The Amazing Coron - Day 2 to Paradise!

For the continuation of our Amazing Trip to Coron, here is our Day 2 Trip :)

We were soooo tired the night before due to our first day activities. On our Day 2 in Coron, we went to Malcapuya and Banana Island. I must admit these two islands can beat Boracay for its serenity, beauty and white sand. Going there is not easy since we have to ride an hour and a half boat ride with big waves. According to our tour guide, Malcapuya's waves are really choppy and big, even on summer days. I really have to keep calm on our boat ride since I was really scared of the waves and might cause panic to other passengers. My boyfriend is already panicking and trying to be calm since this is the crucial two hours boat ride of our lives. Thank God, we were able to reach this private island and enjoy ourselves to its enchanting beauty.

Upon arriving to Malcapuya island, you will be amazed on this strip of land that boasts fine white sand and paradise-like scenery. This is where we laze around the sun and enjoy our lunch courtesy of our tour guide, Ate Rea. :)

Here is our snapshots (taken from our friend's DSLR cam)





I must say the place is very beautiful and feels like you're in a paradise. Too bad we won't be staying overnight and we need to get back to Coron town proper before sunset. We left Banana Island around quarter to four in the afternoon. After reaching the port of Coron, me and my friend hired tricycle going to Maquinit Hotspring for a refreshing dip. We went back to the hotel at around 8:00 PM in the evening. Tired, but really enjoyed our Day 2 trip :)

The Amazing Coron - Day 1 to Paradise!

Last March 18-20, 2010, I was able to visit one of the most enchanting places on the Philippines, the island of Coron, Palawan. I keep reminding myself that I passed up on an opportunity to join my college friend on her birthday trip to Singapore since we were booked one month in advance last year before my friend invited me to join her (bummer, but I believe there are reasons :) for it).

On our way, I am really nervous on riding Cebu Pacific small plane that carries at least 60 passengers (I'm not so sure, but that's how I observed it while boarding the plane). It was a nerve-racking 45 minutes up in the sky and during the first 15 minutes of our ride I can't help but clutch my rosary and pray. But afterwards, I began to ease up and became accustomed to the whizzing sound and the deafening roar of plane's engine and propeller. :)

We arrived at Francisco Reyes Busuanga Airport around 10:30am and been picked up by the hotel's van and went to Mt. Tapyas Hotel. For a few minutes, we changed for beach outfits and made sure that we brought along our camera and other stuff and met our other friends from the Coron port for the start of our tour.

Here is our itenerary for Day 1:

Our first stop is our welcome lunch and our trip to Kayangan Lake. I must admit when we reach the top part of jagged cliff, I am really amazed at the scene right in front of my eyes. Kayangan Lake is the famous picture of Coron since it features the brackish and serene waters of Coron. Then we proceed to the other side of the lake where one of the deepest and most clean lakes in the Philippines is found.




Then we went to the Barracuda Lake, which is deeper than the Kayangan Lake and its kinda scary trekking the cliff going to the lake, since it's too steep and the rocks are sharp. The foreigners who were snorkeling before us, told that the water in Barracuda lake is scary deep since you can only see the bluish dark waters below. I was too chicken to go far since I am not that confident with my lifevest and I always get muscle cramps in my legs even trying to swim for a while.

Our next stop is another famous Twin Lagoon, where during low tide you can swim under the rock and go to the other side. During high tides, you can cross the other side by using the ladder found on the top of the rock. Good thing, that when we arrived at the lagoon, it was already low tide and I've been able to cross to the other side since our boatman, borrow a "balsa" or floater that is made of bamboo tree. Kinda fun riding the balsa and see the other side of the lagoon. It was clean, eerily silent and enchanting. But one should be careful snorkeling along Twin Lagoon since there are sea urchins underneath which can sting you (my bf was one of the poor victims of the sea urchin).




(the sea urchin)

After our Twin Lagoon trip, we proceed to Skeleton Wreck where the famous Japanese Galleon is located. Even you don't use the snorkeling gear you can still see the shadowy outline of the centuries old galleon which is also a home to corals. Pretty colored fishes can be found also on the Skeleton Wreck and of course the sea urchins that are visible during low tide.

