tinagalido

Samar: A Solo Trip

2022-11-06T16:04:00.315+08:00

SAMAR: A SOLO TRIP

Date: Sept 29 - Oct 3, 2022

Day 1: Arrival at Calbayog (Sept 29 - Thursday)

On board Philippine Airlines going to Western Samar, I hopped on a propeller jet plane at around 7:21 AM on a sunny Thursday of Sept 29. Days ago when I booked the ticket, I learned that Manila flies to Calbayog on limited days (I think twice a week). That makes this trip more exciting as it is still not too commercialized. After an excellent business class service, I arrived around 9 AM at a small but clean Calbayog airport. After claiming my baggage, I got in a small tricycle going to my accommodation which was a quick 15 minutes or so. I was too early for the 2 PM check out so I decided to go around the city and proceeded to the Tourism office so I could have a look if they have available tours to recommend. I met with a local tourism officer and was told that, unlike regulated and established tourism sites like Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, and Boracay, Samar has yet to have one. Though apologetic for the lack of available tours, she gave me so much valuable information and guidance on how and where to go around Calbayog which was their territory. I was told that for Biri and Sohoton, I have to check with the provincial tourism officers who are located in the capital Catbalogan. After half an hour, I thanked her and proceeded to grab lunch at one of the most recommended restaurants around town -- Marcial's Grille, which served the best dilis rice so far. I tried their baby back ribs with dilis rice and it was such a satisfying meal I am so optimistic the whole trip will be a success. After lunch, I checked in and spent the afternoon taking my much-needed rest (I had not slept much the day before).

Day 2: Calbayog Falls (Sept 30 - Friday)

After taking the needed rest, I prepared for the Falls tour and headed to town. As advised by the Tourism officer the other day, I took a trip to Allen via the Amoec e-jeep at the center of town. At a quarter past 9 in the morning, we left Calbayog for Allen, alighted at Barangay Tinaplacan at around 11, and proceeded to the barangay tourism center which is just right at the corner of the highway. After paying the fees (DENR-30; Habal - 200; Guide - 300), I got on the habal habal with my guide Kuya Lemuel. After 15 minutes, we arrived at the jump-off point and were greeted with a refreshing view of Bangon Falls. After a short break, we then start to trek to Tarangban Falls. After being on a climbing hiatus, I was not in my best form to do some climbing so even if this will be a minor trek, it'll be quite a challenge for me.

After multiple stops & breaks, I finally reached Tarangban Falls around 11:50AM!!!! What was more amazing was the fact that there were no other tourists but me... The falls were all to me!!! What a treat!! I love how pristine & peaceful the place was and wanted to stay longer but had to consider the travel and trek down plus there was still the Bangon Falls that had to be explored. Around 15 min after noontime, I left Tarangban Falls and arrived at the jump-off after 15 minutes of down trek. After being greeted with the calm and steady flows of Bangon, I didn't waste any time and lay flat on its free-flowing waters. It was so refreshing I almost fell asleep while lying on it. After almost an hour, I decided to change to prepare to go back to the main road. We were supposed to be fetched at 2pm but we made it early so when one habal driver arrived, my guide requested him to tell our habal driver that we were ready (Note: There was no signal around the falls so it is best to tell the habal driver the pick-up time once you reach the jump-off point). At around 1:30 pm, we left the falls and arrived at the main highway minutes later. My guide and habal driver assisted me to the e-jeep which arrived after a few more minutes of waiting. They were very helpful to me and told them I would recommend them to my friends. I knew I was the only tourist that day and they only earn based on tourist arrivals. I hope that Samar Tourism will have the spotlight that it rightfully deserves. I arrived at Calbayog around 3:15pm and traveled to a semi-secluded Kaunan sa Karayman for my lunch/dinner. I feasted on their crab which is sweeter than the usual one. I've had the rest of the afternoon buying items for my Sohoton or Biri Island tour the next day. Had another wonderful rest.

Day 3: Travel to Basey for Sohoton Cave (Oct 1 - Saturday)

For my Day 3, I have to choose between Sohoton and Biri Island as both are from the extreme ends of the island, the former being on the southern part near Leyte and the latter being on the farther northern part. Based on my research, Biri only has 2 trips each day, 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. I hate to rush when I travel so I reckon that Biri will take 2 days and that would mean I won't be able to cross Tacloban and get a glimpse of the famed San Juanico Bridge. Sohoton seemed to be a better choice as it is located on the south and near Tacloban, so I get to shoot two birds at the same time, so to speak -- visit Sohoton and see San Juanico Bridge. But I was so enchanted with Biri Island that I have set my mind on it. I choose the other terminal, the one with the Grand Tours van that have both trips to Allen (going to Biri) and Catbalogan (Sohoton). For some strange reason, my feet led me to the Catbalogan van and I only realized I chose the wrong van when it was already leaving the terminal. So I reckoned I have to go to Plan B, which is the Sohoton Cave. We left 8AM and arrived in Catbalogan at around 9:30AM. I went straight to the Tourism office to ask for directions going to Basey but unfortunately, it was close. I asked a few locals and they directed me to the local public terminal. When I arrived in the terminal, there were many buses lining up for different destinations. I found the one going to Guiuan which will pass by the town of Basey. I asked the conductor to have me alighted in the nearest landmark of Basey. An hour have passed and we still have not left the terminal. I soon realized that they have to wait for more passengers before leaving because of the long trip. I must have waited for nearly 2 hours before it left at around 12 noon. Then finally after like forever, the bus left the terminal.

On various occasions, I was signaling with the bus conductor and reminding him to drop me off at Basey Town. My eyes were on him in every town that we passed and kept on asking him if we were near it. After more than 3 hours, I saw some highway signs about Basey and asked the conductor about getting off at Basey (which he nearly forgot) and good thing the drop-off point was just a few meters away so he immediately mentioned the nearest gasoline station the driver. At around 3:15PM, I finally arrived at Basey town. A seemingly sleepy town, it looks like a familiar childhood town in my province Negros Occidental. I then called the nearest tricycle driver and asked him to get me to Sohoton plus the fare going there. He seemed unsure but gave me a reasonable amount which proved to be just the standard fare as Sohoton was a bit far from the main town. Plying the main highway for 25 minutes, I reached Sohoton Tourist Center at around 3:40PM, a few minutes after its closing time. The receptionist told me that it did not accept any more guests at that time and advised me to come back the next day. She was kind enough to recommend the nearest inn that I could check into and advise me to arrive early so I could have more time to see more of Basey. As advised, I then proceeded to the said inn and luckily, the driver waited for me and dropped me in the inn which was just near the drop-off location earlier and just along the main highway. As soon as I settled in, I walked around town and bought food for dinner and brunch the next day. Basey was a small town and I spent just a little over half an hour and decided to retire early for tomorrow's activity. It was a well-deserved rest.

Day 4: Sohoton Cave (Oct 2 - Sunday)

I was so excited for Sohoton that I woke up early and got ready for the 8:30 trip. I wanted to make the most of my trip to Basey and wanted to leave early since I have a long trip back to Calbayog. I also learned the day before that Tacloban was just an e-jeep away from Basey so I planned to take the trip to Calbayog from Tacloban so I could cross the famous San Juanico Bridge, once the longest bridge in the Philippines. After a quick bread breakfast, I waited for Kuya who I contracted to yesterday. He seemed to have forgotten it so I decided to call on another trike. Got off at Sohoton at almost 8:30 and started the trip after the initial orientation. I was just by myself --- totally a new experience!!!! I got to enjoy nature solo. Scary but exciting. The river cruise took us almost 30 minutes spanning mangroves, small communities, riverbanks, and rock formations. As soon as I arrived, I hopped into the floating deck and climbed a few steps into what they call the assembly or orientation area which works as resting area as well (small huts). There was a duo who serenaded me with a local song and I was somehow moved by the way they welcome visitors. My guide then directed me to the cave entrance and started the actual orientation of the dos and don'ts of the cave. I was gear ready (helmet,etc) and I was a bit nervous given that my last cave experience was that of Sagada which was extremely difficult for a first-timer. So I have prepared both mentally and physically for this challenge. The guide assured me this was an easy one and since I told him about Sagada, he reassured me it was way more like a walk in the park as compared to the challenging Sagada adventure. And he was right. My first 10 minutes was like literally walking in the park inside the cave. It was impressively vast and well-lit. Yes, there were lights inside the park that makes visibility better for tourists. They have really regulated it for all kinds of tourists -- like literally you can bring children inside the cave. It was almost an hour of wows and ahhs for me, not just because it was an easy and light tour but it was also educational and informative. Kudos to my guide and perhaps all the guides there because they seem to be really knowledgeable in the area.

After the cave tour, I had another short trip to what they call the Sohoton Bridge. My boatman and I have to navigate a tricky rapids going there and when he pointed me the bridge, I expected it was probably a suspension bridge that connects two rock formations. Alas, it was nothing of that nature! It was bridge formed by nature itself -- it was like two mountains holding hands or two rocks shaking hands. It was a marvel of nature. Kuya asked me if I wanted to swim on the rapids below it and said yes. After like almost 15 minutes, we then went back to the base. It was one unique commune with nature!!! Such a peaceful and serene experience! At almost 11am, I left Sohoton and headed back to Basey town proper to buy their famed Banig at a tourist center. I headed to Ame Hotel at 11:45am, had a quick lunch, and checked out. I flagged another trike for the terminal going to Tacloban. At 12:15pm, we left Basey on a comfy e-jeep and passed through the famous bridge. I was probably the only one taking video of the actual passing through the bridge and despite multiple glares, I continued marveling at the beauty of it. I was hiding my giddiness so as not to embarrass myself. Basey to Tacloban is just a 30-minute trip and was amazed by how near it was. If I had known, I would have planned for an overnight in Tacloban for a short tour but I'll probably reserve it on future trips. I looked for the earliest trip to Catbalogan and found a 1:30pm one. After 5.5 hours, I finally arrived at Calbayog and decided to retire early. It was a fulfilling day!

Day 5: Departure (Oct 3 - Monday)

I had my 10am trip so I woke up early for an early checkout and a small trip to a famous pasalubong center to buy their famous tinapa. I really recommend trying their version of tinapa because it was so good. I arrived in Manila at way past noon and spent the rest of the day unpacking and taking more well-deserved sleep. I am definitely going back to Samar and exploring more, plus include Tacloban as well.

Batangas - Bacolod: A 3-Day Ordeal

2021-12-29T20:12:00.020+08:00

Date of Travel: December 12-14, 2021

Port of Origin: Batangas City

Port of Destination/s:

- Caticlan

- Dumangas, Iloilo

- Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

Notes:

This trip was my 3rd time to try the RORO trip (the 1st one being via Calapan and thru Roxas port in Mindoro & the 2nd one was also via Calapan but thru the new Bulalacao port in Mindoro). The first 2 trips was longer in terms of kilometers but it took me just roughly a day to complete it (average 22-24 hours) pre-pandemic. This 3rd trip was shorter in kilometers but it took us 3 days --- yes THREE freaking, stressful days!!!! It was supposed to be shorter; but given the fact that we traveled on a pandemic, I was expecting it to be a little over a day. But lo and behold, the challenges we (YES, I had a companion this time -- my cousin; the last two being a solo trip) had to go through make even the most patient person to snap.. Glad we still kept our sanity during and after the trip.

Day 0: Leaving NCR to Batangas - December 11 (Challenge #1)

1400H - We left Pasig and headed to Batangas City to stay overnight at a hotel before our trip to the port the next day.

1730H - While we were traversing the expressway between San Jose & Batangas City, there was a loud noise at the bottom of the car (driver & passenger seat at the front). It was akin to having something hanging from the car and was touching the ground and making a clanking super loud noise. I was hesitant to stop in the middle of the highway but got worried to run or continue driving on a flat tire -- I was expecting it was that scenario. I got out and checked the tires immediately. ALL were completely intact and well, after all I got it all loaded at 32 a piece earlier in the morning before we left. I then resumed driving, but the noise was persistent and I decided to stop by the next Lay By area. I checked on the bottom area and something was leaking but can't figure out what was it. Since we were nearing the city (Batangas), we decided to continue despite the noise; praying and hoping we can make it in one piece.

1800H - When we reached Rotonda, the noise suddenly disappeared; like nothing happened. As urban legends say, we "talked" to the other elements to just leave us alone (along with the silent prayers to keep us away from harm). By dusk, we reached the hotel where we stayed for the night before our trip to the port early morning the next day.

Day 1: Batangas Port Departure - December 12 (Challenge #2)

Although this was my 3rd RORO trip via Batangas City, it was my first time taking on a different destination. Taking on the Caticlan route instead of Mindoro would have given us lesser travel time, albeit more costly. Days before our trip, we already signed an Online Health Declaration Form in the website of Aklan LGU as per their latest COVID-19 travel requirements for Pass-Through travelers (via Executive Order No. 028-A, Series of 2021). There was one requirement that is a bit generic -- Notice of Coordination/Acceptance from Province of Destination. How are we gonna ask for that document if we do not even have a template or specific allowed documents that are accepted? What we did was email the Aklan LGU indicating the travel details and since we don't have any idea of the first requirement, we assumed emailing the Aklan LGU would suffice. Before facing whatever challenges we might be fighting on regarding the requirements in Batangas port, we first passed on a local gasoline station to have Darren (my car's name) checked. While we were detailing the ordeal to the 2 car mechanic techs on what happened yesterday, they looked at each other and chorused "Ganyan lang Ma'am magwelcome ang mga taga Batangas", obviously highlighting and confirming our "Mumu" point of view of what happened. They narrated that they always get asked about it by many private cars and confirming the same noise we had yesterday. Calming our fears, he checked the hood and assured us everything was okay and fine with the vehicle. Heaving sighs of relief, we left the station and headed for the port.

0900H - The real challenge started when we reached the port. We looked for the 2Go tent outside the port as was instructed to me when I made the reservation. (READ: You need to text the 2GO Batangas port reservation officer to secure a slot via the mobile number +63965 577 8335 most preferably 2 weeks or more before the travel; mine I did a month before our initial travel which was supposed to be Dec 10 but we moved to Dec 12) There were a few private cars parking on one lane of the main way opposite the entrance towards the port; dominated by wheeler trucks and container vans. We went to look for the tent -- a makeshift one where most of the vessels have their own small tables & counters for those who will travel to Mindoro, Caticlan and Romblon. As soon as I found the table of 2Go, I asked about our reservation and the dispatcher in charge checked on their list and confirmed my slot then told me to come back later as their main office has yet to arrive. He also advised us to generate S-Pass while waiting for their staff. For those who have no smart phone or no data, the guard near the tent somehow helped those who are unavailable to do so. (Note: Be prepared for a LONG WAIT, better to buy foods within the day although there's a few carinderia and food stalls in the area)

1300H - The 2Go Batangas port staff arrived and asked for the final province destination and checked on their list for the requirements (Note: I should have asked them when I was making the reservation; though I had the impression that they are leaving it to the passengers to secure the necessary approvals as they told me that we should have the necessary documents for the destination LGU.) They asked for 3 items: (1) S-Pass where we already generated while we were waiting for the 2Go staff; (2) VaxCertPH or Vaccination Card (they might advise some who have Vax Card without QR code to secure VaxCertPH but they still accept Vax Card without QR for now); (3) Barangay Certificate or any ID with the address of the destination LGU. I tried to contest on the last requirement as all of my IDs were already an NCR-based address. He said any old ID or a screenshot of Barangay Certification will do. He asked me to talk to their supervisor if he would allow it. I tried to convince the latter but failed to. I was starting to get stressed -- getting a Barangay Certificate on a Sunday can be a challenge. I immediately contacted by brother and sis-in-law if they can secure one or know a Barangay Kagawad who can issue a certificate on a weekend. I was already thinking of worse case scenarios while talking to them; one of those was staying for another day to complete the requirement. (Note: This is why traveling on a pandemic can be REALLY stressful so pack lots of patience and cooler heads) While witnessing some confirmed slots filling up forms for the entry to the port, our stress level goes up every hour of waiting for the updates from Bacolod. More passengers and travelers are adding up and slowly filling up the tent. A lot of dissatisfied ones especially for those who are being greeted with "Fully booked na po" and some walk in travelers patiently waiting for that slim shot at making it. After more than an hour, my brother sent me the screenshot of the Barangay Certificate they got -- luck seems to be on our side right now as there was a blood letting activity in the barangay and there were people working at the office. We then showed the screenshot and were given the forms. After submitting it, we were asked to try to enter the port (if the port officials allowed) while waiting for our confirmed forms from 2Go. We tried to but were disallowed and had to go back to park.

1800H - We were now given the validated forms to show to the port guards at the entrance and were told to line up in lane 14. As soon as we were told to proceed, there are 3 more screenings we need to pass on -- (1) main port entrance; (2) PCG; and finally (3) Port Boarding Pass - honestly I did not recall this last part on my last 2 RORO trips.

2000H - After having our boarding passes ready and waiting at Lane 14, we were then allowed to board the vessel.

2100H - SIGH of RELIEF. At last, the vessel departed Batangas port!!!!

Day 2 - Caticlan Port Arrival - December 13 - Challenge #3

1030H - We arrived at Caticlan after more than half a day and while waiting for the announcement to prepare for the roll off, we were advised to standby as the vessel anchors away from the port. We saw a few vessels who are anchored as well like us and were waiting for their time to dock.

1200H - Announcement of delay as there were still more verification measures done after docking so we were advised to wait for further announcements. Free lunch were served. There were not much options as well to buy in the resto.

1600H - We saw another 2Go vessel arrived and were anchored behind us.

1700H - Some passengers saw that the other 2Go vessel that just arrived an hour ago began to sail to the docking area of the port. That prompted many to complain to the customer service desk and demanded for explanation. Minutes later, the management and staffs were being bombarded with complaints, questions and high-pitched angry demands. Majority wanted clarity on what happened and why were we left guessing on what happened. One of the passengers were led by the crew manager to the captain and came back with the explanation that the latter gave to him. He explained that the other 2Go was allowed to sail because their communicated ETA was first or earlier than ours. Still, it was not enough explanation.

1800H - No updates on what time we will be allowed to roll off but dinner was given to all passengers. Everyone was hungry, angry and restless. Since we won't be making it in Dumangas on time, I made a quick reservation on a hotel in Kalibo.

1900H - Announcements were made that we will be docking off the port. Drivers (private, trucks, buses, vans) were advised to prepare Vax card & S-Pass and will be prioritized as needed.

