Prognosis for Peaceful Meals

My sister can be described as an equal rights advocate - her ideals fashioned after her education in the country's top state university. A liberal college hippie so to speak. My dad on the other hand portrays the role of right-wing extremist Bill O'Reilly - ideals wrought by his conservative interpretation of the Bible compounded by extensive historical and political reading, away from society sparked by his poor social skills at large.

Weekly lunch dates can be a drudgery with the two heavily consumed in antagonistic political commentary seemingly interminable  and I play the role of an automaton bobbing my head in a fast motion at my desire to speed up the speeches respectively, and to, despite my love for Article III Section 4 of the Philippine constitution, direly enjoy my meal and get by another lunch date in one piece if not in peace in spite of my dysfunctional family.

Sometimes crying abounds after an arbitrary exchange of words delivered in raised voices and irate facial expressions. My prognosis? Eat humble pie to pour oil on troubled waters because being family is being stuck with each other until the day you rest on your deathbed.

Climbing in the Philippines

An IMC Project: Mt. Pulag - Valentines Day, 2014

It's an amazing process of self-discovery to hike in a country that offers various mountainous regions and each mountain promising a unique adventure.

Up to now, climbing has been a great way to push myself  harder and to  knockout negative notions I have about myself. It has been a reason to bond with friends, meet new ones and learn from the group dynamics. It's a great way to go back to basics and appreciate nature firsthand to be able to effectively and proactively preserve it. Peace is radiated through me when I climb encouraging me to do it over and over again.

In climbing, every moment is cherished and every lesson is treasured.

True to the poster I made for my Graduate program course on Integrated Marketing Communications, I have climbed ten mountains in a span of twelve months between 2013 to 2014. Here are some of the recorded memories from those climbs.

1. Mt. Tagapo - 438 masl

    Talim Island, Laguna de Bay

First time hikers: Nina, Lets and Myself 

First time campers: Maan, Nina and Myself

2. Mt. Sembrano - 745 masl
    Pililia, Rizal

The tree pose that started it all 

3. Mt. Pico de Loro - 664 masl
    Maragondon, Cavite + Nasugbu, Batangas

The climb that sparked valuable friendships

4. Hike for Maan to get inked by Mambabatok - Wang-Od
    Buscalan, Kalinga

Badass = Maan

Original cast of Tuna and Friends 

5. Mt. Maculot - 930 masl

    Cuenca, Batangas

Jessie!

A writer, A scientist, A banker, 2 future doctors and 2 engineers

6. Mt. Batulao - 811 masl

    Nasugbu, Batangas

with 3 Food Technology practitioners

Maan got swag

7. Mt. Tarak -  1,130 masl

    Mariveles, Bataan

Pre-Pulag Climb

"explorer"

TNF official photographer: Hanna Banana

8. Mt. Pulag - 2,922 masl

    Bokod, Benguet

Sunrise by the Sea of Clouds

Seeing the Cloud of Sea

-10◦C temperature

9. Pico de Loro Take Two

This is what happens when Prof. Joey is late

Couple rash guard

Jessie and Hanna

The challenging monolith

10. Mt. Makiling Traverse - 1,090 masl

      Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Los Banos, Laguna  

Fear of limatik wiped away at the click of the camera

Cover photo-worthy

Fearless Jess