El Nido | June 2016

It was supposedly a budget trip/backpacking trip to El Nido with 2 of my WFM friends but turned out otherwise. Surely, it's definitely worth it. :)

Our flight schedule was in the afternoon. We arrived at PPS 5PM. Oh did I mention that we should be a total of 5 friends traveling together? For some reasons, at the last hour of flight, 2 of them didn't make it for personal reasons.

Upon arrival at PPS, we headed to La Terrasse Restaurant. Everything we ordered was superb! It was a bit pricey.

From PPs to El Nido, we had to travel 6 hours via Bus. We arrived 4AM at Novie's Inn. It's along the highway and you can ask the bus driver to drop you off in front of the hotel. We had our day planned. We dropped off our things, changed clothes, and head on to have breakfast at Art Cafe. Art Cafe's price range is not far from other restaurants. Food is pricey in El Nido. Of course, there are options like tapsihan, barbecuehan for budgetarians but we opted to splurge a little on our food.

Our first stop after breakfast is THE Nacpan Beach, hailed as the world's most beautiful beach on some blogsites (lol!). We rented a tricycle going to Nacpan. It costs twelve hundreds for 3 people. You can actually get it at a lower price but please mind that tourism is the livelihood of the locals in El Nido so please be considerate in haggling. The beach was very nice, a chill place. I enjoyed swimming because the beach didn't have a lot of rocks. The fine sand felt so good under my feet and the water was not cold. We're supposed to go to Las Cabanas but we were very satisfied and relaxed at Nacpan Beach that we didn't bother leaving. We stayed there the whole afternoon. We walked and hike a little for us to see the Twin Beach.

We availed of  combined Tour A and B Package on the second day. The popular is Tour A and C but because we wanted the snake island we pushed for Tour B. If you are a first timer in El Nido, Tour A is a must! You'll be going to different lagoons in Tour A. The small lagoon can be crowded at times. You have to be very careful if you'll be swimming instead of renting a kayak because the corals are very sharp. We headed to several islands. Our arrival in 7th Commando Beach was very timely because it was not crowded. It's our first stop. It's just us on the island so we were able to ran a quick photo shoot! Lol

I Loved El Nido. Everything was just chill and relaxing. I will definitely go back!

Notes: Per Pax

Tour Package A and B - Php 1,500

Contact Tour Guide - Ansley - 09209792871

Environmental Fee - Php 200

Novies Inn - Php 1,220 (for 4 days booked via Agoda)

Trike fare to Bus Station - Php 50

Bus to El Nido - Php 500 (Cherry bus Night Trip)

Bus Fare back to PPS - Php 350 (Non-Air-conditioned)

Art Café - Php 250 (rough estimate)

National Election, National Shame!

2016 National Election was probably the most chaotic and most controversial I have participated in. On the bright side, It was satisfying that people were more involved on politics.

The campaign period and the national election brought shame not just to the politicians but to most of the people on social media. "Keyboard Warriors" were formed during the campaign season to create memes and trolls. It is very disappointing that for some people, truth is based on what is mainstream. The lack of effort to research for facts, was very evident.

Post-election, the country remains divided by personal interests caused by each one's bigotry.

BTW, I judge people based on political views and work ethics. SMH.

Baler | February 2016

After a busy season at work, I was able to get a 5-day vacation leave. Yey!

I spent 3 days in Baler, Aurora. This trip to Baler had been long overdue. It was first scheduled last October of 2015 but didn't push through due to work conflict then rescheduled to November of 2015 but still a no go due to a family emergency. I, actually, wanted to just forget about it and think that several cancellations were bad omen. Lol!

I'd been googling and reading about it on blogs and travel groups. Baler is known to be a surfing spot in the Philippines. I'm a fan of beaches but not really surfing since I do not know how to swim. Do not expect a white sandy beach cause Baler is not it. Waves were also strong and high. You can see a lot of "tambay" foreigners. Haha!

You have 2 options going to baler, via land and air travel. I chose the first option cause flights to Baler are a bit expensive. There are the usual air conditioned buses with 8-hour travel time and there are coach buses with approximately 6-hour travel time. Coach buses do not have stop-overs so the travel time is shorter but fare costs more. I rode the 2:30AM coach bus, Joybus, from Cubao to Baler. I also utilized http://iwantseats.com.ph/ for Joybus online reservation. You really don't have to reserve a seat specially if it's not surfing season or there's no surf camp. We were only 10 passengers in the bus! Joybus' published travel time is 6 hours but from my experience it was just around 4 hours. It was a comfortable travel. Blanket and snacks were provided.


