When you are a webworker, the internet connection is crucial, so when Globe in our area went down without prior notice, my kids and I went on a huff to look for a place with very good wifi connection.  Since our favorite place to hang Apple Tree Resort and Hotel also has Globe, we had to find an alternative.

ChaLi

My requirements for a good place to hang are:

1.  Has internet connection (wifi or cable)

2. Has a Swimming Pool

3. Good and affordable food

We found them all at Cha-Li Beach Resort.

The last time I was at Cha-Li was almost 20 years ago.  Then, it was just a small place with thatch huts for day time swimmers.  They did not have a pool yet.  Once I have checked the amenities of Cha-Li using my mobile connected through GPRS, I called them to ask about the internet connection and their rates.

Ivy, the amiable receptionist confirmed that their internet is up and running at that their service provider is PLDT, I booked and we packed and left for the city.  When I got to the resort, Ivy took me around while we find the cabana with the strongest wifi connection.

We settled in at Cabana Naranja.  The cabin has 2 queen sized bed, full tub and bath, plush pillows, aircondition, cable television, and yes, my very important wifi connection at the veranda.

The children loved Cha-Li.  It has a good pool, although I would have preferred a kiddie pool, but since they only have one adult pool, the kids have to make do and wade on the shallow end.  While they are in the pool, I am at their restaurant which is close to the pool and has yes, my wifi connection!

Although I had to shell out almost $150 for the weekend, it was no biggie since I managed to stay in contact with my work and my kids had a break from the usual house related activities and they all spent their time on the pool and the beach!  A win-win situation!

To book and for more info:

Cha-Li Beach Resort and Conference Center
Zone 3, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City
Philippines, 9000
Phones: (+63) 88-855-5941
info@chalibeach.com

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mbsCagayan de Oro is hosting this year’s 3rd Mindanao Blogger’s Summit.  Spearheaded by ChiQ Montes and the CDO Bloggers, this event will surely be a success.  If you are an active blogger in Mindanao, please don’t be so quick to say no!  You can still register and join the Summit on October 24, 2009, at Pearlmont Inn, LimKetKai Drive, Cagayan de Oro.

This year’s Summit will be emceed by Migs Hipolito.  Famous local blogger, Blogie Robillo as well as Avel Manansala, Aileen Apolo and Lyle Santos will all have their 30 minute to discuss their niche and blogging expertise.  They will also share their knowledge in earning money online and how to gain more traffic to their sites.

I know the venue is not that great, and it is NOT Mallberry Suites, but lets take– its  Pearlmont!  Its inexpensive and location wise, it is convenient.  So will I be attending the summit?  I have never attended any bloggers summit before, but suffice to say I am tempted… lets just see, aye?

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I have just received news that the mother of my friend Melba has just passed away.  I sincerely know how she feels right now.  This news brings back memories when my own mother died two years ago. Not only that, this reminds me of the death of my older brother Joemen almost 5 years ago.  Death of a family member is not new and for the longest time, I can say that the feeling of loss eventually fade but the memories linger.

I hardly remember my mother now.  But certain things, a smell, food, and certain sound triggers some memories and I am reminded of her.  How she smiles, how she laughs and the food she cooks. 

She died of pneumonia which was caused by her heart ailment.  She has endured an open heart surgery at the age of 32 as well as a lifetime of paralysis.  Her last months on earth was not very comfortable.  She spent months in the hospital shivering and whimpering and as my older brother said, she spent hours hanging to her cellphone hoping she’d receive a phone call from me and my sister.

During that time she was in pain, I was also undergoing one of the most painful times of my life.  I never knew she was dying, and when my children and I were on our way back home, and in transit in Bangkok, she had quietly passed away. Looking back, I sort have  understood and taken this as a sign that she knew I was coming home and on my own way to recovery from a very painful separation from my husband and the breakup of a seven year marriage.

I dealt with the death of my mother swiftly, knowing and recognizing the fact that death was inevitable and that she was finally home on the other side.  Do I believe in heaven and the concept of life ever after.  No.  Although born and raised by staunch Catholics, I believe that death is a finality and end of life. 