Here are the things you will find under the Skeleton Wreck Beach :)




Our last itenerary for the day is the CYC beach which used to be big and pristine. But since some evil people stole the white sand of the beach, it looked like abused part of land, but you will get to witness one of the beautiful sunsets here.



After our very tiring day, we went to Bistro Coron for dinner. From our hotel, it was few blocks away and we did a short cut after asking for directions. The food is nice (we were too starved to take pictures so we dig in right after our waitress served our orders).

There will continuation on our Day 2 and Day 3 trips :)

Thoughts for the Whole Year

Someone just gave this very meaningful list of things to do to start the year right. Although first quarter of the year will pass, I just want to share this very insightful thoughts...




Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Elementary Days

Although I am a member of social networking sites, I tried my best to be discreet (but I know I still lack discipline. haha). After all, I learned my lesson well enough to be careful of adding friends. Some may betray you or used your info on social networking sites to malign you. (I learned that lesson last year).

Anyways, what I love about Facebook is I was able to meet and contact my elementary classmates. At first, it was kind of awkward but later on, I was having a time of my life reminiscing with my elementary childhood friends. I realized how blessed I was during my childhood days. I got to enjoy the best of my life during those times. I was really happy seeing my old friends especially the ones I always played with. For me, life back in elementary is an easy task. You study and pass your subjects and later on, you will relax and have fun with your classmates by playing in the wide court and school playgrounds.

These are some of my unforgettable memories with my elementary classmate and friends:

1. The PAGODA game. Our self-made game in our classroom platform. The highlight of our grade 5 days. What will you do is you stand on the platform and try your best not to fall or being picked by the "taya". Sometimes this cause minor accidents since you can trample your other classmates or hurt yourself in the process of avoiding the "taya". haha

2. Our grade 5 adviser Mrs. Elena Manalo. Who knows that the song "Friends" would make us cry buckets and buckets of tears (OMG, this is a giveaway, which section I belonged in Grade 5)

3. Our uber strict, old maid, owner of our school Ms. Limaco. She forbids students to stay after 5pm in the school grounds. Since we are bunch of makukulits (naughty), we love running around the school grounds near her office to piss her off. haha.

4. Our patintero, sipa, jackstone, chinese garter, 10/20, pick up sticks tournament. Who would have thought I mastered them all in elementary days? haha :D

5. My partner in crime Mike :D - We are always a team in teasing and bullying our classmates (sorry guys :D). This guy is one I missed during my elementary days. He is fun to be with and laughs like there is no tomorrow. Recently, we started keeping in touch again after I found him on Facebook.

6. My other childhood friend and "ka-service" Yani. She's one of the most quiet but the brainiest in our class. Currently, she is in Singapore working as a licensed Architect. We still keep in touch in Facebook and YM chat when she's available :)

7. Our English subject activity of book swapping with children books and kid-friendly pocketbooks during recess and English class. Half of the class became bookworms in their later lives (including me) because it became a habit. Thanks to Mrs. Manalo for helping us realize the joy and pleasure of reading.

8. Those hideous costumes during Foundation Day and how you look stupid wearing them, while our mothers is proudly taking pics of us looking like a trash can :P

9. Our escapades during class breaks and ghost hunting trips at our school grounds

10. Joining chorale competition singing "Bakya mo Neneng" and "Sa Dakong Sinilangan" which until now puzzles me about Neneng's bakya and its significance in my life as a student. haha

11. I remember that I hate going to school during our Grade 5 summer vacation. It was because my vacation trip in our province was cut short due to NEAT review. That time, it really sucks. But I think those reviews really helped me since majority in our batch passed the achievement test. I was too scared to fail since I won't be entering HS (which is really a shame in those days). :P

12. Film showings. I realized that movie watching is fun when done in the movie house, if its done on school classrooms, that is another story... It is too stuffy and hot inside the classroom since the windows and doors are all closed to copy the dark movie house. After the film showing, half of the class comes out like smelling like dirty socks because of the sweat. :P

13. Piatos chips that time is a luxury.

14. Collecting and swapping stationaries with my girl classmates :)

15. Eating lunch at Hana's house then shopping at their neighbor's store for Choknut, Mik-Mik Milk Powder, chichirya and other candies on display.