There are variety of places to stay in Baler, from fan room to air conditioned, inns to hotels. I stayed in Bayler View Hotel. It's a beachfront hotel. The hotel's room was spacious because the room that I booked was good for 4 pax. Remember that this trip was cancelled for several times? That's the only vacant room last February. :( I already paid the down payment for this hotel back in October and it's not refundable so I decided to just stick with it. My Bayler experience was satisfying. They provided a good customer service. First, they were very responsive to inquiries. I was able to book and rebook the hotel via SMS. They even empathized with me when I rebooked the room last November due to an emergency. Second, we arrived early, 6AM. Check-in was at 2PM but we were allowed for an early check-in at no additional cost. Will I consider this hotel for my next Baler visit? Yes.

My colleague recommended a person to contact for a day tour in Baler. I had a 40-minute trek to Mother Falls. The water is so cold! Brrr! I also visited, Baler Church, Museo de Baler, Dona Aurora's House, Ermita Hill, Millennium Tree, and Islets.

I spent most of my nights at Yellow Fin Bar. They offer grilled foods. I just spent hours having pilsen session in that bar. It's just across my hotel so that's a plus. Cost of beer and food was so-so, okay. You must try Angela's Café. They have a very conservative menu, kinds of pizza and pasta. I ordered pepperoni and cheese pizza, spaghetti, and spicy tuna carbonara. You can taste the herbs in their pasta dishes. Price was okay. 

Joybus - Fare - Php 700 (one way)

Iwantsseats reservation fee - Php 25 (fare + fee was paid through BPI Fund Transfer)

http://iwantseats.com.ph/

Bayler View Hotel - Php 3000 per day for 4 persons  (w/ plated breakfast)

Tour - Php 800 (Tricycle - tour fee can be divided if you have companion)

Pictures at: https://www.facebook.com/paRomazoo/media_set?set=a.10155861238528647.1073741849.619058646&type=3

The so-called Quarter-life Crisis

Questioning myself on a lot of things has never been new to me. Lately, I've been having a spontaneous "quarter-life crisis". I've been thinking if I am in the place where I should be, if I have the job suited for me, if holding off the career I wanted to take is better for everyone else around, a lot of things.

Finally, before the year of 2014 ends, I quit on my job. It was a job of a little over a year.

Several differences have brought me clicking on the apply button on Jobstreet. I took a chance of applying to the company I've been eyeing on. Whoala, I got in (I'm kind of lucky with job applications, I must say). I was overwhelmed. I thought that working for this company and having a new environment will end this existential crisis that I am having. I was focused on what people would say or how I would be looked at which was the main reason of this self-doubting moments. I am, now, trying to look at things on a better perspective and trying to understand.

This 2015, I wanted to have a plan. Because, I usually don't. Currently, I don't have any life changing moments connected to this writing to share. As soon as there is, it will written here. I think this starbucks planner will be used for this year. *wink

Hong Kong | July 2014

Hong Kong, Baby!

It was a long planned trip with a friend and my cousin. It took us almost a year to book everything, from flight, to hotel, to tours. Yet, due to school and some events, they backed out. But, i was saved by my office buddies. Good thing, it was easy booking their flight same as mine.

The flight that we booked was going to Macau (MFM) then we took a ferry going to HK. I was in Hongkong for 4 days. My friends and I stayed in Mongkok, the Divisoria of Hongkong. A lot of people, cheap goods, always busy. Be careful though because some vendors were raising their prices. Try to check different stores first before buying anything.

Hongkong has a very good transport system. Their train station is very clean and accessible. You can get around Hongkong by train. They also have the Double Decker buses. It's not really hard to roam around HK   and if you get lost, there are Filipinos everywhere and you can ask for directions. :)

We went to Avenue of the Stars, took pictures, pictures, and pictures. C'mon, what to do? We're tourists! LOL! Avenue of the stars was a long walk. You won't mind time cause the view is very beautiful. Right after Avenue of the Stars, we headed to Temple Street for the night Market. We ate dinner at Temple Street. You can find a lot of local restaurants and shops.

Went to Ocean park, the day after. I enjoyed this place so muchhh! Not just huge aquariums but there were a lot of attractions and rides. Actually, Ocean Park offers a 2-day Ticket. If you have more time in HK, I suggest to take advantage of that cause one day in Ocean Park won't be enough. We weren't able to squeeze in other tourist spots to go to that day because we're so tired. Dead tired.

We, of course, went to the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. The rides in Disneyland were not as intense as the rides in Ocean Park. Well, maybe because Disneyland is for kids and kids at heart. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it too. I love the fireworks and the parade.

**for editing 

Le Familia went to Bora

We, almost the whole family, went to Boracay last July. We were 18 pax including kids. It was the first time for some family members to ride a plane. Everyone was excited. It was a long planned travel since we needed to arrange work leaves, made sure that we all filed for leave on the same dates. Since we're bringing the grade school fellas with us, some needed to ask permission from the school first. Our flights were in 3 batches. Me and my cousins flew before noon, then the second group flew after lunch time, and the PBB tens (college students) flew around 5PM. We flew from Manila to Kalibo so there was still a Van ride of about 2 hours. We rented 2 family rooms and each accommodated 10 persons.

