Blood Moon

A beauty that flits is made more beautiful when it is born out of a shadow.

This was taken during the lunar eclipse on October 8, 2014,

Familiar

It is a joy to discover something new about something thought of as familiar. It almost makes traveling cliche. I was going around my neighborhood, and I was very surprised to see several photographic opportunities. This being one of them.

Dingleberry

Four days before my last day at work, I was asked to vacate my desk.
I thought it was fine, since I had resigned, so the new manager could have it. I chose to leave all these, didn't I?

While I was clearing my desk, I started to feel strange. Bad strange. There was something wrong, but I could not decide what. But I was sure I felt...small.

And because I could not yet find some rational explanation why I should be feeling that way, I kept it to myself. Maybe I was just sad to leave, after all.

Then, I realized that I was not told where I should transfer. That made me feel worse. Good thing I found a vacant desk, where I could put my stuff (not a lot since I like my desk uncluttered)- a paperweight, pen and business card holders, a notebook and a calculator. There were some important documents in my drawers, but the new manager (nm) should have them, anyway.

Once I was done, I even helped NM settle (she pretends to need help all the time, though I know she can very well do things by herself). I felt the need to help her not because I was feeling helpful but because I felt increasingly mortified for no apparent reason (at least to me). If I had just sat there and entertained the feeling, people would have noticed, and that was unthinkable.

Later, I sent a chat message to a friend and told her how I was kicked out of my desk. Her reply made me realize something I had been dreading; I was being treated like dingleberry without even knowing it! For my idiocy, I will award myself a pack of tissue paper when I get the chance. (But I already got good, sweet expletives from this friend, so maybe, mocking myself would be too much.)

It's funny how, at first, I was in denial. I tried to tell myself that I was just being sensitive and that it was my huge ego being trampled on, but as minutes passed, that rationalization made less and less sense. Everyone around me thought it was weird, since she could have the spot after I'm gone. Ok, so I had to accept that I was treated unfairly and that I should have done something to uphold my dignity. The more I thought of this, the more I thought about having them (my boss and nm) chew on that desk! They made me angrier by the minute. So, I took to social media and ranted (only select few could see it, of course, although I was tempted to make it public for the world to see how unprofessional these people are). Yes, I thought this was the most appropriate response, since it would be strange to go back to my boss and nm hours later and tell them I just realized how they were being unfair. And that, you know...they had hurt my feelings (right hand clasped against left chest)!

Thanks to my friend, I learned that it was not the desk I was angry about. It was the manner in which the whole thing was done. (I don't remember them saying, please!)

See, I tendered my resignation four months ago. Employees are required to give just 30 days of notice, so I had initially planned to leave 30 days later. My boss asked, no, begged for me to stay four more months to help with the transition; my position is very important to the company, he said. I obliged. I did not really want to leave my teams in shambles. I love working with them. So, this was a win-win proposal. Now transition's over, and NM’s ready, the boss could toss me away and treat me however he wanted.

He is lucky I have always been cool-headed. And dense.

For what it's worth, I was reminded of how bad it is to be treated like that which creates a bad mess on the underwear of someone in a hurry to finish his fecal business. And how right I was to finally hand in that letter.

Ciao!

Clarity

In three months, I will be without a job.
This is a clear decision, but what is next still eludes me. I don't know if it's right not to be worried, but something tells me I am making the right choice.

The saddle to Mt. Pulag (Akiki)

It is the uncertainty of the future that's fueling my excitement. Everything has opened up to countless possibilities. Unlike the decision to work for a company 9 years ago, this one is more daring in that for the first time in many years, "I" am actively defining my future.
However, time is not one to take a break. And I have to think and act fast. Moments can flit like a shooting star.

---x---

I was listening to music, then I went out for an unhealthy lunch, there was a moment of hesitation to go to a birthday party and now this. In a few hours, Saturday will accede to Sunday, and that feeling of not having accomplished anything will leave a bitter a taste.

So, let this be a mission. A simple one for now. I have some time to go back to perceiving the world as it turns. I will try objectivity, but I will fail.

Like listening to the sound of metal clanging from a distance. It's a ghastly one that makes me grab the glass of water in front of me and break it. Anything to drown the infuriating noise that seems to never end. But I also hear laughters- the kind of sound that's more musical than music. Then I will think to myself, life is good.

Time is ticking. I cannot waste any more as I have these many years.

The sound of metal clanging, the laughters, the indecision. My bed is not yet made.
Perhaps, I should start with that. With the bed.
And then, maybe, I will have the heart to let this day pass with some embarrassments and to answer questions I have always avoided. Of course, I want to be left alone arguing against time. But there is also beauty in doing that which is out of the ordinary. It is really no different from sleeping on a beach under a moonless night.

And the bed is still not made. Time is running fast.

I remember voices and images, perhaps from a movie or past conversations. That everything is pre-writing and writing starts with typing what is in your heart. I still think how it was unfair that his mentor dies in the end, but why defy inevitability? Why waste time and energy on something that is lain as a matter of fact? Why not think about unpeeled mangoes or uncooked lunch?

