Philippine Travel Notes

Not as if I knew that it is/was there, although I heard from long ago that there is a University of the Philippines Campus in Palo, Leyte. And we accidentally saw how it now looks, after Yolanda / Haiyan. We came from a meeting in Tanauan (Leyte), and passing by Palo, one of my companions wanted to see the church where Love Añover was seen on her on-sight GMA news report during the height of Yolanda's wrath. So we went to the Palo Cathedral. Thereafter as we walked about, I saw an "oble"! Yes, The Oblation monument, the symbol of University of the Philippines System... Curious, I walked the few steps crossing the little street from the Palo Cathedral, and my companions followed me, also wondering why there was an "oble" here. Incidentally, all seven of us are UP Alumni, and we only came to know about that at this very instance! Everyone's first reaction was... silence! Only I broke that prolonged silence when a guard came by and I asked him questions.....

It was "goodbye Oras" for me, I was going back to Borongan for more meetings. But a friend told me, even if out of the way, I could still go to Binogawan Beach just for me to look and see how it is today. So I breezed through northwards - it is just about 9 kilometers from Oras (I think)! I was awed at the length of their "pader" (concrete fence). This is probably just half of its entirety! And I purposely took the shot from this angle so I would remember those numbers - in case I need to reserve a room or ask about anything in the (very near) future. Yep, an interesting hideaway, I suspect! This is what you see as you enter the resort's gate. Hmm.., interesting.., I suspect hahaha! C'mon, this town is already in the middle of nowhere, or should I say almost at the end of everywhere? Herearounds, everything is the simple rural life. Thus I got surprisingly excited seeing a resort like this! Standing at the resort.., looking left.., this was the view!...

Oras is a pacific-facing town up the northern portion of Eastern Samar. This town's name is not pronounced like the Tagalog word for time. No, not like that! It is [o'ras] where the stress is in the second syllable. The speed and tone is like how you say the English words "alight", "chorale", "amass" or "awash". Okay, that's good enough, I know you got it! Uu da, oke na da it! Asya it! Yesterday, I was in the area checking on some work-related matters. Stayed overnight in this town as I haven't yet heard if accommodation facilities are available in San Policarpo or Arteche (these are the 3 northern-most towns of Eastern Samar). This morning, I was on my way to other nearby places, but.. I got trapped (happily) by a parade! That long white bridge behind them is the only way out south... A youngish set of town officials, I must say. Oh, the girl in the middle is not a muse. She is THE Mayor! But by the looks of it, she migh...

I flew Cebu to Tacloban today (evening flight) on Cebu Pacific Air. As usual, I begged and sat front row. Reaching for the Safety Instruction Card (yes, I still read them), I saw this... Can't see it clearly? Try the photo below... Here's a second shot, and I enlarged the image... Not that I am so finicky about cleanliness on/of many things that are not mine, but... yuck. YAAAAAACCK! I grabbed the Smile Magazine ready to whack and squish it flat (yes, squeeeyash, eeew hehe), but it ran towards the crew-seat and disappeared into some crevice. Hayup na yan, di nagbayad! eh ang mahal ng pamasahe ngayon! "Umpair", sering pa ni Tatet! The cabin crew saw me taking those photos. She just watched me and smiled! Ganun. On hindsight, I say... "good presence of mind Ms Flight Attendant"! Eh, alangan naman habulin nya pa yun, 'no?! It would just have invited attention from the rest of the passengers, and I would have probably shrieked... "KOK-RACH eew...

Or "it's forbidden to hang-out / hang-around here" or something like that! I saw this at a store in Tacloban this afternoon. Warays pronounce that as "es-tam-bai". Yes, meaning "tambay" in Tagalog. For us travelers, this is an indicator to "take care" in this area or here-arounds". Why? Because... That is a telltale sign that some people (generally unemployed or out-of-school-youth) have got nothing to do than hang around in this area. And such areas where people who have got nothing to do congregate, usually become breeding grounds of many things you won't like! Yeah, there could be snatchers, muggers, etc. At the very least there'd be beggars. Oh well, the (economic) signs of our times - its only 10 months after Yolanda.

Is there such a thing? Well, apparently there is! Ayan na nga o! Me picture na! Trying to little by little "build house" in Tacloban, I went to see whatever I can grab at Robinsons Tacloban. And there is a Daiso Store inside the mall. Syempre, I went in to see what might be good to have for my new apartment. And then I saw that. OMG, how? Yeah am asking... how does that thing work? If ever! Hahaha, after oogling at it for a long while, NO, I did not get it. Safeguard pa rin ako hehehe!

