More than the valuable things in life, we want to be happy (Diener, 2000). In fact, the supreme ruler gave us the gift of life to be happy. According to Psalms 96.11 and 126.2 respectively, may I quote,: "Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice" and "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy".
Perhaps true happiness can be found under the canopy of self-discovery, after obtaining a deeper understanding of ourselves, and absolute control over our minds. Maslow (1987) stated that "the more we learn about our nature, the easier it will be to be good, to be happy, to be fruitful, to respect ourselves, to love, and to fulfill the highest potentialities, as a member of the human species and as a particular individual".
2021 is certainly a year of resilience; we needed to constantly shift our paradigm. Developing a powerful diversion skill is the key, to maintaining an optimistic mindset, and enjoying a stint of happiness.
As I'm gazing upon the setting sun and recalling the events that transpired over the year, the golden rays are the testimony that I'm overly blessed... it is a great reason to be happy!
Takas Bahay Series of 2021 Review
1. Ang, Chua, Enriquez, & Company (Various dates)
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| Year-opening gathering at Sambukojin (January 4, 2021) |
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| Lunch at Italiani's. Welcoming Lea to the team! (June 1, 2021) |
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| Proficiency test for the staff (September 23, 2021) |
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| Tong Yang (November 12, 2021) |
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| Christmas Party at Laguna (December 21 to 22, 2021) |
2. HOD Gatherings (Various dates) |
| Towel's Night (February 11, 2021) |
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| Dapitan and Manila Tour (May 8, 2021) |
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| She's Birthday Celebration at Vikings (July 26, 2021) |
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| Holiday Food trip around Cavite (November 1, 2021) |
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| Christmas Gathering at Vikings (December 22, 2021) |
3. Other Events / Tropang Lockdown / Bagani / Casual Meet-up (Various Dates)
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| Birthday Celebration of Nanay Vicky at Dala's Residence in Parañaque City (January 11, 2021) |
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| Eco's Birthday at Taguig City (February 6, 2021). Peace be with you! |
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| Celebrating our own Single Awareness Day at Gerry's Grill (February 12, 2021) |
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| Talim Beach. Lian, Batangas (February 27 to 28, 2021) |
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| Visited the wake of Skyy's sister (July 31, 2021) |
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| Tagong Paraiso. Cuyambay, Tanay Rizal (August 28 to 29, 2021) |
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| Birthday Celebration of Memz at Lambingan Hill (November 27 to 28, 2021) |
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| Habib (December 23, 2021) |
4. Freedive Tribe PH. Batangas. (February 20 to 21, 2021)
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| Intro to freediving |
5. Pinto Art Museum (March 14, 2021)
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| Nothing has changed! |
Hiking Logs for the year ended 20211. Secret Haven. Norzagaray, Bulacan. DIY. (March 6 to 7, 2021)
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| This is a great place to unwind near the Metro |
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| Accounting Department Team Building |
2. Mt. Romelo. Famy, Laguna. DIY. (May 22 to 23, 2021) |
| Horseback riding in Famy? Nah! It was a terrible experience! |
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| Our year-opening climb. Oh, yeah! Carmelie (a.k.a. Bundok at Patag) is already drunk at that time. Imagine using a bottle of brandy as an improvised mic? Virtual Hug! |
3. Mt. Parawagan. Rodriguez, Rizal. DIY. (July 11, 2021) |
| Climb for a cheap avocado! |
4 Mt. Ayaas. Rodriguez, Rizal. DIY. (July 18, 2021) |
| Back to Wawa after the climb last week. This time we revisited Mt. Ayaas. |
5. Bulacan Peak. Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan. Event. (October 10, 2021)
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| Breaking the curse of no clearing with the Magic 7! |
6 . Mt. Balingkilat Traverse to Nagsasa Cove. Cawag, Zambales. DIY. (November 6 to 7, 2021) |
| What a scourging trail! |
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| Nagsasa Cove |
7. Mt. Pinagbanderahan and Bantakay Falls. Atimonan, Quezon. DIY. (November 20 to 21, 2021)
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| 1/9! If this is really a mountain, I can say that I already found the easiest peak to climb in the country |
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| Bantakay Falls |
8. Mt. Ayaas. Rodriguez, Rizal. DIY. (December 5, 2021) |
| There are newly constructed view decks at the summit. We also had a reunion with the previous president (OUR PRESIDENT) of UGAT. Cheers! Tune-up |
9. Mt. Kalisungan. Calauan, Laguna. DIY. (December 11, 2021)
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| Tune-up for the upcoming climb to Mt. Apo! |
10. Mt. Apo via Bansalan - Kapatagan Trail. North Cotabato and Davao del Sur. Event. (December 17 to 19, 2021) |
