1016 RESIDENCES - Ayala Business Park, Cebu City

1016 RESIDENCES - Ayala Business Park, Cebu City

1016 RESIDENCES - Ayala Business Park, Cebu City

1016 RESIDENCES - Ayala Business Park, Cebu City

Valentines Day at Sunburst, Cebu City

Sunday, February 14, 2010 I invited my wife to eat out. Since she is not willing to go to a restaurant who serve chili in their dish, we decided to eat at Sunburst, because this is one of the original or one of the longest staying eatery in this part of Visayas, ika nga mayroong history.

I remember that when I was still working in Cebu City with the Bureau of Customs, we have the habit of going out every friday to unwind (drink). Part of our destination is Sunburst, for the chicken dish they serve.

I also invited my eldest daughter Michelle to join us thinking that since I was not around during her birthday last January 24, 2010 she should treat me for a repeat of her b-day bash. We went to Sunburst Mango early, afraid that the restaurant might be full of people celebrating Valentine's day. Luckily the resto was half empty when we arrived.

Together with their usual fare of fried chicken, we ordered soup of "sinigang" shrimp, a vegetable dish, leche flan, ice cream, drinks for them and a bottle of pale pilsen for me.

It was a simple but still filling meal. After a short rest we immediately went back home even if my wife is asking to see the movie "Avatar". I told them to just a buy a DVD copy of the film and together we could see it in our own living room.

Photo by GME courtesy of Nokia N95

I'm not really in the mood of going out late because I wanted to rest my aching body and get a good and sound sleep. 

On my return home I took the "Supercat" to Ormoc at the early hours of the morning. We are about halfway in our travel when this beautiful sunrise between  Mactan and Camotes islands caught my eyes.

 I am still half awake and still sleepy when I suddenly gaze outside and see the sun slowly coming out of the horizon. I immediately took my ever loyal Nokia N95 and started shooting through the glass pane of the Supercat vessel.

That's why you can see the flash reflection at the upper right portion of the picture which seem to be

another sun hiding in the dark clouds above the deep

blue sea.We'll this is not a phenomenon, because sunrise and sunset are called dime a dozen in any part of the Philippines. Bye for now..........

A Day in Calanggaman Island...................

A day after our very successful MARILAO CLAN 2010 reunion we happily proceeded to Calanggaman Island which as of this date is becoming famous not only for local tourist but foreigners as well. We started our busy day by agreeing to rise at about 4 AM in the morning to begin our travel at 5 AM so as not to encounter the hot sun going to the said island. Our trip is almost perfect except for a small miscalculation of the boatman relative to the slicing of waves which should be taken seriously and attentively. For those who are new travelers, they might say that they almost capsize, but for the frequent travelers, they will say that its but a normal happening to see.

About an hour ten minutes, we arrived at Calanggaman Island safe and sound. Upon arrival we were greeted by a personnel of the LGU requesting to sign and register in the Record Book. Because we have paid the registration fees in the tourism office in Palompon, we were just ask if we need anything. When we answered in the negative, we were given the customary table and accompanying four chairs for fifty pesos as rental fee. 

Then after making sure that the things we brought in were in order, we decided to tour the island immediately and see again what changes had happened since we came to the island about seven years ago. Well, as far as the cleanliness of the island is concerned, it is not passable, meaning there is still a big job to be done. Tourist are very much concerned about cleanliness, so to attract more tourist in the island, we have to make an honest to goodness clean-up of the island for our own good and other visitors who are attracted to clean waters and environment. 

On the other side of the island is pictured above where rock formation abounds. This side is much cleaner because human beings seldom stays for a swim. They prefer the sandy beaches on the other side where dirt of every kind abound. Tourist local and foreign alike should be thought to take care of the garbage they brought along from the towns and cities they came from, like the plastic containers and other non-biodegradable materials that would take years to assimilate naturally in the soil.

