Canceled Re:Fit Workshop With the cancellation of my workshop at Re:Fit, I had time to offer myself as presentor to the weekly meet-up of the Theosophical Society with the same subject matter, Life Hacking using Spirituality.
The Challenge I couldn't call the meet-up, "Life Hacking using Yoga" because it will asummaryenate the non-yogis. But by using the word "spirituasummaryty", I now have to weave my life hacks into a broader spiritual context instead of just yoga. Since 'breath' is an essential component of the talk, I cannot just invoke 'pranayama'. Thus, I asked ChatGPT how the major religions have invoked the breath into their canon.
Program
Awareness
Without awareness, there is no free will. Without free will, we autopilot. There is no critical thinking. Without critical thinking, there is no evolution. Hack? 15-min timer for awareness. Homework: 1-hour timer on being aware
Breath
Breath has long been a common theme in all major religions. The Christian faith says, "God formed dust in the shape of man, breathed through his nostrils and life came upon him". The Jewish faith says, "The Lord looked at the bones, put breath into it and it came to life". The Islam faith says, "Allah fashioned him and breathed unto him His spirit". But these religions only take breath as means to existence. Where's the hack? What if we use the breath for strength, resisummaryence from disease and staying forever young? How? By just breathing right. Additionally, one can practice Pranayama, Bandha and Mudra!
Water
Medical science claims that 50% of man's ills can be prevented by proper water intake. But we always drink water. Where's the hack? What if we use water as a preventive maintenance against disease? How? Morning water ritual - ingesting sasummarynated, PH-enhanced and crystasummaryzed water?
Gut-cleansing
Medical science also claims that 90% of the world's health problems stem from the gut. How do we hack a preventive maintenance action? Nauli!
Mental hardness
When we give up, it's not because the body gave up. It's because the mind is weak and it gave up. When the mind gives up, the body follows. Hack to build a strong mind? Chair on a wall, high plank, etc.
Sound
Sound has long been a staple in the narratives of religion...the crumblingof the Walls of Jericho through sound, talking to God through prayer, etc. How do we hack sound? Mantra!
Meditation
Meditation neutraliing the harmful effects of stress, tension, worries and fear. How do hack the breath? Anapana...observing the breath
Gratitude
Gratitude is highly under rated in today's life. People take their abundance for granted. But when you take quality time to take stock of all your qualities, all your abundance, including all the wonderful people who look after your well being, you are humbled. You realign yourself with the divine. By being grateful, you invite grace into your life. You begin to move through life with smooth fluidity. You no longer fight with life. You go with the current of life...being in the right place at the right time, meeting magnificent lives who'll open doors for you, etc.
Visualizing an Outcome
Visualizing is tethered to Manifestating. When you take a moment to think, feel and envision a desired outcome, there is increased likelihood you'll realize this outcome. Great men of history have known that and have capitalized on that. This is not a new thing. What's the hack? Think about the one thing you desire the most. Then visualize it being present in your life already. Feel, don't think. Feel the joy of using it, feel the happiness of having it. Nurture a feeling of gratitude for having it in your life (even though it hasn't manifested yet)
Stepping Back to See the Big Picture
Pausing and stepping back brings perspective on the bigger whole. Extreme contrast: when you are depressed, you don't see the big picture. You don't see how gifted you are, you don't see your abundance, you don't feel your connection to people and the world at large. You are simply focused on this little thing that makes you extremely sad. Out of the 100 wonderful things happening in your life, you only focus on this 1 thing that makes you super sad. It becomes the totality of your universe, to the exclusion of everything else. Then you kill yourself. End of story. Hack? What if you take your misery on a time out and step back. See the big picture...see your friends, look at your bank account, see the people who unconditionally love you. Then whatever this thing is that makes you super sad, it's not so big anymore.
Compassion
Have you ever rescued an animal and felt great about it? Maybe it was a fish ensnarled by a fishing net. These moments trigger compassion. Sadly, we've lost that a long time ago. By exercising compassion, you go beyond yourself. You feel connected to the outside world. You don't have to feel alone. Hack? Extend charity to a random stranger without expecting anything in return. That's your homework.
Austerity
Cry in the dojo, laugh in the battlefield. By practicing austerity, the hardships in life no longer feel hard. Hack?Homework: Stairs vs elevator, walk vs driving, cold shower vs hot shower
What Actually Took Place The session was attended by just 5 of us: Ellen, Wolf, Jaz and Dennis. The conversation took a life of its own, hardly using any of the above preparation I made. I initially asked, "How were you able to use spirituality to hack life?", and everybody took turns to share. The answers were varied but converged on a common theme - awareness. The rest of the session flowed.
My participation was more on sharing my insight on whatever they said...kinda like filling in the gaps or explaining from a bigger perspective. When Jaz stated that it was scary when she was compelled to ask questions about God's existence, I agreed 100%, but added that it got easier with every passing day and would come to a point where you cannot un-see the role divinity plays in our lives, beyond the 4 walls of the so-called church. When Ellen asked about the priority sequence of pranayama and meditation, I invoked the 8 limbs of yoga where you have to start with moral grounding...then make the body strong...then regulate the breath to move energies...then focus on the mind.
