Passing through Cebu again

Mag-aso Falls

Balay Negrense

The Ruins

Please click this link to view more pictures: The Ruins

The Cliff

How relaxing to see a beautiful view like this. You may thought that it's somewhere in Europe but it's not. I took this picture in Subic where I got invited by a friend to shoot a resort.

related post: The Cliff Royale photo shoot

Unplanned trip to Angono Rizal

Palawan trip

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Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City and it is the largest province in terms of land area. The islands of Palawan stretches from Mindoro to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea in the northwest and Sulu Sea in the southeast. Palawan is considered to be the Philippines' "last frontier". The province boasts of many splendid beaches and has two World Heritage Sites: Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

Two weeks ago, I was very fortunate to visit Palawan with my orgmates from Ortigas Center Mountaineers, Inc. or OCMI in short. This is actually my third time to visit the place and would definitely visit again and again. Thanks to our dynamic host, Anthony “Tonyo” Arquero,who’s also my batchmate in OCMI (batch1) and his wife mommy Mitch, whom patiently handled budgeting fares for this recent trip. How can I forget Mrs. Rebecca Arquerro, Tonyo’s mother, for being so generous and for such a warm accommodation. If it wasn’t for Mamang, as she’s dotingly called, we wouldn’t have seen and experienced setting our feet on the expensive sand and classy villas of Amanpulo.

I truly enjoyed this wonderful experience. What can I say about the food? Delicioso!!! specially the lobsters! Certainly gratifying are the warmness of those people that accommodated us from St Agustine Academy in Coron, to Agutaya and as far as Cuyo Island. The whole trip is of course very much enjoyable because I spent the whole 10 days with lovely, high-spirited and blissful camaraderie of OCMI and friends. Thanks Anthony, Mitch, Oros, Louie, Marge, Mellany, Abet, Joyce, Dory, Winnie, Divine, Rosahlee, Anjo and Sheng for this superb experience. Looking forward to next Palawan trip!!!

Here are some of the photos taken during my recent visit and previous trips in Palawan. Enjoy!(pls click the link on photo gallery to view other photos)

Port of Coron with Melanie, Sheng, Joyce, Dory, Vidal, Marge, myself, Anjo(partly hidden)and Winnie, a.k.a "SPO1".

St.Agustine Academy This is where we stayed upon arriving at Coron. Beside me is our host wearing blue striped T-shirt, Fr. Roderick Caabay, school director.

Siete Pecados marine park

island hopping...whoa! laban ka? ngek! :)

Kayangan Lake is touted as one of the cleanest lakes in the region. One can also have a great view of the nearby island and seascape as one ascends the trail leading to the lake

Agutaya port hey Ava, strike a pose and smile! she's unaware that i took a photo of her while she was busy taking video of the port. this turned out to be a nice shot, isn't it? c(",)

1959 church bell this photo was taken at a nearby church in Agutaya.

school girls paraded the Philippine flag in celebration of Independence Day,June 12. photo taken at the island of Agutaya.

Cuyo island sand bar

Manamoc island,Cuyo

Amanpulo Pamalican island Amanpulo means peaceful island. I never thought that I would set my feet on this island, thanks to Mrs.Rebecca! we had explored this beatiful island. Accomodation in this resort is very expensive! the like of Hollywood actor Mel Gibson is a typical guest. Too bad we didn't get the chance to see him...

our tour guide in Amanpulo

big lagoon, El Nido

smile little girl! she has very nice round eyes. this was taken at Canluboyan Island.

this photo was taken at butterfly garden in Puerto Princesa

Calauit Island, wildlife sanctuary of exotic African animals and endangered endemic animals of Palawan.

Tabon Caves known as the "Cradle of Philippine Civilization," Tabon Caves consists of a series of chambers where anthropologists discovered the remains of crude man and his tools. Anthropological significance came to the fore with the discovery of the remains of the 22,000 year old Tabon Man in one of its interiors, along with other artifacts decades ago. The caves are located in Lipuua Point, Quezon, Palawan.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, reputed to be the world's longest,its 8.2 km.,navigable underground river.It was inscribed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

construction hat...safety gear!

spell of a sunset

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photo taken ascending Mt.Banahaw, Quezon Province

SPELL OF A SUNSET
a poem by William E. Hardison

The twilight shadows cast their spell
by sunset's golden ray;
and I, in mystic solace dwell
'mid magic of God's way.

How beautiful this awesome sight
that fills my wondrous gaze....
Ah, the beauty of this spectrum light
just takes my breath away!

Across the water's silent span,
the flame reveals it's gleam,
a mirror of a grandeur land
in my celestial dream.

As creeping shadows slowly wane,
my troubles disappear,
for it is here in God's domain
I lose all my despair!

