#LRT Manila

[byaeivrynrv]

[fhistle]

when i start to feel hopeless i start naming the train lines they're building in manila just so I have smth to hope gfor

[oosvz]

[digitalfilipina]

LRMC, Airspeed to pilot first smart locker system in public transport

LRT-1 private operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) has officially inked a deal with the Airspeed Group of Companies to activate PopBox in the Philippines and enable the first smart locker system available in a public transport terminal. Present during the partnership signing were (L-R) LRMC Head of Business Development John Kelly F. Tan, LRMC President and CEO Juan F. Alfonso together…

[jiacast]

World Tourism Day

Travel Guide: Manila, Philippines

Manila, the Philippines' vibrant metropolis, is a dynamic mix of old and new, with ancient Spanish architecture meeting modern skyscrapers and busy marketplaces coexisting with elegant retail malls. Whether you're interested in the city's rich history, eclectic cuisine scene, or vibrant culture, Manila provides an intriguing and comprehensive experience.

When to Visit:

The dry season (November-May) offers less humidity and rain, with cooler temperatures from December to February. The wet season (June-October) offers indoor activities like museums and shopping and is less crowded.

Top Attractions:

Intramuros: The historic heart of Manila, built during the Spanish colonial period. Visits include Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, and Casa Manila Museum.

Rizal Park (Luneta): A sprawling park dedicated to José Rizal, hosting the National Museum Complex.

Binondo, The World's Oldest Chinatown: A vibrant neighborhood known for its Chinese-Filipino culture and delicious food.

Manila Ocean Park: An aquarium and marine-themed park offering a variety of activities.

Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP): Home to Filipino performing arts, hosting concerts, ballets, plays, and art exhibits.

Local Experiences:

Experience the Philippines' iconic jeepney ride for a colorful and affordable way to explore Manila. The city is a shopping paradise, with luxurious malls like SM Mall of Asia and bargain hunting at Divisoria Market and Greenhills Shopping Center. Enjoy local crafts, electronics, and clothes at these popular shopping destinations.

Food & Dining:

Manila is a hub of Filipino flavors, offering a diverse range of street vendors and fine dining options. Famous dishes include lechon, a traditional pig dish; adobo, a soy-braised chicken or pork dish; and halo-halo, a refreshing dessert made with shaved ice, sweetened fruits, jelly, ube, and leche flan.

Must-Try Restaurants:

Ilustrado Restaurant in Intramuros offers a blend of Spanish, Filipino, and international cuisine, while Barbara's Heritage Restaurant provides a cultural dining experience with traditional Filipino food and folk dance performances. Aristocrat is renowned for its Filipino comfort food.

Day Trips from Manila:

Tagaytay, Pagsanjan Falls, and Corregidor Island: • Tagaytay: 2-hour drive from Manila, offers cooler weather and Taal Volcano views. • Pagsanjan Falls: 3-hour boat ride through river gorge, ending with refreshing waterfall. • Corregidor Island: Historical island off Manila Bay, played a significant role during WWII. Guided tour of ruins, tunnels, and military barracks.

Nightlife:

Manila's nightlife scene is vibrant, particularly in Makati, Bonifacio Global City, and Malate. It offers trendy rooftop bars, live music, and dance clubs. Poblacion, known for its hip vibe, features speakeasies, bars, and clubs. Resorts World Manila, a luxury resort and casino, offers sophisticated dining, theaters, and bars for a sophisticated night out.

Getting Around:

Manila's traffic can be busy, so leave additional time to drive. You can get about using Grab (the taxi service app), jeepneys, buses, or LRT/MRT trains. Local communities also have tricycles and pedicabs accessible for shorter trips.

Cultural Etiquette:

• Mano Po: Traditional respect gesture where younger people place elder's hand on forehead. • Bayanihan Spirit: Filipino hospitality, friendly locals, and helpfulness encouraged.

Shopping:

Divisoria is a popular market known for affordable goods, while SM Mall of Asia is a massive mall offering luxury goods, local brands, an ice skating rink, and an IMAX theater.

