Rest day

Videoke with friends in one gloomy afternoon is DIVINE...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="491" caption="Bernhard, Yay, Lyndie, Randulph, Me and Maddie"][/caption]

Perfect time to spend a well deserve rest days.

Third Wheel

This post is from my guest blogger who opted to remain anonymous. I like it so much how words had been put together in this very well-written piece. Enjoy reading.

   "I work in company where the operating hours or the working hours are different from your typical work schedule. At work most of the employees are either committed or married. Well you would ask, what is the problem here. The problem is because we work in a very different operating hours, we usually spend more time with our co-workers than with our partners. Because of this, a lot of temptations would arise. Some would entertain it, some would just brush it of. This is a very common scenario and these types of talks is as common as taking your coffee in the morning (evening if you are in the graveyard shift). My question then is this. Why do we become unfaithful with our partners? Personally, one reason that I can see ( it is not that I'm justifying the act, I'm just trying to make some sense out of it) is that since we work in a very populated company, we will be able to meet a lot of people with different personalities. And since we spend more time with our officemates, it is here where we start (unconsciously) comparing them with what we currently have. We will then realize that our relationship is not perfect. Well, who has one, right? The only problem is when we start to crave for something that we currently do not have. If only others would also think that you also have something that they don't, only then you will begin to appreciate what you have and not desire what you don't. Basically, what I'm trying to say here is, no one has the perfect relationship. It is always a work in progress. You would only start having discontentment if only see what you do not have. Learn to appreciate what you have and you will realize that others will also want what you have. As long as it is not you they want, that's perfectly normal. Hope I helped you in anyway. Thanks for taking the time reading. c",)"

Yey there you have it. Thank you again for this post you-know-who-you-are. And let me say this... MORE please.

Back then

Three months after I graduated college I got my first job. I was a college instructor in a private school in Marawi City. The  place is populated by Muslim Maranaos. A place where tradition is entirely different from ours. I don't have that much idea as to the extent of their tradition and I heard so many horrible things about the place. But still, I landed my first job there and learned to love the place. My stay in Marawi is one of the highlights  of my life, for it gave me experiences I thought I could never had.
 
I'm going to introduce to you the woman who lavished me with love and luxuries in life. The woman who had been a mom and a friend to me. She was my boss and the president/owner of the school I was working. Her name is Hadja Sittie Aisha "Helen" Acoon. She's a Christian married to a Maranao and embraced Islam after years of their marriage.  Before I met her I was expecting to face a president in her executive attire. I've got the shocked of my life the first time I saw her, she was wearing her loose duster and eating using her bare right hand. (Yes, Maranaos preferred to eat without spoon and fork) After regaining myself from that shock that's when I saw her smiling at me. She's a very simple woman in her 50's and I can't believe she's the president of the school. My shock was tripled the moment she opened her mouth and talked to me in English with all fluency and no traces of Maranao accent. From that moment on, I know I'm talking to one of the smartest people I've ever known. I was impressed. Moral lesson, never judged a person by just looking at them. Looks can be deceiving you know.

Months passed, I found myself talking and listening to her every after class. We talked anything like work related topics, politics, showbiz, about her dreams for the school, her advocacy, her failed marriage, about her children's excessive spending of money and her being alone. Yes I love to talk but I'm a good listener too. Sssssh this is supposed to be a secret. I think that was the start and the turning point of our closeness.

She told me her rags-to-riches story. She's from Koronadal, South Cotabato,  belonged to a family of 12 siblings and her parents don't have a stable job. She strived to study hard and used her brain to achieve her dreams. She finished college as working student and graduated Cum Laude. As a working student she created a MANTRA that says " Today, I'd follow order. Tomorrow, I'll give the order". With her excellent scholastic record she worked as a university instructor while finishing her Master's Degree. With her dream to achieve her mantra, she took Doctorate degree and graduated it with flying colors.  What an inspiring journey to achievement!  Btw, in the midst of it, she was already married to her Maranao husband and had 3 kids.  Amidst those, she had her ups and downs. She was emotionally shattered when she  was separated with her then husband for she can't accept Maranao's tradition of multiple marriage.

