Portia’s Island

I just got back from a five day marine mammal survey in Tanon Strait. It was among the best 5 days I have spent this year–stress free, living on a boat, and doing nothing but eat, sleep, and look out for dolphins and whales.  I could easily spend a week at sea on a boat—if its a sailboat with a proper kitchenette and cabin, I could easily live on it. 

We were happy that the dolphins and whales are still around, although there are not as many around now compared to a decade ago.  Still, 6 out of 11 species found in the Tanon Strait is not bad. And we were lucky enough to see the very elusive dwarf sperm whale, and the rarely seen Risso’s dolphins.  We had two up and coming marine mammal scientists on board (Edna and Leslie) and Leslie took these great photos of the spinner dolphins…

I am happy that the oil rig in Tanon Strait will not be put up after all, as our cetacean friends deser ve to live in a quiet and clean home also. 

Here’s to the great crew of the M/B Queen Dixie and my fellow graduate students who went "camping" on the boat. I hope you all had a great time as I did…. Sa uulitin!

I just turned 29 today, and I wonder if the world became a better place when I was born, if I have done enough to contribute to making the world a better place in my nearly 3 decades of tenure in the planet. I have been lucky enough to have enough loving relationships so that I can also love people back enough. And I have been lucky to have experienced enough hardships to make me strong. I have lived my life almost exactly as I want to live it, and I have no regrets. I am proud of what little I have accomplished, in what I have contributed, and I hope that I will be given more opportunities in the coming years to contribute more to humanity and to the environment. 

I just turned 29 years old today. Its supposed to be my special day,
but I do not have the luxury of doing what I want to do most today,
which is spend the whole day being pampered in a seaside spa. For once,
I can’t afford it, and second, I don’t knowsuch a place within a 50 km
radius from our house.  And I have a lot of things to do today, so I
will settle for a one-hour footspa or body massage in my favorite spa
in Duumaguete. I deserve it, I have been working hard. And I have been
so stressed lately because of Orrin’s recent sicknesses and work.  I
really need to take a breather today, even for just a couple of hours.  But even though this year has been kind of tough, I am still grateful for many things. I have been blessed to have a loving and supportive family, and a career. Even though the demands on my time are very high nowadays, I can still find time to breathe once in a while,and for that I am really grateful.

I just turned 29 today, and I am so looking forward to turning 30. There willbe no birthday party this year, but hopefully next year, the birthday party that I have always wanted will come true. And i will top counting my age also, because I would like to be 30 forever.Age is just an age anyway, and we are as old as we feel.   I look forward to the coming years with all its challenges because I know I will always have my friends and family around. Life is really great when you do not have to go through it alone.  =)