Back at Sandari

my Mt. Batulao experience reinforced my obsession to roam and explore. i've gone to a number of places already but most of them were work-related and side-trips (taking advantage of the work-related trip to roam the vicinity). for this year, the forest trekking adventure organized by Sandari Batulao is my second non-work-related and non-side-trip escapade :)

schedules were checked and cousins were rounded up to join so i could share the outdoor experience with them.

and what better way to road test my new kicks! ;P

there were two batches scheduled for the trek and my group was included in the 2nd batch at 1:00pm. we left the house by around 9am to avoid the hassles of being stuck in traffic caused by road widening projects, pipeline repair projects, etc. plus, we planned to have lunch at Picnic Grove as a side-trip.

then again, traffic has now become part of living wherever in the Philippines so we did not escape the inevitable. it also rained a little upon reaching Tagaytay so lunch at Picnic Grove was crossed out. we worried about coming in late.

but the heavens were smiling upon us as we reached our destination a couple of minutes before our schedule. plus, the first batch haven't returned from the forest yet, so we still had time to eat lunch and shoot some pictures :) talk about being lucky :D

pre-trek photo-op at the marketing/sales office of Sandari Batulao

after our hearty lunch, we filled up some forms and after the orientation, two vans transported us to the forest reserve.

never go outdoors without this

some lovely 'shrooms

downhill towards a footbridge

take five with bro on the giant roots of the balete tree

photo op with our official photographer ;)

signed on the big tarp at the end of the trek

the Forest Trek gets our thumbs up!

climbing Mt. Batulao

when i was younger (so much younger than today! hehehe!), i made a mental bucket list--a list of what i wanted to do and/or where i wanted to go. one of them is to climb a mountain. i have always wanted to do that and vowed that i must fulfill it on or before i reach the big 3-0.

21 months after my deadline, just when i thought it will never happen, i finally got the chance.

the climb was organized by Sandari Batulao and was conducted on April 16, 2011.

unfortunately, i wasn't able to reach the summit because my shoes gave up on me halfway through the climb. i had no choice but to stay and wait at peak 8 while my siblings and friends continue to peak 10 (the summit).

nevertheless, the climb was an enriching experience. though my body got tired, my spirit was refreshed. being outdoors, high up the mountain and seeing God's creations felt so great.

thanks to all the people at Sandari Batulao for organizing the climb, thanks to all my fellow climbers, thank God for the good weather. maybe next time, and with sturdier shoes, i will reach your summit, Mt. Batulao. 'til next time :)

Miag-ao Church

40.04 kilometers southwest of Iloilo City is where one of only four churches in the country to make it to the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List. The church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva or better known as Miag-ao church (named after the same town) can be reached by jeepney from the city proper in about 45 minutes. Built over 200 years ago, the church’s fortress-like design suggests its dual purpose as a place of worship and as a fort used in defending the town against moro raiders during those times.

From exploreiloilo.com:

The artistic facade of the Miagao Church is decorated with a relief sculpture of St. Christopher carrying the Christ child amidst coconut, papaya and guava shrubs. Like any other foreign influences, the architecture of many colonial churches has undergone the process of indigenization. This process is carried out by incorporating the prevailing Hispano-American and Medieval Spanish architecture with local as well as Muslim and Chinese touches. Thus, the synthesized topology which is anachronistic with the unmindful sues of decorative elements. It had no distinction in terms of periods or orders. A truly ‘Philippine Church’, it exudes a native touch.

A large stone image of St. Thomas of Villanueva, parish patron saint, dominates the center. Carved life-size statues of the Pope and St. Henry with their coat-of-arms above them flank the main entrance. Supporting the facade are the twin belfries, one towering two-storeys and the other three-storeys high. The church's simple interior is nevertheless highlighted by a striking gold-plated retablo.

