Manila Bay Twilight

I wanted to take a photos of the famous sunset of Manila Bay, unfortunately we're too engrossed with the fishes inside Manila Ocean Park. By the time we're in the second floor, the viewing area of Manila Bay, the sun had already set, all I got were Twilight hues, orange sunlight scattered in the atmosphere.

 

Next time I'll visit Manila I hope to photograph the beautiful sunset of Manila Bay.

SkyWatch Friday

Enviropop: The Intoxicating Facts about Sea

The importance of biodiversity is part of the lengthy lessons we learned during our school days. We are educated to be the ultimate defenders of mother earth so getting ourselves conscious with the issues related to her is important. 

Listed below are the poisonous facts that are severely killing the sea today.This is to inform others who are not aware of the current threats to our marine life.

DYNAMITE

A detonating material used by illegal fishers to catch tons of underwater creatures in just one shot.This hostile practice can kill fishes and create massive destruction to coral reefs.

CYANIDE

It is an odourless and potentially noxious chemical used by some fishermen to easily catch fish. This unhealthy practice can harm the life down under and should not be tolerated. 

TRAWL NET

Don’t get the wrong notion and clear your minds now. Some of you might be wondering why trawl net is included in the list if using nets is the safest method to catch fish. Trawl net is a type of fish net that can catch tiny to huge underwater creatures-where some are endangered. This wide scope method questions the proper or selective fishing.

OIL

Ever heard of oil spill? The oil that contains fuel and crude are definitely destructive to the marine life.This action usually happens with on-board seafarers either on purpose or by accident. It is considered as an intended activity if the person in charge purposely releases the oil. Unfortunately, shipping accidents or leaking vessels are called mishaps.  

PET BOTTLES

A material made of plastics that are really hazardous to the marine species because it may block their breathing passages. Many of us are unconscious of the wastes we throw eventually reach the sea territory. The underwater creatures that seem to be happy are actually at risk because of our inappropriate waste disposal.  

To know more about these aggravating threats, check out Applabs Digital Studios Inc. (ADSI) and World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF-PH) latest game application. Get a chance to eliminate the toxic that are infiltrating our deep seas by playing Enviropop. You may help save our sea friends by downloading the Lite or Full version of the puzzle application for iOS. 

We must help restore the beauty of our planet by starting a campaign within us. Our little contribution if put together can make a big difference and would mean a lot to the world. Share the cautionary tale of Enviropop to your friends today!

a guest post from Ms. Rhea Del Corro

First Family Vacation 2013: Manila Ocean Park - Oceanarium

Why I chose Metro Manila as our first destination this year’s Vacation, was because I want my little boy to see the fishes, the water creatures + the birds. Manila Ocean Park is the best place to see them up close here in the Philippines.

We arrived at Metro Manila on January 24, 2013 around 10AM, checked-in at Tune Hotels and in the afternoon off we went to Manila Ocean Park. We arrived there a round 4PM too late to watch the Sea Lion Show so we availed only the Oceanarium + Musical Fountain Show package at P500.00 + P150 for the Kingdom of Prey experience.

Our First Stop was the Kingdom of Prey (I’ll make a separate post for this one soon), then the Oceanarium and these are the photos that we’re able to take. But unfortunately most were dark because flash photography is not allowed. Nevertheless, the photos are still passable.

A family picture at the well known MOP sign at the entrance.

Father and Son at the Oceanarium entrance. Hubby posing while Xye looking somewhere.

 Some big fresh water fishes.

Some fishes of the sea..

chambered nautilus

lion fish

 

 posing with the Giant Trevallies at the back..

And a family pose at the Asia's largest walk through underwater tunnel.

Manila Ocean Park is indeed a friendly place for adults and kids. We are lucky to have this one of a kind water attraction in our country.

Water World Wednesday

First Family Vacation 2013: Flying for the First Time

This year I chose to celebrate my birthday with the two most important men in the world, my husband and our son, not in Cagayan de Oro City but in Metro Manila. Actually, I booked our round trip flights to Manila and back in September last year when Cebu Pacific had their Piso Fare. Thanks to budget airlines for the promo, the only irony with promo tickets is that they are non-refundable and non rebookable. Hubby and I have wasted two international promo tickets before. I was pregnant then and cannot travel back then. 

