My Wishlist

If you plan to give me something for my birthday, Christmas or anything, strain your brain no more. Just check out the list of my favorite things in random order! :) Hehe! I don't like surprises anyway.

1. Anything from Nike
2. Anything from Deuter
3. Anything green
4. Anything football related - jersey, hanky, pillow, (don't give me the soccer ball stuffed toy, I have a lot of those na..hehehe)
5. Waterproof pouch
6. AAA Thunder batteries from Handyman in Robinson's Pioneer
7. Anything I can use for mountain climbing, running
8. Columbia cap - green or orange
9. Starbucks GC
10. Powerbooks GC
11. Chocolate Chip Cookies from Mrs. Field or Starbucks
12. Milk Chocolate Digestives from Marks and Spencer
13. Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
14. Original DVD ng Goal 2
15. Cristiano Ronaldo poster
16. Lotion - mahilig ako sa lotion! hehehe
17. Dark chocolates
18. Hanky - I only have two hankies :(
19. Magnets
20. Ballpen - black - fine point - any brand
21. External Hardrive
22. Anything about sharks
23. Duct Tape - preferably 3M pero any brand would do..hihi..don't ask where I plan to use this.
24. Transparent bandages
25. Ion bracelet
26. Hugs will do
27. A big smile - see, I'm not so materialistic..hehehehe
28. If you're a hunky guy, you can just give me a nice, sweet kiss
29. Movie tickets
30. Puzzles


I also love books. If you're planning to give me one, I prefer the following genres in paperback:
1. Non-fiction - foreign or local. I like F. Sionil Jose, Sophie Kinsella, Jessica Zafra, Luis Katigbak, Ambeth Ocampo,
2. Essays
*Don't give me self-help books


Books I've been wanting to have:
1. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
2. Tracing the Marcos Gold by D. Ahl Umali
3. Lonely Planet Philippines
4. Any travel book

LIST IS UPDATED REGULARLY

First Trail Run Attempt in Pico De Loro

When I told my mom I was going jogging in Cavite at 4:30am - last Sunday morning, she wailed. She thinks my legs are too big and muscular already for me and my 4’11 height and that I may not get a boyfriend in this lifetime because certain parts of me are bigger than that of a normal guy’s. I don’t blame her for being so concerned. Since I was in high school, she’s seen me go home with blood on my clothes, wounds on my legs, bruises everywhere. There were times that I couldn’t even walk normally due to extreme body pain brought by football and mountain climbing. I thought she would have gotten used to it by now but apparently, mothers never really get over this sort of thing.


I tried to console her by telling her that exercise is good and that I’m going to be with Jules and Tan – friends from college who are also my backpacking and mountaineering companions. There’s something about Jules that radiates a sense of responsibility that most parents would trust their children with her for a friend. So my mom calmed down and I got out of the house without much debate.


I arrived at the meeting place in less than 30 minutes. As I approached their table where they ate breakfast, Tan announced, “Let’s just go on a day hike!”. My face beamed and I immediately agreed to it. I already had a feeling that they would opt for that instead. Jogging on cement is boring anyway. I just do it for exercise. I thought to myself, this would be a great venue to train for the Climbathon 2010 in Mt. Kinabalu. Me and Jules joined its 2009 edition last October and did not finish. We couldn’t even run past the Carson falls which was only at the beginning of the race. We had very little preparation and joined it for adventure’s sake but this time around – we are a little more serious and more determined to reach the summit and finish in 3 ½ hours – the cut-off for the women’s leg.

Hence, instead of jogging along the road near Pico De Loro, we gave in to the urge of our itchy feet to climb/run in Pico De Loro. It’s a mountain the three of us know very well for we have been climbing it since college. It’s the venue of our training climbs –we’ve already done a traverse from Cavite to Nasugbu, a night trek, an overnight trip and Tan – used to do a day hike here when he was reviewing for his nursing board exams.


We started off at the DENR station –in full smiles. The weather was just the way I like it – chilly yet no signs of rain. We had a slow start – I especially took time to warm up my leg muscles and eventually picked up the pace. Me and Jules reached the summit, 664 meters above sea level in under two hours followed by Tan about 30 minutes later.


We stayed and had fun at the summit for about an hour. It was only March ‘09 when we last went here. Now, the wonderful summit is marred with a huge metal signboard with holes in it that seemed like it was made by a pellet or air gun. I do not mean to be blunt but personally, I prefer if people leave the summit alone and let mother nature provide all the beauty.

