Day Trip to Tagaytay Highlands

Captivating.

That’s how I’d describe the exclusive enclave of Tagaytay Highlands Golf and Country Club. It’s a for-members-only paradise disguised as a golf and country club. But thanks to Henry Sy, Sr.’s major investment in the venture, his executives get to sample the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

Buying goodies at Good Shepherd Convent

Good Sheperd Convent Garden

View from Good Shepherd Convent

Fishing Area

The scenery from the Cable Car Station

The Cable Cars

Our hosts: Tito, Mina and their kids

Waiting for the Cable Cars to arrive

The pool area shot from a Cable Car

Exclusive villas

quick family pic

One of the club’s gardens

More mountains

Mountains at the back

The view of Lake Taal from Tagaytay Highlands

Picture-perfect moment

Jacuzzi Time

a quick pose during chit-chat

Squid balls

Hamburger steak

Pork chops

Pizza!

Yummy halo-halo

The waterfalls

Cottages on the hills

Entrance to Highlands main building

Tagaytay Highlands is easily accessible via the Sta. Rosa exit of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). Once you get to the top of the main highway overlooking Taal Lake, turn left towards Picnic Grove. You will pass Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), part of which has been converted into a Bed & Breakfast inn. I suggest you drop by Maryridge Good Shepherd Convent, just after DAP, on the right side of the road. There’s a sign telling you what you’ll buy: Ube Jam. Besides the super-hit ube jam, sample their halo-halo, lumpiang ubod, and chicken empanada. Don’t forget to take home Tawilis sardines, atchara (papaya and veggie varieties), and the to-die-for sweet-and-spicy dulong!

Now, off to Tagaytay Highlands, which is about 3 minutes away from the Good Shepherd Convent.

My good ole-buddy Tito and his gracious wife Mina were our hosts. They made sure we toured the place, sampled the delicious and affordable food, and relaxed in the club’s jacuzzi and pool.

As guests, we first went to the administration office to fill out a form and get our day pass. There’s a consumable amount of PhP1,800 plus a one-time entrance fee of PhP200 for the whole party. The office is located at the main club where the main dining area is also situated. I believe this is where the golf tee-off is also located.

By car, we went to the where the cable cars were. This is where the fishing area and pool facilities are also located. We first rode the cable cars which could accomodate four adults and one child for each car, which comes in threes. The cable car will take you across the the hill where below is a forrested ravine dotted with banana trees that seem to be untouched. The cable ride ends at the main building where the administration office is. Take some pictures. Frameables are: the view of the golf course, the mountain ranges, exclusive cottages and of course — the Taal Lake and it’s little active volcano.

After a lot of picture-taking, we headed back to the pool area via the cable cars.

You will need to sign-in and get your own lockers. Since the male and female locker reception areas are connected, you can just register in either and get your towels, soap and shampoo. Each person will be charged about PhP250 for use of the pool, jacuzzi and its facilities. Food can be ordered at the pool area where a cool covered space serves as dining-ala-cabana area. There’s always a waiter to serve you in the pool area, so go ahead and indulge. The kids enjoyed the food and the cool water in the pool where a man-made waterfall fit perfectly into the scenery. As for me and my buddy Tito, we squeezed in a 30-minute meeting in the pool area while our wives chit-chatted and the kids explored the place.

Going on a weekend, especially on a Sunday, means going home at about 5:00 p.m. to catch the 5:30 p.m. mass at the Catholic church near Picnic Grove. Tito’s family saw this as more convenient than hurrying home to Las Pinas City and catch the late night mass. As for Sweetie and I, since we already heared mass on Saturday evening, we took time to but fresh flowers along the road towards Sta. Rosa. It’s been relocated from along the main Tagaytay highway to the place where there’s a long billboard at the corner of the Silang-Sta. Rosa highway. Oh, and we bought three dozens of pink Carnations for only PhP350. In Manila, that would have cost PhP450!

Places to stop-over for snacks and quick-buys would be the fruit stands along the road (towards Sta. Rosa), Rowena’s for buko (coconut) and mango pies, mango and ube tarts, and those yummy cream pies, and Mr. Moo for cow, carabao and goat milk products and cheeses.

