If there's anything I learned from our most recent out-of-town trip, it is this: the best things in life are free.
Well, almost. =)B and I spent the last summer weekend at the Hilton Cebu Resort & Spa, Mactan Island.
His brother in-law, Carwin, gave us 40,000 miles sa Hilton Honors para makastay doon ng free. Ang kailangan lang namin bayaran ay taxes.
We left Friday morning, bago humagupit ang bagyong Caloy. Fortunately, our flight was neither cancelled nor delayed. This flight naman was paid for by my dad's Mabuhay Miles. =)
Since we left QC early, we didn't have time to eat breakfast. After we checked in and paid for the terminal fee, we bought Smokey's hotdog sandwiches and took it with us on the plane. Pwede naman daw sabi nung ground officer.
Nung malapit na sa Cebu, grabe ang turbulence. Sabi ni B, natakot daw siya. Ako naman ay matiyagang nagsasagot ng crossword puzzle nung time na yun.
After almost an hour, the aircraft landed at the Mactan airport. Before kami tuluyang lumabas, we asked this guy from Hilton kung mas okay ba na magtour muna kami sa Cebu City before kami mag-check-in. Sabi niya tour muna. Sinunod namin ang suggestion niya so naghanap kami ng cab na masasakyan. We talked to one of the dispatchers sa labas ng airport and napagalaman na fixed ang rates across all cab/rent-a-car "brands" kapag Cebu City tour. It was P1,000 for the first three hours and P250 for the succeeding hours.
Nasakyan namin is Californian rent-a car and ang driver namin is si Mang Ted. Mabait naman si manong at nakakaintindi ng Tagalog. Pag-alis namin ng airport hindi naman umuulan ng todo pero cloudy, windy and drizzly.
Halos isang oras ang naconsume sa byahe from the airport to our first stop, Fort San Pedro. The Fort is the nucleus of the first Spanish settlement in the country.
May mga kanyon doon sa taas ng Fort:
Then we went to Magellan's Shrine where the famous cross stood. May repairs na nagaganap so medyo madumi.
Ang dami doong makukulit na nagbebenta ng candles na pwede itirik sa katabing Basilica de Sto. Niño, which was our next stop.
It was amazing na kahit na Friday ay ang daming nagsisimba. The basilica was packed at ito lang ang nakuha kong picture sa loob:
After visiting the basilica, we went to Tabo-an market, where we bought pasalubong. B bought danggit and tinik while I bought otap. From there, we asked manong to drive by Colon st., the oldest street in the Philippines. Hindi na kami bumaba dahil umuulan and tumatakbo ang oras.
We went straight to SM City Cebu and did some grocery shopping. Takot kasing magutom. I also bought CnT lechon (sarrrap!) for lunch. After that, nagpahatid na kami sa Hilton.
Kahit na tig-isa lang kami ng backpack ni B, pinahatid pa rin namin sa room namin. Hassle-free naman ang check-in. Di naman nangdiscriminate ang front desk people at nagbigay pa ng suggestions kung pano kami makakatipid. Pwede raw kaming kumain sa Executive Lounge, isang privilege na nabestow sa amin dahil Diamond member ang brother-in-law ni B. =)
When we got to our room (ang ganda kaso wala akong nakuhang pic), inayos ko kagad ang lechon at rice para makalunch na kami. We decided to eat sa may balcony para di mag-amoy lechon at vinegar ang room.
The weather was ideal for sleeping so we slept after lunch.
It was almost 6pm when we woke up. Para makatipid, we decided na i-try ang complimentary cocktails sa Executive Lounge. Pagdating namin dun, kumuha kagad kami ng food. There was pizza, calamares at iba pang pica-pica food.
Drinks were complimentary as well. I ordered orange juice and Bailey's tas B had Coke light. Nakakatuwa ang staff sa Executive Lounge, si Adz at Z. Sobrang accomodating at maasikaso. After cocktails, balik na ulit kami sa room.
