Thursday, December 13, 2018

Sampaloc BOUND












Detalia 2016



Nag-Maj - P16
Maj - Luic - P35
30 mins jip ride w/ good view of the countryside; winding road and what not
brgy Apasan - P10
Everyhuan's Food House
Chami at habhab P60.order
Ulam at kanin P40
Package adventure tour overnight cmaping - P3.5K for 10 pax
1 hour walk with river corssing
water shoes ideal
kuya Eddie, the guide and landowner of 12 has Malaog farmland
Farm plenty of potable water from pansol
No cp signal
2 chambers 1 domelike chamber, 1 water outlet chamber
domelike chamber about 48 mts deep with some drain around the walls and cavities
Walls and ceiling full of bats and phytons
water rich fish, shrimps, turles, eel, bakuli
Water outlet chamber have crystal formations
Rainy season - water level is steady
Dry season - 7 x tide changes everyday. 4 x during daytime with 1.5 - 2.5 hrs intervals
Tubig Malaog at Maampon
Hibas at Ta-ib
More of an overflow
Eddie Gadan 09504113560
Lagikway - lauya
Tiplasan
Sitio kakati
Lucban-nag chart - P80



Monday, December 10, 2018

PROJECT 8 PEAKS NAGCARLAN













conceptualized 2005




Nagcarlan’s geographic features are its majestic mountain ranges having beautiful sceneries with mild and comfortable temperature all throughout the year. Nagcarlan's subtropical climate is also home to an abundance of diverse plant lives.  Known for 8 mountains sitting inside and along it’s adjacent municipalities, it provides ideal environment for outdoor adventure activities. 8 Peaks Nagcarlan are the summits resting around the municipality’s mountainous landscapes. 8 Peaks Nagcarlan is an exciting hiking destination that will surely bring new and exciting challenges to outdoor enthusiasts.  8 Peaks Nagcarlan consists of the summits of Mt. Banahaw, Mt. Cristobal, Mt. Nagcarlan, Mt. Atimla, Mt. Mabilog, Mt. Malauban, Mt. Lansay and Mt. Bayaquitos.  

The highest and being the most sought after by many adventure sport  enthusiasts to climb is Mt. Banahaw.   Brgy. Bukal in Nagcarlan provides an ideal jumpoff point  with a clear visual of the whole of the mountains’ northern facade.   Next highest is Mt. Cristobal with it’s trailhead located at Brgy Taytay where upon arriving at it’s ridge will showcase the magnificent view of the Laguna de Bay, the 7 lakes of Laguna and the rest of the Nagcarlan peaks including Mt. Cristobal’s little brother, the Tayak Hill. Brgy Sulsuguin, while it is being known for  Yambo Lake is yet an interesting  gateway to Mt. Mabilog and Mt. Malauban.  Both have  superb views of the Yambo Lake and the 360 degrees view of its environment that will definitely give anyone  a natural pleasure of peace and tranquility upon reaching them.  Mt. Lansay in Brgy Banilad and Mt. Bayaquitos with it’s jumpoff at Brgy Bunga can be both easily reached in a relax-paced short  hike if planned.  What makes the hike interesting is the descent from it’s summit, immediately followed by river trekking and falls hopping  which includes the famous Bunga falls and several others before proceeding to the summit of Mt. Bayaquitos.  And finally, Mt. Nagcarlan located in Brgy. Wakat.  Mt. Nagcarlan is the mountain that has numerous popular names as Mt. Kalisungan, Mt. Lamot and Mt. Calauan.  

Gerry Monteza, a mountaineer, an environmentalist, a scout and a local of Nagcarlan frequented 8 Peaks Nagcarlan since his childhood until today.  He believes that by providing the locals enough knowledge and consciousness in the protection and conservation of the environment, it will give back numerous benefits making local residents first-hand recipients in return. Adventure tourism can be a good springboard in promoting Nagcarlan and its formidable mountains.

Project 8 Peaks Nagcarlan

The local government of the municipality should be the ideal frontliner in providing the necessary information and logistic support for the activities. From registration log-in, assigning guides and porters*, providing transportation towards jumpoff, monitoring and communications until descent log-out, wash-up and finally return transfer.