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I have been to Iloilo thrice but it was only in January this year (the third time) that i was able to get up close with this magnificent sight. It was a regular day when a friend and i went there to visit. The church was closed but with a bit of luck and my friend, being a local, found a way to sneak us in. Nah, we didn't actually sneak in. It only took a little chat with one of the people there and that's it--instant access inside the very quiet and solemn place.

the massive door

church-fortress

contemplating (?)

Folks say that one should make a wish when you visit a church for the first time.

I miss the place already. I wish i could go back there.

Block off

No work. No classes. No pesky phonecalls. No clients to accommodate. I am on official leave today. Bwahahahaha! After all, i still am entitled for a birthday leave, you know!

Nope, i didn't have a party. I figured it was a nice day to do the laundry. It was a sunny day with some wind. Very good combination!

By afternoon, i was store-hunting in Quiapo with my cousin and we were lucky enough to find what we were looking for. Looked like i hit a goldmine. I was looking for curing salt for my hamonado, but the store also had baking ingredients (choco bars, powdered chocolate, colored sugar, candy sprinkles, etc) and materials for packaging... oh it was wonderful!

I ended up buying not just the curing salt. I also got candy sprinkles and the cellosheet -plastic wrappers- for future use (to wrap my brownies with).

Yeah, talk about being lucky.
;)

Kitties!

aren't they cute? one was camera shy though!
they're the Borlongan family pets ;)
seeing them during my stay at Ted's house made me miss our very own Ebony.
But then, i'm home now!
;)

Home

It was around lunchtime when i got an SMS from Ted's younger brother, checking up how i've been since the last time i was with them in Bulacan.

I had the chance to hang out with Ted and his family during their town fiesta last week and i had a blast. Nothing fancy though. What made it such an enjoyable, albeit short, stay with them was their simplicity and warmth. I was so overwhelmed by their hospitality and their openness in accommodating me. I really felt like a bisita, which i was not accustomed to, and they wouldn't let me help out in the kitchen even if i wanted to.

At some point i even felt a bit awkward because during meals, i was always the one who finishes last. Alvin (Ted's bro) was pretty vocal about his observation, to which i reasoned out that i was taking the time to appreciate the food. Mababaw lang ang kaligayahan ko sa pagkain 'Vin.

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It's always refreshing to hang out with people like Ted and his family. They don't have much, but they have each other. There is that openness among each member of the household and freedom of speech is not suppressed. The even make fun of each other or joke about themselves. Every moment was light, candid, spontaneous.

And yes, i really felt "at home" with them.

+ + +

So when Alvin texted me "next year ulit?"
I didn't hesitate to reply "sure! Oo ba!"

Pagpasensyahan mo na lang ang kabagalan ko sa pagkain ha...

+ + +

Salamat po ulit sa Borlongan Family sa pag-ampon sa akin last June 23&24.
Sa uulitin po!

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Island souvenirs

We came....



We saw....

We had a blast!

I'm still having a "summer hangover." ;p

Camera Tricks!

Grande Island

Grande Island is a tourism island estate located in Subic Bay, Philippines. It houses the Grand Island Resort, a property that is operated by GFTG Property Holdings Corporation.

Grande Island's total land area is 40 hectares, of which 14.2 hectares are being developed as a world-class resort location. The remaining 25.8 hectares are forest areas. The island is accessible by ferry and is approximately 20 to 30 minutes away from the Subic Bay mainland.

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The office people (including me, of course!) went to the island for a Teambuilding activity and for the Bureau's StratPlan. Of course, we squeezed in some fun activities as well! This is what we called "huling hirit sa tag-init."

Group Cheers!

Posing-posing!

see that black bag? Inside it are working documents for upcoming training programs and courses we are going to conduct and/or facilitate. Yup, we brought along work-related stuff. Work+Play=Fun! Hehehe!

Nevertheless, we did have fun and enjoyed the environment--the blues and greens, the beach, the breeze, the sunset, the sunrise. We seized every opportunity to live for the moment and do all the recreational activity that the island has to offer. It's not everyday that one can go to such place.

This memory is priceless
;)

Ready, Set, Action!