I found it interesting that I seemed to have answers to whatever question or conundrum they had. Not that I rehearsed for it, but the answers simply presented themselves.
Ellen, me, Wolf, Jaz and Dennis
Ending Thoughts Moderating this meeting served 2 purposes:
reconnecting with community - TS is a gathering of kindred spirits. I'd like to think I'm in the company of like-minded people. It's a good vibe exchanging ideas with them
Priming for Kat's AI-Yoga Life Hacking project - I was supposed to accomplish this with the workshop, but this meet-up saved the day
Letting it Flow and Inserting Insight I like the way the session flowed. I can use this format in the projects looming up ahead. Instead of me 'lecturing' or 'presenting', I would ask provoking questions and let everyone share their life experience or thoughts on it. I then augment what was said to broaden the perspective, or put things in a bigger context, or explain yogic tenets addressing such insight.
(June 25 - July 1, 2024) With my boat ticket still usable until June 16, and with the completion of the Kid/Adults Yoga project, it seemed like a good idea to visit Cebu for a much-needed break....more »»
(July 6, 2024) Mehul, a BCBP member, invited me one more time to give an inspirational talk about yoga to a group of 35 students ranging 10-25 year olds. I thought about telling something they didn't expect - they don't need yoga!...more »»
More on Cebu City:
About Cebu City
Cebu City is the 2nd biggest city in the Philippine (next to Manila) - and it continues to build and expand. Traffic is getting bad. Decentralization is being developed with the SM Super Mall in the SRP south and the suburban towns in the north.
Boat from the airport to the city center - even without traffic, it takes about 4 rides to reach the city. But with Cebu's increasing traffic congestion, it has become a nightmare. Instead of taking the land route, take the water route - no traffic, fresher air and cheaper. From the airport, take the yellow multi-cab straight to the river port and take the ferry (there's only one destination) to the city. Take the 02B jeep and get off at UC near Jones - you're now on the city's main artery.
given its size and increasing congestion, Cebu really needs a mass railway system - something that is conspicuously lacking, but no one seems to complain about
Cebu is bursting at the seams on the yoga scene. There are about 20 yoga centers in the city - from yoga studios to gyms offering yoga and hotels jumping on the bandwagon
a trendy and safe place in Cebu where you can chillout for coffee and enjoy good eats would be at the Ayala Mall
there are other pocket-areas for trendy hangouts - Banila Town Center, Crossroads, Escario Plaza, La Vie, etc.
the tourist area where most of the budget hotels and restaurants are, are located within the Mango area, although it has a seedy belly feel. Kids may swarm on you pretending to be begging, but they could be picking your pocket or your backpack pockets - be careful
many pick-pockets in the Colon area - be careful
Cebu City Google Map
Cebu City, Philippines
tourist attractions
Tops - hilltop offering panoramic view of the city
Taoist Temple - temple on a hillslope in Lahug with panoramic view of the city
hotel
Hostel Seven Cebu - newly opened, resto/bar, central location, solo/group travellers
Juana Osmeña Street, Cebu City
S Hotel & Residences - new hotel, luxury rooms, central location
827 M. Velez corner Andres Abellana St.
resto / cafe / bar
Fujinoya - new and refreshing twists to Western style desserts using Japanese techniques
Wilson St., Lahug, Cebu City - tel. 888.6075
Bad Boys Wingz - Buffalo Wings, unique versions of sauces! Great service, accommodating staff, bad boys vibe
Kasambagan, Cebu City | (032) 415 4811
yoga
Love Yoga World - yoga studio
11/fl, Skyrise 2 Tower, IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City
Yoga Now - first Yoga and Wellness studio in Mactan offering daily Yoga Classes
at The Yacht Club Mactan
mountain biking
Cebu Mountain Bike Adventure - MTB tours, bike sales and repairs. Bed and Breakfast + Resto Cafe + wifi
1298-b V.Rama Ave, Guadalupe, Cebu City | 0942.959.7451
Cebu City to Iloilo City by boat
Trans Asia Shipping - Terminal 2, Pier 3, 15 hours, Mondays and Fridays, 6 pm (ETA 8:30 am, next day), Trans Asia 19 boat, Tourist P1545 (SR P1236), 2nd Class open air P1400 (SR 1120)
OCEANJET - 3 hours, 5:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:30 am | 12:00 pm |1:00 pm | 4:30 pm
Open-Air (OA) 1100, Tourist Class (TC) 1100, Business Class (BC) 1600
Cebu City to Bantayan Island
The best and fastest way is by Ceres Bus at the North Bus Terminal, adjacent to SM City. The bus takes 4.5 hours going north until it reaches Hagnaya Port. From there, you pay the ferry company separately. The bus boards the ferry until it reaches Sante Fe Port (1.5 hours) in Bantayan Island. From Santa Fe, the bus goes to Bantayan Poblacion and then to Madridejos.
