A Break-up Letter


I never expected I'd be writing you this letter. We've had six years of wonderful memories but I'm afraid it had come to the Read more

Welcome to the New Yoshke.com


New look. New attitude. New experiences. Honestly, I had been neglecting this blog the past few weeks because of my awfully hectic schedule. Work had Read more

Sometimes We Burn to Live


Whenever I meet people for the first time, it always happens. When they start their sentence with "I hope you don't mind me asking but," Read more

Judging By the Cover


Our office is just a stone's throw from where I live. In fact, all I have to do is cross EDSA and voila, hello Read more

Fireworks, Hormones, and this Blog Post


You remember last week when I told you I found it difficult to blog since I met you? Since we became a couple officially, Read more

Do They Read Blogs in Heaven?


Whenever I say that the earliest memory I have is the accident wherein I had my left arm somewhat toasted, I lie. My earliest Read more

Unusual Breakfast


Here we are again. In the usual corner. Usual table. Usual diner. Usual time. And most probably, usual meal. I'm getting tired of this Read more

Top 10 National Stereotypes


Heaven is where the cooks are French, the police are British, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian and everything is organized by Read more

EDSA


It could have been a horrible Saturday. I was in the passenger seat. It was a bit raining. Normally, EDSA gets on my nerves. That's why Read more

Why Nursery Rhymes Are So Violent


A few months ago, I was teaching my 4-year old nephew some nursery rhymes with a DVD. After a lot of singing, he slowly Read more

Top 10 Worst Things to Say During Sex


Sex is the art of love. It must be done in the most enjoyable and most satisfying manner. This act of love of two Read more

The Promil Kid Drops the Bomb


Of all the living things created by God, I love my nephew the most. I call him the Promil Kid. He’s the cutest thing. Read more

Travel

My Top 20 Travel Moments of 2011 (Part 2)

Posted on by Yoshke in Lists, Travel |

It’s already February and here I am still counting down the best moments I had while traveling last year. Late, I know. But haaaaaay. When you got too much on your plate, you will learn to munch on them bit by bit so you wouldn’t die of overeating.

Bacuit Bay, El Nido, Palawan in black and white

So let’s continue. Here’s the second half of my list of the most unforgettable times I have had as a nomad in 2011!

10. Overnight Camping at Dampalitan Island, Quezon

Overnight camping trips aren’t my thing. But it was not the trip per se that I loved about my trip to Padre Burgos, Quezon last summer; it was the people I was with.

My friends and I at Dampalitan Island in Quezon

My college friends and I seldom get together so every reunion is very special and this trip was a proof. It was nice to gather around a bonfire and share stories, dreams, frustrations, secrets, and learnings we had had in the years we didn’t see one another. I love my friends and the fire will continue to burn.

9. Annual Bonfire in Sagada, Mountain Province

If you’re an avid reader of this blog for years, you probably have an idea of how much I am in love with Sagada. In fact, the past couple of years, Sagada topped my list of the best destinations I had visited.

Annual Bonfire in Sagada

Last December, I had a chance to set foot on Sagada again. And for the third straight year, I joined their bonfire party. As always, it was a blast. The feeling of the cold wind embracing me as I linger around a big, big flame is something I will never get tired of.

Read more

Viewed 39 times by 33 visitors this month

1 Comment

My Top 20 Travel Moments of 2011 (Part 1)

Posted on by Yoshke in Lists, Travel |

You might be thinking: Why the hell am I posting a year-ender countdown in mid-January? All I can tell you is that I had been too busy with work lately. But better late than never, aye? Too busy or too lazy. Take your pick.

2011 was my most travel-heavy year ever. Considering that I am a holiday/weekend traveler, I still can’t figure out how I managed to go places given the hectic work schedule and limited leave credits. In 2011, I somehow neglected this blog Yoshke.com so I could focus on my travel blog. Don’t ask me for a link to my travel blog; I’m not yet ready to reveal ‘coz I’m not yet proud of it. Haha. I still have a lot to learn about traveling and travel blogging. I co-own it with a partner, who handles the SEO and the more technical sides of the blog. I take care of the content and it’s social media presence.

