Motivation

I can.

I must.

And, I will.

Stairs

(taken using my camera phone)

lead me.

Bloggers' party, anyone?

There are two bloggers parties schedule this Friday and on July 4, both at Taste of Asia in MOA. I am spreading the good news: tara!

PARTY NO. 1

What: Buhay Coke ng Bloggers with SM Hypermarket (party ito!)

When: June 27, 2008, Friday, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Taste Asia (beside SM Hypermarket) at the Mall of Asia

Why: Para magsaya! Loads of prizes up for grabs!

Come in an angel or devil attire (or wear black, red or white) and get a chance to win more prizes!

To join, kindly REGISTER HERE. All bloggers who register and come also get a case of Coke Zero 330ml.

PARTY NO. 2

What: Taste of Beauty at Taste Asia (party!!!)

When: July 4, 2008, Friday, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Taste Asia (beside SM Hypermarket) at the Mall of Asia

It's a party about being your best! Want an iPhone? They're planning to host a contest and the "I" gadget was mentioned!The party is open to guys and gals! Guy bloggers must bring a girl friend and girl bloggers must bring more girl friends! To join, REGISTER HERE.

I am already registered with the Coke party and i'll bring some mountaineer friends, but for the Pond's event still undecided (but might go).

Tara lets!

I'm officially missing you.

mountains

badminton games

movies

scavenging during mall sales

starbucks

thai food

new shirts

little tokyo

and so much more...

as we usually do the above on weekends, and our weekends are now plastered with new destinations and priorities, i am now starting to miss the smell of the mountain, the dirt on my shoes, the swoosh on the court, the expensive movies and the expensive coffee that goes with it...

changes, changes.

and priorities.

kaya yan. bawi na lang after. :)

(taken last March, my last climb huhuhu)

R.P.

Of course, it stands for Republic of the Philippines.

Pero, kung ibabaling natin ang tingin sa paligid, parang gusto ko na syang palitan. Dati, sa Lotto lang ako nakakakita ng maraming taong nakatambay at naghihintay ng turn nila para ma-punch yung mga inaalagaan nilang mga number pero ngayon...

Pasyal ka sa palengke, dinudumog ng mga tao ang NFA Rice, kahit bata nakapila para sa maximum na dalawa o limang kilong bigas kada tao.

Mag-commute ka gamit ang MRT/LRT, parang fiesta sa pag-uunahan!

Daan ka sa Landbank, daig pa ang lotto sa dami ng mga taong gustong makakuha ng one-time P500 subsidy para sa kuryente (qualified ako dyan kasi ang konsumo ko sa kuryente eh nakaka-avail ng lifeline discount).

Pasok ka sa mga government office na nag-ooffer ng loans, hala! ika-151 ka sa waiting! wag na nating isama ang NSO kasi since birth (pun intended) ganun na talaga ang eksena roon.

Sa POEA at DFA o kahit sa NBI at maging sa LTO, di ba dagsa rin ang tao na nagkakapalitan ng mukha at pawis sa pagkuha ng isang form?

Dagdag na rin natin ang mga entrance sa mall na parang yung stick na idinudutdot ng mga sekyu sa pumapasok ay makakadetect ng bomba o di kaya droga.

Kahit ang mga ATM machine pati na rin CR, ultimo artistang pinupuntahan ng tao.

Ngayon, parang konting kilos natin kailangan pang ipila, sa jeep, sa grocery, pati pag-akyat ng hagdan pipila. Ang EDSA nga, isa syang malaking pila!

Sa dami ng pila-pila ngayon, sakto na rin sigurong bansagang Republic of Pila ang RP.

Saan pa ba pwedeng pumila?

shining, shimmering splendid

(i just made the above from the movie maker software installed on my cellphone and i used pictures also taken by the same gadget, so sorry from some blurred images, and in a way, i am also testing the video upload of blogger using file/s from my pc and not sourcing thru youtube).

Will you...? (the continuation)

(Warning: Long post)

Some people say that the best surprises are those that were not planned at all...

I tend to believe the opposite until reality came walking down on me. One Saturday, when I thought everything’s going according to plan (place: check, ring: check, camera: check, speech: check, me looking good: check) and pretend that the dinner is just going to be one of those exploration-and-try-something-new-and-not-the-usual eat out, my confidence level is zooming high as I know that I did everything I need to do...or so I thought!!!

