Hindi mo ba naiisip minsan na nakakasawa na maging empleyado? Nakakasawa mag-abang ng mag-abang ng payday. Nakakasawa maghintay ng kapiranggot na increase every 6 months (minsan nga wala pa!). Nakakasawa maging dependent sa rise and fall ng kumpanya. Nakakasawa kumayod ng kumayod para payamanin ang iba. Nakakasawa ang forms. Nakakasawa ang panghi-hingi pa ng approval at pirma para makapag-bakasyon. Nakakasawa makulong.

Hindi naman sa kasuka-suka ang trabaho ko. Kung tutuusin, masaya pa nga ako sa halos lahat ng aspeto, bagaman talagang hindi kalakihan ang aking sweldo. Pero magte-28 na ko, at wala man lang akong ipon kahit singkong duling. Wala pa akong napagi-invest-an na kahit ano. I could say that my job is stable, but sabi nga, you can never can tell. Pag nagsara ang kumpanyang ito, yari ako.

Gusto ko ng freedom—financial freedom, freedom to manage my own time, freedom from having countless bosses, at kung ano-ano pang uri ng freedom na imposible para sa isang empleyado.

In short, gusto ko ng negosyo. Negosyong sarili ko. Negosyong akin.

I’ve sworn countless times that I would never go into business with friends. But when Rey and I started discussing business possibilities a couple of days ago, it just felt…right. Na parang this time, you’re just willing to make an exception. That perhaps a business partnership could coincide with friendship as well.

Pinaka-nakakatakot lang sa lahat eh ang pera to get things going and sustain it. Sa totoo lang, wala akong idea kung saan kami hahagilap ng kapital. Bukod pa dito, pareho kaming mahigit limang taon nang empleyado at walang kaalam-alam sa business (although mejo mas knowledgeable na sya ngayon because of his Pakshirt paknership with our friend, Skeeter). But somehow, I feel confident that it would work out—I don’t know how, but I just feel that it would. Besides, I’m confident it’s not just the two of us who will make the business start and flourish. There are friends ready to offer help. And there is a God who is gracious, and generous, and whose undying promise we could always claim. Pray with child-like faith…pray with child-like faith…

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience a kind of peace that is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

I am blogging about this para totoong wala nang atrasan. Tsaka para pag dumating ang panahon na tunay na success na ang ideyang ito, may proper documentation at meron tayong munting storyang babalikan.   

Maraming bagay na nagsisimula sa lakas ng loob. Sa ngayon, ito lang ang aming tanging kapital. At itong bagong papasukin namin ni Rey ay totally unfamiliar territory for both of us. We’re scared, but we’re just as excited. Kaya natin ‘to, Rey!   

Sabi ng batchmate kong si Hannah dati sa akin, “You will never know flight until you jump off and test your wings.”

I’ve never been afraid of heights.

I am an Optimist. Have always been one. Oooh, of course I complain and rant and whine a lot even til now, but I realize optimism could never leave me.

I was going through my old blog (I don’t use it anymore, and I don’t allow anyone to access it), and  I was reminded of how, even during the toughest years of my life so far, I was able to hang on–albeit just barely–to my sunshine.

Mahabang basa ulit ito, pero gusto ko lang i-share. Ang buhay hindi palaging maganda. Pero hindi rin ito palaging masama. It could always be a source of strength, of beauty, of learning, of goodness, of big and small blessings and gratitude and joy even during the hardest of days–if we only know where to look.

_____________________________________________________________

Tuesday, July 06, 2004

This morning, someone from Mowel Fund called me up to ask if I was still interested in joining the Directing Workshop. A few weeks ago, when I found out that MFI reopened, I immediately contacted them and reserved a slot. After all, our President has long given his assurance that the company would shoulder the tuition fee in case I decide to study. Just last week, however, an opportunity to do the thing I’ve always dreamed of cropped up. Saying  I got very excited would be putting it mildy. Hence, despite the knowledge that the workshop orientation was scheduled that Saturday, I deliberately ignored it and was resolved on not going anymore. I couldnt’ expect the company to let me go that easily after paying for my training, could I? So just last week, it was almost, "Goodbye, MFI."

