Celine's Life Adventure

After the successful Southeast Asia Summit with Google, a good number of Filipino delegates stayed in Jogja to see the rest of the city and what it has to offer. Thank God, Reymart has friends who are living in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. Not only did they gave us a tour and drove us around the city (instead of hailing and waiting for a cab every time), they were our translator and had become our friends. Bella and Titis are our new friends from Jogja! Both girls gave us ( +Jomar ,  +Josan ,  +Reymart ,  +Ruben ,  +Reymart , +Keshan , and I) a tour around the city. Gadjah Mada University Our first stop for the day is the Sunday Market in UGM. Seriously, Indonesia is a lot like the Philippines. Humid weather, love for affordable market places - the Sunday Market is just like what we have in Makati in the Philippines. After sweating a lot and looking at the different items, we walked going back to the car and saw the beautiful mosque inside the campus. We don't have a lot of mosques i

Last Day of SEARCH Summit It was the last day of the SEARCH Summit. Time flies when you're having fun! We're having fun and making friends in Jogja. Now, I have acquaintances and friends from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, and more places! Thank God for blessing us with opportunities like this. We had another excellent breakfast even if +Jomar  and I woke up late. We had GDG Managers sharing their experiences the rest of the morning: +Samdy  ( +GDG Phnom Penh ) shared about how to keep the community engaged. Next,  +Ruben  ( +GDG Cebu ) shared about collaboration between the groups. Then,  +Louis  ( +GDG Singapore ) shared about the success of their work with the government to create a contest in making useful applications using big data. Lastly, +Josan  ( +GDG Cagayan de Oro ) shared about the success of their Student Developer's Day. We learned so much and had bonded over the last few days. The SEA GDG Managers is the best group ever!

After getting restful sleep, we enjoyed the breakfast buffet at Hyatt. After breakfast, we went to a session with the GBG leads. We had a lot of good afternoon activities as well. I learned about Google Ventures, HTML5, AdMob and AdSense, and Diversity. I would say that the sticker exchange that happened in the morning did the trick that made the GDG leads a talk with each other.

8-hour layover. That's the summary of our journey from Manila, Philippines going to Yogyakarta in Indonesia to attend the Southeast Asia Outreach Summit organized by Google for the different communities (GDG, GBG, GSA, and MapMaker) in SEA. Ninoy Aquino International Airport There's 25 of us travelling from the Philippines. We left Manila a little after 9:30 PM via Cebu Pacific going to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. While waiting for our flight, the GDG Managers from the Philippines ( +Jomar ,  +Josan ,  +Reymart ,  +Theo ,  +anne ,  +Ruben , and I) decided to use the time to discuss our DevFest 2013 plans. I also purchased from National Bookstore a new passport cover! Hihi. GDG Managers from the Philippines

Last weekend, Jomar and I went to Cebu for another round of Google Apps for Education training for the University of San Jose-Recoletos. Tokyo Tokyo Ramen Our flight was scheduled at 10:10 PM via Cebu Pacific. We had dinner in Greenbelt 1 (Tokyo-Tokyo) and started to line up for a cab at around 7:30 PM. I am trying the new Ramen from Tokyo-Tokyo.

New city. New people. More universities going Google! Day 1: LSU Gone Google Last May 24, 2013 (Friday), Jomar and I took the only flight going to Ozamiz City (from Manila) for the La Salle University (LSU) Google Apps for Education Training. After the initial surprise of the checked-in luggage just being handed out by airport employees, we went out and looked for Ms. Leslyn of LSU. We saw her with the other professors, and we headed straight to the university. Being an alumna of De La Salle University in Taft Avenue, Manila , I am delighted to be sharing to the faculty of LSU what I know about Google Apps. We started the training a little after 9:00 AM and the teaching staff representatives from each college and department was very eager to learn. They asked questions and were really looking forward to maximizing Google Apps for the coming school year. Day 1 Class

Ilocos Sur in the Ilocos Region of the Philippines was one of our stops during our Ilocandia Exploration. Here's a list of places we've visited in Ilocos Sur. Calle Crisologo It was my dream to see what a town or street that is a glimpse of what the Philippines looked like during the Spanish time. From the photos I see online, the best place to achieve this dream is to see and visit Vigan City personally which was our first stop during the trip. Walking in Calle Crisologo did feel like I was transported to the past, during the Spanish Era to be exact. Too bad I was only using the camera from my Samsung Galaxy Tab that I can't capture the view I am looking at during that moment.

