Boracay in Dazed

Rah Rah Borahrah!

Last February my Good Friend Lotlot (not her real name hehehe) booked a flight for 5 of us to Boracay. Originally the plan was just to have a good summer outing at Sagada for four days. But since our good friend was able to sniff some info on ticket sales to Caticlan we were able to divert the plan to the beach thus instantly reducing of the number of participant from more than 12 to 5. So off we go planning for our trip. Funny how we rarely contact each other not until March, two days before the said trip lol. March 19-22, 2011

My first time riding a small plane, flying domestic I was anxious at first
and my first time travelling far with my friends. Yes too many FIRST!

First day when we arrive at the island everything seems like I’m in a hurry and strikingly calm (bipolar). I haven’t had a long vacation and my body was really aching for it. I hate the fact that vacations sometimes can put more stress and can totally change the idea of resting with no worries.  I was feeling chill all over, I mean relax and cool about what’s going to happen in next couple of days at the same time stress. Thinking can we all put together all the plans that we have since time is catching so much of our free days.  So we headed on the shore and try to capture our sunset and played with the sand on our feet. Went on happy hour and witness a Chinese man proposing to his girlfriend. And I was oh-what-the-firth-she-is-so-darn-lucky! while I was there at the side cheering and shooting my cam and cursing all the lovely things around! Har! Hahahaha! Kidding!

Now more pictures and stories...

Road Trip Junkie! The Road I have traveled~

I barely have time for play. My work is so demanding and it's taking all of my play time so I have to squeeze in all the extra curricular activity that I may have. Unfortunately, my friends also have their own schedule to deal with, so I have to make a fair comprehensive time for everyone to be happy. We have been planning this road trip and after all of those attempts we finally made it. Sunday it is!

The First Road Trip

This was just part of our random hey ho let’s go!~ After drinking that night Kaye and Kevin have to drive me back at my place at 4am and before getting off we have all decided to go on a road trip that afternoon at 3pm. I was~ ok let’s just see if this will really take place. At 2:30 pm I woke up with a few text and missed call from other people, non of them came from Kaye or Kevin or Jasper. So I though of texting them first and before I knew it they were at my doorstep waiting for me to pack up all of my things inside the car trunk. I have a tendency to bringing too many things (not) needed lols!

with Jasper and Kevin

Moi!

With Kaye

At 3:45 we were heading outside Antipolo, the weather is grouchy with dark overcast clouds. We trek the long highway of Rizal giggly and having fun with some stop over to buy Kababayan (local bread like small muffins), Spanish bread and soda to fill out grumbling stomach. We bump into a few mishaps due to some road construction. We almost run out of gas because Kaye miscalculate the miles that we will be travelling so we end up buying gasoline in coke liter bottles sold by the locals along the highway. We arrived at our destination and I started hitting my cam. After an hour of cam whoring we decided to head down. We got a little lost but still manage to find our way back after 30 mins driving to the wrong direction hehehe lols!

The second Roadtrip

The complete cast!

Kids don't try this at home ^^

With Belen and Kaye

First stop

My Evil Sista!

This was somehow well planned than the previous one. We have decided to bring some food along the way, incase we get hungry we can just set up a picnic mat and eat but we still went to the same bakery and buy the delicious kababayan. This time the entire cast was complete along with our costumes (posers) and themes. Belen wasn't able to join us on our first drive because she was in Davao attending her sister’s wedding, so this trip was planned specially for her. Again we are welcomed by the grouchy weather that somehow helped us in taking good photos, the fog in the mountain made it more dramatic and the weather was cool enough to keep us from getting sweaty and haggard. We had fun and went to Kaye’s house after to have our scrumptious dinner~ Bicol express, Tinapa, Chicken Curry and Fried Itik yum with a few vodka shot.

My Personal Shots!

I’m very familiar with the road since I've been there a couple of times, I can't barely recall the number of times but enough to say that I have brought my favorite people with me to enjoy the scenery. Travelling with different people who needed time to think and contemplate in their life, issues, things that needed a long cautious silent thinking. Friends who wants to unwind or enjoy or some who wants to reassess their life and what not.

I have traveled that road and made some life changing decision while watching the white lines that indicate I’m still in the right path. I have traveled that road and left my worries with those beautiful serene mountains. I have traveled that road and laugh the loudest with the most trusted and fine people who've accompany me during my madness. I have traveled that road with the most important people in my life, some are still with me and some are miles apart from where we have started. Nevertheless, once they have traveled with me. Just now that I realize that everyone who has touched my life has traveled that same road with me, I was able to share them the tranquility that these road was able to give to my soul. I was given the chance to bring them here at my little oasis, my retreat, my haven, a place where I feel safe and calm.

Funny Shots

Only in the Philippines

Nice View

Riders

Some More of the RT!

My Favorite Spot

About to go home

I love my Friends!

Singing in the RAIN! ^^

WE LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL WORLD

Are we ready for the Rainy Daze? Ondoy Experience & Preparation

Are we all ready for the down pour or are we just enjoying it because finally the weather is starting to cool down again?

Personally I really like rainy days although last year’s Ondoy pawned me with fear and panic I’m still glad that everyone in my family and friends are safe. Now are we up for another Ondoy?

