Hundred Islands, Pangasinan

Our 2011 Team Building was held in Alaminos, Pangasinan. It was my first time to visit the place and I was so amazed in the beauty of the Hundred Islands. Although, our team building was not as extreme as the previous year's outing, we enjoyed the nature tripping, island hopping and snorkeling.

Meeting place is in Eastwood (as usual) and of course, some of us came late (as usual again). :))

We departed Manila at exactly 7am and on our way to Alaminos, my colleagues are so hyper singing their lungs out inside the van. Everyone is excited to have a new adventure...  

Lunch with the team before the island hopping.

En route to the first island... sorry, I forgot the name of the island. hihi.

Hanggang dito kailangan may recitation? and obviously, my bosses are the one who are pro-active in this game... ^_^

Nice shot! Again, apologies coz I also forgot the name of this island. lol

credit to James who took this emo shot... :D

SOLO. Too much of the group shots...time to have my own pic.

Snorkeling for only P250.00 :)

In case you are wondering what we were doing there... nagpapapansin kami sa mga gwapong Koreans dun. lol

Class Picture. A tour to remember...

Might not be able to join this year's team building due to some school stuff. Summer class sucks! :(

Lake Caliraya, Laguna

Since it is Team Building month again, I decided to post the previous team building we had for the past two years. This was taken last 2010 at Lake Caliraya, Laguna. 

Meeting place is in Eastwood (6am). We rented 2 vans for 5k/each good for 30 person.

Instead of taking the SLEX (we are avoiding the high toll rate. lol), we tried the Rizal-Laguna way...

Boat ride to the islet of Caliraya Resort. Boat fee was included in the resort rate we paid.

(,") and we are so excited to get the team building started! ",)

We were sorted into 4 teams. GREEN, YELLOW, RED and my team...BLUE!

The BLUE team! 

READY, SET, GO...!

Relay. Our facilitators gave us the cue card and the first task of the blue team is to finish the relay...FAST!

I'm being maldita again... laughing my lungs out while my teammate is doing the sack race. lol. Bad Girl!

Sudoku

Since we are all accountants, facilitators include "numbers" in the challenge para naman daw may madaling task kasi puro pahirap ang physical challenges nila. :))

Rest. Ilan pa lang ang task pagod na kami...

It's nearly nightfall when we did the "magic carpet" challenge. Lots of frogs everywhere! Yikes!

Other tasks included: Volleyball, Cobweb, Feather blowing, frog catching, Mudslide and many more... :P

Unfortunately, we didn't won in the race.. It was the Yellow team who bagged the prize. :P

Day 2. After a very tiring amazing race we had on Day 1, we took a tour around the resort the next day for relaxation and bonding moment with each and everyone.

http://www.caliraya.net/contact.aspx

Visit Caliraya and enjoy the fun!

Shrine of Valor...Bataan

As I write this entry, my head is actually confused whether I should start doing this blog or start doing my paper. But since I am so tamad writing my paper about Audit, I prefer continuing this post since it was already late.

April 9. Bataan Day

Every year, me and my cousins celebrates Bataan Day or "Araw ng Kagitingan" in Mt. Samat - where the scene of the most heroic defensive battle during World War II happened. We started this tradition just recently (2008, I think), although our parents are against it because they have this belief that there are some lost souls in Mt. Samat who claim lives of some youngsters/tourist during April 9. Weird? Yes, and me, together with my pasaway cousins don't believe it. :))

 Dambana ng Kagitingan

  

After 4 hours of hiking...

1 Kilometer pa to reach the cross...

Finally, we reached the entrance of the Mt. Samat park...few more meters to enter the cross

And here we are... Inside the famous cross of Mt. Samat!

Left wing...

 Emotero't Emotera.. well, yeah it runs in the family. lol

Picnic + Pahinga...one more time! we ate lunch in the park before going home.

How to get there:

From Manila to Bataan

Ride a bus (Cubao or Avenida), via Bataan Transit or Genesis, to Balanga. Travel time is 2.5-3 hours only.

From Balanga terminal, ride a jeepney to Pilar (tell the driver to drop you off in Mt. Samat entrance).

From the entrance of Mt. Samat... 4 hours walk is required to get into the top.

Enjoy!

Some Facts about Bataan:

• Bataan peninsula is located southwards from the western shores of central Luzon, forming the enclosed and well-sheltered Manila Bay to the east that is nearly cut off from the open China Sea in the west.
• Bataan was among the first provinces to rise in revolt against Spanish tyranny.
• Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) Pilar - Natural shrine atop Mt. Samat which immortalizes the agony of the Filipino and Americans against the forces of aggression and articulates the Commitment of the Filipino people to freedom and dignity.
• Cayetano Arellano Marker - Located on Orion Town. This marks Orion, as the birthplace of the first Filipino Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
• Jessica Sanchez (American Idol) and Janine Tugonon (Bb. Pilipinas- Universe) are both from Bataan. 

Although I only visit Bataan occasionally (coz I was born and raised here in Manila...), in my heart, I'm still proud to have a blood of a Balangueno (Dad is from Balanga).

AKO AY WORLD CLASS! PROUD TO BE A BATAENO!

Semana Santa 2012 (Bataan)

In the Christian community, Holy Week, also known as “Semana Santa” in tagalog, is one of the most important holiday season here in the Philippines. Semana Santa is celebrated with serious processions each night, complete with  floats of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, while everyone is in a state of mourning. For me, it is time to be with my family and friends...also, this is the time to reflect, give thanks and enjoy the only long weekend I have this year.

Huling Pitong Wika

(7 Last Words)

 The reason why I am always excited to go home during Holy week is because of the 7 Last Word Mass. I am in-charge in reading the 4th word, "Eli, Eli Lama Sabaktani", for almost 10 years.

 Fr. Ming baluran reading the 7th word.

3pm.  The mass was held outside (in front of the church) because of the ongoing renovation inside the church.

The Procession

"Byernes Santo"

"La Pieta"

"Mater Dolorosa"

"Santo Intiero"

Me and my 2nd degree cousins before the procession starts...

"Linggo ng Pagkabuhay"

Easter Sunday

Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia, Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia. 

Has risen, as He said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

How about you? How did you spend your Holy week? :)