Philippine Travel Notes

Calm now my dear readers with wary bodies! You Probably remember this post I did sometime ago about the “ chair massage ”, right?! Well oh well, I was not contented with my wild imaginations. So here comes the second enounter... While roaming around the Mactan Cebu International Airport’s (MCIA) predeparture area, waiting for my delayed 5J flight (as usual), I happened to have walked towards this area where the ubiquitous massage services has a small room. And reading the signage, I naturally walked near it, perchance to grasp more abut these services. As you can see, their services are aptly described, though I did wonder what that first one is. Its probably a “body massage” gleaning from the descriptions. Alas, the chair massage description did not help at all. I once again froze where I stood and imagined what was being described. What?! They poke and whack your “back and shoulders” using a chair “with emphasis on the spine and lower back to release stress and tension”? My golly go

“Hello ‘pre, I need your help, please” said the friend “Anytime as long as its not cash” said me, myself and I “Help me plan to propose, gusto ko nang pakasal". "Oh okay, yun lang pala", I said "And, I need your endorsement to fuego, please”. “Ha? what made you think I can do that?” said I hehe So went my conversation with a friend sometime ago. That reminded me, I haven’t yet shared a story about Punta Fuego. I really thought I have already blogged about this place. Only to find out there was none yet hehe. But as many say, “better late than never”! And here I go… It’s a wonderful place! There are not too many such places in this country. And if there is anything similar, this one, though already a bit old, still emerges one of the best. At least for me, in terms of location, amenities and nature’s endowments. I have been popping at this place many times for various reasons or purposes since the late 90s. Reason probably why some friends think I am a memb

This is not my story but that of a very close friend. I am posting it just the same, so fellow travelers will be better informed. Here goes… They were done with the countryside tour and were just resting by the beach. A boatman came by and offered to give them a tour to Balicasag Island the following day. P2600 for four of them. Husband, wife plus two children, both in high school level abroad. The kids got excited for that would have been their last snorkeling adventure in the Philippines before flying back to Canada. All set! Following day, boatman came at the agreed time to fetch and walk them to the boat “parked” somewhere at the end of the beach where there were not so many people. She asked why. Boatman casually confided saying ‘so that they won’t be spotted by the coast guard’. She sensed something fishy was going on. But assumed it was just to avoid boat registration fees or something. You know, “colorums”, they’re everywhere, right?! At the boat, they were introduced

“Jay, fasten your seatbelt and behave… stop complaining” so said the mother. “Why does he always get to sit by the window?” retorted the kid. “He’s still a baby, you’re a man now. Make your brother happy, okay?” replied the mom. So “Jay” was silently pouting all throughout take-off as he was seated on the aisle, beside me. This was a very short 20 or so minute’s flight from Cebu to Tacloban. Being a small ATR plane, the seats are two abreast on each side and the mother was traveling with her two sons. So younger kid of about 3 years old and mom were seated 16AB while “Jay” and I were 16CD across the aisle. He was silent but I knew he was veeeery disappointed so I tried to ‘salvage’ the situation. Yeah yeah, when it comes to kids, I don’t know why they affect me so much. “Hi, your name is Jay? How old are you?” so I opened up. Still pouting, he glanced at me and said “I’m 5 years old, my name is Jason”. “SIR?” added the mom loudly as if to reprimand the kid for not using the wor

Heard about this place being re-done and eventually re-opened just recently. So, I thought it was but necessary that I go check the place out... Its nothing much of a museum if I compare it to others in the city especially the very extensive collections inside the Museo Sugbo (yep, the old provincial jail). This Cebu City Museum looks more like a painting and old photograph gallery than a repository of artifacts or a collection of our forebears’ farm implements and utensils. I am not even bent to calling those paintings artifacts since they are almost all circa 1991~1992. BUT, I did learn some things from those few paintings lining the walls. I know I would find them in books or other media, but seeing them via paintings was a new, if not, interesting experience. So, to each his own, really. Who has a singular list of requirements on what should be in a museum anyway, right? Thus, I respect it as The Cebu City Museum. What I liked circling around the room was, in fact, the spac

