Philippine Travel Notes

First I was somehow impatiently irritated that my driver could not overtake that truck. We were passing by this narrow twisting roads nearing Calbiga. I calmed myself with "we'd be able to do so in no time, when the road gets wider a few more bends ahead". Then, I was moving restlessly on my seat trying to get a good view of the contents of that truck with my phone ready to shoot. Driver told me casually "bananas sir". And so I said "oh okay". But why is that door open? Isn't that dangerous? He told me, "so that the fruits won't get ripe untimely". I asked why do they not use an open truck instead. Driver intimated there could be a number of reasons - mostly "economic". He says, if the suppliers are serious, they should use refrigerated vans. But those are expensive. Maybe too, this was the only truck available to them, and that they must already deliver, lest the fruits get ripe and rot. I wondered why were those in c...

On a rainy Wednesday afternoon commute, from Tacloban to Catbalogan, we were about 5 minutes into the trip when this thing on the dashboard caught my attention: I smiled at the grammar. Oh yes, drivers are fun 'when they English themselves' haha! But, my atrevida brain needed to ask the driver what it meant, in case I haven't heard of the latest marites and/or driver jokes circulating everywhere on social media. Da! So I asked, and OMG, as in oh my gino-o ko! It caused the dear driver into a serious story-telling for most of the two hour trip, as if his life was threatened to end. In a cracking voice, he even asked if I was a lawyer. The story goes something like this... Few days ago, a woman passenger ("Misis" as the driver refers to her) took this ride on Seat Number 2 (my seat). Without confrontation and without his knowledge, this woman allegedly made a complaint to his bosses at VS Grandtours. And the issue?! That this driver, allegedly kept ...

New Millennium signs of 'organization' and 'orderliness'? Or a sign of the New Millennium Philippine Language?! Whatever this "rhyme" means, it attracted my curios amazement! Of course I asked around a la "imbestigador"! This is by the gate of V&G Subdivision in Tacloban, and, seldom would anyone be seen at this concrete post (mapaso!!!). So, I walked a bit more to the church and found someone who gave me an explanation. That area pala, is where pedicab drivers queue up to get passengers, especially when the church celebrate holy masses. So that they (pedicab drivers) don't scrimmage and create chaos, they organized themselves, produced stickers for members to paste on their trikes, and those who don't have stickers (therefore not members of the PAPODA) may not pick passengers here. Istrikto! And what is PAPODA? Oops, the PA , I forgot! At least I know what PODA means - P edicab O perators and D rivers A ssociation! Oh well, sig...

Just about noontime kanina, I was not really in a good mood as I arrived at my Tacloban abode - on a weekend, due to some #$%$^ exigencies. Then I heard some singing that brightened my eyes and flapped my ears. Whoa, I literally dropped my bag at the gate and ran towards a neighbor's house where the singing seemed to be coming from. Note: I do not know this neighbor (yet) but I entered their gate anyway (yan ang totoong gate-crash hehe) to shoot this video hahaha! And, just as I thought... carolers, in the waray-waray old style way! So here it is: Akala nyo tapos na?! Nope! I followed them, thinking they would sing at another house hehe. But, argh, they sang at the little corner store where there were a lot of pedicab drivers etc hanging out in the area, and they even crowded around the singers. So, I waited, thinking I could follow them to another house. But they sat down just outside the store, to eat bread and drink sodas - yun kasi ang ibinigay sa kanila after singing. Har...

If the previous topic ( Tacloban to Clark direct flight on Air Asia ) was a first for me, here is another first: My Point-to-Point (P2P) Bus Ride from Clark International Airport to Trinoma Mall at North EDSA in Quezon City. I did this just to try how it really is :) How did I prepare for this trip? Yes, nag-prepare talaga! Well, some bit of analysis had to be summoned of my lowly brain. First, did I have time? The answer was 'siguro naman'! With my flight from Tacloban expected to arrive Clark at 1010H and my event at UP Diliman scheduled to start at 1730H, that would have been a very unfortunate miracle if I still didn't make it on time, right? Plenty of time to spare, so I dared! Second, I have read and reread the many web stories and blogs that describe this kind of bus service. Plus, I had my driver on standby to pick me anywhere on the entire NLEX route - if ever something untoward happened. First time eh, hehe. Not that this was a first time for me to travel bet...

This air route has been on for a time now. It started as a regular route via a hype-up (or command?) of the president (Duterte) to decongest MNL by moving some flights to CRK. Was that 2016? I guess so. Hmm, before I proceed, let us do some 'tsismis'.., I heard, many stakeholders in/at/of Region VIII were vehemently opposed to the Department of Transportation picking TAC as one of the cities with flights to/from NAIA that would be transferred to Clark. How vehement? Ah, many of them (such as business chambers) trooped to their lawmakers or leaders that be, for the needed intercession to Malacañang! Lo and behold.., by the end of 2016August, the Regional Development Council VIII (RDC8) submitted a resolution to the DOTr declaring opposition to making MNL-TAC-MNL flights become CRK-TAC-CRK. I remember there was even an online (hashtag) campaign for this - the #NoToClarkForTaclobanFlights. So what happened? Interesting! At first, all 3 airlines (PAL, Cebu Pacific and Air Asi...

This signage is prominently posted by the elevator door of a hotel I stayed at, in Pusok, Lapulapu City, Mactan Island. This wasn't first time I stayed with them. They are a convenient accommodation place when I am transiting at "unholy hours" via MCIA, and when Waterfront Airport Hotel is out of rooms! But this was the only time I dared taka picture of that signage (hindi na mapigilan, hehehe)! What is "free smoke"? Therefore what is a "free smoke zone"? hahaha libre yosi? ganun?! Well, anyone not philosophizing can tell, that the owner, or whoever posted that sign, meant "this is a SMOKE-FREE zone". But look at the red-colored letters. Now that's not acceptable. What does 'strickly' mean anyway! Ah, Tagalog nalang kasi, or maypa Bisaya-a lang gud! Don't English me, I'm not school! True. It's more fun in the Philippines! Don't me! Disclaimer: This blogger is not an English Language Expert. In fact, yo...

Hey folksie-folks, I was back at this Korean Restaurant called Han Gang in Pusok, Lapulapu. Not that I crave for anything in this place, but, by virtue of proximity, this has been (and still is) is my go-to (best choice) in Pusok area! I went there tonight! This time I had beef soup and a cup of rice. Like their other authentic Korean dishes I have tried before, this one tasted oh so good. This is also NOT spicy, thus, I liked it. And, 'wheresoever' they get that from, the beef is of really good kind. For you my readers who are (like me), not (yet) too familiar with K-restaurants, if you are also wondering what those 'little dishes' are for, I only call them "the trimmings"! They're are the usual side-dishes this 레스토랑 serve together with whatever kind of main dish you order. Most of them I never dare touch. Why? Ayoko ng mahanghang! That cute bastardized word 'mahanghang' comes from my nephew, at ginaya ko na! Oi, there weren'...