Tocino All The Way: From Roxas City to Boracay

And because ze internet is back... it's update time!

Mommy, daddy. AC, AD and family and I went to the province for Auntie T's golden wedding anniversary. In this day and age, very rare do we see marriages last so it is a big deal when two people celebrate 50 years married to one another.

TOUCHDOWN

It's a big family event. All of my dad's siblings from Canada and the US came home for that. Our parents flew to Capiz a day ahead of us. We flew in April 22, just in time for a lunch salu-salo. Lechon. Yum. It was fun catching up with uncles and aunties and cousins. You know what I love about vacations? The food. And literally, we were full to the brim from eating virtually every freaking moment we were there. The pictures would attest to that. Head and shoulders lang ang peg ko.

We were late for the wedding ceremony. At least, we're consistent. Haha. It was a nice ceremony although I feel the priest who officiated (my uncle!) could have made his homily more personal. I have been to weddings where the priest wasn't even related to the couple yet he was able to deliver a very personal homily.

It was a nice reception party as well. There were lots of dancing care of our senior citizens.

In fairness to our oldies, lahat itim pa ang buhok

It was fun watching them dance to Achy Breaky Heart. Very throwback Thursday. Hindi ko lang masyado feel ang line-up ng songs nila. Auntie T delivered  a nice message addressed to all the people who became part of their lives. My aunt did all the talking in behalf of her better half (su media naranja) because I think uncle isn't as sharp anymore. Na-special mention pa ako sa speech niya albeit anonymously- only persons privy to my past would know.

What a happy event for us all. I wish we will be celebrating more golden anniversaries. My parents' are only eight years away. I wish people who were in my aunt's wedding anniversary would all be at my parents' 50th.

By default, we stay in Auntie T's home but since all her children were home and they're busy preparing for the wedding, we stayed at San Antonio Resort in Roxas City. Nothing too fancy but it has TV (got to watch Star-Crossed!) and a nice bathroom WITH BIDET. The rooms were comfortable. Although service was okay, still not at par with hotel standards. Mabait naman sila pero siempre dapat professional pa rin. The best thing about San Antonio is its proximity to the beach. Baybay beach was walking distance so it was easy to take Cio to walks at the beach.

Our last day at Roxas City before we take off for Boracay, our cousins treated us to lunch at Anot's Galley Grill and Restaurant.

Reconstruction still  ongoing 

In fair to the local government of Roxas City, it wasn't obvious that the province was devastated by Typhoon Yolanda just five months ago. After lunch, we took a trip to the newly-opened mall, Robinson's, for merienda, then our cousin took us to this place on top of a hill and the view is amazing.

They're developing the city further and hopefully, the view from this place would remain like this. Sana hindi ma-clutter ng buildings, villages and malls. I find the view very calming. I wish I have this view from my bedroom.

Obligatory shot of my feet. I love the effect of the setting sun.

Just an appeal to Roxas City government officials- why can't you make you seafood a whole lotta cheaper than how much they're sold here in Manila? What's the use of claiming that you're the country's "Seafood Capital" when you can't pig out on seafood because they're still expensive?

We set off for Boracay on the 25th. A four-hour land trip to Caticlan. I read my Kindle the entire duration of the trip. It was hard toting all our bags with us and that is why I am not too fond of traveling. Thank God for kargadors who do the heavy-lifting. Hehe.

Our last trip to Boracay was last 2010. I am not a beach person but I still enjoyed going to these beaches because of the company. We were super tired from all the traveling so we were already too pooped to go swimming in the beach at three in the afternoon. AC and I stayed in bed until around five in the afternoon, then we went out to have fruit shake at Jonah's. Sarap! But I must say, very expensive. More expensive than a venti mocha frap, but still worth having once in a while.

Pampang byootis kami for the day- just walking along the beach until we reached Jonah's. I love love love taking pictures and thank God for phone cameras because they're so handy and today's camera phones already take very nice pictures.

Headed back to Hey Jude where we stayed for three days. Also comfortable but they don't have water heaters and no bidet. And this is Boracay. How could you claim you're world-class when you don't even have bidet?!?

Dinner at Thai Basil. AD and D's treat because it's their yaya's birthday. Siempre na-excite ako since I 'ship Thai food. We had tom yum goong, pad thai, pork and chicken curry and fresh spring rolls. Everything's delicious but their tom yum's a little watered-down (?)

