Inay Recommends: Color Me Doodle Coloring Sheets for Grown Ups

Anything to do with sports and arts gives me a destressing effect. I have not been running seriously for almost 2 and a half years now. Yeah, you see me race once or twice a month, but training hard is out of the picture. I cannot give in to the serious trainings required to be back to my competitive self yet, yes, I am competitive. Not sweating all the toxins brought about by being a full time mom and a homemaker is C-R-A-Z-Y. It drives me nuts! I feel guilty, I'm turning to a monster lately. So I thought going back to my past love, the Arts.

I have read somewhere that colors and coloring has a therapeutic effect on one person, especially when stressed. Why did I forget that?! I love being in the Art Class in Highschool and I think its about time to dig the little fine artist in me. Well, I have been doing arts through crafting and with helping with my schoolboy's projects though, but it seems not much of a help. Maybe because I find it more of an 'obligation' and not something I really enjoyed doing.

One H-A-P-P-Y artist here! Thank you @colormedoodle !!! Can't wait to color these babies soon...just need to find a decent me time or art weekend with Kuya Q maybe. #ColorMeDoodle #BastaArtklas #ColorsColorsColors #MommyBloggersPh #Abstract #Art

A photo posted by Bave dC (@bh3ybang) on Jun 24, 2015 at 1:18am PDT

I suddenly felt this need to have an outlet, somewhere to "release" my tension from my everyday life. I accidentally found this IG page @Colormedoodle through links which I browsed. I used to buy, (okay hoard! :P) coloring books for my son Q but I want to reserve the uncolored pages for Z perhaps when its his turn to study coloring. I think what they call Adult Coloring book has been around for quite some time already. But I have not seen yet among my circle of friends and aquaintances someone who do this activity. I got interested and I think I should give it a try. Besides, I found the 10 sheets from the site affordable at a price of P250.00 with an additional P50.00 for shipping. I believe, some coloring books for adults usually found in bookstores cost thousands of bucks. After a few inquiry with Mr. Mark Dean Lim, the owner and artist behind Color Me Doodle, I finally ordered my 1st Adult Coloring Book. When it arrived the following day I deposited my payment, Oh boy! I was ecstatic!

I put out all my coloring materials available in my stash. I got so overwhelmed at first that I cant decide what medium to use for the plates. Some artists use colored pens, pencils and watercolor. I got intrigued with the Watercolor Pencils, which according to some is a great buy. So I bought one set of 36 for myself. It was challenging at first so I made use a mixed media for my 1st plate.

#WallDecoreoftheMonth Russian Doll from #ColorMeDoodle Vol 2 Medium: Simbalion Watercolor Pencil Zig Kuretake Waterbrush Medium #WatercolorPencils #AdultColoringbook #BastaArtklas #Artklas2003 #SimbalionWatercolorPencil #KuretakeWaterbrush #WatercolorPh

A photo posted by Bave dC (@bh3ybang) on Jul 3, 2015 at 5:49pm PDT

I worked with watercolor pencils with my second. I actually switched brand with this plate. I found the colors more vibrant and easy to apply and blend.

Plate of the Day. "Dreamcatcher" Medium Faber Castell Classic Watercolor Pencil Zig Kuretake Waterbrush ColorMeDoodle vol 2 coloring sheet by @markdeanlim of @colormedoodle

A photo posted by Bave dC (@bh3ybang) on Jul 12, 2015 at 8:16pm PDT

With the 3rd piece still from the Color Me Doodle Vol. 2 collection, I braved the colored pens. Why braved? Because colored pens are harder to apply because they are highly pigmented and cannot be erased once stroked or colored to paper.

