Uso Uso Jeeps

Have ever been on a ferrari?

In Davao, you dont have to go to a grand prix to experience ferrari because some jeepneys here especially plying the Toril route traverse the urban jungle like a ferrari.

If Thailand and Cambodia have tuktuks while here in the Philippines, we have jeepney. It is the most popular form of transportation and even referred to as the king of the roads because of its sheer number especially in the urban centers in the Philippines.

But here in Davao, a type of jeepney has evolved especially on the speed. They are also called among locals as USO-USO or in english, TRENDY or TREND SETTER jeepneys. What differs them from the normal jeepney ride is their crazy speedy driving. Normally, Davao downtown to Toril takes about 1 hour but with the uso-uso jeep, travel time can be cut half.

Another characteristic of these jeep is their attractive color designs and the extreme loud noise coming from the huge speaker placed outside or inside the jeep which can destroy your eardrums. Drivers are often young adults who probably dont care about life or just amazed by the adrenalin rush as they drive the busy streets in the city. 

Some people think that riding an uso-uso is dangerous because of its risk involving vehicular accidents. Some lawmakers even proposed to abolish this kind of transportation. However, many people still patronize these because of the convenience of a fast transport. If you are a student who wants to catch an early morning class but failed to wake up early, an uso-uso jeep can take you to town in a breeze. Many commuters doesnt mind the risk involving or perhaps they are already used to it. I guess more people choose convenience rather than safety. 

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Air Asia Experience

I am so happy I was able to fly with Air Asia, the Worlds Best Low Cost Airline last June 29 from Clark (Manila) to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and KL - Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 

Air Asia operates daily service from Manila to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. Their fleet are composed of brand new A320. What I like best about Air Asia is their crazy promo deals which happens about twice a year, they call it FREE SEATS (but have to pay extra for the web booking). I got my ticket from Clark to Manila for only P75 ($1.70 with tax) and my KL - Phnom Penh, Cambodia for only P300 ($4 with tax).

Air Asia lands at Kuala Lumpur-LCCT just like the BUDGET Terminal in Singapore. KL-LCCT also host Cebu Pacific and Firefly Air of Malaysia. During flight, Air Asia has good set of meal selection at additional cost unless you prebooked it through their website ahead. Meals costs from RM7 to RM14 with drinks. They accept Philippine Pesos and US Dollar while onboard. 

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DMIA Clark Airport

Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) or Clark Airport is a new alternative way to fly outside the Philippines. Many passengers choose Clark because of the good deals one can avail from 3 major low cost carriers like Air Asia, Tiger Airways, Cebu Pacific Air and now Spirit of Manila Air although some full service airline fly here like Asiana. It is accesible for people living in Manila or Central Luzon due to its close proximity. It can also be reached from Manila in 1 hour and a half only.

For a budget backpacker from Davao like me, Clark Airport is not in my priority exit point because of extra cost attached to it. From Manila, I have the option to stay in a hotel and then ride a bus Clark for my trip the next day but it is an additional cost for me. However, last November 2009, Air Asia offered its FREE SEATS promo in all its destination. I got my ticket from Clark-Kuala Lumpur for only P75 Tax included and it is simply a great deal. Last June 29, 2010 my travel to South East Asia started via Clark as an exit point. 

For passengers especially from Visayas or Mindanao, if staying in a Manila hotel can be expensive. You can try my backpacking tips to save you cost. Be sure to arrive in Manila not later than 8pm. When you arrive, proceed to SM Mall of Asia and buy yourself a ticket for a last full show of your favorite movie which ends at 12:00MN. After watching a movie, ride a taxi and take you too a 24 hour internet cafe near Pasay area, use internet for about 4 hours and proceed to nearby McDonalds for a morning breakfast. By 5PM, take a ride to PhilTranco Bus Station at SM Megamall. 

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Updated Travel Dates: Travel Buddies open

Im currently at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I’ve been out of the country for the last 5 days already and I will post my travelogs once I arrived in the Philippines or on my last day here in Vietnam. 

