Lovn' it!

Sunset on a cloudy afternoon at the Mall of Asia, Manila Bay

July 1, 2007

Captured by my new 2 megapixel N6300 plus a lil touch of magic.

After missing it a few weeks ago,

I purposely went back for this. hehehe jk!

I stood by

Moral values are things held to be right or wrong or desirable or undesirable. While morality is sometimes described as 'innate' in humans, the scientific view is that a capacity for morality is genetically determined in us , but the set of moral values is acquired, through example, teaching, and imprinting from parents and society. Different cultures have very different moral value systems. Moral values, along with traditions, laws, behaviour patterns, and beliefs, are the defining features of a culture.

I just can't believe how some people forget their moral values when overcome with emotions... be it for love or hatred. It has been days but I still have earned an irked from a person who apparently (in my view) out of desperation and impulsiveness has forgotten it. I believe I did what I am suppose to do/say given that circumstance. I stood by our moral values with due respect and utmost concern for the person.

In solitude

Today, I spent the day in solitude.

Did some site visit in the morning and opted to spend the rest of the day malling all by myself. I cannot imagine taking a meal in public all by myself. As I ordered my fave Beef Bulgogi by "Kimchi" for lunch, I sat in one of the many tables in the foodcourt. Later, a girl approached me, "can I share the table with you?" gladly, I said yes.

I seemed to be in impulsive shopping spree at the Mall of Asia for six hours. Am I depressed? I can just laugh off the only reason I can think of at the moment, "how could he..." My usual mindset of "I'll think about it, I'll come back later" just won't work in this humongous place. I even got a SMS from a friend that said, "I'm so proud of you! This is so unusual." (Thanks to SMS, they kept me company.) I probably forgot what my mom always say to ask myself when I shop, "Do you need it? Do you want it?" What's my point here? Nothing really. Shopping in solitude is harmful to my pocket. hahaha I just ought to reward myself, anyway the stock market is up 50 points today. wow!

At the end of the day, I wished I could have stayed longer to lounge and see the sunset along Manila Bay; I arrived at the airport 40 minutes too early.

Dumaguete dive log

Last weekend, we went on a 4-hour landtrip-barge via the Southern tip of Cebu, Santander for a diving trip to Dumaguete. I was excited to use my newly purchased Aladin Prime dive computer.

Day 1, dive 1 & 2: Dive Dauin [74ft, 66mins] and Masaplod [57ft, 66mins]

Unlike the dive spots I've been to, Dauin is primarily composed of brown sandy bottom. One has to have the spotter's eye to see those small creatures and critters found at the bottom. Masaplod on the other hand, is a small fish sanctuary, where corals grew in the middle of this sandy bottom. There we found this 1 meter-sea turtle, that didn't mind our presence.

L-R: leaffish, mating crabs, frogfish, clownfish, blue-spotted stingray, pufferfish, sea turtle, pipefish, scorpionfish

Day 2, dive 3, 4 & 5: Dive Apo Island [86ft, 71mins; 80ft 60mins] and Ducomi [76ft, 67mins]

Coconut Groove in Apo Island was the experience to beat. The waves on the surface was fierce, thus, we have to descend fast. Luckily, the decongestant worked well this time, I made it down fast. At the bottom, the current was even stronger swishing here and there, thus, we have to hold on to our dear life line (a rope). We almost aborted the dive when there was nothing to hold on to. Thanks to the school of huge mating jacks that appeared below us, we were enticed to descend again. Thanks too to our Dive Masters, who made us feel safe amidst the strong current. The reefs of Apo Island is a vast area filled with corals and schools of fish.

With slightly strong currents and ships docking on the surface, we need our dive light in Ducomi Pier. The pillars of this pier are filled with corals and different interesting creatures. You can actually hear the fishes flap their fins! Lionfishes dominate the area as well.

L-R: commensal shrimp, nudi, us, jacks, black seahorse, me with dive light, lionfish, octopus, eel

Day 3, dive 6: Bahura Resort House Reef [92ft, 63mins]

I skipped the morning dive in Ducomi as I opted to take a good rest and lounge around the resort with a hearty buffet breakfast.

As rain started to pour, waves started to pick-up, we were about to start our dive at the house reef. This reef is deep and with limited visibility, there goes my ears again, it took me some 10 minutes to reach the bottom (entry down 80 feet). As I slowly worked my way down, I got stung around my philtrum (for the 2nd time)! 'Twas worth it though. My first to see spiny lobster, mantis shrimp, boxer shrimps, jaw fish... i can go on and on :D

L-R: jawfish, boxer shrimps, mantis shrimp, spiny lobster, ghost shrimp, bahura resort


Can't wait to dive in Philippine's prime dive spot -Tubbataha, Palawan next year.

Masteral

If I had the choice, I would have studied in Ateneo de Manila (or La Salle or UP Diliman). I would have taken some business management related course, just because there was no better option. But with unexpected turn of events, shattered dreams and lost confidence, I was stuck with University of San Carlos, taking up BS Accountancy.

But everything happens for a purpose. If I have taken some business course, I would probably be still be in limbo trying my luck here and there. Ever since I passed the CPA licensure exams, I looked back with no grain of regret, I have somehow redeemed myself. I have found my own niche especially where I work now. Beyond the numbers, it has remained interesting and challenging. (It's coupled with law and taxation, operating systems, & audit.)

There is still so much to learn but it has to do with applied accounting and finance. Of course, I don't want to go about the theories again.

Is there such a thing as Masters in Accounting and Finance?
Google found 1,420 matches. wow! didn't expect it to be this much.
9 matches for Singapore...
230 matches for London...
356 matches for Australia...

Shall i join the bandwagon?

There are so many other things to take into consideration. I need more inputs for this.