The tides

Low tide at Boracay

The tides are constantly turning. Sometimes rolling on low. Sometimes rushing in high. But always cyclical. We must move with it. Both the ups and the downs. With or against it. That's just the way it is. I prefer not to get swept along. Knowing not where the tides might take me. But rather dancing with it. Taking it all in and forever grateful when the tide flows full.

The other siblings God gave us

We go back some 33 years. My best friends and sorority sisters from college. In a world where life is short and uncertain, this friendship which spans over 3 decades is a long time. We've been there for each other all these years. From thesis to graduation, marriages and childbirth, family losses and heartaches, promotions and celebrations, love found and lost. It's the kind of friendship that is priceless and rare. Where you can call each other up at 2:00 in the morning and cry your heart out. Where you need not talk or see each other for stretches of time and yet pick up like you were only together yesterday. Someone once said sorority sisters are the other siblings God gave us. I belive so.

Thank you Audrey....

My sisters Audrey Agatep General & Eileen A. Carlos

It's Thanksgiving day.  A time to reflect and be grateful for so many blessings.

Marcus Aurelius said "When you arise in the morning, realize what a precious privilege it is to be alive. To breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love".  I often remind myself of this line especially on the days I wake up feeling sad and overwhelmed with anxiety.  It helps me remember that despite all the problems and issues we face, that there will always be something to be grateful for.

Aud with my dad Charlie

 And so today I want to say thank you to my sister Audrey.

With Audrey

Often times we take for granted the people closest to us because they are always there.  And when they are no longer around we realize all too late the things that should have been said and done.

with Norman & Audrey Agatep

Aud,
I should have hugged you more.
I should have spent more time with you.
I should have listened to you more.
I should have been more of a sister to you.
I should have said "I love you" more often.

And now that you are gone, I thank God for granting me the privilege to have spent beautiful memories with you. However short that may have been.

You will be in our hearts forever.

And you will be sorely missed.

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Baguio Golf in November

Hole 18 Baguio Country Club

It's November and I am in Baguio Country Club. The fog is dense and I can smell the pine cones.  This place brings so many happy memories of my childhood.  We spent many summers here and that always meant endless days of skating for me.  That was my happiness then. My father would wake up early to play golf and would be back in time for lunch with the whole family. It was such a wonderful time for all of us.

Years later, I still go back up to Baguio.  I just never get tired of this place.  The difference is that this time I go to visit and get all excited at having a chance to play golf.

It is such a joy to be able to spend time outdoors and enjoy this scenic course.  Baguio Golf & Country Club is a short par 61 and doing 36 holes on foot is possible.

Being so picturesque, you won't even notice that you have already finished 18 holes.

Fore!

It's the season to paraglide

The Philippine amihan season is now here bringing cool northeast winds that are perfect for paragliding in Carmona. For those wanting to learn how to paraglide or would like to tandem fly, this is the best time to do so.

Amihan 2013 from monique ignacio on Vimeo.

Southwoods ladies team bags PAL Interclub Championship

Southwoods ladies Champs - Photo courtesy of Jeric Hechanova

Congratulations to the ladies of Manila Southwoods for winning in the 8th Philippine Ladies (PAL) Interclub golf tournament held recently at the Ranchos Palos Verdes in Davao City.  It is a record three year straight championship victory for team Southwoods.  Well done ladies! Our hats off to you.

When women golf...

Impact Golf & Lifestyle Magazine features the women golfers from the recent LUZVIMIN Championship held in Bacolod.  Members of the Women Golfers Association of the Philippines grab your  October issue copy of Impact magazine at  National Bookstore and leading magazine stands.

Fore!

Is it over?

So is it really over?  Well I wouldn't want my photo taken while asleep either. Read about it here.

Paragliding Timbis, Bali

I finally had time to put put together a short video of my first paragliding trip to Bali.  It was memorable in that I was able to do my first cross country flight as well as stay airborne for close to three hours.  It's been less than a year since I did my first solo flight and I would have never imagined that months later I would be able to go to Bali and experience the joy of flying with other pilots from all over the world.  This is one paragliding trip I will never forget.

Harbourview at Roxas Boulevard

I had not eaten at the Harbourview restaurant at Roxas Boulevard Manila in a very long time.  So long that I think the last time I went shoulder pads were still in fashion.  I was surprised that the restaurant still existed.

I spent the day in the Intramuros area taking a workshop under Ming Thein which culminated with cocktails and dinner (my kind of workshop) courtesy of Maybank at HarbourView.  The rains were off and on the whole afternoon and the sky was overcast. Just before the rain started to pour I was able to take a photo of the view from our table.  I didn't realize one could see the U.S. embassy from there.

I am making a mental note to come back when the weather gets better and hopefully be able to take picture of the famous Manila Bay sunset.

The sun came out today

It's been constantly raining.  Little time for any golf.  But today the sun came out.  Great timing as i was scheduled to see my golf pro.  "Monique we are going to work on the same issues" He says. "Widen your arc and keep your upper body quiet.  Tempo, tempo...."  I know what I have to do.  I get what my pro is teaching me.  I just don't understand why when he shows me how to do it it looks SO simple.  But when I try to do it, it isn't the case.  Aaaargh!!!!!!  Such is golf.

