Arlene Manocot's Blog, page 2

🌏 Taiwan Blog Episode 3: Day 0 — From Manila to Taipei

 

The thrill of travel begins long before you reach your destination. In Episode 3 of this Taiwan Vlog series, we dive into “Day 0” — the official start of the journey from NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) in Manila to the vibrant streets of Taipei. It’s a day filled with excitement, anticipation, and the subtle chaos that only travel days can bring.

✈ Departure Vibes at NAIA

The vlog opens with scenes from NAIA, capturing the familiar hustle of airport life:

Last-minute packing and check-in lines

The bittersweet feeling of leaving home

Boarding the flight with a mix of nerves and excitement

It’s a relatable moment for any traveler — that liminal space between the comfort of home and the unknown of adventure.

🇹🇼 First Glimpse of Taiwan

Upon arrival in Taipei, the energy shifts. The vlog gives us a peek at:

The clean, efficient airport experience

First impressions of the city’s skyline

A sense of calm mixed with curiosity as the journey truly begins

Even though it’s just Day 0, the video sets the tone for what’s to come: food, culture, and exploration.

🎥 Why This Episode Stands Out

Authenticity: It’s not overly polished — it feels real, like you’re traveling with a friend.

Pacing: The vlog doesn’t rush. It lets the moments breathe, which makes it easy to connect with.

Visual storytelling: From airport signage to street scenes, every frame adds to the narrative.

🧳 Final Thoughts

Day 0 is more than a travel day — it’s the emotional launchpad of the entire trip. This episode captures that beautifully, making it a perfect entry point for viewers who want to follow the Taiwan adventure from the very beginning.

🌏 Taiwan Vlog Episode 3: Day 0 — From Manila to Taipei

 

The thrill of travel begins long before you reach your destination. In Episode 3 of this Taiwan Vlog series, we dive into “Day 0” — the official start of the journey from NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) in Manila to the vibrant streets of Taipei. It’s a day filled with excitement, anticipation, and the subtle chaos that only travel days can bring.

✈ Departure Vibes at NAIA

The vlog opens with scenes from NAIA, capturing the familiar hustle of airport life:

Last-minute packing and check-in lines

The bittersweet feeling of leaving home

Boarding the flight with a mix of nerves and excitement

It’s a relatable moment for any traveler — that liminal space between the comfort of home and the unknown of adventure.

🇹🇼 First Glimpse of Taiwan

Upon arrival in Taipei, the energy shifts. The vlog gives us a peek at:

The clean, efficient airport experience

First impressions of the city’s skyline

A sense of calm mixed with curiosity as the journey truly begins

Even though it’s just Day 0, the video sets the tone for what’s to come: food, culture, and exploration.

🎥 Why This Episode Stands Out

Authenticity: It’s not overly polished — it feels real, like you’re traveling with a friend.

Pacing: The vlog doesn’t rush. It lets the moments breathe, which makes it easy to connect with.

Visual storytelling: From airport signage to street scenes, every frame adds to the narrative.

🧳 Final Thoughts

Day 0 is more than a travel day — it’s the emotional launchpad of the entire trip. This episode captures that beautifully, making it a perfect entry point for viewers who want to follow the Taiwan adventure from the very beginning.

Life Lessons from The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

This is the second book I read from Mitch Albom and I try to write a blog post about it makes me wander about the first book I read from him which is Tuesday's with Morrie. I went to the search tab and search for the title, but it didn't give me any. I tried the author name and it didn't also. I am surprised and I didn't have a blog entry for Tuesday's with Morrie. I was so confident that I had a blog entry for it. Oh well, I guess I have to read it again or I just have to remember what the book is about.

What's the book about?

Eddie is a wounded war veteran, an old man who has lived, in his mind, an uninspired life. His job is fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, a tragic accident kills him as he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakes in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a destination. It's a place where your life is explained to you by five people, some of whom you knew, others who may have been strangers. One by one, from childhood to soldier to old age, Eddie's five people revisit their connections to him on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his "meaningless" life, and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: "Why was I here?"

"It is a fiction, slightly non-fiction, and a little bit of self-help." And that's how would I describe the book,  the five people you meet in heaven. It was easy and short to read. The length of the book is just enough for the story, no fillers, just the essential. My heart swelled in all the heartwarming parts of the book. I must confess I cried to most of the part of the book. I loveSo how picturesque the used words are, they tickled my imagination. 

I took notes of the lessons I learned from the story of Eddie and how he came to know why everything happened in his life and learned their purpose. The realization he had about the things that happened in his life was comforting to a reader like me whose trying to find reasons and purpose why bad things happened even though a person isn't bad at all. 

Lesson 1: We are all connected and affect one another by our actions and decisions in life. 