After the steep trail down the summit, we started to run again and we hardly saw each other on the trail. Jules came down first and was way ahead of me (high five!), I was the second and Tan was the sweeper.

Basing from our pace, we estimated that we could get back at the DENR station by 12:30pm.

I suddenly felt tired as I’ve been lacking sleep for the past two days and so I decided to slow down as I made my way to the farm, also called Basecamp I by mountaineers. The farm to the DENR station takes only about 30-45 minutes by walking and so I knew that cold Coke was minutes away. I started to run again – though very slowly this time.


30 minutes later, I began to feel a bit disoriented. I was aware of this fork where I had to turn left to get back to the main highway which was a few minutes away from Basecamp I but I haven’t seen it so I stopped running and continued to descend by walking. It felt weird because I had made a mental note not to miss it. This was Pico, practically our club’s second home.

I began to freak out a bit. There was no cellphone signal so I couldn’t call Jules. I took note of the time – it was only a few minutes before 12:30pm and I knew, I ought to be seeing a signboard by La Salle. About 20 minutes later, I reached an area filled with purple flowers on the left side of the forest and that’s when I confirmed that I was lost because these weren’t on the Ternate trail. I decided to head back and almost cried. The trail going back was obviously not the same way we came. I knew I was going to be delayed for another hour. At that time, I knew that both Tan and Jules had already reached the DENR station and figured out that I got lost and would probably come back and wait for me at the fork which I missed.

After some more trekking, I saw another fork on my right but I knew it wasn’t the trail we passed by because there was supposed to be this arrow sign engraved in a tree. This one didn’t. Instead, there was a signboard posted on a tree with an arrow pointing to the left.


I decided to try it because it felt familiar. I began to feel at ease. Though I knew it wasn’t the same trail we used this morning, I felt confident it was the path that will lead me back to the jump-off.


A few minutes later, I triumphantly reached the main highway and when I made a steep descent from a trail that was different from the one we passed by earlier, I knew I had trekked the old trail – the one we used back in college. No wonder it felt so familiar!

I got back to the DENR station smiling. Tan and Jules welcomed me in amusement and I immediately told them how I got lost. It turned out – Tan also missed the fork on his way back. I also told Jules that I was hoping they would come back for me but Jules said – they had no plans of doing anything other than wait for me because they felt confident that I could make my way back. Wah! It was weird indeed but I’m glad we all got back unharmed, though with damaged egos.

Itinerary can be found here:
Pictures here:

Rustic Paco Park

Stepping inside Paco Park is similar to falling into a rabbit hole like what happened to Alice in Wonderland. I can’t believe it’s only a couple of blocks away from the UN Ave. LRT station along Taft Avenue which is always filled with vehicles and people.

The park grounds are filled with different species of flowers and trees. Here, the sound of the city is muffled by its stone walls which would make it a great place for romantic talks or meditation. It was an old cemetery which was converted into a park and has a chapel that can be used for weddings - which is also the main reason why me and my friends were there Saturday afternoon.


Me and Glee arrived 45 minutes before the wedding started which gave us plenty of time to explore. It’s one of those places that make you go “oh” and “ah” while walking. Paco Park is just peacefully beautiful, if that makes any sense.


Again, thanks to Gaye, the bride and our friend for introducing us to another wonderful destination. What’s great about it is that it’s just within Manila.


Congrats Gaye and Sherv!


*Paco Park can also serve as a wedding reception.


Website : http://www.nationalparks.ph/

A Dream Destination Fulfilled : Enchanted River

Ahh, the things a backpacker would do to see something amazing.

Me and my good friend Jules left our humble lodge around 6:00 am on a rainy Saturday. We hopped on an ordinary bus marked Mangagoy from the Butuan bus terminal and traveled for four hours towards the municipality of Hinatuan. The ride with great mountain views as entertainment costs 163 pesos/head.

Upon arrival at the terminal near the public market, we headed straight towards the first eatery we saw. It was only a few steps from where the bus stopped. For 30 pesos, I was able to order a big serving of octopus which was more than I can consume but since it was so cheap I couldn’t afford any of it to go to waste and so I committed myself into finishing everything. We were traveling on a tight schedule. Who knows when we can eat again properly?

During lunch, Jules asked the lady at the eatery where we can hire a habal-habal to take us to Enchanted River. Since she’s the only one who can speak Bisaya fluently and an expert on bargaining, I let her do most of the talking. She can probably sell me to strangers and I wouldn’t know about it.

