Touched by An Angel

12Nov 2013

This Christmas, even the smallest gift can bring out the biggest smiles.

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

The Christmas season will always remind me of my childhood. There is always this warm feeling in my heart when I think of Christmas day. A child always lives in my heart. As a little girl, my parents could not afford to buy expensive gifts but I was always happy with whatever they gave me. Any gift always gave me a giddy feeling as well as a big smile. I can just imagine the children when they receive their gifts. Just like this “Best gift” video from Jollibee, I can feel the excitement and wonder as the little girl received a Teddy Bear. Watch the video.

Starting November 11, families whether here or abroad can donate a toy and book online through the Maaga ang Pasko microsite with the help of campaign partners Toy Kingdom and Goodwill Bookstore. The “Maaga ng Pasko” is considered the country’s longest-running toy and book collection drive. In its 19th year of making Filipino children smile during this wonderful season of hope , there has been a collection of 2 million toys. This year, the campaign kicked off in different locations including Metro Manila, Pampanga, Batangas and Davao.

Imagine the joy when children receive your toys or books? It is priceless. I will participate in “Maaga ang Pasko” by giving teddy bears. To children, stuffed animals like teddy bears are more than toys. They’re imaginary friends who are effective comfort givers in times of extreme stress and fear, helping them heal from whatever trauma and tragedy they may face.

Hopefully, “Maaga ang Pasko” will reach out to Global Filipino communities in the USA, Middle East, Hongkong and Singapore via Maaga ang Pasko donation boxes that will be placed in Jollibee branches in these markets.

You can bring your donations to any Jollibee store and drop it in the Maaga Ang Pasko boxes or you can visit jollibee.com.ph/MaagaAngPasko for details.

Imagine the smiles of the children who will receive your gifts. Even the smallest gift can bring out the biggest smiles. Let us light up their world by giving.

08Nov 2013

On Covering the Napoles Hearing & Engaging with Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago about bloggers

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

It is not often I go to the Senate. When I do, it is for special hearings like the Corona Trial , RH Law, COMELEC or the Senate Blue Ribbon hearings. During the Corona trial , I got media accreditation when I used my media ID from the Philippine Online Chronicles.

This time around, I requested for a one-day media accreditation when I spotted the tweet of Christine Herrera of the Manila Standard. She gave me the contact details of the Public Relations and Information Bureau of the Senate of the Philippines. And I got it!

I have never seen so many cameras inside the Session Hall , not even during the Corona Trial. Janet Napoles arrived through the side door where the Senators always pass. She looked thinner than the last time I saw her photos at the detention cell. She looks angelic and eager to listen to the Senators. I wrote more about in my article at the Philippine Online Chronicles

Frustration and disappointment are the words to describe how I felt as I listened to Janet Lim Napoles to each question that Senator TG Guingona asked. Her response “di ko alam”, “Hindi ko po alam sa kanila”, “hindi po totoo yan”. I don’t know about everyone else felt but wouldn’t you want to know how our money was spent by these legislators?

I didn’t expect her to talk at all. Though evasive, you can read in between the lines. The whistleblowers talked with confidence about the intricate details of the alleged PDAF scam.

Not even Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago could bring out any testimony from Napoles even if she rattled out the Ten Commandments. You can read between lines when it was the turn of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. How can someone with a High School education concoct such a complicated scam without the help of a mastermind? Who is this mastermind?

As always Senator Santiago had many interesting quotes:

“Sino pa bang matanda dito sa Senado kundi si Enrile? Sabi niya 89 siya pero baka 99 na siya kasi nagde-dementia siya lalo tungkol sa akin”

“Are you aware of the commandment, ‘You shall not steal? You shall not tell a lie? What kind of a Catholic are you?”

“Ignorance can be treated but stupid is forever. Let’s hope for the best. Let’s hope this is a case of ignorance.”

The Senators are probably exasperated. Senator Drilon and even Senator Villar are bored with hearing.

Well, I was bored as well hearing the same replies all over again. She must have rehearsed during the past weeks she was in detention.