Lesson 2: We all make sacrifices in life and it is for a reason, definitely not a vain reason, but a purposeful purpose and reason.

Lesson 3: We forgive. Hate is a double edge sword. We hurt as much as we hate. So, we must forgive instead. Forgiveness is much powerful, than hate.

Lesson 4: We move on. We don't get stuck in one place. We fail, we move on. We got hurt, we move on. We win, we move on. We move on with life, and we're always making progress little by little, step by step. 

Lesson 5: We have purpose and we will serve it well by the end of our life. One way or another, our purpose will be served whether we are aware of it or unaware. We got purpose in life no matter how painful life has been.

I must say that this book is on my top good read books. I reall enjoyed and learned a lot at the same. A must read you have to try too, if you haven't.

Let's read more books! Tara!
Love,
Ang Pinay Manlalakbay

the five people you meet in heaven by Mitch Albom

This is the second book I read from Mitch Albom and I try to write a blog post about it makes me wander about the first book I read from him which is Tuesday's with Morrie. I went to the search tab and search for the title, but it didn't give me any. I tried the author name and it didn't also. I am surprised and I didn't have a blog entry for Tuesday's with Morrie. I was so confident that I had a blog entry for it. Oh well, I guess I have to read it again or I just have to remember what the book is about.

What's the book about?

Eddie is a wounded war veteran, an old man who has lived, in his mind, an uninspired life. His job is fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, a tragic accident kills him as he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakes in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a destination. It's a place where your life is explained to you by five people, some of whom you knew, others who may have been strangers. One by one, from childhood to soldier to old age, Eddie's five people revisit their connections to him on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his "meaningless" life, and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: "Why was I here?"

"It is a fiction, slightly non-fiction, and a little bit of self-help." And that's how would I describe the book,  the five people you meet in heaven. It was easy and short to read. The length of the book is just enough for the story, no fillers, just the essential. My heart swelled in all the heartwarming parts of the book. I must confess I cried to most of the part of the book. I loveSo how picturesque the used words are, they tickled my imagination. 

I took notes of the lessons I learned from the story of Eddie and how he came to know why everything happened in his life and learned their purpose. The realization he had about the things that happened in his life was comforting to a reader like me whose trying to find reasons and purpose why bad things happened even though a person isn't bad at all. 

Lesson 1: We are all connected and affect one another by our actions and decisions in life. 

Lesson 2: We all make sacrifices in life and it is for a reason, definitely not a vain reason, but a purposeful purpose and reason.

Lesson 3: We forgive. Hate is a double edge sword. We hurt as much as we hate. So, we must forgive instead. Forgiveness is much powerful, than hate.

Lesson 4: We move on. We don't get stuck in one place. We fail, we move on. We got hurt, we move on. We win, we move on. We move on with life, and we're always making progress little by little, step by step. 

Lesson 5: We have purpose and we will serve it well by the end of our life. One way or another, our purpose will be served whether we are aware of it or unaware. We got purpose in life no matter how painful life has been.

I must say that this book is on my top good read books. I reall enjoyed and learned a lot at the same. A must read you have to try too, if you haven't.

Let's read more books! Tara!
Love,
Ang Pinay Manlalakbay

Taiwan Blog (Episode 2): Pack with Me on a Hot and Humid Day

I started packing for my Taiwan Trip with all my toiletries, first aid kit, shoes, and clothes my suitcase was pretty much packed and ready, except for some of the last minute additionals. It was really, really hot when I was packing the suitcase. Sweaty and hot, I survived the heat and was able to write this blog entry. 

Here is the list of things I put in my luggage.
Toiletries:shampooconditionerfeminine washsunscreenlotionperfum/colognebody washtonercotton ballscotton budsfacial routine kit
First aid kit:band aidsburn creamantibiotic ointment
Tylenol Eye moisturizer 
Shoes:Tennis shoesleather shoes
Clothes:dressesunderwearsleggingsshortssockssleepwear
That's quite a list, but I always try to be prepared and ready for any trip. It is better to be ready than sorry. I know this is not a comprehensive list, but you can modify, add, or remove somethings that you might need or not need. It is all depends on your comfort, tolerance, and what you need. 
Join me as I travel the world. Tara!
Love,
Ang Manlalakbay 

Taiwan Blog (Episode 1): Flights, Hotel, and Tour

Taiwan is one of my dream destinations. My desire to got to this country is rooted from the Taiwanese drama I used to watch with my cousin when I was a teenager and somewhere around my high school era. This trip will gratify my lifelong dream of going to the country of Dao Ming Si and San Chai, the two leads in the Taiwanese drama. 
When I had an 11-hour layover during my trip from US to Philippines, I was able to step on the ground of Taiwan, but I did not attempt to get out of the airport despite the long hours of staying there. I just thought to myself that I would return there as a tourist, not as a passerby. And I did. 
Travelling the world is also one of my many dreams in life. I guess dreams keep us going too in life, like hope. This is my first time doing solo travelling. I am bit nervous, which is normal I think. I tried to prepare rightfully for this trip. 
The Trip.com app has been my go to online software for my travel ever since I booked that ticket with my friends for Cebu trip which is seven years ago.

