Welcome Back!

After such a long hiatus I think I’m never ever going to find a way to maintain a blog again. My last post here was more than a year ago, and that was when I PROMISED myself that I’d be updating constantly during internship. I even had my blog transferred here at WordPress from blogger in the hopes that a change in atmosphere would inspire me to write more. Boooo to me and my toxicity — or lack thereof? I mean PGH Internship was really hard, doing things you don’t really have to do but you need to do it since there’s no one else but you. BUT it wasn’t as hard as I expected it to be. In fact, I even enjoyed most parts of it! I think it was the best year out of my 7 years in med school! I had free time to do whatever I wanted, like travel, go to the beach, photography, watch movies and TV series, and blogging was not at the top of my list.

A little fast-forward to June 12, 2010. Aside from being the Philippines’ Independence Day, today is my 12th day of reviewing for the boards! In my nearly two weeks of easy-reading review, I covered much of Biochemistry, Microbiology and currently finishing up Physiology! I need to start on the HARD subjects like Patho and Pharma and Anatomy next week so I can finish my first reading by the end of June! I hope I do keep my schedule intact!

My usual day starts at around 8 or 9AM when Maan starts to wake me up y calling me constantly on my CP. Hehe. I eventually (and finally!) get out of bed and start to study (read, hilight and write notes on my review books) until lunch. I sometimes eat a heavy BRUNCH first, then skip lunch all together (my usual routine is going to Jollibee Faura to eat my favorite Tapa meal!). Maan and I then study together after lunch until we go to their place before dinner where her mom prepares a sumptuous meal for all of us! (Thank you!) After dinner we study at home or at our secret coffee shop somewhere in Malate (hehe, maingay kasi sa iba, dun sa secret place namin tahimik) or go to Starbucks UN or Coffee Bean Rob. Sometimes, pag kaya pa, I extend my studying hours until 2-3AM pero pag masakit na ulo ko from information overload, I stop and sleep.

The next day, I find out WALA NA AKONG MAALALA SA MGA INARAL KO KAHAPON.

One word: PATAY!

I hope retention does really kick in ASAP! Some say you can’t really test that you’ve retained much until the boards! Hay…good luck talaga.

I started blogging again so I can vent feelings, frustrations and share experiences during my board review. Promise, nakakabaliw talagang mag-aral 16 hours a day! I need a break from all the books, pens and hilighters. I hope this does good.

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Later I’ll be witnessing Tina Tan & Doc Dom Cariaga’s wedding! Tina is a great friend of mine since our Intarmed days. Grabe, ikakasal na siya! Advanced congratulations Tina! =)

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Gusto ko din ibalik ang tradition ko of POP (a.k.a. Photo of the Post) where I get to post a picture everytime I post something here. Hehe. =) Pero kaya kasing magpost ng GALLERY dito sa WordPress, so gallery na lang! Here it is:

Sunset

Mom & Maan

Stone formation

Rain Clouds

Wading

The whitest & finest ever!

First glimpse

Amanpulo Lounge

Steps

Lagoon!

Private Jet!

Mother & Me

Amanpulo!

Snorkeling @ Amanpulo

Maan & Me at the shores of Amanpulo

This was our very recent, ONCE IN A LIFETIME, experience at Amanpulo Resort, Pamalican Island, Palawan! As I stated on the description of my facebook album:

The greatest way to celebrate two things: 1) finishing 7 years of med school, and 2) 6 years of love!

Maan and I were very fortunate to “hitch” with the Andres Soriano Foundation in their annual medical mission at the Quiniluban group of islands near Cuyo, Palawan. In return of our free consultations and service, we were pampered, treated and got to stay for 5 days at the very exclusive Amanpulo Resort in Pamalican Island! To maintain its exclusivity, you need a private jet to get there! Sosyal kung sosyal, hehe, and we got there for free! =)

Probably the best beach I’ve ever been to, the sand is even whiter and finer than in Boracay! Service is more than excellent! And the views? Mapapa-nganga ka na lang sa ganda. Truly breathtaking!