Her then failed marriage, made her even stronger. It did not hinder her journey to realize her dreams. With courage and determination she built her own school with only 10 thousand pesos in her pocket. With all the connections that she had in the world of  academe coupled with her knowledge, she was able to build a school and made it a household name in Marawi City 5 years after she built it. I joined her staff when the school was slowly on it's way to achieve thousands of enrolees.

She then pulled me out from her teaching staff and made me her school registrar slash executive secretary. That would mean wherever she goes may it be with school related meetings or personal commitments  I'm always with her. I don't know what I've done but she really trusted me everything that includes her finances, the in and out of running the school and her personal life. She has an extremely scary temper, she'll bark and shout at you when she's at the height of her anger infront of everyone but she has a very soft and kind heart.

She gave me everything an employee could not expect to receive from her employer. I had her motherly love, she gave me financial assistance whenever I'm in need. She let me experience the life of the rich. Shopping without minding how much was the price of the item, dining at those fancy Japanese, Italian, Korean and Filipino restaurants in Manila and anywhere else we go, staying in a high rise condominiums in Manila, sleeping in those five star hotels, rubbing elbows with the Commision on Higher Education and Dept of Education big wigs. I lost count how many times I traveled to Manila in a month, airplanes became my lavatory and airports were my place for meals. I was one busy traveler back then, I didn't mind it though cause I love traveling.

I considered my boss as my mom, I called her Mommy Helen. Yes I know she pampered me so much with all these material things. But the love, care and an unspoken pact of trust were the most significant things of all. Her being so nurturing really made me attached to her more. She, having not much bonding with her children and me, not close to my own mother formed this undeniable surrogate mother-daughter chemistry. We really hit it off. I can calmed her in the midst of her anger, one thing her children were afraid to do.

People would see her as one brave woman. No one have seen her shed tears in times that she was so down, not even her children. But I did. I'm the living witness of how emotionally challenged she was. She cried when she told me the story of her life. I was so amazed how she became so successful but I'm so sad how she can't be happy with her family life. She had millions and she can buy anything, everything she wanted but not the very thing she wanted the most - a happy and peaceful family.

In her whims to rebuild her family, they were able to fix their marriage. Though they had rough times but they sure believed that love is sweeter the second time around. I was the happiest person when I saw her so happy and contented, with her husband beside her and her children making up the lost times.

Then one day I decided to leave my job. For I know  Mommy Helen  will be okay then. Telling her that I'll be leaving was  the hardest thing to do. It broke my heart but I felt that it's time for me to leave.
I knew we were both hurt but because she loved me, she let me go.

For years I was used to convenience and extravagance because of her. I was pampered that much. Seldom rode  those buses when going to any places because there's always that car  and a driver. Lates gadgets were so easy to own just as easy as buying  candies. Money was  never a worry.

Yes that was once my life. I  thought it would really make me the happiest on earth but I was wrong.  Something was amiss, something's missing, something's not in it's proper place. It was my whole Marawi  experience making me realize that money can't buy happiness but it can  make you a different person. It will make you the subject of envy  which is not healthy at all.  Im not hyprocrite if I'll say I did not  miss my life before. Yes I do , I really do miss it. But it doesn't  mean I'll mourn to death to aim the things that I dont have. Some things are just meant not to last.

Mommy Helen, thank you so much for all those exciting and challenging experiences  we had. You will always be in my heart.

Rest in peace, Mommy Helen. I miss you so much.

Muchas gracias my friends

I claimed that I'm one lucky, blessed, wealthy person. I don't have billions, no fancy abode, no luxurious cars yet I'm RICH. Yes I am. Rich in friends. The road map of my life is incomplete without these people who touched my life. No amount of money can buy this treasure. They are my priceless, precious gem. I was thinking what have I done to deserve them. I'm blessed, so much. Thank you Lord for this blessing.This post is one of my ways to say thank you to my treasures.