Conclusion:

With its blend of colonial history, vibrant urban life, and ingrained culture, Manila is a city of contrasts. Whether you're taking in the lively culinary scene or discovering the old-world elegance of Intramuros, Manila provides a diverse and colorful experience that will make for lifelong memories.

[randomlifeofmine]

I saw the news about the LRT 1 extension finally opening.

Finally. Las Piñas na lang and malibot ko na Metro Manila by commute and by walking.

[wendellcapili]

Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City is a luxurious addition to the vibrant City of Firsts, being the first Ibis brand of Accor in the Philippines. Its strategic location near LRT, MRT, and other public transport stations makes it a convenient choice for travelers looking to explore the city. Unlike other hotels in the area, Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City offers a unique and chic experience that pays homage to the local culture.

Situated just a 2-minute walk away from premier shopping destinations like Gateway Mall Towers 1 & 2, guests can easily indulge in retail therapy or enjoy a variety of dining options. Additionally, the hotel provides easy access to the rich history of Araneta City through its proximity to iconic venues like the Smart Araneta Coliseum and New Frontier Theater, where guests can immerse themselves in staged performances and cultural events.

With its prime location near major transport hubs, guests at Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City can effortlessly explore nearby malls, entertainment venues, and other attractions. Whether one is looking to shop and dine or a business traveler in need of a convenient base, Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City offers the perfect blend of comfort and accessibility.

[kyvisualsph]

It's been raining in Manila.

ang tagal ko ng wala sa hometown ko. mag tatatlong taon na, minsan pag umuuwi ako ng Manila. natatakot na ako dahil unti-unti na akong na un familiarized dito. mabilis mag bago ang itsura ng Manila. parang hindi makasabay ang panahon dito. kung ano binagal minsan ng oras ganoon kabilis ang ikot dito.

Manila is where my heart is, kung ano ang iningay ng umaga dito ay siya rin ikinakulay ng gabi. marami ka mapupulot na kwento dito. kakaiba, malalim at puno ng nakakamangha na istorya. sa araw-araw mo na pag lalakad o pag byahe dito. imposibleng hindi ka makakuha ng kwento. imposibleng walang kwentong Manila. bawat sulok nito ay kakapulutan ng kung ano (tulad ng basura hehe jk). madumi man ang hangin. marami man ang masasamang loob at maraming di rin ka aya-ayang lugar. ang Manila ang sentro ng lahat ultimo sa kalakaran noong una pang panahon. 

LRT at MRT, isa rin ito sa mga nag dudugtong sa pusod ng Metro Manila. sino nga ba ang hindi nakasakay dito? na hindi naiisip minsan ang buhay nya ay parang isang pelikula o para siyang nasa isang music video. lalo na pag nakasaksak na ang earphones sa mag kabilang tenga. napaka sentimental ng lugar na ito. marami na nga ang nag pakamatay dito. medyo nakakatakot nga lang lol. pero ang mga tren na ito ang naging sandalan ng mga tao na nag tratrabaho/estudyante ng Manila. although minsan nakaka-badtrip lang kapag mahina ang aircon at siksikan. minsan pa nga ay nasisiraan sa kalagitnaan ng byahe. pero ang laking ginhawa nito lalo na sa malupit na traffic.

ang mga streets ng Manila ay hindi pare-pareho. may delikado, safe, masaya at malungkot. masarap mag lakad sa Manila. mapa umaga man o gabi. marami ka mapupuntahan na pwede mo lang lakarin hindi mo na kailangan bumyahe ng marami pang sasakyan. kahit siguro bente lang pera mo ay mabubuhay ka na dito. lahat ng cravings mo mabilis mo lang makakain dahil napaka dali lang puntahan ng mga kainan at pasyalan dito. nandito rin ang mga nag lalakihan na mga Malls. hinding hindi ka mababagot sa Manila. 

kapag umuulan naman sa Manila. nakakatakot dahil asahan mo na ang mabilisan na pag baha saan man sulok ng lugar. lagpas tuhod minsan naman ay hanggang bewang. sa loob at labas ng bahay yan. wala kang ligtas sa baha sa Manila. talaga naman nakakaawa ang mga pauwi ng kanilang mga bahay galing trabaho kapag naabutan ng ulan. 