Day 2
Thank God umaraw nung Sabado! Before kami magbeach ay nag buffet breakfast muna kami sa Vanilla Beach. Ang daming food! Nakakaexcite! Dami namin nakain ni B.
Pagkakain ay nagpalit kami into our swimwear at dumerecho sa beach. Maliit lang ang shoreline. Sabi ni B ay reclaimed daw ang area na ito at dating port. Mabilis lumalim ang tubig pero may net naman para di ka masyado mapalayo. Okay ang tubig, di masyadong malamig, di rin mainit. Pero may lumot. Parang Boracay.Ilang minutes after magswim ay nagsunbathe kami ni B for a while. Wish ko kasi talagang mangitim. Pero faint ang sinag ng araw so hindi (na naman) ako nangitim masyado. Pero nag-enjoy akong humiga sa beach lounger. First time! Hehehe.
After a few minutes ay lumipat kami sa pool para mag-swim. Lamig ng tubig!
Umakyat kami sa room around 2pm na yata. After maligo ay pumunta kami sa Executive Lounge para kumain. Wala masyadong food kundi cake at pastries. Naglaro din kami ng scrabble at naginternet para di ma-bore ng todo. Si B ang nanalo sa scrabble. =)
We were supposed to meet Crina, my friend from college, kaso masyadong remote ang Hilton at magastos lumabas. Nagdecide na lang kaming magstay sa hotel at matulog. =)
As usual, pumunta ulit kami sa Executive Lounge nung dinnertime. Mas maraming food this time. May calamares, tempura, fish fillet, pizza, grilled fish at iba pang pica-pica food. Nag-order kami ng San Mig Light. =)After cocktails, bumalik na kami ng room at nag-pack ng gamit. Nanood din kami ng PBB Teen edition pero nakatulog na kami before pa iannounce kung sinong maeevict. =)Day 3 Uwian na! =(The sun seemed to have shone the brightest on Sunday, our last day, when we didn't even have time to swim and sunbathe.
Anyway, we had breakfast at the Vanilla Beach again. Pareho lang ang food, may ilan lang na nadagdag gaya ng danggit at egg benedict.
After breakfast ay nagayos kami ng gamit and nagcheck-out sa Executive Lounge. Uber friendly ng Executive Floor Manager na si Paula at sinabi na free pala ang clown fish sa may bathtub. Kumuha si B in place of the stuffed clown fish sa bed (which was worth P500).
Binayaran na rin namin ang P470 para sa car na maghahatid sa amin sa airport. Happy kami kasi walang ibang nacharge kay B kundi yun. We were expecting na we'll have to pay taxes and other charges pero wala. Although may initial charge nang P5,000 sa card ni B nung nagcheck-in kami. We'll have to wait 21 days para maconfirm kung may binayaran nga kami.
Dumating kami naman kami ng on-time sa airport. Pero nadelay ang Cebu Pacific flight namin ng ilang minutes. Dahil daw sa runway traffic and ulan sa Manila. Habang naghihintay sa plane ay tinuruan ako ni B maglaro ng Pokemon. Nakakaaddict! But that deserves another entry. Hehe.
We arrived at the domestic airport around 12:30 noon. Derecho kaming cab pauwi ng QC. Parang lumipas lang ang weekend. Bitin! But we enjoyed the trip. Looking forward to Boracay.
And Baguio.And Tagbilaran.
And Bangkok.Haha. =)
Di naman kami layas noh?
We're all set for Mactan Island, Cebu! I've packed my stuff and B bought a camera! Yey! I thought we won't be able to document this trip. This may be our first and last time in Cebu Hilton so maganda nang may record na nagstay kami dun.
Excited na ako sa beach! Bumili na ako ng suntan lotion. Gusto ko mangitim!
******
I really need this weekend get-away dahil I feel so tired. It may be lack of sleep and lots of work. Aside from that, I'm still adjusting to the new boarding house I just moved into. My room is facing Zapote st. and ang ingay! Kahit 10pm na maingay pa rin. I hope I get used to it. If not, kailangang maghanap ng mas peaceful na place.