I know them this much. One message from an unregistered contact with just a "name" they used to call me, is enough for me to know where I've  met them. For I'm never Carms with my childhood friends and Marawi colleagues, never En-En or Shang with my CDO officemates and college buddies.

Here they are.



She is Laarni, we call each other Palang. We're classmates since pre-school until high school, and then boardmates in college. Palang is one good friend. We seldom see each other but when we do it's as if we just talked ysterday.



Here's Ghe Ghe, I so love this woman. She's the reason why I am Shang for we call each other such. Aside from my family she's my number one fan. She knows my strength and my weaknesses. She knew how to appreciate the things that I do have while keeping my spirit high for the things that I don't have. Oh how i miss you Shang.



Meet Diloy(the guy in between me and the woman in red). He's the big brother that I don't have. We argue a lot, we give each other advice. Yes he's the first person who allowed my first taste of alcohol but got mad at me the first time I puffed the cigar. Btw, I stopped smoking already 5 years ago. He's the person who taught me the value of giving words. When he gave you his word taga mo sa bato he will truly fulfill it.

 

 Let's go to my college buddies.No words of thanks enough for these guys. I love them to pieces. When I met them I was a shy student hoping to belong in a world so new to me. They embraced me with love and care. Helped me, encouraged me to survive the stressful days of college. Without them college days wouldn't be fun and exciting. How could I forget those sleepless group study slash night swimming slash eating chichiria slash chismisan. How could I forget those days of delayed allowance yet everyone helped for us to survive our meals. Those times when after prelim, midterm and final exams we rewarded ourselves with a group movie date plus a night with pure fun. Oh my, I've never missed college this much. 

We were blockmates and we all graduated together.So proud of this group.

Now here comes my Marawi folks. Marawi City had been my home for years. I thought I'll be spending almost all my life there. Heard a lot of not-so-good-stories about the place  but  believe me, gradually I learned to love the place. Knowing their culture is one thing but experiencing it is an entirely different thing. Their tradition from marriage to death to their beliefs in Allah is unbelievable and so rare. One of the best achievements I got from there is learning their language. Yes you read it right I can speak and understand Maranao lingo. Now soo much for that lets talk about the people who touched my life from this place.

Below are my previous co-employees, mostly Christians. We're housed together, they are my family there. Since we're not allowed to go out by 5pm for security reasons, so we only have each other. I miss them.

And here's one woman who had been my anchor for so long.

She's Matet.  She's the daughter of my previous boss. We considered each other sisters slash partners in crime. I so love this woman who defied Maranao bethrotal tradition and married her boyfriend. One brave woman, right?

Now came the unexpected. I would say that my departure in Marawi was one of the hardest decisions I ever made.  To those people who knew my life there, can't believe why I left my job. I gave my boss the shock of her life. I wont elaborate the story of my boss for it's worth a separate entry. I resigned from my job and start a whole new life here in CDO and met amazing people.

With my current housemates, Vangie and Mother Anna. We may seldom talk and dine together at home like we used to but I know we are family.

This woman is Loida, my source of novels and a true friend.

My regional family. Read it more here. I can't help but share this pics of my regional buddies.

My CRT family. I had great time with you guys. Im so glad some of us are reunited.

Nine months ago, news of my transfer to STX shocked me. I was not happy nor sad, I'm scared. Exremely scared. For so long I've been with  my comfort zone where multi-tasking was never hard. Ebook reading, email threading, gtalk chatting plus chika galore while on call were so "sisiw". To be transferred in an entirely different support is one tough move. I even lit a candle before starting my training to ask for guidance. Indeed guidance is on my side, for I survived each and every agonizing day and I've come this far.