We usually make a stop-over at Nuvali’s Solenad place for dinner at either Pig-Out, Yellow Cab Pizza, David’s Tea House, or Brother’s Burger. In our many trips to Tagaytay. Have coffee after at — where else? Starbucks.

Back on SLEX, it was a fast and easy ride. You can have a quick- stop for gas or rest at a Shell or Caltex station, where in many of our Tagaytay trips, we’d dine at either Pancake House or Jollibee (at Shell) or KFC (at Caltex).

Exiting Filinvest, it is unusually traffic so we instead take the main Alabang exit where the snag is usually below the flyover where vehicle and pedestrian traffic converge near the wet market.

Nearing our home, the kids are still snoozing and probably dreaming about our day trip to the exclusive paradise enclave that is Tagaytay Highlands.

Can We Be Real Friends?
-Homer Nievera

I always ask myself this question whenever I invite or get invited to be a friend with someone I’d “virtually” meet online. I have more than 600 friends in Facebook, more than 300 in Linkedin and a couple more in Friendster. I’d say, of almost 1,000 friends – social or professional – I have personally met only 100 of them. Is that a bad thing?

Technology has driven the way we communicate and associate with people. When what was supposed to create more time and space for us to be “free” has actually caused us to cram more things into our lives. Now, our lives are so cluttered that we don’t even have real time for real people.

Time is a valuable commodity. Sadly, it’s not renewable. We can’t even buy it. No matter how much money or connections we have, we simply can’t influence time. True to the old adage, time waits for no one. Thus, given just a few minutes to socialize, we meet, greet and keep our friends in online space. Then again, are they real friends?

We have used the online social and professional networks to connect and reconnect. We’ve found former classmates, officemates, friends, and maybe even lost loves. With photos and albums galore, we have found a way to share our lives to others. We have found virtual space to share our trials, triumphs, notes, journals, status, availability, ability, faith and hopes. These are the things that remind us of our needs as human beings.

I love coffee shops. They were made for personal conversations. They were created so we can just sit around, enjoy a cup of coffee and watch people and the world go by. Like the coffee that warms your lips, coffee shops make you feel the warmth of people around you. Friends that you make over a meal or a cup of coffee are seemingly for real. Yes, they can also break your heart. But they’re for real. What you see is what you get.

What about my online friends – are they for real, too? I’m talking about friends whom I have never personally met in my entire life. It’s either I invite them or they invite me. After which, I say a casual “hi” or greet them on their birthdays. I also comment on their notes, blogs, journals or status. I just want to somehow interact with them, even if it will only take me a few seconds or minutes of my time. As long as I have shared a bit of my time with them, I consider them as friends. Well, I am for real. I don’t really care if they aren’t.

Guess what? I have made some real friends online. I have even been invited to their birthdays, weddings and family gatherings. I’ve even godfathered some in their weddings and children’s Christenings.

Technology may have changed the way we interact with others today. What hasn’t changed is the need (read as: urge) to genuinely connect. Hopeful that every human being we meet online is the real deal, we’ll never stop connecting and reconnecting. We were wired to be social beings. That’s who we are. So, I guess it won’t really matter if my online friend is genuine as long as I know I am. That is my nature. Maybe even human nature. That is what really matters. I have a conscience. I have a heart. Most of all, I have a soul. Now that's for real.

KAPAYAPAAN noong wala pang KAUNLARAN
(excerpted from forwarded email posted supposedly by Arnold Clavio)

"Heto ang KAPAYAPAAN na alam natin, noong wala pang KAUNLARAN."

Si Nanay ay nasa bahay pag-uwi namin galing sa paaralan;
Walang mga bakod at gate ang magkakapit-bahay, kung meron, gumamela lang;
10 sentimos o diyes lang ang baon: singko sa umaga, singko sa hapon;
Merong free ang mga patpat ng ice drop: buko man o munggo.
Mataas ang paggalang sa mga guro at ang tawag sa kanila ay Maestro/a;
'Di binibili ang tubig, pwedeng maki-inom sa 'di mo kakilala.