isa din sa mamimiss mo sa Manila ay ang mga marites. mga walking CCTV. mga matang nakatitig na akala mo kung makatingin ay buklat na buklat na ang pagkatao. mas alam pa nila yung istorya mo kesa sa sarili mo. pero ang magandang dulot naman nito ay walang masyadong nagiging biktima ng mga massacre dito. dahil makarinig man sila agad ng konting sigaw ay tiyak mapapabukas na ng mga bintana yan. ang iba ay lalabas at mag uusisa talaga hanggang sa tatawag na ng barangay. 

iba ang energy ng mga taga Manila. masaya sila kasama, akala mo walang bukas kung mag walwal. akala mo walang mga problema na iniinda. Bold ang mga Manilenyo, transparent sila sa mga buhay nila. Happy go lucky at creative. dito naka imbento ng pisonet,corn dog at kung ano-ano pa. madali mag business sa Manila. walang permit yung iba lol. kaya kahit tignan mong ganyan lang sila mga naka-iphone yan, isama mo na yung mga snatcher at holdaper sa diskarte lol. 

"Simply no place like Manila" mula sa kanta ng Hotdog. totoo talaga walang katulad. para nga daw babae ang Manila, binabalik-balikan. parang babae ang manila. sa kakumplikado nito lol jk. marami rin na ngangarap ang tumira dito. at isa na rin ako doon sa gustong bumalik pag dating ng araw. 

[jezawitha-z]

it's almost a week searching all over the internet kung paano ako makapunta sa lugar na gusto kong puntahan for the sake of rameeeeeen!!!! kasi i've been in Manila but with companions pero going there alone is something na kailangan kong magpakatatag. Hahahahaha

like i'm stuck between pa-pasay or cubao na bus sasakyan kung anong terminal mas malapit sa ramen place na to and all. the challenge here is both route ay may lrt/mrt na dapat sakyan din, well as per google 🤷🏻‍♀️ and deyym i don't know how to commute alone lalo na sa mrt/lrt na yan.

siguro safe naman mga app like angkas ano kapag nasa manila? from terminal, halos 15mins sya hanggang drop location.

so from dau terminal to kung pasay man o cubao idk kung saang terminal, almost 2-3 hours and that's just for a ramen wtf this is insane hahahahaha

probinsyanang luluwas ng maynila para sa pamilya este sa ramen 😫🤣

[byaeivrynrv]

[mysteriouslyvaliantblaze]

Live life to the fullest in the heart of the city!

Live near the upcoming Subway and LRT and easily access key areas of Metro Manila and the airport!

South Tower is launching this Oct. 2023.

Available Units: Studio, 1BR, & 2BR

To check the available units, hold and reserve your preferred unit online, please register on our Online Client Registration Link below:

https://sid.dmcihomes.com/OnlineCRF/Main.aspx?ac=ED25539

[oldyears]

love driving my sister to the lrt station past rush hour i wish metro manila roads could be that peaceful at all hours

[inspiredhearts]

Journey to ATTY.

So I haven't written anything about this in detail after passing the Bar exam. Results for the November 2022 Bar exam came out last April 14, 2023. I took the oath and signed the roll of attorneys last May 2 at the PICC.

I have an unfinished post in my drafts about me failing the 2019 exam. I honestly don't know what I wanted to write back then but I will still write about it as much as I can remember.

You see, the review during the Bar is one of the most stressful moments of my life that I actually forgot some details of my life because of it. It's still not as bad as what happened to my brain because of the pandemic and during the pandemic, but still.

Last 2019, I stayed in Manila for the review. The review center was walking distance from the place where I stayed. I was with another classmate that time and she passed the 2019 Bar. Anyway, it was so stressful that time because of the limited water supply. I remember always coming home here in Pampanga because I didn't want to deal with that stress there. Not to mention the long queues at the elevator that I just didn't want to go out anymore.

My stay there was stressful, and humbling. It was also sad. I remember the first nights there I wasn't eating and I was just crying myself to sleep because it was so sad not being with my family. I'm at an unfamiliar place dealing with the lack of water - it really added to the stress.