Rald, signing out!

Rald Goes to the States – Chapter 3: The Morning After

Currently in Royal Oak, Michigan, near Detroit. Reci, Eliza and Ate Mae V and I are staying at our foster parent/brod Dr. Josef Cortez, Phi 96B, and his wife Stella. Si Ate Mimi and Kuya Karl ang nagtake ng wedding photos nila. It’s a small world after all. =)

It is the morning after our FIRST concert last night. Everything’s still surreal. I can’t believe that we’re done with our Michigan concert! Parang kailan lang, nagpapractice kami 20 hrs a day sa San Francisco, and now, tapos na! We actually sounded great, and everyone was singing their hearts out. Buti na lang maganda yung acoustics sa church na kinanatahan namin. Effortless ang pagkanta. Hehe.

The audience loved it. But I still think we really need a lot to improve on, pitch and rhythm wise. Hindi pa kasi yun ang full potential ng tour group. Gaya nga ng sabi ni Ate Dia, “we can do better!” And I’m hoping ganun ang mngyari sa New Jersey concert namin.

For our classmates in NY-NJ area, sana makapunta kayo sa Jersey City concert namin on May 2, 7PM, sa Our Lady of Mercy Parish, 40 Sullivan Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07305

We also had some PHI HIGH kagabi as 3 brods were there to watch us! Brods Josef Cortez, Ryan Pangan and George Pujalte. May isa ding sis but we didn’t get to meet her kasi she had to go home early. We had a picture taken (with 7 other medchoir sisses), pero sa cam pa ni Dada, kaya tsaka na yung pic. Hopefully in outher UPMASA chapters that we’ll visit, mas marami pa kaming ma-meet na brods and sisses!

There will be alot more performances in this tour. Last night was only 1 of them. But I’m happy and fulfilled with last night’s performance. Masaya ang feeling, hindi frustrated. Sana I get to feel that feeling again in the days to come. =)

Next stop, Jersey City, New Jersey!!!

Rald Goes to the States – Chapter 2: Knock on Wood

This was an entry written last night, April 21, ~11PM. Tinamad akong ipost kasi inantok na ako agad. Hehe. Anyway, here’s my unfortunate journey going to the US! =)

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I still can’t believe that it happened.

It is now around 11:30PM here in San Francisco, we’ve all settled down. In fact, marami na ring tulog. Suffice to say, we all arrived here safe and sound. But HOW I got here is a different story.

If there was such a thing as Monday the 21st like the dreaded Friday the 13th, then I would be firm believer that there are certain days when certain people are extremely more unlucky than others. It can be attributed to chance, but who knows, baka nga weather-weather lang yan.

And if the case is really true, then LUCK abandoned me in every aspect of my journey to the states, on this fateful day of April the 21st.

It all started at NAIA, when I was checking-in my bags in Cebu Pacific. Maan told me already about the darned Philippine travel tax, to make sure that it was paid before, to avoid doubling of the fees. Our travel agent told her na OK na daw yun, no need to pay at the terminal. So akala ko OK na rin yung akin. Apparently, hindi pa pala. Add to that the excess baggage that I had to pay for kasi 20K lang ang limit ng Cebu Pacific. Owell. So pumila pa ako sa travel tax line na sobrang haba, then went to the counter of Cebu Pacific to pay for the excess, and then waited more for my boarding pass to be printed.

So I went through immigration, then final security check, OK na. I was all set and raring to go the US! At the back of my mind, something tells me that there’s something about to happen.

While in the plane bound for HK, I reviwed my itinerary. The ETD at Manila was 8:00, but we started boarding the plane only at that time and we left Manila at around 8:30 already! Then I saw that my connecting flight to San Francisco (via United) was at 1145AM! The Cebu Pacific flight was supposed to arrive at HK at 10AM but we arrived at about 1030 already. Nagmadali ako papalabas to check kung saan ko makukuha yung bags ko from the Cebu Pacific flight para macheck-in ko on time for the United San Francisco flight! I then realized that I only had 1 hour to do all these! I then hurried to the Baggage claim area (following the directional arrows at the HK airport, then I soon saw the LONGEST QUEUE LINE I’ve seen in IMMIGRATION. Then it dawned to me…before I can get my bag, I have to go through this HUMONGOUS line!

