tidbits

i was supposed to work on my talk for the jvp pre-orsem here in davao when i suddenly came across national geographics documentary on samurais. of course, i immediately texted bunny who loves them japanese men. unfortunately, she did not have cable in manila. anyways, it is always fascinating to discover new cultures and different way of lives. i enjoyed it very much and learned a lot. and i'm too lazy to explain what i really mean. if you can catch it watch it.

today is the payday sale in sm davao and all the other malls here. i rushed to the mall because it was the last day of the laking national promo for this book i wanted. but then since it was sale i didn't need the card. i bought isabel allende's city of beasts. i was actually contemplating on whether i should clive barker's abarat instead but then it was more expensive and the office still haven't reimbursed my 4thou nor have deposited my salary. because i bought the book i only have 40 bucks in my atm. but i am fervently hoping it's a worthy buy.

i think i'm getting myself einstein's dreams by alan lightman when i go to manila.

it's fun seeing gay men get ready for a beauty pageant. it happened in mr. dennis, t. they are friends with my mom already.

i'm reading may day eve linked by rowie in her blog. and well... may day eve is about to end in approximately 30 minutes. i have not read nick joaquin. bad me. but it is always sad when a filipino icon passes away.

Second to the right and straight on till morning

Since November I have been waiting for the showing of Peter Pan. When I first saw the trailer, I wanted to do the dance of joy in the middle of the cinema. But then that would have caused such a commotion. So instead I got my phone and texted my friend to share my joy.

You see, I am a Peter Pan fanatic. So I watched it today with much eagerness. When the first frame of the movie appeared I could feel my spine tingling, thrilled energy jumping from one spinal bone to another. ‘All children grow up… except one’. Peter Pan. I couldn’t contain my grin. And as the story unfolded, I would nod of approval every so often.

The director exaggerated the colors of the movie and rightfully so. Didn’t we as children imagined worlds so vivid or so dark? Well, that’s what he did. I particularly liked the literal cotton candy clouds, mainly because I was craving for cotton candy (always do whenever I watch a movie though I rarely indulge).

Wendy is a very beautiful child-lady. She could already break the hearts of many boys with those lips and eyes. And Tinkerbell was the Tinkerbell I imagined from reading the book. Extremely mischievous and naughty. And I love her for being so!

But Peter… Peter was… I don’t know. He made me wish I was twelve again. And if I were twelve, I’d give him a thimble like Wendy did. Hahaha! But enough of my childhood regression. Peter was lovely. Portrayed quite well by that boy. Insecure, cocky and well… childish. I was particularly amazed by the director’s detail with his baby teeth. Peter still had his milk teeth as said in the book. Goody! It remained more or less faithful to JM Barrie’s masterpiece. But of course, revisions were done as quite inevitable when a story is transformed from one genre to another.

The ‘sexual’ tension with Wendy and Peter was also fascinating. At some point I got kinda worried thinking it was a play on Oedipus complex thinking Peter thought Wendy to be his mother until I realized he played pretend-father. There was this one scene where they were dancing in the air then suddenly Wendy destroys the moment by asking Peter about feelings, about love. I was snickering in my seat while everybody else remained silent. I thought to myself, ‘how typical of a girl to ruin a boy’s good time by bringing up love!’ Wendy is learning the ropes to womanhood quite quickly. Hahahaha!

Sigh. Thimbles.

And yes, I do believe in faeries. I never did stop believing.

The movie just made me fall harder for Peter. *sigh* I’d have stay behind Neverland with Peter. Too bad he didn’t ask me.

I didn't wake up depressed. But as the morning progressed I started losing interest for the coming day. I left my phone and realized it after five minutes but decided to just leave it behind. Sheesh. I'm bad. Work could be texting me. Hell... I think I drank too much milk and sweet cereals are disgusting... My tummy is so full from milk, I want to puke. And I want to cry and bawl and watch silly love stories and play games that shoot cows and puke again... have this feeling it's pms.

was able to catch the re-run of the pilot episode of ally mcbeal on RPN (what the hell did i need cable for?). the pathetic loser that she is, i love her. maybe because she captures my own paradox of wimpy bravery facing life. and her last line just said it all:

"The real truth is I probably don’t want to be too happy or content because, then what ? I.. I actually like the quest, the search. That’s the fun. The... the more lost you are, the more you have to look forward to. What do you know ? I’m having a great time, and.. and I don’t even know it."

Hear, hear! To the pathos of our lives, Ally.

My uncle asked me to baby-sit my cousins (13 and 16) while he is in the States. Funny but those kids are bigger than me. Hehehehe! So I will be playing responsible adult for almost two weeks. It was kinda difficult to turn down the vision of cable TV, air-con, PS2, internet access and the use of the car (which unfortunately is wasted on me as I am not able to drive).
*
I love my uncle’s garden. Not because of the plants but because it offers an unobstructed view of the night sky. Unlike in our house, there are too many trees blocking the view (but then it makes our place cooler). I can bask in the glory of the darkness there. Except my cousins may find that a bit strange.
*
I wasn’t able to sleep last night.. I am starting to get the notion that I can’t sleep properly when on my own. Too many thoughts keep running through my mind that it keeps me awake even if I’m asleep. Or then it could also be with the size of the bed. If the bed is too big, I can’t sleep either. I doze off faster in smaller beds. Any ideas why anyone?
*
I was lucid dreaming that everything I was saying or thinking automatically registered on the computer screen which I was trying to stop because well… that would ruin my cyber flirting momentum. Hehehe! But then… it was all happening while I and that guy were in Boracay. And he didn’t seem to mind. Hahaha! Still scary idea… when everything you think off suddenly just pops on the computer screen exposed to the world. Hmmm… that could be the making of an Asimov-esque story.

whaaaaaaa? there's a neverwhere dvd?!!! i waaaaaaaant!!!

shooting cows

after five pm, i start playing cow hunter. the objective of the game is... well, to shoot the cows. there are three different games you can choose to play. one is the typical arcade shooting game where they hide behind crates and stuff, then you try to get them. the other one, the suddenly jump out of nowhere then you try to shoot them. the third is a bit of ny favorite. you try to tip over the sleeping cows. but those who are awake, they crap at you. literally. and you use your hands to ward them off. euw. and you could really see the shit coming at you.

yuck, no? but its fun when you want something brainless and dump to while away your time.

