CDO-Bukidnon-Camiguin Series: Dahilayan Zipline & Del Monte Plantation

It was June of 2010 when I luckily saw a P347.00-roundtrip seat sale ticket on Cebu Pac and I immediately asked my kapwa-lakwasherang officemates to join me. And since, we're not allowed to file our VL all together, I picked them from each IT department. 1 representative from Network and her boo, 1 from Data Center, 1 from Helpdesk, 1 from Database Admin, 1 consultant from Information Security Division and yours truly for System Admin. I invited my cuz as well. Pwede na kaming i-roll out para mag open ng isang branch. hihihihi!

9 months have passed. Naging busy kami sa work and all kaya maraming nawala sa picture. 4 of us were retained, 3 were replaced and 1 was left behind. Napilitan tuloy kaming magpagawa ng ID sa recto. hihihi! (let's just keep it as secret ha!). Mas mahal pa sa total cost naming lahat ang 1 ticket pag nag re-book kesa sa pagpapagawa ng fake ID promise. 

Stressed out ako lately kaya I searched for someone who can help us na lang with the reservations sa lahat ng pupuntahan namin, pati transportation and accommodations. 5500 lang per person kaya akala ko okay. Ang mura kasi. Sila ang dahilan sa mas malalang stress na umabot pa sa Maalaala Mo Kaya portion. I'm a strong person. I rarely cry. Once in a blue moon talaga. Everyone close to me knows that. Pero napaiyak ako sa trip na to kaya alam nilang iba ang pangyayaring yun. I'll share it on my next post. Hihihih! Nag moment ako ng bongga sorry guys hindi ko napigilan.

So here it is... a preview of what happened this summer. 

It's a great opportunity to witness this beautiful sunrise while flying at 35,000 feet high

Effort ng makunan ko yan dahil nasa aisle ang seat ko. Hiwa-hiwalay kasi kami. We did not reserve any seat upon reservation. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong hawiin ang lalaking hadlang na nasa bintana. hahaha! Sensya na. Pasaway lang. Nagising tuloy siya.

Touchdown at 5:45am. Sakto.

Just by looking at our itinerary, nakakahingal na sa dami. Alam kong magugustuhan ito ng mga joiners ko. I suggested a few spots na wala talaga sa original na available sa site nung package.

We ate our lunch at Cowboy Grill before we tried the longest Zipline in Dahilayan. The food was great at sobrang dami para sa isang tao. I highly recommend it. We saw some of the lodge there.

Bukod sa Farmville ko, dito din may makikita kang ganyan

Syempre we tried the Asia's longest zipline. Buti hindi ko sinuka lahat ng kinain ko. Kawawa ang mga pine trees sa baba. Acid Rain.

...and I was that dot. Salamat sa picture Madam (makikilala nyo siya soon)

Go Martyn! I'll be waiting for your new blog..

We tried all rides for 600.00 (840m+320m+150m). I thought it's unlimited. Yun kasi ang nakalagay sa mapanlinlang na package. After the 320m and 150m, naglakad kami pabalik sa base. In loving memory na lang ang mga kinain namin sa Cowboy Grill. Nakakapagod. Buti may service pala paakyat sa 840-meter zipline. In fairness ang layo nya talaga at ang taas. Sabi nga ni madam "Ano ba ito? Ang dami na natin napagkwentuhan. Umabot na sa kabataan ko ang usapan wala pa rin tayo sa taas!" (Hahah! Winner ka!)

I never knew that there were a lot of pine trees there. Nice!

found another foggy twilight scene in Dahilayan

I purchased this pic for 100.00. Did I mention that we were the last one to try it? They stopped their operation because the rain poured heavily. Perfect timing. Tama rin na hindi pala unlimited yun gaya ng inaakala namin. If ever kasing sinubukan namin ulit, we won't be able to try the longest one. Hindi ko na alam kung anong oras nag resume. Habang nasa biyahe na kami pababa, sinasabayan din kami ng nagbubulwakang choco-colored water. So malamang sa malamang, it's not appropriate to say White-Water Rafting kami kinabukasan, Choco Water Rafting ito. Ewwness! After a looong drive, we visited Del Monte Pineapple Plantation in Bukidnon.

standing in 20,000 hectares of pineapple is a truly an amazing feeling

Cute sila. Period.

