Sunday, August 27, 2006

Summer 2006 Travel in the Philippines

I'm back! Safe and sound!
I have just returned from my two weeks vacation in my hometown-- Philippines.
Imagine, I 'been stayin here in Japan for more than 18 years and yet, this was my first experience of long visit to my hometown ... two weeks, August 12-26. I absolutely enjoyed and loved my time in the Philippines.
I travelled with my friend Liza, Yabe oniisan and Yuuki kun. We departed thru JAL from Nagoya to Philippines. I was so excited to see my preggy sis-- Emily, her hubs-- Sonny, my cute nephew--Emil and my dear friend (Yuuki's mum)-- Sarah who picked us up late in the airport! Grrrrrr!!!
Grotto in our home in Paranaque

First thing I did was to visit the grave of my late dear nanay in Manila Memorial Park. Well that's a custom for me... everytime I visit the Philippines, I make sure to visit my late mom first ... as a sign of TADAIMA (I'm back home!).

My beloved late mother's grave

Afterwards, we went to SM Bicutan to shop some stuffs needed and we had our dinner at fast food. Everyone stayed in our home in Paranaque. except for Liza who stayed to her family in Bulacan. The next day, we visited the new huge mall in Manila-- the Mall of Asia. They said that it's the 3rd largest mall in the world. Whoo! It's really large! You might need a one whole day in order to wander around. I enjoyed shopping Pinoy stuff at Kultura.

At night, we made our reservation at RATSKY in Malate wherein we celebrated Liza's birthday party! We gathered with Liza's family, my family, Sarah's family and some members of the Zyncxation Band. We really had fun especially to the humorous performances of the Ratsky's band. That was surely a memorable bday for Liza, not to mention that she paid our cheat and she tipped the performers a lot -- naturally, they sung "Halleluya" for her!

"Ratsky"

The next morning, we all flew to Surigao City-- Sarah's hometown! We stayed there for three days and two nights. I found the true rural spirit in Surigao. It's too peaceful... I like the hospitality and warmnest of the people.

A panorama scene in Surigao City

Our welcome lunch! Yummy!

The mananita was unforgetable experience. The barrio folks serenaded us at early dawn! At first, I thought that since we are tired and still tipsy from the jet logs of our trip... i will much appreciete if they will let us sleep... but nope... upon hearing their sincere songs and effort of gathering together on early dawn for the sake of welcoming us and greeting Liza on her bday (again!) ... I felt so touched and relieved! Amazing!

The wonderful folks behind the mananita!

Too bad for Liza becoz at the mid of the mananita... she suffered from a terrible stomach ache. Everyone symphatized her ... folks medicated her thru albularyo, herbal medicines and other hocus focus stuffs... well, that's to be expected in a rural area...and while Liza was taking her rest... the gathering continued with their songs, dances, foods, drinks and laughters till morning.

Sunset in Surigao

We did have so many wonderful memories out there... the lovely sunset, the coconuts at Sarah's farm, the beach, the seafoods and different kind of fruits, the gourgeous house of Sarah in the City, the town, the church, the park (actually, the Luneta version of Surigao!), the chicken barbeque, the boulevard, the fiesta in the barrio, the natives, folks, picture taking with real guns and most of all... Sarah's family, relatives and friends-- they're soooo kind! I love u guys!

The Plaza

The grave of Hiro san (late hubby of Sarah) The papag!↓

↓Kids mining for gold?! Wow! ganbatte!Nanay (Sarah's mom) made this souvenir for me and Liza... 'nay, thanks for being so thoughful!↓ "Hello to nanay... pagaling ka po and tatay... don't drink too much! Hi to Manang Arnie and family and of course... regards to Flor...don't smoke too much huh! Thank's a lot to all your wonderful accommodation during our stay in Surigao. I wish we could go back there someday... we'll miss u all!"

This is cool!

Sarah and family remained in Surigao while I went back to Manila with my tatay, Liza, Susan and Nonoy. I stayed in our home in Paranaque with my family. The barbeque gathering in our balcony was really cool! That was quite simple but touching. I felt that I trully missed my family and our home. By the way... i kinda like the vegetable salad of Sonny... with vinegar dressing... simple but tasty!

The next day, the Philippine NAKAMA Organization had an appointment to meet the executive director of KAPUSO foundation, Mr. Nonie dela Fuente jr. of GMA 7 in Quezon City to hand-in the proceeds from the donation box of the Global Promotion's Charity Concerts here in Japan for the benefit of Leyte Mudslide Victims. With Liza, Malu and the rest of our family represented the NAKAMA group!

At GMA with Liza, me, Mr. dela Fuente and Malu (Click photo for more details)

I also treated Sarah and family to Zamboanga Restaurant since Sarah wanted to take oniisan Yabe to a Philippine dinner show. I'm glad that they liked the foods and the cultural show. Yuuki kun participated the Tinikling exhibition while my tatay participated the Tahitian dance... we were surprised to tatay coz he really did his best to shake his whole body... thanks God... he never broke his ribs! ... but that was a cool performance!

