Philippine Travel Notes

We had dinner last night at a place where many Catbaloganons would probably raise an eyebrow (or both) if they hear this name: Twins Resto . Well, things have changed! It has been upgraded, and there's a new kind of service - turn left and go to the end. You will stumble upon this enclosed and air-conditioned "private dining area". Ayos! If you look at that photo intently, you will realize I took it while already seated inside the room, yet I could see all the goings-on outside. I could hear the band but faintly. It's an "exclusive" meeting room complete with projectors and the works. Of course you can dine in this "function room" if you wish. We did. They even arrange buffets! Aw, you just go out to the main hall, if you want to sing and/or dance with the band. Ay, even the food they serve has also seen upgrades - in presentation and in taste! There was a dozen of us, but I think that room can fit more. I also didn't 'investi...

Arrived by boat in the morning and found my self hearing mass in the afternoon. On a Saturday?! Yep. Anticipated, as I have have lots to do tomorrow (mamaya na yan)! Significant day anyway. I have not been to this church for some time. Matagal na. Equally worth noting that this was (still?) the First Week of Lent (yata) because last week (10 days ago) was Ash Wednesady. Not to mention, Holy Week after Yolanda! Speaking of Yolanda, wasn't this church also affected like many others? Apparently not, based on everything around - even if my photo is blurry - especially the retablo. It's (now) so grand looking. Way far from what it had been during my younger years. I smiled imagining 'this time, I could actually get lost behind that retablo' ! Oy btw, our new pope has just turned 1 year as such. And like anywhere, priests are quite active mentioning the Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) . Nice of them. #EasternVisayas #TravelPhilippines #catbalogancity ...

I have done this before , right? Yep, also on Cokaliong, but that was on M/V Filipinas Dinagat. This time, my ship's name was M/V Filipinas Maasin . So, was it the same? I would say 'generally the same'. But you know me, every trip is a new experience. It will always have something worth remembering , na dapat isulat. For memory's sake! Aw ah, te isulat eh! Yes, like in 2011, I was on my way to Catbalogan, with a fair lot of "props" heheh, so barko was my best way! I actually have no issue with riding a plane to Tacloban but the commute from TAC airport to city, then onwards to Catbalogan is discouraging! To say the least. It was easier this time (I hope this is not forever), to commute from Calbayog's Maguino-o Port, 21kms to Calbayog City, then 70kms to Catbalogan City. Here I go! Where to buy tickets From previous trips, I came to know that Cokaliong also has a Ticket Office outside of Pier 1 ( in front of the gate ) together with...

Nothing special, but this was such a hilarious incident I witnessed! Walking from the Consolacion Public Market going up to V&G. I heard a habal-habal driver jokingly calling out to someone as if saying "ihawa na na" (just butcher them) ! I instinctively turned to where that driver was hollering at, while a tricycle driver was at that time chiming-in to say "lami na nga caldereta". They were joking, of course. Hesumalusep! The manong was OMG struggling, herding 4 adult goats on the road. Ganito kasi ang looy entawon na kaganapan: One goat kept veering to the middle of the street; one was just nonchalantly moving forward as intended by the manong ; while two others kept darting to the roadside as if fleeing from danger. So the 4 little pups (not tied) were confused on who to follow! Funny at first glance. But on-lookers (including me) , felt bad for manong goat herder. I even stopped walking, to scare that adult that kept going to the middle of...

Seen during my roam today... The passport office located at the 4 th level of (Metro) Pacific Mall in Mandaue with a dedicated guarded entrance and information desk at ground floor - outside the mall. Not that I need them anytime soon (2 years pa) , but nice to know where they are. Oist, I even went to the information counter and read things like this: That's one benefit of roaming around. If I was just at home doing nothing, I wouldn't have known/seen specific and implied information especially the "lining up" portion. Actually alarming 'no? Yug makakita ka ba ng "5PM to 6AM of the following day" ? Ay, that only means if you don't go to the mall at an inconvenient time, you'll have a hard time applying for, or renewing a passport. Lining-up pa lang yan at the mall (not DFA). Oh well, part of are the signs of our times. At least, we know what to expect.

Okay kapwa ko Pinoy, at which airport do you hear announcements that are funniest or weirdest? Thailand? Indonesia? Malyasia? China? Japan? Korea? Have you considered our very own airports? Here are some that really ring clunky and clanky bells in my ears: “…after completing all your counter check-in requirements, you are NOW requested to proceed…” Don’t tell me you have not heard that! It happens everyday at Mactan airport and just about elsewhere. Bakit kelangan pang sabihin yung “NOW”? Tanggalin na dapat yan kasi alangan namang meron “you are LATER requested". Di ba? The fact na nag-a-announce ka, that already means ngayon, as in NOW NA! “…outgoing passenger [name of passenger], kindly proceed AT…” Bakit “AT”? Hindi ko yata na-encounter ang grammar na yan from kinder all the way to English 5 in college. Di ba “ proceed to ” or “ check at ”? “…first to board are passengers traveling with infants and SMALL children…” Ahm, ambot lang! Di ba ang “small” hindi gina...

Noting what I said in the last paragraphs of the previous post , let me say... meanwhile, the ride continued, there were many more sights and scenes worthy of my memory. Yes like that one. All I could silently exclaim to myself was ano ba yan, nakikibagay si panahon sa mga nakikita ko! Almost 4 months after Yolanda everywhere still looks sad. Hindi yung jeep oy, normal yan kahit walang Yolanda! The devastated structure at left is/was the Barangay Hall of Brgy. Tibak, Sta. Fe, the first barrio after Palo. Sad, but what can we do, andyan na yan. Smile & move on na! Warays (Pinoys I guess), are generally like that, right? When it seems like we're in our lowest-of-lows our brains try to find something that makes us genuinely smile, diba? Sali ako dyan, Pinoy ako. I always smile when I pass by this barangay because... Sometime ago, a colleague (Tagalog) was reading (aloud) the names of devastated barangays we've seen so far. He pronounced the name of the area a...