But the heavens seem to be telling me something else. I was suppposed to be interviewed last week but it got canceled. I didn’t hear from them at all yesterday. This did not make me feel discouraged or unworthy, though because while I admit there are tasks I am totally insecure about, there are also some that I am very confident I could manage, if not do well entirely. And the particular job I was targeting is actually one of them. However, the no-call made me ask myself if now is the time to move. There is no question about my desire to land a job like that one day, but I’ve always held that timing plays a huge role in making things happen. So when I did not get a new interview schedule and Mowel Fund called, I guess the choice is quite obvious…

The whole morning, I rushed to type my request letter. I felt quite scared that it wouldn’t get approved because I’d need the tuition fee to be ready by Friday (if you work in a corporate setup, you know how it usually takes long for budget requests to be processed). Secondly, I wasn’t sure if they’d allow me to be out of the office twice a week to attend classes, given the many responsibilities that I couldn’t easily pass on to someone else.

However, come 5:30 this afternoon, I was just beaming, as I gleefully gave the approved and signed request forms to the Accounting Department. So I guess I’ll officially be an MF student starting Friday this week.  Yay!

And now is the time for me to step into my Quotations Queen shoes. Here’s a favorite from Henry David Thoreau:

"If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to live the life which you have imagined, you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.  You will soon pass an invisible boundary…new, universal, more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within you, and you will live with the license of a higher order of beings."

Someone called it Self-Fulfilling Prophecy. I subscribe to this belief too, that if there is something you always talk about or think of being or having all the time…I don’t know how, but with steadfast effort and infallible faith, it just happens! This I believe with all my heart, because looking back, I realize that there is not one thing I truly desired in my life that I did not eventually get. Of course, a fulfilling love life remains, well, just that: a heartfelt wish. Nonetheless, I remain extremely confident that this too will someday arrive.

It just takes a while for some people, I’ve always said. In my case, retribution has always seemed to take its sweet time. I guess I’m simply one of those folks who have learned to be patient not by choice, but through forceful life circumstances (like, "Life, the ruthless, relentless teacher, expects us to learn by half-killing us" kind of thing). But if there’s one good thing about delayed gratification, it’s this: when your time comes, it will be nothing short of fantastic.

Maybe not now, but someday… "No" could also turn out to be a simple "Not yet" or an eventual "Yes."

On days when I fantasize about being a broadcast journalist, this is one story I’d love to produce and tell the world myself. Nung pinag-pitch ako ng storya for a documentary program, ito agad ang pinasa ko.

Story Pitch by Cheryl B. Ingles

Working Title: Ito ang Good News! (Ang Di-pangkaraniwang Pagtatagumpay ng mga ordinaryong tao ng Sorsogon) 

     

May isang napakagandang pryoketong inilunsad kamakailan lang sa probinsya ng Sorsogon sa Bicol. Ito ay ang, “Ini an Sorsoganon” na naglalayong palawigin ang partisipasyon ng mga ordinaryong mamamayan sa local governance. Gamit ang isang payak na radio program at ang Barangay Awards, matagumpay na napatunayan ng LIKAS Foundation ang matandang paniniwala na walang imposible kapag ang mga tao ay nagbuklod-buklod tungo sa iisang layunin. With solid effort from the members of the Local Government Units (LGUs), NGOs, and the civil society, ordinary townsfolk were able to build schools, save huge forestry, provide marine life sanctuaries, and give lasting livelihood to the people of Sorsogon.

Ito ang Good News. At kailangang maipaalam sa mha Pilipinong nanlulumo at nawawalan na ng tiwala sa sarili at gobyerno na hindi sila dapat makuntento sa paghihintay ng grasya mula sa iba–sila mismo ay may kapasidad para makapagsimula ng pagbabago at gumawa ng sarili nilang Good News.

II.        Treatment

Ang buong storya ay naka-ankla sa pagpi-prisinta ng Good News. Kaya kailangan, ang general theme ay perky and festive. Music to be used is stimulating and enlivening. Fast cuts for most of the video, but the end part will be a mix of nostalgia, drama, and encouragement. Kailangang mapaniwala ng storya ang manonood na maraming Good News ang nagaganap sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng bansa—at ang mga malalaking bagay na ito ay nangyayari at nagiging posible lamang dahil sa mga ordinaryong taong tulad nya. Viewer has to feel inspired, empowered, and just raving to contribute something worthwhile to his/her own small community after watching the story.

