. Mother Nature was also good to us as there was no rain showers that day! I think we were really blessed as it had been raining hard three days earlier.

The four hour motorcycle ride cleared my head with all these apprehension and uncertainties about basically every thing but mostly about the future and employment issues. And about fear of the unknown. This trip brought back a lot of sensibilities that I have lost and I am slowly gaining back my confidence and faith in my clinical skills. Thanks to a motorcycle. And thank God we came home safe with no injuries just unforgettable memories.

Aside from the reflection inducing ride we did all the zip lines in Dahilayan and my favorite was the 840 km Superman zip line. The views were fantastic! I know now how its feels to fly without wings just sturdy cables and safety harnesses! We also did the Zorb which at first was adrenalin pumping but in the middle it gets really painful and you can literally feel like your abdominal contents are about to regurgitate. But it was a worthy experience.

In CDO, we did white water rafting (yes, finally I can cross that out of my bucket list!) and I broke a paddle. It is a must try for any one looking for a safe yet exciting trip that is also affordable. In the city we ate at this sumptuous bread shop Missy BonBon. Their cheese sponge was to die for and they have delicious affordable gelatos. My favorite was the beer gelato. Imagine my glee of two of my favorite things combined in one cold treat! All the other gelatos were also as good. Then we explored the Night Market at Divisoria. What amazed me was the presence of a massage station right in the middle of a crowded street at low prices amidst all the clothes and street food! To spice it up a rock band was even playing too!

I had a great weekend. Hoping that I can get to travel again any time soon. And yes, the best way to see Mindanao is by motorcycle. It is risky but once you make it, it is worth it!

Three Years

I can't believe I am still writing on this blog after three years. This was made because at that time I had insomnia. It was three days before sem break ends on my junior year in medical school. I tried every thing and I was still tossing and turning. So I logged on, on my desktop way back and then just impulsively got an account from blogspot and I would have never thought that I will still be ranting in here. This was my third blog and I have this habit of not continuing blogs when I get lazy and when I don't have anything interesting to write. This is the only surviving blog and I think this will go on for years to come. I realized that I don't have to experience something interesting to be able to write well.

This blog has been a witness to all my pains and sufferings of medical school, victories and achievements, events like friends getting married and having kids, my parents twenty fifth wedding anniversary, board examination struggles and passing it, milestones of my short yet to be launched medical career, apprehensions and uncertainties and every thing in between. This has become my wailing wall - I practically blubber and whine in here and this guy just patiently listens. This blog also accompanied me in my maturity and all the many changes in my life so far.

I wish I had written more than my usual pace. This blog initially had one reader and now it has four. Its been an awesome three years with blogspot and I am wishing and hoping for better days to come. Cheers to the good life!

Time, Music and I

I've never had this much free time since like six years ago. I am trying to regain footing and control of my life - trying to get it back. After that talk with my parents knowing now that I'll always have their support I just completely let it go. And I have had a lot of time to listen to music and streaming music videos from youtube.com

Here's what's making my ears happier these days. Some are new bands and some were part of my playlists from my stolen iPod. These songs are just generally pleasant or the lyrics sting about the pseudo crisis I am going through right now.

1.) Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People (really catchy, trippy summery song that's oddly about a mass shooting)
2.) My Body - Young the Giant (it is such a shame I just discovered them during the VMAs)
3.) I Feel Like Dancing - All Time Low
4.) Tonight, Tonight -Hot Chelle Rae
5.) Pawiin - BBS ft. Kean Cipriano (OPM, represent!)
6.) Drive - Incubus
7.) Give Me A Sign - Breaking Benjamin
8.) Closing Time - Semisonic (quite old, but got hooked after watching "Friends with Benefits")
9.) Better Days - Citizen King
10.) Gives You Hell - The All American Rejects
11.) Dog Days are Over - Florence + Machines
12.) As If We Never Said Goodbye - From Sunset Boulevard soundtrack
13.) Stereo Hearts - Gym Class Heroes ft. Adam Levine
14.) Touch and Go - Rupert Holmes
15.) Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera (for two months now!)

I might take the rest of September off, pass applications and then starting working by October. I have to! I'm going to be broke by Christmas. But right now I am enjoying free time really - spending weekends with my parents at home, Trivia Nights with friends, reading interesting books and just the sweetness of doing nothing. I admit sometimes I feel guilty but I need to recharge.

