Reaching out to the Aetas: What shall we put in the goody bag.

Once in a while, I get communication from people who stumbled upon my blog interested in coming up to the Aetas for a day of outreach activity.

There has been the slippers, the toothbrushes, the folding fans, the body scrub nylon, etc.

I hated to say NO to people who wanted to help; It’s hard to reject ideas from genuinely generous people who wants things better. But then again, after that, there’s still yet another bigger regret. 

Fact is, that brush, that scrub, that slipper, it would be left sitting somewhere for time they would not even bother; Whereas, this could have sufficed for some rice over one meal; Or a pouch of ketchup which they’d be so happy about to top and add flavor to a mere rice bowl.

They may have slippers, but the same dirt we want to keep them away is somewhere else too, cheeks or hands perhaps. They’d leave it that way, they won’t even realize it’s there. It’s cold, and it’s a long way down to the stream to bathe. They’d rather sleep with that dust and dirt and keep it warm for the night.

Worst, after wearing it the first time, they may leave it somewhere, and not even realize they were wearing slippers, just because they have gotten so used to walking barefoot.

The toothbrush; It’s too tiring to get water, for them to even use water to brush. It’ll make them hungry to get rid of that lasting flavor from their last meal in their mouth. They won’t even have toothpaste for it.

The fan.. it’s not even warm there. It’s perpetually breezy to cold.. They’d probably use a jacket more.

This is the reason I ask these people, always, what they want, and what they need. So, I’d like to share what I heard from them so future concerned individuals can be well aware.

FOOD.

Rice is well received. Without water source up there, they can’t grow rice. Their only source of carbohydrate are the sweet potatoes and bananas, mixed and mashed together. If they have money to buy rice from a 3 hour return trek away, then it would be a feast.

No sardines.

The sardines has been a major character within the relief goody bags. It’s been taken as a poorman’s fallback. Surprisingly, I heard from these people that they get bodily reactions from it. I don’t have a postulate until now.

I was thinking it might be that their bodies are not accustomed to Sea based diet, but then again, they are ok with and love TUYO. They normally boil the dried fish and mix it with some greens for soup.

Salt and ketchup. These people would be so happy to have rice for a meal. For them, it’s better than their usual banana or sweet potato. It’s an added grace to have something else on top, soup, or anything.

In these times they don’t have anything else, mixing rice with Salt, or topping it with ketchup will do. I assume they would love the lechon sauces too.

Coffee and Sugar. It keeps them warm, especially during the night.

Instant Noodles – They boil it with Malunggay or other leaves and work as a viand.

Books? No, they don't know how to read (except for a few students). Perhaps those with images would be good.

Medicines? perhaps OTC ones and multivitatmins? And leave them to someone who knows the indications of these medicines. Antibiotics? Perhaps not. 

Send in your comments on what else you think will be good. Ask if you may :-) so we can brainstorm.



Overview of Sitio Banaba, Brgy Sapang Uwak, Porac, Pampanga

Up until the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, the Aeta tribes of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga were living humbly scattered within the mountain range of the region. After the eruption, evacuations, and resettlement programs of the government, some have decided to embrace city living, some have resettled into the foothills, to have access to both services and their farmlands, while a small fraction have insisted on living the old mountain life.

ACCESS: Sitio Banaba is under the jurisdiction of Brgy Sapang Uwak, which is the community in the foothill.

Before reaching Sapang uwak, there is a Private Checkpoint by LLL Holdings. At this checkpoint, guests are required to submit a waiver (see blog post for copy of the waiver), register, and leave an ID. Guests are also prohibited from taking pictures in this checkpoint (because of their illegal checkpointing activity, as per ruling from CHR).

In sapang uwak, outdoor enthusiasts en route to the waterfalls (3 hours past Sitio Banaba) are required to register and pay 30 pesos per head + guide.

Back during the Lapid's town administration, an access road has been made for 4x4s all the way to Mount Pinatubo. However, as the overlying land is a loose covering from the ash and lava throw from the eruption, the road easily eroded during the heavy rains. Hence, it is not advisable to travel to the area during rainy season.

Also, around 2kilometers from the community in the foothill, en route to Sitio Banaba/Mt Pinatubo, there is a steep, with a very rough ground, ascend that is not recommended for first time (4x4) drivers to the place. 

Sitio  Banaba is reachable, 2-4 hours by feet, or 30mins by vehicle (4x4, tricycle, or single motorbike).

There are 4x4 jeeps that may be rented. These jeeps are the same dealers who buy crops from the aetas in sitio banaba (at a very, very low price)

From previous outreach programs, because of the volume of goods we will be dristributing, I have borrowed the Municipal Government truck. However, it rained 2 days before the event that made it impossible for the truck to reach the community. We manually ported every item from foothill to the community.

There are around 80 families scattered in the surrounding mountains of the sitio. The center of the community (2.5 hours average on foot), where we hold our programs, has around half the population.

The houses on the outskirts are the families that are most nomadic, where some of their houses are just made of banana leaves. 

The current crops in the are puso ng saging, camote, gabi and ube.

As there is an abundant number of bananas growing in the area, Their income is mostly from Puso ng Saging. These bananas are the 'butolan' type so they can't be sold as fruits. Instead, it is the sap that is sold. One individual earns less around 160 pesos out of a full day of work to fill up 2 sacks of puso ng saging. A sack would have more than 50 Pusos stacked.

Rice price in the area is around P60 per kilo, and with 4-5 individuals in a household, what they earn in a day is not even sufficient to buy enough rice. Hence, their diet is mostly banana and camote boiled and mashed together. Having rice in a meal is more than enough, and will be lucrative to have salt/ketchup as an added flavor.