Ayaw kami payagan ni kuya driver na kumuha kahit isa. KJ. "Kuya sige na oh.. Patikim ng pinya!" Useless phrase. hahaha!

We also ate at Del Monte Club House. We ordered their club house sandwich at kami'y nagulantang sa laki niya. Mahihiya ang huling hapunan.

Composed of a slice of steak, bacon, ham, cheese, lettuce and egg. P290.00 yan. Hindi ko alam kung naubos namin siya ni madam dahil masarap or dahil mahal at nanghihinayang ako.

Hindi ko alam na free pineapple juice pala dun. Asar! Salamat sa late na reminders na sinend ng magaling naming tour guide. We proceeded in their uber linis na golf course. As usual bawal ang non-players sa grass. Oh well...

Ang patpat. Ayoko ng mag-nenok ng golf clubs. Masyado na kong pasaway

Sinaway din kami ng punong bantay. Isa lang naman ang technique sa kanila, "Ay sorry kuya hindi ko alam na bawal". Mukang nagiging expert na ata ako sa ganyan. hiihihi! Bad!

I was the only one who took the chance to take a pic on Cawayonan. Mga photographer ang kasama ko, gusto nila yung tipong tinirhan na ni Padre Damaso - Old, Rustic, Classic, Misteryoso. Cawayanon is not one of them.

We went back to our lodge. It's Miami Inn. I have no bad words to say to this place. They served us well. Naiwan ko ang charger ko sa bahay pero I did not worry kasi I thought someone can lend me theirs. Nakalimutan kong primitive nga pala ang phone ko at malaking nokia charger pa ang kailangan. I asked the hotel crew if they have it. Wala daw, nasa bahay pa. Uuwi daw siya muna saglit para kunin. I was touched, I gave him a tip.

Suite Room good enough for 3

Great service crew

Please check out their website for the latest rates. http://www.miami-inncdo.com/miami-inn-rates.html. For the suite it's 1,400 per night and Standard for only 900.00. Two thumbs up for them.

Next post is our Choco-Water Rafting experience. Abangan!

Super Fail SPA experience

We had an activity this weekend so almost all of IT peeps were present. At dahil papatayan kami ng kuryente from 12 midnight to 6am, walang pump so walang tubig sa CR, walang ilaw, walang internet, walang buhay in short.. amboring nun. Nagkayayaan magpamasahe. I was excited kasi it will be my first time to try a whole body massage sa tagal ko ng nagttrabaho. Mega bili pa ko ng undies sa 7 eleven dahil hindi ako prepared talaga. hahaha! Promise.

1:30am. We planned to try Mont Albo SPA in Pasong Tamo pero sarado kahit OPEN 24 hours ang nakalagay sa pinto. Sige hanap na lang ng iba. Martyn said meron dun sa kabilang kalsada.. (I won't mention the name ha. hahahah!). "Pero hindi ko alam kung anong meron dun ha. Hindi ko pa yun na-try e.", he said. Sa second floor yun. Makipot ang pasilyo. Nauna kaming mga girls na bumaba sa kotse kasi umuulan e. Naiwan yung mga boys sa loob. Kung ano connect ng sinabi ko e hindi ko din alam. Sa dulo may guard na naka-upo so I asked

"kuya! bukas po ba yung SPA sa taas?" I said.

"ah opo ma'am. Sige akyat lang po kayo"

Hindi muna kami umakyat at inantay yung mga driver namin (peace guys!). Maya maya dumating na yung mga boys. Nagtanong ulit si manong guard.

"Uhm.. Ma'am! magpapamasahe po ba kayo?" Kung bastos siguro ako eto ang isasagot ko, "Ay hindi kuya.. kakain lang kami dun. Spa kasi siya e no." Pero malumanay ako. "Opo kuya.", yun na.

Muntik pa kami naipit ng dyaskeng elevator.

Pagbukas niya, kakaiba ang tumambad samin. Hindi ko na sana gustong pumasok dahil parang naiintindihan ko na kung anong meron sa SPA na yun. Wala ng kailangan iexplain. Pero dahil hindi niyo nga nakita, ganito siya.

May 3 babae sa reception. Naka-micro skirt (hindi lang mini ha). At cleavage kung cleavage teh. Pumasok yung mga kasama ko kaya sumama na ko't naki-ushoso. Bakas sa muka nung 3 ang pagka-gulat. Dahil siguro babae kami? I don't know. We asked for the rate. Nakalagay na pala dun sa table. 500 for girls at 650 pag boys. Nagtaka na kami agad. E malisyosa pa naman ako.  Ano ba ang difference? Bakit mas mahal ang rate sa men? Ganun ba talaga? Extra Service?