Space issues

I just realized I hate being touched accidentally or not by strangers. Like when their skin rubs against yours on a van because the seating arrangement is just too tight. Or when a person is riding a jeep accidentally lands her hands on your lap. I hate it. Personal space, please.

my fictional heroes

jo march of little women by louisa may alcott - i think i unintentially patterned myself after her. she is the tomboy, the dreamer, the adventurer, the independent one among the brood of four. i just adored jo. i wanted her name. i wanted to be her. except i wanted to bop her in the head for turning laurie down.

scarlett o' hara of gone with the wind by margaret mitchell - she was the devious flirt that tried to get what she wanted through her looks. she was also ahead of her time... the rebel of society. when women weren't allowed to run a business, she did because she would go hungry if she doesn't. she went out pregnant while driving a carriage, both no-nos for women in her time. her flaw... her imagined love of ashley wilkes.

danielle moonstar of new mutants - a cheyenne indian, a valkyrie, a mutant with the powers to make your greatest fear or your greatest desire come true. but mostly i think it was the feathers in her braided hair that got me.

death of the endless by neil gaiman - because she loved life even if she was tasked to take it away.

peter pan of peter pan by jm barrie - after re-reading the book, i realized i was more fascinated by the idea of remaining a child forever. the peter pan of the book is an insecure child kasi... so maybe it's really the disney peter pan that i like and the up coming movie...

Friend-crushes. Haven't we all become victims?

where to next?

i have half-fulfilled my dumaguete-siquijor dreams (still have to go back for dolphin-watching and more spelunking though).

now what place should i fancy next?

choices for now:

siargao and or dinagat island (nearer to davao)... hindi lang siya surfing pala.
sta. cruz island in zamboanga and the city itself for barter
boracay (january if ever... row and mike tell me when the funboard will be... maybe i can crash your party)
... these places require less planning and cash than palawan and batanes which remain my top top top destination...

it seems i may have lost hope for that korea trip which would then allow me a fighting chance to enjoy fete de la musique again!

blabber... blabber... blabbber...

i want digicam!

i was assigned the daunting task of traveling 6 hours to cagayan (and 6 hours back to davao) to take photos of the training venue for our teacher's this may. a job that took me less than an hour to do.

my feet can hardly breathe being embraced way too lovingly by my red chuck taylors. my joints creak from six hours of almost inactivity.

anyway... because of this assignment i am able to use the office digicam. which made me realize how trigger-happy i am. taking pictures of everything that fancies me. no film wasted... just a few bits of memory...

so my manual-digicam debate ends here. knowing the person i am with pictures, digicam is it. now if only i can amass sufficient funds.

From the March 12 friday five

1. What was the last song you heard?
Since my Windows MP3 player is on right now, it's playing 'Sugatang Langit' by Joey Ayala from his Lupa't Langit album.

2. What were the last two movies you saw?
Last Wednesday (kasi change cinema), I saw 'Taking Lives' with Angelina Jolie. The movie wasn't spectacular but I couldn't help getting mesmerized by her neck and lips. If I were gay, I'd kiss her. Ethan Hawke didn't look all that bad either.

Yesterday I watched 'Butterfly Effect" with Ashton. The film started out quite disturbing. It felt like five hours in the movie or something. Sakit sa ulo, but very interesting though concept not entirely new. Magaling iyong editing though.

3. What were the last three things you purchased?
Other than food, medicines for my mom, movie tickets and lip balm.

4. What four things do you need to do this weekend?
Welcome the fresh volunteers tonight.
Go to Cagayan de Oro for an ocular of our training venue.
Go to Mass on Sunday.
Review the training proposal.

5. Who are the last five people you talked to?
Jerry
Meh-Anne
Mom
Ping
Ate Lanie

It has been an awfully dreary week. Hopefully, things speed up soon. Argh. Ewan. Ewan. Ewan.

Messy. My thoughts are messy. It needs to be arranged and re-arranged. It's like riding the inner tube again, where I'm just cruisin' the river. It started out all fine and exciting, then suddenly... bam! it's the same kind of exciting it's boring already.

Hell... I do not even know what I'm talking about. Har.

survey ng mga binabasa, pinapakinggan at pinapanuod

YOU CAN MOST RELATE TO

Book: Veronika Decides to Die by Paolo Coelho
Song: “Seven Years” by Norah Jones
Movie: Amelie and Mona Lisa Smile (I will always have the heart of a teacher)

CHILDHOOD FAVORITES

Book: ‘Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself’ by Judy Blume and ‘Mr. Pink-Whistle’ by Enid Blyton
Song: ABC Song (a you’re adorable, b you’re so beautiful…)
Movie: Sound of Music, Annie, The Sandlot, Labrynth, Goonies, Gremlins and Bagets!!!

ADOLESCENT FAVORITES

Book: Pyromancer (forgot the author but it’s about wizards and dragons) and the Xanth series by Piers Anthony, Cheaper by the Dozen, Gone with the Wind
Song: ‘Hotstepper,’ ‘How Gee’ and ‘Ragamaffin Girl’ and the Scholastican version of ‘Our Father’
Movie: Stand by Me, Pare Ko, With Honors, (syet! Di ko pa rin napapanuod ang Reality Bites, syet!), The Cure, Beauty and the Beast

CURRENT TOP 3 (devoured and enjoyed for the last four weeks)

Book:
Morgenstern’s Princess Bride abridged by WilliamGoldman (bagamat hindi ko pa tapos),
Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (kasi katatapos ko lang),
Peter Pan by JM Barrie (re-read)

Song: ‘Waiting in Vain,’ Lennox and Marley versions,
‘Come Away with Me’ by Norah Jones,
‘Stuck in a Moment’ by U2.

Movie: 50 First Dates with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore,
Love Actually with Hugh Grant,
The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson
and special mention to ‘Masikip sa Dibdib’ with Rufa Mae Quinto and John Lapus for just making my belly hurt from laughing so hard for being so deliciously ridiculous

CAN BE ENJOYED OVER AND OVER

Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, the HP series by JK Rowling and The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

Song: Hands to Heaven by Breathe (tama ba?), Baby I love your way by Big Mountain, Beauty and Madness of Fra Lippo Lippi

Movie: Amelie, 10 Things I Hate About You, Love Actually, 50 First Dates

BEST ENJOYED WITH COMPANY

Book: Twenty Love Poems and A Song of Despair by Pablo Neruda. May salamangka ang mga salita ni Neruda kapag binabasa sa ilalim ng kumot ng mga tala kasama ang kapwa mangangarap.

Song: “Baby I Love Your Way” para sabay-sabay kayong kakanta ng “ladeedah…” (favorite line ko!) or most any reggae song

Movie: The Ring Trilogy o kaya kahit anong horror! Para masayang magsigawan tapos kantiyawan pagkatapos. Pero di kasi ako sumisigaw sa sinehan, humahawak lang ng mahigpit sa braso ng katabi ko kung kilala ko siya.

MADE YOU THINK AND PONDER AFTER

Book: The Prophet. Either I nodded in agreement or kept quiet to ponder on Gibran’s points
Or Da Vinci Code, trying to figure out what the answer to the puzzle is (proud to say I was able to give a lucky guess to the second cryptex… lwoo-hoo!)

Song: ‘I’ll Be’ by Edward McCain. It’s not a philosophical song I know, but I am still grappling with the lines ‘I’ll be love’s suicide.’ What is he trying to say ba talaga? I’ve come up with various rationalizations but none of them satisfies me to stop pondering on this. Hmph.

Movie: The Passion of the Christ. It has the power to affect people whether they see Christ as divine or human. And Malena starring Monica Belluci. I felt the young boy infatuated with Malena was able to depict true love the most.