Everytime I travel my goal is to find the cheapest but safest flight, hotel, and tour. I am always travelling on a budget. 
This time for the booking I used US dollar currency, since it felt more affordable and not painful on my pocket when I look at it. Well, yes, it is more of a psychological thing and hopefully, it is helping rather that damaging me.
Flights. For the plane tickets, I spent $110.50. It is a round trip ticket already for 4 days and 3 nights trip or more like 3 days and 3 nights because of the flight schedule.
Hotel. For the accommodation, I tried booking in a hostel. I booked for 2 nights, since I would be spending the 1st night at the airport. I spent $24.10 for the hostel. I made sure that hostel is a walking distance to the training station.
Tour. I decided to avail a package tour since I would be travelling in a unfamiliar land. I thought it would be safer and cheaper because the tour includes the transportation. As it was advertised, the tour is composed of 7 tourist attractions to visit. It is a one-day tour. I paid $49.75 for the packaged tour.
In total for the plane tickets, accommodation, and guided tour, I spent $184.35 which roughly converted to 10,139.25 Philippine peso.
I am excited and nervous at the same time for this trip, but I am definitely looking forward to it. 
Join me as I travel the world. Tara!
Love,
Ang Manlalakbay

Touring Places in Tyler, TX

Whenever I hear Tyler, TX the first thing that comes into mind is Rose Garden. A friend’s post on Facebook left this impression on me, since it is always fun to visit places with flowers I got interested in that part of Texas. So when I got the chance to go to an area near Tyler with my boyfriend, I didn’t want to miss the chance to be able to visit the flower garden. 
It was always a long drive getting to Tyler and aware that driving was not easy, I always tried my best to be of use to the driver. I tried my best to be the navigator which I did okay and food commander which I did good feeding him while he drove us safely to our destination, and he always did a good job behind the wheels. 
I got to be in Tyler more than once and visited a few places, thanks to my generous and kind tour guide. Here’s the list of places we got to drop by from all our visits to Tyler:
Broadway Square Mall. It is an old mall in Tyler. You could see pictures of the old mall on the wall of the hallway going to the restroom which felt nostalgic. 
Boba Loompia. So good! Filipino food in Tyler, represent! It was so good and nostalgic. 


Rose Garden. I was so in love with all the flowers. They were gorgeous  and some of them were in full bloom.


Painted Tree. It was a boutique where you might find some of the curios things you would ever see. 

Crumble Cookie. Yum! Yum! Yum! I got no other words but delicioso! Bon appetit!
UT Tyler. His graduate university and my heart was full when he took me there. I love him for sharing that part of him to me.  




Bass Pro Shop. It is an outfitter store. It is still amazed me by their wide selection of outdoor clothes, equipments, vehicles, and a lot more. They got everything you need for a wild adventure.

We also got to try some restaurants and this list is not comprehensive since I forgot some of the places we ate at. I am going to update this list as I remember those places. Hopefully, fingercross.
Rotolo's Pizzeria. The Angry Pig was so good. Non-traditional pizza with spicy BBQ sauce, Italian sausage, bacon, jalapeños, and cheddar cheese.
Another Broken Egg. We had our Valentine's date here. The food was good and serving was big. I was so full and so happy to spend the day with him. 



The homemade food was the best part. I got to experience real and authentic American food. So good!
I miss Tyler, I miss Flint. I miss him so much. 

Joyful Surrender by Elisabeth Elliot

No post for June. It was a month of tears, heartbreaks, pain, and disappoinment. 
But for the month of June, I finished reading the book Joyful Surrender by Elisabeth Elliot. I guess that was the book I needed that time. It was a good book companion going through the process of another surrender in my life.  