Fortunately, I'm sharing the room with Jo. She's nice naman. She works at Convergys and her shift is from 5am to 1pm. Buti nagkakaabutan pa kaming gising.
Apart from the noise, I also have to adjust to sharing bathrooms with 5 other girls. Siempre, ayoko nang nagmamadali sa umaga. Since halos lahat kami ay 8:30am ang pasok, I will myself to get up at 5:30am para mauna sa banyo. I'd rather do that than risk being late for work. Nakadalawa na ako this month and first half pa lang.
Oh well, lahat naman nakakasanayan.
I'm not afraid
Of anything in this world
There's nothing you can throw at me
That I haven't already heard
I'm just trying to find
A decent melody
A song that I can sing
In my own company
I never thought you were a fool
But darling look at you
You gotta stand up straight
Carry your own weight
These tears are going nowhere baby
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And now you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it
I will not forsake
The colors that you bring
The nights you filled with fireworks
They left you with nothing
I am still enchanted
By the light you brought to me
I listen through your ears
Through your eyes I can see
And you are such a fool
To worry like you do
I know it's tough
And you can never get enough
Of what you don't really need now
My, oh my
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it
Oh love, look at you now
You've got yourself stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it
I was unconscious, half asleep
The water is warm 'til you discover how deep
I wasn't jumping, for me it was a fall
It's a long way down to nothing at all
You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it
Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it
And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass
And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if your way should falter
Along this stony pass
It's just a moment
This time will pass
B and I went to Bulabod, a sitio in Puerto Galera, to spend the long weekend. We left Quezon City early Saturday morning looking forward to frolicking and getting tanned on the beach. Little did we know that we were in for something else.
Matapos ang routine byahe going to Calapan and breakfast at B's home, lumarga na kami papuntang Bulabod with B's cousins. Matagal ang biyahe, mga 1-1/2 to 2 hours. May parts pa na rough ang road at super dusty.
Bago makarating sa beach, nadaanan namin ang Tamaraw Falls.
From there, ilang minuto na lang at nakarating kami sa beach. Walang resorts doon. May ilang residents lang ang nagbubukas ng kanilang tahanan at bakuran for the turistas, like us. =)
Ito yung kubo na pinagstayan namin na pagmamay-ari ng in-laws ng cousin ni B.
Pagdating ng beach, di na kami nagpatumpik-tumpik pa ni B at nagbihis into our swimwear. May goal kami: umitim ng todo pero wag masunog. So naglagay kami ng sunblock. Yun nga lang, expired na yung mga dala namin so di na rin siguro eepekto yun, we thought. Good. Haha.
Ilang minuto pa lang namin naeenjoy ang pagbabad sa beach at pagkwekwentuhan nang may mangyaring magbabago sa takbo ng aming weekend. Naapakan namin ito:
The locals call it Taeng Kalabaw (Carabao Poop). Niresearch ko na sa internet ito at ang tawag sa kanya ay Crown-of-Thorns Starfish. Scientific name is Acanthaster Planci. Isa siyang hayop na puro tinik, as you can see sa picture. It feeds on corals kaya hindi namin alam kung bakit napadpad siya sa side na yun ng beach na wala namang corals. Tsaka thrid time na ni B sa beach na ito.
Grabe, sobrang sakit nung mga sugat at sobrang magbleed. I had two puncture wounds sa big toe ng left foot ko. Si Baby had a lot. Halos half ng foot niya meron. Siya kasi talaga ang nakaapak. Ako parang nadali ko lang. Pero sobrang sakit talaga. Gapang kami toward the shore.
Nung nakita ng cousin ni B na may sugat kami, kumuha kagad ng calamansi at pinigaan. Nung una mahapdi pero nung tumagal, malamig yung pakiramdam ng calamansi juice sa sugat.
Pero ang first aid ng mga tao dun is gasoline. Di namin alam ang gagawin so pumayag kami na ibabad ang paa ni Baby sa gasolina. Sabi ni B may soothing effect siya sa wounds.