Anyway, I’m counting down the 20 best travel experiences that I had last year. This is the first half.

20. Kayaking Around Islets in Marabut, Samar

I blamed kayaks for leaving me completely useless on my first night in Samar. Empot, a friend, had a brilliant idea of circling around the towering islets dotting San Pedro Bay.

Me kayaking (top). My friends Empot and Dane walking to Marabut Extreme (bottom left). The bus we took to Marabut (bottom right)

While it was a fun and rewarding activity, we kind of forgot the fact that none of us had tried kayaking before. We were able to paddle back to our resort, Marabut Extreme Adventure, after hours albeit utterly drained out of energy. Not to mention that I was reminded that I had muscles every time they throbbed and ached.

19. 360 View of Kuala Lumpur from KL Tower, Malaysia

The KL Tower and the view from the Observation Deck

It was my first time in Malaysia and we only had half a day to explore the city of Kuala Lumpur. Not enough time, if you ask me. We set foot on the Petronas Towers, the Thean Hou Temple, and the Merdeka Square. But it was our visit to the KL Tower that was unforgettable. The building’s observation deck offers a 360-degree view of the Malaysian capital from 276 meters above the ground.

18. Getting Lost in Books Kinokuniya, Orchard Road, Singapore

Getting lost is an exaggeration but I had never been in a bookstore as big as the Ngee Ann City branch of Books Kinokuniya in Orchard Road, Singapore. I said it before, I just love the smell of new books. I love running my fingers tips on the edges of the virgin pages.

The entrance to Books Kinokuniya, Ngee Ann City

It’s one of the biggest bookstores in Southeast Asia. I had been to Singapore thrice but I never had a chance to enter this paper paradise until August 2011. I was with two other blogger friends and we decided to go our own ways as we looked for books. We ended up spending half of the time struggling to find one another. Haha.

Read more

Viewed 340 times by 203 visitors this month

6 Comments

Batangas: Rediscovering My Hometown

Posted on by Yoshke in Travel |

“You’re the weirdest Batangueno I have ever met!” declared my friend Andre after learning that I didn’t know how to swim. We were on the way home.

“Wow, jumping to conclusions,” I objected.

“Well, for starters, you don’t have the accent,” he explained. “Batangas is known for beaches and dive sites; you don’t even know how to swim. Batangas produces the best beef in the country; you dislike beef. Batangas is home to kapeng barako; you’re not a coffee fan. You haven’t even been to the Taal Volcano.”

Hmmm. As hard as it was to admit, he was right. (Except for the coffee part. I love Kapeng Barako.)

But that single declaration from a friend who always told me the most brutally honest words had a huge effect on me. It got me thinking about and reflecting on my being Batangueno. I always say that I am a proud Batangueno but  I started to wonder how much of Batangas I had explored, how much of the culture I truly appreciated, and how much of our heritage and history I was familiar with.

Asia's largest basilica — Basilica de San Martin de Tours in Taal, Batangas

Cape Santiago Lighthouse in Calatagan

I spent most of my life in Batangas, in the small town of Lemery. I had traveled to many islands in the country, from Ilocos to General Santos, and even abroad a couple of times. Admittedly, other than neighboring Balayan, Calaca, Lian, and Taal, I had not “experienced” other parts of my home province.  Such a shame.

After that conversation with Andre, I quietly planned a trip to Batangas. I wanted to see, really see, and experience other municipalities and cities, not just the usual passing-through journey. One weekend. A good start. And so it happened.

Read more

Viewed 860 times by 365 visitors this month

23 Comments

I Prefer It Free, Sorry

Posted on by Yoshke in Gay, Rants, Sex, Travel |

The other week, my self-esteem was crushed by a small piece of paper.

I was fixing my bag outside a convenience store in Tagaytay City when somebody gave me a piece of paper with a short note on it. Without looking at the stranger and the paper, I pocketed the note and expected the guy to leave me alone. Unfortunately for me, he was there for business.

“Massage, sir? I can massage you, sir, while you’re here in Tagaytay,” the stranger said.

“No, thanks,” I declined. “I’m on my way back to Manila.” I was still busy trying to put all the pasalubongs into my backpack.

