Confession

I have a confession.

Not less than ten years ago, I was molested by a relative.

This is something that I have kept secret for the longest time. I never thought of sharing it with anyone because I was scared and ashamed of how people would react. Besides, I did not want conflicts within the family.

I was between fifteen and sixteen years old when it happened. And although almost ten years have passed, I still remember everything that happened. Every detail about it.

I can still remember how I was carressed at that very ungodly hour. How I was undressed. How I was licked. How helpless and disgusted I felt at that very moment.

Yet, I have kept my mouth shut.

Whenever we had small family gatherings, I remember getting infuriated by the sight of this relative. I remember walking out, leaving the room and locking the door behind me.

The four walls of that room have stood witness to my anger and frustration. My screams. The curses. The tears.

I remember talking to God, asking him why he allowed that to happen. And I vividly remember at that instance, I prayed for his death.

But it never happened.

Over the years, I managed to wear a mask that I was okay. Well, that worked for sometime but I eventually developed a different persona.

I started doubting everyone's intention.

I ended up not trusting anyone. Not my family. Not my teachers. Not my friends. Not even God.

I carried on with this attitude and stll putting that facade on. Still pretending that everything was alright.

Eventually, it did not take that long when I lost my faith.

What kept me company was an intimate group of imaginary friends who only go by one name.

CIGARETTES. BEERS. CLUBS. DRUGS. SEX.

Fast forward.

As I look back, I can't help but feel terrible on what I have done. I can't  help but feel sorry for creating that gap between me and my family. I can't help but cry for destroying that relationship with God. For turning my back. For not believing in him. For failing him. For constantly disppointing him.

While everyone else is still holding the Philippine flags for the Independence day yesterday; well, I am holding this little white flag. Strong and tight.

Some say Indepence day means freedom. If that is what it means, it looks like I had my "Independence Day"  just a week ago. I had it when I was at the Don Bosco Retreat House. When I joined the Love Life Retreat. When I left all the baggages. When I broke free from that miserable life I once had. When I welcomed the Lord God once again. When I acknowledged His love that has been there all along.

For the first time, after such a long, long, long time, I was freed.

I have surrendered everything to the Lord.

I guess this is the reason why the holiday yesterday never felt this relevant now more than ever.

ADVENTURE CAFE IN BALAMBAN

After a long hiatus, I am finally back blogging.

The first entry for this year: Adventure Cafe in Gaas, Balamban.

I am blessed to share this experience with the love of my life. She is no adrenaline junkie and although she was a bit nervous to try the zip line activity, she was still up for it. I'd like to think that it's because she loves me but I guess she really did not have much of a choice. (LOL) Well, she seemed to enjoy it.

Adventure Cafe is considered as the First Resto- Adventure park in the Philippines. Located at Gaas Balamban, Adventure Café offers a range of worthwhile activities. Below are the activities and the corresponding price.

Zip Line             - Php 150

Climb/ Rappel    - Php 100

Caving               - Php 250/ person (minimum of 5 persons)

Stress Wall        - Php 25/ per plate or glass

Falls                  - Php 650/ 5 person (note: subject to booking at least 3 days prior to your preferred schedule)

MY TP FRIENDS NEED THIS FOR SURE!!

HOW TO GET THERE:

You can take van for hire at Ayala Center Terminal or Citilink. Just tell the driver ahead of time to drop you off at Adventure Café at Gaas, Balamban. The fare may range between Php 100-120. 

For inquires, you can contact them at 09996812339 or email them at Adventure_cafe@yahoo.com. You can also visit their facebook page.

Dalaguete Day-Off Adventure: Exloring Osmeña Peak – Kulabyaw Cave – Obong Spring

Staying abroad for almost a week was fun but staying there just got me feeling a little under the weather for some weird reasons, so when I finally got back in the country, I thought of getting connected with nature just like the good old days.

I was initially thinking of going straight to Aloguinsan. I heard about how marvelous the sceneries are down there particularly that of Bojo River; but just out of the blue, my close friends at work just all agreed to head to Dalaguete instead. So the next day, we found ourselves all prepped up, all ready to explore the “Vegetable Basket of Cebu” and check out three of the bests that the town has to offer : Osmeña Peak, Kulabyaw Cave and Obong Spring.

            

How To Get There:

You can take a bus heading south. Make sure you tell  the driver or the steward beforehand to drop you off at the Dalaguete junction. From the junction, you can hire motorcycles to get you to Mantalungon then you can start hiking or you can also get the drivers to drop you off the nearest foot of the Mantalungon Mountain Range.