Thank you to Nolan and Brian, my saviors. I thank God the day HE gifted you both the knowledge of this craft. Saying thank you is an understatement but I will never ever get tired of saying it. You both deserve a tight hug..weeeeeeeeh

Che, thank you for the gift of friendship. We don't know each other that long but we both know we have sisterly connections.

To the rest of the STX pipz, I may not have that much bond with you guys but a simple smile I got from you when at work is just what I needed to last a severe day of troubleshooting, Thank you guys for the company. 

Muchas gracias mi amigos, mi amigas! Live on.

Mommy

Only very few people knew the real story of  who raised me. This post is solely dedicated to the very person who molded and showered me with unconditional love and care, my Aunt. She's single and I call her my Mommy Linda. I would do everything, anything for her.

Mommy is a retired teacher, a very dedicated teacher. Her students admire her so much. Who wouldn't? She's brilliant. Who can forget that periodic table in our Chemistry class? I'm proud to say that my mommy memorized all the chemical elements in it including the atomic number and the number of protons in an atom's nucleus. Amazing, right? She's also a genius in Math and a good public speaker. That's my Mommy. In school where she worked, she's one of the most admired teachers but for me she's my champion, my mentor, my friend  and my life.

Yes, I knew my biological parents but they did not raise me for reasons I don't know. I don't hate my parents just to clear things. I grew up with my aunt. She raised me since I was 4. She sent me to school from pre-school until I graduated college. When I was a kid, whenever she had seminars to any places in Mindanao she tagged me along, it's always been like that until my high school days. We both can't live without each other I guess. Now that I'm working away from her, I can't manage not to see her in more than 3 months. I have to go home coz I miss talking to her, hugging her, sharing meals and going to church with her. Mommy loves the role I play in her life, even if  Im not hers biologically. I can feel her deep love towards me. I may not have a mother/father-daughter bonding but I have my outpouring Mommy's love. I'm totally okay with it. Really.

Some were asking why she did not get married. She said that her being single is a matter of circumstance. She simply haven't found the right guy at the right time. She's happy being who she is because she's loved and will always be.

I'm just so lucky to have her, she seems to see only the positive side of life despite the problems we have. Close my eyes and I can hear her laughter. I can't get enough of  her detailed story of everything and anything under the sun, transporting herself and you back to that time in history for the full experience. Her life has not been a bed of roses. She has had her share of sadness,  but she picks herself up and carries on. 

My Mommy is a people's person attracting friends from all walks of life. Very helpful. In fact she's a successful politician, she's on her last term now as a councilor in our place.

As for me, when I look at  Mommy's eyes, I only see goodness.  I feel her love and know in my heart that no matter what my flaws or my shortcomings, those are unimportant in the grand scheme of things.  I am basically loved for who and what I am by her. 

This is the gift that she gives to everyone and especially to me. It is the reminder that life may have heavy loads, you may have fears, you may not always get what you want, but the most important thing is to always see the good and enjoy the presence of all that surrounds you.

I love you, Mommy. I can't wait to be with you with your first travel to Manila. I'll see you soon. I miss you terribly so.

My Dingdong and Marian encounter

I was thinking so hard if I'll blog this or not. But then I realized that it's pointless hiding coz almost all my workmates knew my fondness of Dingdong and Marian. So I decided to dedicate this post to DongYan and share my encounters with them.

By the way, I became a follower of them back in 2007 when they were paired as Sergio and Marimar. From then on I consumed most of my idle time at work browsing sites and forum dedicated to them. Then one day I joined a certain fansite and made friends with the members. But for some reasons I chose not to disclose, I'm no longer connected to that site but still still in contact everyday since 2009 up to present to some of my fellow true-blooded DongYans whom I considered my cyber Ate, cyber Mother, cyber friends and cyber sisters. I love them all so dearly.

It's a given fact that as a fan your ultimate dream is to meet your idols. Proud to say that I've already achieved that dream not once, not twice but five times.  Yeah, I strongly believe that dreams do come true.

