Journey Through Time: My Visit to Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte

Hey there, It's me again. After more than four years of hiatus, I am now blogging again! 😆😆😆

Been travelling to places recently and wanted to document my experience through blogging :)

I recently had the incredible opportunity to explore the historical marvel that is Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, and let me tell you, it was an experience like no other. Today, I'm excited to take you on a virtual journey through this architectural gem and share my personal adventure.

Arrival at Paoay Church

As I approached the church, I couldn't help but be struck by the sheer grandeur of this centuries-old wonder. Paoay Church, also known as the St. Augustine Church, stands proudly amidst the lush landscapes of Ilocos Norte. Its massive coral stone walls immediately transported me to a different era, and I could feel the weight of history in the air.

A Walk Through History

The moment I stepped inside, I was enveloped by the aura of serenity and reverence. The soft, warm light filtering through the stained glass windows created a breathtaking atmosphere, making it clear why this church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fragrant scent of incense and the echoes of prayers offered over the centuries filled the air, making my visit a truly immersive experience.

Architectural Marvels

One thing you can't help but notice about Paoay Church is its stunning baroque architecture. The intricate details etched into the façade are a testament to the craftsmanship of the past. I found myself utterly captivated by the play of light and shadow on the coral stone walls, giving the church an ethereal quality.

The Interior Beauty

Inside, the church is just as awe-inspiring. The wooden beams supporting the ceiling are a true work of art, and the religious icons and altars are beautifully adorned with gold and intricate designs. It's impossible not to feel a deep sense of respect for the history and culture embedded in every nook and cranny of this sacred place.

Sunset Serenity

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, I made my way to the church's courtyard, where I was treated to a view that left me breathless. The golden hour cast a warm glow over Paoay Church, and the surrounding gardens added to the tranquil atmosphere. It was the perfect time for quiet contemplation and appreciation.

Final Thoughts

My visit to Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte was not just a trip; it was a journey back in time. It was a chance to connect with the rich history, artistry, and enduring faith of the Filipino people. Paoay Church is a place that leaves a lasting impression on your soul and fills you with a profound sense of gratitude for the preservation of our heritage.

So, if you ever find yourself in Ilocos Norte, do yourself a favor and make sure Paoay Church is on your itinerary. It's a place where the past and present seamlessly merge, leaving you with memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Highs and Lows take you further!

I recently saw this GIF while checking my social media and it catches my attention because aside from the explanation I read in Reddit I can relate this to my life.

1. Short distance road does not mean that it is the fastest route.

           There are people who wanted to get rich but they don't want to do sweat and take lessons the right way on how to achieve their goal so they fall into get-rich-quick schemes. They are blinded by their greed to get money quickly and easily so, in the long run, they lost the money that they have. 

            I too had an experience where I lost all the money that I have invested in a company. I invested because a friend of mine said that it was a good investment and she was earning a lot. I researched the company and did not find any negative feedback online. Although I know that the amount that they will give on our investment is soo good to be true, I go ahead because I was blinded by greed. But alas! After almost a year, the company and the people behind it are gone and also our money.  So lesson learned. 

2. The downs make it faster in going up.

          My online career is like the ball, the lower the fall, the faster it moves upward.

          There was a time where I took a full-time job as a Virtual Assistant / Facebook Ads Marketer for an Australian client. I had that job for 1.5 years. I learned a lot from it but I was stuck with that knowledge also I got bored in what I am doing. I could not resign because the pay is great.

          Later, when that Marketing agency lost most of its clients, they have to let go of staffs for the company to survive. My salary is twice bigger than the new recruits and I have trained them well, so well that they can do what I can do for the company and the management decided to let go the people whom they spent much on salary.

          When I lost that client, I also feel lost.... but after that, I decided to pull myself up again and think about what I really wanted to do. After some self-assessment, I decided that I wanted to teach.  I took the Teachers Certificate Program while taking projects from the government to train people in Rural are on how to become a freelancer. I teached my students on becoming a Virtual Assistant, Digital Marketer and e-commerce Wordpress Website creation.

        

         

   

Tips on How to Spot A Scam

(I have this blog drafted a few years ago and it was not published.. so I'm publishing it now :))

How it all started

I got a call from a certain Col. Hernani Acosta and told me that he is the National Adviser of a group in Camp Aguinaldo (forgot to note and I don't remember the group name)

Col Acosta was asking me for donations to help in "balik-eskwela". He said that it's a fundraising project to help children in the armed forces.

I asked him how he got my contact number and he said that it's in their database. He gave me details on where to send the money and advised me that he will call me again to follow up.

How I learned about the scam

The organization I am connected to are serving in City Jail so I thought that they got my number from them but I doubled check just to be sure.

I search for Camp Aguinaldo's number in the net and asked them about the program and If they know Col Acosta. They said that they don't know him and also advised me that it is a scam when I told them about my conversation with col. Acosta.


