Dr. Seuss is a familiar name to me, but I admit I am not much familiar with his works, so when I received an invitation for the special screening of "The Lorax" in 3D IMAX (make that Tree-D IMAX, hehe), I quickly sent my RSVP as even if I am already in my 30s, I still could learn a thing or two from Dr. Seuss. Come to think of it, I was 24 when I learned the lessons of "Green Eggs and Ham," I guess the lessons will benefit all of us regardless of our age.


In case you don't know it yet, "The Lorax" is the story of greed causing a place to lose its beauty. Because of the Once-ler who decided to chop off the trees to produce a product that made him very rich, people are now buying clean air for them to continue living. None of the new generations know about what a real tree looks like, until one teenage girl expressed that she wanted to see a real tree.

I personally had a few questions about the movie - like how come the older people didn't teach their kids about trees, but setting aside the complexities of certain issues, I think this movie came at the right time... now that people are experiencing problems related to nature destruction - it rains during the summer months, yet it is bright and sunny during the rainy months. When it rains it pours (literally), and when the sun is up, it's just way too hot.

Clearly, the biggest reason why we are experiencing this is Climate Change, but if there's one thing I am thankful for... it's that we still have our natural resources to protect, and that not everything is wasted just yet...


Before "The Lorax" was shown, audience got to watch three videos - first two were from USAID | Philippines, featuring the RE Troopers (or the Renewable Energy Troopers) and the use of Solar Energy to light up a community in Polilio Island (Quezon). The USAID | Philippines and the Climate Change Commission in partnership with SM Cinemas and Ayala Malls Cinemas will show these videos at the start of every movie screening to help promote the renewable energy, as well as create awareness.

Like I said, we still have time to save Mother Nature. Let's all act together - no matter how small or big our contribution will be. I still am not married and I don't have kids yet, but of course time will come that I will have a family of my own... I sure want for my future children and grandchildren to know and see how a real tree (even insect) looks like. I don't want the time to come that all the future generations have were images of what nature looks like from books and blogs.


As a part of this world, my ways of conserving energy and protecting the environment include: unplugging the appliances if I am not using it, save the water by using the water I used to rinse the clothes I washed to clean the floor and surfaces inside the house, use the power of the sun to dry out clothes (no need to use the dryer if the sun is up - saves electricity), cut out paper from the press release kits I received to make my own notepad (as most papers have a blank side), and to use ecobags to shop, among others.

We do have the Climate Change Commission, yes... but we all are part of this commission, and we all have to do our part in helping save our environment.

I will close this post with a quote I read at the end of the movie:

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
- Dr. Seuss

Continuing with the Resound 11 Meme...

What have you learned that you can do better than anyone you know this year?
What can you do that no one else can?
Don't be shy!

The past few prompts, I am always mentioning strength and endurance. I could say those are my superpowers, but I would also like to add the word "focus" to it.

Yes, I know I can procrastinate big time, and I tend to be lazy at times. But on few instances where I need to put my focus on, I could say good things come out of it.

Take for instance this image my cousin took using her cell phone. On this day, my sister and I together with our cousins and their friends trekked to Tangadan Falls. I knew it would be a difficult trek, but I wasn't fully aware just how much I needed to focus and talk to my inner self to help get through with this. The trek going to the falls was tough, the trek back was tougher as we took a different route and we did nothing be to climb uphill, and the trek seemed to be unending.

I was at the end of the pack and my sister would always ask, "Kaya pa ba, 'te?" or "Can you still keep up, older sister?" and I would always answer, "yes," because clearly, I have to keep up whether I like it or not. It was a tough trek for me, for sure my companions were having a tough time trekking as well. If I gave up, that would mean additional burden for them - something I didn't want them to go through because that would be insensitive on my part - letting them carry me.

I am always like that whenever I am faced with a situation. Looking at the situation would make me want to give up right away, but with focus, determination, will power, strength and endurance, I always see myself triumphant.

I forgot which movie was it... but after seeing that, I have started hoping how would French Macarons taste like. Here in the Philippines, there's this food called "macaroons," which is made from dessicated coconut mixed with condensed milk and flour (in some). I know there is a very big difference between macarons and macaroons (aside from the spelling), so I knew I just have to taste it.

June last year, sister and I went to Mercato Centrale and was able to see a stall selling French Macarons. I didn't buy any as my budget wouldn't allow it, but I did get to sample one flavor. Since all I did was to taste an itty bitty part of it, I couldn't make it count for my Bucket List.


February this year has been an awesome month for me as far as eating is concerned (hahaha), and the biggest surprise for my Valentine's Day was when I received an e-mail from Bizu Patisserie, saying they have a gift for me. Our location was way too far from the nearest branch, so I decided to pick up the gift instead. I received two cakes and a pack of their Macaron de Paris.

These macarons are so special because it didn't come in the usual round shape.. these are heart shaped, in time for Valentine's Day! So... what can I say about the French Macaron? Truly delectable! I love how it's lightly crispy outside and slightly soft and chewy inside... and the filling was just so good. Now I know why people just love this food!

Eat French Macarons? A big check on My Bucket List.

Even if it's slow... I still would like to continue answering the questions from "Resound 11." We're on prompt three now:

What good have you done in 2011?
Where do you really shine?
What have you done that makes you proud of yourself?

I guess the biggest thing I am most proud of myself for 2011 was my strength. Being 200+ pounds, it sure was difficult to do many things, but for this year, I was able to endure a very tough trek going to Mt. Pinatubo Crater (June 2011) and Tangadan Falls (March 2011). I sure couldn't keep up with the fit people I trekked with, but the most important thing was... I was able to reach my destination and I had more strength to endure the trek back to the starting point.

If I have a sub-word for the year, it would have to be "endurance." Aside from enduring the stress and struggles that comes with traveling, I also was able to endure the process of losing weight - walking more than an hour... doing the video workouts... cutting back on food intake.

I realized, enduring what I had to endure sure brought me tears and pain, but the outcome were really rewarding.