Tag: david

So You Want to Climb Mt. Ulap? Go for it!

Rhiza4 Comments

[Edit, July 2024]: Hello, I changed the title from “Don’t do it!” to “Go for it!”  I’m happy to see that people are finding this post when researching about climbing Mt. Ulap! One of the comments below raised that this post seems to discourage people from doing it, which is not my intention. Quite the opposite! I say, you’d want to climb this mountain at least once in your life. ;) 

Initial thoughts on choosing the Mt. Ulap Eco-trail as our first legit mountain climbing experience: what in the world were we thinking?!

Take this from someone who couldn’t even consider herself a “beginner” mountain climber. I was basically clueless, save for having read some blogs prior to the climb which, by the way, all raved about how awesome it is to climb this mountain.

For your 411, just because my domain name says “chasing dreams” doesn’t mean I’m your regular adventure-chasing type of blogger. :) Although I generally love to travel, I’m a city girl and a homebody through and through. My idea of “adventure” is exploring the world through the pages of a book, preferably tucked in the warmth of my blanket, with a cup of caffeinated drink within reach.

Climbing any mountain is way beyond my comfort zone, never really making it to my bucket list at any given point in my life.

But I climbed Mt. Ulap, anyway.

(Because I’d go anywhere with this guy.)

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

Mt. Ulap beginner tip #1

Keep adventurous people in your inner circles. (Or marry one.)

This guy’s the only reason why I considered climbing this mountain. Had he not persisted in convincing me to do the Mt. Ulap Eco-Trail, I wouldn’t have known what I was missing. Kinda like his role in my life, really—constantly challenging me and stretching my capacity to believe, to “just go for it”, to climb higher, to dream bigger.

And that is what this Ulap experience was about for me: a romantic comedy, basically. ;)

Reluctant as I was, we came out on the other side alive, tired and breathless, sore muscles everywhere, nevertheless without regrets.

And now that that has been said, here’s my humble collection of photos, notes, and thoughts—and a fair share of warnings—from our Mount Ulap Eco-Trail experience.

There are many people climbing this mountain solo or with a group who ultimately have a meaningful and unforgettable experience. But in my case, I wouldn’t (and generally couldn’t) climb this mountain without David.

Whatever your circumstances and motivations are for wanting to climb this mountain, I hope you pick up a thing or two from this post.

Mt. Ulap beginner tip #2

If you’re a first-timer (meaning you’ve no experience climbing any mountain in the past), think twice about going for this mountain right off the gate. This guide specifically answers whether or not Mt. Ulap is for you. The gist is, it’s most ideal if you practice climbing easier mountains first.

Quick facts from PinoyMountaineer.com

Mount Ulap, Itogon, Benguet

  • Entry point: Brgy. Ampucao, Itogon
  • Exit point: Brgy. Sta. Fe, Itogon
  • LLA: 16.2904 N, 120.6312 E, 1846 MASL
  • Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2-3 hours ~ehem?
  • Difficulty: 3/9 ~uh, no.
  • Features: Grassland and pine ridges, scenic views of the Cordilleras, burial caves
Quick notes from ME, haha
Hours to summit

It’s no secret that the Pinoy mountaineers who made it to the Ulap summit in record 2-3 hours are people who’ve been climbing mountains forever.

As for us, a mixed group of beginner, intermediate, and experienced climbers (all of us, Ulap first-timers), it took us 10-11 hours from jump-off point to finish line. Take note that we rested for about an hour in one of the summits and slowed down a notch during descent because we were all tired.

Level of difficulty

Not gonna lie. Having read from blogs that the level of difficulty was only 3/9 gave me the impression that it was easy. This kind of underestimation is dangerous, so don’t be like me who read a few blog reviews and immediately assumed that Mt. Ulap was an easy mountain.

Even some of the more experienced climbers in our group thoughtfully assessed that Mt. Ulap seems more difficult than its equally famous Cordillera mountain sibling, Mt. Pulag, because even though Pulag is higher and requires longer walks, the inclines there are not steep and a lot more gradual than in Mt. Ulap.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]Mt. Ulap trail[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””] Mt. Ulap, Benguet [/su_column][/su_row]

Mt. Ulap Beginner Tip #3

Don’t take the preparations lightly. Have some solid cardio workout and leg strengthening exercises weeks or months before the climb.

The first phase of the Mt. Ulap trail is characterized by steep ascents that had my lungs and legs shookt. 15 mins in and I already wanted to quit, if I’m being honest. :) As a disclaimer, I do live a pretty sedentary chill lifestyle, not having to leave the house to get to work, sitting in front of my home office day in and out, with my only workouts being afternoon walks to a nearby milk tea shop. I obviously downplayed preparing for this excursion.

Just the same, the idea that I’m climbing my first mountain ever, not to mention the unique beauty of the Cordilleras kept me going.

Between steep ascents and narrow trails we stopped to catch our breaths, basking in the beauty of the Cordilleras, and breathing in the smell of pine trees and cool breeze.

Pinoy Mountaineer described it best: “The majestic mountains of the Philippines lie on its largest mountain range, the Cordilleras in Northern Luzon. It is home to highland peoples who have developed a fascinating mountain culture which is manifest in the world-famous Rice Terraces. Tourists are enchanted with the semi-temperate climate of the region, which is a refreshing change from the tropical lowlands. Pine trees, rolling slopes, and vegetable farms characterize much of the region’s landscapes.” 

There’s much to see everywhere you look! And the semi-temperate climate is a bonus, for sure.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

3 kilometers in, we reached the first summit called Ambanaw Paoay.

Ambanao Paoay may be my favorite summit of the 3 summits in Mt. Ulap. Partly because our energy levels were still high at this point in the journey, mostly because this was where it all began—the vast rolling hills and grasslands and blue skies. All the things that made me glad we pushed through and showed up.

Literally all the photographs you take at this point are keepers, and you know that this is exactly what you came here for.

There’s the blend of grasslands and forest trees and fluffy clouds set on clear blue skies. There were mountain dogs and grazing cows here and there; and although there seemed to be no sightings of them, the sound of chirping birds and crickets accompanied us as we went.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

A quick shoutout to my brother, who was also on the trek with us. He’s done a few mountains before (including Mt. Pulag) so there’s that extra comfort in knowing that we have another set of hands to guide us.. and take our photos! It goes without saying that a lot of these photos were grabbed from his SD Card. Haha. Thanks, Kuya Nate!

Shout out to SBCC people on this journey with us: Kim, Jude, Bea, Mark, Jessa, Kokoy, Hazel, you guys! Where to next? :)

My husband and I were self-proclaimed sweepers, naturally. In this group, we’re on the higher end of the spectrum, age-wise, but we’re basically babies, mountain climbing experience-wise. ;) Let’s just say we let the younger people take the lead on this one.

There were parts in the trail that I just wanted to get over with, and there were parts that I wish lasted a little bit longer. Moments I wanted to just lie down on the grass and watch the clouds move. Moments I felt like bursting into a song (if you’re thinking “the hills are alive with the sound of music”, you bet!).

And moments when David and I trailed behind, the sound of nature surrounding us and, for one fleeting second, Mt. Ulap was all ours. 

I understand now why those who’ve experienced climbing mountains only want to climb more. The experience is almost.. cathartic. There’s pain and pleasure to it, from start to finish, both at the same time, and I understand now why people are hooked.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

Mt. Ulap Beginner Tip #4

Skipping the token photo at Gungal Rock does not make your Mt. Ulap experience incomplete.

The second summit is all about the famous Gungal Rock. (Google it!) This, they say, is the ultimate Mt. Ulap photo op you have to do “for the ‘gram.”

Unfortunately, there were so many tourists at the time, all willing to line up to have their photos taken on the rock. Our group decided to skip it, move on, and we didn’t feel like we missed anything at all.

The rest of the second summit was a blur.

One foot after the other, we quietly followed the trail and looked up every few seconds or so to marvel at the beauty going on around us.

In between those moments of beauty were also quick moments of doubt. Will we make it unscathed? What are we doing here again? What is David thinking? (Lol.) Is this really worth it? I knew the answers to these questions but I asked them in my head anyway.

At 6km mark, we were told that the much-anticipated Mt. Ulap summit was just around the corner. One more stretch, one more 5-minute break, one more push, one more deep breath. Finally, at 1:15 PM, we made it to the top of the clouds.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

Brought this UP Maroon letterman jacket so I could properly and proudly caption this photo “Nowhere to go but UP!”, just a little nod to my dear alma mater because I’m so extra like that sometimes. >.<

Mt. Ulap Beginner Tip #5

To say that Ulap is tough for first-timers is an understatement, but don’t let blogs (like this one) discourage you from going anyway. With the right support group, the proper guidance, and a positive attitude (and preferably a lot of cardio and leg exercises pre-climb), it’s not impossible for beginners like us to conquer this mountain.

