Archive | Travel RSS feed for this section

Podcast Episode: Top of the Hill

11 Aug
A woman and young boy walking hand in hand on a rocky trail near a coastal house at sunset

A mother and child share a joyful walk along a rugged coastal path at sunset.

Pip: There’s something about waking up at 5:52 in the morning and reaching for a pen before the dream dissolves that feels quietly urgent — like the mind knows something the rest of the day will drown out.

Mara: That’s exactly the territory masmeron is working in here — a dream, a hillside, a house, and what lingers when you open your eyes. Let’s start with the hill itself.

Top of the Hill

Pip: Dreams are slippery things. Most of them evaporate the moment the alarm goes off, but occasionally one leaves a shape behind — a feeling, a place, a face. This post is about one of those.

Mara: The setting is a rural hillside, and the post opens with this: “The hill was located in the rural area wherein I can feel the fresh and cooler air as we move toward a house.”

Pip: What strikes me about that line is the present tense — “I can feel” — as if the memory of the dream is still happening, still physical. The air isn’t remembered; it’s experienced.

Mara: The house they reach has a few rooms, painted bluish white, everything in its place, and nobody inside. The mother’s reaction is described simply: “My mother was amazed with a beautiful house. It showed it on her face.”

Pip: No inventory of the rooms, no architectural detail — just the expression on her face. That’s the whole image, and it carries more than a paragraph of description would.

Mara: Then the dreamer steps outside and the scale shifts. More hills, more distance, and at the top of one of them, a small single-floor house made of light materials, a rain-proofed roof, dried wood walls. No people, no animals.

Pip: Just the cool air again. The dream keeps returning to that — the freshness, the temperature. It’s the one sensory thread that holds the whole landscape together.

Mara: And then: “My dream discontinued when I open my eyes and see in the window blinds slits the morning light. It was 5:52 in the morning already.”

Pip: “Discontinued” is an unusual word for it. Not ended, not faded — discontinued, like a signal that was simply cut.

Mara: It’s precise in a way that feels accidental and exactly right. The dream had its own continuity, and waking interrupted it rather than concluded it.


Pip: A hillside, a house at the top, a mother’s face — the kind of dream that doesn’t explain itself but doesn’t need to.

Mara: Next time, more of what surfaces when the morning light comes through.

Top of the Hill

11 Aug

Sunrise over foggy Chocolate Hills with traditional houses and green vegetation

Sunrise illuminates the famous Chocolate Hills landscape with fog and greenery

In the early morning of August 11, 2026, I had a dream. The dream was not so clear every detail of it but I can still recall some of it. I dreamed about my mother and I are walking together on a hill. The hill was located in the rural area wherein I can feel the fresh and cooler air as we move toward a house. When we reached the house, I saw that it has a few rooms painted with bluish white in color wherein everything in place. Nobody inside the house. My mother was amazed with a beautiful house. It showed it on her face. I knew we talked while inside the house but I cannot recall in my dream the exact details of our conversation. When I went outside the house, I saw many hills around that area. In the distance, I saw a single-floor, small house at the top of the hill. The small house is made up of light materials with a rain-proofed roof and dried wood wall. I cannot see anybody or even animals in that area. I could only feel the fresh and cooler air outside.

My dream discontinued when I open my eyes and see in the window blinds slits the morning light.  It was 5:52 in the morning already.

Podcast Episode: Libreng Damit at mga Salamin

9 Aug
Family sitting by a koi pond watching fish near a shopping mall

A family watches colorful koi fish in a pond at an outdoor shopping center.

Pip: Dreams are the one content format with no editorial calendar, no SEO strategy, and absolutely no regard for your sleep schedule.

Mara: And masmeron has been writing them down before they slip away — starting with a night of vivid dreaming that moves from a mountain stream to a shopping mall, and raises some genuinely interesting questions about what we receive and from whom.

Pip: Let’s start with the dreams themselves.

Libreng Damit at mga Salamin

Mara: This post is a dream journal entry — two dreams recorded in careful detail on the night of December 14, 2025, with the author noting the exact time each dream ended. The central question running through both is about gifts: who offers them, and what it means to accept.

