Calidus Laguna:A Challenge to Reconnect With Yourself

“May free wifi kaya? May wifi access ba dito? Anong password ng wifi?”

Usually, ito iyong mga tanong ko kapag pumupunta ako sa isang lugar kagaya ng restaurant, coffee shop, resorts or hotels. Ikaw ba ganoon din?

Aminin man natin o hindi, karamihan sa bagong henerasyon ngayon ay laging nag-nanais na makakonekta 24/7 sa internet world.

Internet connected and the usual behavior nowadays… (Based on observations)

• ·         Iyong tipong kahit pinakasimpleng detalye ng buhay ay ipo-post sa Social Media pati pagtatanggal ng balakubak sa ulo.
• ·         Iyong tipong kakatuntong pa lang sa isang bagong lugar ay nakahanda na agad ang camera ng smartphone para i-capture ang scenery or most of the time mag-selfie, sabay post sa Facebook or Instagram with hashtag “#ATM, Just arrived. Thank you Lord.”
• ·         Iyong tipong pipicturan muna ang food bago magpray or kumain and then post agad sa Instagram  with caption “Food porn, now eating” #instagrammers #foodies”
• ·         O kaya naman iyong kasama ang “long time no see” BFF sa isang resto na may free wifi tapos instead na nag-bonding ang dalawa ay busy sa Pokemon Go.
• ·         Or sa isang event like reunion na wifi zone, physically present ka nga pero mentally absent naman dahil abala kang mag-follow ng tweets ng iyong mga kaibigan.
• ·         Iyong magtatanong ang isang friend tungkol sa assignment then sasabihin teka i-Google ko muna.

Madami ng nagawa ang internet sa ating buhay. May positibo at negatibong impluwensya.

Ang Pilipinas ay mayroong estimated 44,478,808 internet users or 43.5% ng kabuuang populasyon (Source: Internet Live Stats accessed at www.InternetLiveStats.comhttp://blog.pawnhero.ph/a-profile-of-smartphone-users-in-the-philippines/ on August 18, 2016). Ayon sa “A Profile of Smartphone Users in the Philippines” posted at http://blog.pawnhero.ph/a-profile-of-smartphone-users-in-the-philippines/ on August 15, 2016, tatlo sa bawat sampung Pilipino ay nagmamay-ari ng smartphone. Ang average na oras ng paggamit ng internet gamit ang smartphone ng isang tao sa bawat araw ay umaabot ng tatlong oras at labing-apat na minuto. Ayon din sa report, 79% ng mga Pilipino ay nag-checheck ng kanilang cellphone labing-limang minuto mula pagkagising sa umaga. Apatnapung milyong Pilipino ay aktibo sa paggamit ng Social Media. Alam niyo ba na 94% ng mobile internet user ay gumagamit ng Facebook at karamihan sa kanila ay kabilang sa edad na 16-24. We are so much fond of using the internet kaya naman napakalaking papel na may wifi access ang isang area.

Kung walang wifi, mobile data ang gagamitin para kumonekta at makaiwas sa FOMO syndrome or Fear of Missing Out. Minsan dahil sa mga ganitong klase ng teknolohiya, mas madami na ang oras na kapiling ang Smartphones kaysa makipagkwentuhan sa mga mahal natin sa buhay. Sabi nga sa isang hugot line, “buti pa ang cellphone kapit mo palagi, hindi mo binibitawan pero ang kamay ko hindi mo na makapitan.”

Paano kung dumating sa puntong walang wifi? Walang mobile data? Walang internet? Ma-di-disappoint ka na ba? Feeling mo ba ma-paghuhulihan ka? Feeling mo ba life would end without internet?

Na-try mo ba na kahit isang araw man lang sa buhay mo ay nag-disconnect ka sa pag-gamit ng Internet? Specifically sa pag-popost sa Social networking sites? What do you do when you are not connected to the Internet? Ito rin ang mga tanong ko sa aking sarili knowing na isa akong avid internet user, what would I do in a place where there is no internet connection?

Kamakailan lamang ay nagtungo ako sa isang hotspring resort sa Los Baños, Laguna. We celebrated my niece's birthday here. Dahil maituturing itong isang high-end resort, I expected na kumpleto ang facilities or amenities ng place including of course ang wifi. But you know what? Ang isa sa mga maituturing natin ngayon na integral na parte ng ating buhay na internet or wifi access ay wala sila. Oo, wala nga, as in wala. Ibig sabihin ba nito boring na? Ibig sabihin hindi na kumpleto ang celebration?

Of course hindi. Marami kang pwedeng gawin kahit wala pang internet...

