Family Bonding

Our adventure was fun but very tiring. It was so great having quality time together with my family, but it was just so disappointing that there are still a lot of people who still have the dog eats dog mentality. I'm talking about the taxi drivers who take advantage of their passengers, most especially tourists - local and foreign. So disappointing really.

On a lighter note, we had a lot of fun going to a LOT of places with so little time in our hands. It was my wifey's first time so she wanted to go to a lot of places. The last time I went to Manila was more than a year ago, but the last time I went to Enchanted Kingdom and Tagaytay before our recent trip was 11 years ago with my college classmates. Nothing has changed from the last time I was there. It was more meaningful this time because I got to share the experiences with my wife and daughter.

We just arrived in Cebu an hour ago, and I'm now at the office. Yes, no rest for me yet. I'll be doing the graveyard shift tonight, go home tomorrow at 6:30 AM, then go back to work for the swing shift at 1 PM. Weekend? We'll resume our rehearsals so no rest yet. Saturday evening maybe. Just maybe.

Another Adventure Starts Tomorrow

Today is Friday the 13th, but I'm hoping luck and good vibes will come my way today being the last day of the work week, as my family and I prepare to go to the nation's capital tomorrow. It will just be a quick weekend getaway. I personally don't want to go to Manila because I know how bad the traffic is and all, but my wife and daughter are excited because it's their first time so I have to go too. No way I'm gonna allow them to explore Manila on their own.

What's exciting and nerve wracking at the same time is that we don't really have a detailed itinerary of our trip. There are just a few places that they'd like to go to, but we don't anything definite on when and how to get there, and where to stay for the 3 nights. Yes, we had the Hong Kong adventure last year, and we'll have our Manila adventure starting tomorrow.

I hope there's internet connection wherever we'll spend the night in since it's Smallville's 2-hour series finale. There's no way I'm not gonna watch something I've loved and followed the past 10 years.

Mall of Asia

Day 9 of the 30 Day Challenge - A Photo You Took


Just a random photo from my folders, this was taken during my first visit to SM Mall of Asia in Manila in June 2009. This is the view outside the mall taken from inside.

First (International) Trip

Hong Kong, here we come!

We finally have our tickets for our trip to Hong Kong. It will be our first family international trip, and because we'll only be staying there for around 3 days, we'll make sure to make the most of it. If it's possible that I won't sleep, I definitely won't.

Because of this coming trip, I'm seriously thinking about going to Singapore after, and then maybe Malaysia. Just want to go there for vacation, but at the back of my mind, I also want and hope to maybe find work there. I spoke to my sis about this yesterday, and I was surprised that she also wants to go.

Woohoo! I'll be planning this well so hopefully, we can go together.

*crossing my fingers*

PBA Legends

It was the best birthday gift I've received this year. It's also the only gift I've received this year, but it was the best gift. Two lower box tickets for the exhibition game between our own Cebu Niños and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Legends. I won the tickets through a contest in Facebook by WRock FM and the station's main man, Billy Sienes.

My wife and I enjoyed the game immensely. It was her first time to watch a professional basketball game live, and it was not my first time, it was so good to see my idols again. I was called a lot of names in high school, one of which was Vergel Meneses, the former Aerial Voyager of the PBA, because I patterned my playing style after his. When he retired, I didn't watch the PBA games that often anymore, add to the fact that I was working during evenings. It was so good to see the original Aerial Voyager in action again.

The game ended in a tie, and because it was just an exhibition game, there was no overtime that was played. My wife and I had our pictures taken with the legends after the game, and since she enjoyed watching the game, I promised her that if we have extra budget and the PBA will have their provincial game/s here soon, I will again take her to the game again with me as the excitement level in a bearing (official) game is incomparable to an exhibition game.

A Fresh Start?

Since yesterday was my first rest day for the week, I went to two companies to try my luck. Company A is one of the biggest call centers in Cebu, but every time I go to their office, even just the recruitment office, there's a negative vibe that I can't understand. Maybe it's because the company is very rigid and strict. They told me everything went well with my exams and all, but they have to contact ALL my previous companies to double check everything, and it will take them until next week. They said that if the background check will be favorable, they will just call me. There's that line again, "we'll just call you." Am I expecting a call from them anytime? No.

Company B is a smaller but growing company. During the initial interview, upon seeing the companies I've been with, the HR Associate immediately asked me if I had any idea with how much their compensation is and would that be an issue for me. I told them that yes, I fairly have an estimate with the compensation, and no, it's not issue for me. I kinda lied. Of course, compensation will always be a concern.