MADE YOU FEEL GOOD AFTER

Book: ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’ by Roald Dahl and ‘The Secret Garden’ by Frances Burnett

Song: ‘I Seek you for I thirst’ by Bukas Palad

Movie: Love Actually, 50 First Dates, Finding Nemo

MADE YOU SAD AFTER

Book: ‘Gone with the Wind’ by Margaret Mitchell at yung story ni Oscar Wilde on why the rose is red… ano ang title nun?
Song: Secret Garden by Bruce Sprinsteen (di ko alam ang lyrics pero nasa-sad lang ako) at Nightswimming ng REM
Movie: Amistad, Dancer in the Dark (magaling talaga si Bjork dun!)

YOU WANT OTHERS TO ENJOY

Book: The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread by Pat Robertson, the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer, Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman
Song: Joey Ayala, Gary Granada, Noel Cabanong songs.
Movie: ‘The Sky of Love’ a Chinese movie starring Ken Zhu of F4. It’s a pretty interesting discourse on love. Dancer in the Dark. Jologs at Kung Ako na lang Sana.

HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT BUT NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO ENJOY

Book: The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov, Catch-22 (andun sa bookshelf ko na! kailangan ko lang simulan!), The Old Man and the Sea ni Ernest Hemingway
Song: Ripping Yarns album by Cynthia Alexander
Movie: Reality Bites and Before Sunrise (may dvd kayo?!), Casablanca, An Affair to Remember, Apocalypse Now

happy earth day

apo island and forest camp pix.
click niyo na lang iyong folders. kakatamad na eh.

siquijor pix
sunod ang apo island and forest camp soon.


*****
dahil tumawag si rowie kagabi, i came across this.

i miss the days when i was in theater. a raw performer. and still am. but i love the stage. puwede kang magpanggap kasi kailangan mo. sigh.

LOVE LETTERS

While giving moral support to T’s punishing task of having to watch eagle footages, I amused myself with old pictures of my mom and dad. The albums have been there for quite a while but I never got the right mood to scan through them. That night arrived last Sunday.

And so with Je, we flipped through pages of my mom’s evolving hairstyles and skirt lengths and my dad’s morphing potbelly. There was something biting, albeit a love bite, of seeing your parent’s your age.

The best booty of the night was coming across my dad and mom’s letters to each other, but most of them were from my dad. Dad has always had a flair with words, getting the writing bug from my grandfather.

There were many interesting discoveries about their love story (which I shall not divulge for it is their ‘secret’). Let it just be said that my dad was persistent. And if anybody wrote me those letters, I’d go jumping up and down with ‘kilig’ (which I was actually doing while I was reading, though it was more bobbing up and down as I was seated that moment). There was even a letter of introduction to my maternal grandparents to show my father’s good intentions towards my mother.

What was more interesting was my father wrote my mother beforehand, asking permission if they could go out for dinner and a movie. They were already a couple at that time!

The letter album also contained a letter my grandfather wrote to his father telling about my father’s birth (dated September 9, 1940!) with very painstakingly-written hand strokes and in rhythmic makatang Tagalog..

I was most amused by a discovery of a mother’s day letter I wrote to my mother when I was nine years old. After greeting my mother a Happy Mother’s Day and saying ‘I Love You,’ I asked her for money to buy my dad a gift for Father’s Day so as not to make him jealous (I have a funny feeling that letter could have been coached by my father). Then the next paragraph contained that next time I will work had for the gifts I will give them for the ‘seasons’ by doing household chores. With the last sentence to that paragraph being, ‘one peso a day.’ Talk about extortion. Hahaha!

That trip down memory lane was a welcome respite. To what I do not know. It’s a bit sad that most romantic encounters these days are stored in a phone, corrupted by lost vowels and abbreviated thoughts.

*****

hinabi ko ang liwanag
mula sa sinag ng buwan
na walang malay sa taglay niyang ganda.

nirurok ko ang kalangitan
para pitasin ang mga tala
na tagapagbantay ng mga mangingibig.

nililok ko ang makapal na dilim
na bumabalot sa kalawakan
na walang hanggan.

para ialay sa iyong paanan.
buong akala’y sapat na ito
para tumbasan ang tayog ng iyong pangarap.

hindi pala.
napunit ang buwan.
nabulok ang tala.
nabiyak ang kalawakan.

natira lamang ang isang kopitang mainit na luha.

para kay d, patawad kung nasaktan kita

04192004
845pm

Gack! Music! I love it but it doesn’t love me back. But here is a try. {Hey, rush hour... sagutin mo. I'd like to see your answers. :) }
****
1. Your favorite song with the name of a city in the title or text.
“Englishman in New York” by Sting.

2. A song you've listened to repeatedly when you were depressed at some point in your life.
“With a Smile” by Eraserheads (pero it somehow makes me all the more sad… strange), “Healing” by Color it Red, “Hands to Heaven” and “Tuloy Pa Rin” of Neocolors.

3. Ever bought an entire album just for one song and winded up disliking everything but that song? Gimme that song.
“Harana” in the Tony Lambino album. Because I was a fan of Smokey Mountain and because I loved the song when I first heard it on Ryan, Ryan Musikahan when I was in third year high school. But I know, I know… yuck.

4. A song whose lyrics you thought you knew in the past, but about which you later learned you were incorrect.
Gah. Bobo ako sa lyrics, period. I probably have all my song lyrics all mixed up.

5. Your least favorite song on one of your favorite albums of all time.
“Superproxy” of Cutterpillow (3rd album ng Eraserheads)

6. A song you like by someone you find physically unattractive or otherwise repellent.
“Manila Girl” ng Put3ska. I am just always amazed by whazisname’s face (the keyboardist) when I see it. And “Ang Himig Natin” by Juan dela Cruz band. Jose Pepe Smith is one of the Gods of Pinoy Rock and Roll but he just got to eaten up by drugs. But I would still bow in reverence anyways.

7. Your favorite song that has expletives in it that's not by Liz Phair.
“You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morisette

8. A song that sounds as if it's by someone British but isn't.
Sorry… di ko alam what Brit music is supposed to sound like.

9. A song you like (possibly from your past) that took you forever to finally locate a copy of.
“Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling ka” Basil Valdez version tapos until now, I can’t find “Hands to Heaven” and “Crazy Love.”

10. A song that reminds you of spring but doesn't mention spring at all.
Hmm… tough one. Can’t think of anything at the moment.

11. A song that sounds to you like what being happy feels.
“As I lay me Down” by Sophie B. Hawkins. Happily in love. Though it’s my song for God.