1930H - As soon as we docked, representatives from Aklan LGU entered the ship and asked for the Vax Card, S-Pass and made us fill up in the list form. One of them also asked us of the QR code and I told them we are only Pass-thru travelers and will not be staying on Aklan. She told us it was still needed. I told her it was not asked of us since we are aren't Aklan-bound and she referred me to another staff which took screenshots of our IDs instead and let us go. I asked her if there was some forms or validated notes that they will give us that showed we are done with the verification in case someone from the port will ask for it. She said it was okay; which left us shocked and confused but then we left as they told us and the reception area looked like a marketplace when we left. Some, I am guessing saw and heard the inconsistency with what was happening and took advantage of the situation and went along with us while we were making our way down. I told the ship marshal to let us (along with one private car) be first as our cars were the ones blocking the way out. I had to shout again and told them "Sige kuya paunahin nyo sila di rin sila makakalabas kase nakaharang yung kotse namin." It was then that he escorted us and had us navigate through the chaotic line. As soon as we reached the car and got the go signal, we drove off but was stopped again by the port guard. I realized by then that I left my 2Go tickets and documents in the table where we just left and reckoned it might be needed on our way out. Stressor after another stressor!!!! Me and my cousin were both sighing frustration when we were asked of a certain document (it was not the 2Go ticket) and I told him we were not given any verification document by the team who checked us. I was so stressed out I blurted out, "Kuya, siyam na oras na kami nakalutang at nag aantay na makalabas at sangkatutak na ang dokumento na hiningi sa amin sa loob, hindi namn kami binigyan ng document na may stamp, anong gagawin namin babalik kami ulit dun?" The circumstances we experienced have already exhausted the remaining sanity and patience we've had as we reiterated it to him. He confirmed something from the supervisor on the table stationed at the tent and gave us instead a piece of paper to fill up (names & contact number) before letting us go. It was an already exhausting ordeal leaving the ship and we had to deal with this additional stressor. Before leaving the port and after giving the paper, I told the guard, this time on a pleading manner, "Kuya, lahat ng mga susunod sa amin pagod na rin yan at galit, wag nyo na rin silang pahirapan… Kanina papo kami lahat stressed.." He just nodded and off we drove off.

2130H - After braving the long, winding, dark and sometimes scary pathways to Kalibo, we reached the address as indicated in the booking. The hotel signboard was there but it was dark and closed. We tried to look for a post about the possible transfer but cannot find one. We asked one local about the hotel and pointed us to a narrow road across the street, where a small signboard of the hotel was placed. We were not sure at first because it seemed sketchy but when we asked the staff, he confirmed the booking. We then maneuvered to have the car parked inside a small place in front of the hotel. AT LAST, we reached the hotel safe and sound. IT was a good day REST!!!

Day 3 - Dumangas to Bacolod - December 14 - Challenge #4

0800H - After checking out and having breakfast at a nearby fast food, we headed to Dumangas, Iloilo to catch for a ferry at the earliest possible time.

1200H - Quick lunch along the highway and had a few small stops to buy some additional food and drinks.

1400H - After more than 5 hours of drive along a combination of semi-paved, rough and paved roads, we reached Dumangas port. After going back outside of the port to have ourselves listed in the PCG station, we then headed back to the port area; asked for assistance from the guard on the steps as things might have changed the way it was before I had my RORO trip. After paying the terminal fees, we were told to list ourselves in one of the vessels that are bound for Bacolod. At first I was heading towards Montenegro but the port staff was busy as they were busy loading cars and vans that was currently anchored. The other guards on the parking area told me to go to the Tri-Star instead. They were after all the fastest in terms of loading and transition of arriving and departing vessels. Within 30 minutes after loading, there will be another vessel arriving to unload and load a new batch. We were patiently waiting for our turn as there were already waiting private vehicles when we arrived, almost a third of the port parking area.

1700H - Confirmed my plate number (only the last 3 digit was listed) from the staff as it was taking a little bit longer despite the fast turnover of the vessel. We were told there is no exact time on when we can be rolled in. Another vessel came in while most were scrambling and following the vessel port staff. We noticed that some transferred to the middle area (we were parked at the rightmost side facing the sea) and there were suddenly an influx of vehicles entering (not sure if they were on the list) as we tried to listen to plate numbers being called. I have a hunch we were already called but cannot verify from where we were when the staff started hollering for the plate numbers. There were instances where some VVIPs that were included in one of the supervisor's (not sure if it was of the vessel) group were allowed first which obviously rendered some low key rants and disgust from the others that were supposed to be first.

1930H - Another vessel was about to load in on the area near us and I was about to ask about our number when I finally confirmed that we were called in already. I then told them that we can board in and he (the staff) said yes but told us to wait to be called. I waited a few minutes and finally asked again why we were not called in and he told me he already said that I can proceed. Miscommunication again.. So frustrating!!!!! I had to mention a few rants before finally driving into the vessel. What a waste of time this system is… I mean really port officials should set up a better system than this. Although Dumangas port was less stringent in terms of the requirement, it is more chaotic than that of the Batangas port. :( Also, for those who have passengers onboard, have your tickets paid while on board as some instructions given to us vary and confused us more. Though a highly stressful experience, we were told while on board that 1 passenger is free for all vehicles. At least, there were a few consolation and good news, not to mention the fare is cheaper (800 - as far as I can recall, it was more than 1k pre-pandemic times).

2000H - We finally left Dumangas port and headed to Bacolod City… What a big SIGH of RELIEF!!!

2200H - Arrived safely in the City of Smiles.. FINALLY!!! The 3-day ordeal has ended… (super sigh)

Thoughts on PPOP Phenomenon SB19's newest single "WHAT?"

2021-03-10T18:18:00.005+08:00

Thoughts on PPOP Phenomenon SB19's newest single "WHAT?"

Information: SB19 released it's newest single last March 9, 2021 entitled "What?", a complex song about self-love and empowerment. 

These parts hit so hard you'll feel numb for a while ... 

"... Lahat ng aking basura
Pupulutin, laging dala
Kahit san pa 'ko magpunta
Lapat sa lupa aking mga paa..."

[THOUGHTS] Isn't it that we always carry our baggage with us no matter where we go? But maintaining our feet still on the ground is yet another story on it's own. Speaks so much about staying grounded, staying humble while we reap blessings left and right OR keeping oneself connected with one's inner self when we mess up .. 

"Di na bala para iangat ang bandera
Bara na sa puso nyo na ang tatama
Ama! Salamat at ikaw ang agimat
Bawat banat, iwagayway mo ang watawat..."

[THOUGHTS] Combining politics and religion is very brave of Pablo and SB19, topics that are highly divisive and polarizing... The flag here is somewhat a metaphor for something that you are fighting for, with the one above as the amulet that shields one off from the bullet that pierces through one's soul.. 
.... Highly complicated lyrics I must say, one that you don't regularly hear from musicians -- oftentimes, we usually are spoon-fed with straightforward ones that are easy to understand ... but this... this song... sheds off much of your brain cells... so hats off to the genius that is Pablo, the brain of this masterpiece...

Japan - The Second Glimpse

2019-05-01T18:10:00.000+08:00

Date: March 15 - 24, 2019

Travel Buddies: Jeanie Rose & Richard

Day 1 - March 15 - Yokohama

Left Manila early morning and arrived Narita at past 10am. My cousin and I are both excited for this trip and we just felt it went up as soon as we got our luggage and got cleared by the immigration. We waited for my brother who will be fetching us from the airport. After we saw him, we then decided to have our first lunch at the airport as the trip can be long & demanding given that we have our luggage with us while on the train. We then purchased the JR Tokyo Wide Pass (currently priced at ¥10,000 or roughly around ₱4,500), a consecutive 3-day pass within the JR line train which already included a reserved Narita Express ticket to Yokohama where my brother resides and an advance reserved ticket from Tokyo to Karuizawa that we will use the next day. When we arrived in Yokohama, we decided to drop our bags via one of their coin lockers – ours was a large modern automatic one near the Keikyu Central Entrance. Pretty useful for tourists and travelers alike I must say!!!

We strolled around Minato Mirai where Nippon Maru was anchored, a tall ship built in Kobe & said to have circled the world 45 times stood tall in front of Landmark Tower. Nippon Maru Memorial Park was also a breather as we sit on and just marvel at the sights around us. After a collection of photos serving as mementos of our trip, we then resumed the stroll – this time around Isezakicho, a long stretch of shops & cafes -- only to end up triggering the shopping button (which by the way runs deep in me and my cousin’s blood J) on one of their famous retailer stores – Don Quijote. I also had to buy a pair of shoes to replace what I was wearing which caused a bit of discomfort when we had a long walk from the airport to train stations – I guess a tip there to travelers to choose comfort over style or fashion (“tiis-ganda” is not recommended here ladies).
We realized it’s dinner time so we tried a taste of Japanese comfort food – a combination of sushi & Shabu-shabu – which truthfully lived up to its purpose (comfort = stomach full in a good way). We then headed back to retrieve our luggage and proceeded to Minami Machida -- our home for the entire trip.

Day 2 - March 16 - Karuizawa

It’s Karuizawa day!!!! We got up early despite being tired the day before, knowing we’re up on another long but exciting adventure. We left Suzukakedai, one of the stations near my brother’s place at around 8am to make it to our 10:32AM trip from Tokyo to Karuizawa. When we arrived in Yokohama and about to take on the bullet train, we were told to purchase additional ticket which we did not understand at first despite having my brother talking to the train officers. We thought they must have mistaken so we tried to talk to the people in the counter and were told to purchase additional ticket from Shin Yokohama to Tokyo for the Shinkansen (I’m assuming this is probably because the reserved ticket was from Tokyo and not from Yokohama). After things were cleared out, we then boarded the JR East Railway – Hokuriku Shinkansen which will take us approximately an hour to Karuizawa, a resort town located in Nagano Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo. When we arrived at Karuizawa, we passed by the Tourist Center for guidance and advise on where to go. We decided to try Shiraito and Kyu Karuizawa Ginza, and if there’s still more time maybe Kumoba Pond. Some of the attractions are on the opposite directions so we had to make the most out of what was possible.

While waiting for the bus, we dropped by a nearby café and tried their locally made cheesecake which can be super intricately designed you don’t want to eat them. We then rushed out of the café when the Kusatsu onsen bound bus arrived. Onboard, we passed by typical rural Japan houses, then started taking little zigzag turns as we went uphill. Thawing snowflakes were still clearly visible on the trees and cabins clearly placed amongst them. The view was amazing as we zigzagged our way to Shiraito Falls. After half an hour, we were greeted with lines of towering pine trees that seemed to be guarding this falls. After taking a 5-minute walk from where we were dropped, we finally got a glimpse of the 3-meter high Shiraito Falls. Unlike the typical falls found on mountains, Shiraito Falls was clearly unique and lived up to its meaning (“shiraito“ means “white threads”) -- streams look like white threads quietly cascading into the pond. The view was beyond picturesque, the feel serene -- the kind that brings a sense of peace to visitors. With the snow as welcome addition, we felt ecstatic & refreshing at the same time, a familiar feeling to the senses. Before we lined up and waited for the bus to arrive, we tried their local grilled fish that was inviting us earlier when we arrived – yummy, worth a try indeed!

Heading back, we stopped by the station near the Kyu Karuizawa Ginza, a popular shopping street that can be strolled by for some souvenirs and good finds. The street was lined up with cafes, restaurants, bakeshops and various stores selling anything from jams, wines, honey, meat jerky, sausages, bread, clothes, shoes, paintings, wooden furniture and accessories known as Karuizawa-bori (means Karuizawa carving). We spent a lot of time amongst these shops that we lost track of time. Lunch was quickly forgotten as we tried out various foods amongst these cafes and shops. We got back at half past 2pm and left Karuizawa at almost 3pm.

We decided to pass by Tokyo station for some videos and photos – both the inside and outside façade were instagrammable even up until dusk. After a long day, the tummy started to complain so we headed to the traditional Japanese restaurant setting – grilled meat & seafood and the famed okonomiyaki where we tried 3 flavors – cheese, seafood and pork which seemed to be too much to take in but we all managed to finish them all. Whooahhh what a filling day indeed!!!!

Day 3 - March 17 - Mt Fuji, Chureito Pagoda

Another exciting adventure ahead of us, this time another rural Japan adventure. When I had my first trip to Japan 2 years ago, we went to Fujisawa to get a glimpse of Mt Fuji. This time, we will be visiting a Pagoda temple that they say has the same amazing view of Mt. Fuji. We left home at around 10 in the morning heading to Hachioji via Nagatsuta station, then transferred to JR Chuo line heading to Otsuki via Takao. We arrived at Otsuki at a quarter past 1 in the afternoon, then purchased another set of ticket heading to Shimoyoshida station via the Fujikyu Railway Line. After almost 4 hours, we arrived at Shimoyoshida station which at that time was starting to get cold and was snowing a little. We bought a few hot drinks on the vendo and some munchies in the nearby food cart. After filling in, we then started the 15 minute walk towards Chureito Pagoda, which I have to tell you was not your typical rural walk in the park. Strolling on the paved road, there were painted photos & tourist information that are exactly on the pavement that we were stepping on. So creative I must say!!!

We then started a tiring uphill stairway challenge and arrived at the first stop of the Arakura Sengen Shrine Park. Reaching the plateau, we were welcomed with a breather -- food cart area for hungry tourists, a purification fountain and a Shinto temple with hanging customized prayers & messages written on wooden plaques which can be bought on the shrine store nearby. From the familiar “world peace” to good health in the family, there were so many interesting messages posted outside the temple.

After a brief rest, we then continued the grueling uphill walk towards the main attraction which took us half an hour to reach. An alternate was a similar uphill climb via the stairs which I don’t want to try on going up. Catching our breaths, we were rewarded with one of the most amazing view of the iconic Mt. Fuji plus the five-story Chureito Pagoda that seems to crave for the same attention as that of its backdrop. We were glad that there were not much tourists at that time and we got as much shots as we can and still enjoy the view, albeit the mountain summit was covered with clouds (recommended time to visit was mid-April until October). We stayed for a few hours and tried the foods on the rest area before heading back. We left Shimoyoshida station at half past 5, satisfied with yet another rural glimpse of Japan.

Day 4 - March 18 - Shibuya

My brother was back to work so we were left to attend to ourselves & what better way to do than shopping, right? Before we went on to splurge, we waited the whole morning for the delivery of the items that my brother ordered online. As soon as it arrived by lunchtime, we then left for Shibuya and spent roughly 2 hours before heading back home to meet my cousin’s friend Lea and her family. After a limited time for shopping (really, 2 hours was not enough!), we met up with them for dinner and bonded with her kids. My cousin & I then decided to have a sleepover at their place since we still have the whole day tomorrow for a new set of shopping and/or strolling.

Day 5 - March 19- Fuchu

Well rested (thanks to Lea), we made our way to Fuchu, a nearby shopping center that she recommended to us the night before, just less than half an hour away from her place. We got off at Fuchu-shi station around half past 11 in the morning & went to the nearby Kururu shopping mall. We spent most of the time around the area including the annex building which are like haven for beauty products ranging from facial masks, moisturizers to serums & sunscreens. Expectedly, our eyes bled & almost got lost track of time but then we were happy and satisfied with what we’ve bought. We headed back to Lea’s place and they had us for dinner before dropping us back home.

Day 6 - March 20 - Roppongi

My brother’s back so we’re back as well on our usual city trip. Plan for the day was to get a glimpse of Tokyo and a museum visit around Roppongi, a popular tourist destination. We left at almost noon time and took the bus going to Nagatsuta station and headed for Oshiage. From there, we went on foot to Tokyo Skytree Town, a buzzling touristy spot known for its proximity to Tokyo Skytree Tower & settled for lunch around the area. After lunch, we then headed outside to get a shot of the Tower and decided to settle with the view from there. After having a few video & photo captures, we then headed to Roppongi.

First we took the Hanzomon Line to Aoyama-Itchome headed for Chuorinkan and transferred to Ginza Line for Asakusa then to Roppongi via the Toei Subway-Oedo Line. After almost 6pm, we went into Mori Art Museum & Tokyo City View and Sky deck for a 360 degree view of the city and a preview of Japanese contemporary art.

We first lined up in the Tokyo City View, an indoor observation deck facility featuring Sky Gallery, an urban museum-quality space giving visitors a dramatic view of the metropolitan Tokyo. Standing behind glass-enclosed gallery, the city was a buzzling sight to behold, a mixture of lights and sounds that are best enjoyed at night.

After gazing and glancing at Tokyo’s night view, we then headed upstairs to embrace another visual treat. Entitled Roppongi Crossing 2019: Connexions, the exhibition was the sixth edition of the Roppongi Crossing series of exhibitions launched 2004 and showcased the work of around 25 artists & practitioners born in 1970-80s. Strong and agitating, the exhibition was so brave to combine polar opposites and turned ideas upside down providing visual expression that critiques society’s ills. For a late bloomer museum fan like me, the exhibition was quite moving and disturbing at the same time – giving me a momentary fidgety feeling on a few displays. It wasn’t a simple exhibition, certainly not for an average museum goer and I reckon not many can appreciate some of it especially a few that kind of reminded me of a Japanese horror film I used to watch. Indeed the disturbing feeling can give visitor a few goosebumps here and there, albeit the purpose might really be to excite and trigger the imagination. In that aspect, I believe it has succeeded and perhaps exceeded my expectations. What an artistic day indeed!!!

Day 7 - March 21 - Odaiba

After the visual treat that Mori Art and Tokyo City View provided yesterday, we’re in for another eye-catching treat. We headed to Odaiba, location of the crowd drawing attraction such as Team Lab and Diver City where the famous towering Gundam Statue stood tall. We left Suzukakedai at noon time and headed to Shibuya via the Den-entoshi Line, then took the Hanzomon Line to Omote-Sando and finally Ginza Line for Asakusa going to Shimbashi Station. We arrived at Shimbashi at around 2pm and took the Yurikamome Line (Monorail) going to Odaiba-Kaihinkoen station. As soon as we arrived, we then looked for the MORI Building Digital Art Museum where the Team Lab Borderless was located (Note: Booking has to be done ahead of time).

Booked for the 3pm show, we queued for around 15 minutes before finally being checked in. As expected, we were amazed when we were greeted with an array of colors from all corners of the room. It was like we were transported to another world – one that we only imagine on fantasy movies. As there were a lot happening, we decided to separate and just meet up at the exit so we can choose which way to go based on our preferences. Team Lab Borderless can be confusing and overwhelming at the same time, with multiple artworks that move out of rooms intermingling with each other. Multifaceted and enormous, the 3D displays are fascinating – from the Borderless World where one can see the forest of flowers, flutter of butterflies, memory of topography, transcending space, floating nest (where I spent nearly half an hour), the void, layered ultra-subjective space, multiple lights display and crystal world to the Athletics Forest, where one can be immersed on a graffiti nature with high mountains & deep valleys, aerial climbing, plus a Future Park where one can slide through the fruit field and children can express their artistic side on the sketch aquarium.

