Greetings for Ghedi

Happy Birthday Ghedi!

i'm missing you much te.

i miss our bonding moments together..

i wish those times should have walked like that turtle you are holding..

those times billiards one-on-one days just to keep the other one happy on her emo days,

those picture perfect moments,

those long talks and video chats from miles away..

we may have been busy these past few days but you are never forgotten..

i love you te ghedi!

may you have a blast on your birthday te!!!

uli na kay manglaag na ta! hehehe

here's a little surprise for you...

i'm sure si Xian Lim lang ang wish mo ngayon..

sorry may third party sa picture. si ate talaga spoiler.. hahaha

TADHANA

Tadhana by Up Dharma Down

There's No Easy Way

There's No Easy Way To Break Somebody's Heart

James Ingram

Greetings for Che

happy birthday Cheryl R.!

you have given me so much of your time and love..

and i appreciate every gesture of care you have shown me through these years..

we may be miles apart but it never stopped you from being there for me..

you are definitely one of my friends for keeps.. thank you so much...

i love you dai...

Happy Birthday!!!

Surgeons' Run Series 2012

Surgeons' Run Series

Run for Young Juan

March 25, 2012

14kilometers

1:37:01

Kopiccino

i have become a coffee-lover just recently..

i fell in love with Kopiko's Brown Coffee..

i don't know if you would agree but i guess loving coffee comes with age..

now i drink coffee and tea when i'm at work..

and today i found a new discovery!

for all those coffee lovers out there,

there's a new coffee in town from KOPIKO...

it's KOPICCINO!!!!

guess i found myself a new fave again..

RATING: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Terra-fic Dinner

i am not really a party person..

i don't drink that much, i don't smoke..

i am much of an outdoor person,

sports and similar stuffs keep me alive..

i stayed in bed for hours after my day trip.

watched tv while cuddling my pillow..

it was 9pm when i decided to go down and eat..

no more drinks for me.. what i had yesterday was enough..

it's actually NO ALCOHOL day today...

i took a quick shower and got myself dressed for another foodtrip..

Smallville Complex is a popular dining and nightlife destination in Iloilo.

Bars, Clubs, Coffee Shops, Restaurants, KTV Bars, name it they have it.

the night is really alive here cos there's no liquor ban at 2am..lol

whenever i go to new places, i see to it that as much as possible,

i don't get to dine at familiar restos... i want to try things which i haven't tried..

the idea of not knowing whether you will like the experience or not,

makes it more exciting..

TERRA Mediterranean Cuisine

the staff there were well-trained. i got myself a table near the window.

the guy gave me a menu. placed a bottle of wine and prepared my table.

i returned the wine.. i said, i am not interested.. if it was for free then why not? haha

i just ordered my all-time fave four seasons juice instead. lol

i was craving for pasta and seafoods.

so i got myself an order of mixed seafoods pasta plus an additional onion soup..

so full!

time to get back to my room and spend some quiet time alone again..

plus i have to wake up early tomorrow for my flight back to Davao..

last night in Iloilo.. sigh..

Room 219

Welcome to Smallville21 Hotel!

60 rooms with free wireless internet

located at the gimik capital of Iloilo.

and welcome to ROOM 219.

so why book in a hotel when i keep on saying that i'm broke?

simple answer: I want the best experience i can have!

i want comfort.. kaya nga i travel... i find comfort in travelling!

oh yeah! as always, magastos akong mag emote.

on August 2010 i went to Cebu and Dumaguete, that was after a breakup..

on November 2011, i went to Cebu.. my first ALONE TRIP, during those MIA days..

that Cebu Trip actually made me realize that i should never trade money over comfort,

that staying in a better and decent hotel really makes a difference...

and now, at the height of the Araw ng Dabaw Festival, i decided to leave the city again.

i just needed to go out and have a different environment..

i needed to think...

i needed to be alone even for a moment..

i needed it badly! it was just a must!

Visiting Iloilo

this day is is officially my ALONE DAY...

being alone on a travel allowed me to do things my way, which is actually fun..

i woke up a bit late and even stayed in bed a little longer while watching cartoon network..

had instant JJAMPPONG and SWISS MISS hot cocoa drink with marshmallows for breakfast

while talking to Ghedi on Viber... big thanks to Smallville21's free wi-fi...

i just love my Tab much eventhough it's just a secondhand Samsung P1000..surely comes in handy..

after having breakfast, i got myself ready for a sunday mass...

i googled mass schedules first before deciding on which church to go..

and so, JARO CATHEDRAL it is!

