THOUGHTS TO KEEP ME GOING

Have you ever felt like life's been hard on you? That no matter what and how much you strive things just seem to not fall into place? I've been feeling that way all throughout my life. Well, yeah, I'm only 29 but I have my shares of ups and downs too like any other individual. Probably, not as major as what others have been through, but those were tough, trying times of my life. Family, friends/peers, school, work, (I can't say love life, 'coz I don't have that yet, in fact, never had any) or just simply, facing another chapter of my life like moving to a new place after 29 years of being just in my hometown, Bacolod City in the Philippines. 

You see, I moved here in Dubai last May 23, 2011 with my brother (he's been here since 2006) and that only means I need to settle for a new job, new friends and new environment. The job search was tough. Going under the 45 degrees heat of Dubai's sun will dry up every liquid in your body. I'm telling you, I've never sweat in my entire life in Bacolod like I've sweat here in Dubai. I've never imagined walking just one block will cost me almost 1 liter of sweat!! Well, probably I'm exaggerating. But hey, I am not a "sweater" but if you are, you'll probably say you lost 1 pail of sweat! *lol

Finding a job was one of the toughest because not finding one before your visit visa expires would mean I will have to exit somewhere in Kish Island, Muscat, or Qatar and stay there for 30 - 60 days until I could get another visit visa. If I could get a job before my visa expires, however, would mean that I will have to exit in either of those places I mentioned above and just come back to Dubai the same day or probably just a few hours after I landed and get my employment visa.

Life is tough. We all have our own share of hurdles. But what works best for me every time are prayers and reading motivational quotes. They just give me inspiration to keep me going and be not too emotional and depressed. So here it is, I would love to share them to you too. Read through and who knows? You might also get inspired by these quotes.x)

If others say you can't do it, then prove them wrong and work your way to it. That would be sweet revenge right?

 

 

We all made mistakes. See? Even the greatest people in our history made a lot of mistakes (Edison & Einstein) but their works made a lot of significant changes in our world today. Be motivated. Be inspired by the people, things or even the situation you're in now. These obstacles will only make us stronger. God won't put us into something which He knows we can't bear. And whatever it is, God is there. He walks with us and will lift us up when we've fallen. So don't be afraid. Everything will just be fine. Prayer and faith is our greatest weapon and shield against all odds.

CALEA DREAMING

Calea is Bacolod City's sweet-tooth haven!

Well, maybe not all people are born with a sweet tooth (or teeth :D) -- but I am. Born and raised in Negros, the sugar capital of the Philippines, I think my love for sweet foods is uncommon for people born in the province. Bacolod's sweet delicacies are just heavenly! Piaya and Barquillos of Bong-Bong's, Napoleones of Roli's and Pendy's, and the best of them all --- cakes and pastries of CALEA! *salivating :) 

A wide-array of Calea's mouth-watering cakes. (photo by thepoortraveler.net)

Calea's cakes are an old-time favorites in Bacolod and the best "pasalubong" and gift for your loved ones. I don't know how they make their cakes. They all just taste savory and gratifying. The simple looks of their cakes are already scrumptious that you can't easily decide which one to dive in. And once you take a taste of it, you can't help but look forward to eating the other ones on the chiller. :) What makes it more awesome, is their prices. Where can you find a slice of cake that tastes sooo yummy and yet is sold in not more than 100pesos? Only in Calea I guess. Their prices range from (depending on the cake flavor) 75-95 pesos ONLY.

But why am I dreaming of Calea cakes? Well, it's because I've already moved to Dubai last summer. And man! I'm telling you, before I left? I made sure I took a slice of Calea cake everyday. Their cheesecakes are just the best! Blueberry, fruity, white chocolate and oreo cheesecakes are my favorites. And not to mention their tiramisu, ice cream cakes like mud pie and the famous imported chocolate cake.

Well, it will take many years before I could get another slice of heaven, and yes, it definitely sucks! But to patch my cravings for the meantime, I will try to make my own blueberry cheesecake when I get all my ingredients.:D 

For those planning or taking a trip to Bacolod, (of course you cannot miss out our famous Chicken Inasal) don't ever miss taking your dessert in Calea. And oh! don't forget pairing it with a cup of coffee -- hot, cold or frozen, or try their granita (it comes in different flavors). Or else, your trip to Bacolod is incomplete.

I came across this write-up and I'd like to share it to you. It's about....well, what else? Calea cakes!:) (I don't know the author. He/She did not put his/her name.)

SWEET DEATH

At any minute, I could die.

They have me surrounded–hundreds of them. They pile on top of each other, standing like giants. Oh, like leviathans and behemoths of Bible times!

They stare down at me with pride as if waiting for certain victory, waiting for my inevitable surrender. I shake and tremble. Never have I seen so many of them at any one time.

