I do apologize for the late post for my husband and I was really busy preparing for our daughter's first birthday.

For the next few days, we will be busy finding gifts this coming holiday season.

Watch out for our next blog as we conquer Divisoria and post great finds, so stay updated and subscribe now!

Thanks!

-PinayNursingMom 

It's been too long since I've enjoyed the pleasure of being with nature. I'm not an outgoing person who loves to play basketball like my peers, luckily I have some fat burning activities so I may say I am somehow healthy.

Day by day I ride my bicycle going to my work. It will just take 20 to 30 minutes of smooth bike ride against to 1 hour or more using the public transport - (jeepney) due to traffic. Plus the fare increase eats up workers' earnings.

Everyday I use my Buting-C5-Bagong Ilog route plan going to Evergreen Memorial Chapels and Crematory,   my current workplace as a sales person. Going home is a cool cycling using my San Joaquin-Pateros route that made me more convinced that cycling is the best choice of transpo seeing people waiting for their ride to advance in a bumper to bumper traffic.

For months now I've been riding my bicycle using the route. On my rest days, errands were also faster with the help of my ride.

 Have you tried Fried Siopao? (As you can see Food Trip kaming buong pamilya! Haha)

The difference between the Regular Siopao and Fried Siopao is that the Fried Siopao doesn't need to put sauce in it. It is not messy (because it doesn't have sauce) and has meat and egg filling. 

Look at my daughter - she is really craving for this fried siopao.

 Fried Siopao is really famous in Manila Chinatown (Ongpin). One of the food you must try in going to Ongpin. It cost 18php and is very tasty even without sauce. You can buy it in Chinese Restaurants or Chinese Delicacy Store along Chinatown.

(Sorry for the uncleared photo as it was taken thru phone)

 

My husband told me we should try the famous Ube Halaya sold along the street of Manila - Sta. Cruz to be particular. Looking at it doesn't seem it is tasty at all but when I bite it - whew! I can't resist eating it. It is really creamy, soft and you can feel the texture of the Ube. My husband said it was made from Kamote and I can't believe it - it is sooo good! No wonder it is one of the best selling Kakanin of Manang Tindera.

And it only cost 6php per slice. Two slices can make you feel full and will surely satisfy your taste buds in this creamy meryenda. 

Tell us if you too have tasted this good food along the street of Manila and share it with us!

My husband and I agreed to change the theme of his blog. This is because we don't have opportunity to do trekking for we have our 10month old baby.

 I know Mommy Trekkers like me will not allow her husband to go without you,right? And as what I am telling our Trekking Buddies - if you want to invite him, it should come as Family Package, haha! 

We also want our daughter to experience first-hand Mother Nature. 

So we estimate 2 to 5 years before we can trek on mountains. 

Changing our blog will be much better, for I can write and share how we spend our free time. 

We are Trekker Lovers before, now Married Couple, then Parents. Our roles evolved, so do the theme of this blog.

Come and read how we accept and appreciate our new roles with a new blog.

Sent from Samsung Mobile

As we walked thru the street going to the other side of the Sta. Cruz Church, this Kalesa captured my attention. This is the best designed Kalesa I saw (so far!) along the street of Manila.

It was painted in white with the photo of Rizal. It is really eye catching, and I cannot imagine how it feels to ride in a Kalesa.

Hope I could experience riding in it some other time!

If given a chance to visit Sta. Cruz, Manila (or any part of Manila) - don't miss your chance to experience this ride, and tell us about it!

I grew up and familiar with the different streets in Manila. I knew the name "Sta. Cruz Church" but I was hesitant which church from my childhood memory it was.

Thanks to my husband for doing me a favor to join me in visiting the church.

 The landmark of the church was this famous fountain. As far as I could remember,  the last time I went there, the place was vibrant, fountain was functioning and the ambiance was festive. (Anyone who could feed us the history of this landmark can post a comment in this post.)

 Here it is the Sta. Cruz Church!Voila! This is the famous Sta. Cruz Church. If you are planning to go there, ride LRT and drop to Carriedo Station, then ask direction because it is a few walk from there.

Isn't it's building architecture pretty, is it?

And  to my surprise, here is a Marian Exhibit. I am really glad to see this solemn place, best place to pray, so quiet, you can really feel God's presence.

We are really glad to see all of the Marian Statues - we can now easily distinguish characteristic of each, thanks to this place! One of the best place to introduce different features of Mama Mary to our child.

 

An inviting Mary - reminds me how good God is to our family.

Before going, we say a prayer to thank Him for all the blessings that we had.