7 pm was our schedule with My Mother’s Garden (yes, that’s where hehe) but we came in early so we can roam around the house and the garden (and for me to familiarize with the surrounding and scout for the best place to, you know...). Coming in early was a nice idea as we did roam around the house and stayed in the garden in front of it and wished that we can also have a similar space in the city, it’s quite romantic actually (TIIING! me: while looking at her, my heart was jumping and my brain’s asking if it’s the time already...)

“tu-ko...tu-ko...tu-ko...”

With a background like that, naaah, definitely not the right time (and the lizard continued what he’s doing like he’s laughing at me “tu-ko...tu-ko...tu-ko...). And Lyn’s also laughing at me as she knows how much I hated tuko because one summer when I was still a child, I was six or seven maybe, I would always tag along my dad (the entire family actually) to this little farm that we have in Quezon, stay in this little nipa hut and...wait, wait, I’ll save that on a later post, lumalayo ako hehe.

Okay, I decided not to do it right there. And since it’s getting dark and the mosquitoes around are now starting to fall in line on both of my ears and most of them can’t resist my charm and alternately biting my arms and my neck (I have issues with mosquitoes you know), we decided to go inside again. The place at night is very charming, with the yellowish light coming from incandescent bulbs above, some candles were flickering, colourful orchids were around, soft music was playing, nice rattan furniture and we were alone sitting there, holding hands (TIIING! me: while looking at her, my heart was jumping and my brain’s asking if it’s the time already...)

“HI THERE!”

It was Letlet, she just came in from the kitchen without any warning hehehe. so, purnada ulit :) After the usual introduction, Letlet stayed for a while and talked and discussed the concept of their charming little restaurant and the endless possibilities this can give them now that the secret has been told, first via word of mouth (thru bloggers syempre) and then, the mainstream media (including the television) and that they are also open for anything like parties and exhibits, even a wedding can now already be held there depending upon the arrangement.

She just said wedding and my heart somersaulted!

She didn't stay long as she will be attending to some errands and she told us to just wait for a few more minutes while their reliable waiter set up the table. She left us with an assurance that we will enjoy the food (and we did!). As she vanished from our view and the waiter told us that the table is ready, I felt something racing on my chest, I know the countdown had begun.

And sweat started to appear on my forehead.

The moment we sat down on the dinner table, we felt the homey and elegant ambiance of the restaurant, like being in a hotel, and alone, with a soft music playing. Lyn immediately said "ang ganda at ang romantic naman dito, perfect na perfect sa mga proposal no? sayang, walang ring!!!" then she gave me that smile.

I almost fell from my chair pero syempre, di ako nagpahalata, instead I just go with the flow and added in jest, "oo nga eh, di nakabili, sayang." then I snapped my fingers like nanghihinayang and a few "tsk tsk tsk" for the added touch hehe. I don't know if my acting was believable but I thought I did good hehehe.

We were in the middle of our pasta dish when I realized that I am losing momentum, nauunahan ako ng kaba, hindi ko maisingit! anak ng tipaklong, ngayon pa ba ako matotorpe?

Fortunately, love can and will find a way :)

While eating, unethical it may seem, I took my cellphone out and started composing a message. Lyn asked me kung sinong ka-text ko, (me, acting of course) I told her that it was my sister in Quezon as they're asking me to send the money for this house painting project that I initiated in the province. And Lyn just said "okay", unknown to her, I am actually texting Letlet.

I asked her if I can meet her somewhere and talk about my plan. I press send and in less than one minute, I saw her entering the restroom and then leaving afterwards. Whaat? Then, I look at my phone and her message was "go to the restroom and meet me there", it was sent twice. Oh my.

So I excused myself to Lyn and told her that I needed to go to the cr (which was unusual, by the way). The room going there is full of wedding paraphernalia and I am still scanning the entire room when Letlet came in with a giggling face.

"So, you will be proposing to her? you will be getting married? oh my god, oh my god! So, okay, okay, what's the plan? oh my god" So I told her what I wanted.