Enjoyed the food but I think it was pretty expensive. Well everything costs more expensive in Boracay. Sabi nga ni AC, bawat kembot may bayad. After dinner, AC, AD and I had a massage at Palassa Spa. I opted for a Shiatsu ("pindot" masssage, hindi "himas" Har har), and it's so much relaxing when you are not sun burnt (like the last time I had a massage in Boracay).

We swam the next day but only for a wee bit. The sun was scorching hot and my dark patches are darkening further. I don't really mind kung iitim ako, it's just that I have these dry, dark patches at the sides of my mouth and nose and they can get really ugly. So to avoid further sun damage, I kept my beach swimming at a minimum and spent more time taking pictures.

Early morning beach stroll. Habang tulog pa ang
karamihan ng nightlife-loving Boracay peeps

pampang byootis once again. tried to do a cartwheel at the beach but
getting  a decent action shot was hard. when we finally got one, it got
erased due to system glitch. dammit.

CONGESTED.
The nightlife-loving peeps are all awake.

Our activity for the night was watching the Century Tuna Superbods and to make abang John Lloyd on stage. Haha. Pero FAIL. After waiting for almost two long hours, wala akong nakita. Frakking monopods.

Sunday was our last day at the beach. After having my fifth tocino breakfast, we went to church to hear mass. Sabi nung babae sa front desk, may mass daw ng 8:30 at 9:30 am. We arrived at the Church around 9 am and the mass is already halfway done. Feel ko lang ibig sabihin ni ate sa may front desk ay 8:30 to 9:30 ang mass. But it's the thought that counts, right?

I only noticed that this is a mosaic of Jesus Christ
when we were already back in Manila

Went straight to the beach and swam right after mass. Last dip before we leave. Lunch was sponsored by daddy and mommy- paluto. Super bochog. Since we already checked out, we waited at the front desk/ waiting area for our sundo to bring us to the port for our boat ride to Caticlan. At dahil super mega init, we decided to have ice cream for dessert.

craving for this right now

First time to try this soft-serve ice cream with cornflakes and diced fresh fruits at Halowich. Yummeh in my tummeh! Since getting my Halowich fix right now is impossible and improbable, I am actually thinking of making my own which is more probable because mommy just bought a soft-serve ice cream machine. Hmm... I think I am gonna do just that ☺

Kendall the Kindle's trip to the beach

The boat trip back to Caticlan port.
Buh-bye, Boracay!

Just exited the port.
Two more hours til we reach Kalibo Airport.

So we spent two more hours inside a van to reach Kalibo Airport. The entire time I was busy finishing my summer read, On The Island, which was actually a bad idea since I was about to board a plane (it was about a plane crash). We arrived Kalibo airport around 4:30 in the afternoon. Mommy and daddy left us as they were headed back to Roxas City. Our flight was at 7-something pm. Our flight was delayed. The waiting area was packed. Lahat ata ng nag-Boracay pauwi nung araw na yun.

We waited for HOURS! We boarded our plane at 10pm. We should consider ourselves lucky since we boarded our plane and left ahead the flight that was scheduled before us. But you know, I'd take a delayed flight any day than ride a plane with engine problems.

AT LAST!

AC and I were seated beside one of the Century Tuna Superbods contestants but we were actually super tired to care :P I just Googled it and I think this is him

{image source}

or him. I am not so sure.

Sayang. Haha. Sana chinika na namin ever at Filipino- Spanish siya. That could've been the perfect opportunity to put my Spanish-speaking chops to use. Sabi nga ni AD, after disembarkation, dapat daw tinanong ko kung nag-aaral pa siya tapos sabihin ko paaaralin ko siya. Haha. Ahjumma.

Home sweet home after six days! Who needs a hotel room when I have everything I need right here- heated shower and bidet! Har dee har har. Pero sabi nga ni AD, this is the vacation that didn't feel like a vacation. But still enjoyed hanging out with my sisters and parents. And Cio, of course.

Hello Again Procrastination!

image credits

After five looooooooong weeks, our internet connection is back! HUZZAH!

But actually, I could live without internet if it weren't for my orders. Of course it's still better if you're connected to the world wide web and have access to almost everything but then again I would be too distracted again to focus on what should be done.

Worth the wait, I tell you. Cos now we have faster internet speed. In less than an hour, I could catch up with all the Hart of Dixie episodes I missed. Weeeee!