I’d say the highlight would be the Universe of water particles on the rock where people largely gather in numbers and the Crystal World where one can just stand in one place and marvel at the glory of amazing lights display. Indeed, our eyes were superbly astounded by the immensely diverse mix of lights, sound and art triggering and enhancing the imagination. Man … 3 hours went by like a flash we almost did not notice!!! We were so starved we munched in a few delis near the area. After then, we explored the MEGA WEB in Palette Town where one of Japan’s famous car manufacturer Toyota showcased its energy efficient & futuristic cars. With no entrance fee, one can “See, Ride and Feel Cars” and can learn about Toyota’s safety and environmental operations. Before heading to Diver City, we passed by Venus Fort, an indoor shopping mall that was so reminiscent of the old street of Medieval Europe. Lastly, we walked towards Diver City where the famous Gundam statue was erected and walked further for a glimpse of the New York statue replica before heading home. Whooahhhh!!! What a colorful day we had!!!!

Day 8 – March 22 - Tsukiji, Akihabara, Ueno

Two more days and we’ll be back home so to make the most out of the remaining days, we tried to go to as many places as we can. Walking from our place to Suzukakedai station, we dropped by first on the nearby university – Tokyo Institute of Technology to take on some shots of the campus. We then took the Den-entoshi line to Shibuya via Nagatsuta, then transfer to Hanzomon line for Oshiage and got off in Aoyama-Itchome, then finally transfer to Toei Subway-Oedo line towards Daimon for Tochomae and got off at Tsukijishijo, the station near the famed tourist destination Tsukiji Market. After a brief walk from the station, we finally arrived at the Tsukiji Nippon Fish Port Market, indeed a haven for tourists like us. We found interesting finds – from varieties of seafood both alive and dried, wagyu beef, dried vegetables, fruits and root crops – practically anything that you can find in a wet/dry market. There were a lot happening – from live demo of matcha making, TV interviews on vendors and people queueing on a number of stores. Of course market tour would not be complete without trying on the traditional conveyor belt sushi which was so worth the wait (the queues were long before we were seated).

At half past 2pm, we left the market heading to Akihabara taking the Oedo line via Daimon and got off at Shiodome station, then on foot towards Shimbashi station and finally taking Yamanote line toward Tokyo and got off at Akihabara station. After a quick look at the area, we decided to stroll along the main avenue and walked towards nearby Ueno Park that are reachable on foot (20-30 minutes from the station). Upon reaching Ueno, we were greeted with a flock of tourists all wanting to have their own piece of the blossoming Sakura. Since we were a little early for spring time (best time to have the Sakura view is last week of March or early April), we only got to see a few of the Sakura trees on its full bloom. Nevertheless, we still enjoyed the short walk. Before heading home, we went to the nearby Ameyoko Market, described by a Japanese vlogger residing in the Philippines as the Divisoria of Japan. With so many good finds and deals, it was somehow similar to Divisoria albeit selling non imitation products. With its open-air atmosphere, the market offered various stores selling anything from fashionable dresses, bags, souvenirs, jerseys, cosmetics and even fruits at insanely cheap prices. What a fruitful day we had!!!

Day 9 – March 23 – Rest

We initially planned this day to be Sakura viewing day, mainly visiting key parks having the best view of Sakura. But since we already went to Ueno Park the day before, we just decided to have this day as rest day – a good time to pack as well for tomorrow’s flight back home.

Day 10 – March 24 - Home, sweet home

Time flew so fast we are on our last day already! Mixed emotions indeed – happy to be back home but sad to leave my brother behind. Nevertheless, life has to go on and time to face reality! After final check on our luggage, we left home on foot towards Minami-machida station, then boarded a Keisei Bus to Narita Airport (costs ¥3,600 or roughly ₱1,700).

After nearly 2 hours, we finally reached Terminal 1 and waited for our 1pm flight back home. At way past 5pm PST, we finally arrived home. What a beautiful and memorable trip we had in the Land of the Rising Sun!!!!

First glimpse of the Rising Sun

2019-05-01T18:01:00.000+08:00

Date: August 5 - 10, 2016

Travel Buddies: Papa, Richard

Day 1-3 - Aug 5-7 - Yokohama, Odaiba & Shibuya

Day 4 - Aug 8 - Kamakura & Fujisawa, Kanagawa

Day 5 - Aug 9 - Taito & Sumida, Tokyo

Palawan with Family

2019-05-01T17:56:00.002+08:00

Date: August 2018
Travel Buddies: Family

Day 1: City Tour / Firefly Watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYZ8o3bTvlM&t=12s

Day 2: Underground River Tour & Ugong Rock Adventures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JVw9NeDkyw

Day 3: Honda Bay Tour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JswCO9H5TU

Batanes, Paradise Uncovered

2019-05-01T17:46:00.003+08:00

Date: August 3-6, 2018

Travel Buddies: Gwenne, Toni

Batanes has been on the top list of my BucketList Destinations in the country, my second and third being Palawan and Camiguin which I have long visited on. Apparently, Batanes is not an easy destination to go to. With its location (uppermost part), weather (almost all of the typhoon in the PH are passing on it) and fare (which some say is more expensive than that of the fares going to our Southeast Asian neighbours), you don't just hop in and book a flight going there. There must be a plan --- depending on your priority, mine's the plane fare and weather. So once my colleague Gwenne knew of an introductory fare that is way way below the regular rate, we readily booked for it, a bit hesitant on the date we selected because it was on rainy season (August). But with the erratic weather patterns, it could rain on a summer season and it can be super sunny on a rainy season.

Homestay: Marfel Lodge (09088931475)

Tours: Chanpan Tours & Services

Day 1: Batan Island I (North Batan Tour)

Basco Town Capitol
Mt. Carmel / Tukon church
Basco Idjay Viewing Point
PAG-ASA Weather Station
Fundacion Pacita Nature Lodge & Restaurant
Japanese Tunnel
Valugan Boulder Beach (many rocks along the beach)
Basco Cathedral
Vayang Rolling Hills
Naidi Hills & Basco Lighthouse

Day 2: Batan Island II (South Batan Tour)

Chawa Viewdeck
Paderes Point & Cliff Road
Tayid Lighthouse
San Carlos Borromeo Church
Blank Book Archive
Mahatao town
Lunch at Paulvanas (restaurant)
Homoron Blue Lagoon & White Beach
House of Dakay
Honesty Coffee
Spanish Bridge
Lo-Ran Old Naval Base
Ruins at Sitio Songsong
Imnajbu Point: Alapad Pass & Rock Formation
Racuh-a-Payaman (Marlboro Country)

Day 3: Sabtang Island

Savidug Village (stone house village)
St. Thomas Aquinas chapel
Chamintad-Tinyan Viewpoint
Sabtang Weavers (vakul - traditional headress)
Chavayan Village
Morong Beach
Nakabuang Arch (and cave)

Just Batad

2019-05-01T17:20:00.001+08:00

Date: November 12-13, 2017
Travel Buddies: Toni

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Batad Rice Terraces (not to be confused for Banaue Rice Terraces as the latter is found along Banaue) is one the most unassuming and less highlighted tourist destination in this side of Ifugao. It offers an amphitheater of rice paddies formed as terraces and a breathtaking Tappiyah Falls.

Ilocos - The Second Time Around

2019-05-01T17:11:00.001+08:00

Date: June 24-25, 2017
Travel Buddies: Richard, Carmen

Main vlog:

Quik Version:

Singapore Trip

2019-05-01T17:05:00.000+08:00

Date: March 30 - April 3, 2017

Buddies: Les, Shiela
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMH4Fzxabv_YlYY3H_awunw

Day 1 - March 30 - Singapore Zoo:

Immersed with various animals and species -- from crawling, floating, growling and flying ones that may typically be seen in zoos, our experience were made extra ordinary with an interesting otter encounter, seemed to have followed our presence and scent everywhere we go.

Day 2 - March 31 - Universal Studios:

“Get lost in time and be a kid again.” That was our mantra when we spent our time in Universal Studios Singapore. From the easy Madagascar boat ride to the vomit-inducing Battlestar Galactica rides & the ancient experience with warrior mummies to the modern 3D battle with OPTIMUS PRIME, we've had the most thrilling and exhilarating experience so far!

Day 3 - April 1

Jurong Bird Park:

After a super thrilling experience the day before, this was a relaxing and calmer treat we needed -- a day to commune with nature. From the waterfall aviary, parrot paradise, penguin coast, pelican cove to the flamingo lake, this park was a welcome breather to us.

Sentosa:

With more than 30 attractions, tourists will never get bored in Sentosa Island. From water activities, nature trips, animal encounters to extreme adventures and light shows, there’s something for everyone. Since we only have half a day to explore, we only got to try these -- Skyline Luge & Skyride and Wings of Time.

Day 4 - April 2

Marina Bay Sands:

A Singapore trip can never be complete without a view of the iconic Merlion and Marina Bay Sands right? Be it in a day or night time, above or in the ground, the view is consistently amazing -- from the architecture and art to the activities around it, we were one with the rest to be witnesses of the beauty that is Marina Bay.

Flower Dome:

With temperature ranging from 23°C - 25°C, we stood in awe by the various display of flowers and plants -- a visual treat that have kept us amaze for hours.

Cloud Forest:

With temperature ranging from 23°C to 25°C, the Cloud Forest is a cool and refreshing treat after a day's walk along Marina Bay area. Entering an environment enveloped in mist, we were awed by the diverse vegetation, floral gems, rare plants, mountain views along with the man-made falls and the feel of nature.

Supertree Grove:

No idea what a supertree was until we saw it for ourselves. Nestled in the heart of the famed Gardens by the Bay, the "supertrees" were designed with a dual purpose -- canopy by day & lights and sounds by night. Mesmerizing and mind-blowing, these iconic giants will surely captivate everyone at nighttime.

The Northern Exposure (Ilocos Roadtrip)

2018-03-30T20:56:00.000+08:00

Travel Date: March 20 - 25, 2016 (Sun - Fri)

Travel Buddies: Bagsy (Mike M)

Disclaimer: Another late blog but as they say, better late than never.

YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN65tm2iZWA

Day1: Mar 20 (Sunday) - Expressway, Seascapes, landscapes

Bagsy arrived the day before so we are both well rested and ready to explore the great north. We started out at half past 8 in the morning, traversing major thoroughfares and reached Pangasinan at lunchtime. We stopped by at a relatively new bulalohan after the last exit on TPLEX. At around 3pm, we reached Ilocos Sur and passed by the famous bridge that was featured in one of the fave shows I was following the past months. We went to the old bridge and got lucky only a few came by. We got a few rare shots in the middle of the bridge and got the fantastic view of the mountains + sea + sunset all to ourselves. After satisfying ourselves with the instagrammable shots, we then headed to Laoag and arrived at our hotel (Gertel) at past 8pm. As soon as we settled in, we headed out to the city proper to have a taste of their delicacy and enjoy the colorful nights at the capitol area. As we got back to the hotel, we felt an eerie feeling as we passed by a cemetery which we didn't notice on our way out. The hotel seemed a bit remote so that added to the uncomfortable feeling. It was a relief when we finally reached it and took a quick dip before calling it a night.

Day2: Mar 21 (Monday) – Laoag

We woke up early to catch the famed sunrise and be there first before the influx of other tourists. Our guide Kuya Ronald of the Ilocos Lapaz Sand Dunes (contactable via their FB page and his numbers 0921 459 0190/ 0926 676 4686) guided us from the meeting point going to the actual site. Lo and behold, the sand greeted us with such surprise that you'd never imagine you are actually in the Philippines!! It seemed like we are transported to the Middle East because all we saw are sand, sand and more sand. We started with the scary-hold-your-breath extreme 4x4 adventure ride that is not your usual flat surface kind of trail. Rough and bumpy, we held on to the handrails and shouted our lungs out. That was one exhilarating experience worth trying again!!!!

After the throat-punishing and heart-pumping ride, we were then led to a surprise treat -- a beach beside the sand dunes. That kind of calmed us a bit as we took some time to take a short stroll before heading back to the last activity -- sand surfing. So after a short thrill back to the main area, the "sand surfers" then begin to give us orientation on the basics of surfing on the sand. I tried sitting first before standing on the board just to get the feeling of it. It was so much fun that Bagsy and I tried to make it standing. One fall after the other until I finally made it on my 6th attempt. It was really so much fun!!!! And I must say that an hour of sand surfing is more than enough --- you just need to experience it once in your life!!!

After the adventure rush, we then headed to a few places we have planned out ahead including a few churches and museum. So off we go to Batac Museum and got a glimpse first hand of the life of the former president Marcos and how Ilocanos preserved their heritage. We were able to also see the wax body of the late president in the Mausoleum amidst strict security (no photos allowed inside).

After the museum trip, we walked across the street towards a small restaurant to have their famous Empanada. Since I was a big fan of it, I tried all varieties and colors (yes they have different colors) and oh my, it never disappointed me!! After filling in our stomachs, we then headed to the Malacañang of the North, a presidential museum and used to be the residence of the late president Marcos when he was in Ilocos. As per history, the property was turned over to the provincial government and was made a tourist attraction that it is today. The two-storey mansion overlooking Paoay Lake has seven rooms representing themes of historical events from the Marcos era: Study, Agriculture, Diplomacy, OFW, Culture, Nation Building and Family.

We then headed to the historical Paoay church, which at that time was under some renovation, had dinner at a restaurant in front and headed back to Laoag for a last night glimpse of their colorful LED lights at the capital.

Day3: Mar 22 (Tuesday) - Vigan

After our last morning breakfast at the hotel, we prepared for our next trip to yet another museum (Juan Luna in Badoc) before heading to Vigan. At noon time, we arrived at a quiet and unassuming town of Badoc, Ilocos Norte to visit the residence of the famous Filipino master painter and patriot Juan Luna. There were not much tourist visiting so we had most of the time looking at all the nooks and crannies. We reckon the shrine/museum is not yet much known to tourists as the house has just been under many renovations. Glad we were able to get a glimpse of it before another set of renovations.

We then headed to Plaza Burgos, a famous landmark in Vigan where parking can be a bit of a challenge. After a short walk amidst the scorching heat, we decided to have a lunch in one of the famous restaurant along Calle Crisologo, particularly because it had good reviews online. Apparently, they are not ready for the onslaught of tourists as we have been served super late and that we think the food was kind of overrated. Nevertheless, we continued to stroll along Calle Crisologo and was transported immediately to the Spanish era by the rows of cobble stone houses before our own eyes. Indeed, it was a worthy historical feast every Filipino should experience. We decided to cut short our stroll as we will be checking in later as well on one of the hotels near Crisologo.

We headed to Baluarte for an entirely different experience -- this time a wildlife encounter, a combination of visual treat from animals that we usually see in a safari or zoo from tiger to deer down to peacock & a safari gallery of the preserved remains of animals the owner hunted from various parts of the world.

After an hour and a half, we then headed to another visual treat experience -- this time a semi-abandoned bridge offering a view of the mountains alongside a beautiful sunset. So off we go and headed to Santa-Nagpanaoan, took a short detour and marveled at the beauty of nature that is before us. Indeed it was beyond majestic!!!

After dusk, we headed back to Vigan and took another detour for a food and nature trip. Vigan Hidden Garden is indeed a welcome respite for tired and hungry souls like us. Despite the limited time, we were able to enjoy the food and nature trip before checking in to My Vigan Home, a contemporary vintage Spanish house built within the vicinity of the famed Calle Crisologo. We ended the day by a last minute stroll along Calle to get some pasalubong to families and friends.

Day4: Mar 23 (Wednesday) – Vigan, Pagudpud

Before we end our Vigan trip, we decided to pass by the nearby Syquia Mansion, residence of former president Elpidio Quirino. The mansion displayed presidential memorabilia and Philippine antiques that gave visitors an idea of the typical homes in Vigan during Hispanic and post Hispanic times. We were also given the opportunity to look through the peeping holes found in the master’s bedroom and the second floor which are used to view visitors on the receiving area before they are allowed to enter the living room, an interesting piece of discovery of our history.

We then headed to a place where a former Ilocano colleague of mine recommended, Dingras Madongan Dam. Passing on semi-rough and a few unpaved roads, we arrived at the Dam at half past 1pm, just on time for a well-deserved dip. With many vehicles parked along the dam, we can say it is rightfully gaining popularity among locals and tourists alike. The dam obviously newly built, is clean and refreshing, enticing me to have a dip myself. And indeed it was!!! It was super cool and refreshing!!! Just enough to refresh and sooth tired bodies!!!

After an hour of well-deserved dip, we then headed to our homestay in Pagudpud, a place I just found out online, Cathy Homestay. At way past 9pm, we arrived at our homestay which is a few meters from the beachfront. We’ve had a good and refreshing day, preparing us for another adventure ahead of us.

Day5: Mar 24 (Thursday) - Pagudpud

Waking up to a new day, we took our breakfast in one of the nearby restaurants facing the beach front, a chill view without the crowds. I must say that Pagudpud’s Saud beach can compete with the rest of the beautiful beaches in the country – pristine, clean and not too much crowd even in peak seasons. As they say, it is the Boracay of the North minus the crowd and indeed it was!!!

After breakfast, we then headed to the famed Bangui Windmills, a towering array of wind turbines stretching off the coast of Bangui Bay, facing West Philippine Sea. A symbol of sustainable and renewable energy, Bangui Windmill is not just an ordinary tourist attraction but a major contribution to sustainability and environment conservation, a thing to pat on for the local government. So kudos there!!!!

Next stop was Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, a geological art of nature consisting of smooth ivory limestone formed over time. From the main resting area, we had to walk more than half an hour to reach the limestone formation amidst the scorching heat. Despite that, it was all worth it – the view was amazingly beautiful, so instagrammable!!!

Moving on with our trip, we then went to the nearby attraction that was as towering as the windmills – Cape Bojeador, also known as the Burgos Lighthouse. A towering structure off the town of Burgos, Cape Bojeador, despite being built over 100 years is still functioning and serving ships plying the Philippine archipelago on the north side. Amazing that it can still work the way it should be despite its age.

Last stop -- we originally included a visit to Kabigan Falls on our way to Vigan but due to time constraint, we decided to find an alternate falls which we saw in one of the signs along the way -- Tanap Avis Falls. At first, the trail going to the falls was a bit scary or that maybe it was not too established yet. We had to pass by numerous detours and the lack of signs kind of gave us jitters. There are small wooden bridges that we need to pass on top of big rocks, giving us scare from time to time. After almost an hour of rock maneuvers, we finally reached the falls, albeit not in a spectacular fashion that we expected. It might be because it was summer time and that the water was not on its peak, with the falls only giving us few drops. Even so, we still managed to swim around and enjoy what we have. There were only a few tourists and locals visiting so we are both happy that it was not too crowded but at the same time a bit scared because the place seems to be remote. After a short swim, we then decided to head back to our homestay as we don’t want to be stranded in one way or another. Creepy but exciting I must say!!!

Day6: Mar 25 (Friday) – Manila bound

Can’t believe it was our last day already but yeah indeed it was!!! Hold on, something is missing!!! But of course -- the Ilocos trip will not be complete without a glimpse of the scenic and most photographed Patapat Viaduct. So with the last stop on our trip, we drove half an hour up north to see it for ourselves!! And man ohh man it was beyond mesmerizing!!! The sounds of the waves, the cars passing and winds blowing, indeed amazing!!!