I went back to our table and Lyn was smiling "nakita ko si letlet, sumunod sa yo, ano'ng ginawa nyo? hehehe?" Blushing, I said "she just show me the way to the cr, baka daw ako maligaw hehe"

While we were enjoying the food, the occasional silence (while chewing) was meet with my eyes darting on the kitchen door, my occassional sighing was hidden by alternately drinking water and juice, my nervousness was concealed by me taking pictures of everything, and the cold sweat on my neck was just cold, ha! ganito pala, nakakapanlamig, nakakakaba pero nakaka-excite din.

I was looking at Lyn when the waiter came in with the tray full of desserts: fruit tarts, cupcake and this red little box that surely grabbed Lyn's attention.

Eto na yun. At natigilan na ako, I am smiling but smiling awkwardly, I am smiling but I am also shaking, I am smiling and there's a loud banging on my chest!

Lyn's curiousity about the red little box added more pounding on my chest, but I laughed when she said: "Ang sweet naman nila, me give-away pa!"

Me: Oo...nga...me...give...away...

And she used the knife to know if the red little box was edible or not "wow, naka-box pa talaga, ano kaya to?"

I am speechless at this very moment, almost not moving but just waiting for her to open it...

And when she did, it was her turn to be speechless, her mouth covered by her hand, her eyes reflecting that shiny little stone, she was blushing, and open-mouthed she looked at me...

I knelt and asked her "Honey, will you marry me?"

Still blushing and this time giggling, she nodded and said "Yes."

I took the ring and put it on her finger, though I am still kneeling, she hugged me and I embraced her tight...

(Anita Baker is singing in the background..."Im in love, sweet love, don't you ever go away, it'll always be this way, i'm in love, sweet love...")

next: the aftermath :)

Will you...?

In the land of fairy tales, a kiss from prince charming is all it takes to wake up a sleeping princess, and they live happily ever after…

In the movies, it takes a sleeping man for Sandra Bullock to meet Bill Pullman, and amidst all the struggles and confusions, they live happily ever after…

In real life, it takes more than a kiss and definitely not a sleeping man for the hopeless romantics to live happily ever after, it takes guts, a lot of planning, a bit of luck, a good sense of timing.

And a romantic place to, you know, pop up the question.

The time is definitely ripe for that next step for some bells to start ringing. My brain worked overtime, my mind was on a trance whenever I think of all the possibilities, and I, short of harassing, nay, forcing myself for that creative juice, or what remains of it, to start flowing just to come up with the formula on how to do this, when to do this and where to do this.

I didn’t know that it can be this tough! Or I am just putting so much pressure on myself?

I am not known to be a man of surprises, I maybe hiding or sleeping or off somewhere when the 1001 romantic ideas started falling from the sky, I may have grab some but these were crumbs and not the type that can one can swoon over, I don’t have big and earth-shaking ideas, or stuffs that can turn the world upside down, I don’t want things to be complicated, in other words, yours truly is just your plain and simple Juan.

But this time, I want to be different. I want this to be memorable, especially for her.

And you know what, I was also surprised with what I did.

To be continued...

Bachelor's guide to food

got this from my inbox and I can help but smile that, yeah, it can be real and I can almost relate to some of it, especially with vegetables hehehe (the indented comments were mine)

BREAD: Sesame seeds and Poppy seeds are the only officially acceptable "spots" that should be seen on the surface of any loaf of bread. Fuzzy and hairy looking white or green growth areas are good indications that your bread has turned into a pharmaceutical laboratory experiment. (Maybe the cure to all sickness can be found there, who knows?)

CANNED GOODS: Any canned goods that have become the size or shape of a softball should be disposed of. Carefully.

CARROTS: A carrot that you can tie a clove hitch in is not fresh. (guilty!!!!)

CEREAL: It is generally a good rule of thumb that cereal should be discarded when it is two years or longer beyond the expiration date. (Oh, I am proud to say that cereals and oatmeals don't last a week on my ref)

CHIP DIP: If you can take it out of its container and bounce it on the floor, it has gone bad. (At least, you can play ball with it hehe)

DAIRY PRODUCTS: Milk is spoiled when it starts to look like yogurt. Yogurt is spoiled when it starts to look like cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is spoiled when it starts to look like regular cheese. Regular cheese is nothing but spoiled milk anyway and can't get any more spoiled than it is already. Cheddar cheese is spoiled when you think it is bleu cheese but you realize you've never purchased that kind. (Does a melted margarine/butter inside a mayonaise bottle with something white growing around it is also spoiled? hehe)

EGGS: When something starts pecking its way out of the shell, the egg is probably past its prime. (This is probably not a very hot way of having a chick/s on your house, and inside your refrigerator, scary!)