My friend tells me over facebook that “Napoles’ demeanor reveals she’s holding something vis-a-vis the witnesses who speak with eloquence and straightforward confidence.”

All of these recorded by dozen cameras inside the Session Hall. The camera men were nice to let me squeeze in just so I can take photos of Janet Napoles and the Senators.

What probably was the highlight of my coverage was during the press conference with Senator Miriam Santiago. I introduced myself as @momblogger on twitter. Before I could ask my question… I was horrified, when she started to interview me instead:

“Ang blogger ba may hanapbuhay ba o wala? Does anyone pay you people? You have to have advertisers, right?”

I said that I write for the Philippine Online Chronicles. And that I don’t have ads because I am “controversial”. And if I discuss about bloggers, it will take time.

Then I proceeded to ask my question before she could ask more questions.

My question was taken from one of my twitter followers..”You have been telling the public about tanda, aren’t you scared considering that tanda is a real EVIL?” (You can view this vide where Sen Miriam Santiago at the 6:06 mark on Enrile)

She seemed to hesitate for 5 seconds and replied “no I am not scared of him”.

Then rattled off more than I could chew, that Enrile is the mastermind and the godfather (or grandfather) of all this scam. I was stunned. How brave of her to say this. I learned that Senators have immunity even if they call out another Senator

I hope to talk to her and explain more about bloggers. I love her no matter what other critics say about her. I am also thankful that Senator Santiago acknowledged bloggers and social media.

Senator TG Guingona says the hearing was a success. Patting themselves in the back is not enough. The Senate must start enacting a legislation for the abolition of its own PDAF, DAP and other insertions to the GAA 2014. It is time for the Sandiganbayan to file cases against the alleged scammer.

Citizens on their part, will continue to be vigilant against corruption and report misuse of funds.

We will continue to focus on three calls: the investigation and prosecution of all those who have misused pork, to account for all pork spent, and to scrap all forms of pork barrel.

05Nov 2013

Do you agree that sharing online (despite decreasing anonymity) improves 21st-century life?

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

I finished the Coursera Course on “Understanding Media by understanding Google”. I am so glad I completed the course. For the last essay, Prof. Owen R. Youngman told us to write our thoughts on sharing our lives online.

The subtitle of Jeff Jarvis’ most recent book Public Parts, which we did not read but whose contents are central to the online debate at The Economist, is “How sharing in the digital age improves the way we work and live.”

In no more than 400 words, take a position on whether our decreasing anonymity online, and the increases in data collection and information sharing that accompany this decrease, either improves or damages 21st-century life.

These are my thoughts:

——

Our decreasing anonymity online, and the increases in data collection and information sharing that accompany this decrease, improves 21st-century life.

In 2000, I lost my precious six-year old son and my whole world collapsed. I was devastated for many years until I decided to live a new normal in 2005 and start The Compassionate Friends, a grief support group to bereaved parents. I didn’t feel it was enough so I started a blog so other parents would discover it by using a search engine and search “grief support group in the Philippines”. Sharing the changes in my new life were shown in my blog entries. I wanted to offer hope that there is a new normal after the loss of a child. During our meetings, talking helped. As I gave comfort, I too found comfort.

Jeff Jarvis in Economist Debate on Social Networking affirms the benefits of sharing. “Sharing is a social and generous act: it connects us, it establishes and improves relationships, it builds trust, it disarms strangers and stigmas, it fosters the wisdom of the crowd, it enables collaboration, and it empowers us to find, form and act as publics of our own making.”

How did that lead to a better life? See, grief is taboo at least in our culture and through grief education, these bereaved parents were able to start living a new normal, a productive life even without their child around. Through the group, the bereaved parents decided to work towards a positive resolution of their grief , yet knowing that their child will always be with them in their hearts and in their minds.

Blogging also opened doors for me. I soon received recognition and awards which provided more traffic to my grief support advocacy site and my blog. It is not easy sharing the depth of my sadness to strangers but I felt I was at the stage of my grief that I needed to offer hope that there is a life after a death of a child.