Here are my travel dates for this year 2010-2011:

March 16-20 : Singapore for the G12 International Conference, will be with my churchmates. Johor Bahru, Malaysia Cebu Pacific.

IndoChina Tour: June 29 - July 6.

June 29-July 1: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia probably going solo.

July 1-3: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap (Angkor), Cambodia;
July 3-6: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

August 14-18: Cebu for Ormoc (via fastcraft)

Sept 15-19: Manila, Philippines (with sidetrips to Caramoan or Sagada, depending on the weather)

October 18-22: Singapore; Jakarta, Indonesia

November 27-30: Manila, Philippines for the G12 National Philippine Conference.

December 1-2: Outside Manila

January 2010: Camiguin

January 28-Feb 1: Cebu for Batayan or Malapascua

February 2010: Siargao

March 2010: Singapore

*All are Confirmed.

Backpacking Indochina

I’m all systems go for my 8 days solo backpacking trip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Indochina (Cambodia, Vietnam) tomorrow. As usual, Im having a low budget but it is not a reason to miss a flight. There’s always a good deal while pasalubong or bring home and shopping are excluded, too bad. So, to all my friends, I might not bring back something but expect tons of photo’s for you to drool, haha, just kidding. 

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Southern Philippines Medical Center Training Slots for June

Starting today, you can now register for a Nurse Training Office at SPMC. If you are a nurse, please bring your PRC ID or board rating certificate. I received a number of nurses from all over the Philippines through this blog about trainings here in our hospital. For further inquiries, please contact Mam Joji De La Pena for more information. Please call (082) 2272731 and tell the operator to connect you to the Training Office JICA Building. 

Hope to work with you SOON. 

FREE Prayer Request

Prayer - it works!

After the IELTS Examination, I felt I’m gonna fail the exam especially in the writing part because I knew ahead the criteria on how they examine the essay. I felt really hopeless, depressed and cold right after completing the whole test. As a matter of fact, it seems I lost my faith to God and I didnt believe in miracles anymore. Worst, I abstained from reading the bible for the whole week because of the exam and took a rebellion against God by committing sins. 

My faith was really tested during that period. I realized that what I did was totally wrong, I forgot that I have a big God and he is my father (Psalms 2). I turned back to reading the Bible immediately and was disciplined by God, he told me in 1 Timothy to clearly”EXAMINE YOUR FAITH if it is really geniune”. I was very embarrased before God that my faith was actually shaken by the exam, my faith was wavering because I have doughts on what God can do to me. 

God is indeed faithful to his promise eventhough I was not faithful to him totally. I always read in Psalms the phrase “HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER”. Yes, even for our mistakes God can love us immeasurably. I knew from the bottom of my heart that it wasn’t in my own strenght, knowledge or power to pass my exam but it was all God who worked with me. 

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Jejemons: who are th3y?

As described above who are those jejemons, it seems that education officials are alarmed by the alarming rate of jejemons among youth especially schoolers. We thought text-lingo shortcuts are the worst in terms of grammar composition but jejemon language is even more worst. Some text messages I received even claimed that jejemons are devil worshippers as jeje and mon have ancient greek meanings but it has not been proven yet since there is no evidence of this in the greek dictionary as I searched via google. 

 
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You Have ABSOLUTELY no IDEA!

I could write 50 Books and still not be able to nearly begin to start explaining how great God is because the truth is regardless of what he has done in my life and what I know, it is nothing compared to what he can still show and teach me, each time I get lost in the wonder of how great he is, he is probably looking down at me and saying child, you have no idea.

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G12 Discipleship

If it not were for G12, I would not have met new friends. Being a worker of God is such a lot of fun. Church should not be boring at all, it must be very dynamic as the Word. From Youth Reload, to PEPSOL to Encounter, everything is worth it. Who says’ Gods people can’t party? We party like no other.

We are looking for you? Be part of G12 new generation of youth.

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