CEBU CITY

Cebu City is the capital of Cebu Island. With somewhere between 1.0-1.4 million inhabitants it's one of the three biggest cities in The Philippines. Cebu City lies almost central in The Visayas. The Visayas is a large cluster of islands roughly sketched between Siquijor, The Romblon Islands and Samar. Cebu City is an ideal place to get your things organized and it's got transport links to other destinations in The Philippines.

The Mactan Bridge - everytime we pass here, feeling ko CEBU is waiting for me

HILTON HOTEL - i love it more than plantation bay.. The pool and the BEACH is perfect! Nice architectural design.. Good place for relaxing!

Basilica Minore del Sto. NiÑo - Amazing! i can't believe that this entire open-building church is always jam-packed >RAIN or SHINE! superb BIG! The real basilica church is just infront of it... (they can't use it for sunday's mass because it might colapse) haha

Magellan's CROSS - still at the same place.. I didn't know that it isn't the real cross, i thought it was.. The painting was marvelous!

SIMALA sibonga - The first place we went to.. I was shocked because i saw BIG mama mary.. haha They say,when you have something to ask just go here and PRAY.. Lot'sa MIRACLE happened to people who kneeled here. (it's not wrong to believe that) IT is sacred... really! -better wear proper dress when you go here!

Tambuli beach resort - a so so Resort.. I just love when we went here because we ate merienda for FREE! haha It's very hushed resort!
Magellan and Lapu-Lapu's place - is it PORT SANTIAGO? i forgot! haha I was not superb interested here.. but you shouldn't miss it..

TAOIST TEMPLE - another HOLY place.. but i hated it because the GODDESS never let me say something.. haha All i want is to go back here any time soon!

Kawasan Falls and Moalboal - im scared to swim here because i know there's a lot of the ANOTHER's but i still did! Super kaduper C-O-L-D as in like when you leave your drinks in the water and get it after 10 minutes it's like you put I-C-E on it! But be sure to hold the rope when you swim.. Many people died here.. SCARY!
Moalboal - all i can say is a BEACH. big waves. and KANTILADO that's why i really didn't swim..

Ayala Center - The everyday mall for them.. The picture is ugly.. haha Is a walking distance to everything.. From call center to GYM, to HOTEL and coffee shop, to bank and the mall. I also love SM northwing.. -I LIKE THE FRESHLY BAKED COOKIES from RUSTAN's-

The TOPS - a scenic view! As if you're in HEAVEN.. I really really LOVE it here because you can relax and reflect -LMAO! No corkage but there is an entrance fee! You should bring your jacket and camera.. I just hate going here because it's ZIGZAG!

Larsian - The well-known bbq foodcourt in Cebu! You should really eat here! The bbq and the rice wrapped in banana leaf is so delicious! BUT don't go here if you're going somewhere else after because mangangamoy USOK ka talaga and KAMAYAN ito that's why masaya.. And the funny thing here is USE A PLASTIC(provided by them) coz' you can't wash your hands after eating..NO FAUCET! so cowboy! hailavet! :)

CASA VERDE - the super jam-packed restaurant! ten thumbs up for the FOOD especially their Ribs/Steak! And Better try the GREEN-iced-TEA!

SPICE FUSION - where we ate dinner for my last night in THE CITY.. i really love the food.. Super yummy and sulit ang pera mo.. SWEAR! i would always love to eat here..

CEBU CAPITOL - The White House! haha im not telling you to go here, BUT you can't miss passing here.. It's nice at night because of the lights!


22nd ST. - A comedy bar! It's interesting coz when you enter the building it doesn't looked like a bar.. it's like nothing.. Super FUNNY,kaya nga comedy bar e.. haha BUT beware and paalala "DON'T SIT INFRONT kung ayaw mong ma-chaka" hahaha I tried their bailey's blush and it was OH-LA-LA! haha

LOFT - bar.. im pretty at home here.. hehe i love the sound system,really BOOM and BOOM! HOUSE music pa.. I also like the food and the cool thing here is,they are open as a restaurant in daytime and a BAR at night!
VUDU - another cool bar.. but the entrance fee is way too much.. haha A bar for elite people.. right? Linyahan toh that's why kapagod... but still NICE!
FORMO - i love it because COOL ang music.. When we went there,the theme was modern classic (classic songs then they made it lively like house).. But what i don't like is mga ergwang mga party people here (mga mapera). tsk! It is also a restaurant(same as LOFT) and i love it because no DOORS, white curtains lang which is nice coz the light is reflecting...



COLON - i remember walking alone here.. and making tawid ever, huhu do you know the feeling na parang mamamatay ka na sa takot? haha Colon Street, the oldest street in The Philippines. Unfortunately from personal experience I can tell you: watch your pockets and backpack! Everywhere in Cebu, you really should be careful of everything..



TABO-AN MARKET - coz the dried fish is TA-bundok ever! harhar! Diang.. For most Filipino's a true delicacy and daily food. Mostly caught and dried by local fishermen and exported to the cities. I had heard about this market before so I was prepared for the mountains of dried fish or daing that was displayed before my eyes. What I wasn't prepared for was how much we would reek of fish even hours after leaving the market with our purchases vacuum-sealed in plastic and wrapped in newspaper and packed into a box. Every fiber of my being carried the stench of the sea, my hair, my clothes and my body. Super kadiri the amoy but i was really excited to eat the daing and get some for the pasalubong. Be ready also coz mauubos pera mo dito even if grabe nang "TAWARAN".. And even if you go shower after here, NAKU.. hindi matatanggal yung amoy.. tsk! BUT CEBU wouldn't be complete without DAING!

I'M LOOKING FORWARD OF COMING BACK... TO THE CITY!

BRACE FOR IMPACT

WARNING/PAALALA: yaan nyo na akong mag TAG-LISH kasi baka wrong gramming ako u knew?! hahaha

HAVE YOU EVER THINK OF ANOTHER LIFE? ONE MORE CHANCE? HAVE YOU EXPERIENCE BEING WITH GOD AND HELL? HAVE YOU TRIED THINKING OF YOU DYING?

LIFE IS SHORT.. MAKE THE BEST OUT OF IT BEFORE YOU RUN OUT OF TIME...

HUDSON RIVER PLANE CRASH (AMAZING TALES OF SURVIVAL)
I was shocked when i first saw the video of the plane floating because it's too cool to be true.. haha Kung ako nandun,naku..mamamatay ako sa takot!

The pilot was calm and very intelligent, HE is indeed a HERO!

FROM PEOPLE MAGAZINE:

"When he speaks, you listen" says Joe Green (pilot chesley friend)

After his engines shut down,hero pilot CHESLEY SULLENBERGER III miraculously landed his crippled jet on the frigid Hudson River in New York City, saving the lives of all 155 aboard.

HERE ARE THEIR STORIES:

DAVA SANDERSON - The pilot said "BRACE FOR IMPACT". He wasn't yelling. It was a command. He was in control.

ARMY CAPTAIN ANDREW GRAY - I turned to my fiancee and kissed her and told her I loved her. And we started to pray that we would be able to get out of it alive. You could hear the murmurs of people saying their last rites. Some people were making phone calls or texting. Nobody was screaming. In fact, the plane was eerily quiet.

JOE HART - What goes through your head is almost like in the movies:
"OH MY GOD,are my kids going to be okay? Did i pay the insurance bill this month? Then i got my wits about me. I thought. "I had a good life. There's nothing i can do about it."

BARRY LEONARD - When the plane hit the water it was such a jolt. I honestly don't know how it held together. I took off my seat belt and the first thing i did was remember that scene from

GHOST -- when Patrick runs away and comes back and sees himself dead-- and I kind of looked back to make sure that wasn't the case. I know that sounds weird, but you don't know what's happened here.

GRAY - I think people were in shock that they were still alive.

SANDERSON - It was controlled chaos.
"While flight attendants were yelling for passengers to leave their belongings and get off the plane, one woman was trying to get her purse and suitcase. Another gentleman and myself were at an exit door and kept yelling at her to get off the plane. The other guy was screaming, "GET ON THE LIFEBOAT" She wouldn't listen; she had to have her purse and her bag. We got her on the wing and she slipped and her suitcase and purse went in the river. I grabbed her purse and threw it in the lifeboat.