This resort reminded me to get off the internet and reconnect with myself and others. As their motto says “No wifi, please talk to each other and create lasting memories”.

No wifi

Sa loob ng dalawamput dalawang oras na pag-stay sa resort, may ilang bagay akong na-realized na hindi ko na pala palagiang nagagawa sa totoong buhay.

1. Spending more time with family

“The more we are connected to the Internet, be it to reply emails, read blogs, surf social networking sites, or tend to our hobbies via PC, mobile or tablet, the less time we have for the people around us.” - Singyin Lee

Kahit nasa bahay ako, mas madami akong oras na kapiling ang aking laptop or Iphone kaysa makipagkwentuhan sa aking mga kapamilya. Nakakalimutan ko na iyong tunay na bonding talaga with them. Masaya sa pakiramdam na makasama mo sila without the presence of internet. Really, it is so much fun creating memories with your family. 

“Live, laugh, love”

Mabuti na lang at maraming recreational activities sa resort na tunay na pampamilya.

Eating together 

Our family wacky shot after the birthday party

Group picture by the pool

2. Real bonding with friends

Mayroon akong mahigit isang libong friends sa Facebook, sila iyong malimit mag-like ng post ko, mag-share or minsan ka-chat. Pero sa isang libong iyon, ilan lamang talaga sa kanila ang nakakasama ko sa totoong buhay. Masarap pa rin talaga na may real bonding ka sa mga friends mo. Iba pa rin iyong kausap mo sila face-to-face. Iyong kulitan, tawanan, asaran, damayan, sa totoong mundo ay tunay na mainam kaya kung may chance na makasama sila, grab the opportunity, disconnect muna sa gadgets kahit paminsan-minsan. Do crazy things, laugh, feel the presence of one another.

We love the colorful shower curtains

This is happiness inside the comfort rooms

Pillow fight

Pabebe tinginan

3. Relax and unwind

Sa panahon ngayon, napakahirap na lumipas ang isang araw na hindi mo kapit ang iyong smartphones. Minsan nga ang ilan diyan, dinadala nila ito hanggang sa comfort rooms. Aminado ako na katabi ko rin ito pagtulog, sa tuwing free time ko, madalas naniningin ako sa newsfeed ng FB. Nauubos madalas ang oras ko sa kakatingin ng notifications at kung ano ano pa at sa halip na na-relax ay na-stress lang minsan sa mga updates sa newsfeed.

Ang pangatlo kong narealized ay dapat mag-offline din paminsan-minsan. Disable your wifi, take a trip, dip into a hot water and meditate. Ito ang tunay na nakaka-relax at pang-unwind.

Swim and pose

Let's get the party starting

Videoke by the pool or movie marathon? Saan ka pa?

4. Playing games for real

Kailan nga ba iyong huling oras na naglaro tayo? Iyong laro na hindi gamit ang tablet or PC? Iyong laro na hindi online? Iba pa rin ang may interaksyon sa totoong tao. Iba pa rin kapag pinagpapawisan ka ng totoo. Iba pa rin ang sama-samang paglalaro sa totoong mundo walang panama ang POKEMON GO.

Basketball shoot!

 

The family that plays together stay together

Table tennis!

5. To be genuinely happy and be true

Minsan akala natin lahat ng nakikita natin sa mga post sa Facebook or other social media ay lahat totoo. Kapag may nag-post na magbf/gf na sobrang sweet sa picture, sobrang kinikilig tayo pero after a month magugulat na lang tayo na hiwalay na sila. May mag-popost ng kung ano-anong gadget para lang masabing may kaya siya sa buhay pero hindi naman pala totoo. We wanted to be accepted sa pamamagitan ng mga post natin. Nakakalungkot na madalas ito na ang batayan ng totoong kasiyahan at self-worth.

Sa internet, hindi lahat ng post totoo at hindi lahat ng nag-popost nag-papakatotoo. In every post, there is a different story behind.

Magiging masaya lang ba tayo kapag ang daming nag-like ng post natin? Ito ba ang sukatan ng tunay na kasiyahan?

Ang tunay na kasiyahan ay makakamtan kung magpapakatotoo tayo sa ating sarili at sa mga taong nakapaligid sa atin. Ang tunay na kasiyahan ay matatamo sa piling ng mga taong nagpapahalaga sa atin at pinapahalagahan natin. Kaya habang may panahon pa, let us try to get off the internet sometimes and spend time talking with our loved ones.

And this is Calidus Laguna

Super happy pose

(Photo Credit: Charles Frank  Caramihan Photography)

 “No wifi, please talk to each other and create lasting memories”.

Thanks Calidus Laguna for such a great challenge.

