Earlier this month, my brother from the US went home and celebrated a few weeks of Summer here in the Philippines. With that, I asked my manager for a week-long vacation so I can spend more tie with the family and also have time for myself.
With that, I spent the week in different places from here at home to a few hundred miles north to the province of Pampanga, and then back south to the nation's capital Manila to visit a couple of National Museums which for the last 32 years of my life, I have never set foot it yet until then.
I hope you enjoy this silent vlog and be relaxed by beautiful sights and relaxing music. Make sure you sit somewhere comfortable while you watch because those that have seen I felt really relaxed and ready to sleep right after (but they did finish the film before they took a nap haha)
Checking on old posts here on my blog, I stumbled on my old segment "PROFILES" which enabled me to interview two close people, one was my younger cousin Caren, and the other was my college professor and friend Maam Sheryl. It brought me back to memories that made me feel like a journalist, one of the thing I wanted when I was growing up. Then I thought, why not do it again and this time, since I also have a blog, I can also make my ambition to becoming a talk show host (I know I want a lot of things, but hey, as long as I can do them, why not right?). Luckily, I was blessed to have a friend who's always ready to support me in anything I want to do, I am blessed to have Kathleen.
Kathleen and I were classmates since freshman year in college up until we finished our Bachelor's Degree. After that, we also joined the academe as instructors, together with another classmate Jayson, and the three of us shared our teaching experiences for another five years!
PS It was Kathleen's Birthday last Saturday, so this post is like a birthday present for her (which she helped build right? HAHA)
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We both just finished our respective shifts at work in the comfort of our homes when we did this interview. She was feeling a bit nervous but I told her it's just both of us on the interview, and the whole world to watch and listen and read haha. Here are a few excerpts of our interview that was supposed to run for 8-10 minutes but finished at 26 minutes.
Kathleen, Me, and Jayson in a Jeepney in Northern Philippines
Stevenson Que: ...Right now, at your current job, maybe you can give us a background of what you are doing right now and why do you tend to stay. Because after teaching, you have been at your current job for five years now so in a way, you do love what you are doing. So maybe you can share with us what you are doing now.
Kathleen L: So I've been in my current job right for five years now, Yes to me, 'coz it's a very good milestone for me being in a company for five years. So for a little background I am doing technical stuff, doing script programming, attending to technical issues of the people. I have to handle some of the projects that are given to me, especially with the emergency policies that we have in the company. And yes, I do love what I'm doing because at first, joining the company, I have been into the re-engineering process, wherein I used to come up with training materials, and eventually handling some of the training myself which I love.
"So what makes me stay with my company?
I always say it's the people. I have colleagues
who turned to be like family to me,
trustworthy people who you can lean from and
also learn something from them.
I value those people."
Stevenson Que: Oh it's like you were also like a teacher for the company.
Kathleen L: Yes, and what makes it fun is that you are learning more things that you didn't know, and when you are learning new things, you tend to love what you are doing, because you handle it very well. And after a few months of handling re-engineering, I was moved to tech support, which is slightly a bit of development, project management, and also giving training sessions to people. So what makes me stay with my company? I always say it's the people. I have colleagues who turned to be like family to me, trustworthy people who you can lean from and also learn something from them. I value those people.
Kathleen L: It is also worth mentioning that don't be scared on trying something that is not familiar with you because in the process, you are gonna learn all those things with the people behind you that will let you learn all those things. And now, you know what? I just wanna go back to teaching and share all that I have learned to the students. When you are just full of knowledge, you just wanna share it to others so I will not lose it.
Millenials
Stevenson Que: Kathleen, we belong to the millennial age, we belong to that generation that people have been telling that we are indecisive and immature, but in the same time creative and brave. I believe in that, creative and brave! that we are not afraid of what we want and we are not afraid of what we want to do. What can you say about those traits that are being linked to becoming a millennial? Do you agree one them or do you somehow disagree?
Bali, Indonesia - 2019
Kathleen L: I disagree on those things like for the indecisive and unstable. because if you are learning new things, you are not indecisive, you are not unstable because you wanna learn. You wanna learn the process, you wanna go into different skills, so if you are already stable for a long time, it only means you are stagnant.
Stevenson Que: Ugh! Perfect!
Kathleen L: Your knowledge is not improving anymore.
"...if you are already stable for a long time,
it only means you are stagnant."
Stevenson Que: I really agree and I would like to emphasize on what you said about learning, because millennial really learn not just from books and from trainings. I think one thing that millennials have to be proud of is that we can learn by ourselves. And it's not a hard task for us to be given a different task and then we learn it for ourselves and people would say "Oh that's just because you are talented", No! Because we are not afraid of clicking buttons, we are not afraid of trying something new, we just always know that there's a cancel button just in case it's not gonna work out. At the same time, we know when to stop. We just know when to stop if it's not for us. We don't just make ourselves stuck on a situation or on a level that would become very stagnant. We want improvement, not just for our lives but also for the companies that we work in. We want improvement for them
Kathleen L: Yes, because actually, we are promoting continuous improvement, like we have files that we need to improve for the long term.
A decade after graduation - Mark, Me, Kathleen, Florence, and Zarah - February 2020
To those that feel lost
Stevenson Que: Before we wrap this interview Kathleen, this is for all the millennials out there like us, who are wondering what life is. Just like what we have discussed earlier, one thing that best describes a millennial is is continuous growth, and trying a lot of things, and doing what you love.
Kathleen L: Exactly.
Stevenson Que: But at times, for some of the millenials that look for those, for things that they love, they tend to just try and try everything until they just don't know anymore what they love, what would be your advise for those millennials who feel lost? Like, they just don't know what to do anymore, they just become burned-out, like, those that are stuck are continuously stuck, and then we have those that are quickly jumping from work to another work, to another position, to another company. What would you advise them?