Water is scooped from the river at the bottom of the hill, about 150m below, an hour up and down to trek. It is the same reason why taking a bath is not routinary for them, especially for the kids. Plus, it gets cold at night, so some dirt serves some warmth.

At the moment, there are about 15 from the whole sitio community who are attending classes. 14 are in grade school, and 1 in high school. These kids attend the grade school from the Sapang uwak vicinity. 

Some of them, those residing very far away, goes down on the sunday afternoon, and live near the school for a week, before coming back home on the friday afternoon. 

They either live with their relatives there, or stay in a vacant hut they have there. 

For high school, they will have to go to town proper.

contact: Angeline: (0919) 832 5178

-resident of Sitio Banaba

see here for other aeta related articles

Once in a while, I get communication from people who stumbled upon my blog interested in coming up to the Aetas for a day of outreach activity.

There has been the slippers, the toothbrushes, the folding fans, the body scrub nylon, etc.

I hated to say NO to people who wanted to help; It’s hard to reject ideas from genuinely generous people who wants things better. But then again, after that, there’s still yet another bigger regret. 

Fact is, that brush, that scrub, that slipper, it would be left sitting somewhere for time they would not even bother; Whereas, this could have sufficed for some rice over one meal; Or a pouch of ketchup which they’d be so happy about to top and add flavor to a mere rice bowl.

They may have slippers, but the same dirt we want to keep them away is somewhere else too, cheeks or hands perhaps. They’d leave it that way, they won’t even realize it’s there. It’s cold, and it’s a long way down to the stream to bathe. They’d rather sleep with that dust and dirt and keep it warm for the night.

Worst, after wearing it the first time, they may leave it somewhere, and not even realize they were wearing slippers, just because they have gotten so used to walking barefoot.

The toothbrush; It’s too tiring to get water, for them to even use water to brush. It’ll make them hungry to get rid of that lasting flavor from their last meal in their mouth. They won’t even have toothpaste for it.

The fan.. it’s not even warm there. It’s perpetually breezy to cold.. They’d probably use a jacket more.

This is the reason I ask these people, always, what they want, and what they need. So, I’d like to share what I heard from them so future concerned individuals can be well aware.

FOOD.

Rice is well received. Without water source up there, they can’t grow rice. Their only source of carbohydrate are the sweet potatoes and bananas, mixed and mashed together. If they have money to buy rice from a 3 hour return trek away, then it would be a feast.

No sardines.

The sardines has been a major character within the relief goody bags. It’s been taken as a poorman’s fallback. Surprisingly, I heard from these people that they get bodily reactions from it. I don’t have a postulate until now.

I was thinking it might be that their bodies are not accustomed to Sea based diet, but then again, they are ok with and love TUYO. They normally boil the dried fish and mix it with some greens for soup.

Salt and ketchup. These people would be so happy to have rice for a meal. For them, it’s better than their usual banana or sweet potato. It’s an added grace to have something else on top, soup, or anything.

In these times they don’t have anything else, mixing rice with Salt, or topping it with ketchup will do. I assume they would love the lechon sauces too.

Coffee and Sugar. It keeps them warm, especially during the night.

Instant Noodles – They boil it with Malunggay or other leaves and work as a viand.

Books? No, they don't know how to read (except for a few students). Perhaps those with images would be good.

Medicines? perhaps OTC ones and multivitatmins? And leave them to someone who knows the indications of these medicines. Antibiotics? Perhaps not. 

Send in your comments on what else you think will be good. Ask if you may :-) so we can brainstorm.



Overview of Sitio Banaba, Brgy Sapang Uwak, Porac, Pampanga

Up until the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, the Aeta tribes of Zambales, Tarlac, and Pampanga were living humbly scattered within the mountain range of the region. After the eruption, evacuations, and resettlement programs of the government, some have decided to embrace city living, some have resettled into the foothills, to have access to both services and their farmlands, while a small fraction have insisted on living the old mountain life.

ACCESS: Sitio Banaba is under the jurisdiction of Brgy Sapang Uwak, which is the community in the foothill.

Before reaching Sapang uwak, there is a Private Checkpoint by LLL Holdings. At this checkpoint, guests are required to submit a waiver (see blog post for copy of the waiver), register, and leave an ID. Guests are also prohibited from taking pictures in this checkpoint (because of their illegal checkpointing activity, as per ruling from CHR).

In sapang uwak, outdoor enthusiasts en route to the waterfalls (3 hours past Sitio Banaba) are required to register and pay 30 pesos per head + guide.

Back during the Lapid's town administration, an access road has been made for 4x4s all the way to Mount Pinatubo. However, as the overlying land is a loose covering from the ash and lava throw from the eruption, the road easily eroded during the heavy rains. Hence, it is not advisable to travel to the area during rainy season.

Also, around 2kilometers from the community in the foothill, en route to Sitio Banaba/Mt Pinatubo, there is a steep, with a very rough ground, ascend that is not recommended for first time (4x4) drivers to the place. 

Sitio  Banaba is reachable, 2-4 hours by feet, or 30mins by vehicle (4x4, tricycle, or single motorbike).

There are 4x4 jeeps that may be rented. These jeeps are the same dealers who buy crops from the aetas in sitio banaba (at a very, very low price)

From previous outreach programs, because of the volume of goods we will be dristributing, I have borrowed the Municipal Government truck. However, it rained 2 days before the event that made it impossible for the truck to reach the community. We manually ported every item from foothill to the community.

