Echoing Back

Batulao 1: Ang Literal na Wet and Wild Climb

Ewan ko lang sa mga nakasama naming batikan. Pero para sa newbie na tulad ko at freelancer pa sa pamumundok, masasabi kong ang 3rd Anniversary ng Sabit Mountaineers is in the books.

Madaling araw ng Sabado kami umalis sa Pasay pero may advance party na raw sa Mt. Batulao. And true enough pag dating sa jumpoff point namin sa Evercrest sa Nasugbu eh may sumalubong na:

10 years advanced na yata sa Mt. Batulao. At mukhang 10 years na ring di naliligo.

Kanya-kanyang bili na ng mga dapat bilhin ang mga kasama. Marami ang nagbreakfast para may lakas paakyat ng bundok. Siyempre dahil malayo-layo ang lalakarin eh nag-energy drink na ang iba. Pampalakas daw. Tulad ni Budik:

Ayos sa ngiti noh? Kaya pala. Ako na pala ang next na aalukin. Kuha kasi ako ng kuha. Yun ang welcome party! At para tuluy-tuloy ang party hanggang paakyat sa bundok, itinapon nila yung mga lalagyan nila ng tubig at pinuno ng Red Horse.

Continue reading here: http://jecojourn.multiply.com/journal/item/362

May U.P. sa Singapore?

Siguro kung may magpapatulog sa akin at bigla akong dadalhin sa Singapore ala-Jun Lozada, iisipin ko lang na nasa U.P. ako. Hindi sa Los Banos ha, kundi sa Diliman. Therefore di ako magpapanic.

Halimbawa yung daan mula sa mala-warehouse na budget airport papunta sa city proper mukhang University Avenue. At yung mga kalsada sa Bedok area at iba pang suburbs -- parang Acad Oval with matching Acacia Trees sa gilid, at enough sidewalk at space in between the buildings and the road. At gaya sa UP, bawal ding bumaba sa kung saan-saan maliban sa mga designated Bus Stop. (Kung hindi ka naman taga-UP, eto na lang ang isipin mo -- ang Singapore ay isang malaki at maayos na subdivision.)

Kaya nga 'di pa man kararating ko pa lang para bang at home na at home na ako.

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Seryoso... may Seminar ako (CDO Part 1)

"Ano ba talagang ginawa mo dun?," tanong ni bossing. "Nagseminar nga sir."
"Hooo... Namundok ka lang dun eh. Nagugulat na lang ako sa blog mo eh.
Inimbento mo lang 'yata yung seminar eh."

There are three things to do in Cagayan de Oro according to this giant poster of Northern Mindanao Territories and Provinces posted at CDO Airport -- rafting, visit Gardens of Malasag and... yes, rafting. Natawa kami bigla.

"O, magagawa naman pala natin lahat," added Mytee, college batchmate, network colleague and fellow trainer during PECOJON's Peace and Conflict Journalism (PJ) Training 1 held in Marco Polo Plaza, Cebu last July.

We were comparing what was in the poster to what we were expected to do for our PJ2 in CDO. Sabi kasi sa sched namin, we'll be doing rafting (probably on the last day). But for the first three days, we are expecting serious training and lectures at... guess where? At the Gardens of Malasag Eco-tourism Village.

To read more, click here.

PECOJON (Cebu) Conquers CDO

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At a glance: Bora

...para sa mga ayaw mahilo sa aking Boracay photo album(s)

People from my multiply network may view the photos in their full sizes by clicking the photos or by visiting the photo album here.

FREE: Backpacking in Los Baños (Part 1)

With a tight budget and limited schedule, this 7-days-a-week media practictioner climbed Makiling, got a taste of LB nightlife and underwent a crash course on Jedi mindtricks and plot twisting courtesy of his media manipulator friends from college.

If only he can use these skills well.

"Basta bare essentials lang dalhin mo. Tubig, extra damit, konting food. Yung lang."
 
Meet Red. Spin doctor extraordinaire for a big city in the southern part of Metro Manila. A former college classmate who I never really interacted with until we came across each other here in Multiply. An epitome of a contented person with peace of mind, his mantra is "All is swabe."

"Oo, gusto ko mamundok... para magliwaliw, magpahinga at mag recharge."

Meet Frank. Another media manipulator but from a private PR firm. Met him first during the 1999 National Schools' Press Conference in Isabela. Along with four other delegates, we spent nights talking about religion, teenage life etc. under the starry skies of Cagayan Valley. After almost a decade, I'm bonding with him in the boondocks.

"Sorry. On the way na ako."

And then meet me, rushing as usual to our meeting place with nothing but a backpack. Felt like backpacking ala Amazing Race, which I think is pwede na. Wikipedia says, "backpacking" involves use of public transport, spending less on accomodations, short length of trip, meeting locals and sights and well using a backpack to carry essentials. Pwede na di ba?

OUR DESTINATION:

in CALAMBA, LAGUNA

Click here to continue.

Remembering Makiling

Remember these 2005 pictures from Makiling?

How about the stories behind them?

________________________________________________________________________

Well this year, I've got new snapshots and stories from the mystical mountain.

Here's a preview of what's coming...

 

 

 

Click here for more.

Vacation Misadventures

I love Baguio!

Its mountains, its cool weather, yung mga buildings at rush ng tao sa session road, yung mga turista, yung tabi-tabing tourist attractions, yung mix ng urban city and its greeneries

Kaya imagine niyo na lang kung paano ako na-amaze sa Hong Kong.

Hahaha. Layo ng segue... Siguro ganon ko kamahal ang Baguio kaya unang tingin ko sa mga bundok ng HK, yun kagad naalala ko. Pag tingin ko sa Nathan Road, Session Road agad naalala ko. Yung climate, wow parang nasa Baguio. Yung buildings, yung mga daan, yung mga jackets etc.

Pero siyempre HK was a lot better. MALAMANG! (Ok, maybe not. They're apples and oranges.)

No need to discuss further. Visit niyo na lang photo blogs ko. Click Titles below to read more stories and view pictures.

            

  Flight PR300        The Streets        The Harbour             Stanley


                     

Avenue of Stars             Disneyland              Commuting         Ocean Park

         
   Food             Victoria Skyline         Last Day

How to have an instant-tipid-beach-getaway?

Out of nowhere, bring up the topic (Pink). Make sure someone in your group hates the beach (Jeco).

    "Uy, beach tayo. Di ba hindi ka pa nagbeach?"

    "Once. Last year lang sa Pangasinan for work. Ayokong magbeach. Di ba magbabakasyon tayo sa February? Wala na tayong pera."

Don't listen to him. Kunyari lang yun. Set a date within two weeks. Assign someone who loves travelling to do all the organizing.

    "Vlad, ikaw na maghanap ng tutulugan saka mag-ayos ng itinerary."

Except through text, do not discuss details of trip among yourselves. Plan activities you want to do but keep it to yourself. Then forget these plans on the day of the trip.

 "May T.V. don? Sayang hindi nakalimutan ko yung Magic Sing."

    "Ay sabi ko na, may nakalimutan tayo. Dapat magdadala rin kami ng Magic Sing."

    "Oi, bumili na pala ako ng Taboo (game)!"    "Dinala mo?"     "Hindi."

    "Ako may dalang cards. Free lang sa Oishi."

    "Food?"    "Wala rin."     "Meron ako. Pero konti lang kasi baka magutom baby ko. Bili na lang tayo dun."

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