SOOO…I asked first the aide there on what should I do. I just need to get my bags, and not really enter HK per se, so I thought I didn’t need to go through IMMIGRATION pa. She said I had to ask my airline, United, about this. At this point, it was already 1050AM. The united check-in counter was at the other end of the terminal (think: whole span of University Avenue in Diliman!) and I had to walk going there because the only train there was going the opposite direction. Pati walkalators, pakabila ang takbo! So I was running wild from the immigration end to the opposite side of the terminal. When I arrived at United, the agent told me that I should get my bags FAST and really have to go through immigration since THEY DON”T HAVE ANYAGREEMENT WITH CEBU PACIFIC. If it were PAL or CATHAY, madali lang ang transfer, BUT NO. Sabi nung check-in guy, “You have 10 minutes. Good luck!” Parang mas kinabahan ako! Nyahahaha!

A mental note registered at that point, something I could or would secure forever: NEVER FLY CEBU PACIFIC for important occassions. EVER!

So, again, I ran back to the other end and pleaded to the Immigration aide na paunahin na ako since I’d be missing my flight in 10 minutes! Thank God pinauna na ako sa pila! But then, biglang wala pala akong ball-pen! So it took me around 10 minutes to undergo the immigration, and then alas, I was able to claim my bag!

While I was claiming my bag, as I held on to my carry-on dresser bag for costumes, BUMIGAY YUNG HANDLE! Great.

Di pa tapos ang lahat! So I had to go to the Departures area, 2 floors up, along with my big luggage, BROKEN dress bag and my other carry-on bag. While running up the escalator, nadulas ako sa floor, TWICE! Feck.

When I finally found the check-in counter of United, as if a photo-finisher in a marathon, I dyspneicly asked if I did miss my flight. And I was answered with a resounding YES.

My world fell apart.

Could things get any worse than this? Ang dami ko nang strikes

So to cut the long story short:
YES, I missed my flight.
YES, hindi ko kasama ang choir.
YES, I traveled alone from Manila to US.
NO, I went to LA instead and paid $100+ for rebooking fee.
NO, I didn’t arrive with the choir in San Francisco.
YES, I eventually made it to San Francisco from LA. I arrived 5 hours late.

When I FINALLY arrived in San Francisco, I thought hard if I really was IN SAN FRANCISCO, or baka dream lang yun and I boarded another plane! Hehe. After all of the things I had to put up with earlier that day, it wouldn’t hurt naman if I double checked everything.

Natakot din ako nung hindi pa lumalabas sa carousel yung checked-in bag ko. Ang tagal! Pero buti na lang lumabas din. Akala ko magkaka-strike pa uli ako. Nyehehe.

Is it because of my taunting statement in my previous blog?

I was actually disappointed that I won’t be travelling alone this time. Hehe. Akala ko nung una, mag-isa ako dahil I booked at a different agent from the rest of the choir kasi I’ll be staying behind. Turns out sabay lang din pala kami ng flight from HK to San Francisco. Owell, at least may mga makakausap ako. =)

Sabi ko na nga ba, makakarma din ako. Hehe. Better knock on wood next time!
I really wasn’t able to document my whole trip going here dahil sa sobrang TOXIC. All I did was to take a picture of me, FINALLY in San Francisco, hoping that from now on, everything would turn out better.

Rald Goes to the States – Chapter 1: The Beginning

I want to chronicle my whole US 2008 trip right, kaya may series ang blogs ko ngayon. Hehe. I hope magawa ko nang tama at hindi tamarin sa pagsusulat. Nyahaha. =)

It’s already 2:30AM and in an hour I’ll be getting ready to leave for the airport.

AT LAST. The MedChoir tour will finally start!