EMPTY CONTAINERS: Putting empty containers back into the refrigerator is an old trick, but it only works if you live with someone or have a maid. (Half full bottle of cola, a box of milk, some stuffs on a jar that you can no longer remember what, and of course, water containers - lots of it - can do the trick. hehe)

EXPIRATION DATES: This is NOT a marketing ploy to encourage you to throw away perfectly good food so that you'll spend more on groceries. Perhaps you'd benefit by having a calender in your kitchen. (They have expiration...dates?)

FLOUR: Flour is spoiled when it wiggles. (Just imagine that's where the Sandman resides)

FROZEN FOODS: Frozen foods that have become an integral part of the defrosting problem in your freezer compartment will probably be spoiled (or wrecked anyway) by the time you pry them out with a kitchen knife. (Oh no, I already have a trauma when it comes to frozen food and kitchen knife, it's bloody!)

GAG TEST: Anything that makes you gag is spoiled (except for leftovers from what you cooked for yourself last night).

LETTUCE: Bibb lettuce is spoiled when you can't get it off the bottom of the vegetable crisper without sandpaper. Romaine lettuce is spoiled when it turns liquid. (Why is it that lettuce has this bad habbit of going to the bottom even though it's always placed on top of all vegetables?)

MAYONNAISE: If it makes you violently ill after you eat it, the mayonnaise is spoiled.

MEAT: If opening the refrigerator door causes all stray animals within a three-block radius to congregate outside your house, the meat is spoiled. (Hmmm, so that explains why there are a lot of stray cats in the neighborhood...)

POTATOES: Fresh potatoes do not have roots, branches, or dense, leafy undergrowth. (What? They don't have roots??? And onions and garlics should have leaves, right? Right? And ginger, too?)

RAISINS: Raisins should not be harder than your teeth. (At least, not as hard)

SALT: It never spoils. (Thank God!)

UNMARKED ITEMS: You know it is well beyond prime when you're tempted to discard the Tupperware along with the food. Generally speaking, Tupperware containers should not burp when you open them.

GENERAL RULE OF THUMB: Most food cannot be kept longer than the average life span of a hamster. Keep a hamster to gauge this. (Okay, now, where do i put the hamster, inside the refrigerator?)

c",)

Caramoan dreaming

For the last three years, I've been dreaming of setting foot on this very remote island, climbing the rock formations, having a blast on its very still and very clear water, shooting until my batteries and memory card give up and enjoying the beach with its fine sand to my heart's content.

Since the arrival of a P200-million development plan and the media mileage it gained from Survivor France and GMA-7, I don't know if the scenes I am dreaming of will still be the same. Cavanas have already been built and even before I can call it my own, commercialization had begun.

Sigh, but I still want to go there and I will go there.

Do you want to know a secret?

Closer, let me whisper in your ear...

But I won't ask you to promise not to tell because the world deserves to know this.

The other weekend, we discovered another gem in dining experience amidst the garden and the orchids around. Tagaytay? Nope. Baguio? Nah. Laguna? Cavite?? Those were far, you just need a taxi, bus, or even an MRT ride to go there. Where? In My Mother's Garden (formerly The Garden Room) in Pasay City. Yes, just in Pasay.

This By-Reservation only restaurant is situated in 2650 Zamora Street in Pasay, in the 1940 house of National Artist for Architecture Pablo Antonio. It is being run by the mother and daughter team of Malu and Letlet Antonio Veloso (who are very accomodating and will make you feel that the place is yours to enjoy).

They are offering a set menu ranging from P700.00 to P900.00, we opted for the P700-menu of Seafood and Chorizo pasta, Mustard Chicken (I give it a two-thumbs up approval) and Melanzane. All menus come with a garden fresh salad, freshly squeezed fruit juice (the watermelon juice made us craved for the beach!) and the best fruit tarts that can give those expensive Serendra cupcakes a run for their money.