Estimated Expenses:

Item	Amount	Individual Expenses
Day 1 & 2 - Laoag (Gertes Resort Hotel and Restaurant)	2,278.50	1139.25
Day 3 - Vigan (My Vigan Home Hotel)	2,450.00	1225
Day 4 & 5 - Pagudpud (Carmen's Homestay)	4000	2000
Day 1 lunch, dinner **	800	400
Day 2 lunch, dinner **	800	400
Day 3 b/f, lunch, dinner **	100	50
Day 4 b/f, lunch, dinner **	1000	500
Day 5 b/f, lunch, dinner **	1000	500
Adrenaline tour (sandboard, 4x4) **	1200	600
Gas, tolls, food, drinks **	3000	1500
		0
		0
		8314.25

** estimated

Banaue - Batad - Sagada on the Love Month

2018-03-04T18:57:00.002+08:00

Travel Date: February 11-16, 2016 (Thu - Tue)

Travel Buddies: Les, Shiela

YT channel links:
Banaue - Batad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy-n_dI3Ebk
Bontoc - Sagada - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaSr5XLkmCc

Day0: Feb 11 (Thursday)

They say it's better late than never. It kind of describe this almost 2 year delayed blog. It was supposed to be written on the year of travel (2016) but got too busy and lazy to really sit and reminisce the moment. Thanks for the FB posts that Shiela, Les and I shared that kind of gave me refreshed memory.

So here we are, three independent women out to conquer the north on the love month. Personally, I've always loved the north, more so the Mountain Province and Ifugao area. And this trip is a familiar one, having done this 4 years ago (see "The Sagada Connection"). So I'm excited to see what's new but also prepared for a strenuous spelunking. I warned the girls it's not easy so they kind of prepared themselves for the "punishment". Although I was familiar with Sagada, Batad is relatively new to me. Back when we had Sagada trip then, we only passed by Banaue and only got the glimpse of the famed Rice Terraces from one of the viewpoints that the local government had setup for the tourist. This time, it's different. We get to walk past these rice terraces and trek along it. Quite challenging it seems. And I told the girls I have no idea if this was arduous or a walk in the park.

At past 7pm, we met at Capitol Commons and booked Uber to Sampaloc where the Ohayami Bus Terminal is located. Then at around 9pm, we arrived at Sampaloc and waited for the boarding. At this time, we already have our tickets which we bought ahead (Note: There is already an online booking in the late 2017). After boarding at roughly around 10pm, we then settled and prepared for another thrilling adventure.

Day1: Feb 12 (Friday)

Manila - Banaue ranges from around 8 - 10 hours of travel so we expect to be there at 6-8am the following morning. Passing by major highways and expressways (NLEX, SCTEX, TPLEX), we breezed through a smooth journey after a few stops. Then at past 6am, we stopped by Lagawe, a municipality that is a town away from Banaue. We were told there was some mechanical problems and told to alight from the bus and wait for a replacement. After the replacement arrived, we finally reached the bus stop at past 8 and we're told to register, a must for all local and foreign tourists who will be staying in Banaue including Batad. We saw our contact carrying my name and off we go to Banaue town proper. We dropped by a restaurant for a well deserved breakfast and discussed the arrangements going to Batad.

At half past 9 in the morning, we headed to Batad, an hour or two away from Banaue via jeepney. I decided to go on topload for a more thrilling ride. Shiela and Les decided to be on the safe side so they stayed inside. Along with me on top are 2 friends and a Japanese traveler who seems excited to do this first time. Passing beautiful mountain landscapes and long & winding road, we reached Batad saddle at around10:30am.

As soon as we arrived, there were several guide services offered and we talked to one of them to meet us at our inn after lunch for the Terraces and Tappiyah Falls tour.

After the agreement, we then take 10-15 minute walk to reach the Batad UNESCO Heritage marker and another 10-20 minute walk towards our inn, Hillside Inn & Restaurant. The inn sits strategically on the center of their so called "amphitheater", known to have the most beautiful view of the rice terraces. We arrived at half before noon and took our lunch, trying one of the best tasting Tinola I've tasted.

After lunch and along with our guide we then headed for an exciting trek to the rice terraces and Tappiyah falls. I told the girls I have no idea how far and difficult the trek was as it was my first time as well. So off we go, starting with a light trek that traverses across rice fields, occasionally stopping by for some instagrammable shots and selfies.

Passing along the edge of rice paddies, we reached the small store which serves as plateau and the last viewing deck for the rice terraces. What comes next is a grueling knee-breaking trek down before reaching another small store that serves as another rest area. After that brief rest yet another knee-breaking trek down before reaching a semi-gradual trail. After more than 2 hours, we finally reached the last resting area & all the ohhhs and ahhs were then replaced with wows. The falls, visible from the rest area, are a welcome respite for our tired feet. After a brief break, we then headed to the falls and took a well-deserved dip. After half an hour of a blissful dip and commune with nature, we then headed back and reached the inn at past 5, took our dinner at around 7 and called it day at past 9, getting a well deserved rest for the day.

Day 2: Feb 13 (Saturday)

Good morning Batad!!! A beautiful view greeted us as we started our day and prepared for an exciting adventure ahead of us -- starting off with the breakfast and the amazing rice terraces in front of us. I'd recommend you have to try their local Ifugao rice, as we're told that they serve what they harvest within the area.

And though we would have wanted to stay more, it's bye bye time and so off we go to Banaue for our trip to Sagada. We left at past 9am and arrived in Banaue just in time for the lunch. Soon after, we rented a van going to Bontoc and were told to ride a jeep going to Sagada once we reach the terminal. After almost 2 hours of never-ending zigzag paved road amidst breathtaking mountain landscapes, we reached Bontoc at half past 3pm.

When we arrived, we then boarded the jeepney going to Sagada -- this time I opted not to be on top load. We reached Sagada at almost 5pm, registered at the Tourism office and checked into Alapo's View Inn, where we booked the accommodation beforehand. After a short rest, we then headed to the Hanging Coffins, passing by the Episcopal Church, town's cemetery and the famed Echo Valley. After quick tour, we headed to the main road, trying out the Salt & Pepper restaurant's Inutom (pan-roasted chicken) meals. We ordered all 3 of their Inutom dishes (Rosemary, Mushroom and Chili). All was really good specially the Rosemary. For those who loved it hot, the chili will kick you on the first dig. The price is reasonable plus the ambiance is cool -- a good way to end the day.

Day3: Feb 14 (Sunday)

Good morning Sagada!!!! We woke up as early as 4am to catch the famed Kiltepan sunrise and sea of clouds, highly popularized by a local movie shot on the same location (remember 'That Thing Called Tadhana'). Our guide Kuya Frenel fetch us at 430AM and arrived at Kiltepan at past 5am. We were then greeted with hordes of fellow tourists, waiting for the same thing as we did. Seated comfortably on a grassy hill, we waited for the first glimpse of sun which they say is one of a kind. Indeed it is!!! Morphing from the red-orange hue, the sun slowly greeted it's well wishers with orangey bliss, then ending with a bright yellow charm. We waited for the sea of clouds to come out as well to complete the experience but we seem unlucky for the day. But despite this and the overcrowded tourists who came to see this beauty, we enjoyed the experience more than ever. We left Kiltepan and vowed to come back, hoping we'd be lucky next time.

Since we woke up early and still have not eaten a full meal, we were craving for a good omelet so off we go to Masferre Country Inn and Restaurant. We tried their Spanish omelet and Bangus meals and I'd say it's a super must try. Their meal included fried banana and mango which kind of completes the whole meal. I highly recommend their meals!!! We then headed to the inn to freshen up and get ready for the Cave Connection (Lumiang - Sumaguing Cave).

At around 1030AM, we started the Cave Connection with a quick orientation from our guide (Note: A guide is a must for any cave tour for safety purposes). As soon as our guide lamp gets lighted, we started to maneuver into a small opening which can only fit one person. Kuya Frenel had to use his feet as the stepper for us to reach the flat surface. One tricky maneuver led to another and another until we lost count of the challenges ahead. Kuya Frenel was a big help to every downslides and challenging turns we encountered. Although this is my Spelunking No. 2 ( I was first here at 2010), the trail seems to be a bit different, somehow more difficult from my first try 6 years ago.

As we go deeper, it became darker, colder and scarier as we brace for more challenges ahead. Nevertheless, there were many "rewarding" sights that took our breaths away --- small dip pools, cathedrals of stalactites, amazing shapes of stalagmites ranging from animal figures, curtains and that of a miniature rice terraces, not to mention meeting a lot of foreign and local tourists who are equally beheld by the beauty of this cave connection. I must say that more than half of the beautiful sights are in Sumaguing Cave so I recommend that if you do not want the Cave Connection, you can just try the Sumaguing cave alone -- the entry and exit are the same.

Exiting the cave at around 5pm, we asked Kuya Frenel to drop us by Gaia Café & Crafts, famous again for the same movie that was shot in the same location. Perched among the dense trees with the mountain as backdrop, this vegetarian restaurant is a perfect place to commune with nature while munching for their delectable dishes. We tried their gaia barbecue and adobo rice meals & added their local food Miki Mi Na which is like a combination of bam i and canton. I must admit Sagada is a real haven for food lovers. Their Miki Mi Na is a must try. It is sweet and full of flavors. I also tried their soya café. I so loved it. This is one place I would love to visit again.

Back at the inn, we reminisced as how we fared with the challenges that day and how we bravely took it. Giggles after giggles when we recalled how we were carried by our new European friends back at the cave. This day was indeed extra special. Just imagine three daring girls out on an adventure and ended up spending Valentines thousand feet under. Just imagine.

Day 4: Feb 15 (Monday)

It's checkout time!!! But before heading off to Baguio, we made a quick pasalubong hunt along the main street and give a try to their famed Lemon Pie. We were told we have to order a day before as they only operate on a made to order basis. Despite this, we still made some good buys on weavings and souvenirs.

Before noontime, just when we thought we could immediately hop into buses plying Sagada-Baguio routes, we were proven wrong. We're told to wait for the last available bus which leaves at 5pm, which means more stroll time around Sagada.

And so a little past 5pm, we left Sagada and braced ourselves for another nauseating yet exciting ride to Baguio. Passing by familiar rice paddies & amazing mountain landscapes and intermittent snoozes, we finally reached Baguio at past 9pm. Then at past midnight, we left Baguio, richer by experience, more eager and excited for future adventures to come.

Cheers to more enriching travels, girls!!!

Batangas - Bacolod RORO Adventure

2017-03-13T21:29:00.000+08:00

The Solo Travel (Homeward bound)

Date: Dec 21, 2015

Port of origin: Batangas City

Port/s of destination:

> Calapan, Mindoro
> Roxas, Mindoro
> Caticlan, Aklan
> Dumangas, Iloilo
> Bacolod City, Negros Occidental (final)

Date: Jan 10, 2016

Port of origin: Bacolod City

Port/s of destination:

> Dumangas, Iloilo
> Caticlan, Aklan,
> Roxas, Mindoro
> Calapan, Mindoro
> Batangas (final)

So okay here we go…...... After a short hiatus to short travels, my feet are aching for some

REAL adventure. Yes, I mean REAL! And what better way to go than a drive using RORO(Roll On

Roll Off) back to my hometown SOLO. You read it right SOLO. :) So it's a double adventure so to

speak ---- a first on a drive using RORO and a first on SOLO travel. Way to end 2015!!

So off I go early morning (4am) on a Sunday Dec 20 heading to Batangas port. Leaving Kapitolyo

spanning C5 and onto SLEX and Star Tollway, I reached Batangas Port at around 6am. I was a bit

scared, more of like a first timer jitter. I lined up outside the port together with the other cars and

trucks. I am not sure if I'm filling in on the right line. I managed to ask a truck driver and confirmed

I was in for the right line (the line for trucks & private vehicles were in two separate lines).

Whew, sigh of relief….. Finally I am soooo into this.

After seems like eternity, I was
finally allowed to enter the port at past
10 & was onboard Montenegro lines
at 11am. The sea was relatively calmer,
inviting for a quiet retreat away from
the lights and buzz of the city. Passing
across lots of big and small islands, we
arrived at Calapan Port after 3 hours
roughly around 2 in the afternoon.
Beating the afternoon heat, I started
the first leg of my land trip of Oriental
Mindoro and drove towards Roxas port.
After more than 120 km on a long,
paved and winding road, I arrived in
Roxas port at almost dusk. While processing for the ticket purchase, I have to wait until 8 for
the confirmation. The process (or the lack of it) seems to be a clear problem, not to mention
the monopoly of one shipping company that operates in the Roxas port. There is not much
decent place for waiting passengers and drivers, except for a few eateries outside the port gate.
After submitting requirements (ORCR, payments, etc), I got onboard Montenegro lines and
left Roxas port for Caticlan at around midnight.

Mirroring the poor condition at the port area, the
situation on board is far worst... 😩 Packed with
passengers, there are almost no seats left for others
and many have to contend standing and/or sleeping
on the floors. I roamed around the ship and every
nook seems to be filled up. I saw people sleeping on
any space that they could find. I was looking for my
own "decent" place to sleep. I can't find one so I have
to contend to sitting while sleeping. It was tough,
given that it is so crowded, but the breeze kind of
calmed me a bit. I managed to get an hour of sleep,
which is certainly not enough if you are driving
afterwards.

We finally arrived at Caticlan around 4:00 AM and
with hardly enough decent sleep, I summoned all
the strength I have and drove past the busy port. It was dark and creepy but I managed to be alert,
holding on to the remaining mental strength I have.

After an hour drive, the lack of sleep slowly trickled on me. Instinct dictates one thing --- REST!!!
So as soon as I reach Kalibo, I drove to a nearby convenience store to get a dose of a much needed
caffeine and quick power nap. After the needed rest, I headed to Dumangas which is a 4-5 hour
drive from Kalibo. Roughly half past 10 in the morning, I reached Dumangas port and secured port
and cargo ticket which was at that time boarding vehicles to Bacolod. Montenegro lines left Iloilo
at exactly 12 noon. I reached Bacolod at around 2 pm.

At last, Home Sweet Home!!!!

Route	Fees	Remarks
Batangas City - Calapan City	129 (Port) 1,536 (Cargo)
Roxas City - Caticlan	3, 072 (Cargo) 50 (Toll)
Dumangas - Bacolod City	1, 029 (Cargo) 129 (Port) 12 (Vehicle Pass)
Total	5, 967

Route	Fees	Remarks
Bacolod City - Dumangas	800 (Cargo) 375.50 (Terminal)
Caticlan - Roxas City	3, 840 (Cargo) 129 (Port) 50 (Toll)
Calapan City - Batangas City	1, 536 (Cargo) 129 (Port)
Total	6, 859.50

The Manny Pacquiao out-of-the-boxing-ring Saga

2016-02-19T08:26:00.001+08:00

With all the hullabaloo about Pacquiao's opinion in same-sex marriage, people are beginning to question their opinion as well. I mean let's face it, if you're being asked about it, what would you say? Have you thought about it? Will you be brave enough as Pacquiao or will you just be one of those who remain a spectator or a critic. After all, the easiest thing do in this world is criticize right?

..... So, have you thought about it?

Here's my take, and I don't care if you throw tomatoes at me or give me two thumbs up.

As a matter of fact, I have lots of gay friends. And they are so so dear to me. I love them and never ever looked down at them. I cannot recall I ever condemned them for being gay or even for their acts. That is how I treated them, the same as any of my other friends. But just like Pacquiao, I am not for same-sex marriage as well. And it doesn't mean I don't want my gay friends to be happy. For sure, they don't need to be married to be happy. Marriage is not directly proportional to happiness, mathematically and psychologically. :)

Opinion vs Attitude. Differences vs Respect. They come in parallel. They may not have the same goal but they can agree to walk on the same path on a different direction. The way I walk with my friends and the way we accept and respect each other.

....... So NO, I don't think my gay friends will ever condemn me for my opinion (they might get hurt, yes, but condemn? I don't think so!) They might not agree with me but I know they will respect it. The same respect I gave when they express their opinion that I don't agree with.

...... So, citizens of the world, let's give Pacquiao a break. He already said sorry. For one, he was only expressing his opinion, albeit on a wrong set of words, to an audience of mixed variety -- conservative, open-minded, onion-skinned, opinionated, religious..... Lessons learned for him: know your audience and carefully choose your words.

.... Lastly, it doesn't matter if he earned my vote or not. He definitely earned my respect, this time not for representing the country in boxing but for standing firm on an unpopular opinion, risking condemnation and attacks on his person.

Good day Philippines!!! #DareToBeDifferent

The Maple Country

2015-09-13T15:56:00.003+08:00

So it seems like a late post.... But I am.. super back.. Got a new laptop from a good deal in BestBuy Canada.. Oh yes, I'm in the Maple Country since July 4 and be back on the Pearl of the Orient on the eve of my birthday.. Anyway, I'll be posting, or should I say resume blogging... It's been a while. Now I'm back...

So to start with, the Maple Country is a good catch for a nature lover like me. It is a paradise, indeed. With impressive infrastructure, polite and disciplined populace -- very diverse I must say, this is one place that everyone should visit. Summer though, is still cold for me, please pardon me, yes, I lived all my life on a tropical land known for eternal summer and monsoons.. :) (except for the months that I was away on business to the Land down under, HK, Bali and Singapore).

It's a great start for a comeback blog. Will post more..

Mt Kanlaon, The Final Climb

2013-03-30T23:12:00.002+08:00

Date: Sept 16-18, 2012

Location: Wasay-Gintubdan Trail

Buddies: Levs and Chummy

Day 0, Sep 15, 2012

Our 2P913 9AM flight to Bacolod via Airphil was rescheduled to 2PM, which means I have ample time for packing. Levs and I arrived at past noon and waited for Chummy who arrived 10 minutes before the

check in counter closes. At around 3 pm, we arrived at Bacolod-Silay Airport. I texted my father and told him to fetch us at SM instead. Boarding one of the many vans parked at the front of the airport, we dropped at the Manokan country which is near SM Bacolod and had a well-deserved lunch at Lion's Park. My parents arrived later and we then proceeded to SM to do the grocery for our food and climbing supplies. After a sumptuous dinner, we then called it a day.

Day 1, Sep 16, 2012

We have planned for a 4D-3N traverse trek but due to conflict of schedule we just reduced it to 3D-2N. I told Chummy and Levs that along with my climbing group, MFPI Grupo Trese, we were able to do a 3D-2N trek sometime in 2007.

