From Cebu To Manila

I was here in Manila three days last week. And now, I'm here again. I was here since Monday. Tomorrow I'll fly back to Cebu, but I'll be back here again on Tuesday next week for another meeting. You know, Manila is only an hour plane ride away from Cebu.

I usually take the 6AM Cebu Pacific flight. It means that I have to be at the Cebu airport before 5:15AM. But last week, I had my flight scheduled at 445am. My boss was even kidding me, "Are you sure you'd wake up in time so that will not miss your flight?" I nodded and confidently replied, "I had never missed a flight."

So the night before, I had everything readied. I set my cellphone to alarm at 3AM. I also did the same to my wife's phone. Two loud ringing phones just to be sure. It was almost 1AM when we dozed off.

I had a very good sleep, until I remembered my flight. The first thing that I did was to grab my cellphone. Wow! The clock says it's already 4AM. The cut-off is 45 minutes prior to departure. I rushed to the shower. But when the flowing water hit my face, I was like being hit in the head by a baseball bat. I complained to my wife and she just told me to relax. Relax? I'd miss my flight.

In 10 minutes, I was already waiting for a taxi. "Your fastest run to the airport" I told the taxi driver. It was more of a demand. He obliged and in ten minutes, we arrived at the domestic airport. I checked the airport clock. It's 420AM. I ran to the check-in counter and handed in my ticket. I was silently praying. I didn't bring enough cash in case I had to pay for a rebooking. I heard from the loud speakers that our flight is now boarding. "Did I miss my flight?"

I checked the boarding pass. I'm in the 445am flight! I called up my wife to report the good news. She said she was praying for me. I slightly massaged my forehead and took a deep breath. I didn't miss my flight alright, but I suffered from a severe headache and some body cramps that whole day.

New Zealand Dream

New Zealand is a very scenic place. The landscape is unbelievably awesome. I may just have seen the place in the books and in the movies but I really look forward to visiting the place someday.

A friend who recently migrated to that country affirmed the beauty of the place. He even posted pictures in his online photo album. He said the place is really suitable for the family. I cannot disagree with him. Even an ex-boss now lives there, and he spoke well about the place when he first visited it.

Good thing there is Cheaperthanhotels NZ so that travelers and tourists can be assured of year round discounts and accommodation all over New Zealand. Whether it would be in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown, there is an available comfortable place to stay. I’m looking forward to a romantic getaway with my wife in the future and perhaps visit the sites where they filmed the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It would be awesome!

I've Never Been To Palawan

They say that you’ve never been to Palawan if you were not able to visit El Nido and the underground river. If that is true, then I’ve never been to Palawan despite the picture evidences that I shall post here.

A military band met us at the airport. I don’t know if it’s just their normal greetings to visitors, or there might be some visiting dignitaries that arrived together with us. There were some pretty and interesting looking foreigners in the plane, but no one important that I know of. I think most of my co-passengers are tourists and I am the only one there who arrives for work.

At noon, I checked in at the Legend Hotel. The accommodation is excellent. They have free wifi access and it brought me joy despite my brief stay there. I met a cousin and he wanted me to stay another day and see the beauty of Palawan. The family of his wife owns a white sand beach in El Nido. "It's paradise, Manoy" he said.

But after failing to convince me, he said he hope that I'd be infected with the "comeback-comeback" virus. "I hope so" I replied mentally calculating the cost of coming back to the place for a vacation. Plane is around P7k round trip for 2. We can stay at our aunt's house in a town north of Puerto Princesa. It's already near to El Nido. Maybe we can just set up a tent in their paradise, and do island hopping. Ah, my mind is already imagining things.

What would you do around Palawan's capital city? The place is like another small town in Cebu. No Jeep, plenty of tricycles, no traffic, no malls. But I can hear the calling of the alluring paradise. My stay is less than 30 hours and I already looked forward to coming back.

Because I’ve never been to the important places in this last frontier, perhaps I’ve never really been to Palawan.

Honda Bay and El Nido photos plucked from wowphilippines website. It's something to look forward to in the future.

Taxi At 140kph

It was 3am when I flagged down a taxi for a ride to the Mactan, Cebu airport. My head was still groggy due to lack of sleep very much anticipating my trip to Palawan (via Manila). The road was dark and almost empty, like we owned the streets to ourselves. “The ride should be swift” I thought.

Then we ran over a hump. The tires’ axles may have screamed at the force that could break them. But the driver was unmoved. We’re moving like crazy and the speedometer swayed from 100 to 140 kph. The driver’s head swayed too. “Is he in a trance?” I asked myself but continued observing him.