There are so many things to be excited about. Eversince I was a kid, I really enjoyed long travels. I never really minded getting stuck in the airport during long stop-overs, I like being in airports. Masayang tumingin ng mga tao tao, mga bagay bagay, lalo na sa duty free — thinking that one day sana mabili mo rin yung luxury watch na nakadisplay. I also enjoy long flights, and developed a certain liking of airline food (except ones that come from Korea, yung may kimchi..yech.) I like discovering new things about a place, reading magazines of different countries, answering crosswords puzzles while waiting to board the plane. I was actually disappointed that I won’t be travelling alone this time. Hehe. Akala ko nung una, mag-isa ako dahil I booked at a different agent from the rest of the choir kasi I’ll be staying behind. Turns out sabay lang din pala kami ng flight from HK to San Francisco. Owell, at least may mga makakausap ako. =)

I’m also looking forward to the concerts. Returning to MedChoir only this January after a nearly 2 year hiatus, the concert in Michigan would be my 1st concert with the choir in the last two years. Di ko pa uli nafifeel yung “high” when singing on stage. That’s something to look forward to.

Another one would be the experiences with the choir while on tour. The Xiamen experience we had was such a great one, each one of us grew with each other. Nakakatuwang balik-balikan. I hope the US Tour would form and strengthen new and old friendships alike.

And most of all, I’m looking forward to that vacation in the end of the tour. My whole ICC year was the best and worst year of my life. I’ve rediscovered myself in this year as I was pushing and pushing myself to my limits, nearing to points of breakdown. Buti na lang ‘di ako natutuluyan. I remember writing a blog at the start of ICC year, (see Super Gerald) saying na baka hindi ako makasama sa US Tour, and I was “overly terrified of not doing my jobs well”. Well, ICC year is done, and my posts are finally officially over. But despite all the hardships I’ve been through this year, I also enjoyed and had a blast. Sayang hindi ko pa natatapos yung Photo-recap ko ng ICC year, hintayin na lang. Mejo well documented kasi lahat lalo na it is this year that I had my OWN camera to tinker with. =)

And yeah, another thing to look forward to is celebrating our 4th anniversary at NYC! May 22 is the date, world premiere of Indiana Jones (and Sex and the City for Maan, hehe)! Last year we celebrated it on Bora, this year international na! Hahaha. Buti na lang at summer ang anniversary namin, we get to choose where we want to spend it! Weee. =)

So there, I hope we all have a safe trip! And for all the bigatens who will leave the country for their respective electives, see you when I see you! =) New Yorkers, wait for me! I’ll be joining you on May 14th! Brod (Alvin, hehe) and sisses, set the date of our NY gimik! May 19 nga ba Miya? Hehe.

I WILL ENJOY AND RELAX AND HAVE FUN! I think my mom and dad thinks I deserve it. Good for me. =)

Next posts will be overseas. =D

Luzon, Visayas at Mindanao

Ang sarap-sarap talaga ‘pag summer. Lalo na kapag wala kang inaatupag na kahit na anong pang-akademikong gawain. Ito ang aking huling summer bilang isang college student, dahil sa susunod na summer, ako na’y isang ganap na med student. Kaya nga’t dapat mag-saya ngayon. Make the most out of your summer-before-med-proper! ika nga ng isa kong kaibigan. Tama nga naman siya, we really do deserve this 2 month vacation. Iyon ay bago magsimula ang aming tunay na pag-aaral ng medisina.

Kaya nga’t kabi-kabila ang mga gimik ko ngayong bakashon! Hehehe. Buti na lang at nabiyayaan ako ng mabubuting magulang na walang sawang tumutustos sa aking mga kalayawan sa buhay. Salamat po!

Itong entry na ito ay binubuo ng tatlong parte. Dito ko isasalaysay ang mga naganap sa tatlong gimik ko ngayong summer.