Now special shadows cast a spell
when shown by heaven's light,
and some are shadows of ourselves
which too, fade into night!

photo taken at Boracay

photo taken at Star Fish Island, Palawan

Cebu-Davao trip

Marichu or Chu, who’s my “kumare” and my colleague for 10 years, invited me to join her trip to Cebu and Davao. It was actually an official business trip wherein she will visit our company’s collection agencies, one in Cebu and one in Davao. Who would decline such an offer where my only expenses are plane tickets and pocket money for pasalubong? Since accommodation is free, she’s actually entitled to a twin sharing accommodation, and since I have not been to Cebu, I took a one-week vacation leave and join Chu and her adorable daughter Alyanna, my “inaanak”, in this trip.

Feb20-22. I met Chu and Yannah in domestic airport past 6:00am. At 6:30am, we checked in our luggage and headed inside the waiting area. We left for Cebu at 9:00am via Cebu Pacific flight 5J-563K. It was Chu and Yannah’s first time to travel via plane. One and a half hours later we arrived at Cebu International Airport where we met Mr. Jun Catacutan, collection agency’s account manager He accompanied us in Cebu Midtown Hotel, where we stayed for 2 days. The hotel is adjacent to Robinsons mall, just like Robinsons Galleria and Holiday Inn in Manila. The office of Sir Jun is just 30 minutes away from Midtown hotel. While Chu is busy meeting with the agency, I had the chance to explore the city. I went to Magellan’s Cross downtown near the Sto. Nino cathedral. I rode a jeepney which looks like a small Tamaraw going the cathedral. The jeep there is number coded. Be aware before riding otherwise you will get lost. Sir Jun treated us lunch in a grill restaurant near their office. I had 2 rounds of plate full of blue marlin. Later I had spasm in my stomach that I refused to eat dinner that night.

We had delectable breakfast at the hotel. It’s buffet so the meal is as good as Brunch (breakfast and lunch). Sir Jun treated us again lunch in a resto. Chu was delighted to see her favorite “lechon” served before her eyes. Cebu is known for delicious “lechon” or roasted piglet. Beacause I binged eating breakfast at the hotel, I skipped lunch for a cold juice. The truth is, my stomach hasn’t recovered from blue marlin yet. Since we still have time to roam around the city, I accompanied Chu and Yannah to visit Magellan’s Cross and Sto.Nino cathedral.

Feb22-26. We left for Davao at 2:45pm via same airline flight 5J-597M which took us almost 2 hours. This trip is my 3rd visit to Davao. My first travel to Davao was on September 1999 with OCMI, that was when we scaled Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines. I remembered the old airport then that looked like a public school. This was bombarded by armed men and was now ruined. I was surprised to see the new airport. It’s spacious, clean and at par with that of Cebu International airport. It looked even better than domestic airport in Manila. We stayed at the Bahai Faith Institution in Kidapawan. The second visit to Davao was with a ‘balikbayan’ friend from Israel, Mel, whom I accompanied also in Kidapawan. She visited her family in Kidapawan whom I’m also close with. It’s the same place where our group stayed at during my first travel. And this recent trip. I would definitely consider coming back.

We’re supposed to meet Atty. Jonathan Flores at the airport but Chu was earlier informed that Alvin shall meet with us instead. Alvin introduced himself from Atty. Flore’s collection agency and informed us that the latter was attending to a client hence he will be the one to accompany us in our hotel. We were supposed to stay in Apo View Hotel but unfortunately the hotel was fully booked so we stayed at Linmar Apartelle instead. Though it’s far from the collection agency’s office, it’s a nice and cozy place. It has a big swimming pool that we all get to enjoy after Chu’s visit to agency.

When we were at the agency, we were looking forward to meeting Atty. Flores. The staffs were smiling clandestinely. We were told that Alvin was the real Atty. Flores and that he tricked us by disguising as another persona. No wonder, he talks fluently and cajole us. Good thing we didn’t say bad things about him, hehe!

While Chu was busy reviewing accounts in the collection agency, I met Mel’s mother, Mrs. Ping Balundo or Maduy as dotingly called by her family, in SM Davao. She came all the way from Kidapawan and travelled for 2 hours to visit a friend in Davao. It’s quite a long time since I last saw her. She showed me recent pictures of her granddaughter Enna from Mel. It was nice to see Maduy again!

Atty. Flores treated us to an overnight accommodation in Pearl Farm Beach Resort! It was such a nice and relaxing place, free from pollution! I’m glad I didn’t hesitate to join Chu and Yannah in this trip.

I’m a very lucky person to have experienced all these. Thanks so much to Sir Jun and Atty. Flores who are so generous; and most especially to Chu and Yannah for a fun-filled trip. I had a great time!