Bali, Indonesia - 2019
Kathleen L: Actually at today's [theme?], I can simply say that we are all wondering about what's ahead of us, what will be our life?
Stevenson Que: This new normal
Kathleen L: Yes, but then, my message would be, hold on everyone. Because there will be things, like, maybe a change? maybe a vaccine? or instances that will make our life change, so hold on. And actually, I would like to give an advise to my co-millennials out there, that as long as you're making progress with yourself, you are in a right place.
"...you measure success when
you are in the phase of helping people"
Kathleen Lumandas: And aside from those, do not measure your success by [new] things, by the latest ones, the latest gadgets. But then you measure success when you are in the phase of helping people, because it means you are rich with time, you can spare your time, and spare your resources. So for me, you are successful when you are helping people, because you have more than enough to share- your resources and your time. So don't be discouraged and hold on, seek help, if you need a specialist, or your friends. Don't close doors. Because if you wanna seek help, you wanna get better.
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For those who would like to watch the full interview, I have shared my VLOG episode below on a segment I called "QUEUE-stions". Hope you enjoy all 26 minutes of our interview. I asked Kathleen that our interview be in full English for this first episode so that I can shre it specifically with you, my blog friends from around the world, our thoughts and insights. Enjoy!
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PROFILES is a segment on my blog which will be a one-on-one interview with an interesting personality, as I ask them to share a page of their life as they know it. I've always wanted to be a journalist so this is my way of feeding my hunger for that little taste of being a host. Through this blog, this world that I can call my own, this is my talk-show.
Would you be willing to be my next guest? Just let me know :)
During our three day stay in the Czech Republic, we visited one of the most historic and architecturally diverse landmark in the city of Prague. Prague Castle was a very beautiful complex that shows different styles of designs and materials in buildings that dates back to centuries ago. We were not able to visit the museums inside but seeing it from a free pass across the complex is good enough to be amazed by this place of marvel, especially from a Filipino like me where castles don't exist in our country and culture.
Saint Vitus Cathedral from the Entrance
Built in the 9th century, Prague Castle is a castle complex that houses not just the historical seats of Bohemian Kings, Holy Roman Emperors, and former leaders of Czechoslovakia, but also the official office of the president of the Czech Republic or also known today as the country of Czechia. From the view of the photo I took above, there alone you can see the mix of styles on the buildings inside the Castle complex. It is simply amazing to enter such a place with different worlds living in it.
Four Hour Tram Tickets
Just like most European cities, public transport is on a per-hour basis, unlike here in the Philippines and other Asian nations that goes by the per ride basis. We have four tickets one for each of our family members. After we crossed the bridge from our place we took a tram all the way to Pražský hrad tram station which is directly on the entrance to the castle complex.
Entrance is free for the complex but if you wish to enter the museums that are inside, you need to pay separate entrance for each or purchase a day pass for all of it. Since our stay was limited, we thought to just see the complex area and it was a good experience. Next time though, if given a chance, I hope I can enter the museums. I would need at least a while day for it I guess.
Czech Castle Guard
I have always been amazed by national guards from different countries whenever I get to travel to different historical cities. They look very brave and still even after hours of just standing, plus I really admire their stance and with the uniforms that they wear, they look very strong and striking. Here are a few more guards from my trips who I had the chance to take a photo of.
Beijing, China Seoul, South Korea Manila, Philippines
Getting passed the guards, we then went on to a spacious courtyard fenced by multi-story buildings and centered by a beautiful fountain area. A lot of tourists were there taking pictures. I was very lucky to see new sets of guards marching over into the entrance, I guess they will change guards at that moment (You can watch it on the Video that I will share below).
At the west of the courtyard where we follow the other tourists, we were then greeted by this enormous cathedral that looks so beautiful and can be seen at the city center or at the Charles Bridge. The Saint Vitus Cathedral.
Saint Vitus Cathedral
Saint Vitus Cathedral is a very important landmark of Prague which features a very strong example of Gothic architecture. It is known as Saint Vitus Cathedral, which is it's official name until 1997 but now it is officially named as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert. It is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated in honor of the Bohemian saints.
At the end of the walk that we did, since it was already dark at around 4 in the afternoon, we alighted at a different exit where you can see a gorgeous view of the city center from the top of the hill where the castle complex is located. It did snow a little bit more but again, just flurries, but still I'm grateful! Maybe it's not yet time for me to see the real thing just yet, maybe God is saving it for a more magical moment huh? That is if we can travel again amidst this pandemic. Keeping the faith.
Gorgeous winter view of Prague
Aside from these sights that I shared from my beautiful memory, I would also like to invite you to watch my VLOG entry about Prague Castle! This is my latest post on my YouTube Channel - Steven's Queue which I would like to invite you to watch and also, to subscribe to my Channel. It's easy! Just click on the link and when you're at my YouTube Channel Page, just click on the Subscribe button. See you there!
Last January 25th, my cousin who lives in California came home to marry hi High School sweetheart and I was asked to perform a song number for the newlyweds and the guests who celebrated with them. I chose Shania Twain's "You're still the one" because the song is so meaningful, especially to the newlyweds who have been together for more than 10 years now, that's almost half their lifetimes.
Here is a beautiful photo of my cousin and his wife after their beautiful church wedding. I was one of the secondary sponsors during the ceremony. Can you spot me on this photo?
Carlos + Jean
Hope you enjoy my cover, forgive me for the sound quality but still I have to thank my niece who took this video so I can share this with you all! Comments will be extremely appreciated HAHA
Stay safe everyone! Keep yourselves hydrated and never forget to pray.
