Mount Mayon Eruption and its Effects to PH Aviation

Right: Photo by Ezra Acayan

Mount Mayon, one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines had some series of eruption for the past two weeks. PHILVOCS issued an alert level 3 warning to the province of Albay. Forced evac was implemented by the local government to those who are living within the permanent danger zone areas of the volcano.

Two nights ago, it spewed ash, blanketing neighboring towns of the province. It doesn't just put the livelihood of its people in danger, but also to aircraft flying along the airways near the volcano.

Happy 1 Year of Vlogging!

Exactly a year ago, I went to South Korea and filmed my first ever vlog. Vlogging wasn't really my cup of tea because (i) it's a tedious task to edit videos; and (ii) I am really uncomfortable filming myself. Weeks before this trip, a lot of people (mostly from #DBSTheBest) convinced me to film a vlog during this trip. It was fun and awkward doing it, but I thought I need to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. After releasing this video online, I received positive remarks, some of them asking to create more videos like this one. It defo means a lot to me.

 I know I am still far behind to some leading travel YouTubers out there (see also: Sam Kolder, Erwan Heussaff, Ollie Ritchie, Benn Tkalcevic, and etc), but I'm trying to master this craft. It's hard, yes, but once you publish your final output, everything's worth it.

Vlogging is now part of my creative outlet aside from music and writing. This year, I promise to shoot more videos on my travels. I want everyone to show how beautiful the world is, at least in my own little way.

A New Healthy Options is Here!

Good news for health and fitness enthusiasts! Healthy Options has relaunched their new and bigger store at SM City Davao last January 17, 2018.

Healthy Options is not just your ordinary store. It offers all-natural products for everyone's health and wellness. These products are cruelty-free, fair trade, green, sustainability sourced, and most of all, organic. Today, organic food, skin, and hair products are now more accessible to Davaoeños. There's no need to order online or abroad. Being healthy has never been this easy!

“Heroes on Wheels” program

This program aims to strengthen the support networks of local communities by providing much-needed proper outdoor and transport equipment to reach inaccessible areas.  Heroes on Wheels started by providing bikes to the Doctors to the Barrios to make them more mobile in their mission to reach far-flung areas which have limited access to medical facilities.  It has done the same with the medical practitioners who aided victims of Yolanda typhoon.  Heroes on Wheels has been a continuous act of alleviating the lives of our modern-day heroes so that they can touch more lives.

This year, in partnership with Firefly Brigade, R.O.X. and Fox, CORE brought Heroes on wheels to Davao.  Ten (10) brand new bicycles, complete with bike gears, such as Fox helmets and gloves were donated to Cycle for Life and Tuburan Institute. 

This was held last January 11, 2018, at R.O.X. Abreeza. 

Earlier in September of 2017, R.O.X. and Fox likewise donated bike gears to Cycle for Life to support their mission to gear up those unprotected bikers who need it most. 

For donations, you may contact Ms. Monica Ayala of Cycle for Life 09224833948. Used helmets, gloves, reflectors, blinkers and the like are all welcome.

It's been a year...

As I was browsing my 'On This Day' on Facebook, I came across with this photo:

It's been a year since my last official shift at Tacloban Tower/Approach Control. I had so many fond memories of this facility: first time to be independent, first time to be away from home, first legit typhoon experience, first time to handle emergency situation, first time to see an aircraft swerve from the runway upon airborne (scary shit, I know), and first time to handle a Papal flight (a once-in-a-lifetime event). This facility will always have a special place in my heart. I am definitely missing the stunning sunrises and sunsets of this airport, it's something that we rarely have in Davao due to the surrounding terrain.

Here's what I've written in my Facebook post a year ago:

Today's shift (5am-1pm) was a mundane one - no special flights, no missed approaches, and no flight cancellations. Everything was handled in a routine manner. However, today marks my last shift here in Tacloban Tower/Approach Control. So many things have happened for the past three years (well, almost). I have learned how to be independent, gained new friends in the city, and finally mastered the Waray language (my maternal grandmother's language). To my colleagues, thank you for making this facility my home away from home. Y'all are cool and amazing to work with. I am truly blessed. Damo na salamat ha inyo tanan! Mapuli na ak buwas ha amon pero bangin mabisita lang ak dida if mayda na time. 