This is 'somehow' to answer a question of one reader. In particular he asked “why do you travel to go to those bazaars and trade fairs when you usually don’t buy anything”. The answer: I learn a lot from them, I get ideas on what to see next or even where to go next. I get to share these with my friends and family so they know what to get where or what to see where, and when. Plus, the experience of browsing at many things about a place, almost all in just one booth, is very conveniently educational. That means I do not have to travel far and wide to know little curious snippets about places. Like? Well, let see… I’ve already told you about what I saw in Catbalogan , so let me go back to Cebu for a 'case-in-point'. I popped into what they called Agro Trade Fair 2011. And it was conveniently just at the very grounds of the capitol. Yep, behind the big building and in front of the Justice Fernan whatever building. Of course I was not about to hoard or haul any of the p

I waited for this. I don’t even really know why I was excited! Well, probably, just to see for myself (in a more comfortable setting, seating and sitting) how the declared winners performed, and how people get entertained at the performances of these groups. You see, in Cebu, its usually like this… festival on a weekend (that might extend up to the wee hours) >>> judges gruel it out trying to finalize their choices (and that may usually be until sunrise) >>> winners are declared (contingents are informed) >>> Monday, awarding ceremonies but the winning groups are asked to re-perform their winning entries (usually with everything used and everyone with a role in the performance). Tedious ‘no?! Well, imagine if you were a dancer or propsman of a winning group from a town far away. You sacrifice (or is it ‘have fun’ roaming around the city?) being away from home, until you are finally done with the “repeat-performance” hehe! This was no short program bt

I had already a rough note on this topic re my hectic 1 week stay in Metro Manila (golly, I now consider myself a visitor) with that “smoking ban” in place. However, recent news have 'again' superseded me, so I had to make some little tweaks here and there in what I had to say. So, puffing travelers, listen up and listen well esp if you’re going to Metro Manila. Ban As far as I can remember, at least in QC, smoking has been banned in enclosed public places as early as before I finished college. Hint: si Cory ang commencement speaker namin (her first ever), so you’ll know how long it has been. Smoking Usually refers to people who puff cigarettes and cigars. It does not consider the smoke belching buses, cars, trucks and even private vehicles ALL OVER Metro Manila. Hey, do I hear anyone mentioning Baguio? OMG yes! It does not also consider your neighbors even as far as three blocks away burning trash that they have just swept from their yard – composed mostly of plastic b

As usual, it was a long night. What with 40 contingents performing. Even if performed in succession it was still quite a long exciting night. Especially if, like me, you didn’t know what group was performing next! And even the “less expected” groups were quite a show already on their own merits! Hey, arriving at 7:02PM I thought I was late (though an inner voice in me was saying, no you will be not) but “Filipino time” has long been proven and tested everywhere in this country, right?! If anyone says 6PM, it usually starts about an hour later. Thus, at 7:02PM, as I entered the CICC compound, I could hear (and see a bit) the Lumad Basakanon as guests performing some kind of a welcome ritual dance! Hoooooo! So the program has just started. But I was not spared of listening to the so many acknowledgements on politician-guests present. Exactly 7:32PM came the first performance, Aloguinsan. I stayed on until after the 5th performance, when the emcee called on Jinggoy Estrada for a

Still good. Even becoming better! Seems like every year the contingents are raising the bar in every aspect about street dancing parades. Still proof that Cebu is THE Festival Island of this country - as Vice-Gov. Magpale said in her speech last night (yes, nakinig ako hehe)! There were more participating localities (40). That’s out of something like 53? Well, many folks hope that politics could be cast aside when it comes to sending troops to this festival. Example: I missed Daan-Bantayan. Anyway, I have got nothing much to say about how good the troops were. Am sure the judges sweated literally and figuratively trying to decide which was best in street dancing, costume, andas and so on. Here are 'some' of my captures: As usual, if any of you kids, teachers, trainers, choreographers, LGUs, etc want the high resolution copies of these pics, j