“I also do business in Manila, sir,” the stranger insisted.

“No, thanks. I’m busy.”

“Where in Manila do you live?”

I refused to say anything more.

“I’m Romeo. How about you?”

Silence is my middle name.

Read more

Viewed 1392 times by 580 visitors this month

24 Comments

Lessons from Behind the Wheel

Posted on by Yoshke in Conversations, Personal Life, Travel |

I don’t own a car. To get from one point to another, I use public transportation. I get from Point A to Point B either by the MRT or a cab. When I’m in a cab, I take the passenger seat. And it has been a habit to engage the driver in a conversation for two reasons — so I won’t get sleepy and so the driver won’t, either. Many times, I find myself sharing an interesting, sometimes enlightening, conversations with the man behind the wheel. Here are some of those instances.

Photo by my boss, Sir Rolen

What is it with heights that many, myself included, get so obsessed with? I easily get attracted to anything tall. I mean, all my exes are taller than 5’10″. And I don’t think I’m alone. Seems like every five years or so, the tallest manmade structure record gets broken. But I don’t know much about such records in the Philippines.

“Yan ang pinakamataas na building sa buong Pilipinas,” the cab driver said as-a-matter-of-fact-ly when I told him where I was headed to. I was to meet my friend that afternoon.

“Yung PBCom Tower po?” The building had no significance to me whatsoever.

“Oo, yan ang pinakamatangkad na building sa Pilipinas.” he reiterated.

“Hindi halata.”

The driver chuckled. “Eh kasi, matatangkad din ang katabi.”

“Siguro nga po.”

I had never looked at the PBCom Tower the same way again since then. Every time I pass by it, I look up and try to see the top of it. To me, it was beautiful.

A few weeks later, I was about to meet the same friend at the same place. I took a cab again. When I climbed into the vehicle and told the driver where I was going, I thought I could give him a bit of trivia.

“Manong, yun pala pong PBCom Tower ang pinakamataas na building sa Pilipinas.”

With his brows met, he looked at me and grinned. “Hindi siguro.”

“Yun nga daw po. Sabi po sakin ng isang taxi driver dati. Tapos ni-research ko. Tama nga. Yun nga pinakamataas.”

“Sabihin natin na tama nga,” he said, “Eh ano ngayon?”

###

The news on the radio was about the possibility of a fare hike. The cab driver turned up the volume. After the news bit, he shook his head. To my surprise, he was against it. This happened almost four years ago.

“Di po ba kayo pabor na tumaas ang pamasahe?” I asked.

“Hindi naman lahat ng driver gusto tumaas ang pamasahe,” he stated.

“Di po ba tataas ang kita nyo pag tumaas din ang pamasahe?” Read more

Viewed 2872 times by 1096 visitors this month

43 Comments

The Paradox of the Freedom Islands

Posted on by Yoshke in Public Affairs, The World, Travel |

A month ago, if a foreign traveler asked me where the nearest mangrove forest lies, I’d probably tell him to take the bus to Quezon or fly to Palawan. If one asked me to take him to a place where he could go bird-watching aside from UP Diliman, I’d probably drive him out of the city to Pampanga. If he asked me to take him to a place where he could see dolphins, I’d tell him to head over to Batangas. I just didn’t know any place within Metro Manila where anyone could bond with nature.

Recently, however, I learned about two islands stretching in Manila Bay. Freedom Island and Long Island, collectively called Freedom Islands, lie off the coast of Paranaque and Las Pinas. And these are no ordinary islands. Also called the Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, the Freedom Islands have a huge ecological role in the area. The Freedom Island is the last remaining mangrove forest and salt marsh frontier in Metro Manila.  These two islands also serve as a sanctuary for many marine lifeforms and a refuge for more than 80 species of birds, both local and migratory.

But the Freedom Islands are under threat.

The garbage the city produces seems to have found its way to the Freedom Islands. The tides are bringing trash, most of which are plastic, to the shores of the islands. Not to mention that the waters of the Manila Bay had been severely polluted for the longest time. Pollution is a big threat to the wildlife in the islands.