We traversed the Marcelo Fernan Bridge like we’re in a drag race and we reached the airport in no time at all. I gave him a P30 tip for that.

Corfu, Greece

Corfu is one of the most popular tourist destinations of Greece and attracts thousands of visitors each year. It lies at the entrance of the Adriatic Sea and is the second largest island of the Ionian. It has some of the most beautiful beaches and resorts in Greece. Tourists will surely be fascinated by its emerald waters and the sandy or pebbled beaches all around the island. Some of the beaches have been awarded by the Blue Flag, the European guarantee for cleanliness. Near the sea, one can find plenty of bars and restaurant to refresh and satisfy one’s thirst or hunger.

One would also be amazed at the architecture of Corfu because of the unique combination of Venetian, French and English Architecture. The picturesque structures, mansions, luxurious hotels make Corfu a really elegant place. The hotels in Corfu can offer you all the luxury and the comfort that you wish to make your stay memorable.

Go check out Fantasticgreece.com from more destination guides in Corfu.

(photo of Potomaki Beach Hotel from Fantasticgreece.com)

To Palawan

I’ve never been to Palawan, that isolated island west of where I am. I heard it is paradise. I got to see it for myself. I’ll be there next week. But too bad it is not for leisure. My schedule is already full with meetings and trainings. I don’t know if I would have a time to meet a cousin I haven’t seen for years. If he is free past 9pm on Tuesday, perhaps we could enjoy coffee and a lively conversation. Too bad I only have less than 30 hours to breathe the Palawan air and perhaps kiss its soil.

But I promise I’ll be back another day.

Sunrise In Cagayan

Witnessing a lovely sunrise is a rare thing for me. I usually wake up late, when everyone else has timed-in for work. This time around, in a boat from Cebu to Cagayan, I woke up very early because of the noise of the people around me, not to mention the loud snore of the guy on the lower deck.

I washed myself, drank coffee, and climbed on the vessel's sundeck. The sun had just risen on the left side of the boat, so I picked up my cel and took a picture. I know the picturesque sight would be gone in a few minutes. The sight became lovelier a few seconds after I took the picture above. But I ran out of batteries. All I could do was let out sigh, but still thankful for the beautiful sunrise.

Dream European Destinations

I have never been outside the country. It’s one of my unrealized dreams. But I am slowly familiarizing myself with some countries and cities just by reading books and surfing the internet.

When I was in elementary, I was hugging the world atlas almost daily for a couple of months, memorizing the capital cities of all countries in Europe, Asia, North America, and most of Africa and South America. But the European boundaries changed after the fall of the Berlin wall and the collapse of USSR. I didn’t quite make any effort to update since then. But my European dream destinations remain the same: London, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Venice.

I don’t really have to worry about hotel accommodations. It is easy to book. Websites like EasytoBook.com offers large discounts and they even list down the different accommodations and the respective prices of the various hotels in my dream cities. My worries are my travel documents and of course, money. But for now, I’d just settle for dreams. It’s free.

The Australian Temptation

Six of my ex-colleagues now live in Australia. Four of my wife’s cousins happily reside there too. They speak wonderfully about the place and even invited us to try our luck at this thinly populated continent. The idea is really very attractive.

But what attracts me most every time I see pictures of Australia are the sites at the Gold Coast: The blue skylines, theme parks, the beachgoers, surfers and the long shore lines. I can imagine myself trying at a surf board or just lying flat on the beach. The hotels in Gold Coast seem like a stone-throw away from the sea. I can imagine exhilarating views of the ocean, the sunrise and the horizon.

Within Gold Coast is Surfers Paradise. It’s not only the surfers that go there, but also the tourists. One should not miss out this beautiful place. There are enough hotels in Surfers Paradise and it is not difficult finding an affordable one.

And if one is planning to visit South Australia, tasting the produce of local wineries, or just exploring what the place offers, finding hotels in Adelaide is not a problem. Check out Cheaperthanhotels for cheaper and great-value accommodations in Australia and in many parts of the world.

Commotion At The Airport

I was waiting for my evening flight to Cebu when there was a commotion at the domestic airport’s pre-departure area. It was not a bomb scare. But it felt like one for a mother who was milking her infant when a mentally ill person suddenly grabbed the bottled milk of her baby and sucked it for himself. She immediately ran way leaving her belongings.

