Pagudpud... to hell with the Tsumami alert!

March 11, 2011. Magnitude 8.8 earthquake hits Japan followed by a humungous tidal wave that left the Anime capital of the world shaken by the damage literally. I was keeping myself updated on the news via web (yes while working)feeling for the people of Japan at the same time grateful that it haven’t been us – Philippines.

Besides, no news can lessen my excitement for our out of town trip the next day.

Not until someone had raised the issue of the Tsunami reaching the Philippine seas. At first I was like “okay so, what?” surely, what harm it could do? But then texts came pouring in, all warning – some insisting that I cancel my trip because “we’re heading right where the tsunami will be”. I ignored all of it thinking that they’re just trying to spoil my day. Keeping my fingers crossed, I Google the list of the “tsunami hot spot” and there it was “NORTHERNMOST AREA OF ILOCOS NORTE”.

Of all the day, Why now? Mother earth could have chosen a better date to unleash her wrath among the mortals.

Still I ignored it. There’s no way were cancelling the last minute. Tsunami be damned!

Now, all we have to do is think of ways to pacify our nearly and obviously freaking out parents. Here’s our uniformed explanation to our worried parents:

-   That the tsunami alert is only for the night, and since we’ll be travelling by land we have more than 10 hrs to let it pass

- That we’re not be stupid enough to go to pagudpud should we learn that there still the threat. We’ll just stay in vigan and just find ourselves a pool in exchange of beach.

Together with my friends : Maricel with her husband Homer, Manet, Ate Itet, Jelay , Sir Deng and Gerard (whom we never expected to be interested in this trip) and armed with our “research material” (travel blogs and possible itinerary schedules complete with pictures) junk foods, chocolates and “soda”(with more or less 40% alcohol content), hours later we were already on the road.

We knew that the trip would be a long one so we leave home at 1 am and expecting to arrive at pagudpud at around 3pm but thanks to Kuya Buddy the supposed to be 15 – 17 hrs of travel time was cut in to 13 hrs drive.

Technically, we only have 2 days so our rules were very simple – see as much tourist destination as we can!

Early "Pasalubong" shopping at Vigan (Photo by Gerd Austria)

March 12. Arival at Vigan.

We arrive at Vigan at 9am,  ate our supposed to be Breakfast and head out to sight see. There’s nothing really much to see since the beauty of Vigan is best during night time so we had kuya  Buds drive us around and visit the souvenir shops for our early shopping ( just in case we can’t stop over vigan on our way back). Then we decided to visit Cape Bojeador Lighthouse, Baluarte Zoo, Bangui Windmills and finally head straight to Pagudpud.

Baluarte Open Zoo (Photo by Gerard Austria)

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse (Photo by Gerard Austria)

Bangui Windmills

While everyone gets much sleep as they can while on the road. I, on the other hand enjoyed myself with all the lush sceneries. I was probably the most excited on this trip - so that explains the "energy" despite of not having any sleep in the duration of our road trip. 

So when we finally pass the "Welcome Pagudpud" arc i was like "Yes! Konti na lang.."

According to my "research" the best beach would be in Saud. We were very lucky to have Kuya Buddy with us who knows exactly where to go as well as where to get the best place to stay. We're not really looking for something "posh" to stay - more like somewhere where we could just sleep comfortably and hang out at the beach at night (so that we could drink our "soda").

So we decided to go for one of the transient houses there. We got a room for 1,000.00 pesos/ day with free cottage by the beach front. Which gives us extra money to spend on food (they didn't have any sign so if any one is interested just look for a small tree house and ask for Chynthia).

The moment we got settled in I already went to check out the beach. It was more that what i have imagined it to be. The long hours of drive was more than worth it!

True enough there warent any restaurants around so we decided to go to the talipapa to buy our food and do our own cooking (our hostess provided us with cooking tools but if one doesn't feel like cooking they could always ask them to cook the food for you, you'll just have to pay a little extra for the service).

March 13. 5:30am. Cant wait to hit the beach already.

Everyone was still sleeping from being drunk last night by the beach. I was making all sorts of noises so that they would wake up already. They minute they did I was practically hurrying up everyone to change so that we could enjoy the beach.

Saud Beach (Photo by Gerard Austria)

Early morning swimming (thank goodness for tripods!!! :))

Where to eat?!

We we're driving by looking for a place to eat when we passed by this German Restaurant "BergBlick" http://bergblick-pagudpud.com.Food was also okay esp. their version of Bagnet.                                                      One thing i like about the place is the way they set the place up, kind of have a homey feel plus the owner 

( Detlev and Marites Cotte ) will personally assist you.

Kabigan Falls.

Going to Kabigan falls is very tiring because of the more or less 30mins. trek but the view and experience is worth all the sweat. (entrance / guide fee starts at Php. 10.00 but you could always give more if you're feeling generous)

cooooold wateeer!

