Pong Thoughts: Finally Found (someone)?! 🎉

Hello! 👀

Finally found (someone, chos!) time to write before the year ends. 4 days to go and we are going to welcome a new year. How exciting, right? A new beginning is always something to look forward to. Am still yet to finish office stuff - not a lot now, but I still have a few. Should be done, hopefully, by tomorrow. 😊


Christmas has passed and I must say, am really getting a "Tita" now. Titas of Cavite, perhaps. I think of Christmas as a simple gathering of family members at least once a year and the kids mostly enjoy it - which is true. I think I enjoyed Christmas more when my Paternal Grandparents were still here, back when I was kid. Now, every time "ber" months come, and me hearing Christmas songs, it makes me somehow, sad. Maybe because Tatay (my Father's Dad), my walking buddy, passed away December 22, 1992. As a kid and until now, that memory is still fresh and I don't think I'd be able to get over it. Christmas Trees were set aside and we celebrated Christmas with our lifeless Tatay back then. Christmas is totally different now though, I now have my nieces and nephews and they make Christmas lighter and happier. Gotta love kids! ♥

Received lots of goodies from my team, my boss, my family and my friends. How sweet, yeah? Met some of my friends for some catching up which is always a good feeling. And I must say, we've matured. Haha. (Dapat lang, lol) ♥

this one's sweet. pen with my website engraved and Parker for Tony Parker, my ex-hubby. lol. Thanks, BP.  

these ain't all. these are just a few. ❤

This year has been tough - I was injured and was sidelined for 6 months. But the good thing about that - I was able to spend time at home and more time with some people. I missed my Saturday Badminton Session with my Barbies. Missed traveling. Kind of missed a lot, but gained a few too. It's all about perspective, right?

Was able to tick swimming with the whale sharks in Cebu back in September off my bucket list. Met a few bloggers in Bataan and witnessed The Pawikan Festival. And just last week, I was reunited with my Barbies to play Badminton - I was just so happy to be back.

look at these two - andrew and patty. 😍

By now, you realized that the title is just a click bait - lol. But seriously though, I want to think that I found someone, but just recently, I lost that someone just like that. Sad reality. My 2017 Spotify Playlist is almost all about him. Dafuq. Haha. All good now though. Am leaving 2017 behind in a few days.

As a blogger, worldwide, a single post can be read by anyone. I've received compliments, not so good comments, an indecent proposal, love messages and almost everything in between. The people who supported me from Day 1 - you guys are the best! It has been a crazy ride - all of these, I have learned and am grateful. 2018 - let's go!

THANK YOU, all! This is yet another hanash and more to come! ♥



speak from the heart,
pong 🐢💙

Pong Thoughts: Diving Specials - Whale Shark Encounter 🐳🐋🌊

👀 Hello!!!! 👀

Last October 10, Diving Specials chanced upon a photo I posted in my Instagram account. It was a photo of a baby whale shark that I had a chance to swim with last September 17 while am in Oslob, Cebu. It was indeed a surreal experience knowing that these fellas are so big - it's crazy to think that something can eat you whole but chooses not to. Makes me love the marine life more and more. 🐳🐋

Here's the photo that am talking about - used my GoPro Hero 5 Black and did some editing using Snapseed. 

baby whale shark

As requested, added the #whalesharkmoment in the caption and sent Diving Specials an email about doing so. Once chosen, you're entitled to have this super cute Scuba Tank keychain.  

how cute is this scuba tank keychain?

And your entry will then be qualified to join the #whalesharkmoment photo contest wherein the top 2 voted images will win. With the help of my family and super friends, the photo won (yay!!!!) and I got the Buddy Watcher! Buddy Watcher is a device used for communicating under water via vibrations, all you have to do is tap to signal your diving buddy. How sweet, yes? Thank you very much Diving Specials and to everyone who voted, I will forever be grateful. The voting process was not that easy, so I thank you for your time. I wish I had all the names, but I was not able to capture all. You know who you are! Much love from me! ♥♥♥

Thank you, everyone. This is not the complete list though! Much love!

Here's the contents of the Buddy Watcher Box from the mail: 

Buddy Watcher Set (Straps, Charging Clips, Charging Cable and 2 Buddy Watcher Devices.

If you want to avail of The Best Diving Deals, make sure to visit Diving Specials website. They definitely have a lot of good deals to offer and Sarah, CEO and Founder, is very hands-on, accommodating and she always makes sure to respond as necessary and as soon as possible. Danke, Sarah! 😍

Below are the some screen caps of their website. 

