Camiguin Getaway

It was an unexpected vacation for me to Camiguin Island. Although, I have been planning to go there by myself or with some office mates of mine a couple of years ago, we did not have the time because of the work’s tight schedule and if we happen to have time, we did not have enough budgets to do so. Even my family had planned to go there one day but it always gets postponed every time. Now, I could not believe I finally stepped into the place I call a paradise. It was a surprisingly romantic and sweet escapade for me.

It was a gloomy day when my friend, Roy and I left the city of Cagayan de Oro on January 27, 2009 at past 7 o’clock in the morning. We boarded on a Paras Seacat vessel that took us 2 hours of traveling from the city’s port to Camiguin. I was filled with excitement yet worried also. I was afraid of getting nauseated because the waves were kind of rough this time. I usually get motion sickness in a very bumpy ride; (whether in air, land or sea) and when I am in a closed area, also. We were occupying the business class seats, where all windows are closed. This worsens my condition. I took some mint candies but that didn't work either. I threw-up before the vessel could reach the docks of Camiguin.

We arrived in Camiguin at around 11 o’clock in the morning. It had been raining slightly there, too. There was a van that picked us up at the port and brought us to Paras Beach Resort that took us half an hour to get there. The resort staffs gave us a warm greeting. They hang souvenir necklaces to us and gave us a refreshing fruit drinks. Since it was my Roy’s second time around to stay in the resort they have known him already. The front desk people were quick to fix everything (from our transportation, to some places we wished to go and to our tickets going back to Cagayan de Oro) which made a lot of things easier for the guests. After telling them what we wanted to do that very day we were taken to our respective rooms and rested for a while.

(The tide was high and you can almost see a small portion of the White Island. This is the view from the terrace of the executive suite I am occupying.)

The night before we left, I sent a text message to a dear friend of mine who lives in Camiguin. I told her that I will be going there with a friend. She knew that it has always been my dream to go there one day and that dream had finally come true. She set the time and place for the reunion together with our boyfriends. We met in this place called Roof Top, a hotel and bar in the town. We had lunch together and spent a couple of hours talking and reminiscing the good old days when she was in Cagayan de Oro City.

(This is Aisa, one of my closest colleague when we were in Stickymediasolutions, Inc.) This was taken at the Roof Top hotel and bar.)

The following day we set off to the White Island by Jet Ski after taking our breakfast. There, we sun bathe and rubbed ourselves with sands. I am not a beach person. I hate being exposed under the heat of the sun and getting sun burned. Despite of these negative notions of mine, Roy changed it all. I was having fun in the beach wearing a one piece, bright pink-printed bathing suit for the very first time!

(Me with my one-piece swimsuit!)

At lunch time we dined out at J&A fish pen. This is one of the best places to eat out in the island. I had a crab cooked in coconut chowder or “ginataan na alimango” in tagalog. Also Roy had his ever much-loved soup, “sinigang na tangigue” which is one of my favourites also. Even if he is a stranger in our place he got to eat some Filipino dishes which he finds sweet. I don’t know how he found sinigang to be sweet, in spite of of its sour broth taste. Hehehe. We really had a full stomach after that. Then we proceed to seeing the sights of only few chosen destinations in the island. Those sights that we get to pass by going back to Paras Beach Resort because of very limited time.

Our next stop after the lagoon (J&A fish pen), was at the Katibawasan Falls. It is a one of the tourist destination which is 4 kilometers away from the high-way going uphill. We had a slight bumpy ride because of the unpaved road. Worse were the preceding landslides that occurred during the typhoon Ondoy. We took some pictures there. As we were looking around the place, we notice some trashes that were left by the visitors. We were so very disappointed because there was no garbage bin in the picnic area. We thought a comfort room was along the rocky area of the spring. We went near to check it out; there are empty plastic containers and trashes thrown inside. There were even empty junk food foils inserted within the rock walls. I wish there were guides assigned to look after the visitors so to protect the cleanliness of the nature from these people who just throw their rubbish everywhere.

(The water is clear and cold. I was tempted to take a dip but I did not bring with me my swimwear.)

Then we headed to the Philvolcs Observatory, where we had a bird’s eye view of the Camiguin Islands. Afterwards, we had our last stop over at the Springs of Ardent. We had to go back to the resort to get our swimming stuff. Then we hurriedly returned to Ardent and we took a warm dip in the hot spring water coming from the volcano. It was undeniably a relaxing experience for us.