There are around 80 families scattered in the surrounding mountains of the sitio. The center of the community (2.5 hours average on foot), where we hold our programs, has around half the population.

The houses on the outskirts are the families that are most nomadic, where some of their houses are just made of banana leaves. 

The current crops in the are puso ng saging, camote, gabi and ube.

As there is an abundant number of bananas growing in the area, Their income is mostly from Puso ng Saging. These bananas are the 'butolan' type so they can't be sold as fruits. Instead, it is the sap that is sold. One individual earns less around 160 pesos out of a full day of work to fill up 2 sacks of puso ng saging. A sack would have more than 50 Pusos stacked.

Rice price in the area is around P60 per kilo, and with 4-5 individuals in a household, what they earn in a day is not even sufficient to buy enough rice. Hence, their diet is mostly banana and camote boiled and mashed together. Having rice in a meal is more than enough, and will be lucrative to have salt/ketchup as an added flavor.

Water is scooped from the river at the bottom of the hill, about 150m below, an hour up and down to trek. It is the same reason why taking a bath is not routinary for them, especially for the kids. Plus, it gets cold at night, so some dirt serves some warmth.

At the moment, there are about 15 from the whole sitio community who are attending classes. 14 are in grade school, and 1 in high school. These kids attend the grade school from the Sapang uwak vicinity. 

Some of them, those residing very far away, goes down on the sunday afternoon, and live near the school for a week, before coming back home on the friday afternoon. 

They either live with their relatives there, or stay in a vacant hut they have there. 

For high school, they will have to go to town proper.

contact: Angeline: (0919) 832 5178

-resident of Sitio Banaba

see here for other aeta related articles

Read More »

9 Days of Nowhere: Palawan to Batangas to Quezon

Limbonis on hammock in front of Port Barton's bay

Coming back home after 7 month of backpacking Southeast Asia, and being so firm about not going back to corporate work (unless it’s my previous company), I got a ticket for Puerto Princesa on Christmas day and Flying back to Manila on New Year.

For some reason, I almost got denied boarding, but somehow managed to make some great excuses so I made it to Palawan.

From the airport, I headed straight to the terminal where I can catch the trip to Port Barton. Unfortunately, there was no more Port Barton bound transport, and so took the San Vicente Trip instead and got off in the San Jose tricycle terminal.

At the terminal, the tricycle drivers were asking P300 for a habal ride for that 20kms remaining to Port Barton.

I got back into my Math. It normally take me 10 minutes for a kilometer walk, so this will take me 200 minutes or 3.3 hours. It’s 4 o clock at the time, and it would take me until past 7pm to get there. Well.. not a very good idea to walk in the jungle dark, especially I have loads of grocery stock in my hands. Then again, there’s no way I will be paying P300 from that point to get there. It would have been only P250 if only I caught the direct Port Barton transport, and after paying P90 to the San Vicente bound bus, my cost is already at P390.

And so I waited. I told the drivers I can wait for another passenger to share the cost, and make it at least only P250 for me. They were fine.

I’m glad that everytime I travel, I always bring out that poor traveler loo (probably even effortless because of the backpacker dress up, my skin, unattended hair style, etc).

A little while later, a driver flagged a van. It was a tourist van en route to Port Barton. I was asked to Board. I paid P150 to get there.. Yipee! It was P240 all in all.. cheaper than expected.

I got to Port Barton and stayed with a friend who recently bought a piece of land there.

Everyday was about waking up, preparing brunch, chopping wood, cooking whatever, harvesting coconuts,waiting for electricity at 5:30, and walking at the beach to find if any place has any crowd, and even making a broomstick out of coconut leaves.

Few days passed, we decided to spend the New Year’s in the city. We did the countdown in the Bay area where there was a 6-minute firework. Unfortunately, the new year wasn’t as lively as everywhere else. We resorted to sleeping it away after giving up on finding a place to drink.

our NYE dinner in Baywalk, Puerto Princesa

Then, a few days ago, I had an invitation from friends to climb Mt Batulao on New Year.

So, without any proper gears, from the airport, I went straight ahead to coastal mall terminal to meet my hike buddies. It was about 6:00pm when we met, stopped by Tagaytay for dinner, and about 10pm when we started the trek. It was muddy, windy, and fiercefully breezy. We camped at #10 and did our drinks right inside the tent.

Mt Batulao photo courtesy of Gen E Sis

After our descend the following day, we head straight to Alibijaban island in San Andres, Quezon. From Nasugbu, we took the jeep to the terminal in Olivarez, then a van to calamba, and then a bus to Lucena. It was around 8pm when we reached Lucena.

From Lucena, compared to my first trip to the island, there are now 3 other companies that service the town. There were 2 buses ready to leave, but decided to wait for Superlines – the supposed bigger company and expected to have better seats.

We also met other San Andres residents who were waiting for the same bus, and recommends indeed that we wait.

It was about 2 hours later when the bus arrived. There were no more buses from the other companies and this Superlines bus don’t look like there’s seats for us. We had to stand in the bus, and could only feel so bad for the kids dumped in any available space.

The conductor said there were people getting off in Burgos, but there were only 2 of them, and around 25 of us stucked in the aisle. It did not even feel like there was space freed out by the 2 passengers who just got off.

It was already in Mulanay when all 4 of us got a seat.

By 3am, we finally reached San Andres terminal. From there, we were going to wait for sunrise and some boats bound for Alibijaban. There were some fishing boats there, but did not want to charter for it would be more expensive that necessary.

We laid our sheets, and sleeping backs, and attempted to sleep in the pave way of the port.