First stop is the ever-famous Osmeña Peak.

The view from Osmena Peak

            Next stop: Kulabyaw Cave.

            Final stop for the trip – Obong Spring

Breakdown of Expenses

Php 105           -Bus to Dalaguete

Php 75             -Habal-Habal to Osmeña Peak

Php 75             -Habal-Habal to Obong Spring

Php 5               -Entrance fee for Obong Spring

Php 105           -Bus to Cebu

Php 100           -Tip for the Guide

Total: Php 465

Note: Be careful of Habal-Habal drivers who offer to wait. They can charge you up to Php 100 an hour so you have to tell them ahead of time if you want them to wait or not.

Useful Resources:

http://bestofdalaguete.weebly.com/tourist-attractions.html

http://www.dalaguete.gov.ph/

LETTER TO THE TELSTRA MANAGEMENT

To the TELSTRA Management:

It has been seven days since typhoon Yolanda wreaked havoc to majority of the provinces in the Visayas region. The super typhoon left so much damage that up to now, we are still in shock. Yes, we have have survived the typhoon but we are still far from recovery now that we have seen the aftermath. We can only hope for the best…I can only hope for the best…

Tomorrow, I will be heading to Bogo City with my mom to help her look for some of our relatives who are still missing (as of writing). It has been a week and we have not heard anything from them. Honestly, it feels like shooting in the dark. We don’t know how or where to start. We don’t know what to expect. We don’t know how things will go. Despite this ambiguity, we are hopeful that they have managed to save some food. We are hopeful that they have managed to find a temporary shelter. We are hopeful that they have managed to bring some clothes to keep themselves warm. We are hopeful that we will see them so we can hug them tight and let them know that we are here for them.

I am an active member of RAFI not only because I want to but because I need to. I pack relief goods hoping that whoever gets the bag will realize that all the folds and crevices in these bags are testaments of the number of people who held the bags before they are delivered and that all the clothes, the canned goods, the packs of noodles, the pack of rice, and the bottles of water inside them will all help them to get by. Most importantly, I pack relief goods hoping some of these bags will get to those who need them the most.

I am sharing this not to get sympathy. I am sharing this not to get support of any kind either. I am sharing this not to display an act of nobility. I am sharing this only because I want everyone to realize that we are all LUCKY to be alive.

Come to think of it, things could have gone worse. Parents and kids all drowned. Properties destroyed. Corpses scattered all over. We could have died. Yet, we are here – alive and breathing. God spared us despite our shortcomings. He saved us despite our doubts. He protected us despite our sins….

THE TRUTH: WE ARE ALL HERE FOR A REASON. Although, the path to finding the purpose of our life is filled with uncertainty, it all begins with a single step… And that step begins when we start doing something not for ourselves… but for others.

SO WHAT HAVE  WE DONE LATELY TO HELP OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS?

I am humbly asking our Telstra Management to use the funds for relief packing operations, stress debriefing, or Christmas party with the typhoon victims instead of holding an anniversary party.

Although, at the end of the day, it is still up to the management as to how they are going to use the funds but holding a party, needless to say, is inappropriate at this point.

We can’t celebrate the milestone of the account while some of our colleagues are mourning. We can’t have fun while some of the employees are crying over their losses. We can’t enjoy fancy food and drinks when our countrymen have been deprived of food and water.

We just can’t be blatantly insensitive. We just cant.

BALAY SA AGTA - BUGASOK FALLS + MAHAYAHAY BEACH

I have explored the caves in Palawan, Camotes, Bohol and some parts of the province but I must say, Balay sa Agta was the most interesting one. Not only because it is considered as one of the biggest in Cebu but also because locals believe that a mythical creature inhabits the cave. Whether or not the latter is true makes it more interesting.

Located in Brgy. Conalum, Argao , the cave is popular to most adventure seekers and since I did not want to be left behind, I decided to go there yesterday. I was with Erl, Marj, Norman, Dess, Mckoy, Keith, Zen, Bela, Gerly, Shem, Zizi and Dorms.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Head to South Bus Terminal and take a bus leading to Alcoy, Lilo-an or Oslob. Just tell the driver beforehand to drop you off in Big Brother Home Depot and for sure, nothing else can go wrong.

Before the trip starts, the guides usually recommend that the participants attend a brief orientation for five to ten minutes to prep things up.