16. Minor accidents during and after classes: One classmate is attacked by asthma, someone got under the platform while cleaning the room, someone hit her head on the door while playing, someone cut her fingers while doing the cooking project in Home Economics, someone broke his nose, someone got a cast on her arm due to a rollerblades injury and someone accidentally hit her eyes with a pencil. (Ang dami ng blind items. haha)

17. Starting our summer vacation at Yani's old house inside Nissin Compound with an amazing swimming pool behind their house. Cool times!

18. The overpriced canteens in our school

19. Fishballs that are sold for 2 for 25cents. I miss this one!

20. Our school service and our driver Kuya Polly.

And to top everything up, Here is my favorite Elementary Pic :)

50 Things to do in 2010

I like reading Ricky Lo's articles in Philstar. While reading last January I came across this very interesting article on how to start the year right. Since its the second month of the year, I just want to put it in here in my blog as a guide on how to start my year right despite the early frustrations. I'll just highlight some of the things I added in my "edited list"

Found in http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=537183


Now that we have rung out the old and rang in the new, let’s get right down to the business of living. Here are 50 tips on what to do in 2010:

1. Try to get eight hours of sleep every night.

2. The seven 2009 Metro Filmfest entries are still showing. Catch any or all of them. Watch the Eclipse Movie this year =)

3. Try to drink at least eight glasses of water every day.

4. Fix that leaking ceiling in your room. Organize my room and buy new furnitures if budget will allow it. A new bed or airconditioner will be great =)

5. Blend five “greens” — green apple, green pepper, celery, cucumber and ampalaya — and take a glassful with your breakfast.

6. Arrange your closet and give your still wearable clothes to the typhoon victims.

7. Exercise at least 15 minutes every day. Don’t be a couch potato. Jog in place while watching TV.

8. Read those novels piled up untouched on your headboard.

9. Bring your family to lunch in Little Asia (Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City; and Greenhills Promenade, San Juan City). Nuvali Sta. Rosa. I want to try all the restos located there and chill with my family

10. Visit Bohol and say “Hello!” to the tarsier.

11. Check out the new set of eyewear at any of the Sarabia Optical Clinics where Vivian Sarabia will welcome you with a big smile.

12. Meditate with the Pink Sisters at the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel (Hemady St., Quezon City). Tagaytay

13. Vote wisely in the May elections.

14. Watch the sunset in Manila Bay from the Roxas Blvd. seawall.

15. Don’t be a litterbug.

16. Drive carefully; don’t drive if you drink, don’t drink if you drive.

17. Get a foot-and-back massage at MTO (Timog Avenue, Quezon City; or Malate, Manila). with my significant someone. Either on a spa or at the house ;)

18. Pay your bills on time.

19. Continue your good habit of reading The STAR, the all-around paper.

20. Be kind to your neighbors. Invite them to the salu-salo at your home.

21. Don’t be hassled by crank phone calls.

22. Don’t worry about growing old. What for? Everybody grows older every year anyway.

23. When going on an out-of-town trip, lock doors and windows and unplug appliances.

24. Pray before going to sleep and pray upon waking up.

25. Put your celfon on “silent” mode at bedtime or turn it off altogether. Put it far from you, if possible out of your room, because the radiation it emits is bad daw for your health.

26. Spend a weekend with your family at the Imperial Palace Suites (Timog-Morato Rotunda, Quezon City, telephones 927-8001 and 411-0116).

27. Subscribe to Vanity Fair and get your fill of really nice, comprehensive stories.

28. Continue your good habit of watching Startalk Saturday afternoons (2:30 to 4:30 p.m.) on GMA. of writing all my expenses in my little "accounting book"

29. Stop worrying, look at the bright side of life and greet every new day with a smile.

30. Check out the new line of clothes at any of the Bench outlets.

31. Tip from Mike Enriquez: If you are diabetic, do some mild exercise at night so your fasting blood sugar will be normal (between 70 and 120).

32. Need to consult a diabetes specialist? Call Dr. Wilson Lim at 0917-8809172.

33. Give street children food, not money.

34. Be kind to animals. Take a stray cat home.

35. Want an inexpensive but mouth-watering (burp!) meal? Try the maki or machang at Manosa (along Valencia St., Quezon City, telephone 721-3381).