Napagatanto ko kasing kung hindi mo isusulat ang mga nangyari sa buhay mo, kung walang dokumentong magpapatunay na nagawa mo nga iyon, walang litrato, walang video…edi parang kathang-isip lang ang lahat ng ala-ala mo sa mga sandaling iyon. Kaya’t mabuti nang isulat diba, para kahit papaano, alam mo na nangyari nga…hindi lang siya parang panaginip. (Nakuha ko yung ideyang yan kay Kaeos, hehehe. Tama nga naman siya. Basahin ninyo ito.)

LUZON: Penshoppe Bring Me Adventure cRace

April 24, 2005

VISAYAS: Boracay Is., Malay, Aklan

April 10-13, 2005

MINDANAO: Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental

April 19-22, 2005

Mindanao: Cagayan de Oro!

April 19-22: Cagayan de Oro

Unang taon pa lamang kami sa kolehiyo, nagpaplano na kami ni Gideon na pumuntang Mindanao. Dapat noong sembreak noong first year namin kami pupunta sa Davao. Makikitira dapat kami kina Lyle. Ngunit hindi kami natuloy. Naging roommates kami ni Gideon, at maraming beses na naming napag-usuapan muli ang pagtuloy sa isang trip sa Mindanao, pero dahil sa kakapusan sa oras at pera, hindi pa rin kami matuloy-tuloy.

Dumating din ang katapusan ng ikalawa naming taon, at muling tinanong ako ni Gideon kung gusto ko bang ituloy yung plano namin dati. Tutal, wala na naman kaming gagawin ngayong bakashon. I answered him with a resounding…

Waynaaatt???

Kaya ayun, pinlano na namin. Umisip kami ng tamang petsa para sa pagpunta. Pero hindi na sa Davao, kundi sa Cagayan de Oro.

Bakit nga ba doon?

1. Gusto naming i-try ang white whater rafting! Hehehe! Masaya yun! Adventure buffs pa naman kaming pareho.
2. Masarap daw pagkain doon…for some reason.
3. It’s friggin Mindanao! The southern most part of the country we both have been too was Bohol lang, Visayas lang. E dahil masyado naming mahal ang ating bansa, at gusto naming pataasin ang turismo dito…gusto naming pumuntang Mindanao! Kahit saan sa Mindanao!
4. At dahil may kaibigan kaming doon nakatira, si Gillian. Kasi nga naman, kailangan namin ng translator. Mejo lang naman purong Tagalog kami ni Gideon (siya Laguna, ako Bulacan at Nueva Ecija).
5. Nais din naming maging kinatawan ng aming mga kaklase sa nalalapit na debut ni Gillian doon. At least diba, may nakarating, kahit na advanced ng isang linggo (April 29 kasi ang debut niya).

Nagyaya na rin kami ng iba pang mga kaklase. Si Abe ang sunod na sumama. Pagkatapos, si Maan na rin (na mirakulong pinayagan!) kasama ang kanyang batang kapatid na si Tinton. At kaming lima ay tumungo na sa CGY de Oro isang Martes ng umaga.

Paglapag namin sa tarmac, pikchuran agad ang naisip namin. Kaya naman chenen! marami kaming litrato jan sa tarmac ng airport sa Lumbia, Misamis Oriental. Yung airport ng CDO, wala sa city, nasa bundok. Kaya nga nakakatawa pag pa-land na yung eroplano, akala mo ang taas-taas mo pa dahil nasa may bundok ka pa, pero bigla mo na lang mararamdaman na lumapag na pala kayo. Galing!

Sinundo kami sa airport ni Gillian at dinala kami sa bahay ng lola niya. Iyon ang magiging HQ (headquarters) namin sa susunod na apat na araw dahil hindi raw kami kasya sa bahay nila. Pagkatapos noon, pumunta kaming Jo’s Chicken Inato at doon kumain ng napakasarap na inihaw na chicken. Sa totoo lang, may Jo’s din dito malapit sa bahay, pero iba pa rin ang pakiramdam kung sa bagong lugar ka kakain! Mas masarap! Kumain din kami doon ng napakasarap na halo-halo na nasa bao ng buko.

