Philippine Travel Notes

I was back in Sabin, yey! But contrary to my earlier promise to my self in my last blog of some 6 years ago (already hehe), I still did not stay at the hotel, but just zoomed in for some late afternoon snacks! And the views, of course... And I went straight for it! I knew then and I still know now, sunsets are always the best at Sabin. Hey I toyed with the idea of shooting a video. See this... After the sunset video, as before, I just sat at the restaurant looking out into the horizon... Just savoring the changing hues of the clouds... the dimming horizon... and the darkening sky... With some food of course. Oops, this was not mine. This was the driver's order... Mine was bacon, egg and cheese... my special request! (I think there's none like this in the menu) Hey something happened! I heard fireworks! I ran to shoot a video of it. [will place it here soonest] That was interesting... although I still loved the sunset colors in the video than that of the fireworks!...

I was in the Kananga-Ormoc-Baybay areas for some 'work-related work', and lunch caught up with me at Ormoc City Food Park Barbecue Plaza. Hah, bisan di kauli'g Sugbo, makatilaw ta'g inasal with puso! As we entered the park though, that sign welcoming EVRAA delegates (athletes), invited my curiosity. Yes, I know what it is! The "Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association" Meet, commonly shortened as "EVRAA Meet". Oi, nangarap din ako nyan during my younger years. Who does not want to compete in an athletic meet representing his or her province, di ba? Ang siste, even if I was good at everything I tried in those days, the athletes sent to athletic meets were the best, not just "good"! In short, I did not make the cut. Hehehe, pang-rondalla, science fair, spelling bee at scouting lang pala ako! Anyway.., Once seated at our chosen stall, I asked the waiter when is this EVRAA Meet going to be. The manang owner answered "'aw wa pa...

Hey, this is some kind of a rejoinder, or probably even a "comparison & contrast", to how I landed at Tacloban exactly a week ago ! We can call this a "versus" story. Proof that not everyday is a bad day! Well, I still did my multi-lingual mental prayer.., wag na sana yung abort-abort.., kay makaharadlok! Here's how it went.., I took a PAL flight this time! Their planes are better and cleaner. It was a morning flight. The skies are clearer during these times. And there is even food on such a short flight. My previous story . No aborted landing. It just took something like 26 or 27 minutes! Anyway, here goes a video of the plane's appraoch and eventual landing into Tacloban Airport - if only to compare it to my Cebu Pacific flight seven days ago, where the plane had to abort landing, twice! Ah eh.., not really an "apples-to-apples" comparison.., but.., I have more peace of mind hehehe. The ceiling was not disintegrating, the weat...

Oh my favorite mamon! This may have been like so for a time now, I don't know. I did not notice nor did I check on my previous flights. It was only on my flight today (probably out of boredom or probably because I was 'practicing' macro-shots on my phone) that I bothered to look at the 'underside' of that mamon. I realized, it was baked by Goldilocks for Philippine Airlines. Outsourced na?! Better, since this mamon is Yumminess! Two things make me smile here: 1) I like eating this fluffy thing - thanks to my parents for feeding us with Goldilocks ever since; and 2) this is a true sign of upgrading a business to global standards of efficiency and productivity (on the part of PAL), to wit: if you are in the business of flying airplanes, focus and be the best at it - therefore, relegate other processes to already-existing-businesses (even if indirect competitors) and patronize them. In short, hmmm some friends won't like what I have to say... and I say... in sh...

May I still greet you a Happy New Year! There had been some reservations mishap at Marco Polo (my error, admittedly), thus, I landed on this one called Quest Hotel, through the commendable assistance of Marco Polo Club's very helpful staff! The busiest front desk I have seen so far! But I took this photo at 7AM of the next day, so no people! It was only this time I realized that this hotel's lobby is actually fine. Though the ceiling is too low. There are even seating areas that I didn't see during check-in since there was kind of a pandemonium! Those seats make me feel a bit claustrophobic. Madilim kasi, the ceiling feels too near my forehead! Note: this was not my choice. It was Marco Polo that picked this hotel for me, but based on my needs (where I needed to be in the next 2 days). But I liked this anyway. Another hotel to see and experience. Surprisingly, my room was like opposite what the lobby is.., small but has an admirably high ceiling! This bed was ...

Another newly opened thing (for me), as I have been mostly away doing my own share of help for Yolanda victims. This one mall here is huge. How huge? I can't think of a way to describe so. But, I was informed by one of their managers that this SM is actually bigger than MOA in terms of total floor area. Oh my gee! Happy to have seen there is a bowling center, though I think, that one at "the old SM City" Cebu is still bigger than at this new facility. But its a bowling center enough! And there is that big ice-skating plaza. Ah, because of this rink, more Cebuano kids will soon reap more medals on the ice. Mark my word! A lot of vacant space as of today though. Some shops still have to be up. Good. Otherwise I could have really tired my aging body just by trying to have a look at every store haha! Hey, the roof deck area, I can't recall what it is called, is one fun venue. There are restaurant rows, kiosk-like outlets surrounded by flowing water, dancing fountains a...

Hey, Happy New Year! Like I have been away from this blog for some time, I have also been away from Cebu about the same period of time. And oh my, today was the first time I learned and saw, that Cebu's version of "Galleria" is already up! So I went there to see what's inside hehe! Yes, this was New Year's day 2016 and I was on a cab to the Metropolitan Cathedral when we happened to have passed by the edifice. Not that I did not know there was something Robinsons sprouting at this location, as I have passed by this area many times before, while it was still being constructed - probably late 2012 or early 2013, construction was well in progress. Alright, I asked a guard as to when this mall opened, and the hesitant reply was... "about a year ago"! Oh my my, I have been away that long from my dear Sugbo haha. So all the more that I feel happy to have spent the holidays here. For tomorrow I go back to "field" again... haaay hoo hummmm......