[Project FeeTrail September 2015]: Wedding in the woods

You might think where did I take this feet shot?

It's from my cousin's wedding in the woods!

That wasn't really a good shot. I just sneaked in a feet shot because I don't want guests to think I'm such a weirdo taking the photo.

But that feet shot was taken minutes after my cousin Chimayne and Ian's Humanist Ceremony. It is actually my very first time attending a wedding outside the country and attending a humanist ceremony at that. I was thinking that it could be traditional British wedding, but my cousin said their wedding will NOT be a traditional one.

What is a Humanist wedding exactly?

A humanist, non-religious wedding ceremony gives you the opportunity to marry where you want, when you want and how you want. There’s no set script: it’s too personal an occasion for that. Instead, each wedding is tailored to meet the particular couple’s requirements. You can set the tone that’s right for you and choose your own words and music. (source)

Now I don't wan't to spoil the details but my sister Aprille Araguas of www.aprillearaguas.com did the flowers. I'm excited to publish it on our blog but I there are two more wedding on cue as of this writing.

[Project FeeTrail August 2015]: Sitting in Snowdonia

I haven't forgotten my Project Feet Trail! It just took me some time to retrieve files. Anyway...

This photo was taken in Snowdonia in Wales. My cousin's fiance, now husband, Ian, took us there on our first week in United Kingdom.

It's been 11 days since we arrived from our month-long UK trip and I have yet to update this blog. I can still remember the feeling of sitting on the grass and just looking at the water. I keep thinking what an incredibly good day that was. I have lots of stories but I guess I will tell stuff probably on an installment basis. I don't want to bore you guys in one big blow.

And yeah, I still cannot believe that I've been to UK.

[Project FeeTrail July 2015]: Graduation Garden

It's going to be three years next year since I joined the Office of Public Relations. I've participated in three graduations so far.

In April 2013, I was feeling a bit bitter of not having graduated on time. But then again, if I did, it's not like I am rushing on to the next. But sometimes, the race to graduation in graduate school stings a part of me. We just watched on the sides that day. (Then I graduated October that year)

In April 2014, I am finally a certified graduate and was able to walk on stage on both graduations (Hooding Ceremonies and University Graduation). I attended every recognition day, even the graduation ball that I normally do not participate in, so in other words, I enjoyed every minute of it.

This year, July 2015, is the first graduation that happened in July since UPLB switched it's academic year to start in August. Also, this year my friends Aya and Frankie graduated at the same time. It's also my first time to really be part of the behind the scenes team, attending the Commencement Exercises meetings and so on.

Never mind that there was a little bit of a mishap. The stage was so beautiful, we had LCD screen at the back and man-made water falls complementing the lush garden, the stage was made into that day.

I just had to take a photo and it made it here.

August is coming up this weekend! I'm  EXCITED!!!

[Project FeeTrail June 2015]: Break in Baguio

I owe my friend a visit to her house in Baguio. When she told me she finished renovating her house (Read: Come up here, Kea!) I knew I must grab the next long weekend trip to Baguio, and I did. Besides, I badly needed a break.

I took this photo on my second night at her house's door step. I am so amazed at how her house, her space, screams her personality. It was so homey. I woke up feeling like I am in the country with this great cabin-like feel.

I wish I could show you photos, but she's very private and trust me, the photos did not do justice.

I can't wait to go back. Maybe with less tourists this time.

[Project FeeTrail May 2015]: Contemplating at Chapel on the Hill

I'm testing out this procedure to stop the auto publishing of my blog to my Facebook account, so I'm publishing this post early. Usually I wait til near end of month to see if something new will come up, but I guess this is good to go.

In between taking photos of our first May 2015 bride, I sat outside the chapel on the hill. It was my first time in this chapel and quite a series of firsts once again:

1) First time I covered the entire wedding ceremony by myself,
2) First time to egress the illusion door, the ceremony decors, and all other set up, all by myself,
3) First time to be the only one, literally, left in the church, after all the guests and suppliers have gone.

It was a rainy sunday, the Philippine's Manny Pacquiao just lost to Floyd Mayweather on a boxing fight, it was cold and chilly, and I got left alone at the church. Never mind that it's raining really hard. Never mind that I do not have a jacket. I'm not even bothered one bit.

They say when you go to a new church, you have to prepare for three wishes. I've been doing mine since I don't know, and frankly, I forgot what I prayed for.

Lately, I'm just saying my thank you's. I say my thank yous even though there's really not much milestone to add up, but you know, just being able to do things I like.

I said in my last Feet Trail post that I'm not really here for the hits, so today I think I'm going to really gear towards this blog as a personal blog, what it was originally, and document my life lessons. I've been running this blog for 5 years already and honestly I do go back to some cringe worthy entries that I had, just so I have something to post, and leave with a little smile and relief that Thank goodness I'm not in that place anymore!

