Laguna Loop

It was almost a few days in Sagada, then a weekend in Balai, finally it settled into the long overdue Laguna Loop with the girls. It does sound too near to be exciting, but its a road trip highly recommended for those who want to know what's just outside Manila. I discovered and re-discovered so many things.

...such as that road that starts at the Ortigas Extension actually loops around Laguna de Bay and ends up on the South Expressway upon returning to Manila. How amazing! We took off from Ortigas at around 9am on Saturday (alright 10 am because I was late as usual) and shopped for supplies at the 7-11 at the junction to Tanay.

Its so true that anywhere in the world, some of the most beautiful art can be found in churches. I think we visited a total of 5 churches through our trip, and caught 4 weddings in the process. Throughout the route we stopped at the town churches of Taytay, Morong, Lumbang, Paete, and Pagsanhan. The exteriors of the churches speak of the history of the towns that saw Christianity in the 1600s, even as most churches were just rebuilt after being damaged by fire or war.

Flame trees were a common spectacle along the roads and in the church grounds. Wish they would bloom year round.

Ainee, Gigi & Marj in a photo meant for a travel magazine.

The Dambana ng Kagalakan columns stand outside the Angono Church, and though I don't know what it means exactly, it must be something happy right?

Morong Church.

Historical facts about the Lumban Church.

Paete Church...looks so much like the wood carvings they're known for!
The interiors of the churches are so influenced by European and Spanish architecture, I felt like Robert Langdon trying to break the secrets of the Da Vinci Code. Yes, there were pyramid and sun structures in the art as well as the distinctly Catholic images.


This is one of my favorite pictures...Ainee has a very serene face it seems like she's always content. Very apt for her church surroundings!

Of course the church visits were never complete without a prayer. Believe me, the girls knew exactly what to ask for.

We were very lucky to find Bulawan floating restaurant, which was our first lunch of the road trip. The restaurant is right by the main highway in Pililla, and is a cute enterprise sitting on a big fishpond, while the view away from the road looks out to Laguna de Bay. Highly recommended fare: Inihaw na Pla-pla.
We also drove around Caliraya Lake in an attempt to find housing for the night, but the place was just too rich for our blood. So we ended up at Pagsanhan Falls Lodge...bringing back many childhood recollections of me shooting the rapids with my family who is orignally from that area.

The thing that made this road trip great was actually the company I kept. So well into the night (armed with red wine and a bottle of GSM Blue), we toasted our fabulous lives (things look so much better with a round of liquor), and gave ourselves up to the Sandman in our small but comfy room (with a haunted bathroom!).

The next morning we gathered up our dwindling "kitty fund" to take a trip down the Pagsanhan river. It was so memory-laden for me as I remember going down the same river looking up at the trees jutting out of the mountainside...stopping at the rest area for delicious chicken barbecue...and finally getting to the main waterfall after a 30-minute boat ride that demonstrated the ingenuity and stamina of Pagsanhan boatmen. One thing i did NOT remember from my childhood was how it felt to cross under the waterfall to get to the cave behind it. I almost thought I wouldn't make it but I did! All it took was a deep breath and some internal pep talk...and it can be applied to so many things in life you thought you couldn't do...until you tried.

Oh and the other thing I didn't remember from childhood...I hadn't realized that were quite a bit of good looking boatmen. Shame we didn't have a camera during the river jaunt!

On the drive home we stopped by my dad's grave in Sta. Cruz which I hadn't visited in ages. Its funny how I got a reminder from him through Marj, who's blessed with a third eye. I have to go back there soon to correct his name on the grave. But more than that simple reminder the bigger picture...that he watches out for us too.

One of our last stops along the way home was the University of the Philippines Los Banos to buy fresh milk. Unfortunately, the dairy farm was closed but we did stop for a cute picture. Now do you know what the girls prayed for?

We got distracted with buying milk, cheese, crabs, lamps (!) along the way home so we grabbed dinner at Grace's Bulalo, right before the exit to the South Expressway. Highly recommended fare: Bulalo (err, its obvious).



Credits for the trip: Gigi for her planning and fabulous style; Marj for the transport, the infectious laugh and optimism; Ainee for her poise and "game-to-do-anythingness".

Boracay this year

My excuse for being in Boracay was a cafe assembly for Boracay cafe owners...yes all fifteen of them! I did my job, visited 3 beachfront internet cafes, checked out the brand new signage we paid for....then I got down to real work!

  I added another henna tattoo to my week's collection, this time a glittery butterfly on my lower back.  I wish I could've kept it longer, but that would've meant avoiding the water entirely! For those who want the same, it costs P150 at the tattoo artists in front of El Torro at Station 1. It lasts 5-10 days.

For this short 2-day trip, I actually made some effort to spend time by myself.  Not that one can ever be alone in Boracay, but its quite different to sit on the sand by yourself and watch the world go by. Peaceful in a way, though the rest of the beach was in constant flux with people and boats coming and going all the time.  Also liberating, to be able to manage your own time, not having to consult with other people for mealtimes and  "mini-outings." Of course, I did my shopping and massage staples, and walked up and down the beach so many times I kind of hoped I'd end the day with a 6-pack abdomen (it didn't happen).