| The summit of the dubbed grandfather of Philippine mountains |
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| A fine day after the wrath of Typhoon Odette. On the other note, shout out to that "specialized person". Indeed, you are truly special and one-of-a-kind! Your chosen bike brand suits you... very well! Noted with thanks, Sir! |
11. Mt. Parawagan. Rodriguez, Rizal. DIY. (December 26, 2021). |
| We didn't really plan to climb Mt. Parawagan this day; we're actually set to explore the trail of Malasya, but we started late. I guess it is not yet the right time? We had a drinking session at 4 brothers instead! Our post-Christmas climb. Merry Christmas and cheers to all! |
Biking Logs for the year ended 2021
1. Around Pasig (January 31, 2021)
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| Pasig Museum and Tanghalang Pasigueño |
2. Riverbank Ride (May 2, 2021) |
| One fine Sunday |
3. Sunday Solo Ride (May 9, 2021) |
| Visited my Alma Mater and The Shrine of St. Jude Thadeus. Yup! I'm a loyal devotee and will forever be grateful to him! |
4. Intramuros Bike Tour (May 11, 2021) |
| Together with Memz, we visited the cathedral in Quiapo and some of the prominent structures within the historical wall of Intramuros |
5. Holiday Solo Ride (May 13, 2021)
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| Ayala Triangle and Greenbelt |
6. Antipolo Tour (May 19, 2021)
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| Birthday Ride |
7. Cafe on the Sky (June 6, 2021)
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| Short but terrible! This is a part of the Mahabang Parang bike route, located inside a subdivision. As of this writing, someone informed me that there's already an entrance fee of 200 PHP. Not worth it! |
8. Morning Bike Ride (June 9, 2021)
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| Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church |
9. Manila Tour (June 12, 2021)
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| Independence Day Ride |
10. Sunday Solo Ride (June 13, 2021)
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| San Roque Church in Pateros, Sta. Clara de Montefalco in Pasig, and Eastwood City |
11. Laguna Loop Made it Easy! (June 19 to 20, 2021)
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| Some of the arches of municipalities we passed through in the Laguna Loop Bike Route. We did the ride for 2 days, where we stopover at the home of Gideon. June 20 is the birthday of Gids. Initially, we planned to have a birthday hike at Mt. Kalisungan the next day. However, I was already exhausted when we arrived in Los Baños, and hiking Mt. Kalisungan would be taxing for me. During the eve of that troublesome hike, I initiated a beer party. It was actually a great night! Yup! very great that everybody didn't wake up on time! Victory! |
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| Happy Birthday, Gid and Shout out to our self-proclaimed Igorot friend in Ifugao! |
12. Tukadon (July 4, 2021) |
| Tutukod ka don!!! |
13. Antipolo Bike Ride (July 5, 2021)
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| Amen! |
14. Rainy Morning Ride (July 20, 2021)
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| Padre Pio and Riverbank |
15. Antipolo Ride (August 5, 2021)
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| Antipolo ride via Sumulong Highway, before another ECQ |
16. Riverbank (August 30, 2021)
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| Bike Ride after recovering from Covid-19. I survived! |
17. Around Pasig (September 25, 2021)
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| Bahay na Tisa |
18. Barasoain Church Chill Ride (September 26, 2021)
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| Total Ride Distance: 118KM |
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| The first long ride of Rona, powered by Decathlon and Oshilon. |
19. Rodriguez Bike Ride (October 2, 2021)
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| Wawa Dam |
20. Halloween Bike Ride (October 31, 2021)
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Bitbit Bridge in Bulacan
Total Distance: 124 KM |
21. Little Baguio and Camp Sandugo (November 13, 2021) |
| Little Baguio |
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| Camp Sandugo |
22. Antipolo Ride (November 14, 2021)
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| Finally, after more than a year, I was able to bike ride the Antipolo Church via Tikling continuously. |
23. Bonifacio Day Bike Ride
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| Lanawan Ridge Bike and Hike! At some other times, I will integrate all activities in a single tour: bike, hike, camp, and dive? |
May the rising sun of the year 2022 bring us sustainable happiness, and new hope!
End
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References:
1. Diener, E. (2000). Subjective well-being: the science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. Am. Psychol. 55, 34–43. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.34
2. Maslow, A.H. (1987). Motivation and Personality. (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Harper & Row.
3. Lati, M. (2021). Tha Pandemic has caused nearly 2 years of collective trauma. Many people near a breaking point". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/12/24/collective-trauma-public-outbursts/?utm_campaign=eng-cpcrem-health&utm_medium=acq-intl-eea&utm_source=facebook&utm_content=collectivetrauma&fbclid=IwAR0bSvtzEwHOHWW-ToqbyH57LA2YsWONX3fprCtv5EK3TnhkWPQvzmFfqSk
4. The Catholic Bible
