Snapshot Saturday: A Candlelit Dinner For Mother Earth

Dinner by candlelight at Jack's, Session Road.
We turned off our house lights way before Earth Hour this evening, and that's because we dined out. At exactly 8:30 PM, gastro hot spots (from cheapies to posh) lined up along Session Road transformed into romantic bistros as waiters lit the candles on their customers' tables. It looked like Valentine's Day.

Where were you at this hour?


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Sleepless In Batanes

In some parts of the Philippines, the world barely exists at 4:15 AM. Definitely not in Manila Domestic Airport. Its departure area's already a frenetic scene of foreign backpackers poring over guide books and business travelers surfing via mobile web.

The air smelt of coffee. I longed for a cup.

I had no sleep at all. The previous night I sang my lungs out with fellow bloggers Monette and Marky (this guy's more of an audience though) at some cheap karaoke joint. I reassured them, I'd rather be up all night than sleep through my alarm. I've never been late for a flight, and I make it a point that it stays that way. Forever.

On the brink of slumber. Exhibit A.
I was bound for Batanes. It was an all expense paid trip by SEAIR, which I won from a blog writing contest (I almost didn't make the cut, click here to find out why). There were seven lucky winners. All but two of us, who extended their stay at their own expense, already flew the day before.

I scanned faces among the waiting crowd, but didn't see anyone who came close to how Michael looks like in his photos. I haven't met him so I uhm, kinda stalked his Multiply account.

Upon boarding, I glimpsed at my fellow passengers (glimpsed too many times, I think I kinda scared some people) but still didn't spot him. No sign of Michael in the plane either. I actually thought he didn't make it.

Exhibit B. Laid on this bed in the House of Dakay after photo was taken.
The flight was a comfortable one hour twenty minutes. Pinay Travel Junkie Confession: I was terrified of SEAIR's small plane at first (but hey, that's way better than the 8-seater I took from Laoag to Basco years ago). Another confession, I'm scared of flying, period. And I got Nat Geo's Air Crash Investigation to blame. After reading from the in flight magazine about the awards SEAIR won, I relaxed a bit.

A few minutes past 7, Batan Island came to view. Excitement was obvious on everyone's faces. It was a thrill to land on a short runway, with a postard-esque view of cows on vibrant green pastures.

Groggily, I stepped out of the plane. I jolted as the cold breeze bit my skin. Then I remembered I didn't bring my jacket. I rushed to the arrival area to take refuge. I saw a guy holding up a cardboard with my name and Michael's. I introduced myself to him and he told me to just wait outside and that he'll just take my luggage.

Exhibit C. Don't ask, cannot remember where!
And then, I saw James. One of the winners who submitted the funniest entry to the contest. That's not just my opinion. That is a fact. I hid behind a post and contemplated, is my sleepy self ready to have a chat with his hyper self? He seemed very awake and he looked like he already had a long day.

After taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the post's shadow and shouted, "James!". He coolly strode toward me. First thing he mentioned was, he ran from the accommodation to the airport. No "how was your flight?" or "you look younger than 40 something in person (he actually told the group I'm already in my 40s!). He asked about Michael.

That's when we found Michael, by the arrivals exit. He looked at us when James mentioned his name. We exchanged shy hellos, then walked to the van which took us to Hiro's Cafe for brekkie.

Met the rest of the group there: Leon, Izah, Bless, and our guide Engr. Joseph Dy. They were all happy, shiny, giddy people at 8:00 AM. Armed with cameras and armored with jackets, they looked so ready to battle a Batanes winter day.

I, on the other hand, was about to crash. Yet contrary to the photos here, I wasn't able to take a nap, even for just a few minutes. Someone (*cough* James *cough) actually snoozed more that afternoon. Find out how I survived day one as a zombie on the next installment!

A shout out to kompanyero Leon, my paparazzi.

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Snapshot Saturday: Don't Rock The Boat

A makeshift barge with tons of passengers being pulled by a pump boat.
View of Borawan Island from our campsite. Taken almost a year ago, when I was a 4-month preggy backpacker.


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Photo Essay: Panagbenga Festival 2011

So this is the Panagbenga Festival... Jovial, multihued, flamboyant. I was able to witness the Grand Float Parade partly because we currently reside in Baguio, and partly because fellow blogger Joel sort of forced me too.


