Philippine Travel Notes

Let's go to San Jose De Buenavista the capital of Antique Province. This was a PAL inaugural flight from Clark - the first by any commercial airline from anywhere. This must have been a historic moment for the province. At kasama ako ! But, as I always say, let's start from the very beginning . 0428H, look at this, already a long line of passengers at the airport's entrance. I know and I knew, not all of them were also taking my flight on a little plane with an 86-passenger capacity. We were entering, for several flights departing that morning. When there are such lines at an airport entrance, no IFs or BUTs, there is something wrong with that airport and/or its procedures. If it has been-so for a long time, then iisa lang ang "that means" nyan - matagal nang dispalinghado ang mga namumuno! It can be caused by many things, but one thing is for sure: there's something wrong. But let's not ruin my morning's historic flight. I made it and g...

It is (still) Philippine Independence Day as I write this.., about two hours before midnight.., so the day has not 'expired' yet! Therefore I am not (yet) very late to greet everyone a Maligayang Araw Ng Kalayaan! Guilty feeling. I haven't greeted anyone a Happy Independence Day today. That is not very "me"! If the "senior moments" did not attack, I probably should have seen interesting and memorable things or events as I'm in Clark, Pampanga. There must have been a parade or some ceremony this morning. No wonder... yesterday, after a meeting, I walked to SM Clark as my meeting venue was just nearby, and I saw some display, demo and recruitment booths of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). I know they do this regularly at malls or at public events/venues like at the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. But it did not occur to me, that this was their way of celebrating Araw Ng Kalayaan with the Filipino public! 'Badness me', even the promi...

Pig out! Isang makaaboy na gabi! Halika magbabuyan tayo! Done with a meeting, I strolled out the building to nearby SM City Clark. While ambling around, I saw a Katsu Sora branch, and I said "aba meron din dito"! And I told my stomach "dinner here, later, promise"! 6:08PM, there I was holding the menu, salivating, dreaming if I can only have all except Edamame! No can do, hindi ko dala ang extra stomach ko, naiwan sa Cebu hahaha! But this page titillated me.., Waitress told me "meron pa nyan until closing time" since they expected many diners being a Sunday. Talgang binasa paulit-ulit.., while in the midst of a crazy "conversation with my royal self"! Gutom ba ako? Yes you are, gabi na! / Not really, inubos mo yung Aroz Caldo sa Mabuhay Lounge! Can I finish all four? Yes you can, gutom ka nga eh! / No you can't, 'wag kang takaw-tingin! Apat na porkchop yan ha? Kaya mo yan, masiba ka! / Mygaad saan mo isisiksik yan, sa bulsa?! ...

This is a short one and just a teaser really for those of you who like looking at city lights from a flying witch’s perspective! Okay, the Cebu Pacific flight from Cebu City is at about 5:50PM so you expect to arrive at 7:40PM over at Clark. Dark enough when passing by the Metropolis, right? The return flight is even mighty better, leaving Clark at 8PM and arriving at Cebu by 9:50PM – you get to view the night scenes of both Metro Manila and Metro Cebu! The flights (both ways) use an ATR72 aircraft. It’s a turboprop, not a jet so that it does not fly high enough over the clouds. Thus, you get a very good view of the cities below. Whichever way you take, your flight will be passing somewhere above Manila Bay so you have a fantastic view of the whole metropolis at night. The street, house and building lights are so nice to see criss-crossing the vast urbanity. It’s like a mesh of arteries and veins made of lights. Some are too bright, some are faint and others are just specks. But th...

What a weekend! It was a truly exhilarating, relaxing, educational and entertaining trip! I went to Dumaguete via Cebu Pacific’s zero fares promo, with a hop to Siquijor Island and an equally great return trip. Good enough sojourn since my airfares were “absolutely” free. And it went (at least as planned) something like this… Saturday Manila to Dumaguete via Cebu Pacific Air, proceed to Siquijor, roam the island, go swimming if necessary, return to Dumaguete, check-in at Harold’s Mansion, enjoy the Dumaguete Saturday nightlife! Sunday Roam Dumaguete City in the morning, visit the southern towns and whatever is there to see, include Antulang Resort and Apo Island, also visit Valencia if time permits. No Jollibee, McDo, KFC or Chowking – find local restaurants to enjoy their local fare! Roam whatever there is on a Dumaguete Sunday night! Monday Visit Sibulan and environs. Take fast-craft to Liloan port in Santander. Take a bus (preferably Ceres) to Cebu, have lunch at CnT le...

What’s next? Do not chair? Do not table? Do not window? Ahhehehe! That “seat” is on a fantastic glider owned by one of the coolest dudes in town. I saw him “seat” on that “sit” and expertly fly that craft at the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark! He obviously was not the one who wrote that hehe! Here’s a bigger picture where that masking tape was attached on the sit, aw set, aw sh*t, whadever cadaver! Oh well, the interesting signs of our times…