Our Generation's Day of Infamy

Ten years ago, I will never forget this image that I've seen in television while I was browsing through the channels. It was my mom's 38th birthday and since my dad was in Hongkong that fateful day for a business trip, we just had a simple dinner at home and of course cake and ice cream for dessert. I was a freshmen in college that year and it was just another ordinary day at school. Laboratory work, lectures, upcoming exams, projects and as early as Tuesday as any student would, I was already anticipating for the weekend.

When I first saw it, I thought it was a movie or a trailer of an upcoming blockbuster. It was too unbelievable at first. It was very elaborate but it was reality happening, history unfolding and after that morning on September the world will never be the same again. That tragedy dictated on how the people of different nations, cultures and religions lived during the first decade of the new millennium.

I have always felt that my generation is privileged enough not to be able to live through war or experience war like our ancestors did. That war only happens in the news in some distant country, miles away from the shorelines of our little nation. What happened during that day shattered this blanket of security that we continued to believe as long as we existed. That the world is not the safe place we have always deemed it was. And we might have to live through one of things we wished we never have to experience.

The happenings of that seemingly peaceful Tuesday influenced the different aspects of the different citizens thereafter from religion, pop culture, lifestyle in all parts of the globe.

Despite the dread, despair and sadness that will continue for years to come, people have shown resilience, courage, hope and positivity in the light of the bombings. Many lives were lost and broken and in the end the brighter side of the human soul has flourished. May we never forget this day and the lessons it had enlightened us.

And after ten years, I still get goosebumps after watching the same footage again. I can't imagine being able to see it up close and personal...

Photo Credits: CNN

Quick Updates Like Instant Noodles.

The title does not sound right. What I was trying to say is that I really need to do another blog post. It is such a shame that during those days of reviewing for the boards I was always itching to write despite the limited time and now all I have is free time I'd rather spend it watching TV and reading books. So I can't organize my thoughts for a decent blog post so here is a run down of what I might reply when someone asks "What Up?".

- I finally read The Hunger Games trilogy and I highly recommend it, if dystopia is your trip. For books that are catered to young adults, it is surprisingly well written because for one thing the heroine is not whiny, irritating and stupid. I am very satisfied with how it ends, except I did not approve of the guy she ended up with. (No spoilers here).

- I had posted days ago on FaceBook that I am in a dystopian state of mind, Jo asked me who was the oppressor, and I told her it was the decision. Though I think I have already decided, somehow it still stings that something you have WANTED for so long still can't be yours and you know you can do a good job but for now it is not yours for the taking. What you can do is wait for the time being with uncertainty and with the possibility that after all the waiting it is still not given to you. I kinda have a hunch on broken intuitions that I might not be the ONE that I want for myself. So I am preparing to launch Plan B and in doing so makes me think that I am letting go of the dream, murdering the possibility of actualizing it and finding a new state of mind. And that is the source of this ANXIETY that I have been trying to shrug off with reading more books, consuming alcohol almost every night and just thinking too much to the point that I think I am becoming more irrational than usual.

- I admit that I secretly get a little jealous of my classmates who are lucky enough to start residency on their first choice of specialty or those who are totally in control of their situations right now. Indecisiveness has been one of my weakest points that I never got to sharpen.

-Yesterday was Lazy Sunday turned Board Games day. I miss doing this and to be able to do this again was such a refreshing weekend activity. We played strategy games like Pandemic, Carcasonne and Forbidden Island. When we were kids, my siblings, cousins and I play Monopoly or whatever board game was available on the library of Grandma's house and we always had a blast! Now doing this with my friends, we have another new ritual to start and look forward to!

- Right now I am currently enjoying the music of The Decemberists, Foster the People, Breaking Benjamin, The All American Rejects, Lifehouse and current OPM mainstream hits. And because of all the time in the world I am reconnecting with the music of the 70's and 80's.

- Every day I get a fix of watching funny talk shows like "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", reruns of Survivor and The Amazing Race, any show on The History or Biography channel and travel shows from Nat Geo like The Road Less Travelled, Globe Trekker and Market Values.

- Speaking of books, I've got a truckload on my list but right now I am enjoying "One Day" by David Nicholl. I want to finish this book before watching the movie.