260 marker - yey! konti na lang
 (Photo by  Gerard Austria)

Patapat Viaduct.

View of the South China Sea...

Stop over to take more pictures :)

***we wanted to see the big waves upclose so we asked Kuya Buds if he can take us there...

trip :)

can't pass the chance of tasting their "empanada" that i mistook for an over sized "tokneneng" from afar :)

*** Ilocos Empanada... a mix of vegetables, egg and ilocos longgsnisa :)

Perfect view of the Sunset at Saud beach. 

I patiently waited 2 hours for this shot... my very first sunset shot :D

March 14. Last day. Time to go home... :( But the road trip ain't over...

Laog Church (Photo by Gerard Austria)

Marcos photo museum

stranded :(

My mind works better when I'm sad.
Words just seem to flow effortlessly
Better rather than my tears
Drowning me profusely.


Emotions are deep,
While the pain slowly creeps.
Phrases comes together
Memories got even clearer,
Still it remains to be bitter... 

curious ME...

I wrote this 6 or 7 months ago... times when I got pressured because everyones seems like they've been bitten by the Love Bug. 

Well, actually 'twas the time when I got tired of being NBSB - I decided to give it a try and regretted it afterwards because...

So after trying so hard not to cry in front of everyone yet, wanting to take it all out I sat in front of my computer and began typing. I didn't really remember what I have written that morning (very early morning) until now. 

Reading it over again... I can only smile...

Curiosity kills the cat.

I've learned my lessons... so... NEXT! :p

                                  >>>>>>><<<<<<<                                     

     “ Nakaka asar maghintay sa isang bagay na alam mong hindi mangyayari kahit kalian… mas nakaka asar kasi matagal mo nang alam na na hindi talaga mangyayari yun’ but still umasa ka p rin.”

     Bad trip kasi sa kabila ng gabundok na takot na nararamdaman mo, sa kabila ng matinding agam agam sa puso mo. Willing kang risk ang inosete mong damdamin… nakakatawa at the same time nakaka iyak kasi nga sa kabila ng pag brief mo sa sarili mo na okay lang na masaktan, na parte yon’ ng pag laki, na walang namamatay sa heartbreak, na muling iikot ang mundo sa kabila ng sakit na maari mong maramdaman pag hindi ka nag tagumpay. Still, nais mong isumpa kung sino man ang nag kalat na “its better to have love and lost than never be loved at all” dahil kahit kailan hindi masaya ang mabigo!

     Sana lang pinanindigan ko na ang press release ko na LOVE is not for me… dahil hindi naman talaga para sa lahat ang pag ibig. Ayokong i-compensate ang sarili ko by thinking na darating ang the ONE sa tamang panahon dahil talaga namang may binabagayan lang yon… sad to say mukhang hindi ako kasali sa mga iyon.

     Sana lang hindi ko na lang sinubukan… sana alng nakuntento na lang ako sa mga libro ko at sa mga kwento sa akin ng mga naging mapapalad sa gaonong larangan… sana lang hindi ko na lang sinubukang maging “normal” na babae dahil oviously kahit saang anggulo mo tingnan hindi ako normal( wala akong diperesya sa pag iisip. mahirap lang talaga ako siguro akong intindihin)… sana hindi na lang ako lumabas sa munting mundo ko, hindi sana nag ambisyon na makikita ako ng iba gaya ng pag kakakilala ko sa sarili ko… dahil kahit anong gawin ko people would never looked at me the way I wanted to seen… it as really wrong to even try to mingle, too much mistake to even hope… :(

     Madalas hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit parang lagi na lang ako ang kailangan mag bago para sa ibang tao… hindi ba puwedeng tanggapin na lang nila ako sa kung ano ako? Gusto kong maging parte ng mundo nila, pero hindi ko namang magawang isantabi kung sino talaga ako.

     Hindi iilang tao ang nag sabi sa akin na napapasaya ko sila… pero minsan naisip ko: Ako kaya? Kelan? May tao bang willing pasayahin ako? May tao kayang willing na alagaan ako bukod sa mga magulang ko?

     Ewan ko, at parang ayoko nang alamin pa ang sagot dahil tiyak naman ako na mas lamang ang wala sa meron.

     Ang hirap ngumiti kahit sobrang nasaktan ka. Hindi ko alam kung plastic lang ba talaga ako kasi walang nakakahalata sa lungkot na pindadaanan ko. O sadyang wala silang pakialam.