The pasta is very filling (their serving for two can feed four hungry souls!), and i love the combination of shrimp and chorizo! I don't know how to call it but the tomato and black olives add-ons also give the pasta a kick and a very rich taste, which for me deserves a standing ovation! bravo!

Don't be deceived by the rather very discreet presentation of the mustard chicken, for its awesome taste, it deserved a better one. The chicken is their specialty, and I must say it should be because it's so darn good! Just for the mustard chicken alone, I'll go back to eat there! Trust me, you'll crave for it. (Sorry for the picture, I am busy eating hehe).

And the desserts? Oh, you don't need a sweet tooth to appreciate this. It was heavenly!

I don't remember being served with Melanzane, maybe they did or maybe they don't, but I don't see it on the table or maybe, just maybe, the turn of events that came along with the tray of desserts may have overwhelmed me. What events? Let's just keep it a secret...for now. hehe.

HOW TO GET THERE:

From Makati, take Edsa going to Taft Avenue. On the right side, the street before Taft, sandwiched by the MRT station and Watson's on the other side and where Kabayan Hotel is located, is Zamora Street. Turn right there and just cruise until you reach No. 2650.

CONTACT NUMBERS:

My Mother's Garden - (02) 8318407

Malu Veloso - 09176008886

Letlet Veloso - 09187022125 (or email bootsieveloso@yahoo.com)

Next time, we'll try going there during lunchtime to appreciate the garden because last time, we ate there dinner time and the ambiance and the low-lighting was just perfect and very ideal for a romantic date. yihaa. hehe.

halo-halo

kaba. kilig.

mapapangiti, pagpapawisan. mabubulol, mapapabuntong-hininga, matatawa.

ewan. halo-halo na! basta. :)

Sa Jeep...

Kapag ikaw ang huling pasaherong sasakay, doon ka parati sa dulong-dulo makakaupo, sa malapit sa driver (malas mo pa kung ito'y sunog-baga) at kinakailangan mo pang yumuko, makiraan, makaapak, mauntog, masiko at makasiko! excuse me po.

At kung sino yung nasa unahan ng pila, sila yung mauupo sa malapit sa pinto kahit na ang bababaan nila ay sa dulo pa ng mundo kaya kalimitan sila rin yung pakikiraanan mo, sila rin yung maaapakan, sila rin yung makakasiko sa iyo o di kaya naman ay masisiko mo. fair enough. :)

Kahit sa MRT at LRT, ganyan din, ang luwag-luwag sa gitna pero nagkukumpol-kumpol ang mga tao sa pinto na para bang lahat sila ay bababa sa susunod na istasyon.

Bakit kaya ganun ang naging sistema? Hindi ba mas maaayos ang mundo kapag kung sino yung nasa unahan ng pila ang syang mauupo sa dulo, sa malapit sa driver? At kung sino yung huling sasakay o di kaya ay malapit ang bababaan ang syang dapat na malapit sa pinto, para wala masyadong apakan at sikohan? Di ba?

Kung iisipin natin, para syang simpleng reflection ng buhay, doon tayo kung saan kumportable o mas madali para sa atin, na minsan nakakalimutan natin "ay, mas malayo/mas mahirap pala sa yo dyan." Minsan, sa jeep lumalabas yung pagiging makasarili natin.

O di kaya ang pagiging numero unong reklamador kagaya ko na nauntog kanina sa jeep! hmp.

Aliwan Fiesta Photography competition

just got this piece of news from the Manila Bulletin:

"Manila Broadcasting Company is mounting a photography competition in line with his year’s Aliwan Fiesta, scheduled on May 1-3 at the CCP Complex in Pasay.

The contest, which carries the theme "Sayaw, Padyak, Indak" is open to both amateur and professional photographers, using digital or film-based cameras. Photos of the streetdance contingents must have been taken during the competition period, and should not have won nor have been published in any book or photography magazine. Entries must be printed in full colour or any brand of photo paper in 8R size (8 inches x 10 inches)."

To read the full article, go here.

The top prize of P50,000.00 is sure to grab the attention of top photographers out there and everyone who's holding or owning a camera (including the trying hard and wannabes like me hehe).

Ano kaya? I might try on May 1, as we'll go back to Cagbalete on May 2-4...

Sasali o sasali?

Is it okay if I call you mine?

"Just for the time

And I will be just fine..."