My brother’s death was sudden.  He died at the age of 42.  His death was more painful to me than my mother’s since he was healthy and all of a sudden had myocardial infarction while on a meeting with colleagues.  He even called me hours before he died. Demanding me to see him at Makati Medical Center, and to bring food.  Looking back, I thought it was hilarious and was laughing as I prepared a cake for him the next day and my husband and I picked up his wife, Luchie who was on her way from Mindanao to see her husband who when we got to Makati Medical Center was already in ICU and was not expected to live. I was in shocked but the thought of death never came to me.

He died with me, my daughter, his wife and my husband on his side.  He made one long gasp for air and died.  His chest went to high up and he sort of reached up for some invisible hand.  He died peacefully and I was in shock and saw the grief and look of his wife, Luchie and I can only imagine the pain she felt.

While the death of Joemen was unexpected, my mother’s death was a gift.  Her death has finally ended her physical pain.  Her death has brought her relief and to the people who was looking after her. 

So how did I get over the deaths in my family?

Acceptance eventually come.  Handling grief is the most painful hurdle.  Transition difficult and painful.  I handled some of the death arrangements.  I took care of her things and which of her things to give away.  I kept some of her things, but I eventually gave her clothes to charity and her bags and shoes to relatives who wanted them.  Parting away with the material things she held valuable and kept was not very easy for my father.  He wanted to keep everything.  I had to wrangle and rationalize with him that while my mother’s things give him comfort, the fact remains that he had to deal with her death one way or the other.  The fact remains that she is now gone and we are still alive and we needed to continue living.  She would have wanted us to keep going on and it gives a smile on my face whenever I am reminded of her funny laughter and her addiction to telenovelas.

I treasure my memories.  My mother has been through so much pain and adversity.  I teach my children about the normalcy of death and how it can come swiftly to people who are healthy and young. 

Don’t forget that you are still alive and you need to focus on the tasks at hand.  I remember that when my mother died, my father seemed to have lost his purpose.  Once he has accepted the death and the finality of Mama’s death, he managed to move on with his life now and continues to enjoy life without her.

Think about it this way, if your parent was still alive, would she or he want you to do this on yourself.  Most likely not.  Life went on for me, and the death of a love one is just one painful episode in your life. The loss feeling of loss will fade and you will eventually find and refocus your life once you have accepted the death of a loved one.

Death is part of life and it comes and it goes.  Life goes on for those left on earth and it might be unbelievable for those who has just lost a loved one, but we eventually will feel better.  The pain will cease and the memories of pain will come to bay and eventually fade. 

I noticed that I hang around  Twitter longer each day.  When I wake up, I like checking @Inquirerdotnet for local news that I might have missed during the time I was snoring away…

I really do not care who is following me because I have seem to attract enough Internet Marketers and spambots that I stopped wondering who my followers are.  For some reason, some felt it is interesting to follow my tweets, but I like following my favorite Twitterfolk.

As I continue to tweet and retweet information which I think were worth retweeting and relevant,  I can now understand what @davewiner has said about the importance of real time information and how it is important for blogging to join in the foray of the release of real time information now or be obsolete.

It was amazing how I have watched and lurked @davewiner, @Om, @Scobleizer and the honcho of Wordpress himself @photomatt discuss the future of blogging as it rides and innovates along with Twitter, Facebook and FriendFeed.

Weeks ago, I have asked my Twitter friends why they tweet and their answers were:

@abeolandres- famed local blogger, entrepreneur and founder of Yugatech.com, he tweets because its saves him more money.  It is amazing how some people use Twitter like SMS messaging– another way to communicate and send messages, not just to the person himself, but this message will go along the stream of real time messages, thereby reaching other people who may or may not be interested of the exchange.

For businessman, @magnotti, who is part owner of @TryBPO, he uses Twitter because it is quick and easy, especially with programs like Seesmic.  As a business owner, @TryBPO uses Twitter to send and share information about the benefits of outsourcing and how affordable it is.

According to big time blogger, Connie Veneracion also known as @sassylawyer, “what’s too short for a blog entry goes into Twitter.”  For mom blogger and business owner, @brandyellen, “twitter allows me to connect on amore personal 1-1 way with bloggers and pros in a way Facebook cannot.”

Just imagine us cramming some cohesive message into 14o characters!  Just imagine the  power of real time information running through Twitter!  I can only imagine what the servers of Twitter looked like.  In time, Twitter will be as big as Google…  In the end, I agree with @MarieisRukia that “Twitter is a faster, simpler way of sharing and getting information with less fuss and minus the crap we don’t need.”

So, why do you tweet?