Mt. Atimla

Mt. Banahaw

Mt. Bayaquitos

Mt. San Cristobal


Mt. Mabilog

Mt. Malauban
Mt. Lansay

Mt. Nagcarlan



SCOUTING ENRICHMENT TRIP TO CAMBODIA











written July 2015


My trip to Cambodia was very enriching. It gave me new horizon and broaden my perception about myself  and my purpose on Scouting. Sa loob ng isang lingo, habang unti-unting binabalangkas ang mga bagay na itinuturo sa amin hindi ko maiwasang iugnay ang mga kaisipan sa aking local na council, the challenges that we have right now at ang dahilan ng aking paglahok sa Training. Bukod sa normal na topics na sadyang na tinatalakay during training, dagdag na pinagusapan din namin ang Diversity, Personal Aspirations, Change at kung paano ang epekto nito sa tunay na layon ng World Scouting.

Bago po ako umalis patungong Siem Reap, April 26, nagkaroon pa tayo ng isang get together activity kung saan tinukoy ang ilang mga situwasyong kinakaharap ng Laguna Council. Ang sabi ko po sa aking maikling pananalita na susubukan kong tutuklasin sa CALT kung may kasagutan akong makukuha. Tunay po....may kasagutan akong natuklasan. At iyon ay ibabahagi ko sa inyo kung bibigyan ng pagkakataon.


“It is better to have so many differences but can agree on a common ground, than to have so many similarities but cannot agree on one ground.”

PAYING FORWARD
















PGH


Dir. Gerardo D. Legaspi
Director
Philippine General Hospital
Manila

Thru Channels

Dear Sir,

Greetings from Nagcarlan, Laguna!

We are spouses Gerry and Debbie Ruth Monteza of 107 P. Zamora St. Pobalcion 1 in the municipality of Nagcarlan.  We are private citizens who just wish to share small blessings this Holiday Season to the patients presently confined at Ward 5-NICU and Ward 7-NSSCU.  The same as last year, we again plan to purchase meal packs at either KFC, McDonald’s or Jollibee whichever is easily available on Wednesday, November 28 at around 10:00 o’clock in the morning and distribute them to the patients.

We do not belong to any organization, political or religious.  Neither we have any concealed intention nor motivation.  We simply wish to give something for people to realize that love and compassion are still present everywhere.

Relative to this, may we humbly request from your good office permission to conduct the mentioned plan. There is no other activity we intend to do other than giving of meal packs.  No statement, no picture even.  Rest assured, we will abide of any PGH guidelines being applied pertaining to these matters.

We are hoping that you would consider this request.  Thank you very much in advance.

Respectfully yours,






cc:
Ms. Angelita Angie H. Dimaano
Chief Nurse
Ward 7-NICU, NSSCU
554-8400 loc 2434/2435

John Bernardo - 09959463760 (2017)
W 7 - 23
W 5 - 18+6
47 @ Jollibee P100+ (1pc chx+ maspot/corn+drink)

Pam Macalino - 09162644186 (2018)
W5- 28
W7 - 32
nsscu - 16
nicu - 11
@ Jollibee P97 (1pc chx+drink)

THANK YOU LORD











July 2017



THANK YOU LORD


Thank You Lord
I come before you today
And there’s one thing that I want to say
For all you have given to me
For all the blessings that I did not and can not see

More will come and go in the future,
but in recent moments, I got to give someone a dream.
A little hope and if only for few minutes, peace of mind
That the world isn't a dark, cynical, selfish place.  

Thank you Lord
I just want to thank you Lord
For all you have done in my life
You took my darkness and gave me your light
You took my sin and my shame
You took my sickness and heal all my pains

With a grateful heart
With an outstretched arm
I will bless your name
Thank you Lord

SCTR. GERRY IN A NUT SHELL



August 2018

The playful boy
I love space; I love the wind; I love heights----I feel free.
I can climb trees; I can swim rivers; I can leap; I can bounce-----I am determined.
I didn’t get hungry; I didn’t get tired; nothing frustrates me then. Life for me was easy.
Then I began to interact with others, in an organization offered at school.  Organization that builds character, teaches leadership and skills for self-reliance.  I surrendered myself and later became one of the organization’s exemplary reaps.  It was very enriching.

Discerning leader
Thereafter when merits and awards have been exhaustedly endowed on me, there’s no other way but to move on to the next level. The once playful boy needs to become a discerning leader in a new game field.  Confident I was, I welcomed my new role with enthusiasm and optimism. While getting ready for serious plays, I equipped myself more while crossing bridges.  On different lands I get acquainted with other leaders and wished to become constantly eligible of the organization’s evolution.