Then, a fisherman passed by and asked where we are bound. We told him ‘towards the island’ and asked if we’d like them to drop us. We said NO need, but he said, we can just pay him P200. That was a good bargain so rephrased our answer to YES.

the group sleeping in the San Andres port waiting for a boat to Alibijaban Island

We could hear the waves right in the port, and I was so worried that my laptop would get wet. I wasn’t really intending to do this straightaway from Port Barton, but it’s just being ME.. totally spontaneous.

It took us probably an hour and a half to get there. The sea wasn’t calm enough so couldn’t run the engine fast enough. I’d fall asleep once in a while, and when I get awakened, looking at sparks of light from the town and from the boats in the island, it doesn’t seem like we are moving. The boatman seem calm though so I was not bothered.

Somehow, we managed to get on the shore by nearly 6am.

We were received by my contact’s family, and the brgy Kaptain. We were escorted to the free space where we can camp the night.

After setting up the tent and my hammock, we decided to take some nap. Afterwhich, we walked onto the shores of the islands with the kids.

Limbonis in Alibijaban Island photo courtesy of Gen E Sis

Water Pump in Alibijaban Island

Alibijaban island

The following day, we set to leave the island before noontime. After brunch, and cleaning the utensils we’ve used, we hitched from the Kaptain’s boat who is bound to town to buy some construction materials. They were actually building some sheds for future visitors.

From town, we thought it would be too early to be bound to Manila, especially that by the time the bus is in Candelaria, and Laguna, traffic would have been irritating to a suicide level. We decided to take a side trip to the beaches of San Narciso.

The beaches we’ve seen just nearby the town of San Narciso were nice except that they were not maintained at all. There was too many coconut husks on the shore that spoil the view of the blue and fine white sand.

We were not so content to settle in these beaches so we took a walk further.

Towards the beach of the next cove, we’ll have to walk back to the main road, or just trek its boundaries. We are used to trekking anyway, so didn’t mind getting onto the wild bush and get off the ridge.

From the ridge, we were also seeing some nice rock formations, and thought about walking all the way there.

my broken slippers from climbing the boulders of Talaw Talaw or Taraw Taraw, San Narciso (photo by Gen E Sis)

Talaw Talaw, San Narciso (photo by Gen E Sis)

The rock boulders surrounded by waters weren’t so bad after all. The water was not so deep, so thought about walking towards them. We climbed all the way up the 2 rocks. Villagers say the area is area is called Talaw Talaw (or Taraw Taraw as others said).

At around past 3pm, we decided to go back to the Terminal so not to miss the bus.

Unfortunately, all the buses that arrived were packed so we waited back to the junction between San Narciso and San Andres. We got the bus there, although again, it was standing.

As we drove further, there were more and more passengers to a point that you can’t even move from the time you find your position in the aisle. There were probably more than 50 of us in the aisle, including mothers with infants. The driver is a big fucking nut.

In Mulanay, I was asking for a refund so I can just sleep in the town and not endure any more of it. Driver refused and I wasn’t wealthy enough to let go of my 200 pesos.

Lesson learned: avoid Superlines! Avoid Superlines! Avoid Superlines. Their drivers are dirt cheap futile.

We were in that situation until Lucena City.

From there I decided to call it a night and attempt to travel back the following day instead. I was already tired.

Limbonis on hammock in front of Port Barton's bay

Coming back home after 7 month of backpacking Southeast Asia, and being so firm about not going back to corporate work (unless it’s my previous company), I got a ticket for Puerto Princesa on Christmas day and Flying back to Manila on New Year.

For some reason, I almost got denied boarding, but somehow managed to make some great excuses so I made it to Palawan.

From the airport, I headed straight to the terminal where I can catch the trip to Port Barton. Unfortunately, there was no more Port Barton bound transport, and so took the San Vicente Trip instead and got off in the San Jose tricycle terminal.

At the terminal, the tricycle drivers were asking P300 for a habal ride for that 20kms remaining to Port Barton.

I got back into my Math. It normally take me 10 minutes for a kilometer walk, so this will take me 200 minutes or 3.3 hours. It’s 4 o clock at the time, and it would take me until past 7pm to get there. Well.. not a very good idea to walk in the jungle dark, especially I have loads of grocery stock in my hands. Then again, there’s no way I will be paying P300 from that point to get there. It would have been only P250 if only I caught the direct Port Barton transport, and after paying P90 to the San Vicente bound bus, my cost is already at P390.

And so I waited. I told the drivers I can wait for another passenger to share the cost, and make it at least only P250 for me. They were fine.

I’m glad that everytime I travel, I always bring out that poor traveler loo (probably even effortless because of the backpacker dress up, my skin, unattended hair style, etc).

A little while later, a driver flagged a van. It was a tourist van en route to Port Barton. I was asked to Board. I paid P150 to get there.. Yipee! It was P240 all in all.. cheaper than expected.

I got to Port Barton and stayed with a friend who recently bought a piece of land there.

Everyday was about waking up, preparing brunch, chopping wood, cooking whatever, harvesting coconuts,waiting for electricity at 5:30, and walking at the beach to find if any place has any crowd, and even making a broomstick out of coconut leaves.

Few days passed, we decided to spend the New Year’s in the city. We did the countdown in the Bay area where there was a 6-minute firework. Unfortunately, the new year wasn’t as lively as everywhere else. We resorted to sleeping it away after giving up on finding a place to drink.

our NYE dinner in Baywalk, Puerto Princesa

Then, a few days ago, I had an invitation from friends to climb Mt Batulao on New Year.