SHANKO - My wife and i are expecting our first child in the spring. I would love to meet the pilot and shake his hand and thank him that i still have the chance to see my baby.
"I TOLD THE PILOT, "you save my life" He just said "YOU'RE WELCOME"...

"LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST" and BE HAPPY!

make LOVE not WAR

NAUNSA KA?

you are so nonsense!

pampasikip ka lang sa UTAK ko actually..

Whatever you think, whatever you feel, I know it's your problem and not mine.

Taking things personally is the maximum expression of selfishness because we make the assumption that everything is about "ME" or i should say "YOU"..

Nothing other people do is because of YOU..
"not everything is about YOU for your INFORMATION"

ayon sa THE FOUR AGREEMENTS
When you take things personally, then you get offended, and your reaction is to defend your beliefs and create conflicts. You make something big out of something so little, because you want to be right and make everybody else wrong.

so whats the POINT?

you better be enjoying the GOOD life DEAR..

The dream of second ATTENTION... pasabta kuh nimu please!

It's not just weird meat in a can...it's also annoying behavior!

DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU'RE GOOD AT EVERYTHING?

STOP ACTING AS IF YOU'RE INNOCENT coz it's FUNNY...so much!

FIRST THINGS FIRST..

I DON'T CARE AND I DON'T CARE!
GO and MULTIPLY your goodness..

"this is reality, that is fantasy; this is possible, YOU ARE impossible.."
mean na kung mean.. this is HOW i express... so don't think that i am so BITCHY coz this is just a B-L-O-G! DON'T TAKE THINGS SERIOUSLY -my advice bow..

message for a LOST friend

(a message for KLO from unknown speaker of dolphins)

-the message-

klo!

ako ni.. wala na daw ka g-uban sa dolphins? nanu mana? wala pud daw ka gtxt/paramdam? chaka kaau ka!
anyway fine apple! for the go! ikaw na ged nah.. haha wala man, ikaw bahala.. everyone's wondering..before..pero wala naman karon.. fine oh fine nalang! well BE HAPPY nalang klo and be happy uli.. haha wala na koy masulti.. ingat KA!!! bye!

ano? ano? ano masasabi mo?

A swimming sensation at Holiday Gym & Spa

A swimming sensation at Holiday Gym & Spa
Published : 2008-11-27

NOTHER top caliber instructor joins the prestigious roster of Holiday Gym and Spa, Davao City’s premier health and wellness destination.
Haroon Cali, a 21-year-old student at the University of Mindanao taking up B.S. Education, is now a part-time aerobics instructor at the Holiday Gym and Spa. Cali teaches belly dancing, Cardio Latino, Hi-lo, kickboxing, aqua aerobics and has classes three to five times a week.