"Are you, are you coming to the tree?" Finished this Plate of the day with the song "Hanging Tree" from the movie The Hunger Games The Mockingjay part 1 playing in my head over and over. Medium: Best Buy Assorted Colored Pens Color Me Doodle vol2 Sheet by @colormedoodle #ColorMeDoodle #ColoredPens #ColorTherapy #ArtAttack #BastaArtklas99 #MommyBloggersPh

A photo posted by Bave dC (@bh3ybang) on Jul 16, 2015 at 3:59am PDT

I still have 6 plates to work. I gave one of the sheets to my sister, I dont know if she's working on it, paging Ichie! hahaha Recently, Mark released his latest coloring sheets which features the different things found in the Philippines. I just wish I get to be included among the 1st people to pre-order. This collection, according to him has more pages to work on and Im excited!

Did you pre-order already? Slots for the 1st 150 coloring enthusiasts is about to be be filled soon! Hurry and click that link in our bio to pre-order. Once slots are filled, we'll be removing the link. 😊 Sharing you guys some designs for "Color Me Doodle: A Coloring Adventure of the Philippines for Grown-Ups". 📓 Let's keep on coloring!! #CMDPhilippines

A photo posted by Color Me Doodle (@colormedoodle) on Jul 25, 2015 at 5:13am PDT

Contact Mark Dean Lim through colormedoodle@gmail.com or 09276682577 for inquiries about his Color Me Doodle Vols 1, 2 and soon 3.

This is not a paid advertisement, just pure sharing of my interest recently.

Throwback: My Summer Declamation Piece "I Like You"

Its Thursday! That means its throwback time! But I wont be throwing back photos but this piece of literary. A little back story though. 1995 when I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to become a Tulong Dunong Scholar by the Ateneo Highschool, we were given free summer advanced classes so we can be ready for highschool. Part of our English subject was to memorize and present a Declamation piece. This was the one assigned to me.

I memorized this for a week or two and presented to a panel of judges composed of tutors and TD admins and my fellow Freshman scholars.

I loved this piece, I even recited this in St. Scho when we were required in our English Literature. Too bad I lost my copy. I have been looking and Googling this for a long time and I was ecstatic to finally find this. This brought back A LOT of Summer memories in highschool. Oh how I miss Highschool! I hope you'll like too.

I like you and I know why.
I like you because you are a good person to like.
I like you because when I tell you something special, you know it’s special
And you remember it a long, long time.
You say, Remember when you told me something special
And both of us remember

When I think something is important
you think it’s important too
We have good ideas
When I say something funny, you laugh
I think I’m funny and you think I’m funny too
Hah-hah!
I like you because you know where I’m ticklish
And you don’t tickle me there except just a little tiny bit sometimes
But if you do, then I know where to tickle you too
You know how to be silly
That’s why I like you
Boy are you ever silly
I never met anybody sillier than me till I met you
I like you because you know when it’s time to stop being silly
Maybe day after tomorrow
Maybe never
Too late, it’s a quarter past silly
Sometimes we don’t say a word
We snurkle under fences
We spy secret places
If I am a goofus on the roofus hollering my head off
You are one too
If I pretend I am drowning, you pretend you are saving me
If I am getting ready to pop a paper bag,
then you are getting ready to jump
HOORAY

That’s because you really like me
You really like me, don’t you
And I really like you back
And you like me back and I like you back
And that’s the way we keep on going every day

If you go away, then I go away too
or if I stay home, you send me a postcard
You don’t just say Well see you around sometime, bye
I like you a lot because of that
If I go away, I send you a postcard too
And I like you because if we go away together
And if we are in Grand Central Station
And if I get lost
Then you are the one that is yelling for me

And I like you because when I am feeling sad
You don’t always cheer me up right away
Sometimes it is better to be sad
You can’t stand the others being so googly and gaggly every single minute
You want to think about things
It takes time

I like you because if I am mad at you
Then you are mad at me too
It’s awful when the other person isn’t
They are so nice and hoo-hoo you could just about punch them in the nose

I like you because if I think I am going to throw up
then you are really sorry
You don’t just pretend you are busy looking at the birdies and all that
You say, maybe it was something you ate
You say, the same thing happened to me one time
And the same thing did