In September this year, several NGOs led a cleanup program to start rehabilitate the Islands. They cleared the beach and removed the trash that had been damaging the area. But it’s a cycle. It’s back to its littered state again that it calls for another Coastal Clean Up!

On this note, I am inviting you all to join this program. October 23 is Freedom Islands Clean Up Day! Let’s all work together to tidy up this sanctuary and protect the wildlife that depends on it. The mangrove forest is shrinking and if it continues, then the birds would go away, too.

Details on the photo below or on this Facebook Event page:

Read more

Viewed 3460 times by 1292 visitors this month

3 Comments

Laughter on the Menu

Posted on by Yoshke in Humor, Travel |

One of the best parts of traveling is being able to try many cuisines. You walk into a restaurant, pick a table, sit, and ask for the menu. The menu will give you what that restaurant has to offer. But if you have crazy attention to details, sometimes you’ll find unexpected laughter somewhere in that list of gastronomic delights. Here are some examples:

Will you ever eat a cruel potato? Well, if you’re brave enough to face one of these insensitive potatoes, you better drive to the Mountain Province and find a restaurant that serves chicken with…

Harsh brown. I'm scared. :S

If you want more foodie adventures, down south there’s a resort offering scrambled eggs with tomato and

Unless it's a union of the hottest waiters in the land, thanks but no thanks. :P

But if you want the ultimate mind-blowing menu, try these dishes being served in one restaurant in Beijing. My bosses took these pictures and up to now, they still haven’t figured out what these mean. The problems aren’t the dishes, it’s what they are called.

Read more

Viewed 23657 times by 2618 visitors this month

9 Comments

Happy Birthday to Me!

Posted on by Yoshke in Blurts, Euphoria, Travel, Vanities |



Hey shorty, it’s my birthday! Today, i turned a-quarter-of-a-century old. So the people around me should expect some sort of quarter-life-crisis-related tantrums soon. Haha.

I’m celebrating a serene birthday here in the shadow of Mt. Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin. The place is paradise. Was in White Island yesterday and it was unbelievable! I can’t think of any place better to celebrate this special day in. Well, except Europe.

Will write about the trip soon but right now, will seize every birthday second as i feel like my younger days are over.

Quarter-life crisis starts now. Lol.

Viewed 1666 times by 558 visitors this month

23 Comments

Top 5 Signs that a Friend is Flaking on You

Posted on by Yoshke in Lists, Rants, Travel |

It’s not easy planning trips for a group. It’s difficult to find the best deals on accommodations and airfare. It’s difficult to create an itinerary that would fit everyone’s interests. It’s difficult to bring them all together. Yes, planning a group tour is difficult. And flakers make it a lot worse.

Oh yes, what could be more horrible than last minute cancellations. Last year, I planned trips with my friends many times and they were all not flaker-free. Each time, there was always one or more people backing out, leaving the rest of the group with more problems than expected.

Flakers are desirable only when they come in this form. Much more useful.

Here’s what you need to understand with “group traveling.” I wish I could say that you’re too adorable we can’t go without you. Maybe you are. But that’s not the ONLY reason we want you in. In most cases, the more, the merrier, the CHEAPER. Cost of traveling drops as the group goes bigger. This is because there are more of you chipping in and dividing the expenses. But that’s not all. Since you already said “yes,” someone in the group might have already paid for airline tickets or accommodations in advance and it will be a shame to leave them unused.

So this post is for people who are planning trips or other activities with their friends. Hope this helps. Here are the top 5 signs that your friends are flaking on you according to PhilippineBeaches.org fans.

5. Details keep on changing.

Common flaker remark: “Can we move the date?”

One of my friends planned a trip to Tuguegarao in Cagayan. It wasnt her idea; it was something that came up at a school reunion party and everyone loved it. She was tasked to put the trip together and let them know the details. At first, everyone was enthusiastic. But as the big day drew nearer, so did the destination. She kept on hearing complaints like, “Oh, it’s too far. Can we choose a closer venue?” So they changed it to Anawangin Cove in Zambales. And then complaints about facilities (or the lack thereof). Changed to Subic. Then to Puerto Galera. (This circle of friends is based in Batangas so Mindoro is much nearer.)

