Let the trip begin 9 October 2009

Our road trip to Dumaguete was made possible a month ago – 6th and 7th of September – before Pano got his working visa for Kuwait. The initial plan was to tour the whole perimeter of Negros Island. Later on, they decided to go to Dumaguete instead via Mabinay since we seldom set foot at Negros Oriental.

Mag-aso Falls

Mag-aso Falls in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental was our first stop and we explored the falls and its surroundings before we ate our breakfast prepared by Mommy. We were awed by the beauty of the falls and its surroundings. Mag-aso is maintained by the local government and there is no entrance fee but per table is charged 50 pesos.

 

Going round and round 25 September 2009

It was Amam and Vima’s first vacation for this year and Christine’s very first Visayas getaway. Val coincided his last day in Teletech in time for us to get home and bond with my brother. No definite plans were made for their visit. Amam just wanted to have a big break from his very hectic schedules and satisfy his appetite with my mom’s scrumptious home-cooked meals. For the 7 days they stayed here in Bacolod, we didn’t dine out in any restaurants. But Biboy treated us a delicious made-to-order rum pie which he secretly ordered a week earlier and picked it up upon Amam’s arrival last August 19.

His idea of a trip to Mt. Kanlaon Park through Rafael Salas Park and road trip to Dumaguete remained in our to-visit list due to time- and budget-constraints. Since they already visited Mambucal Resort in Murcia and The Ruins in Talisay during their vacation last year, Val and I suggested a photo shoot of nature in the town of Don Salvador Benedicto and they all agreed. My brother also developed a passion for photography only that he doesn’t have the time to go around and take the shots when he is in Manila.

Harvest time! 18 September 2009

It was a chance for Amam and Vima to visit the rambutan farm, if I may call it right, in La Carlota City last August 20, the day after they arrived in Bacolod for a week long vacation.

There were a number of trees and they weren`t so tall that was why we were able to pick the fruit, peel it, then eat it right then and there! Most of the red ones were already harvested but we still got home a big plastic full of it. Some were still green outside but were sweet and juicy inside.

So long, Cebu… 17 September 2009

Val and I were supposed to be excited to finally go back to Bacolod last August 19th. But the excitement was overcame with anxiety for the car started to act funny while we were still at the compound transferring our things from the house to the car. The engine kept on cutting off every 5 minutes! We left the compound at 5 am – an hour late from our expected time of departure.

We still pursued our journey hoping that we could reach Toledo port while the sun was still up then my father-in-law would fetch us from the San Carlos port. The car intermittently worked. It was 30 minutes past 7 am when we had the car checked by a mechanic at Toledo. The family were still having their breakfast when we came.

See you around 16 September 2009

My constant joining of team Val’s outing gained me the friendship of their member’s wives. The first team building I joined in Boljoon gave me a chance to meet Honey, Jaja’s wife, and Mae, now Mark’s wife. Chantal, Caesar’s wife, arrived in Cebu just a week earlier than me and we shared the same house in Opon. After few months, Chantal with her husband, moved to her sister’s house also in Mactan. Each time the team planned an outing, dining out or just hanging around, the four of us would always be there to mingle together until we earned the name “first ladies”.

However, for team Val’s last team building in Bohol, Honey, Mae, and Chantal failed to make it. Thus, just the night before we left for Bacolod on August 19th, we tried to free each other’s schedule and got a chance to meet again.

We’ll see each other again, team Bertonians! 16 September 2009

Bohol. I was there once with Ivy and going there again seemed impractical especially when the budget is tight but I hate to break my husband`s excitement. It would be literally his last team building with his team before we left Cebu. Besides, we could avail of Ocean Jet`s free return ticket promo if we purchased the ticket a week earlier.

All Aboard!

On August 15th, there were only 4 of us from our group who embarked the ferry when boarding was announced a few minutes past 3 pm. Others were still on their way to pier 1 while some were caught in a traffic. Right before the ferry started to leave at 4 pm, all 15 members of team Val were aboard! Whew!

10 Dove St. – Siblings’ Cebu Trip 3 of 3 2 September 2009

After our Kawasan escapade, it was already 2 a.m. when we crept into our beds. We were supposed to drive around Cebu City the next day, August 13, for Franc who was in Cebu for the first time. We had been to Ayala and SM Malls but didn’t visit the usual tourist spots like Mactan Shrine, Taoist Temple, Fort San Pedro and Magenllan’s Cross. At least, he tried the Edge Coaster and enjoyed Kawasan Falls.

It was 1 p.m. when everybody was up and ready to go. We drove to 10 Dove St. in Sto. Niño Village since Val wanted them to experience a set of sandwich, soup, salad and cake for lunch. It is a simple yet elegant place to dine in a posh residential area. It can serve around 20 persons and they also accept take-out orders.

Kawasan Falls: Siblings’ Cebu Trip 2 of 3 1 September 2009

Val has been to Kawasan Falls thrice for the 5 years he stayed in Cebu. Yet, he still recommends this magnificent work of nature to whoever plans to visit the island of Cebu. I have mentioned this place to my former teammate Sion who didn’t miss the chance to visit Kawasan when they had their quick tour in Cebu last March. And during Val’s sisters’ vacation, Val doesn’t want his sisters and their partner to miss the falls, too.

Last 11th of August, all 6 of us – May Joy, Pano, Kathleen, Franc, Val and I – hurriedly bought the things we needed for our Kawasan trip after our dinner buffet in Crown Regency. We bought milkfish, junk foods, biscuits, purified water and some softdrinks. We planned to leave as early as 5 am the next day for the 3-hour land trip so that we could get back before nightfall.