Gusto ng storyang bigyan ng dahilan ang Pinoy para muling maramdaman ang Filipino pride. Ang ibig sabihin ng Ini An Sorsoganon ay “Ito ang Sorsoganon: Magaling!” Nais din nating sabihin na nasaan mang ang Pilipino, pwede mong ipagmalaki na “Ito ang Pinoy: Magaling!”

III.                Case Studies and Interviewees

Gusto nating marinig mula mismo sa bibig ng mga Sorsoganon kung paano nabago ng Ini An Sorsoganon project ang kanilang mga buhay. At gusto rin nating malaman kung anong mga maliliit na hakbang ang ginawa nila na nakapagsulot ng malalaki at tunay na kahanga-hangang Good News.

a.       Doctor Eddie and Mrs. Oyen Dorotan – sila ang mga founders ng Lingap para sa Kalusugan ng Sambayanan (LIKAS Foundation). Ang grupong ito ang nag-organisa ng Ini an Sorsoganon. Si Doc Eddie rin, kasama ni Binibining Irma Guhit, and host ng local radio program na nagkakalat ng good news sa buong Sorsogon.

b.       Idagdag pa ang ibang mga taong naging bahagi ng Ini An Sorsoganon  gaya ng mga staff ng LIKAS, partner NGOs, LGU officials. Idagdag din ang composer ng Ini An Sorsoganon theme (kung posible, pati na rin mga volunteer singers na umawit nito tulad nina Noel Cabangon, Joey Ayala, etc.).

c.      Mga lider ng mga baranggay na nagwagi sa IAS Barangay Awards. Sila ang magkekwento sa atin kung paano naging possible ang good news kahit walang suporta o pondo mula sa national government. 

IV.                Expected Video

§              Local scenery/ Establishing shots (best places in Sorsogon—this place has loads of natural wonders like beaches, mountains, wildlife, etc.)

§              Daily life of the Sorsoganons (we have to establish that this is the tale of ordinary people– mga mahihirap, magsasaka, mangingisda, bangkero, estudyante, housewives just like you and me before we tell the story of how small people made BIG, Good News)

§              Physical manifestations of the success of the project (the schools, the lush forests and mountains, clear waters, blossoming marine life, micro-finance enterprises like piggeries, cooperatives, etc. which were made possible through the project )

This Holy Week, I went with some friends to the much-talked about beaches of Caramoan in the province of Camarines Sur. Prior to the trip, I have never even heard of Caramoan before. Inaya lang ako ng aking kaibigan at fellow Asser na si Herbert. Turns out the town had already been featured in some TV shows and newspapers as one of the Philippines’s best summer places. As our day of departure neared, muntik pa kong mag-back out dahil na-guilty akong hindi ako umuwi sa bahay to be with my family. At nung tumawag pa yung Daddy ko a day before our scheduled departure, sabi nya may tsunami scare daw somewhere at wag na daw ako pumunta sa beach (turns out the tsunami alert he was talking about was raised in the Solomon Islands na may kalayuan portion naman sa Pilipinas!). Tinawagan ko si Herbert the night before we left para sana sabihin sa kanya na hindi na lang ako sasama at babayaran ko na lang sya for the bus ticket. Pero nung nakausap ko na siya, I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I was backing out, so ang kinalabasan eh natuloy pa rin ako sa pagsama sa Caramoan. After a really crazy day (meron akong sunod-sunod na meetings at urgent errands na kinailangang gawin nung Holy Wednesday), nauna pa ako sa bus station sa Cubao kina Herbert at Anya. Terible ang traffic kahit saan nung araw na yun, akala ko hindi na aabot ang dalawa sa aming 9 PM na schedule. Nakaabot naman sila, kaya lang itong Grand Star Coach bus ay isang dakilang palpak na bus line, kaya 100 years bago namin nakuha ang aming reserved seats at maluwalhating nakasakay.

I read somewhere that the best way to gauge if you could really get along with someone is to travel with him/her. Naniniwala rin ako dito. Kasi sa travel, especially the ones that did not go as smoothly as planned, dyan mabilis mag-manifest ang tunay na kulay ng mga tao—agad nagse-surface ang pagiging reklamador, tamad, brattinella, at iba pang mga nakakairitang quirks. Sina Anya at Herbert para sa akin ay time-tested na as mga ayos kasama sa mahahabang biyahe at bakasyunan dahil ilang beses ko na silang nakasama sa mga trips to far-off places. Our recent trip to Caramoan did not change that impression at all. Kasama pa rin sila sa aking listahan ng mga taong pipiliin kong kasama sa mga lakad kahit saan.