I googled the net after and found these.
https://adbontures.wordpress.com/2018/11/12/col-acosta-scam/

http://www.scamcallfighters.com/scam-call-09287531400-Hernani-Acosta-scam--will-invite-you-to-join-a-charity---be-scammed-Fake-Charity-37238.html

https://tipidpc.com/viewtopic.php?tid=112047&page=97

http://baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph/business.asp?mode=%20archives/2015/august/8-16-2015/bus2-Baguio-businessmen-receive-suspicious-solicitation-letters.txt

They are scamming people for years already and some people still fall for their scam.

How to Spot a SCAM

1. Contacting you out of the blue

You did not sign up for their program but they have your contact number.

If this happens, ask them where and how they get your information and also get information from them that you can use later to check more about their company and their offer.

2. Money is involved

They are soliciting, borrowing or they are asking for your money to be invested somewhere.

If the one asking money is a friend, make sure to call him/her to verify it's really your friend you are communicating with. 

There are several instances I have seen on facebook (one happened to a friend of mine) where someone is using a friend's Facebook account asking for money but it turns out that his account is compromised/hacked and can't login to his account.

3. Urgent / Rush / Emergency

When someone is asking you to decide immediately on the matter, or if someone is asking you to do something because it's an emergency.

If this happens, try to relax and think (you cannot think clearly if you are in a panic mode). If there is someone near you, ask for their opinion before deciding on the matter.

4. Asking personal information

I got a call several months ago who claims to be from a credit card company and he is asking me personal information. I decline from answering their questions because if they are really from my credit card company, they already have my information. They don't have to ask me that.

If ever someone calls asking for personal information, please think twice before answering because people can use your personal information to scam others or use it to obtain loans or purchase goods using your name.

What serving in Prison Have Taught Me

Working from home gave me the chance to arrange my schedule so that I can have time to attend or do the things that are close to my heart that ordinary employee can't do. (well, they can also do, but it would require great sacrifice because some of the things that I attended is during office hours)

Last 2014, I have decided to be part of the Prison Ministry so I called my leader to volunteer my time.  Our service is on weekdays so the service team was mostly seniors who dedicated their time and effort to serve in prison.

I was the youngest but they choose me to head the ministry.

Serving in prison makes me understand our PDL (Person deprived of liberty) more.

1. They are a child of God and they deserve love especially from their family

During our visits. Some PDL's would ask us a favor. Some would give us notes with a mobile number asking us to text the message. Most of the messages are a flea for a visit. (Of course, we ask the guard to check each note first to be sure that we are not violating anything).

2.  They long for acceptance

I have been serving in my community for more than a decade and I felt the huge difference during the part where we sing the song "Welcome to the family". (This is the signal that they have completed the 12 sessions Christian Life Program and are now part of the community)

What we normally do during that time is we go to the participants and gave them a hug or cheek-to-cheek or handshake to congratulate them for finishing the CLP program and becoming a member of the family ministry.

In a church-based set-up, the participants normally have a very wide smile in the face while we welcome them, but in the prison, most of them hugged me tightly and saying thank you while crying.

3. They have more connection with God.

They are more prayerful than me. Yes, I know, they have all the time in the world because they are don't have lots of activities like the rest of us because they are in prison, but even so, I sometimes feel guilty when talking to them because when we would ask them about their prayer time, you can feel their intense desire to pray more .. to be united with God. You can also feel that they already lifted up their lives to God.

Serving in the prison is not an easy task because aside from the time to set aside for service, one should be emotionally ready to listen and to give your love to the prisoners but all I can say is that it's all worth it.

Now I know, I am a Multipotentialite

January is my birth month and another year will soon be added to my age. I am not getting any younger because aside from physical changes, I can also feel that my body is not that strong at it used to be.

Lately, I have been thinking about the decisions I made that have a big impact in my life, especially on my career.

I resigned from my 8-5 office job 3 years ago because the work that I have been doing for 16 years that I used to love, seemed to be less interesting (and more stressful). I wanted to check what is in store for me so I decided to resign and go freelancing.

The problem is, I have many interests so I study and do different fields in the 3 years of my freelancing career.  Just like what my mother used to tell me, I am a "jack of all trades, master of none." ( I studied Virtual Assistance under Jomar Hilario, Blogging and Social Media Entrepreneur program under Ateneo and DigitalFilipino and now I am studying an 11 module certification program on E-commerce  under Asian Institute of E-Commerce and DigitalFilipino.)

Then I came across a video on TED.com by Emilie Wapnick titled "Why some of us don't have one true calling". Now it became clear. I am a Multipotentialite, not a specialist.

Multipotentialite is a person with many interests and sometimes his or her interests are on different fields.

According to Emilie, multipotentiality is not that common because society expects us to be a specialist but there are many multipotential people who are successful even though they are pursuing different things at the same time.

I will not be frustrated anymore if I haven't found my one true calling. I just have to do my best in anything I will do and don't have to be discouraged if I suddenly lost interest in the things that excites me before because I can always use the knowledge I gained in the new path that I would pursue.


How about you? Are you also a Multipotentialite?

You can check the video below to know more about Multipotentialite.