CJ Faderogao

Marilaque, a popular, if not the most famous, destination for riders who reside in Metro Manila. Since its completion a decade ago-effectively connecting NCR with the province of Infanta-it has become a landmark for travelers, especially for those who go on two-wheels, who considers it both as a "playground" to test ride skills and a place to take a breather from the busy metro. This increased regard has allowed tourism to grow in the provinces that it covers, namely: Marikina, Rizal, Laguna, and Quezon. Numerous cafes, restaurants, and nature preserves has opened up within it in the last few years, allowing more people to discover the beauty of Sierra Madre It is not without blight however, as its winding roads have also seen shares of fatality because of reckless riders. Nevertheless, travelers still flock to this mountain path. The well-paved roads, the sparse traffic, and the beautiful views are enough for many to risk going into technical terrains just to see what lies w

View of Sierra Madre from Tanay, Rizal I am not much of a traveler. The places I've been to are not, in so far to say, as grand as those dreamed about by many. I've spent most of my life in the city where I was born-but I make time to go someplace new, in order relish on the fact that the world is larger than me-to see that beyond the confines of my life, there lies a vastitude that I can only hope to imagine. Travel comes in two ways: there is a journey within and a journey without. Both of them, as I now see, leads to a convergence; a point where the journey and destination come as one. Through travel, I realize that every experience I come across are but facets of the eternal, glossing over the fact of my mortality. I learn not to cling to anything; for I recognize that all will come to pass, like the fading views in a car window or the distant island that merges with the horizon. The world mak

The pursuit of happiness is at the core of everything we do. It's what drives us to improve our careers, our relationships, and our well-being.   It can come to us through simple things like seeing a child's smile or a beautiful scenery. It could be in the form of material wealth; through money, estates, and other displays of possession. It could also be found in the conquest of truth; in discovery, in finding meaning; in creating an integration of the natural world and our psyche. Each of us have diverse paths toward our jubilations, and there are complex choices we have to make to attain them. Given this, how can we make sure that our choices always lead to happiness? It is helpful to know that people across history have asked this same question. In ancient Greece, in particular, the philosopher Aristotle has realized a helpful concept that can keep us in the path of wellness. He puts forward that the happiness we seek is analogous to what he calls the golden mean. * * * The