I thought our tickets will go to waste again, because our little one had high fever because of swollen gums 3 days before our flight. Thankfully on the 3^rd day Xye had recovered and was energetic again and ready to take his first plane ride the following day.

We boarded Cebu Pacific 8:40 AM flight from Cagayan de Oro City to Manila. I took the window seat, Xye in the middle and hubby by the aisle, also with us our best friend Jefer and his sister Ina.

 

The little one preferred to sit on my lap and peeped out the window. I think he enjoyed watching the clouds outside, but later on he went to play in his dreamland because he fell asleep and woke up when we landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

 

 

Xye first flying experience was fun, I think. I do not know if he’ll remember the experience when he grow up. Thanks to technology at least he’ll be able to see these pictures in the future.

P.S. Photos in this post were taken by my husband.

Monday Mellow Yellows

Blue Monday

Orange Impatiens Flowers

Have you heard about impatiens flowers? I did for the first time at my brother in law's house in Bukidnon. His wife had planted a lot of flowering plants in their front yard. One of the flowers I saw there and was able to photographed is called Impatiens. Seen two colors actually, but today I'll feature one color only, and a very striking one, an Orange Impatiens Flowers.

Impatiens also called Busy Lazzie is a beautiful annual plant that will definitely give colors to your garden. Impatiens grows well in moisture and shade areas.

I wanted the same flowers in our frontyard too, but I do not know it it will survive the hot weather of Cagayan de Oro City.

Next time we visit Bukidnon, I make sure bring seedlings with me.

Photos taken using Sigma 70-300mm F/4-5.6 DG Macro attached to my Canon 60D. I love using this lens whenever taking macro photos because it definitely gives cleaner background compared to my other lens.

Today's Flowers

Macro Monday 

Mandarin Orange Monday

Rice Field + Beautiful Blue Sky

"I'm thankful for waking up to another beautiful day. If you're living & breathing, then there's nothing to be depressed about."

~author unknown~

photo taken using Samsung Galaxy S2

This is my in-laws newly harvested rice field in Bukidnon, the remaining greenery still blends perfectly with the beautiful blue sky.

I'm so in love with this scene, the formation of clouds is telling us to live a carefree life.

My SkyWatch Friday this week.

Nymphaeaceae - Water Lily

Nymphaeaceae commonly called Water Lily is a family of flowering plants that live in freshwater areas like ponds and with tropical climates around the world.

I saw these water lilies in a man-made pond somewhere in Bukidnon, I asked hubby to pull over for me to take some snaps. The weather was not that good, hence the photos are not well lighted. I wanted to take a closer shot, unfortunately this is the most my lens can take me. Nevertheless, they still look great for me. 

Next time when we visit the province, I hope to see them blooming again and hope they will be little bit closer to the edge of the pond for me to be able to take a close up photos. 

A share for Water World Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday.

Beautiful Pink Ti Plants with Flowers

Cordyline terminalis is the scientific name of Ti Plants, and are also known as Hawaiian Ti or Good Luck Plant/Tree. They comes is different colors, but the pink ones are the prettiest for me.

The Ti plants in our front yard are not that vibrant compared to those I've seen in Bukidnon. I assume these beautiful pink plant grows beautifully in the cool weather of the province.
 

And it's my first time to see them with gorgeous flowers.

These photos were taken using Canon 60D with Sigma 70-300mm F/4-5.6 DG Macro.

Today's Flower

Monday Mellow Yellows

Macro Monday

InstaPic: February 6-13, 2013

February 6, 2013 - At 1:00PM Hubby called up and asked us if it's possible for us to be at Malaybalay Bukidnon before night time. His father was in death bed and probably waiting for his grandchildren to arrive. But our car's two tires were dilapidated and very unsafe for long driving. I brought the car for a tire change first, and at 5PM we're still in CDO.