Company B's recruitment process was so tiring. I walked in around 1:30 PM, I walked out a little after 10:00 PM. It was tiring because we, the applicants, did a lot of waiting. more than half of the time we were there was spent just waiting. The waiting and the hunger paid off though as most of us got accepted. Finally! I have a new job to go to after I will quit my old job at the end of this month. Compensation is really.. uhm, low. Although no formal job offer has been er.. offered yet, I heard that more or less, I would be getting a little more than half of what I'm currently getting now. It will be a big adjustment. A VERY BIG adjustment.

Two things that attracted me to this company: They're growing so a lot of opportunities for career growth, and it's a very relaxed environment, far from the environment I'm in now. How did I know about how relax they are? My wife has been with this company for more than two years now. It's not as bad as it seems. Other people find it uncomfortable being in the same company as their spouses. I don't. I mean, we've been together for a very long time, we're very comfortable and open with each other, and that would be very useful if ever we'll be given the chance to work together.

Hunting

Since I already submitted my resignation letter with the effectivity on the 28th of September 2009, the next step was to go job hunting again. And in this modern world, job hunting is faster, cheaper and much easier with the worldwide web.

I sent out a lot of applications online to different companies and so far, three responded. I passed the initial interviews and examinations, and was endorsed for the final interviews in all three.

Company A's Site Director was an @$$. He was very unprofessional, unprepared, projected the aura that he was very confident, and spent most of the time talking about himself. For a moment, I thought I was the one interviewing him. It's annoying, but there are times that it's funny to know people are scrambling because they're intimidated, but trying their best not to show it.

Company B was a lot better. It's very obvious that the company is very new because their walls and chairs were still covered with plastic. The manager said that they really want me to join them but the final decision will still be from the CEO in Australia, and they don't have any timeframe as to the decision.

Company C is the largest and most established among the three, and one of the highest paying companies in the city, and even the country. I was scheduled at 9:30 PM so I left the house early because their location is really inconvenient even for those who have their own transportation. I didn't so I had to commute. I arrived at their office at 7:55 PM and sat at the lobby waiting. The time on my watch now as I'm writing this is 12:49 AM, and my name has not been called yet. People who arrived a lot later than me have been called already. I have a bad feeling about this.

*sigh*

And the waiting continues...

Manila - Third Day

I was left all alone the whole morning in the apartment. It was my choice. Everyone went out and had lunch somewhere at Greenhills, I opted to stay and eat the leftovers at the apartment because I was planning to go to Quezon City and watch the PBA games live in the afternoon. As usual, there was no water in the apartment. Good thing I was able to save some from yesterday.

I went to Araneta Coliseum in the afternoon only to find out that all tickets except the rafters were sold out. I wanted to watch the games live, but I didn't want to stay at the rafters, the farthest seat in the house. I was not at all disappointed though because I was planning to watch the games and I wanted to watch the games, but I didn't really prepare for it like buying tickets in advance at Ticketnet for instance.

So instead, I went around the vicinity of Araneta Center and went to the different malls there. I decided to watch a movie, and found out that the SM located there doesn't have a theater yet. There were theaters in other malls though. I then decided to go to SM Mall of Asia and maybe watch whatever is shown in IMAX. Wow! I'll be experiencing IMAX for the first time. Cool!

When I arrived at MOA, I took a few pictures and went straight to the map. Found the theaters and immediately went there. I was 5 minutes late and I would be able to watch the next screening 2 hours after. I didn't want to wait so I just said to myself that my IMAX experience would have to be postponed for another day. I went straight to SM San Lazaro, met up with mom and other relatives, had dinner at Pizza Hut and called it a day.

Tomorrow is going to be our last day in Manila.

P.S. Happy Fathers' Day to all my fellow fathers in the world, and Happy Anniversary to my Mom and Dad who's now celebrating their 32nd year of marriage, if my calculations are correct.

Manila - Second Day

Woke up early and prepared early for the wedding of the century. Because of the distance and traffic, we made sure that we left the apartment way early to avoid being late. Turned out, we were too early. While mom and the others stayed in the car, I went ahead to the church, eager and excited. The chapel was situated in the middle of an expensive village and you can really see from its interior and exterior that it was not a mere chapel, but more of an expensive church. When I got in, there was a wedding. Actually, the wedding just started when I got in. No, it wasn't my cousin's wedding yet. It was another couple's wedding and I attended the whole ceremony since it was airconditioned inside. It was more relaxing inside attending someone else's wedding than staying outside and waiting for the next wedding to start.

The wedding, my cousin's, went as scheduled and boy what a wedding it was. Everything was perfect. I was assigned to be the Commentator in the mass. Good thing there was a misalette which served as my guide or else, I would have missed a few please all stand's and amen's.

