Kiping It Up In Quezon

One random food trip with my High School friends at Mezza Norte, Abby and Pipoy mentioned that they will go to Quezon for two days for the annual Pahiyas Festival. Pipoy and Tibz are from Lucban and Aya's from Gumaca which is also in Quezon so just like that, it wasn't a couple vacay anymore. It was our gang's 2013 summer trip.

Sleeping in the bus.

The Pahiyas festival is held every 15th of May in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. The festival showcases the town's harvests, from the famous kipings to fruits and vegetables. I've never had a legit Filipino festival experience before this so I was excited. 

Ready?

Nani and Tibz with the giants.

Can't go to Quezon and not try the Pancit Habhab, right Michael?

We also got Longganisang Lucban and 

a glazed pretzel like which is their version of Okoy. 

Me and Adrian, Pipoy's cutie cousin.

Gang! :)

They went up to the Kamay ni Hesus and I'm like, "Bitch, no."

We headed over to Gumaca after walking around Lucban as that town is also having their festival called Arana't Baluarte, still for San Isidro Labrador.

Those vegetables are up for grabs the second the procession from the church passes under it. 

So here's Aya and Nani after the chaos. 

People really went for those goodies, I'm telling you.

Superb experience. An entire day of colorful sights, you would think I'd be blind after but I just saw more clearly Quezon was all about. I should make an effort to go to more festivals and the Pahiyas and Arana't Baluarte are a good start.

Photos are taken by Ivan Salonga unless stated otherwise.

"Oh, Nothing Much"

My social life died when Game of Thrones aired their 3rd season but I am not complaining. I have waited for this for a year. I'm such a huge fan it's basically all I can think and talk about. Episode 9 though (as with every season) is the shit. It was the Red Wedding and I flipped. Like literally flipped. I let myself go at our living room and cried in my bed. This show is way too much. But just like with every addict, I want and need more. Best thing to ever appear on TV. No shit. The last episode for this season is this Monday so after that, I don't know what I'm gonna do with my Mondays again. 

I still kinda miss my friends. "Kinda", yes, as I still feel like I don't have much to say to em if ever we get together again but I do miss em. I was able to see Carlo, Dani and Ella though, separately. It was nice talking to them and hearing updates but I don't know if they noticed that I'm struggling with my own story to share. I don't want them to feel like I don't give a shit with what they say because I do care. I just have nothing sensible to say, pretty much. I have nothing to say at all with everything recently. I'm getting pretty good at shrugging things off. 

Hannah, our friend who now resides in Abu Dhabi, came back for a visit. Those 20 days were hella fun. We were all over the place. I'm so happy I got to see her again. Yeah, we have Facebook and Twitter which we make use of ALL THE TIME for our shenanigans but nothing compares to having your friend across you, laughing and pulling your hair because of a joke. I'm quite sensitive about people leaving but with her coming back here made me realize that some things don't change after all. And finally, according to her, she has a picture of us together during this chapter of our lives.

While waiting for her plane back to Abu Dhabi, she called and thanked me for spending time with her. She was crying, saying that I had been there from the moment she was having her hair fixed on the first day to having dinner with her family that night. It wasn't like it wasn't a big deal but of course, I made time for her. That's what friends do. It was something that doesn't need to be said between friends but I'm glad we had that conversation.

L-R bottom: Didi, Ella, me and Randy

Top: Aika, Jess, Hannah and Fong

at Friday's.

Nothing much is happening. I let work consume me which is surprisingly okay. At least I have income, that's what I have in mind. I guess that's enough to, you know, help me get by. I'm not inspired to do things, I'm just drifting and letting myself be jealous of I-have-everything type of girls every night on IG. I'm not happy but I'm not sad either. I'm just here. 

I think I need a project. 

Surviving Caramoan

My tita Arlene's here! I finally get to hug and kiss her after 12 years! The whole fam's busy right now, going almost everywhere and I can't keep up. Not complaining though. I mean, I'm just so psyched that my tita's back.

They got here 3 Fridays ago and we went straight to Tagaytay and spent the weekend there.

Caramoan time and here's how everything went down:

We had to endure almost an entire day of traveling to get there. Plane to Naga then an hour of driving to Sabang beach, 2-hour boat ride to Caramoan and 30 minutes to the resort. I don't have problems on traveling, let me just get that out. But the 2-hour boat ride, omg, I had an anxiety attack. I was crying so hard and I couldn't breathe. I knew I had to stop crying to get my breathing back to normal but I couldn't. But when we got to the resort, everything's good. The place was remote but it was really nice.

Fam bam <3

Tita Arlene and Tito Hal.

At Sabang beach, waiting for that boat to board us.

We started our second day with 2 islands - Bag-ing and Sabitang Laya. According to our guide, Survivor US used a lot of islands when they were there and they would have those closed, so it's a good thing we went there this month as Survivor Israel is about to start filming this March.

  

Bag-ing beach.

Sabitang Laya.

Beautiful is an understatement, right? Anyway, the 3rd day was a bit gloomy in terms of the weather but we still pushed through. 2 islands again - Manlawi and Kotibas.

We were supposed to have lunch at Manlawi, 

at one of those cottages, but the water's high. 

Kotibas Island.

Pretty island. I wasn't able to take much pictures because the rain poured. 

So many islands, so little time. We missed 5 more islands cause of the rough waves and weather but all in all, it was perfect. 

We had a side trip to CWC and bought pasalubongs. Going back to Manila was smooth so I had no problems there. 

So many untouched islands at Caramoan and that made me wonder what else is there to discover. I can't wait to see more. And more importantly, I got to spend days in this paradise with my family. Total bliss.

Looking forward to more time with my tita!

The Royals at Puerto Princesa

I haven't been updating this blog as for my travels so let's get it on. Fam bam went to Palawan mid last year (super late, I know). I'm posting photos because I kinda forgot most of the details. Haha.

We went there during the now unforgettable monsoon, struck the city. We had to walk through the flooded streets of Manila just to get to the airport. It was so hard for my brothers and I to leave the house looking like shit but what can we do? Our mom's wrath for missing the flight is much scarier than any other natural calamity.

Palawan was so sunny during the entire vacay. I kinda felt bad for the rest of my fam and friends back here in Manila. But we were there and Ma said to just enjoy the time so we did. 

With Gian.

We stayed at the Microtel Palawan, very nice place and accommodating people. There's a beach just at the back of the resort so we were able to enjoy the sand and waves easily. 

Red and Daddy.

I couldn't post any picture of the poolside and I have no idea why.

We went for a 2-hour ride to the Sabang beach to have lunch and then a 30 to 45-minute boat ride to the Puerto Princesa Underground River. 

At Sabang beach.

The underground river was so surreal. It's a completely new world. 

That was a short but incredibly fun vacay. I got to spend 3 days with my family at a very beautiful place. I can't wait to go back. I have to go back. I know there's still a lot that Palawan has to offer.