On the other side of the church, this what captured my attention. This is the famous statue "Pieta" showing the love of Mary to Jesus. First idea that came to my mind is the love, care & sacrifice a mother can give to her son, as shown in the piece of artwork. Really heartwarming statue as Mary carries the weight of the dead Jesus.

This apartment style crypt capture my attention. I asked a lot of question for my husband - like how a crypt exist inside a church, is it being paid, and who are they - as some of those I asked (Those who knew the answer, please put it in our comment box.)

I was going to the other part when my husband told me he saw the Jubilee Cross. I asked him where and he pointed out this one.

 

Oh! This is the Jubilee Cross (in the Philippines)- and he told me he's not that sure if this is the original one or the replica- but he remembered it looked exactly like this so I took picture of it.

And the last part - before we went home - is we prayed to the statue of Christ in a glass coffin praying for our safe trip, healthy body & soul, and help us retain our peace of mind.

Hope you enjoyed viewing the beauty of Sta. Cruz Church!

• Friday, August 31, 2012 at 12:47:34 UTC
• Friday, August 31, 2012 at 08:47:34 PM at epicenter

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc000cc5m.html#details

Reuters India @ReutersIndia
Tsunami warning lifted for Japan, Taiwan, several pacific islands; warning remains for Indonesia, Philippines - NOAA Tsunami Center

Here are few camping etiquette that we should be aware. This is specially made for the camp organizer:


1. As trekkers, we should protect the water source from contamination. Some of the mountains here in the Philippines have water source from springs, flowing from pipes. So please be vigilant because contaminating the water can lead to death and sickness of the Locals, and even Trekkers like us.

2. Disposing our used waters should be at least 100 meters away from water source, like biodegradable soap and toothpaste. I observed that the Locals are not practicing this protocol. Based on my opinion, we should not teach the Locals in harsh, intimidating way. I have seen some Trekkers lecturing the Locals as if they knew everything, and even if they are, let us remember that that is their land and we are their visitors. Best thing we can do is to advise the Gov't/Barangay Officials to do something about it.

3. Let us be respectful of the natural environment by not pulling the shrubs, stepping the grass or using metal wires or nails to trees. We should not disrupt the normal flow of the ecosystem.

4. Time of camp out is usually 10 in the evening. Do your best not to make loud voice from this hour onward. Others are taking their rest to catch the sunrise.

5. Clean as you go. I have heard it lot of times but some of our fellow trekkers cannot remember this slogan. We should be sensitive enough to bring back our garbage at the jump off, even the local will say "Iwan ninyo na lang yan, kami na magbababa" (Let it stay there, we will just bring it down the mountain). We have carried the weight of this canned goods, noodles, tin cans and liquor, so we should also be able to bring down this consumables.

Can we practice the trail signs in the mountains? Here are the pictures of the basic scenarios we can see in grassland, rocky & woodland. Picture on the left are signs saying "Turn Left", at the center for "Not the way", and on the right "Danger! Help!".

To make a clear description on how to use this signs especially in taking 2 or more path, 

here is a picture of it.

Feel free to send us your actual trail sign picture in our e-mail. Enjoy your day!

Resources:

Tlc.howstuffworks & Scouttroop.org

Basic Trail Signs are being discussed during our old camping days, right? Some can remember, some can't. Well I am one of those who cannot remember those stuff, not until I have been exposed to mountains.

Today, what I am going to share with you the basic trail sign used by the Scouts, and which we can use during our trekking. we may not realize it's importance but why not take a glimpse of this pictures and try to visualize as if we made those signs.

I bet that we cannot easily recognize this signs, and I admit I am one of them. I don't have the eye to take cues, unless told by my husband.

Here are the signs that might help you in the wild:

To sum it up, we should be familiar with the 5 basic signs:

*Small arrow means "This is the trail, go this way". 

*An X sign is implying "Do not go this way". 

*Number inside the box with an arrow means there is a message hidden after taking the number of pace written. (e.g. Number 5 inside the Box with an Arrow may mean "Take 5 steps and you will see my message".

*Circle with a Dot inside means "I am gone home".

*Three stones laid over each other means "Danger. Don't go here".

Here are some of the basic guidelines we can use in trekking:

*If you think your lost, go back to the last sign and look for any clue.

*Make the sign on the right side of the track.

*It should be close to the ground and not higher than the knee.

*Do not destroy any public or private property just to make a trail sign.

*The last person should destroy the sign.

*The sign should be as big as your hand.

*As much as possible, make this signs looked like it is made by a man.

