This is no ordinary pond. It is a lotus conservation pond. Lotus plants are considered sacred in many countries. They used to thrive in the Paoay Lake National Park and now they’re gone. It’s heartwarming to discover that the Northwestern University Ecotourism Park and Botanic Gardens, managed by plant-crazy fellow and I mean passionate-to-the-max-horticulturist slash conservationist slash curator, Michael Agbayani Calaramo, has built this promising pond. He speaks a lingo only the academe and plant enthusiasts with scientific background can understand.

The NU botanic park and the Philippine Native Plant Conservation Society recently hosted the Norwesterniana Native Plant Conservation Forum/Workshop to bring awareness to the biodiversity hotspot in the Philippines, the area being home to endangered species and notably, meticulously catalogued by who else but Michel C., promote intelligent exchanges with respect to in-situ and ex-situ conservation (see what I meant by scientific knowledge) and spearhead such ideas in order to maintain the ecological integrity of the area being developed as a model for community development as an all-important factor in mitigating climate change, and promote Ethnobotany, which is gaining worldwide popularity, as a means to protect our natural and cultural heritage.

I commend Ms. Liza Nicolas, Northwestern University President, for the vision and efforts put into the Norwesterniana area.

Rock star Michel C. giving Brandon and Klein a mini lecture. The guy is an endangered extraordinary specie, I tell you. Below is a carnivorous specie, Drosera spatulata, commonly known as sun dews.The Canadian insignia — the maple leaf.

Besides revisting Michael and the park, I had to catch sir Anthony Arbias, who was my lecturer in an ecoguiding class at ma’am Mina Gabor’s International School of Sustainable Tourism. He is also an honorary member of the Philippine EcoGuides Association (an organization of which I’m one of the founding members). Another plant-crazy fellow, Anthony has a ginormous plant photo collection and he can name each and every specie by heart. Coincidentally, sir Tony Manila of DENR, another lecturer in ISST, was also with the group comprised of legendary figures and enthusiasts in the field of plant conservation.

My straight from the beach garb is making me look like a fancy plastic flower, my apologies.

Michael creates the most spontaneous gorgeous flora-themed adornments around.

The park is worth visiting. For park details, contact numbers, etc., click here and scroll down to the bottom.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012

I had to be in a meeting at the Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel last night. The place was pretty busy. Only then did I find out that actor Vic Sotto and senator/actor Bong Revilla are in Ilocos Norte to shoot “Si Agimat, Si Enteng at Ako”, an entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival due for release on Christmas Day.

Looking at the big league actors through my lens was fun and at the same time kalerkey (baka ma-okray me, not too confident anymore after a traumatizing incident). These two men are pretty lovable. The senator is a natural charmer. Bossing (hahah, naki-bossing  na rin, promise) is ma-tsika, nag-dyo-joke and he seems like a stern-but-approachable boss, hahah, mata ang powers ni Kabisote… such gorgeous eyes.

Judy Ann Santos plays the role of Ako.

Director Tony Reyes was tolerant of me. Thank you, sir! I accidentally dialed the wrong camera setting, so my cam flashed big time while the movie cam was rolling, jeez, major embarrassment!

Took a photo of the Ilocano bit players. They are fondly referred to as Lili’s angels. Hello, Lili Palafox!

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2012

A face I could never forget. That of a popular figure at the Holy Spirit Academy of Laoag when I was a student.  The parent-teacher association leader and also the doting mother to a former classmate — Mrs. Mary Cu Ang. (My own mom seldom attended PTA meetings when I was in school because she was too busy teaching English, Statistics, Rizal, etc. at the Divine Word College of Laoag, sewing dresses for Laoag’s glamorous ladies and designing/sewing/beading a thousand gowns for her school’s graduation and Cadena de Amor, fulfilling her social obligations, attending to the family’s needs, all at the same time, year in and year out.) And it still amazes me that Tita Mary, the lady who has left a mark on me, continue to fill many roles like no one else does. What is more remarkable is that her kindness and zest genuinely stem from the heart. Today, the retired businesswoman, a non-politico, is still busy as ever, juggling her duties as a director of the Philippine National Red Cross Ilocos Norte Chapter, a director of the Ilocos Norte Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, an active member of several organizations such as Zonta, a concerned citizen of the province of Ilocos Norte and so on and so on.