Just so you folks know, I have never featured a festival here (except Oktoberfest which is an entirely different thing!) because I am not a fan of such. I cringe at the sight of huge crowds and usually sprint the opposite way. Since curiosity got the better of me (it always does), I went for it.

This whole shindig started at 2:00 AM for us.


Joel, a pilgrim of the Panagbenga festival, told me we should be up that ridiculously early to score good seats (seats, meaning a spot on a concrete road). We were able to get a cab after 5 minutes of walking along Tam-Awan Route from the house.

The driver dropped us off Burnham Park upon our request. Our ears led us to Rose Garden where inebriated locals were dancing to the beat of native drums. Designer/musician Kate Torralba was a guest and sampled keyboard tunes. My feet giddily stomped.


Burnham Park turned into a camping ground. Woodstock-ish. Brilliant way to cut accommodation cost.


We had a quick brekkie at Jollibee. After which we positioned ourselves at the intersection of Harrison Road and Abad Santos Drive. The breeze was still algid at 5:30 in the morning and we huddled with the family beside us.


Left: Joel snacking on peanuts and sitting on someone else's latag. Hawker lady called out "Libangan!" (pastime) to spectators, referring to her peanuts. Right: Candies. Joel craved for Nips (though they might be a different, cheaper brand)


Drum and Lyre corps gave life to the parade (which by the way reached our area at 8). And the majorettes? Icing on the cake. Personally, I'd like to see more folk dances. A group of kids were dressed up in Igorot costumes, but unfortunately danced to "Waka Waka". I do love Shakira but such combo's just bizarre. And we're not in Africa.

On with the floats...


Panagbenga is a Kankana-ey (Kankanay/Kankanai) term, meaning "season of blossoming".


Joel noticed that the floats didn't have as much flowers compared to the previous years. Weeks prior to the festival, temperature plunged to 9.6 degrees Celsius in the highlands. Could the same frost that damaged crops affected the blooming of flowers as well?


Nonetheless, I've never seen that many flowers in my entire life! And if you got enough flowers to cover 21(?) floats, blimey, that's already heaps!


Probably for some, the floats weren't really the highlight of the event, but the celebrities. Pinay Travel Junkie Confession: I shrieked like a teenage fan alongside Joel (c'mon, admit it!).

Parade was done just before noon. The crowd dispersed instantly. Some proceeded to the grandstand while the others trooped to various restos for lunch.


Joel and I met up with another blogger after the event. Left to right: Joel (who kinda looks drunk here), me and Marcos at Oh My Gulay. Was feeling starstruck for I finally met the man behind exploreiloilo.com! Stole Borrowed this photo from Marcos' FB just to show it off.


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Snapshot Saturday: A Summer Stunt

What happens in Puerto Galera, is a potential profile picture.
The heat is on... and I can so feel it here in the highlands! Currently dreaming of a White Beach night out.


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Eurotel Event: Baguio Bliss 2011

February was bustling, a P78.38 electric bill should prove our nomadism for this month. When March came, I thought I could finally stay put for a while and recharge my weary muscles... Until I received a surprising email from Eurotel. It was an invitation for their Baguio Bliss Bloggers Event.

Eurotel Baguio along Abanao Extension.
2011 just got better! After escaping mummyhood duties, with vacations spent in Batanes and India, I was then offered a free hotel stay in Eurotel's Baguio branch (inclusive of a spa session) plus a tour around the city.

It got me excited. I have never checked in a decent hotel since our honeymoon night fifteen months ago. Poshness ain't really my thing.

The participants were to meet up at Eurotel North Edsa. We still currently reside in Baguio so I informed the group I will head straight to the hotel. And I embarrassingly got there late. I sent a text message to Claire of Lakwatsera De Primera asking where I should go next. She told me to come up to their room.

I rang the doorbell of room 618. Claire opened the door and greeted me with a big smile. It was awesome to finally meet her. She introduced me to her roommate Jennifer of Marriage and Beyond. They told me there were eight of us. Most of whom I haven't met yet.

After about an hour of kikay and geeky conversations in their suite room, we proceeded downstairs to the in-house resto where I met the rest of the gang: Melo of Out of Town Blog, Jonel of Let's Go Sago, Iris of Pinay Ads, and Montsch Yipee Media. Jen Adams of The Sexy Nomad was to join us in the evening.