There is nothing joyful in surrendering the fight to be with the one you love. Never in my entire existence thought of struggling to be with the one I love physically would come my way. I had this thought that it was something that could be won easily. Like as long you love each other, it will work out, and I am pretty sure it is going to be hard, but at the end of the day it is still going to work out. 
I was never ready to give up. Though I had anxious thoughts, I always thought that if I stick with him through thick and thin, he will do the same too, and he did, but up to a certain level only. He wouldn't go down deep in the dirt with me, and I get him. I so get him that I tried so hard to convince him that we could make it through together physically, but he would not try it. And I still love him. 
He was right it was a lot more complicated, but my simple mind saw it simple. It was simple for me. 
Maybe he was right when he said everything was falling apart. On my side, I thought I was doing a good job trying to keep it together. I was breaking, falling apart, but I tried to stay in one piece to keep the relationship, to stay together physically, because distance, a long, long distance can bring loneliness in a relationship.
He decided to let me go and it was something I did not want him to do. I thought he would not want to be apart from me, as much as I hated the idea. But he made his decision, and I did not have nothing to change that decision. 
I decided to surrender in hope that it would give him peace and joy. In hope that God will open doors for us. My heart was breaking, is. My soul was torn apart, is. It was the hardest decision I made in my life, to let go. To leave him, and be thousands miles apart from each other
I miss him every single day. I miss him in moments I am happy and in moments I am sad. I love him. But God should come first, and I guess that's the part that I missed, we missed maybe. He was the center of my universe. He was my world. I thought us going to church was putting God in the center of our relationship. But I guess, there were times we didn't put God above our relationship. We let Him down. I always pray that God will be glorified in our relationship and I still do. I pray that God is glorified in this season of my life as I wait again and try to live a life of freedom, joy, and faith all through Him and in Him.
Joyful surrender is hard at the beginning of letting go of the battle you have been fighting for to win. It is still hard and difficult during the process, loneliness is another constant battle I have to deal with. Only God can make it easy. If you let go, and let God. 
Before the end of June, it was also a month of hope and new beginning. As what he said, hope keeps us going.  

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Self-Publishing 101: How to Print Your Book with IngramSpark?

This step is the part of self-publishing where you decide to have a print copy of your book. I have come upon this company that helps in printing self-published books. I am glad to find IngramSpark. 

Who is IngramSpark? 
IngramSpark offers printing services. It is a company built by indie publishers, for indie publishers. Fully integrated print, digital, wholesale, and global distribution to help you publish like a pro.

Now, here is the big question: Do you have a manuscript you want to print and an ISBN for your book? If your answer is yes, this might be the right time to try using IngramSpark. 
You just have to prepare two (2) documents: a formatted manuscript and a full book cover.
1. Formatted ManuscriptFor most of the books I self-published, the size I use is 8 by 5. I use Microsoft Word for the interior of the book or the manuscript itself.  
2. Full Book CoverThe application I work with to make my book covers is Canva. The front, back cover, and spine are all created with Canva. Just make sure you use the template book covers for you have the right dimension. Since I use an 8 by 5 size for the interior, it is only right to have your book's front and back cover in the same size. On the other hand, the width of the spine depends on the number of pages of the book, and the height remains the same as the front and back covers.
To calculate the width of your book spine, you may use this tool from IngramSpark: Spine and Weight Calculator
Here’s a sample of the book I published on demand with IngramSpark. Behold! 😂

I hope this helps.

Self-publishing 101: How to apply ISBN for your self-published books from NLP online?

Do you want to sell your books through a physical bookstore just like me?

As a self-published author, one of my dreams is to see my books in the shelves of many physical bookstores which seems like a pie in the sky for me before the boom of internet age. Right now, I can see light and hope for that dream. There are a lot of ways to make it possible and I am hoping and praying it will work. 
But first, I needed that ISBN. So I did get it for my new book and good news just recently, I got approved of ISBNs for the book I have written entitled The Restless Mind. I got the ISBNs for ebook and print version and I did online. 

Who is NLP?
The National Library of the Philippines (NLP) is the repository of the printed and recorded cultural heritage of the country and other intellectual, literary resources and information sources.
MissionThe National Library of the Philippines is an ISO certified national repository of printed and recorded cultural heritage in the country that acquires, organizes, conserves, and preserves Filipiniana resources and provides equitable access to information resources on various platforms.
VisionPremier national repository and gateway of knowledge, culture and innovation empowering Philippine society.

How to get ISBNs for your self-published books from NLP online?

1. First thing first, register as an author/writer with NBDB and here is how I did it: 
Self-publishing 101: How to register as an Author/Writer with Philippine NBDB? and you can do it too, just click the link.
The confirmation email I received from NBDB.
2. Create an account on this website: https://web.nlp.gov.ph/isbn/
3. Prepare a document that contains the full book cover of the book/s and copyright page. Remember, make sure you follow the prescribed format of the NLP or else they will reject it, but you can still revise your application.
The proof of work I submitted for the ISBN application.
4. Submit a request by clicking ISBN Application tab and filling out all the necessary information about your book and uploading the document.
You will receive an email verifying your application and it may take up to two business days to evaluate your application. 
This is the email I received when my ISBN application has approved.

I hope for your success in your ISBN application.