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