DarKStalkeR

It’s raining?!…S**t!!! That’s how we reacted after waking up and saw that the weather decided to gave out a little more than just a blessing for our vacation.  As if it’s not enough, PAGASA announced that there is a low pressure area forming near the Philippines. Determined to spend the last stint of our vacation in Boracay, we continue on with our journey in high spirit.

Six and a half hours. That’s how long our travel from Iloilo to Boracay. We arrived at the bus terminal in Iloilo at exactly 7am and from there we took a joy ride (you could say that) and passed by the province of Roxas and Aklan. It is a joy ride indeed coz we got to see a lot of province and at one point, I imagined “Aswangs” and “Manananggal” lurking in the province of Kalibo when we passed by, and of course we were able to eat a bunch of street food or shall I say bus food along the way, and I’d say that my personal fave would be the mini Buko Pie.

After 3 Bus stops and a gazillion of different sitting positions, we reached the beautiful town of Caticlan. From there we took a 10 minute pump boat ride headed to Boracay. I can’t contain my excitement when I saw the beach of Bora. Suddenly, alot of good memories rushed back in to the point that I almost texted my college friends whom I’m with when my first time in Bora.

Originally, we have a reservation but because of the unexpected travel hours and consideriing that we don’t have any cp network coverage most of the travel time, we failed to communicate with the person who arranged our reservation, and coz of that, she acted so unprofessional that we decided to just look for another place. Fortunately, we were able to get a very nice place in the Beach front of Station 1. The La Fiesta Resort.

We were able to get our room for 500 pesos a night per person. Not bad for an airconditioned room, with 2 big beds, 1 small bed, a cable tv, a fridge and a hot&cold shower. By the way, you can also cook your food if you have any.The first thing that we did in Boracay aside form eating our lunch is survey the Island. Surprisingly, the weather is perfect in Boracay. The sun is not really up and it’s not raining either and so it’s not so excruciating to walk along the beach to take our pictures. And Lord, we really did took our time to take pictures.

That is just actually a micro-mini-small portion of the 500+ pictures that I had for Bora. After the 2 hour photoshoot, we went to Jonah’s Fruitshake and Restaurant. It has been hailed as the maker of the best fruitshake which can only be found in Bora, and heaven, their fruitshake is sooo good that it will be a sin not to taste it if you are in the island. For 75-90 pesos, you will already experience the tropical fruitshakes at their finest and I’d personally recommend for you to order those with rhums. It will give you a whole different experience.

We spent the rest of the day taking pictures with all the different castles that can be found in the island. We also had our henna session with two first-timers. Of course, our day will not be complete if our skin will not be touched by the sea and so we jumped in and had our night swimming. The water is so warm that we were able to last for almost an hour before we decided to call it a day.

        I’d like to stop blogging about my Visayas trip for a moment coz I really like to thank the Lord for all the blessings that He is giving my family for the past few weeks.

         It all started when my sister announced that she’s pregnant after all the months of waiting, then my eldest brother won 6 times in Game KNB? with 4 showcases while my other brother already confirmed that he will be marching this coming March 25 for his college graduation. 2 days ago, my better half passed the Nursing Licensure Examination for November 2008 batch and to top it all, today, I received the news that I was promoted as a Team Leader Trainee for Convergys Uverse Account in UP Science Park and I’ll start on Monday right away.

        Indeed, It’s true that when it rains, it pours. I hope that it won’t stop yet, especially today that I bought a lotto ticket for the 300 million jackpot! pag nagkataon e hindi na ito ulan lang, baha na itoh!!  hahahaha!!!

Guimaras is really the perfect place to take a relaxing break from the fast paced city life. It’s so tranquil you’d think twice to leave the island. After staying overnight, I feel like I’m a new person already. Sadly we had to leave and move on to our next destination. Yes, our vacation is not over yet. We are just halfway thru it. hehe!

Before leaving the island, we bought souvenir shirts from Raymen Beach Resort with cute colored Guimaras prints and of course, it will be a sin not to buy mangoes from Guimaras. It is after all their trademark and honestly, It is the sweetest mango that I was able to taste in the Philippines. At first, my plan is to buy 1 Kaing of mangoes but when I saw my friends reaction, I just limited myself from a few kilos instead. hehe! Adik ako sa mangga eh.  Unfortunately, we were not able to go to Trappist to buy more souvenirs, coz Raj can’t wait to go back to Iloilo.

