Aklan Photoblog #1

Another opportunity to explore the Philippines; this time, it's the Province of Aklan -- home to the Ati-atihan Festival and the famous Boracay Island. I was both challenged and excited when I learned that our project there will push through. Being the usual me who try to see something that can be a source of fun even when faced with the most daunting task, I just tried to think of the brighter side of it -- the fulfillment when we get positive results from the project + a chance to explore yet another province of the Philippines.

The initial trip was for our baseline study on the Province's systems in place to address violence against women (VAW) cases. The study is a preparatory work for the province-wide roll-out of the VAW Documentation System which the Philippine Commission on Women is putting in place. It is a rather ambitious endeavor, but we wouldn't see any grand dream come to reality if no one dared to make it come true, right? So, there we go...how do we make it happen in the entire Province of Aklan? First things first, know the place and what it has to offer thus, the baseline study. We decided to use the Performance Standards and Assessment Tools for Services Addressing Violence against Women in the Philippines in conducting the research, so that's my part. Our other agenda was to checkout available training venues in the Province in preparation for the series of training that we will conduct in the following months. Our original itinerary:

June 6, 2012 | AM flight to Kalibo then checkout nearby training venues with people from the Provincial Government

June 7, 2012 | whole day orientation for the service providers regarding the project and the baseline study

June 8, 2012 | continuation of training venue scouting, PM flight back to Manila 

 *Oh, we initially planned to have our return flight booked on a later date so that we can go to Boracay (our own expense of course!) but the plan didn't materialize because I have to fly back to Manila after the orientation on June 7 in order to be present in the writeshop that the office scheduled June 8 to prepare concept notes for another major project proposal. 

So here, here is a glimpse of my first trip to Aklan...

*Photo credit: Kuya Darwin Tejerero's Nikkon D300. My bad, I left my Sony point and shoot in the van that we used in Kalibo! :(

Registration and Kit Distribution Lineup. The brown envelope and pencil kit reminds me of grade school days!

That's a police officer signing the registration sheet. One grand salute to PNP-Aklan Women and Children Protection Desk Officers -- they are the early birds and they come in full force!

Opening Program | An officer from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office speaks before the audience.

Opening Program | Mr. Franklin Quimpo represented and conveyed the Governor's message. Incidentally, Sir Frank is also an active member of MOVE (men opposed to violence against women everywhere) a group of male advocates who commit to be actively involved in the elimination of VAW. 

Robert Matthew Romero, PCW-ICT Unit

Head introduces the project to the audience

Robert also gave an overview of the

VAW Documentation System

Robert's illustration on the VAWDocS

Honey M. Castro of PCW Policy Development and Advocacy Division (Yep, that's me!) discussing the baseline study that PCW is conducting as a preparatory work for the roll-out of VAWDocS in the entire Province of Aklan.

...This is the moment when all I've done; when all the dreaming scheming and screaming become one. This is the day see it sparkle and shine when all I've lived for becomes mine.. Nah, I didn't sing! I just told them that we are going to use the Performance Standards and Assessment Tool for the baseline study and guided them to how to answer the tool.

Okey class, get your books and turn to page 54, where you will find the assessment questionnaires.   :) Feeling teacher lang! But see, I've got attentive audience :) 

Kuya Darwin got to talk too! Impromptu talk to discuss the ICT survey that he prepared.

Oh no, may quiz? Nah, that's not a quiz

but we gave them homework. :)

Discussion of next steps | Robert 

facilitated the discussion, while I 

take notes of the agreements for 

everyone to see on the screen.

Photo ops | Saludo ako sa Aklan-PNP Women and Children Protection Desk Officers!

Keep up the good work mga Ateng Pulis, ipakita niyo ang tunay na kahulugan ng public service!

POST-ORIENTATION

Official Visit | The Provincial Prosecutor was unable to attend the orientation due to an urgent concern. Fortunately, Ms. Grace Quimpo of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office who is a dedicated member of the Gender and Development Team of Aklan, thought of trying to visit the Prosecutor's Office after our activity. So, we went to this office located inside the Provincial Capitol Compound.

That's me discussing the VAWDocS Project and the baseline study that we are conducting using the VAW Performance Standards with Atty. Lourdes Q. Mayor, Provincial Prosecutor of Aklan. She said that it was her first time to hear about and see the tool, and thanked us for giving her a copy of it so she can study and see what she can do so that they will be able to follow and meet the standards. 

QUICK TOUR
Since we accomplished everything rather early for my 7:15 PM flight, our partners from the Provincial Government was kind enough to bring me and the guys to the nearest tourist destination in Kalibo -- New Washington Aklan's Sampaguita Gardens, home to Precious Moments cutie stuff!

Welcome billboard at the entrance. 

A seemingly endless number of this angel statue are lined up on both sides of the entrance road.

The person behind Sampaguita Gardens: Samuel John Butcher, an American artist and creator of Precious Moments artworks that promote messages of loving, caring and sharing. 

The Chapel's walls are painted with these...

Can you find me? 

That's me at the souvenir shop :)

With Kuya Darwin @ the souvenir shop where he bought a super cute doll for the dear daughter. Sweet!

Just one of the many good spots for photo ops. Since we have to rush back to Kalibo for my flight, we were not able to take much photos. For sure, I will go back to this place and have enough time to appreciate its beauty, and capture great photos of a happy me!

With our accommodating hosts from the Provincial Government of Aklan. 

Maraming salamat! Promise, I will be back to get to experience more of Aklan.

A new year's gift from Ate Nova, this book

saved me from eternal boredom while waiting

for my boarding time. I find it an interesting 
and thought-provoking read, so I got hooked 
and continued reading it on board until my 
plane landed in Manila.

JOURNEY BACK TO HOME
We rushed back to Ati-atihan Hostel in Kalibo to get my things. Since it was already around 5:30 and I have to be in the airport at 6PM, I told them that I will just skip our scheduled dinner and they can just drop me off at the airport.