In my tour of the island, where it took me more than an hour to finish. I was saddened to find so many fire embers as a sign of human negligence and wanton disregard of the natural ecology that should be maintained to preserved the balance of the natural habitat of birds and other nocturnal animals that shelters from time to time in the island. People should confine themselves in areas that would not scare the animals to give them the freedom they need to assimilate in the surroundings and multiply as necessary for their own survival.   

Pictured above are cottages being rushed for the benefit of would be tourist who want to spend some time in the island especially those who want to stay overnight. Some tourist bring their own tents to rest their tired bodies after taking a dip in the cold/hot waters of the island. They even cook their own provisions in a portable stove they brought along with them. Some even brought along portable generators to use at night and even to charge their cellphones, since the signal of all IT providers are very much available because the island is sandwhiched between Bogo City, Cebu and Villaba/Palompon/Isabel, Leyte. 

Before going home, I made sure that I can bring with me some fresh fish that I believe is available in the island since it is the melting pot so to say in that part of the island's fishing grounds. Most of the fishermen came from various parts of Palompon, Villaba, and Isabel, Leyte. Others came from the nearby city of Bogo where most of big time fishermen abounds. I was even lucky to see some fishermen relatives from Baranggay San Pedro, Palompon, Leyte who incidentally sold me their catch of about 300 pesos worth.  

The sad part of this saga is when it is time to go home and you still want to stay for a little while. Though we are already satisfied for the day long escapade, we cannot but miss the island, just promising to ourselves that there will be another time and for sure we will stay a little bit longer to appreciate the natural beauty and surroundings that won't be found in our own dwelling place. To Michelle who did not join us in this trip. Maybe next time na lang, tutal you have been to different places already. But Calanggaman Island is a better place to go to as can be seen by foreign tourist coming from Malapascua Island seeing to it that they are also brought to the beautiful island of Palompon, Leyte. We have seen some Korean tourist and some divers from Malapascua Island. Bye for now and till we visit you again "Calanggaman Island"..

Weekend at Alcoy, Cebu.......with my grandkids.

It was a hot sunny day when we proceeded to Alcoy, Cebu in our small car. It was so small that I decided to sit at the back together with our baggage and provisions for two days stay at a place we still don't know where to. We just decided to proceed knowing that our tourist guide daughter know the place. So without much ado......on we go.

As we go along, we have to pick up some important things needed in our trip, since the purpose of which is to celebrate the birthday of my youngest "apo" who is six years old this day, April 24, 2010. We picked-up a birthday cake from "Goldilocks" at EMall P. del Rosario/Leon Kilat Sts., a grilled chicken from a roadside vendor and a bag of ice cubes.

It was still early so conversation was lively from one topic to another. Since we are passing the South Road Properties our trip was smooth and without any hitch. So we arrived at our destination (around ten o'clock in the morning) at Alcoy after buying a kilo of "lechon" (grilled pig) in Carcar City. Finally, we arrived at our destination aptly named Sola (coming from the word solar - energy from the sun) Homes Beach Resort in the above named town.

After making the usual registration and payment to the resort caretakers, we immediately proceeded to eating some of our food provisions since we are scheduled for a long day in the beach.

By the way, included in our trip is my wife Connie, sons Michael and Mark, daughters Michelle and Marion and my two grand kids John Michael Anthony Anico and Matthew Alexander Siao. Not included in the trip is my other daughter Charis, a clinical instructor, who is still with her students at a Carcar City hospital wherein she promised to join us the next day, Sunday, if there's still time.

 It was really a beautiful day for everyone since the weather is not so hot and cooperating for a nice and wonderful day for a swimming lesson or two.

Well, sometimes a day that is so beautiful has to end,  especially if the time is of no concern to everyone. You won't be able to notice that the day has an ending also.

But whether you like it or not, an ending has to come so at night time we tried to make the most of our time by staying awake until midnight, since we decided to get back at the beach the next day because we are already leaving at twelve noon the next day.

The next day was a little bit sad for we are already on our way back home. But to make up for the short time that we spent in our little birthday celebration, we decided to go to the beach early so that we can check out from our room/house on time.

