Most of the Philippine travel blogs are written in English, and some in Filipino and other vernacular languages of the republic. Understandable enough since these are the main modes of communication here in the country and the rest of the world. However, I ought to think of something different. Something that is “not normal.” How about writing your travel experiences in Spanish?
Hence, ViajeroFilipino.com came into my mind-the Spanish sister of HabagatCentral.com.
At first glance, I thought it was some sort of a Grade 1 to 4 textbook cartoons. Second, it does look like Batibot or some sticker from the 1980s. But look closely, its Department of Tourism’s “Pilipinas, Tara Na” (en. Philippines, let’s go! | es. ¡Vamos Filipinas!) official logo! Lo and behold, after the failed “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” fiasco, it seems that we have another logo going down the drain!
Sendai Airport CCTV capturing the tsunami engulfing its tarmac (video courtesy of Russia Today)
On March 11, 2011, the world was shocked and awed again with nature’s raw awesome power as Japan’s Tohoku region was rattled by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake, and after that-the sea gobbled up cities, towns, farms and people — seven meter tsunami has changed the Japanese psyche and landscape forever. The aftermath was devastation and death. Japan’s worst crisis since the end of World War II.
What I couldn’t believe was that even Sendai Airport was like a sitting duck in nature’s fury as its runway was submerged in sea water of debris and destruction. Come to think of it, the airport is already located more than a kilometer away from the coast (the tsunami was reported to have reached as far as 10 kilometers inland!) In a way, Sendai Airport reminds me of Iloilo Airport…however its far from the coast line and was constructed with Japanese backing and aid.
Few days before Sinulog, I was scrambling to get a way to Iloilo for the Dinagyang Festival. For the moment, I thought I wouldn’t be pushing through with my las celebraciones grandes de enero—a feat which I last made in 2007 when I celebrated both grand festivals in a year. Then I was informed, something beyond what I was expecting…the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation asked me to become one of the judges for street dancing competition! I was speechless and to be honest, it is beyond what I have been expecting for. My original plan was just to cover Dinagyang the way I cover it for the past few years. Yes, I took the offer as an honor for my service for my beloved banwa (hometown). I was placed on a different perspective…from appreciation to decision-making. This Dinagyang season changed the way I see Iloilo’s grandest fiesta.
The good news is, after weeks of rain in the Visayas, Haring Araw was there to say hello all over the weekend!
All throughout the week before Sinulog in Cebu, I was already checking the weather forecast. It has been raining in Cebu for the past few days and I was worried that it’ll rain come Sunday Sinulog. 16th of January came, I lost my wallet in the cab at Makati while I’m on my way to the airport (good thing I have friends who helped me at this desperate time) and I am sleepless too. Nevertheless, it has been several years since I last went to Cebu to celebrate this annual celebration for the Visayas’ most well-loved Catholic icon, the Santo Niño de Cebú and the grandest festival in all of República Filipinas, the Sinulog Festival of Cebú.
Sleepless and haggard, I took the first flight of Philippine Airlines bound for Cebu. Upon approach, I was aghast with the sky…gray, hints of lightning…urgh! Rainy!!! Then shifted to a more positive tone, it’s a great blessing from the Creator. Reverse psychology did worked!
My family and I went back to Lobó in Batangas province to have a break from the urban jungle and my dad’s inspection on the project site at one of the mountain barangays of the town. We went on to one of the most isolated towns in this part of Southern Tagalog region. Protected by rugged mountains and bordered by the Verde Island Passage, it seems that the town has been encapsulated in time by nature herself! When before, I had a brief visit to Malabrigo Lighthouse, this time I went off the beaten track and return to the placed I was enamored when I was in Grade 6 and a realization of an uphill countryside struggle for survival.
Its been a while since I last walked the old Manila. Somehow, I have this fascination over urban exploration, despite that I prefer living in the suburbs or even at the provinces. I am provoked for some adventure without going far or bleeding my wallet to death. Good thing though, my friend Gibb from Cebú was here. The tour wasn’t planned nor choreographed. We just like to see Manila in its real heartbeat. So off we walked from San Agustin Church in Intramuros to Quiapo Church which is in-of course Quiapo!
This map has been stagnant for so long already. Long gone are the days of travel splurge and exploration-during my childhood, high school and college days. The last province that I’ve explored was Ilocos Sur and Vigan City. The rest are “revisits.” I haven’t added up any province since December 2009. Well, priorities first, work, family and sustainability. Travel later. If I travel, I just don’t like it to be another lamierda-in which I discovered, has a very foul meaning (in Spanish, la mierda means “the shi*”-from the term ‘voy/vamos a la mierda’ probably referring to wasteful wandering and along with it is spending). For now, I’ll just be patient. After all, Philippines is not just my ultimate aim to conquer, but also the rest of the world-especially Latina Americana!
Ambitious but I know posible! Just have the patience and the will to do more.
Ahorita, en trabajo, familia y yo mismo. En futuro, ¡el resto de Filipinas y todo del mundo!
To find out how many provinces you visited in the Philipines, find out at Lakbayan. Map created by Eugene Villar.
It’s currently my first week at my new job. After a year, I’m back at graveyard shift. Yup, I’m back where Edward Cullen and his family take on a rampage to the innocent bystanders. Oops! Not for the green minded! My daytime IS night time. 11 PM to 8 AM!
Although the feeling of nausea and sleepiness is part of this schedule, I am however, blessed by this fact: Going to work is as easy as 45 minutes or even less! Yes, people of the republic-no longer I am subject to the tenacious and seemingly endless cycle of Buhos system of Cavite! No standing at the bus, kissing the doors, being harassed by the bus conductor or by manyaks, and most of all-goodbye sardinas sa bus!
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