So, without any proper gears, from the airport, I went straight ahead to coastal mall terminal to meet my hike buddies. It was about 6:00pm when we met, stopped by Tagaytay for dinner, and about 10pm when we started the trek. It was muddy, windy, and fiercefully breezy. We camped at #10 and did our drinks right inside the tent.

Mt Batulao photo courtesy of Gen E Sis

After our descend the following day, we head straight to Alibijaban island in San Andres, Quezon. From Nasugbu, we took the jeep to the terminal in Olivarez, then a van to calamba, and then a bus to Lucena. It was around 8pm when we reached Lucena.

From Lucena, compared to my first trip to the island, there are now 3 other companies that service the town. There were 2 buses ready to leave, but decided to wait for Superlines – the supposed bigger company and expected to have better seats.

We also met other San Andres residents who were waiting for the same bus, and recommends indeed that we wait.

It was about 2 hours later when the bus arrived. There were no more buses from the other companies and this Superlines bus don’t look like there’s seats for us. We had to stand in the bus, and could only feel so bad for the kids dumped in any available space.

The conductor said there were people getting off in Burgos, but there were only 2 of them, and around 25 of us stucked in the aisle. It did not even feel like there was space freed out by the 2 passengers who just got off.

It was already in Mulanay when all 4 of us got a seat.

By 3am, we finally reached San Andres terminal. From there, we were going to wait for sunrise and some boats bound for Alibijaban. There were some fishing boats there, but did not want to charter for it would be more expensive that necessary.

We laid our sheets, and sleeping backs, and attempted to sleep in the pave way of the port.

Then, a fisherman passed by and asked where we are bound. We told him ‘towards the island’ and asked if we’d like them to drop us. We said NO need, but he said, we can just pay him P200. That was a good bargain so rephrased our answer to YES.

the group sleeping in the San Andres port waiting for a boat to Alibijaban Island

We could hear the waves right in the port, and I was so worried that my laptop would get wet. I wasn’t really intending to do this straightaway from Port Barton, but it’s just being ME.. totally spontaneous.

It took us probably an hour and a half to get there. The sea wasn’t calm enough so couldn’t run the engine fast enough. I’d fall asleep once in a while, and when I get awakened, looking at sparks of light from the town and from the boats in the island, it doesn’t seem like we are moving. The boatman seem calm though so I was not bothered.

Somehow, we managed to get on the shore by nearly 6am.

We were received by my contact’s family, and the brgy Kaptain. We were escorted to the free space where we can camp the night.

After setting up the tent and my hammock, we decided to take some nap. Afterwhich, we walked onto the shores of the islands with the kids.

Limbonis in Alibijaban Island photo courtesy of Gen E Sis

Water Pump in Alibijaban Island

Alibijaban island

The following day, we set to leave the island before noontime. After brunch, and cleaning the utensils we’ve used, we hitched from the Kaptain’s boat who is bound to town to buy some construction materials. They were actually building some sheds for future visitors.

From town, we thought it would be too early to be bound to Manila, especially that by the time the bus is in Candelaria, and Laguna, traffic would have been irritating to a suicide level. We decided to take a side trip to the beaches of San Narciso.

The beaches we’ve seen just nearby the town of San Narciso were nice except that they were not maintained at all. There was too many coconut husks on the shore that spoil the view of the blue and fine white sand.

We were not so content to settle in these beaches so we took a walk further.

Towards the beach of the next cove, we’ll have to walk back to the main road, or just trek its boundaries. We are used to trekking anyway, so didn’t mind getting onto the wild bush and get off the ridge.

From the ridge, we were also seeing some nice rock formations, and thought about walking all the way there.

my broken slippers from climbing the boulders of Talaw Talaw or Taraw Taraw, San Narciso (photo by Gen E Sis)

Talaw Talaw, San Narciso (photo by Gen E Sis)

The rock boulders surrounded by waters weren’t so bad after all. The water was not so deep, so thought about walking towards them. We climbed all the way up the 2 rocks. Villagers say the area is area is called Talaw Talaw (or Taraw Taraw as others said).

At around past 3pm, we decided to go back to the Terminal so not to miss the bus.

Unfortunately, all the buses that arrived were packed so we waited back to the junction between San Narciso and San Andres. We got the bus there, although again, it was standing.

As we drove further, there were more and more passengers to a point that you can’t even move from the time you find your position in the aisle. There were probably more than 50 of us in the aisle, including mothers with infants. The driver is a big fucking nut.

In Mulanay, I was asking for a refund so I can just sleep in the town and not endure any more of it. Driver refused and I wasn’t wealthy enough to let go of my 200 pesos.

Lesson learned: avoid Superlines! Avoid Superlines! Avoid Superlines. Their drivers are dirt cheap futile.

We were in that situation until Lucena City.

From there I decided to call it a night and attempt to travel back the following day instead. I was already tired.

Read More »

What my 2014 was about...

2014 New Year's Eve in Singapore

It’s funny to recall how I started my 2014. I was in Singapore at the time, coming from a trip in Myanmar, and me and friends have planned to be in the Marina Bay for the fireworks during the countdown; There was just so much alcohol on the dining table in the flat that we opened some to kill time. Unfortunately, we drank way too much to even make it to Marina Bay Sands. 2 of us couldn’t even make it stand awake by 12MN, not even lay in a comfortable position in bed, sleeping with still their work clothes on.

This is but normal; I live a wasted life and I enjoy it that way.

Later the year 2013, while I was having a good time with my colleagues and my job at the company that I am working, I felt like I have always been short of the time to travel. I regret having to rush every destination as I always only have a weekend to spend. I make good connection with strangers and households I meet everywhere, and I wonder just how much more I could build if I were to spend more time.