Matapos noon, kami ay nagswimming sa clubhouse ng Xavier Estates. Nagalak ako dahil may mataas na slide doon parang sa Splash Island. Hehehe. Tsaka noon na lang ako muling nakalangoy sa swimming pool. Sayang wala akong litrato doon. Naglaro din kami ng billiards at table tennis. Pagkatapos, dumaan kami sa SM Cagayan de Oro, nagtingin-tingin ng mga bagay-bagay at umuwi na rin.

Sa mga panahong iyon, na-aamaze ako kung gaano katulad ng siyudad na ito ang Maynila o ang anumang siyudad sa NCR. Ganun na ganun din, may traffic, may suburbs, may mall (tatlong mall nga e, Gaisano, SM at Limketkai), may taxi (na kung tutuusin mas asenso pa kaysa Maynila dahil may mga taxing Altis at Sentra dito), may motorella, jeep, at iba’t ibang mga industriya. Hindi gaanong pangunahing industriya ang turismo sa CDO. (Hindi tulad sa Boracay, Baguio o kaya sa Tagbilaran kung ikukumpara). Ang mga bilihan ng pasalubong ay nasa mga mall, wala sa mga stalls. Ang mga tao ay halos puro Bisaya, kaya kung kakausapin mo ng Tagalog, Bisaya pa rin ang ibabalik sa iyo. Mas mainam nang kausapin mo ng Ingles para magkaintindihan kayo.

Sa Butcher’s Best Barbeque kami kumain ng hapunan. Buti naman at swak na swak ang pangalan nila sa inihahanda nilang pagkain! Tunay ngang masarap ang kanilang barbeque. Masarap din ang kanilang sisig! Wahh! Wala na lang akong ibang ginawa ngayong summer kundi kumain ng masasarap! Grabe…

Isang text ang gumising sa akin kinabukasan. “May bago nang pope!” Ayus. Si Ratzinger naging pope habang nasa Cagayan de Oro kami! We’ll forever remember this trip kasi kapag kami tumanda, at tinanong kung kelan na-elect si Pope Benedict XVI, well, we can all just easily remember…“ah, yun yung nasa CDO kami nung mga kaklase ko…” Nice.

Noong susunod na araw, kumain kami ng breakfast sa McDo. Naghanda na rin kami para sa isang umaatikabong adventure sa white water rafting! Sinundo kami ng jeep na may dala-dala ng mga gamit pang rafting ng 9AM ng umaga sa may Mcdo. 45 minutes kasi ang drive papuntang drop off point. Pero may sidetrip pa muna sa isang Nature Park. Doon ako nag-rapell (tsaka na ang litrato nito) sa isang punong napaka taas! Mga 50ft siguro yun! Pagbaba ko, nandoon na ako sa may mga kweba. Grabe, ang ganda doon sa baba! Sina Maan bumaba na rin pero dumaan sila sa hagdan. Yung mga litrato dito, susunod na, nandoon sa digicam pa e.

Sa wakas at narating na rin namin ang drop off point. Nagsuot muna kami ng gear, tapos tinuruan ng rafting basics, tsaka pa lang kami sumampa sa aming mga rafts. Maliban sa aming lima, may tatlo pa kaming kasama pero doon sila sa isa pang raft. Sa raft namin, may tatlo kaming guides, 8 kami sa raft.

Labing-apat ang lahat ng rapids, at sa pagitan ng mga ito, may mga sidetrips pa. Una na doon ay ang bridge jumping. Tumalon kami mula sa isang tulay, mga 20-30ft siguro ang taas mula sa tubig. Nakakatakot noong una, at aakalain mong napakababa lang nung tatalunin mo. Pero ‘pag tumalon ka na…grabe! Parang ang tagal mong nasa ere! Hindi naman nakakatakot malunod dahil naka-life vest naman kami e. Sususbukan dapat namin ni Abe na mag-tumbling sa aming pangalawang talon. Nauna siyang sumubok, pero sumobra ang kanyang ikot at naunang tumama sa tubig ang kanyang mukha. SAKIT!!! Hindi ko na sinubukang magtumbling at tumalon na lang ako nang regular. Hehehe.