The lady called a habal-habal driver from the terminal and Jules managed to negotiate with him before I finished the last piece of my octopus. For a 40-minute (approximate) rough ride from the market to Enchanted River and back, we only had to pay 200 pesos. (Another faster alternative which I read from a blog is for you to alight at the crossing in Dugmanon - no need to go to the town proper and hire a habal-habal from there but you might not be able to get one if you arrive at 6:00am).

It started to rain a little but we were not deterred. Enchanted River is a place that I’ve been wanting to see for myself ever since I saw pictures from Jojie Alcantara’s blog. Just visit her site and I guarantee that you will drool at the pictures. She even mentioned in her blog what a local told her about the river - that nobody swims past 6pm because the place is guarded by spirits and that even though there are fishes, no one has ever caught one by any method – net or even a dynamite.

I never knew how intimate a habal-habal ride could be until this experience. For approximately 40 minutes, I was thigh to thigh with the driver and my lucky friend behind me. I cringed every time we hit a bump on the unpaved road as I got thrown closer to his body. I now have a very clear understanding of the cliché - too close for comfort. I’m just so grateful I wore a jacket and the guy was wearing a rain gear so that our skins aren’t in full contact. We just met. The intimacy, was just too sudden for me. Ahehehe!

While bumping and grinding with the habal-habal driver on our way to Enchanted river, I almost forgot why I wanted to see it. My butt was feeling numb, I felt cold from the rain, I’m not exactly fond of motorbikes and my legs were aching from the compromising position they were in. The different trees and rock formation we saw served as my source of comfort.

When we finally reached the entrance of the river, I was reminded once again why I was willing to go through all this trouble. From where the motor was parked, we can already see the clear blue waters Enchanted river is famous for. What’s even more astonishing was that we were the only ones there though it was a weekend.

My eyes excitedly looked around the vicinity of the river. There was obviously some construction being done to spruce the place which meant that it won’t be long until tourism picks up. I just hope the local government would be extra vigilant in ensuring that its beauty is preserved. There were restrooms but those were locked. We stayed for about 30 minutes after we took pictures and waded in the water which was surprisingly warm. We wanted to swim but we didn’t have enough time. We still had to go back and whiz off to another town to see the majestic Tinuy-an falls in Bislig.

Amazing is a simple but fitting word to describe it and I’m just so thankful that we were able to squeeze this in to our 2009 adventures. I was planning this for 2010 actually. God has been so overwhelmingly generous.

More pictures here

Travel Information:

Location : Barangay Cambatong, Municipality of Hinatuan, Province of Surigao Del Sur
I’m not familiar about the other alternatives on getting to Enchanted river coming from other provinces in Mindanao, but here’s how we did it:

How to Get to Enchanted River From Manila:
STEP 1: Manila to Butuan
From the NAIA terminal 3 in Pasay, we rode a Cebu Pacific plane to Butuan – www.cebupacificair.com ; Air fares can go as low as zero, plus taxes! We got our roundtrip air fare for 718 pesos each, inclusive of all taxes and 15Kg baggage allowance. Just check out their website regularly, join their mailing list or their group in Facebook (I think the group’s name is Cebu Pacific Air promos).

STEP 2: Butuan to Mangagoy
From Butuan town proper, take a tricycle towards the Bachelor bus terminal. Shouldn’t cost you more than 20 pesos (two persons) to get you to the terminal. Travel time from city to bus terminal is about 15 minutes or less.

From Bachelor bus terminal, ride a bus with a signage that says “Mangagoy” (pronounced as mgagoy). Fare is at 163 pesos/head, ordinary bus. It was supposed to depart at 7:30AM but the driver informed us that another bus broke down so we had to leave earlier than planned – 6:45am. I read from somewhere that the first trip going to Mangagoy is at 2:30am. Anyway, just ask around when you get to Butuan and if you need to head back to Butuan the same day, make sure to ask what time the last trip is.

Take note that you will need to go down at Hinatuan.

STEP 3: Hinatuan to Enchanted River
Option 1 – From the jeepney terminal in Hinatuan, hire a habal-habal.
Option 2 – Alight at the crossing in Dugmanon which is less than 30 minutes from the town proper. Hire a habal-habal from there. There might not be one if you arrive as early as 6:00am.
Habal-Habal Rate : 200-250 pesos (we got ours for 200 pesos – round trip for two persons, coming from the Hinatuan jeepney terminal). I guess that is a fare rate considering the road condition. From the Hinatuan terminal to the entrance of Enchanted river, ride takes less than an hour depending on how good your habal-habal driver is. Expect butt aches because the road is pretty rough.

