A home in Preveza

When I was a kid, my dream was to see the homes of gods and goddesses in Greece. I had no idea about the scenery in the countryside till the day we arrived in Greece with the University of Asia and the Pacific Chorale and rode the bus from Athens to Preveza. The common view was a group of houses arranged like an amphitheatre at the slope of the mountain, every house with a full view of the sea surrounding the mountain. The place in Preveza where we stayed was not at the slope of the mountain but it was a small town along the sea harbor. Small business establishments can be found all around.

If I am to recommend a hotel in this area, it will be the same hotel where we stayed, Hotel Urania. This place just felt like a home with many bedrooms.



The landlady, a beautiful Italian lady, serves our breakfast herself in a dining area that looks like the one found in big homes. For lunch and supper, we walk near the harbor to a “taberna” owned by a German whom we later called “Daddy”. Right after supper, we go to the shopping stalls near the taberna. After lunch, these shopping stalls are closed for siesta, until 4 in the afternoon. Why, sunset is around 9 in the evening so there’s a lot of time to shop.


When it was time for us to go, it was just like leaving home because there were tears of goodbye. Flowers were given by Arwin Tan, University of Asia and the Pacific Chorale’s conductor to our landlady, while the “Irish Blessing” was sung by the chorale to Daddy.

.... and until we meet again, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

A rare experience in Greece

The month of July will always remind me of a childhood dream that came true: to travel to Greece. My daughter and I had the opportunity to go to Greece with the chorale of University of Asia and the Pacific, a university in the Philippines, to watch them compete with the European choirs at Preveza which is in Ipirus, Greece, in July 2005.

The whole trip was a rich experience that started with the assembly and getting together of the choirs from the different European countries and the Philippines, before the scheduled parade, which marked the opening ceremony of the contest.

The photos will tell that it was a rare experience any photographer, which was my role during that event, will always treasure. Among the countries who participated in this event were Greece, Philippines, Romania, Latvia, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Slovenia and Bosnia.

The camaraderie among the choirs did not end with the parade. At the end of the contest, a few choirs won prizes, but most choirs won friends from other countries.

I'm Dreaming Again!

One dream that I haven’t included in my Dreams List was to have a home in the United States of America. That was because in the past I’ve decided to stay in the Philippines. But changes happen like the unexpected arrival of a special child to my life. I no longer plan for myself because what is more important now is how to give this special child who is blind and has cerebral palsy, the best therapies that will enable her to walk, talk and live a normal life. The best that I can think of is the program of Elks, which can be found in several parts of the United States like Ohio.

At present, all my plans for my special child’s therapy at Elks will come true if I win the lotto. But maybe, it is not the only way. Who knows, unexpected events can happen again that will allow our special child’s therapy at Elks, and even allow our family to own a house in U.S.A. I’ve stumbled upon a website of Real Estate in The Cleveland Ohio Area and while looking at the photos of the houses, I can’t help but dream again. A lakefront house with the beautiful view of Lake Erie just like in the photo shown is definitely a dream house! I can enjoy my favorite view of the sunset while Lyca our special child will enjoy the waters of the beach resorts all around! To top it all, the Ohio Elks Association Children’s Developmental Center at Amherst is just nearby!

Oh well, I’ve intentionally forgotten to have a dream house in the Philippines, but now I’d like to have a dream house in U.S.A., and at Cleveland, Ohio at that! Thanks to the contest of “Cleveland Ohio Real Estate Blog” for inspiring me to dream again. I won’t win a house and lot (LOL), if the readers thought it’s the prize of the contest, but I can win $25 or Entrecard credits.

Whatever, there is still a prize for being inspired, and that is the opportunity to share your dreams, as well as your own inspiring true stories!