Being a varsity scholar at the UM, Cali started out as a client back in 2007 when his school used the facilities to practice swimming.
Cali’s medals are numerous. He recently bagged five medals at the University Games in Dumaguete last October: one gold for 400 meter individual medly, one silver for 200 meter butterfly, two bronze for 200 individual medley and 400 meter freestyle.
He is not new to the sport, as he has been doing it since he was growing up in Iligan City, his hometown and where his family still lives.
He started swimming lessons at the age of six years old and a year later he joined inter-club meets. When he reached Grade Two, he joined the first Palarong Pambansa. He did not get any medals then but the love for the sport has caught on.
Since then he has been joining regional and local competitions and even the BIMP-Eaga Friendship Games in 2003 and 2005. In 2003, he joined the Palarong Pambansa again and this time bagged five gold medals and two silver.
This week he is set to leave for Brunei for the BIMP-Eaga Friendship Games representing Davao City, a city he has come to love.
“Maraming nakakalaban na magaling sa international competitions. Kabado ka parati. Di mo kilala sino ang bago. Unlike local competitions, kilala mo na kadalasan ang ibang competitors,” he said in an interview.
In the 2005 BIMP-Eaga games, Cali bagged one gold medal in relay, two silvers in the individual 200 meter butterfly and four bronze medals in the individual medley.
He trains by himself and has no swimming coach.
He said he swims two hours a day and cross-train at the HGS gym for toning. With a strict self-discipiline, he relies only on himself to prepare for each competition.
Cali said he is on a high fiber diet of fruits and vegetables. And this is the first year he is going to join a competition using the cross-training technique.
Swimming is safe compared to other contact sports. It is also advantageous to know how to swim. This is the best exercise, lahat ng muscles mo gumagalaw. I had asthma when I was in elementary but was cured with swimming,” he said. “Wala din akong bisyo, no smoking. I drink occasionally pero kung kaya na hindi uminom sa parties, hindi ako umiinom.”
He said his parents, especially his mom is proud of his achievements.
“I am also earning by being a part-time teacher here and no tuition fee because I am scholar. Hindi na ako hingi ng hingi ng pera. Mahirap din sa time management pero flexible ang schedule kaya madali. Disiplina lang talaga,” he said.
Cali is also proud to be part of the HGS family.
“I am lucky to be with HGS. I exercise and at the same time loose weight while teaching aerobics. Hindi ako pressure sa trabaho. Parang kapamilya. Comfortable mag-stay dito. Ang clients naman close ko na parang barkada na lang,” he said.
He says teaching aerobics is in line with my course since he majors in Physical Education and he loves to choreograph.
Cali has fallen in love with Davao City .
“I love Davao since lower cost of living dito. Maganda and maraming opportunities. I plan to stay here for good,” he said of his three years living here. He also plans to concentrate on studies and work
Cali admonishes everyone to work out and go to the gym.
“Dapat mag-gym kasi importante ito sa katawan. It is vital to one’s physical and mental well being,” he said.
Have fun while staying fit. Visit Holiday Gym and Spa now, located along Torres Street, Davao City with telephone number 222-3041 or visit their website: www.holidaygymandspa.com.
You may also check out the latest top of the line gym equipment at www.campaigningforhealthyliving.com.

SWIMMING ACE "HAROON CALI" Certified Dolphins!

Swimming Ace Haroon Cali
By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan

HAROON Cali, born in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to a civil engineer father Lominog Cali and midwife mother Bridget Dieto Caballero on May 16, 1987, was left to the care of his aunt in Iligan City a month after.

He realized that he wouldn't have gone to where he is now in the sport of swimming if not for Aunt Florita Cabalhin.

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"She is my inspiration. I started swimming when I was five. It was my cousin who encouraged and taught me to swim. My aunt, who is the older sister of my mom, enrolled me to a swimming lesson when I turned six so I can engage into competition," he reminisced.

He said Aunt Flori accompanied him wherever he competed. It may be in the Batang Pinoy Games, Mindanao Friendship Games, Palarong Pambansa or in any other local or regional meet.

But Ronz's aunt died of stroke in 1997. It was also the year that he missed action in the Palaro.

"I didn't compete in the Palaro that year because there was no one who could be with me. My aunt had been very supportive since I learned the sport. She took good care of me and encouraged me to practice more and achieve my goals. I loved her so much and her husband, too. They're my parents here while my real parents worked abroad," he told this writer.

He said it was only in 1997 that his parents, who worked in Saudi for about 15 years, came home and decided to settle in the country for good.

All grown-up

I remembered seeing Ronz for the first time in one of the Mayor's Cup Age-Group Swimming competitions held at the Ladislawa Country Club in Buhangin.

I also saw him during the first MFG in Tubod, Lanao del Norte in 2001 where he won a bronze medal for Iligan. He also recalled seeing me at the revival of the Bimp-Eaga Games in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan in 2003.

But I was surprised to see him all grown-up and more confident in Iloilo City during the National Prisaa Finals last year.

He even grew taller than me. Argh! When before we just see eye-to-eye, now I really have to look up when I talk to this five-foot-seven young man.

Time may have changed Ronz' many features and outlook in life, but he remained friendly, accommodating and you can say that again, bubbly! He never runs out of things to say.

The eldest in a brood of three, Ronz will soon march the aisle with a degree in Bachelor in Secondary Education-Mapeh at the University of Mindanao.