Sarah Perez in If The Government Can Access Our Facebook Data, What Happens When We Have Computers On Our Faces?, agrees that agrees that “by recording and sharing bits of ourselves and our lives, from the days of cave paintings to Instagram photos and now to the very number of steps we’ve taken and beats of our heart, we are somehow not as alone as we feel.”

As I reach out to offer hope in my blog posts, grief is no longer taboo. Sharing not only gives us something to do with the energy of grief, but also establishes the continuity of memory and spirit of one who was so much a part of our lives. Life is so much better.

01Nov 2013

The meaning of flowers

by webs ⋅ 3 Comments

In every meeting of The Compassionate Friends, we provide positive ways for grief management. We believe that the only way to truly relieve the pain is to work through the grief. Once we had “Creative ways of Remembering your loved one“. The topic was about “Healing through Journaling” or Grief Journaling[/tag] by Leah Eriguel, a Palanca awardee and friend of Cathy.

In my early days of overwhelming grief, I was unable to write down any of my emotions. In the webpage I created for my son two weeks after he was buried, I could only write this:

How should I start my story? Too many questions without any answers. How can a happy family day turn into a tragedy? It is difficult and painful for me to write about the drowning accident. That was how we lost our beautiful boy one sunny day at a beach resort. Coupled with the grief I’m feeling right now, I’m still sorting through other emotions like the guilt, the regret, and the shame . The nightmare is still so clear in my mind like a movie that keeps replaying all over again.

I ended up in tears. So I only placed the eulogy. Someone said, write a journal. But I didn’t know how. I’m not a writer. Or I didn’t know how to express myself.

As Leah Eriguel unfolded the techniques of grief journaling, I wished she were around in 2000 to guide me on how to express my painful feeelings in writing.

There is no right way to journal. During the early phases of grief you may not have the energy to set down more than a word or two each day to track your feelings or what you did. Making lists is another good way to get started. You might want to make a list of what people have said that comforted you, a list of ways you can nurture yourself, or a list of all of the things about your loved one that you miss.

The idea of a memory journal is something similar to the Memory Lane of Luijoe’s memorial site. I wrote about his favorite jokes, favorite music, and his questions about death, angels and heaven. The memory journal is an easier task to do.

Leah added another technique , Writing for insight.

But first, you must banish internal editor by writing quickly, allowing the words to freefall from your subconscious.

Write continuously. Don’t erase or cross-out any words. Date each entry in your journal. Note the time, place and any details regarding your mood and emotions that will be necessary for context when you read back on your work.

After you’ve finished a journal entry, take a walk or get up for a glass of water before you reread your entry, and remember to reread your writing with compassion.

Then write an Insight Line—a sentence or two about what you think the piece is trying to tell you.

Of course, there are various journaling techniques that best suits the way in which you express yourself. if you are stuck and have nothing to write, try recording snippets of conversations, facts, feelings, fantasies, descriptions, impressions, quotes, images and ideas. Draw pictures, Make a collage from a magazine.

At the end of her interesting lecture, Leah gave us a little exercise: “Imagine you see your loved one smiling , then use the word “FIRST”. Write for 10 minutes non-stop without lifting your pen.”

This is what I wrote:

I remember the day you FIRST gave me flowers. You placed it on my table while I was working. Everyday you placed flowers on my table. So I got a vase and placed it right beside me so there will be a place for your flowers. The next afternoon, you came with another bunch of flowers that you picked from the park. You beamed as you saw the flowers in the vase. You knew how important they were to you. Everytime I see flowers, I remember that first day. Memories of you saying : “I love you so very much, mama”. I smile and feel the comfort of your love. That remains with me forever. Today when I visit your resting place, I lay down the flowers for you. You know how much I love you, don’t you?”

31Oct 2013

kataKURAKOTan: A Horror Costume Parade vs the Pork Barrel System

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Halloween is always spent with the kids. I never bothered to wear costume. The current pork barrel issue of corruption is “quite real and causing havoc and carnage” on the people’s lives. I must say horrific.