Back in Iloilo, we did nothing but eat. We left our baggages in Raj’s sisters office and went straight to Buto’t Balat Restaurant to eat lunch. We ordered Binakol (a different version of Native Tinolang Manok),  Mixed Spicy Sea Food, Adobo Rice and Mango Shake…again. Buto’t Balat took us to another level of food tripping. Kanin pa lang kasi e ulam na. Sobrang sarap talaga. I would recommend this place for all you guys who loves to eat. hehe!

After our lunch, we went to Robinsons and bought our souvenir shirts for Iloilo and then we headed to SM Supermarket and bought our “baon” for our Boracay trip for the next day. The whole time Raj is missing in action for a potential quickie.

While waiting for Raj, we stayed at Coffee Shop at the Iloilo City Proper. For just 90pesos or cheaper, you’ll already get a Triple Choco Latte or Black Forest Ice Blended Coffee and I’d say it tastes as good as the coffee shops here in Manila. Moveover Starbucks! hehe! While waiting for our coffee, ayaw namang paawat ni Ann, bumili sya ng Andoks chicken. Baka iba daw lasa. Haha!

At Dinner, Ate Tess gave us a lift to Tatoys Restaurant which is like 30-40minutes away from the city. According to Ate Tess, “Hindi pa kayo nakapunta ng Iloilo kundi kayo nakakain sa Tatoys!”. So without further ado, we ordered their native roasted chicken (their specialty), Sinigang na Blue Marlin and Crablets. After eating dinner, It’s official that we were able to stay in Iloilo. hehe!

Before we went home, Ate Tess gave us a trip around Iloilo City proper and we went to Smallville. It is the “Eastwood” or “Malate” version of Iloilo. Unfortunately, we are all not properly dressed to go to any Bar or party so we all call it a day and headed home to rest for tomorrows long trip to Boracay.

Do we look excited? haha!  Indeed, we are very thrilled for our second destination - The Guimaras Island! We were told that the  fastest route to the island is by means of a pump boat which is about 10-15 minutes ride from Iloilo City. Nevertheless, we still prepared our things the night before and woke up early for us to be able to get to the Island as early as we can. We are really not that excited. hehe!

When the clock strikes @ 9AM, we are already on the Ortiz Port and our pump boat is already waiting for us.  The ticket for the pump boat costs 15pesos and after 10 minutes, we are already in the Jordan wharf in Guimaras.From there, multicabs and jeepneys are waiting for passengers and “bakasyunistas”. Multicabs will cost a group of 5 pax a thousand pesos for a private transportation to any resort you wish to go while public jeepneys will just cost you 35-50pesos each. What’s their difference? you’ll arrive at the location of your choice 15-20minutes earlier when you are with multicabs coz public jeepneys have stop overs that will cause some little delays on the schedule which I personally think that’s just OK.

Raymen Beach Resort is our choice of vacation spot in Guimaras. It’s just 45minutes to an hour ride from Jordan wharf. We arrived at the resort at exactly 11AM and we were able to get a room for 5 pax for just 1000pesos. It’s a Beach Front Fan Room with two queen sized bed, it’s own toilet and bathroom and a little balcony. After securing our things in the room, the first thing that we did is ate lunch. We ordered their chicken barbecue and mango juice. We were also able to watch the fourth game installment of my brother in Game KNB? where he won for the fourth time and he also got his fourth showcase. Galing!! We are cheering all the way to Guimaras for him.

Right after lunch, we scheduled our first activity for the day, an adventure of a lifetime — Island Hopping Guimaras style! The speed boat costs 450pesos for the first hour and additional 150pesos for each succeeding hours. At 2Pm, our boat is already sailing and already headed on our first destination. below are the highlights of our Island hopping:

A visit to the Sea Turtle Sanctuary. It is really amazing to see and touch a “Pawikan” in the flesh. It’s already endangered, and it’s a good thing that the sanctuary takes care of them. As what “manong” said, “Nilalagyan namin sila ng tag at pinakakawalan din pag pwede na.”