It was still early when I checked-in. I traveled back to Manila alone since the guys will have to continue scouting for training venues the next day. The airport was rather small and jam-packed -- there were notices of delayed flights, complaining passengers, food distribution for stranded ones, pinoys and foreigners mostly travelling with family or friends, food and coffee stalls, massage therapy stalls etc. I sat there alone with my sling bag containing my wallet, mobile phone, i-pod and a book which I just grabbed from my shelf and stuck in my backpack the morning I left. I opted not to use the i-pod so that I will be able to hear the announcements, so I just sat there and read the book.

Luckily, my PAL flight was just right on time (oh boy, when I traveled to Gen. Santos last March via Cebu Pacific, my flight from and to Manila was so delayed!), although it was kind of turbulent most of the time. Good thing it was just an hour flight, and I don't really freak out with that. I took a yellow metered cab from Terminal 2 (it rained in Manila and on times like that, it is best to take NAIA taxi because they have to choice but to bring you to your destination no matter where it is in the Metropolis. Yep, they are more expensive than regular cabs but you cannot guarantee that the regular cabs will take you when your destination is just so far -- yep they are prohibited from choosing passengers/destination, but they do that anyway.) For some unfortunate reason, my cab's left headlight died down somewhere in Pasay (it was still near the airport). Manong driver was apologetic and asked me is it was alright if he transfer me to a regular cab. I was quite frustrated but what can I do? Good thing, the first white cab which he buzzed for me agreed to take me to Commonwealth Avenue-Don Antonio without hesitation. I actually had fun talking with the driver as we go through the snail-paced traffic of metro cities going to my place. I was finally home before midnight. I just put down my bags, rest for a while then prepared to call it a night, since I have to catch the 7:30 AM van at Philcoa which will bring us to the venue of our writeshop in Ortigas.

ramblings...

My fourth roundtrip by plane: Samar [preceded by Davao (thanks to UNICEF), Cebu (thanks to UNICEF and ASEAN 2006), and Japan (thanks to NWEC of Japan)].

Magkukwento lang ako kasi naman ‘di pa rin ako makatulog (huhuhu..ano ba ito?!). Papagurin ko lang din sa pagbabasa ng blog ko si Tita Vicky at si Ron-ron. Whehehehehe.. akalain mo nga naman, may nagbabasa pala ng blog ko!

Sa technical side, am both excited and nervous. Sabi ko nga kay Jojo, “eh first time ko kayang gagawin ito!” Yep, alam ko naman yun topic na idi-discuss ko pero alam ko rin na ibang usapan na yun when you have to orient other people about it. At hindi ito usapin ng basta other people lang, these are people from the local communities at lahat sila lalaki. Nun sabihin ni Lyn na ang profile ng pax ay 50, male, high school graduates, mostly farmers and reaction ko ay, “naku po, taong bayan pala!” Naisip ko kasi na hindi mo sila pwedeng i-orient using the usual gender and development jargons na ginagamit ng mga katauhan sa opisina. Eh kung yun ngang isang Senador eh hindi naintindihan (o ayaw lang talaga intindihin) yun gender and development eh, sila pa kaya. “Problemang nakakaloka ito, bakit na naman ba ako napasama rito?” naisip ko habang pinagmumuni-munian kung paano ko nga ba idi-discuss ang topic. Basic, kailangan basic talaga. Ang sabi ni Vichel for that maghanda raw ng interactive activities at icebreakers. Tiwala ako sa payo nun dahil siya ang nag-aral ng community development at alam nya yun concept ng organizing sa community both in theory and practice. Ako, ano ba alam ko run? Bihira nga akong lumabas ng bahay namin at wala talaga akong barkada sa mga kapitbahay kahit na dito na ko nagka-isip at lumaki; ‘di ko rin inaral sa school yun kasi naman if you’re talking about academic background and job mismatch, ako yun isang magandang epitome nun (yep, malayo course ko sa trabaho ko pero magaling ako magpanggap eh, este mag-adjust pala!); ‘di rin ako usually gumagawa ng orientation for the office kasi naman taga-gawa lang ako ng presentations at speech at kung anu-ano pa sa dati kong division at ang nagdedeliver nun eh mga bossing. Pero ibang level na ito dahil nga nasa operations division na ako ngayon. Naisip ko na lang, hayz, bahala na si Lord (nope, hindi si Tita Lourd)!  I  only have one thing in mind while preparing for my topic, I have to make them understand me. While some people may think na madali lang magpakabibo at magpresent run lalo na halos lahat ay zero knowledge sa topic, I personally believe na mas importante yun maintindihan nila kung ano yun dini-discuss mo than na-mesmerize lang sila sa mga kakaibang salita at acronyms na pinagsasabi mo, but at the end of the day they just leave the hall na ang naiwan lang sa memory nila ay ang iyong makukulay at animated na presentations! Para rin news writing yan, ang bottom line is, write to express, not to impress. Sabi ko nga, first time kong gagawin yun kung ano man ang kalabasan eh hindi ko po alam. Baka naman kasi wala akong gift sa pagle-lecture! Har..har..ang alam ko lang kasi eh teacher yun lola ko tapos si Mama nagtuturo sa Church. And since sabi ni Auie noon sa akin mas nakukuha ng anak yun intelligence sa nanay, what are the chances of me also having that gift? Ewan ko! Hehehe..

Logistics, wala naman masyadong problema kasi Plan Philippines ang bahala sa travel namin. Siguro yun fact lang na short preparation talaga for all of us tapos ni hindi kami nagusap-usap as a group kung ano magiging flow ng program, wala naman kasi talagang time for that so ayun patext-text at tawag-tawag lang kaming apat. Basta ang ending eh kita-kits na lang kami sa domestic airport.