Ceres Bus - PHP 260 (to Santa Fe), 4.5 hours to Hagnaya Port + 1.5 hours by ferry.
Schedule: according to the dispatcher, trips begin at 6 pm (this arrives Hagnaya around 10:30 pm but the first ferry leaves at 1 am...that's a 2.5-hour wait at the port), leaving every hour until 1 pm the following day (I speculate that 1 pm is the last trip to avoid rush hour traffic along Consolacion). This doesn't match the ferry schedule so the bus simply waits until a ferry departs. e.g. the 6 pm trip arrives 10:30 pm and waits for the 1 am ferry. The last trip, 1 pm, arrives 5:30 pm, in time for the ferry's last trip.
Bus arrives at terminal 30 mins before departure. Luggages are P150/pc if no passenger.
Alternatively, you can get off the bus at Hagnaya Port and take the ferry independently. There are 2 ferry companies:
Island Shipping PHP 350 + 25 Terminal fee, 1.5 hours
Cebu City to Dumaguete
Cebu City to Dumaguete by Boat
George and Peter Lines - Mon/Thur/Sat/Sun 10pm, (035)225.4337, 0922.557.1023
Oceanjet - via Tagbilaran, daily 6am, dumticketing@oceanjet.net, 0918.898.2188
Cokaliong - Mon/Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sun 12pm, 6 hours, (035)225.3599
Cebu City to Dumaguete via Liloan (bus, boat, jeep, tricycle)
Cebu City South Terminal - take the southbound Ceres bus to Liloan, P200, 5 hours
Liloan - the bus drops you off at the Liloan Port where you board the Fastcraft to Sibulan, Negros Oriental, P62, 30 mins
Sibulan - at the Sibulan Port, the jeeps wait for Fastcraft passengers to take them to the public market in Dumaguete, P12, 30 mins.
Public Market - at the market, you can take any tricycle to your hotel, P8 for short trips
Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol
Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol
Trans Asia Shipping - (updated Jan 25, 2025) Terminal 2, Pier 3, 4 hours, Mondays, 12nn (ETA 4 pm), Trans Asia 3 boat, 2nd Class open air P370 (SR 296)
Lite Ferries - (updated Jan 25, 2025) Pier 1 Terminal 1, 4 hours, departs daily 1:00pm and 10:00pm, Sundays only 10:00pm
Standard (Lying) Php 370, Tourist (Lying Aircon) Php 520
Address: 1022 Mj Cuenco, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
Email Address: info@liteferries.com.ph
Mobile Number: +639778225483 / +639989995483
Telephone: (032) 255-1721 to 23, 25, 26 /(032) 349-7349
-------------------
Weesam Express - Pier 4, departs 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 2 hours
one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs 6-7-8-9:20-10:40-11:40AM, 1-2-4:20-6:35PM, 2 hours
Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300
Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs M/W/SAT at 1:00pm, 10 hours, economy Php 649 (through barkota.com), layover in Tagbilaran 5:45pm-8:00pm, arrives Larena Port, Siquijor at 11:00pm
+63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
info@liteferries.com / www.liteferry.com
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs daily at 1pm, 5 hours
Open Air P1600
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300
Cebu City to Siquijor by Bus, via Liloan (Santander)(as of Jan 2023)
Sugbo Urban
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Leaves Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) at 8 pm (Sundays 1 am), heads south to Liloan (Santander), takes the ferry to Larena Port, Siquijor, docks around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City 10 pm.
Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because when it reaches Larena Port (Siquijor), it continues its trip around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena. It spares you the cost of hiring a tricycle or habal-habal which charges exhorbitant fares. Besides, it's a long trip to the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.
This is also the slowest. The bus arrives Liloan Port around 12:30 am but the ferry leaves 2:30 am (2 hours of waiting time). The ferry trip is a slow 4 hours (this should only take 1.5 hours with Montenegro or Alesson), arriving Larena around 6:30 am. This 4 hour voyage offers no comfortable sleeping - you stay upright on your seat or sleep on the floor on a cardboard. The boat waiting/voyage takes 6 hours. Altogether, the entire trip takes 11.5 hours until the bus reaches Lazi.
Cebu City to Camotes Island
Cebu City to Camotes Islands
via Poro - from Pier One in Cebu City, take the Ocean Jet for Poro, 2 hours, daily trip - 6am and 3pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).
via Consuelo - from Cebu City, take the northbound bus passing through Danao and get off at the Danao Port. At the Port, take a Jomalia Shipping boat for Consuelo (San Francisco, Camotes), P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only).
Camotes Islands to Cebu City
Poro - Cebu City (fastest and most direct) - go to Poro and take the 8am or 5pm Ocean Jet to Pier One in Cebu City, P380/pax/aircon, 2 hours
Consuelo - Danao - Cebu City - go to Consuelo (San Francisco) and take the Jomalia Shipping boat to Danao, P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only). From Danao, take the Ceres Bus to Cebu City