I presented them that pacing would have to be a bit faster than normal if we are to plan the 3D-2N climb. So we all agreed to just give it a shot. We don't want to do "rat-rat" pacing because we wanted to appreciate more what Kanlaon have --- a magnificient view and rich biodiversity. So at past 5 AM, we boarded one of the Mambucal-bound minibus in front of our subdivision. At around 6AM, we arrived at the entrance of Mambucal resort and met two of our guides -- one of those was familiar as he was one of the guides we had back at 2007 -- Paulo. Paulo then greeted us and told us that we just need to rearrange our packs (some of our loads -- especially the food has to be distributed) so we unload some of what we brought in. At past 8AM, we started the trek from outside of the entrance of Mambucal Resort. We had an average pacing as the trail was paved and had to pass through the tiny communities around the area. After around half an hour, we then

entered a somewhat familiar sight to me --- a Twilight-inspired scenery --- tall and slim trees (dipterocarp trees I believe) separated by just a meter or so coupled with an eerie sound of crickets and different flying faunas. The trail was gradual & slightly manageable, giving us time to take pictures and keep an average pacing. After barely an hour, the trail slowly becomes slightly steep as we made our way to the thick forest. We then took our lunch when we reached the main highway that divides the lower and upper portions of the forest. The highway, which provided access to the geothermal plant and other forest operations was a new sight to me. I couldn't remember seeing it way back in 2007, which our guide confirmed to me. I am not sure if I was happy at the sight but definitely the trail was significantly altered.

After a little rest, we then continued our trek up until the upper portion of the forest. We arrived at the river area at around 4pm and our guide told us we have 2 options -- to set out an e-camp as this was the nearest watersource we have before the next camp OR we continue with the climb but we will be reaching the next camp at past 7pm and there will be no watersource near the area. We had a slight downpour before we reached the river so we knew that the trail up would be steep and trekking at nighttime can be difficult. Although it was a bit early to camp out, we decided to take option 1. I had a little hunch that we might have difficulty following our original IT if the rain continues to pour and with the pacing, there might be possibilities of aborting the summit climb. Although too early to tell, the group wanted to pursue the original IT so we planned to leave early the next day to make up for the time. After setting the camp, we then decided to take a dip on the river -- a slightly chilling one but nevertheless refreshing. Dipping on mountain waters have always been WAY too different from the city waters. The former's refreshing appeal cannot surpass any man-made water structures ever created. At around 6pm, we then prepared our dinner and cooked our breakfast the next day to save much needed time in preparation.

We doze off at an early time -- sometime around 9pm amidst the soothing sounds of the raging river and the not-so-sleep-inviting chirping of insects & birds.

Day 2, Sep 17, 2012

We woke up at past 5am and prepared for our breakfast. Not much work needed as we already cooked some the other night. After half past 6, we already started to do break camp and continued the trek around 7 in the morning. The pacing again was a little slow as the trail becomes moist and muddy. We started to enter the exciting part of the forest -- the rainforest area where one can find various flora and fauna sprawling

along the trail. This was also the trail that would give us an initial glimpse of the vastness of the forest and the start of a heavy steep terrain leading to the famed Hardin sang Balo (Widow's garden). As we were making our way to the steep terrain, rain started to pour and drain us down. We decided to stop at the middle of the slope and took our lunch. [We tried to maintain a close proximity to each other to avoid mishaps and to gauge our pacing] It was still raining heavily and we had to endure a chilling lunch. After all, what we need at that time was sustenance. Albeit the refreshing feeling, the rain slowed us down and made us endure the gruelling & slippery trail up. We we're partially soaked up so we knew we can't rest for so long as we could risk having hypothermia. After less than an hour of lunch and rest, we then proceeded to the next camp, in what seems to be a punishing 3 hour ordeal. When we reached the big camp (which was once the old NPA camp), we discussed the option of camping out in the area or to a small place nearest the Hardin sang Balo or to continue the trek but might pushed us to the limits and possibly reached PMS Lagoon (the next big camp) at roughly around 8 or 9PM. The latter option was automatically dismissed. It was way out dangerous and scary. We decided to camp on the bigger site, which I remember correctly was the same camp we had on our first night way back on our 2007 Kanlaon climb. From there, I knew we won't make it to our planned itinerary but there were no discussions yet -- all we need at that time was to settle down and rest. After setting up the camp, we headed down to the river and revelled in yet another refreshing dip of nature's bounty.

We prepared dinner early and our guide Paulo told me that we need to discuss our plans for the next day. So after a well-deserved dinner, Paulo and a senior guide/porter, recommended that we abort the summit climb. First, he asked us of our scheduled trip back to Manila and reasoned out that we won't make it to our trip back to Manila if we had to continue the trek. He enumerated 3 major reasons: weather, difficulty of the remaining terrain and the group's pacing. We we're silent at first. For me, the reasons were all valid and the way we all felt were like silent frustration. I know that Levs was personally excited for this trail as I always told him the Wasay trail was simply breathtaking & I knew how he felt. Chummy, having known her physical abilities, can withstand the weather condition and the strenuous demands of the remaining trek. But as per our assessment, our pacing were not enough to make our target IT possible. With a "heavy" heart coupled with sour-graping and sweet-lemoning, we all decided to abort the summit trek and start the descent the next day. To lessen frustration, we resolved to forgo the Hardin Sang Balo view as this was really the highlight of our trek aside of course from the summit itself. So after the much-needed discussion, we started heading to our tent for what will be our last night on the whole expedition.

Day 3, Sep 18, 2012

Breakfast was a little bit late as we are not in a hurry anymore. Hardin sang Balo was just 15 minutes away from the camp so the trek wouldn't require much from us. After past 7am, we then headed to the

much-awaited and much-talked about Hardin sang Balo. Reminiscent of the "Lord of the Rings", "Twilight" and some fantasy Hollywood movie, Hardin sang Balo is a sight that cannot be found anywhere else in the Philippines, on any mountain that is. Greeted by quick sands and mossy forest trees, one would be rewarded with an amazing array of bonzai trees lying and sprouting below what seems to be a caldera. The big opening was a welcome respite to the gloomy trail we had earlier. It was like a light shining on top of us and allowing us to see the beauty before us. The bonzai trees were all immersed with rain water, preventing us to lay down and walk on it (which is what we did on my first Kanlaon trek, it was summer and the trees were dry that we literally slept on it, climbed some of it and run around like toddlers). Never dampened by the

condition, we managed to climb through some of the bonzai trees near the area and took exciting photos that somehow made our day complete. Seeing Hardin sang Balo for the second time was an invigorating feeling -- just what I needed. After almost an hour, we then headed back to the camp. When we reached the camp, we took our brunch and prepare for our descent. We left the camp at around half past 10AM and confident that we can make it to the jump off before the sun sets, only to realize that we are to go through the same slippery & muddy trail again. We managed to have our pacing a lot better than yesterday and reached past the highway dividing the upper and lower slopes at around 2PM. We stopped for a late lunch at past 2PM amidst the heavy rain and chilly weather. I was getting worried if we actually can make it down before getting dark but we all got ourselves ready for the night trek. At half past 5, the sun started to set in and the sky finally had its tears all dried up. Donning on our headlamp, we continued the trek down but this time the pacing was extremely slow -- my knees were aching bad and Chummy had her feet hurt as well. Two injuries ---

not a very good sight to an already gloomy ordeal. Taking slow baby steps and armed with a "Slowly but surely" mantra, we managed to continue on with the trek down. When we got past on the dipterocarp trees, I had one of the biggest sigh of my life -- a sign that we are near the jump off. The pain in my knees were just overwhelming and moving on for the last stretch was like pinching on an open wound. As we waited for Chummy and the porter, I contemplated on having Mt Kanlaon as my last climb, not because of the ordeal we had but because I realized I had more than enough mountain climbing experience. For 9 years & more than 40 climbs, I knew my body was giving me the right signal to let go. And there is nothing more fitting than ending it on the most beautiful mountain in the Philippines & a nice hot dip in one of the Sulphur Springs in Mambucal Resort.

The Singapore-Bali Adventure

2013-02-25T02:53:00.004+08:00

The Singapore-Bali Adventure
Date: April 20 - 23, 2011
Buddy: Ann Lachica

Day 1
April 20, 2011

My first out-of-country personal trip (my previous trips were business and were funded by my companies) was beginning to give me the ultra-adrenaline rush. My flight was scheduled to be around 6:25AM onboard Cebu Pacific Air to Singapore. Arrived at the airport at half past the hour of 1. Check in counter opened 3am and came into the boarding area at past 4am. At quarter to 10 in the morning, I got the glimpse of the beauty they called Singapore. From the plane you can smell progress and see order from the way the buildings were in place. Amazing! Yes, indeed Singapore is beautiful, from the cosmopolitan perspective that is. While I was at the immigration, I already took notice of my friend Cherrie Ann who was waiting for me. Damn, I think I forgot to update her before I left the house. So apologizingly, I hugged my friend the moment I saw her. So that was Singapore!!! Ah the air is different indeed! Cherrie Ann and I had a 6:35PM flight later that day going to Bali so we are short of time, so to speak. But holy cow, we still managed to do a little bit of city stroll. First stop was lunch at the building near her place. We then went to Chinatown and an Indian temple. After managing the short city trip, we got back at around 4pm and prepared for our Jetstar flight to Bali. At around past 5pm we already had checked in. Almost confusing trip as we we're looking for the "Bali" destination on the flight info. So yeah okay its Denpasar, the airport name that is. Good to go except for one thing --- I brought a new 500ml isoprophyl alcohol and never knew it was not allowed in Singapore. The officer apologetically explained to me that only around a certain mL is allowed. Oh crap forgot that thing! And yes my friend told me Singaporeans don't use alcohol... I should have left it and she could have used it instead. So seeing my alcohol literally being thrown at the trash bin ... that's a big OMG!!!!!! So now one lesson learned.

Cherrie Ann and I then boarded the plane at past 6pm and arrived at Denpasar Airport at past 9pm. While we are about to leave the last xray conveyor machine, we were stopped by 2 Indonesian officers after they checked on our passports. They instructed us to open our bags. We obediently opened our bags. We then noticed that it was only us who were stopped by these officers. What?? Why only us? My friend Ann was beginning to get irritated. I wanted to take things as calmly as possible but the way we are treated as compared to others can diffuse the most patient and understanding passenger there is. I need to be calm because my friend was getting angry already. Ann was complaining why only the two of us were stopped. The officers explained that it was a random check. Wow how random ha!!!! They place some purple light emitting gadget above our stuffs. They were checking for something. I was beginning to be scared. I don't want to be framed up for something I didn't commit. Oh I hate this moment! After checking the bags and running the gadget they had, one officer was looking at both of us and sort of reading our minds, maybe verifying if we looked like criminals. Oh no... Then after somewhat like forever - maybe the longest 10 seconds of our life, he said "Okay you can go now!" After closing our bags, my friend and I looked at each other and sighed heavily. Conversing in our local dialect (Ilonggo/Hiligaynon),

"Ano to sya man? Gintulok nya lang ta tapos okay na? Ano to ya trip trip nya lang?" (What was that? He just looked at us and then it was okay? Was he just playing with us?),

we expressed our frustation while walking away from the last exit. We then saw our local guide holding placards that bore our name. He told us he was beginning to worry about us. That's when we told him about our ordeal. While onboard the van, my friend Ann and I decided we didn't want to ruin the trip just because of some unfortunate airport incident like what we had minutes ago. After all, this is supposed to be an exciting trip. We asked our guide Andreas to drop us at some local restaurant. We were beginning to feel how hungry we were -- I guess that was the aftermath of being stopped at the airport. After the dinner, we then proceeded to our hotel which was located at the heart of Bali -- Melasti hotel.

Day 2

April 21, 2011

We woke up at past 8 and had our breakfast at around 9am while Andreas was waiting for us at the hotel lobby. We left at half past 9 for the tour of the day -- Bedugul area. We stopped by at Krisna, one of the shopping centers on our way to Taman Ayun temple. Woohhh early shopping!!! We managed to hold off that shopping blood in us as we still have a long day ahead of us. Tough act it is! Not wanting to spend all the money we had on Day 1, we decided to head off to Taman Ayun temple. On our way, our guide Andreas told us that all Balinese people have temples in every household. He also added that each temple usually consist of around 3 yards (area of land) -- the first yard have aisles and big houses for meetings and events, the second yard have gates that looked like two hands or palms separated & a tower, and the third yard having lots of meru or pagoda-like structure where the prayers are done. He also mentioned that temples usually have 3 openings, the middle for the priest and the left & right for the people. When we finally arrived at Taman Ayun temple, it was an exact personification of the temple that Andreas described to us. Taman Ayun was a beauty in her own right! It stood tall amongst all the temples that we passed through along the way. It was classic and ethereal. Something divine and inspiring. Oh now I'm getting poetic again. Okay so after spending around half an hour, we then headed to Mantari restaurant around the Bedugul area where we are headed for the day's tour. Next, we visited the Monkey forest and had a "monkey feast" all to ourselves. Heading to one of our destination, we went past the picturesque Lake Bratan and welcomed by another amazing and unique site. Ulun Danu temple, a seemingly small structure was standing on the mainland surrounding the lake. What struck us and maybe almost all of the tourists around the area was the towering sight of a floating 11-roof meru (pagoda). Sitting on a small island meters away from the mainland and surrounded by the placid lake, the towering pagoda was surely a sight to behold! Such a serene and calming visual experience!!! After the visual treat, Andreas then told us we are off to our last stop - the Tanah Lot temple. Andreas said we need to reach the area before sunset to appreciate it's beauty. And true to his words, Andreas showed us one of the most dramatic union of sea, sun and cliff edged-temple - the Tanah Lot Temple. Located at the western part of Bali, Tanah Lot Temple sits on top of a big rock surrounded by sea water. When we arrived, I was simply awed! It was a classic favorite scene that every nature-lover ever dreamed of!!!! Whew I super loved it!!!! Ann and I tried to climb down the rocky stairs leading to the temple. It was low tide so we can practically walk around the small rock connection towards the temple. There were numerous tourists going down and climbing up the temple. After waiting for tourists to "subside" coming in and out of the temple, we decided not to proceed and instead enjoy it's beauty in the viewdeck. Sitting on one of the numerous restaurants atop the area, the view was just fantastic!!!! We lazily spent the rest of afternoon on the viewdeck up until sunset. We then headed to do some short shopping along the busy district of Tabanan before heading off to the hotel. Day 1 was super amazing!

Day 3

April 22, 2011

Kicking off our day 2 at Bali, we sat in one of the cultural presentations that is unique to Indonesia - Keris and Barong dance. It started off a bit boring but the theatrics seemed to get interesting in the middle. There were some part that was a little off to me but overall, the presentation went well. It was after all a cultural show meant to introduce the Indonesian culture to the tourists. At half past 10, we proceeded to a batik store named Sari Amerta where we get to see how the batiks were made from scratch. We also visited some of the art galleries and art painting stores. A heap of good artists indeed! Andreas then led us to one of the gold and silver stores along Bali, the Chilok Village. There were a lot of good finds of gold and silver on the village but jewelries were not part of my shopping list. :) Next stop was Bali's version of our Banaue Rice Terraces, the Tegalalang Village. The terraces were only a small area of the mountain and not as significant as compared to ours in Banaue. We then headed to Kintamani for the view of their famed Mt Batur. We dropped by one of the restaurants atop the Panelokan Hills for the much-needed lunch. The food was somehow decent (combination of Chinese and Indonesian flavors) but the place was not "appetizing" enough. It was somehow a bit deserted and unappealing. Albeit the small setback, the view from above was still a refreshing respite to enjoy with. We then proceeded to the lake surrounding Mt. Batur which proved to be more refreshing and oh-so-chilling. The temperature somehow dropped significantly. Whew...... At around 3pm, we went on to the Taman Agro district that is well known for their civet coffee and other natural produce. As tourists, we got to enjoy free taste to some of these produce --- ginseng, bali coffee, ginger, chocolate, cocoa, lemon grass tea. After half an hour of strolling around, we then moved on to Tampa Siring, a popular destination where you can find the Tampa Siring Palace designed by their famous architect Sukarno. The President, as Andreas explained can stay and use the Palace. We walk passed the Palace and went to Tirta Empul temple --- a sacred place for the Hindu Balinese where they get to gather for their bath and prayer. It was a totally new experience for both Ann and myself -- an introduction to the whole Hindu spiritual experience. Worthy educational tour indeed! After the temple trip, we then headed to Sukawati, the center of handicrafts, clothes, bags and other souvenir items. Andreas advised us to haggle as some traders would give a higher price to foreigners. Oh well, Ann and I are both used to haggling so that shouldn't be an issue. After a few items bought, we then headed to our much-sought Bali spa experience. Andreas said it was around 2-3 hours of sauna, jacuzzi, foot and body massage. So off we go to try out the authentic Bali spa - a much needed massage after 2 days of strolling around Bali. One word of advise though, do not get your expectations too high. I mean, I've been to a lot of different massage and spa back in Manila so I was kind of expecting a bit "authentic" or unique to the Bali spa. Truthfully, there was really nothing spectacular or unique to it. I mean it was good in a holistic way but that was it -- the same spa experience that you can get from Manila or anywhere in the Philippines. So a little bit of disappointment in that department .... Notwithstanding the too much expectations not met, Ann and I still managed to feel good after the spa experience. And now for our final evening in Bali --- a well-deserved dinner by the beach. Quite romantic except that my friend and I do not have our significant others by our side. Ann and I recalled a similar dinner-by-the beach experience in El Nido with some college friends a year earlier. So there we were, hoping that someday when we get back to Bali, it would be with our significant other...Before leaving for the night, we had a nice chat as well with our guide Andreas who was as accommodating and friendly to us throughout the whole trip. Walking passed all the tourists and locals alike in the beach shore, we headed back to our hotel and ended our last night in Bali with nice and memorable swim by the hotel pool.

Day 3

April 23, 2011

For our last day in Bali, Ann and I decided to stroll around the Legian beach which is the nearest from our hotel and did some last minute shopping. I am not sure if the beach that the foreigners are raving about was the Legian beach because honestly, it pales in comparison to the beaches in the Philippines. We saw a few Caucasians, probably Aussies who were enjoying the waves. Oh yes, I guess those were really for surfer type of beach. So yes, for Filipinos or tourists who have been to Boracay, Palawan, Camiguin, Caramoan, Cebu or Bohol, please don't set AGAIN your expectations too high. You might get disappointed big time. Really!!!! So yes, after a 4day-3night trip to Bali, my friend and I bade goodbye to our friendly guide Andreas and checked in for our flight back to Singapore. After paying the terminal fee (which we didn't see coming), we boarded the same plane (Jetstar) To Singapore. This time, we had a better treatment from the immigration officials. Big thanks to a popular Filipino singer Christian Bautista who was a favorite of the immigration officials who handled us. I actually got one of them to sing his favorite Christian Bautista songs. That was a better way to end an exciting Bali trip with one of my super best friends, Ann. :)

Worst Cebu Pacific Experience

2012-03-05T00:03:00.003+08:00

While I was about to write this blog, I already submitted a complaint to Cebu Pacific via Guest Feedback Form) and I thought it might help me get over the worst local airline experience I have. I maybe too emotional on this but as a consumer, I deserve to be given the right service that is due me, regardless of whether I took the piso fare or the most expensive fare there is. So I am writing because as a traveller who have flown with Cebu Pacific numerous times a year, it is utterly DISAPPOINTING to know and see the same chaotic system of checking in of passengers, be it PEAK seasons in December or off-PEAK seasons in October. Time to exercise the right to complain!

