From my previous two stories last night (this & this), why am I all of a sudden in an airport hotel? Why am I not home? Ah its like this, I promised a night-out with friends, eh I was to depart today noontime.
So, we decided to have it at Waterfront Mactan - after I literally just dumped my labada from Tacloban, and grabbed a few things to wear going Indonesia via Singapore. Hectic but hopefully fun Christmas!
I will tell more about those in my succeeding stories. As for now...
Here I was again (about to checkout) from this hotel that I call a "no frills luxury". Yes me ganun!
The ultimate in convenience if you were departing from Cebu Airport the following day! I took the two pictures above while waiting for my turn to be checked-out. The colors, music and mood is Christmas!
Ah my most notable note about this holiday mode and mood, would be from last night. Here's a video:
We loved listening to those three kids playing Christmas Music. Tastefully, non-obtrusive live sounds to set the character for the holiday season, as if coming from a piped-in recorded music. Magaling!
I'm writing this at the boarding gate! Okay, boarding na.., leshgo!
What place comes to mind when you hear the phrase "Pink Sisters"? Hmm, yes, Baguio, then Tagaytay - in that order, right?! But did you know there is also such a monastery in Cebu? Ah, well, not really Cebu City since it is already a few steps away from the boundary. It is in Mandaue City. Yep, that is the 'Adoration Convent of Divine Peace' - a monastery for nuns clad in pink habit, reason why its called 'pink-sisters' and I think you know all about that part, right?! Anyway, this convent (and chapel of course - that's my topic in the first place) sits in an urban neighborhood that is by the boundary of two barangays both named Banilad. Yep, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City and Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City! And that is along AS Fortuna Ave., - the famed strip where many notable restaurants and branches of virtually every bank in this country are located with or without ATMs! Oh yes, as of this writing, AS Fortuna has four hotels, two of them new - and am only...
Let's go (na talaga) ! This was it! To Northern Samar's Pacific Coast I went! How My D-Day Started D-Day (departure day ba!), 2 days after I went to reserve this ride, 06:51AM, I was at 7 Eleven beside the highway, waiting for a call. None so far. It was still early anyway. If the van left their downtown terminal exactly 7AM as scheduled, it probably would take 15~20 minutes max, to where I stood at Nulatula. Not a long wait, but anxious! Enough time for me to ransack the shelves of 7 Eleven! Marlights, seldom do hinter town sari-sari stores have that; Coke Zero, but I cannot cram those in my backpack. I said 'let me drink at least one can before I fast on this beverage for the next few days.' Argh! But happy thoughts lang, maglalakbay tayo! Oks na, sinamahan pa ng Siopao! I usually don't eat breakfast, but hello, this was to be a 7, 8 to even 9-hour ride . Who knows if the driver would even stop anywhere and for how long. Ang Hypoglycemia! Alrigh...
Virtually everyone in Surigao City is related to this boulevard directly or indirectly! It's such a big thing , they even have a Surigao City Boulevard Development Program and a Surigao City Development Authority . I'm not joking. Those are for real. As in! Involved in it are not only their local politicians but also the chambers of commerce. What is it anyway? Foremost it's a 1.8 kilometer stretch of a highway along the seafront. The concrete pavement tells me it is still new. That is it! Walang basagan ng trip! It is an emulation (kumbaga sa Tagalog pa: gaya-gaya ) of Roxas Boulevard in Manila, or pwede rin Dumaguete’s Rizal Boulevard - and many other seafront boulevards. Aside from being a “park” for the residents, it is supposed to be an attraction in the city, showcasing whatever bla-blah-blah to attract tourists from everywhere on earth. While I was inclined to raise my eyebrows, it did attract me. I was a tourist, right?! So okay, without a speck of d...
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