That is one reason I joined the pre-halloween event “kataKURAKOTan: A Horror Costume Parade vs the Pork Barrel System” where anyone can come in scary Philippine folklore demons/beast costume. Watch the video:

I still wanted to be fashionable wearing a mask that used to be owned by one of kids.

The protest tomorrow was meant to call on the citizens to persevere in the fight against the monsters of corruption.

Neil Doloricon, former dean of the UP College of Fine Arts said that “Pork is politically dead yet continues to thrive under the Aquino administration. Lawmakers are trying to keep it alive in the national budget and the President refuses to give up his own pork. In the horror genre, it would be similar to the undead”.

What these politicians are doing is really scary. They are the real monsters in this country.

But I am not scared. I will continue to fight this battle against the pork barrel system. This is worth the fight.

29Oct 2013

Caring for tomorrow: I pledge to drive safe

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Dreaming of a safer tomorrow? Go further. When I think of the future, the safety of my family and loved ones comes to mind. There are things we can control and those that we can’t. I certainly have control of my driving habits.

I did not know what lay ahead beyond the sign at the door to Ford’s “Caring for tomorrow” campaign . I had told my friends that Ford Philippines was launching the “Caring for Tomorrow” campaign to promote public awareness and safe driving habits, and to invite drivers to pledge to drive safely for their loved ones. Together with Arpee , Wenchie, Rhadem , Kaye, Aleja , Sofie, and Jay , we got to experience the premium advanced features and technologies that Ford is making available across its model range.

The experience was quite an eye-opener for me and my friends. Though, I have test driven the Ford models in the past, this was the first time I saw an overview of all the safety features in various Ford models. Let me show you.

Rhadem, Wenchie and Sofie wore Third Age suits and felt the stiffness of arthritis and poor vision. It’s great FORD considered the comfort of third age passengers like our grandparents. “Third Age is now considered by many to be the “golden years” of adulthood. It is generally defined as the span of time between retirement and the beginning of age-imposed physical, emotional, and cognitive limitations, and today would roughly fall between the ages of 65 and 80+. ” They need special care inside the automobile.

The men wore empathy suits to feel what it is like to be eight months pregnant. I know how that felt during my eight month of pregnancy. There was not enough room between the steering wheel and my huge belly. You can see that there is comfortable space. Just check the photo below.

My friends at the backseat were seated comfortably with enough leg room for stiff legs.

Getting out of the car is also easy because of the booster pads on the seat.

I love the idea that Ford even thought of our pets. After all, pets are family members too. Look at the safety seatbelt demonstrated in this stuffed dog.

See how the safety engineers are dressed up as Third age users.

For the Ford Explorer, the main goal of the the inflatable seat belt is for rear-seat occupants. “The advanced restraint system is designed to help reduce head, neck and chest injuries for rear-seat passengers, often children and older passengers who can be more vulnerable to such injuries.”

A game show tested our knowledge on safety practices.

For instance, what would you do if you are sleepy after a night out with friends? I would take coffee and try to nap a bit before driving. Ford has an answer to sleepy-heads. The Ford’s Driver Alert (in the new 2.0L Ford Focus Sport+ ) uses advanced technology and sophisticated algorithms to analyse driver performance and issues a warning if the driver shows signs of drowsiness or erratic steering.

Ford’s MyKey is designed to help parents encourage safe teen driving habits . The easily programmable key limits a vehicle’s top speed, limit radio volume and encourage safety-belt usage by muting the radio until front occupants buckle up. Isn’t that cool? Any parent would want this “guardian angel” feature.

(Photo via Arpee Lazaro)

Another safety feature is the hands-free, voice-activated in-car technology using the Ford SYNC, an integrated in-vehicle communications and entertainment system that allows the driver to make hands-free telephone calls, control music and perform other functions with the use of voice commands, radio controls and even the car’s steering wheel.