Inez.

You know what else I miss? Tumblr. I just realized that now. Haha. I wish someone would pay me to be on Tumblr eight hours a day. Hahaha. Wala lang. I just feel like reminiscing about my love for the website. I think it helped me through the "dark ages" with the all the encouragement and positive shizz I can find in it. I am not really in a rut right now, well, not like the way it was eight to ten years ago. Wow, that was a long time ago na pala.

I've been seeing this quote (words of wisdom? affirmation?) quite often recently.

image source

Maybe it's a reminder that I should keep it positive always. Well, I try to be but sometimes people or situations get me down. So maybe I should add this to my daily mantras, put the law of attraction into use. I hear people say Life is hard or life is complicated, but I want to think otherwise and believe that life is simple. Sabi ko nga tao lang naman nagpapakumplika ng buhay. Is it really necessary to make things difficult? Kailangan ba talagang paghirapan ang mga bagay-bagay? I'm not saying that things should just fall on our laps. I'm just saying that maybe we could find ways to make things simpler, easier, free from complicated cheche boreche at kuskos balungos (this sentiment is inspired by the Philippine government). 

Sooooo... 

2014 Book Challenge: On The Island

Ohmagaaaahd. I haven't written anything for a month now and that is we don't have Internet for four weeks now (and counting). Now I'm back to broadband sticks and prepaid cards with no wi-fi features. Ze horror! But seriously, I think I can do without the Internet if not for my weekly TV series and the emails and social networking sites I maintain for my business. PLDT owes me at least a month's worth of free service fee in addition to the rebate they should be giving us. Hay. 

Anyhoo, this is a book (non)review about my latest read- On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves. Well, my April book theme is books that has 'summer' on its title and I have read four (Jenny Han's It's Not Summer Without You and We'll Always Have Summer, Leah Rae Miller's The Summer I Became a Nerd and Emery Lord's Open Road Summer). For the last week of April, I meant to read Dessen's That Summer, but I guess it was a very slow start and I'm trying to pick up pace here and I can't be with a book I'm struggling to finish. Maybe next time. So this was my pick because at the time of selection, we were Boracay-bound ;) 

School's out and it's summer vacation for Anna Emerson. Needing to sort out personal issues and also some time away from long-time boyfriend, John. The opportunity presented itself when she lands a job tutoring TJ Callahan. In Maldives. On a private seaplane en route to the family's summer rental, the pilot suffers a heart attack and the plane crashes on sea. Anna and TJ survive the crash and make it to a deserted island.

My thoughts:

• It was a very good read (although I should have picked another better time, not when I'm just a few days away from boarding an airplane) and very much a page-turner. It was interesting to know how they were able to make it, to survive without even the barest of essentials. For two city-dwellers, I give them props for surviving three years. Who knew breadfruit was edible? 
• One man's misery is another man's gain. If it not for the 2006 tsunami, Anna and TJ would have not been saved from that island. Even if thousands suffered and died from the tragedy, it was what, technically, saved them from being trapped in a deserted island. 
• After being saved from the island, people gave them flak, most especially Anna, for being in a relationship with someone ten years her junior. Some say there was some sort of sexual harassment that happened as Anna, being older and TJ's teacher/tutor, she has moral ascendancy over him. But you see, this was bound to happen. Kung sa PBB House nga, nagkakadevelopan ang mga housemates after one or two weeks, what more in an island with only that one person? Either you kill each other or you 'do' each other. Haha. I'm even surprised that it didn't happen sooner. I guess the author purposely made it so to avoid legal issues. And actually, it was TJ who already had the hots for Anna even before they were stranded in an island. 
• Good karma. Well, Anna (and TJ) is already lucky to begin with for surviving the plane crash. And in addition to that, after being rescued, Anna received a hefty sum from TJ's parents then a from a settlement case that she didn't need to work another day in her life. But if it were up to her, she still wants to teach but because of accusations of sexual harassment (and, maybe, insinuations of statutory rape), no school would want to hire her. 

Love love love this book. I totally get this book and I understand the bond between Anna and TJ. After being through so much, it's just understandable that these two have bonded so well. I think I gave it five stars. Although I don't think TJ belongs to the best book boyfriend category. Ha. 

This review sucks. Haha. 