Motorcyles for hire (a.k.a. habal-habal) are available so they can take you to Usmad which is usually the starting point but since the sullen sky yesterday was a bit concerning, our guide suggested we head to the cave right away.

The trail towards the cave can be really dangerous so you have to listen to your guides and follow their leads. I was told that there were already a couple of people who tripped off and died and I am certain nobody wants to add up on the list.

heading to the cave was not a walk in the park for sure

just one of the scenic views before reaching the cave

Finally, the mouth of the cave

looks like the entire gang had fun

Of course, I had my moment too. 

new cast of survivor??

SIDE TRIP

After exploring Balay sa Agta, we decided to have our lunch and went to Bugasok falls afterwards. It rained a few days before we went there so the water was not as clear as we thought it would be so instead of swimming, we decided to cross the river instead to check a better view of the falls. That for me, was a fun part since Zen had to get my right foot out for it got stuck between two huge rocks.

Just a short ride from Nature’s park, you can also visit Mahayahay beach. The price of the cottages is between 200 - 350

EXPENSES

Bus Fare – PhP 65 – Php 80 (This depends on the liner you take)

Guide Fee - PhP500 for every 4 persons

Habal2x (Round Trip) – PhP 130 – PhP 160 (This usually depends on the weather)

Municipal Fee – PhP 20

Note:  You will have to shoulder the Habal2x fare and the food /snacks for your guides too; but it’s always better to travel with a group so you can share the expenses. For a group of 13, Php 500 should be more than enough for the entire day’s trip.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

v     Travel light since the unforgiving roads can be burdensome.

v     It’s always best to contact your guides ahead of time. See the contacts below
Look for Brian - 09323270067
Landline # - 032-4858063

SPELUNKING IN KAMPO SIETE CAVES

SPELUNKING  IN KAMPO SIETE CAVES

I don't usually start my blogs in a melodramatic way. But I feel like starting it this way for some reason.

 

There was a point sometime ago when I felt uncomfortable being stuck in a room. I remember feeling uneasy while I was in this closed space with no one else around but me and a few still pieces of furniture. The uncanny silence made the feeling worse. And in just a few more seconds, I eventually became uneasy….I was so uneasy that I was sweating like hell while I was catching my breath.

Although, I did not take that too seriously, now that I think about it, I can’t help but think of the possibility that I must have been once a claustrophobic but of a lesser degree.

But instead of letting it get into my head, I started finding ways to get rid of that discomfort. I started conquering that fear. This was when I started spelunking.

It started rough. I was with my friends at work when we explored some caves in Camotes Island. It was supposed to be fun but I ended up losing my breath so I had to go back to the entrance. There, I spent some good few minutes breathing in and out until I was relaxed. Then, I got back in again.

The next try was some few years ago when I was in Bohol. It was a little better the second time around. Then things got better and better as I got to explore more and more caves here in Cebu and in other provinces all over the country.

In fact, just recently, I got the chance to explore the Seven Caves in Kampo Siete, Minglanilla. I have heard so much about the caves so I started doing my research online but there was a dearth of information about the place. I guess not to many people know about the caves. This made me thrilled.

This meant that the caves are not known to many and that only a few have explored them which added fuel to my excitement. Then one Saturday morning, I found myself spelunking in the Kampo Siete caves with some good friends Erl, Marj, Zen, Keith, Jay-R, and some youngsters who served as our guides for that day’s activity.

HOW TO GET THERE

You can go to citilink terminal and head there via V-hire for only 70 pesos (one-way). Just tell the driver to drop you off in Camp 7 National High School. The trip may take 50-60 minutes.

As soon as you reach the school, you can start asking the locals to help you find a tour guide. It’s always best if you contact your guide/s ahead of time so that they can prepare the gears. As they say, make sure you are forearmed before you go to the battlefield.

You can contact me at 09222-122-747 or 099-99-284-647. I have some relatives who live there who can help you guys find a guide. If time permits, I might be able to accompany you.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

You have to endure a four-hour walk to complete all the seven caves so make sure you have a bottle of water and some food handy. Apart from that, you will also find yourself crawling to get through dark holes so make sure you have flashlights and extra shirts.

It’s also expected that you get some bruises and minor abrasions along the way. The trail to get to the caves is steep so make sure you have a good pair of shoes that can withstand the unforgiving trail.

