my hometown

I've been thinking of writing some posts on things like the Philippine countryside, uniquely Philippine customs and traditions, Philippine way of life, or just day to day observations. Like the countryside folks in Quezon province and the northern towns of Ilocos Norte. I am raring to post about my hometown, the towns of Pagudpud, Burgos, Adams, Banna, even the newly opened mountain pass from Solsona to Apayao. I want to post how the local folks get on daily. At the local market, the corner store, the local clinic or hospital even police outposts. And of course things that the family will do together.

The road to my hometown. I get a joyful feeling whenever I think of this road and of the green nature that surrounds the town.

I love the morning breeze and the fog that envelopes the town and its barrios. Bucolic. Sounds old and a bit corny but for me — that (!) is the right term. (How long it will last, that, I am not sure).

Gasgas river

A cousin gave me copies of some photos that I asked from her. I was awed when I saw in some of the pictures that fog still envelopes the town in the early morning. The air at such hour is so cold, very fresh, your exposed extremities get numb and you may even get the chills. It is at this hour that a short dip in one of its rivers or streams is best. The water may be cold but it totally refreshes you and gives just the right shot of adrenaline to power you up for the day! The water that nourishes the town flows from mountain streams. In some places you can still dig holes beside riverbanks, let the water settle and get clearer, then you may drink the water from your small well right there. The water tastes sweet and refreshing, yes, it is still clean.

The people in my town are very hardy, more so the barrio folks. They farm well and they know how to make use of their environment efficiently. They gather freshwater shells from the rivers and stream. They cook these into unusual but yummy dishes when fish is hard to catch and the harvest is low. They may use kaingin in their farms but they plant trees not only for subsistence but also for shelter. I believe that an increasing number in migration and global influence are somehow causing a difference in my townmate’s ideals. A lot of them are in a hurry to catch up with the rest of the world. Some are not aware of the grave consequences that their efforts to improve their lives has produced.

I was sad when I last visited my town. The town may have progressed into one of the most progressive towns in the whole province of Ilocos Norte, but sadly the landscape has changed.

I get emotional whenever I am in the open field. I love open spaces. I love breathing in the fresh air, more so of my town. I love to look at the green fields, the meadows, paths criss-crossing streams into the woods, wide rivers whose waters turn from crystal clear to green and to deep blue. Brooks sing in my hometown, the sound of the water sound like melodies to my ears. I get so happy just by gazing at streams slicing farmlands, even in irrigation ditches and canals (built by the local government and a Japanese construction company). If you are an outdoorsy person you will understand what I am trying to say here.

Gasgas river. Hope it looks better now though.

I love how nature is in my town, I just hope that the quarrying, illegal logging, and other practices that are accelerating its environmental destruction will abate. I hope that the local officials or NGOs will see to it that the town’s natural environment be saved. I am hoping too that reforestation and saving the water sources, as well as saving the river shorelines from too much dredging and quarrying be given immediate consideration, before it’s too late...

I want to do a lot... and yet

yellow agate charm bracelet

Here’s the rose quartz charm bracelet and yellow agate charm bracelet I made in the same afternoon. I made a post on the rose quartz bracelet in my previous post. You may scroll down a bit to read it. 

The yellow agate beads not only looks lovely and warm on your skin, the bead can also help you reduce stress and detoxify. The bracelet is made more chic with some charms on the other half. You may wear it anywhere you would like to be.

You can have the healing and charm bracelet of your choice for Ph195.00 each (+ shipping fee). Each bracelet comes with a free pouch.:)

I made the charm bracelets with real yellow agate beads and the same is true with the rose quartz they are all real. I also used copper wires, copper spacers, nickel chains, nickel cupid pendants, long leaf pendants also in nickel, white class A glass beads, and white agate stones wire-wrapped in copper wires and small colorful beads.

free pouch!

Agates like the yellow agate are used in various ailments such as to strengthen the heart, give courage, to harmonize the heart, throat, and solar plexus, detoxify your body’s systems, reduce temperature, sharpen the mind and sight, give balance, lend eloquence, vitality and joy, mellows, bring prosperity, raise self esteem, balance extremism, aid in re-oxygenation of body, helps in regeneration during wound healing, protect from x-rays, give strength, give protection, support, aids upset stomach, clear and strengthen the lungs, rid depression, invigorate the skin.

I accept orders! Just send me a msg. Pickups can be done within Makati commercial center, MRT-Ayala station, Greenbelt, and at Glorietta Makati. All bracelets or jewelries purchased from the blogger comes with free repairs only (part replacement fees are based on price of parts only, no service fee). 

rose quartz and charms

Here is one of the new charms bracelet I made recently.This one is made of round rose quartz crystals and the other half is connected to a nickel chain with bronze finish. Pink drop glass beads, nickel with bronze finish charms, and crystallized white glass beads adorn the chain. A nickel hole and barrel lock keeps the two strands together around the wearer’s wrist.

 Ph195 + shipping fee if you’re outside Metro Manila or if you want it delivered.

Rose quarts like agates are healing stones. It is claimed by practitioners that it can help cure heart ailments, circulatory system problems, fertility, headaches, reducing wrinkles, migraines, kidney disease, sinus problems, acne, earaches, spleen problems, fibromyalgia, in helping one reach his or her ideal weight, depression, or throat problems.

It’s a pretty bracelet and most of the girls who saw them ordered for one or choosed other agates, stones, or pearls (red agate, green agate, blue agate, amethyst, tourmaline, etc.). The baby pink color of rose quartz softens the eyes and it exudes a sense of calm, content, and confidence. It soothes your emotions. Some may attribute this to rose quartz being known as a healer of emotions and it “encourages” a strong bond within the family or between emotionally related individuals.

Even Emma Stone (American actress) and Linda Evangelista (TV star and former top model) use rose quartz stone to massage across their faces three times a week “. . .to give their faces a more contoured look and to dramatically smooth fine lines and wrinkles.  The lymphatic drainage is also apparently stimulated when you use the stone, detoxifying the skin, and reduces the puffiness in the face and around the eyes. The rose quartz stone can also be used to relieve stress in the facial muscles which seem to accumulate as we age.” You can read more of this at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2513760/Can-29-rose-quartz-banish-wrinkles-Emma-Stone-Linda-Evangelista-think-so.html(accessed on 4 December 2013).

The girls I’ve shown it to liked it immediately although they are torn between the rose quartz bracelet and the yellow agate charm bracelet. Who wouldn’t? Look at the yellow agate charm bracelet, the healing power of the agate is heightened by the dangling charms!

All bracelets purchased from the blogger are accepted for free repairs (with minimal fee for gold bracelets). You may send me your msg. if you would like to order.