a look through my lenses..

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Tue, 01 May 2012 20:15:27 -0400

lulz-time: Follow this blog, you will love it on your...

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:29:58 -0400

lulz-time:

Follow this blog, you will love it on your dashboard

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Wed, 21 Mar 2012 02:40:03 -0400

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Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:19:28 -0400

fellsilent: Support the Invisible Children.

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:24:45 -0500

fellsilent:

Support the Invisible Children.

I still can’t believe that this war has been going on for...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:29:00 -0500

I still can’t believe that this war has been going on for the last 25 years. I don’t understand how one person can cause so much damage to so many people. This fool kidnaps kids, turns them into soldiers, murderers, sexual slaves and gets away with it. Oh hell no, JOSEPH KONY you are going down. Spread the word and stop at nothing.

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Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:30:24 -0500

LOL True story.

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:15:07 -0500

LOL True story.

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Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:08:52 -0500

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Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:55:59 -0500

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Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:44:38 -0500

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Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:43:18 -0500

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Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:25:30 -0500

My trip to the Philippines :)

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:05:46 -0500

My trip to the Philippines :)

"When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow."

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:19:55 -0500

“When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.”

- Shauna Niequist (via thresca)

greatbritt: idlearth: This little girl’s mother is from...

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:45:20 -0500

greatbritt:

idlearth:

This little girl’s mother is from Helsinki, Finland.

While her daughter is soundly asleep, she creates a completely different world … from whatever she can find around her! That’s how both of them became really famous. What a truly fabulous imagination.

I was saying ‘aw’ the entire time. This is so great, really great.

Apparently this baby sleeps as soundly as I do.

This is so cute!

0hromeo: Merry Christmas in Bicol Dialect“Maugmang Pasko Saindo...

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:51:42 -0500

0hromeo:

Merry Christmas in Bicol Dialect
“Maugmang Pasko Saindo Gabos!”

Bicol Day No. 16

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:01:35 -0500

I’ve been in Bicol for 7 days and I absolutely love it. The air is even fresher than Boracay. I don’t need to carry around my handkerchief anymore to block out the polluted air. There’s no such thing as smog checks here, but at least the Province isn’t as congested as the city life in Manila or the tourist attraction of Boracay. I’m not gonna lie though I’ve been so spoiled in Boracay and Manila. I had a hotel room with one other person, my own bed to sleep in, a bathroom, a refrigerator, AC. There’s none of that here where we’re staying in Bicol. My dad started building a house here but it’s a little undone which is normal here. It’s basically concrete floors and walls. Seven people, one room. The other night we were all laughing at our situation because we were like little sardines in one little room. On top of that my parents didn’t want to open the window because there’s no screen and they didn’t want mosquitos coming in. And there’s no AC! It was pretty funny though but I can’t help but to think that this is their reality. The other room in my Dad’s house is occupied by my Uncle and his family. Our house here is in a compound with other Floras, my dad’s siblings and there family. This is what I call hardcore community. I thought my family in America was tight-knit. It’s even tighter in the Philippines. Everyone helps each other out, even the little kids. They mature so much faster over here. My 11 year old cousin here in Bicol has seen more life than my 13 year old video playing cousin in the states. He walks and talks like someone who has been through a lot (which he has). He lost his dad a couple months ago. Its just him, his younger sister, and his mom now. He drives his mom around in a freakin motorcycle. Who does that at 11 years old? Only in the Philippines man. My Uncle Edwin (the one living in the same house) has 2 kids, a 2 year old & 4 year old. Sometimes they’re left alone in the house all by themselves but they know how to take care of themselves already. I would never do that in America but here they don’t have a choice because they have to work to keep they’re family alive. They’re such smart kids too. That’s just a few of them but they all have their stories. I wish I could give them everything. We are so so spoiled in America. And that’s an understatement. Life is much simpler here but its hard to get by with the small wages. The best part of this trip is spending it with family! If only we came straight here instead of Manila & Boracay. I can’t believe we only have two more days left here. I’m going to miss them so much!

Boracay Day No. 8

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:01:26 -0500

Its our fourth day in Boracay. We’ve been in the Philippines for only 8 days but it feels like i’ve been here forever! We landed in Caticlan monday afternoon and hopped on a boat to Boracay. Finally a breath of fresh air! There is no such thing as fresh air in Manila. I’m grateful or clean air and trees! It’s so green and beautiful out here. I’ve missed the ocean oh so much. The water is so clear and blue. It’s still hot and humid with a few minutes of rain here and there but at least I can finally breathe! But even in Boracay you can’t escape poverty. It’s hard to enjoy vacation when there are people starving right next to you. Yesterday night we saw three little boys running through an outdoor restaurant snatching leftovers from tables. It was so sad. The oldest one grabbed a half-eaten chicken and passed out pieces to the other two boys. As they were passing us, we asked them if they wanted food and of course they said yes. There eyes were so big and full of excitement when we told them to choose what they want to eat. I’m sure they rarely ever get to pick and choose what they eat. I loved seeing their faces light up! This maybe the highlight of my stay here in Boracay. The fresh air, the beautiful ocean, the helmet diving, snorkeling, sunsets, sunrise, etc doesn’t give me half as much joy than seeing these kids eat chicken , rice with a soda on the side. Forget about Parasailing when we can use the money we were going to use for Parasailing to feed more people! So today we laid out at the beach and had a low key day. I’m over all those water activities anyway. I can just stare at the ocean and be satisfied. Tonight i’m excited to feed people!

Manila Day No. 4

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:39:53 -0500

My fourth day in Manila. Its a warm sunny morning but it looks cold & gloomy outside. The road is congested filled with jeepneys, taxis, pedestrians, tricycles scattered all over, most of the time they’re within two inches of each other. Driving here is crazy and kind of scary. It seems like they have no traffic rules but they seem to have developed their own rules. In America if there is a two lane road, only 2 cars can fit side by side. In the Philippines, you can fit as many as you possibly can. They make most of what they have, no space on the street is ever empty. Usually there are vendors selling food on rolling carts or makeshift stands, countless beggars desperately asking for money, prostitutes walking back & forth waiting for a client to pick them up, homeless men, homeless women, homeless children, and even homeless babies sleeping on mostly every corner. I’ve hear stories. It this is the first time I’ve seen it through my own eyes. I can’t help but to feel helpless. I wish there was a way we can help them all. We give away food but there is always another person starving on the next corner. We give away spare change in hopes that they’ll use the money for themselves and that a sick & twisted person isn’t watching them from afar waiting to collect their earnings. There is no real cure for poverty but it doesn’t mean that trying doesn’t make a difference in someone’s life.