One of my favorite feature is the the Ford Focus Active Park Assist. I have never mastered the art of parallel parking and I was excited to show Wenchie who had similar difficulty . With just one click of a button, the Focus will actively search for available parking spots and sensors around the car will steer it into the parking spot perfectly. The driver still has full control of the accelerator and brake, but the car does all the heavy hand-eye coordination. The wheels actually pivot the car into place. This is a priceless stress-reliever.

Watch this video taken by Arpee while Jay tested out the Active Park Assist. You will be enthralled.

The Active City Stop low-speed collision avoidance technology is another safety feature to help prevent collisions at speeds up to 10mph, and help reduce the severity of impacts at speeds below 20mph.

Let me point out that most of these safety features are available in the top of the line model of the Ford Focus. No wonder the price is 1.2 million pesos.

By the end of the tour, my friends and I were so overwhelmed with the innovative safety features that used to be available only in high-end European cars. The culminating activity was signing a pledge to drive safely because we care enough for the future of our loved ones.

I scribbled: I care for the future of everyone. I pledge to drive safe.

You may also want to read Arpee Lazaro’s article on Ford Focus: A New Level Of Safety.

27Oct 2013

The Gabay Guro gathering gives back to teachers #GabayGuro2013

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

I felt the excitement as I looked around at the MOA Arena in Saturday’s biggest gathering of teachers. I had glanced through the list of celebrities and prizes that PLDT-Smart Foundation’s Gabay Guro prepared for this biggest tribute to teachers. Wow, this amazing production considered the diversity of the teachers’ age and interests. I call this tribute as paying forward to teachers who have shaped the minds of our children.

As the Pambansang Awit played, I felt tears clouding my vision. Touched by the presence of our teachers , my heart burst with pride and love of country. At the same time, I couldn’t help thinking that the government should give more funds to the education sector.

The entertainers made sure to interact with the audience but it was just difficult to reach to the Upper box. There should have been a celebrity from the upper box going down to the ground level. I loved how the entertainers didn’t just stand there and gyrate to the music. Teachers either clapped or dance to the music. Who would not love the music? My favorite 70’s and 80’s music were being played.

Marian Rivera got to dance with the male teachers. These teachers could dance!

The teachers were just thrilled to see their favorite celebrities.

Gifts showered as the show went on. Around 400 teachers received a gift pack from Sun Cellular that could even be used for a load business.

Though TV 5 artists Edu Manzano and Derek Ramsay were around, this Grand Gathering broke away from the so-called network-exclusivity “barrier”. Artists from ABS-CBN and GMA-7 were present– Ryzza Mae, Anne Curtis, Judy Ann Santos, Marian Rivera, Martin Nievera, Pops Fernandez and Rocco Nacino.

Edu Manzano, Judy Ann Santos, and Derek Ramsay honored the Gabay Guro scholar-turned-teacher Mr.Labantria

Anne Curtis with Richard Gomez present more prizes to the teachers such as iPad and laptops.

A teacher is now a proud owner of a Foton’s multi-purpose van while Annalyn A. Dizon of Bacoor National High School, Molino Main received the grand prize : a house and lot from Stateland Inc. Annalyn must be thrilled beyond words. I posted the photo in my instagram and that’s how I found out she was the winner.

I asked Annalyn to relate her experience when she found out she was picked as the winner. She wrote this in an email to me:

“When my number was announced we were walking outside the second lower box of the Arena. My co teachers were the ones who heard that and she said ” Anne di ba number mo yun sabi ko di ah ,ano ka ba number mo yun” . Then I ran inside and I heard that Edu Manzano started to count 1 – 10 and they will draw another winner . All the teachers from different schools helped me create noise so that the people in the stage wiil recognize us ..I kept on yelling “andito po ako ,andito po ako ako po ang nanalo” pati na din lahat ng mga tao sa paligid ko. Then Ms. Judy Ann Santos said ” come on down” . I was so happy tinakbo ko ang 2nd lower box pababa sa VIP ng arena na halos di ko na po naramdaman ang pagod ko sobrang panlalamig ng kamay at tensyon po ang naramdaman ko.

