how i ended up in coron, palawan

"if you want it, decide on it"


coron, palawan was not in my list of dream destinations. i added it to the list during the last quarter of 2008 -- even bumped it up all the way to the priority part of the list -- after my friend, sealdi, posted photos of her coron trip in her multiply album. i saw through the pictures that she enjoyed the experience. because of those pictures, i got to think this way: "coron is something that i have to see for myself even if it means i have to 'go solo on a group tour' like sealdi did".

it was a few days after my birthday when travel factor posted their 2009 first quarter schedule. i checked the lineup of tours, saw three coron trips for march, and decided there and then that, as a birthday gift to myself, i will sign up for one of those march 2009 coron trips.


so it happened that during the last days of 2009, i forged my decision for my first ever palawan trip. i purchased my manila-busuanga-manila roundtrip ticket online and immediately forwarded my registration form to travel factor. where i was concerned, it was "all systems go" for my coron adventure. take note, this was as early as december 2008.

"best laid plans..."

when i made my decision, i was blind to my first quarter work schedule. i was aware though that, at some point, there'd be things coming up that could possibly endanger my "best laid plans" for march. one of the first things i did when i got back to work after my 2-week december leave was to tell my immediate superior and our HR that i'll be taking another leave in march. i was so looking forward to the trip!


then, jeopardy came. one of our company's project partners pushed for an activity schedule that fell within the very dates that i've already blocked off for coron! when i saw the communication, i was no different from chicken little who felt that the sky was falling down on him. inwardly, i panicked. being one of the activity's focal persons, i had more than enough reason to be troubled. my mind was ringing with this: "if the higher ups would agree to the proposal, then for sure i'd never be allowed to go!"

"...the universe conspires"

as they say, "every cloud has a silver lining." i saw my silver lining days after when, through a conference call, our chief technology officer told our project partners that we could not push through according to their proposed schedule just yet. there were technical stuff both sides had to iron out first; bear in mind that the decision to postpone the activity was not because of me. but, haha, it was what i wanted! i could not contain my feeling of relief, i let out a gleeful smile while the concall was ongoing. i was no different from a child who has just been given lotsa candies!


jeopardy number two came, too. on march 9, 2009, just about three hours after i deposited my tour fee for coron, i received a forwarded text message from my younger sister. it said: "Te gic: la n jud si lolo at 3:20." i'm normally able to process a lot of information in one go but that line -- though limited in letters and words but full of clarity as a message -- really clouded my thoughts.

i knew in my heart that i had to fly back to mindanao for my lolo's wake and funeral but if i had to do it that very week, i would have ended up with a nervous breakdown. i had work piled up to my neck and i couldn't just go off because i was set to put in ten days' worth of effort that week in lieu of the days that i'll be absent due to the coron trip.

i was saved from the dilemma of having to take an emergency leave by family demographics. three of my lolo's children -- two aunties and one uncle -- had to fly in from US and canada to attend the funeral; for this reason, the interment couldn't be scheduled until after the 17th of march, the day of my aunties' and uncle's return to the country. the 17th of march also happened to be the last day of my "march 14 to march 17" coron trip with travel factor.

someone up there really didn't want me to miss anything!!! someone crafted things for me so i can have my cake and eat it, too! to do my part, i purchased another roundtrip ticket (manila-cagayan de oro-manila) and filed another leave, an extension -- from march 17 to march 21 for lolo's wake and funeral. so it happened that it was again all clear for my coron adventure!

if the universe conspires for you, you don't just sit back... you also have to do your part.


the night before my flight to busuanga, i didn't sleep. i spent most of the night completing reports which i knew some people at work might look for during the week that i'd be away. after sending the reports out, i packed my stuff for coron, took a bath, fixed myself, checked where my money and tickets were, and called out to my housemate that i was going. i left batangas at around 6am in a bus bound for manila. i had a 9am flight to catch at the ninoy aquino international airport terminal 3.

at this point, i'll have to direct you to my multiply albums. the photos i posted there can do all the talking for me... at least until i find the time to write about the awesome experience.

i forgot to say that this trip was actually my first travel adventure with my new travel buddy, steward, the nikon d60 dslr.

go here:
from busuanga airport to kayangan lake
banana island, palawan
bulog island, palawan
coron sunrise and waves
finding africa in palawan
north cay, coral garden, and wreck site
sunrise at mt. tapiyas and the flight from busuanga to manila
coron, palawan tour groupies
coron, palawan memories... reloaded!

i'm sharing the photos with the hope that you would be inspired to travel, too. biyahe na!

lolo gary

lolo gary lived strong and healthy enough to have ten children. he sent all ten to college through honest-to-goodness hardwork (read: hands-on farming and fishing) and God's grace. all ten learned his way of life, earned their respective degrees, got married, and reared kids.

lolo gary lived long enough to see the kids of his four sons and six daughters grow up. he met 31 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

he left all ten, thirty, fifteen, and who-else-knows-how-many a legacy of inspiration.

there is so much to tell about my lolo gary and how he triumphed in life despite the circumstances. from now on, i shall take time to pause from life's hustle-bustle and weave the words into one family tapestry. if i do remain diligent enough, i'll have enough material by year-end and i'll be able to come up with that book i've dreamt of writing.

until recently, i didn't realize that the elusive story i've been waiting for has long been there for me.