Yes. I might have wasted some time on truths. But they seemed very interesting, then. They were a perfect excuse from dealing with simpler issues like pollution. Or maybe not. Let's try "dust in the living room".

And why is it that when you are in a hurry the clock seems to tick faster and louder? I am not pressured, but I could feel my heart beating faster.
I think it is that I would soon be jobless. It is because what happens after is something that needs to be decided.

What is truly annoying is that for now, it is just because I know that I will be going to that party, and I would be uncomfortable.

And the bed is still not made.

Cagbalete

Cagbalete is an Island off the coast of Mauban, Quezon, and a great destination, especially, for those who do not want to be with a big crowd at the beach. It is not as impressive as the beach in Calaguas or El Nido (not as white or as fine), and the water disappears during low tide. But what I like about the place is the peace and quiet. I also hear that sunrise is beautiful here, but sad that we missed it.

Accommodation could still be improved in Cagbalete, but that's nothing if all you want is respite from stress. There are lot of resorts to choose from, where camping is also allowed. We stayed at Villa Noe, where we paid Php 1000 for the cottage and Php 200/tent for the pitching fee (They also rent out tents). It was a good deal for the price. The cottage has a dirty kitchen where you could cook your meals. Just don't forget to bring your cook set and stove.


How to get there:

Bus Terminal: Jac/Jam liner (or any bus passing by Lucena) 
Fare: Php 220
Travel time to Lucena: 3 hours (but on long weekends, that could go up to as long as 6 hours)

- From Lucena, take a mini bus to Mauban (1.5 hours; Php 50~). You may also take the van, which is slightly more expensive, but also 30 minutes faster.

- From Mauban, walk or take a tricycle to the port.
- You can either look for private boats (we got ours at Php 3500) that will bring you to Cagbalete and back or take the public one (Php 40~). First trip to the island is at 10 am, and the next one's at 4pm.

Gallery

Coconuts and Probability

The only time I am open to surprises is definitely not on my birthday, but when I take trips. I know that however I plan things, there will always be a situation that will require flexibility, like adjusting the time, finding alternative transportation and even sleeping in terminals. These are all part of the adventure that my travels are usually about. Of course, I hope that good surprises outnumber the bad ones. More often, this is the case. In some rare occasions, I chance upon people that become a part of the memories I have with the place, with the trip.

This Holy Week adventure was a bit of both. 

I met people who enjoy nature, away from the comforts of the city. They were there for just a night, but the time was enough for us to share stories about what we do, who we are. Over some bottles of beer, we talked about our travels and how it took them 6 hours to get to the beach when it could have just taken 3 on other days.

The next day, hours before they had to go back home, we went around to explore Kwebang Lampas and took pictures. It was a different experience enjoying a trip with people I just met. Of course, before they left, we had exchanged contact details so we could look each other up on facebook. 

But my trips are not always about fun times. This one was especially made eventful by coconuts. Yes, what I thought was improbable happened. 

As it was not possible to forever stay under the scorching heat of the sun, not even at the beach, I had to find some shade. There was a coconut tree beside my tent, so I took the chance. It is no secret how dangerous it is to sit under this tree, so I checked if the coconuts are still green as an assurance that they will never fall. Well, I misjudged.

I was sitting under its shade, lost in thought about something I could no longer remember, when I felt a heavy blow to my head. The first thing that came to mind was, who the fuck? It was only after I saw the coconut roll when I realized I had just become statistics. I waited for myself to fall down and lose consciousness, but that did not happen. I just touched my head and looked around to see if I had made a spectacle out of myself. Well, a couple of people saw what happened, and had this anxious look as if asking me if I were ok. I just smiled at them and said, "That hurt!"

What happened next were days of thinking that any moment I would just drop dead on account of a brain injury that I wasn't aware of. I know how a blow to the head like that could be lethal. However, since I did not feel nauseous, nor did I vomit, I agreed with the doctor not to undergo a CT scan. (I went to the emergency room after I got back home on a Saturday after friends have forced me to consult a doctor. You can just imagine the embarrassment as I recounted what happened to nurses and the doctor at the hospital).

After the incident, I am never getting anywhere near a coconut tree. I am also never going back to Kwebang Lampas. Not because of what happened but because whoever were running the place did not know anything about courtesy. They also charge campers ridiculously high. But that's a different story. 

Still, I don't regret taking this trip. Though the coconut falling on my head hurt like being kicked on my balls, I met great people there. I also enjoyed the swim and the sun. I really just had to be smarter next time, I guess.

Dampalitan - Borawan - Kwebang Lampas

Manila to Padre Burgos

To get to Padre Burgos, get on a bus to Lucena. That will take about 3 hours. Then from Lucena, take a bus going to Unisan and ask the driver/konduktor to drop you off in Padre Burgos.