Yeah, just like the lyrics above, I want to call Cagbalete Island my own, my private island, mine. But, I am just a guest who enjoyed the sand and can only shout to the world that it's mine no more than the hours that i walked, sit, swam and shoot on its creamy fine white sand and clear water. My shout maybe loud but it will only be eaten by the wind, my footprints maybe deep but it will be buried by the waves. I can never make it mine, but i can have it forever etched in my mind.

After a very hot 10 minute walk on a pathway that penetrates the small community of the island, after the curious stares thrown our way, after the friendly exchanges of "magandang araw po" to the locals (and they returned it with a smile), after the little confusion with the right way and finding ourselves walking on the shore, we arrived sweating in Pensacola Resort (042-7840158, look for Fe) just in time for lunch. After the initial introductions with Mang Rommel (the owner), we were lead to the tree house that I reserved the previous day. And whoa! aside from it being too big for two persons, the tree house - the only one in Cagbalete, by the way - is open, save for pieces of woods hammered together, it has no walls! Later on, we find it a unique experience, and the air can freely come and pass by from all sides.

Since we availed of the meal package, P700.00 per head that covers lunch, dinner and breakfast plus two snacks, our lunch was served in no time. And man, the serving was huuuge! And i love the crispy pata and leche flan!

Lyn rested on the hammock under our tree house while I take a few steps towards the beach, low tide!!! The low tide in Cagbalete starts at around 9 in the morning and continue until 2 in the afternoon. During those times, if you are brave enough to challenge the scourging heat of the sun, you need to walk around 400 meters from the shore for you to reach a waist-deep water and maybe a few more if you want chest-deep. The water is very warm and clear but the walking is just not fair hehehe.

We observed that there's a group of yuppies doing a team building on the other cottage and it's fun watching them, we even complimented that they're behaved compared to other people of their age (not that we're that old). We just let the time pass by talking about sensible things like "kung isa kang ulam, ano ka?" hehehe. And the two of us were just laughing, unmindful of the other group that's now starting to get noisy.

The water started to return at around 2, and before we can change into our swimming gears, turon with langka and buko juice were served as our snacks. yay!

Since it's still very hot to go swimming, we just explored the area, and walk further on the other side, challenging ourselves if we can get into the other resort, we almost made it but we returned after we saw a cemetery by the shore. natakot?! hehe.

The resort is not very ideal if you're looking for a nice sunset shot, you need to walk to Sabang for a perfect view of it. I did not walk towards Sabang, but a nice opportunity with a docking boat gave me a shot of the sun that's starting to hide.

Dinner time. The generator is now running, lights are now flooding the cottages like there's electricity. The noise of the yuppies are now starting to accelerate to the level that later on will reach the annoying part. I really did not enjoy the fish as it tastes so...fishy, malansa! Yeah, it's fresh but I am not really a fan of fish, except when fried.

We slept early, but the yuppie groups are now alcohol-glazed and were laughing like they're the only one there. It's really annoying, the noise that they are making, plus the music from their gadgets does not actually blend with the surrounding, the owner should have banned loud music! but maybe they won't as they're also discreetly singing in the videoke! hehehe. I don't know, maybe we're just tired, but we dooze off and woke up the next day with some birds chirping on the tree.

After having breakfast, we had another round of photo-ops that we enjoyed so much, it took almost the entire morning and the moment we decided to swim the water is already running away from us hehehe.

Walking very far and swimming on knee-deep water is not really my idea of fun so we give up and just had pancit habhab and cake for snacks. yum!

By the way, the resort (and all island occupants) is relying on deep well, so the water you'll be using for taking a bath, to rinse off the salt water, is clean but has the deep well quality we all know, from the smell to the taste, but who are we to complain? A lot of people are using that everyday and they're still alive, besides it is logical that we already prepared ourselves for that di ba? So, if someone is sensitive to these kind of set-up, well, just don't go there and just check in to a 5-star hotel. :)

We boarded the 12:30 pm trip of the passenger boat, and the people we saw the other day were the same people we're with in the boat. And after the exchange of pleasantries, we talked like they already know us (I've learned from them that majority of Mauban folks haven't been to Cagbalete). We thought that our boat ride going here with everyone and everything was already a learning experience, going back to the town proper offered an even more surprising twist: the passenger boat has just boarded a fully grown carabao!