Being a volunteer
However, my role as a Leader is a predisposition. Being classified as a volunteer leader, I can opt to get busy on my role, exploring on the cultivation of programs’ practices.  And within boundaries, subject to affirmation and appreciation of colleagues, I can introduce innovative activities relative to the changing times.  Or I can chose to be sedentary providing ceremonial role as a leader and brag contrived stories to provide phony inspiration for the youth whenever given opportunities. Lastly, the option to force a way in getting more citations by undue influences to decorate a uniform with numerous commendations is very much conceivable too.  Noble and Upright as I perceived my uniform to be as comparable to my continuous struggle for righteousness, never did I thought of choosing the last preference.  For many years I unwearyingly chose to be dynamic and vigorous to offer things other than the customary despite recognitions from my peers.  For 17 long years, I liberally prepared propositions hoping that my colleagues realize my vision and labors.

Struggled romanticism
In a workplace where apathy is a popular choice by mentors rather than getting our youth into the ideal path of molding them.  Where the practice of either haste or waste has always been the exercise of the ruling classes.  In a game field where self-convenience is being endured by most of its players attending only what is favorable to nourish them and their self-professed projected image. Apparently, it has become so prevalent that it turned out to be a culture.  And one heroic act to alter such culture seemed impossible to attain.
But I persisted. I continue to be firm and aggressive insisting on the indispensable, of what is ideal and moral, undaunted on my colleagues’ insignificance that most of them never bother to care what I have been telling them.   

Proof of relevance 
6 years ago, out of frustrations, I formed a group outside the organization where I stated the same visions I long wished to impart. The group is made up of strangers from all walks of life. Diverse and with no age boundaries, without preference on aptitude, life status and creed I presented a proposition and a selfless dream that needs to be achieved.  And upon presenting, it freehandedly gained appreciation.  It became so popular that most people from local area and even outsiders believed and supported it.  It became an advocacy group too that the local government recognized its worthy existence.  By virtue of a local resolution, included the group as part of a community building body providing concepts on environment and tourism causes.  
Numerous times we had been and still being invited by the academe to lead and demonstrate our proficiency and helped out deliver a commendable cause. Realizing then that these same institutions were for the longest time my prior organization’s partner where we supposedly have to bring ideal programs for the youth.  Only to find out fatefully, these institutions are craving for help that no partner organizations have yet to serve them very well.    

Keep on or move away
It was quite a relief that various achievements made by my group proved that my point which I brought about to my prior organization was sensible.  My lucid thoughts now:
“Will I continue to insist to my peers that I am bringing up sensible ideas and indispensible conversion?  Or be apathetic, insensitive to the real aspiration of the organization to its youth?  A sedentary leader unresponsive to the youth’s critical needs and the organization’s real purpose?  Or so sadly end this distress with finality, better yet leave and free yourself from this persecution?”  
In the end, the choice is all mine.  It is my prerogative from the very start after all.

Contemplation
Patience is a remarkable virtue. Leaving is like conceding from life’s burden.  I am resilient, a survivor, a warrior always bound to succeed.  Why should I be waving a flag of defeat? 
In a way I felt liberated by the truthful acts that I sometimes deliberately displayed or an expression like this writing that I am free to dispose of.  But victory is never gained since no one truly listens or recites or exercises and actually understands. In a way you became a refugee of your own wisdom or an outcast in your own league.   
However, thinking that patience is a great virtue that I also wish to adhere, I have second thoughts of finally getting out of the organization.  I need to go on. I only need time and relevant people to help out. For now, I must accept finite disappointment, but never should I lose infinite hope. 

ERWIN'S SIGNIFICANT DAY











for December 27, 2018



ERWIN'S SIGNIFICANT DAY WITH CHIE

A neighbor, a relative and friend I also knew Erwin as I assumed to be the better half of Chie way back years ago.  We noticed them together going home and staying at their P. Zamora residence in Nagcarlan during weekends.  All the while I thought, they have already been matrimonially tied somewhere we do not know as they were carrying out like a happy couple living together for some time.Not until, one day they approached Debbie, my wife and asked if we could be their ninang and ninong in their forthcoming matrimonial ceremony.

Erwin and Chie, you have been together for some time, I know you know each other pretty well. But I will also tell you that married life is an adventure. It comes with surprises. I am sure there will be lifts and bounds, ups and downs.  You just stay put and endure life’s challenges no matter what.  Believe in the pledge you promise each other “to love and to hold, for better or for worst”. 

Communicate well. Understand well,   >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Honored not only to be part of this significant day, but also a significant part of your lives…Me and Debbie are excited to watch the next chapter of your lives unfold together as Mr. and Mrs. Erwin and Chie Comendador, husband and wife.  We wish you the best blessings that God will bestow unto you. Congratulations to the happily ever Comendadors.