Malaking bagay na ang pumunta sa ilog para mag-picnic, o kaya sa tumana;
Grabe na ang kaso pag napatawag ka sa principal's office o kaya malaking kahihiyan kapag bagsak ka sa exams;
Simple lang ang pangarap: makatapos, makapag-asawa, mapagtapos ang mga anak...
Pwedeng iwan ang sasakyan at ibilin sa hindi mo kakilala; wala namang lock ang mga jeep na Willy's noon.
Mayroon kaming mga laruan na gawa namin at hindi binili: trak-trakan (gawa sa Rosebowl ang katawan at Darigold na maliit ang mga gulong, "sketeng" (scooter) na bearing na maingay ang mga gulong at de-sinkong pako para sa preno;
patining na pinitpit na tansan lang na may 2 butas sa gitna para suotan ng sinulid (pwede pang makipag-lagutan) ; sumpak, pilatok, boca-boca, borador, atbp.
'Di nakikialam ang mga matanda sa mga laro ng mga bata: kasi laro nga iyon.

Maraming usong laro at maraming kasali: laste, gagamba, turumpo, tatsing ng lata, pera namin ay kaha ng Philip Morris, Malboro, Champion (kahon-kahon yon!)
May dagta ang dulo ng tinting na hawak mo para makahuli tutubi, nandadakma ka ng palakang tetot, pero ingat ka sa palakang saging dahil sa kulugo;
Butas na ang sakong ng Spartan mong tsinelas - suot mo pa rin;
Namumugalgal ang pundiya ng kansolsilyo mo kasi nakasalampak ka sa lupa.
Sa modernong buhay at sa lahat ng kasaganaan sa high technology.. . di ba minsan nangarap ka na rin... mas masaya noong araw! Sana pwedeng maibalik...

Takot tayo ngayon sa buhay.
Kasi maraming napapatay, nakikidnap, maraming addict at masasamang loob...
Noon takot lang tayo sa ating mga magulang at mga lolo at lola.
Pero ngayon, alam na natin na mahal pala nila tayo kayat ayaw tayong mapahamak o mapariwara...
Na una silang nasasaktan pag pinapalo nila tayo...

Balik tayo sa nakaraan kahit saglit...
Bago magkaroon ng Internet, computer, at cell phone.
Noong wala pang mga drugs at malls.
Bago pa nauso ang counter-strike at mga game boy.

Tayo noon... Doon...
Tinutukoy ko ang harang taga o tumbang preso kapag maliwanag ang buwan;
Ang pagtatakip mo ng mata pero nakasilip sa pagitan ng mga daliri pag nanonood ka ng nakakatakot sa "Mga Aninong Gumagalaw"
Unahan tayong sumagot sa Multiplication Table na kabisado natin, kasi wala namang calculator. Pag-akyat natin sa mga puno; pagkakabit ng kulambo, lundagan sa kama;
Pagtikwas o pagtitimba sa poso; pingga ang pang-igib ng lalake at may dikin naman ang ulo ng babae;
Inaasbaran ng mga suberbiyo;
Nginig na tayo pag lumabas na ang yantok-mindoro o buntot-page.
Nai-sako ka rin ba?
O kaya naglagay ka ba ng karton sa p'wet para hindi masakit ang tsinelas o sinturon?
Pamimili ng bato sa bigas;
tinda-tindahan na puro dahon naman;
bahay-bahayan na puro kahon;
naglako ka ba ng ice-candy o pandesal noong araw?
Karera sa takbuhan hanggang maubos ang hininga;
pagtawa hanggang sumakit ang tiyan;
Meron pa bang himbabao, kulitis at pongapong?
O kaya ng lukaok, susuwi at espada?

Susmaryosep ang nadidinig mo 'pag nagpapaligo ng bata...
Estigo santo kapag nagmamano.
Mapagod sa kakalaro, minsan mapalo;
matakot sa "berdugo" at sa "kapre;"
Tuwang-tuwa kami 'pag tinalo ang tinale ni Itay kasi may tinola!
'Yung crush mo?'
Pag recess: mamimili ka sa garapon ng tinapay - alembong, taeng-kabayo o biscocho?
Pwede ring ang sukli ay kending Vicks (meron pang libreng singsing) o kaya nougat o karamel; Kung gusto mo naman - pakumbo o kaya kariba, mas masaya kung inuyat; Puriko ang mantika, at mauling na ang mukha at ubos na ang hininga mo sa ihip kasi mahirap magpa-rikit ng apoy.

