Video Queen

Oh well, I'm now back in Bangkok after a long holiday in Las Islas Filipinas.

I should really make my next visit shorter. I love visiting my family and friends, but not having my own space and getting out of my routine (whatever that is) is a bit exhausting.

For instance, cos I spent two or three nights in Manila and Cebu I was moving around a lot (my gratitude to my kind and welcoming hosts!). And then when I reached Surigao my clothes were just piled in my suitcase. I also missed eating my share of fruits daily, which Surigao sorely lacks (or maybe I just didn't bother searching for them).

This is so typical of me after I go home. I whine and whine like it's nobody's business.

Maybe I should shut up already. LOL.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my visit very much. I was particularly happy to have met my family after seeing them last in 2011. And then I also spent a lot of time with my cousins and the few friends who have stayed in Surigao.

To prove that I had a good time at home, I compiled some video clips of my trip. I was inspired by my cousin's video of her summer holiday in the Philippines. So right from the onset of my trip I was already taking five-second clips of my journey.

I was daunted by the editing because it was my first time to do so. Thank god for iMovie I managed to pull it off through a slow trial-and-error process.

So, amigas, here is the final product.

Danggit, Bai!

I arrived from Cebu last Friday evening, hence, a travel report is in order, chai mai? I know it's rather late but the weekend was busy as hell, with too many things to do (chief of which was buying a new bed... fucking FINALLY!) and catch up with friends and all.

There's really nothing much to say about the conference, except that it went well in general. I also met a few former colleagues from Manila, and that for me was the highlight of the event.

Oh, a few notes on the hotel. It's lovely but I had higher expectations from such an overpriced resort. I was largely underwhelmed by the facilities, to be honest, although the service was very warm, I have to note. I'm not supposed to complain anyway coz I did not pay for the accommodations.

Evenings, after the meetings, were spent with the family of course. My mom looks way better than when I last saw her last December. She decided to change treatments and the effects are showing. She could walk properly now and her spirit is considerably upbeat. I cannot be more elated.

My brother, on the other hand, is moving to Manille in about a couple of months. Should be exciting for him. It'd be his first time to live with my sister, who is not easy as a housemate, having lived with her for some years my self. Kidding, dahling! My sister is a gem (rolls eyes clockwise). Well, she really is (rolls eyes counter-clockwise)!

I also met a couple of cousins from my mom's side and of course Mansing.

And then I swapped updates with BFF Nikki and Philmar. We even managed to terrorize the hotel with hours and hours of camwhoring. Of course.

The next day, I was scheduled to meet again my mom and brother but they were like late so I had so much free time I decided to buy one shirt. And then the shirts just piled until at the end of the day I also snagged a pair of jeans from Bleach Catastrophe (which was on sale) and a pair of sandals for the summer, among other things. I swear I did not plan to shop, but of course we all know how impulsive I am with these things. Now I have to live on subsistence level for the rest of the month.

Anyhoot, before we left for BKK, my boss asked me to take him to the statue of Lapu-lapu, which is like three minutes by car from the hotel. Lapu-lapu is supposedly Las Islas Filipinas' first national hero after killing Magellan in the battle of Mactan. But what they did not mention in the history books is that Lapu-lapu went to the gym! Damn, those pecs!

We left for Bangkok last Friday, via Manille, where I met BFF Meredel at the airport. She's as divine as ever! We only had about an hour to spare before my flight took off. So we quickly updated each other on who's getting married among our classmates from the university. Gosh, there had been hordes of them getting hitched, and more to follow I learned!

Guess who got a safety pin pendant?
Oh, I brought some danggit from Cebu, what else, aber? I invited Liwayway and Bubbles to my house last Sunday. The kitchen and the office lobby smelled of dried fish the moment we started frying them, which we then dipped in vinegar. What else is there to do but eat with our hands, di ba?

We also had some calamansi juice, dried mangoes, and otap!!! It was a perfect Pinoy brunch. Liwayway also brought some white wine, hence, we were on the table for hours.

In Cebu...

It had been a looong day. I woke up at 4:30 am, BKK time, to get ready for the airport. Total sleep, five hours after a long night of packing.

Lunch time we arrived in Manila. A leigh of sampaguita (jasmine?) flowers welcomed me at the airport and we were whisked to the VIP area. We did not even had to go through customs and immigration.

We moved to NAIA terminal 2... waited in a room just dedicated to the conference participants. We even had catered food. Not bad for a four-hour wait at the airport.

We left Manila early evening. Beautiful sunset! It was way beyond beautiful actually.

Arrived in Cebu. Women in Filipino costumes greeted us. More leighs. Our bags were loaded in a van. We were whisked to the hotel, a police convoy clearing the way for us. Pretty neat!

Meetings in the next three days. Could not be more than boring.

But at least I'd meet my mom, who is arriving from Surigao tomorrow. I cannot wait to see how she's doing. My brother, who works in Cebu, is also meeting us, and some cousins, and BFF Nikki.

Oh, I ate Cebu mangoes tonight. Simply the best!

A Reunion in Cebu

I just arrived from Cebu City, the supposed Queen City of the South and the cradle of Christianity in the Philippines. The history books would say that the first Catholic mass was held in Cebu in 1521 (gosh, I hope I got that right), marking the beginning of more than 300 years of Spanish colonization of Las Islas Filipinas.

Cebu is also remarkable for its passion for religion. Its most venerated icon is the Santo Nino, or the Holy Child Jesus.

Meanwhile, as the trading hub of central Philippines, Cebu has one of the most vibrant economies in the country and has recently established itself as a destination for investors in the BPO industry.

Cebu thus straddles between tradition, history, and modernity, which I got to experience during my short visit to the city last weekend.


The primary reason of my visit to Cebu is to see my brother, who has been working there for the past three years. I also met my cousin Iris, who is getting married next week. Also, it happened that I have a cousin visiting from Orlando and an aunt from Chicago. So it became a reunion of sorts.


I also met a couple of BFFs, like uber best friends from high school, Nikki and Janice.


Suffice to say that I had a wonderful time in Cebu, all two days of it. More pictures on my Facebook page.

And now I'm back in Surigao for another couple of days before I head to Manila.