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Mt. Kupapey Proved That Burnt Toast Can Lead To Something Beautiful
What if everything that went wrong was actually going right? What if a cancellation was actually a redirection? What if the setback was really just part of the setup? Most of us have goals and trips we’ve mapped out for months or even years. We plan for months, picturing how everything should unfold. And yet, it takes just one storm, one cancelled flight, and one shift in the weather to throw it all off course. That’s what happened to us. We were meant to take the mighty multi-day Kibungan Cross Country hike. That was the dream. But the Universe had other plans. And somehow, we ended up hiking Mt. Kupapey…
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Mt. Kabunian: The Sacred Mountain That Secretly Changed My Perspective
I sold my soul to the Devil. In exchange for a small fortune and a taste of worldly happiness, I lost bits and pieces of myself. I didn’t even realize I’d made a deal with him until I noticed I no longer had time for the things I once loved. Then, one day, came Mt. Kabunian. Here’s the thing about mountains. They’re not just giants. Some are called gods or deities who will exorcise your demons and unveil the hard truths you never wanted to hear. And Mt. Kabunian, named after the sky god in Igorot culture, was the mountain that finally made me see how far I’d lost my…
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Lusno Falls: The Hidden Cebu Waterfall That Taught Me The Truth About Happiness
There’s a version of this day that went exactly as planned. This wasn’t it. The original plan had all the right details. It felt safe, structured, and made sense on paper. But the Universe had other ideas. One message and everything shifted, quietly and suddenly, like most real things do. I could’ve stayed home and waited for another perfect day. Instead, I ventured toward Lusno Falls, a middle-of-nowhere waterfall I barely knew, with no concrete plan at all. I didn’t know what the trail looked like, how far the falls were, or if I was even going the right way. I just kept going. And I wasn’t alone on this…
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Blue Soil Hills Wasn’t Instagram-Perfect, But It Was Unexpectedly Beautiful
The photos made it look like a fantasy movie. The online reviews called it iconic. But when I finally got to Blue Soil Hills in Sagada, it just didn’t live up to the hype. Maybe it was the weather. Perhaps it was the endless flocks of tourists, wearing down something that once felt untouched. But most likely, it was just me. I guess I’ve seen too much in recent years to be easily impressed. I didn’t feel awe. So, I just stood there, quietly, while tourists waited in line and struck poses around me. I let the crowd move around me. But ironically, I didn’t even feel disappointed. As unremarkable…