Going there: we’re off to Catarman, Northern Samar via Asian Spirit flt 587 around 5:40 am. First time ko sumakay ng small aircraft at first time ko sa domestic terminal 1. Ako pinaka maagang dumating sa aming apat, bale lima pala kami kasama si Ms. Lydia ng Plan Philippines. Sunod na dumating si Ms. Lydia, naisip ko lang na baka siya yun kasi nagkatinginan kami nun nasa waiting area tapos tinanong ko siya kung siya si Ms. Lydia. Sabi niya siya nga raw and alam pala niyang ako si Honey kasi raw nagmeet na kami before sa Multi-stakeholders’ Conference on Pop Dev organized by PLCPD. Hayz, natandaan niya ko pero di ko talaga siya natandaan..(floating to nowhere utak ko nun eh paano kasi ‘di nakarating yun Commissioner namin na dapat magpresent sa parallel session at inorderan ako ng Chief ko na ako ang magpresent! Kumusta naman kaya yun eh mga kilalang tao pa yun nasa panel!)..hehe..niwey, ngayon natatandaan ko na siya! Sumunod na dumating si Jojo  then si Lyn after a few minutes. Yun isa pa namin kasama eh dumating naman bago makasakay lahat ng pasahero ng eroplano. Ang liit pala talaga ng eroplanong yun tapos nun sumakay kami eh mainit patay ang aircon. Usap kami ni Lyn, sabi niya amoy luma raw yun eroplano sabi ko oo nga, parang bus lang; biglang may nag-react sa likod namin sabi eh buti pa nga yun bus may aircon. Anyway, lumapag naman kami ng buo at buhay sa Catarman. Nagulat nga lang ako nun biglang lumapag yun gulong ng plane sa runway kasi parang kang nasa jeep tapos nabangga siya sa nasa unahan niya!

Ewan ko pero, iba talaga feeling pag nasa province, parang laidback at ang bagal ng takbo ng oras. In a way relaxing kasi nakakapagod ang Maynila. Trabaho nga ang pinunta ko run pero at least even for sometime kinalimutan ko yun iba kong trabaho sa office. Happy naman kahit challenging kasi new place, new experience. We first went to Sasa Pension House to settle for a few minutes and leave some of our things then byahe na kami to the Agriculture Training Center sa University of Eastern Philippines for the activity.

Hay this is it na talaga! Lumipas ang maghapon, natapos ang activity. Pagdating ng gabi balik kami sa Sasa. Around 7 pm labas lakad kami sa labas to have dinner. Pansin ko lang, parang matamis and timpla ng mga ulam nila dun. Paglabas namin ng retaurant, umuulan! Lahat kami walang payong kaya nagdecide na sumakay ng pedicab. Nakaka-aliw tingnan yun pedicab dun kasi mukhang kalesa. Nauna ang mga girls, si Lyn at si Ms. Lydia at naiwan ako with the boys para maghintay ng next pedicab. Ang destination namin: isang neighborhood coffee shop na super cool. Amoy coffee shop talaga siya at meron wifi access, astig! Maglalakad na lang sana kaming tatlo pero nagdecide rin na sumakay kasi medyo malakas pa ang ambon, baka matulyan kaming magkasakit eh (pare-pareho kaming walang tulog eh, lamang lang si Dennis dahil siya ay 48 hours na raw di natutulog). Hmmm..ang downside pala nun cool na pedicab na mukhang kalesa ay maliit ang upuan niya. Pano naman kasi, muntik na ata kaming magkabuhol ni Dennis sa sikip ng upuan! Natatawa na lang ako, ito naman si Jojo nagsolo sa kabilang pedicab (madugas!). Sabi ni Dennis, “Honey, masikip talaga ‘di ako nagbibiro” sagot ko, “alam ko, ‘di nga ako makagalaw dito eh, usog ka nga run!” Sabi niya maliit talaga yun upuan ng pedicab, tinanong ko tuloy kung bakit ganun, pang-isahan lang ba talaga yun o sadyang mapapayat ang mga tao sa lugar na yun. Buti na lang hindi naman kalayuan ang coffee shop. Pagdating namin nakaporma na ang dalawang binibini sa sofa at abala na sa kanilang mga laptop. Kaming tatlo ng mga boys, nasa isang table lang habang nag-iisip kung anong oorderin, kwentuhan, basa ng dyaryo. We stayed there until almost 10 pm, few minutes before it closed. So ayun, first day completed!

Back in Sasa, kaloka tig-iisa kami ng room! Kakaiba yun room ko kasi naman dalawa yun bed, pinagtabi pa. Naisip ko nga eh sana inalis na lang yun isa baka mamaya may humiga pang mumu! ‘Di naman ako sensitive sa mga ganung elemento at ‘di ko pinapangarap pero buti na yun safe. Hehe.. Okay naman yun room malaki nga eh, may aircon at electric fan (di kasi kaya ng generator yun aircon pag nag-brownout), cabinet, desk, cable tv, at may bathtub ang cr. Lalo tuloy ako na-ilang kasi naalala ko yun trailer ng movie ni Juday na Kulam! Past midnight na rin ako nakatulog kasi naman naligo ako at matagal matuyo buhok ko. Nagdecide akong huwag patayin ang tv at iwang bukas yun isang ilaw kasi naalala ko yun nasa Summer Place Hotel kami nila Nharleen at Sylvia sa Baguio, patay lahat ng ilaw tapos pag pinatay na yun tv using the remote control dahil nasa bed na kaming lahat eh biglang nagpapatay-sindi yun ilaw! Naisip ko lang, kung sa local channel ko ilalagay eh magsa-signoff sila kaya nilagay ko sa BBC at hinayaan ko lang siyang umandar hanggang sa makatulog ako. Breakfast kami ng 7 am (uy maaga ko nagising!) tapos trip back to the Training Center around 8 am.

All set for Day 2. Mas maraming tao ang inabutan namin. Kasi mas malayo pala ang pinagmulang bayan ng mga ito at ang iba sa kanila ay dun na natulog sa dorm ng center. Inalok ulit kaming mag breakfast pero sabi namin katatapos lang. Si Dennis pala kumain ulit, ‘di ko alam kung nabitin sa food sa Sasa or type lang niya yun food sa Center. Pinagtripan tuloy namin ni Jojo na kunan ng picture habang kumakain! Hehe..

