Philippine Travel Notes

Things that we think are commonplace may after all sound arcane to others. Let's take the kilometer marker (also called kilometer post) as an example. I have encountered, and I still am encountering too many people who don't know what these are for, and what the codes try to tell us travelers. The ugly thing is some of these folks are even close to me, like I see or talk to them almost on a daily basis (good that none are from my immediate family) hehehe. I discovered, that some of them have read my stories referring to these kilometer markers that they did not understand, but just did not ask me. Others have come forward by asking me what I meant with those or what are those. That is how I realized that something I have known as early as when I was just 7 years old, is all along “uh–huh” to many. So "OMG this cannot be"! Someone I practically grew up together with even pulled my ears a few weeks ago over bottles of beer, asking why he did not know about th

One more from Butuan City! I chuckled at reading this eatery’s name. Why? Because they probably meant "amigo". Well, then again, one of you my avid readers might come forward to educate me that it is a surname? Okay fine, I’ll believe whatever you say! I still smile at reading the name anyway. Well yes, the interesting signs of our times!

All I could murmur was “OMG Why?”! This was just the town of Cabugao (Ilocos Sur), still about 50 kilometers to Laoag (Ilocos Norte). Something like 6 or so more towns. So why slow down from this point all the way to Laoag? Then I looked again hehe, the “to Laoag” is a bit smaller font than the “slow down”. Meaning? “Slow Down because you are entering the busy town center of Cabugao, Period, Carriage Return, Next Line, this way to Laoag”! Makataros?! Oh well, the "funtastic" signs of our times!

Does this depict the condition of our postal service nowadays? Look at the flag pole, It obviously has been chopped-off, probably sold to a junk shop hehe. Look at that tricycle. Looks like its been there, in that ‘melancholy pose’ for some time now hehe. Ah well, the incriminating signs of our times…

I asked why they were doing that. The answer was a simple “to make their product clean”! I asked if it was necessary. The reply was “yes, so customers won’t think they’re dirty”! Duh?! I asked what it was they were trying to remove. The explanation was “the white thing that cling to the squid”. I asked if those are molds. The now irritated response was “yes, but its normal”. Eh?! I wonder! If its normal, then why the extra effort to remove them? Do the dried pusit vendors over at the markets also do the same? To the tons of such product they sell each week?! I wonder hehe. Anyway, my lowly brain is thinking… wouldn’t those become more contaminated with more and more bare hands handling them? Or why not keep their stocks such that no molds would grow, proliferate or attack – however it is called hehe. AT LEAST… I saw that the brushes were just brushes. They don’t use detergent or any cleaning agents hahaha! Ano kasi… when I see those brushes, I immediately think of Ariel, Tide, Surf, Ch

Walked around, as usual. And as expected hehe! Actually, even as I listened to the news last night, I was already plotting my very own agenda on how to enjoy the event. It was mentioned that the revolution would be in the ‘heritage area’ of the city. Why don’t I go forth purportedly to attend this ‘Road Revolution 2’ and take advantage of the closed streets so I could get a closer look at those heritage markers on Colon Street?! I’ve been meaning to do so for a long time now anyway. Its just that, even on a Sunday, I couldn’t do it as I would be in danger of being run over by the thousands of vehicles that pass there. Hmm, nice opportunity! So, when I woke up this morning, I immediately hit the showers and leisurely set out to go and see what might be there to witness. Took connecting jeeps to the Metropolitan Cathedral for I knew it was somewhere there that roads would be closed together with the oldest street in this country, Colon. Whoa, quite a crowd of unusually dressed for church

I briefly peeped at the news last night while doing some home chores. Newscaster mentioned about Cebu’s Road Revolution. That struck me a bit since I knew it happened way back Independence Day – June 12. I should know, I was there. But as he went on with the news, it said something like it was going to happen today, 24 September – a second version. All I could say was “wheh?!” since I thought that was way too late for a news. They should have hyped the thing up way earlier to warn motorists and invite people to join the “fun”. Not a day before. Anyway, I got a better idea to enjoy the affair, but that would be my next blog entry. I went to get a feel of the event, just the same. It was a different area of the city this time. If last ‘independence day’ it was Osmena Blvd from the capitol all the way to Plaza Independencia, this time I learned it was part of Colon St., from corner Osmena Blvd all the way to Lopez Jaena St., and from P. Burgos the Plaza Sugbo to around the heritage Monume

Always leave some space in your memory card for a few more shots or a few more minutes of video. You'll never know what you might encounter and 'need to document' on the way home! That's a big lesson I learned. You might think you are done with that wonderful vacation and you captured all the memorable moments on your tour. Then on the way home you see something great or something worth remembering too. And you have used up all the memory in your gadget. Argh!