Going to Caramoan

Kung hindi ka mahilig sa long road trips at mahihiluhin ka sa dagat, hindi para sa iyo ang Caramoan! To be able to get there, you need to take a 10-hour bus ride to Naga. From Naga, sasakay ka ng van or jeep papuntang Sabang port. Aabutin ng mahigit sa isa’t kalahating oras na drive ito. Pagdating mo sa Sabang, kailangan mo namang sumakay ng motorized boat. Interesting din ito kasi isa sa pinagkakakitaan ng mga locals pag high tide eh ang pag-karga sa mga turista mula sa shore pasakay ng bangka! This is also a common practice in Boracay, yun nga lang mas scary ang mga alon sa Camarines Sur, kaya talagang hindi ka pwede mag-inarte at mas piliin pang lumusong kesa magpa-buhat. Akala nga namin nung una, nagpapatawa o nananamantala lang yung mga mama na sumalubong sa amin pagbaba ng jeep at nagsabing sila na lang ang bubuhat sa amin papuntang bangka. Sabi pa ni Herbert, “Sigurado kayo? Kaya nyo ba ‘to?!” sabay turo sa big girl na si Anya. Sagot nung mama, “Oo, dalawa naman kami eh!” True enough, it did take two men to carry Anya from the shore to the boat!

It’s not obvious in this picture, but there actually two men carrying Anya on their shoulders! The scene was hilarious! 

At kay haba ng boat ride. Buti na lang hindi naman ako mabilis ma-seasick. Halos dalawang oras niyong babaybayin ang karagatan bago makarating sa Guijalo port ng Caramoan! At hindi pa ito dyan nagtatapos. Kailangan mo pa ulit sumakay ng tricycle for another 30 minutes or so bago makarating sa Sentro. But I could say the long trip is really worth it–wala ka naman talagang masasabi sa view habang nakasakay ka sa bangka!

Oo nga pala, kung katulad kita na Sun Cellular ang linya, wag mo na dalhin cellphone mo sa Caramoan dahil ito’y dead spot, walang signal kahit saan! Dapat nga magkikita kami ng kabarkada kong si Dada dahil nasa Caramoan din sya. But no! Paglampas namin ng Naga, hindi ko na sya na-contact.

Only in Caramoan

Pagbaba namin sa Guijalo, we met up with Enyong, ang tricycle driver na just one text away kung gusto mo magpasundo o magpahatid anywhere in the town (sosyal, di ba?)! Meron kaming advanced party na dumating sa Caramoan the day before, ang mag-jowang sina Tin at JJ. Sila na ang nakakuha kay Enyong at nakapagpa-reserve ng aming tirahan sa BC Hometel, bahay ng isang local na may mga rooms for rent para sa mga bakasyonista.

When we got to the Sentro, halos mamatay-matay na kami sa gutom. Inihinto muna kami ni Enyong sa carinderia ni Ate Joy, isang local na super bait din, para mag-lunch. Sa sobrang pagka-PG, kumuha kami ng at least 6 na orders ng iba-ibang ulam na naubos din namin! Pero alam mo kung anong nakakatuwa? 140+ lang ang binayaran namin! Kasama pa ang soft drinks doon ha. Astig! After some time, dumating din sina Tin at JJ sa carinderia at don lang kami nagkakilala lahat.

After lunch, punta na kami sa aming tutuluyang bahay. Hindi ito mala-condo ha. Ordinaryong kwarto lang sya ng isang ordinaryong bahay. Pero masaya na rin ako na meron kaming matinong tulugan, kasi ang kinakatakot ko nga eh titira lang kami sa tent for the rest of our stay. Actually, isa rin ito sa major factors kung baket muntik na ko mag-backout. Parang di ko kasi feel noon na pahirapan ang sarili ko on what’s supposed to be a time for relaxation! Yun naman pala, may bahay namang pinapaupahan para gawing tambayan at tulugan. After a quick bath, bagsak kaming lahat at natulog buong maghapon.

First Stop: Gota Beach!

Matapos ang refreshing nap, ginising kami ni Herbert bandang 5 PM para maghanda sa pagpunta sa beach. We packed our beach stuff at nagpasundo kay Enyong (who’s just one SMS away! Naks!).