May isang lalaking customer na nasa waiting area. Mukang excited at hindi nakalapat ang likod sa kinauupuan. Pero hindi na namin nakuhang umupo, sinabihan agad kami na magsasara na raw sila at yun na yung last na customer for the day. Fine...

Hindi ko na na-interrogate si manong guard pagbaba namin kung ano nga bang misteryo ang meron dun.

Ok fail ang lakad namin na yun. Pero masaya pa rin. Nagkaron kami ng topic buong magdamag. Hahaha! next time daw, yung boys naman ang babalik dun. Hindi kami kasama. Alam na! hahahaha!

Panagbenga 2011 Series: Street Dancing Parade

As early as 6:30am, we left my uncle's house in La Trinidad to attend the parade. Actually it's my first time too. Dati kasi dedma sakin ang street dancing. Sinasamantala ko noon yung paggagala kasi walang mga kasabay. Pero this time, since I was with my mom at gustong-gusto niyang makita yun, we sacrificed a comfy sleep for her. Sarap kayang abutan ng araw sa kama pag ganung kalamig.

When we arrived, hindi mahulugang karayom ang crowd. Super late na kami. I heard sa news na isang milyon plus plus ang dumating nung araw na yun. After 10 years nakahanap kami ng magandang spot. Hindi nasisinagan ng araw tapos naka-elevate pa. Ang problem nga lang, reserved seats daw yun para sa empleyado ng post office. Hindi umubra ang charm namin. Good thing, a lady saw us. Her family was there as well, may space pa daw sa kanila kaya pwede kami. We're so lucky that day at nakilala namin ang mababait na taong yun.

Pardon for my not so good shots. Effort na yan.

Sila na ang sign... Start na ng parade yahuuu!

I've heard you can watch them for their formation galore every morning sa PMA grounds mismo. Never ko pa pala na-experience yun. Chaka na lang.

I'm glad I saw Koreans who joined this event. They showcased their traditional costume hanbuk. Dati sa koreanovela ko lang nakikita yan e. Hihihi! Seeing them in that event makes me feel they've already embraced our country. And yes! Marami sila. Nagkalat.

Mahal na inang reyna.. (tinalo ang hairstyle ni Imelda Marcos)

Jewel in the Palace?

Ayyy ang mga nawawala kong sisters! hahaha!

a blogger in action

Jeff Zapanta is that you? hahaha! Caught in the act ka. Isa ka pang pasaway, lagpas ka sa lubid o. hahaha!



Super like ko tong batang to.. He's the crowd favorite bigay todo kasi. Kesehodang lumabas ang hindi dapat lumabas... hahaha! Ang galing!



Mga 10:00am na ata natapos yung parade. Hulasan na lahat ng tao. Bumalik na kami sa La Trinidad ulit.

Had I known that my pamangkin joined the competition, e di sana nanood pa ko ng performance nila sa athletic bowl. Kasama pala yung school niyang nag parade - Perpetual Help. Pumunta siya sa bahay nung tito ko nung gabi para mag dinner. And guess what, they won the first place. Ang galing. 100,000.00 daw ang premyo. Tinanong ko kung ilan silang maghahati-hati... Naloka ako sa sagot niya. Sobrang classic.... "80 po e.." lol talaga! Pano pa ang pamasahe, ang costume, and accomodation, ang pagkain.. Goodluck naman. Hahaha! Anyway congrats girl sana nababasa mo to.

Panagbenga 2011 Series: PASAWAY Moments

A summer will never be complete if you failed to visit Baguio... Oh c'mon mamon! that's what I thought before. The last time I went there, it was 2 years ago, sabi ko ayoko na bumalik. May umay factor na. I don't know if there's a single tourist spot there that I've never been to. I was just lucky because, if not all, but most of my stay there were for free. My tito and his family is a resident of Benguet for 3 decades now. Libre food, de-kotse pa back and forth, libre tourist guide, libre din accomodation.. san ka pa?! My cousins there were my closest sa father side so even if I go there alone, keri lang.