BALAMBAN: CEBU'S LITTLE BAGUIO

I was with Gee, Nina, Marj, Shem, Yam and Gerly who were all ecstatic about going there for the first time. With a little knowledge about the municipality, we were all excited to explore a place that is not known to many.  

HOW TO GET THERE

Assuming you don’t have a car or motorcylce, you can reach Balamban via V-Hire for Php 120.00 (one way). You can go to the Ayala terminal and get a priority number but you may have to wait until the van is filled.

It takes roughly 50 minutes to get to Balamban.

WHERE TO GO/ WHAT TO DO

With a population of not less than 71,000, the municipality may be considered small but it definitely has a lot to offer. Apart from the sumptuous Balamban liempo, the city is also famous for its zipline, motor cross and mountain climbing activities.

We were all headed to Balamban’s Island in the Sky just along Transcentral Highway. It’s a perfect place to unwind and relax. If you want to give yourself a break from the metropolis, you can bring a good book and go here. It is quiet and refreshing. And the scenic view of the city will surely take your breath away.

You can contact Island in the Sky with the numbers below:

516-4112/516-6654

Although, we initially planned to try the cable car, we ended up trying the zipline in K33 which is just a walking distance from Island in the Sky. However, I don’t recommend you guys to do the same. The facilities and equipments in K33 look old and poorly maintained and I can’t afford to put anyone’s life at risk. Quite frankly, the facilities in Doce Pares look safer.

 

However, if you want to enjoy the same activities, I suggest you go to the nearby Adventure Café. Had I known that it was just round the corner, I could have suggested to everyone to go there instead.

Well, good thing I was with a good company. That’s all that matters anyway.

Visit http://www.balamban.gov.ph/ for more information.

Doce Pares Mountain Training Park

It always feels good after doing activities like this. The sudden fast heartbeat. The adrenaline rush. The cold sweat. I must say, it can be really addictive sometimes.

But since this is the nth time I tried this; honestly, I feel that I’m already past this stage.

I almost even fell asleep doing this. (Kapal!! hahaha!!)

For those of you who want to try rappelling and ziplining activities at affordable costs, visit Doce Pares Mountain Training Park. It's the first of its kind in Cebu.

Located in Barangay Malubog, Busay, Doce Pares is definitely a must-try.

How to get here:

From JY Square in Lahug, you may take a motorcycle for hire. I am not sure what it's called but if I remember it right, it's “habal-habal”. (feeling foreigner...hihi). Just ask the driver to take you to the Doce Pares Mountain Training Park.

You should get there in approximately 25 minutes.

Here are the other details should you visit this place.

Some Quick Facts:

Entrance fee is 20 pesos per head.

Cebu Zipline Opening Hours:

Monday - Thursday, 10am - 8pm

Fridays: 10am - 10pm

Saturdays & Sundays: 8am - 10pm

Cebu Zipline Fees

Entrance to Park: Php 20 / head

Zipline ride: PhP 100 / head

For more information, you may reach them at landline (032) 346-0433 or mobile (0906) 5558461.

SIQUIJOR

Siquijor got its label Isla del Fuego or the "Island of Fire" during the Spanish colonial period when the Spaniards noticed how the island seemed to look blazed from afar. The “fire” was actually emitted by a large number of fireflies inhabiting the island.

The province is also believed to be inhabited by witches, sorcerers and other supernatural entities. This is why when we talk about Siquijor, some of us think about some demonic activities.

Honestly, when I went there for the first time; the island was, on the contrary… heavenly. 

HOW TO GET THERE

Well,  if your starting point is Cebu, you have a couple of options available to get to Siquijor.

You can either ride a bus going to Liloan, Santander and then board a ferry boat to Dumaguete or you can go to Cebu Port Authority and board a ship heading to Dumaguete.

Since we decided to travel right after work, we decided to board a ship via George and Peter Lines, Inc. This was convenient for us since we needed to sleep for the next day’s hectic schedule.

With a tight budget, we opted to buy economy tickets that cost Php 320.00 each plus a Terminal fee of Php 10.00 for every person.

We got into the ship at around 10:00 pm and docked in Dumaguete at around 5:00am. It was just unfortunate that it was raining at that time and it took the ship longer than usual but at least we made it alive (hehehe!) and we got a good sleep too (or so I thought!)

When we arrived in Dumaguete, we immediately headed to Jollibee for breakfast. The nearest one was just 5 minutes away from the port if you ride a tricycle.

At around 5:45 a.m., we were already aboard the ferry boat going to Siquijor and after almost 60 minutes (which actually felt like forever because of too much excitement), we finally reached the Island of Fire.