Pip: The first dream opens in the mountains, catching fish in a clear shallow stream. Then a stranger arrives carrying handmade bags, and pulls something out for the dreamer. The post records the moment directly: “Ibibigay ko ito sa Nanay ko” — I will give this to my mother.

Mara: That line does a lot of quiet work. The dreamer receives a red sleeveless duster from an old man in a native hat, and the first instinct is not to keep it but to pass it on. Generosity moves through the dream rather than stopping at the dreamer.

Pip: The stream itself carries that tension — clear and full of fish upstream, then visibly polluted where a pipe from a nearby house drains into it. The dreamer notes the contrast plainly: the fish are gone, the stones are coated in mud.

Mara: It sits there without commentary. The post doesn’t editorialize; it just describes what the old man points out, and lets the image hold its own weight.

Pip: The second dream shifts entirely — a shopping mall, a glasses shop, a vendor offering free eyewear. The dreamer keeps returning mismatched pairs, one lens small and one large, until the vendor produces a heavy steel-framed set with four equal, clear lenses.

Mara: And then the vendor adds a curved mirror filled with small everyday items — toothpaste, lotion, a toothbrush. The post captures the dreamer’s surprise: “Hindi ako makapaniwala na may dalawang libreng items ako” — I could not believe I had two free items.

Pip: What lands is the vendor’s expression as the dreamer leaves: eyes welling up, watching them go. A stranger gives freely and feels something about it. The dream doesn’t explain why.

Mara: The post closes with the author waking at 5:05 a.m. and giving thanks for the morning. The record-keeping is the point — catch the details before they dissolve, and the meaning can wait.


Pip: Gifts offered by strangers, streams running clear then clouded — there’s a lot to sit with in a single night’s sleep.

Mara: More from Hands-on next time.

Snow Experience

16 Jan
Young Asian man joyfully experiencing snowfall

Stepping on the snow and feels its coldness is one of the greatest dreams of any person living in the region with temperate or warm climate or experiencing dry and wet seasons only. It sounds pretty amazing sometimes to be like a child specially when you missed those things that you never had experienced when you were a child. Snow that you often see only in the holiday greeting cards is now real thing on your hands and feet.

In Science, snow is a part of the water cycle. It appears during the process of precipitation whereas water falls on the surface in various forms such as drizzle, rain, hail, sleet or snow. Snow is a solid form of water. Snow is made up of purely two hydrogen atoms and one atom of oxygen just like the rain water. If pure water reacts with other elements or compounds in the air or on the earth surface, it is considered a mixture already. If the air temperature in the atmosphere is on or below freezing point which is zero degree Celsius, this is the time when the condensed water in the atmosphere turns into snow then falls to the ground or commonly called “snowfall”.

Snowfall has advantages and disadvantages as well. Snow makes the surroundings purely white in color which lasts for several days. It binds the family members at home to stay connected and engaged. However, snow can also harm plants, animals and humans due to severe coldness. It also disrupts the daily activities at work. Snow can also affect the motorists, power supplies, public and private sectors including business communities.

In spite of advantages and disadvantages of snowfall, let us consider that it is a natural phenomenon beyond our control but we can mitigate and prevent its massive adverse effects by understanding the nature of snow and its possible impacts to our physical, social, emotional, economical and political environments. From then, we can design good plans, make wiser decisions and do great actions.

Inaro con Kayumanggi (My Brown Love) by Teofila Mas Meron

9 Mar

Colop coy mantibok, ampangisip-isip

Lawas yan ancasalak, balo cot anolis

Cabigan a calma, main acon nakit

Labas a ayos, balo cot mangitit.

Wamo no labas a lalaki

Anggano marublom, anlalako co siempre

Maco aco conan inaro con kayumanggi.

No laluma balo, anggano bulan

Makakyas, anlulbag a lalaman

Matuynong a punta, kae angonoron a dalan.

Cantan Sambali ni Nanay Openg

1 Sep

Naynay tana congco, lolo catatangis

No sicay cayna biyay a maisip-isip

Siay luwa sa mata mantulo mapilit

Bana sa labi mon bigla mon inalis 

Ayte moyna kari, ayte mo inimbi

A pamilabi ta tan pamikawili

Hino ya cot orin  labas a babaye

A namiwan mon maigot nin labi

Mangibat sa wanin cakoyna mangoman

Makilabi-labi maparas manglingwan

Ta no maisip-isip tan mapapanumtuman

Siay luwa sa mata, permin  balayabay.

