Longing for Christmas

Yuletide season is here again. Christmas decors everywhere, attractive lighting and Christmas songs filled the air.

This will be my third year to spend holiday away from home. There is no place like home, when spending quality time and happy moment with your loved-ones and friends especially on this special occasion that comes once a year.

Though my eyes are filled with lovely colors and my heart listens to wonderful music, still I'm longing for Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Let us all be home on this holiday season.

Dark Vision

Dark Vision

How can you see the beauty of the world,

If  your world turns to darkness.

How can you now appreciate the person standing there,

If you no longer recognize the angelic face.

My heart is sobbing from sadness,

The bitter of not seeing anymore.

How I wish I have the power to bring light,

The light that was taken away from you

I love you from the bottom of my heart,

You're my strength when I was then a toddler.

Now, let me return the care you gave to me,

I carry you, wherever you want to go.

Last Journal in Maldives

August 4, 2015- departure date from Angsana Velavaru to Male

                         11 am- I reach Male Airport

                         around 2:30pm- alone strolling

                         8pm-  we roam around the street in Male

August 5, 2015- departure from Maldives
                        10:45pm- scheduled flight bound to Kuala Lumpur

August 6, 2015- NAIA, Philippines @12nn

The Memories in Velavaru

Today will be my last day here in Angsana Velavaru. Mixed emotion as I packed all my things. As one chapter of my journey ends, another chapter will open.

For the remaining two weeks of my stay in this resort, I really enjoyed and spent quality time with my friends. I explore sea creatures under the sea by learning how to swim and snorkel, do canoe, visit local island, join the night party (1st time to experience in this resort), and last night we had a sumptuous family dinner (I consider this my second home)

I requested to our Transportation Manager to have a first flight back to Male. I don't want my friends to see me bid goodbye or else I will break down.

I will cherish all my wonderful experiences,  as I go back home to Philippines.
Thank you to all staff and friends!
God bless my next journey.

Enjoy the company

“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.” 
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

My Memoirs: The Last Trip

My Memoirs: The Last Trip: It's hard to say goodbye, To a place I considered home. As my journey near to end, Memories filled my lonely heart. Ca...

The Last Trip

It's hard to say goodbye,

To a place I considered home.

As my journey near to end,

Memories filled my lonely heart.

Can I still have another chance?

Can I still have another glimpse?

As I bid goodbye to my second home.

Carrying a heavy heart 

Life is really tough sometimes,

But I have to move on,

And accept the inevitable.

My Memoirs: Maldives: My second home

My Memoirs: Maldives: My second home: The hardest word to say, is by saying goodbye to a place you considered second home. A place where I hold on to my dreams, a pla...

Maldives: My second home

The hardest word to say, is by saying goodbye to a place you considered second home.

A place where I hold on to my dreams, a place where I have gained friends, a place where I enjoyed travelling in other resorts, and a place wherein I will cherish every moment until I grow old.

My journey never ends here. Second thoughts still lingered on my mind. Life has twist and turn.

But, I entrusted it to the Lord all of my decisions in life. I cannot do this alone without Him.
I just believe in myself I can go through with this.






I cherished all the moments.

Anantara, Maldives

Anantara Veli

Angsana Velavaru

Angsana Velavaru (In-Ocean Villa)

Banyan Tree- Vabbinfaru

Chaaya Dhonveli

Jumeirah Vittaveli, overlooking Lagoon Suites

Jumeirah Vittaveli, Lagoon Villas

Komandoo Resort- Water Villas

Kuredu Resort- Extended Sandbank

Paradise Resort- The Pool

Taj- Exotica- view from President's suite

Taj Exotica- arrival jetty

Taj-Exotica

Velassaru Resort, at the beach side

Male, Maldives

Male, Maldives

My Memoirs: In God I seek refuge

My Memoirs: In God I seek refuge: I feel confused.....my brain cannot think well....exhausted mind cannot set a concrete plan. At this current status of my career, too ma...

In God I seek refuge

I feel confused.....my brain cannot think well....exhausted mind cannot set a concrete plan.

At this current status of my career, too many questions of why, what and how. Why because, why things happened like this. What because, what I am going to do next. How because, how do I start. 

It never came across to my mind, that I will experience this kind of scenario I am experiencing right now.