Boracay is beautiful. The sand felt like polvoron. LOL! Everyone was excited to swim and check out the stretch of the island. When everyone arrived, we had to look for a place to eat that can accommodate our group, our big group. There are a lot of choices when in boracay. You can check out hotel's menu, local restaurants, paluto, fast food chains, and D' Mall. We had dinner at Shakey's. Of course, the love for fried chicken can be brought anywhere in the planet. We chose to seat outside the restaurant, by the shore, so we can feel the breeze and for us to run around. Boracay offers a lot of activities. You will never get bored in the island as long as you have more than enough dough cause honey, I tell you, it's freakin' expensive. We would like to try extreme water activities but since we have "grade schoolers" with us, youngest is 6 yo, we weren't able to do so. We did snorkeling instead. I don't know but there's not much to see while we're snorkeling. Maybe the bangkero didn't bring us in the right spot or something.. I don't know.. We also tried the famous Shake of Jonah's. It was a blast! A very fun-filled weekend. :)

A Battle Well Fought

Early 2014, we lost a family member to cancer. Tutang had been fighting cancer for quite some time. She was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She had several cycles of chemo, radiation, and an operation. Everything seemed okay. She was fine. Yet, 2 years after diagnosis, a nightmare came. The cancer had metastases to the lungs. That time, it was already at stage 4. Later as we knew it, breast cancer cells crawled to her brain. Her eyes started to cross and her body weakened. The doctor said she has a month to live. Our family had been tested through tough times, to the moon and back. We usually do not give up life battles.

Through continuous chemo cycles and radiation therapy, she lasted for almost a year. She was able to spend the last Christmas, New Year, and Birthday with her family. Life is short. Live it. 

PDAF

Bilang isang student leader noong ako ay nasa kolehiyo, namulat ako sa mas makamundong pananaw sa pulitika, paghawak ng pera, pagpapasunod ng mga tao, pagiisip sa ikabubuti ng nakararami, at pakikinig sa nais ipabatid ng kinasasakupan ko. 

Sa aking pananaw, magandang simula ang pag-abolish ng PDAF. Ang pamahalaan ay bubuo ng bagong sistema kung papaano mapapakinabangan ng sambayanan ang pera ng bansa. Gaya ng sabi ni PNOY, mas magiging mahigpit sila sa paglalabas ng pondo at magiging bukas sa taong bayan ang mga paroroonan ng nasabing kaban. Tight and Transparency, ika nga. 

Maraming nagsasabi wala naman daw pinagkaiba ang pag-abolish ng PDAF sa bagong mungkahi ng pangulo paukol sa pera ng bansa. May mga nagmumungkahi na tanggaling na talaga ng pondo ng gobyerno sa pulitiko. Meron namang nagsasabi na ibagsak direkta ang pera sa ospital o sa paaralan.

Pero naisip ko, kung mawawalan ng pondo ang mga pulitiko, paano na ang kanilang proyekto? Marahil, ang hindi nararapat ay ang mga pulitikong ganid. Pero sino ba ang nagluklok sa mga ito? di ba ay tayo ding mga tao? Sino ang mali? 

Huwag nating husgahan ang bawat hakbang para sa kinabukasan. Kung hindi tayo bukas sa pagbabago, walang mangyayari sa kahit anong reklamo. Hindi "overnight" ang pagbabago dahil lahat may proseso. 

.

I wonder if you know that i know.. If this is how you want things done, then let's play a little game.

Philippine Senatorial Elections 2013

Majority of the elected senators came from political families. New faces but names have been in the position for quite some time.

Filipinos invested their votes mostly on young candidates. I think it is fine that we should infuse young minds in politics. I just hope that these new breed of senators would make their own path towards success and keeping in mind that it is the nation that they are serving and not their family.

Not all my senatorial bet got into the magic 12. But still, since the majority has chosen their leaders, I will partly forcely entrust the next years of my life to the hands of these elected people.

To get successful results, everyone must do their share. And it starts in voting. Have you? So, where will we be in a few years or so? You, decide. Do your part.

Bidding goodbye. :)

I'm leaving you. I'm leaving you not because I can't see myself with you anymore but because I got tired of tolerating your things that I know I am not supposed to. I got fed up with all our differences that we weren't able to patch up. I, finally, was able to realize that my happiness isn't you anymore.

Years with you had been a twist of the best and the worst moments in my life. Even if I regret it now, I know nothing will change. I guess everything on earth will have their time wherein they'll reach their saturating point. A point wherein whatever we add to our life, we can't just accept it anymore. We just can't cause we are already saturated.

I would always look back and see you as part of my life. Lessons learned with and from you will not be forgotten. You were part of the foundation that I built in myself.

And yes, there is something else. Something had shown me better things and greater opportunities. I may not be able to compare you to this something new but I am willing to take the risk.

I'm leaving you and I want you to know, it is a hard decision that I made.

Goodbye, work. You had 5 years of my life.