Roy and I appreciated the spectacular sights, the nice people, the carefree living of the Camiguingnon, and the blissful place they have. We were fortunate to tour this place by taking a van and with a patient driver that waited for us for hours because it was much faster and convenient than taking a passenger vehicle. We definitely would like to go back there soon.

I Hate This Part---Addicted To Acoustic

There are some point in our lives in which we hate the part of being in a painful circumstances. Like a hurtful break up from a treasured relationship and so many other heart-rending happenings. But life is not all that bad. Even if there are nice things that we thought will linger forever but it slowly slipping away from our fingers and we don’t know why. In the end, we realize things like that happen sometimes. We just have to accept the truth that things change and there are new opportunities of new love to come our way.

We're driving slow through the snow on Fifth Avenue
And right now radio's all that we can hear
Now we ain't talked since we left, it's so overdue
It's cold outside but between us it's worse in here

The world slows down
But my heart beats fast right now
I know this is the part
Where the end starts

I can't take it any longer
Thought that we were stronger
All we do is linger
Slipping through our fingers
I don't wanna try now
All that's left's goodbye
To find a way that I can tell you
I hate this part right here
I hate this part right here
I just can't take your tears
I hate this part right here

Everyday, seven takes of the same old scene
Seems we're bound by the laws of the same routine
Gotta talk to you now 'fore we go to sleep
But will we sleep once I tell you it's hurting me

The world slows down
But my heart beats fast right now
I know this is the part
Where the end starts

I can't take it any longer
Thought that we were stronger
All we do is linger
Slipping through our fingers
I don't wanna try now
All that's left's goodbye
To find a way that I can tell you
I hate this part right here
I hate this part right here
I just can't take your tears
I hate this part right here

I know you'll ask me to hold on
And carry on like nothing's wrong
But there is no more time for lies
'Cause I see sunset in your eyes

I can't take it any longer
Thought that we were stronger
All we do is linger
Slipping through our fingers
I don't wanna try now
All that's left's goodbye
To find a way that I can tell you

That I gotta do it,
I gotta do it,
I gotta do it
I hate this part
I gotta do it,
I gotta do it,
I gotta do it

I hate this part right here
And I just can't take these tears
I hate this part right here

Points of View on Latest Pinoy Big Brother

I am neither a big fan of Pinoy Big Brother nor an avid follower of the said reality show. I likely watched it on its last season where there were few of them left in the house. Maybe because I have a clearer view of who are the promising housemates to belong in the top 4 in becoming the next grand winner? As the weeks gone by, there were many evictees and as the lesser people remain inside the house, tougher the competition gets. They were able to meet people from different parts of the archipelago with diverse beliefs and attitude. These factors affect the smooth interpersonal relationship along with the other housemates. The criteria for judging are very unambiguous so that whoever passes each task, he must have done it with a very remarkable attitude. Also, with the help of the fanatics who cast their votes with their favourite candidate via SMS contributes in choosing the next big winner.

Okay, let’s talk about the chosen Big 5. Before, there were only four battling for the ultimate Big Winner. I don’t know why it became 5 now. Maybe someone deserved to complete the Big 5. It was Steve "Tibo" Jumalon who won the 5th title. I was more likely to be happy if he had won the 3rd place instead of Jason. Anyways, congratulations and long live my town mate!

Jason Francisco? Contrary from what he was known to be the tough guy in his hometown, is a childish and mushy Jason inside the PBB house. Despite of being young and in love with Melai, lies inside is a strong character where according to him he gets what he wants. I think he was so determined to win that even proposing his adoration to Melai was one of the reasons why he caught the hearts of many and gained the third highest vote. He just knows how to find his way through popularity and that the Melai-Jason love tandem has kept amused thousands of viewers. I just hope this is not one of the well-scripted love stories in show business just to promote their selves.

Melai or Melissa Cantiveros was Pinoy Big Brother Double up Grand Winner. The close fight was between her and Paul Jake Castillo at that time. I was expecting and was more likely to be happier if he had become the grand winner. Even if he came from a well-off family in Cebu he showed humbleness towards his fellow housemates. I think he let everyone see the real him and expressed himself truthfully. He was a dashing debonair at that very moment; I could almost melt when he smiles.

