Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte

Dec 16-19, 2012

After the stressful event in Megatrade, Exlink had a company outing and Christmas Party Celebration in Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte :)

Call time is 8pm Sunday, since hindi kami nag plane to Bicol. Travel time by land is approximately 8 hours! It was a long ride. anyway, we arrived in Daet Camarines Norte/ Bagasbas, Island around 5-6am. Finally!

Inside the Van

while watching the sun to rise around 6am :)

Fishermen fixing their net

Bagasbas Lighthouse (pero we didn't see any) :) 

Before proceeding to our boat ride, we passed by Rizal's Monument
It was in Daet, Camarines Norte where the first monument of Jose Rizal was erected - 2 years after his death and even before he was recognized as the Philippine National Hero.  

Private terminal station for these blue boats :)

Meet Butanding :)

Joana sitting pretty on the cozy couch :)

Good thing malaki si Butanding or else, we could've been taken by the waves! (2 hours boat ride equals motion sickness)

Finally, we arrived in CALAGUAS, ISLAND, CAMARINES NORTE

Super fine/ powdery white sand and super blue water! One of the best beaches I've seen (c)Sir Orly
The very long travel time was nothing, this view was worth it!

Our tents were prepared for us already

View from my tent. I wish I can see this view everytime I wake up in the morning.

Hahaha! :D

a cottage in Calaguas Island looks like this - 3 feet above the ground yung seats so good luck  bago ka makaupo :)

Our beautifully garnished and nutritious Lunch. This is one of the reasons why we loved our stay in Calaguas. <3

Beach time! :)

We were given skim boarding lessons! 

Meet Regine, she's 12 and she taught us how to skim board

 Christmas Party Dinner and Exchange Gift/s :)

                              

Followed by the usual Inuman Session. 

The next morning, we had team building games and dance showdowns.

We had lunch and afternoon snacks at

City Tour before going home.
When we travel and go on an outing, we made sure to know also about their culture and living.

Municipal Hall

church

Wow! They also have bazaars/ exhibits (like some events we organize)

                             

They opened their Museum for our viewing. Learned a lot from them.

Then 8 hours long travel back to Manila. 

Arrived around 4:30 am and had Breakfast with Lyssa before going home

Jovy & Carlo's Wedding, San Juan, Batangas

November 16-17, 2012

My officemate and friend, Jovy, got married. Venue was in her hometown - San Juan, Batangas. Travel time was around 3 hours. We rode the service Jeepney Jovy owns. :) 

This was my first time to attend a wedding in the province. Actually, this was also my first time na maging abay sa kasal. (Well, not quite. Nag proxy na ko dati as abay).

Compared to modern weddings that I've been to (elegant, serious, formal, everyone was dressed up accordingly, etc.), it was a very informal, festive, and a celebration attended by almost the entire neighborhood!  It all happened in their backyard in San Juan, Batangas.

The party started the night before the wedding, sabi nga ni Jovy, wala ng tulugan. We arrived around 6pm on November 16. We were welcomed by a live band singing happy OPM Songs and other love songs. Everyone was busy - some were arranging flowers and wedding decors, some were cooking in big pots, nagtataga ng mga baboy, cleaning dishes (accompanied by assistants na nag-iigib ng tubig sa poso), serving food to the guests, and some were just having fun eating, playing with the kids, dancing to the music, and taking pictures. (too bad I didn't bring my camera). *Credits to Jazz for all the photos here.

Some traditional wedding practices they had:

-Pagsasabit ng Pera sa damit ng ikakasal like the picture above 

first on the list were the ninongs and ninangs, then the family. I learned na kung sino kamag anak mo sa ikakasal, sa kanya ka magsasabit ng pera. :) It's funny because one relative of the groom hung the new house key of the soon-to be husband and wife. :P

-Traditional Dance of the bride and groom, plus a dance with your partner / mga abay sa kasal 

awkward. I'm not used to dancing, lalo na slow dance. Pero I still did. for my friend! haha :)

-There were also singing/ jamming, and teenagers had dance showdowns of modern dances like Gangnam Style and Teach me how to Dougie. :) In fairness, confident and talented mga tao doon. :))

The Party ended around 12 midnight and my officemates and I checked in a resort near the beach. Forgot the name, but it's a small resort with dormitory-type accommodation. 