Pagkatapos ng session Nauna na si Ms. Lydia sa Sasa kasi sabi namin gusto lang namin magikot-ikot sa place dahil madaling-araw kinabukasan aalis na kami papuntang Calbayog. Apparently, wala naman mapupuntahan dun kundi yun paliguan (beach) na pinuntahan namin sakay ng tricycle. Malakas naman ang alon nun may naabutan pa nga kaming dalawang boys na sumusubok magsurf. Din rin kami masyadong nagtagal kasi wala naman kaming magawa run. Sumakay ulit kami ng tricycle at dinala kami ni Dennis sa Palengke. Naghahanap sana kami ng mga dried fish at pusit kaso lang di rin kami bumili kasi mahal (mga kuripot pala! hehe..). Naglakad-lakad lang kami hanggang matanaw namin yun Landbank. Nagkayayaan na magcheck ng ATM kasi baka may sahod na. Ayos, meron nga! Habang masaya si Jojo dahil nakakuha ng pero mula sa sahod, nagpalibre kami ng sundae sa Jollibee Catarman. Hehehe..dumayo kami ng Samar para kumain ng chocolate sundae sa Jollibee. Hmmm..kung sa bagay, matagal na panahon din na naging staple food ko ang chocofudge sundae ng Jollibee nun College ako sa USTe. Naiinis nga ko nun sa Jollibee Asturias kapag unavailable ang chocofudge! At talagang nagpicture-an kami sa Jollibee Catarman! Hehehe..Lakad ulit kami hanggang makabalik ng Sasa tapos dinner ulit sa labas then back to Sasa para matulog at magising maaga.

Few minutes before 4 am bumaba na ako sa first floor (aga ko talaga nagigising!). Si Ms. Lydia pa lang ang andun. Around 4:30 dumating si Julio, yun driver ng Plan and off we go headed for Calbayog, Western Samar. Wala kasing flight from Catarman to Manila ng Saturday so via Calbayog kami, PAL Express this time. Binalak kong ipagpatuloy ang pagtulog sa sasakyan pero dahil paliku-liko ang daan at hindi ata sumasayad sa kalsada ang gulong ng sasakyan eh hindi ako makatulog. Nun makita ko na unti-unti nang lumiliwanag, umupo na ko ng tuwid dahil ayaw ko na matulog, hihintayin ko na lang ang sunrise. Nun medyo maliwanag na, napansin kong ang dami-daming manok na nakakalat sa kalsada. Meron pang isa na muntik na namin masagasaan. Meron naman dalawa na lumipad pababa mula sa puno habang parating na kami. Binilang ko nga sila eh, para malibang lang at naka 73 ako ng bilang kasi natigil yun pagbibilang ko kasi naman biglang meron “TOK!” nauntog yun katabi ko sa ulo ko. Naawa nga ako eh pano kung hindi sa ulo ko eh dun sa bintana nauuntog. Kaso lang ‘di ko naman alam ano gagawin ko sa kanya dahil tulog na tulog ata, baka magalit pag ginising ko. Tuloy instead na mga manok sa daan ang bilangin ko eh binilang ko kung ilan ulit siyang nauntog sa akin, bale 19 lahat kasi ginising ko na rin siya dahil nakarating na kami sa airport. Breakfast muna kami matapos magcheck-in ng mga gamit. Naku manual pa pala ang airport run as in manual checking ng bags, pati pag-issue ng boarding pass.

Naaliw na naman ako kakatingin sa bintana ng eroplano. Kitang-kita ko kasi yun mga islands from the plane eh, as in narerecognize ko kung alin part yun may mga community kasi may mga bahay, alin yun taniman, at alin yun mga gubat at bundok kasi puro puno. Tapos parang may guhit na nakaukit sa mga puno na sa palagay ko ay mga major highway ng island. Buong byahe nakatingin lang ako sa bintana, muntik na atang dumikit yun noo ko eh! Hehe.. nakaka-aliw naman kasi manuod, habang kumakanta ako ng “I’m so blessed my Lord, I can see you in all the lovely things so fine and true. I see you in the beauty of the flowers and the rain, I see you between the lines of a sweet refrain..” Hanggang sa mag-announce we’re approaching Manila na at fasten your seatbelt. And so we landed Manila safe and sound. Exit kami thru Terminal 3. Okay pala dun, may option ka to choose between airport taxi at metered taxi. At may mga tarps na malalaki tungkol sa bayad sa metered taxi. So kanya-kanya na kaming sakay, nauna si Ms. Lydia pauwi sa Makati, next si Lyn at naiwan na naman ako with the boys. Si Jojo pinauna na kami ni Dennis at naiwan siya mag-isa. 10 am nasa Magallanes area na kami at dahil umaga naman I decided na ‘wag na magtaxi hanggang bahay. Bumaba kami ni Dennis sa gateway at sumakay ako ng bus papuntang Fairview. Nasa bahay na ko before lunch. Binalak kong matulog pero ‘di ako makatulog. ‘Wag nyo na lang itanong kung bakit! text-text kami nila Meyps at Auie, kumustahan lang. Past midnight (‘di pa rin ako tulog!) nagtext si Mich asking about bus going to Cagayan Valley, ayun text-text kami hanggang sa wakas eh nakatulog din ako! Then nagising ako ng 7 am. Tulog ulit. 8:15 am. Nagbeep yun cellphone ko, ibig sabihin may unread message ako. Galing kay Mich, nadeadbatt raw siya last night. Sabi ko okay lang nakatulog na rin naman ako. Bumangon na ko para mag Sunday Service. Naidlip lang ako ng mga isang oras kanina matapos manood ng Your Song. Eto, Lunes na pala! Past midnight na ulit gising pa rin ako! Whaaa..ano ba ito?! Balik office na naman ako.

Exploring Cagayan Valley

Been on a five-day trip somewhere north. Definitely one of the most unforgettable because it's where I did a lot of things for the first time!

First fieldwork

It was my first time to do fieldwork. Not that Thomasians weren't trained on that or something dear biatches! It's just that field/community work was never part of our curriculum. Hey, am a business administration major remember?! Uh well, we did some research, surveys and interviews but most are for Feasibility Studies and a paper in Philippine Business Environment. Enough for explanations! Hehe..