12. Your favorite song from a non-soundtrack compilation album.
“Nightswimming” by REM sa Alternative Love Songs album

13. A song from your past that would be considered politically incorrect now (and possibly was then).
“Humanap ka ng panget” by Andrew E. I didn’t really like it or anything but it was just way too catchy for me not to know the song. Anyways any Andrew E song is politically incorrect

14. A song sung by an overweight person.
“All Behind us now” by Patti Austin (tama ba? Did she sing this? Or is it Angela Boffil? They both gained a lot of weight anyway)

15. A song you actually like by an artist you otherwise hate.
“Dadalhin” and “Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling ka” by Regine Velasquez. “Dirrty” by Christina Aguilera (pero in fairness, magaling talaga siya.)

16. A song by a band that features three or more female members.
“Waterfalls” and “No Scrubs” by TLC. What’s the title of that song of En Vogue used in the soundtrack “Set it Off.” (Ack! Trying to remember the lyrics but true to my nature, I am getting it all mixed up again.”

17. One of the earliest songs that you can remember listening to.
Those nursery rhyme tapes with “Ring-a-ring a roses” but if it’s real, real songs then… uh… that Joni, Joni, Please don’t cry song. My mom used to listen to Paeng Yabut when we were living in Angeles City. By 5 AM, he’d be playing old songs.

18. A song you've been mocked by friends for liking.
Should be “Bakit pa” by Jessa Zaragosa. Not that I like it, like it, but I am amused by it. Especially since it brings me back memories of Calapan (area song… forced to slow dance to it when asked by one of the guests in a debut we went to. I was more disgruntled the fact that I had to slow dance with a drunk stranger than dancing to the song.)

19. A really good cover version you think no one else has heard.
Uh… Erik Erasmus’ version of “Lately” and “Wildflower.” And Homer Simpson’s version of “A Wink and A smile” and Lissa Simpson’s version of “God Bless the Child.”

20. A song that has helped cheer you up (or empowered you somehow) after a breakup or otherwise difficult situation.
More Jesuit songs from “The Best of Bukas Palad” and “Hangad” albums, “Springfield Soul Stew” by the Simpsons.

Extra tracks, if you have more room:

21. A song you've listened to while fucking/masturbating.
Can you actually pay attention to the song if you are doing either?

22. A song not in English—preferably a foreign-language version of an English-language hit.
I like the Spanish version of “Baby I Love Your Way” of Big Mountain but I’m not sure which came first. “Lea” by Noel Cabangon and “Saranggola sa Ulan” of Gary Granada and “Habang Natutulog” by Joey Ayala.

I also like listening to “La Vie En Rose” which has been used over and over in love stories but still has the same desired effect.

Tatit’s adlib:
23. Sexiest song line
“Your Body is a wonderland” would have full of this but hehehe! I do not know the lyrics. And I am reminded of childhood whenever he sings the part of “bubble-gum tongue” so I will just stick to Eraserheads, “dumudulas ang kamay ko sa mainit mong braso…” in Huling El Bimbo. Oh, and lyrics of “Handpainted Sky” of Color it Red. The whole song is sexy!

24. A song you like waking up to
“Breakfast” theme because that means I don’t have to watch Magandang Umaga Bayan. Hehehe! But it would be interesting hearing “Imbecillesque” of Rivermaya’s “Free” album in the morning. Hehehe!

25. Favorite instrumental song
“The Flight of the Bumblebee” version of Maksim. And “Ganjazz” by Eraserheads (obvious na ba na fan ako?) and “Death March” sa Star Wars and the one they used for “LOTR”

26. If you were Jessica Rodriguez, what song would you sing to David Bunevacz while walking down the aisle?
Who wants to marry David Buenavacz?

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, after viewing

“How much do you love me?” a person asked Christ.
“This much.” And Jesus stretched his arms wide.

I wrote an entry during the opening of the Passion of the Christ in Manila. It was only two weeks after that it was shown here in Davao. A week after Holy Week.

On the big screen, I could see a man who was the picture inside my wallet looking heavenward with a smile. But there was no smile on the man on the screen. Instead the first image I saw was a man afraid.

Afraid. My Jesus was afraid. My Jesus was human.

My personal faith had always found comfort in the humanity of Christ. His Divinity remains a mystery to me, something I know my too frail a mind can never fully comprehend. Christ’s humanity has allowed me to go through my own suffering and pain. I know that once upon a time a man took whips and lashes for His love of a people. I take mine for mine own.

But seeing Jesus fearful made him all the more human.

Imagine Him knowing His destiny of facing persecution and ridicule apart from being reduced to a bloodied animal from inhuman lashings and beatings. Indeed part of His destiny is the Resurrection, but like us who have gone through our own passion and deaths… the pain and suffering is real. Before our little resurrection, we only feel our dying. The human Jesus felt no differently.

How can you not be grateful and thankful to a man who could have run away, who could have chosen to save himself?

But then during the movie, I kept asking myself, would I have felt the same for that man on the screen if I knew he were not Jesus? And I kept asking, how can the centurions bear to flog anyone with such brutality, innocent or not? How can the people cry for death for a man they do not know, who have done them no harm? What made them do that? Why did they fear Jesus, what threat did he pose to them? They could have dismissed him as crazy as Herod did. Why did they want His blood? Many of those questions I had no answer to.

The Passion is also not just about fleshing out Christ to the audience. It was able to make other characters real as well.

I was particularly affected by Judas. He has long been portrayed as one so evil and yet I saw him as one so lost, one who succumbed to temptation and suffered the consequences. And I felt pity for him to have played such a role in the life of Christ. To be forever condemned by generations to come. For thirty pieces of silver. Would Christ’s destiny be fulfilled without the part of Judas? I do not know.

Judas paid dearly. And he has affirmed my own view of purgatory and hell. Purgatory and hell are not places of fire and absence of God. Purgatory/hell is being wracked with guilt for sins committed against God and yet God still grants you his eternal love. The guilt keeps one from accepting God’s love, thus letting one’s self suffer until we learn to forgive the self and accept love freely and unconditionally given.

Seeing Mary suffer the pain of a mother also made me respect her more. There were no scandalous shouting or yelling, not even loud sobbing. Just silent tears that spoke more of what she was feeling.

Three images hit me.

The linked hands of Simon and Jesus while carrying the cross.
I pray that I too can be like Simon who had the courage and the strength to bear the yoke of the cross with Christ.

The Mary holding the dead, bloodied body of Jesus with Magdalene and Joseph looking, the Roman centurions unmoving.
I still don’t know what it means to me. But it was a very powerful image.

The last scene. Light slowly dissipating the darkness ending with the face of Christ who stands up and walks revealing hands with a hole bored by the nail.
It was ever so brief. But it was long enough to give me hope. And it made me realize once more that the Resurrection does not erase everything that Christ went through from his birth, his passion and his death.

I am out of breath.

One thing though. I am a bit sad because I did not come out of the cinema with a feeling my life has changed. Did the movie waste itself on me? I hope not. I do pray for better understanding of what I am meant to see soon.

50 FIRST DATES

The soundtrack was fun! The scoring of mostly reggae music was a perfect complement to the jaw-dropping backdrop of the Hawaiian islands. I found myself unconsciously moving to the beat as Henry (Adam Sandler) attempted to make Lucy fall in-love with him everyday.