If you can visit my To-Do list for 2011, wala siya. When PNOY declared Feb 25 (EDSA Anniversary) as a holiday, January pa lang I filed for a Mandatory leave without any plan at all. Tapos malaman laman ko na lang, studyante lang pala ang walang pasok.. feelingerang frog. E sakto pala may Panagbenga. Yun na!

2 weeks ahead of time we already bought 2 tickets. We anticipated madlang people will be there too since it's a long weekend. If you're wondering who's with me, syempre nanay ko. May bago pa ba dun? hmp!

It's her first time to attend this event kaya mega tour kami sa kanya. Enough of paddling, biking, horse-back riding thing. Pang bata masyado. Dun kami sa pang thunder. First stop, Market Encounter. Tuwing Panagbenga lang may ganyan.

From Baguio with LOVE



This one became my instant favorite... I love butterfly!



Sensya na... hindi kinaya ng camera ang laki niya







Ang cute! parang nuknukan ng laking cake..

   



Pasaway Moment #1: Pumasok sa NO ENTRY Zone



Ilang beses akong sinaway ng punong bantay para lang sa shot na to.. Kung pwede lang akong bambuhin ng walis ginawa na nila.



Honestly... I like orange flower more kesa red ones =) Feeling ko mas bagay to sa personality ko. hihihi!
(kelangan talaga may kasamang explanation)



Next Stop, Mary Knoll Ecological Sanctuary

Madalang ata ang nagagawi dito. Even my cousin na taga baguio never pa daw niyang nakita to would you believe?

You have to pay for P35.00 para sa entrance fee. Mas naging interesado ako ngayon sa registration area nila kesa sa ecotrail. Just see for yourself. Scary siya. Promise. The hall way is full of pictures of the nuns who lived there. Napa-atras ako when I was about to pee. Uurong ang dapat umurong pag nakita nyo ang CR nila. I called my cousin para samahan ako. If you're asking for the pic ng hallway, hindi ako nag attempt kumuha. Baka magulo lang ang life ko pag may nakita akong hindi kanais-nais. Alam naaa!

Unfortunately, the tree house where I ate before was no longer there. Binida ko pa naman sa kanila na may magandang kainan dun. Actually, maraming nawala. Sira na halos lahat. Umm. Describe the place.. para kang dumadaan sa napakalaking maze. Pwedeng maging shooting location ng Takeshi's castle sa laki. Tahimik. Refreshing.



This is where we ate.. tirik na ang mata namin bago namin nahanap to'





bangaw haven





busog pose



♫ A- I'm Adorable ♫ (check!)



Are you in? I am! lol!



Ay naku! Gusto daw niya ng no-look na shot... emotera din si mama =)

 Diplomat Hotel naman!



It was my third time here. Mas ok pumunta ng sunset.




This was captured one afternoon 2 years ago by my friend Humprey Cogay. See? Parang nag-aapoy yung hotel


Dati nakakasabay ko yung mga spiritista. Ngayon, I saw a bunch of photographers together with their uber sexy na model.



Goodluck sa pulmunya





Pasaway Moment #2: I picked a flower in No Picking of Flower Zone

Kaya pala ako sinusundan ng guard. Huli sa akto. Hawak ko ang proof na yan at nilagay ko pa sa tenga ko. hihihih! Rosalinda mode =)



Gusto ko sana mag pa-sketch ng fes sa Tamawan Village kasi before naging kamuka ko si Ara Mina e. Hindi ko nagustuhan. Ara Mina is pretty though pero halata mong nahirapan ang nag sketch kaya yun. Pinagpilitan. Sana sinabi na lang niyang "Miss.. walang remedyo e. Pasensya na ha.. ito na yung 100 mo o." (lol! Bitter?)

Walang nagpapasketch pagdating namin. Ayoko na. Shyness!

Magkaka-boylet ba ko pag niyakap ko din yan? =)

Pasaway mode #3: I took a picture on the artworks

Yang mamang nasa baba ng pic, siya ang sumaway sakin. I saw the sign mind you (upper right). Kaya lang I can't help it. Sorry! Actually hindi naman sila strict - just pose beside the artwork and you're no longer violating the rules. Ganung ka-simple.

Did I mention my mom pretended she's already a senior citizen? Para makatipid sa entrance. Bente din yung na discount niya ha. Hahaha! Para-paraan. Deserves to be on the 4th Pasaway spot.

Next entry, Street and Float parade... At sinetch itey na blogger ang nakita ko?... Abangan!