Interested in Calidus Laguna too?

Visit them at http://www.caliduslagunahotspringresort.com/

An unexpected opportunity with Laresio Lakeside Resort

Laresio Lakeside Resort is now becoming popular among travellers and adventure enthusiasts. This is because they offer the best activities for people who wanted to experience thrill and fun.

Today marks my one year and two months connection with Laresio. I am very grateful to the management for trusting me to work for them. I may not be one of their human resources or staff but I am very much happy working “behind the scenes”. From making their Project Proposal of the “Extreme sports activities”, writing blogs, making Environmental Impact Assessment Report for their Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) application and creating literary for their website.

First blog- It's when they still don't have extreme activities

The Project Proposal for Extreme Activities

Second blog- Laresio 3 experience

Third blog- When I experienced the wall climbing, rappelling!

As I visited the area last July 12, 2016, I was really impressed on the progress of the resort. They are really trying to address all those negative reviews for their client’s satisfaction. I saw their improvement from the beginning of their operation up to the present.

From the big outdoor movie screen!! “This is my first love” and then…

·         After some months, they established wall climbing, rappelling, and zip line!

·         Then, kayaks, balsa rafting, slip and dip and cliff diving!

·         Then, slip and fly and vine swing, camping area.

·         And recently they have human catapult, aqua bike, trampoline and zipline in the lake!

·         And last time I visited (last July 12, 2016), they are now building a gym and mini bar!

And I am excited to see the next! What else can they offer?

Whenever I hear people talking about Laresio, I felt joy in my heart. I remember one time when I was in Nagsasa, Zambales, one group of people talked about their excitement on their scheduled trip in Laresio. Seeing Laresio in the television makes me really so happy and proud of it. For just only a year they are now talk of the town!

By becoming popular of course might eventually lead to either positive results or negative one. But of course the former should be welcomed. 

How I wish that they may be able to really help in conserving and protecting “Tadlac Lake” and promote ecotourism instead of “mass tourism”.

I also hope that they will consider the carrying capacity of the area whenever they book tourists.

There’s a lot of reason why we need to visit Laresio. Want to know why? Just visit them and see for yourself.

To the management of Laresio Lakeside Resort, I congratulate all of you for helping the community of Tadlac.  And most of all "Thank you for letting us experience a one of a kind adventure." All the best!


Sharing My JOURNEY with LARESIO LAKESIDE RESORT

My first love (The big Outdoor Moviescreen)- May 1, 2015

First photo with Tadlac Lake- May 1, 2015

First photo with kiddie pool- May 1, 2015

First group photo (MCBC church P&W) inside Laresio Lakeside- May 1, 2015

Second visit in Laresio Lakeside-Laresio 3 (July 11, 2015)

When there is still no balsa raft and the slip and dip is still in its construction phase (July 11, 2015)

When you can only see the 13 ft cliff diving board and the 32 ft is not yet around (July 11, 2015)

Second Group Photo inside Laresio 3 (July 11, 2015)

My first wall climbing experience in Laresio- August 1, 2015

The first group of people who tried the Wall climbing and Rappelling and other lakeside activities-August 1, 2015

A picture with their first Trainer, Sir Joseph- August 1, 2015

Third group photo inside Laresio, (a background of Makiling)-August 1, 2015

My Journey with Laresio Lakeside Resort with Environmental Impact Assessment (ENS 296 group)

The photo of EIA TEAM- September 10, 2015

The EIA team on our way to Biak na Bundok to take water samples and conduct vegetation analysis- September 23, 2015

Photo taken during the construction of the 32 ft Cliff diving board-October 16, 2015

Our interview with Ms. Cora and our first try of their Strawberry milk Shake-October 28, 2015

An interview with Sir Nino-October 30, 2015

Presenting the results of the EIA during the Public Consultation-November 21, 2015

The EIA team with our Adviser "Sir Nic"-November 21, 2015

Some photos inside LARESIO

My first picture with the 32 ft cliff diving board- November 12, 2015

My niece photoshoot-November 25, 2015

The EIA team having a picture wth LARESIO Signage (the swing freshly constructed)-February 13, 2016

The slide and dip and the giant cradle-July 12, 2016

My recent picture in Laresio after conducting an interview- July 12, 2016

And this is my journey with LARESIO!!!

As we can see in the pictures above, every month, they add more to cater the clients' needs. Amazing!

Thank you Laresio for believing in my skills and capacity. I am not a professional writer and I am not a famous blogger but you gave me the opportunity to become part of your company.

Thanks also to God for letting me find this resort last year. It was never an accident.

"All things work together for good"

Until our next journey!! until we meet again...

Wishing you all the best!