Maldives Feb 2014

Abra Apr 2014

Higantes Mar 2014

Porac Jan 2014

Batanes, Jan 2014

Calaguas, Feb 2014

Pantabangan, Mar 2014

Quirino Prov, Mar 2014

Lubang, Mar 2014

Linapacan Apr 2014

bamboo train when we motorbiked MNL to Bicol in Feb 2014

Then again, there were the questions of how long can I sustain it? Where do I get financial support? Where do I go? What do I do next? There were more questions really versus wanting one thing … to have my time and space. Nonetheless, I am that person who thinks that the harder it gets, the more pleasure it begets.

I felt it was awkward to submit my resignation towards the end of the year because of the holiday vibes. Likewise, it was just as awkward to open up the year with a resignation.

I waited until February and luckily, I was given the push. April will be my last month.

Until the night before my last day, I was contemplating on whether I’m really pushing through or not.  The company that has afforded me the travels, my team who made work and weekday life just as fun, and my manager who has been most considerate..

I left thecountry April 23, 2014 stuffed with a 23kg backpack (didn’t I just feel likeI’m not coming back?)

how i looked like at the immigration queue in NAIA 4 en route to Malaysia

planting rice in Kep, Cambodia with some random family

how, to save money, i did my laundry in Hostels for 7 months as I travel around southeast ASIA 

The longest travel I’ve done so far was 13 days, and I after 2 weeks in this trip, my smile has just gone wider and wider. No pressure! I needed not to run here and there; needed not to board a plane or bus on a Sunday evening.. little by little, I lost track of the day of the week, or the date of the month. There was a time I didn’t even know what month it is.

By this time, the only thing I had to track was my expenses, and how many days I have available on my visa.

dinner and drinking with bus employees in their staffhouse because I missed the last bus to Paxse, Laos and stayed with them overnight

getting the cheapest haircut at the nastiest places; Vietnam has the nastiest by the way.. under any tree

staying at the cheapest possible place; $1 dorm in Silhanoukville, Cambodia

I am an agnostic at this point, but there are those times when I lie whole day on the beach, or just walking endlessly on a heritage city, or on my window seat in a bus, where I just say “Thank you for this privilege. For whatever I may have done to deserve it, I wish I’d known, for I’ll do it over and over and over.” If only I was convinced earlier it is that cheap to get such a freedom, I would have restrained myself from every Starbucks cup, Red Horse, or a gourmet lunch in the mall – that for every starbucks cup or bottle of beer, I would have stayed one more longer in Silhanoukville Cambodia or even 2-3 days of each of that gourmet lunch we’d spend for during paydays.

There were a lot of mishaps every so often, things i am never prepared for, never thought will happen, but nonetheless i will always be thankful about. For, as I always say, it is these uncalled for circumstances, when you are caught off hook, when you least expect it, that you learn to face or conquer them; You learn more about yourself; what you are capable of and what not - what you need to learn further 

driving Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia on my own bike

volunteering in a Hostel in Gili Meno, Lombok, Indonesia

More, meeting travelers who had been on the road for years, doing things I barely thought they’d do, just to keep hanging on to the travel, gave me some answers to my hesitations before.  There were those Caucasians who’d do hostel and bar jobs for local wages, which me, myself as an Asian, at first, didn’t think was practical. Some would even do for free just for accommodation and food.

Me thinks It’s a simple of question of what you really want to do? Options are only two: keep being on travel or go home and work. I was firm to my choice though, it was to BE AWAY.  If there is one thing I had reinforced within me by now, it would have been being firm and focused with my ultimate wants… no what ifs, no buts.

meeting and hanging out with other travellers from everywhere

the mesmerizing Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai

Seven months passed and my passport is 6 months to go. Our consulates couldn’t do it on time of my visa allowances on the countries, and so had to fly back home to the Philippines. I didn’t really look further to my options as spending december at home for some social work will be Christmas worthy.

Some nights I’d just sit out and stare at the Sky..  something I may have not done at home before. I’d smile at just a sight of ricefields, or even just ducks or cows, or little kids running around, or elderlies laughing loudly whilst missing some teeth.

biten by a dog in Cambodia

Getting super paranoia from the Happy pizzas in cambodia; I didn't think i'd ever wake up

Then, being home, waiting for my passport release which is in about close to 2 months to go, I get the temptations. The corporate zones are just around, and I am a YES away to affording again even those expensive things I like.  But there goes that question again, Why give up 5 days of my every week in exchange for petty luxury and fun, when I can keep it at a minimum and have all the time to stare at mountains, float in the sea, dip in springs, walk aimlessly on cities, and sit over beer and coffee with like-minded strangers. It was.. NO, but THANKS.

So, 2014.. I’m am not coming back to Corporate Life and I am on indefinite leave from the City; You made me feel like an idiot for even hesitating and not having to think about this, years and years go. There were backpackers aged 18, and i feel such a loser. Still, 2014 was my year of courage. There are some more extreme things I have not dared myself to do...  and I look forward for 2015 to bring me all that.. cheers for 365 days HIGH.

2014 New Year's Eve in Singapore

It’s funny to recall how I started my 2014. I was in Singapore at the time, coming from a trip in Myanmar, and me and friends have planned to be in the Marina Bay for the fireworks during the countdown; There was just so much alcohol on the dining table in the flat that we opened some to kill time. Unfortunately, we drank way too much to even make it to Marina Bay Sands. 2 of us couldn’t even make it stand awake by 12MN, not even lay in a comfortable position in bed, sleeping with still their work clothes on.

This is but normal; I live a wasted life and I enjoy it that way.