I have many plans in the future, but I am currently in this kind of situation where everybody doesn't know where we are heading to.

I want to voice out our rights, but no power to do so. I am afraid to fail, afraid of not fulfilling what has been planned.

I am living my dream, a dream that came into reality. Picturesque crystalline water with pristine white sand. Photographic location that I only see in magazines and books, but now, this is the place where I lived right now.

I always pray but I think my prayer is not enough. I always ask for favors, but I think I ask too much.

I always plan ahead, but I think my plans are lacking of glorifying the name of  the

Lord.

By writing this article, I am releasing my frustrations and let the Holy Spirit directs me what to do.

As I opened my Bible, it says at 1 Thessalonians 5: 23-28

    "23 May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being- spirit, soul, and body- free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

"24 He who calls you will do it, because he is faithful."

"25 Pray also for us, friends."

"26 Greet all the believers with the kiss of peace."

"27 I urge you by the authority of the Lord to read this letter to all the believers."

"28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."

My Memoirs: In Loving Memory

My Memoirs: In Loving Memory: Life is like a newly watered plants in the garden, Fresh in the morning, soon it will be withered. Vibrant color green when it is st...

In Loving Memory

Life is like a newly watered plants in the garden,

Fresh in the morning, soon it will be withered.

Vibrant color green when it is still young,

When the time comes, the leaves will fall.

It will touch the ground, soon it will be gone.

I still miss the childhood days with you,

Your serious face and funny smile.

Only in  memory, I can remember you.

It's too late to say, " I love you".

Why can't I stop these tears?

Why can't I stop blaming myself?

Being selfish for keeping eight long years,

Not asking how are you?

Being affected by this emotion I kept inside,

Thinking always Grandma, instead of you.

If only I can bring back the time

I want to say sorry and  forgive you.

Now you're gone Papang,

How can I read these lines to you?

How can you hear me singing it loud?

Amazing grace, I sing it for you:(

Unforgettable shoot

It was January 5th, when I received a message that I was the chosen photographer  to shoot for these repeater guests in Dhigu, Anantara.  Mr. General Manager and Dhigu Resort  Manager talked to my Site Manager regarding the said session. I was feeling nervous because it is my first time that someone from higher position requested for  a photographer  to handle the said photo shoot.

January 6th, when my mobile alarmed at 6 o'clock in the morning. I prepare myself for any possibilities that might happen during my encounter with the guests. As the sun rises, I plastered my smile as I look at the rising sun.  I walked from Veli Resort straight to Naladhu (good exercise indeed), and called the boat Captain, for my  transfer to Dhigu.

I quickly ate my breakfast. Checked my camera and settings.  I met Resort Manager and the Bodu Beru group.  All of us, went to the guests villa and we were all introduced to the guests.

As I first set my eyes to the Mother and Daughter, my heart beats  rapidly. Silly I am!  The Mother came near to me, to show some poses. We shared ideas about it.  I told her, we will do the same poses and at the same time, I will do other version of those.

As I slowly demonstrate some poses to the daughter,  the Mother looked at me smiling. I smiled back and asked her by doing sign language, if it is okay what I am doing.  She replied back by doing sign language too. To feel comfortable, I always ask my guest if she's fine with the poses. And she positively follow my instructions together with the help of Bodu Beru group.

After the first session with the Bodu Beru group, we walked slowly to another location.  Then, I initiated a short conversation with the Mother (for me to feel at ease). When I popped my first question, she said they are from Spain. Then I spoke  few Spanish words. Then she began to laugh. That is the beginning of our conversation until the last shoot in Veli Resort.

We shifted one location to another.  When the Father came, I talked to my guests to let me finish the shoot for that particular location while ideas are still fresh on my mind. Then the  shoot resumes at  11 o'clock. While doing a solo shoot with the daughter, I popped question again.  Just for her to enjoy the shoot despite a very warm weather.

After three and a half hour of  photo shoot, we bid goodbye and exchanged "thank you".  As remarkable comment from the Mother, "I like your ideas!"  I politely replied with big smile and saying my wholeheartedly thanks to her.  As her response, " De Nada".

Below are some of the photographs taken in three different resorts.

took  4 times to retake this shot

the final pose