Take it from me, the least likely person in the world to make it to Mt. Ulap but made it anyway.

To be able to say “we’re on top of the clouds” and mean it literally and figuratively? Surreal.

There was zero visibility at one point while we were at the summit, which means we were right inside a huge ball of clouds. Ulap, in Tagalog, is “cloud“, and you bet this mountain lives up to its name.

Any feeling of exhaustion was gone during that one defining moment at the top of Mt. Ulap, 1,846 meters above sea level.

No photo can justify it, not even words. It’s like a secret that only Mt. Ulap survivors know, a shared experience that is singularly and forever ours.

I lifted a quiet praise to God, smiling at the thought that this is literally the closest I’ve come to the heavens, by foot! And to know that the Creator of this mountain, the God of the universe, our Reason for being—God in His majesty and massive glory—was with us and around us every step of the way? What a gift!

A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121: 1-2

Everything was glorious until the final descent began.

With whatever’s left of our energy, we descended through a rocky, relentless, 80-degree cliff trail—the price we had to pay for this mountaintop experience. I thought we had it tough during ascent but the descent was even more intense. Energy levels were low, the adrenalin was quickly running out, and all the muscles (and bones!) were sore.

I focused on my feet and followed the trail, motivating myself with thoughts of Dawn and Rain waiting for us at home. Every once in a while, David would squeeze my hand as if to remind me, we got this.

9 kilometers later, we made it to finish line, washed up, got food, and basically slept through the entire trip from Baguio back to Manila.

Today, a few months later, I write this post and remember our Mt. Ulap experience with a tiny bit of pride (filed under “Stories to Tell The Grand Children” for sure) and a great amount of humility at the same time. Even now, looking at these photographs, I still can’t believe I made it in-and-out of that huge mountain without fainting or being brought home in a wheelchair or something haha.

Will we do the Mt. Ulap Eco-Trail again? Maybe not. (We’d love to try a different mountain next time!)

Do we regret climbing Mt. Ulap? Most definitely NOT. 

Mt. Ulap “beginner tips” aside, there’s much to be learned about climbing mountains.

It’s impossible to climb a mountain (and to write about the experience) without processing everything in metaphors, really. On faith, love, marriage, success, creativity, pursuits, trials, heartbreaks, life, God.

The mountaintop experience is exhilarating, but it is in the upward and downward slopes that God shows us what He’s truly able to accomplish in us, and in the valleys that we actually grow.

It was a much-needed challenge both for myself as a person, and for me and David as a couple. It brought us to a higher level of trust for each other and reliance in God, a literal mountaintop experience (with all the uphill, downhill, and valley moments it came with), and a tangible illustration of all the mountains we climbed and have to climb in this life.

The trick, I learned, is to keep going, no matter how fast or how slow you go. Whether you’re pushing through an upward slope that seems to not end, or trekking through rough terrains, or walking with zero visibility and you can’t see what’s ahead—just keep going!

Take deep breaths, stop and rest when needed, pull yourself up and do it all over again. One step at a time, one hill, one camp, one summit.

There will be hesitations, there will be doubts. There will be parts where you feel like giving up and moments when you want to drop everything and quit. Keep climbing anyway.

You’ll reach the peak soon, but while you’re in the valley, look up, enjoy the view, worship, live.

And no, you don’t have to do it alone. ;)

This Mt. Ulap Eco-Trail experience was made possible through the Ohana Trekkers Group. Thanks, guys.

If You Want to Go Far, Go Together

RhizaLeave a comment

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

This African proverb has never been truer in my life till late. Oh, the pressure to take the fastest way to a destination as if you lose time and miss opportunities if you don’t.

I had the impression that getting married would make me accomplish a lot more things, and fast. Two heads are better than one, after all. And while this is true in some cases—having a guy around does come a little handy sometimes 😆—David and I also quickly realized that having another person in the journey slows things down a notch. (And then kids enter the picture and suddenly any notion of “fast” is out the window, but, let’s talk about how getting anywhere with kids is a major production another time, shall we?)

And so we learn. To navigate through the world’s pressure of doing things instantly.