We passed by the Fairy Castle and landed on the beautiful and untamed Island of Ave Maria. My favorite so far. To our hearts delight, we had our photoshoot and stike our posed like there’s no tomorrow.

Our adventure continues in the Baras cave. Our boat literally went inside it. You will be able to hear the bats and smell their guano. We stop at the Baras beach resort and our photo session continues.

We also passed by the Turtle Island and the Island of Lamurawan and stopped at Sol Y Luna Island. It is again one very beautiful Island. The water is so clear you can see the magnificent coral formation at the bottom. it is also a safe place to swim coz there’s no current on the water. Looking at the island, it’s like a paradise that is needed to be explored.

Natago Beach and Naburot Island are the last two Islands that we saw during the island Hopping and just before sunset we arrived at Raymen Resort where only our group and 3 couples are the current guests. I really felt like that we owned the Island for a moment. hehe!

We spent the rest of the day swimming in the beach of Raymen Resort. Our third day of vacation happens to be our 26th monthsary as well and so far, every minute of time we spent together,it just keeps getting better and Guimaras Island happens to be our witness. We couldn’t ask for more.

            If you want to relax and escape the busy life in the city, go on vacation and make sure that it’s not just simple and ordinary one…dapat yung bonggang bongga!!!  haha! Well, that’s because you deserve it with all your hardwork. Spend a part of your savings, travel and treat yourself, and that’s just what we did. To the highest level ang bakasyong itoh! hehe!

            It lasted for 8 days with 3 destinations in our very own exotic Panay Islands. I’m with my betterhalf and my 3 long time friends at the office - Ann, Mommy Huds and Raj who happened to be my travel companion in Puerto Princesa, Palawan as well.

            So far, this is my vacation that I wont forget in my lifetime.

First Day - Touchdown to Iloilo (Feb. 3, 2009)

             Aboard the Cebupacific Air we are bound to Iloilo with one common thought - “Malayo na kami sa office! Haha!”  

              The plane departed and arrived within schedule (11:10AM-12:10PM) which is what I love with the airline.

               Raj also took home a Cebupacific bag from their  On-The-Plane-Bring-Me-Game. They are looking for somebody who is celebrating his birthday today, and Yes, it’s Raj’s birthday that day. Without proof that it’s his birthday, they gave him the goodie bag as a “gift”, fortunately for him, he has a flight steward friend named Hazel on the other plane. An inside job that is. haha!

               Upon arrival at the New Airport of Iloilo, you’ll find Taxi Services available. Prices range from 300pesos upward and there are also metered cabs right outside the airport but for us, we have “sundo“. hihi!

                Raj’s eldest sister - Ate Tess is waiting at the airport. She will become our favorite person eventually. hehe! We stayed on her cute crib in a subdivision located at Pavia. It only takes 30minutes from the airport to her place and 15-20minutes from her place to the city.

                We also met Manang Buds, she cooks the most delicious food in Iloilo.     

               After eating our lunch, our first destination actually is a very rare establishment that can only be found in Iloilo - The SM City Iloilo! Bwahahaha! Funny, but we all wanted to watch the movie Underworld. hihihi! Unfortunately it’s still not showing so we just decided to plan the things that we will be buying for our trip.   

               Our Church Hopping started right after we surveyed the whole Mall and we headed to the Jaro Church where you’ll find the Candelaria Virgin Mary. The jaro Church is just 10-15minutes away from the City Porper. It is believed that the Candelaria Virgin Mary is miraculous, the locals says that it grows year after year.                                                

                                                    After visiting the Candelaria Virgin Mary, and without any rest yet, we went to Jo’s Inato. Our first food tasting for Iloilo cuisine. We were told that it is the original inasal from Iloilo that can’t be found anywhere else. To our hearts delight, we ordered their specialty chicken with rice even if its only just 3 in the afternoon. The chicken is so tasty, it lived by it’s reputation, masarap talaga sya and I was not disappointed. Bagay sa kanya ang label na sagad hanggang buto ang sarap. hehe!

                                                       We almost forgot our names coz of the tasty chicken but we remembered that it’s Raj’s birthday so we bought a Red Ribbon Tiramisu Cake and had a celebration along with Ate Tess, Manang Buds and his pamangkin at home and ate our dinner cooked by manang Buds. Nawala ang pagod namin at nagising kami sa sarap ng Molo soup ni Manang Buds. Wah! Miss ko na! Argh!