Gota Beach is about 30 minutes away by trike. When we arrived, Tin and JJ were also there. The sand is not as fine or white as that in Boracay and Palawan. However, the view is spectacular. Huge boulders, powerful, crashing waves. Ganda! Medyo matao sa Gota Beach that night. Parang may pasayaw yata kasi may mobile (ha! 90s na 90s, ba?!) at lone strobe light—like your usual provincial “sayawan sa plaza.” I had fun that night, though. Herbert brought butane stove. Amidst the strong winds at kung ano-ano pang elementong humalo sa niluto nyang dinner (gaya ng buhangin, ganyan), we enjoyed the Carbonara and the longganisang Lucban that Anya bought during our stopover in Lucena.

Herbert with his little cookware. He’s using the trike to block the wind and keep the fire going. Is that the full moon behind him? Next picture: Anya inside the tent, wearing a head lamp and providing light as Herbert cooks.

Sarap mag-dinner in a beach setting: presko at malakas na hangin, fantastic view of the ocean, under a majestic blanket of stars…

Day 2 – Friday: Sabitan Laiya Beach Day

We woke up at around 8 AM. Si Herbert galit na galit sa mga manok dahil hindi daw sya nakatulog sa ingay nila. Bumaba kami para makiluto ng breakfast. I was surprised to find out na hindi pa uso ang automatic stove—as in ang gamit pa rin nila ay mga lutuan na nilalagyan ng panggatong! Kewl! We fried eggs, and longganisa na tira from last night, cooked rice and soup. Mahirap pala magluto gamit ang mga kahoy—masyadong mausok, masakit sa mata, at mahirap kontrolin ang apoy. Using firewoord follows a really simple logic though: magbawas ng kahoy for Low fire and magdagdag for High. Nag-survive naman kami at masayang nakakain. Sabi nung astonished katiwala don sa bahay, “9 AM na ang breakfast nyo?!” Masyadong late na daw kami kumain. Nagtinginan lang kaming tatlo at nung umalis sya, sabi namin, “Sa Manila nga, ala-una na ko gumigising pag weekend!”

Bandang tanghali, dumating sina Skeeter and friends. All in all, 12 na kami! Dahil mga galing sa biyahe at super pagod na pagod, hindi na sila sumama sa amin sa pagbi-beach, except for Lye, and pinaka-bagong addition sa Panay house. Herbert, Anya, Me, Tin, JJ, and Lye went to a smaller port and road a boat. Ang nakakaaliw pa is when we went to Ate Joy’s carinderia sa sentro para bumili ng lunch, pinakyaw namin lahat ng ulam don. We bought steames crabs, and fish, beef, isang kalderong kanin… Alam nyo kung magkano binayaran namin? Just a little over 400 pesos! Imagine, nagsara na sya dahil inubos namin lahat ng tinda nya tapos wala pang 500 ang bill. Woo-hoo! Sa bangka naman, super mura ng rental! 700 lang for the whole day!

Napakadaming magagandang islands sa Caramoan, pero don kami dinala ng manong bangkero sa Sabitan Laiya. Yun nga lang, mejo nakakatakot ang mga alon pag papalapit ka na sa island (talagang mare-realize mo na you are just a dot in the ocean, walang laban ang inyong munting bangka sa power ng dagat). Sabi ni Herbert, “You know how to swim right?” I replied, “Yeah, but for no more than 5 minutes and only in a swimming pool!” When we got to Sabitan, we were very happy to see na we had the entire beach ALL TO OURSELVES. As in walang tao.

This is the kind of beach getaway I like! ‘Di ko masyadong trip ang beaches with huge crowds or numerous bars like Boracay and Puerto Galera. I went to Galera once with my Econ friends and never got interested in going back there ever again. I was also in Boracay in 2005–the trip was fun in general, but I was turned off by the really thick algae gathered at the shore of the entire beach! Yun ba ay dulot ng mga wastes na itinatapon sa karagatan dahil wala daw maayos na waste management system sa island? Does that mean people are almost literally wading in their own wastes? EEEW!

Sabitan Laiya is pristine, immaculate. Clear blue waters set against beautiful, enormous limestone rocks, almost-white, fine sand, cool wind. I could just lie on the sand there all day, away from all worries.