There are tricycles near the port but it’s always best if you contact someone beforehand. In our case, it was Kuya Aipee who served as our tour guide and driver for the entire day.

By the way, in case you are planning to go to Siquijor, you can contact him at 0927-263-3983. Don’t worry about the service fee though since he and the rest of the drivers all follow some tarriff rules and guidelines. He should let you see that document first before you go anywere.

I know! I should have asked for a copy of that document. My bad! But it should normally cost you Php 1,200 – Php 1,300 for six persons in a tricycle or Php 2,000 for 10 people in a Multicab. The fee can be negotiated though; just make sure you ask for a discount in a nice, polite, and professional manner.

WHAT TO VISIT

The first thing we did when we got to Siquijor was to check where to stay. There are a lot of beach resorts , pension houses and guest houses available but we decided to stay in The Sylvia in Solangon, San Juan, Siquijor.

(see http://www.siquijor.gov.ph/where%20to%20stay.pdf for a list of other options)

It’s a restobar too with large hall, balcony and stage.

The Sylvia is just a walk away from its sister beach resort The Bruce which is situated at the opposite side of the road.

The Bruce has a large pool, cozy rooms and cottages, kayaks and other amenities that will definitely make your stay fun all the more.

We were told that The Sylvia is owned by a woman named Sylvia who is the daughter of The Bruce’s owner named Bruce. I think this makes a lot of sense!!

Although, The Sylvia offers a more affordable price for backpackers; for an overnight stay of Php 300.00 each, you can already enjoy both of their facilities at no extra cost and not to mention, both resorts are free wifi zones.

After leaving some of our stuffs in the room, we all headed to our first stop for that day – Capilay’s Spring Park.

Capilay spring is natural spring converted into a swimming pool. Residents love to hangout here due to its cold water. You can swim here for free.

After swimming in Capilay’s spring, we headed to The Enchanted Balete Tree. I must say, it was a bit eerie to see a 400 year old Balete tree before me. It was a huge tree with huge roots and overhead vines hanging all over. I got the chance to talk to some people who live near the area. They all claim that there are supernatural entities called Engkantos that live and protect the tree.

If you want to relax a bit, you can stay here for a few minutes and enjoy a free fish spa.

 

Another eerie spot in the province is the Parish church of San Isidro Labrador which, according to the residents, was made out of indigenous coral stones and hardwood materials. This is also considered as one of the historical landmarks not only in the country but in Asia as well.

When we walked down the aisle, we noticed that the pews looked new but the floor, the walls and even the ladder close to the door all looked ancient and a bit creepy. But staying in the church even for five minutes would make you think how the church withstood all the natural phenomena , conquerors and other historical events through the years.

From the historical church, we went to Cambugahay Falls. I have seen the falls featured in some travel shows on TV but to witness it in person is overwhelming. It’s another place believed to be inhabited by Engkantos and Engkantadas but unlike the other tourist spots, the place is just so refreshing. It has three levels of falls with underwater caves that you can explore for free.

We stayed here a bit longer due to it’s cool water and picturesque view.

 

We were too tired and hungry to proceed to the next spot so we decided to have our lunch at Noynoy’s Eatery just beside Palawan pawnshop. They serve Filipino dishes such us Dinuguan, Ginisang Baboy, Halang Halang, Lumpia etc. at a very reasonable price.

What we ate definitely charged us up so we were ready for the last stop for that day - Salagdoong Beach Resort and Hotel Agripino.

From the market, we went back straight to the Bruce to prepare our food for dinner. And we spent the rest of the night eating sumptuous meals with the shore right before us and the stars right above.

The night was just perfect.

  

Important Reminders:

• The mobile reception in the provimce is not that good especially for Sun and Smart networks. If you have a spare phone, you may, for the time being, insert a Globe sim card since it’s the only one that works.

• It’s important that you bring flash lights and extra batteries since power is interrupted most of the time. Which is why it’s advisable to fully charge your gadgets before you get here.

• For polic assistance, you may contact the numbers below:

0905-432-2069 – OIC, San Juan Police Station

0926-324-2820 – San Juan Police Station

•  For 2 days and 1 night stay in Siquijor, it should cost you Php 1, 500 – Php 3,000.

For more details, you can also visit the following sites:

http://www.siquijor.gov.ph/getting%20here.php

http://www.pinoyadventurista.com/2012/04/siquijor-travel-guide.html