36. Have a haircut, manicure, pedicure, ear-cleaning, etc. at any of the Gruppo Barbero outlets (one of them on Timog Avenue, Quezon City).

37. Unload. Donate old books to a public library.

38. If you happen to be in Bohol or nearby Cebu on Feb. 12, watch the pre-Valentine concert of sweethearts Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez (photo) at the Verdant Pavilion of Panglao Island Nature Resort & Spa in Bingag, Dauis, Bohol. Showtime is 8 to 10:30 p.m. Priced at P2,000 (VIP), P1,500 (VIP) and P800 (General Admission), tickets are available at the BQ Mall Management Office (call 038-412-3964) or at Sales & Marketing Department of MetroCentre Hotel & Convention Center (call 038-411-2599).

40. Make peace with your enemies. Holding grudges is unhealthy.

41. Listen to mellow songs. It’s relaxing.

42. Practise deep breathing. It’s relaxing.

43. Think positive. It’s relaxing.

44. Take a bowl of steaming-hot beef mami at Lingnam (T. Alonzo St., Binondo, Manila). Binondo

45. Attend Fr. Joey Faller’s healing Masses at Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban, Quezon (or check out his schedule published in Funfare every first week of the month).

46. Attend Fr. Fernando Suarez’s healing Masses (watch for the schedule in this corner).

47. Eat only when you’re hungry; don’t overeat.

48. Avoid “nega” people. According to the Desiderata, they are “vexations to the spirit.”

49. Keep smiling.

50. Read Funfare every morning and Conversations with Ricky Lo every Sunday.

Twenty-Six (26)

Last Monday was my 26 years on this earth. Sometimes I can't believe that time flies so fast you barely even know what you got or achieved for the last 26 years... Still, I am thankful for the great things in my life that sometimes I think I am taking it for granted. After this I learned 26 Facts about me:

1. My dad and my lolo can make me cry buckets after all these years even it was just a simple phone call
2. I am still hopeless romantic. A simple birthday song, sang by my significant other on the other line makes me mushy. Yeah I know its cheesy but I am sucker for it.
3. I am still hard-headed and bitchy
4. Activities that makes me hyper is (a) Having time of my life with friends (b) Get some sleep
5. I still need to learn a lot of things
6. My mind is restless even when asleep
7. Retail therapy is the best way for me to think, cope up with problems or simply enjoy being myself
8. I don't care about what other people are saying about / against me.
9. I am still dying to go to Europe especially to Italy (Buon Giorno!)
10. I hate it when I'm sick
11. I love watching my favorite movies over and over and over again
12. I love talking with my significant other, sometimes we talked until early morning around 6am onwards
13. I love earrings
14. I love eating
15. I love to cook whenever I got free time around the house and unlimited supply of ingredients
16. My favorite sanctuary is my room. This is where I put up all my dreams and plans in the future
17. I always visit any church I pass by just to pray or look a silent sanctuary for a while
18. As much as I don't like swimming, I always like to hang out at beach
19. I even dreamed of building a resthouse near the beach :D
20. I always say what's on my mind (good or bad)
21. I am still the noisy and talkative person from the past
22. I like people who are good-conversationalist and with sense of humor
23. I miss my elementary and HS days (best childhood days!)
24. I am a daddy's little girl
25. I like different variations of music
26. Sometimes I think I can't do it but I REALLY CAN

Two Weeks after the New Year....

Updates:

1. Finally, been able to reconcile to an old friend whom I had misunderstanding last year. It feels so good that we are able to pick up the pieces of our friendship and catch up for all the missed talks and moments.

2. Been sick again. When will be the time that I would be able to have a sick-free year??? Promise, this is not good. Middle of January hasn't started and I already caught the bugs of bad cough and cruel colds.

3. Been back to my old habit of spending a lot during sale. C'mon! Focus on your goal to save up for this year.

4. Talking on a new level of relationship is never been fun like this! I realized that trying to air out all the things you want to say (good and bad) will do wonders in your relationship.

5. I miss my Dad so much. I remember last year that January was the month my dad arrived from US. I was so excited back then. Now, I am counting few more months and days before he would finally arrive


And before I end my latest post, I just want to share this cool pic I found in Facebook: