North Luzon Day 1 / May 16 - Viva Vigan

We left Tarlac City a little past 5:00am. For this 300 kilometer journey, our ETA Vigan was 11am but we were there almost 1pm because of traffic in some parts, bad roads and multiple call of nature breaks.

We had lunch at Cafe Uno resto which was recommended by my officemates. Next up was we checked in at Vigan Plaza Hotel whose location was just perfect. It's along Calle Crisologo which is the main tourist destination in this Unesco acclaimed city. We had empanada at okoy at the empanadahan. I wonder why they didn't call the place okoyan. We rode the calesa (horse drawn carriage) in a tour around the city. We went to Jose Burgos' birthplace, pottery making plant, souvenir shops and calle crisologo. Dinner was in Cafe Leonora then we called it a night.

Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur (daytime)

Empanadahan in Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Cathedral of Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Pottery Making in Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Riding a Calesa in Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur (night time)

North Luzon Adventure: one van, one plan

Let me start by saying that this is my first time in my adult life to go north of the philippines. The farthest I've been up north is Baguio City. I was 10 years old when i first went to the Ilocos region.

The trip is made special because the travel team includes my mother, my sister and her 1 yr old daughter, my ninang jing, my wife, my 11 yr old son and 5 yr old daughter. And of course the driver Edwin. He was a big factor because his presence meant less stress for me and more opportunity to take pictures.

For this 3 day adventure, the plan was to explore the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Sur and en route see the sights along the highway in the provinces of Tarlac, Pangasinan and La Union. The itinerary includes checking out churches, windmill watching and marveling at marcos family wealth.

Let the adventure begin.

52 Pick-Up : May 5, 2008

"It's a good day to die" by Alan Raimy (played by John Glover) in the movie 52 Pick-Up. I remember one weekday afternoon in the mid 80s when my father and I watched the movie at my grandfather's house in Tarlac City. My father liked the movie and so did I.

A year ago, I got a text from my mother which reads "Papa is in d icu. Ask 4 prayers 4 him cal". We were on the last day of our family vacation then in Singapore and that text was not a fitting way to cap a trip.

Two days after we arrived in the Phils from SG, my sister and I were on a plane to DeLand Florida USA to see my father. It was my worse and best trip to the land of milk and honey. Worse because I'd be going there to face a situation that I feared all my life. Best because we (my mother, my sister and myself) were by his bedside when he passed away.

I dreaded the type of message that I received from my mother but I knew sooner or later I would receive that kind of message. It was just a matter of time. When my father passed away, it dawned on me the reality that life is not eternal in the world we live in. It's my father's 1st year death anniversary today (5/5).

Eternal rest grant unto the soul of my father Jose Jr. May perpetual life shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Pacman-Hitman: A win win for DL

May 3, 2009

Just hours before the big fight between Filipino Manny Pacquiao and Briton Ricky Hatton, my thought bubble is that this is a win win situation for me because a win by Hatton would mean I'll be P200 peso richer while a win Manny would mean glory for the Filipinos. I want Pacman to win this fight. Good luck, Manny!