Jim Paredes Tweets Back

This Sunday morning is both relaxing, and inspiring.

Earlier, I was tuned in to the live streaming of the The Feast at PICC. I constantly felt light and happy hearing Bro. Bo Sanchez on the background, and watching hundreds of attendees today- all worshiping our Divine Master.

Sidenote: He promoted helping He Cares Foundation, founded by Bro. Joe. He Cares is a personal favorite because it was the first foundation I went to for a feeding program as a Corporate Social Responsibility representative of Megaworld Foundation, Inc. Add to that was I did my first storytelling for street children about The Prodigal Son.

Meanwhile, on Twitter, artist Jim Paredes tweeted his article on Philippine Star which centers on the topic of Secret Doubt. As per him, secret doubt is revealed whenever we feel we are not good enough, bright enough, worthy enough, deserving enough to feel otherwise.

Julia Cameron, author of the book The Artist's Way, says secret doubt is what we all harbor deep down that makes us feel we do not deserve to lead creative lives. It is the 'doubt that we are really creative and deserving of the care we need.'

I then had an epiphany: I possess Secret Doubts. Whenever I feel like I should let go and be creative (write, read, think), something says stop, relax, leave it for tomorrow, or maybe next week. There were more moments when I feel that nobody would read my entries. Hence, the effect I wanted to instill to my readers would not be possible.

Like Jim Paredes, I just constantly remind myself that I am worthy of the recognition I receive because the Lord gave me the essentials, and I can reach whatever it is I dream of. Paredes puts it in a highly thoughtful way though, “I carry within me the Creator’s DNA and so I can’t help but be creative; that I am a force of good; and that I am capable and powerful enough to create things and situations in images and likeness that reflect the greatness of the Greatest Artist of All."

Upon reading this, I replied to him on twitter and surprisingly, he thanked me. I was sincerely more than happy to be noticed by one of my idols:

For more of Jim Paredes, visit his blogsite : http://haringliwanag.pansitan.net/

Porwan's Great Lumampao Trek

The summer season is over yet the feeling of my recent spree with high school friends remains warm.

Last May 20-21, I went to Cuenca, Batangas, together with my high school friends, to serve as god parents to Rose’s daughter. However, we saw the occasion as most fitting for a mini- reunion and summer escapade.

There were twelve of us who endured the two-hour travel just to see the picturesque Mt. Maculot as backdrop of my friend’s house. Equipped with our digital cameras and missed friendship, we walked up to the foot of Mt. Maculot and clicked the shutters like we don’t have two days to fill.

By night time, we dived and swam in a local resort and my friends surprised me with a birthday cake because on May 22, I turned twenty-one; a should-be responsible man. I could not have chosen better people surrounding me during my birthday’s prelude.

The following day, Rose accompanied us to a trek called Lumampao. Locals say it takes a thousand steps to reach the lake of Taal, the infamously active volcano in Batangas. In fact, we devoted a thousand steps going down the forest and another thousand going back up. But I would gladly do it again if only to see Batangas’ floras, fauna, and to experience reaching the lake while laughing, chatting, and sweating with long-missed friends.

We were running as we saw houses by the lake. All our efforts was worth the scenery: peaking sunrays, blue lake, dinaing, boats painted with ‘sariling sikap’ signs, locals, and to our surprise, sweet scattered mangoes fallen from generous trees. We then thought we needed energy to burn while going up. And so we picked up ripe mangoes from nearby the shore, washed them in the poso, and devoured like we have not tasted mangoes in our lives yet. Every bite was delightful since it was a product of hard work and eaten together with trusted buddies. A caution though; make sure to ask the locals first before you do anything in their place. If you do so, you could also be treated with a plastic of mangoes like us.

We didn’t mind swimming in the lake because for one it was exactly noontime, and secondly, we only have our umbrellas, water bottles, fans, towels and cheerful bearings. No extra clothes, only extra cameras.

If you have friends living in Batangas or you can afford board and lodging expenses, I highly recommend trying Lumampao trek with your friends. If you want to lose those carbs, better do it with your buddies. If you want to be adventurous, do it in Batangas first, so you won’t have to worry being away from the Metro.

I have previously done trekkings in Davao and Mt. Makiling in Laguna. However, my Lumampao Trek topped the list because of the place, the food, and the people I rediscovered. Do not just beat the summer heat. Actually, trek amidst the summer heat.

Segue: I submitted this article to Manila Bulletin's Write To Fame promo (Travel Category) and it got into the Top 3! It didn't get to publishing, however, I got two cinema tickets :)

for more pictures, visit the ff:

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http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.444795502199938.109141.100000084778196&type=1

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