Oh My Gosh, I'm in Boracay! (Day 3)

My last day in Boracay was spent as pasalubong day! So please understand if I forgot all about my camera and just focused on how to stick within my budget. I was only planning to buy tons of keychains for everyone because I felt I only could afford that given my tight budget. But of course, what would I expect? It was Boracay. Lots of foreigners. Locals could talk English. Baka dollars ang mga goods. Baka isang keychain, $2.

To my surprise, the Talipapa offered so much cheaper than what I had imagined. Yipee! So I upgraded my pasalubong from keychains to shirts! Boracay shirts for every member of the family including little Caela! I even got myself a shirt, too (first time). :) Plus a bag as a birthday present for my mother. How awesome could that get! I was feeling in super shopping mode even on a budget. 

Aries girls on February 2011...

Aries girls on October 2012...

You two are the reason why I believe in deep friendship so much. Words may not be spoken but the heart never stops loving. I love you both! And I will miss you again Ate My! :) 

All my bags are packed. I'm ready to go. You made me fall inlove with you, Boracay! Til next time.

This was the vacation we deserved friends. I wouldn't be able to have the same joy if it were not you that I spent it with. Haha! I sound like in an awards night giving thank you speech. So I'd like to continue this awards mode by giving due recognition to my friends. 

Best in Negotiating and Talking-To-the-Locals Award

Best in Reading Waivers Award

Best in This-is-a-Vacation-Moment Award

ATE MY

Best in Swimsuit Award (as always)

Best in Watching-the-Sunset and Taking-Best-Photos-of-It Award

Best in Reminiscing-Those-Days-in-Boracay Award

LAIZA

Best in Ilonggo Award

Best in Talking-With-Bus-Strangers Award

Best in Being-A-Nice-and-Kind-Younger-Brother Award (by default)

RENDON

Best in Solo Shots Award

Best in Don't-Talk-To-Me-I'm-Hungry Award

Best Hot Momma Award (by default)

ATE DOLI

Best in Panic and Paranoia Award

EMS

I only gave myself one award so as not to appear biased being the only member of this award giving body. :) 

Photo Credits: Ate My, Laiza, Ate Doli

Oh My Gosh, I'm in Boracay! (Day 2)

The beach is at its utmost beauty at dawn. I woke up early on day 2 to witness a Boracay morning. The sun was already up when I went out so it wasn't really dawn anymore but the beach was extra beautiful. I was joined by Ate Doli and Rendon while the other two sleeping beauties were... well, sleeping. :)

One thing I love about mornings is its serenity. It is when I really feel grateful for my life. 

Along the way, we saw people jogging. Others just walking (like us). But sometimes we jogged for a minute then stopped. Then jogged again trying to chase other joggers. :) We walked for about an hour then got tired and hungry so we took a tricycle ride back. Haha!

When everyone was set, we decided to start the day with a parasailing. We needed to ride a speed boat to reach the center of the sea.

Me: Wear your life jackets. Check the ropes.

Ate My: Read the waiver before you sign.

Ate Doli: Let's pose for some pictures. Make sure everything is documented. Then take my solo shot.

That was cool! Being up in the air was always cool. Everything was even more amazing from up there. And I needed not to do anything but sit, be moved by the wind, and be amazed. Wondering if you could also do parasailing? Take it from the not-so-adventurous me. You definitely can!

Next, island hopping. Actually, it was more like boating and sight-seeing. The waves were not participating with our urge to go to the other islands so we did not take the risk. 

Laiza: What about Puka Beach? What about Crystal Cove? Can we not go there?

Rendon: Kaya na ya! (Ilonggo intonation) (We can do it!)

Ate My: Safety first.

Me: Yah! Safety first. Now, wear your life jackets. Laiza, Rendon where are your life jackets?

Laiza: It's choking me. I don't want to wear it.

Rendon: Kainit tana ya. Indi man takon magsuksok. (Ilonggo again) (It's so hot. I don't want to wear it, too.)

Ate Doli: I'll wear mine later... after picture. Don, picture... One more. This side. This view. Ok. Give me the life jacket.

Haha! Ate Doli, you already! (Ikaw na!)

Part of the tour was the snorkeling. I did not snorkel but I jumped out of the boat for a photo op :) I love being in the water. Too bad I can't swim. Thanks to my life saver life jacket I somehow can manage to have fun. :)

Guide: There's another snorkeling site ahead.

