Swimming with the Giants

21.January.2012 4am

Im supposed to have this travel in 2 days rather than today. But because of the big uncertainty that I can't watch the big fish on that day, I decided to go there earlier than planned with my sister and Reggie.

It rained the night before (actually  a few hours ago). I need some sleep because I arrived around 12 midnight from watching a movie and I fell asleep around 1am.

We woke up around 3am and arrived at the terminal in roughly 30mins. Ceres bus started to ran in around 4:10am (the current time now).

So I thought this is the time to have a little dose of zzzzz.

After about 3hrs later.

After a few hours, 3hrs to be exact we arrived at Tan-awan in Oslob. We paid 300 and sit for a little seminar conducted by the municipal people. Then we ride the bangka and into the sea where they are feeding the whale sharks.

It is frightening! I have to admit that it scared me when I first saw them under the sea. Above, they are big and you can see their mouth, but when you are in the water, you got to see their long big bodies and gills pulsating. You feel so small compared to these giants of the sea. I asked the fisherman to take me further away as I am very very close to the whaleshark, but he said that it is ok, they are gentle.

So I just dip my head (Im on a life vest, and one hand is groping a rope and the other the camera, talk about hassle) and take pictures. Thankfully I got some ok photos.

I will never forget this amazing experience, it truly is one of its kind.

Sinulog 2012!

Viva! Pit Senior!

It was a successful and very orderly Sinulog this year.
First off was the fluvial parade on the 14th (Saturday). We (me, my ate and her bf) paid 150 per person to ride a banca, courtesy of an officemate. It rained so hard when we boarded the banca that I was drenched before even reaching the boat.

It was my first time to join the fluvial procession and the feeling is surreal. Seeing the Mactan channel full of colorful boats of varying sizes with people dancing and drumbeats filling the salty sea breeze is just awesome. The road along the pier is packed with devotees waiting for the Nino's boat to pass by. The Mactan bridge is fenced with people edge to edge.

When the boat of the Nino started roam along the coast, the boatmen of every boat is on a race to be near the Nino's boat. But they have to be careful not to get too close to another boat to prevent crashing each other, but some minor accidents did happen, luckily no one was reported hurt. In all, the fluvial parade is exhilarating to witness.

On Sunday the day of the Sinulog, we went to church for the 6am mass. The church is FULL of people, it takes about 15-30 minutes to get in, and about the same time to get out. That's how full it was. We already anticipated the crowd so it was just fun shoving those people around.

After the mass, we walked a good 5 or 6 kilometers back home as there were no more jeepneys allowed on the road. It was sunny and bright compared to last year's where it rained all day. Contingents are already on the streets withe their colorful costumes and props. We ate KFC for breakfast before heading back home. Some of the contingents already dancing and the air is filled with festive vibes.

I was back at home around 10am and decided I must recharge for another round of Sinulog on the afternoon. I slept until 2am and got out of the house at 3. I joined my friends from Kyocera (the same group I went out with last 2011's Sinulog), gone to Ayala and watched the fireworks display!

Until next year! Viva!

It's More Fun in the Philippines

One thing I truly love is being a tourist. So when the Philippine's Department of Tourism launched the new  #itsmorefuninthephilippines campaign I am more than glad to join the bandwagon and create my own studies showing why it is more fun here!

Hoping that it my own little ways, tourism in the Philippines will improve.

But I have a few request to the Department of Tourism if they really want to have repeat foreign tourists in our country. First and foremost is the installation of SIGNAGE! Big, bold, multi-language road signs is very important to wandering tourists. Second is the availability of maps around the city, highlighting what spots tourists should take interest and this should be available at the airport's arrival hall. And maybe one last thing is for them to extensively use the modern social networking sites (use them all Facebook, twitter, tumblr, flickr, instagram etc...)  alongside the more traditional TV advertisement to promote the country.

My First Ever 'Walk'

Woke up early at around 3:00am.
I had a fever going on because of some infection I got from eating too much spicy foods the night before. I tested my feet if I can manage to standup without fainting, it would be too dramatic if I faint suddenly in front of thousands of people.

Cooked an egg. Hard boiled.
I promised that I would join the Walk for Mary, the first time ever! Not that Im a devotee, but my primary purpose is to take photos of the crowd. Just image the scene, the sky is still dark, thousands of people walking with candles. What a great scene to practice taking shots in low light!

I heard the prayers over the air.
After eating the egg, I put on slippers and just hurried my way to the road, with just my camera, wallet and umbrella - in a bag of course. I thought that I was  already late for the procession, but I was wrong, I was there in Fuente Osmenia circle around 30 minutes before the image of the Birhen sa Guadalupe arrived.

Waiting.
I positioned myself at the skywalk to have a better view of the masses. When the image of blessed mother finally arrived, it was an awesome view to behold! It was really surreal to see all those people, praying and singing the tune of "Batobalani sa Gugma" with raised hands and swaying them over the air.

Ache.
Arriving at the Basilica, I decided that I should be inside and hear mass. It was when I stood there for more than an hour that I felt my waist is going to dislodge and Im so thirsty and hungry! Not to mention that sobbing pain I feel on my feet.

Tired.
Checked another one for the Sinulog activities I like to attend. Tomorrow is the fluvial parade I wanted to attend also, because it has been a long time since. But I feel that my body is not up to another pushing and shoving and walking long distances for tomorrow, but I'm still contemplating, will listen to my body for signs.

2011 is the year I got my Sinulog groove back!

It Started With Rain

2011 started very WET. It rains almost every hour for the last 4 days.
It's gloomy, cold and makes me want to stay in my bed like forever.

If not for the "nature" calls.
If not for work.
If not for the headache I get by sleeping too much - I would have just lay there like sleeping beauty, or sleeping beast to be politically correct.

Family drama spiked a few metric system high. I didn't win as I would like it to be, but I guess I learn a lesson that will stick to me for quite some time and that is to just be respectful and stay away from family business that's not my business.

Work is fine I suppose. With an impending new requests from the client coming, I'm a bit nervous - overwhelmed actually, it's like I'm looking at a forest and needs to know the varieties of the trees in it.

I'm with great positivity that my partner who is the master of all these "trees" will come back from her supposed to be vacation and  at the very least still guide me on these coming requirements. She would surely help me pass the obstacles ahead. But in any case, I myself feels that I can do this, it may not be a smooth ride but I'm trying to get out of it - whole.

One thing that I did not get myself whole last 2009 is my contract with a dear professor friend. It saddens me really to be unproductive and a burden to her. I promised her certain things that I didn't deliver. It was my bad, I'll offer no explanation, no redemption.

2011 is just starting, it may have started wet but knowing the Philippines, it will get really really hot soon.

Growing Up

My sister left for Australia.

I'm the first one to leave our house to live in some other place to work (which is Manila) but fate has taken me back here, home. It is maybe one of my most daring, risky and memorable experience of my life. In my opinion, living alone and independently has broaden my horizon, and made me a little wiser - not to mention see other places, faces and experience a different culture.

That experience has taught me a lot of things, from little mundane things of checking if the doors are locked after you go to work, cleaning the room, kitchen, CR to major things of controlling finances and expenses. I feel happy when I look back and see myself being responsible and mature enough to take care of myself. No one can take away what I learned from that experience. I am proud of me.

And now my younger sister at 24 is now heading to Brisbane Australia to try a new life. I'm totally excited for her. Hoping that she will have the courage to fight the homesickness and enjoy this opportunity to grow and be mature.

Our family is just here, waiting for your return. Godspeed Ajane.