To manage people’s expectations and opinions without letting them get into our heads. To take our time, to not feel guilt when we do. To sit still in coffee shops and resist the urge of getting our drinks to go. To take the scenic route, stop for pictures, tell another story, conquer another mountain, pour another cup. Slowly and surely.

It’s an art to master, without a doubt. But when “together” becomes second nature, you know there’s no way you’d rather go. Hand-in-hand you walk, mastering each other’s strides.

You’ll get there anyway, wherever that is, in God’s sweet time. But together, there’s no need to rush.

Weekends and Board Games

Rhiza1 Comment

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

At home, I’m the go-to parent for making art, and morning cuddles, and reading books. But when it comes to fun things—like movies and field trips, and singing and dancing, and weekends and board games—their Daddy is undoubtedly the crowd favorite! (Two’s a crowd, y’all!)

‘Can’t blame the girls. Their Daddy sure is fun!!

Shout out to my husband for being as hands-on as he can, on top of working so hard to provide and lead this family. Raising daughters, we’re fully aware that little girls are naturally drawn to their daddies in a way that shapes many aspects of their development, from childhood through womanhood. (I should know! I was raised by a remarkable father.)

I’m grateful to have a husband who takes this responsibility seriously; who would do everything in his power to be fully present in his daughters’ young lives and to give them happy memories.

So you can just imagine Dawn and Rain looking forward to the weekends, usually in anticipation of what their Daddy planned out for us. And almost always, he does not disappoint! :)

Studies consistently prove that spending quality time as a family has infinite benefits.

For kids, family activities allow them to establish self-worth, communicate better, and develop relationship building skills. For parents, spending quality time together is an effective way to create core memories and impart valuable life lessons that kids and parents!) will potentially carry with them throughout their lives.

It’s always a challenge for us working moms and dads to carve out time during the weekends, especially when sometimes all you want to do is to shut down. But the effort to make time is definitely worth it! When kids feel loved, appreciated, and valued, they also develop positive behaviors like kindness and cooperation. And when they do, it results in us being happier parents as well.

The above photos show a normal Saturday morning scenario at home—messy hair, game faces on, board game and caramel bars for breakfast (in bed!), and little girls all ready to battle their Daddy!

Meanwhile, I watch my family as I hold on to my camera, trying to preserve these fleeting moments in photographs, fully aware of how fast they all go by. The best years, for sure.

Thank you, Lemon Square Fun Square, for making weekends all the more fun and memorable.

This story is written for Lemon Square. Read my full disclosure policy here.

New York, oh New York

Rhiza2 Comments

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row][su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row][su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

I heaved a sign of relief when our plane landed at JFK after 23 looong hours of travel from Manila to New York. Finally! It’s our first time back in NYC in 5 years, first time to go there as a family, first long flight with the twins.

As we unbuckled the girls off their seats and prepared to step out of the plane, one of the girls, Rain, happily exclaimed, “We’re home Mommy, let’s go!”

The truth is, if you told me 5 years ago that I would be calling New York “home” in this lifetime, I would have laughed in your face and dismissed the idea outright. To me, New York has always been a mysterious city, and sure, one of my favorite cities in the world. It held some of my greatest memories, marked important milestones of my life and our story, and hey, I sure would love to keep coming back! But to call it “home” was, at one point, the farthest thing from my mind.

Nope, not New York City.

But something shifted somewhere, and New York has, somehow, become the very thing in my life I never thought it would or could be: home.

Maybe because I found love in this strange city and we all know how love can make anyone feel grounded. Or maybe because I have learned to see “home” in a whole new light.

Maybe the fact that I didn’t really want this to begin with, that makes being in New York feel.. right. After all, I have known God to work exactly this way. He has a knack for changing hearts and orchestrating circumstances that take us right where He wants and needs us to be, even if it means parting oceans with a rod and defeating giants with a sling.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

It’s been over a month since we landed in New York City and now we’re back in Manila. While the twins weren’t exactly as enthusiastic last week when our plane landed at NAIA Terminal 1 as when we landed at JFK (can’t blame them, it was a long trip and the humid Manila weather wasn’t all that welcoming either), we were just happy to have successfully endured another long flight, to have gained new memories, milestones and answers, and to have spent good quality time with our friends and family.

But most of all I’m grateful that home is not confined to a place, that we can bloom where we’re planted, and the grass is greener where the Lord places us.

