37 - As If It Is My First Love

Have you ever fallen in love with a person, not for how they look but for how their eyes twinkle when they look at you? Not for how they dress but for how warm their body feels when they put you in a tight embrace? Not for their As and academic achievements but for how free flowing conversations are with them? Not for the digits in their bank account but for how they would make time, always, for you?

You fall in love with their heart. You fall in love with their spirit. Realizing that at the end of the day, it is never their physical beauty nor the material things that they could offer that could sustain you with life, but rather their bare, naked soul. Finally, you see them all flawed and scarred, and you fall in love not on their full potential but for what they actually are.

It is an enlightening experience to rediscover love, as if it is your first love.

36 - Romblown Me Away

The barkada trip that we've been drawing since time immemorial is finally painted into life. We were originally planning to go to Siargao (it being one of the top local destinations during the past year), but for some reason we ended up booking plane tickets to Romblon; and lo, we were all blown away!

This trip happened March of 2019. Back when I posted the photos on facebook, a lot of my friends messaged me asking for the 'budget' and 'itinerary', which by that time up til now (sorry guys) I was not able to provide because of the following reasons:

1. Our friends who are working abroad paid for the hotel. (thanks guys, you know who you are :P)
2. I never participated in the preparations; I just nodded my head in agreement to all of their suggestions without even reading a thing in our group chat, hehe.

But here, just to share with you the things we did, and the places we visited.

HOW WE GOT THERE:

We booked our flight through Cebu Pacific, from NAIA T4 to Romblon Airport (Barangay Tugdan, Alcantara, Romblon). Please note that Romblon, Romblon is a different island. If you want to go there directly, you could ride a ferry (you could search it in google).

note: Flights aren't scheduled daily; back then available days were Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays.

WHERE WE STAYED:

Romblon isn't as developed as other local tourist destinations; back then, it was very hard to search for accommodations at Romblon, Romblon (we didn't find Airbnbs nor budget hotels; it didn't help as well that the change from Siargao to Romblon was sooo last minute and the first few hotels that our -organizer friends- contacted can no longer accommodate us. We ended up checking in at Aglicay Beach Resort, which is located at Tablas.

(see screenshot of google map for better imagination:)

Land Transfer from Airport to Aglicay Beach Resort Options:
A. Van - you may try arranging this with the hotel
B. Tricycle - you may actually negotiate with the drivers if you haven't arranged with any tour companies your transportation for the duration of your stay.

Note that it will take you at least 30 minutes to get to the hotel from the airport (if you're riding a van); add another 15 minutes if it's a trike.

Aglicay Beach Resort boasts a picturesque scenery with clear, pristine waters perfect for a whole day swim. It also offers recreational activities to its guests such as beach volleyball, videoke, frisbee, billiards, etc. Food though is a bit expensive for its taste, but it's not like we have a choice since there are no nearby restaurants. Signal is very weak as well; which is perfect if  you want to disconnect from the outside world.

Food Tip: You could buy from the sari-sari stores in the bayan and ask the resort personnel to cook for you. They'll charge you cooking fee of P90 if I remember it right.

Signal Tip: Globe > Smart in this place. I am a Smart subscriber and I only get to send messages when I'm staying near the shore. How near? Waves were touching my feet!

Here's their website: http://aglicaybeachresort.com

Day 1: Aglicay Beach Resort - Rest. Eat. Appreciate. Repeat.

theviewfromwhereIstand

Aglicay Beach Resort is <3

sunset on our first day

Day 2: Carabao Island

How to get there: Get a van or tricycle going to Santa Fe.

Daytour: Our friend arranged a daytour with a boatman (whose contact details she stumbled upon when she was reading other blogs about this)

Possible Option: Well, Carabao Island is 20minutes away from Boracay. You may want to consider :)

Activities: Cliff Jumping and well, Eating. Note though that food here is expensive. We paid P500 per head for our lunch.

waiting for the sunrise

blue water

cliff jump: everything you want is on the other side of fear

Day 3: Romblon, Romblon

So for Day 3, we went to Romblon, Romblon. If you'll be staying in Tablas (just like us), please research for the SCHEDULE of the ferry online because said schedule is subject to change. We had to wait for hours because we got an outdated information.

The first thing we did when we got to Romblon, Romblon is to buy marble souvenirs. (We won't be riding a ferry back; we hired a private boat so we had to buy our pasalubongs before the inland tour starts). We bought food as well which we will be bringing to the beaches we're going to.

BonBon Beach

Sandbar

RomBlown Us Awayyyy!

