#laagnitantong

Our family sojourn kicked off at dawn of December 25, 2015, literally a Christmas Day. Bantay Bridge, Batay, Ilocos Sur Right before entering Vigan Heritage City, a wild adventure is catered to you by this bridge - the zipline ride - where fun is enjoyed more because of the green surroundings, luscious green silhouette of Bantay (local term for mountains) above and the deep emerald waters of the river below. Antique Shop, Vigan Heritage City  Vigan City A Heritage City Preservation of heritage is the greatest challenge we Filipinos face day after day. We aren't just citizens of the Philippines but of the world and so our customs and traditions easily evolve in the constant change of time. We are so adaptive that we keep abreast with latest trends, hips and chic. We are so creative that we fuse olds and news or transfigure old into new with ease. We are so resilient that we are able to stand the test of time. We are so forgiving that we have the propensity to f...

Time flew so fast and suddenly it was already December 4, time for me to fly to Singapore. A clear view of the Marina I had unpredictable schedules these days being a freelance consultant. I just got an invite from DA Region 2 to be the Resource Person in the conduct of the PRDP's I-REAP component's Financial Analysis and Management, with some DA personnel and community groups' representatives attending. The final schedule was from December 1 to 4, held at Hotel Venezia in Subic Bay, Zambales, but I declined the last day as it would fall on my departure date to Singapore. Another engagement was entered with the same project, but this time with Region 5, to act as Resource Person in the conduct of the Simplified Financial Management System Training-Workshop on December 7-11 at Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City. Again, the first day of the latter training would be in conflict with my return trip schedule. I will be arriving at 10pm of December 7. Good morning, Sing...

To be able to work with the Coffey Institutional Development was a rare opportunity. My project with the Department of Education (DepED), the Strengthening of Financial Management System in DepED, a component of the Philippine-Australia Public Financial Management Program, funded by the Australian Aid, took two phases. The Phase 2 I worked with from July 2013 to June 2014 was under the firm AARC (Ireland) Ltd. The Phase 3 that followed was contracted under Coffey from July 2014 to June 2015 with the hope of extension for yet another year. Then the move of the Philippine Government to go electronic with its whole public financial management from budgeting to procurement to treasury and accounting was finally shelved, so they claimed, but junked as far as our team is concerned. That was the reason they based from for the cut short extension. Instead we were granted 3-month contract extension, from July to September 2015. And to celebrate our last day with the company, whi...

August 27 I made the biggest mistake of my travelling life. I left my entire luggage in the hostel I booked for 4 nights without considering that I would be wandering other cities in Thailand with no window time to get back to pack up. I woke up late thinking to just take it easy today. Maybe head to Ayutthaya at 9 o’clock in the morning. But I left at half past 10 already. I took the public bus to get to the nearest subway train station. It felt cool to mingle with riding locals, costing me only 9 baht. I then boarded the train bound for Hua Lamphong Railway Station. Emerging from the subway, I immediately noticed the ticket counters within the railway station. I approached the open window and inquired about trips to Chiang Mai. Knowing that seats with the express train are yet available, I bought one roundtrip ticket leaving at 735pm today and returning tomorrow at 6pm. Then I bought one way ticket to Ayutthaya that was scheduled to depart at 1120am. I mentally drew m...