However, I was also happy because whenever I go home, I get to bring my sisters pasalubong in the form of food. I always bought them Kyochon, and also 24 Chicken. It was really nice.

I also learned how to commute although my route is basically just that - bus to Avenida, then LRT to our place. I never thought I'd ride the LRT but hey, it's cheap, and it's really the easiest way to get there.

I know I'm going to fail the Bar exams because of my answers. I was able to answer everything but I know I didn't answer correctly in most of the Remedial Law questions. I knew that it would be a huge miracle if I passed the exam.

And yes, I failed. I expected that so the blow was somehow lessened but since it was the start of the pandemic when the results were released, it was really a stressful time for us in the family. I still felt like a failure and I felt like a loser.

The next Bar exam was conducted in February 2022. I didn't apply that time because they wanted it to push through in 2021 and the pandemic situation was still not better by then so I just let it go.

Things were somehow getting better in 2022 so I just applied for the November 2022 Bar exam.

The previous exam (the one after the 2019 exam) introduced the digital mode of conducting the exam. They adopted the method in the November 2022 Bar exam, and they'll be adopting in all Bar exams already.

So in May, if I'm not mistaken, I applied for the Bar exams. I enrolled in review classes which started in June 2022. Boy was it all so difficult because I wasn't studying since after the November 2019 exam. I was busy keeping my family alive during the pandemic years because I was the only one going out. I was trying to hold my shit together that time even though my mental health was at an all time chaotic level already.

It was difficult but I was also having fun because now I'm just at home, studying at my own pace, just watching the uploaded recorded review lectures, and basically sleeping to their voices.

I was at home, I was able to cook food, do the chores, be able to bathe without that schedule because we have a constant supply of running water - basically I was just chill in terms of my living circumstances.

In the middle of this all I suddenly was nurturing a broken heart from my favorite mistake that I made in May 2022. LOL. Halfway through July I got my heart broken even though I was not really in love and it can be seen in my posts here during that time because, hey, I needed a fucking outlet for me to be able to soldier on.

Of course I was still stressed during the review. The lack of updates from the Bar chair was so stressful for us as well. Fortunately there was no major problem that came my way in terms of that.

During the review, in August, a new location in Genshin Impact opened which is Sumeru. I was so excited to play it because the location looked really nice and soothing so when it dropped, I played it, while also listening to the lectures.

I was just mindlessly strolling through Sumeru and opening teleport waypoints while listening to the lecture. I guess it helped in my review because I can give my attention to the lecture without getting sleepy. I can't really just sit and listen - I MUST DO SOMETHING.

This is what I learned about myself even when I was in Manila. For me to be able to absorb information better and not get sleepy, I need to do something. I remember in 2019 that I was cleaning my room when listening to lectures. Or when I'm at home, I'm at the kitchen doing the dishes and cooking while listening. And it helps me learn better.

So yea, now when I'm in Sumeru I'm reminded of that time that I was reviewing. I even remember telling myself that I'll tell this story of how I was exploring Sumeru while reviewing and how it was helpful to me.

The local testing center which I chose was at San Beda University. I stayed at a place there called LA Suites - I reserved through Airbnb. Initially, I was just going to stay there for the night and go home after every exam but the first exam day, when I went home, it was so fucking tiring that I decided to just suck it up and stay there for the rest of the exam days.

The place where I stayed was nice. It's just located at the 3rd floor. The ground floor has so many food establishments and a laundromat. There's an Alfamart too, and MiniStop nearby. There's 7-11 too but it's on the other side of the road. If I walk a little further, there's a grocery store (Super 8?) nearby. Rex Bookstore is also just there.

I survived there even though there's no refrigerator nor stove by bringing a rice cooker and an ice box. Every day, I would buy ice to last me through the day. I've ordered food from either FoodPanda or GrabFood, or I just bought stuff outside.

I was with Danny too since he also stayed there. We would often ask each other what food we'll buy and one of us will order for the other and just deliver it to their room.

Ms. Evelyn - the caretaker - was also really nice. We chat for a bit while she's cleaning my room and, it was really just nice talking to someone.

