Philippine Travel Notes

A nice day.., a wonderful day indeed! We just came off the interesting Canigao Island and driving our way up to Ormoc, to call it a day. Not yet returning all the way to Tacloban this time, as tomorrow's "work-related work" starts from Ormoc! We (I mean my driver) were rushing on the road as it was nearly sundown, and Matalom to Ormoc is around a hundred kilometers, and we have a protocol to abide by.., "sun-up to sun-down only trips"! But I observed, the views along the way were fantastic with the golden "about-to-set" sunlight on this western side of Leyte. So I made a deal with the driver.., no stops but I could request a slow-down at important or extremely wondrous sights (sites too) along the way! Ang problema: there are too many! First fantastic sighting, not really my choice.., not a site or sight but an "incident" (in Bato, Leyte)! My driver honked quickly and softly as he tried to overtake that trike running slow in the...

Another morning-joyride and I loved it! Excited - on the way to Canigao Island! Just a short run actually. Almost, but not even an hour (about 50 kilometers) from Baybay City on the way southwards to Matalom, passing by Inopacan, Hindang, Hilongos and Bato. These towns are on the south-western corridor of Leyte. Good roads and nice morning sceneries on a bright summer day! Entering Inopacan, I marveled at beautiful old houses. Just like in Baybay, there are a lot here too! Note: that house was not even the most wonderful I saw. It was just what I was able to capture since the car was whizzing thru. Driver won't slow down as we wanted to catch the earliest boat to Canigao! I had to take a photo of this corner. It now is my landmark for future visits... This is where I should turn right going to the municipal hall - I could see it at the end of that road. That means their munisipyo (or other public areas or buildings?) must be sitting by the sea or at least near. The church is ...

About 30 minutes before the boat docked, passengers were already lined up with their luggage big or small towards the exit area of the ship. I think there are two stairs (both sides), but obviously, only one is used for disembarkation – the one from which we all entered. By the way, another first for me, this RORO’s exit stairs are outside of the main hull! Yeah, so drop anything or yourself while on those steps and everyone will surely hear something (someone) splashing down to sea! But these staircases are cordoned off once the boat starts moving. Anyway, when the line reached the door of our ‘Tourist A’, I thought that was too long enough, so I joined in. And most everyone already did so. Note: the boat was still even maneuvering towards the pier. I checked the time, it was 5:24AM! We all had to keep inching our way. Many times I was not even moving yet but I was being pushed! There were so many lines from all directions gunning for that single exit stairs, although the bulk of huma...

Continuing my post-Yolanda stories… , there I was perched on Bed No. 61, the ‘Tourist A’ section of Roble Shipping’s M/V Joyful Stars. Yes, I was bound for Ormoc, but, this was the only ride I could take that evening – I would just connect via land transpo to Ormoc all the way to Tacloban. Hey, sitting on my bed (upper part of a double-decker), my head reached the ceiling making me bend my neck forever. And,I knew this boat was not about to leave anytime soon as there were still hundreds of passengers left at the terminal waiting for their bus ride coming here. And I saw there were still mountains of cargoes, plus a platoon of vehicles big and small, also waiting for their time to be loaded. So, I found a way to move about this ship sans my backpack. How? Ahem, charm! Caught a banter of 3 dear ladies. Two of them across the aisle were teasing their companion who was assigned a bed beside mine. Teasing about what? Well, about me! So, patay-malisya, I talked to my ‘beloved neighbor’ abou...

As said in the previous story , I learned at noontime of an opportunity to see many of the Yolanda-stricken places in Eastern Visayas. Can’t let this occasion pass-by just like that, so I got myself ready for an immediate departure – most practical was tonight, so I could rendezvous (in Tacloban) with a friend (from Catbalogan) going to Hernani, Eastern Samar with another friend (in Tacloban) who offered to drive her going there and back! It’s like this: friend from Catbalogan goes to Tacloban, friend in Tacloban has a vehicle, me the kibitzer will come from Cebu to join them! Error: I should have already gone out to buy a ticket for tonight’s departure. I did not, and told myself I would just grab that ticket already on my way to my chosen craft tonight. I opted for the (overnight) RORO from Cebu to Ormoc as taking the fastcrafts would deliver me there too fast that I would end up staying overnight in Ormoc or Tacloban where hotels are all fully booked, thanks to the so many good soul...