Minsan din kaming pinayagang magpaanod sa current sa mga ripples (maliliit na rapids). Masaya! Para kang nasa wahsing machine at dinadala ka sa iisang parte ng tubig. Nakalutang naman kami dahil may life vest nga, kaya walang takot. Ngunit si Maan, noong panahon na ng pagbalik muli sa raft, mas lalo nang naanod papalayo sa amin! Hahaha! Kaya kailangan pa namin siyang i-rescue at hilahin paakyat sa raft! Para kaming may nahuling isang sirena! :]

Masaya talaga kapag dumadaan kami sa rapids! Para kang nilalamon ng mga alon na naglalakihan! Minsan na akong napahiga sa lakas ng tama sa akin ng tubig, pero masaya naman! Hehehe. Maganda at malinis yung tubig. Maganda ding makita ang pagkakaiba ng malalim at mababaw na tubig. (Ang malalim, walang ripples sa taas, ang mababaw, maalon ang ibabaw).

Isa pa sa mga sidetrips namin ay tinatawag nilang “Snake Preview” (kung ikaw ay mejo slow, ito ay hango sa katagang “Sneak Preview”). Isa itong stretch ng wall ng bato sa kanang dako ng ilog. Ang wall na ito ay puno ng butas, pinamamahayan ng mga ahas! Bago kami pumunta rito, tumama kami sa isang bato at muntik na daw mabutas ang aming raft. nagalit tuloy yung guide namin. Kaya ayun, sa Snake Preview…pilit siyang humanap ng ahas at hinuli niya ito!

PUTANG-INA! May phobia ako sa ahas at sa kahit anong reptiles!!!
PUTANG INA TALAGA!!!!!!
ILAYO NYO YAN SA AKIN!!!!!!!!

Sigaw ako nang sigaw doon! Nagnanais na nga akong tumalon sa tubig lalo na sa tuwing inilalapit sa amin nung guide yung kulay-tsokolateng ahas! Tang-ina! Kami ni Abe doon mukhang tanga! HAHAHAHA! Ansarap na lang tawanan ngayon, pero noong mga oras talagang iyon, kulang na lang himatayin ako! Tang-ina shet talaganga yan fuck fuck fuck!!!! Hanggang ngayon kininilabutan pa rin ako sa pangyayaring iyon. Hindi ako galit sa guide, hindi naman nila kasalanang may phobia ako. At least diba may excitement yung trip namin, ay may maalala akong napaka-hmm…vivid sa adventure na iyon.

Gandang SNAKE PREVIEW talaga ag pangalan.

Matapos kaming takut-takutin ng guide, pinakawalan na rin niya yung ahas. Aba! Kaya pala nitong lumangoy sa tubig! Para siyang nagski-skid sa ibabaw ng tubig patungo sa pampang. FUHREAKKKKYY MEEEHHHNNN!!! Hindi na ako muling lumabas sa raft magmula noon.

Tumungo rin kami sa isang cave, nagpeople power patulay sa isang rumaragasang ilog (para hindi kami matangay ng anod). Pumunta din kami sa pampang na maraming mga bato. Doon, may mga batong naka-balanse lang sa isa pang malaking bato nang walang pandikit! Astig nga e! Tignan nyo yung litrato sa kaliwa. Galing no?

Sa huling dalawang rapids, pinayagan na kaming tumayo ng aming guides. Ansaya! Para kaming mga hayok sa adventure!

Hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan yung ahas.

Natapos ang aming adventure nang wala man lang magandang finale. Bigla na lang natapos. Ayun. Hehehe. Nagsibilihan kami ng mga souvenirs, mga t-shirts at necklace.

