Philippine Travel Notes

April 28, 2014. First time I flew out of Tacloban after Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. 171 days after that super typhoon , to be exact. I already said in previous stories , all my exits from this region, since December 2013, had been by sea. Now I/we can fly! Agawan, tyagaan, tsambahan pa rin (especially around or after midnight) in search of those elusive available slots. But as said earlier, I'm not complaining . We should not . I mean tayong mga amoyong na makakati lang ang paa, let's not complain why seats to/from Tacloban are very rare to come by. You and I already know the reasons why. But it is easing up. Eto nga, I was already able to grab a seat coming in last April 22 , and here I was, able to grab a seat flying back to Cebu today. It's getting a bit better! Check-in It was not chaotic at all. The area still has no air-conditioning. It felt like I was inside a Brgy Multi-purpose Hall but passengers and bags appeared to move smoothly fine. But I ha...

Really?! Well, that's what they said, so I'll take that at face value. I was traveling this morning from Calbayog to Catbalogan and onwards to Tacloban for a flight to Cebu. Somewhere around Sta. Margarita, I saw this police checkpoint. I thought "uh-oh, serious matter, passengers are being asked to deboard from their bus, that means we soon should be asked to do the same" - which, is/was not uncommon. Yep, especially during the height of insurgency on this island. It was a 'fairly normal' activity that one had to endure - when the police/military were searching for *them* . My generation, or older, are/were used to that. Yet part of my brain was also saying "*they* are still around? in 2014? kala ko ba wala na" . I was ready to go down anyway. I even still remember "the process" vividly - all able bodied people get off the vehicle with all their belongings (to be frisked searched) ; elderly, pregnant and babies remain on boa...

Even if I'm a sworn (self-proclaimed) "Son of a Beach", I did not and do not know this resort (yet). But this afternoon, after that lunch at Carlos & Carmelo's , I had to see it! Why? Because somebody told me to check it out, just the way I did Rosario Hills . Eh why not coconut chocnut , andito na rin lang tayo e. Ayun, nadaanan ko pa si Uragon ! Now children.., because I needed to "report" to that somebody who requested me to go see Mondejares, I might as well tell you about it, di ba?! Masalimuot na masaya! Going there It's not near. Driver told me that should be 10kms or more from city center. And, like most resorts on this side of Calbayog (Tinambacan), no direct commute to the area. Unless you 'commission' a tricycle or jeep (called " special trip " - prepare to haggle) ! Alternatively but more cumbersomely, you can ride any public commuter jeeps, vans, buses going north of Calbayog such as San Isidro, Vi...

Another Calbayog version of the signs and signages that amuse us! Heading north from Carlos & Carmelo's , turning right at Rosales St. and I saw this: I clicked because I caught sight of "another big old wooden house in the provinces". But the store's name was even a bigger catch. I first laughed out loud before saying gino-o ko hesukristo ano na ito. After reading Uragon aloud, driver burst laughing too. Okay, if you didn't know, in nearby Bicol , Uragon means brave , tough , feisty - a badge of honor, a compliment. It describes someone who is a great achiever , resilient , tough . In Waray , Uragon means lustful , libidinous , even lascivious ! [in Tagalog : malibog ]! And that corner is in the middle of Calbayog City, Samar - where everyone speaks Waray. That's why the laugh hahaha! Let us be analytical (or angal ytical) once more... pwede pala yan? Don't government agencies or LGUs screen business names for offensive or "con...

Got a bit hectic today with some 'things-to-do' in Calbayog. And when I accidentally looked at the time, 'twas 1:50PM na OMG! I told my driver let's grab some food first. Passing by Nijaga St., to find Jollibee, we got curious and stopped at seeing this: My first impression: small to almost cramped, but looks something I will like! Noticed that corner at right? A slightly elevated platform - for bands or performers. I turned around if only to see more of where I entered - from the street. That's generally it! Well, I missed this nifty little corner. I told the driver "nagbabadya ang aliw sa lugar na ito" . A waiter heard that and told us: they're packed in the evenings, many unable to grab seats on Fraidays or Saturdays. Oh hey! That little grilled protruding part (behind that motorbiker) on the first picture? That is not airconditioned, with 2 or 3 tables yata, and you can smoke there. Dandy! Well, still on that first picture above,...

A new resort in Catbalogan about 15kms (or less?) from city center. They call it a mountain resort, but to manage your expectations, it doesn't offer any wonderful views of distant mountains, plains or seas as other mountain resorts do! The good (even unique) views are instead within their wide property. It's like a family farm, with grassy greens everywhere, best for cozy relaxation, plus swimming pool! Here are some pics as I arrived and roamed around... This is what you see on the Maharlika Highway, left side if you're going northwards to Calbayog or Manila from Catbalogan. I think I saw the KM790 marker before this. It has a modest nature-bound charm. Tahimik. But I was told they have videoke. Ta! I promptly grasped though, the crowd drawer of this resort for its Catbalogan public would be the swimming pool. Make that plural as I was told they're making another! That is actually technically two pools na, di ba? Plus "more ...