The amazing 70-something lady, with her signature natural platinum blonde hair, was once again awarded for her undying spirit in helping the less fortunate, people in need, and the society at large. The most recent one, together with Dr. Roberto C. Licup Sr., Bro. Martin Francisco, BSMP, Bacolod Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade, and Sr. Eva Fidela C. Maamo, SPC, MD, they were awarded by the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) as Outstanding Volunteers of 2012, who “magnanimously devoted their tireless efforts in the service of the depressed area residents, the indigenous Filipinos, the environment, the rehabilitation of drug addicts, and the fire victims.” No less than Presidential sister Mrs. Pinky Aquino-Abellada, honorary chair for the NVM Steering Committee for 2011-2012, awarded her the recognition in a ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila in December, 2012.

Let us not forget that the proactive widowed Mary Ang, who has volunteered a chunk of her lifetime for social action, is a mother of three highly successful, lovely daughters, namely: Jennifer, a surgeon at the Makati Medical Center, Jessica, a licensed physician in the country and a practicing nurse in Las Vegas, and Janice, the Assistant Manager of the ChinaBank Laoag branch. And she still performs better than PSY aka Park Jae-sang. Truly an Ilocano icon that inspires.

Photos courtesy of Janice Ang-Gayban
© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

The normally placid desert of Laoag transmutes into a happy place just as soon as Batch ’77 of the Xavier School in Greenhills arrives. The visitors chose Ilocos for their latest reunion. Part of their itinerary was a sand adventure with the original Ilocos sandboarding guys, the LEAD Movement, at the La Paz Sand Dunes. Asked them to describe Ilocos Norte in two words. One shouted “Awesome!” Nelson Co fired the matchless non-generic answer. I wouldn’t have even instantly thought of it myself. So expect that in my vocabulary from now on! Read: SANDY:)

Conceivably inspired by the ’77 hit of the Bee Gees, the get-together’s theme is Staying Alive. And shimmy they did.

Cheers to Life! Thanks, guys!

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Inspired by sound bites from Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, the blog will be featuring young emerging leaders and tender perspective in hopes of inspiring others to make a difference in this world. Insights from undepraved minds for us to chew on.

For this initial feature, let’s hear the mind of John Michael Mugas aka Mikyong, 18-year old self-supporting son/marketing management student (of the Mariano Marcos State University)/weekend piano teacher/music composer/budding writer/assisting artist of the internationally-acclaimed Samiweng Singers of the Ilocos Norte National High School.

Fresh from a penetrating cultural experience in Japan via the Kizuna (Bond) Project, John Michael expresses his candid thoughts.

Tell me your best Ilocano moment.
When I utter Ilocano words while conversing in a non-Ilocano language and they don’t understand what I just said and then I just laugh at myself.

Describe the Ilocanos.
Shy, kuripot…  so true.

Are you pro-Reproductive Health Bill?
Yes, I don’t see anything wrong about contraception that would help alleviate poverty.

The best president the Philippines has ever had?
I’m not really into politics. I don’t care about politics.

What is your view on social justice in the country?
There are many opportunities, but only a few have access. The lack of financial resources is a common issue.

How do you see the Philippines 10 years from now?
The country’s economy is rapidly growing, so 10 years from now, I see the Philippines as an improved nation. As a citizen, I can’t feel the changes yet.

Who are the three people that inspire you and why?
People my age like Raine Mateo Calucag. She has this something in her… innate… she’s a go-getter. Next, Sir Sherberk Cabrales, my former MAPE teacher at the INNHS-Special Program in the Arts (SPA), and Sir Sherween Cabrales. What I am now I owe it to them. Thirdly, Sir Robert Caluya and Ms. Egdonna Legaspi. I consider them my life force.

What was the most important thing you learned at the INNHS-SPA?
Time management. I am able to apply it in college.

Do you have formal training as a pianist?
I was six years old when I started my formal training at the Nicolas Piano Studio under Ms. Emy Labuguen.

What is your favorite piano piece?
Liszt’s Liebesträume.

What are the things you do as a student leader?
I spearhead activities. Though I always stay behind the scenes.