family tree done by my younger sisters and my cousin

peeking into my notebook

"when you walk righteously, favors overtake you"

lay aside weights. concentrate on endurance -- do not be hindered; stay on course. when in doubt, ask. live a heritage, leave a legacy. servitude - serving others even when it's inconvenient. when you walk righteously, favors overtake you. everyday is sweeter than the day before. check your heart, stop worrying. what can be offered from an empty hand? you doubt those who have given you reason that they cannot be relied on. keeping silent is not necessarily being truthful. a spoken word is a commitment. have the right attitude -- it dictates how we deal with other people. strife is a blessing-blocker. whatever is the major cause of your busy-ness is your business. integrity is forged in defining moments. perform with excellence, energy, enthusiasm, ethics, effectivity, and endurance. always see the hand behind the event. speak life. get your but's out of your way. whatever is in your heart, believe it, declare it, speak life to it, and watch it manifest.

spell kaleidoscope

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.
I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."
--Abraham Lincoln

reflection

i know i am a fan of kaleidoscope world. i know i like listening to girl be mine. i know i was one of those kids who learned the lyrics of mga kababayan and who eventually grew up to a thousand other songs but never reached the point of forgetting how that nationalistic rap goes. i personally witnessed his ability to work the crowd when i saw him perform in one of those UP fair nights back in 2006. however, i did not realize until yesterday that, to a good degree, i actually am a fan of francis m.

despite knowing already that he was in a tough battle and not in great health, my reaction to news of his death yesterday was similar to my reaction when i learned of christopher reeve's demise -- disbelief. "huh? is that true?"

it is like that when it comes to legends. it is difficult to associate death with them.

declaration

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future."
-- Jeremiah 29:11

held

it is difficult to stay cheerful when the daunting challenges never seem to let up.

it's already been quite a long, hard pull and i have yet to see the end of it -- or, at least, see a silver lining. i know i have to stay focused but i feel too overwhelmed at times. my impatience bites.

it is in times like this that i become all the more convinced that if i were to rely only on my plans and on my own strength, i won't be able to achieve much.

i close my eyes in submission and calmness embraces me. as the sands of time trickle, i remain in good hands. i am grateful that i am still too blessed. for this, i cannot complain.

my friday the thirteenth story

"There are nights when the wolves are silent
and only the moon howls."
--George Carlin

it was already late at night (read: nine-ish) and we'd just gotten back to the company in batangas from a visit to a colleague's house in sta. cruz, laguna. my urinary bladder was already complaining due to the long drive and too much soda. when the company vehicle came to a halt, i rushed out and practically ran through the deserted hallways to get to the restroom.

i went in through the door leading to the locker area since it was my nearest access to the restroom. i noticed that more lockers were already installed but nothing more than this made a different impression on me. well, saved for the observation that the locker area was also deserted and i was the only breathing soul there.

because i really had to and not because i was suddenly afraid, i rushed out of the locker area, proceeded to the restroom, and chose a cubicle. it was such a great relief when i was finally able to let go of unnecessary liquid from my body.

when i was ready to face the world again, undisturbed anymore by the urgent call of nature, i went out of the cubicle. i opened the cubicle door just in time to see one of my male colleagues walking nonchalantly along the restroom hallway. since he belongs to the facilities department, i figured he was there doing a regular dead-of-the-night check. still, his presence for whatever reason inside the ladies' restroom didn't really register as appropriate and i felt the need to demand why he was there.

"woist, bakit ka nandito?"

"ah...eh...kasi...sa mga lalake 'to."

oooops! my bad. sa lagay na yon ako pala ang nasa maling lugar. bwahahahahaha...

no wonder then why he, too, had a surprised look on his face when he saw me.

with a flood of "hala! oh-em-gee. oh nooooo! i'm sorry," i hastily ran out of the men's restroom red-faced and stifling laughs i could not share with anyone (or anything) just yet but the deserted hallways.

warm colors over there, blissful warmth here

"We all possess the thunder of pure fury
and the calm breeze of tranquility.
If it wasn't for tomorrow, how much would we get done today?
Whatever your purpose... embrace it completely.
Get lost in the clouds every now and then
so you never lose sight of God's wonder."
--Paul Vitale

yesterday, the sunset i saw over tagaytay as i walked out of the workplace was fantastic. however, i think that's an understatement.

it was glorious! i could barely keep my eyes off the wonderful sight that i had to walk backwards just so i could continue walking over to the parking area without losing sight of the burst of warm colors as the sun went down. walking backwards is unsafe -- i know -- but i was feeling like a child filled with glee; i felt it safe to let my guards down. the wind was blowing nicely as well. as rays caressed my face, the wind kissed my hair.

in front of me was a a big picture of nature's generosity and the shower of light i have always loved. behind me was mt. makiling, majestic, silent and, at that time of the day, lending the attention it usually gets to the call of the photons in not-so-distant tagaytay. if i was feeling low, how could i not feel soooo good all of a sudden? but i was feeling bouncy and i felt lighter all the more!

yesterday was not the first time that i've seen wonderful sunsets in this area. our parking lot is a wonderful spot to view a quiet, inspiring world from. this especially holds true for people who take time to embrace (and to be embraced by) the cool, cool breeze and enjoy a picturesque skyline -- free from pollution, free also from eyesores called billboards.

i wanted to take a photo of yesterday's sunset showcase. i fumbled with my stuff and realized i only had my camphones. i ended up wishing i had my dslr with me.

today, i brought my dslr. however, today, i missed the sunset. oh well. i'll try again tomorrow.

note: actually, my camphones don't disappoint. i have such good rapport with them, i'm able to take nice pictures with them -- including sunsets as viewed from our parking lot. here's a collection of photos i took with a k530i sony ericsson during one very hectic day last year:
http://kulitjr3.multiply.com/photos/album/292/almost_sunset