     Matagal ko nang alam kung gaano kalakas mag asar si pareng LIFE kasi pinakain nya sa akin lahat ng sinabi ko, pinakita nya kung ano ang na mimiss ko, higit sa lahat tinuruan nya ako ng isang leksyon na hindi ko kailan man malilimutan:

     “Okay lang ang mabigo at masaktan paminsan minsan. Kasi hindi mo alam kung kaya mo ang sakit kung hindi mo susubukan. Na hindi ka pwedeng magtago sa sarili mong mundo habang buhay sa dahilang takot ka. Ang importante ay sinubukan mo kahit paano. E ano kung bigo ka? At least alam mong capble kang mag mahal” :)

BETWEEN SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS…

         

        Between the monster and the deep blue sea.

Just when I thought that I already graduated from being naïve. Surprise, surprise… I was not! It was like déjà vu this time much chaotic, by the same person with additional characters.

It’s annoyingly frustrating and yes, irritated the hell out of me because I never want to be in between. I’ve been racking my brain for reasons why did I ever get involve with it? Why they wanted me in it? I hate being in a place listening to bunch of people who thinks they have the perfect solution to everything. I hate hearing things – rumors, allegations that are irrelevant and obviously none of my business.

I detest mediocrity but this time I’d like to be just that. Not because I agree with them but because as I see it, all comes down to one thing; Personal gain. Its pretty obvious that they don’t like the person ( I do too at some point but that’s water under the bridge now, not to mention that I have learned to respect the person as it is) as much as I wanted to see all pure good intentions on their part I kept on seeing something else.

And hearing them openly talked about it in front of me as if I share the same interest makes me want to scream STOP!

Rumors has it. A person remains innocent until proven guilty. I’ve been hearing different version of the said violations. I don’t have any right to judge the person based on what I am hearing, sure there have been some violations but that doesn’t gave them any right to take drastic actions especially that they have not proven anything yet.

Power. Authority over others, Seems really enticing but to betray a friend for power? That is greed.

Loyalty vs. Secrecy. After experiencing it first hand how “scheming” it can get, I am caught between being loyal and keeping secrets. I don’t want to be the cause of their misunderstanding (not that I will destroy something because it’s already broken to begin with) I'm not even trying to bail myself. I just don’t want to hurt either one of them by being dishonest or by being big mouthed.

For the common good or for the good of few.  Hearing them talk I see in all fairness that the Cause is good. I also see their point. They only wanted the truth, maybe got tired of the existing system and wanted change. (At the same time get back a little) I admire the courage but I think the timing was a little off. Because no matter how hard I tried to look at it as innocently and as clean as possible, I kept on seeing otherwise.

Shock was an understatement to describe how I felt. I wanted to walk away but got really curious on what they are about to say. It was confusing to hear different version of the stories – I wanted to hear their version so that maybe I could find a sensible answer.

Scylla. The monster. I’ve come to get used to it and though it may seem like it will eat you alive and everyone would agree how pain in the ass it can get, the uncalled tantrums, occasional mood swings, bossy, nagger not to mention a brat of the first class. Yes a monster but with a heart.

Asking a person to change just so it would please others is unfair. I would never want it to change maybe just mellow down a little (because believe it or not my patience really snaps when it start acting like it was the center of the universe J ) but I’ve come to respect and accept the person as it is. At least I know what I'm getting Plain and simple, Black and White.

Charybdis. The deep blue sea. Just the thought of being suck up in oblivion is terrifying. I was charmed with the unity that it seems to offer. Smiles, words that assure that everything will be okay. I must admit that at some point I see the goodness of intentions – was very happy that there’s someone who actually thinks that there’s still hope.

I was torn because suddenly I see a different person so different from what I have learned to trust. It was like looking a thousand scattered puzzles with pieces almost identical to one another that make it hard to see if I got the picture right.

I really do hope that things wouldn’t be as complicated and as nasty. I may not be the nicest person in the world but I still believed that if they could – or try harder not to step on each others toes things will be a lot easier. If they could only be happy for the success of the other, stop finding shit on one another or just try to respect the others. Then maybe things wouldn’t be blown out of proportion.  Maybe they could still trust each other and continue to be friends.

Choices… decisions…

DiSTRESS!

          May mga bagay, tao, pook at pangyayari nitong mga nakarang linggo (actually buwan) na nag papagulo sa pilit kong pinatatahimik na buhay. Hindi ko alam kung bakit at kahit gustuhin ko mang  alamin ang What, When, Where and How (walang "Who" dahil alam ko kung sino :) ) ay tila naman ito pinagkakait sa akin. Sa ibang pag kakataon ay malamang nag imbestiga ako pero nakakatamad 'yon kaya hinayaan ko na lang.

          I did make a checklist though just in case...

1.) Honesty is not always the best policy!

     - kasi kailangan kong mag sinungaling minsan - madalas upang maiwasang makasakit ng tao.

2.) You can never please everybody!

     - matagal ko nang alam ito, kundangan ay parati kong nakakalimutan. Kaya medyo na shock ako nang dumating hindi inaasahang pangyayari. Malay ko bang dapat laging pabor sa kanya ang lahat ng gagawin ko?!

