CURRENT MISSION

On a pilgrimage to Israel, Rome and back to Hong Kong for Summer Shopping (May 2012)

ABOUT ME

Mark James Evangelista is a proud son of Baliwag, Bulakan and aims to be an envoy of peace and tourism development for his country. Right after his two year sojourn in South Korea where he finished his Masterate degree of Political Science , major in International Relations (Catholic University of Korea)he started working for Senator Edgardo J. Angara, the longest running Senator in the country.

PHILOSOPHY

"We cannot free ourselves unless we move forward united in single desire..."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Meet new people thus exposing myself to varied ideas, cultures and perspective in life.

Interests

Collecting coins, stamps, antiques, mugs and keychains from around the globe.

• culture
• books
• running
• shopping
• traveling
• cars
• stamps
• international relations
• political science
• science
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: The Sound of Music, Gone with the Wind (hey I'm not that old!), Maid in Manhattan, Oro Plata Mata by Direk Peque Gallaga. Empire of the Sun (it really made me cry...sigh..) The Harry Potter Series

Music: Original Pilipino Music, KPop, Broadway

Books: The Art of War by Sun Tzu, Anna Karennina, War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo by Dr. Jose Rizal as translated by Maria Odulio De Guzman

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Mongolia is simply breathtaking...from sunrise to sunset, I can explicitly feel that I am on a foreign land...no high rise buildings...a few cars...only the silent breeze of the wind and the changing hue of the grass in the steppe. There, I was able to commune once again to God's masterpiece. I would like to go there once more and ride a horse during the early afternoon.The sunset is magnificent that left me spellbound.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am living with the words of my patron saint, St. Augustine..."The World is a book, those who do not travel read only one page". Indeed, one can greatly understand the diversity of culture through first hand experience. During my travels, I focus on the locales. I observe how they converse, eat, dress up, play and even sleep. Culture varies from one destination to another. Yet, we cannot say that ours is superior than theirs. All of our beliefs, traditions and values are shaped by the community which we belong.We must be proud of it...proud to practice and proud to share it to all the peoples of the world.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Philippines, South Korea, United Arab Emirates