The reception was one of the grandest I've ever been into. The food, the music, and most people were great. But what made the evening more special was the speech of Tito Nardy, the bride's father. It was something not prepared but everyone who heard the speech became emotional. It was one of those speeches that you can feel came from the heart. It was actually the highlight of the reception. For me personally, my highlight was to meet cousins of my cousins who I haven't met yet before.

Before the reception ended, I met one of my classmates in elementary and high school who's now a movie star, Marco Alcaraz, who introduced me to his friend, Precious Lara Quigaman, who was very beautiful in person. No wonder she represented the country in the Miss Universe pageant a few years back. I would have wanted to have my picture taken with them since it's been centuries since Marco and I last saw each other, but my aunt kept on bugging me to get her bag from the car. Too bad Marco and Lara were no longer around when I got back.

After the reception, I went with my cousin to a place called Fiamma. I don't know if I spelled that right, but it turned out, it was a bar with a lot of people, dressed-up people, drinking, dancing and socializing. Being the anti-social that I am sometimes, I decided not to go into the bar with them. Instead, I explored Manila and walked and walked and walked.

I decided to go home when I thought of no place to go to. I passed by a 24-hour noodle store, ate breakfast (it was already early dawn), and went home.

Manila - First Day

Our flight was at 9:45 AM from Cebu, and we arrived in Manila at around lunch time. We were so hungry because PAL just served water. We realized that those passengers who took advantage of the promo rates for Philippine Airlines were assigned to the last rows of the plane. Mom and I were assigned to the very last row. Not only that, because our tickets were cheaper (promo), we were not included in the meal.. er.. snacks on board. The attendants just passed by us when they served snacks. They only served a cup of water.

From the airport, Tito Roy decided for us to ride a one-time-one-way-rent-a-car and paid 950 pesos from the airport to Sampaloc where the apartment was. My grandfolks, tito, tita and cousins were already at the apartment when we arrived. After a few minutes of kamustahan, we walked towards SM San Lazaro, around 300 meters away from the apartment, and had lunch at Savory something. We, the younger ones, were at a different table than the seniors, and we just ate whatever they ordered for us. The food just came and came and came. Whoa! That's what I call a full meal!

After lunch, half of the group went to another mall while I went with the group who were going to the hotel. We were standing at the sidewalk waiting for my tita and waiting for a taxi to take us to Edsa Shangrila Plaza for almost two hours that my allergies struck me because of the extreme heat of the sun and the dust in the wind. Almost immediately, I got colds and sore throat.

We met up with my other cousins at the hotel including the bride-to-be and her Prince Charming. He was a little charming, yes. I went room raiding the whole afternoon. The Mindanao Suite was the best room I've seen so far. I heard it costs around 25 thousand pesos per day. I know it's kinda expensive, but it was worth it. It's like two separate rooms in that one suite, and it's fully furnished.

We ate dinner at the mall beside the hotel, and all these times, they were convincing me to sleep at the hotel because the apartment was kinda far. I told everyone that I'm going to go home to the apartment for the evening even if it's really warm there because my mom's there and she'll be alone if I don't go back. Finally, everyone understood my decision to go but wasn't sure how I'm going to do it simply because I didn't know anything about going around Manila.

After assuring them that I'm going to be okay, and that I'm not going to give away to the driver that I really don't know the way back to the apartment, they let me go. I went back to the apartment and slept with mom in one room, while Tito Roy and Tita Nanette were at another. The location of the apartment itself is exposed to the heat and dust, and they removed the aircon when they renovated the place. Yes, Tito Roy who spent the last 30 years of his life in Detroit, and I were forced to sleep with just a small electric fan.

And yes, right there and then we promised that we will be staying at a pension house at least if and when we'll be going back to Manila.

Manila Here I Come!

In less than 7 hours, my plane leaves for Manila where I have not been for centuries. I haven't even slept, and I don't know if I can sleep thinking about my short rest (again, I can't call it a vacation) in Manila. I will try to make the most of it, even if I don't have money to spend. I hope to finally see friends who I have not met in person yet. I hope to take pictures, LOTS of pictures. I hope to just forget about the pressures of work for 3 days and enjoy in a place that is not Cebu for a change.

R & R

I already have my ticket.

God-willing, I'm going to Manila next month for my cousin's wedding. I will just be there for a few days, but I hope to make the most of it. I hope to meet up with the Shinatics, friends I have known for a long time but haven't met personally yet. I can't call it a vacation, but at least it will be a few days or R&R. Now, all I have to do is file my VL and hope and pray that it will be approved.

Pray for me, guys!