What did you learn from the exchange program visit in Japan?
When I went to Japan, I didn’t know how to use the chopsticks, the basic Japanese language. It was difficult to communicate. However, I learned that we must be open-minded, accept other cultures as much as we appreciate ours. The devastating stories of the tsunami victims made everyone emotional. Uncertainties happen. It lurks everywhere. No matter how strong or rich a nation is, no one is spared of natural disasters.

What are your thoughts on environmental protection.
The problem lies in people’s attitudes.

Your social network?
I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Vimeo, G Plus… I live on the internet.

Do you like your course (marketing management)?
I have to.

Are you planning on a second course?
I plan to take up law.

Are your parents strict?
They gave me my independence. There’s responsibility with the independence

Do you feel people like you (a self-confessed bisexual) are given the same respect as people of straight gender?
I haven’t had any problems whatsoever.

Tell me the three things you are grateful for.
Friends who are always there for me. God for giving me the talent, the resources. My family, of course.

Photos from Blauearth and John Michael Mugas
© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Exchange students from Korea are in Ilocos via the International Student Exchange Program. Some Gangnam moves… the horse trot on the desert of La Paz. They had the ultimate off-roading and sandboarding experience with the LEAD Movement. The kids had so much fun, they wouldn’t want to leave.

Welcome to Laoag, Korean friends! Awesome 강남스타일!

Oppa, the Korean school principal with manang Mrs. Sandi, the principal of the host school, the Ilocos Norte National High School.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

The 2013 Laoag Pamulinawen Festival commenced with a civil-military parade. Rather than going west, the pink-dominated ribbon of people moved to the east, ending at the Laoag City Supermarket. Could it be the start of a new tradition? Or it might be the city’s latest feng shui:)

Fellow Laoagueños, happy fiesta time!

- Laoag City Mayor Michael Versoza Fariñas, nearing the end of his term of office. Beside him is wife, Social Concerns and Tourism Chair and Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Chevylle Villanueva Fariñas, who’s running for Laoag City Mayor this coming midterm elections.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Glamour is back at the recent floral parade of the Pamulinawen Festival. Smiles as bright as the sunshine… modern Filipiniana regalia… gay princesses and fairies… farm animals making merry… adorned miniature landmarks… a vibrant touch of Chinese red to mark the new Year of the Water Snake… just what Laoag needs in 2013!

Miss Laoag International 2012 Aiyana Camille “AJ” Mikiewicz

The tradition of tagapulot-making.

Gloss… pretty ladies in figure flattering cheongsams.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

The New Media Hall of the Northwestern University was filled to the rafters for Rappler‘s #MoveIlocos, the 12th of Move.Ph‘s “Social Media for Social Change” chat series throughout the country. Same as the two other adjacent rooms equipped with speakers.

CEO and Executive Director, veteran journalist Maria Ressa, headed the Rappler team comprised of Chay Hofileña, Michael Josh Villanueva, Paterno Esmaquel II, Voltaire Tupaz and Patricia Evangelista in presenting the growing social media trend and the whole concept of the social media network that each netizen can build to promote social change, adopting it as a lifestyle, and making online time positive and more useful.

Rappler Managing Editor Glenda Gloria (taga-Ilocos) moderated the event in the vernacular.

Smart questions were asked by workshop participants coming from various schools in Ilocos Norte. One of the queries was the origin of the social news network’s name, Rappler, which was answered with “rap” (to discuss) + “ripple” (to make waves).

If you’ll remember, the legitimacy of the online news site was challenged after it broke a story about then Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona’s controversial PhD from the UST on December 22, 2011, a few days after 188 of the 285 members of the House of Representatives signed an impeachment complaint against him. On May 29, 2012, Corona was found guilty by the Senate of Article II of the Articles of Impeachment filed against him for failure to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth.

“We are not allowed to be neutral because silence is consent,” Maria Ressa eloquently said. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, she added,  “Be the change you want to be.”

Chay Hofileña discussed how citizen journalism can alter election culture. In a separate topic, Josh Villanueva amplified the use of social media to empower.

Paterno Esmaquel described a multimedia reporter as someone who maximizes gadgets and diskarte to tell a story. Furthermore, the sterling storyteller Pat Evangelista demostrated the brilliant, creative ways to tell compelling stories.

The power of social media to tell a story as well as its negative use such as the Chris Lao cyberbullying story which almost cost him his life was given emphasis. Rappler related that at the Social Good Summit 2012, Chris, now a lawyer, spoke: I will live the rest of my life healing wounds.

Rappler also mentioned statistics and algorithm tools that prove we are the capital of social media in the world. In Laoag City alone, there are 96 thousand FB account users.

Cesar Chavez once said, “Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours.”

Additional reads at Rappler.com
Ilocanos discuss local issues with passion
LIVE BLOG: #MoveIlocos

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Melanie and Alfredo Valdez

Chevylle and Michael Fariñas

The stark parallelism of the highly anticipated official election returns in the mallified town of San Nicolas and city of Laoag, both intense areas in the just concluded midterm elections, shows a constituency with a mind-set for a family-run affair.  The similitude ends however in regard to support from unopposed reelectionist Governor Imee Marcos, with the Valdezes running independently and the Fariñases under the One-Ilocos Norte ticket, a seeming manifestation that Ilocos Norte is not really one, politically, debunking the Solid North myth.

Alfredo and Michael are about to complete their terms as mayor, while their wives, Melanie and Chevylle, will be taking over the top posts, with the husbands as vice and next presiding official of the sanggunian (council).

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Before the rainy season arrived, the LEAD Movement was blessed with the opportunity to tell their humble story of pioneering the Ilocos Norte tourism mainstay in the Philippines — sandboarding and off-roading in the distinct rolling sand dunes of La Paz, Laoag  — via Reuters, the international news provider.

How the LEAD Movement wish Benny Arce left us later, just a little later to watch himself tell the world his dream as a LEADer. Benny Arce passed away in the early hours of May 15. Please watch the video and say a little prayer for the fine guy.

LEAD Movement Executive Direstor Benny Arce said: “It would be nice to be called, the Laoag as the sand boarding capital of the Philippines. And maybe we can’t claim that for the whole world, maybe we could say, one of the best in the world.”

It will be remembered  that Manong Benny Arce worked so hard for a sand adventure park blueprint that was submitted to both the provincial and local governments. After one full term, we never got an answer from the leaders.

I quote young LEADer Ericke Tan, “Tito Benny Arce, your memory lives in every sand board track, every foot print and in every grain of sand in La Paz.”

Our heartfelt thanks to Thompson Reuters television producer Michaela Cabrera and cameraman Pedro Uchi. View this travel news feature on the Laoag La Paz Sand Dunes posted on Today.com.

Check out the LEAD Movement (The innovators of sandboarding in the Philippines) website. For sand adventure inquiries and booking, contact Reny Tan 0919-873-5516, 0917-841-5155 Facebook page.

Video via NTD Television on YouTube
Photographed by Sean Arce, Angelo and Blauearth
© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

I do believe in miracles. I also believe in goodness, humaneness, perseverance and above all, faith.

Today, I paid La Virgen Milagrosa a visit. I had to ask a local where I could see the miraculous Virgin Mary. It’s such a wonder the esteemed 400-year old image was at the St. John the Baptist Parish Church for there are days when she travels to places. She was crowned The Patroness of the Diocese of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, in 1980.

The downcast-eyed Virgin Mary (in a wooden box) together with another statue, Santo Cristo Milagroso, angels and a violin were said to have been discovered floating in the sea by fishermen in a village in Lugo in Dadalaquiten Norte, Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

Honesto, the catechist at the 200-year old church says that the image of the miraculous Crucified Christ and the violin were left in Sinait while La Virgen Milagrosa and the angels were entrusted to the fisherman from Badoc.

A kind dame, the 86-year old second curator of the Juan Luna Shrine and a Child of Mary, Nana Leonila Benemerito Arzadon (who I met after the church visit), says that there are times when it is impossible to move the image to a different location. “No di na kayat mabagkat ket madi.”

The cut on her chin, Honesto says, was from an attempt to desecrate her, but survived the whack, and all the calamitous events in the past. The old golden crown was stolen some decades ago.

What used to be a convent is now the St. Elizabeth Elementary School.

Nana Leonila lives in this beautiful 1928 house inherited from her father, Bibiano. It stands out in the neighborhood.

She’s a “balasang” and lives with two younger ladies, perhaps her nannies. She suffered a stroke and had to quit work. I asked if she ever had a boyfriend or boyfriends and she giggled. “Sika a! Madi daguita idi.” I love the woman! It so happened that she knew my lolas and aunts in Batac and Paoay. I think also my dad and mom, back in the Cursillo and Daughters of Isabela days.

She hesitated to be photographed, but changed her mind when I said I will also be in the frame. The photo turned out blurry, yet I like it. When I kissed her goodbye, she uttered “Ammum, college ak iddi ag-usu ti shorts.” I asked, “Agso–shorts ka met ngarud iddi a, lola?” “Haan,” she said giggling.

She says, by the grace of God, she survives. I noticed her extra-long “pidit-pidit”. Told her, she should reach her 100th birthday ‘coz I’ll be going back to photograph her.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

They came, they traversed the extreme northern province. I hope the Ilocos Norte down-home food culture will leave a mark in their hearts and minds.

I don’t mind repeating the solid 5-day food adventure if I’m going to do it again with the FoodPrints production team, and of course, the innate entertainer, fair and candid chef Sandy Daza, who’s been schooled in Paris and the “heir apparent to mom,” as how mom veteran chef Nora Daza fondly refers to him, according to Sandy.

In the drivers’ seats are Lifestyle Network production manager Giselle Interior (who’s been with Probe way back the early days of LEAD Movement’s Adams ecotourism project and the La Paz sand adventure, pre-sandboarding, I came to know in this shoot), and Jennie Celdran, executive producer of RedBalloon, who does global events and production on the side. BTW, she’s the perky and stylish other half of David Celdran.

Rio Grande (overlooking the Padsan River) of Atty. and Mrs. Constante Caluya was the FoodPrints’ home in Laoag for the entire duration of the shoot.

You know, based on my account of the FoodPrints shoot., filming is not as random as you come here, and then guides/hosts take you to places and feed you with all sorts of food. There are so many things to consider like logistics for one. Exploration starts even before they set foot in Ilocandia. The accidental others are the chicharon on top.

Together with Lifestyle Network EP Alina Co, Director Cristina Bilbao, scriptwriter Nikki Alfonso, PA Melanie de Leon and the camera and audio guys namely Rommel Diaz, Pen Mulingbayan, Neil Laygo and Christian Flores, the whole team worked more than they ate, but when they ate, they ate with much gusto and appreciation. Thank you so much, in behalf of Ilocos Norte!

On the 6th day, I was starting to miss Doc Glory and Jennie. The entire team, the routine actually.

Btw, reunited for a day with local tourism people Joegie Jimenez and Arnel. I also met Ivy and Elaine of the PGIN for the first time.

Extra-pasensiyosa Director Cris Bilbao at the Museo Ilocos Norte. Thanks, direk, for the kindness:)

There’s Giselle, my constant ka-istorya about kids, moms, vertical rappelling, trekking, etc.

Hahah, Rommel Diaz is the brother of the country’s number 1 blogger Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet!

The group’s baby, sweet and pretty Nikki.

These guys are chill!

I call this the first supper (shot in Saramsam Nuevo).

Please don’t forget, peeps, Lifestyle Network (channel 52 if you are on Sky), September 7, 8:30 pm. Enjoy the ride! (More on FoodPrints in Ilocos Norte here.)

(My personal thanks to each and everyone! Warm wishes to Sandy Daza and Foodprints,)

Photographed by Pen Mulingbayan,  Jeng de Leon and Blauearth
© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

At the FoodPrints shoot at REFMAD Farms in Burgos late last month, I happened to meet Angie and Emma de la Cruz and their siblings who were spending a family reunion, visiting tourist spots in Ilocos. Angie is the lady behind the very successful Tartlland Pasarabo Lengua de Gato. I read 36,000 jars of the melt in your mouth cookies fly out of their stores each month, oh wow, a lot of happy tongues!

Her sister Emma owns Baguio Sweets which produces another Baguio favorite, the peanut brittle, among many others. So kind, they gave me goodies to try.

I was studying in Baguio when lengua de gato was starting to get noticed by vacationers. Smitten too, it became a habit to drop by the market for a jar. Tartland’s is not famous for nothing. The Baguio Sweets peanut brittle is a revelation, great quality, thin and crisp matching that nice fresh taste!

Angie and Emma. if you happen to read this, it was lovely meeting your family! See you in Baguio.

© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

UP Los Baños professor and Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME) director Robby Cereno’s About in FB reads, “Earth through ecologically sustainable tourism, protected areas management, conservation education and training.” He’s one of the mentors who has trained me as I journey through the steps of familiarizing myself with natural marvels.

I trained under him at the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau – Development Academy of the Philippines “Orientation on Ecotourism Enterprise Development and Management” in November 2007. For a sample hometown ecotourism package in the workshop, I made an Adams-La Paz Sand Dunes package, at that time when sand adventure was still being manufactured in the LEAD Movement’s imagination/vision.

In October 2010, he was one of my instructors in the historical first ecoguiding class in the Philippines at the International School of Sustainable Tourism in Subic. At that time, the LEAD Movement’s sandboarding adventure has taken off.

In May this year, sir Robby visited Ilocos for assessment on a huge potential conservation project. After his work up north, the first place I had to show him was the sand dunes of La Paz. He gets to see the outcome of the sample project I made in 2007. With LEAD’s permissio, I also dedicate Ilocos sandboarding to sir Robby, a one important person who has inspired me to help out in making responsible eco-adventure an ecotourism enterprise.

Robby and Anthony Arbias in our home in Subic during the ecoguiding training in 2010

Flora biodiversity class in the real world.

Triboa Mangrove Park

May 2013 — looking back at 2007.

My brithday  week didn’t allow me to see sir Robby once again. He left a surprise package at the store. The signed Mt. Pulag National Park Conserving Biodiversity and Natural Resources of Luzon’s Highest Mountains he co-authored will have to fill a special place in my environment book collection.

My own Mt. Pulag adventure with the LEAD Movement on 2004. A virtual flora biodiversity museum.

I’m passing on Robby Cereno’s words: Let’s go forth and multiply the conservation and ecotourism message.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Through all the four years I’ve been blogging about anything under the inspiring sun up north, special connections with people of all walks of life have been formed. I first wrote about new age farmer Manang Edita Dacuycuy in the early days of the LEAD Movement blog (here).

A year later, I was happy to visit a bigger REFMAD Farms offering more dragonfruit bi-products (here). It is still one of the most visited posts in the blog. More than anything else, I feel so blessed to have photographed one memorable woman that has energized and encouraged several thousands more to grow the saniata wonder fruit.

To this day, Manang Edita continues to reap the fruits of her labor. She was awarded by no less than President Aquino and received the priceless opportunity to speak at an APEC event.

I guess Manang Edita loves the photo  (above) so much that it is on a huge tarpaulin somewhere in the coffeeshop. I remember she did mention that my hand with a dragonfruit against a blue sky is one of the photos in a presentation made for the farm by a university. I likewise treasure all the happy and candid conversations with the lady.

I met her daughter Mimie in this blog in 2011. I saw her for the first time only last month. She’s so blessed to have a mother like Manang Edita. Manang Edita is a such a beautiful example of a woman leader. She dreams big and turns her dreams to empower people. Seldom do we see truly natural, humble leaders nowadays. Indeed, wealth is in the heart.

REFMAD Farms in the town of Burgos, with Mimie around, is now a more total farm destination. An eco-lodge awaits the green tourist. Imagine a magical field of neonesque dragonfruit blooms in the night. Or waking up to cock crows and sunlit bold, quirky-looking fruits in a sea of greens.

To the Dacuycuy family, I feel privileged to have been touched by your beautiful story. All the warm wishes to you.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Notoriously in demand artists Ace and Kit Mandac of the well-liked Ava’s Cakes and Partyshop in Ilocos are sharing with us photos from a recent wedding at the historic bluff-top Spanish Colonial Revival estate, the Casa Romantica (overlooking the Pacific Ocean) in San Clemente, California.

Kit outlines it briefly, “A complete beach-vintage-garden wedding styling for Riversiders lawyer Erika and surgeon Phil, who first met in a UCLA campus“ 

Kit’s feelings infect. Before flying to the US, she intimated she was getting butterflies in the stomach. Now that they’re back in Sunshine City, I asked, how would she describe Ava’s first fete styling abroad? “I am actually still in cloud 9 that somehow we were able to pull it through 2-hour ingress with a very limited manpower… yet the guests and the couple found what we did very lovely,” she says lightheartedly.

The photos taken with their own cam are a feast for the eyes. And the heart. (It reminds me King size *smiles*)

Feel the California dream…

They made sweet floral arrangements of hydrangeas, phalaenopsis, dendrobiums, dolce vitas, gardenias, roses and peonies. They also styled the rehearsal luncheon a day before at Bellefleur, Carlsbad.

From Ilocos, best wishes and congratulations to Erika and Phil!

The Before

BlauEarth thanks Kit and Ace for sharing the California fete.

All photos courtesy of Ava’s Cakes and Partyshop
© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

At lunch today, a friend mentioned she’s set to run in a fun run, coinciding with the feast of St. Teresa of Avila. As if a reminder, I found myself visiting the St. Teresa de Avila Chapel in Barit in Laoag for the first time. The lovely chapel with Spanish influences is set against bucolic rice fields. Very serene in feeling. It would be nice taking a book and settle in on one of the benches.

The chapel, I believe, was built by Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Rudy Fariñas in honor of his wife, the late beauty queen and actress Maria Teresa Carlson. Maria would have turned 50 on October 15.

Maria as a friend was sweet and natural. I don’t remember exactly how I got introduced to her, but a few times, she would ask us if they could borrow Martine to be with Ria in Manila or Baguio. She loved the arts and crafts, and, like most women, fashion. Her manner of speaking was plainspoken, not quite like the “Si Ako” she was known for. Her bright eyes and smiles are what I remember most.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

A few days ago, Ava Ventura, daughter of Cesar Ventura, left a comment in this old post. Though Ana Ventura-Remigio is a FB friend, I think I’ve never met her sister Ava. In my lifetime, I’ve talked to their dad only once, at a kids’ school program when he was still mayor. The former mayor of Laoag City left to be with his creator today.

Before sand adventure in Ilocos (La Paz, Laoag, to be exact) became a big hit, the dirt road leading to the Devil’s Drop, where most of the action takes place, had a sign that read Ventura Highway (check out the old post for the street sign post). This year, the road built by the late Cesar Ventura has already been improved to the tune of millions, but the beat-up Ventura Highway sign was never replaced.

When I was researching for the old post, I couldn’t find any article connecting to the Ventura project. I followed my instincts.  Why is it so hard for other people to give credit where credit is due?

Times may change, but history can never be altered. To many of us who have regarded La Paz as our weekend home, the legacy of the late former mayor Cesar Ventura remains.

Thank you, sir, for your vision of the La Paz Sand Dunes.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

We brought Alexa to the the newly redone Marcos Museum in Batac (one of the elements of the Ilocos Norte government-promoted Marcos Trail tourism product). Ever since her initial experience at the Museo Ilocos Norte, she has developed a thing for museums.

1965 was the year that changed the course of history for many of us Filipinos. It was the year that Ferdinand E. Marcos sat into power.

Ilocanos adored the Marcos couple. In my growing years, I thought he was king and she was queen. Being a Lo, I asked my parents if Marcial Lo was an angry relative.

Losing his chief political rival, Benigno S. Aquino Sr, in 1983, made a dent in his national popularity. People power rose, making the widowed Corazon C. Aquino the new icon of democracy. Son Noynoy follows in the footsteps of his mother.

There is nothing new in the museum. In an old post (that needs some serious updating), I wrote, “The YARDSTICK against which all new leaders in the province are measured since the late President Marcos remains to be him — the Apo. He was brilliant and left the nation with many accomplishments including the thousands of laws he has written that are still in force and in effect.During his time, the province was solid with no political bickering at all.” Martial Law isn’t explained in the museum. Nothing is also said about the former president’s last years in Hawaii.

Rumors are rife that only son Senator Bongbong Marcos is running in 2016. Will there be another Marcos president in our future?

I didn’t know Alexa liked calamay which she saw from the side street vendors. I made good my promise to buy her snow cone in Paoay. So that was our Sunday afternoon, folks. Have a good week.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013