On Becoming Coehlo

Pardon the grammar. So so many of them...

I am doing freelance web development / design / administration job

Hope that this reaches those kind-hearted people, and people with good sense of taste!  I am accepting freelance web development / design / administration job at a very affordable rate for a quality work guaranteed!  Sample of my work are in here: http://donbennie.blogspot.com/p/portfolio.html .

This website was actually one of my masterpiece. Ehem!

Maintenance service for existing website:
* Simple web page changes (i.e. new page, content change, layout adjustment) = Php 300.00 per page
* Error troubleshooting (i.e. website down, website bug) = Php 500.00
* New web page design/layout = Php 1000.00 (negotiable depending on complexity)
* New dynamic function (ie. search, chat, newsletter, paypal, shopping cart) = price starts at Php 700.00 but varies depending on complexity

New website project:
* Complete website development (maximum of 15 pages) = Php 20,000 (still negotiable depending on requirements)
- 1 main page design layout, plus 1 design layout for supporting pages
- search, contact us, social media sharing functions included
- additional Php 1,000 for any simple dynamic functions (i.e. newsletter, chat etc). Price varies for complex function such as paypal, credit card integration and shopping cart.
- 6 months free support, w/c include free service for simple adjustment of web page design, content update and error troubleshooting.
- hosting fee excluded

Do contact me at donbenniev@gmail.com for more details. Power!

Art is cool

So am I? Hahaha.  I'm not updating my blog this past few days, I mean months because I am not in the mood for it.  You have to understand that an artist like me (ehem. feelings nothing more than feelings) are moody by nature, because our best work (yes i am claiming i had one haha) and creativity is nothing without painful crashes!

Yes, I am mad today because my doppelganger- Jed Madela is getting so much attention lately because he does painting too. I can't hardly believe it , cos I only thought that my voice sounded beautifully as his. Hehe.



I chose watercolour as my medium of painting, because I heard it is one of the unforgiving one so I am quite curious that I have to try and play around with it.










I like the subtlety that watercolour can bring.  The texture is quite difficult to manage though. This new hobby is a work in progress.

What I Feel

Wish I tell you what I feel

But I fear it’s not meant telling

I fear for the right words to choose

Nor the ears that would listen

I lone for my emotion to act

The sincerest, but I prefer not to

Not this time, nor tomorrow,
I could never tell

The right time as I always say,

But the clock continuous ticking

Tick tock, I hope for the day it strike me

I wish the world is not an A,B,C

That each is everyone

That I fit somewhere there

In that beautiful place

With you and I, or We

Living the 3 words

No thoughts, no worries

But it could never be

Not at least today

But it'll happen

When the lights are off

It happens

Hope I belong here,
Before that came
It'll happen

Parang di Pinas (A roadtrip to La Union)

I am not writing to boast that “Proud to be Pinoy!” moment, a cliche that's becoming annoying to me.  For me that’s too jologs.  It’s for the desperate ones who doesn’t have the means to travel outside the country. Parang ako. Lols.

I didn’t expect that travelling to La Union would take us to experience how it was like to be in some famous global spots.

Parang Hawaii!  But in the low end side. Station 3. Lols.  Our weekend chill first took us to the nearest surf spot from Manila – La Union! It only took us 4 hrs drive thru SCTEX and the new TPLEX.

The best waves according to a surfer friend is from October – April. The waves when we got there were just right for beginners like them. Ehem.

River (A surfer dog) photobombed us! And he’s kinda laughing prolly looking down on our surfing skills.

Parang Jamaica.  I am that kind who’s very particular with accommodation, but this time we tried something different.  We booked a Hammock type accommodation of Circle Hostel (http://www.thecirclehostel.com/).  The hipster environment has that reggae vibe, that makes me wanna dance, sing with a uke… feel free… sniff in some herbs! Lols (not my thing ofcourse, but I knew a close friend whose name starts with C).

You will never get tired of reading uplifting quotes, almost all corners has it!  This place I recommend for the depressed people out there, there's a lot of you don't deny.

Feeling Napa Valley- California.  Yes! We can grow grapes here!  And for your information, just so you know... especially to my Italian and Chilean viewers, compared with the foreign vineyards that can only harvest once or twice a year, here in my beloved place we can harvest grapes every three months! Be threatened haha! Not to mention, we are just getting started.

Mr. Lomboy owner of Lomboy farms (https://www.facebook.com/LomboyFarmsResort) spearheaded the grape industry here in Bauang La Union. If you wish to have a tour here, don't go to him as they charge a fee of Php 100.00 per pax.  Go straight instead to the neighboring farm which doesn’t charge a fee such as Gapuz (https://www.facebook.com/GapuzGrapesFarm) and others.  Just a friendly advise for kuripot like me. BECAUSE the cost itself is not worth it.  I was waiting for some educational briefing and some question and answer portion.. there was NONE.

A kilo of grapes by the way would cost you Php 200, with bonus of unlimited free taste that you can sneak in while making chika to the farmer. Hehe.