This blessing will give our family a new life ,a new beginning for all of us. God heard my silent prayer,our silent prayer ..My husband is working so hard in Dubai as a Sticker Applicator di alintana ang maliit na sahod ,init at matataas n building na pinagtatrabahuhan nya para sa mabigyan ng maayos na buhay ang aming tatlong anak ”

Photo via Gabay Guro Facebook

Annalyn adds, “Ms. Noemi we are living in my in-laws apartment. Our place is in Aniban, Bacoor,Cavite na konting ulan ay bumabaha sa labas at pag super typhoon e hangang bewang sa loob po ng bahay. Mahirap na ok din na malapit ka sa pamilya pero mas masarap padin po ang magsolo sa sariling bahay. My husband always told me maghanap ka ng hulugang bahay na no down. Asiksuhin mo naman. Oo lang ako ng oo pero the truth is umiiwas po ako sa gastos. Di ko lang sinsabi sa kanya . Before I went in Gabay Guro gatherings nag text po uli siya sabi ng husband ko need ko ng feed back sa bahay na pinapahanap ko kahit mahirap pilitin natin kasi lumalaki na ang mga bata. Umoo lang po uli ako Ms. Noemi then after nun ako na ang pinalad na manalo po. Napaiyak po ako ng sobra dahil dun na magkakasarili kami ng bahay ng wala na po iisipin na gastos ,dream come true po itong blessing na ito sa aming pamilya po. God is really Good. I thanked God for blessing me more than I deserve.”

It is so heartwarming to hear her story. May God bless her new home.

As I left theMOA Arena, the teachers continued to take photos of each other, excited by just being together for this grand gathering.

There are more photos at www.facebook.com/gabayguro

25Oct 2013

Google’s intention to digitize all the world’s books a good thing?

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

I always challenge myself to be a better person. I also challenge myself to learn something new whether it be a hobby or a course. The opportunity to learn something new came when Coursera opened a six-week course on Understanding Media by Understanding Google. Online media has been my life ever since I turned to blogging in 2006. The course syllabus was really interesting but could I go through the discipline of quizzes, and peer-graded assignments? That I had to see. The online course started on September 16 and I knew it would be a busy month due to my anti-pork activities. There were times I could barely catch up with my readings and cramming everything in one day.

The good news is I finally finished six weeks. Yes, Today I submitted my quiz and essay for week six. I am not sure I will get a high grade but I am sure to pass as I believe the past five weeks have given me satisfactory scores in my quizzes and perfect scores in peer graded assignments.

With all that behind, I’d like to share some of the essays I wrote for this course. But before that , let me explain the rationale of this course.

Most of you know that Google Inc. is one of the key success stories of the Internet era. When I first heard of Google in the late nineties, it was only meant to be a search business. Through innovation and acquisition, Google has touched the lives of nearly every person who lives life online. For instance, Americans spend more than 3,400 hours per year using consumer media, the field where Google’s impact is most profound. I don’t have data for the Philippines but I can safely say that Google is the number one search engine. Citizens of the world increasingly must understand what the company has wrought not only to manage their offline and online environments, but also to interact and engage successfully with anyone in their professional and personal lives.

It is through understanding Google that we can begin to understand media.

The first peer-graded assignment was about Google books. Here is the question.

Is Google’s intention to digitize all the world’s books a good thing or a bad thing, and for whom? Carefully cite at least two sources from the readings or lectures in support of your answer, which should be no more than 300 words in length.

Here is my essay:

It is my dream that people from developing countries have access to open knowledge. As a little girl, I poured over the encyclopedia series that my father bought for us. I believe access to books at an early age piqued my curiosity about the world, science and arts. Imagine if every child around the world had access to books at their fingertips.

It is my belief that Google ‘s intention to digitize the books is a good thing because it will provide readers’ “access to millions of books they currently can’t find or have trouble getting through libraries.”

