I was walking around this morning, trying to get a head start on some things. I decided to stop and grab a quick coffee. So I'm standing in line, the door opens, two gentlemen walk in and stand in line right behind me. They started chatting back and forth and basically one of them starts talking about how he's had a rough morning, dealt with some unfortunate things and was capping today off as a bad day. Which on the surface is pretty ordinary. We all have rough days. They're real and this happened to be one of them. But it also happened that as he said this I was looking at the clock and it wasn't even 7 AM. Now I don't know this guy's situation, it's absolutely out of my business and I have no intention of delving into it.

But internalising all of this got the gears turning at the back of my head. I'm thinking about how much of the day is left. The sun is still coming up as this conversation is happening. So I grab my coffee and walk outside. Started to think about all the reasons that today is good. Which is sort of an awkward activity at first, it's not something that we consistently walk around talking to ourselves about. But as I gave it some thought, I immediately saw the benefit.

Today is good because what I'm left of the day is directly correlated to the decisions that I make throughout the day. Think about the power in that, in itself. You know that feeling when you have a blank page to write or paint? Or there's a movie that you've been dying to see. The opening credits first come out. The first note is played at a concert. I am living that!

Today is good because it is right now. I may have had some rough decisions last week, last month, last year. But guess what, they don't exist where I am going. In fact, they don't exist at all. Maybe yesterday, but not today. They've played their part. They've provided their wisdom. Now they can disappear.

Today is good because I get the opportunity to see the sun come up. And because the time will come when that will no longer be the case.

Today is good because I have friends and family to share it with. This ridiculous ride, chock full of ups and downs and all the stuff in between. I'm not certainly capable of dissecting the meaning of life, but I know that, whatever happens to be, it's substantially better when shared, when enjoyed. And today that's what I am going to do.

Today. Is. Good.

I'd like to think that there's a lot in store down the road for me. Some of it will push me forward, some of it will cause me to stop and make adjustments. But I'll be damned if I will let it take the joy out of my day. Not today.

I have something very different in store, and I plan to see it through. I have an awesome God, I have the ability, the resources, the determination. I can't think of anything else I'd need.

So coffee in hand, here I go...

Raindrops resonated over the panoramic view of Igorot stairs as the sun was slowly peeking through the clouded mountains. Breathing in buoyant cold Baguio air, I stood on the balcony of our hotel contemplating whether to grab a quick breakfast or go back inside our room and cocoon myself in between soft feather-like-pillows.

My tummy growled and prevailed so I went off for a quick hot shower, then slipped into my androgynous ensemble for my very first stroll at the City of Pines.

We hailed a cab from our hotel, being unfamiliar to the place, we actually had no place in mind to go to. We even had to ask the cab driver for the most recommended restaurants in the vicinity of Camp John Hay. When we stepped out of the cab, we couldn't bring ourselves to consider the nearly empty restaurant. If it were any better, more than two people would have been there, right? "Cut the crap! Don't judge a book by its cover!" my friend scolded me. Reluctantly, I agreed to give it a whirl.

We entered Choco-Late De Batirol. The staff welcomed us and ushered us to our dainty nook. The menu revealed the only local selection of dishes. I asked them to serve us their best-seller breakfast meal: Hot chocolate, Champorado with Tuyo(sweet chocolate rice porridge with salted dried fish), Lugaw (gruel) and Bibingka (rice cake).

 After 20 minutes, our orders were served. The aroma of the hot chocolate when it was laid on the table was promising. I succumb to the rich flavor of our food and finished them in an instant. Raising my white flag, I told my friend "Right, don't judge a book by its cover." He just laughed at me as if I wasn't being sulky a few minutes back.

Though we were tempted to stay and relax a bit longer, we knew our sojourn will be short so we were determined to seize each moment. We left the café and walked through calm, towering pine trees. We really didn't know where to go, so we just kept on walking and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings. Then, it drizzled just when I had the chance of taking my OOTD shots.

The city skies were fickle. Weather changes fast, as fast as our footsteps as we walked towards The Manor Hotel. By the time we reached the Manor, the sun was shining brightly and it made me uncomfortable with my outfit. I wanted to take off my blazer, but you know, tiis porma (enduring discomfort for beauty) Ha-ha!

What I was not expecting was the excitement and happiness I felt while standing in the middle of The Manor Hotel. I was like an excited little kid, running around every corner and repeatedly saying "Oh my God!" with my mouth opened in amazement. (Now I remember my chicken dance when we finally reached the Bomod-ok falls after a quite challenging trekking)

What the!? The second I stepped out of the cab the rain stopped. Really? There were other stuff to see in Camp John Hay which we hadn't had the chance because of the rain. And now it just stopped.

After indulging myself in the shop's unique beauty, I decided to call it a day.