So the Bar exams came and Danny and I would go there together in the morning. Dra. Che was also there but in a different room. We would often meet up at lunch and talk. One time we ate at Jollibee after the exams. On the first Sunday, Danny and I ate at the unlimited shabu-shabu and samgyupsal restaurant located on the ground floor of the building where we're staying.

I remember the password for the first exam was related to Sherlock Holmes. Me being the Sherlock fan that I am was just so happy when I read it that even though the exam was quite difficult I wasn't really stressed out.

I admit that there are a lot of things that I didn't know. There were a lot of questions where I was unsure of my answers. However, the fact that the exam was digital and I can erase and change my answers and I can first skip questions was God-send. I will never shut up about the fact that it's the modality of the exam which made me pass the exam. If that was the traditional pen-and-booklet exam, I would've failed again. So I'm really thankful for that because I was able to articulate my answers and maybe I was able to give a semblance of the correct answer even in my uncertainty.

The last day of the exam, I told Natz if he can be there. He was there together with his girlfriend, and Oni was there too. We ate at KFC and just chatted and laughed out loud. I didn't feel sad - I was thinking that I passed. I got this. I didn't want to be overconfident of course but I also wanted to manifest that I already passed because I don't want to go through that again.

I've learned about manifesting during my heartbreak so I guess me experiencing a heartbreak was actually the world introducing new things to me such as that one? HAHAHAHA.

The release of the results was one of the happiest moments of my life. Seeing my name there finally, it was exhilarating.

I may have forgotten some details here so if ever that's the case I'll just make a separate post but for now, I'll just end this. Hopefully I haven't forgotten some important details that when I look back at this post, I'll be amazed at myself for being able to include so much detail into this journey.

[kimhortons]

South Caloocan.

November 26, Saturday

ito yung part 1 ng gala ko nung saturday. kasabay ko dapat ipopost 'to dun sa catching up namin with tay Bogs kaso limited time lang meron ako non dahil kausap ko si J, kaya iniwan ko muna 'to sa drafts. hehe

so ayun, nag punta kami ni Jasmine sa South Caloocan to visit nga my cousin Mikee. dapat sa north kami e, kasi taga North Caloocan talaga 'tong pinsan ko. tapos overnight sana kami kaso nandun siya sa bahay ng boyfriend niya. dun muna siya nag stay kasi naka bed rest siya for 1 week dahil siya ay 2 months pregnant na and syempre kailangan niya yung boyfriend niya kapag pupunta sila ng OB. basta yun.

matagal naman na namin plan na magkita kita at mag overnight kasi nga baka matagal akong mawala muna dito sa Manila. kaso ayun ang daming biglaan din nangyari pero atleast natuloy parin kami. first time ko rin nameet yung boyfriend niya. nung una ko nga yan nakita sa Facebook parang di ko siya feel for my cousin kasi mukhang pakboi haha. hmmm. but anyway, okay naman pala siya in person, funny rin siya at mukhang nasa mabuting lagay naman ang pinsan ko sakanya. happy na rin ako for them.

nakakatawa pa kasi tangina, tinopak na naman ako nung araw na yan. hahaha. sobrang init kasi, ang dami pang tao nun sa SM North kasi dun ako nag book ng angkas papunta sa meeting place sa 5th Ave, then pag dating ko dun di kami nagkakitaan agad, e yung lugar sa LRT station feeling ko hindi safe, tapos may lalaki pang tingin ng tingin na mukhang snatcher pa naman kaya napatawid ako ng de oras. e intersection yon, nang gigil ako kay Jasmine kasi di ko malaman kung nasang kanto siya. hayup, di pa naman ako mapakali kasi pinag titinginan din ako, kala siguro nila koreana ako. hahahaha. ayun, nabinyagan ng topak ko yung boyfriend ni Mikee. nakakahiya talaga. hahaha. buti kumalma rin ako agad, naiyak pa nga ako sa sobrang inis. haha.

nag foodtrip lang kami sa food hub na malapit sakanila, then pagbalik sa bahay ng boyfriend niya nag chikahan lang kami, catch up lang din. pinag oovernight nga sana kami dun kaso ayoko dahil di ako prepared. tsaka nalalayuan kasi ako sa lugar kaya nag dinner nalang kami after that nakipag meet na kami ni Jasmine kay tay Bogs. di ko kasi alam paano uuwi from there ayaw ko bumalik sa meeting place namin at bumyahe mag isa pabalik ng SM North haha. kaya dumaan kami ng Quiapo para nga dun sumakay papunta naman sa Morato.

bitin yung meet up namin sa dami ng chika. di ko alam kung kelan ulit kami nagkikita kita. haha.