If you find two four-leaf clovers, you give me one
If I find four, I give you two
If we only find three, we keep on looking
Sometimes we have good luck, and sometimes we don’t

If I break my arm, and if you break your arm too
Then it’s fun to have a broken arm
I tell you about mine, you tell me about yours
We are both sorry
We write our names and draw pictures
We show everybody and they wish they had a broken arm too

I like you because I don’t know why but
Everything that happens is nicer with you
I can’t remember when I didn’t like you
It must have been lonesome then

I like you because because because
I forget why I like you but I do
So many reasons
On the 4th of July I like you because it’s the 4th of July
On the fifth of July, I like you too
If you and I had some drums and some horns and some horses
If we had some hats and some flags and some fire engines
We could be a HOLIDAY
We could be a CELEBRATION
We could be a WHOLE PARADE
See what I mean?

Even if it was the 999th of July
Even if it was August
Even if it was way down at the bottom of November
Even if it was no place particular in January
I would go on choosing you
And you would go on choosing me
Over and over again
That’s how it would happen every time
I don’t know why
I guess I don’t know why I really like you
Why do I like you
I guess I just like you
I guess I just like you because I like you.
-Sandol Stoddard Warburg

Photography Workshop with MBP: One Lucky "Me" Time

Aside from crafting, I'm also interested in photography. I like taking pictures of different stuff; People, food, landscapes etc. But I dont just like taking pictures perse, but I want capturing these sights like how professional photographers do. But I dont have DSLR cameras, would that be possible? Of course! As a Tagalog saying goes, "Wala sa camera yan, nasa kumukuha yan. You may have the latest SLR camera model, if you dont have the "eye" for photography, its nothing.

What good way to spend my "me" time is spending it learning new things about the things or activities I like. Yeah, Im not the posh and fash type of mom spending "me" time shopping and going to salon. When I learned about this event, Take Blog-worthy Photos Mini Photography Workshop, by Mommy Bloggers Philippines, I immediately marked my calendar, ME TIME! Just perfect.

I chose the PM session last February 21st, because I have a prior commitment with Q at school in the morning. But the supposedly alone time became a date with Z. The original plan is to leave him with my parents, but due to some construction going on with the house, they cannot accomodate him there. So, I brought him instead with high hopes he will cooperate and will not throw a fit in the middle of discussions when he suddenly feels bored.

Oh dear, but he did. :P

The Venue for the PM session is at Saboten, one of the growing restaurant chains of Raintree Group of Restaurants, located in Glorrieta 5. One of reasons I chose the afternoon session is I love Japanese food. I would love to take photos of this cuisine if it happens to be our subject for the activity.;-) Our lecture started a bit late but it was worth the wait for we have learned so much from our speaker Mommy Joy Domingo - Gurtiza aside from taking home beautiful loots from the event's sponsors.



Basic photography skills, Lighting, Angles & positioning and Importance of props, are among the important things I learned from the workshop. We got a chance to take photos of the sponsored items from Japan Homes and of course the delicious food, well-presented and served by Saboten.

Below are my share of shots applying the learnings from the workshop. I brought and used my 6 year-old and ever reliable point-n-shoot, Canon Powershot SX110. I also tried using the camera from my Samsung Galaxy Tab3. But I really like the quality output of my point-n-shoot so I used it more. I hope Teacher Joy would be proud of me, despite my somewhat poor execution because I had to do it quickly for my date is having tantrums on the side. Big Thanks to the 3 mommy attendees, who happened to be my seatmates, including Mommy Jho (www.thereyoujho.com), who alternately played and carried Z so he would stop squealing while I'm having my turn for the photoshoot, as if I'm nowhere in sight but the truth is I'm just a table away.

Items from sponsor: Japan Homes

Meet my Date, Z

Deep Fried Shrimp, Loin Cutlet, Crab Croquettes and Rolled Cutlets with Asparagus, Cheese and Plum

Grated Radish Katsu

Blueberry Parfait

Strawberry Shortcake

Vanilla and Greentea Icecream

They are all delicious than they look. But I hope the photos made you curious and wanna check out a Saboten branch nearest you.