He never makes mistakes, nope. And when we trust in that truth, we experience not only the realization of our (personal) dreams but also the blessings of being right in the center of His great, massive, Kingdom-building plan.

I’m still trying to process everything, sifting through photographs, unpacking suitcases, catching up on work and blog posts, making mental notes of everything God has taught us in the past two months. In my mind I’ve already written a book, really!

Hmm. It’s good to be back.

* * *

New York 2015, it’s a wrap

Cocoon Boutique Hotel for our 4th Year Anniversary

Rhiza4 Comments

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””][/su_column][/su_row]

This post might contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

Our fourth wedding anniversary celebration was our first night away from the girls since they were born. Now that I think about it, I don’t know why we waited this long! It’s not like the girls wouldn’t let us go—my Mom, who spent the night with them, reported that they didn’t even notice we were gone.

I realized that it’s mostly us (fine, me), and not the girls, who couldn’t get over the idea of spending one single night away, worried about what might happen, like, what if they looked for their Mommy and Daddy while we were away right? (Apparently NOT!)

Just us two

It’s funny how much thought went into planning this one-night getaway, to think we never even left our neighborhood! I realized that this decision-making exercise was a good reminder to us that as husband and wife, no matter how important the children are, marriage still ranks higher than parenthood in our list of priorities. 

Spending extended quality time with each other is a necessary investment, not just for our relationship’s sake, but also for the kids—they are, after all, the recipients of our overflow of love for each other. 

So off to our 4th wedding anniversary getaway we go, and thankfully, there’s a place we’ve always wanted to check out that is very close to our home.

4th-anniversary

cocoon-boutiquehotel-breakfast

Photographs from my phone’s camera, we didn’t bother bringing a big camera!

Cocoon Boutique Hotel

Hotel service and amenities

The Cocoon Boutique Hotel is as quaint as can be, something you’ll never expect to find in the chaos that is Quezon City. We’ve always eyed this place, having “toured” it the first time when we were helping a friend look for a hotel for their wedding. The interiors are thoughtfully decorated and carefully maintained, even the hallways smell good. :) The staff are very well trained and we felt treated like we were in a 5-star hotel!

Rooftop pool

We spent a few hours of the afternoon in the rooftop pool—my husband taking laps and me reading a book, later on joining him in the pool myself. D is a really good swimmer, and every time we look for a place to stay in, we always make sure to inquire about the pool. Cocoon’s swimming pool is not that big, only about 4 feet deep, with a small pool area for kids. It gets crowded easily, but we were delighted to have it all to ourselves while we were there. At night the pool lights up beautifully; in fact we planned to go back for a night swim, but with a nice little bath tub in our bedroom, we decided to just stay in.

Bath tub!

A deluxe room comes with a bath tub, something you won’t see in the usual hotels. Encased in a glass booth, you can either close down the blinds or pull it up so you can watch TV while in the tub. Such a treat!

Breakfast

The food is not bad at all, either. Once again, something you won’t really expect from a “small” hotel. We had our breakfast in the rooftop, al fresco style, with a generous buffet of salads, sandwiches, pastries, DIY omelette, and a selection of rice meals.

We definitely enjoyed our stay, and while we missed the kids, it was a much-needed time for both of us, to enjoy each other, a king-sized bed to ourselves, soft 600-threadcount sheets that didn’t smell like milk, and oh my goodness, a full 8 hours of sleep!

Every year is a milestone and therefore worth celebrating

Marriage is a lot of work. It takes a lot of work reconciling differences, attending to each other’s needs, planning your life around each other’s lives and your children’s lives, and making time for each other when 24 hours is barely enough for everything else that has to be done in a day. D and I have our share of misunderstandings and lack of time for each other, but being married to him is an undeserved favor and a great blessing in every way.

He makes me happy no doubt (and you know I don’t use the word “happy” lightly), he makes me want to become a better person, he inspires me to dream bigger dreams for our little family, he keeps me grounded and draws me ever closer to God.

Marriage may be a lot of work, but for every good thing that this marriage has added to my life, the effort to make this work is, unequivocally, worth it. In hindsight, working this out with D is, I must say, relatively easy. I couldn’t have asked for a more understanding and kind-hearted and good-smelling partner (that’s right, he smells really good, and trust me that makes a lot of difference, LOL!) and I couldn’t be more grateful to God that I get to do life with this guy.

