Weekend Getaway

Trying to get updated with the latest in travel fare promo between Cebu Pacific and Air Asia is making me obsessed with constantly checking the websites of these 2 airline companies. After work I spent hours and hours constantly browsing on travel dates and destinations.  Afterwards I spent hours after hours trying to make researches on hotels and places to visit in a desired city of destination.  I read countless and countless of blogs and travel reviews to get to know more about the places I want to go to.

Cebu Pacific is right. Travelling was a privilege before for just some few who can afford. Now, Low Cost travel has made it possible and real for ordinary people like me. And even if I worry about the ozone layer getting a bigger hole with all the many planes flying around constantly, there is so much joy that can be experienced on seeing other places... call that guilty pleasures.

Right now I am looking forward to a weekend getaway... hopefully the weather will permit.

Ayala Center Cebu's New Wing - Ode to Edwin

Edwin's Last Journey - Ayala Center Cebu's New Wing...

Edwin is my brother who passed away last May 2013.  It was sudden, and for us he left behind - it was really painful. The year before that in 2012, it was my mother.  No words could express the kind of grief we went through.  Now I can understand why some people find it difficult to move on after a loss...

Some months after Edwin left, it was hard to look at Ayala's new wing because it was his last work. He was then working as a Safety Supervisor for Makati Development Corporation. And passing by the new wing will always remind me of him. But there is truth in the saying, time heals..., because it does not hurt so much anymore.

Stairs to the Lobby

The Driveway and Parking Area on the Basement 

That will be the new Rustan's in Cebu

Walking distance is Cebu Marriott Hotel which is just beside it

The new wing houses global brands like Zara, Mango, Aerospotale to name a few... and Ayala Cebu's Cyber Zone. And on the upper most level is the new chapel and more restaurants.

View from the 3rd Level through the glass walls

Edwin would have been proud standing here with us, viewing the scenes below since he was part of this project...

Road going to Gorordo Ave.

Empty space just waiting for coming developments

Interior of the new wing

Mango

That's Zara over there

The new dining experiences and the view from the top... that building there ongoing construction is Park Point Residences, and would have been Edwin's next assignment...

View from the 4th level

Apple One and Marriott to the right

Skyrise buildings seen from the 4th level

New restaurants on the rise on the 4th level

Edwin has travelled a lot in pursuit of his dreams... Taiwan... Dubai... but thankfully he came home for his last journey... Sweet blisssful sleep my brother...

A Brief Visit to the University of San Carlos

One cold, gloomy afternoon last week, my sister and I braved the rains to pay a visit to USC (University of San Carlos), because she wanted to explore the possibility of teaching ESL at the USC Language Academy.  And why am I posting it here? Because in some ways, it is a journey to the past. Way back when, when I started college - I spent a year and a summer in San Carlos (that's how we fondly call USC) before moving to another school to finish my engineering course...

During my time, no cars were allowed in the quadrangle here below... it is sad that cars dominate this area today.

There is a way below the building that leads to the Gym and the swimming pool. In my time the Testing Center is on the right.  

It was not yet cemented in my days, and there were mushroom tables and chairs populating here which used to be a popular hangout of the students. Spent happy memories with my friends here...

That's the chapel there, but its windows are covered by the trees...

I could never forget running along this corridor afraid of being late, or queuing in order to read news bulletins...

I remembered the Science laboratories were on that wing...

The front door along P. del Rosario Street... the guards used to be very strict - if we are not in complete uniform during uniform days, like if we don't wear our ID, we were not allowed to go inside... of course some tricky students would try running past them...

The office of the Registrar to the right, as well as the Accounting offices...

Actually we were not able to make a complete nostalgic tour because we were short of time.  It's been quite a while since I was here.  But I am glad that the USC Administration took time to upgrade, update, and keep it in tip top shape. It never aged... never looked shabby. It looked almost exactly like it was before and maybe even better!