==== DETAILS ======

My flight last Feb 25 was 11:10AM from Manila to Kalibo. I arrived just around 10AM, and still within the 45 min allowance before the check in counter closes. While I was entering the check in counter area, the guard asked me of my flight. I told him the details and he directed me into Counter 16, the line for those who have no check in baggage. That he said was the "express lane". Apparently, it was NOT. It took me more than 30 minutes before I was attended upon. Just around 15 minutes of being in the line, I saw some staffs calling last call for Iloilo and Puerto Princesa (which I heard the flight was 11AM) and saw that they were waving a placard for all to see. I was expecting as well for the Kalibo flight but I saw none. Then the guard came into our line (I was wondering why the guard is doing this, are there no enough staff? you would see around 5 staff inside the counter chatting and laughing around) and spoke in natural voice, "Kalibo 5J 339 baka mag last call na po ha... " Then I raised my hand and said "Kalibo po ako". Then he said, "Abangan nyo po Ma'am baka mag last call na." So i was expecting any minute, the placard will be shown for Kalibo. While it was my turn to be attended upon (this was around 30 minutes after I lined up), the staff told me, "Ma’am close napo." I was shocked at that moment and felt the whole building fell on me. Then I flared up. I told her I was queuing for nearly 30 minutes and nobody called on the last call. She said there was one. I asked her when because I was standing there all along and I should be able to see if there was some placard shown. Apparently she was not sure and she asked the other staff what time the last call was given. Then she said sorry but the last call was already called. I was so furious I told her that if the placard was shown I should be able to see it and I even told her I saw that of Iloilo and PP. Then she directed me to another counter, which is at the back of our line. I was told by the staff in that counter that it was there that the last call (they said) was called and they had it minutes ago. They cannot confirm if they use the placard. So I angrily asked "Paano marinig ng mga nasa ibang pila, ung nasa likod kung hindi nyo ipaplacard or isisigaw?" I was so mad I had NO Choice but to buy another ticket. Cebu Pacific's system (or the lack of it) really sucks!!! I’ve been travelling on PEAK and OFF-PEAK seasons and have fled through this airline and saw the same no-system/messy-process of checking in passengers. For me, it was the worst experience! As if one bad experience is not enought, when I was on the boarding area later that time, the line were already queuing and if I have not asked the staff, I would not have known it was for Kalibo. The boarding gate change was not even announced. There WAS NO information, no announcement!!!! Staffs just assumed that the passengers would know eventually!!!! At that time I was just smiling --- because if I won’t my blood pressure would shoot up again… Unbelievably the worst service ever. For me, it’s a big NO-NO to fly with Cebu Pacific again.

The Sagada Connection

2012-01-22T02:19:00.003+08:00

THE SAGADA CONNECTION
Date: August 27-30, 2010
Buddies: Reno Tolentino, Rick Baculi, Mark Ballesteros, Chummy Chua, Roshel Esteron, Carisa Jose, Rochelle Fuertes, Richard Galido, Charity Galido

Day 0, August 27 (Friday)

My siblings Richard and Charity were all getting ready for our first outdoor trip together. We left the house early for the 10PM trip to Baguio. We arrived roughly 30 minutes before the trip and found Roshel and Carissa already on the station. Reno’s group was also in the station and we all are waiting for Chummy and then we’re all set on boarding. Chummy arrived just in time and we all boarded the bus, getting ready for a 5-6 hour trip.

Day 1, August 28 (Saturday)

We arrived early in Baguio at past 5am. We saw a jeepney and told the driver to drop us off in the bus station to Sagada. We don’t know how he got the message but he took us to the wrong bus station – we learned later it was going to Banaue. There was several drivers who offered us to take to Sagada by van but we felt it was way too expensive. We realized we haven’t told the driver earlier the name of the bus station itself. Lesson learned. We decided to walk towards central Baguio where the Sagada bus was. After around half an hour we finally reached Lizardo Bus station. We’re just on time as the bus was about to leave. Leaving around 7AM, we passed by the long and winding Halsema Highway. We had one short stop before finally getting off the bus. We thought we’re already in Sagada. We we’re told were just halfway the trip. Due to a landslide, no vehicle can pass through the remaining part of the road going to Sagada. We we’re told to go down and pass by the rice fields and walk towards the bridge leading towards the “other half”. So down we go towards the rice fields. Exciting. Classic rural connection.
Then on we go boarding the second bus. We reached Sagada before lunchtime. Looking around, there seems to be a mystical spark that surrounds the small town. The atmosphere was quiet, the kind of place you would want to unwind. Rustic and mystical Sagada!!! We spent our lunch at a nearby restaurant named Salt & Pepper (quite modern) and went to the tourist guide center to secure the guide services for the rest of our trip. The rest of the guide suggested we take the caving that afternoon and take the rest of the trip tomorrow. We thought it was not such a good idea since we kind of still feel the travel fatigue and have no energy for such a strenuous activity. So we took on the hanging coffins tour instead. Just a pinch of advice to fellow travelers – you need to weigh your options before agreeing to the suggestions of the guide, otherwise, just stick on to your original plans. After much discussion, we then proceeded to the “town” tour. Our guide, Kirky led us to the Episcopal church, the town’s cemetery, the Echo Valley where you can see the vastness of the forest and get a bird’s eye view of the coffins sprawling across rock walls and the famous Hanging coffins.

It was a surreal experience seeing coffins literally hanging on to the rocks. For the local folk though it was more than just a tradition, it was more part of their being. We went on to the Underground river, not so fabulous though compared to that of Palawan’s. We crossed past the river and went up towards the main street. We spent roughly half an hour passing along fenced walk path and narrow trails towards Bokong falls (a.k.a. “Small falls”) and spent time taking pictures instead as we were running out of time. We hurriedly went back as some of us (especially the girls) felt something “eerie” and scary on our way towards the falls. I would rather consider it as “adventure” instead of actually making a big deal with it. But of course we cannot ignore the fact that there was something unusual with the place and the trail we took. We even discussed it on our way back to the inn. It was just something you cannot simply ignore but what the heck, it was still a good awakening…. Ehhhhh… me scared… After cleaning up, we ended up the day with a hearty dinner at Salt & Pepper with some local delicacy (though I did not eat).

Day 2, August 29 (Sunday)

We set off early and had our breakfast on the inn that we’re staying. Roughly past 9AM, we took off to our Lumiang-Sumaguing Cave Connection tour. We specifically chose the Cave connection instead of just the Sumaguing cave because we thought that is where the adventure is. And true enough it was one hella of an adventure. We started off at Lumiang where we saw some coffins sprawling across the entrance of the cave. Our guide first oriented us on the do’s and don’ts inside the cave. After the meeting, they arranged the lamps and we then headed downhill towards a small opening. It was traffic. It was a small hole and only one person would fit in. I kind of like this adventure. We continued to descend around small rock openings until we reach one area where we need to hold on to the makeshift rope and slide down to reach a flat ground. We continued the exciting trail, a combination of somewhat a huge dance hall, a sudden drop, water source akin to that of the river, mini pool of water, downhill trek and small openings wherein you have to crawl and maneuver your way out. It was scary but exciting. Adventure rush again! We never failed to miss opportunities of taking great shots of the view inside. I was getting more excited and at the same time a bit concerned with my 2 siblings who were with me. My brother who can be more daring than me would sometimes do his own way than what was planned or said. He can be so hard-headed sometimes. I both gave my brother and sister trail foods and lamps to use whenever they need it and oriented them of being prepared all the time. My sister who is more obedient might be a little scared of the adventure as she is not the outdoor type. But she managed to conquer her fears along the way. I was so proud of both of them. Though I was a little uneasy on having them on this trip, I really wanted them to experience the thrill of adventure and having to commune with nature. After more than an hour of traversing the cave, we reached the detour part of the tour. It was the end of Lumiang cave. The group can either decide to exit the cave or continue with the cave connection via Sumaguing or Crystal Cave. Chummy and I decided we’d push through with the cave connection. We told them we can split the group into two. Chummy, Rick, my brother Richard and I decided we’d push through with the connection. I was a bit worried for my sister but Reno and the rest are with her so I just trusted my instincts. We’re already there and we can’t ignore the temptation of adventure and exploration. After the split-up we then carefully walked through the tricky descent trail of Sumaguing. It was dark and narrow afterwards. Lots of tricky path where you have to walk barefoot and be submerged in waist-deep super cold cave water, like it was just taken from the freezer. Next stop was a small pool where our guide maneuvered & led us one by one. It was not easy. We have to hold on to the rope and make our way to a safe and flat surface. Then a thought suddenly popped out of my mind. What if, for some reason, there was a raging water from the inside and runs towards us. We will surely be swept away. A sudden terror swept over my body. O God let us all be safe. The small opening, narrow path, total darkness, icy cold water, meters below the ground --- it was all such an uncomforting combination. But having travelled to places and climbed mountains made me immune to dangers and terrors. That is because I knew behind those terrors and struggles, there is “a pot of gold” as the old adage would always say. I knew that when we reached the so-called Cathedral, it will be worth the struggles. And so after nearly an hour of the same icy cold-darkness-narrow path ordeal, we finally has an oh-my-goodness sigh! It was indescribably amazing!!!! The Cathedral was like a big curtain towering before us. How could this sight be not worth the struggle???? For like half-a-minute, we stood there, just staring at how awesome the cave was. Mini rice terraces. Huge curtains of stalagmites. Big wow!

Chummy, Rick, my brother Richard and I were equally stricken by how beautiful the sight was. Our guide advised us to remove the slippers which was way better to feel the total cave experience. He was right. Barefoot and charged up, we moved to bigger and taller stalagmites, this time we either climb or crawl… Now, it was getting more exciting. Moving from the lower deck of the cave to the upper part have two options --- climbing through the cathedral around 5-7 meters high by vertically walking on it (just like the action movies where the protagonist would walk on the building as if walking on walk path) OR take the longer route which was way safer. But of course, we would choose the more challenging one – walking on the cathedral. It was superrrrr fun!!!!! Yeah this is what you call adventure!!!! We spent another half an hour reaching the detour where we need to put back our slippers and walk a little bit more to reach the mouth of the cave. Just before we had our final stretch, our guide asked us if we wanted to take the Crystal Cave which he said was also visually appealing but much more difficult than what we had earlier. We decided we had enough fun and can always come back for it. And so off we go for the last stretch of this wonderful cave connection adventure. We’re just so happy we finally reached the mouth of the cave and glad we all came out safe and sound. After that, we then had our late lunch near the place we we’re staying in. After resting, together with the rest of the group we headed towards the “Big Falls” which they call Bomod-ok falls. Before getting there, we are greeted with the rustic view of small rice terraces and vast rice field. It was a welcome treat for us! I personally felt nostalgic in places like these because it would always remind you of the simple life, the fresh air and the laidback living. After passing through rice fields, we then reach the Big Falls. Oh yes, it was literally big and scary too!!!! Its force and power overwhelmed me. For one, you cannot come close to it because you’ll be carried away by its force. We decided to just swim around the sides to avoid any untoward incident. We never stayed long as the sun started to set.
We arrived at the hotel just in time for the dinner. This time, we went to another restaurant along the major road, just a walking distance from our hotel. Dinner was all about how we enjoyed the cave, falls and the whole of Sagada. It’s rustic experience is something that would make you forget all the worries in the city. We then decided to continue the “celebration” on our hotel where 3 Koreans started joining us. (We think they kind of bored that night). We started playing some games and things began to be so noisy that the owner has to go down (we were in the basement room) and warned us of other visitors. What a night!!!!

Day 3, August 30 (Monday)

We got up early for the special breakfast we requested and to negotiate for our transportation back to Banaue. So roughly past 9am, we left Sagada. We stopped by one of the view decks to see the famed Rice Terraces. Though it was beautiful, we kind of felt sad that there are houses around the area and it becomes some kind of an eye-sore to the once-beautiful Banaue Rice Terraces. I think we all ( not just the government) should preserve and maintain what was once included in the 7 Wonders of the World. Though a bit disappointed, I’m still kind of amazed by how the farmers are able to form such wonder. Amazing human creation!!!!
After spending sometime on the view deck, we then go to bus stations to secure tickets. It wasn’t easy at first. There were few tickets left so we had to jump from one station to another. We thought of actually getting our tickets when we were still in Sagada but we’re not yet sure what time we’d arrived in Banaue. After a few more tries, we’re glad we got reserved tickets back to Manila. While waiting for our trip which is hours away, we took some stroll along Banaue and got ourselves ready for another long trip by a well-deserved lunch. Around past 6pm, we left Banaue and arrived in Manila roughly around 6am (was a really long trip). Overall it was a fun trip, no, much more fun. Sagada to me is a hidden paradise, one place you would want to come back over and over again.

My First encounter with the Heights

2011-07-07T04:36:00.008+08:00

Date of travel: June 12, 2004

Buddies: Jeff, Meong, Mike Angeles and Cris Sison

Related topics: (Click on the "Limatik sa Natib" link) http://www.geocities.com/akamug/ -- by Mike Angeles

=================

I have always been a nature lover. The thought of beaches, mountains, caves, and all of nature’s bounties always gives me a feeling of enchantment and a deep sense of peace. Though I loved mountains and I’ve always wanted to conquer it, I never had the willpower to pursue it. I remember my first "trek" was when I am with my high school buddies. That was one of the most tiring activity I had in my life. Not reaching the top, I deemed it "unsuccessful". From then on, I always wanted to do the "real" stuff --- getting at the top and having a feel of the clouds. It was when I was working for four years that I happened to know a colleague who was a mountain climber. Cris invited me to join them but more often than not, I am unavailable. Then finally on the 12th of June 2004, I said yes. I excitedly searched for things to prepare, what to bring, what to wear, what to buy. I have so far prepared everything that a newcomer would do – except for one thing. I forgot to prepare myself for the physical demands that mountain climbing would require. Come June 12 and no wonder I was the first to arrive. I have always been a latecomer during meetings, classes, gatherings and all sorts of group assembly. But on things that interest me a lot, I have this early blood in me. Within a group of 5, I was the only female climber. Two were experienced climber and the other two are semi-neophytes like me.

Being the only female in the group and the first time climber, I felt a little bit of an underdog. Not that I see it as a competition but I just felt a little pressure from the way things are presented. I just don’t want them to see me as someone that they would look after simply because I’m a woman and I am a neophyte. I want them to see me as another mountain enthusiast like themselves who only want to experience the feeling of being on the peak and feel the beauty of God’s creation. I’m just too lucky that these bunch of guys are really cool and are really good companies. After signing in the DENR logbook and having lunch, we started the trek at around 12 pm. The first 2 kilometers was already difficult for me as I struggle for the ascent. I can hardly breathe. I was way behind them and even though they stopped once in a while, I still had difficulty catching with them. Our first stop was like a food given to a person who has never eaten for 2 days. From that time, I was fighting for any negative feeling I have during the climb. For 2 grueling hours, we walked under the extreme heat of the sun. The trek was not yet uphill; it was still a bit refreshing because it is an open field where you can see other mountains, lakes and other awesome views. We met a lot of other climbers along the way, though I cannot remember which group they were associated with. When we reached the first water source, the group had to rest for a while and munch for some trail foods. Jeff was always checking on “limatiks”, and has to request me to see if there are any parasites on his clothes. Despite the constant checking of the group, the “limatiks” were still yearning for our precious bloods. Mike’s back was bleeding and some of our group mates have one or two bites from the slimy creature. Even I was not spared of the bite. I have to prepare alcohol for the easy removal of the creature. We are only halfway the trail and it is already getting dark. Jeff and Cris went way too ahead of the group and we were never able to catch them up.

We headed on the path we thought was the right one, unaware that it would be the start of our breathtaking predicament. We were halfway through the trail when it rained hard. The path was getting steeper as we face large rocks. It became difficult for us because it got darker already and the rain kept on pouring in. Mike was shouting to both Jeff and Cris for help, and was actually feeling frustrated for not telling us that their trail was the right one. We thought of going back and following their trail but it was so dangerous and more difficult. Meong came in first and was also complaining about the difficulty of the situation. I became so nervous and thoughts of whether it was the right decision to pursue this adventure flashed into my mind. I slipped as I reached for another big rock above me. Good thing that I got hold of another rock just beneath my chin. As I looked back, I can only see total darkness. My flashlight fell off from my hand as I was clinging on to those big rocks ahead of me. Cris tried to go down and help us out but he got cramps and was yelling from above that it was difficult because it was very slippery. As Meong get on to a secure place, we tried on a new strategy – move up our bags, then ourselves. It took us more time doing that but it was the safest way possible. At around 9:00 pm, we arrived on the campsite --- wet, tired and hungry. Mike and Cris set up the tents but as if one misfortune is not enough, one of the tents broke down. The guys have to let themselves fit in the small tent. Since I am the only girl, I slept over to another tent where Ma’am Connie (I forgot what group she was from) was already sleeping. With much difficulty in changing my clothes, I hurriedly got into the tent as I was already shivering from the extreme cold. Ma’am Connie was very kind and as we are conversing, another female climber got into the tent. Their group also had problems with their tent. Thanks to that another climber because I might have ended up shivering the whole night if not for her.

I woke up the next day with blood on my right arm. It was then that I discovered that the whole night, the dreaded “limatik” feasted on my blood. As I opened up the sleeves, there was her still clinging on my skin. It was also the time that I have discovered I have lots of “limatik” bites. When I went out of the tent (“Nagpasalamat naman ako kay Ma’am Connie”), the rest of the guys are already preparing for breakfast. After the casual photograph taking, our group headed first for the descent. It was doubly hard as I have to literally slide down using my butt since it was very slippery. Halfway through the first water source, Cris had to carry my bag as I was feeling extremely exhausted. When we arrived at the water source, we prepared for our lunch. Cris have to help me get rid of all the "limatiks" setting in my feet. While we were having our lunch, the other climbers started also to prepare for their lunch. There was some commotion between 2 groups of climbers but was then settled by some senior members of the group. Finishing up the other half of the descent, I had to endure having my feet and arm bleeding from the limatik bites. As we passed through the same path we took the day before, I find it hard to believe that I was able to hurdle the first test of one of my worst fear – the heights. It was so exhilarating to feel the cool breeze that dampened my spirit --- possibly whispering to me it was worth the pain, that it was just the beginning of another adventure that life has to offer. I was just so lucky to have a group of reliable mountaineers to go with… My first encounter with heights will not be that memorable and exciting if not for Jeff, Meong, Mike and Cris. Thanks guys and see you on the next climb.... This is a climb I will never forget....