I miss writing when it was therapeutic for me. Maybe I guess I have to go back to it again and with me disconnecting the auto-publish feature, let's see how my statistics will go.

[Project FeeTrail April 2015]: Regina Rica Rosarii

This month's Feet - trail goes to Regina Rica Rosarii. First five days of April was included in the holy week. So our family, together with our closest family friends, went to do station of the cross at the Regina Rica Rosarii in Tanay, Rizal, on a Maundy Thursday. It was such a beautiful, well-maintained place with a  huge Mama Mary statue situated on top of the hill.

Short story before climbing up the statue that the "cape"of mama mary symbolizes protecting her people and the child Jesus she was carrying had a sandal-snap accident because just like any kid, he once got scared of something and jumped to Mama Mary for protection.

Best tip I can share before going: Arrive Early. We arrived at 6am and went down at past 9:30 am, finding a lot of people lining up for the orientation. Yes, there is an orientation before you can explore the place.

I also noticed that the sunflowers lined, going up the Virgin Mary on top of the hill, all face the same way. I was told that they got their name because they "face the sun". I could have taken a lot of photos for blogging purposes during that trip, but it's lent and I assume that people probably don't want to go to some place sacred only to end up in someone's blog.

Anyway, I haven't been writing in this blog that much this month for I am busier with my life offline. I actually miss writing, it used to be therapeutic for me. I am actually thinking of disconnecting the auto publish function to my personal Facebook account, just because. I wasn't here for the hits anyway (but THANK YOU!)

I'm actually glad its going to be May tomorrow. I know internet meme's gonna be like:

I'm glad because when it's May, rain starts to drop by every now and then. Last year it rained heavily on my graduation day (April 26) but now, it's really hot. We need another term now for the dry season. I can't be writing every year how much I am hating not liking summer.

April was very busy for me. I asked something from the Universe at the start of the year and I am now receiving it, but more of that in the coming months.

How did your April go?

[Project FeeTrail March 2015]: Firsts at Padre Pio's Shrine

Three firsts:

1. First time to attend Sunday mass at this church (where all church goers are 95% tourists).
2. First time to cover a wedding in this church.
3. First time to do make up of the sister of the groom.

I knew I wanted to see this church the first time my friend Aya instagrammed the photo of the cross. I couldn't help but stare, half-open mouthed while looking at the cross of this church. I like how the church is open air, salakot formed to keep in touch with Filipino culture, it also used local materials like bamboo, wood, etc.

March was very busy and humbling for me. I have a lot of stories but I'm too lazy to write as I go running from one project to another. Tiring but I am very, very, very grateful.

How about you?

[Project FeeTrail February 2015]: Such a sweet swan

Not my first time in Fernwood Gardens, but it was my first time to actually see the swan (and how big it is pala in real life) in Fernwood.  Such a bonus that it could've been just any other swan but it happened to be a very sweet and generous swan.

I took a video and instagrammed this little, big darling, getting food from the plate and shared it with her fish friends. It's like a mother feeding her babies. I really could not help myself but step up to this man-made rock formation and took a photo of my feet while peaking. The little flower girl in the venue must have found me weird and amusing that she started stepping on the same rock formation too, (to the horror of the mommy).

On the other side of Fernwood gardens is also another solo swan with fish friends, but swan number 2 does not share her food at all.

February felt like it was only a few weeks! How did yours go?

[Project FeeTrail January 2015]: January Jump for Joy

Starting the Feetrail project with a jump for joy because we saw THE POPE in the FLESH!

Wrote about it here.

Braved the early morning city trip, long exhausting walk, climbing and jumping off barricades, body-against-body crowd, screaming devotees, potential and mini stampede, rain, long lines, limited food, ALL FOR THE LOVE OF POPE FRANCIS!

Seriously, it's true that when you see him in person, its so surreal.Never have I imagined seeing a Pope in the flesh, and when they started the 20 year old song "Tell the world of his love", I was crying and I didn't realize that I still know the words to the song. I was in fifth grade when the last Pope came to the Philippines. And I just said that I want to add seeing Pope and hearing papal mass to my bucket list on Friday and I checked it off my list in two days! 

Honestly, I have no plans for that Sunday. At 7pm I got a call from my friend Joy looking for raincoats because Ellis, her husband, is going to see the Pope together with his colleagues. Few minutes later, my mom told me that my sister plans to go see the pope and leave very early in the morning and I immediately said I wanted to go even though I lack sleep. We were able to finalize travel plans in an hour, buy raincoats just 5 minutes before closing time, and you know the rest of the story.

To cut things short, I asked, and without much thinking, I received.

Thank you Dear Papa Jesus!

P.S. I was telling my doctor, who was also there but didn't stay long, that the feeling is so surreal, the amount of people is unbelievable, the faith is inexplicable, I have never seen anything like it.

Also, I realized how great it must be to be a member of the Vatican-accredited media. :)