I also met Ivan Aoki, Eurotel's Marketing Assistant who sent me the invitation.

Seafood delight!
We were served with their specialties and best-sellers for lunch. Sinigang na sugpo, bulalo, and crispy pata to name a few. The head chef described some of the dishes he prepared for us but I was too famished to pay attention. We finally ate after snapping tons of shots and a discussion on white balance. I capped off my meal with fruit salad. Its serving, enough for two people.

There was an itinerary initially set for us, but they asked us what we wanted to do in the afternoon. It was the last weekend of Panagbenga and there were still shops lined along Session Road. We all agreed on checking it out.

Eurotel's service dropped us off in front of Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral, more popularly known as Baguio Cathedral.

Believe it or not, it was my first time to take a photo of it.
Next we went to SM for a panoramic view of downtown Baguio, then to Oh My Gulay where we had tea and coffee... the drinks were on Melo. Hurrah to post-birthday celebs!

At almost 4:00 PM, we strolled back to Eurotel from Session Road. When we arrived, I was finally given a room, which I'll be sharing with Jen.

My pseudo-home for two days.
Like I've mentioned, I don't usually check in such pricey hotels (though I'm sure a lot of people will find P2,126 for a standard room very affordable). My usual budget range for accommodation is P150-300. So our room not only provided me creature comfort - it brought me a feeling of royalness. I don't mind getting used to such at all!

And oh, the room's not entirely the highlight of the day. Will soon let you guys know. Well... it's got something to do with karaoke!


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Snapshot Saturday: Bell Church in Baguio

View of houses on a mountaintop from Baguio's Bell Church.
Today's the second day of Eurotel's Baguio Bliss 2011 Bloggers Event. My first time to visit the Bell Church, after uhm, living in Baguio for four months!


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The AXiS Tent

Traffic crawled at snail pace. Pedestrians poured out to the streets, and marched in one direction. Like on a pilgrimage.

I jumped out of the jeep and submitted myself to the human stream. Noon was approaching and I was certain that the Panagbenga 2011 Grand Street Parade was already over. Everyone's heading to downtown Baguio nonetheless for merrymaking and whatnot.

The Axis Tent
As I approached Burnham Park, the crowd in front of me whose footsteps I was following, parted... And unveiled an amazing sight! A huge colorful dome in the middle of Rose Garden.

I had goosebumps all over!

Drop City, Colorado. Photo credit Forbes.
It reminded me of the geodesic domes in Drop City, Colorado. Uhm, not that I've been there. It's actually a 1960s hippie commune which doesn't exist anymore (dunno about the structures though). I found out about it when I researched about a book with the same title I've read four years ago.

If you're a regular in this blog, you'd know how fascinated I am with anything related to the flower power era. Just imagine how ecstatic I was to see something that resembles a hippie village.

I skippity-hopped my way towards it. There were throngs of locals and tourists entering and exiting the dome. I read on a sheet of paper at the entrance its name, "The AXiS Tent". I fought my way in.

Sunlight filtered by colorful textiles. Art pieces hang on to the bamboo frame.
Unlike the domes in Drop City which was made from junk cars, the AXiS Tent was made from used personal clothing contributed by the youth of Baguio (ukay anyone?). Ferdinand "Bong Ti Baguio" Sanchez was in charge of the blueprint, while Baguio artist Kawayan De Guia supervised the making of the tent's cover.

A month before the Panagbenga Festival, students from different Baguio Universities assembled in Sunshine Park and Victor Oteyza Community Art Space (VOCAS) to sew together. I can imagine how the activity sparked camaraderie among the youth.

A handful of visitors stay awhile for film viewing.
Inside the tent are art pieces and installations by several artists. Not only that, the people behind The Axis Art Project also organized nightly performances by local and international musicians held just beside the tent.

Darn, I missed the Hare Krishna SanKirtan dancing and chanting two days ago.

I was able to catch a drum/djembe workshop by Kawangis ng Tribu when I went back in the afternoon.
Surrounding the tent are more interesting art installations. Realizing there was no hope of having a solo photo with the artworks, I wandered off to the kiosks and lingered around shops selling hippie trinkets and canvas bags.

Groovy!
Though I missed the street parade, The AXiS Tent totally made up for it. If this will be an annual event (or is it already?), I'd definitely come back even if I don't reside in Baguio anymore.

Such a far-out Saturday!


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