kj▲kerz

What is that one thing in life that you regret the most?

Well, for me that would be the course that I took for college. I am currently a 4th year irregular student of my Degree Course BS Entrepreneurship. I took my first 3 years in this COLLEGE that was TOO expensive, stopped and worked for 2 years as a Call Center Agent due to financial problems, and went back to continue my course IN a really cheap school but the quality of education, I'd say honestly, wasn't the best. I ended up forgetting what I've learned for the past years and just pursuing my education for me to acquire a diploma which is a really big deal for my parents. I've insisted them on letting me transfer to a better school with a different kind of course but yet again, we are not the FORTUNATE ones and they have adviced me to finish my course since I only have probably about 2 years more to go.

me crying for life (what a face #FailureDrama)

I know that this course isn't the best for me.

After studying for years I still don't get the process of building up a business, taxes, accounting, business strategies, finding suppliers, etc. I don't even know what to kind of business do I want to put up?! I also thought that if I wanted to make a business I knew I didn't need this course and instead use the money I pay for college as my CAPITAL in case I found the business I wanted. I'm just too afraid to finish college and have a hard time finding a job because I know I don't have the specific skills unlike those courses that have a specific work such as Nursing, Engineering, IT, etc.

As an Entrepreneur you should create jobs and not find them. That's my problem. Since I'm not really into business nor do I have the finance to build my dream business, I prefer finding a nice-paying job and hopefully earning enough money to build a business of my own with the confidence I have acquired from my job. Other courses like Nursing, Tourism, HRM, etc. All of those have career paths but what do I have? Just HOPE. The Hope to have an idea and the money to put it into a reality which, unfortunately, I don't acquire.

Me, after writing this blog post. 

I applied for this Unified Multi-Purpose Card in our local government office around town. To prepare, I filled out this form available online together with the requirements needed for application. I am NEW to these things so I don't know what to expect as I enter the office. As I entered the government office, I first asked the Guard who seems to entertain other people inquiring. I asked him "Where can I get my Identifi---" then he suddenly walked out not knowing why he didn't let me finish my question and came back with a BLANK form needed for me to get my ID Card. I said " No, I didnt want a form (since I already have it), I wanted to know where shall I line up to give my requirements" . Then his statement totally ruined my day. "Ang GULO mo kausap!!-- (translation: "You're Confusing!") said the Guard. He said it in a rude way that it insulted me. Usually in this kind of situation, I laugh at myself letting him know that I made such mistake --which I hate doing and I still don't get why that seems to be my initial reaction. He adviced me to go back tomorrow morning since they had only until 60 people who can apply per day. Then I left the office thinking about what he said like my mind had a broken record playing it on repeat. I then start hating myself for just laughing it off and thought of things I could've done better to put him in shame too. I was furious. Then from that point on, I felt so bad that I hated humanity! I know this is SUCH a SMALL thing and you would think that I am just too SENSITIVE. It just amazes me how those words completely ruined my day--at least.

As I dined in at this famous fast food chain nearby, I took time to meditate and be at the present moment. After minutes of being silent, I grabbed some techniques to let these stuffs just go off your mind and continue having a good day and not having to wait for tomorrow to start a new one!

1. Notice your thoughts and RELEASE what is no longer serving you Notice where it is coming from. It is said that we are not what we think. Whatever thoughts that come in our mind whether it be negative or positive doesn't come from our true selves. These are just external factors affecting how our mind works. After analyzing your thought patterns and noticing where it is in the body, try to ask yourself, " Is this getting me any better?" If no, just release it. Keep in mind that Life is short so better fill your head with Positive images and let go of what no longer serves you. You are too brilliant to stress on useless stuffs.

2. Forgiveness brings down your EGO Forgive those that have offended you. Always know that everyone has a good in them. If ever they treated you bad always ask yourself why? It is probably a reflection on what's going on with their lives. Forgiveness brings down your EGO which blocks us from seeing through the eye of the source which is our real selves. When we do so, we see people equally and we UNDERSTAND everyone's suffering and accepting them for the way they are. 

3. Accept yourself I hated how I acted after he said those words. I even thought of ways on how I could deal with it even better to let him feel he did me wrong. But seriously, what I did was actually the best thing I could've ever done. I just laughed it off and that prevented me from fighting fire with fire. I don't have to change a thing about how I act towards situations like these because it is a talent (not all can handle anger). I thought it was weakness that I showed but it turns out that this has been my strength. Imagine if I was all scandalous during that moment, I probably would be in jail at this very second -- for kicking his ass, literally. 

4. Don't let this dictate what your day will be

Come on! You don't have to wait for tomorrow, a week, or even months to recover to start having a good day. You can have a good day right now at this very moment by changing your mood. FOCUS on the positive things. Learn to be thankful of the things you have. Smile at other people! Always remember that you are in charge of what you want to feel for today!

5. At the end of the day, ENUMERATE the good things that has happened. I'm 100% sure there is something! Let me enumerate good things that have happened today that has helped me forget about that moment - An old lady smiled at me - A complete stranger complimented my hair - In school, I was able to answer a recitation I thought I didn't know. - Had a funny moment with an old man where he got my excess food for his dogs - The bus I sat in was cool and the conductor had a great attitude - My friend gave me a free dumpling - After saying "Thank You" to the tricycle driver that brought me home he said "You're Welcome".-- Just plain politeness makes my day! WOW I never thought my day was this great!!!!