The Filipino mountaineer

2011-07-07T04:30:00.000+08:00

The Filipino mountaineer

Oct 10, 2006

Recently, just read some interesting blog entries from mountaineers and aspiring ones. And suddenly I thought of coming up with an interesting piece based on my observations.

And so here it comes:

A typical Filipino mountaineer:

(1) Have been bitten by the dreaded "limatik" in one of the climbs.
(2) Is respectful (Aba tawagin ba ang lahat ng Sir at Mam...)
(3) Is a nature lover ( I think this is what binds us all..)
(4) Have eaten unique foods (e.g. adobong isaw na may ulan at dahon ng puno na nalaglag habang nagluluto -- di napansin)
(5) Have sweared not to go on mountain climbing after 30 minutes of continuous steep ascent, but still continues to climb... (naaddict na)
(6) Have slipped, fell, been injured, suffered cuts, bruises and broken bones all for the love of mountaineering
(7) Have been warned by their parents about not going on another trek after hearing the news of a mountaineer who died during the climb
(8) Have smelled and hugged the clouds.
(9) Have planted "something" on the ground. (Sana nagbubungkal ang iba no.... Be a responsible one!)
(10) Have been wasted. (No water, no trail food, have not even reached half of the trek going to the campsite, etc..)
(11) Have literally used his/her butt on a descent. (Whew!... sakit!!)
(12) Have eaten on a plastic, cookset cover, or any available "food holder" using bare hands. (Minsan sa sobrang gutom kahit hindi pa nahuhugasan.. hehe)
(13) Does not care how a food tastes as long as its a FOOD...
(14) Have been stunned, mezmerized and awestruck after reaching the summit.
(15) Have been lost (even after the nth climb on that mountain)
(16) Have been drunk.
(17) Have fallen in love with a fellow mountaineer (kagrupo o hindi)
(18) Have drowned at least 1 buko after the trek( or can be during or before)
(19) Have bathed in alcohol or cologne (wala ng tubig, haba ng pila sa paliguan, tinatamad n maligo, wlang damit na pampalit, etc.)
(20) Have tried drinking water from the falls or any water source.

...And there are so many things I can add up to this list... But for now, that's all I can think of..

A Visit to Paradise - The El Nido Adventure

2011-03-14T01:01:00.004+08:00

Date: March 30-April 3, 2010

Buddies: Mariecel, An, Bagsy and Carmela

Day 1 - March 30 (Tue)
My friend An and I walk up early for the 9:30 AM Manila-Puerto Princesa flight. To avoid the rush hour, we thought of going there early. We ended up getting a cab around EDSA crossing. Carmela, who was coming from Laguna, was first to arrive in Terminal 3. Bagsy and Mariecel already had the earliest flight from Cebu to Manila and booked the same flight with us from Manila to Palawan. After checking in, Carms, Ann & I went to the boarding area wherein we created a rowdy scene when we saw Bagsy and Mariecel. Meeting long-time friends have this effect in us. Getting on the plane, I sent my last text to our guide, Kuya Marlon. After less than an hour, we arrived at Puerto Princesa airport. Kuya Marlon was already there waiting for us and as soon as we get in the van, excitement was all over us. We then proceeded for a buffet lunch at Leslie’s restaurant which was around 30 minutes from the airport. Having been to Puerto Princesa myself three times, it was refreshing to know restaurants so refreshing that it offered not just great food but such good ambiance. After the refreshing lunch, we headed for a 2-3 hour long drive to Sabang. At past 4pm, we arrived at Sabang bay, headed to Taraw Lodge and took advantage of the beautiful sun and beach. It was a good thing that Kuya Marlon was a good photographer. He got us beautiful shots with unique views and positions. We continued frolicking on the beach until the sunset. Such beautiful view! Around 7pm, we had our first dinner at Palawan with of course the all-time favorite --- seafoods. Come 9pm and it was bonding time. It was Bagsy's turn. Being on the hotseat, it was never easy but he handled it well!!! Kudos Bagsy for putting up a brave front...... It was one hell of an evening!!! Bonding time ended around midnight as we had to wake up early for yet another long drive.

Day 2 - March 31 (Wed)
Kuya Marlon woke us up for an early drive to El Nido. He already told us that it will really be a long drive, longer than what we had from Puerto Princesa to Sabang. We left Sabang at around 5AM. Half of the way towards El Nido was paved and the rest was well --- an exciting ride!!! I think I now know why El Nido was really expensive because a lot of people prefer to take a chartered plane from PP to El Nido or Manila to El Nido. The drive was really long!!!! We had to stop for a couple of times for some peepee and stretching. After a seemingly rough but exciting ride, we arrived at El Nido at around 8AM. Having to see docked boats, we felt excited on the thought of us already on El Nido, a place we only dreamt of going. After a simple breakfast, we then headed to our beautiful rooms to prepare for our first island hopping adventure in El Nido. And yes, we loved our room at El Nido Beach Hotel, the best so far along the shores of El Nido albeit more expensive than its neighboring accommodation. It was simple yet clean and cozy. At around 9AM, we took a small walk towards the center of the shore and boarded the boat. With us onboard were tourists from Czech Republic and Sweden. We instantly bonded with one of the girls – My(that’s her real name) who was with her boyfriend and were all the way from Sweden. We took Tour B on our first day which scoured around the southern part of Bacuit Bay, a combination of white sand beaches and lagoons. We first went to a white sand beach which some called Pangalusian and enjoyed the crystal clear waters. Refreshing feeling and a good start for a tour! We then headed to Snake Island which at first glance was just a long strip of white sand connecting a mangrove and another island. When we got off the boat, we headed for some trees serving as shade from a scorching sun that greeted us. We decided to explore the “snaky” island towards the mangroves. When we reached the middle, and looking back where we docked, the sand was blindingly white and oh-so-amazing! Even when we reached the farthest area towards the mangrove, one can tell the place are well-protected by the locales. And you can’t just stop being amazed. El Nido is so captivating you can’t close your mouth in great awe. And in retrospect, we’re proud that we have these beaches in our country where we can be proud of. After more than an hour of exploring, we headed towards the shore for a hearty lunch of seafood, veggies and fruits. After a little rest, we then headed to the caves. First stop was Cathedral Cave where a small cave opening greeted us. One has to get past a big rock and crawl towards the opening to enter the cave. Inside was why it was coined the Cathedral Cave – its magnificence a striking resemblance to the church. After a couple of minutes of touring around, we then headed to another cave – Cudugnun Cave. After entering the cave, we got a sudden rush of adventure and the reason was obvious. Sitting on the middle of the cave is a tall structure with a flat surface on top – a good place to take pictures with. We climbed through the rocks to reach the middle and voila, a fantastic view! It was worth the pain of climbing it! After taking numerous shots from above and below, we then headed back to town arriving at El Nido bay before sunset, enough for us to take a well-deserved bath. The first night at El Nido was enchanting, not that we felt that kind of magical feeling but because strolling the beach shore with less people was for me enchanting enough. We had our first hearty dinner beside the beach on a serene environment, a far cry from the famed Boracay where the noise will kill the night’s serene atmosphere. We ended the night with light stroll before heading back to the hotel.

Day 3 - April 1 (Thu)
We woke up early for a well-deserved breakfast. It was a quiet and lazy morning but the sun beamed brightly you can’t resist its temptation for adventure. After the prep for the tour, we headed to the shore and boarded the banca along with some foreign tourists and a couple of local ones. We took Tour A which spans Miniloc Island, among its most popular resort being Lagen Island, venue for Amazing Race. The tour of course does not cover landing on the Lagen Island and Miniloc Resort because non-guests are not allowed to tour around it. We passed through the hotel and it was just enticing – really something to look forward to in a special vacation. We started off with Simizu Island, one of the white sand beaches along the Miniloc area. We then headed towards the 3 lagoons – the Small, Big and Secret Lagoon. First off was a small lagoon, which is not accessible by the boat. The only way to enter is through kayak or swimming through the small entrance. In high tides, you have to dive in to enter inside as the entrance would have been blocked by the water, We decided to swim towards the entrance and again, another wow experience! It’s actually akin to the Twin Lagoon in Coron Island which I loved so dearly. We swam towards the center and an inviting secret place drew us nearer. Our guide told us there’s a hidden place only seen when you crawl towards the small hole where you see a mini cave enough to fit in 10 people. Secret indeed! After spending roughly an hour in the Small Lagoon, we past through what they call the Big Lagoon where its so open you can just jump in and swim your hearts out. We decided to just enjoy the view, be amazed on the corals and wonders of the water and took numerous pics as we crossed past the Big Lagoon. After lavishing through the crystal clear waters in the Big Lagoon, we headed to the “real” Secret Lagoon. Greeted by a white sand beach, you can never tell what lies behind the limestone rock formations. We were told there’s a secret small lagoon once you unlock the secret entrance. It was indeed a view to behold, much like the movie “The Beach” where you never know there’s still some hidden beauty behind rocks and enchanting islands. After beholding the beauty, we’re now off to a small island where we spent our lunch. The island has no entrance fee and the beauty is comparable to the other white sand beaches that require some fee. We snorkeled our way towards the small rock around 5 meters from the shore while waiting for our foods. I think that’s the comfort of being on the tour. Instead of spending time cooking and preparing, all we need is just enjoy the sun and the beach. And that’s exactly what we did!!!! Minutes later, we had our sumptous meal of veggies, seafoods and fresh fish with of course fresh fruits to complete the feast. After spending half an hour, we then headed to our last destination – 7 Commando beach. From afar, its looked like another white sand beach with other tourists frolicking on the sand. Setting it apart from the other beaches we’ve explored for two days was the fact that there’s a mini store that sells fresh buko --- which is heaven on a sun-drenched afternoon. We ordered buko and spent our afternoon lazily lying on hammocks hanging on trees – a welcome treat for a tired but enjoyable tour we had so far. While Che, Mike and Carms enjoy the hammock, Cel and I gun for another last ditch of snorkelling adventure. And again, this paradise we call Palawan never ceased to amaze us. Revelling to another set of aquatic meetups, I was astonished to find not only Nemo but a black version of his kind, quite unique as our guide said it only appears seldom on this beach. I must be too lucky Black Nemo let me show he too is beautiful. Just when we are about to return, we saw 2 sets of Nemo friends playing around their porose abode. Pahabol , ika nga. We spent almost the rest of the afternoon in the beach and it was time to go back to town. Before sundown, we reached the town and prepared ourselves for some shopping before heading to the restaurant where we’ll spend our last dinner in El Nido. Dinner was one of the best we had – crabs and shrimps are simply heaven! After dinner, we thought of visiting some of the bars sprawling around town and we ended up in one of those local bars where singers sang original songs (Balay Tubay) – the ones we never heard of in the city. It was so enticing you want to dance along with it. Some reggae songs are also played. And we are told the audience can sing along with them – not on the tables but ON STAGE. And what a way to celebrate a good experience in El Nido than to sing our hearts out! No question on who should represent the group -- Mike (Bagsy) being the singer of the group. He agreed only if he’s with some company and so Cel and Carms went along. Che and I shouted like crazy as we cheered with them, Bagsy singing the classic favorite “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang”. It was one helluva of a night – one of the most memorable night we truly enjoyed, a good mark to leave for the night. After a few drinks, we decided it was time to go back to the hotel, time to pack and rest for an early trip the next morning.

Day 4 – April 2 (Friday)

It was around 4AM that Kuya Marlon knocked on our rooms. Its time to go. Carrying our backpacks, it was goodbye to a beautiful island that was worth the experience. Once we get in, we we’re shocked that the driver was on the passenger seat and Kuya Marlon on the driver side. My initial thought was that this might have been the plan, a switch so as not to stress the driver. But there is something wrong and we can feel it from there. Our instinct says this is not supposed to be the setup. Too tired and too sleepy, we just accepted what it is at that moment. We’re going the same way we treaded 2 days ago, the same unpaved road halfway. Full moon was up and the roads are visible from our seats. Half-awake, half-asleep. Rocky road down would temporarily wake me up. Then the struggle to go up on rocky & tricky terrain somehow created some stress on the van. I was awaken by a smell of burnt clutch. Cel and Bagsy were wide awake, Cel being scared that things aren’t going well. And she told us later when we were at Puerto that she deliberately did not sleep because she’s scared we might fall off on some ravine or some accident might happen. At that time, anything can happen. We can be stopped by a group of robbers or kidnappers, or be trapped in a rocky road or van died out. At that moment, fear enveloped me. All of us are silent. Mike volunteered to take a sub for Kuya but he said he can still drive. Silence again. God, please let us be safe. I knew at that moment all we could do was pray. Things are getting difficult as we continue to pass on difficult roadpaths, some with a small bridge, some requires expert maneuvering. After a couple of hours of difficult terrain, the sun started to shine brightly ready to shake our dampening spirit. We were still not comfortable until we get into the paved road. We heaved a long sigh after the early morning ordeal was seemingly over when we stopped on a gasoline station. There, the driver seemed to be past his “wastedness” and we knew he will receive some word from Kuya Marlon. After roughly 30 minutes, we arrived at Liberty Inn at past 9AM. After settling in, we then proceeded to the Honda Bay adventure which was originally a Dolphin Watching adventure (we we’re too late for the dolphin watch). We were already familiar with the tour as we had it the other year, except for Carmela who had this as his first time. Cruising past Luli island, we arrived first at Star Island and spent little time as there were a lot of tourists already on the island. We proceeded to Snake Island and planned to spend our lunch there but there were too many people also that nipa huts are running out. So we decided to stay and spend the rest of the day on Pandan Island, which was the best idea as the people are quite manageable, plus the island is bigger. It was seafood time again and it was worth the second trip for the group, a third for me. Bagsy, Carms and Che decided to try the massage while Cel and I were still reeling from the sunburn we decided to just enjoy the view and snorkel some more. At past 4pm, we left the island and headed to the port and off to the hotel. We spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning up and getting ready for the last night at Palawan. We had our sumptous dinner at Balinsasayaw restaurant where Kuya Marlon thanked us for the patience despite what happened earlier. The bond was instant as we consider Kuya Marlon as part of the group and not as our guide anymore. The food was a celebration for the trip that was all adventure and fun. We ended the night with a little chat in the hotel and prepared for tomorrow’s departure.

Day 5 – April 3 (Saturday)

We woke up with a hearty breakfast provided by the hotel and prepared for the trip to the market and stores to buy pasalubong before heading to the airport. It will certainly be not the last time I will set foot on the beautiful island of El Nido. Palawan is a paradise worth visiting! Thank you Palawan and see you again!!!!

Puerto Princesa, the Second Time around

2009-07-12T02:03:00.002+08:00

I had the taste of Puerto Princesa's awesome beauty 3 years ago. I then vowed to return.. It was all worth it.. Palawan is a paradise that coming back is not an option but a must... There were a lot of things that I did this time which I failed to do 3 years ago when I was with my cousin Ate Cathy and her friends. Just look at the list and I must say I really did miss a lot of things the first time around:

* Hold a small crocodile at Crocodile Farm after the wails and cries (I wouldn't dare touch a part of this reptile ever before but due to "peer pressure", I was left with no choice..) -- It was scary at first with me crying like a baby but when you get to hold it for half a minute, you would just be feeling the cold and rough surface of Little Croc.
* Eating the famed Tamilok (we planned to eat this on Kinabuchs but our amazing guide Kuya Marlo gave us this on our lunch prior to our Underground tour --- at least we did not spend a single dime)
* Do jump shots on almost all the beaches we've been ( Oh yeah I've been doing this to some of my trips but I never did this the first time around in PP)
* Dine to the famous restaurants and cafes like KaLui, Kinabuchs, and Itoy's Cafe
* Got a video of the whole Underground River experience
* Stroll along the boulevard and bike around (we never get to do this 3 years ago, I just can't remember why we didn't even if we're just a walk away.... )

With all the memories to remember, I can't help but sigh that Palawan is forever be a paradise to me...

Some photos and blogs can be viewed on my multiply site:
Puerto_Princesa_The_Second_Time_Around

The Coron Escapade

2009-05-31T21:16:00.019+08:00

Date: May 31, 2009
Information:

Day 1, Wednesday, April 8, 2009 (Coron Town)

Our CEBU Pacific flight was scheduled on a 10:50AM Manila-Busuanga, departing from NAIA Terminal 3. All three of us decided to meet at MRT Taft area to head on to Andrews Avenue. Taking the MRT going to Taft from Shaw, I coincidentally met Carissa and both of us headed to meet Rochelle who was confused initially because of the "confusing" diagram I provided her a week before. Around 8:30, we alighted one of the Nichols bound jeepney near MRT Taft area. After arriving at Terminal 3, we then have our baggage checked in and the body weigh-in thing which I learned only applies to 2-seater planes such as the one we will be boarding. Whew.... This was my first time on a 2-seater and first time to have the weigh-in thing. After some standard picture-taking and a little waiting, we then boarded Cebu Pac 2-seater plane bound for Busuanga. I was holding 1C so I was seated on the very first row facing all the other passengers... Another first time … There were a lot of foreigners on board but majority of the passengers are still Filipinos or Filipino-looking, that is. After an approximately 1 hour of travel, we then arrived at Francisco Reyes Airport at Busuanga, an hour away from Coron town proper. As we were waiting for our baggage, we spotted a familiar singer (Yeng Constantino) and Rochelle got too excited that she asked for a photo. Yeng, in fairness, was nice and friendly. After we took our baggage, we then saw my name on one of the cardboard being flashed by a local, which I assumed was Jay2 who was our contact for the van. Passing through ranches and hills, we arrived at Coron around 12:30PM. Ate Lani, who I was contacting for the past months greeted us and led us to our room which is just enough for 3 people. Coron Reef Pension House, which is a stone away from the Coron bay was a walking distance from the market, port and the main town area. After settling our baggage, we troop out and scouted for small restos to dine in. After lunch, we then walked around town and began looking into our itinerary which covered touring around Coron town. We asked the locals for the Everly Souvenir shop and after around a 15-minute walk, we then reached the shop. I figured it is the only souvenir shop that sells variety of goods from T-shirts, local handicrafts, key chains, and accessories to foods. Spending half an hour, we decided to hike Mt Tapyas on a later time as the scorching heat was way too hot to handle. We then took a tricycle to Coron Plaza and City Hall, took some photos and then headed to Lambingan Bridge which we thought at first was far we had to take another tricycle [It was just several meters away from the Plaza]. Erected atop Coron Bay, Lambingan Bridge seemed ordinary but if one walked through the end, a rewarding sea breeze, a great view of Mt. Tapyas and a serene feeling greets one who reaches the end. After talking to some local tourists who was on their way to Boracay after leaving town the next day, we then decided to go to Coron Harvest. The driver did not know the way so we decided to go horseback riding. He recommended Kokussnuss and Horse Valley which he also mentioned to be a little too far. We then went to Kokussnuss, another pension house and the girl told us the horses are already out. At this time, we don't know where to go next as it is still too early to trek Mt Tapyas. I suggested Mabentangin Watershed which we saw on our way to the pension house. The driver agreed and told us we can drop by Horse Valley as it can be on our way to Mabentangin Watershed. After passing tall and thin trees, the Horse Valley was indeed way far from the town proper. It was kind of secluded from the main town and transportation is scarce [It is recommended to have the driver wait and drive you to the city.]. Horse Valley was a small land with a few number of horses. For a reasonable price of P100 for a 15-minute horseback riding, Carissa and I decided to try it. It was my first time riding a horse in motion. It was a bit scary at first but once I settled in, I got Otto's [horse's name] “approval”. After circling for 2 rounds with the initial one a struggle for balance, I decided I had enough. So Carissa then settled in for her turn. After her ride, we then proceeded to Mabentangin Watershed, a quiet place and served as the source of water for the whole of Coron town. It was not really a popular attraction but there was a slide indicating one can take a bath on the shed. After spending sometime around the shed, we then headed to Mt Tapyas, which our driver told us to be a 726-step towards the big cross [By the way, the fare to & from Mabentangin was similar to Maquinit which is P300/whole ride]. The driver had us referred to another driver who will wait for us after our trek to Tapyas.
We sort of underestimated our time with the trek as we realized we're only halfway the climb when the sun had slowly settled down. We also met Rodel and his group who were our tour mates the next day for the Calauit-West Busuanga Bay tour. After a tiring trek towards Mt. Tapyas, we descended at around 7pm (Our driver was already waiting for us) and then headed to Maquinit Hot Spring, a 45-minute ride from Coron town [Entrance is P100/person]. After the travelling and walking and hiking all day, the soothing effect of the spring did some wonders to our tired bodies. After roughly more than an hour of dipping on hot waters, we then headed back to town to have our well-deserved rest. [Note: Transportation to Maquinit costs P300/ride back & forth]