We should keep in mind that the key in remembering this trail signs is to practice it. Let us make most out of our knowledge! Happy Trekking everyone!

Resources:

Rikkiresources.wordpress, Leavemore.blogpspot, & Kindlingplayingandtraining.blogspot

I have seen most of the backpackers carrying big packs but cannot utilize much of their bag. The bag we are using is the most important tool that we should maximize in terms of its usage. It is our friend that keep our things safe, and can be used in time of unfortunate situations, such as entrapment, or accident. I think everyone's familiar about Dora right? Have you seen Dora without her backpack? Personally, I haven't seen her without the backpack, and as we can see she plays an image to the kids and to us, kids at heart, that our bag is our friend that contains everything that we need. 

I would also like to highlight the value/role our bag plays. As a traveler, we should emphasize investing our money in buying the right bag for our need. For an instance, we just want to mingle in a beach for a day, so why will you mind bringing your 80L backpack containing only your clothes in it? You can say I may be somehow ridiculous at this one, but I will doubt if you haven't done it or no one ever does it, (and my husband is a perfect example for this one, LOL!). He really loved his backpack that he wanted to use it anywhere we go, even in going to mall, because of its durability & its signature label (tatak), but that was years ago. Thank God he realized that investing in different bags is good; he invested in a small backpack for day hike, and our old, big one for long trips.

In this article I will feature the parts of a backpack and its use.

Here is a top-loading backpack from Sierratradingpost:

The Top Pocket Lid & Front Pocket are easy to access part for your things. The Compression Straps are usually located at the side, use to tighten the bag to limit load rearrangement. The Ice Axe Loops is a loop where you can put your inverted ax, then strapped the ax to back to keep it safe. The Daisy Chains are straps where a carabiner can be placed to hang your things like utensil or slippers, this can also be used to hang wet clothes using a carabiner; the other version (like shoestrings) is a place where you can insert your sleeping bags or wet shirt. Buy Shoulder Straps that are broader and foamy if you want to carry heavy load. Sternum Strap created prevent from pulling back your shoulders. The Hip Belt helps make the weight closer to your body. Make sure it is soft with broad padding. 

You can also choose bag with Hydration System - it has a built-in bladder with a drinking tube. For bag without hydration system, you can buy a reservoir, tube and mouthpiece at your favorite outdoor shop. You can also have a Rain Cover or Splash Cover to make your bag waterproof. You can also buy backpack with Ventilated Back that creates a space between your bag and back that allows ventilation.

Here is a snap picture of my husband's backpack when he went to Mt. Pulag. He had an orange bag/rain cover, for he loves neon/striking colors, with his extra slippers hooked. 

Happy hiking everyone! Feel free to comment if this article helped you!

-PinayNursingMom-

My husband is now working as a Sales Agent in a Funeral Homes in Pasig, a contractual employee now on his 4th month. Thank God he somehow surpassed the challenges in his work field, and seems to be enjoying after his 3-month-adjustment. We are now saving from his salary and we've done everything to make ends meet.

My daughter, who is now on her 9th month, starts to crawl so fast and now learning to stand on her own. While I am continuing our home business, having a hard time to do everything on my own.

Our home business before my husband got a job is a printing business. Using our laptop and a dye inked inkjet printer, we started our homebased printing shop. We asked permission from my in-laws to build physical shop in the garage a small. First few days was hard. Now I  realized that our first challenge in this business is on how to survive the first week, first month, then the next month. Maintaining our  business operation is one of our tough demur. Improving our lay-out, establishing our work flow, revising our operational procedure, addressing our permits and how to make things work for us are only some of our dilemma. 

Now that my husband is working then our child is growing, I can say that I am having a hard time to cater our online orders and at the same time take care of my daughter, then still have to do when will I finish my household chores. It is like choosing between beating order's deadline vs. meet the needs of my daughter. Much better if I will choose the later, right?

That is the reason why we can't make time writing a blog; but then for the past few day, I have tried to make time writing, and it make me realized that writing makes me stress-free. That is why from this day forward, you, our reader will be my inspiration in writing. I will continue blog that my spouse started.

I will try my best to make it up to you, as I will try to write helpful articles for you guys!

BTW,
If you have anything to share, feel free to contact us thru email pindotsmicro@gmail.com. And if you have spare time, check our online printing shop Pindots Microenterprise.

-PinayNursingMom-

I was 18 years old when I started trekking. Actually, my boyfriend invited me to try mountain trekking. He is not hooked into any sports so I don't know how to know him well that is why I decided to join him in his adventure.