Another waiting lady passenger jumped right away from her seat when the man suddenly faced her. She ran to the passenger assistance counter, and pointing her fingers at the insane man.

He never appeared violent. In fact, he looked so calm enjoying his milk. He stood up every now and then, and an old lady, who seemed to be her mother, kept holding him. Airline and airport security personnel surrounded the hapless man who was carrying 4 or 5 bags, two of which were not his. (He must be a porter since he carried them with ease.) He moved back and forth trying to evade everyone, including his mother. He never looked anyone in the eye, but rather on the floor. Maybe the airline delay agitated him, as he also kept on looking outside the glass window towards the parked plane.

I was only a few feet away so I just took the liberty of taking a picture. But it dawned on me: What are the rights of mentally ill person? Are they allowed to ride airplanes which may put every one else at risk? What if he was on the plane with us when his illness struck?

If I remembered it right, there was a hi-jacking incident a few years ago of a domestic airline. The culprit was a mentally troubled man. A steward was brave enough to face him. The man asked for a parachute. Then he jumped from the plane as if he knew anything about skydiving. The passengers were relieved. The steward was hailed as hero. The parachute didn’t work though.

Delayed Takeoff

I was still sleepy when I boarded the 635am plane bound for Manila. I must have slept for a few minutes when the plane positioned itself on the runway. Then it began to gain speed for the takeoff. But after a few seconds, the pilot stepped on the brakes causing a little commotion on the startled passengers. He announced that we have to return to the tarmac for a quick maintenance check up. That calmness of his voice was quite a relief.

I really didn’t know what I felt at that time. In my frequent travels, this is the first time I encountered such. No, it wasn’t fear. I just could not explain it. I immediately sent a text message to my wife informing her of our situation.

When the plane crew allowed us to go to the pre-departure area, as our scheduled departure was changed to 830am, I immediately left my seat. The first thing that came to my mind was to fill my empty stomach. I bought a bunwich and a cup of coffee. Good thing I met badminton acquaintance at the pre-departure area. The little chat about badminton and the plane’s mechanical problem seemed to have eased me a little bit. I returned to the plane upon hearing the final call.

When the plane safely landed at the Manila domestic airport, I whispered a short prayer thanking the Lord for the safe travel.

Manila - Flood, Traffic and Cabbies

I’m here in Manila since yesterday. I’m again expecting traffic, meetings and floods. With today’s outpouring, I’m sure the Manila streets will be flooded again today and in the next few days. Good thing we left the hotel early. We avoided the traffic and the flood. But I hope I won’t be stuck here. I have to go back to Cebu this Saturday to celebrate my birthday.

This morning we met an honest cabbie. Honest enough to tell us that his meter is not working properly and that we should only pay for the usual fare in our destination. I told him that from Malate to Paranaque, my fare is usually P150 though the meter reads only around 120-140 pesos. He agreed. He added that he informs his passenger beforehand about his defective meter to avoid arguments. But I told him that there is also the possibility that others could be fooled, so he’d better have his meter fixed asap. He said that he’ll do that once he has the funds.

In our conversation, I noticed his Bisayan tone. I was also trying hard to speak fluent Tagalog. We kept on pretending until he heard my companions speak Bisaya. He admitted that he’s Cebuano too. When we reached our destination, his meter reads P210. But I gave him the agreed fare, plus a little tip. No arguments there.

See You Soon

I’m not really good at saying goodbyes, especially if I’m the one left behind. Well, maybe except for the casual hellos and byes. But for the long-term, I’d rather say “See you soon in “the land down under”, or in New York, or in Hongkong” or wherever the destination. Fulfilling it would be difficult, but who knows? The world is getting smaller and smaller for us Filipinos.

Yesterday, we had a despedida for a colleague who will migrate to Australia. The family will leave for Sydney this Wednesday. The party was actually a birthday celebration for their 3 year old daughter, whom I am one of the ninongs. But it was also a time of saying goodbyes.

I asked the husband about how ready he is and he just smiled and replied that he is ever ready. I can see that they’ve packed up already. This migration thing got them so frustrated at one time, but when they received their confirmation, their excitement raised to the highest level. It was a perfect timing for the husband too, whose contract in a foreign cruise ship ended mid of September.

It seems that Australia is a very famous destination for Filipino CPAs nowadays. Six of my ex-colleagues from the auditing firm are already there. My colleague, even months before her scheduled arrival, already have plenty of job interview appointments. She said that she is very well prepared for the challenge. She even bought plenty of shoes.

Well, I wish you all the best, Kumare! And, see you soon in Sydney!