Notes on Enchanted River :
No vendors or stores here as of our last visit so make sure you bring enough food, water and insect repellant. According to our habal-habal driver, rest rooms are opened only during functions which have been coordinated with the barangay.

Can't Travel Without Them

1. First Aid Kit - It's for you and for others who might need your help. Before, I don't really bring first aid kits because I didn't think I'd need it but there was one time - on my way home from Baler, we chanced on a collision between a van and a truck. The public van I rode was several vehicles behind and no one could pass through because the truck had blocked the entire road. We were also in an area that had no cellphone signal. Several people were shaken and injured. I remember one lady who was a bit in shock and had a deep punctured wound in her leg. Luckily, I had a first aid kit at that time and I was able to give her Betadine and bandage.

I also had a rock climbing accident where the skin from my left leg was ripped and it had to be covered. I didn't have a first-aid kit then but my friends brought theirs so they were able to cover it before we had to go down the mountain and travel to the hospital about 2 hours away. Important stuff in your first aid kit can be found here

2. Headlamp and back-up flashlight - because I'm afraid of the dark and sometimes, the places I go to have no electricity. Don't forget to bring extra batteries. My favorite brand of batteries are Thunder batteries which can be bought at Handyman stores (very cheap, lasts long and cost less than 40 pesos for 6 pieces of AAA or AA). Petzl headlamps can be bought at outdoor shops like Conquer in Robinson's Pioneer or at the locally based outdoor online shop of T3ck Outdoor. Energizer also has a headlamp sold at about 800 pesos each. Some friends are using it and they told me it's durable.

3. Pocket Knife – for whatever reasons you might need it. Be it opening a canned good, cutting off a hang nail (?!), loose threads, etc. It does come in handy especially when you go camping.

4. Travel Adaptor – don’t forget to consider that sockets overseas can be different from ours. Not all hostels have an adaptor you can lend so it can be a hassle. You can buy one in Handyman at 199.75 pesos.

5. Notebook and Pen – for your notes and to write email addresses of newly found friends or contacts. It’s a great tool to keep your expenses on track. It’s also helpful to keep all your notes, travel itinerary and tickets in one pouch for easy access.

6. Maps – my favorite type are the locally produced EZ Maps which are sold in National Bookstore at 99 pesos each. It contains details on the location of business establishments like banks, gas station, hotels, restaurants and tourist destinations. It’s easier to adjust and less scary when you get your bearing first when you’re traveling.

7. Waterproof pouch – be prepared for any adventure you might engage in. Be it white-water rafting, trekking in the woods or simply walking under the rain. Make sure your money and gadgets are protected by keeping them in a water-proof pouch. These pouches can be expensive, so you may opt for the cheap ones sold at the Japan Home Center. I bought mine from there at less than 100 pesos. It kept my cellphone and money dry when I went water tubing on the raging Sibulan river in Davao Del Sur. I just wore it around my neck and kept it inside my shirt to keep it from bouncing everywhere and it worked perfectly fine.

The New Philtranco Website

It's new, it's hip. The new Philtranco website seems to be targeting the young and not-so young Pinoy backpackers. The website even comes with a Slide application that plays "This Kiss". It also contains travel information on several destinations around the Philippines that are plied by the Philtranco buses.

I love it!

Link : http://www.philtranco.co.cc/

Romantic Get-away Suggestion

My younger brother enjoys out of town trips with his girlfriend and though he is fully aware that I’ve never had any romance in my life and that I prefer remote destinations with not a lot of amenities, he never fails to bug me for suggestions where they can go.

He even asked me to browse a certain resort once. It’s called Acuatico and is located in San Juan, Batangas. I’ve been here before. It’s the jump-off to Mt. Daguldol, a popular hiking destination here in the Philippines. The base of the mountain is near several resorts. The water is clean and very blue way back in 2006. I haven’t returned here since so I can’t vouch on its quality now.

I found the website of Acuatico and was amazed by the pictures I saw of its infinity pool. It looks really romantic and I wouldn’t mind spending days here – if it’s free. The price range of the accommodations here is around 5,000 to 21,000 pesos depending on the number of heads and the type of room. That’s enough to cause a heart attack for a backpacker like me.

Here’s some information, in case you want to check it out.

WEBSITE: http://www.acuaticoresort.com.ph/

RATES: http://www.acuaticoresort.com.ph/accommodation.html_

REVIEWS HERE: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298446-d1087789-r36875449-Acuatico_Beach_Resort_Hotel-Batangas_Luzon.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

Pictures are from the resort's website.