Raintree Restaurants brings you Saboten, together with other bistros in the Metro: Museum Cafe, Kabila, Chelsea, Mr. Jones, MOMO Cafe, Premier, Stella, Rocket Room and Terraz. Since 2013, it has been bringing top-quality Tonkatsu dishes to be enjoyed with Authentic sides and sauces from Japan

Saboten Branches:

Glorrietta 5, Makati City and G/F Serendra Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Thank you SO much Mommy Bloggers Philippines for coming up with this workshop; to Mommies Joy, Lanie, Louisa. To all the generous sponsors for our food, venue and take away loots,

Saboten, Glorietta 5 (Museum Cafe for the morning Session)

Japan Homes

Nature Republic

Villa del Conte

Oil of Argan

Henry's Professional

Gouache

in action photos grabbed from Mommy Louisa, Thanks!

But wait there's more! I won in the raffle! My "Me" time turned to one lucky day. Yeah, sounds OA but you don't get a P1,900.00 pesos worth of bag everyday, right? Thanks Gouache Bags!!!

If you're thinking about your next time for yourself, you might want to research for and try activities like this. *wink*

Review for this bag on my next blog.

Bave's Day Out: DMC Handcrafted Art and Crafts Fair

Oh Crafting.... I love crafting. In highschool, while my classmates would, well not really hate, or dread The Home Economics subject, there I was very attentive to every single details about the upcoming projects. Usually, I will take it to my advantage that my classmates did not pay attention, because when the deadline come to a near, I'm gaining "clients". *wink* Yeah! As early as that, Im profiting from my skills. I got skills, they have money, they got a project. Everybody happy. *grin*

Over the years, I have been hooked to crosstitching. Since most of my school projects were taken for exhibits *ehem*, I never had a chance to keep any of my works. So I invested for a crosstitch kit, complete with thread and cloth. My 1st project was a Blue Ballerina, which I wasn't able to keep also because my Aunt ask for it to be brought to UK. So I bought another set, the pink version of the Ballerina pattern, then I sold to a friend eventually

After those projects, I never stopped. I continued crosstitching, taking it to the next level. I made the more complicated and colorful ones, such as the Nuntucket Rose, the girl in the garden. It took me almost 10 years to finish. Been caught by college life, looking for job and eventually working. I only get to stitch during my free time and whenever I feel emotional. Yes, stitching is an effective therapy.

The prices of thread are becoming a challenge especially for the complicated projects. I remembered I started with P7.00 pesos for each thread. Then it became, 10 pesos, then 13. At present, its P17.00 pesos already! Goodluck naman sa mga projects ko! So What I do, I collect patterns for the meantime. Patterns have a tendency to be obsolete, but threads do not. When I see a very good crosstitch pattern, I buy. Im into mythical characters, landscapes especially sunsets and artistict Nude human bodies. At present, Im still working on the 2 Cherubins, its already 8 years old, same age with Q. Im caught by motherhood this time, hahahaha. Sometimes, I check DMC stores for free patterns too. Oh yes! They do have that! Like this "Jump For Joy" Pattern below. Ideal for beginners because it requires 4 thread colors only on a black Aida cloth. Its still a work in progress though.

Today, the unfinished projects are still on pending.Boo! So many things and crafts I wanna try, in such a short time. I just love tinkering on new stuff and trying out other crafting projects. I saw this DIY Fair of DMC and promised myself to check this out, the DMC Handcrafted Arts and Crfats Fair held last January 30 - February 1 at the Century City Mall in Makati. I went there last January 30th and my eyes just feasted with all the handcrafts of some amazing artists. I saw some familiar crafting stores for I have checked out already their online and on site stores, like Hey Kessy and iTRYdiy.

with Mansy Abesamis, a papercut handcrafter, of Hey Kessy in her store at Katipunan, QC

at the DMC Fair with Mikko Sumulong, known for her beautiful friendship bracelets and crafting & DIY online store

Did I mention I was ecstatic at the sight of all the crafts in the Events Area? Upon entering the room I didn't know where to land first. Hahahaha! So I did a selfie in their sort of event photo op booth. Since I went there all by myself, I set up my camera's timer. Then I went to my 1st love, the crosstitching booth, what else. I bought the "Tender Words" crosstitch Pattern, some needles and threads since they offer upto 50% off on all their products.