Sky Adventure: Siblings’ Cebu Trip 1 of 3 24 August 2009

Val’s sisters together with their boyfriend took the last flight from Bacolod to Cebu last August 10. They came for a vacation while Val was still in Cebu to save their board and lodging and while we still have the car. The room was spacious enough to occupy 6 persons; they brought an airbed, extra foam and beddings, too.

There were no concrete plans to tour Cebu. Since 3 of them had toured Cebu several times already, we decided to try the Edge Coaster ride in Crown Regency Hotel in the heart of Cebu City. The Edge Coaster and Skywalk Extreme were featured in tv the first time it opened last year and I wanted to try them since then. It was scary to ride it honestly. I got goose bumps for the thought of riding the whole edge of the 38th floor but I still found myself excited to give it a try.

Busy Sunday 10 August 2009

I came back here in Cebu last Friday night bringing with me the joy that finally my husband and I will be going home soon… for good. I will only stay for less than a couple of weeks here but those days are packed with so many activities.

For one, Val’s cousin is also here for a vacation with his family and in-laws. It was his first visit in Cebu since he got married 3 years ago and it was also his son Miggy’s 3^rd birthday party yesterday.

From 18 to 80 22 July 2009

I am sick last week and am still sick right now. The torrential rains brought about by successive low pressure area and storms intensified my cough resulting to a husky voice. I was worried I would miss the 3 important occasions I committed weeks earlier – a debut, a birthday and a golden wedding.

A princess’ ball

Our family friend’s unica hija, Celyne, has reached the age of maturity this month. She was given 2 choices for a gift – a trip to Hong Kong with the whole family or a debut party. We all turn 18 once hence she chose the latter with the theme “Shakespeare in Love.” It was a month-long preparation which coincided to the time when I was still recuperating from my operation but they still wanted to include me as one of the 18 treasures at the last minute.

Cool summer vacation 22 April 2009

Mommy’s (my mother-in-law) initial plans included going to Palawan or Baguio City for a family outing. However, time and budget forbade us to push through with it so they decided to have an overnight stay at Gawahon Eco-Park in Victorias City last April 15th. Val and I arrived from Cebu on that same day and we left for Victorias City in the afternoon.

Victorias City is approximately 30 km north of Bacolod City and Gawahon is 18 km from Victorias highway. There were some parts with rough roads and Gawahon Eco-Park is a government-owned vacation spot situated uphill. For skilled mountaineers, they could go hiking up to the peak of Gawahon mountain.

Extended celebration 6 April 2009

We pushed through with our plans to have a swimming session at D’ Family Park in Talamban hoping to start our regular swimming sessions once a week. The staff were still cleaning the pool when we arrived so Val jogged for a few minutes then we waited for them to finish as we watched some people playing with their dogs. Well… they were not ordinary dogs. They were huge.

2 in 1 + 1… Happy Kaarawan! ( 2 of 2 ) 6 April 2009

I bought a box of colorful cup cakes to add up to Val’s mini birthday celebration. However, I forgot to buy a small candle to have something to wish and blow.

 

Nature’s art at Seafront, Lilo-an 30 March 2009

Val’s team had another reason to celebrate. His team made it to the top again. This was in time before their team was reshuffled and before the change in their schedules took effect. Four agents from Val’s team will be transferred to a different team so that he can concentrate more in handling his cluster team leaders.

To reward the team’s hardwork, they were given a whole pork lechon. They decided to have the party with JM’s team at Seafront, Lilo-an instead of Mountainview as earlier planned by JM’s team. The two teams arrived at Seafront around 8 p.m. last Saturday.

10 Dove St… But where’s the dove? 27 March 2009

There was no special occasion last night. It was Val’s regular shift night but we had dinner at Dove St. with his co-TL JM and JM’s girlfriend. The place is cozy and private located in a posh Sto. Niño Village. I was awed with the huge and beautiful houses built in this village. It is necessary to have your own vehicle or hire a cab to go to Dove St. Public jeepneys also pass by the village but you have to take a 15-minute walk from the main entrance to Dove St.

Land trip to Cebu 27 March 2009

I had no specific date to travel back to Cebu so taking the land trip is the safest option. I could travel at any day I want. Much to my delight, Val’s car was ready for travel. Papa (my father-in-law) made sure it was in its best condition and completed its yearly registration in LTO as well.

Mommy (my mother-in-law) set the schedule to leave for Cebu. They fetched me as early as 4:30 a.m. last March 22 which is a Sunday. It was still dark, of course, when we took the shortcut way in Don Salvador Benedicto to San Carlos City. The other route was through the perimeter of Northern Negros which would take about 3-4 hours.

A wedding and a trip to Mambukal falls 5 March 2009

Pao, Paul and JM came to Bacolod on the 28th of February to attend their co-worker’s wedding in Sta. Clara Subd. chapel. All 4 of them are Val’s co-workers from Cebu. Since Gerry, the groom, was busy on his big day, Val took the privilege to host Gerry’s 3 guests since they were not able to attend our wedding when he started in Teletech. They stayed at home at 12th St. occupying our room. It would be more convenient for them ‘coz the room has its own toilet and bathroom.

I don’t want to be an “A” 3 March 2009

Val and I flew back from Cebu last Friday morning. He came straight from his Thursday shift; he slept for a couple of hours at home while I packed my things. We would be staying at his parents’ house for 3 nights. After we ate our lunch, we left our things at 12th St. then started our first agenda for that day.

Portofino: the second time around 2 March 2009

Val’s team held their team building again in Portofino Resort, Mactan Island. It was their second team building in the same resort last 21st of February and my second time to be there since October 2006. The plan was to go straight to the resort after their Friday shift. As usual, Val’s schedule was extended so he let his team go ahead of him. They had to go to the supermarket to buy their foods and drinks using their performance gift certificate.