If Cagbalete was not an awesome experience, I don't know what is.

"It sets off something I can't explain

And I can't wait to see you again."

We'll be going back on May 1-3. :)

Cagbalete Island: How to go there

I teased you with pictures of Cagbalete Island, then you excitedly packed your bag with your swimsuits and sunblock, your shades and that book that takes you forever to finish, you already planned what you'll do on the island, that you'll swim to your heart's content, that you'll do this pose, that you'll shoot this and take picture of that, BUT, do you know how to go there?

The internet is laden with all the informations you need, but you don't have to go far as you can get them from here, and for me, getting to Cagbalete Island is not rocket science, it's as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Go to Lucena. Ideally at 3:30 am, take the Jac Liner or Lucena Liner bus in the corner of Buendia and Taft Avenue, very near the LRT Buendia station. There is also Jam Liner but the first two are better as they go inside the Grand Central Terminal in Lucena while Jam do not. Ask the bus conductor to drop you off in the Grand Terminal. Fare is P187.00 (air-conditioned) and travel time from Manila is only three hours.

2. In Lucena terminal, take the Mauban mini-bus that can be found on the left side of the terminal, which is just a few steps from where the bus will drop you. If you leave Manila by 3:30 am, you will be in Lucena by 6:30 am, you can have your breakfast at the terminal and board on the bus that leave for Mauban either at 7:30 am or 8:00 am (there's a trip every 30 minutes, earliest at 5:00 am). This is an ordinary bus but the morning breeze is refreshing as you will be travelling on a mountainous area. Travel time is approximately 45 minutes to one hour, fare is P50.00.

For those who prefer air-conditioned buses, sorry, there's none. But there are air-conditioned FX/Vans in SM City Lucena that can take you to Mauban. Fare is P60.00 and travel time is faster at 30 minutes, but the waiting period (both for passengers and available vans coming from Mauban) is both longer and crucial. From the Grand terminal, just wait for a jeep with SM Lucena as sign board.

3. By 9:00 am, you're already in the small town of Mauban. You can walk (around 7 minutes) or you can take a tricycle and ask the driver to take you to Pantalan (small port) and tell him to bring you near the passenger boat going to Cagbalete, tricyle fare is P7.00 per head.

The passenger boat has two trips everyday, 10:30 am and 4:00 pm. Fare is only P30.00 and you will be sharing the boat with everyone and everything from hundreds of kilo of rice, flour, breads, vegetables and other necessities. You can observe that everyone in the boat knows everybody, except for you, of course. And can you take note of tagalog words that you did not understand? That would be quite a lot hehe.

At 9:00 am, you also have the option to pass by the public market and get your provisions from there. I assure you that you can get there the freshest catch and vegetables, you can also buy your drinking water and some more chichirya.

The water can be rough as the boat will go against the wave, so better secure your belongings and yourselves (don't worry, there's a vest).

There. Before noon, you'll be in Sabang, you'll be in Cagbalete island. Though the "welcoming sight" may not be very ideal (there are informal settlers in the area), you can already sense in the water that the fun and enjoyment and relaxation is about to start.

Whether you'll stay in Pensacola resort (0427840158) - which we did - or in Villa Cleofas (our next destination), you'll be walking for about 10-15 minutes. You can ask around if you're going the right way. The island occupants may appear to be a bit intimated by your presence and all of them will look and/or stare at you, but they are friendly and you have to understand and expect such reaction because it is only know that tourists (like you and i) are starting to flock to their once secret place.

Being the guests, we have to be humble and friendly, and not the loud type that's usually associated with Manila people (which is bad). In other words, once there, we are the ones who will make the adjustment and not the other way around. I should know, as I grow up in the province. :)

But, is the almost five hours of travel by land and sea worth all the trouble?

to be continued...

it's Cagbalete Island!

and it's in Mauban, Quezon.

it has Boracay's sand, the serenity of Anawangin, the food trip of La Luz, and hear this, on a backpacker's budget. san ka pa?

enjoy? ENJOY!!! (details coming up...)

teaser...

where is this place?

no, it's not boracay or palawan, not even cebu or davao. forget about puerto galera and even zambales. pagudpud is quite far.

so where is it? sirit? in my beloved province, Quezon.

believe it.

more later...