Checked out the other booths, Some are selling hand made accessories, home decors like the dream catchers and some crafting kits. What caught my attention was this wired bookmarker from Paper Pliers. My jaw dropped (I know its OA) at the sight of on the spot making by Anrea, the artist behind the craft. Doing calligraphic sketches on paper is already hard, what more doing it with aluminum wires and pliers. God has blessed this girl with great talent, that until now I'm still in awe whenever I see my bracelet I bought from their booth.

these words are inspiring me this year. Just Create. Believe that your creations are good.

I also went to Hands Love Paper booth to see up close her papercut products. And boy! They are all so beautiful, more beautiful than the ones I saw on Instagram.

I went hope very happy and so much inspired. Like DMC's motto "Dare you Mind to Create". Sky's our limit. Utilize our God-given talents. Profit from these skills even. I cant wait to start to do a project on papercutting and to finish my pending crosstitching projects and do the crafts I used to love doing in the past....oh, the list is just endless.

Happy Crafting!

Confessions of a Hoarder

Hoarder

(Adj) A word that describes anyone that feels the need to find, collect, keep, pack ANY and EVERYTHING because they do not know how to throw things away.

A nicely put word than Pack Rat.

These people tend to collect soo much stuff that it gets very over bearing and the items in turn tend to run their life to where they don't know what to do with themselves.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Hoarder

A Hoarder ALWAYS believes that every single item she keeps is important and useful, atleast in the future. Until that future comes, only then she will realize, why the hell she kept it anyway. :p

I'm a self confessed hoarder. Blame it on the crafty side of me. Hahaha Artist or Crafters and Hoarders are the greatest BFFs! I collect things like ribbons from gifts, even wrappers sometimes, pencils, colored ones and writing pencils, notepads and anything about crafts and art materials. I have weakness on "On Sale" items. I just can't resist them especially when I found them on regular price before then slashed 70% off the original price the months after.

But I somehow rehabilitated myself, I guess. I sometimes, yes I tried, disposing my other "collection, I either, recycle, give away, or donate,those I can't foresee some use. When, at a bookstore or craft store, I only choose the "important", meaning, what I really need for the moment or the projects I'm into at that moment. But sometimes, I still have my impulsive purchases. Yeah, Once a hoarder, always a hoarder, they always say. I'm still a work in progress. I know. My excuse, I've got tons of projects in mind. One after the other. My brain is like a sponge absorbing so much what it can contain. If only I could find some good storage for my ideas, I will definitely hoard it too! Hahaha

Organization, space and storage, these are the downsides of being a hoarder. Time will come that these collection becomes annoying, to the ones you share your space with and eventually you. Yes, it will annoy you. That is where you have to take action. Initial reaction, finding the right storage. BUT, this storage finds will soon become one of your hoarded possessions. Trust me. That is why the most effective way is just to get rid of it. There are a lot of ways, they're searchable in the internet actually. You just have to be open minded and accept this "challenge" of letting go. That part is very hard because you will always justify its use in your life. You will have tons of reasons why you should not let it go. But you have to, because the truth is, it doesnt serve you anymore like it should, that is why you found it where it is. And its been there for a looooooong time.

Keynote: Let go. Then off to the new ones. *wink*

Frugal Mom's Diary: Free Immunizations

Today is Z's final immunization from our Baranggay Health Center (HC). We availed of 3 shots each of the Pentavalent Vaccine; five individual vaccines conjugated in one, also known as 5-in-1 or the combo vaccine inclusive of DPT (Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus), Hepatitis B, HiB ( Haemophilus Influenzae Type b); and OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) which is orally dropped as the name states, Measles, and MMR (German Measles, Mumps, Rubella). All these FREE of charge for every visit.