JARO CATHEDRAL (Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary)

first and only cathedral in Panay built in1864...

destroyed in the quake of January 1948...restored in 1956

Style: Baroque, with the addition of Gothic elements over many renovations

Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria (Lady of the Candles)

the Patroness of the Western Visayas

Jaro Cathedral Bell Tower

this bell tower served as a lookout from sea raiders in the past..

it is located across the cathedral near Jaro Park..

after the mass, i decided to take a jeepney instead of a cab..

it was really exciting cos i didn't exactly know if i took the right jeepney going to SM..

the jeepney had a sign LEGANES SM Hi-way so i hopped in..

as we were travelling, i eventually realized

that the jeepney was heading to the opposite direction..

i actually didn't know where to stop..

but i went on with the trip not knowing my exact location..

the jeepney finally stopped in front of a church, actually, it was it's last stop..

i guess God really wanted me to go there, stop there..

He led me there for a reason and i think He just sent me a message saying:

"don't worry my child, everything will be alright..

whatever it is that is bothering you right now, it will eventually come into place..

just trust Me!"

Church of San Vicente Ferrer (the Mecca of Iloilo)

located in the town of Leganes, 11km north of Iloilo City

after spending a few quiet moments inside the church and after taking pictures,

i then asked for directions on how to go to SM..

i don't want to take a cab so as to experience how it is to travel like an Ilonggo..

i again took a jeepney with an SM Hi-way sign..

later did i realize that those jeepneys just go back and forth LEGANES and SM Hi-way..

this is what i love about travelling in Iloilo, you will never get lost

as long as you know the name of the place you want to go to...

the jeepneys just travel back and forth, you just have to check out their signs..

plus there is NO traffic! just absolutely fantastic!

as i was heading to SM Iloilo, i stopped by another church for a few minutes..

this is the third and last church for this day..

Spousal of Mary and Joseph Parish

located at Buntatala, Iloilo City

now i'm done with visiting churches..

time for my late lunch..

another taste of Ilonggo history - La Paz Batchoy!

i think Deco's Original La Paz Batchoy is better than Ted's..

i had Super Batchoy at Plazuela de Iloilo..

nice place.. really good food...

got a bit tired and sleepy from walking and eating..

so after eating, i decided to go back to the hotel to recharge..

i brought home a liter of Buko Shake from BUKO ILONGGO with me..

it's definitely the best way to beat the heat here in Iloilo..

time to relax now and watch tv..

Lemme Try

after having my first Ted's Batchoy here in Iloilo; Darcy, Chen and I headed back to my room..

we decided to go to the grocery downstairs to grab something to eat and drink..

i like trying out new things...

i like that feeling of uncertainty of whether i will like it or not...

so whenever i go to a new place, i always get those i still haven't tried...

so this time.....

a mini Black Forest Cake from Dulcinea

a bottle of Blue Illusion Tanduay Ice AlcoMix

a bottle of Chocolate MudShake Vodka

and a Classic Magnum Classic

they all kept me company on my first night here in Iloilo..

the cake was yummy.. i bought it at SM.. the mini cakes there looked so tempting..

the blue illusion was good.. i think i like the red mirage more though..

the mudshake vodka was superb.. i think i found myself a new fave...

and the magnum was great.. it's kinda expensive though..

these two ladies stayed with me for a few hours..

i really had fun talking about nothing, eating, drinking and taking pictures with you..

thanks for the great time!

Eighteen

So what's my number?

too much coincidence huh?!

we headed to SM City Iloilo after checking in at my hotel..

i treated Chen to a 30-minute fish spa at Tibiao..

oh! those fishes really know how to tickle much... lol

by the way, this is Chen..my welcoming party here in iloilo...

she moved to iloilo when she got married..

and she now has three lovely kids...

FISH SPA: DONE!

now, time to check out SM's 3-day sale..

oh crap! too many eye-candies...

one cute dress from MAGS will do... it's half the price so i can't say NO!

after the shopping spree,

we decided to grab something to eat..

and ended up having Ted's Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy..

we went to a branch which was a few blocks away from my hotel..

i had extra super batchoy with boiled egg..

and guess what number they gave me... lol

Darcy met up with us at Ted's...

and we all had a great time...

hello iloilo!