In countries like the Philippines where I live, public libraries are not available to many cities and even if available, the collection of books is very limited. Having books within reach will produce “generations of avid readers and a knowledgeable, engaged citizenry.” With the digitized copies available online, anyone with access to a network can search for books and get it quicker since Google is known for its greater search results and efficiency. Even if the digital divide is wide in our country, the government will soon provide internet access to schools with personal computers and tablets. Students can then easily browse the web and search for books to do their research.

Google books will never be a replacement of a traditional library. Students should still be able to borrow books from the school library. I view digitized books as an alternative when the printed version is not readily available. I hope to see Google’s digitized books shared with a universal library that is established to “make all knowledge available to all citizens” around the world.

What do you think?

24Oct 2013

My photos of the Mutianyu Great Wall of China

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

“They did not know what we can now sense as we contemplate the course of history: that change begins in the soul before it shows in our lives…” ? Franz Kafka, The Great Wall of China

I had always known that the the Great Wall of China is acknowledged as the world’s most amazing man-made artifact and the world’s longest human-made structure. It ‘s been my dream to visit the Great Wall of China before my knees would give up on me. In fact, there is this famous Chinese proverb about the Great Wall, which says “Not been on the Great Wall, not a great man”. A year ago, I was lucky to purchase plane tickets to fulfil this dream to travel with my husband to Beijing and see the Great Wall which is full of history . I had no idea what part of the Great Wall I would travel but fate was on my side because I chanced upon Janice post on Throwback Travel post: Memories of China where she recommended the Mutianyu portion. Further research showed that Mutianyu is much farther than the famous Badaling Section, and this section of the Great Wall gives a more fantastic view. They also said this section had fewer tourists than the Badaling section.

Butch and I were terribly excited to finally walk the Great Wall. I hired the services of Tristan, the same personal tour guide that Janice used in her trip. The one hour and a half ride to the Mutianyu Great Wall had such a spectacular view of willow trees, farm land, blue skies and cool weather. When we arrived at the Great Wall parking area by 10:30 AM, there were already too many tourist buses causing a jam. If there that many tourists in Badaling, then you can imagine what it is like in Badaling. Just make sure to leave the city early.

October is a great time to travel to Beijing. Though the weather was cool, it was comfortable enough to travel. The entrance fee is 45 RMB and as our tour guide bought tickets, I checked out the market but wasn’t too excited about it. I wanted to be at the Great Wall. I didn’t want to hike all the way to the top so we chose the cable car to bring us to the top. The walk up to the cable car station is steep and full of market vendors but you can choose to ride the elevator.

I thought the cable ride (80 Yuan each) would be nerve wracking but it wasn’t that bad. I got distracted by the breathtaking view.

Spotting the Great Wall from the cable car , I left my fear of heights behind. Using the cable car brings us to Section 14 of Mutianyu Great Wall.

There is a landing for tourists to mill around before the tower.

I expected a lot walking so I wore comfortable sneakers. Indeed , the wall is hilly with lots of stairs.

I could have chosen this path to go to the wall but I chose to climb the steps to the tower.

I just stood there as I marveled at the grandeur around me. I started to imagine what it was like in 220 BC when the wall was being built.

The beauty of the surrounding mountains and wall compelled both of us to just stand there and gaze and of course, take photos of ourselves.

It is difficult to explain how beautiful the wall is as you gaze at the graceful curves of the wall lying on top of these mountains.

All I could think of was the amount of men and time spent in building this structure under cold weather conditions.

Some portions were really steep so I just watched Butch from the tower as he walked off to the next tower.

Looking down , I called him out to take a photo of me.

SNAP (That’s me on the left side)

There are no words left for me to describe how beautiful the Great Wall of China is. I am glad we kept taking photos of each other to remind us that we actually were here.

Walking can be quite challenging as the steps are uneven but all I did was take it one step at a time. It is also a good reason to stop , turn and look around.

We stayed three hours on the wall which is enough time to explore and contemplate about the majesty of this centuries old structure.

Butch helps an American tourist haggle a shirt from 80 Yuan to just 50 Yuan.