Jazz and I (my officemate na abay din) had a nap for less than an hour. then we took a bath early and on time for the 2am call time - for the hair and make up preparation.

Early morning view in Batangas   

Then we finished around 6 am. Then we rushed to San Juan Nepomuceno Parish church in the bayan, which was 30 mins away from their house. Wedding Ceremony started at 8am.

 (me on the left, Jazz on the right side of the picture)

our officemates

Congratulations! Jovy and Carlo :)

Then afterwards, we took the Jeepney service and went back to their house for the reception. Then there are other traditions they practiced there:
-wine toasting and cake sharing/ eating (the usual)
-paghahagis ng bulaklak/ bigas kasama ng mga barya, then the couple must pick up all the coins (for good luck)
-pagpasok sa loob ng bahay (kailangan sumuot sila sa pinto while their parents are also acting as "doors"
-pagpapalipad ng kalapati
-the traditional pagbato ng flowers nung bride sa girls/dalagas and ribbon for the guys, at kung sino man makasalo, isusuot ng guy yung garter/ ribbon sa legs ng girl. It was also believed na yung nakasalo is sila na yung next na ikakasal
-and what amazed me was they had this sort of fundraising session for the newly weds. Everyone who can give cash (other than the ninongs and ninangs) went in front to donate. There was a host announcing who gave money and how much, parang bidding na ewan. Something like "Oh, si Ninong ___, Nag-abot ng P5,000. Total na po natin ay P20,000" until they reached the most that everyone can give. The couple gave the cash contributors some token like their souvenirs and they also handed native products like suman and kalamay. :)

By the end of the "bidding/ fundraising session" they reached P107,000!!! Not bad at all! I'm sure this couple can be able to cut down on their wedding expenses for this sum of money! :) Great idea for my wedding! hahaha :)) 

Overall, it was a great wedding experience. For my first time to become an abay, it was remarkable. Exhausting, but fun and definitely a new experience! Best wishes to Jovy and Carlo! <3

Totoong Bayanihan :)

Aug 9, 2012

Magtatagalog ako ngayon dahil pinagmamalaki kong maging Pilipino. (Hangga’t kaya ko tagalugin mga sasabihin ko :P ) Nakakalungkot ang mga pangyayari pero di maitatanggi ang magagandang aral at kwento na mapupulot sa trahedyang ito. :)

Adrian Dungo at http://adriandungo.weebly.com/ 

GMA News TV

Tatlong araw na akong hindi pumapasok sa trabaho kasi malakas ang ULAN. Hindi ito bagyo ah, ulan lang ang meron ngayon, pero hindi birong ulan. Ayon po sa PAG-ASA, sa NDRRMC at sa mga balita, tinamaan ng Habagat dala ng Bagyong Haiku ang Luzon at nagdala ito ng malakas na pag ulan na nagdulot ng matinding pagbaha. Apektado ang NCR at mga kalapit bayan. Marami halos ang nagkukumpara nito sa Bagyong Ondoy noong 2009. Matinding ulan talaga!

Hindi ko alam kung saan 'to pero lagpas leeg ng tao na ang baha

Ang Pasig Palengke kung saan ako namimili kapag mag "Night Market" ngayon hanggang hita na ang tubig

Sa Manggahan Floodway. Dinadaanan ko pa 'to papunta sa luma naming office- napakataas ng daan dito, pero ngayon halos sumampa na sa daan ang baha. 