3.) Silent is not equals to yes!

     - akala mo ay okay sa kanila dahil wala namang ng object or hindi naman sinabing bawal pero sobrang labag pala sa kalooban at ikaw ang ituturong salarin kung sakali mang magka problema.

4.) Read between the lines!

     - isang bagay na natuklasan ko sa mga nakalipas na buwan, i-decode ang mga sasabihin sayo, dahil hindi lahat ay para sa ikakabuti mo kahit yun ang pilit nilang pinapaniwala sa'yo.

5.) Trust no one!

    - dahil kung sino pa ang nag fi-feeling close at yung "concern" ay siya pang unang unang magpapahamak sayo. grrrrr....

6.) Be careful with Toxic people!

     - dahil gagawin nila ang lahat upang mahawa ka sa kanila, gagawing "living hell" ang masaya at nanahimik mong buhay.

7.) Respect the elderly!

     - dito medyo struggle ako. Dapat bang irespeto ang isang "forgets" na daig pa si Angelina kung umasta? pero sa ngalan ng Peace, Love and Unity to all mankind ay willing ako... So help me God!

Little Pink Book

I had this little book where I wrote all my compositions since high school. Writing had always been my way of expressing me... I thought I had lost that notebook already, until I found it in my old mementos box that hass been hidden in my closet for like ages ago. And it surprises me on how many poems and shorts stories I had written there (was I that disturbed?! :p ), But then it helped me to be me...

Wandering Heart
Rain seem to pour endlessly,
Sending shiver down my spine
It felt cold – I feel cold.
But not as cold as
My seemingly icy heart,
And I wonder would I ever feel?
To be in love,
Would it touch me, would it melt me?
Or would it break me?
I don’t know and its scares me.
To be in love,
Should I search for it?
Or run away from it?
Maybe – maybe not
Can I inhale it?
Can I seize it?
Love,
Can you find me?

kahit ma stress ako...

Gusto ko ng world peace!

Stress ako this past few months and so far okay naman ako. Enjoy pa na naman ako, masaya, maganda... ;p

Untill last week.

Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ako namomroblema ng hindi ko naman problema its just that involve ako sa ayaw at sa gusto ko! A friend of mine is having problems right now and is going through a lot. As in.

Actually hindi ko talaga alam kung saan nag ugat ang lahat kasi alam ko okay naman siya (oviously mali ako kasi nga hindi siya okay) I mean, we've been talking and akala ko na get over na niya kung ano man ang nangyari.

Lagi niyang sinasabi na masaya siya sa buhay niya, na dapat lang naman dahil wala naman talagang dahilan para malungkot dahil halos lahat naman ng tao sa mundo ay nakakaranas ng kabiguan one way or another. Iba-ibang level nga lang...

Badtrip nga ako dun minsan, kasi kung makapag salita parang siya lang ang may karapatang maging masaya! Sabihan ba naman ako ng "Get a Life!"

Haller! Masaya ako! Masayang masaya!

So yun...balik tayo kung bakit lumalaki ang eyebag 'ko dahil sa stress.

Actually feeling may kasalanan din ako kung bakit siya nagka 'ganon. I should have seen it comming. I should have been more sensitive and patient. Aminado naman ako na minsan talaga hindi ko siya sineseryoso (may times talaga kasi ng nangungulot ang bangs ko sa pakikinig sa kanya dahil magulo pa siya sa magulo) not because I was being a bitch but because I really hate to think na posibleng bumalik na naman siya sa dati. Besides hindi naman talaga ako yung tipo na pang teleserye kung mag comfort ng kaibigan.

Sabi nga nila wala daw akong kwentang kausap, kasi hindi nila marinig sa akin kung ano man ang gusto nilang marinig na maaring ika-gaan ng mga loob nila. Mas gusto ko daw ngumata kaysa yakapin sila habang umiiyak. Na hindi ko naman itinatanggi dahil nababaduyan ako sa ganon.

Seriously. It just hit me right now on how serious the situation is. Hindi rin nakatulong ang mga sinabi niya sa akin the past weeks, kulang ang salitang shock para i describe ang naramdaman ko! Pakiramdam ko kasi isang factor iyon. Tapos ngayon tinatanong ako ng lahat kung ano kaya ang possible nakapag trigger sa kung ano man. God knows how I wanted to help pero.... And it honestly hurt me na makita siyang ganon.

Sana makatulong ang presence namin sa kanya.

Tulungan niya ang sarili niya.

Kasi kahit gusto ko ng katamikan, hindi pa rin masaya pag walang magulo. Kahit halos lahat kami ay nakukulta ang utak marinig pa lang ang boses niya, or tumkbo nang mabilis makita lang anino niya still hindi masaya pag wala siya.

Kaya please lang bakla...

Bumalik ka na! :')