We postponed our trip the following day (February 7, 2013), because I'm not familiar with the Bukidnon highway. It was my first time to self-drive from Cagayan de Oro City to Malaybalay, Bukidnon. It took me 3-hours to reach our destination, considering the unfamiliarity and road conditions.

 

The weather was good and the clouds were neat, I asked Joy my son's yaya to take pictures of the clouds using my mobile phone.

Our little prince was having a rest in one of the bargain boxes of Gaisano Malaybalay, while I'm selecting/buying white t-shirts to be used by the immediate family during the burial.

Because according to the oldies, we're not allowed to take a bath at the house were the wake is. So every morning we went to husband's older brother house to take a bath. The little one was so busy playing around with the unhusked rice grains.

 

 

Unhusked rice grains were also being dried at the back of my parents-in-law's house. The little one loves to play with them.

The house was full-packed with mourners, family, relatives and friends. No matter what these two little boys were peacefully sleeping inside the room.

After the burial, we left Cabanglasan at 11:45AM February 13, 2013 and headed straight home to Cagayan de Oro City. I was the one driving again, because hubby had to stay for a while until the 9th day. I needed to report to office the following day, I had no choice but to self-drive.

The photo above was one of the delays at Bukidnon Highway because of road repairs. The irony was it was an uphill part of the highway, we stayed there for 15 minutes. My foot hurts from stepping on the brake pedal, hand brake was not enough.

At 3:22 PM, we finally arrived at the Puerto overlooking. I pulled over for a while and took a photo of the calm sea of CdeO. Yes! It's CdeO already!

I survived the 4 hour drive from Cabanglasan, Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro City. Thankfully the weather was very cooperative.

Blue Monday

A Tribute to a Father-in-Law

Though I have spent only counted days with my father in law, i.e. only during short vacations, I have come to love the very person who fathers my husband, my son's grandfather.

I have known what he was thru my husband's stories, and indeed he was really special in every way. A father, a parent who wanted only the best for his children, a family man who strive hard to provide for his family and a loving husband to a wife who was so patient and lovable.

To My Father in Law, you are surely loved and missed not only by your family but all the people who have known you in this lifetime.

May you have peaceful rest in the hands of the Lord.

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Baby Papaya Fruits + Papaya Flower

Can't get over with the papaya yet, I've been talking about them for the past weeks and I still can't believe that after I had posted the dismay we had thinking we're not be able to taste any fruit from these ladies that we had planted in our frontyard, now they actually are actually giving us hope.

 Because after we saw little babies evolving from the flowers of the second papaya plant (photos above), a single baby fruit (photo below) also had appeared from our first papaya plant (finally).

We're really excited how these babies will grow. Meanwhile our third papaya plant is already starting to give us blooming yellow flowers.

 

The light yellow flower is a delicate beauty.

Today's Flower

Monday Mellow Yellows

 

 Macro Monday

InstaPic: Foodchain Food Trip in the Metro

A person who visits Metro Manila once in a blue moon will surely dig into fastfood chain foods that are not available in the area he's currently living. That's what we did when we had our short vacation at the Metro last week.

Because hubby had fever during our trip and had to stay at the hotel with the little one, I usually took out foods and ate them with hubby at the hotel.

On January 25 I bought half dozen original glaze donut from Krispy Kreme on our way back to the hotel after our 4-5 hours trek at Divisoria with Jefer and her sister.

SM MOA exploration was scheduled in the late afternoon of January 26, meanwhile I bought bacon mushroom burgers from Wendy's for lunch at Robinson's Place Ermita.

 

 At MOA, we had dinner at Sbarro and ordered Chicago White for me and Chicago Deep Dish  for hubby. Although Sbarro is already in CDO but hubby and I never had a chance to visit the famous Italian Pizza House.

 

 Before checking out late (I paid the hotel's late checkout charge because our flight was scheduled at 4:10PM) I bought two take-out meals of Kenny Rogers at Robinson's Place for lunch on Sunday January 27th.

So far these are the only meals we had that I was able to take photos.

Thanks to my ever reliable Samsung Galaxy S2. :)