Mountains and Beaches

March-April was a series of out of town trips-both for work and pleasure - Couldn’t complain about that

PARACELIS - We finally went back to Paracelis, Mt.Province last March17 to shoot the final leg of the Ehem! Video. Paracelis is such a hot municipality. Wish I could show you the sandal marks on my feet but because I’ve been traveling a lot lately, Paracelis cannot be blamed as the sole culprit for them. I also don’t have so much pictures since Kuya Chito (our videographer) hasn’t given me a copy of our pics yet. Trip was mainly for work but it was “byahe” nonetheless so it was a much appreciated trip.

Worth Mentioning – B, our Production Manager, fell off a pilapil on the way back from the falls we went to. It was such a scare! Good thing nothing major happened to her. It was a terrible thing to happen to someone especially if you have a crew who shows their love to you with their “pang-aalaska and panunukso.” Two weeks after though, B got one of the best news ever – she passed the bar!

(one of the controversial irrigation sites in Paracelis)

VANISHING ISLAND- Meron pala nun sa Davao? I actually didn’t know we had one until my highschool friends, Ella and Jang invited me to go there. It was a good swim, snorkeling trip. Davao is such a tease! New beach to discover and fun time with old friends was a simple reminder why Davao will always be home.

Worth Mentioning – Riding the Philippine Navy’s speedboat is so cool! But I will never do it again, not when it entails going to their main camp and having the entire troop look at you and your friends. (Thought Balloon – ilang buwan kasi silang nasa barko lang, kelan kaya sila huling nakakita ng mga babae?)

PUNTA FUEGO, BATANGAS – April18-19 trip to Punta Fuego with beloved Kuya Gil,SJ was supposed to be postponed for the 24^th. But summer class was about to begin and Kuya won’t be able to join us if the date will be moved so we had to push through. Barely 4hours in Manila (April17), I had to coordinate with Ate Maita to make sure we would go hit the beach the next day. I arrived at 9AM Monday, by 7AM the following day I was on my way out of Manila already. Talk about being such a “layas!”

Worth Mentioning – Kuya was all proud of the new arena goggles he got on Sale. In fairness, it was a good pair. Bagong bago and all… He left it on the shower of Terrazas de Punta Fuego though. This was after we reminded him twice to check the lockers. Tsktsktsk!! Pity naman si Kuya.

SAGADA – Yes, finally! Ate Norie and I have always wantedto go to Sagada since I moved here in Manila 4 years ago. After much planning and coordination we finally found the perfect date and company to go to Sagada. Thea, Ate Ray, Ate Mayette, Ate Reg, Ate Trina, Ate Jerlie, Ate Norie and I left for Bontoc April 27, 830PM. Yippee! April 28-May1 was marked as the Sagada weekend. Sagada scenery was just breathtaking (yes, also because of the walks we had to do, hehehe).

In one of my conversations with Ate Ray, during that arduous hike from the Big Falls, I told her I can’t really decide if I were a mountain person or a beach person. But I’m strongly leaning on being a mountain person. One reason I think is the color green which abound a good mountain area. Green is just so refreshing in the eyes. Another is the cool winds especially late in the afternoon and at night. Knowing that the wind is actually clean compared to the polluted air of the city is a bonus. Perhaps it’s the height too, being on top (not just because I’m so competitive and I like the feeling of being on top!). Being on higher ground gives me a wider perspective of what’s out there- what’s below. It’s an opportunity to see places, people and activities all at the same time. Being on top of a mountain just can’t take out the feeling of being closer to heaven -“yung parang nahahawakan mo na ang langit.” The serenity of a mountain’s peak gives the feeling of being closest to God.

Worth Mentioning – I had my first taste of marijuana in Sagada and I didn’t even know it. Darn it! One of the restaurant’s we ate in had a Chef notorious for drugging people through pastries he bakes himself. So night before hitting the big falls all of us couldn’t sleep, had heavy heads and some even had weird dreams and hallucinations.

(sorry no pictures of the beaches yet, the infrared of my computer's busted)