Feeling Santorini, Greece.  The financial crisis version. Lols.  The Thunderbird Poro Point (http://www.thunderbirdresortsporopoint.com/) is the most highend resort hotel around so we had to try it... try inquiring hehe. The resort boast for its mediterranean styled houses, that you see in Santorini.  But they're missing all the donkeys, and the bougainvilleas.  Nevertheless, the crew were all nice and friendly like us so we belong.

As we went home, we passed by Isdaan at Tarlac where you can:

Feel like in the jungle of Africa, and say Geronimo!

Feel like in Thailand with this gigantic Buddha.

Also, flirt with the honorable US president itself Obama.

So nice to have an all around the world escape for a weekend eh?

Papa Francisco Wave! And Your Unwavering Faith

 “I feel good. I feel nice. I’ve never been satisfied. I’m alive! Sing!”, that’s the exact word I heard from a friend as I asked how he feel when he seen the Pope. It was his 3rd surreal encounter as he said.  Me as a non believer of Catholicism couldn't imagine myself having that same reaction seeing the Pope as for me he is just an ordinary human like me.  Sitting next to him, would be like sitting with a stranger as I don’t know his history, good deeds or whatsoever.  The Pope must be filled with holiness that had caused you such feeling, said my other friend.  It suddenly dawned on me that probably it is the same feeling I had when I got baptized from a non-catholic religion.

Faith has long been a debatable topic, which I do not want to bring up without a gun in my pocket. Kidding aside, setting aside religion, we argued about how faith is earned.  Faith for me is radical, meaning you had to had this foundation or basis of your faith. It is a relationship wherein you are highly dependent on God, and his teachings.  The Bible – the God’s word is my foundation and my faith are all based into it.  Preach and teach me anything, I will believe you for as long you back it up with verses from His word.

This friend of mine warned me of the trouble with radical faith, the danger that when my foundation crumbles my faith will too.   Faith needs no basis of foundation. He pointed out that even when you read the whole text of the Bible, if you disagree to get it, you won’t.  Resistance is too deceiving to be even aware what is beyond.  My other friend added that sometimes you just have to trust, without facts.  There may come a time that we’ll encounter inexplicable events, like the feeling of holiness during Pope’s presence, but all we have to do is to trust and have faith.

So come the conclusion that I have to contemplate on this matter, as there’s no forever winner in this battle.  I went downstairs, there I see my brother watching over television in full volume. When I went back, I heard one of the Papal lead shouting “ Papa Francisco wave!”. I heard it several times.  This got me thinking, if my faith dictates to shout praises to him I will do incessantly.  So I leave my friends the same message via messenger “Papa Francisco wave!”, but nobody replies as if nobody cares.

Not so long ago, I was reading the book of The Art of Thinking Clearly. One article talks about “Social Proof  - If Fifty Million People Say Something Foolish, It Is Still Foolish”.  In a nutshell, the article tells about the human thinking that by nature we deem to follow what the majority does, even without underlying support or reason for our choices.  So what is a true faith for you?

What I learned now that I am 28

I learned to live day by day and that tomorrow is never a promise, and yesterday are yesterdays. I’ve learned to control over my life, and that your life will only work if you take full control of it. I’ve learned to plant love more than anything, but you must love yourself above all else. I’ve learned to open my doors when somebody’s knocking; and to give a tip when somebody’s doing a good job.  You wouldn't know you might be saving someone else’s life. I’ve learned to invest in friendship, a friendship you can celebrate your life with, and the kind of friendship that will make you feel you exist.   I’ve learned that you are the beginning and the end of your parent’s suffering. You owe them kindness and unconditional love they deserve nothing more, and it is plain simple. I’ve learned to cry when I feel it’s the only salvation; and I thank God for this wondrous gift that heals a wounded heart. I’ve learned that no matter how down you feel at times, you have to smile and live with spirit. We all struggle but we have to continue to live the shadow of the life everyone else has.       

Cheers!

~ Don Bennie 

Quick update

Hello!  It's been months of silence, no updates coming from this blog.  Anyway, just wanted to write something quick as the past months has been crazy for me really!

Positive things that happened #1 (Cling!) - I passed and was qualified to enter a graduate course at the University of the Philippines.  I am attending classes now with 6 units.  I take the 3 units on early morning saturday, the other 3 on spooky monday night.  My golly, can't believe it nobody's inviting me to join a ride at my night class. Humanda sila di ko sila bibigyan ng discount sa auto supply namin hihih.

Positive things that happened #2 (Caching!) - Miraculous!  Cannot believe it in my own very eyes, my beloved company can give an above 20% increase for someone like me who never leaves facebook unattended.

Positive things that happened #3 (Caching!)  - To flyyyy is everything!  Most especially when someones carrying your luggage for you.  Okay, been with 4 travel trips 1 is still coming, and I'd never paid 100% of the cost.  Friendships truly are a blessings.  Just back yourself up with some art of social climbing you wouldn't pay a 100% , never again.

Positive things that happened #4 (Cling!) - My hardwork pays off.  I was awarded Q4 Heroes for demonstrating excellence at work!  Love your work, it won't love you back yes.... but you have no choice but to love it or else you're making 60% of your daily life miserable. Poor you.