Later the year 2013, while I was having a good time with my colleagues and my job at the company that I am working, I felt like I have always been short of the time to travel. I regret having to rush every destination as I always only have a weekend to spend. I make good connection with strangers and households I meet everywhere, and I wonder just how much more I could build if I were to spend more time.

Maldives Feb 2014

Abra Apr 2014

Higantes Mar 2014

Porac Jan 2014

Batanes, Jan 2014

Calaguas, Feb 2014

Pantabangan, Mar 2014

Quirino Prov, Mar 2014

Lubang, Mar 2014

Linapacan Apr 2014

bamboo train when we motorbiked MNL to Bicol in Feb 2014

Then again, there were the questions of how long can I sustain it? Where do I get financial support? Where do I go? What do I do next? There were more questions really versus wanting one thing … to have my time and space. Nonetheless, I am that person who thinks that the harder it gets, the more pleasure it begets.

I felt it was awkward to submit my resignation towards the end of the year because of the holiday vibes. Likewise, it was just as awkward to open up the year with a resignation.

I waited until February and luckily, I was given the push. April will be my last month.

Until the night before my last day, I was contemplating on whether I’m really pushing through or not.  The company that has afforded me the travels, my team who made work and weekday life just as fun, and my manager who has been most considerate..

I left thecountry April 23, 2014 stuffed with a 23kg backpack (didn’t I just feel likeI’m not coming back?)

how i looked like at the immigration queue in NAIA 4 en route to Malaysia

planting rice in Kep, Cambodia with some random family

how, to save money, i did my laundry in Hostels for 7 months as I travel around southeast ASIA 

The longest travel I’ve done so far was 13 days, and I after 2 weeks in this trip, my smile has just gone wider and wider. No pressure! I needed not to run here and there; needed not to board a plane or bus on a Sunday evening.. little by little, I lost track of the day of the week, or the date of the month. There was a time I didn’t even know what month it is.

By this time, the only thing I had to track was my expenses, and how many days I have available on my visa.

dinner and drinking with bus employees in their staffhouse because I missed the last bus to Paxse, Laos and stayed with them overnight

getting the cheapest haircut at the nastiest places; Vietnam has the nastiest by the way.. under any tree

staying at the cheapest possible place; $1 dorm in Silhanoukville, Cambodia

I am an agnostic at this point, but there are those times when I lie whole day on the beach, or just walking endlessly on a heritage city, or on my window seat in a bus, where I just say “Thank you for this privilege. For whatever I may have done to deserve it, I wish I’d known, for I’ll do it over and over and over.” If only I was convinced earlier it is that cheap to get such a freedom, I would have restrained myself from every Starbucks cup, Red Horse, or a gourmet lunch in the mall – that for every starbucks cup or bottle of beer, I would have stayed one more longer in Silhanoukville Cambodia or even 2-3 days of each of that gourmet lunch we’d spend for during paydays.

There were a lot of mishaps every so often, things i am never prepared for, never thought will happen, but nonetheless i will always be thankful about. For, as I always say, it is these uncalled for circumstances, when you are caught off hook, when you least expect it, that you learn to face or conquer them; You learn more about yourself; what you are capable of and what not - what you need to learn further 

driving Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia on my own bike

volunteering in a Hostel in Gili Meno, Lombok, Indonesia

More, meeting travelers who had been on the road for years, doing things I barely thought they’d do, just to keep hanging on to the travel, gave me some answers to my hesitations before.  There were those Caucasians who’d do hostel and bar jobs for local wages, which me, myself as an Asian, at first, didn’t think was practical. Some would even do for free just for accommodation and food.

Me thinks It’s a simple of question of what you really want to do? Options are only two: keep being on travel or go home and work. I was firm to my choice though, it was to BE AWAY.  If there is one thing I had reinforced within me by now, it would have been being firm and focused with my ultimate wants… no what ifs, no buts.

meeting and hanging out with other travellers from everywhere

the mesmerizing Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai

Seven months passed and my passport is 6 months to go. Our consulates couldn’t do it on time of my visa allowances on the countries, and so had to fly back home to the Philippines. I didn’t really look further to my options as spending december at home for some social work will be Christmas worthy.

Some nights I’d just sit out and stare at the Sky..  something I may have not done at home before. I’d smile at just a sight of ricefields, or even just ducks or cows, or little kids running around, or elderlies laughing loudly whilst missing some teeth.

biten by a dog in Cambodia

Getting super paranoia from the Happy pizzas in cambodia; I didn't think i'd ever wake up

Then, being home, waiting for my passport release which is in about close to 2 months to go, I get the temptations. The corporate zones are just around, and I am a YES away to affording again even those expensive things I like.  But there goes that question again, Why give up 5 days of my every week in exchange for petty luxury and fun, when I can keep it at a minimum and have all the time to stare at mountains, float in the sea, dip in springs, walk aimlessly on cities, and sit over beer and coffee with like-minded strangers. It was.. NO, but THANKS.

So, 2014.. I’m am not coming back to Corporate Life and I am on indefinite leave from the City; You made me feel like an idiot for even hesitating and not having to think about this, years and years go. There were backpackers aged 18, and i feel such a loser. Still, 2014 was my year of courage. There are some more extreme things I have not dared myself to do...  and I look forward for 2015 to bring me all that.. cheers for 365 days HIGH.

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Aetas want basketball too?

With so much time among the people in this community to even figure out what to do, I’ve asked the Aetas in Sitio Banaba what is something they’d like to have for leisure.

It did not take more than a minute to get an answer.. a basketball court.  They mentioned that there is an available surface where they can setup a court and play.

