A weekend with my 2 favorite people

Since February, my mom has been bragging about going to Tagaytay. It's actually her favorite place to chill and pray, since there are lots of places of worship there. (super relihiyosa kasi ang mudra ko,obviously!)

And so, one fine Saturday morning, off we went to the south. The original plan was only to visit Pink Sisters, but, due to my insistent demand to go to the beach, we then decided to spend a night at Batangas.

We arrived at Pink Sisters Convent at exactly 10:30 a.m. It was just a short ride from my mom's place at Paranaque since we took the Cavite route. (hassle-free kahit medyo nagkanda-ligaw-ligaw kami at first!)

the kolokoy pose

After staying for an hour, we proceeded to Batangas. It's actually a challenge to Fritz since it will be his first time to drive this far. I brought a map with me (c/o google map) for us not to be lost. After a 2 hour of drive, we arrived at Nasugbu Batangas, where we searched for the cheapest yet comfortable accommodation. We then decided to choose Marlou Beach Resort after closing a deal of P1,500.00 a night for one room good for 3 people. Though it's only a fan room, it still catered our need for a little relaxation. (plus points pa ang super duper accommodating na staff!)

sayang at hindi ko naabutan ang 120 kph ng loko!

first glimpse of the beach

at may videoke pa!

mga cottages sa likod ng rooms

in all fairness, ang linis tignan ni 'lolo'

hilera ng rooms @ Marlou beach resort

hapunan

sa lahat ng lakad ko, never ako nagpagutom! hehe

goodmorning with hot choc and cappuccino

early in the morning beach bumming

hindi nya maachieve ang gusto kong peg!!

sana sinabi ni Fritz, para naayos ko board shorts ko! hahaha

bfast before leaving the resort

to the rooms

We left the resort early since we all wanted to visit Calaruega. Its just a short 1 hour drive from Nasugbu, Batangas.

ayun ah, 30pesos ang entrance fee

pretty...

nature 

my mom saying her prayers

ito ang hinarap namin upang matunton ang chapel sa tuktok ng bundok

pahinga before uwian

Caleruega certainly is astounding. It is a perfect place where you can peacefully commune with the Lord.

Feeling our tummies' growling of hunger, we then proceeded to Tagaytay to munch at Dencio's.

It truly is an amazing weekend when spent with my two favorite people.

Ifugao trip

Banaue Rice Terraces. When I was little, I only see this picturesque view on history books and postcards. Not until a friend invited us for an out of town trip to Ifugao, and guess what?? ALL EXPENSES PAID.


It was on the summer of 2010 that I got the chance to go to Ifugao. As I said, all expenses were paid, from the rented car, to the accommodations. Well, we didn't really have to pay for the accommodation since Kirk is a native of Ifugao and many of his relatives live there. But still, a free 8 hour long ride from Quezon City to Ifugao is a good bargain. hehe.


Indeed, it was an 8 hour drive from Q.C. We left Manila @ 12:00 midnight and arrived at Ifugao past 8:00 a.m. Here are some pix on our way..

stop over muna for yosi break

this is from Nueva Vizcaya View deck

me, fritz and n.a.

Nueva Vizcaya shrine (i forgot what it's called)

The plan was, to stay for a night @ Lamut (if I remember it correctly), where Kirk's relatives from his father's side lives. The place is good, and his relatives greeted us with their warm welcome. Since we just had an 8-hour trip, we rested a bit before we had our lunch. By noon, we all readied for the lunch.

boodle fight!!!

After the meal, Kirk invited us to go swimming on his friend's resort. (and again, for free)

And since I'm with my beau's friends, the inuman session will never be missed.

chat, me and n.a @ Little Ifugao

nakakamiss mga ganitong tagpo

me, chat, n.a

We spent the whole afternoon singing, swimming and just having a good time.

After that, we had a goodnight sleep.

The next day was our Banaue trip and since Kirk also have relatives in Lagawe, and the next municipality after Lagawe is Banaue, we stayed there for our second day. He rented a jeepney to bring us to Banaue Rice Terraces. It was roughly a 1 hour drive from Lagawe to Banaue.

The moment I glimpsed on the Rice Terraces, I was awed. 

since kaka-ani lang, wala na ang mga palay which makes the rice terraces color green

..but still, the place is fascinating

kumpletong group pic

from the left: Brix, Jay, Ron, Kirk, En, Fritz, Me, Bruce

imagine, the Ifugao people did this by their bare hands

magnificently done

bruce, fritz, me, n.a, ron, chat, jay, brix and kirk

kulitan sa ibaba.. hehe

The Banaue Rice Terraces is still impressively beautiful, (atleast for me), though I guess its much prettier during the earlier years. I just wish the government of Ifugao will do everything they could to preserve this majestic beauty. Until then, I hope I'll get to visit it again, but I'm praying that the next time, it will fascinate me more.