I entered one internet cafe and wondered why they were wasting their time teaching very dark and slightly dusty kids to play Ragnarok, when I was told that these were the kids who create the beautiful sand art at night. Yes, those castles and dolphins and  turtles lit by the light of the moon and glowing candles in the evenings, but get washed away by daytime. They make money in the form of "donations" in front of their masterpieces, then they turn around and go to the internet cafes to spend money on games.  Guilt struck me at the thought that perhaps they should spend their hard earned money on more important things...but then I also wondered, they're kids too, don't they deserve playtime and games as well?

Boracay has changed very much from the first time I was there about 3 years ago, so much more crowded when even back then I thought it was already bursting at the seams.  But one thing's remained gorgeous...the sunset over the clear blue seas and white glowing sand.

RPC Experience (off track to Subic)

And the heat gets even more intense in the Olongapo Finals of the Ragnarok Philippine Championships with hotshot players duking it out for the chance at a MILLION PESOS....

Ok that's just Mon and Dennis being really geeky and playing DOTA on the beach. Man, only in this company can you find people who actually bring networked laptops to play games in front of a gorgeous ocean view!

I have 3 major "will try to do's" whenever I go out of town, for work or pleasure:

1) Eat crab.
2) Have a massage.
3) Go to the beach.

So I finally got sick of posting group shots of us in those blue jackets posing on the RPC stage, and instead held out for shots of the fading sunlight on Subic beach.


Now doesn't this group shot look so much better?

Or this...



Take note that this side trip to the beach was done on"Make-up Monday", which is in replacement to my weekend work, where I suffered and toiled. Check out the marks of my suffering (that's me in blue).


We got those henna tattoos for P80 apiece outside the convention Hall. Much cheaper than if you got them in Manila or Boracay. One thing about Subic, it may be really small but its gotten very interesting. My favorite new restaurant row is Daddy Ed's, beside Pier One and a whole bunch of other bars and restaurants. Day or night, its got a beautiful view of the ocean, sort of like the Manila Bay boardwalk, but with less stench and more sand.


On my 1st night in Subic, I hung out with 7 Shots, this really cool and down-to-earth R&B/Hiphop group who we've worked with for the past 2 years. The guys were lovely enough to stroke my...ego. They also gave me sage advice about guys. And I commend them for attempting to explain the male mentality!

Picture of me and Pat, who's trying to grow his hair long same as me. Eerily, we look like we have the same hair in this picture. Except he's the one wearing a clip.

Here's a quick game for you...count the number of times you see me holding a beer bottle in pictures on my blog. Gad, am I turning into an alcoholic?

RPC Experience (Davao Chapter)

This time the setting is SM Entertainment Plaza Davao.  And as opposed to my shopping spree that led me to buy a cool Hedgren laptop backpack in Cebu, this time I took it slow with small purchases at SM Surplus shop. God save me from mall events!

This is Drake, the cute widdle baby of our Mindanao Marketing Coordinator Ciara.  At last, a baby who didn't detest me on sight!

Didn't I tell you the pictures were starting to look alike?  Here's the Level Up marketing team with Momentum and the rock band Kamikazee.

More Level Up, the marketing team joined by other departments.

On our last night in Davao, after my requisite "massage when i'm on an out of town trip", we hung out by the poolside of the Regency Hotel.  This hotel in the Guadalupe area of the city reminds me very much of Melrose Place. Villa style apartments surrounding a swimming pool. The only kicker was the big "P180 only short time" sign outside the hotel. Seems to be a new (or maybe not) trend in less classy (read: cheap hotels) in the country having a family hotel combined with garage rooms for the local lovers. And I thought Victoria Court had a unique concept! Regency's Day Spa also sported an "aquarium" with masseuses specializing in extra service. Truly a one-stop shop for everyone's relaxation needs.

Here's me and Jay of Kamikazee. Truly a crazy rock group, but they're absolutely hilarious! These guys are drunk all the time except when performing, but they're charming, down to earth and friendly for all that.

Of course the joke of the night was Kamikazee's attempt to corrupt the men of Level Up. As you can see in the pictures, it was extremely entertaining, and slightly gross.





The night ended with me conked out in bed because Jake threw me in the swimming pool. Hit my head on the gutter and suffered a huge bump. Don't worry, he drowned himself in guilt the whole night.

 

RPC Experience (Cebu Chapter)

The Ragnarok Philippine Championships started out as an exciting and ambitious project for the game...but personally turned out to be a long series of deja vu moments for me.  Different venues, different guilds, same people, same places.  I still enjoyed myself though, and I'm very luck to be in the company of like-minded people who are loads of fun (but still know how to work hard).


Day 1(April 24) with Jake, Phil, Jojo and Mon.

Day 2 (April 25) with the same group.  At least we changed clothes!

Moonstar 88's lead singer Mayshal. I've been told I look like her from certain angles....wish I could be a rock chick in a band too!

I think the only thing that changes from place to place are the nights out. In Cebu, we went drinking the 1st night,and had lechon and videoke the 2nd night in a hut that overlooked Cebu City. Yummy!