We went to another beach but sadly, I don't have the pictures. We alighted at San Agustin where our transpo back to the hotel was waiting for us.

Day 4: Fish Sanctuary

And now we're down to our last day. Our flight is in the afternoon so we decided to use our morning to explore Looc where the Fish Sanctuary is located. We brought skyflakes with us so we could feed the fish. You may also opt to swim with them! No worries, there's a restroom back to the tourism office where you could take a bath and change clothes. Fare is at P100 each; those who would rent gears will have to pay an additional P50.

fish feeding program

Gihigugma Tika, Romblon!

And then we're back.

PS. Just want to share with you, we had a problem with our baggage when we were going to Tablas. Two of us (both using hard case, handcarry luggage) were told that our bags do not meet the standard specs accepted for a handcarry luggage. We had to pay for the check-in fee. Anyway, we find it really weird but we didn't argue with the airport personnel anymore. Bitterness crept when we were already inside the plane and we saw other people whose handcarry bags are even larger than ours. Oh well.

32 - When Eve Fell In Love With The Apple

I love apples. It is and it has always been my favorite fruit. I bet we all know the story of how it was associated with original sin in the old testament. Well, I just never thought I'd relate it with you. Apples. Sin. Love. You.

Love, you were all the wrong sorts of a man for me. There were red flags, right from the start, that I chose to ignore. You made me feel things I never thought I'm capable of - desire, envy, love so profound yet unfounded. The emotions were so heavy they disturbed the hell out of me. Having you was a sin, I know that by now. You were the apple the devil tempted me to pick - which I did. I did. Whether it was my lack of better judgment or the serpent being so damn cunning; bottomline is -- I ate the apple and have lost the innocence of a child. I would never look at the world the same way that I did before you. You were knowledge, you were pain, you were a lie. I loved you. I love you. But my love, I cannot be blind anymore.

I was the Eve who fell in love with an apple and have lost herself in the process. Momentarily, I forgot there was an Adam in the story, and that above all else, it is God who writes the story of our lives. The apple was a test, a lesson I have learned the hard way. I realized, the apple could be anything - Money. Pleasure. Riches. A boy - Things we desire so badly it lead us to sin. Things that make us go weak on the knees we'd stumble and fall. But what better position it is to repent than on bended knees?

Yes. Eve fell in love with the apple, but today, Eve no longer wants to love the apple.

31 - Isla de Gigantes & Guimaras DIY Tour

Everyone has a "life tank" to survive in this world. It gets depleted day by day when we deal with life's bullshit - family issues, love problems, office politics; you name it. There might be times that even waking up in the morning becomes a hard thing to do; yet we have to do it - we have bills to pay, obligations to fulfill, responsibilities to attend to. So we go on, day by day, battling in this adult world using our wits as sword and our brains as shield; and damn it, it can be awfully tiring.

So what do tired people do? They take a break and then they buy plane tickets to Iloilo. Kidding. I have to admit though, it was an impulsive trip. My cousin and I never planned anything and just booked the tickets 2 weeks before the flight schedule. It was then or never. Our life tanks were depleting that even proper sleep couldn't replenish the amount we're losing every single fucking day. Turns out, the best trips are those that you take unplanned. We were in for one of the greatest adventures we've had, thus far. I hope I'd be able to share with you some tips and insights should you be planning to go to where we went. 

HOW TO GET THERE:

From Manila, we booked plane tickets to Iloilo International Airport. Our flight schedule was 5:15AM departure from NAIA; 6:35AM arrival at Iloilo. There were no seat sales (considering that we booked only 2 weeks earlier); so we paid for our 2-way tickets for P7,048.24 for 2 pax, no baggage allowance.

Thoughts: Well, I advise you wait for the seat sale since our plane tickets make up for almost half of our total expenses during this trip. We had no regrets though. Second, if you're planning to go to Gigantes, do not take flights later than what we took. You'll soon find out why. Third, I am no fan of baggage allowance. I've always travelled lightly, even overseas (unless I'm with my bff Lea. We need that baggage allowance for all the things that we might impulsively buy lol hi Lea)

After arriving at Iloilo Int'l Airport, we rode a taxi going to Tagbak Terminal. There were no other modes of transportation, and I should warn you that they add +50 to the taxi meter. I believe it's a normal thing since all the taxi drivers that we approached asked for the extra. Don't be surprised. The terminal is 30mins away from the airport. We paid a total of P305.00.