Nabasa ko later na may toxic chemicals pala ang thorns ng buyset na creature na ito na nakakacause ng nausea at inflammation sa punctured areas. I was lucky na dalawa lang sugat ko. Si B, nahilo at namaga ang paa buong araw na yun. Swerte pa rin si B dahil hindi siya nagsuka at may antibiotic kaming nakuha at nakainom siya so hindi na siya nilagnat.
Dahil masakit ang paa ni B (yung akin okay na nung hapon), hindi na kami naligo ulit sa beach. We took a loooong siesta sa veranda nung kubo at pagkagising, umupo na lang sa sand at kumain ng halo-halo habang sinuscrutinize ang mga sugat niya. Baka kasi may naiwan na thorn or something.Niyaya kami ng cousins niya na pumunta sa Enchanted Ilog (called as such dahil may mga enkanto daw). Medyo malayong lakarin pero dahil gusto ni B na makita ko yun, tiniis niya yung sakit (awww, sweet, hehe). Siempre para medyo bearable, mabagal lang ang lakad namin.
We also took long breaks in between. Umupo kami ng ilang minutes sa kubo dun.
Kinagabihan, super sakit ng paa ni B at di na kami nakavideoke with his relatives. Natulog na lang kami kasi kailangan na ng pahinga ni B. Nagjojoke ata talaga ang universe dahil nawalan pa ng kuryente.
Kinabukasan, medyo bumuti naman ang pakiramdam ni B. Medyo di na paga. Nilakad ulit namin ang papunta sa ilog para makaligo naman ako dun. Ang ganda, parang set ng Encantadia ang ilog. Nung umaga ko lang siya naappreciate nung andun na ako mismo. Malamig ang tubig, super fresh. Kumukuha daw ng drinking water dun ang locals eh. Dala na namin ang shampoo, conditioner at sabon at dun na rin nagbanlaw. Sarap!
Pagkaligo nagpapaicture kami among Tiya Esther's orchids. Pacute muna. Hehe.
After nun, bumalik na kami ng Calapan at pinatingnan ang wounds ni B. Ang sabi ng doctor mahirap naman daw na iprobe isa-isa ang wounds dahil sobrang dami. Iobserve na lang daw if may maiinfect. Basta tuloy lang daw ang antibiotic. Umuwi na kami kina B pagkatapos at nagsimba nung hapon.
Monday, binisita namin si Kim na friend ni B from highschool. Pumunta rin kaming Jollibee para kumain ng Ice Craze at nagikot sa malls dun.
Buti lahat yan nagawa ko pa. May dinaramdam din kasi ako nun eh. Hehe.
******
Nga pala, para makaganti daw si B, hinuli ng pinsan niya yung crown-of-thorns starfish at inihaw. Sabi ng isang relative nila dun, kinukuha daw yun ng mga American divers kasi nakakasira ng corals. Apparently, 13 hectares of coral reefs ang nacoconsume ng isang starfish per year (ata).
Kaninang umaga pagkagising ko, naiyak ako. Natakot ako at naoverwhelm sa kakaisip sa dami ng trabaho na kailangan kong tapusin within three days. Tsaka na-sad din ako dahil after five days na magkasama kami ni B, uuwi na naman ako sa dorm. Basta na lang pumatak ang luha. Tuloy-tuloy na siya. Akala ko di ako tatahan eh. Pero siempre, kinomfort naman ako ni B (lab yu!).Maganda pa naman ang sikat ng araw.Akala ko isang ordinaryong araw lang ito, pero tumawag si B at sabi niya na swerte daw ako sa certain things today. Hindi naman ako naniniwala sa horoscope pero natutuwa ako kapag may nagsasabing swerte ako.Aba, di ko akalaing totoo ang horoscope ko for the day. Swerte nga ako!Kahit na wala pang katiyakan ang lahat, masaya ako sa mga nangyayari. Maganda nga ang araw na ito. =)
******
Pag hindi na masyado busy kwento ko ang aming loooong weekend ni B.
Hanggang sa muli!