Here's a list of places I visited in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Region (Region 1), Philippines during my Explore Ilocos trip with high school best friends, Lik and Deci, and boyfriend, Jomar. Marcos Museum and Mausoleum Seeing the supposed to be the corpse of Former President Ferdinand Marcos is scary and creepy. The body inside the Mausoleum looks like its made of wax already, but they say it's his preserved body waiting to be in its rightful place in the Libingan ng mga Bayani . Meanwhile, the museum showcased the childhood of Ferdinand Marcos up until the time he married Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez. The highlight of the Museum would be the 11-day courtship between the two.

What are the food we tried and the restaurants we visited during our Ilocandia trip? Here's a list! Cafe Uno (Vigan City, Ilocos Sur) We had breakfast in Cafe Uno! +Jomar  had the beef tapa while Deci, Lik and I had Vigan Longganisa. The beef tapa was too salty for my liking while the Longganisa was spot on delicious even if the serving is small. I had hot chocolate which from tablea - perfect!

I had always dreamt of time travelling to the years when the Spaniards ruled the Philippines. I know it is not possible to time travel (yet) so the closest thing I could think of is walking the historic city of Vigan. Checking the pictures online, Vigan is like a snapshot of what the Philippines look like during those early days. Last weekend, with my high school best friends (Deci and Lik) and boyfriend ( +Jomar ) we went to explore the beauty of the Ilocos region. I would be preparing separate blog posts for the places I visited in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur as well as the food we tried. Day 1 The trip started on Thursday evening at around 9:00 PM. I met with Jomar, Lik, and Deci in McDonald's North Avenue corner Mindanao Avenue. We waited for our van c/o Explore Island Philippines Travel and Tours . There were three groups in one van, us, a duo, and a group of four, as well. Our tour guide and driver for the trip is Kuya Rey. We left McDo a little past 9:00 PM. We

My mom is a Cebuana. She was born and raised in Cebu City. She would always share with us how she would have few but real friends from grade school and high school and would only get updated with them via snail mail. After months of convincing, my dearest mother now has a Facebook account. She was able to connect with her grade school and high school friends. Thus, she found out that one of her closest friends (who's now living in Alaska) is going home to Cebu for vacation. When I found out about this, I kept on nagging mother to go home to Cebu! She would say no because of the expenses and saying that she would only worry about Alyanna and the house and other things that are bothering her. I convinced her by saying that I would pay for the vacation. She deserves the break and its mother's day, anyway. It's the least I could do for her.

Last weekend, +Jomar  and I were back in Cebu for a Google Apps for Education training for one of the universities there. We arrived in Cebu at around 10:30 PM and met with +Jerome  at The Ridges Commercial Center. We went to Starbucks in IT Park to discuss the training the following day. I had hot chocolate and croissant. After less than an hour, we went straight to Center Suites  to get some shut eye for the next morning's training. After having breakfast, we went to university and trained the student leaders of the campus. It was the first time I teach students about Google Apps who already know the basic but was amaze on the other things I shared. I had fun today!

Last April 13, 2013, I was invited by the Department of Education Mountain Province Division to conduct Google Apps training for the representatives of the different district of Mountain Province. We started our trip on Friday (April 12) at 12:30 AM, +Jomar went to our house to pick me up. We went to the Victory Liner bus terminal in Cubao. The next available bus will be at 2:30 AM. We waited for roughly 1.5 hours, and we're off to Baguio City. We arrived in Baguio at 8:30 AM and had breakfast at Cafe by The Ruins. Cheese Omelet and Chicken Galantina Sandwich