2014 Book Challenge: Pivot Point and Split Second

Never in my wildest thoughts had I imagined that I would love reading. I tried to read when I was younger but I never really had the focus and will to finish a book unless I am super digging the story. Maybe at that time I just hadn't met my genre-soulmate. 

I read a book series right after one another which I usually don't do because I want to give other books a chance. Maybe with the exception of the Jessica Darling series because it's just too awesome and I was madly smitten with Marcus Flutie. So anyway, the first Kasie West novel I read was The Distance Between Us. I liked it because there weren't overly dramatic characters. In Goldilock's terms, everything was "just right." Although I liked her first book, I was a little skeptical because I was never a fan of fantaseryes, so to speak, hehe. For a wee bit, I was into vampires because of Edward Cullen, until Bella ruined everything for me (kaya I didn't even bother reading the last book in the series), but after that I think I never read anything vampire or paranormal and Pivot Point was sort of a fantaserye. But many were recommending it on Goodreads and my first experience with the author was positive so I did pick it up.

Addie is a Paranormal (Para, for short). Paras are people with fully-developed brains with mental abilities. They live in a Compound with all the other Paras, separate from the "Norms" or those without super mental abilities. Addie is a Searcher and her ability is being able to see two  futures. This book actually reminds me of a Gwyneth Paltrow movie, Sliding Doors. 

In this book, I have confirmed that I am really a bad judge of character. During the first few chapters, I was very pro- Duke. I guess it was because I thought Duke sincerely liked Addie and Trevor seemed a bit uninterested in her. I was rooting for Duke until I found out that he was just using Addie. Actually, I was still rooting for him even after I found that out and I wanted Addie to give him a second chance. Although I still maintain that I liked Addie's father than her mother ☺ 

Absolutely enjoyed this one even if it took me longer than usual to finish. I really liked Addie's character- not too angsty even with her parents' divorce. And you know me and my penchant for love triangles ☺ I thought the choice she'd make was between Trevor and Duke. I never thought that the choice she has to make would be between her life or Laila's.

In Book 2, Split Second, the story is told in two POVs- Addie's and Laila's. It was really disappointing that Duke didn't turn out to be what I wanted him to be but I guess it's alright since Trevor kind of grew on me. 

In Laila's corner, a relationship is also brewing. Well, we kind of knew where their bickering would lead to. Laila was made into a main character in this book alongside Addie which I think was needed because we already knew what happens with Addie and Trevor. Connor reminded me a bit of Emilio of Ockler's The Book of Broken Hearts, with the tough exterior and the motorcycle part. Initially I thought she'd end up with Duke but then again that would be oh so awkward and what Duke did was a little douche-y, so buti na lang they introduced a new character as her love interest. 

However, the ending was hard to believe because these teenagers were able to dupe three Compound agents who I think were equivalent of the CIA or NSA. Supposedly, those guys were trained and cannot be easily outwitted by a group of teenagers. But you see all's well that ends well. Plus, Trevor can play football again, huzzah!

If there's one thing I learned from this work of fiction, it is that things that are bound to happen, happen. Well, that seems to be the recurring theme for this week, eh? In The Walking Dead, there's "Everything will work out the way it's supposed to" and in HIMYM, it was also sort of the same thing when Ted still ended up with Robin. So does this mean that our life is just one big flowchart with if-then-else statements? We would never know. 

Because an illusion is an illusion.

Reality always exists despite the facade.

I Shouldn't Be Doing This Right Now

So I still haven't gotten over that HIMYM finalé just yet. How can I move on when my social network feeds are buzzing with everything HIMYM. Some liked the ending, some didn't. It was no secret that I liked it, maybe because I was never really 100% into Tracy aka The Mother. Yeah, it was a little fairy tale-ish but hey, I'd rather be misled with a lie. Haha.

* With the kind of build up leading to the series' final episode, the viewers' expectations were nothing less than stellar. I mean, the show was legendary and we sort of expected for it to end the same way. But we can't please everybody. Found this article- 5 Criticisms of How I Met Your Mother's Ending (And Why They're Invalid), for all of you who were disappointed with the ending. Not all fans are like me- I have unconditional love for thee.

