Our Manila Zoo Experience

Last June 27, 2009, a few more days till the flight back to CDO. I had to insist again and again that we go to Manila Zoo as I wanted Zaza to see the animals that he only sees on TV and PC. That was one of the main goals I wanted to achieve as we booked for Manila.

It was almost impossible to go there with the weather - It was raining almost everyday that time. The location was also a bit far from my sister and bro-in-law's place and they work night shifts. But thank God for the opportunity of a better day to visit the Zoo.

Seafood Cioppino at Italiannis (I just love seafoods!)

Before we went there, I had to go meet someone at Glorietta Mall. My online Boss, Ron, purchased a camera online thru eBay and he asked me to meet with the seller. So I did. We then tried Italianni's - which they say had good food, and we enjoyed it there, was a bit painful in the wallet though. hehe.

Zaza and his yellow chick.

So then, after our meal we went straight to the Zoo. At the entrance, Zaza was so desperate to have those painted chicks, so Ae got him one. The chick became a distraction the whole Zoo journey cause Zaza would worry about where the chick was and check on it once awhile.

Our pic near the very old Elephant.


Hippopotamus that won't show him/herself


Turtle posing for the camera


With the Philippine Deers

As far as I could remember we got to see a very old elephant, sadly no giraffe, lotsa monkeys - about a whole block of 'em, tigers, a hippo, birds, horses, carabaos, alligators, deers, hamsters, rabbits, huge fishes, iguanas, some snakes, and some other animals which names I do not know.

You might ask why, but sadly, not all the cages there had name/labels as to what the creature was. So I only got to identify and point to Zaza those that I know of. There was even a time when we were at the hippo pond getting some shade and there were maybe around 7 people that came to look too with their kids and they called it a rhino. I had to say it aloud "Za, that is a hippopotamus or a hippo" then those who heard would walk away. LOL. Atleast they'd know what was it, indirectly. haha.

So anyway, aside from that cage labels - the smell inside was really terrible only got better when we were around the horses as the animals were a bit far from where the people should be standing.

Horse and Zebra

Emo Monkey


Tiger Love


Mom, Me, Zaza, and Ae posing at the Tiger's cage.

I also got the chance to hold a small python. It scared the life out of me, I could feel every inch of its body moving around me. LOL.

To sum everything up, we enjoyed the zoo. I didn't enjoy my sinus attack after though. But it was worth it. We didn't have some of the animals back here in Cagayan de Oro - so it was all good.

More Photos Here

You Reap What You Sow

Good morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on ground.

The man slowly looked up.

This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life.. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.

His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. "Leave me alone," he growled....

To his amazement, the woman continued standing.

She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No," he answered sarcastically.. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader..

Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.

"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.

Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..

"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet.. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer.. I didn't do anything."

"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady.. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"

"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."

"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."

"Oh."

The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"

"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."

"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice."

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."

The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.

"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes.. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet.. If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus... He led me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways...

"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And..And thank you for the coffee."


If you have missed knowing me, you have missed nothing.

If you have missed some of my emails, you might have missed a laugh.

But, if you have missed knowing my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, you have missed everything in the world.

Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You Always and don't forget that when you "cast your bread upon the waters," you never know how it will be returned to you..

God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart..

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go.
Only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly!

The power of one sentence!

God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor.

God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close..
If you need God to open some doors for you....send this on.

Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing...

Galatians 6:6-8

Love...

Sometimes, in our relentless efforts to find the person we love, we fail to recognize and appreciate the people who love us. We miss out on so many beautiful things and simply because we allow ourselves to be enslaved by our own selfish concerns.�

Go for the man/woman of deeds and not for the man/woman of words for you will find rewarding happiness not with the man/woman you love but the man/woman who loves you more. The best lovers are those who are capable of loving from a distance, far enough to allow the person to grow, but never too far to feel the love deep within your being.�

To let go of someone doesn't mean you have to stop loving, it only means that you allow the person to find his own happiness without expecting him to come back. Letting go is not just setting the other person free,but it is also setting yourself free from all bitterness, hatred, and anger that you keep in your heart.�

Do not let the bitterness rare away your strength and weaken your faith, and never allow pain to dishearten you, but rather let you grow with wisdom in bearing it.�

You may find peace in just loving someone from a distance, not expecting anything in return. But be careful, for this can sustain life, but can never give enough room for us to grow. We can all survive with just beautiful memories of the past but real peace and happiness come only with open acceptance of what reality is today.�

There comes a time in our lives when we chance upon someone so nice and beautiful and we just find ourselves getting so intensely attracted to that person. This feeling soon becomes a part of our everyday lives and eventually consumes our thoughts and actions.�

The sad part of it is when we begin to realize that this person feels nothing more for us than just friendship. We start our desperate attempt to get noticed and be closer but in the end our efforts are still unrewarded and we end up being sorry for ourselves.�

You don't have to forget someone you love. What you need to learn is how to accept the verdict of reality without being bitter or sorry for yourself.�

BELIEVE me, you would be better off giving that dedication and love to someone more deserving. Don't let your heart run your life, be sensible and let your mind speak for itself. Listen not only to your feelings but to reason as well.�

Always remember that if you lose someone today, it means that someone better is coming tomorrow.�

If you lose love, that doesn't mean that you failed in love.�

Cry if you have to, but make it sure that the tears wash away the hurt and bitterness that the past has left with you. Let go of yesterday and love will find its way back to you. And when it does, pray that it may be the love that will stay and last a lifetime.

- this was sent to me last Aug. 19, 2002. I didn't really bother reading this email back then but right now I can feel its meaning, its truth that somehow kinda nudges me back to reality - the reality that I am still alone.�

hope everyone who reads this will learn something, or realize things, or even understand what's been there for some time now..

this is me on emo mode, on a very long, unproductive, tiring, boring, and lonely day... bye.

Cagayan de Oro mourns and thanks Tita Cory

Noon of today, the CDOBloggers had to meet at divisoria for some work to do for the upcoming Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 (MBS3).

While we were waiting for the others, I saw yellow ribbons tied at posts around divisoria. I had to take a photo so I can blog about it and let the Aquino family know, in a way, that Cagayan de Oro appreciates so much what Tita Cory has done for everyone. Here's a photo of yellow ribbons we saw around divisoria earlier today:

Yellow ribbons around divisoria for Tita Cory

After a very long, productive, and tiring day, we headed back to divisoria, arrived there around 8pm, so we can go back to our respective homes. As we were about to get a taxi, my sister and I saw this - flowers and candle offerings for Tita Cory from fellow Kagay-anons.

Stage facing the Plaza.

Flowers and Lit Candles from Kagay-anons
(back of the stage)

I had my sister take photos cause I didn't see any media people around, maybe they didn't know or maybe we were just early there. We weren't able to take much photos because my camera ran out of batteries.

Half of this part of Velez road was closed with RTA watching over it. We saw a few men and women in yellow shirts with Tita Cory's picture, we also saw nuns at the plaza. I was going to ask them about what's going to happen tonight but they looked busy trying to organize things and talking so I didn't get the chance to.

the Men wearing Tita Cory shirts busy talking about something.

Yellow flowers for Tita Cory

As we stayed a bit longer, a lot of people came and lit a candle for Tita Cory as they passed by. Also those people who just came out from work, like these people from Agfa Colorhouse whose office is about a block away from this street.

Kagay-anons lit candles for Tita Cory

More people arrived and lit a candle for Tita Cory
(my last photo of the night)

When my friend PangitSter plurked that he just got home, I asked him if there was still people in the plaza, he said there were alot, maybe they'd go on a vigil. I thought the same way, we just don't know the exact details. I just overheard the guy talking when we left that there was going to be a mass while he was talking about how good Tita Cory was.

To the icon and mother of Philippine democracy - we will miss you po. Thank you for giving us the inspiration and a lot of hope for a better Philippines. For the sacrifice, the hard work, and the love you have shown for the Filipinos. We thank you po. You will be always remembered by the Kagay-anons.