No goodbyes, just a resonating hello from Durianburg.

Time really flies so fast.

Back to Work

After the holiday bonanza, everything's now back to normal. There's traffic to endure again every Fridays and Mondays. Air traffic in Davao's increasing. I'm halfway through with my Approach Control rating. I am looking forward to this year's travel and adventures. Take note that I have already booked three trips for this year alone, and I'm planning to add another one by mid-November. Thinking of going somewhere really far and cold. I think I am ready to face snow again. HAHA! Who knows? God willing, I'll be going there no matter what.

So far, I've been productive on my day-offs. There has been a lot of upcoming projects and tasks in both online and in my blogging community, and I am not complaining. Not at all. It keeps me busy, and it sustains my creative mojo. But, whenever it rains the whole day, I just stay at home and watch my favorite TV shows while sipping a hot choco.

Anyway, back to work tomorrow. Working two shifts, and hopefully no delays or any special operations.

PS: I promise to update this personal blog more often. 

New Year, Same Shit

How's it going? I know this is kinda late but, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! 2017 was really special to me since I got transferred here Davao for good (I hope). Life got easier for everyone. When it comes to the travel scene, I have leveled up to a higher pedestal by going to far-flung places. See also: Sydney, Australia. I never thought I'd survive the 8-hr flight.

This 2018, I am planning to visit farther than Oz. It's still a secret coz I might get jinxed by it HAHA.

Anyway, Y'all have a prosperous year ahead.

Life Lately

Life has been good so far. Lately, I've been traveling more frequently for work and vacation. Just for the month of October, I flew at least 8 times, two of them were 8hrs long each. Okay, so uhm... booking a flight to Australia for four days was the biggest mistake of the year. I never thought that I'd fell in love with Sydney. I love every bit of it - the place, the people, the culture, the food, and their genuine hospitality. To be honest, I cried as I left my mate's flat at Burwood (good thing, my Uber driver didn't notice it). It was bittersweet. I still have pending trips in Seoul (in a few weeks YEY), Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. I am thinking of ditching my Hong Kong trip this December because I might run out of leave credits (although I still have many, it wasn't really a priority trip, I mean, I bought the tickets out of impulse LOL).

Anyway, about work, I am triggered. No, don't get me wrong. I have no problems with my colleagues. Well, here's the thing: a tall condominium (about 33-stories high) located approximately 3 nautical miles from the final approach to runway 05 of Davao International Airport has been making news lately. Apparently, it's been making rounds in the headlines lately because of its tall boom cranes. According to pilots, their ground proximity warning system blares off as they commence the approach to runway 05. To mitigate this issue, the state ordered us to limit our takeoffs and landings - runway 05 departures, and runway 23 for landing. Everything is concentrated on one airspace. Meaning, all of my landings and takeoff are on possible collision course. To make things worse, the new procedure completely disregards the basic laws of aerodynamics. Aircraft flying in and out of Davao are at risks - they operate regardless of the wind condition. They should land and take-off against the wind. To make things worse, there's this news article which triggered not just me but also some of my colleagues at the airline companies. I just hate when people act as if they know everything but they really aren't knowledgeable about their topic? It's so irritating. You know me, I have a low tolerance for bullshit and stupidity. Here's an excerpt of what I wrote in my email sent to the editor:

I know we are all entitled to give opinions, but his opinions are just way out of line. It elicits ignorance. He's not even an aviation expert. What does he know about the procedures done by air traffic controllers and pilots? Nada. Nothing. I do hope your writers research more before they write 'technical' opinions like this one.

Okay, enough with this rant. I am looking forward to my Autumn trip to Seoul in a few weeks. Yey!