Lucy (Drew) has STML (short-term memory loss), the condition that made Dory of Finding Nemo well-loved. She forgets everything that happens to her the next day. Thus the grueling task of Henry to make her remember everyday that she loves him.

At first, I thought it would just have been another Adam Sandler movie. Funny, interesting and easily forgotten (by me anyways, because I’m not much into slapstick and toilet humor.). With the presence of Rob Schneider, I thought there were a lot of gross-out jokes. And there were. Gross, disgusting and yucky.

But the love story between Lucy and Henry by far overshadowed any scene-stealing attempt by Ula (Rob). The STML was never cured, and Henry had to remind her everyday of her life they were in-love. And that was what made the movie great. Henry never got tired of making her fall in-love. He never got tired of hearing, “there is nothing like the first kiss” (but hey, who wouldn’t want a first kiss over and over!) or “I wish I met you a day before the accident.”

Thus everyday was magic for Lucy, and even Henry.

Henry could have left, and she would have never known. The hurt she would feel today would be gone tomorrow. But he stayed and made everyday a challenge of winning her over.

This movie, I would have to say, is really about love. It makes the viewers realize that love may hit you like a lightning upon first sighting (yeah right), but anything after that needs work. That love needs constant effort to be stay aflame.

It’s not mushy. It’s fun. And it has it’s truths.

LEONARDO

Intrigued by the revelations of Dan Brown on Leonardo, I started reading on his life. We have a copy of “the World of Leonardo” at home together with “the World of Michealangelo, Rapahel (sayang walang Donatello para kumpleto na ang Ninja Turtles), Van Gogh and Rembrant.”

Just finished with one short chapter. Apparently nothing much is known with Leonardo’s childhood and his mother. He has a detached feeling with his father and maintained a professional relationship with his master (forgot his name!) when he was still an apprentice.
I wonder if the book will ever make mention of the Priory of Sion.

it's raining real hard. how do i get to my movie? *pout*

CHASING THE SUNSET, SIQUIJOR II

Staying in Salangdoong Beach could already have been a magnificent way to end an already spectacular day. But I wanted to see as much of Siquijor as I can and at the same time maximize the fee that we paid for hiring the jeep.

With just a few minutes before sunset, we left Salangdoong to go to Sandugan Beach. Several Sandugan resorts were our first choice for a temporary home but unfortunately all three places I called were fully booked.

While we were on the multi-cab, it felt like chasing the sunset. The sun was already setting the sky aflame with a subtle shade of red-orange. Rice paddies and silent beach waters that we passed through were blushing as we admired its beauty. As the multicab raced its way to Sandugan, the sky was becoming a hazy purplish blue.

Many of us were silent, staring out into the open, admiring the wonderful artistry of God in Siquijor.

Finally, we approach Sandugan.

Unlike the swimming appeal of Salangdoong, Sandugan was the strolling-wading-thinking beach. With the tide at it’s lowest, you could walk several meters with just your toes wet.

The light was already low. The world was serene, hushed and tranquil. We walked the shore which was a meadow of sea grass. Different creatures ruled this beach. Hermit crabs and soft-shelled crabs scuttled and burrowed hurriedly as they heard our sandals squish against the wet sand. Sea snails crawled lazily by.

I gave a gasp of surprise and delight with what I saw next. Starfish mating! Scanning the area some more, the shore was littered of copulating couples. We arrived in the middle of mating season! Nature doing her handiwork live. Not on Discovery, not on National Geography but right in front of our noises in mystical Siquijor.

Initially I observed the ones on top were smaller. So I made a conclusion that male starfish were smaller (which would not be surprising since many male animals are generally smaller than the female). Only to be debunked by a scene I chanced upon. A starfish orgy! Three starfishes together, one on top of the other on top of the other. A new thing I learned that day, starfishes are hermaphrodites.

I was hoping old Heros would show-off by ending the day with a wonderful display of colors, a vermillion sky tinged with purple and orange cotton clouds. Instead he ended the day fittingly with a moment of tranquility… as if remembering that it was Holy Thursday and sometime ago a Man embraced His destiny of suffering and death to let the world know what True Love can do.

In the silence of my heart, I said a silent congratulations for a job well-done and a prayer of gratitude for a day of camaraderie and adventure.

SA WAKAS TAPOS NA

Finally the Muslim child that we are helping is to be discharged today. Thank God! It was tiring for both the family and me, this ordeal with the hospital. Now its over.

Arip has hydrocephalus and congenital hernia. It ended up that they could only operate on the hernia because operating on his head will make matters worse.

One month, two weeks. Started out as a headache ended with a sigh of relief.

I sincerely hope we helped the child a bit even if it is just his hernia that was operated on. And at least the family was quite grateful with the little help that we were able to give. If you remember previous posts I was ranting for at least some appreciation, or the courtesy not to order me around. Though a big part of me knew that it wasn't right to ask for anything in return. Giving is giving and helping is helping. Rewards should not be sought. But yes, the gratitude was there. Maybe we were all just stressed out at the beginning. Especially me. I hate being inside hospitals.

And thank you also to Davao Medical Center. When I looked at the bill, the total was 17,800 pesos but they only charged 1,020. Whew! The government is still doing something good after all.

Points on the Da Vinci Code by Margaret Mitchell.

I agree that the book must be read and enjoyed as fiction. But like any book it would be interesting to ponder on many points.

DA VINCI CODE

Just finished reading it on my way to Tagum this morning. I enjoyed it a lot. Maybe because the only thing I know about the Holy Grail I got from watching Indiana Jones. Dan Brown's research seemed to be thorough. It wasn't the suspense that really got me but all the symbols and anagrams and crypts and stuff. And the mystery of the Sangreal itself. It was all new to me so I was quite awed. More awed by the fact that it all seems so logical. At one point I got our "The World of Leonardo" book and looked at the Last Supper, the Madonna on the Rocks and the Mona Lisa. Amazing!

Though what Teabing reveals about the Last Supper does not really prove anything but could just be Da Vinci's own perception of Christ and Magdalene. But then who knows? The "rumors" have been going around for eternity.

Still their points as I said are pretty logical. Same as Chris Rock's character in Dogma had a point in saying Jesus Christ could have had a brother or a sister. He goes something like, There were 18 years of Christ's life missing. Do you think Joseph and Mary just stared at each other the whole time. They were married, they love each other. Jesus had brothers and sisters."

Another fine point in Dogma was when he said something like, "Jesus was a 12 year old boy when he 'found out' he was the Son of God. Imagine how much weight that was for a 12 year old." Oo nga naman.

Proud to say that I guessed correctly the combination for the second cryptex. But not because of the Newton clue but because somewhere there he mentioned Eve. Lucky guess though.

POTPOURRI ENTRIES

WORK
Happy 6th monthsary to me! It is my sixth month working for Assisi and my sixth month as a Davao resident.

HAIR
I forgot to say that I had my hair done in corn rows. Kept it for five days even if on the third day the hair was trying to escape already. But at least I have one less on my to-do list.