Alright folksie folks! I took the van ride to Calbayog from Allen, even if I was on my way to Maguinoo Port as I was to take the evening boat to Cebu. Why still go to Calbayog? Because I had my friend leave my other bag at the Grand Tours terminal there. So I had to get it before getting back to the port – which is a bit far from Calbayog. Now for you fellow travelers who might already be in Allen and taking the Cokaliong boat to Cebu from the Maguinoo port, no need to go to Calbayog. If in a hurry or if you want more comfort, take the vans (e.g., Grand Tours) from Allen to Calbayog – and you will have to pay the direct rate of P100 from Allen to Calbayog. However, you can tell the van driver or their terminal personnel that you have to be dropped at the Maguinoo port. Saves you time. I discovered that this arrangement is possible because 2 of my fellow passengers on the Allen-Calbayog van were destined to Maguinoo, and the van veered right from the Maharlika Highway to deliver t...

By the Grand Tours van terminal, there are not so many choices as this place is not in the middle of town. But what a nice surprise to find an eatery right beside the terminal! Of course I went there to check out their food. Turo-turo style, but good enough for a really famished me! I went for the porkchops. Pepsi-only place, argh! But, I already knew of the usual solution. Just turned and looked at the neighborhood to find a store that sells Coke. Yeah! Another carinderia exactly across where I was, and the Manang there allowed me to bring the bottle of Coke Sakto back across the highway to where I was eating! Grand lunch enough! Nice going!

About a month into my being semi-permanently "on field" in Tacloban, I happened to have met a "long-time-no-see" friend. We agreed to meet again for dinner with another "long-time-no-see" friend! Venue of choice was Sophia's Way, the 'restobar' at the Leyte Park grounds near the gate by Magsaysay Blvd. Good food. The owners are known for that in Tacloban as they're also a catering company... We just had crispy pata, shrimps, sandamakmak na yang chow rice and beer! This is a good place to eat and drink. We've all been here many times before - when this area was still a hit with many restos. There was this live band singing standard ballads fro the '80s down to the '30s, probably even earlier. Okay naman. Good enough to hear, even if the "English" would at times be off. This is Leyte anyway! And then they kept repeatedly asking the audience for song requests or "audience participation"... No one was reque...

I first saw him/her chillin out with friends at the now getting famous PoUKi in Tacloban. Yep, that interesting joint in the previous story. Sorry, I don’t know how he/she wants to be referred to, a her or a him! But let me call him Jom. As he pops quite often into this place – which me and a friend consider a nice “go to” place to cap our evenings, I naturally got to speak and banter with Jom Bagulaya . Some waiter told me Jom is a city councilor of the city of Tacloban. At first I did not want to believe that, as I know that many city/municipal councilors are either plain ugly with a stout body (male or female) and more of ‘hungry for attention’ or ‘feeling dios’ with a bevy of bodyguards and alalays. But this ‘sexy’ socializer, jolly but prim (not too loud nor too forward) does not at all look like our common stereotype of a “konsehal”. So there was a chance we said “hi”, and I peppered him with a barrage of questions… Are you really a konsehal? Opo . How did you become ...

Am not sure if they had been in this place before Yolanda, but these days, they are such a jolly, not to mention tasty place to visit during early mornings. This is not your usual rows of delicacy vendors along Zamora St. These ladies are at the entrance of a building in the Tacloban public market. Those are "puto" in a multitude of colors! But, I like the “ira-id”!

Pop-Up Kitchen. A getting to be well-known joint in Tacloban - especially for the foreign development workers. I'm new to this place. My curiosity was just 'tickled' by partners from other development/aid groups around that I constantly get to meet (formally or informally) in the course of performing our respective roles in the Yolanda-stricken areas of Eastern Visayas. Yes nauna hira. As if diri ako local! What really is this? Well... ah... eh.., 1] a weird restobar - for us probinsyanos; 2] a cool rustic joint - for these foreigners I often see every time I come by; 3] an "o ano yan, mukhang okay ah" for folks from Metro Manila hehe! Ganito kasi yan... As a restaurant (or burger joint), this place is a small shack with some space (vacant lot) where the owners thought of cooking up stuff that they thought might be good to serve us visitors - customers. As a bar (many kinds of drinks - straight, mixed or blended cocktails and freezing below zero beers), t...

Primarily the views are something to savor in this place... That across, is the historic Tubabao Island. Where the "White Russians" lived for many years... If you don't know, just search google for those words. That was the reason I wanted to visit that island even earlier than my 2010 visit. But from my searches and asking around, it came out there's really no tangible memento of them left in that island. Amazingly, they did not even inter-marry with the locals. That topic was one of my papers in college. A dramatic saga of persecuted people. Pang-movie! Anyway, this boardwalk is the main draw of Tanghay View Lodge. This is your right-side view... That's the Port of Guiuan, where the ship is. A few steps from Tanghay's gate if you walk by the street. This is the left side view. That most distant roof by the water is also a restaurant called Misty Blue. Misty Blue Boathouse is after that row of boats that looks like a line extending out to the water. ...