Kahit gaano kasaya ang aming naging adventure, nalulungkot din ako dahil may isang casualty:

Nakakaiyak. Hehe, joke lang. Naaupuan ko kasi sa raft nung oras na takot na takot ako sa ahas! Hehehe. Itong pares kasing ito ay isang taon na ang tagal sa akin. Napakaraming lugar na nitong napuntahan: Subic, Banahaw, Baguio, Manila, Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Tagaytay Highlands, Canyonwoods, Tagaytay, Boracay, Batangas, Sta. Rosa, Calamba, Sto. Tomas, Makiling, at siyempre Cagayan de Oro. Marami na ring akong litrato na suot ko siya, ang pinaka una ay ito:

Sa Subic yan, nung field trip namin doon para sa Zoo 10 (Feb 29, 2004). Bumili kasi ako ng bagong shades para doon, ay iyon nga yung shades ko na nasira. kakalungkot. May it rest in peace.

O nga pala, nagtaping si Charlene Gonzales – Mulach doon sa Cagayn de Oro habang nandoon din kami para dun sa At Home Kayo Dito na show niya. hehe. Sayang, di namin siya nakita. :]

Habang hinihintay namin sina Gillian para sunduin kami, nakita ni Tinton na may nagaganap sa tabi niya. Jueteng operation pala. Hehehe. Pinikchuran namin, pero mejo hindi kita.

Pumunta din kaming Macumba bar noong gabi. Nakinig ng Pop-Rock DAW, pero tunog POP lang. Aysus. Pumasok kami dahil akala namin yung mga tugtog mga Sugarfree, Bamboo, Rivermaya, ganon. But no. Plano nga naming magrequest ng Mariposa ng Sugarfree, titignan namin kung makakanat nga ng banda. Pop-rock pala ah. *lol*

Kinabukasan, pumunta kami sa Duka Beach Resort. Iyon ay 2 hours mula sa Cagayan de Oro at nafeature din sa show ni Charlene! Hehehe. Doon kami nagbeach, sumakay ng canoe at kayak, at nagtitingin-tingin ng mga isda. Nakita namin yung parang Dory na isda, at isang starfish na blue. Nakakita din kami ng mga crablets at iba’t ibang klase ng corals. Dapat magsosnorkeling kami, pero naubusan na kami ng oras. Hehehe. Kumain kami sa isang parang dampa, kung saan pipili ka lang ng seafood tas ipapaluto mo sa kanila. At doon namin unang natikman yung adobong seashell (see pic). Para siyang kuhol, pero malaki!!! Grabe. kakabusog! May inihaw pa na isda at sinigang na panga. SARAP!

Namili na rin kami ng mga pasalubong noong araw ding iyon. Nag-uwi ako ng siniguelas, bulad (parang daing), dilis at mga t-shirts. Kinagabihan, nagkaroon ng munting salu-salo sa bahay nina Gillian kasama yung mga highschool barkada niya. Saya! Sarap pa ng litson.

Nung gabi, nanood kami ng AI. Putek yan, natanggal si Anwar! Siya pa naman ang gusto ko sa kanilang lahat. ARGH! Bat hindi na lang si Anthony o kaya si Scott! ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!! Hindi dapat si Anwar, maganda talaga boses nyaaa! as in! Harump.

Oras na para umalis kinabukasan. Mejo late na rin kaming nagising. Nagsimula na ang liguan, at nagpahuli na akong naligo. At aba, naubusan pa ng tubig! hehehe. Ayun, kaya kami ni Maan, yung mga huling naligo, hindi na nakaligo. Konting wisik wisik lang, at pabango, solb na! Bwahahaha.

Pagkasundo sa akin sa airport ng ate ko, nagpahatid ako sa SM North. Bakit? Dahil may pupuntahan pa ako. Hehehe. Kung ano? Sa susunod na lang na entry.

Ang saya-saya ng Cagayan de Oro trip. Lalo na’t dahil kami-kami lang ang pumuntang magkakaibigan. Walang parental supervision o kung anuman. Ang saya-saya talaga! Yehey! Sana maulit ang mga ganitong klaseng outing sa mga susunod pang taon naming magkakasama! :p

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