In Retrospection.

Our trip to Guimaras was one hell of an adventure. This time last week, we were in the island of Ave Maria basking in the sun and getting a tan. Most of us traveled first time together, except for Maika who I was with in Cebu. But this trip was definitely worth remembering.

For starters, our freakkin flight got delayed for 2 hours. We were stuck in the airport for 2 hours waiting for advice if the plane we were to ride had arrived already. Waiting in the airport can really get the best of you. I was so close to bitchfitting. Good thing Iori and I ate earlier because all hell would break loose if we were both hungry and frustrated with the services of the airline company that I will not name. When we finally boarded the plane, it took another 40 mins to an hour before the plane took off. This time, I wanted to shout inside the plane because I was worried that we might not catch the last ferry out of Bacolod to get to Iloilo.

The flight was 45 minutes. Imagine waiting for 3 hours (plus the 2 hours before the flight policy in the airport) for a 45-minute flight. It will really blow off your steam. Anyway, upon arriving Bacolod, we were in such a hurry (as in Amazing Race stress) to get our luggage and ride the next taxi we found because we need to catch the 5:15 ferry to Bacolod. Thank God roads in the province were wide and there was no traffic. We made it to the port just in time.

The ferry ride was a different story. Going to Iloilo from Bacolod is an hour and 10 minutes ferry ride. I was forewarned by my tito that waves can get rowdy in the afternoon. Since we rode the last ferry out of Bacolod, we experienced the strong waves of whatever that body of water is. The ride felt like I was crazy drunk with my vision blurring and my surrounding moving. Good thing I took Bonamine before boarding or else I would’ve barfed.

When we got to Iloilo, we just literally passed by the city. The Port of Iloilo to Ortiz wharf was, I think, more or less a five minute walk where we rode a 10-15 minute pump boat going to Guimaras. 

We thought we were finally reaching our destination that’s why we let our guards down and allowed ourselves to feel tired and hungry. We were supposed to ride a multicab from Jordan Wharf to Raymen Beach resort since we arrived late, there were no more multicabs so we needed to ride a tricycle. We hired to 2 tricycles for the 6 of us. This ride was the longest tricycle ride in my whole life. Imagine riding a tricycle for 45-mins. 

Arriving Raymen was like finally stepping on holy ground. It was heaven. Finally after the long and stressful travel, we reached our destination. First thing we did was check in and eat because the last meal we ate was brunch and we arrived at the resort at around 9pm. Imagine our hunger and exhaustion that day. 

Just look at haggardo versoza faces as we were eating and ordering. Food was a gift that day and rest was really a pleasure. So we did nothing after settling in and just slept early because we were all to exhausted to do anything after a long, tiring travel.

The following day, we hired a pump boat for island hopping. Well, we didn’t really hop because we just fell in love with Ave Maria Island. The sand was yellowish bordering on white and it was powdery. The water was so clear and blue that we decided to settle in the island for the rest of the day. But yeah, we crossed to the other island to check out the “tortol”.

We went back to the resort at around 4pm. We were, once again, exhausted with the whole day we spent in the beach so we just crashed early and rested for another long journey going back to Bacolod the following day.

Before leaving Guimaras, we didn’t pass the opportunity to buy the famous Guimaras mangoes. For some reason, it was scorching hot that day and each of us had to lug around 5-10kgs of mangoes for pasalubong. But it was all worth it.

Arriving back in Bacolod, we hired a taxi driver to bring us around since we were previously advised that our flight was delayed and we had enough time to spare and tour the city. Our first stop was Manokan Country where they serve authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal.

Tasting authentic chicken inasal shot up my standards and will not settle for Mang Inasal. This was legit. The chicken was juicy and the taste lingers in your mouth. 

Our next stop was The Ruins in Bacolod City to check out the “Taj Mahal of Negros Occidental”. I will just let the pictures do the talking because the architecture of this structure is just awesome.

Our last stop was Balay Negrense. This is an old house which showcases antique furnitures which dates to the Spanish Era. This house kind of reminds me of the Pastor ancestral house in Batangas City but smaller.

We arrived the airport early only to find out that our flight got delayed, yet again. At least it was only for 30 mins so we just settled in, bought some pasalubong and made the most out of the remaining of our trip. The New Bacolod-Silay Airport was nice. The airconditioning was cool and their smoking area was al fresco. A far cry from Manila’s smoking area wherein you’ll smell like an ashtray when you step in.