I’m thinking if I should cut my hair tomorrow just to commemorate the sixth monthsary of my last haircut (a day after arriving here in Davao). But I like my hair now. Hmm… ponder… ponder…

TRAVEL
Tops on my to-go list is Palawan, Batanes and Siquijor. Finally, I am able to scratch one off. Yipee!

Here is a rundown of places we went to in Dumaguete-Siquijor.

DUMAGUETE/NEGROS ORIENTAL
(The great places aren’t really in Dumaguete but the place is usually the take-off place)
The Boulevard: It is somewhat reminiscent of the re-done Roxas Boulevard but with cleaner water and a more friendly atmosphere. It’s great walking the length of it without having to fear much for your pocket or bag. And since the place is near Silliman University, there are a lot of students walking here and there. The rays of the waning “full moon” did a nice jig on the ocean.

Sans Rival: Never ever leave Dumaguete without trying their famous Sans Rival. For 14 bucks, you get a taste of heaven. The cake just oozes with butter flavor. I keep going “yuummmm!” and “saraaaap!” with every bite. Fourteen pesos, man! Way mucho delicioso! The cookie monster cake isn’t that bad either. But butter over chocolate anytime.

The store across Sans Rival: Artsy-fartsy stuff which of course attracted me to their doors, leaving 560 bucks poorer for a red-bag handpainted with a gecko in yin-yang fashion. Great hand-painted shirts, bags and silver and pewter designs.

Forest Camp: Nothing very spectacular here but I did fall in love with their bamboo cottage. The cottage had a very ingenious and creative architecture fusing stonework and bamboo work so well. Galing-galing!

Apo Island: Clearly the best place we went to in Negros (because we were not able to go to Bais City). Minus the red tape, the Island itself is a wonder to behold. The other side of the island is the Silliman Marine Sanctuary. For a fee, you could snorkel as long as you want.

The current on that side were pretty strong though there weren’t much waves. Good thing our good boat Edbert had life vests they lent to us. Since I did not know how to swim, it definitely helped me enjoy. I was also lucky to have gotten the nice snorkel which fit snugly, which did not let any water in my goggles.
Corals and fishes of all sorts as far as you can swim. I was already out quite a distance from the shore and there were still corals. Some of the corals there I have not seen before. There were a lot of Nemo (clown fishes) in the place, living in their sea anemone abodes.

It was only on the boat ride back to CDO that I realized how God was so good as to keep my vest in tact the whole time because if it slipped, I would have been fish food. Sobra akong kinabahan when I realized that! Therefore, I plan to invest on a sturdy vest for future snorkeling adventures. Dying by drowning would be ugly and embrassing! Hahaha!

SIQUIJOR
The Mystic Island can be toured in a whole day, even less because we had plenty of stop overs while we were going around it. Good thing we didn’t buy the idea of biking it. People from Dumaguete kept telling us that we can bike the place in less than a day.

After riding our hired multi-cab around Siquijor, I can tell you, definitely not! And we had a biker with us to attest that we will all die from exhaustion if we even tried. The misconception can either be two things, a) they think we are planning to tour Siquijor City and not the province. Yes, that can be done. Or B) They think we are riding motorbikes Again, yes that can be done. But none of us knows how to drive one.

OLD CHURCHES: We went to famous ones. The Lazi Church and Convent, The Larena Bell Tower, The St. Francis of Assisi Church and the St. Vincent Ferrer Bell Tower. The outside was like being back in the Spanish Era but the inside has been modernized already. Unlike those in Iloilo where the churches, inside and out are relatively well-preserved. Relatively.

CANTABON CAVE: I was bent on spelunking. I really had no idea how the others felt about it, except for Sherwin who was not so hot about it. According to Jerry, the cave was not as old as Sumaging Cave in Sagada because some of the stalagmites and stalactites were still clear. Most of the rock formations were still rough. Locals also said it was just discovered early 90’s. Pretty young cave to be sure. Again unlike Sumaging, it wasn’t that super spectacular, but it was an experience especially for those who were first timers. Sherwin lost his fear and even tried to go ahead without a light. Unfortunately because the cheapskates that we were, we only were able to travel to the middle because our gas ran out. I have a feeling they might have purposely not refilled the petromax (or I may just be sour-graping). We had to made do with spelunking in the candlelight and with minimal help from my flashlight.

CAMBUGAHAY FALLS: It looked great in the pictures. It looked great the first time. But there was just too many people. And the water was not that cool. But it was nice going there still. There was this plank where you can jump from. Again being the fool that I was, I went up and tried to jump. It took quite some time before I gathered the courage to do so. But I did jump twice. Scary! Jerry had to stay near me all the time. Matapang lang naman ako kung may sasalo, eh. Hehehe! After a while, I chose to rock climb the falls instead. At least this one was not as hard as that of Darong here in the outskirts of Davao.

SALANGDOONG BEACH: Ang gandaaaa! There THE ROCK just like that in Apo. But this one was more spiny. Trees and benches were all over the place. Also the road leading to Salangdoong was lined with nice arching trees (dunno the kind). While driving, you can see the road snaking it’s way into your sight. Anyway, the beach was great. Not the kind with fine sands but mostly broken corals bleached by the sun and time. It reminds me of the man-made beach in Mactan Shangri-la but this one is more natural and therefore more beautiful. (Uh, I almost drowned. Thank you to Jerry and Sherwin for saving my life. Kasi naman I snorkeled without a vest! Tapos nag-cramp pa ang paa ko. Tsk!)

To be continued! Madami pa kaming nakita sa Siquijor.

Uh... I am friends with someone I don't know in myspace.com. I didn't even get an e-mail or a message that I am being asked to be a friend. I didn't approve him or anything or what. How did that happen? Eck. And I'm his only friend so far. Creepy!

Anyway na-inggit ako kay Rowie

1. What do you do for a living?
My official title is Children's Program Officer for Indigenous Peoples. I work with church groups and NGOs in establishing start-up day care centers for Tribal Filipino children. My organization assists them through funding.

2. What do you like most about your job?
Meeting people and traveling. And when I'm in a good mood, climbing mountains.

3. What do you like least about your job?
Being on a bus for six straight hours. Kapoy (tiring)!

4. When you have a bad day at work it's usually because _____...
Hey, just like Row I don't get a lot of those.

5. What other career(s) are you interested in?
Video documentary making. Anything related to media. graphic design even if I am lousy with computers. And recently I just discovered I'd make a good tour guide/travel agent. :)

EASTER

The Resurrection. My day (hehehe!). The day which gives meaning to the life and death of Christ. The Resurrection which is also given meaning by the life and death of Christ.

It is the day of Hope and Love.

Long live the Christ in our hearts.

Legend of the Sand Dollar.

Siquijor has plenty of sand dollars (or sand peso sa Pinas?) scattered all over the shore. I wouldn't have known it had a connection with the death of Christ.

Mayette, we have released white doves!