Madami pa...
Masarap ang kamatis na piniga sa kamay at lumabas sa pagitan ng daliri para sa sawsawan;
ang palutong 'pag isawsaw sa sukang may siling labuyo;
ang duhat kapag inalog sa asin;
ang isa-sang isubo ang daliri kasi puno na ng kanin...
Halo-halo: yelo, asukal at gatas lang ang sahog;
Sakang ang lakad mo at nakasaya ka kasi bagong tuli ka;
o naghahanap ka ng chalk kasi tinagusan ang palda mo sa eskwelahan.
Lipstick mo ay papel de hapon;
Labaha ang gamit para sa white-side-wall na gupit;
Naglululon ka ng banig pagkagising;
matigas na almirol ang mga punda at kumot;
madumi ang manggas ng damit mo kasi doon ka nagpapahid ng sipon, 'di ba?
Pwede rin sa laylayan...

May mga program kapag Lunes sa paaralan;
May pakiling kang dala kung Biyernes kasi magi-isis ka ng desk.
'Di ba masaya? Naalala mo pa ba?

Wala nang sasaya at gaganda pa sa panahon na yon...
Masaya noon at masaya pa rin tayo ngayon habang ina-alaala iyon...
'Di ba noon...Ang mga desisyon ay ginagawa sa awit na "sino ba sa dalawang ito? Ito ba o ito?" 'Pag ayaw ang resulta di ulitin: "sino ba sa dalawang ito? Ito ba o ito?"... Awit muna: Penpen de Serapen, de kutsilyo, de almasen. How how the carabao batuten...

Presidente ng klase ay ang pinakamagaling, hindi ang pinaka-mayaman;
Masaya na tayo basta sama-sama kahit hati-hati sa kokonti;
Nauubos ang oras natin sa pagku-kwentuhan, may oras tayo sa isa't-isa;
Naaasar ka kapag marami kang sunog sa sungka; kapag buro ka sa pitik-bulag o matagal ka nang taya sa holen.
'Yung matatandang kapatid ang pinaka-ayaw natin pero sila ang tinatawag natin pag napapa-trouble tayo.
'Di natutulog si Inay, nagbabantay 'pag may trangkaso tayo; meron tayong Skyflakes at Royal sa tabi.

Kung naaalaala mo ito...
nabuhay ka na sa KAPAYAPAAN!

Pustahan tayo, mga 'Igan, nakangiti ka pa rin, tulad ko! Posted by Arnold Clavio

THE ONLY HOPE FOR THE PHILIPPINES
by Father James Reuter, S.J.

By her own admission, GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) rightfully assessed that over the last decades; our republic has become one of the weakest, steadily left behind by its more progressive neighbors. Forty years ago, we were only second to Japan in economic stature, and way ahead of Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Today, at our present growth rate, it will take us 30 years to get to where Thailand is.

1. A population of 160 Million;
2. Of those, 70 to 90 million (equivalent to our current population) will live below the poverty line;
3. Our national debt is estimated to be at US$200B (compared to US$28B when Marcos fled, and US$53B today);
4. We will be competing, not against Thailand or even Vietnam, but against Bangladesh;
5. We will be the most corrupt nation in Asia , if not in the world (we're already ranked 11th most corrupt nation by Transparency International).

The signs are clear: Our nation is headed towards an irreversible path of economic decline and moral decadence. It is not for lack of effort.

We've seen many men and women of integrity in and out of government, NGOs, church groups & people's organization devote themselves to the task of nation-building, often times against insurmountable odds.

But not even two people's revolutions, bloodless as they may be, have made a dent in reversing this trend. At best, we have moved one step forward, but three steps backward.

We need a force far greater than our collective efforts, as a people, can ever hope to muster. It is time to move the battle to the spiritual realm. It's time to claim GOD's promise of healing of the land for His people. It's time to gather GOD's people on its knees to pray for the economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation.