Hi babe, I don’t care about your waist line.
what i do care about is just you!

i love you baby :* 

Since I am bored and have nothing else left to do tonight, I’ll just flood dashboards with my opinions and thoughts and what nots.

It’s (I think) the 26th anniversary of the EDSA revolution. I often wish to time travel and explore the glory days of Manila and experience the magic of EDSA. This people power revolution was a testament to the whole world that Filipinos have this conviction to fight for their rights without bloodshed and violence. But that was before.

At present, another people power revolution would mean mobocracy or mob rule. Another people power revolution would prove that there is no rule of law in this country. While there is an on-going impeachment trial, I can’t help but think if the general populace still think of going out in the streets and scream for the resignation of the Chief Justice because the display of incompetence of the prosecution team might just keep the chief magistrate in his seat. It is also such a disappointment to discover how poor the judgement of the people are for choosing such leaders who are blungers and feebles.

Sometimes, I can’t help but think what this country is looking at its future. After so such blunders in Philippine politics, we should have learned from our mistakes. We should have learned to choose the right leaders for our country. We should have been aware of the implications of the wrong decisions we’ve made.

Sad but true, we haven’t and we are suffering.

After months of waiting, our Cebu trip finally came.  Prior to going to the Queen City of the South, we weren’t even sure of what’s in store for us. Yes, we did research (a bit) on the places we need to see but of course, plans don’t really push through right.

Upon arriving, my friend got her ATM card capture in a machine of a bank I won’t name. It was instant bad vibes since we needed to wait for the bank to get her card so that we can claim it in the branch, which, I would say, has the most unaccommodating staff… EVER.

So while waiting, we first grabbed lunch at Zubuchon where we had our first taste of Cebu’s famous lechon then headed to the Philippine Taoist Temple. Well, no offense to the Taoists, but I didn’t see anything spectacular with the place, just the nice view from the temple. Plus, we encountered the most sungit guard I’ve ever encountered in my whole life. So we just headed to the Ayala Mall Cebu.

Anyway, we vowed not to go to any malls in the city since going there doesn’t make much of a difference with malls in Manila. But we had no choice and we had no other place to go since we were waiting for the bank to get the card and Maika to arrive.

Anyway, after the entire hullabaloo we just headed to our hotel to rest for a bit and we headed to the Crown Regency to ride the Edge Coaster and try the Skywalk. It was a very exciting and thrilling experience. I was literally nervous for my life.

We also checked out the Cebu night life. We grabbed dinner at IlaPuti in Cebu IT Park and headed to Vudu, a Cebuano club. Well, partying was no difference naman except for the weird choice of sounds by the DJ. But overall, it was all good.

The following day, the first thing we did was to eat brunch at Casa Verde where they serve the biggest slabs of meat and chicken I’ve ever experienced in my life. Going there, we walked under the scorching heat of the sun since we didn’t want to spend more money for a cab.

Since it was so hot during the day, we just decided to go to the tourist-y stuff later in the afternoon. Thinking that we’re such expert commuters in a foreign place, we rode the jeep again and got lost. By the time that we arrived Magellan’s Cross, the shrine or whatever that is was starting to close so we were just able to see it on the outside.

Since our mission was a failure, we just proceeded to other tourist spots nearby such as the Basilica del Santo Niño Minore, Plaza Independencia, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi Monument and Fort San Pedro.

Then night time came, we went out with new friends for a night of merry-making. 

It was a fun night out with new Cebuano friends but the morning after was the worst. We didn’t even get the chance to sleep because we had to catch the 6am bus to Bantayan Island. It was such a pain to travel for 3 hours in a bus and an hour in a boat with no sleep and a throbbing head.

But reaching Bantayan Island was totally worth it. The beach was really nice with its white sand, the water - very clear and clean and the island itself, very serene. It was such a nice place to really relax and unwind so I’ll just let the pictures do the talking.

An overnight stay in the island was bitin. So, I really have to go back especially if I want to just relax and reunite with my inner self. After Bantayan Island, we rushed back to the city to catch our 5pm flight back to Manila and by around 7pm, we were back to reality.

Cebu was nice to us except for the hassle the bank caused us but after that, all went well. 

NEXT STOP: BACOLOD!! 

P.S. This is a super late post if anyone ever reads my blog. 

xoxo