Mangibat sa wanin cayco na umanon

Makilabi-labin maganap a nakom

Ta no maisip-isip tan mapapanumtuman

Siay luwa sa mata, permi yan andaloy

Siay canakoman ko, alangan ya comon

Ta masubot abrian a buboy

Tagarilya dila, kulop kon man-goygoy

Sa calak-an moyo sa kongco mampangimaton

Cayco comon magwa, nacom koy masubot

Magcanta sa sayte, o campo nical ngod

Anggan cantan bungat, ambo nin maganos

Malayop a oras, caldungan kan say-ngot

Cayco comon magawa, nacom ko tan buboy

Umarap sa campo ta ambo marunong

Nakaragdag congko, nakapatpol nacom

Galang yay nanugo, wangcon balangunon.

Sin sicoy sinmiban a inalila la

Mangibat sinlumbit hilay nagpasensya

Lalo sin nilumwas lako a irap la

Lalo pamasuso tan pamiliwaliwa

Sa wanin balo ta sinmiban ako

Isugo lako wari cot kayko nin mako

Ta ibuyboy la kongco a pamasiban la

Kayco makabayar anggan sa angga

http://www.masmeron.com

His Presence, Message and Legacy

18 Jan

Wearing a yellow raincoat, Pope Francis waves to the faithful as he arrives in Tacloban, Philippines, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015. A rain-drenched but lively crowd wearing yellow and white raincoats welcomed Pope Francis in the typhoon-ravage central Philippine city of Tacloban early Saturday, chanting "Papa Francesco, Viva il Papa!" (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

The 2015 remarkable visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines brings up the real essence of Christian life in the country. The Filipino people really love him and Pope Francis also loves them too.

His Presence

When Pope came out from the airplane, he smiled to the Filipino people in the airport. His charming smiles may suggest that “Here I am.”  His presence alone was so significant to the Filipino people. Every Filipino was so happy and excited to see Pope Francis in person. Everybody felt the love at the airports, on the streets, inside the churches, at the mall and university, on the park and even at homes. His presence gave blessings for the persons with physical impairments. His presence provided hope for person with ailments. Pope Francis blessed the babies, children, youths, adults and elders. His presence shows genuine concern to victims of typhoons, earthquakes and to the poor families in the Philippines.

His Message

Pope Francis delivered an awesome message in every place of his visit in the Philippines. His inspirational message deeply-derived from his heart is truly sensible and gets political, psychological, social, intellectual and spiritual impacts to every citizen of the Philippines. The Filipino people attentively listened to his relevant speeches in spite of long-hours of standing in the middle of the rain. The religious faith of the Filipinos retained and sustained regardless of natural calamities and life challenges they had been experienced in the past up to the present times. His message focused on helping the poor ones which applies the true Christian life.

His Legacy

Pope Francis builds his Christian legacy for the Filipino people. His advocacy to help especially the poor ones is absolutely amazing. He touches one’s life through his mission. He listens to anybody attentively.  He speaks well with a sense of humor. He comes to you directly, hold your hands and bless you gracefully. With all your love, care and concern to us, the Filipino people would like to say “Thank you very much. God bless you, Pope Francis.”

 

Anak nin Mayaman

1 Dec

SCA Grand Alumni Homecoming 2013 (Batch 1946 to 2013)

8 Apr

SCA Grand Alumni Homecoming 2013 (Batch 1946 to 2013).

SCA Grand Alumni Homecoming 2013 (Batch 1946 to 2013)

8 Apr

SCA Alumni Homecoming Batch 1983

SCA  Grand Alumni Homecoming Batch 1983

Santa Cruz Academy is our school;

that provides quality curriculum goal.

It has been established many years ago;

and its graduates are always ready to go.

Santa Cruz Academy has an awesome motto;

that knowledge is power for me and you.

Foresee its vision and applies its mission;

be a good Christian and help the nation.

Santa Cruz Academy has  dynamic graduates;

that being proud of by their parents and teachers.

They are strong believers and responsible doers;

which serve as their foundation in the coming years.