rehinapola: 2013

Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon

23:44

A place down south also known as "The city of Golden Friendship". Cagayan de Oro is famous for rafting and the longest zipline, though a lot of people think that this city may not offer as much as other cities can, they are dead wrong with that! It is surrounded by nature even though a lot of business ventured around the place.

How to get there:
From manila

By plane - Book a flight either from cebpac or zestair for affordable prices, wait for the promo to avail cheaper seats.
By boat - Schedule your sail from 2GO or Superferry.

I recommend you to take the plane, if you're like me who dreads being on a ship for period of time. Plus, it's more convenient and won't eat your time.

From the Airport - there are a lot of shuttles or rentals that will take you to any part of the city. It's around 199 to 200+ per person. Well, if you're alone that's the best price but if you happened to be in a group, getting a cab is much better.
The new Airport is way far from the city proper and it will take around 400php if you insist to the driver to use the meter.

Must go places:

1. City proper - Here is a place where the ambiance of manila and the province collide. The place is very familiar and the people are surely friendly, the only problem is I can't speak bisaya.

- Means of transpo in the city = "Motorella" It's a motorcycle cab that can accomodate 7 people including the driver. Most local calls it "rella".

- Souvenirs = You can buy from Gaisano mall or limketkai for affordable goods, get Slers longganisa and bacon from OROrama, t-shirt at the kagay office (you can still haggle 😉)

2. Dahilayan Forest Park - This place has the feel of baguio or Tagaytay. The place is very serene. Children as well as adults will enjoy themselves in this acre of nature. The picnic ground is full of animal replicas that for some reason looked surreal. There are numbers of activities to do that will satisfy your urge for adventure. Click here for more info.

3. Dahilayan Adventure Park - though it's in the same vicinity as the forest park, the fees and management is separated. The adventure park's attractions are for extremist. Those with acrophobia won't be able to enjoy what the park can offer. Here, where the longest zipline in Asia can be found. Check their site to find out more

4. Del monte Clubhouse - For some sport enthusiast, having a tee off in this wide green terrain is a blast. I was told that it's open for both members and non-members of the club. So, visitors can hit some if they want to stretch it out. The clubhouse serves affordable yet tasty food. If you're into desserts, I highly recommend the mango float.

Can't golf, raining..

Empty parking

5. Rafting - Something that you must not forget in this trip is Rafting! It's the number thing that you must do before leaving CdO. It's my first time and If I'm given a chance to do it everyweek, I will. I'm a big water sport fan and this one is now check from my bucket list. I recommend Kagay, the pioneer in CdO for whitewater rafting. They are very professional and they trained from Foreign experts and other rafting company trained from them.

Tips:

If you plan to go to Bukidnon, where Dahilayan and Del monte Clubhouse resides, it's better to rent a car.
Bring extra shirts, you'll never know what adventure you'll be into.
It's better to have cash than use your credit card.
If you plan to do rafting in the morning, don't forget to put tons of sunblock and wear long sleeves / rashguard / leggings, if you don't want an overly tanned skin and sunburns. Sunnies and caps are handy too!

Disclaimer:I'm unable to provide accommodation information, my sister's in laws' reside in the city :D
Trip was September 5-9, 2013

Japanese

Arakawa under the bridge

18:21

Love

Grammar of Love: Punctuation

16:49

Punctuation

The marks, such as period, comma, and parentheses, used in writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning.
Rapid or sudden speciation, as suggested by the theory of punctuated equilibrium.

I've been in the line of teaching English as a foreign language for quite awhile, but teaching punctuation has never been my forte. Lately, in one of our team discussions, I've encounter dealing with punctuation in a proof reading activity. It's not even a surprise for me to get an eight out of fifteen. I never really like Grammar, who would? When we talk, we just use our mouth despite of using our head we disregard spellings, grammar and even punctuation. Not unless you're a Grammarian that Grammar is your bread and butter. Well, not for me.

Here's my take on Grammar when entwined with love.

In every sentence, we use COMMA to pause or to breathe in between a long sentence. It’s relatively the same when it comes to LOVE. We use a Comma when we need to have a breather from either an exhausting or overwhelming relationship. It’s the time to rethink what you've said or done in the past. This is when one asks for space from their partners. Same in Grammar, when the comma separates the elements in the sentence and indicates which part of the sentence is a dependent or an independent clause.

Those clauses somehow represent people in a relationship. One is dependent when he/she can’t stand alone or would be in a manner evidently helpless or worthless without the other half. On the contrary, the independent speaks for itself. It has the ability to stand firmly and strongly alone, whatever decision or upshot come to light. It can be complete without anyone’s help.

In every sentence after a comma, the sentence must still end with a Period, Question mark or an Exclamation point, depending on the situation or dialogue. Likewise to every love story:

A Period may be a break-up or an end to a relationship. It’s when you had enough. You stop your sentence when you don’t feel like talking. When you think there’s nothing else you want to say. It stops there.

A Question Mark implies an unresolved issue, of wanting to know more, of somehow having the “what if’s” and “Why's” in the relationship. This question mark may be a sign of no closure from the relationship. As if leaving both parties questions hanging, by some means of prolonging each other’s company or agony.