First. December 19, 2009 at Edsa Shangrila.

I lost my one-year-perfect-attendance-incentive at work because I chose to fly to Manila and be absent for a day. I wouldn't miss this rare chance to meet Dong and Yan upclose and personal. Right after my graveyard shift I bid goodbye to Cagayan de Oro city and said hello to Manila. Yes, Dec 19, 2009 at Edsa Shang, it was when and where one of my dreams became a reality.

I attended the Christmas party organized by the group I belonged before. When the two arrived, my hands were literally trembling and I had my proof to it. Look at the quality of this picture below, notice how blurry it is?

What I've felt that evening was beyond description. So unbelievable. It's been my dream that one day Im gonna see them both, I'm so thankful to someone who made this possible for me.

Watching them on TV and viewing pictures over the net with all their kilig moments, I admit are my stress reliever. Can you imagine what I've felt when I see them inches away from me hugging so tightly? waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah and I died many times that night.In that picture, they were playing pinoy henyo, when Marian guessed the right answer she went straight to Dong's waiting embrace. Soooooooo sweeeeeet.

In this picture, they were watching a clip with live narration about their journey back in Marimar days.

Here's my proof that once in my life Dong held me this way. For a few seconds I know how was it like to be held by E's 3rd sexiest man. Weeeeeeeeeeh, walang basagan ng trip blog ko to..lol

Pasensya na my look, have no sleep for 24hours that time.

I had my picture of Marian too. Im too shy to share this as well, eh ang ganda nya..Nagmukha akong ewan but I'm just so proud of this pic coz not everyday I had this chance.

I was literally jumping and grinning ear to ear after they left the venue. Sobrang saya..Experience of a lifetime indeed. I got the chance to ask them questions too and hear their cheeeeeeeeeeesy answers. Saw them kiss twice right infront of my two naked eyes. Oh love, love, love was, is and will always be in the air for Dong and Yan.

Second encounter. Jan 2010, somewhere in Makati City

An invitation came while I was at work. Another trip to Manila. I did not waste time and  immediately arranged vacation leave and just like that I'm back in Manila again. Not even bad weather can stop me from flying,  my flight was even delayed due to the weather condition.

I didn't know that part of the invitation was to meet DongYan again.  My excitement intensified when I learned that I would be seeing them after that memorable first encounter. We went to the venue somewhere in Makati where supporters of the two from different fan groups gathered. The couple were already late because Dong was still in Cagayan de Oro and I guessed his flight was delayed too because of bad weather. But then as they say better late than never. The couple indeed arrived to the merriment of everyone including yours truly. No picture of myself with them this time coz there were so many supporters surrounding them. I still managed to take pictures and videos of the two but I can't share it coz it was saved to another memory stick that I misplaced. It was a short meeting yet everyone were so happy.

Third encounter. May 2010 at SM Megamall.

I had this plan to experience one day how was it like to attend a movie premiere. DongYan's movie You To Me Are Everything was the perfect choice to accomplish the plan. So I flew again to Manila just for it. Goodness, ganun pala yon? Super dami the crowd and sobrang siksikan. I was surprised that those crowd screaming and waiting for the artists walking at the red carpet were mostly fans who have no tickets therefore they can't enter the cinema. I was even surprised that there's a huge huge crowd already waiting inside the movie house. Btw, this was what I've observed during that night, I don't know for other movies.

That experience was truly for the record. Though I was not able to see Dong and Yan upclose but I'm so happy to see them a few distance away. Now if you'll ask me if I'll do it again? My answer is a big yes only if it's still their movie.  No pictures to share on this encounter.

Fourth encounter. July 17, 2010 at SM Cagayan de Oro City.