SIQUIJOR

This place is up there with the best places I have been to. You can go around the entire island in less than a day. The place is teeming with waterfalls, caves and white sand beaches all over.

Also called the mystic Island, the place is often mistaken for the place of "mangkukulam" or witch doctors. When in fact they are just simply herbal doctors on whose methods are actually faith-based.

Strangely enough, I am pretty verbose about my escapages but right now I can't seem to say much. But if you are planning an exotic vacation, Siquijor is one good place to go.

Maybe I can expound more next time.

IN DUMAGUETE

Just spent a great day in Apo Island. After a slow start, having to wait for the dispatcher to arrive for more than hour, Apo Island proved to be worth the wait. Though there seems to be quite some red tape with their system, you kind of forget everything once you get to the waters. The marine sanctuary was really a marvel with so corals all over the place. But I had most fun in the rock formation. Even if I didn't know how to swim, I jumped and jumped and jumped in deep waters. And thanks to the snorkel we rented, I was able to stay in the deep end observing the fingerlings.

For those who want a nice adventurous vacation, Negros Oriental is a good place to go. With Apo Island a definite in your itinerary.

Tomorrow is Holy Thursday. Hopefully I get enough time to reflect.

TIRED.

I missed my 2PM Supercat in Dapitan. Hate it. The bus was really slow. Hay. I'm tired. I'm bitchy. These two people beside me keep asking for instructions on how to make an e-mail address. Fine. But I don't like it when they (sorry for being cono, don't know the english word) make kalabit. Argh. Can't they just go excuse me! Uh. Personal space issue. Haven't had a meal today. I should have been in Dumaguete by now. I want to cuss. I'm tired. Argh.

AND OFF TO PUERTA GALERA YOU GO

After enjoying you’re the Pulo in Calapan, then you are ready to go to Puerto Galera. It requires another early waking up if you want to enjoy the beach fully.

DAY 2: PUERTO GALERA
6 AM – wake up sleepy head!
* pack your things and get ready. Catch the Puerto Galera jeep in the market. The earlier the better but there are jeeps every hour or when it gets filled up. Usually the weekend is no problem because many PG residents go home from Calapan.
* prepare 50 pesos for fare
* the trip would take an hour to an hour and half depending on how many passengers go down along the way.
* for those who don’t mind burning in the early morning sun, try to go “topload” once you are out of Calapan City. TOPLOAD means sitting on the jeep’s rooftop. The special seat has a spectacular view of the journey. And trust me, after traveling so much, the Calapan-San Teodoro-Puerto Galera remains to be one of my favorite scenic routes.

Calapan-San Teodoro-Puerto Galera
Once the jeep makes a turn from the main highway, the great view starts. Carpets of ricefields and imposing mountains. Foliage and rock formation of all sorts. Quiant towns and Mangyan travelers. These are the spectacles waiting for you.

If you are a bit tired from the night out in Calapan, then you may choose to take a nap first. Though I doubt if you can because the jeep keeps on stopping. BUT YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP around 15 minutes after the San Teodoro town because the real scenery is there. You will get to see the Tamaraw Falls which flow varies from the amount of rain the days before.

Once you get to Puerto Galera, you can see beaches everywhere. There is one where a Mother Mary statue is situated on top of a hanging rock looking over the sea. Every curve you are greeted with a ravishing panorama of mountain meeting the beach. It is at that route you can see the difference between aquamarine and azure blue as the sea and the beach stretch into infinity but meeting at the horizon. Wow talaga!

730 AM – arrival at Puerto Galera.
* if you are lucky the jeep will take you directly to White Beach for an additional fee of ten pesos.
* but not all jeeps go all the way. Don’t worry. There are other jeeps in Muelle Bay (the poblacion) where all jeeps stop. It is after the Church. There are jeep and trike terminals.
* If you are feeling kuripot, ride the jeep. It is only ten bucks. If you are excited and are not willing to wait for the jeep to fill up, take the trike. It costs fifty pesos though.

8 AM – White Beach
* White Beach is one of the more popular beach destinations in Puerto Galera though there are a lot, as in A LOT, of other beaches all over the place. Since it has one of the longer coastlines, more people prefer to go here.
* For those who prefer peace and quiet during the night time, I suggest you stay at the Summer Connection. If you are facing the beach, it is at the left most side. It is a bit more expensive than those in the center but there is more beach front for you to enjoy. Also you wouldn’t hear the loud music that plays at night. We loved Summer Connection for its hammock but right now it’s all mossy and grimy already.
* Do anything you like in White Beach. Swim! Snorkel! Take a boat ride! The boat ride, I have not done because I have always been on a tight budget. But I have been to some small islands around Puerto… they are spectacular. So if you have enough money or there are a lot of you, it might be worth taking this trip.
* I suggest you buy the ticket home in advance just in case there are a lot of people who will be going home the same time as you. You could easily spot M/V Brian situated in the middle of the beach.

White Beach activities:
Henna Tattoo: for those who want it temporary, there are three stations located all over White Beach. I always go to the one nearest Summer Connection. It’s inside this restaurant which name I forget. You can get a small henna tattoo for a hundred bucks. It’s really 150 bucks but try using charm and maybe you can get away with a cheaper price. Red henna is more expensive than the black one.

Eat: Funny thing though, that restaurant is the only place I eat. They have big servings good enough for two people who aren’t too hungry and the price is relatively affordable (ranging from 65 to 120). The resto also makes great chocolate shakes! Try their inihaw na posit. Yummy!

Hair wrap: You will see kids and mothers selling friendship bracelents. Some of them can do hair wrap for you. They get a small clump of your hair then wrap it in colorful threads. It’s really cool. It should cost around fifty pesos a wrap but will vary depending on the length of your hair.

Massage: There are a lot of women who will be going around asking you if you’d like a massage. Take the offer. It would just cost you P150 and one less hour to swim. You’d end up smelling like a macaroon from the coconut oil, but the massage is really relaxing. You get a bit of sand scrub too. The coconut oil also gives you a better tan.

Dance and drink: There are bars all over the place. Can’t miss them.

Dito muna. One of these days I’ll post an entry on alternative places to go in Puerto Galera. Will be logging off for the Holy Week because I will be in Dumaguete. Yahoo! Bisita Iglesia sa Siquijor on a rented bike. Woo-hoo!

LOVE ACTUALLY

British romantic comedies always have that witty sense of humor that I love watching and listening to. It is interesting to see how such a refined Brit deals with emotions. I do so love those big words! As Hugh Grant’s Prime Minister aptly puts his reaction to attraction, “how inconvenient.”

So for three weeks since it has shown in Manila, I eagerly waited for this Richard Curtis creation. And I was not disappointed. In fact I was entirely pleased and hoping to have another go of the movie before I leave for Dumaguete.

The starting scene at the airport and the Prime Minister’s appropriate voice-over already sets the atmosphere of the movie. And I found myself nodding in agreement to every word said. Love actually is all around.

