Chinito Rules

25-year-old proud Zamboangueño, Chris Cayzer, made it to the Top 20 in the latest season of X Factor Australia. Chris is the son of Zamboangueña Kristine Araneta Cayzer and Reggie Hizon Cayzer. He already made a name in the music industry in our own country and now he’s taking another milestone in his career.

I personally didn’t expect much from him in the auditions. But I will tell you honestly that he had blown me away with his performance. Chris sang Vanessa Carlton’s A Thousand Miles which I think is so girly. My judgment? HE OWNED THE SONG! He actually made me forget Carlton. His rendition was masculine and fun and light and pleasurable and i-don’t-know-what-to-say-anymore. Oh wait, I gotta watch the video again.

Mel B of Spice Girls gave him a standing ovation and said that there’s something extra special with Chris that she haven’t seen for a long time. However, Idol Guy Sebastian thinks Chris needs to grow a lot then followed by giving him a NO vote. But the good news is, the three other judges gave him a huge YES.

I personally remember when Chris visited Zamboanga several years ago and sang for his fellow Zamboangueños. If I’m not mistaken, he visited us twice already.

P.S.

I love his version of Lisa Loeb’s You Say.

That’s it Zamboangueños! Hope this blog made you feel more proud today. Gracias.

kissXkiss

Yesterday morning was about miracle.

A friend and City Councilor, Vincent Paul Elago posted on his wall a story of how mystic life can be. I asked permission from him if I could post his story on my blog. I’m glad that he permitted me to do so. So here it is.

“I have always been a believer of God. Men have given him many names yet I have always believed that the God each person prays to is the same almighty one. It is just in practices that men differ. I also believe in miracles but I have never experienced one although even in historical times miracles are mentioned in almost all holy books. When a cousin called me to inform me that a miracle was happening to an image of Sto. Nino, I was naturally skeptical. My cousin told me that the image is from a barrio in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay but it was going to be brought down to Vitali upon the request of Fr. Jonathan, the parish priest of Vitali. Skeptical yet very curious, I decided to go see for myself what the excitement was all about. Vitali is almost an hour and a half from the city proper yet in spite the schedule I had for the day, I decided to drop them and head forward to Vitali Church.

 Upon arrival, I noticed people falling in line towards the center of the church. Many where bringing empty bottles. I later realized that they were filling them up with water from a basin where the image of the Sto. Nino was standing. I will have to admit that while I was walking towards the image, I felt something that I wouldn't be able to explain. I know It gave me goosebumps as I approached the image. I noticed that the basin was filled with water but it was drying up with the multitude all wanting a bottle of the water in the basin. Fr. Jonathan then went to the pulpit about the time I was in close contact with the Sto. Nino. There was a strange feeling that I experienced as soon as I touched the Sto Nino. I felt peace and all my worries gone. Liquid was indeed coming out from the image. Something that I couldn't explain. A person earlier raised the image when the basin was almost dry and when while the image was suspended in the air, there was water dropping from the image and when it was brought down everyone noticed that there was water again inside the basin but not enough to fill all the empty bottles the crowd were bringing so the priest ordered that the gallons of water saved from last night be given to the people from the basin.

 I still can't explain the feeling and what I witnessed. At exactly 12 Noon, the image was carried to an open vehicle where a contingent of people joined as the Sto Nino was to be transferred to Logpond, Vitali and later to be returned to Tungawan, Zamboanga Del Sur. I have never been religious but today made me think twice.... Thanks Bro!”

                                                                             -Hon. Vincent Paul Elago

Here are some photos Sir Vincent graciously shared with us.

Hey guys! I was out for a couple of days and I really really miss blogging. I didn’t have so much time to update my blog because I was out of town. Guess where I went? (drumroll) to the beautiful city of Tagaytay.

7:00 AM ǀ July 25

It was a beautiful start of the day. The weather was fine. It was actually cold but it wasn’t raining. From Taft, we drove our way to Tagaytay with so much excitement. It was an hour and 40-minute ride. In the middle of the trip, my friends were all “knocked-out” (asleep) while I was enjoying the view. I think we passed through Sta. Rosa Laguna and when we finally reached Tagaytay, it was like oh-my-God!

Almost 9:00 AM ǀ July 25

I had to describe the place the first time we reached Tagaytay: SO CLEAN!!! SO FRESH!!! SO Pineapple-ly? Hehehe I noticed that there are lots of pineapples in Tagaytay which made me love it more. But more than that, I looooove the cleanliness of the place. From the structure of the houses, to the streets, to the people, they were clean and beautiful. Plus you know that even the air you breathe is clean too. It’s like when you’re there, it’s always refreshing. I’d like to share with you some photos we took while we were there.

Where I spent my nights watching movies LOL

Bird's Eye View of the place

we went out to look for a store

My Team

Breakfast in Tagaytay was superb!

The Resto

My new found friends(From left: Erick, Arianne, Emman)

Anne from Davao (I got these photos from her. Hehe)

Last photo op before we left Tagaytay

8:30 PM ǀ July 27

Too bad we weren’t able to go elsewhere and enjoy the rest of what Tagaytay has to offer. We stayed there for 3 days and went back to Manila. Did I say Manila? Oh yes! I realized I was actually in Manila so I decided to visit a very close (as in tight) friend, Madz. I missed her a lot so I spent time to bond with her. Just like what we often do back in college, we sang again and again and again and again. Here is our video: Roll VTR!

To sum it all, it was absolutely a super fun experience I had last week. And I’ll definitely go back to Tagaytay again.

How about you? Share with me your best travel experience.

kissXkiss