 

Si Perviebooboo. Looking really small in front of the huge rocks. Still at Sabitan Laiya.

Low tide. I think we’re stepping on dead corals…

Anya’s the only person I know who’d go to the beach wearing white pants and a jacket.

Manong bangkero left briefly, and went back after several hours. Before we took off for home, ipinag-pitas nya pa kami ng mga buco which we heartily ate on the boat. Slurp! Come evening, we planned to again cook dinner at Gota Beach kaso naman umulan. Pero dahil nasa camping mode pa rin kami, naglatag na lang ng mat sa terrace at nagluto si Herbert ng dinner using, again, his tiny butane stove. Pasta Pomodoro and Maling! We were joined by the rest of the group, and it was fun bonding in the breezy evening over gin and Pale Pilsen.

Day 3 – Lahos Beach and Jellyfish Beach

For the first time, kumpleto na kaming lumarga patungong beach. Pumunta muna kami sa sentro para bumili ng aming mga kakainin sa beach. Pagdating sa port, kumuha kami ng 2 boats, 6 people rode on each boat. First stop: the magnificent Lahos beach. Sobra, sobrang ganda ng beach na ito.

The waters are set apart by a wide strip of sand, and super lakas ng waves. Wala rin halos ng tao nung dumating kami. On the right side, the ocean floor is very rocky and uneven. Ewan ko kung ang natatapakan naming ay corals or mga bato, pero takot ang beauty ko lumangoy dito. Don sa kabila, fine sand pero grabe ang mga alon! Kahit sang spot ka umupo sa beach na yun, the view remains breathtaking. One couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the colors, the sounds, and the general serenity of the whole place. After Lahos, lumipat pa ulit kami ng beach kasi sinabi ng mga mamang bangkero na it’s going to be low tide soon, at mahirap na daw para sa mga bangka makaalis if the water gets too low.

Skeet, me, Lye, Lian and Peewee

Assers in Caramoan: Anya, Herb, Me, and Skeet

Yung nilipatan naming beach, hindi kasing ganda ng Lahos or Sabitan Laiya, pero mas ideal for swimming kasi calm water lang. Kaso eto naman pala ang catch: it’s home to countless jellyfish! As in nakaka-praning even to just wade in the water kasi minsan lumulubog ka pa lang, nakikita mo na those nasty, floating little stingers! Si Herbert naman led Peewee, Juno, and JJ into a daring swim in open water (they swam all the way to the next island, but Herbert said it’s just about 200 meters or so).  The rest of the afternoon was spent lazing on the beach reading the books we brought or talking or just quietly taking it all in.

Nung magga-gabi na, pumunta kami sa beach na halos katabi lang ng Gota (kalimutan ko na ang pangalan). Dito na kami nag-pitch ng aming tents. Herbert was determined kasi to sleep at least one night sa beach, so since that was our last night, we decided to check out sa house na ni-rent namin and spend the night at the beach. Yung mga iba umuwi na nung kinagabihan, pero kaming mga natira, nagtimpla ng Gin-Sprite-juice at uminom ng beer. Shet, sarap uminom sa malamig na gabi! Ang natira ay ako, Herbert, Anya, Drei and Peewee. Meron pang dalang MP3 player and speakers si Drei, so parang mini-party na rin ang nangyari. However, we probably got too noisy, kakasigaw at kakatawa, kasi eventually may isang local na lumapit sa amin and warned us to keep it down. Super kinilabutan kami sa kanya kasi sabi nya pa, “Sa akin okay lang na magsaya kayo. Kaya lang ang hindi natin masabi ay kung paano yung mga hindi natin nakikita.” Pag-alis nya, pinatay namin agad ang radyo at sumubok na magkwentuhan ng mahina. Hehehe.

Sina Drei at Peewee ay natulog sa isang tent while Herbert, Anya and I ay nagsiksikan sa two-man tent. Gudlak. I found it quite hard to sleep, kahit medyo nakainom ako. I was starting to doze off nung naramdaman kong biglang umulan. Bumangon agad si Herbert para i-seal ang tent. Lalo na akong hindi makatulog kasi, unang-una, hindi ako makahinga. At higit sa lahat, kinakabahan akong the rain would make the water rise much higher at baka bigla na lang eh anurin na lang ang aming munting tent sa laot. I couldn’t shake off weird images of us trapped and helpless inside our tent habang palutang-lutang sa kawalan.