Okay that was fieldwork cum provincial politics 101. Traveling unto the outskirts of the province could really be tiring especially when you are doing a survey. But it is definitely something I enjoyed. Hmm..mas enjoy nga siguro kung hindi political yun topic, I mean something like basic social services and the likes. Eto yun ilan sa mga funny, scary and freaky experiences and observations namin sa field:

ARE YOU FOR REAL?: while talking with an elderly woman in front of their hut, one of her kids (I presumed the little girl was her child) approached me. I looked at the girl and smiled. She smiled back, a shy yet probing look in her eyes. As I continue to chat with the woman, her little girl tapped my small bag as if she's playing with me. I just looked at her and smiled. Suddenly I noticed that there were already about five or six kids around me while I was talking with the woman! They were all looking at me as if I were an alien or something. Some are tapping my shoulder or my arms as if they're trying to get my attention. The mother was kind of reprimanding the kids, I couldn't understand because she used a local dialect. She said, "pasensiya ka na, ne." Told her, "okay lang po, salamat po sa time." I could have stayed there and continue to chat with the woman about life in their barangay, or perhaps play with those kids (and see if they can stand it pag sila pinagkatuwaan ko! hehehe..), but had to go and find my next subject.

FILIPINO HOSPITALITY: if there were hostile subjects, there was thrice as much who exemplified the so-called Filipino hospitality. People would offer you something to eat or drink or would allow you to use their comfort room even though you're a stranger. There was even this group who asked me if I want to join them drink Tanduay. Na-ah, they're not the typical bastos guys in the kanto naman, it's just that they happen to drink that rhum during that time. When I said "no, thanks" the "kuya" (as he was introduced by the house owner, who happened to be running for elections as an independent candidate) even offered that he can get some soft drinks instead. I just politely declined, saying that my companions were already calling me through my mobile phone. And then there were these two guys riding their bicycle whom we asked for the boundaries between two baranggays in one town. My friend jokingly said, ang layo pabalik pasakay naman! He smiled and said tara na, sa akin yun naka-pink! We just laughed and thanked them. Then my friend said while laughing "hala, na-typan ka nun isa ikaw daw I-aangkas niya!" I just laughed and said "ngyek!" ahm, it's just that I don't find his offer offensive naman.

NOT EVEN A ROCK in that part of the province was left unblemished with Pichay's campaign material! I remember blurting out to my friend, "hala, pati ba naman itong malaking bato sa gilid ng daan bago ang tulay may poster ni Pichay?!" And then we laughed. Then we found this house with Pichay's poster saying "Pichay itanim sa Senado" and noticed that someone wrote using a pentel pen, "Huwag itanim ito, ILUTO!" and then we laughed again!

INSTANT HEARTTHROB: we changed our strategy, instead of dropping off two people in one baranggay then coming back to fetch each pair later, we all went down in one baranggay and covered the area before proceeding to the next one. The idea was better because people become more aware that we're just doing a survey and it was easier for us to move around knowing that there were quite a number of us around the area. While we're walking in one area, my friend overheard a group of teenage girls talking with much kilig, "huy, ang gu-guwapo, ang puputi, mga taga maynila!" Then the elderly women asked them to stop and be quiet. My friend said to herself, "ay, hindi mga guwapo yan, magaganda yan!" Knowing that most of our companions were actually gays!

WALA AKONG PERA!: when I approached one lola and asked her if I could ask her just a few questions, she looked at me as if she was trying to assimilate what I was telling her. Suddenly when I asked my first question, she told me "wala akong pera!" I almost laughed out loud as I was trying to explain to the lola that I was not there to ask for money but to just ask her some questions. Then, with the same look in her eyes she finally said, "di ko ma awatan ang salita mo!" whaaaaaaaa..kaya pala!!! Kaya pala ganun na lamang mangusap ang kanyang mga mata, hindi pala niya masyado naiintindihan ang tagalog! Haay, I just politely said bye-bye to the lola.

PANG-ASAR NA MGA BATA: the Doc told us that we have to be patient and understand the local culture. Hindi raw kami dapat makipag talo or makipag-away. And so, some of us were subjected to tests! Schedar shared that one kid said in a dialect which he happened to understand a little, "may bola, may bola, tumatalbog, paparating!" referring to him approaching their place. As usual, the mother said sorry for what the kid did and Schedar just said, "okay lang po" while deep inside he wanted to snarl at the kid! Hehehe.. JR had another experience. In one area, a group of kids referred to him and said "may bakla." JR smiled, almost telling the kids na "oo, bakla ako!" then the kids said, "uy, ngumiti ang bakla!" Grrrrrrrrrr…

NO PROBLEM!: one of the questions that we asked was "ano ang nakikita ninyong problema sa inyong lugar." I think it was JR who narrated this story that when he asked one woman this question, she answered "wala naman." JR said, "yun kalsada niyo hindi nyo ho ba problema? (okay, that particular barangay had rough roads which are either dusty or muddy, depending on the season). The woman answered, "okay lang naman." Makulit rin si JR so he said, "hindi nyo problema baku-bako, maalikabok..hindi ho ba maputik pag umuulan?" The woman answered, "ayos lang naman yon." Since wala talaga siyang mapiga na problema sa ale, gusto raw niyang sabihin na "ah, wala kayong problema?? Fwez, ngayon meron na! Andito na kaming mga bakla! Mga salot, mga bakla!" Siyempre inside joke lang namin yun at tawa lang kami nang tawa!

ASONG PASAWAY: halos lahat ata kami eh may nakakatakot na experience sa mga aso, as in hinabol at muntik na makagat ng aso! Buti na lang walang natuluyang makagat. Pero kung sakali eh maganda rin sigurong programa sa lugar na iyon ang libreng anti-rabies para sa mga aso!

ANG GRUPO NG MAKUKULIT NA KAMBING: eto yun grupo ng kambing na nakita namin ng kasama ko sa isang barangay. Patawid-tawid sa highway at patambay-tambay sa gilid ng daan. At malakas ang loob nila na awayin yun sigang aso! Palibhasa outnumbered nila yun doggie!