I could ramble on and on about the Great Wall. My photos will never do justice to one of the Seven Wonders of the world so you just have to come to Beijing to see it. One of the places in the world I’ve dreamt to see and the experience didn’t let me down. I’ve heard about the Great Wall my whole life and to finally be there was so amazing. Be ready to do some serious hiking if you go there but it is definitely worth it.

The quote “You aren’t a great man until you’ve been to the Great Wall” also means our time here on Earth is not that long and we better make the best of it.

22Oct 2013

A breakup story a long time ago

by Noemi Lardizabal-Dado ⋅ Leave a Comment

Knowing about two couples breaking up the past month brought me back to a similar breakup 30 years ago. My own breakup story.

I was twenty five years old, at the peak of my career while my twenty-two year old boyfriend ( who is incidentally my husband) was just a Freshman in Law school. Being together for almost six years at that time, I thought it was really us , together and forever. I had been hinting the past months that I wanted to get married one day. Yes , hinting or did I sound like “hey let’s get married or else”.

I must have been more in love with Butch than he was in love with me. Head over heels in love. He was after all , very handsome, rugged, funny and smart. On January 1984, he declared he wanted to break up with me because it has always been me, me and me. He wanted to be a free man. As he started blurting the dreaded break-up words , all I could think of was “oh no, he found another girl more beautiful than me”. Pride didn’t want me to ask that question. I calmly took in his words and we parted.

I had written my thoughts in my diary a month after:

“I miss Butch…it’s been a month since we broke off…how can I learn to forget him? how…tell me how my dear God? I’m hurting all over…nothing is work working anymore…I don’t know where I should go. All my dreams were meant for Butch…now, I have to start all over again. I’m hoping we’ll talk on February 14. If by then, he’s not around, it’s over and I should brace myself and be strong. Meanwhile I ‘ll just cry a little and miss…miss…miss him and hurt….hurt…hurt…It will take time but I can be strong. I just need some strength to weather this emotional crisis. It’ll be better.”

He didn’t show up on Valentine’s day and I knew it was over. I had written a letter in my diary but I think it was more to release the pain in my heart.

Dear Butch,

Happy Valentine’s day! It’s a day for celebrating love. ALthough we may be apart for good, I just want you to know that I love you….

And I kept crushing out so many words in that unsent letter. I had not only lost a boyfriend but a best friend. Heartbroken, I’d write his name over and over again in my diary like a crazy idiot.

I decided to be busy that summer. Nursing a broken heart starts with taking care of your body. I jogged around the Oval of the UP Diliman campus every afternoon and at night , my officemates and I swam at the nearby pool. It felt good to be energized and pushing the limits of my stamina. My waist line shrunk to 23 inches that I had to replenish my closet with a new wardrobe. I felt like saying to Butch “Look at what you missed”. My boss often asked me Anong nangyari sa school bus mo? (“what happened to your school bus?” ) , referring to Butch who often picked me up from work. I shrugged, giving him an indifferent smirk but inside I was crying. It hurts.

The important lesson I learned that summer was taking care of myself . I allowed myself a couple of days and even weeks to mope around and cry, just feeling sorry for myself. There came a time to start snapping out of it. I learned that the most important person is ME and not my ex. I believe it is really important to love ourselves first. To love others, we must first learn to love ourselves.

The breakup was a good excuses for a fresh start. It was fun giving myself a makeover, and indulging into sports. It gave me a sense of fulfilment and a big burst of confidence. Time really heals all wounds. The pain I felt that February , a month after the breakup didn’t last forever, even if it felt like it will.

Just when I was getting over my broken heart, Butch came back into my life six months after the breakup. I spotted a dozen roses by the door partly covering his handsome face. I felt my heart bursting and my face flushing.

My boss was yelling,Yari na ang school bus ( “THE SCHOOL BUS IS FIXED!”)

To those in similar breakup stories , I am not saying it will lead to a happy ending. It did lead to a better me.

Just hang in there – it’ll get easier. I promise.

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