[psychedddd-out]

𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭 #𝟖: 𝐌𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 ♡

It has indeed been quite a tough journey, not just for my experience in my Psychology 101 course with Teacher Nette, but also as an individual that has developed quite a lot over the years of the course of my existence. For my last blog post, I am tasked to analyze my own development and I believe that one of the best ways I can do this is to adapt the cognitive development theory of Erik Erikson. Individual development in this lens takes place through psychosocial dilemmas that can either positively or negatively impact one’s development (Mcleod, 2023). Through this, there are segments in which I can integrate my own life experiences with the virtues and values that I have developed from each stage of development. 

A. Infancy (0-1 year old)

The first stage of infancy is where I face the issue of trust versus mistrust and if I surpass this challenge, I earn the virtue of hope. Based on the stories I heard from my own parents, when I was an infant, I was never left for one second and since I was the first grandchild of my grandparents, everyone was hands-on towards me and providing me with all of the basic needs that I needed. Through this, as I mentioned beforehand, I was able to have hope and be hopeful.

Being optimistic has always been one of the most important traits I possessed with my personality and hopefulness is something that helped foster that. Hope is defined by three main components: (1) becoming goal-oriented, (2) finding ways to achieve that goal, and (3) believing (Colla et. al, 2022). This was helpful especially for the time when I took the entrance exam for my old high school; it was a science high school so getting in was quite a competitive and tedious process. I worked on the goal of being part of that school so, I took on multiple ways on how I can achieve that goal such as applying for review centers and constantly studying along with people who shared the same goal as mine. Lastly, I would not have passed the exam and finished my high school education without having the power of believing in myself. Until now, I still trust, believe, and have hope for myself and for what I am going through - that I am meant for a lot of greater things and that whatever hardship I come across, I will be able to overcome it. 

B. Early Childhood (1-3 years old)

Next stage was early childhood. I have asked stories on how I was like when I was at this stage, and what I have heard completely shocked me. My parents said that during this stage, I was mostly insisting on doing things independently and trying to figure out things on my own such as wanting to drink from a glass or using a fork independently. This perfectly matched what the early childhood stage is all about - problem-solving and a lot of other processes in thinking (Cherry, 2018). When I used to do these silly things, instead of being put to shame, my mom told me that they often encouraged me to solve those little problems on my own. Therefore, I was able to develop a sense of personal control over my skills and independence - or in other words, will. 

I believe that one life experience I can relate this to was one of the crucial steps I took in my times as a high school student and most importantly now, as a college student - this was learning how to commute and navigate my way around Manila. At first, I was scared of riding LRTs or MRTs in a place that was foreign to me. However, I had a will to learn to do things all for being able to study in my dream university, the one where I am currently. Without will, I would not be able to learn commuting on my own. There were times where I was shy when asking for directions, but since I had this desire within me to learn, I was able to overcome that shyness and not just for asking directions, but for asking and talking to other people in public in general. 

C. Play Age (3-6 years old)

Play age was quite a different experience compared to the ones I tackled before this. In this stage, it is all about interacting with other children, through of course, playing. Being successful in overcoming this stage results in having a sense of purpose, if otherwise, guilt. According to what I remember, I used to always choose what I wanted to play with and most of the time, it was cooking toys or stuffed animals. From my parents’ perspective, this was wrong since I was a male and I was supposed to be playing with more ‘masculine’ toys. At a young age, I was already introduced to strict gender roles and my parents believed that I had to conform to them or else I would not develop well. However, according to a study by Arkoncel et. al (2015) from the University of the Philippines - DIliman, teaching children about the variety of roles from a young age does not impact their development whatsoever. 