Crocodile Farm

After spending an hour at the NCCC Mall yesterday, we went to the Davao Crocodile Park. The Park is the product of the crocodile fascination of a man named Philip Dizon. As a child, he was greatly fascinated to freshwater and saltwater crocodiles. Davao Crocodile Park showcases a world-class crocodile farming system, which is the first one in the Philippines. It is a place I greatly recommend to those of you who will be visiting Davao in the near future.

The moment we entered the park, we were greeted by colorful and even talkative birds. Some were placed in cages, the parrots and mynah birds were merely tied to their bird houses, and the ostriches were free to run around with only a fence dividing them from the guests. My daughter had so much fun with one mynah bird who was so talkative. Seeing my daughter enjoying herself with the bird brought tears to my eyes as I remembered something in the past.

Aside from the birds, we also saw a couple of big snakes (an albino and a python), a couple of small snakes, a hyperactive orangutan, a few monkeys, a hornbill that looked like Zazu (from the Lion King), really quick squirrels, really slow turtles, a warthog that looked like Pumba (still from the Lion King), a couple of eerie-looking bearcats, a really big and angry billy goat, a big tiger looking majestic, a really cute tiger cub that looked like a stuff toy, many more animals, and of course, since it is a Crocodile Farm, the place was surrounded by crocodiles - LOTS of crocodiles.

Most of the animals there, I've seen for the first time but it was the crocs that really fascinated me. They look so fierce and strong, and BIG! Their skin look like an armor that's so tough and thick, making them nearly invincible. They look so slow and lazy when they are at rest, at times even looking like a statue, but when something (or someone) catches their attention, they gracefully move so fast, it's scary!

Pictures posted at http://journey2forever.multiply.com/

Eagles and Catfish

Today was a tiring but fun day for us. We started the day by visiting the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) in Davao City. The Center is home to 36 Philippine Eagles, 18 of which are captive-bred. It also houses 10 other species of birds, 4 species of mammals and 2 species of reptiles. Simulating a tropical rain forest environment, the Center offers the visitor a glimpse into the country’s forest ecosystem. Although the exhibits are used primarily to help educate the Filipino people on conservation, the facility is also considered a major tourist attraction in Davao City.

The PEC reminded me of the MCWD Family Park back in Cebu where there are also a few rare animals housed-in, but it really shows that the PEC is more well-funded so it is far more organized than the family park. It would really be nice to see the Family Park become a tourist attraction in the near future, rather than just a simple park with a playground, a mini zoo and a pool.

I was able to take a lot of close-up shots of most animals, except Pag-asa and some of the bigger eagles because their cages were so big, and kinda elevated that even with my camera's optical and digital zoom, the eagles were still so far away. I will be posting those pics as soon as I get back to Cebu since I left my cable at home.

We spent around two hours at the PEC, then we had our lunch at a native restaurant along the highway. My mother-in-law ordered for us, and it was my first time to see and taste a catfish or what is known locally as hito. I am very choosy especially when eating fish, but I was able to consume two large grilled hitos.

When I was about to board the van after lunch, a man with a lot of multicolored cowboy hats approached me and offered me a hat for PHP 300 (6.75 USD). I was thinking of buying one for my dad back home, but PHP 300 is quite expensive for a hat, nevermind if it looks like a really expensive cowboy hat. When I was already inside the van, the man tried to haggle and dropped the price to PHP 250 (5.62 USD), and when I said I'm not interested, he lowered the price to PHP 50 (1.12 USD). I was already decided not to buy so I politely declined and we went on our way.

After lunch, we went to the NCCC Mall to kill time, and I saw the very same cowboy hats sold by the man earlier, sold inside the mall at PHP 95 (2.14 USD). I wanted to buy a white one for my dad, but then I realized that my dad likes to wear a hat, but not a cowboy hat so instead, I just went to the basement and bought a pearl shake for myself instead. *burp*

At Last!

At last I'm officially on vacation!

It's not a long vacation, so I'll make sure I'll enjoy every moment of it. I arrived here in Davao earlier.. er.. it's technically early Tuesday morning so I arrived here yesterday around lunch time. From the airport, I went straight to SM Davao to for my lunch, then went to the bus terminal and rode the bus for Panabo City, where my family and in-laws were waiting.

Last night, there was a party here in honor of my mother-in-law's birthday, among many other celebrations. It was so good to catch up with my wife's friends and relatives, as well as my daughter to meet her cousins.

I'm kinda sleepy now, but I want to make the most of this short vacation, and as much as I'd like to check and update my Facebook, the computer I'm using now, my brother-in-law's, it's way slow that I can't even open my FB main page. Oh well, I'll just check my FB later using my phone.

Good night... uhm, good morning world!