Bacolod-Iloilo-Guimaras with Paksyon Part 2

We took the 5pm ferry to Bacolod. Met this hardworking dog, sniffing all the bags to ensure the passengers' safety.

We arrived in Bacolod around 7pm. We were booked at the Northwest Inn. We were so tired but cabs and trikes just wouldn't let us ride on their normal rate. Good thing there was this manong jeep who was kind enough to take us to the inn at a minimum fee.

We took the roof deck room for more bonding time. Had some extra beds but still put some effort to rearrange the room so we could take our telenobela photos.

pang drama ito, bawal ngumiti!

Lent 2013

I was raised as a Protestant. Growing up, I never had to experience not eating meat during lent except for fish. No fasting... In contrast to the Catholics, our observance of lent is more of a celebration... thanking what the Lord has done to save us from our sins.

My father's side was Catholic. Whenever we were with our nanay and mamay, they would always say to keep our tones down. Well, it was almost a sin to be happy during lent.

I remember not long time ago, we went to a resort on a Black Saturday. We were the only family checked in . The pool was our own to enjoy. Other people only started checking after the salubong on Easter.

When I came to work this afternoon (well, yesterday), Maundy Thursday, I was surprised that the food served were pork adobo and chicken ala king. There's red meat! And dinner, it was grilled chicken and beefsteak.

I am fond of tradition. I am no Catholic but hey, it's part of my culture growing up in this country. It just that what's happening now feels weird and wrong.

Bacolod-Iloilo-Guimaras with Paksyon Part 1

In 2005, I joined Sykes as a technical support agent for one of the largest telecommunications company in the US. I was lucky to be with a group of wonderful people whom I became friends with until now.

One day, my circle of friends were discussing some issues (well, every company has those) and we were called into a room we fondly call bartolina (prison solitary confinement) by our team lead, Arvin. He then started pointing to us one by one, saying, "ikaw, ikaw, ikaw, ikaw... mga paksyon kayo eh!" (you, you, you, you... you have a faction!). And that is how we got our name, Paksyon.

Fast forward to 7 years later... we are no longer with Sykes. While some of us stayed in the country, some has gone to Singapore, Australia, the Netherlands and anywhere else in the world. Our "OFW" friends have decided to come home for a Christmas vacation so we set to have reunion of sorts in Bacolod where Arvin is now based.

Capones - Nagsasa

I can't remember exactly how I learned that I was signed up for a camping trip. All I know is that I can't back out. I don't know why all of a sudden, friends at work decided to be outdoors-oriented and I was tagged along with them.

Camping... is something at the bottom of my list when going out of town. I'm actually glad that I'm done with scouting and CAT so the idea of going on a camping trip is basically out of my head (except on an expedition to Mt. Pulag). But if and only if there is no other choice but to camp, the only time that I would say yes is if there is a decent (clean) rest room with running fresh water.

I was assured that there were clean rest rooms in Nagsasa. We marked our calendars to save the last weekend before Christmas for the trip. Uh-uh, my Christmas mode was off until I returned from camping (except for those times I had to shop for presents for my family).

The itinerary was basically depart from Makati at late Friday night, arrive at Pundakit early Saturday morning, set camp at Nagsasa and stay there whole Saturday morning, sidetrip to Capones Island before leaving for home Sunday. I asked to have it revised to go to Capones Island on Saturday instead so when we leave on Sunday we won't be drenched in salt water and they agreed.

The trip to Zambales was fine. We weren't able to sleep in the van since manong driver seems to be in a hurry. We arrived in Pundakit before 5am and it was still dark... had a short break to eat a little (thank you office for our supply of Gardenia bread and mayonnaise/sandwich spreads we were able to prepare some egg sandwiches) and pee before sailing to Capones Island.

Baguio Revisited Part 2

We were really tired in our first day. We originally planned to get up early to pick some strawberries in La Trinidad then visit BenCab Museum and dine at Cafe Sabel. But we woke up a little bit late and you know how much time girls take to prepare. So BenCab and Cafe Sabel were scratched off the list.

Weather was good when we arrived in the strawberry farm. It wasn't strawberry season so no picking this time. Shopped for pasalubong instead! 

Went back to Baguio and had late lunch at Forest House. It seemed like forever whil waiting for the food to be served. 

Baguio Revisited

What to blog about??? It's the re-birth of my "online journal" so I'll just start this off by telling how I celebrated my birthday last year. And here it goes...

I wanted to have some time away from everything. I felt that I need to go somewhere but my budget was tight and there wasn't any airline seat sale. Baguio was the destination that went to mind easily. I figured, I could just ride the bus one night, sleep on my way there and start my adventure when I wake up in the morning. No plans. 

I checked out some hotels online and found some discounted rates. I opened up the idea of going to Baguio to friend at work, Xan, who will be celebrating her birthday a day after mine. She said she could take some time off for herself as well and we invited two more girl friends at work as we had an idea months ago to have a weekend getaway to Baguio as well (that didn't happen due to some marital technicalities which I will not discuss further). 

So the idea of having no plans was scratched out. Hotel was booked ahead. We got the priciest accommodation at a low rate. We all wanted to eat somewhere local delicacies are served or somewhere which is only known in Baguio. Xan got this all figured out and poof! She sent our itinerary.

Back

Meeting some of my college friends last year made me realize that I really have poor memory. It was fun reminiscing our student years. However, more than half of what was told, I couldn't remember if those really happened.

I have been telling myself to start blogging again so that I could at least save my memories digitally. It was just that I was too busy procrastinating. Well, blogging needs time...

So here I am today... got nothing to do except to kill time. There's nothing on cable, movies are still being downloaded, I'm done with the laundry, and I just had my breakfast so I can't workout. I couldn't think of any other thing to do except blog.