Recalling the tragedy~ I was stuck in the office tweeting more than 24 hours with no sleep and rest. I remember commanding everyone not to go home and to stay put until I give them a go signal to go home. No telephone lines in almost all residential, no cell phone signals, no electricity in some part of Manila, Rizal, Quezon City and other neighboring province. I was tired and anxious of what’s going to happen next and praying that the rain would stop.

One of my agents was crying because her daughter was stuck inside their house and climbing the 3^rd floor because the flood water has reached the 2^nd floor ceiling.She's not a catholic but we all prayed the rosary. I guess situation like this breaks the barrier between any religions the important thing is that we all have the same intention.

I was pacing back and forth because I can’t contact anyone in my family, although I know that they'll be safe from flood since our location is situated in a higher ground but then again all the roads that lead to our place was flooded and there’s no way they can get out if they run out of supplies. From time to time I would be able to communicate with my cousin via twitter who was also struggling to get an internet connection. And to my surprise they don’t know the gravity of the situation, maybe because they were all stuck in the house with no electricity and telephone connection.

I was all over the internet the whole 42 hours sleeping for only two hours. I was task to take care of our employee, good thing I have extra cash that day since I have to provide food and supplies for them. I was tired physically, emotionally and spiritually. I was having a hard time digesting all the information I’m getting through internet, people crying for help, dying, drowning, children out in the roof drench and cold, elders who can’t do anything because of their aged strength, government officials saying that they don’t have enough boat to rescue people, people twitting missing family members and friends, and people crying in distress. I was hurt and I was crying in the confinement of my office room.

After 3 days I was glad to be home. I was so tired that I passed out in my bed. I also feel so worn out from internet so I went on hiatus. I left twitter, plurk, facebook, tumblr and blogspot. The exhaustion was something that I haven’t felt in my entire life.

I’m wishing and hoping that our government is doing something in preparation for another Ondoy and I’m praying that it won’t happen again. But we all have to be prepared, now, below are the list of things that you should have in your emergency box/kit in case a storm like Ondoy comes again, make sure it’s handy and easy to carry.

Emergency box/ Storm Kit

• Candles and lighter (Butane)
• 3-5 days’ supply of Can goods, Crackers, noodles or dry food (depending on the size of the family)
• Can opener or Swiss Army Knife
• Drinking water
• Flash lights and batteries
• Transistor radio
• Petroleum Jelly (for blisters and incase a child gets shivery, rub it to their belly, underarm and neck it will make them feel warm)
• First aid kit: bandage, paracetamol, medicine for dehydration, cough and cold, rubbing alcohol, cotton balls and other medicine that may be needed for special cases
• Dry clothes and jackets
• Blankets umbrella and big plastic sheet
• All important document should be wrapped and vacuum in a plastic bag

You may add more depending on your needs but remember that an emergency kit should be easy to carry and not too heavy. It should be situated at the easiest place to find and family members should know where to locate it. Finally find a spot in your house where you feel safe just in case a flood arise, make an escape plan and list all the emergency numbers that you might need.

Oh! Hello JUNE and Hello There RAIN *hugs*

Let’s all be safe!

Laiya, San Juan Batangas

May 3, Sunday 9am my team and I were off to Batangas …

Destination San Juan Laiya.

My contact there was Mang Puroy who had been the contact person of my Family whenever we like to have a quick vacation in Laiya, He got us a house worth 5,500 pesos for an over night stay (hmmm…not that bad for 16 pips). Hired kuya Dindo this time to drive for us, it was 3 hours drive from Makati to Laiya…no traffic! I guess, people are too busy to travel because of the People's Champ fight and so we took advantage (by the way, congrats Manny Pacquao! 2nd rounds huh!).

It was well organized, every one chip in 700 pesos for the trip that includes the transportation, accommodation overflowing food and drinks.

Irene my supervisor and I organized a small award for our agents, and I was tag as the Grand Master of the ceremony and all my agents received some hilarious award.We had some drinks that night and non-stop singing!

The next day we ate our breakfast early and rented a boat to take us snorkeling, some of my agents are afraid to jump in the water so I was the first one to jump off the boat, test the water and move around to survey if the water is safe, after they saw the I was still alive and so far no shark has attack me, they slowly went down the ladder to joined me. It was amazing the water was really clear! I get to feed a school of fish and got a star fish in return awww (by the way I returned the star fish in the water)!…damn I love the water so much…I love the smell of the ocean; the sun touching my skin and the feeling it gives me whenever I see the fishes swimming freely in the water.

It felt really good to be back in Laiya. However I also notice some changes in the place, there were some plastic bag in the water and during one of the conversation I had with the locals they told me that those plastic came from the river that's connected to the sea. They said that the flood gates had to be open that night otherwise the river will over flow. I remember Manong telling me that it will be gone in an hour, he said the waves will carry it at end of the sand stretch. Makes me wonder...how long will Laiya last and what are they doing to protect it?

Oh well, Laiya is a great place if you want a quick deep in the ocean, not too expensive and not too isolated, just enough to satisfy your sea craving.

Here are some of the Pictures taken during the Trip:









My Good Riddance to those who dump their trash in the River are you not aware that it is connected to the ocean? Let me remind you that the Ocean is your bread and butter...If you guys don't act quickly in saving it, it will be gone soon.