First unusual jeepney ride

Imagine rough roads with rice fields and cornfields on either side. Malamig ang hangin kahit maaraw. Amoy dayami. Malayo sa polluted air ng Metro Manila. Iilan lang ang tao at ang theory namin eh 1:3 ang ratio ng tao sa kalabaw. Kung sa Metro Manila eh hate ko sumakay ng jeepney kapag long travel, definitely love ko ito kapag sa rural area.

That's me wearing a yellow shirt.

Ang pinakamasaya sa jeepney ride ay nang subukan ko mag top ride! First time ko rin ginawa yun, hmm..ang closest thing na nagawa ko before eh yun tumayo sa likod ng pick-up (oh di ba parang campaign!) at sumakay sa truck (with matching pa wave-wave pa) nun mag-parade kami dati bilang mga side kick ni Kapteyn Linis sa Quezon City. Pero iba pa rin yun top ride sa jeep! Bukod sa thrill na first time ko ginawa yun, andun yun sarap ng feeling na vast greenery yun nakikita mo at real fresh air yun nalalanghap mo. Isa pa, enjoy kasama yun grupo! Nun gabi, puro kadiliman ang nakikita namin tapos medyo nagtatakutan kami.

"kung papipiliin ka ano gusto mo, dagitin tayo ng isang malaking ibon o biglang lumaki yun mga damo sa gilid ng kalsada at balutin tayo?"

"huh, ano ba? ayoko nga nun!"

"kung kailangan mo nga pumili?"

"freaky!"

"ay, yun damo na lang!"

"bakit?"

"kasi katakot yun dagitin ng ibon andito tayo sa taas. At least yun damo galing sa lupa, mauuna muna yun mga asa loob ng jeep bago tayo abutin!"

"yuck, baka pagtingin natin sa kanila biglang kulay green na silang lahat!"

sabay tawanan.

Masaya yun part na dumaan kami dun sa long bridge. Sabi nun mga kasama ko it's the second longest bridge dito sa Pinas. May I pose kami to take our pictures (salamat kay JR ang aming sponsor for photo coverage!).

A walk through Callao Caves Resort

While the guys, gals and gays were busy figuring out how to use the kayak, Auie and I walked around Callao Caves Resort.

MOMENT OF YOUTH. May playground and working ang swing! Yippee! May I swing ako..sarap ng feeling nun mataas na ang ugoy ng duyan, feeling carefree ako just like during my childhood days. Isa ito sa paborito kong gawin at meron pa kami dating makeshift swing sa harap ng bahay namin kung saan natuklap ang langib ng malalim kong gasgas sa binti nun maliit pa ako!

BIBLICAL LESSON AT THE MUSEUM. Matapos ang "moments mode" lakad-lakad ulit kami hanggang makakita kami ng isang building nakasulat musem. Sinubukan namin puntahan kahit naisip namin na baka sarado kasi Holiday. Anyway, inaccommodate naman kami nun nagbabantay na mama. Ilang pieces lang naman na artifacts at photos ang nandun, tatlong glass panels na parang aquariums lang to be exact. Paliwanag ng bantay eh extension office lang kasi yun at usually pumupunta run ay yun mga nagre-research. Then something caught my attention, yun isang piece of artifact na ang label eh "elephant tusk."

Recalling what the manong earlier said na lahat ng nasa museum eh nahukay sa Cagayan, I asked him, "ito pong elephant tusk, dito rin nahukay?"

He said, "opo Ma'am, nakuha yan fossilized elephant tusk na yan sa may Solana."

Quite amused, I asked, "ibig po bang sabihin nun, meron elepante sa Pilipinas noon?"

Then he replied, "ah hindi, ano yan, inanod lang yan dito noon panahon ni Noah."

Medyo natigilan ako ng ilang segundo bago ko napagtanto ang ibig niyang sabihin, "ah, Noah's Ark?"

"Oo, kasi malaking baha iyon," sagot niya. PANG LENTEN TALAGA!

MOMENTS PART 2: IRRIGATION. Natunton namin ang daan papunta run sa structure na nakita namin while riding the boat the day before. Sabi ni Doc, para sa irrigation daw yun. Curious kami so pinuntahan namin. Mula sa taas ng structure, kitang-kita kung paano hinihigop ng kung anong makinarya ang tubig mula sa ilog. Medyo may kataasan ang kinalalagyan namin pero kitang-kita ang crystal clear na tubig. Nakita ko rin yun mga isda na halos mahigop na ng irrigation pero nagpupumilit na lumangoy palayo.

Nasabi ko bigla kay Au, "ayoko mahulog dyan, parang may vacuum na humihigop."

"Mahina lang naman yan, makakalangoy ka palayo," sagot niya.

"Huh, malakas kaya yan, tingnan mo ngang mabuti!"

"Ay, oo nga tingnan mo yun sa gilid o, gumagalaw yun makapal na bakal!"

Medyo matagal rin kami sa lugar na yun, wala lang tinititigan ang pagdaloy ng tubig, parang nakatingin sa kawalan, tahimik lang. Kung anu-ano na naman ang naisip ko, haay..MOMENTS nga eh, ano bah?!

Matapos ang lunchtime, excited na ko sa next adventure, be brave and enter the cave!

Spelunking 101

First time ko rin ang pumasok sa isang cave. I've never been the adventurer type before, tipong bahay-eskwela girl lang ako. Kaya ngayon eto, excited akong subukan ang iba-ibang adventures basta ba swak sa budget o kaya tulad nito na libre! Hehe..

Nag-umpisa ang aming journey into the caves sa pamamagitan ng pag-akyat sa bundok. Actually it's more like a forest na upward sloped. Yakang-yaka pa, sisiw! Narating namin yun entrance ng cave at doon hinintay namin maka-akyat lahat para sa maikling lecture ng aming guide.

ANG RULES:

1. Huwag hawakan ang mga rock formations because the human body secretes oil. Ayon sa aming guide na mula sa DENR, kahit na maliit na amount ng oil na kumapit sa mga ito ay nagiging dahilan para ma-disrupt ang proseso ng kanilang paglaki at kadalasan pa nga ay namamatay sila. He said that Sierra cave (ito ang pangalan ng cave na pinasok namin) is a protected area at makikita raw namin sa loob na buhay na buhay pa ang cave na ito. Sabi rin niya, hindi basta-basta makakapasok sa area na ito katunayan nga eh may gate na bakal at naka padlock ang entrance at exit ng Sierra cave.