To Lucena
Bus/Terminal: Jac Liner, Kamuning Quezon City
Travel time: 3 hours
Fare: Php 218 (as of 4/16/2014)
Lucena to Padre Burgos
Bus/Terminal: Lucena Grand Terminal (we took the bus going to Unisan, but you can ask around for buses that would pass by Padre Burgos)
Travel time: 1 hour
Fare: Php 40

Padre Burgos to Dampalitan

We got off at a waiting shed in Padre Burgos. We bought supplies at the store along the highway and had brunch at a nearby eatery. The sales lady at the store offered to help with the boat. Apparently, the boat fare to the Islands has already been standardized.
Php 800- one island (Either Dampalitan or Borawan)
Php 1200- two islands(Borawan and Dampalitan)
Php 1800- Borawan, Dampalitan and Kwebang lampas

Dampalitan 

We decided to visit two islands, camping overnight in Dampalitan. From mainland Padre Burgos, the boat ride takes about 15 to 20 minutes. It is not a rough one, so you can really enjoy it.
Dampalitan is nothing like the beautiful beaches I have been to. The sand is coarse and its color not impressive. I was told that there is a lot of jelly fish (sometimes box jelly fish), though they have put a net enclosing the swimming area.

What is great about the island, though, is that it is not crowded. There is enough space to pitch your tent comfortably. You can also make bonfires (you can buy a pile of wood from one of the caretakers for Php 50), though I personally think this should not be allowed. When we were there, the weather was not very good, so I was not able to see its famed sunset view.
I enjoyed my stay here since it was a very quiet place. We also found spots good for taking pictures. Just go all the way to the left (if you are facing the sea) of the island during low tide.
However, I don't think I will like going back there. The beach is not very inviting and I think the pitching fee is ridiculous.

Here is some information about staying in the island:
Php 60- entrance fee (I think this is dependent on the number of nights you stay in the island)
Php 200- Pitching fee (even if you bring your own tent, you still have to pay)
Php 500- tent rental
Php 35- beer (SML)
Php 200- Red Horse Beer
Php 30- charging fee (1 full charge of phone or camera battery)

Tips:
- Bring enough drinking water if you are camping in the island, as everything at the store is very expensive.
- Camping in Dampalitan is advantageous if you consider space, since Borawan is too cramped.
- Take advantage of the fact that it is still possible to make bonfires at the beach.

Borawan

If I am not mistaken, I stayed in this island for about 40 minutes only. We visited Borawan on our way back to the mainland.
Accordingly, its name is derived from Boracay, because of the sand, and Palawan, because of the rock formations. It did slightly feel like you were in Boracay and Palawan at the same time. However, I think it is a bit overrated. The sand is not as fine as in Boracay and rocks are much better in El Nido and Coron.
Still, this island is worth a visit.
Borawan Information:
Php 80- Entrance fee (I think it is a bit more if you stay overnight. Not sure about that, though.)

Kwebang Lampas

It was my second time in Kwebang Lampas. Considering that I don't usually go back to places I have been to, this means that this place really made an impression on me. I like the white sand (albeit not as fine as I would like it to be) and its blue green water that does not disappear during low tide. Sure it is nothing like Calaguas, Boracay or Palawan, but it is so much better than Dampalitan and Borawan...combined. I thought, then, this was a place I could go back to many times, if I want to go swimming at a beautiful beach not so far away from the city.

Kwebang Lampas

All that changed this time. Of course, the cove is still as beautiful as I remember, but the care taker just ruined everything. The caretaker does not seem to know much about courtesy and customer service. I know that it was such a busy time for them, considering that the entire Philippines goes on vacation during Holy Week, but that's not an excuse for treating visitors without respect. Cut the story short, I am not going back to this place, and I am not recommending it either (especially after my misadventure with a coconut).


Check out Cagbalete travelogue here.

Travel Notes:

Padre Burgos to Pagbilao
Trave time: 40 mins
Fare: Php 30
Pagbilao to Registration Area (Kwebang Lampas)
Travel time (tricycle): 1 hour (could be faster if taking a jeep)
Fare (tricycle): Php 400 (split by the number of passengers)
Fare (jeep): Php 30 (Tricycle at the junction to Bgy Polo will cost Php 150)
Entrance fee: 80/night (no pitching fee unlike in Dampalitan)
Ten Rental: ranges from Php 300 to Php 800 depending of the size

Tips:

- Bring enough drinking water. The store at the island sells drinking water but at a very expensive price, sometimes, they run out.
- Fresh water for bathroom use is also sold but when there are too many people in the island, they could run out of it, too.
- Bathrooms are available but sometimes, you have to wait in a very long line. It's not as clean as you would like it to be.
- If you are coming from Padre Burgos, you do not need to go all the way to Pagbilao market. You can just tell the van/bus/jeep driver to drop you off at the junction to Brgy. Polo. From there, you take a tricycle that will take you all the way to the registration area. That would cost you about Php 150.
- Make arrangements with the tricycle driver to pick you up on your way back, as tricycles are not always available, unless, of course, if you are going with the crowd during peak season (like Holy Week).
- Note that the entrance fee is per night. I am guessing that whoever is running this place would like people to enter the premises several times. :P
- From Kwebang Lampas, you can walk it out to the Jeepney terminal. That way, you can save the P150 fare. Note that the tricycle ride will not take you all the way to Highway-Polo junction, but just up to the jeepney terminal in Barangay Polo.

Kwebang Lampas

See more of my travels here.