It Is Starting To Feel... "Goodbye"

Another mellow dramatic post.

2008 was the year of my first resignation on my very first company. After staying for nearly 4 years (just one month short) I decided to explore other opportunities. It was my very first outside of Cebu job. I faced the uncertainty of it, and looking back at it now, I did quite a good job!

Though it lasted only for a year, I was back in old Cebu.

For most of mid 2009 to mid 2010, I consider those times as my lowest moments in my programmer career, I just stayed on a job for having one. I have made bad, really bad decisions and may have hurt my reputation to some important persons that helped my career (a professor, a colleague). I really did not pursue to learn and get updated or excited on new stuff. I went from being a creator to being a user of tech. I got to be everybody else, knowing the technology by the advertisement and the consumer type, not the system analyst I dream about becoming one day.

But it was fine, I sidetracked to another profession which might be useful someday.

NCR accepted me and because of it, I somewhat realigned myself with programming and the passion once more burned. Im not saying that Im my old coder-til-midnight self I once was, but at least Im back in familiar shores so to speak. I might say it was a good almost 2 years here (again, 1 month short), I met new friends, gone to new places with them, enjoyed a whole lot of new experiences.

Im going to miss this place, Im going to miss Cebu again, and most importantly Im going to miss my little nephew and niece. But I have to do this again because this is, as I see it now, the make or break moment. I have to make it and be good, no, be the best! I have to because I see no other alternatives.

To the future! All sails ahead.

Osmena Peak and Kawasan Trek

June 16 2012, the day I returned to Osmena Peak after about 5 years since I went there last.

It was a rainy morning. Actually there was an upcoming typhoon and the weatherwas just gloomy and the rain fell hard. It came over me that maybe we should cancel the climb but I really wanted it to push through since if we cancel then there may not have been any other time to go.

There were around 11 of us who initially signed up for the climb but only 4 of us pushed through with it (plus 1 guide, a friend of Jome). We were four; me, Jome, Mark and Eric. Val our guide and a friend of Jome is a pro in climbing Osmena peak and traversing Kawasan Falls.

Jome and I went grocery shopping at the Metro supermarket for the food we'll eat and the other supplies we need for the climb and the trek. The bus takes around 3 hrs from the city to the town of Mantalongon Dalaguete. The road is not that good when the bus starts to climb the mountain, there are parts where only one vehicle can pass through the road and the road is at the brink of a very steep slope (which is very scary when you are seated at the window side and looking down will make your hair stand up).

When we arrived at the town, we ate our late lunch at a carenderia and started walking to the peak. It was a muddy walk (but fairly easy since the mountain is not that steep) because of the rain and the fact that I wore slippers made it harder than it has to be.                


Reaching the top, we set camp and our guide made the tent. I borrowed my tent from a friend and when the guide said that my tent is of professional grade and is barely even used, I suddenly felt embarrassed of my friend because had I known I might not borrowed it and look for another tent. I thought that if I had his tent I will not let anyone borrow it from me.

Osmena Peak is still a beauty! The scenery is just beautiful, even though now you can see houses from a distant, it is still is a sight to behold.

During the night, the rain fell hard and Mark and Eric had to transfer in our tent because their tent didn't hold up to the wind and the rain. 


Morning came and we started to walk our way to Kawasan. It was a very hard walk as we go from slippery mountains to rocky roads to grassy and muddy steeps. We have 3 pit stops to relax and catch out breaths. After nearly 4 hours of walking we finally arrived at Kawasan Falls.

It was my first time at Kawasan and I expected it to be just OK. But am I wrong! It was very clean and surprisingly empty. The water is so cold and very clear. Blue and Green is the color of the water. It is very nice to just dip in the cold waters and let the water massage your back. It truly is very refreshing and took my stress and tiredness away.

Around 4 we head back to the road where we catch our ride back to the bustling city.

Coron: Palawan

June 10-13 with former Ideyatech teammates.

We booked the tickets months prior, February, for this 2nd trip to Palawan. This time I was not active in booking and looking for places as what I've been from 2 trips years back (Bora 2010, Puerto Princesa 2011). JC did all the hardwork and he deserves some praise.

We were initially 7 people, but Mary and her boyfriend did not push through since Mary got sick the day of the trip.

The weather was also not cooperating and there was an impending typhoon too!

We arrived at the Busuanga airport and it was a very small place in the middle of the mountains. It was also the day of the Pacquiao-Bradley match (where Pacquiao lost), our contact cannot be reached and we are still waiting for Kervi who's on another flight.

Our 4days were spent at Sunz Coron, a nice resort at the back of Mt. Tapyas, and is owned by a Korean lady (who greets us when we arrive at the place) .

Sunz en Coron breakfast is free if it costs 150. If you go beyond that price then you have to pay the extra amount.

Day 1:
Mt. Tapyas. Climb the mountain through 700+ steps. At the top see the panoramic view of the islands of Coron.
Maquinit Hot Spring. Dip into this hot spring, besides the mangrove forest, and relax your way. The hot water is very soothing and relaxing.

Day 2: Island Hopping
Siete Pecados. Fish feeding and snorkeling
Kayangan Lagoon. Swim in the very clear waters of this lagoon
Twin Lagoon. Swim and enjoy the cold waters in this hidden lagoon.
Banol Beach. Fine sand under huge rocks. Very survivor like setting.

Day 3: Beach hopping
Banana Island. Very nice white sandy beach and well maintained island.
Bulog Island. Sand bars and snorkeling. Nice corals.
Shipwreck site. eerily see parts of the sunken ship, and the fishes here are huge...

Day 4: Going Home.
One of the scariest, and lows of my life. The feeling that your flight might be cancelled is very frustrating and there is nothing you can do about it. The only things that can be done is pray. Pray hard. I thank the Lord for answering my prayers and I was safely back home in Cebu on time.