On the other hand, I am not against in Melai’s victory. I don’t want to be rude here. I just want to express how I felt. My impression when her name was announced as the big winner was it was a ‘’lutong Macau’’ decision. Honestly, I find her overacting in the way she talks. For me, she doesn’t seem natural at all. Perhaps she won because there were many people who were amused by their wacky love team of Jason. For me, it just turned out to be so unnatural in the end. Okay, they have entertained thousands of viewers with their funny mushy love story inside the PBB house. Will it be still amusing after the coronation night and in the coming days? Now that all eyes are on them whether on or off camera won’t they get tired of making fun of themselves or shall I say making fool out of themselves?

Cheesy Tag Lines

Here are some of the cheesiest tag lines that caught my interest. I don’t think I need to elaborate more of what is written because I think it was expressed in the simplest way as a grade school can understand what a crush is. Nevertheless, I can only share with you my feelings toward each tag line based on my experiences.



This is the process of getting hurt, moving on with a broken relationship, and being happily in love again. Life’s not always that bad at all. There is a time to get hurt and a time to heal. The heart sometimes has to triumph over heartaches and has always given a chance of finding that one true and everlasting love.



I always thought I could never love again the way I did before but I was wrong. It’s just somehow proven the saying that a person has truly moved on if he finds someone new and that someone is making him happy in the present. The question is do I still see him as part of my future? Now that I am so madly in love with someone else I don’t think he’s a part of it anymore.




These are funny baselines. Each line simply talks about how foolish a heart can be when it comes to falling in love and breaking up with the person you love. I had once broken up with someone that I really was in love with so much. I have my reasons in doing so but I need not talk about it here. The first line is suitable for me at that moment.

Sweet Treats

There is a corresponding story to every chocolate I love. Whether it tells about my childhood, and my teenage life chocolates definitely played a big part of my life. As a chocolate lover I enjoy both the flavor and the feeling of chocolate melting in my mouth. Chocolate is an all time favorite "comfort food" of which I am emotionally addicted to because I oftentimes get caught munching a bar whenever I feel distressed. Some of the people who are close to me can prove to that. My grandparents were chocolate lovers, too. I guess I inherited the genes. They used to have a bagful of sweet goodies for us grandchildren as presents every time they arrive from their out of the country trips. Every one of us would receive each variety of the chocolate. I have here are seven of my favorites.


Undeniably Snickers is in the top of my list. I find myself a little tricky when I trade some of my chocolates that I less likely eat from other members of the household who has Snickers. I like its soft, chewy nougat, layered with peanuts and caramel and finally coated with chocolate. I like it chilled before taking a bite.


I recently discovered this one time in a fridge in a hotel where I once stayed in. Its chocolate coating is tremendously thicker besides having to bite down hard through to the chocolate and wafer to get into my mouth; I find it much better than the traditional KitKat wafer bar.


My grandmother used to have a canister filled with Hershey’s Kisses chocolate on top of her fridge. I would likely sneak inside the master’s bedroom and get a handful of these. I was guilty but...nahhh... I love the feeling anyway.


When I was a kid used to get sore throat after eating a bar of Toblerone Swiss White Chocolate Bar. It was also one of my cravings when I was pregnant with my eldest son.


Twix chocolate bar is a layer of caramel, cookie/ biscuit smothered with milk chocolate. It is usually packaged in pairs. I recall eating this inside the bathroom which I did twice. Hahaha. So silly of me!


Well obviously this is not a chocolate but it’s still one of my favorite sweet treats. There are other flavors of Skittles but the red pack or the original flavor is the one that I really like. It has yellow, green, red, purple, and orange colors. I place 5 colors of Skittles in my palm and swallow it altogether! Isn’t that a blast of flavorful experience?

Everything But the Girl - Missing

I woke up one morning with this song played on my radio alarm clock. Its title ‘’Missing ‘’, was sang by ‘’Everything but the Girl’’. It’s a song filled with nostalgia and best describes me at this point in time. (Clears the throat) It’s almost a year since he was gone and somehow still unable to really move on. Moving on is quite difficult when that person was the one you really wanted and needed to spend the rest of your life with.

He finally decided to move on the fastest pace. He even initiated to cut all connections. You’re not in speaking terms anymore. You became totally strangers to each other even if you agreed to be friends after you broke up. Sometimes you pretended that everything was ok but everywhere you looked there was always something that reminded you of him and the pain would come back. Whether it's a song, movie or a place, you can recall the times and then end up getting hurt all over again. You don’t know if he still lives there, has moved to another place, and is still single and happy with someone? Well one thing is for sure there is no hope when a person is not communicating with you after all just like the song tries to convey.