Is prayer really the answer? Before you dismiss this as just another rambling of a religious fanatic, I'd like you to consider some lessons we can glean from history. England 's ascendancy to world power was preceded by the Reformation, a spiritual revival fueled by intense prayers.

The early American settlers built the foundation that would make it the most powerful nation today - a strong faith in GOD and a disciplined prayer life. Throughout its history, and especially at its major turning points, waves of revival and prayer movement swept across the land.

In recent times, we see Korea as a nation experiencing revival and in the process producing the largest Christian church in the world today, led by Rev. Paul Yongi Cho. No wonder it has emerged as a strong nation when other economies around it are faltering.

Even from a purely secular viewpoint, it makes a lot of sense. For here there is genuine humbling & seeking of GOD through prayer, moral reformation necessarily follows. And this, in turn, will lead to general prosperity.

YES, we believe prayer can make a difference. It's our only hope. Today, we launch this email brigade, to inform Filipinos from all over the world to pray, as a people, for the economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation. We do not ask for much. We only ask for five minutes of your time in a day, to forward this email to your close friends and relatives.

This is the kind of unity which can make a big difference. Of course, if you feel strongly, as I do, about the power of prayer, you can be more involved by starting your own prayer group or prayer center.

We have tried people power twice; in both cases, it fell short. Maybe it's time to try prayer power. GOD never fails. Is there hope? YES! We can rely on God's promise, but we have to do our part. If we humble ourselves and pray as a people, GOD will heal our and. By GOD's grace, we may yet see a better future for our children.

“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.”(2 Chronicles 7: 14).

If you care for your children and grandchildren, PLEASE pass this on...

Kung Nais ng Diyos, Huwag Matakot

Lk. 5: 1-11 "Huwag kang matakot. Mula ngayo’y mamamalakaya ka ng mga tao."

Ano ang iyong reaksiyon kung si Hesus mismo ang magpapagawa sa iyo ng isang gawain? Hindi ba’t kaagad kang kikilos ng walang atubili?

Ito marahil ang naranasan ni Simon Pedro at ng kanyang mga kasama nang sila’y nangingisda buong gabi at walang mahuli sa Lawa ng Genesaret. Nagmamasid noon si Hesus sa kanilang ginagawa nang lumapit Siya sakay ng isang bangka at sabihing “Pumalaot kayo at ihulog ang mga lambat upang manghuli.” Para ko na ring narinig sina Simon Pedro na nagbubulungan ng “Eh ano naman kaya ang alam ni Hesus sa pangingisda kung Siya’y isang karpintero?” Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito sinunod nila si Hesus. At hindi naman sila binigo Nito nang halos masira ang lambat nila sa dami ng isda na kanilang nahuli.

Iyan ang malaking pagkakaiba kung si Hesus mismo ang nag-utos, Sunod agad tayo ng walang dalawang isip.

Sa ating buhay, lalo na sa pagsisilbi sa Diyos, importanteng kumonsulta muna sa Kanya bago gumawa ng mga bagay-bagay. Alam naman nating perpekto ang mga plano ng Diyos. Lahat ng Kanyang pangako, tinutupad Niya.

Kaya naman sa mga pagkakataong tayo’y nanghihina sa serbisyo sa Panginoon, dapat tandaan ang Kanyang mga salita, aral, utos at pangako. Hindi dapat matakot lalo na sa pagharap ng mga pagsubok sa buhay. Kung tayo’y nalilito at nangingimi sa ating pagsunod, tandaan lamang ang sinabi Niyang huwag matakot. Mas malaki ang Diyos kesa sa ating mga pagsubok. Siya ang kapitan ng ating buhay. Bakit tayo matatakot?

Kung masasabi nating nakilala na natin ng lubos ang Diyos, at tayo’y may personal na relasyon na sa Kanya, nararapat lang na ibahagi natin ito sa iba.

Iba’t-ibang talento ang mga ibinahagi sa atin ng Panginoon. Bawa’t isa sa atin ay may kanya-kanyang paraan kung paano maibabahagi ang Mabuting Balita ng Kaligtasan sa iba. Ito ang misyon natin. Hindi natin ito maikakaila.