There are two ways on how to get to the port in Estancia where you will be taking a boat to Isla de Gigantes - by van, or by bus. According to research, the van takes approximately 3hours while if you take the bus, it will take you 4 hours due to the stop overs. We decided to take the van considering that the costs do not vary. (Van fare is P150/head while bus fare is around P180-200/head). We alighted at the van's last stop and took a tricycle P10/head to the port. We arrived there at around 11:30AM. Please note that the passenger boat going to Isla de Gigantes leaves at 1:00PM; and there's only one trip per day. If you missed it, you either wait for the next day or you may book a private boat going to the island which costs around P5,000 - P6,000.

When we approached the ticket booth, we were asked by the Ate if we already have a hotel/accommodation waiting for us in the island. I've told you we had no plans, no advanced bookings or whatever. She informed us that there was a couple who hired a private boat who might actually be willing to take companions, and they were leaving that instance. It will save us time - no need to wait until 1PM; plus the same boatman will tour us for 2 days. We will have our time on our hands. We were originally thinking that we would be sleeping the day off, however if we take this private boat, we could start the island hopping right away! That's how we met these wonderful people whom we shared this trip with:

Reminds me of the Giordano quote from waaay back:
Strangers are friends you haven't met!

FIRST DAY - ISLAND HOPPING PART 1

The first island we visited is claimed to be the most beautiful island in Isla de Gigantes. There's an entrance fee of P50/head. They have public CRs as well.

the view from where i stand

Note: Photos uploaded in this blog entry are without filters. I want you to appreciate the raw beauty of this place. Photos were taken by either iPhone 7+ or GoPro Hero5.

The second island is where we had our lunch. Entrance fee is P40.00/head. 

life's a beach 

scallops are selling at P100 for 100pcs!
No wonder they call it a "poor man's dish"
in this part of the world. It's E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E!

Note: Please bring your own goggles with you! The water's crystal clear and the islands are not "overpopulated" as most PH islands are, now. 

Since it's already late in the afternoon, we decided to explore the remaining islands the next day; and opted to look for a hotel where we could stay. The Fil-In couple (let's call them A and P) we were with already have their hotel bookings, while the Spanish couple (let's call them I & D) were just like us - no plans and all. A &P offered that we check the hotel where they booked, however they no longer have aircon rooms. We went to the other hotel near it and found out that there are still 3 aircon rooms available. So we all decided to stick together and got the rooms. 

Name of Place: Arjan Beach Resort

Rate: P1,300/room/night - airconditioned (good up to 4pax)

Note: We had to ride at the back of a motorcycle to get to the hotels. Fare is at P20/head. We had a feast for dinner - too bad I haven't taken any photos. They have a "cooking" fee and the meat/fish/chicken that they offer to cook is per KG. The more you are in a group, the more you save! Imagine we paid P190/head for both this night's dinner and the next day's breakfast - approx P95/meal! 

the view from where I lay down - duyan life is <3

zen defined. they have duyans around the place!

accommodation

one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever watched.
too bad I was not able to capture the sky turning into orange and violet.

Arjan Beach Resort in the morning.

Another note: They do not sell red horse in this island. We opted for the island equivalent of Red Horse. Twas a fun night with the kind strangers that we've met. <3

Also, please bring your powerbanks; electricity is running only up to 6AM. Signal is weak as well. We were not able to access the internet during our stay. :)

SECOND DAY - ISLAND HOPPING PART 2

The first island that we went to during our 2nd day of island hopping is the sandbar. The sandbar disappears during high tide/in the afternoon, so it's best to go here in the morning.

with the kids

Next is our favorite island: The Mini Boracay! This is where we stayed the longest! <3

with our very mabait na boatman.
should you need his details, I still have his number! :)

The last island that we went to is the mini-lagoon where we jumped off the cliff. 

TIP: Bring your aqua shoes. 

(Wish I could share with you a video of our jump but blogger here has a size limit for uploads). Well, I'll post it on facebook. :) 

We went back to the hotel we're staying, had late lunch which costed us P135/head, packed up and decided to go back to the city with A & P considering that there's nothing left to do (we're done with the island hopping), plus we only have one day left which we could use for a city tour or for Guimaras. We took the bus from Estancia to Iloilo City (P170/head). We searched online for accommodation; and found a cheap hostel named The Guesthouse (P800/night/airconditioned room) near SM Iloilo. 

We went to the Esplanade for a night walk and for dinner and well - iced cold beer.

found sharetea lol

THIRD DAY - GUIMARAS DAY TOUR

Knowing that our flight is at night time on our third day, we decided to go to Guimaras for just a quick day tour.