Day 4 – Last Day in Caramoan!

Malaman-laman ko eh huminto na ang ulan at unti-unti nang sumisikat ang araw (although mejo may kadiliman pa din). Isa-isa na kaming bumangon at nagluto ng vetsin i.e. instant pancit canton, instant noodles, corned beef, canned tuna… healthy meal, di ba?! Naki-ligo muna kami sa hometel at tumambay sandali. Gusto pa sana naming puntahan yung inland lagoon, kaso wala nang oras dahil ang mga bangka mula Guijalo papuntang Sabang ay hanggang 1 PM lang. By around 11 AM, we got to the port and waited for the boat that would take us to Sabang. Kakaaliw pa kasi may “terminal fee” pa sa port. How much? 1 peso per person! Naningil pa sila! Hehehe. Bad trip kasi pagsakay namin sa bangka, “nag-lunch” pa daw yung driver! Ang mga pasahero ng halos isang oras ata sa bangkang palutang-lutang. Sobrang nakakahilo! Ang tali-talino naman kasi ng nagisip na pasakayin muna ang passengers bago hintaying matapos kumain ang “pilot.”

8:15 PM ang scheduled alis ng bus namin. Swerte kami kasi pagdating namin nung Day 1 sa Naga, may bagong bukas na Sunday trip kaya naka-reserve kami ng seats. Kawawa sila Lian, ang aming kasamang Bb. Pilipinas-Universe (naks!) kasi kailangang-kailangan na nilang umuwi that morning kaya napilitan silang patulan ang non-aircon bus going to Manila! Imagine, going on a 10-hour trip, tanghaling tapat tapos walang aircon! Yikes!

Pagdating sa Naga, siguro nga 4 PM pa lang. Tinext ko ang aking kabarkadang si Dada na sa Naga talaga ang hometown. She met me, Herbert and Anya at Biggs Burgers, Bicol’s local version ng “Hotshots.” Tumambay muna kami sa bahay nya. She and her family were such great hosts! We stayed in their gazebo, drank beer, and tasted Indonesian kropek (na binili nya from her ASEAN fellowship trip). Tapos for dinner, nag-serve sila ng napakasarap na Pinangat—para itong laing na may gata at ground fish—saka, of course, authentic Bicol Express. Tapos si Dada nilabas ang kanyang album with our pictures as freshmen in UP! Syempre nakita pa tuloy ni Anya at Herbert how I looked like when I was in first year. Waaa! Seriously, though,  I couldn’t help feeling proud that our barkada remained solid even after some of us shifted out of Econ and we all got busy with our own careers. Over 10 years of friendship is not something many people could boast of. And it’s just so wonderful to have been blessed with such a special bond which we nourish to this day.

With my long-time kabarkada, Dada. At their very nice home in Naga.

Badly sunburned but happy! We’re all smiles after a fine dinner of Pinangat and authentic Bicol Express courtesy of the Nieves family.

Sumama pa si Dada sa amin hanggang Naga Bus Terminal, si Papa nya pa ang nag-drive sa amin. Happiness! Ang dami pang aberya nung pauwi na kami ng Manila. Kasi naman, itong Grand Star coach bus ay talagang far from being “grand.” Nasiraan pa kami somewhere in Quezon at naghintay for over 2 hours for a rescue bus! Stress!

But to sum it all up, I did not at all regret joining the trip. Unlike some people, I do not get bored with really long road trips—I love them, in fact. Secondly, ang saya ng feeling na na I got to know Caramoan. Prior to our Holy Week getaway, I’ve never even heard of Caramoan before. Pero sobrang vast ng natural wonders in this peninsula! Even though we were there for four days, sobrang dami pa rin naming hindi napuntahan. And we all vow to go back and find out more about it one day.

Ang wish ko lang talaga ay sana wag ma-commercialize ang Caramoan. I know it would improve the town’s economy kung dadami ang mga turista, kaya lang kasi, I would hate for the pristine beaches of Caramoan to someday turn into a Boracay or Galera na halos hindi mo na makita ang beauty of nature dahil sa dami ng gimikan at dami ng tao. Sana ma-preserve pa rin ito kahit mas maraming tao na ang makaalam na somewhere in Southern Luzon eh nage-exist ang beautiful, almost untouched beaches of Caramoan.