* Was in a Twitter conversation with a friend earlier today and we were talking about HIMYM's ending and I was telling her how it gave me hope just when I was thinking of giving up. Eh namatay daw si Mother, how the hell did that give me hope, according to my friend. Haha. May point siya. But really, Ted and Robin being finally together after all those years- Priceless. Everything will work out the way it's supposed to (got that from the most disturbing and heaviest episode of TWD). Akala ko ako lang ang nagiin-OA at naghahanp ng life lessons but apparently there are people like me- 19 Times HIMYM Restored Your Faith In Love. But really, dammit. I don't want my faith in it restored :P

I will never look at yellow umbrellas the same way again *sigh*

UPDATE: So I found another article about HIMYM's series finale. I didn't know people have strong feelings against that little twist at the end. Here's a fan-edited of an alternative ending which what should have happened~

You know what, this looks good too. I would have loved any of the two. Maybe fans found the ending a little contrived? Or maybe they think that Robin doesn't deserve Ted (I believe this. But the heart wants what the heart wants). Sana nagpa-text vote na lang sila. Chos. Let's not judge the series by its ending- those were funny nine seasons ☺

And on other news... I just saw this online

{source}

It's a Chanel bag with the Nickelodeon characters on it. It's Arnold! Although it would have been so much better if Helga was on it, too.

And oh here's another one I saw online- a Rebel Wilson meme.

iwastesomuchtime.com

So true, right? Fakkit.

All Good Things Must Come To An End: How I Met Your Mother Last Season Finalé (for, like, EVER!)

Or in The Walking Dead's context, it's Terminus. Har dee har har. Okay, before I talk about HIMYM's last episode ever (sob), lemme talk about TWD. That was one disturbing season-ender, eh? It has happened before and it happened again last night- Rick zoning out and acting all crazy and never had I expected, not even once, that he'd bite a live man's neck off. The zombies are rubbing off on him. Hi hi hi. So yeah, Terminus is a cannibals lair and looks like we're starting next season with that. Many fans said that the ending was a bit lacking and anti-climactic whereas I think it was an awesome ending to TWD's fourth season. Bitin nga lang. Although I still am curious as to where has Beth gone. I am curious as to Beth's whereabouts while her sister, Maggie, is not. Sshh...don't tell Beth that, she already has enough issues to begin with. Haha. Whatever. Now back to regular programming...

Fug you, HIMYM, for once again letting me believe in love and that good things come to those who wait. Sumuko na ako eh but I got my hopes up once again after watching. Dammit.

One of the best series I absolutely love and adore and I have Ycel to thank for introducing me. I got into it a little bit late- around the third or fourth season, I think. But nevertheless, it was LEGEN-wait for it- DARY! This was one series I never have to give unconditional love to and stay with through thick and thin because for nine seasons it has been nothing but awesome, awesome and AWESOME. Of course there were a few boring episodes but it was mostly a weekly (for six months) dose of fun. And now it's over. Another one off the TV SERIES TO DL AND WATCH LIST.

Just a few minutes into the second to the last episode, I was already crying. [Ang OA ko] It was during that scene when Ted was saying his goodbyes to his friends. But of course he doesn't move to Chicago because "he met a girl" who turned out to be the girl.

Honestly, I wasn't too fond of the mother when I first saw her. I noticed that she has a lisp when she talks and that she's a less cute version of Lily. I wanted someone better for Ted. But The Mother eventually grows on you and I guess that is why they introduced her earlier than what I expected- I thought The Mother's identity would be revealed at the very last episode. It was not. They gave us ample time to fall in love with her as well.

Anyway... last Saturday, my cousin and I were discussing about the then-impending end of HIMYM. We were coming up with different assumptions as to how the series would end. My cousin hit it spot on- that The Mother would die and Ted and Robin would end up together. What we didn't see coming was Robin and Barney's divorce. It was sad. But I guess it was also that divorce that made Robin realize that she loves Ted. And what was supposed to be Ted's exit strategy to avoid getting hurt seeing Barney and Robin together, became Robin's instead. For Robin, Ted was "the one who got away" and her absence was more of avoiding seeing Ted happily married to another rather than her busyness. I sort of liked this twist. Seriously, I never saw it coming. I really believed that Barney and Robin would live happily ever after. But as they say, things fall apart so better things can fall together.

The kids were right. This story wasn't about their mother, it was about Ted and Robin.

I would most definitely miss this. It's a different thing when you know they're not coming back again on September. By now I should know how to deal with the loss of a beloved TV series. I've been here before, several times. I hope they don't do a spin-off out of it and just let it be. I will miss Mosby. I want my own Mosby.

You will be missed.