Here’s the story I’ve been stoked about for nearly two months now. It’s now flying around the world on board a Philippine Airlines (the flag carrier) plane.
Dr. John Lo, my only brother who writes so well, not just prescriptions, was my icon in writing while growing up. I figure that poem about clouds he wrote for me when I was in high school, well, I wasn’t really much into writing, I liked going to school just to be done with it — it was an assignment that I had him do for me — “clouds gently floating by” is now symbolic in the turn of events in my life. I’m a naturally curious person, but I didn’t plan to be a blogger. All I wanted was to share the beautiful spots we have in Ilocos, maybe influence people to be proud and take care of the unique places we were blessed with, and possibly entice one or two to come visit my hometown and the other gorgeous spots nearby. I am so grateful for the opportunities that have come my way. Being a blogger led me to write the cover story, Loving Laoag, of the Mabuhay Magazine February (Valentine) 2015 issue.
I share the happiness with fellow Ilocano blogger/writer/photographer Ivon Domingo, who did Alternatively Accommodating, the unnamed heroes in Laoag and Ilocos Norte tourism like the calesa drivers who try to sustain the age-old traditional mode of transportation, the vendors who always travel from far-flung barrios to sell their wares and produce at the Sunday and Wednesday Laoag Open Market, all the hotel and restaurant owners and employees, the 4×4 drivers and sandboarding assistants waiting under the Ilocos sun in La Paz, Laoag, all the creative people trying to position Laoag and the entire region as a truly worthy interesting destination and the countless others.
And I won’t forget the readers of BlauEarth, and WordPress who has hosted my blog since its inception.
Photo by Tin-Tin Apostol.
Photo by Marichi Veneracion-Lo.
Thank you Eastgate Publishing and the editors of Mabuhay Magazine. I have so many other people to thank for the story, you know who you are. Thank you very much for being there.
Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2015