 Maynila

Tarlac

UST

Ang NLEX na parang naging malaking ilog :|

Landslide sa Commonwealth QC. Ilang pamilya ang natabunan ng lupa 

UERM Hospital na halos lumubog na ang 1st Floor

Sa Isang Evacuation Site 

Ilan lang yan sa mga nakakalungkot na pangyayari. Sobrang dami pa talaga pero pinili ko na lang. *Hindi ko po kuha ang mga 'to, mga nahanap ko lang po na "trending" sa social networking sites.*

Kinaya na natin dati, kakayanin ulit natin bumangon, Pilipinas! :)

 Gusto ko magpasalamat sa Diyos dahil ligtas naman kami ng pamilya ko at hindi pinasok ng baha yung bahay namin; pero alam ko na di dapat magpakasarap na lang sa bahay dahil marami pang hindi ligtas sa kinalalagyan nila. Wala akong magawa kung hindi manood ng balita at magdasal para sa kanila. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung ilan ang eksaktong bilang ng nalunod, natabunan ng gumuhong lupa, at namatay sa sakit dala ng pag-ulan at pagbaha (nakakalungkot talaga na isipin nangyayari 'to sa atin) ang hirap matulog ng mahimbing lalo na pag naiisip ko mga napanood ko. Nakaka-Iguilty talaga. :(

Pero, kung pipilitin naman na tumingin sa bright side ng mga kaganapan, ang kagandahan naman sa mga Pilipino, nananaig pa rin ang isa sa mga paborito kong salita na hindi matatapatan ng kahit ano pang salita sa mundo at dito lang sa atin maririnig : ang BAYANIHAN :)) Ipapakita ko ang ilan sa mga larawan na lumutang sa mga kaganapan ng nakaraang mga araw :

Saludo ako sa mga rescuers na buwis-buhay talaga ang ginagawang pagtulong. Sa mga MMDA, Philippine Red Cross, Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, at sa maraming Pilipinong tumulong sa kapwa. Napaka drama ko pero nakaka-iyak na makitang nagtutulungan ang mga tao, kahit na di sila magkakakilala -- inalis na ang pagsisihan kung sino may kasalanan bakit nagbabaha, inalis na din ang mga sama ng loob sa gobyerno, sa mga taong matitigas ang ulo at di sumusunod sa mga batas, sa mga nagkakalat ng basura at sa lahat ng pasaway na mga Pilipino. Ang mahalaga ay mailigtas ang buhay ng iba at makatulong sa kapwa hanggang sa abot ng makakaya. 

Isa pa sa mga lumutang na "quote" at totoong nagpapaliwanag sa kagandahang loob ng mga Pilipino ay ang mga katagang :

May mga pribadong kompanya rin na nagbigay tulong at isa ang Cha Dao sa magandang halimbawang nakita ko :) 

 Hindi rin matatawaran ang sakripisyong ginawa ng mga preso para sa iba

Walang dapat maiwan :"> 

Ako naman, bukas ako magbibigay ng mga damit at pagkain na nabili ko. 

Kaka-surf ko sa internet, ang dami ko pang magagandang kwentong nabasa, dalawa dito ay :

 1. Isang babae sa Katipunan

 Taken near Katipunan LRT station

The person in the picture is a mendicant. Usually asks for coins and alms, but a few days ago I spotted him clearing the drainage by removing the dirt with a stick. It was raining heavily at that time. His initiative to clear off the drainage to prevent mild flooding in that certain area made my respect for him higher. He is not educated. He is illiterate but that did not stop him from helping other people through his simple way. 

When I come across to you again, I promise to give what I can afford to give. 

(c) Johanna Labitoria

2. Ang Buhay ni Mang Roldan

MR. ROLDAN JIMENEZ PINEDA

Nakakaiyak na mga kwento ng totoong taong makatao! Walang wala sila, pero nakuha pa nilang tumulong.

Isa sa mga quotes na pinipilit kong isabuhay ay yung galing kahy Gandhi. Sana maging insirasyon nyo rin :) 

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Seryosong madalang ako mag blog at bilang na bilang lang sa daliri kung ilan na nasulat ko pero hindi pwedeng hindi ko 'to mailabas! :D Mahirap tanggapin na madalas talaga puro masasamang bagay lagi ang naririnig ko tungkol sa Pilipinas pero may mga kaya pa rin patunayan ang Pinoy. Malaki pa rin ang tiwala ko sa atin. Hindi man perpekto sa mga bagay, alam ko na uunlad pa tayo! 

MABUHAY! 

Shaine