I made a survey among my friends who also have babies, because I'm not updated with the recent price ranges of these vaccines in private hospitals or clinics. With what they shared, I came up with this commputation of what we were able to saved from the Immunization charges.

3 x P3,000* = P9,000.00 5-in-1 Vaccine
1 x P2,000* = P2,000.00 Measles
1 x P1,500* = P1.500.00 MMR
_______________________
TOTAL P 12,500.00 SAVINGS

*These are all in average. Prices vary depending on the Hospital and Doctor's Fee

BCG Vaccine, Bacillus Calmette–Guérin, vaccine given to babies days or weeks after birth against Tuberculosis, is also given free at the Health Centers. But we had it administered by our Family Doctor who is also a Pediadrician. Though we were charged for this vaccine its only minimal compared to the average actual amount of P500.00.

I remembered when Q was our baby in 2006, DPT, HiB, and Hepa B are given separately at Health Centers. 5-in-1 was accessible only in private hospitals, that is why we opted all his vaccines from our doctor. We don't want him to feel tortured with all the injections. We were also afraid of those stories of some parents that their babies experienced prolonged fever and keloids after being injectioned from HC. So we never took the risk even if its free.

Now, having a baby and a school-boy means B-U-D-G-E-T. We need to consider things like this to atleast minimize the family expenses, but not compromising the important needs of the kids and household. We learned from our Pedia, that 5-in-1 is now given free in HC. She gave us the option. For us, who doesn't want free services such as this, right? So we went to HC to schedule for Z's Penta vaccine. So far, Z didn't have long fever, peharps he has a strong tolerance to pain, neither had keloids over the places he was injected onto.

For the past 12 months of going to our Health Center for Immunization, these are the Tips I could share.

Be Early. Even if it means you are to open the Health Center *Wink*

1. Go Early. Just like any government offices, Health Centers start at 8:00 in the morning. Be there an hour or atleast 30 minutes before it opens. Why? Because you have to secure your slot. Regardless if its still closed, queueing is already starting. Also, know your schedule. Since this is a public place, they have assigned particular days for Immunization, Maternity Check ups, Check up for people TB, and other illnesses.

2. Be nice and approachable. Expect that there will be moms and babies who came ahead of you and will follow you as well. The only way to know your queue is to know who came latest, and be alert who came next to you, to ensure order. Because unlike in private hospitals, there will be no guards or attendants who will give you numbers. Numbers will be given by the HC Personnel, but they will ask you to fall in line according to who came first by the door. Those numbers are your sequence before the administration of vaccines.

3. Patience is a Virtue. Again this is a Government facility for public, atleast for the Baranggay residents. You'll get to interact with people from all walks. Sometimes you have to deal with grumpy HC workers. We go back to Tip #1, be early, so you will deal with personnel while in their best mood and if you want to finish early. 'Coz infact, the waiting part is longer than the injection itself.

I think thats it. Z has a couple or more vaccines needed like the Chickenpox and Flu but we can save up for those now. We're just thankful that the Government has made these improvements in our health services. It opened options to those who are tightening up their belts like us and to give access to those who are less fortunate who needs to be vaccinated.

When in Subic

Subic is found in the Northern coast of the country. Known for its beaches and leisure parks such as the Ocean Adventure the kids love to go to, IF you have a budget. How about if you just want a spontaneous side-trip? Where to go?

It was not our first time to go to Subic. We only go here usually for my husband's trainings and sporting events. Last January 16, while everyone is busy with Pope Francis' arrival in the country, my family, together with friends training for a triathlon event, headed North-bound to go for an open water swim training.