Positive things that happened #5 (Cling!) - My beautiful sister gave birth to my very first beautiful nephew.  What a beautiful world it is for us!

Yes! A lucky year for me that was, take note this is just the mid year.  I am too excited for what's in store for the coming days.  I appreciate you my dear Lord for all the blessings, even the simple ones like when I washed my clothes and hung them.  I always pick the exact number of hangers equal to the number of clothes I've washed.  Can you imagine?

Hope you reading this are well blessed too.  To God be the glory!

Love you!

Jack

My skinny fishy wallet

It’s a miracle!  I spent my weekend at home.  I have no money what can I do hihih.

I am so broke.  I want to earn more but no I can’t I am just an ordinary office employee excited for his monthly payouts.  It’s still 5 days before pay day and I only have more or less Php 500 on my wallet. It fits my fishy wallet look.

I switched my wallet to this just so I can find reason not to bring my ATMs and credit cards all the time.  I have the tendency to overspend, not on shopping no no but mostly on foods and groceries.  So while on job hunting mode, I’ll be using this one.

Now in for the good news, God is so good!  My own Bombay my cat gave birth to a 7 healthy babies.  I will sell them all to make money wohoo!

Look oh.  Take notice of the 3 more babies in line for the milk

Look oh.  The cutie is being strangled.

My sister will also give birth this coming June wohoo!!!  But no we will not sell her baby.  I wanted to become the best Uncle to her - this is the first grandchildren of my parents you know, the first of its kind.  I need to earn more to support them.

I remember, I bought my preggy sister an Anmum the folate milk. Cause she was like telling me in a subtle way that she cannot afford to buy one at that time.  Being the best brother, ehem, I know her situation even without telling me so go I swiped the CC.  It’s too expensive, 5 times the equivalent of non-formula milk.  When the bill came, I cannot fully pay cause I have other dues on the pipeline.

I don’t want this to happen again.  I resign! Need to fatten up my skinny fishy wallet.

Cheers!

Jack

Cycling like a Pro - from Manila Bay, EDSA to Makati

We’ve been invited by a friend to meet up with her fiancé.  There’s no exact venue yet where we will get together, yet me and my another assuming friend had decided that it would be better if we go biking to MOA since we’ve thought we’ll meet up somewhere near or in Dampa where mostly foreigners are being toured for local Filipino dish.

It was late afternoon when we left Malate.  The sun is just peeking through the clouds.  The time was just right to escape the burning heat of the sun especially now that it’s summer.

I am happy that the striking manila bay sunset joined us on this ride.  It felt so peaceful.

Not until we phoned our friend for the meeting place. They are waiting for us in Makati.  My golly, once I heard I fall on deaf ears.  It’s a long way there.  Not just long but dangerous.  We had to pass the hustle and bustle street of EDSA.  And when you said EDSA, it’s deadly with the buses and trucks around, and the pollution that enters your lungs.

We had to carry our bikes to climb the overpass and cross some streets.  EDSA is not bicycle-friendly at all.  I see no bike lane on bound to north.  Hello, government yuhuu... it's about time to promote cycling to save not just the environment but ourselves from loose fatty saggy legs.  Please allocate space for cyclist!

Wohoo! We survived safely and stinky. Hihihi. I just hope this British finds us fresh not smelly.

Lessons learned:  Before you assume, ask!

Cheers!

Jack

Cool weekend at Baguio

This is one of those last minute travels that turned out to be much fun!  We don’t have plans, we didn’t travel by the book but instead we let the road lead us to surprise.  At 10 AM Friday, a missed call from a friend awakens me.  I read the text message to rush to Cubao station for a 2PM bus ride.  So I packed all my things for a 2 days trip, brought 3k budget with me and go.

Lucky me a friend has access to stay all for free at a forest lodge at Camp John Hay.  We saved plenty of money staying in this comfy place, a 6 bedroom lodge, surrounded by the refreshing view of pine trees, overlooking a golf course.

It’s below 20 degrees, so we took this as an excuse to wear our bonnets and long sleeved shirts.  It’s not common in Manila to wear those.

The cold weather makes it suitable for flowers to grow.  At any angle you’ll see a bunch of it.  Roses, anthuriums even poinsettia they grow here.   I have this fantasy to put up a garden where I can grow herbs and flowers.  So I see now Baguio on my list of place to retire.  Too bad there’s no beach in the mountain, it would have been perfect.

Yes, she’s trying to absorb the scent.

So we walk and walk. Baguio tour will leave you with sore thighs that I assure you because there are lots to be seen of.  So be prepared, wear something comfortable.

Boat ride at Burnham Park

Buy strawberries

Say a little prayer at Baguio cathedral

Wright park right in front of The Mansion

If you're tired of walking, avail of a donkey ride

If you want something warm, visit Choco-late de batirol and experience the taste of hot chocolate prepared the traditional way

Mines view

Have a photo taken with the Igorots

The cool weather doesn’t tire us; we walk all day but we never sweat.  We even have the energy in the afternoon to do the famous jump shots.

And hair shots

Oooops.

Cheers!

Jack