               This is just our first day, it ended up with a little celebration at walang katapusang kainan. hehe!

My brother won the game in channel 2 hosted by Edu Manzano today in GKNB! He defeated the defending 3 days champion Angel and he earned 49k and a gadget showcase (cellphone, ipod and portable dvd) so far! It’s already pre-recorded and I know how much he is already getting right now and how many more showcases he already got! HAHAHA! Yes, he is still the defending champion as of this minute and they still have taping in Channel 2. Watch the show this whole week - Feb. 2-6 at about 11:15am-12:30PM.

I hope that I could still watch tomorrow coz I’ll be on my way to Iloilo, my first destination for my Visayas Trip with Bry, Ann, Raj and Judy. I hope CebuPacific Air can get the airing for GKNB while on the trip. Wah!

Kuya Ish, Goodluck! Balato naman dyan! Akin na lang yung ipod! HAHAHAHA!

At last…I have phone and DSL again in my new crib!

Yey!!!

Everything happened so fast. Last friday, I decided to subscribe for DSL and phone with Globelines. I got a call 2 days after that, come Monday, it’s already installed and now…I dunno where to start blogging. hehe!

I’m hoping that this is a good service though.  So let me start working it!

Ciao.

I love this song. This is my favorite single in her album E=MC2. Though I’m not sure if I like the video but I don’t care…hehe! The important thing is that she continues to write songs and create great music and that’s why I love her to bits… hope that I could post a link here for the song itself… (sigh)

I Stay In Love
by Mariah Carey

Ohhhhhh……
Oh baby
Baby, I stay in love with you

Dying inside cause I can’t stand it
Make or break up
Can’t take this madness
We don’t even really know why
All I know is baby I
Try and try so hard
To keep our love alive
If you dont’ know me at this point
Then I highly doubt you ever will
I really need you to give me
That unconditional love I used to feel
It’s no mistaking
We’re just erasing
From our hearts and minds

And I know we said let go
But I kept on hanging on
Inside I know it’s over
You’re really gone
It’s killing me
Cause it ain’t nothing
That I can do
Baby, I stay in love with you

And I keep on telling myself
That you’ll come back around
And I try to front like ‘Oh well’
Each time you let me down
See I can’t get over you
Now no matter what I do
But baby, baby
I stay in love with you

Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Baby, I stay in love with you

It cuts so deep
It hurts down to my soul
My friends tell me
I ain’t the same no more
We still need each other
When we stumble and fall
How we gon’ act
Like what we had
Ain’t nothin’ at all

What I wanna do is
Ride shot-gun next to you
With the top down like we used to
Hit the block
proud in the S.U.
We both know our heart is breaking
Can we learn from our mistakes
I can’t last one moment alone
Although I know

We said let go
But I kept on hanging on
Inside I know it’s over
You’re really gone
It’s killing me
Cause it ain’t nothing
That I can do
Baby, I stay in love with you

And I keep on telling myself
That you’ll come back around
And I try to front like ‘Oh well’
Each time you let me down
See I can’t get over you
Now no matter what I do
But baby, baby
I stay in love with you

We said let go
But I kept on hanging on
Inside I know it’s over
You’re really gone
It’s killing me
Cause it ain’t nothing
That I can do
Baby, I stay in love with you

And I keep on telling myself
That you’ll come back around
And I try and front like ‘Oh well’
Each time you let me down
See I can’t get over you
Now no matter what I do
But baby, baby, baby
I stay in love with you
( I stay in love……)

Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Baby, I stay in love with you
I stay in love

Today is exactly the day that Bryan and I first met and I can still remember … I was late then. haha!

I was so nervous and since I’m late, I bought him chocolate as “suhol” so that he will not ditch me. hihi!

We watch the movie “The Departed” in Gateway, and after that, we went to Zirkho Greenhills with my friend Joma and his girlfriend (ex na ngayon :D) for the Holloween special.

It was so fun.

I knew then that he will earn a permanent place in my heart forever.

2 years had passed and my feelings already changed…

It’s deeper now…

It’s stronger…

and I’m very happy and blessed that he is feeling the same way.

Below is our pic at Zirkho!