2. Silence. Hindi dahil may library sa loob ng kuweba kundi dahil magagambala ang mga naninirahang teka, hindi mumu kundi bats sa loob ng cave.

3. Always follow your guide. Bawal ang pasaway na kung saan-saan pumupunta. Bukod sa madilim sa loob, marami raw kasing mga lagusan ang cave at baka magkamali ka ng puntahan eh hindi mo na mahanap ang daan palabas!

ENTRY POINT: Matapos ang tatlong paalala, isa-isa na kaming bumaba papasok sa entrance ng Sierra cave. TIP NO. 1: siguruhing matibay ang kinakapitan at always face the wall kapag bumababa. I passed the initial step, nasa loob na ko ng cave! Nakatayo lang kami habang hinihintay makapasok ang lahat nang biglang, "ngyarks, ano yun?!" may biglang lumipad na paniki at nauntog siya sa gilid ng face ko! Eehw, blessing daw yun, etchos!

LECTURE GALORE: while wandering inside the cave, tinuturo ng aming guide ang iba't-ibang rock formations sa loob. Eto yun mga natandaan ko:

Stalactites – a.k.a. dripstones. Ito yun rock formations na nabuo mula sa tumutulong tubig sa upper surface ng cave, kaya nga "drip"stones. Usually cone-shaped ang mga ito na ang pointed part ay nakaturo sa ground. Kung familiar ka sa computer games na may mga dungeon, katulad ito nun mga pointed spikes na bumabagsak kapag nagkamali ka ng daan. Teka, bakit may tubig saan galing yun? Nagmumula raw ang tubig sa vegetation sa ibabaw. Dahil nasa mountain ang cave, galing ito sa mga puno sa bundok na iyon.

Stalagmites – eto yun partner ng stalactites sa ground. Sabi nga ni Manong Guide, "makikita ninyo na kung ano yun tumutulo, siya ring tumutubo." Kaya usually pag tumingin ka sa ibaba ng isang stalactite kung saan pumapatak ang tubig, meron doon nabubuong stalagmite.

Soda Straws – isang uri ng stalactite na hollow yun loob. Mukha talaga siyang straw na ginagamit sa pag-inom ng "soda!"

Column – ito ang tawag kapag nagpang-abot at stalactite at stalagmite. Literally, mukha talaga siyang isang column.

Flow stone – ito yun rock formations na parang miniature rice terraces. Flow stone ang tawag kasi literally rin, dinadaluyan ito ng tubig kaya ganun ang naging form niya.

Curtains – a.k.a. draperies. Eto yun thin sheets of rock formations na malalapad, para ngang "curtains."

Dog teeth – isang uri rin ng formations na parang isang hilera ng maliliit ng ngipin, parang ngipin ng aso.

THE EYE OF THE CAVE. Eto yun tricky part. Pinapatay sa amin nun guide ang mga flashlights. From afar may nakita kaming something na umiilaw. Mukha ngang dalawang mata. Pinagmasdan namin mabuti, medyo tumahimik lahat. Sabi nun guide namin, ito raw yun tinatawag na "eye of the cave." Tuloy kami sa paglakad. Di ko alam kung ano iniisip ng mga kasama ko pero ako, dahil first time ko nga nun pumasok sa cave amazed na naman ako kasi nga meron something luminous sa gitna ng kadiliman at ang sabi nga eh "eye of the cave" ang tawag.

Di ko napigilan ang sarili kong magtanong, "lahat po ba ng caves meron ganyan?"

"Ah, hindi lahat!" sagot ng aming guide.

Na-gets ko rin later on kung bakit yun ang sagot niya. Hindi naman pala natural luminous light yun eye of the cave kundi kandila lang na sinindihan ng isa sa mga guides! Hmm..medyo naloko ko run ah! Ito rin yun MINI-MOMENT time para sa lahat kasi the guide asked us to seat down, keep quiet and then turn off all our flash lights.

Sabi niya, "huwag matakot, papatayin natin mamaya ang kandila. Mararanasan ninyo ang tinatawag na total darkness."

Lights off. Medyo badtrip lang kasi meron kumakalansing na parang mga susi! Sobrang dilim talaga kahit na wide-open pa ang eyes ko! Gusto ko sana super tahimik din at wala yun kumakalansing na susi, tsaka medyo mas matagal para nga MOMENT, pero binuksan na nun guide yun ilaw niya. Iba-iba ang reaction ng grupo. Meron nagsabing parang nakakabingi. Sabi nun isa nahilo raw siya. At meron din palang nakapansin at nagsabing may maingay na susi!

THE PASSAGE. Eto ang nagpatagal sa aming pananatili sa loob ng cave. Dahil maliit lang yun passage, dala-dalawa lang ang pwedeng pumasok at hihintayin silang lumabas bago pumasok yun next pair. Sabi nun guide namin pwede kaming mag-iwan ng sourvenir sa loob ng passage, basta wag lang basura. Challenge ito kasi meron part na kailangan mo talagang gumapang ng nakadapa flat on the ground. Eh problema ko first time ko gawin yun dahil di naman ako dumaan sa training ng CAT nun high school (hehe..girl scout akesh!), di nga ako makaforward nun papasok kami. Hehe buti na lang nun palabas na medyo kuha ko na technique kaya bumilis-bilis na ko!

THE WAY OUT. Dahil late na, doon na kami pinadaan sa easier way out. Sayang, mukhang mas exciting pa naman yun isang way kasi yun yun gapangan at yakapan sa putik to the max! Anyway, due to time constraints nga dun na kami sa medyo mas madaling way. Wag ka, akala mo madali lang dahil di naman kasikipan ang daanan pero meron part na kakatakot kasi akala mo lulubog ka nang tuluyan sa putik! Hmm..akala ko nga eh masisira yun binili kong tsinelas eh, buti na lang it survived! Pero habang naglalakad sa putikan bigla ko naalala yun commercial dati sa TV na Goya Fun Factory. Hehe..sarap siguro kung tsokolate yun dinadaanan namin eh kaso, kadiri rin pala! Paano mo naman kakainin yun kung nakita mo na ngang tinapak-tapakan at may mga kasamahan ka pang nadapa sa mala-tsokolateng putik na yun!