DY were among the many celebrities who graced Kapuso Mall show last July 2010. It was my rest day so I went to SM hoping to have a glimpse of them. I was so inis because there's an insane traffic going to SM which was so unusual. I met my officemate first before going to the venue. When we get there the crowd were  crazy huge. In fairness bongga ang crowd considering CDO is more of a Kapamilya territory. We don't want to brave that super huge crowd so we decided to stay at Mcdo. But then again, when luck will touch you even if you'll hide in a longest tower it will find you anyway.

A cyber friend who happened to be a friend and a trusted supporter of Dong texted me asking how's the mall show. So I told her it was full of crowd and that it's so hard to take pictures of them. Without me knowing she's doing magic na pala then she called and told me what to do so that me and my officemate, Elvie can somehow meet Dong and Yan.

I was instructed to do whatever I could to convince mga masungit na  SWAT team, mga deadmang SM Guards at mga nakakainis na pulis that Dong knew us so that we can go to their tent. Believe me, they were so strict and they super deadma us. I can't blame them though, they're just doing their job plus there were so many people  who wanted to get inside. So we waited whatever miracle coming and then a text came informing me that Dong said we can meet them after their first appearance on stage. I really don't know if it would happen coz the crowd was in chaos coz they wanted to see Dong, Yan and other artists inside the tent.

In the midst of that chaotic crowd,  one Sungit guard called my attention and asked "what's my name?" My heart almost dropped. I'm joyfully elated at this time coz  I knew it, really really knew it that I'm gonna go see Dong and Yan. So, I answered him firmly " SHANG name ko" with the look of a vindicated woman dahil sa pang-deadma nila sa amin ni Elvie.hahaha Then we entered the gate to the artists' tent and the people went wild why we were allowed inside. But the ever-sungit-guard answered them "Eh bisita yan ni Dingdong Dantes" ako naaaaa, akooooo na..Me already..Cut my hair, it reached Zimbabwe already. lol

When we entered the tent, I saw Dong and Yan eating pomelo. Dong then said he asked someone to look for me, can you believe that? To-you-who-made-this-meet-and-greet-possible thank you so much from the bottom of my heart and to Dong and Yan for allowing us inside. I'm extremely happy though it was just less than 10 minute encounter. So worth it. Ang sweet nila tapos chika chika kami.

Here's a screencaps from the video I took.

 

Here's my friend and officemate Elvie who was with me. She can't believe I managed to have exclusive encounter with the two.Aheerm thank you again you my cyber friend. Iba ka.

Sobrang saya. It was truly another experience I know I wont forget for the rest of my life.

Fifth and hopefully not the last encounter. Dec 5, 2010 at Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila

For the 2nd time I lost my 1 year perfect attendance incentive just to attend DongYan xmas party with the supporters. There's no regrets though and I'll surely do it for the 3rd time this Dec 2011 if there will be another invitation.

The couple were holding hands when they arrived.

After some beso beso Dong led Yan to their table then checked the food and announced  that we should all eat na. Dong was right next to me when he called Marian, "YUM eat na tayo"...waaaaaah kakaiba pala pag first hand mo marinig his endearment to her. Dong got food for them and ....tan--ta--ran..... sabay subo to her Yum.

 And I died for the nth time.

Meet Gwenny Dear, she's just 14 year old. Like me she's also a fan of these 2. Everytime we had DongYan meet and greet she tagged along her Dad or her Mom. Supportive parents lang.

This one hugging Dong like there's no tomorrow is  Elden, I call her Baby Hipon and she calls me Mommy Hipon. Her parents drove her all the way from Lucena City so she can't miss the party. I so love their parents for being so supportive.

And here's my precious picture with them.

Before ending this long post, I'm gonna say that being a fan of the two gave me so many blessings. I've found a cyber family because of them. I can feel the love, care and trust of these people. Our bond is way beyond a mere fan of these two.  I love you guys. You know who you are. We've been through a lot yet we are still here constantly checking each other's life. I can't thank you enough.

To Dingdong and Marian, carry on. Keep loving and trusting each other..