And then, they decided to cancel it.

Seems like it happens to others, too. Babylyn, a fan of PhilippineBeaches.org, shared:

Una, malau pa ung mga pu2ntahan,.habang lumalap8 ung araw, palapit na ng palapit sa manila, hanggang sa kanya kanyang bahay nlng.. Ngkakatamaran na, tp0s ntu2l0g nlng….

It does not happen only to big trips like that. Have you ever planned a simple night-out and realized that the bar or restaurant you’re planning to go to just keeps on changing and then finally, laziness gets the better of you and then poof, it’s canceled.

Not just with venues, same thing applies to dates. When the date of the trip keeps on changing, you have a problem.

4. Uncertainty strikes.

Common flaker remark: “Let me check my schedule.” “Tingnan ko kung kaya ng budget.”

At first, everyone is excited. At first, everyone is very very sure. And then, uncertainty strikes! Nadeen Olivar ‎shares:

100% sure na sure sa umpisa until.. maybe ng maybe.. until.. hope so ng hope so.. pag dyan na… Ay!! sayang naman, di na tayo TULOY! GRRRRR!.. high blood!

Well, most people are sincerely uncertain but sometimes, being uncertain is a convenient excuse to just back out. And this makes it even worse. if you’re sure early on that you can’t make it, say it right away so the poor planning friend won’t overbook or if we have booked already, we can find a replacement as early as possible and avoid all the hassle that comes with your uncertainty.

Read more

Viewed 23967 times by 2685 visitors this month

38 Comments

Top 10 Unforgettable Places I Visited in 2010

Posted on by Yoshke in Lists, Travel |

Yay! This is my first post this year! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Last year when I counted down the 10 most unforgettable places I visited in 2009, I said that that year was the best year of my life. Well, I’m sorry 2009, you have been dethroned by 2010. Yes, Year 2010 has been better, the best of my life. Year 2010 continued what was started in the previous year and leveled it up a bit. It’s quite encouraging to know that my life gets better and better every year.

Although I traveled more frequently in 2009, I think the places that I visited last year are more memorable. So here it is, my list of the ten most unforgettable places I have traveled to in 2010.

10. Banaue, Ifugao

This was completely unplanned. From Sagada, we originally intended to pass through Baguio City but our driver brought up the idea of taking this route instead. Since none of of us had seen the Banaue Rice Terraces not painted on the P1000-bill, we liked the offer.

It was unforgettable because of the following:

  • The Sagada-Bontoc-Banaue route was dangerous. We didn’t know it until we were already on the narrow road and we were greeted by boulders and fallen rocks. It was quite obvious that the area was prone to landslides.
  • Dangerous, yes, but beautiful. The view was magnificent. We even passed by a waterfall.
  • It was disappointing! Not the place, but the timing. When we got there, the rice terraces were completely covered by fog. That was all we could see. We waited a bit but it failed us. LOL. We decided to just continue driving but there was an area that we could almost see the terraces. Based from the little we saw, we knew it was breathtaking.

Regardless, one thing is for sure. We shall be back. And hopefully next time, we could see the terraces. Haha.

9. Subic

Although I never planned it, I always find myself in Subic every year. I joined my friend Ayn as she stalked Neil Gaiman to this place a few years back and we even had a field trip here in college. Last summer, Subic was where we had our team outing with my former teammates at work. The place is lovely but truth be told, the one thing I enjoyed the most here was an activity that starts with an “S” and rhymes with “hopping.” Haha.

What made this trip memorable was the fact that this was where I got the very first rubber shoes that I bought for myself. All my shoes were just gifts to me and before that, I never bought myself anything more expensive than P1000. (Not counting my World Cup 2006 football.) I was frugal like that. It was my first splurge moment and it started my “shopping is a therapy” mantra.

And oh, Andi Eigenmann was at our hotel. Apparently, it was where they shot Agua Bendita. And being the teleserye-freak that I am, I was especially happy that time. Ang babaw lang. Haha.

Read more

Viewed 24450 times by 2674 visitors this month

52 Comments