Of Bells and Rings

A couple of weeks ago, I received an SMS from a close friend telling me to go home in time for another friend's wedding. "He's 22 for heaven's sake!" was my initial reaction. But then I went aww seconds after. The bride-to-be invited me to a Facebook event page and days after, the invitation was sent. I felt giddy and everything it's as if I'm the one who's about to get married! Haha! So much of me being emotional, let's get it on with the wedding per se.

The invitation

Aww.♥

Third wheel moment with Allysa Claire and Jorel :P

Cute flower girls :)

Second entrance, reception at Hiyas ng Bulakan Convention Center

Hello, Table 13 mates! :))

Forever photo-bomber = Melo
Tsk! Hi, grade 5-6 seatmate, Jansen! :))

Allysa wearing Gian's wedding coat yayayay! :))

Height check, rawrrr!

Sweeeet. :3 Kayo na next? :))

Alyssa and Allysa. ♥

The groom. Hi, Gian! Congraaaats! :)

Definitely, one happy night. For the newly weds, stay in love! We got your back!♥

Forever 21

Albert's carbonara.♥

Happy birthday, self! :)

Allysa.

Hello, Albert, Margaret and busy singing Gimoy.

L-R: Margaret, Weong, yours truly, Tin

Grade 6 seatmate, Jansen.

Bestfriend since high school, Albert.

"Alyssa Shimode chocolates". HAHAHA. Hachiya gave me a box of these as a farewell present a day before I went back to the Philippines. Deliciosooo.

This post is late but I wanted to immortalize this point in my life. I turned twenty one! Yay! And of course, being a firm believer that with age comes wisdom, I am nothing but happy and hopeful that being a year older would mean more experiences, friends, travels, and yes, wisdom.

My birthday celeb is a bit intimate; I spent it with my closest friends (and some new ones) over carbonara, tequila and videoke. Though simple, it's one of the few birthdays I'll forever treasure. And yes it's my last birthday here in the Philippines. *sobs*

This day's just pure awesomeness. Thank You, Lord, for blessing me with another year, with these people.♥

Another side

Kanina, sinabi ni Sir-nakalimutan-ko-ang-pangalan (isang forester), 2% na lang daw ang forests dito sa Pilipinas. Wala na daw forests dito na “virgin”, meaning, unexplored at hindi pa natatapakan ng kahit sino. Sinabi din niya na nung 1989 daw nung pumasok siya sa UPLB ay walang mga puno sa Freedom Park at sa may paakyat ng Forestry. Ang “buntis” trees malapit sa may Never-ending Bridge ay noong 1993 lang itinanim. Mabilis lang naman daw ang regeneration rate. So sabi naman ni Dr. Cardenas (prof namin sa Economic Botany) yung 2% na forest cover sa bansa ay kaya pang palakihin. Kaya naman daw palang mabawi kung tataniman.

Umiling si Sir-nakalimutan-ko-ang-pangalan at sabay sabing nagtrabaho siya dati sa ****, at doon, ang ginagawa nilang reforestation ay sa pamamagitan ng tulong ng community malapit sa target area. For 5 years, yung community na yun ang kinontrata na mag-aalaga sa area: magtatanim at kung anu-anu pa. Pero dahil nga pag naging successful na yung regeneration sa area na yun at kailangan nang i-turn over sa gobyerno, mawawalan ang mga tao sa community na yun ng trabaho, kaya bilang solusyon, sinusunog ulit nila yung area na inalagaan nila. Back to scratch.

Nakakalungkot lang isipin na ganon. Oo, naiintindihan kong salat tayo sa yaman kung pera at pera lang din ang usapan, salat tayo sa matitino at high-paying na trabaho. Pero bakit hanggang sa extent na yun? Wala akong masumbat dahil ako sa sarili ko, ay hindi naman isang self-confessed nature advocate. Pero nalulungkot ako na ganyan yung mentalidad. Sa halip na ilang porsyento na ng Philippine forests ang na-regain natin, na-hi-hinder pa ang full recovery dahil sa mga ganoong aksyon, na sorry pero para sa akin ay medyo makasarili.

Kung gusto natin ng maayos na mundo, unahin nating ayusin ang tingin natin sa mundo. Wala tayong mararating lahat kung patuloy na maghihilahan pababa.

First glance at Angat Dam. Oh, the blue waters.

The floating house where we had lunch.

A fish ornament adorning the floating house

My room mates during the whole Bio159 trip
L-R: Leine, Nalie, yours truly, Yna, Abbie and Hannah

My Bio 159 case study groupmates, our backs on the Angat Dam
L-R: Kaye, Abbie, yours truly and Josiah