Chasing Summer

What is summer without a vacation? Summer ended so fast, like we almost totally forgot about it. In our last ditch to enjoy this year’s summer, we headed to a volcanic island somewhere in Mindanao.

Can you guess where that place is? From a distance, the island is really a breathtaking sight. I’d been to the place once. But it was because of work that I was there. Duh! Work gets into pleasure. But believe me, I had no intention of enjoying the place then, because of an unfinished work, and the lack of financial resources. I only had my traveling allowance.

Now that I’ve carefully scheduled the trip, some delays in the shipping lines almost aborted our plans. I was already in Mindanao because I took the Manila-CDO flight. But my companions were stuck in the delayed ship from Cebu.

Good thing everything went well despite the unexpected delay. It took us only a day to roam the island’s famous places. And we also took a dip at clear water of some sand bar. I really wondered where in the world did they get the fine white sand in the islet. Every place else around the main island have dark brown sand.

See, at this white island, every clear day is summer.

Refreshed

Isaiah 55: 12
“You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.”

After spending a day out there on the hills reflecting on God's wonders, and what He has done for me, it's like I'm breathing a much fresher air. It’s something that recharges my energies.

The feel of the mountain breeze against my face is so amazing. It’s not everyday we experience this. The worries may distract my attention. But it’s nothing compared to what God has done and will do for mankind.

-- -- --

There were three of us who went to enjoy the quiet and serene place. My wife prepared the food, while our friend did the driving. I would have wanted to ride this pony but I am not sure if it wants me. Too heavy perhaps. :)

Off to Somewhere

Everybody's on a vacation mode. No gloomy faces here in the office. Some had their bags packed already. Excited!

I'd be off to somewhere too: Someplace quiet and serene.

The Boat is Sinking

It was not a vacation trip. It was purely work. But for my colleague, it was a scary trip.

“I thought the boat was going to sink last night because of the big waves. I had difficulty sleeping. I wondered how you were able to sleep soundly. Did you hear the sound of the waves when it hit the side of the boat?” My colleague told me the other morning when we were about to disembark at the port of Ozamiz City.

“I was thinking of my small child and my wife. I was also thinking about how I’m going to swim to the nearest island” he continued.

I looked at him and can’t believe he was afraid. He’s an excellent swimmer, a member of the university swimming varsity team, and a tri-athlete. I’ve traveled by boat many times, and I considered this as just a normal trip.

I calmly told him “I was awakened by the waves that battered the boat. But I immediately went back to sleep. If we’re gonna sink, the crew will sound the alarm and announce ‘abandon’ ship.”

He could not believe my reaction. “But this cabin is located very far from the exit. Getting out would be very difficult”. I certainly agreed with him. But my thoughts were far from the disaster he was thinking.

This morning, on our return trip from Ozamiz, as we’re nearing the Cebu port, we had a little chat with our co-passengers. A woman of about 50 was traveling with her mom. She said that she went to the chapel last night and prayed hard because of the strong waves. Then our discussion went as far the bombing of the Superferry, and the sinking Princess of the Orient.

I told them how two of my high school classmates lost their fathers on the Princess of the Orient tragedy. Another co-passenger, also on his 50’s, told us that the boat we’re riding is the same boat he used to ride when he was still a teen-ager.

Oh, well! My officemate sighed and shook his head. This is just one of those risks in travelling. "What I am afraid of if the boat sinks" I told him grinning, "are sharks. I'm not wearing black socks."

Motion Sickness

I am excited every time I pack my bags, whether I travel alone or with some other people. But along with the excitement is my bout with motion sickness.

When I was in elementary, I feel nauseated even in a 30-minute jeepney ride. When I travelled by bus, vomiting was a normal thing for me. I pitied those who unfortunate souls who happened to sit near me. When I rode a boat to Mindanao, I brought along with me a plastic bag. It’s not easy for me. I puked in the boat. I threw up again in the bus.

When I was already working, there was this instance when we had to do cash count inside a vessel plying between Iligan and Siquijor. I couldn’t control myself and vomited outside the boat’s window. The captain offered coffee to ease the feeling. I did not show any sign of fear or embarrassment. I heard that another colleague of mine also vomited when he conducted cash count in another vessel. After the job’s done, I went to my assigned cot and slept for more than 15 hours, until we reached the Cebu port.

When I rode a non-aircon bus from Dumaguete to Mabinay, the winding roads caused some discomfort. I stopped the bus a few meters away from my intended destination, just to escape from the eyes of many people. A few seconds after the bus moved away, I turned my back and vomited. Then I walked towards a carenderia to buy coffee, as if nothing happened. Hard life!