I've been to Baguio a couple of times and have shared my experiences in this blog ( Baguio-Bontoc Adventure and Places to Visit in Baguio ). This particular visit is special because I am going there to do what I love, share with educators what I know and how they could maximize Google Apps. Day 1 Jomar and I left Quezon City at precisely 11:00 PM riding the Joy Bus: The Deluxe Coach of Genesis Transport, Inc. A review of the experience in a separate blog post . We arrived a little after 3:00 AM which makes the travel time just 4 hours between Manila and Baguio! We took a cab going to my favourite hotel in Baguio, Azalea Residences . The person at the front desk said that they have to charge us for two nights already since there's an early check-in charge. I was too tired and sleepy to argue, even if I am worried since I have a limited budget for this trip. I paid using my card, but it seems that their card reader isn't working correctly, but I informed the front des

Last February 22-23, 2013, +Jomar  and I went to the Queen City of the South, Cebu for a Google Apps Seminar-Workshop organized by  +GDG Cebu . Day 1 - Training & AA Due to bad weather, our flight was delayed from Manila, but I am so thankful that it didn't get cancelled. We arrived in Cebu at around 6:30 PM. We got a cab and head to Robes Pension House only to find out that no room is available for early check-in. We walked towards the direction of Cebu Normal University (event venue) and saw a few more pension houses. We decided to check-in at Skypark Pension House. They have clean rooms, clean bathroom, and accommodating staff. I was delighted with the price I paid. After around 15 minutes of arranging our stuff, Jomar and I headed to CNU for the whole day training.

Jomar (my boyfriend) is from Cavite province. Because of that, we decided to have a Cavite tour as part of our Valentine-Birthday celebration. He knows how much I love going to historical places. Thus he planned an itinerary for a day trip going places that played a significant role in Philippines history. We started our trip by meeting at Ayala Avenue, Makati City. We rode a bus going to Baclaran then transferred to a bus that goes to Cavite City. After around an hour and a half due to the horrible traffic near SM Bacoor, we went down in Aguinaldo's Shrine. It was my first time there! Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine Source of the Picture

Summary Last January 26, GDG Halsema  had their first meet-up . Jomar and I went up to Bontoc to be their speakers. Jomar talked about GDG and GDG Philippines while I discussed and had a demo of Google Apps particularly with an emphasis on how teachers and students could maximize it. But before the meet-up, Jomar and I rode a 12-hour bus ride going to Bontoc through Cable Tours. Some tips, buy or reserve your tickets ahead of time. I purchased our tickets the day before our trip, and we were already seated at the back. Come Friday, some people wanted to buy more tickets but they couldn't. I tried reserving tickets through phone but they didn't reply, so I decided to go to the terminal located inside a compound. To go there, you have to walk inside the compound between Shakey's and the Trinity University of Asia along E. Rodriguez Avenue. The bus left 9:00 PM, and we had three to four stopovers.

When I was in grade school, I remember my parents bringing us to Makati City. As a kid, the tall buildings look taller, and everything is just so big and amazing. Fast forward to now, Makati is a place I go to work every day for the past two years with hundreds even thousands of other Filipinos. Yesterday, Jomar and I had our first Saturdate for the year. We decided that we would be like tourists in Makati. Here is a list of places of interest that we had or are going to visit: Places of Worship Nuestra Senora de Gracia Parish Church - Who would have thought that in a neighbourhood known to be full of informal settlers, there would be a gem? One of the oldest Church in Makati City is near Guadalupe behind the Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary. A lot of couple from all over Metro Manila decide to get married here. Also, according to a Foursquare tip, a lot of local TV shows and movies are shot here. To get here, go down from Guadalupe Station and walk along Bernadino Street.

God blessed me with so many travel opportunities this past year. From vacation to business travels, I've been to new places and revisited some sites I've been to before. I was thrilled to be on a plane excited to meet new people, try different food, and see places. Even if there are some stressful moments, drama, among another negative juju, causing moments, I would say that 2012 allowed me to grow because of experience gained from travelling.

After our adventure in Bacolod , we arrived in Cebu a little before lunch. We (Mamu Chelle, JM, Jomar, and I) checked in at Center Suites in Gonzalez Compound and had lunch at CnT Lechon.