On the bright side, I was able to overcome this through still expressing myself and having my own initiative through doing them when my parents are not around or if I am only playing with friends from school and neighbors. Regardless of complications, I believe I was still able to develop a sense of purpose.

Having a sense of purpose has been really helpful in plenty of my life experiences, most especially in times where I had to step up and initiate leadership within a group. I encountered this last semester from my `Self and Society 1` class. We had a group project wherein there were 12 of us in the group and had to create an advocacy page. I noticed that no one wanted to take the initiative of being a leader, so I immediately offered my help for the whole group to lead us into our goal. With enough trust for myself and my groupmates, we were able to accomplish a high grade rating for our project.

D. School Age (7-11 years old)

At ages 7 to 11, I was still a diligent student of elementary school. The most basic conflict in this stage is feeling confident in my own abilities through competence against feeling inferior when this fails. I have never felt a competitive environment from when I was still in grade school except of course, in actual competitions. There was one time when I was in 6th grade, about 10 or 11 years old, I participated in a poem recital competition in our school for the first time and I was competing against previous winners. Naturally, I had my doubts in my own skills, but through uplifting from myself, my family, and my friends, I was able to overcome this conflict. I did not worry about what I could not do, but focused on what I could do and what techniques I could use to captivate the audience. In the end, I was able to win first place in the competition. I realized then that all it takes is just a little competence and hope in my own skills!

Integrating this with my own life experiences, I can relate this very much to what I do as a trainee for the dance varsity I am a part of in our university. As I venture outside of the academic world, I chose to go into the dance world as it is the passion that my heart also burns for. Here, there are plenty of opportunities to showcase my talents, but for an uncertain price of having your own self-confidence destructed. This has happened to me so many times. Seeing my fellow dancers dance better than me has always led me to feeling slightly inferior to them, but of course, I knew how to bounce back and again, just focus on what I can do and do it best. Now, I have let my self-confidence grow and become more competent than ever as an individual and as a dancer. 

E. Adolescence (12-18 years old)

Adolescence is a stage that is full of excitement and surprises waiting just right around every corner. In Erik Erikson’s theory, this stage is where the conflict of identity against role confusion occurs and for me, this really was the conflict that I experienced the most during this time of my life. At age 13, I already started to figure out that I was different from everyone else; I knew that deep inside, I was gay. From ages 14-18, only close friends of mine both in high and college knew about this. Additionally, I think what also helped me to overcome this stage was having various types of people around me that helped me rethink and reassess my personal beliefs and values. One of the most notable results from this was becoming Christian to agnostic after a few years in high school. Overall, going past this stage helped me gain a sense of fidelity within myself. 

A recent personal experience of mine that I can relate to the former paragraph was when I came out or disclosed to my parents what my sexuality was. My father’s instant reaction was that it was okay, but he still insisted that he wanted me to have grandchildren or choose the “correct path”; he was not fully supportive. On the other hand, my mother never changed how she treated me. This was actually proven by one study from the University of the Philippines - Diliman, that mothers are less likely to have a negative change in their relationship with their homosexual son after he discloses it, and will even tend to develop a more protective attitude towards them (Alip et. al, 2014). Moving back into me, I never let what my father thought affect me, but instead used it to even amplify more and take pride in what I am. 

F. The Future

From the start of this journey or the start of the second semester, I was a completely different person. I even mentioned in my first ever blog post that after going through this course, I was going to know myself better and I was very much eager or hopeful to do that. Thus, I really was able to get to know myself better. I got to learn about so many theories that I could deem helpful into analyzing who and what I am as a person such as the developmental theories that helped me navigate through my stages of life, positive psychology theories that let me find ways how I can keep myself motivated, and even personality theories that let me explore myself in different aspects. Compared to before, I am now more confident in myself and even more eager to learn all about psychology. 

From Erik Erikson’s theory, I should now be entering the stage of intimacy versus isolation as I search for love. Indeed, this stage is extremely exciting, but I do not want to think of this stage as just looking for a romantic type of love; but love that is for myself, for friends, and for family. In this journey, I am sure that my future psychology courses would be helpful as well as I traverse the mountains of life.