And this is me ready to communicate under water. Diving buddy, anyone? lol

let's go!!!!  (haven't remove the plastic protector, lol)

my gear: 

My action cam, GoPro Hero 5 Black: http://ho.lazada.com.ph/SHXTXP
My phone, iPhone 5: http://ho.lazada.com.ph/SHXTdi



speak from the heart,
pong 🐢💙

Pong Thoughts: Eiy

Helllerrr! ❤

Random thoughts: It's been quiet. I miss you, Eiy! 10 years. Love you! Please. 2017 is soon ending, please.

speak from the heart, 
xx Pong 🐢💙

Pong Travels: Bataan - Pawikan Festival 2017 - Help Save the Turtles! 🐢

Ola! 😍

How is everyone? In reference to my previous kilig invite from Bataan Tourism (First Invite Everrr!) two weeks ago, ito na, this is it! I am finally writing about it! 😍

So long, Dude! 

♫♪ "Pawikan sa Morong, Bataan, Morong Bataan, Morong Bataan; alagaan pagkaingatan, pagkaingatan, pagkaingatan. Halina't sumabay iwagayway ang kamay, tuklasin ang pawikan sa Morong, Bataan. ♫♪ - This is the oh so catchy Pawikan Festival Theme Song (pardon the video's quality - my bad) that made us LSS (Last Song Syndrome) until we reach Manila. 😂 

 A day before the event, we arrived in Bataan around dinner time and we headed straight to the Bataan Tourism Office to get our Pawikan Festival shirts and Media ID. Right after that, we headed to Bataan White Corals Beach Resort and Hotel to get settled for the night. At this time, I had the chance to have a chit-chat with my fellow bloggers and get to know them. Sweet. 💕 Bataan White Corals Beach Resort is such a beautiful place - I wish I had a drone to have a perfect view of the place - soon enough! 😉

The annual Pawikan Festival concluded last November 25th at the Pawikan Conservation Center in Brgy. Nagbalayong, Morong, Bataan. 

So, what is the Pawikan Festival all about? It is basically raising awareness on how to save our endangered and beloved Pawikans. When baby Pawikans are released in the ocean, it will take them 25 years to go back via imprinting which I find so amazing that after a long time, they're able to come back, same place where they were born.  

getting ready to be released. 😍

Not only that, Pawikan Festival will also make you feel and love the rich Filipino Culture. I can indeed say that while am there, given that kind of opportunity, I just told myself, "ang sarap maging Pilipino, nakakaproud." Imagine, the people who used to get the eggs and eat them after Mommy Pawikan had laid them, now they are the ones protecting them. Sweet volunteers. 💕 And the Festival itself - the preparation, the people who put their thinking hats on, their time and their dedication and effort is just simply amazing.

Walk for a Cause started at 5AM

Mang Manolo, Chief of the Bantay Pawikan, delivers his speech about the Conservation Center's accomplishments as Gov. Abet and Sen. Villar looks on

.

PUP Banda Kawayan performs at The Pawikan Festival

Turtle-Inspired Body Painting

It's not only during the Pawikan Festival that we can contribute in Pawikan Conservation's Awareness. Everyday, by just simply throwing our trash in appropriate trash bins is already a big thing. Turtles are often trapped by the rubbish thrown in the ocean. We can definitely stop this, right? Easy. Just by simply being humane. This does not apply to turtles only but the entire ocean. Marine life is so beautiful and in order to maintain that, compassion and discipline are what we need. 😀

Pawikan Conservation Center has an aquarium where they keep rescued/injured turtles 

Releasing of hatchlings is done everyday (morning and by sunset time). So, if you want to witness and to learn more about it, everyone is welcome to go to Pawikan Conservation Center in Morong, Bataan. 

beaches should be clean to ensure safe passage

Sunset releasing of the hatchlings. Beautiful! 

HOW TO GET THERE:
1. Take Victory Liner bound to Olongapo
2. Get off at Olongapo Bus Station then ride a baby bus or a jeepney bound to Morong.
3. Ride a tricycle going to Pawikan Conservation Center (Entrance Fee: PHP20, open from 8AM - 5PM)
         There are several beach resorts in Morong where you can stay. But you can also stay at The Pawikan Conservation Center at a minimal price (cheapest is at PHP1000).

CONTACT INFO: 
Mang Manolo of Bantay Pawikan - 09213602842
Website: http://bataan.gov.ph/tourism/ 

HOW TO HELP? 
Share this page. Blog it. Volunteer. Donate in cash or in kind (get in touch with our lovely Bataan Tourism Folks, click website above). Be humane. 


Simple take aways and hanash from this event:

1. Sarap maging Pinoy. Konting push pa, kaya nating lahat basta may disiplina. Sobrang ganda ng dagat at ng kalikasan! Yung kultura, iba, alam mo talagang may malasakit and yung bayanihan, andun talaga. 
2.  Filipinos are indeed a happy and a talented bunch! 
3.  It's good to meet people who has the same passion as yours. It was my first time meeting Milet, Allan, Claire, Celine, Dennis, Mujee, Kuya Vandolf, Miss Tina, Miss Danica, Mommy Jinkee and Daddy Ruel but I felt at home right away. Hope to see you again on the road or somewhere, guys. 💋

1 Bataan
Daddy Ruel, Milet, Claire, Me, Allan, Celine, Dennis, Mommy Jinkee, Mujee

speak from the heart,
pong 🐢💙