"I took BSED major in Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health because I know that my abilities and capabilities are more on bodily-kinesthetic which means I'm more inclined to physical activities. I love to swim, dance, choreograph and teach other people. I get to share my skills and at the same time earn money. I think this is the only course that can help me achieve my goals and ambitions in life," he said.

He will soon graduate but not without an honor or legacy to leave his alma mater and Davao City, which he considers his second home.

Reaping honors

Ronz first competed in a local event in the "City of Majestic Waterfalls", - Iligan - in 1996 where he won a silver medal.

He then competed in a regional meet in Cotabato City where he brought home two silvers and one bronze. But he failed to win any medal in the Palaro held the same year.

"It was only in the 2003 Palarong Pamabansa in Lanao that I finally won a gold medal. I bagged five golds and two silvers. I felt very happy because I achieved one of my ambitions in life," he said.

He got into the UM swimming varsity team through the help of Coach Denis Beciera.

He continued, "I was offered a class A scholarship so I accepted. I joined the team because I wanted to experience the life of being away from my parents and they also supported me."

The Ian Thorpe fan shared that with his scholarship, he enjoyed 100 percent free tuition, sports uniform, good training and dormitory.

Among his other exploits were the 2002 Milo Little Olympics Most Outstanding Athlete award in Cagayan de Oro and 2003 Palaro most outstanding athlete award in Lanao.

He captured gold medals in the 4th Bimp-Eaga Games in Malaysia, 2006 National Prisaa in Dagupan and 2007 National Prisaa in Iloilo.

His one gold and two silver finishes in the 2008 National Prisaa in Zamboanga City and one gold in the National University Games in Bacolod earned him the So Kim Cheng Sports Foundation Most Oustanding Male Swimmer Award.

He received the award at the Grand Regal Hotel on July 22.

Ronz said he could never imagine not being in sports.

"This is where I made a name for myself. I toured different places for free. I also earned money and got to college without paying any amount. I gained a lot of friends and I've helped my parents. Sports gives me a healthy lifestyle," he added.

His greatest dream is to compete in the Olympics - a dream of every athlete.

Five years from now, Ronz sees himself as a good model PE teacher, aerobics instructor and swimming coach

DOLPHINs..

Dolphins... marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. Dolphins is the most friendly creature in the world that is why we named our group after it. Actually i find it so nonsense having a group name but eventually i was used to it.. it's more easier to spread something like odds.. :) It is really hard for us to pick a group name, we nimbled and used our creativity for us to came out with a obdurate name and BOOM! Dolphins came out,complicated right? oh yeah..we are very imaginable and creative.. i know.. (don't mention it again) we are sterile.. STOP! Why in hell we choose dolphins? ... dolphins live in water,they love to swim,dance,sing as well,they always smile?,they breathe and they are lovely so well to us.. These group is very POPular.. nah, fool! i mean POOL.. like swimming pool? :)

2007.. I met them in the gym(oh,i love it).. They were as good as an angel.. :P a very approachable group with a kind-hearted hands? love? whatever you call it.. I went out with them and began to join them in an endless water sport SWIMMING.. i know,im not good at it but im kinda loving it since i was a kid so i still can relate to them(a little bit).. :) swimming is there life,YES.. IT is.. I can't imagined myself swimming with them everynight 24/7,not a swimmer though.. oh well papel, believe it or not.. see and hear.. THEY're really like dolphins.. do you get it? WOW! how on earth did GOD bring these people in one group? How did He figure it out? DESTINY... i think.. "if it's meant to be,it's meant to be".. right people?

WHATEVER we think,WHEREVER we are.. swimming is on top of our mind.. it's like B1 and B2? always together,if you get one the other will remain in a chair.. i'm talking about swimming here,not the group.. okay? hmm.. I even tried swimming in a deep black sea with them.. Things that you will not see me dying with happened with their unstoppable encouragement.. See how great things strike on a person? Oh well water is the one that keep us alive and kicking... "not to mention the another".. wherever it will take us,im still glad of having you as a part of my life... how you guys played a very special love in my heart.. haha

here are some pictures of the dolphins:

we are what we are...

we live like a fairytale..

happily ever after!