He told he have climbed few mountains, and the number of mountain is not a factor to say that you have an edge in this hobby. He told me that it is my patience and attitude that matters.

I was nurtured by my mother, who is a single parent, to do the home-school routine. Weeks before the said adventure, knowing my boyfriend was the reason why I want to do this adventure. On the other hand, days before the climb, I was thinking I am doing this for adventure sake, to break my 18-yrs. routine, and to know myself more.

It was a sunny morning, mid-summer. Our trekking destination was Mt. Palpag in Cavite. One to two hours of our climb was easy for me. I can even smile, talking out loud, eating and drinking a lot. But for the next hours, I feel tired, helpless, frustrated and mad. I even asked him to carry me because I am tired, then he laughed at me. I was confused the reason for his laughter.

His secret has been revealed. The reason for inviting me for the climb was that he wants to know how patient I am, how long will I be able to hold the pain & tiredness with him. He laugh because I really look tired, that I look that bad. It was the real me, no pretension.. that why he was happy. He even told me this, and I quote "If you want to know your girl, invite her to a climb and you will discover her inner beauty and inner madness".

And to spill another secret, I am now married to the guy I'm talking about in this article. We are happily married, living with our beautiful daughter named Lanchiel.

How about you dear reader, are you going to take this chance to invite her into a climb with your friends? Do you have the guts to invite her? Feel free to comment or share your similar experience in my first article.
This is PinayNursingMom, co-owner of Pindots Microenterprise.

Have a great day guys!

-PinayNursingMom-

Want to see the eight hectares of Jed's Island? 

There are other amenities you can enjoy other than the pool. 

Boating can be experienced at Jed's. This is a perfect spot for a wedding proposal.

If you missed billiards, play it for 100 pesos per hour.

A perfect spot to teach your wife on how to catch a fish. Make sure to bring your rod and bait.

Your kids will enjoy walking on Jed's hanging bridge.

Function Room is also available for different occassion.

Perfect place to a wedding venue.

Serenity can be achieved with the newly renovated function hall.

Reminisce with your childhood with the Swing.

 

Three hundred cottages, thirty five deluxe room, two hanging bridge, fishing lagoon, function room, basketball court are some of Jed's amenities. You can also play billiards, or can rent a Videoke if you got bored.

This is once in a lifetime experience you will surely miss. They have huge pools with drastic number of guests everyday especially during summer. Jed's Island Resort is for family of economy class because of its affordability. Daily rate ranges from 150 to 180 pesos for adult, 120 to 150 pesos for child. Their cottage is a lot cheaper compared to other resorts. It ranges from 300 to 3,000 pesos. Have a sneak peak of what Jed's Island Resort is...

Enjoy playing with friends.

Diving at 15-feet pool.

New attraction at Jed's Island.

Double Face Wave Pool is here, and first in the Philippines.

One of their private pool.

Featuring King Kong at Jed's.

 

My cousin with her sister with Octopus Slide at their back.

Summer is in the house. 

You can swim all day long. 

Just make sure you are fully equipped with the right outfit to make you withstand among others!

Check out Jed's amenities by clicking THIS..

 Basic First Aide and Rescue Techniques

After a day being a Tour Facilitator, my group-mate and I went to Bulacan for an event named Basic Rescue Training with some registered Emergency Medical Technician from known companies here in the Philippines. We also have a professional fireman with us.

We trekked towards the summit late morning and cooked our lunch at a fork pathway. While cooking, our trainer started teaching on how to get blood pressure using blood pressure apparatus. 

After a bountiful lunch we fetched water. It's a 30-45 minute hike from our pit-stop to the water source. Trekking then resumed until we reached campsite, exhausted somehow due to long a long calorie burning activity and the skin-burning heat of the sun. Tents were pitched then Basic First Aide skills lecture commenced. A brief hands-on training on how to use a triangular bandage and wound management.

Basic Life Support known as BLS lecture was then started.

When the surroundings came dark, we started to prepare our dinner and our pik-a-pik-a for our social outdoor drinking session. Still exhausted from tour facilitation and hours of hiking, I slept early.

I woke early to pack my things. ( I am very slow at packing things so I adjusted my time.)

While having breakfast, lessons were resumed. Basic Patient Transfer were taught and before we know it, we were the last group in the camp.

We then descended to a nearby falls to wash-up. We had our lunch and exchanged ideas while we soak our feet in the cold rushing water of the falls.

Skills refreshed, met new friends, got commune with nature, have burned a lot of calories. Until the next nature tripping.