March 17, 2012.. Saturday...

Davao is still celebrating Araw ng Dabaw

but i'm leaving it...

i just have to...

it really is a MUST!

i actually got my flight a year ago..

i was supposed to meet April at the airport

but she eventually cancelled her flight days before..

i can cancel, but i don't want to cancel...

i'm broke.. but that didn't stop me...

I FIND COMFORT IN TRAVELLING!

i need this trip badly.. i just have to do this...

DVO-ILO

FLT. 5J 348/ 17Mar12

Depart: Davao 0745H

Arrive: Iloilo 0850H

Gate: 8

Boarding Time: 0715H

Seat No.: 23B

the flight was actually delayed for a few minutes...

i kept myself busy watching WANTED on my tab..

then suddenly i noticed an old guy taking pictures of his friends who were

in front of me using his phone.. and to my surprise, he then approached

me and asked if he could have his picture taken with me..

oh crap! his friend was all set to shoot the cam so i had no choice but

to say yes... i felt like a celebrity for a moment though. lol..

i just hope that picture won't come near me again...hahaha

the old guy started to have a conversation with me..

he asked me questions, and my answers were half-true.. lol

i pretended to be busy so as not to make the conversation too long..

and so finally, he got tired of talking and left..

what a relief! lol

Inside the plane was a different experience..

I had a seat between a lady and an old man..

my initial plan was to actually finish the movie i started at the airport..

but eventually, i found myself talking to the man beside me who i think is

a bit older than my papa.. our conversation was mainly about travels..

he said he has travelled a lot by being in the navy before he retired..

he said he has an unica hija who happened to be 42 years old,

remains to be unmarried and is a bank manager in Alabang..

had a funny thought -- am i going to be like her daughter? lol..

he is actually going to Guimaras to finish a project on their inland resort..

he said PARIS was the most beautiful place he has gone to.

even her daughter thinks so.. she's even planning to go back there on

a 2-week vacation... pwede maibog teh?

oh! when can i possibly spend a vacay in Paris???when???

our conversation made me think of what i wanted to do with my life..

i want to travel and explore every place i can set my feet into..

i want to own investments which i can eventually pass on to my children..

i want to have fun while working..

oh i just want to be like mr. nelson..

thank you sir for giving me some inputs...

i really wish to see you again...

-----

Chen picked me up at the airport...

we took a jeepney to Sta. Barbara and stopped by a drug store..

then we took a ride to Maasin..

it was really far but the good thing is, there was no traffic..

i had to stop by at their place cos my check-in time was 2pm..

i came in too early...

but they made me a special welcome lunch..yay!

Iloilo's famous KBL (Kadyos, Baboy at Langka)

plus Dondon's Adobong Baboy

yummy treat!!!

BUSY SUNDAY

It's Sunday...

and it's time to have my first 21-kilometer run for the year...

this is what i got from running for like almost 3 hours...

i know my limitations... i am not a fast runner, i must admit...

but i am not a quitter...

2 hours and 44 mins on the road is not that bad for somebody

who didn't have practice runs before the big event...

i'm proud to have finished the race!!!

after the long run, i slept for hours to regain energy...

i promised Niji that i will bring her to the dog summit..

she was just so excited that i could not just back out..

i actually scolded her for being so makulit while i was getting ready..

i told her that if she will not behave then i will be forced to leave her

at home and not bring her to the summit..

and guess what? she did behave..

oh! i just couldn't forget that moment!!

Niji really had a great time...

Some of the people there took pictures of her..

for a moment, she felt like a celebrity

and that i felt like i was Annabelle Rama.. lol

Patty and Mac also brought Peanuts with them..

Tito Abel tagged along too..

so finally my dog met their dog..

Niji was so behave, but Peanuts was the"eksenadora" one... LOL

so who let the dog out? lol

another unforgettable moment, that is...

we were only allowed at People's Park til 5pm..

so after the event, Niji and I went home..

i then started to get ready for my despedida dinner with Patty..

Patty and I had mongolian dinner at Kublai Khan..

We had a little catching up on things for not meeting for weeks...

i will surely miss my SUSHI/DINNER BUDDY...

Patty introduced me to Tealoca after our dinner...

i did not order my own but i just had a sip of her tea instead..

it was good but i was really full..

i am missing you now PATRICIA...

i will surely miss our food trips together..

i will visit you there SOON!

and please do save some empanadas for me!

mwah!