Happy 4th anniversary, Dear David. Four years down, forever more to go. Let’s do this! :)

About the Cocoon Boutique Hotel

Cocoon Boutique Hotel takes pride in its its environment-friendly interiors and amenities. Complimentary water for guests, for example, are stored in sealed mason jars instead of plastic bottle containers. The interiors are constructed with reclaimed wood and recycled materials. The roof deck houses potted plants and organic herbs both for sale and for use in cooking the restaurant’s food. These, on top of the top-class service and unique amenities you won’t find anywhere else, Cocoon Boutique Hotel is definitely worth taking a trip to the north. :)

I suggest booking way ahead of time. Cocoon Hotel only has a handful of rooms, and reservations run out fast.

Location and contact details
61 Scout Tobias corner Scout Rallos Streets, Bgy Laging Handa, Quezon City 1103, Trunklines: 632- 9212706 to 08 / Fax Number: 632- 4137281 / www.thecocoonhotel.com

For best rates, book The Cocoon Hotel via Agoda.

Who Takes Your Couple Photos on Date Nights?

Rhiza2 Comments

budriz1

budriz3

It’s our fourth wedding anniversary today, and it’s that time of the year where I give myself an excuse to browse through photographs and memories of the past years with David. I was going to apologize for the throwback photos and the ants and the cheese that have been all over our social media feeds all day, but I thought, hey, I’m not really sorry. :D (Sorry, not sorry!)

The web is our backup

Today as I was taking a trip down memory lane, I realized that, que horror, I lost (or misplaced) a big chunk of image files from years 2010 to 2013. I can’t remember where I backed them up or if ever I did! The lost files include photographs from our engagement, my New York trip in 2010, our Boracay honeymoon, our baby moon at Canyon Woods, and other special occasions in between.

The good news is, most of Dawn & Rain’s photographs are intact, thanks to that 52 Project! (Whew!) And as a consolation, we have uploaded a significant amount of these missing image files here on my blog and on social media. The upload-worthy ones. (Double whew!)

You know those times when people cringe at you for posting too many photographs and status messages on Facebook? Well, this is one of those moments I’m soooo glad I ignored those comments and posted photographs on Facebook anyway. Instant backup memory! I’m still wishing we locate those missing files, but if not, I’m glad we have Facebook (and this blog!) as back up.

On going to great lengths to preserve memories

The other night my husband and I noticed how we have stopped taking photographs of ourselves (and essentially stopped preserving memories) since the twins were born. Back then we would take so many photographs of us together—coffee dates, mall trips, grocery runs, random moments, even as trivial as making each other coffee in the morning or cleaning up the house—regardless if we’re posting them or just keeping them.

The past year, well, not so much.

Back then, I would go to great lengths just to preserve fleeting moments together. And I will never regret the times I did.

That said, would you notice that those photographs above were photoshopped? 

Selfies are ok for memory keeping, as long as they come with descriptive captions. But I like taking photographs in context—the setting, what we wore, what we did—which a selfie can’t justify, and two people on a date can’t possibly do without help from a third person.

But of course, you can’t entrust your camera to someone who’s just passing by. In such a case, we like taking turns capturing each other’s photographs, within the same frame, after which I would merge them digitally.

Here’s how to do it, just so you get something actionable from this post:

  • It’s the same concept as cloning yourself in one photograph.
  • In our case, merging two photographs together, here’s how (except we normally don’t have a tripod, so we just make sure to take the photo from the exact spot.)

Make memories worth keeping, and preserve them!

Time flies, and there’s merit to preserving memories, whether through a blog post, a photograph, a journal entry, a twitter timestamp. I can’t count the number of times I relearned lessons, revisited milestones, or remembered God’s goodness through an old blog or some social media posts. Stuff I wouldn’t have remembered otherwise on an ordinary day.

I wouldn’t say go all out posting TMI on social media! I say, not too many details, just the essence of the memory, like the telling of a poignant story, in ways that would inspire and connect people (friends and strangers alike), while serving your own nostalgia.

Here are some bloggers who do storytelling and memory-keeping so well, if you want to be inspired—

My husband and I haven’t planned anything yet to celebrate today. He’s in school all day and I’m at home supposedly working, and I’m not yet sure how we would celebrate this day, except of course I know we will, and that there will be lots of photographs. (And maybe a little something special over the weekend too. ;) I can’t wait!)