Day 2, Thursday, April 9, 2009 (Calauit Tour)

On our Day 1, we already contacted our tour mates through Roel and agreed to meet at around 3:30AM for our long travel to Calauit. Prior to our Coron trip, the Calauit Tour one was one of my dilemma (I was tasked to make our 6D/5N Coron Trip Itinerary). A 4-hour boat travel (one way) means long travel and costly boat rental. Since it was only the 3 (Carissa, Rochelle and me) of us on this trip, we need other joiners (the term used for a group who joins another group for a certain tour or destination). I tried looking for other joiners online including DIYCoron, Pinoy eXchange and other travel reference sites but there was none -- only 2D/1N which costs more than 3k/person -- obviously not on our budget. Good thing Carissa happened to know Roel's trip to Coron (April 7-10) and learned that April 9 was open for any tour. Roel, who happened to be our officemate (Carissa, Rochelle and I are with the same company) have his group consulted for the tour. When they agreed to join us, I then changed our ITI and put Calauit on the agreed date (April 9). Then I made inquiries on the possible expenses and scouted for the possible islands to hop in after visiting Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary. There were 3 options for the group to choose from: Option 1 - Land travel through van and a half-hour boat ride which would only cost us around 1.2k each with no meal yet (Van - 8k; boat - 100/pax;entrance - 250/pax;truck - 1k); Option 2 - Boat Travel with island hopping which would cost us 1.5k each with no meal yet (Boat - 12k; entrance - 250/pax; truck - 1k; island fee - 100/pax); & Option 3 - DIYCoron Tour which would cost us 1.9k each including meal, entrance fees, truck and island fees. Majority chose Option 2 because of the Island hopping.

As agreed, around 3:30AM, Roel's group (8 pax) & ours met at the loading area and we then prepared to sail off. Leaving Coron town at around 4AM and passing through islands and rock cliffs, we reached Calauit at past 8AM. The Sanctuary seemed to be a hidden piece of land only you would know that there was something to see on it after the makeshift wooden path bridge and one or two anchored boats seen on the island. We walked for about 200 meters and reached the cottage which holds the visitors and guests. One may notice that there was no "receptionist" to welcome you or any information desk to inquire from regarding schedules. I was aware the week before that there was some change of management on the Safari so some inconveniences are expected, including waiting for more than an hour for the availability of the truck. Some of the staffs later revealed that they were not expecting the sudden influx of tourists so they are not quite ready for the big number of guests. We learned there were only 3 trucks available: the big one which can carry more than 20 people which at that time was used by character actress Cherrie Pie for their special tour; the jeepney-type which can cater to 10-12 people and the 4x4 type for small groups. We rented the jeepney-type and I decided to go top-load. It was scorching hot but whew, I did not mind. I was only thinking of one thing at that time ---- feeding the giraffe while on top of the truck. Indeed, the feeding time was an exciting activity for us. We were able to feed them on close contact. After some time feeding the giraffe, we then headed towards a small trail. On our way, we took some time to take photos of the Calamian deer which we saw along the path. Inside the small trail, there were cages that house squirrel, wild boar and some wild animals. After a quick view on these cages, we then headed to the crocodile cage. I did not go down to see this as I saw only a small wooden makeshift cage that probably houses one or two of these scary reptiles [I've been to Puerto Princesa who has a Crocodile Farm so I may not be that too impressed by these crocs in Calauit]. Wrapping up the "short" tour, we then headed towards group of zebras roaming around the trees and took some close photos. Roughly around 1230 PM, we left Calauit and made our way to the West Busuanga Islands. First on our list was Black Island. We were more than a hundred meters away from the island when the boatman suggested we abort the Black Island part and head to Dibutonay because of the waves. Melvin, who was one of the joiners, seconded the motion. I was willing to push through with the Black Island because for me, the waves are somewhat manageable [One of the boatmen seemed to be overacting]. But these people have spent all their lives on the sea so I figured out they knew better. Being a risk-taker, I knew when to go forward and when to back out. And that would mean backing out because there were other people involved in the trip. I would have pushed forward then if I was the only one involved.
Submitting to the decision of the majority, we then headed to Dibutonay Island, a half-kilometer stretch of semi-white sand beach. Due to its proximity from the main island, Dibutonay is somehow untouched by commercialism. When we got there, only a few docked boats anchored on the beach were seen. I guess this can be considered as one of the non-commercialized and untouched beaches in the Calamian group of Islands. After spending roughly half an hour of snorkeling and swimming, we then headed to the nearby North Cay Island fronting South Cay Island [Both North Cay and South Cay have entrance fee of 100/person/island]. We decided to stay in North Cay and excluded South Cay which was somehow the same as that of the former. We were advised by the boatmen to limit the stay as we still have a long travel to go. Leaving North Cay at past 2pm, we then headed to the main island. Passing islets, mangroves, rock cliffs, wreck sites, snorkeling and diving areas, we reached Coron Island at past 6pm. It was one of the most exhausting trip I ever had. Some of the boatman suggested having a 2D/1N package tour to enjoy Calauit with an overnight stay in one of the secluded island resorts around Calamian. When we reached the pension house, I hurriedly took a bath, forgot about dinner and retired on bed early.

Day 3, Friday, April 10, 2009 (Coron Island Tour)

After the exhausting Calauit Trip, we were now excited for the next trip which I considered to be the highlight of our Coron escapade --- the Coron Island Tour. This time we never took a package nor invite other joiners. We decided it would be just the three of us (with the boatmen, of course) so we can decide on where to go and not worry on how much time we spent on each destination. With only 1.5k boat rent (can accommodate 3-7 people), having the boat to ourselves wouldn’t hurt our pockets. After having our breakfast on a nearby carinderia & buying our packed lunch, we rented a single-seater kayak from the nearby resort (Seadive Resort rental costs P250 for single-seater & P450 for double-seater). At past 9am, we left town and head on to Coron Island. On top of our list is Siete Pecados (a.k.a. "Seven Rocks"), an aquatic & marine sanctuary. I enumerated the areas to go & the sequence of the trip to our boatman, excluding Twin Peaks which I assumed to be the same as Twin Lagoon, only to know the next day that they were different. Our boatmen suggested another way to navigate. So instead of Siete, we head on to Cayangan lake --- with a magnificient lagoon welcoming us as we docked on. The natives of the island, the Tagbanuas (they preferred not to be called as such but as "natives"), charged P200 entrance fee for every guest on the lake. We had to take several steps before reaching the "view deck", a stone away from the peak. From there, one can see an amazing view of the lagoon where we took off. The view was simply breathtaking! We then followed the path down towards a semi-hidden lake. After 5 minutes, we reached one of the cleanest lakes in the country -- Cayangan Lake. Walking past bamboo walk paths, this jaw-dropping sight made me proud being a Filipino. Foreign and local tourists alike were in awe of this lake. I was in a hurry to dive in and experience my first ever lake snorkeling. It was one amazing experience! The water, the sword fishes, the rocks, and the people --- it was all too much for a feast. I can live forever on this island!!!! We we're so much hooked on swimming and snorkeling that we forgot there are still more to visit. More than an hour have passed, we decided to proceed to the next destination. Wrapping up our trip to Cayangan, we took some pictures on the view deck and the cave where we can take a glimpse of the spectacular view of the lagoon. Leaving Cayangan at past 12 noon, we decided to take our lunch on the nearby Kalachuchi Beach (no entrance fee). After lunch, I decided to try on the kayak. There was a small islet in front of the beach so I decided to kayak around it and then back to the beach. Carissa and Rochelle also tried to kayak around the beach.
After enjoying the kayak, we then head on to Barracuda Lake (Entrance fee is P75 each). Only few boats were docked. Only then we knew why. The sharp-edged rocks on the way to Barracuda have somehow shied away some safety-conscious tourists especially those with children. After traversing some knife-edged rocks and stones, we passed a small pool below bamboo walk paths and big rocks that somehow prevented one of the full view of the lake. Donning on our snorkel, we then swam our way towards the lake. The water is crystal clear, akin to the waters of Cayangan. The rocks beneath are sharper and bigger. Compared to Cayangan, Barracuda is less crowded. There were only 2 groups of tourists when we arrived. Spending less than an hour, we then head on to Banul Beach, a small stretch of white sand beach with tranquil waters (Entrance fee is P100 each). I tried to kayak again and this time, put on the camera in the middle of my knees while snorkeling. I felt like I was on a travel show & I wanted to record my kayaking adventure on this side of the island. Carissa and Rochelle also took turns on kayaking their way on the beach. After spending half an hour, we head on to Twin Lagoon (No entrance fee). So off we go to what they call two-sided lagoon separated by a small rock opening. When we arrived, there were already more than 5 boats docked in. Children were feeding the small fishes around. And when the boatman finally pointed the small opening, I saw heads getting in and out. Wow, what an exciting way of traversing two lagoons!!! I can't wait to join these heads swimming in and out of the lagoon so I dove and swam my way towards the opening. I took a video while making my way towards the inner lagoon. It was an amazing experience! Carissa then followed swimming her way inside. Rochelle who was struggling with the size of the life vest, decided to kayak her way inside with one of our boatman guiding her (we called her Madame after that because she looked like a VIP with her bodyguard guiding her) , which is also one way of navigating the inner lake. After spending roughly an hour in Twin Lagoon we proceeded to one of the shallow ship wrecks in Coron Island -- Skeleton Ship Wreck (Entrance fee is P100). Fishes were abundant around the wreck. As soon as we dropped crumbs of bread, fishes soared from everywhere. I was ecstatic of this communion with the aquatic vertebrates. I remembered when I had the same feeling when I visited Puerto Princesa, an equally abundant marine sanctuary. That was one great experience! Although paling in comparison with the varieties of fishes at Puerto Princesa, I still enjoyed playing with the fishes at the Skeleton ShipWreck. At past 5pm, we left Skeleton Shipwreck and head on to our last destination --- Siete Pecados (Entrance Fee is P100). A marine sanctuary nested on the eastern side of Coron town, Siete Pecados is teeming with abundant marine life. Surrounding 7 rocks, I excitedly jumped in the waters and snorkeled my way in the middle. Different and unique aquatic display of corals, fishes, anemones and marine animals lay before me. While taking pictures and videos underwater, I was cautious of the pricking sea urchin lying around large corals. I swam my way outwards and can still see unique corals and marine creatures. Wha.... what a thrilling adventure!!!! I wanted to stay more but the clouds are getting dark so we head back to Coron town. We arrived past 6pm and had our hearty dinner on a nearby carinderia afterwards.

Day 4, Saturday, April 11, 2009 (Culion-Malcapuya Tour)

On our Day 4, we decided to be joiners in a DIY Coron Tour for our Culion trip. It was supposed to be Culion-Lusong tour but Jing (the initial team for the tour) changed it to Culion-Malcapuya Tour. Owen, who was the organizer of our tour, asked me if it was okay. I agreed and so together with Jing's group (12); all 15 of us were on a DIY Culion-Malcapuya Tour costing P1.2k per person including lunch, snacks, boat, & entrance fee. The tour included visiting Culion town (a famed leper colony in the early 80's) in the morning and Malcapuya Island in the afternoon. We were told that if we include Banana Island and Bulog Dos Island, we need to shoulder the entrance fee of P200 per person for both the islands. We decided to include both the islands for the tour (which makes our total expenses P1.4K). At 8am, our tour guide Jhoan texted me the meeting place. At roughly 8:30am, we headed to Culion town, an hour away from Coron town. Passing mangroves, turquoise waters and uninhabited islands, we saw the symbolic structure of Culion's famous priest and their ancient currency lying on top of the hill as we docked in. We then took a brief walk towards the church and museum. Culion is a sleepy small town. Besides the church is a college, a Loyola college, then the old hospital and museum, a high school and small businesses. One can probably tour around for less than a day. We entered the gates of the old hospital and found our way towards the museum. We were restricted to take photos and videos inside the museum except for an area outside the Audio Visual Room. As we entered the Museum, we were led to the AVR and attended a 20-minute video clip of the history of Culion. Soon after, we got glimpses of the photos of leper patients before and after they were treated, medicines, old hospital equipments & office machines, documents & letters, and all things related to the colorful & significant history of Culion town. We then proceeded to the church and the fort which stood tall atop the whole of Culion. While on top of the fort, one can really see how small and beautiful Culion is. From its struggling years to its autonomy as a town, Culion is magnificently peaceful & beautiful. As I stood there taking photos, I can't believe I was really in Culion. This is one of the stigma-laden places I wanted to visit here in the Philippines (others are Siquijor, Basilan, Tawi-tawi, Sulu, Capiz). I got a nostalgic and rustic feeling about this town. After taking last minute photos in the church and fort, we then headed to Malcapuya Island. Passing vast mangroves and tiny islands, we docked on at the back side of the island. We then took a little walk towards the main beachfront which was one big surprise. The beach was as bright as the beaming sun. The white sand was just an awesome view!

It was one of the best white sand beaches I have ever seen. The sand was powdery white and the water-beach-sky patterns were truly a visual feast. We spent taking pictures and took a short swim on the waters. At past 12noon, we took our buffet lunch, which was part of the package and took last minute photos on the beach front. Around 2 in the afternoon, we left Malcapuya and headed to the next destination. Though it was not part of the package, we can have the options to add other islands but we have to shoulder the entrance fees and additional fuel charge. We reached Banana Island and were amazed by the presence of a small bar and few local and foreign tourists snorkeling their way on the water and resting on makeshift wooden beach chairs. The island was a good place for relaxation, with the bar attending the guest’s needs. There are also some small cottages which can be rented overnight. I thought of coming back to this place because it was really serene. We paid 200 pesos for the entrance of both Banana Island and Bulog Dos, which was our next destination. We were told the owner of Banana Island were also the owners of Bulog Dos.
After a short swim and stroll along the beach, we then headed to Bulog Dos Island, a 15 minute island across Banana Island. As we were nearing the island, I was awe-stricken by the island. I was reminded of the Lahus Island in Caramoan. The island was really beautiful. The rocks, the sand, the serenity ---- it was unbelievably beautiful… We’ve only had a very short stay as we need to reach Coron town before the sun sets. We wanted to stay for long but we were told to hurry so we then took our last photo shots of the island. We reached Coron town before sunset. Our last night was a celebration as we enjoyed eating one of my favorites – crab.

Day 5 – Sunday, April 12, 2009 (Shipwreck Snorkeling)

We enjoyed the Malcapuya tour the other day and decided to forgo with the Lusong tour, a tour full of shipwreck adventure. We were ready for another day of snorkeling, one that would satisfy our craving of water adventure to our heart's content. We went to Gunboat shipwreck first and then proceeded to Lusong Garden. The latter was surprisingly overwhelming. It was full of coral reefs beaming with marine species rewarding our eyes with a spectacle of unique and colorful school of fish. Ahhh, the beauty of it all was too much to handle... We left the shipwreck just before dawn in time for a last ditch of stroll of this small and sleepy yet beautiful town of Coron.

Day 6 – Monday, April 13, 2009 (Bye Coron)

On our last day, we managed to take last minute photos of the area, the bay and the town. I already texted Jay2 and agreed to meet at around 8AM for our 10AM flight. After breakfast, we hurriedly went back to the pension house where Jay2 was already making his way to our place. Ate Chinette, the warm and friendly owner of Coron Pension House, hugged me as we bade goodbye to her. As we left Coron, I promised to come back to this tiny but beautiful island. The whole experience on this island captivated me. It was, in fact one of the most enjoyable island adventures I had for years. Palawan is indeed one great paradise!!!!

Francis Magalona (A Tribute to a True Filipino)

2009-03-08T14:19:00.000+08:00

By: Cristina Galido; March 8, 2009

Francis Magalona (A tribute to a True Filipino)

When I went home Friday night and opened my TV, I was wondering why Pia Guanio was in tears. I thought maybe she broke up with Vic or maybe she found out something from him. Then I saw Vic teary-eyed. "Ano ba yan? Love talga cguro nila ang isa't isa.." Then the feisty and controversial Joey de leon cried like a baby. This must be something. I pushed on the "+" button on the volume side of the remote. Then the photo of Francis M being flashed on the screen. "Ha patay na si Francis M.?" I was shocked. I may not be a super mega fanatic of Francis M who followed all his gigs and concerts and collected all his songs and videos. On the contrary, I am but a simple fan. Yet there were a lot of things common to me and the Master Rapper. We have the same birthdate , October 4; the same blood type, blood Type O; and the all familiar "dugong makabayan" ideology. For me, Francis M was more than just an icon, a performer and a singer. He was a personification of a great Patriot and his embodiment of nationalism were all over his craft. Unlike other commercial musician and artists, he saw things beyond pure art and music. On a country dragged by colonial mentality, cynicism and indifference, his patriotism inspired lots of Filipinos, young and old alike. Through his songs particularly "Mga Kababayan Ko", he sent a very strong message of how we should feel as Filipinos - of how we should be proud of being one. I felt bad another TRUE Filipino left us. But I am happy because he gave us a legacy we cannot forget. I knew I am just one of the million Filipinos who wanted to do something for our country. And in my little way, I hope I was able to do something for our country as what FrancisM did. To Master Rapper Francis Magalona, a true Filipino artist -- may you rest in peace and we thank you for the legacy that you left.