An Exclamation Point which exudes an impact or a big change in a relationship which can either make or break the bond depending on how it’s been used. If sweet words were to use and ends in an exclamation point such as: “I love you”, “I miss you”, “I need you”, or so on. Needless to say, it may somehow turn the table of a period. Nevertheless, if this punctuation is to be used in dire language, need not to say that one will break while the other bare shamelessly.

Though the few punctuation beforehand emanate not your Disney happy ending expectations and doesn't satisfy your media bias beliefs at all; there’s still some few punctuation left. Don’t lose hope!

We use the Dash or hyphen for two words to come together, such as: Numbers and etc. I've seen in an article that a hyphen can change the meaning of a sentence. It’s no different with people in love. Hyphen is like marriage. It bands together two hearts as one and one will be privileged to use the other’s last name next to her maiden name by the use of a hyphen, though through the evolution of man, these days, those ties are slashed by separation; despite the fact that my country doesn't legalize it. All the same, we have Divorce, annulment and separation where in, it’s inevitable.

A Semicolon is to link two independent clause that either has contradicting statements or closely related ideas in a single sentence. In a more human sense, a semicolon happens in a relationship when two people who are, to some extent, different. May it be in the stature in life, personality, or Social and Religious preferences. When two poles of a magnet finally unites. If you think about it, A semicolon relationship would be for those wild hearts tamed by one another. ~~Oh! the hopeless romantic side of me.~~

Well, that's it for now.. I'll explain next time I feel the urge to write ;)

#Travel

Baler, Aurora

00:39

A place in the north part of the Philippines, known as the Surfing Capital. Almost 7-8 hours from Manila via Public transportation. The Place that has Vans and Tricycles as it's only means of going in and around the area. This wonder lust location that will capture the nature freak inside you, offers a feast for you eyes or lenses for those photo-ops addict and an incredible rush for those who craves for an adventure.

How to get there:

From manila - From pasay, Take Either 5 star or Genesis bus. I highly recommend you to take the 5star bus if you don't plan to spend much on transpo. The first bus leaves at 2am and it's not crowded, reclining the chair 180degees is possible! Route must be Manila to Cabanatuan If you have that extra cash, Go with the Genesis Joy bus that will take you from Manila straight to Baler for about 6 hours.
From Cabanatuan- Take either a bus or a van to go to Baler city proper. If you arrive at the break of dawn, Buses can't be found. But the Vans are 24hours but it will wait until its filled.
From Baler Public market - Tricycle drivers will line up to send you to your hotels.

Must go places:

1. Sabang beach - The place where you'd like to have your accommodation. You can do your do die for surfing moves here. = First time surfer? Don't fret! There are hundreds of surfing schools with a perfectly toned abs instructor :D There are Surfing schools who lends or rent rashguards and offers free sunblocks and drinks. =Where to eat? For breakfast, Bay's inn will delight you with their buffet and freshly cooked food from the menu. Don't forget to try Sinigang na blue marlin!

Learning to surf

With our instructors

2. Balete Tree - It's a park where a big balete tree resides. If you're too superstitious, you might want to skip this part. It's a 600 year old tree that has tons and tons of arms around it. If you've seen the movie the strangers from MMFF, it looks like that. But the fun thing about it, you can climb and go in it. Explore the monkey inside you! :D

surf crew

3. Ditumabo falls - If you're into adventure, you must not miss this! The ride going there is too much bumpy and it takes more or less of an hour trek to get to it. But the scenery on the way is absolutely breathe taking. You'll need to cross the stream 3 times and see numbers of mini falls before you get to the main attraction. The water is very clear and freezing. Taking a dip is a must!

4. Lukso-lukso islets - tiny islands that's good for your point and shoot. The place has a great blue water and near the shore, hundreds of starfish and tiny fish enveloped the place. on the way here, you will pass 2 mini falls.The first falls is worth the climb!

5. Ermita hill - It's where one of the oldest family climbed to survive a tidal wave. It's a mini park on the top. Good place to take a snap of the whole place. There's a tunnel that was used by either the Japanese or Americans.

6. Ampere beach - The long rocky beach where you can also do your surfing moves. (at your risk!) The waves here are just so high, like being in hawaii. There's a cave that you can go in, if the water and waves permits you. If not, you can still get in but the going out part is the question.

7. Dipaculao white beach - Though, I haven't been here. The tour guide told us that it's most famous because of it's sand. Fine white sand! Like theBoracay of the north. It's 2-3 hour drive from baler to get here. But I bet, it's worth the drive.

Expenses:

-Manila to Cabanatuan Bus = 196.00

-Cabanatuan to Baler Van = 220.00

-Baler market to Hotel Tryk = 15.00

-Accommodations for 1pax = 300.00 (room sharing for 5 = 1500)
- Surfing with instructor 1hr = 350.00
- Whole day tryk rental = 267.00 (sharing for 3 =800)

Tips:

Better to go there via public-transpo because the road is pretty tricky and a night drive is never adviced for those roadrunners.
Bring a lot of swim wear(Rashguard and your speedos) and few extra clothes.
Tons of sunblock (if you don't plan to have some tan)
Water resistant camera. To capture awesome beach and falls scenery.

Disclaimer: You can still haggle with the tricycle ride. I won't recommend those parked at sabang area they have dark schemes. Tricycle rental at baler proper is really great, they don't waste time and they will help and teach you about the do's and dont's. Here's the number of our trusted driver +63-919-685-4371 look for "Ricardo and Michael" Duo's. They are great!