I shake and tremble more–like when one gets a panic attack. You overbreathe, you sweat, you know the end is near.

All around me people are waiting in line. All around me and just like me, people have succumbed to the sweet temptation that brings them death. Yes, death by Chocolate, by Blueberry, by Mud Pie.

I am in Calea, the mecca of sweets in Bacolod. It’s the last day of 2009 and I’m here to pick up the Oreo Cheesecake I ordered weeks ago. I stare at skyscrapers of cake boxes like I would whenever I’m in Ayala Avenue in Makati.

“Oh, that pillar of cake boxes over there, that must be ‘The PBCom Tower’,” I say to myself while looking at the tallest pile of them all.

I overhear an elderly woman saying she came all the way from Iloilo just to experience the miracle of flavors here. Back in my mind I think: Ah yes, the final pilgrimage to the temple of sweets. She’s here to die.

True enough, we are all here ready to be bludgeoned by a mass of Sans Rival, smothered in caramel, and savagely slaughtered by sugar and all its relatives. I am convinced that if superb taste and quality could kill, Calea cakes would top the NBI’s Most Wanted list.

I pick up my box now.

Whew!

Inside this box is my killer.

It looks innocent and sweet if you look at it closely. But, yeah, most serial killers are like that, they say.

Well, if that’s what truly awaits me, guess I don’t have much of a choice. Sweet Death.

PSC/POC and the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation

The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) won 5 gold medals and 2 silver medals to bring home the championship in the just concluded 10th IDBF World Championships in Tampa, Florida.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is the top government sports body that transforms the Filipino people into a citizenry through various commendable sports development programs. As stated in their Mission Statement #4, it supports the specially talented athletes for high level competitions. But do they, really? — I mean, support the specially talented (Filipino) athletes? Aren’t the members of the PHILIPPINE DRAGON BOAT FEDERATION not specially talented athletes? And we should not forget that all members are purely, 100% FILIPINOS!! And hey, they just won 5 GOLD medals and 2 SILVERS in the world championships in Tampa, Florida!

Why am I writing this blog? Well, clearly, I’m one of the MANY Filipinos out there who’s heart is crying and breaking and FUMING mad because of what our dear sports governing body THE PSC/POC, stated in their press conference that the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, after again, winning 5 gold medals and 2 silvers, and defending their title, is not worthy of THEIR support. What the F#@$CK!!?!

We saw it all in the news before the team left for Tampa. They lacked financial support. But kind hearted people (I’m not referring to any Phil. government officials here, because clearly, they did NOTHING for this team) gave their donations so the team could compete. Our kababayans flocked to the event venue bringing food and loud cheers to boost the team. Another Filipino Bayanihan spirit was evident and our paddlers emerged victorious and finished as overall champions. We are jubilant…I am…the whole country is! BUT, the other side of me is simply ANNOYED by the statements coming from the PSC/POC.

OMG! What were they thinking? Who are the people behind this commission? Well, according to my research, the PSC Chairman is RICARDO R. GARCIA and POC president is JOSE S. COJUANGCO Jr…. Wait, isn’t Jose “Peping” Cojuangco’s daughter Mikee used to represent the country as an equestrienne? She was an athlete. He (peping) should know the situation/life of an athlete. Evidently, the Cojuangcos are RICH! His daughter did not have to go through what other athletes went through and STILL are going through. 

It is sad to think (well, this has been happening since the day I was born OR even before I was born) that Filipino athletes don’t get the support (financially most especially) they need and deserve. But it is even more frustrating and distressing that no matter how much pride our athletes give to the country and its people, the department and the government, who’s supposed to back them refuse to do so. For what reason? Well, according to PSC, because the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation is not a member of PSC/POC! Bullshit! Ok, then, fine! They are not members of PSC, but is it really PROPER for the PSC to hold a press conference just to tell the whole country and the whole world that the PDBF will not get any incentives and is not a legitimate Philippine national team?

PSC/POC refuses to acknowledge the team, but still the PDBF chose to continue representing the Philippines and give it honor and pride! My hat’s off to you, my KABABAYANS!

The PDBF will not be allowed to compete for the SEA games this November 2011. So expect it guys, the Philippines will be losing gold medals we deserve because the PDBF is not competing.

Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, Azkals, Smart Gilas, Philippine Rugby Team (Volcanoes), Manny Pacquiao, and all other Filipino athletes — YOU make me proud, I am a FILIPINO!

Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, the government and all other political people who do their job sooo well, in SLASHING and CORRUPTING the budgets FOR the athletes — YOU are my and every Filipino’s nightmares, YOU are our biggest frustrations and disappointments, YOU are our biggest SHAME, YOU should really, really, really all burn in HeLL!!

PSC/POC refuse to acknowledge and give incentives to the PDBF, even calling the paddlers "ampaw" and old -- and that they should retire.