We have to wait also for our daughter who is coming in from Carcar City to join us. She did arrived on time at around 7:00 AM and was able to join us in the beach for another session with the calm and beautiful blue sea. It was one of natures best gift to mankind, that's why we have to take good care of this gift and not abuse it.

On our way home we decided to pass by the Natures Park in Argao, Cebu and see for ourselves some of man's best effort to recreate God's creation of nature. But it seems, no amount of man's best effort could duplicate the Almighty's little effort of giving man a natural habitat for humans and other God's creations.

But it seems God did not intend it this way. While God has given all his creation the freedom to live in this whole wide world, man is doing the reverse by enclosing and limiting the movement of some of man's best friends and companions.

Look at this guinea pig, who is suppose to be roaming free and wild in their natural habitat, but man is killing them by enclosing them in cages and destroying whatever is left of their natural forest living quarters.

Really man is enemy of the other creations, man who was created special by giving them additional quality of being able to understand and the so called higher form of specie that was trusted by God to take care and subdue other created beings, is making it hard for other living species.

After several hours of wall climbing, zip lining, boating, a visit to some zoo animals like rabbits, guinea pig, monkey, and more, we proceeded home tired but satisfied for the two days that we have spent together. It is really worthwhile sharing your time together with members of your family from to time even if it will cost you money.....money that is well spent for a little bit of bonding and home we go..........

Matnog, the last frontier of Luzon

We arrived Matnog tired and hungry, so we decided to take a bite from the local carenderias that abound in a place such as a seaport. We throw all cautions and beliefs about some people putting dreadful and deadly potions in foods intended for "to whom it may concern" or whomever is harmed. If you are hungry like ourselves, we can just God to protect us from the dangers of such moronic beliefs.

After a while we proceeded to the waiting lounge provided by the Philippine Port Authority, Matnog, Sorsogon. Tired as we are, we reclined and stretched our tired bodies in the plastic chairs made available to passengers waiting for a ride on board various ferry boats that shuttle across the San Bernardino Strait between the islands of Luzon and Visayas.

Around 12 o'clock we were called to embark on the first boat assigned to transport roll-on roll-off vehicles and people across the strait. Two hours later, we arrived safely to the other end, after which we again rode our assigned bus to prepare for our long trip home.

Early morning, we sighted the best landmark that divides the islands of Samar and Leyte, the San Juanico Bridge, the longest bridge during its time. But before continuing our trip we stopped by a roadside cafe and restaurant to again put something in our empty stomach and be recharged for a half day trip back home.

Since, the scene are quite familiar already, I decided to take a nap while the vehicle we are riding is traversing the long and winding road going to our place. It did not take long for me to sleep soundly, even though from time to time my head bumps a thing or two that wakes me up and look where we are already.

Finally we arrived home, looking tired but happy upon seeing the love ones waiting for us (they know since from to time they kept calling us through the cell phone where we are). After the usual greetings and kissings, and giving of pasalubongs, we stretched our tire bodies in the bed familiar to us day and night, in our own bedroom.

Sorsogon here we come..........

Tabaco City, the city before Legazpi City and the last before going to Sorsogon province before transfering to a boat going to Leyte at Matnog, Sorsogon the last town of Bicol region. We arrived quite late, so we have to wait for other passenger buses and trucks going to the next island of Samar. We took a late dinner and then proceeded to the waiting lounge of the Philippine Port's Authority in Matnog, Sorsogon. Our tired bodies was barely accomodated by the plastic chairs made available to all passengers waiting for the next trip to Allen, Samar provided by various shipping companies servicing the said Port of Matnog.

Sorsogon is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region; it is the southernmost province in Luzon and is subdivided into fourteen municipalities (towns) and one city. Its capital is Sorsogon City (formerly the towns of Sorsogon and Bacon) and borders the province of Albay to the north. Sorsogon is at the tip of the Bicol Peninsula and faces the island of Samar to the southeast across the San Bernardino Strait and Ticao Island to the southwest.