Tatay exhibition of Tahitian at Zamboanga Restaurant's Cultural Show in Malate

The next day... again, the Philippine NAKAMA group gathered for the meeting of Phil NAKAMA Scholarship Program for Japanese Filipino Children. Liza, me, Sarah, Malu, Oniisan Yabe, Yuki, Yuta, Ponga, Susan and the rest of the group were presents. Of course, the 6 scholars with their parents were there too. We had some interchange, everyone are so thankful to the group for the scholarship we are granting to them. That was touching! Using my cellphone recorder... Liza and I also interviewed the scholars with their coordinator Malu for SAME's radio program, Take Five.

Meeting of Philippine NAKAMA Scholarship Program for Japanese-Filipino Children in the Philippines (Click photo for more details)

My nieces, KDC--Kathleen, Debbie, Camille↓

Mall of Asia, Manila

Lobby of IMAX Theater at Mall of Asia

I also dated my nieces, KDC (Kathleen, Debbie and Camille) at Mall of Asia. Actually, Emily, Sonny, tatay, Emil and me had an evening reservation to a movie, "Superman" at IMAX. I did not expect that KDC can come with us... so we decided to directly buy them a ticket at the movie house but unfortunately, when we reach IMAX... tickets for Superman were sold-out! KDC decided to watch "Ants" movie. I lined up for tickets... and when it's my turn at the counter... there were 3 cancelled tickets for "Superman" announced ... lucky me, i guess...coz it's my turn to buy the tickets. I got the 3 tickets for KDC and finally we watched the movie together! After watching the movie, we went dining to Asian Restaurant. We enjoyed the assorted dish of asian foods.

Asian Restaurant at Mall of Asia

The next day, I flew to Cebu with my tatay and brother Teddy... and Liza with her sister Susan. We stayed in Malibago Blue Water Beach Resort in Mactan. The place was so impressive and I would like to thank Emily for the reservation she made for us. The gourgeous beach, white sands, beautiful native cottages, peaceful sorroundings, tasty foods especially the halo-halo and bananaque and friendly atmosphere were really satisfying.

Malibago Bluewater Beach Resort, Mactan, Cebu

My cottage room!↓ Pool side ↓Beach↓ Swimming Time! ↓

Bananaque↓ Halo-halo↓
The cultural show↓We're goin boating... anyone?!↓

We did not miss to visit some historical places like Magellan Cross and Sto. Nino Church. I also bought a black image of Sto Nino as souvenir to our home in Paranaque. There's a saying that if u are new to a church... make 3 wishes and it could be granted. Since i was new to visit the said church, i made my three wishes... what wishes? well... that's my secret! That's between me and HIM!

Magellan's Cross, Cebu City The altar of Sto Nino Church My three wishes! ↓

Well... to cut the story short, our two nights and three days vacation in Cebu was soooooo great! OSUSUME DESU!

After Cebu, we went back to Manila and spent the rest of my stay with my family. We strolled a lot in shopping malls like in Glorietta in Makati. I also visited Mama Mary at Baclaran Church. I'm happy to met some of our relatives and friends! We explored different Pinoy restaurant. Of course, we did not miss Jollibee 'though I was disappointed to palabok... it never tasted like it used to be ... or is it the quality of my taste that changed!

I spent my last night at Karaoke or should I say KTV?-- Music 21 Plaza with my family. Too bad for Kathleen. She did not made it to come with us coz she had to look for her missing cellphone! Anyway... at the Karaoke, I was surprised to Teddy... he sings a lot already! ... or was it only a spirit of beers he was drinking?

"KTV"

Next morning... Saturday... byebye time... ohhhhh, it's sad! I really still don't want to leave but I have to...two weeks of full amazing memories... gonna miss everything... miss everyone! I went back to Japan with Liza...

Emil: Ninang Liz... looook! Naka- peace sign din po ang legs ko...seeeee! Kaya po ny'o yan?!

Come to think of it that inspite the fact that the Philippines is humid, have messy road traffic condition, smoggy haze, hopeless, system are unorganized... still I have this strange feelings to keep on going back... not only becoz my family are in there, my memories, sense of humor (mga kabaklaan bah!) are superb... and so on... but still there are some hidden beauty and magic behind the Philippines... i don't know... one thing for sure is that... maybe it's the "smile" of everyone... that inspite the Philippines is poor and desperate... still we know how to "smile"!!!

Whooo... this is too long already... thanks a lot for taking your time to read this... 'til next blogging... oyasuminasai... mhwaaah!


Friday, August 11, 2006

A treat to Belinda!

It's Belinda's birthday! Happy birthday!
My family treat her to Jolly Pasta!
Jo and Belinda... OSHIAWASENI!Belinda and Liza's birthday celebration at KALZADA!
To Liza and Belinda... long live!!!
It's been quite a hectic day... tomorrow early morning...
I will fly to Philippines... (yup! manananggal kc ako! lol!)
To all of u out there in the Philippines ... see u all soon !!!

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Lunch at Coco's

My summer lunch at Coco's vegetable salad with avocado and onion gratin soup
summer dessert, a Vietnam-inspired dessert
sort of Philippine's ginataan