With the enthusiasm they have about it, I’ve asked them to clean up that surface, and have promised to bring the board, ball and a ring for us to put up a basketball court the following weekend alongside Giving Iz Receiving's outreach event. 

We had quite a luggage at our arrival, and it has always been normal for them to sneak into what we bring. When they saw the bag of ring, net, and ball, they have taken the ball and played with it.

I’ve asked them if they’ve cleared up the said area, and have put down some which we could use for post, but said they did not have time as they had to work on something else. (and it is not uncommon to hear them say they are busy up there. It's an invisible business district really.)

Honestly, I was a little disheartened. I was back and forth town the night before, even bothering another person to get some of the materials (like the ring, net, trophy even) just to get these on time, and was hoping they’ve done their part. Meantime, it has been mostly the case. Sadly, these people aren’t in the same world as we live, so we can’t make use of the same values we have.  They don’t have that grasp on work-earn concept.

We also missed on some bolts to hold the ring to the board. I have assumed they were included in the ring. I was a little frustrated of how pressured I was the day before for it not to happen.

Meantime, I’ve showed them the wood, and how we’d set it up. We were trying to figure out what can be done, but I have been very sleepy to strategize. I did not get sleep at all the night before and don’t  have the energy to hold my eyelids open. So, I tucked my hammock and took a nap.

Later, I woke up at some hammering. Using some of those spare nails hanging out of the posts of the house, and some nuts and bolts they found somewhere, they managed to attach the ring to the board. There wasn’t even a saw, but just a Machete.

Then I smiled. What a nice way to wake up.. to see this people work on something they want. It’s also very typical of how Filipinos are so much into basketball, and I was amazed that it happens with these indigents too.

Hours later, they’ve completed putting it up and played with it rightaway.

Next day, I woke up with some noise just next to our host. When I went out, men were playing basketball, and several kids and adults were watching and cheering them. I am guessing they may have been playing with it since 3 hours ago.

We had a proper game later on, and because of the number of people who’d like to join the game, we had to break it into several smaller games, and funny, we had to do semi finals and finals. Winning team given a tropy, a bottle of brandy, and chips to share with after the game J.

Best part is, they came back to me after just almost an hour, asking me they were short of the drink and were asking me more (and was even pointing to the Ginebra Gin we are allotting for that night).

I am looking forward to a time when I’d see these people play with jerseys and rubber shoes over a proper game (though halfcourt) J. I am hoping to find some group soon to have this done J.

Thanks to my friend Majr Mix, Emerson ISR team, co-volunteer Sinag, and GIR.. 

If it's high res and a good capture, assume photo was not taken by me :-).. courtesy of Dex Salvador and Maria Isabel of GIR

With so much time among the people in this community to even figure out what to do, I’ve asked the Aetas in Sitio Banaba what is something they’d like to have for leisure.

It did not take more than a minute to get an answer.. a basketball court.  They mentioned that there is an available surface where they can setup a court and play.

With the enthusiasm they have about it, I’ve asked them to clean up that surface, and have promised to bring the board, ball and a ring for us to put up a basketball court the following weekend alongside Giving Iz Receiving's outreach event. 

We had quite a luggage at our arrival, and it has always been normal for them to sneak into what we bring. When they saw the bag of ring, net, and ball, they have taken the ball and played with it.

I’ve asked them if they’ve cleared up the said area, and have put down some which we could use for post, but said they did not have time as they had to work on something else. (and it is not uncommon to hear them say they are busy up there. It's an invisible business district really.)

Honestly, I was a little disheartened. I was back and forth town the night before, even bothering another person to get some of the materials (like the ring, net, trophy even) just to get these on time, and was hoping they’ve done their part. Meantime, it has been mostly the case. Sadly, these people aren’t in the same world as we live, so we can’t make use of the same values we have.  They don’t have that grasp on work-earn concept.

We also missed on some bolts to hold the ring to the board. I have assumed they were included in the ring. I was a little frustrated of how pressured I was the day before for it not to happen.

Meantime, I’ve showed them the wood, and how we’d set it up. We were trying to figure out what can be done, but I have been very sleepy to strategize. I did not get sleep at all the night before and don’t  have the energy to hold my eyelids open. So, I tucked my hammock and took a nap.

Later, I woke up at some hammering. Using some of those spare nails hanging out of the posts of the house, and some nuts and bolts they found somewhere, they managed to attach the ring to the board. There wasn’t even a saw, but just a Machete.

Then I smiled. What a nice way to wake up.. to see this people work on something they want. It’s also very typical of how Filipinos are so much into basketball, and I was amazed that it happens with these indigents too.

Hours later, they’ve completed putting it up and played with it rightaway.

Next day, I woke up with some noise just next to our host. When I went out, men were playing basketball, and several kids and adults were watching and cheering them. I am guessing they may have been playing with it since 3 hours ago.

We had a proper game later on, and because of the number of people who’d like to join the game, we had to break it into several smaller games, and funny, we had to do semi finals and finals. Winning team given a tropy, a bottle of brandy, and chips to share with after the game J.

Best part is, they came back to me after just almost an hour, asking me they were short of the drink and were asking me more (and was even pointing to the Ginebra Gin we are allotting for that night).

I am looking forward to a time when I’d see these people play with jerseys and rubber shoes over a proper game (though halfcourt) J. I am hoping to find some group soon to have this done J.

Thanks to my friend Majr Mix, Emerson ISR team, co-volunteer Sinag, and GIR.. 

If it's high res and a good capture, assume photo was not taken by me :-).. courtesy of Dex Salvador and Maria Isabel of GIR

Read More »