Me Time

 

Back then alone meant a lot of things to me. Alone meant you were of or by itself, without any thing more or any one else, without a sharer. Only. Sole. Exclusive. It meant that you were apart from anyone else, nobody wanted to be with you and that you were cast aside. You were mostly the center of mockery. These things mentioned are so horrible, right? Being alone was like a disease anyone wanted to avoid because it calls for poignancy. So sad.

With a family of 5 siblings, I can honestly say I’m rarely lonely and rarely alone. I have playmates, schoolmates and friends  and most of all my family. But that doesn't mean I don't have my share of me-time.

I can still remember my first time to travel ALONE back when I started my college. I went and finished my college at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City which is more or less 4 hours travel from Zamboanga del Sur, my hometown. I had so many worries with my first time to travel alone, worried if I might get lost or worried if something happen along the way. Oh those non-sense thoughts back then. Throughout my travel I've learned that being alone is not at all bad. I had great time watching the view of those places not familiar to me, even ate alone and had an alone time thinking what lies ahead of me as I go on with my new journey.

That first travel I believed was the beginning point of so many alone moment that came after.

Studying alone, doing grocery alone, malling alone, fixing university schedules like the ones with my PE subjects, checking my favorite books at bookstore and even attending parties alone.To eat when you want, shop when you want, and no one to look after.Theres nothing wrong with going to the movies or dinner by yourself once in a while.A few moments of total alone time is an excuse to be selfish and remember what it was like when every second of the day was your own.

There were times when I just want to be left alone. I just want to keep quiet for some reasons. I don't feel like talking at times and just do "me time".  That’s all I want. Im not saying Im forever alone, I’m saying that I like to be alone in my own moments. I kind of like staying in my own little world sometimes, just me and my self.

With alone it will just let you be. You are free to be you. You don't have to fix your hair. Don't have to take a bath, either. You are free to imagine and think of so many things even those nonsensical reveries. Even talk to yourself and plan for something you want to do for your life in the coming days. Alone is a perfect time to venture into something new, new things you are not used to do.It's a plain fact that for the rest of our lives we're stuck by ourselves so its a better way to get used to it and be comfortable.

Alone is not at all horrible, in fact it's quite lovely.

Tinuy-an Falls, Bislig Surigao del Sur

The last stop of our 3-day-vacation was this 3 tiered cascading waterfalls, the Tinuy-an Falls.

I'm so lost of adjectives in describing Tinuy-an Falls. Such an impressive waterfalls I've ever seen. See the pictures and you'll know what I mean.

This falls is located at Bislig, Surigao del Sur. You have to endure the rough road going there. Since I've seen picture of it already I did not complain about that road coz I know something magical awaits for us.

The view that welcomed us. First layer.



The second layer, the longest and the most majestic.



Can't help but cam whore with the falls behind us.



Bernhard (in black Jersey), Clong-Clong (in orange floral shorts), Me, Allen (the one squatting), Shiloy (in purple top), Maddie (in pink), Bona (in blue) and Iyay (in black)

One more pic, a closer view of this amazing falls.



Gearing up with our new found best friend "the life vest". We did not go home not unless we came so close to the falls.



Thank you to this little ride made of bamboo for only P100 per hour, I could now brag that this falls was once within my reach.



Oh yeah, look how close we were to the downfall of the water. I so love the feel of the water at my back. It was so cold but so worth it. It's not everyday I've got this experience. Truly amazing.



And this is the last layer...We really loved to pose for the camera, I must say.



That's it.. I will definitely save money for another trip to the beautiful places of the Phillipines.

 *Thank you so much Yean Marie "Iyay" for these pictures and your tripod too.

Enchanting Enchanted River, Surigao del Sur

After our bonggang island hopping, we took more or less 30 minute ride to this captivating river, the Enchanted River...

Now join me as I lead you to an hour of enchanting experience we had to this very rare river.