All Hands Beach Resort

This is our first stop. This beach resort has improved in many ways since my 1st visit during the last quarter of 2012. Today, it is more presentable from the entrance to the cottages and including the beach front. It is more child friendly, in my opinion. It may not be Boracay-level, but it is clean, even the sand is clean. Even safe for little children to play on. They even have Banana Boat rides, Kayaking, and that Turbo Jet (not sure about the exact term) where you'll have a chance to become Astro Boy on water. I asked how much that sporting costs, according to the attendant, P5,000.00 for 20 minutes. *jaw dropped*

Baby Z, enjoying himself with his 1st time to play on the sand (not his 1st beach experience though)

With training friends, having lunch after their swim and bike.

The P5K per 20 minutes Turbo Jet Water sport

Entrance: P350.00 (ask for discount for big groups)

Tropical Paradise Retirement Village

There are a lot of Hotels and Villages in Subic if you want to stay overnight. If you're with a big group, it is suggested to check in the Villages along the Binictican Heights. They are the typical American-style homes for rent. Complete with garage and fully furnished houses. Equipped with appliances, television, refrigerator, microwave ovens and stove as well. You can just shop for ingredients at Puregold Duty Free or at the Harbor Point Mall and cook whatever you want at "home". The bedrooms are cozy enough for a great night rest.

The one we rented this time, the Tropical Paradise Village, has more modern architectural designs both the interior and exterior of the house compared to the ones we rented before. Minimalist in general.

Our neigborhood c",)

Monkeys hunting food for breakfast

The village staff are very warm and accomodating. We are definitely going back to this place to stay when in Subic.

Rent Fee: P7,000.00 (because its Holiday) 2-storey house, with 3 airconditioned bedrooms, dining, airconditioned living room, maids quarters, garage, common bathroom with tub and toilet. Ideal for big groups, barkada, team building activities, family getaway, for sharing.

Pamulaklakin Forest Trail

I didn't know there are still places like this in Subic. I thought Subic has totally turned into a commercialized area, developing each and every nook of the province. When I heard from our friend Ton, that we're going to have lunch the next day sa batis (by the stream), I thought he was joking. He was even telling stories that the indigenous Aetas cooked Tinola in Bamboo last time for their lunch. Ton wasn't joking. We were accomodated by Mang Miguel, an Aeta who served as our chef. He cooked for us rice in bamboo. He even taught our kids how to create fire without using a match or lighter. We ran out of plastic cups, he also made us a couple or three bamboo cups.

10 Steps to Make Fire

1. Scrape bamboo skin from dried bamboo, this will serve you as the flint or "mitsa"
2. Create a mark/dent on the part of your bamboo where you will scratch
3. Make a deeper dent or "gatla" on the other side creating a small canal but should not create hole
4. Using the other half of the bamboo, put the edge of the bamboo on the dent you made
5. Slowly getting your rhythm, scratch it like a saw-cutting movement, increasing the speed
6. Seeing a smoke is a sign you did it successfully
7. Gently blow through the hole. Slowly remove the bamboo capping the flint.
8. Gather the burnt flint and continue blowing it gently
9-10. Blow until fire appears enough to start a bigger fire for stove or bonfire.

Special Thanks to Mang Miguel, our Aeta tour guide slash Chef for the day for this tutorial.

Sinaing sa Buho (Rice Cooked in Bamboo)

Bamboo Cups

We had lunch after our rice were cooked and our potluck viands were reheated, also in bamboos. The kids also enjoyed their cool and quick dip in the stream. We also had photo ops with Mang Kasoy, also a local in the place who serves as an icon, because he wore the indigenous wardrobe of the Aeta people. He carries the weapon our forefathers use for hunting.

What I love about this trip to Pamulaklakin Forest trail is, it is very timely to my son Q's Araling Panlipunan lessons about Pamayanan (Communities). I am now sure he will understand atleast one of the communities they tackled in school because he had a direct encounter even for a short time with one of them. Because kids these days are very visual and practical, they always need tangible resources for their lesssons. And it is very important that they learn beyond what books tell them.

Entrance Fee: P50.00
Priceless trip with Nature and experience of Indigenous Life.