We started our day with the famous Iloilo La Paz Batchoy @ Ted's. It was just one jeep away from our accommodation

P224.00 in total

Then we went to Iloilo City Harbor (Ortiz Wharf) and took a 15-minute pumpboat going to Jordan Wharf. Fare is only at P14.00/head. 

We've read blogs about having a tricycle to tour you around Guimaras for around P1,000 and up. We were even offered the same when we got there. Luckily for us, we were able to meet a driver who was willing to tour us in the city (we only have 3 destinations in mind) for only P300.00.

First Destination: Mango Research Center

Second Destination:  Trappist Monastery where you can buy your pasalubongs

Side Trip: The Pitsop - where you can eat the famous mango pizza!

didn't know mango tastes good in pizza

 Side Trip#2: I <3 Guimaras

Third Stop: Smallest Plaza

And then we headed back to Iloilo City. Since we still have time, we decided to roam around SM Iloilo to buy more pasalubongs and eat merienda:

The Dandy!
Fries with nacho toppings yay

Bluejay Coffee. Iloilo's local coffee shop!

Then we went to Casa Mariquit in Jaro (entrance fee is P100.00/head) and then we walked to Jaro Cathedral before going to the airport for our 9PM flight. Our taxi fare from Jaro to Iloilo Int'l Airport was P320.00.

Casa Mariquit, a heritage house named after the wife
of the late Vice President Fernando Lopez, Sr.

my cousin Dominic with bantay

Overall, the experience was superb! The best trips are really those that you take unplanned. There's no amount of sad nor tired the salty sand and the pristine water of the beach can't take away. We went back to reality with our life tank full.

PS. Budgeting wise, we spent around P7,000-P8,000 in this trip per head (all in) but that's inclusive of the approx P3,500/head flight. Imagine if you could get a cheaper flight! Plus, pasalubongs are already included in that amount. 

27 - It's a good day to get married

Tired of the city life? Of the 8-12 hour shift to earn a living? Of the buzz and the noise that drains the hell out of you? Sigh. If moving in a countryside and leaving everything behind is plain easy... If turning your back from all the duties and responsibilities of adulthood is like learning 1-2-3... But we both know the answer to that. And sometimes, all we need is a break from the lethal routine of our daily lives to keep us sane.

It is 5 in the morning.

The sun's getting up.

The traffic's building slowly.

Tagaytay is 2-3hours away from Rizal.

SLEX toll fee is at P175 exiting Sta. Rosa.

The sun says hello.

The sky - crystal clear.

It is a good day to get married.

Only, the cousins featured in this story are no brides.

We had our breakfast at the newly opened McDonald's in Tagaytay. There was so much buzz in social media about it that we had to see it for ourselves. And voila, the vertical garden, the view, and the hash brown.

the vertical garden

the view

 *and no photo of the hash brown. You figure out why.

After breakfast, we hit the road to Nasugbu which is 30-45mins away from Tagaytay City proper. Caleruega it is! Right after the arc that says welcome to Nasugbu, you make a left turn to get to the chapel. It was a rocky road, but one we'll surely take on again any other day. The place was breathtakingly beautiful one would say "It's a good place to get married at!".

And they sell yummy espasol too. :D

aesthetics

the koi pond

hello fish

climbing the hill.
the struggle is real!

closer to nature, closer to God!

the bridge

theviewfromwhereIstand

*and no photo of the espasol was taken.


Since we're such nature-loving people, off we go to the beach! It would take you another 30-45mins travel time to get to the nearest beach resort from Caleruega. But you're already in Batangas so why not make the most out of it? Time check: it was 1 in the afternoon. We haven't had our lunch yet and stumbled on this on our way to look for a beach resort:

Kainan sa Dalampasigan

best sisig evuuuuur
love the butter shrimp
and the mangga
love everything!
plus cheap pa huhu

We loved everything about Kainan sa Dalampasigan! We would definitely come back! Plus, it's probably a good place to have your wedding reception:

lovely

And finalleh, the beach! 

the waves are calling

the mermaid

and the... ~abstract

guess who's the happy kid now?
dark but fine ---sand.

our cousin by choice haha

sunset <3

The clock is ticking.

The sun is setting.

It's 5 in the PM.

But before we go back to the noise and buzz of the city life, we go back to Tagaytay to grab a cup of coffee and probably one of the best things ever made --- dessert!

interiors

chilly night

capping the day off.
best blueberry cheesecake evuuur!

And so we head home.