And the story unfolds with each character’s story… I was drawn to each love situation presented. There have been many reviews done on the movie and another rave wouldn’t change the beauty of it. It is beautiful. Love is beautiful. Love is all around. Boyfriends, girlfriends, wives, husbands, kids, crushes, friends. It is all around. And even an old fogey like “Uncle Billy” knows what love is… it is with his manager’s endurance for his frivolities. Even the love neophyte in that little boy who learns to play the drums for his ardent desire for an American girl knows it.

But of course being the sentimental fool that I am, I find myself crying (hard) where whathisname “tells” to his best friend’s wife his feelings. It’s two things. His love for his best friend… to “let go” of personal desires to give way. And the pain and joy of good old unrequited love. I was crying and crying all the way to the next scene. I can feel the hurt. And I can feel the liberation. And I can feel the courage. The courage of expressing. And the courage of having to face the woman all over. All because it is best for everyone.

Hundreds of love stories unfold everyday. Hundreds fail. But more endure. Like what the Prime Minister said, it may not be newsworthy, but its there.

And so… when you walk home or ride home today… take a careful look. And smile. Love actually is all around.

AN ALTERNATIVE CALAPAN-PUERTO GALERA ADVENTURE

Usually every last weekend of March, Tatit and I would hie of to Puerto Galera for an annual beach retreat of sorts. But I would drag her to Calapan to attend the graduation of my former students in the seminary.

Given the circumstances though, we will not be able to go to Puerto Galera for our massage where you end up like a macaroon or latik or for our cheap henna tattoos.

But I would still like to share our yearly beach gimmick to those who might be interested for an alternative vacation.

Warning: ALTERNATIVE means slightly rough and rugged. For those who want a comfortable vacation, this is not for you.

DAY 1: PULO

5AM – departure from Manila
• take either Tritran or Jam transit. Bus stations are located in Buendia-Taft and in East Ave.-EDSA.
• It is best to take an early trip to avoid the 7AM build-up in the SLEX.
• Bus fare costs below P120.00

8AM – arrival in Batangas Pier
• the Supercat to Calapan only takes 45 minutes but costs P280.00
• the Sto. Nino fast craft is a joke because it takes one and a half hours. It costs P150.00
• there are several barge companies that travel for 2 to 2 ½ hours but costs only P90.00.
• I suggest you take the Supercat to enjoy most of the morning in the beach but if you like to take it easy and enjoy the sea take the roro.

*based on a Supercat journey
830AM – departure from Batangas

915AM - arrival in Calapan
• take a trike to where you will be staying which should just cost 20.00-40.00 pakyaw, depending on how far. If you take a multi-cab, it should be 10.00 to the bayan.

Suggested accommodations:
Since I worked in Calapan for a year, I sometimes stay in the seminary or the CEDC staff house (which has become the unofficial JVP house).

Microtel Suites – the lodging costs around P1,500.00 but the rooms look great. Air-con, hot and cold shower, cable TV.
Calapan Bay Resort – this is just near the pier. The last time I was there, twin sharing costs 850.00. I don’t know what the amenities are though.

Hotel Ma-Yi – it’s a well-known hotel in Calapan. But I have no idea what’s inside there. I think twin sharing costs around 800 bucks.

My friend owns a resort but I do not know the name because I have never been there. Family room costs 1000.00.

There are also pension houses all over the place if you are on a tight budget. Sorry I will not be able to give names because I forget. The only pension house I know is Tawiran pension house which is near our staff house. But there have been many raids done in that place and you might not want to get caught in a scuffle.

945AM – hopefully by this time you have found a place to leave your things.
• take a trike to Suqui beach. Depending on where you are coming from, the fare would cost five to ten pesos.
• Make sure you bring lunch, snacks, water and other drinks. Where you are going, there isn’t anything.

1000AM – arrival in Suqui beach!
• I love this beach because it offers quite a peaceful atmosphere. People usually come in the afternoon on weekends so in the morning it’s just the sun, the sea, a couple of islands and you.
• Entrance to Suqui costs P10.00. There is additional feel for the cottage but you won’t be needing a cottage.
• Ask the caretaker if she knows any boatman who can take you to the Pulo.
• The Pulo are those two islands you can see from Suqui. The years that I have been there, we have not discovered what their real names are. Both islands are referred to as Pulo. Pulo sa kaliwa at pulo sa kanan.
• The boat ride should cost P300 only. If you are a lot in the group, it would cost P60 each. But you won’t keep the boatman the whole day. He shall just come back for you on the agreed time.

1030AM – to the Pulo! (sa kanan)
• Like I said, there are two islands. Usually they go to the one on the right because the waves are less choppy on the way there. If you negotiate with the boatman, maybe they could take you to the one on the left. There are more corals there. The one on the right is more rocky but there are still fish.
• Tell the boatman what time you would like to be fetched. I suggest around 4PM because after that the current is much stronger because it’s almost high tide.

1030AM-4PM – enjoy the Pulo! (sa kanan)
• once you get to the island, you get it to keep it for yourself. Unless there are other vacationers who got the same bright idea as you do.
• Briar trees are all over the place so make sure your sandals are tough ones because some branches with thorns can go through thin soled sandals.
• Bring several beach malongs and string. Tie them to each other and to the trees to create a spot where you can enough shade for lunch or relaxation.
• The shadows of the trees make good effect for photos.
• Adventure 1: Going around the island. You can follow the side of the island and just walk straight on. It’s quite rocky but the water is very clear. There is nothing much to see except the island on the other side. I didn’t try swimming because I’m not good at it. So if you are, maybe you could see if there are interesting marine life. Warning though, you can’t go entirely around the island because at some point, it would require you to wall climb. But the rocks are really sharp and it could be dangerous if you aren’t any expert.
• Adventure 2: Swimming and snorkeling. But of course! You could also wait for feeding time of the fishes. Sometime around 12noon, you could see fishes jumping around on the water’s surface. That is because they are feeding. It’s a pretty fun sight.
• Adventure 3: Hiking the hill. This I haven’t tried. But there is path near the beach area that leads up to the hill. I am not sure if it is safe, but if you plan to do this, make sure you have someone with you. Just to be sure.
• Pseudo-adventure 4: There is this little cave which does not lead to anywhere. You can check that out. There is also this crevice where a Sto. Nino, a broken plate and a hanky are placed. Try looking for a tri-colored cat and a tabby one. Take a lot of photos on the beach. The boulders make good background.

4PM – back to Suqui!
• I suggest you stay until sunset if it isn’t cloudy.

6PM onwards – rock the night away.
• but then nothing much happens in Calapan anyway. There are videoke bars all over the place. There are also good places to eat. Unfortunately, I do not remember the names.
• I know of a bar near some distance from Divine Word College, where the food is food and there are local folk singers to provide entertainment. Again, I forget the name. Sorry! But if you are really out for adventure, get down at the corner after Divine Word (coming from the market) and walk the rest of the way until you see the bar. Hehehe!

The next day, off to Puerto Galera you go! (to be cont)