(nakakalungkot, ung area kasi na pinapaligiran ung rice terraces e napuno na ng illegal settlers, disappointing kasi, imbes na tulungan ang gobyerno to rehabilitate it.... well, i don't know what they do. I wish the next time I visit it will be the time when again, its a nominee for the 7 Wonders of the World) 

Less friends, less enemies, less back stabbing

Friends? These are the people you trust about everything in your life. Those you are most comfortable with, those who can keep your deepest, darkest secrets..

But what if you can not tell anymore which one is true to you?

Now, that would suck! BIG TIME! And I mean, BIG TIME!!

I've had friends, who eventually became my worst enemies. I don't know, sometimes I wonder what I did to them that made them stab my back. I admit, I'm not the best friend you'd have, I wouldn't be there everytime you need a, well, a shoulder to cry on. I wouldn't be present on your most hurting hours..but would that be enough to stab my f*%$in' back??

It hurts.

Whenever you trust them with your secrets and they tell it to everyone! (or someone)

It effin hurts!

When you discover they have been making stories about you!

These days, its so much easy finding money than finding a one true friend.

I never had one, even one. (I guess?)

It's just like, everyone else has something to say against you when in fact, you've done nothing wrong.

It's odd.

But its good, atleast you've got no one to trust but yourself.

They say no man's an island, but i'd rather be alone than being with a bunch of assholes!!

Traveling down my memory lane..:D

After over 20 years of not seeing this place, last Saturday while on my way home, I had a travel down the past..

If you're from anywhere in CAMANAVA, I bet you know this place. Ever Gotesco Grand Central. Two decades ago, this was the place where we ride the LRT going to 'bang-bang' whenever we'll visit our in-laws every Christmas and Holy week. Not much has changed, the steep way from the main street to the mall, the stores beside it, it all stayed the same.


While I was walking down to the mall, I can't stop remembering how my mom would hold my hand to help me pass this walk way, while my brother teases me. That short time made me miss every weekend with my parents in the mall, eating foodies from new restos and doing the grocery. I have missed just going to the cinema with them, I even missed us visiting my titas and titos, riding the LRT, I miss commuting with them. Those were the days I don't know how to commute yet, those days I cry whenever I was left behind.


But everything's different now..reality bites as I entered the mall. I'm 24 now, I even live all by myself today. I don't go out with my parents anymore, I do the groceries with Fritz. I don't watch the movies with mama and papa anymore, I watch it with friends. I know how to ride jeepneys and buses and trains alone today. I am all grown up!


These were one of the days when you never want to grow up. These days when you wish you'd still be your mother's princess. The days when you long to hear your father's corny jokes and just laugh..When you realized that you wanted to go back to how it was before, when they fetch you to school, ready your 'baon', give you your allowance, buy you your foods and clothes and shelter you with the warmth of their love.


Reality check! Again, I'm 24 and I know that they know I can already take good care of myself.

Discovering "Bentot"

It was a boring Saturday afternoon for me, having a marathon of "Lost", lying down my bed with Fritz...suddenly, I felt this need to go out, I wanted to go to Divisoria, (a place in Manila where you can find the cheapest of the cheaps). I asked him to come with me and just stroll around, look for cheap things to buy...and without but's.. off we go.


Going to Divisoria by private transpo is not easy, looking for a safe place to park is hard, and finding a cheap parking lot would mean a miracle! Flat rate costs P50.00 for those who wants to park just beside the Tutuban mall, and a P50.00 rate for the first 3 hours inside the open parking area plus a P20.00 for every succeeding hour. (soOobrang mahal 'teh!buti pa sa Makati, 5pesos cheaper!)


We wouldn't want to spoil our pasyal just because of the pricey parking fee. So, we went walking, looking for things to buy. After more than an hour of strolling Divisoria, hunger struck us. We looked for a nice and cheap resto/fast food to dine, until we saw this really interesting place (and name) inside Tutuban Mall..."BENTOT".

Affordable Foodies to choose from

They serve the oh so famous Filipino breakfasts,Tapsilog (together with its cousins, Tocilog, Longsilog,Chicksilog and Porksilog).


The place is quite amusing, with its 'travel to the past' theme. There are lots of movie pictures inside the resto, movies made by the late King of Philippine movies, FPJ, and other films starring the stars of the 60's-80's. There are also loads of things/equipment/devices used on the early years, lots of antique stuffs like the 70's telephone, the 1880's bike which has a large front tire and a much smaller rear tire. Bentot gives you the privilege on sitting on antique chairs, and dining on antique tables. Eating here is like traveling back to the past where things weren't as complicated and pricey compared today. 


(forgive the shots, nahihiya kaming kunan ang mga antique stuffs)

the bike behind me

7 up!

Moving on, we ordered Tocilog, Porksilog, and sago't Gulaman for our early dinner. The food's delicious, though not served hot. Its just how I expected my tocino would be, sweet and tasty. The porkchop is okay, it has this signature Filipino porkchop taste we always loved.

Porksilog 

Tocilog

The entrance will greet you with friendly waiters and with an ambience of home. It has this sari-sari store inside the resto which gives a very Filipino theme. I will definitely bring my friends here, with its cheap prices, we're sure to fill our tummies with all their goodies.