Pagnilayan:
Anu-ano ang dahilan ng aking agam-agam o takot na maibahagi ko sa iba ang aking pananampalataya?

Dasal:
Panginoon, nawa’y mapalakas Niyo po ang aking pananampalataya nang maibahagi ko ang Inyong Mabuting Balita ng kaligtasan at buhay na walang hanggan. Amen.

KOMITMENT: PAGBIBIGAY NG BUONG BUHAY SA DIYOS

Mateo 10:37 – 11-1

“Ang umiibig sa ama o sa ina nang higit sa Akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa Akin. At ang umiibig sa anak na lalaki or babae nang higit sa Akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa Akin. Ang hindi nagpapasan ng kanyang krus at sumusunod sa Akin ay hindi karapat-dapat sa Akin. Ang nag-iingat ng kanyang buhay ay siyang mawawalan nito, at ang nawawalan ng kanyang buhay dahil sa Akin ay magkakamit nito.”


Sa mga panahong ito, mas madaling iwasan ang komitment kesa tuparin ito. Sa lakas ng salitang ito, tila kumikitil ng laya. Sadyang taliwas ito sa buhay na makasarili at lubhang mahirap pangalagaan at gawing pang matagalan. Para kasing taliwas ito sa malayang pamumuhay at sa kasabihang “sarili kong desisyon at gawa.” Animo’y nakakasira ng pamumuhay.

Sa salita ng Diyos sa Mateo 10:34 (at sa sumusunod), mabigat ang pananaw ni Hesus ukol sa pagpapahalaga ng isang komitment. Sinasabi din dito na dahil sa pagsunod kay Kristo, makararanas ng paghihirap, sama ng loob, persekusiyon at iba pa. Sadyang hindi madali ang maging disipulo ni Hesus. Subalit nangako naman Siya nang walang hanggang buhay sa kabila ng lahat ng paghihirap na ito. Ito ang mas mahalagang pagtuunan ng pansin.

Ito ang hamon sa atin sa pagsunod kay Hesus. Maaaring di tayo lubos na maintindihan ng ating mga mahal sa buhay man o kaibigan -- tila laging may di pagkakaunawaan. Lalu na kung ang isa ay lubos ang dedikasyon sa pagsunod kay Kristo at ang iba ay hindi. Nagiging tila kaaway tuloy ang turingan ng magpapamilya. Hindi kasi lubos na maintindihan ng iba ang tunay na responsibilidad ng isang tagasunod ni Hesus. Ang nagyayari tuloy ay bumibigay na lamang ang isang disipulo at tumitigil sa kanyang gawaing ispirituwal.

Sa iba naman, mas nagiging mahalaga ang kumita ng pera na kung tutuusin nama’y biyayang kaloob ni Hesus dahil na rin sa serbisiyong ipinagkakaloob sa Kanya. Habang lumalaki ang kita, lumalaki na rin ang distansiya sa pamilya, sa mga taong sineserbisyuhan, at higit sa lahat sa Diyos. Matapos makamit ang biyayang inasam, ang komitment nila ang humihina. Mas maraming na silang dahilan.

Ang pagpasan ng Krus ni Hesus ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat. Tinuturuan Niya tayong unahin Siya kesa ibang bagay. Mabigat man dalhin ang kanyang Krus, kasama naman natin Siya sa ating paglalakbay. Iba na dapat ang ating pananaw simula nang tayo’y mag-komit sa Kanya.
Ang hamon sa atin ay ang kung paano natin ibibigay ang natitira pa nating buhay sa serbisyo sa Panginoon. Ito ang nais ng Panginoon. Nangako naman si Hesus na “sa Aking kaharian, maraming mansiyon.”

Iba na dapat ang ating pinapahalagahan. Buhay ng iba kesa sa sarili natin. Tutal, dumaraan lamang tayo sa mundong ito. Di naman natin alam kung bukas o sa makalawa’y buhay pa tayo. Sayang naman ang panahon.

Pagnilayan: Nasaan ba ang aking priyoridad mula nang ako’y mag-komit sa Diyos? Handa pa rin ba akong tanggapin ang hamon ng pagpasan ng Kanyang Krus?