But I had my triumphs. For one, the long trip from Davao to Cagayan via Buda. Then the many bus rides from Cebu to Bacolod via San Carlos and vice versa.

I thought I had fully overcome motion sickness until my recent trip to Ormoc. It was calm when Supercat left the Cebu port. But after 30 minutes of the supposed 2 and a half hour trip, strong waves rocked the boat. I heard cursing from elder people, wails from little children, and a lullaby from a mother who wanted to comfort her crying child.

Some suggested that we turn back. There was one who shouted that he’d punch the captain if he won’t reduce speed. I tried to comfort myself as if I was enjoying the waves. But I felt nauseated after seeing some people vomit. Then there was this smell of white flower liniment which for me, did not help relieve the feeling. I tried to close my eyes. I knew that I had to ask for a plastic bag, but there was no steward near. I tried to deflect the feeling by imagining my brain and trying to locate the nerve that caused the nausea. Then I fell asleep.

We arrived at Ormoc 30 minutes beyond schedule. I felt fine when I stepped outside Supercat. We took our breakfast before we proceeded to Tacloban. The hot soup somewhat relieved my stomach. But I can still imagine the sight of my own vomit.

Manila

It was summer of 1994 that I first set foot in Manila.

It was unplanned, at least for me. My dad wanted to schedule for an interview at the US Embassy, while I was on my way to school to enroll for my last year in college. I asked him if I could go with him. He agreed. So I hurried to school and used all my connections just to get enrolled within an hour. The boat, MV Mabuhay 1, was scheduled to leave at 12noon. We both had no tickets.

While inside the boat, I was observing almost anyone and anything near me. This I noticed: Upon departure, everyone spoke Cebuano. When the boat was about to dock at the Manila port, almost everyone spoke Tagalog. I was also tempted to do just the same.

After my dad’s unsuccessful attempt for a US Visa, we roamed around Metro Manila. I was hoping to bump into, or at least get a glimpse of some celebrities, but was disappointed. The first time I saw the tall buildings in Makati, I was really amazed. But I never imagined myself working in any of the offices there.

After that short visit, I pondered upon my future destination: Manila or Cebu? But I remained undecided and assured myself, “God is with me wherever I’ll go.”

A year and a half forward and I passed the CPA board. When I applied at the local PW office, the Partner asked me if I was willing to be assigned in any of their offices. Without hesitation I said ‘yes’. But there was a feeling of relief when he said that I’ll be assigned in Cebu.

From then on, I got the opportunity to travel to Manila twice or thrice a year. The longest of my stay was a 3-week audit assignment at a popular restaurant at Glorietta in 2001. At that time, there were changes in the organization. We heard that senior associates will be assigned for a year in Makati. I quit and transferred to another company before that took place. But in my mind, I had plans A, B and C.

Why not Manila? The lure for the vast job opportunities in Manila is just so tempting. Had I pursued any of my plan A-C, it would be difficult for me to return to Cebu. Some of my classmates who ventured into this large city were all successful in their field, but some still longed for Cebu.

Last night, as the Cebu Pacific plane took off from the Manila domestic airport, I took a look at the city from the plane’s window. Manila is huge and beautiful but this could never be my home. Someone is waiting for me in Cebu.

Who Can Stop the Typhoon?

The ASEAN Summit is postponed due to typhoon. And some personal plans had to be deferred.

I already imagined myself enjoying the white beach and the clear waters of Sta. Fe. But what can I do? Typhoon “Seniang” will hit the island tonight and tomorrow. Though our scheduled travel is still on Sunday, and the storm might probably weaken by then, the postponement of the summit quite normalized the schools’ calendar. So there will be classes, and the 4 or 5 teachers who were supposed to go with us, will now be reporting to their schools.

Ah Seniang! Incidentally, the typhoon has the same name as Aunt’s cook, whose temperament is also unpredictable. So here's a view of the typhoon’s path:



I just called up a colleague who is in Tacloban City right now. The typhoon is there at this hour. Not that strong, he says, but it will send big waves to the island paradise of Bantayan. I heard from my sis that not a single boat was allowed to leave both ports of Sta. Fe and Hagnaya. Her officemates are stranded there at this moment.

Dark clouds are covering the city right now, but a clear blue sky usually follows a storm. And I don’t have to whine and rant about the postponement of some happiness. Even the government cannot stop the typhoon.