This river is a mixture of salty and fresh water. Yes it is. And it's super duper cold, but when you get used to it you don't want to stay out of it.

Isn't it amazing? By looking at it now, Im thinking of going  back to that place someday soon.

There are so many reasons why this river is called as such. People from there said that this river is 200 ft deep, when I heard it I almost faint. How could I swim in a river that deep? And so I quoted Iyay when she said "trust your life to your life vest".

Ohlala thank you life vest, you're making a non-swimmer's life like mine enjoying the beauty of this so-hard-to-resist-river.

Everyone's having so much fun, swimming and picture taking for a good hour. Yeah we only had an hour there because they should be closed by 5pm. I know it's not enough but we truly enjoyed and made the most out of it.

Look at this,  it's like looking at the water inside your dispenser at home.

These faces were a picture of delight, ecstasy and exuberance. Who wouldn't? After all the stress that we had at work, it's just right to relax and find a place to enjoy the beauty Mother earth has to offer.

There you have it..A day full of fun and memories that will surely linger on forever. Naks....

Thank you guys for the company. It was truly an exhilarating, awesome and exciting experience for us.

Carry on. Till our next adventure.

Thank you Yay for the pictures.

Isla Britania, Surigao Del Sur

With my kind of work (a call center agent), 3 day vacation leave is such a luxury. So when the chance came,  me and my friends (also call center agents) decided to explore Surigao. It happened last July 11-13, 2011.

Surigao is known because of Siargao where surfers love to go but we did not go there (Siargao, Surigao City). Our destination was Surigao del Sur. The travel took us 13 hours because we were lost on our way there. Well, being lost is part of the adventure, right? Normally it's just 6 hours land travel from Cagayan de Oro. When you get to see what's waiting for us there, believe me the wonders of the place are sooooo worth the long and tiring travel.

We went Island Hopping first. Before we can proceed, we need to rent a bangka for P1,500 and it's good for a whole day Island hopping. So affordable for 8 people, right?

While waiting for our bangka we took time to have pictures with all those Islands in the background.

Take a look at the water, its super clear, so untouched and so tempting to dive. If only I know how. That visible white sand is the Naked Island. Sooooo nice, never mind the heat of the sun.

The one below is the Hagonoy Island. This was where we stayed long and enjoy the overpowering appeal of the water, so irresistible.

  A clear view of the water at Hagonoy Island..Need I say more? Look how clean and clear it is.

This picture below is still at Hagonoy Island..

Picture picture jeed..yey

The one with a white sand on it is called the Boslon Island. It's where we had our lunch. Take a look at the 2 islands nearby (i forgot the names), those are just a few walk away from Boslon Island. We had our "group pictorials" there.

This one below is a clearer view of Boslon Island. That cross you can see is their grotto.

Remember the 2 islands nearby Boslon, those are behind us in this picture. We just walked going there and have our picture-picture..hehe

Since I forgot the names of these island I'll just call them "TWIN Island".I so like the presence of the "bangka" in this picture. It made it more a sight to behold..Naks.

On our way back to Boslon Island from the 2 islands nearby

Time to eat our lunch..Sorry this is the only picture I had for our food. We had kinilaw na pusit too.

Group picture after eating. Notice those smiles, a true witness of how we enjoyed our escapade.

One of our many attempts to have our own "Temptation Island" picture.

Time to depart Boslon Island and be ready to the next stop, Hiyor Hiyoran Island. That's the distant view of Hiyor Hiyoran Island.

and this one is the nearer view and the back side of the picture above.

And of course before leaving the place, it wouldn't be complete without a pose..

In all honesty I don't like swimming that much coz ssssssshhh I don't know how to swim..hahaha What a shame!!! But believe me, when I get there I can't help but swim till sawa. If only I could bring this beautiful place to Cagayan de Oro...

True enough, when we left the islands we brought nothing but memories to last a lifetime...

I will surely go back to this place one day.

Thanks Yay for the pictures.