References:

Mcleod, S. (2023). Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development. SimplyPsychology (URL). Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/erik-erikson.html 

Colla, R., Paige, W., Oades L., & Camacho, J. (2022). “A New Hope” for Positive Psychology: A Dynamic Systems Reconceptualization of Hope Theory. Frontiers in Psychology. Vol 13. Retrieved from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.809053

Cherry, K. (2018). An Overview of Early Childhood Development. Explore Psychology (URL). Retrieved from https://www.explorepsychology.com/early-childhood-development/

Arkoncel, M. & Perez, M. (2015). Identification of common gender roles and gender stereotypes in preschool children aged four to five. University of the Philippines - Diliman. College of Home Economics. Retrieved from https://digitalarchives.upd.edu.ph/item/46401/971/Cl4D0DHaA63CK41imkfMIMJ9 

Alip, A. & Teves, M. (2014). Perspective of adolescent homosexual sons and their mothers on the changes on parent-child relations after disclosure. University of the Philippines - Diliman. College of Home Economics. Retrieved from https://digitalarchives.upd.edu.ph/item/20151/971/MA46I6483b8cELGd1cm1MeI3

Word Count: 1905

[alennahmarieborra]

Laguna is one of the provinces in the Philippines, that rich with culture, art and history are found. Nature lovers love going to this province for Mount Banahaw and Mount Makiling are situated within its boundaries. It is also home for the lakes (Sampaloc and Palakpakin), falls (Majayjay Falls) and rivers. Old churches (St. John the Baptist Church in Liliw and St. James the Apostle Church in Paete) and Spanish houses are also part of the province’s charismatic beauty. Thankfully, I have roots in this beautiful province.

Sampaloc Lake is one of the seven beautiful lakes in San Pablo City in Laguna. It’s the largest among them, too. But what makes it a top tourist draw this side of the province is the gorgeous view it provides, as well as the various activities tourists can do around the area.

With a total circumference of 3.7 kilometers, the lake is popular with runners who want to work out a sweat while being close to nature. It’s easy to find, because it’s located very near the San Pablo City Hall.

Unfortunately, the water in Sampaloc Lake is not suitable for swimming. However, visitors can still enjoy lots of activities such as taking photos, eating street food (like isaw and kwek-kwek), renting bicycles, or sampling the local cuisine in one of the restaurants around the lake.

There are lots of tilapia, bangus, carp, and several species of shrimps that abound in the lake, so it’s likely that you’ll come across a vendor selling newly caught fish.

According to legend, the lake was created because an old woman, who happened to have a giant Sampaloc tree in her garden, drew away an old man (who is a diwata in disguise) seeking help for his grandson. After this, a thundering noise and heavy rain ensued, sinking the entire orchard, filling it with water, and turning it into a lake.

How to get here?

City of San Pablo is very accesible also to any type of land vehicle and if you own a vehicle and figure out where is the exact location of Lake Sampaloc, the lake is located beside Provincial Capitol of San Pablo and Dona Leonila Park. Just pin in to your navigation map “Old Capitol Building of San Pablo City” because if you will pin to your navigation map the lake sampaloc there is a big chance that you will take around the lake and reach a private property where there is no viewdeck to enjoy the nice scenery of the lake.

If you're interested to visit and take a tour at Lake Sampaloc, for those people from the north, take a Bus Ride or Van from Manila with the Sigboard Lucena/Tagkawayan/Lopez/Calauag/San Pablo and tell the driver or conductor to drop you at City of San Pablo where they can drop you at City Medical of San Pablo or San Pablo City Plaza or beside Cathedral Parish of Saint Paul the First Hermit, and from the drop off points you can rent a tricycle going to lake sampaloc. For those people from the south, take a bus ride or van with signboard LRT Buendia/Cubao/Alabang/Turbina and tell to the driver or conductor to drop you to City Of San Pablo and from there you drop by to City Medical of San Pablo or San Pablo City Plaza or beside Cathedral Parish of Saint Paul the First Hermit and don’t forget to pray before your planned trip here to the city of seven lakes and enjoy.