As I leave the driving range the sun begins to shine really bright.  This is rare since it has been raining almost everyday.  Luckily I had my photo equipment in the back of my trunk.  Complete with tripod and infrared lens.  I quickly look for a perfect spot to try and take an infrared picture before the sun disappears.  I find a quiet playground with some trees.  Perfect spot since I needed some foliage in my photo.  There was a slight breeze coming in which made it even more wonderful so I could capture the movement of the clouds.

So there.  Productive morning in the driving range and the perfect sun for my picture.

A mother's joy

A mother's joy is not complicated.  It's being able to raise her children with good values and being able to give them good education.  For me, it's being able to see my two sons become responsible adults.

It's seeing them do well in school.

Mothers want the best for their children.  Once they have a good education and they are out there making their own decisions, we can only pray that the values we have taught them and the learnings that their teachers have given them will enable them to be excel and truly be men for others.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam

31 Years

Today i woke up to this.

Of course I was pleasantly surprised.  31 Years ago  we had pizza at some diner and realized this was fun and just maybe it could be more than a casual date.   Many years later, and blessed with two wonderful sons I can safely say... It's a miracle!

Thank you for 31 lovely years.  Ups and downs but still happy and loving all of it.....

That elusive 20 extra yards

Terry Rowles in Impact Magazine's anniversary issue

Golf coach Terry Rowles of the San Francisco PGA Golf Performance Center is back in Manila for a limited time with his Trackman and AMM 3D.  Most of us amateurs have not heard of Trackman and AMM3D however it is widely used by golf professionals and Terry is one of the leading advocates of the system.  Tiger Woods and his coach use it extensively.  Put simply, Trackman sees where your ball is going and why it is going there. AMM 3D measures data in your swing from the ground to the club and sees how this information links together to get your body moving more efficiently and elevate your game to the next level.

When I got tested with the Trackman and AMM 3D my goal was to find out how i could gain more distance in my swing.  Terry was able to explain what was happening to my swing and gave me a program I could work with to achieve my goals.

To know more about Terry Rowles and the Trackman/AMM3D system check him out in the new anniversary issue of Impact Golf and Lifestyle magazine.

Jewelry & Chocolate

Joyce Oreña

Artisanal jewelry and Chocolate come together in a gift box. It's a the ultimate combination for most women. Joyce Oreña's new jewelry collection in a special collaboration with Raquel Choa's divine chocolates.  If you are looking for unique gifts this coming holiday season (paging the men in our lives....) then look no further.  Check them out at JÔ Joyce Oreña - jewelry & accessories

Shameless selfie

Flying ove Timbis Bay, Nusa Dua

This is a shameless selfie.  But I figured how many times can you take a picture of yourself while doing your first cross country flight? Right? So i extended my mono pad, turned on my GO PRO smiled and prayed that there wouldn't be any turbulence.  And voila, my shameless selfie.

Sunset in the City

Makati Sunset

Such joy it is for me to capture a city sunset photograph. It was one of those afternoons where the weather was perfect and the sky was clear and i had just enough time before my 7p.m. dinner appointment to grab my camera and take this picture.

Shot with a Canon Mark II 17-40mm. Calumet CK7500 tripod and the Singh Ray ND filter.

Relax, It's just a game

Victorias Golf & Country Club Bacolod

So after a week of competitive golf its time to take a break and unwind.  Competition can be tough and stressful. The pressure to deliver points for your home team can sometimes get to you. But then I have to remind myself that I golf because it's fun and relaxing. When that stops then its no longer recreation.  Then what's the point of golfing right?

So relax, at the end of the day it's just a game.

Fore!

And the winner is....

It was a a fun-filled Mardi Gras awards night for the 21^st Luzvimin Infinity Championship in Bacolod. The Villamor ladies won the Emerald division closing with 342 points under the Molave scoring system. Twelve year old Harmie Constantino was superb with 54 points and won with the  team effort of Samantha Martirez, Jo Barredo and Ting Yupangco. Southwoods I was runner up with Beachie Abiera, Claire Ong, Claudine Garcia and Sandy Velhagen totaling 340 points.

Villamor Team

Harmie Constantino

Southwoods 1

Davao's Apo Golf bagged the Ruby Division with 291 points and  Southwoods II was runner up with a total of 265 points.

Apo Ladies

Southwoods II

The Pearl prize went to Davao City Golf Club and runner up was Negros Occidental Golf & Country Club II.

Davao ladies

Team Negros

Valley Golf- special division

It was a week of competitive golf for women from all over the Philippines.  From aged 12- 80, these women played the best golf they could and they "Par-Teed" just as hard. And so the real winners were all these women who joined the Luzvimin  Championsip and shared in that special fellowship one can only get in golf.

Fore!

Luzvimin Championship Day 1 results

It's the first tournament day! Here are the unofficial results for the top 3 teams per division :

Emerald Division: (Team points)

Villamor - 172
Manila Southwoods - 162
Bacolod Golf & Country Club


Ruby Division: (Team points)

Apo - 140
Manila Southwoods - 126
Forest Hills - 123


Pearl Division: (Team points)

Davao - 128
Negros - 110
Villamor - 98

Special Division: (Team points)

Valley Golf - 144
Alabang - 94
Iloilo - 89


It was an exciting and tiring first day. Some highlights from day one....