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!

2 weeks

BEFORE and AFTER PIC

just TWO WEEKS and then i look this thin...

what more in the weeks to come?

i don't know if i should be happy or not. sigh.

Don Beppe

My Don Beppe Pizza and Pasta treat..

it's a new Italian Resto located at Gaisano Mall of Davao..

nice location.. great view.. good food..

thanks amegang Dada for introducing this...

hello doggie

i'm sure Niji will get jealous if she sees this...

this little baby is worth 30K.. OMGeeee!

Adobong Atay

finally! my first ever adobong atay sa baboy!

i swear it was good.. =)

Red Mirage

made pancakes with choco syrup and omelet for breakfast

and thought i needed a drink tonight so i bought this.

tinola

who said i can't cook?

my own version of TINOLA...

a perfect dinner for me and Niji after a long day at work.

i smell something fishy!

my simple yet healthy breakfast

foods and stuffs

had pizza, chicken and fries at Coco's Bar and Grill.

and got little gifts.

and these too..

and then bought myself my type of watch.

FISHIN' FOR EGGS

i just can't think of anything to cook and eat...

Dentist Run 2012

Dentist Run 2012

February 25, 2012

10kilometers

1:14:01

Braced!

so whatcha think?

BREAKFAST OR DINNER

cheesy corned beef with pineapple..

scramble egg with lots of tomatoes...

plus garlic rice...

who cares if i'm having a breakfast meal for dinner? lol

Corned

felt like eating corned beef today...

guess niji enjoyed her fair share.. just look at her tail..lol

2nd OFF

i'm off from work again..

and for the third time around, i'm off to the dentist..

my second impacted tooth extraction! yikes!

since the extraction was kinda painful this time,

i treated myself again for a great food trip!

hershey's ice cream while watching UNOFFICIALLY YOURS...

and a pizza hut treat after...

when you are in pain, eat more! lol