Lesson learned, never focus on one thing to stress you up your mind is powerful and as the commander of it, train it to be Positive! Let me leave you this quote and I hope it resonates within you.

Tomorrow, I’ll have to go back to that office again and whatever happens, I won’t let it get in the way of me having a GOOD DAY!!!

Got home from school and as I lay down in my bed, I just feel so grateful. Lately I’ve noticed that I’ve forgotten to express gratitude in everyday due to life’s struggle between family, anxiety, and mostly financial. But then in that simple and most beautiful moment of laying down on my bed I realized a lot of things! I am just one blessed person and I am so happy to be in ME in this present moment. I also realized that there are some people, if given a chance, would definitely kill for my position just to have the things I have taken for granted.  I know for myself that I’ll be creating a story worth sharing that everyone will be inspired to be themselves and to never stop being grateful along the way. 

I was so lucky to be invited in this amazing trip to Hulugan falls located in Louisiana, Laguna which is probably just 3 hours away from the busy streets of Manila.  This should be considered my first adventure for this year 2016 and I would say that the whole trip was remarkable! 

Here are the following itinerary proposed by a fellow blogger ( Joana Matias: taleoftheslippers.tumblr.com)

A picture of me and Jomaerz at Hulugan Falls.

ITINERARY:

3:30 A.M. Assembly at Robinsons Galleria (Jollibee Startek) 4:00 A.M. ETD (to Luisiana Laguna) 7:00 A.M. ETA Brgy Captain's house 7:15 A.M. Start trek (descend) 8:00 A.M. ETA Hulugan Falls (photo ops) 8:30 A.M. ETD (ascend) 9:30 A.M. ETA (brgy captain's house)

Estimated Expenses

Van Rental – 4000php Guide Fee – 600 Reg Fee – 20.00/ person What to bring: 1-2 liters of water Trail food Extra clothes and towel Sunblock

And of course, due to Filipino time and the others arriving late we left Manila at 4:30 as opposed to what’s listed.

4:30 am | Departure -- Rented a Van with the help of my friend’s co-worker

TIP: Please leave early as indicated in the ITINERARY because you will be expecting many people in the registration area if you arrive after sunrise. According to the Guide (Benjie), there ae days where thousands of vacationers visit the area this is why I strongly suggest for you to leave early to enjoy the view of the falls with lesser people.

Registration House together with our assigned guide (the guy at the left with an ID Lace) -- Registered at 7:25 am - 

We arrived at Louisiana Laguna around 7:00 and started trekking downhill to reach Hulugan Falls.

From Concrete floors to Muddy Pathways

After A 3 km trek we reached this beauty. Hulugan Falls | Luisiana Laguna

After that we went to another falls where you have to trek uphill and down to witness the hidden waterfalls or what is locally known as “Talayan Falls” 

Reached Talayan Falls after an estimated distance of 2 km from Hulugan Falls

Then we head back to our private van which is near the Barangay Captain’s house which is another 3 km trek --- we had to take a break before we head out to our next adventure.

We then had a boodle fight with my travel buddies - getting a table is free as long as you buy something from the store.

We didn’t continue our trek to “Aliw Falls” since some were kind of tired and wanted to go to some hot springs instead since it was REALLY cold that time. Plus, our guide said that there are a lot of leeches there. Who wants vampires when you swim right? So we headed out paid our guide and looked for the nearest hot spring resort. We then ended up in Sun City with a rate of 80php including the cottage. Swam a little then took a shower and now we head back to Manila!

Other comments: Buwis Buhay Level – 2/ 10 Great for beginners but please wear the proper hiking shoes due to slippery rocks when going downhill. Guide Overall Attitude and Knowledge – Poor 2/10 – The guide that we had almost didn’t have any answers to some basic questions you would usually ask to a guide such as “Why is it called Hulugan Falls?”-“What are some Past events that took place here?”.  And he seem to not care when some of us would slip, he would literally just stare from a far and wait for us in order for him to lead the way. Talking about leading the way, he isn’t doing a GOOD job. We always go first and we end up finding the falls ourselves with the help of the trails. TIP: As much as possible get a guide who seems to be a little bit older, he may at least know some stuff I also encountered one guide (not ours) and asked if the falls that we are seeing from our point is Aliw Falls. He just stared at us and asked us where is our GUIDE with that deep tone of voice and not even bothering to give us a simple answer of a YES or No. He just adviced us to wai for our GUIDE. WOW That’s an attitude, you really had to stare at as so with your resting BITCH face. DAMN When he walked past I was like “BITCH is he serious”. HE TOTALLY RUINED MY WHOLE TRIP, seriously. Cleanliness – 7.5/10 just saw some cigarette butts around the falls but not too irritating that you see it all over the place.

And that sums up our whole trip. As a student who travels with no work, this trip didn’t affect my budget that much. I just spent around 710 php including my share from the rent of the van, tour guide, registration, food, and the resort that we stayed in. It’s really more fun to travel in groups since it is less expensive and you get to have them take awesome pics for you. HAHAHA 

My expenses: Share for the Van: 400php Registration: 20php Boodle Fight food (Adobo) – 60php (brought my own rice) Pancit Habhab + Drinks and Kutsinta Dessert – 50php Guide contribution – 100php Sun City Entrance+ Cottage – 80php Total expense = 710php!!!

Just imagine spending 710php on 3 Venti Starbucks Latte+ A slice of New York Style Cheesecake when you can go visit a Philippine Wonder!

I hope this has given you an idea on what to expect in Hulugan Falls!!!