Kami yun unang nakatanaw muli ng liwanag at nakarating sa lagusan palabas kaso lang hindi rin kami makalabas ng wala yun iba kasi naka-lock nga yun gates sa entrance at exit remember? Nang makumpleto na kami eh here comes our guide to open the gate! Ayos, muli na naman kaming nasinagan ng araw!

ALL THE WAY DOWN. Akala ko nung una ayos na, kahit putikan kami eh at least we survived that bruising session called spelunking. Pero mas mahirap pala yun bumaba sa bundok! When finally nakababa na kami, hinintay namin ang mga kasamahan namin na bumaba, cyempre with matching cheer pa! Nakakatawa nga eh para kaming isa-isang niluluwa ng kabundukan!

THE CROWD. Siyempre dahil putikan kami samantalang kay init-init at hindi naman umulan, medyo napapatingin sa amin ang mga taong dumaraan. Yun iba tinanong pa kami kung anong meron dun. Sagot lang kami na galing kami sa cave, etc. sabay sabing i-try rin nila kasi exciting naman. When finally kumpleto na kami, pose ulit kami for another picture taking.

WASHING BY THE RIVER. Habang naghihintay sa banca na magdadala sa amin pabalik sa kabilang side ng ilog, sunud-sunod na kaming lumusong sa tubig para maglinis ng aming mga sarili. Tawanan kami kasi malinaw naman yun tubig ng ilog then nun lumusong kami biglang naging brown! Noon ko na isa-isang nakita yun mga bruises ko sa tuhod tapos meron isa sa malapit sa ankles. Para akong nagtrip at sinubukan kung matalim ang blade sa pamamagitan ng pagguhit nito sa balat ko!

Going home

Nang makabalik kami, fall in line para makaligo tapos we packed our things na para makabalik sa City where we'll take the bus back to Manila. Paalam na kami at picture taking with Ate Sunkist ang family. Sila yun nagpakain sa amin ng masasarap na pagkaing Pinoy, kasama na yun specialty an pancit sa lugar na yun. Pagdating sa bus, dinner kami tapos rest. Pagod kaming lahat eh! Hindi rin ako halos nakatulog sa byahe, mas gusto ko tumingin sa labas ng bintana, lalo na dun sa mountainous part ng Nueva Vizcaya at Nueva Ecija. Medyo maliwanag pa rin kasi yun buwan kaya kita yun kapaligiran sa labas. Madaling-araw nasa Bulacan na kami. ETA namin sa Manila is around 7 a.m.

SUNRISE. I witnessed the sunrise once again! Hindi ko na matandaan kung kailan ko huling napagmasdan ang pagsikat ng araw. Yun bang nakikita mo kung paano unti-unting lumiliwanag ang paligid tapos from afar sisilip yun yellowish sun. Maliit lang muna pero once na lumitaw na siya, ang bilis na mabuo nun bilog tapos unti-unti para siyang umaangat mula sa grounds.

MOMENTS – HIRIT PA ULIT! Sa ala-ala ko, mas maraming beses ko nang napanood ang sunset than sunrise. Siguro dahil sa circumstances na nagbibigay ng pagkakataon para huminto sandali at pagmasdan ang isa sa wonders ng buhay. Kapag sunset, sobrang calm ang atmosphere para sa akin; gloomy yet not frightening. There's this feeling of comfort and serenity. Parang ang sarap mangarap. Ang sarap pagmasdan ng mga bituin na biglang lumilitaw sa malawak na kadiliman. Masarap magreflect kapag ganun.

Pero iba ang feeling when you witness how the sun radiates its light across the land. Para sa akin, sunrise symbolizes a fulfilled promise, another chance for you to see your dreams come true. Upbeat and vibrant ang dating, parang you're ready to face life's challenges.

Sa life, meron din sunset at sunrise. Between those you have night and day; dusk and dawn. Minsan may storm so you cannot see the sun rise but you can still see its light amidst the storm, reminding you that though you haven't seen it, it's still there. Okay lang kasi alam mo naman andyan lang yun at bukas makalawa muli mong masisilayan. Minsan parang ang haba ng gabi, naiinip ka na pero madilim pa rin pero okay lang, sisikat rin ang araw. Minsan you're all too tired of life's wearies, gusto mo na lang gumabi na, umuwi, matulog, kalimutan lahat ng problema. Pero minsan kapag gabi na, lalo kang nanghihina at nalulungkot kasi lalo mong naiisip yun mga pangarap, yun mga ala-ala. Minsan nagtatanong ka kung bukas kaya matutupad na yun mga pangarap mo? Bukas kaya may magbabago sa kalagayan mo? Ano kaya ang naghihintay sa'yo bukas? Minsan dumating na yun dawn, masaya ka at excited dahil ayan na, unti-unti nakikita mo na yun araw hanggang sa balutin na ng liwanag ang iyong kapaligiran then suddenly there's darkness. Solar eclipse. Disappointing. Ganun talaga buhay. Pero you have to move on. Mahirap minsan, ni hindi mo nga maisip kung paano pero when you're left with no other choice believe me, magagawa mo rin. Minsan pag sunset, maaalala mo lahat yun, minsan nga di mo maiwasan umiyak pero okay lang, ilang oras lang naman yan kasi bukas, sisikat muli ang araw. Lilipas rin ang maraming sunrise at sunset, at sa paglipas ng panahon gagaling din lahat ng bruises. Minsang kainis kasi may peklat pero bakit mo ba tititigan yun peklat mo eh maliit na bahagi lang naman yan ng katawan mo at hindi naman diyan masusukat ang pagkatao mo?

Malapit na kami sa terminal. Kailangan nang maghanda sa pagbaba. Pagdating ng Maynila, diretso kami sa isa pang trip!