Laiza: I'm already hungry.

Ate My: Let's have lunch first.

Me: Yes! Lunch time!

Rendon: Woohoo! Kaon gid man ta anay. (No he's not eating a termite. He means it's really about time to eat.)

Ate Doli: _______________ (No words. Blank face.)

That meant she was very hungry. Good we were on a motor boat. She would have paddled her way to the next island for lunch. If we were on land, she would have left us and hurried her way to Mang Inasal. Haha! We'd know her stomach was well satisfied if she got her camera again and take pictures. :)

After lunch, we continued the boating and had landed the shores early enough to do another thing on the checklist. Puka Beach.

The waves were crazy! But I loved watching them reach the shore. I loved their roars. Puka Beach is one of those preserved beaches of Boracay - non commercial, so natural. 

Koreans were everywhere in Boracay. They usually went in groups composed of couples - the matchy-matchy couples. So cute! If not matching in shirts, it's the shorts. Sometimes both. Love them! We met a group in Puka and they wanted to take a photo with us. It paid to watch Korean movies. I knew how to say hi, "Annyeonghaseyo!" And after, we said, "Kamsahamnida!" That meant thank you. Oh yeah! So that's how it felt speaking in a foreign language and being understood. Loved that!

Finally, during the night after a dinner buffet, we walked miles to watch a fire dance show. I had high respect for fire dancers after watching them. Truly a great job entertaining your guests at your own lives' risk. I was definitely impressed!

That was one full happy day!

Photo credits: Ate My, Laiza, Ate Doli

My Vote Counts :)

Today is the first automated election in the Philippines. And I've casted my vote! :) This is already my 3rd national election. Ahuh. You heard me right. I'm not that old though. (Defensive.. Hehe.) I've been a registered voter since I was 18 and I've started voting in a national election at 19. That was 2004. And after 3 years, at 2007 there was election for senators. For those 2 elections, I was a board of election inspector. It's just this year that I'm a plain voter.

I've thought of my votes well. Especially on my presidentiable. I've read blogs, researched on their achievements, listened to the opinion of others, and listened to my heart as well. I want my vote to be very well-thought of. I want it to be very personal that I could stand up for my every candidate. Yah.. I'm so serious on this. I've been so passionate about my right to vote. I, in fact, see it as my responsibility for my country.

I've been so excited to vote this year because this is the election that most people are so involved of. Media have done a great job on increasing the number of voters. The campaigns on the citizens' awareness and roles on the better change of this country have been so tremendous and I'm so glad how those efforts turned out. People are going out to vote! I so love Filipinos!

My family woke up so early. When I woke up myself, they've all taken their bath. It was only 6am! Omg! How am I supposed to catch up? It was so unusual for me to prepare at less than an hour. But a miracle happened! :) I was ready to go at 7am. Whew! So there we went. Off to Balunto Elementary School. My father, mother, 2 aunts, and I. Yey! I had my sample ballot with me. I've listed my candidates the night before. I was so prepared.


Here's the school. Many vehicles were parked. Several people were inside voting already. I thought we were so early. Hehe..

First step, to find my precinct.


There it is. Precinct 0236B is now one with the other 4 precincts. Five precincts before are now one. I'm with my aunts. My mother and father are on the other precinct. It's at the back of the covered court.

Second step, I had to know my number from the list of voters.


I was at number 26. Yey! So glad my name was there. Few people couldn't find theirs.

Then, I got my priority number. I was number 7! I was about to breathe a relief because I thought I'd be entering already to vote. But the in-charge said I already belonged to the 2nd batch. It was a hundred per batch. And the first batch was just at its 14th voter! Omg! Whew! But I patiently smiled. So glad I brought a book with me.



As I once in a while glanced at my precinct, I saw impatient people, complaining about how slow the Board of Election Inspectors were, how unsystematic they were, and other complaints(which for me were petty). I also saw people pissed off that they just went home and allowed themselves to miss a very important event in their lives just because they were not willing to wait. I pity them. I just hope they won't be complaining about the government in the future.



I waited. I hadn't heard my heart complain. I love this participation in a very big event of the country. I was so willing to wait.



And finally, I could see the door! After two hours! It would finally be my turn!


An indelible ink on my right point finger. A sign of a responsible and loving Filipino. :)

Few hours of sacrifice which would make a difference for my country for the next six years..


GOD bless the Philippines!