Analgesics, Acrylic and Alibijaban

From my last visit in Alibijaban island last January 2, and having mentioned that I have been busy doing cause projects, my local contact in Alibijaban island has mentioned that they are having problems sourcing medicines from their Rural health center.  So, before I left, I told them I’ll see what I can do.

Just like the rest of my cause projects, travel friends have committed to helping out. We were able to gather funds to buy their 1 year supply of OTC meds. Then, apart from handing out medicines, being an island, I thought of having an activity that will give a bit of awareness to kids about climate change and its effects: How the sea level is rising due to global warming, and looked at the recent calamities as examples of the untoward effects of global warming. We have enumerated and demonstrated ways of slowing down and not contributing to the acceleration of this phenomenon.

As an activity, we asked them to gather island scraps that we can turn into sellable souvenir items to stimulate recycling and entrepreneurship among kids.

Given the limited time and manpower we have in preparation for our activity, and although there were a few older kids who picked up the concept, and chose to use artificial materials such as plastics, etc., majority of them used and painted shells. I have been telling them that the shells are naturally beautiful, and that they are part of what makes the island pristine and beautiful, but I could not quite demonstrate this to them. Again, just like how islanders don’t see how great their islands are since they rarely get out of their environment, they grew up with plenty of these materials that they thought are nothing more than abundance.

It was great nonetheless how the kids enjoyed paintings. So far, this is the second event I am making use of art with kids, and I am so glad to see how kids enjoy it. Henceforward, as I travel, with or without a cause event, i will be bringing my small bag with paints, brushes, pallete, etc; Whenever I see a group of kids, in the street, along the beach, etc i’ll let them play around with these paints .

Groups who are interested in doing an outreach activity in the island, please focus on the kids/neigborhood in the far side (Pulo 2) of the island. I was told these people rarely get attention from anyone because of their distance; However, with the limited manpower that we have, inasmuch as we’d want, we don’t have enough resource to do so. If you have any question, don’t hesitate to buzz me.


see here for a cool sidetrip of your travel to Alibijaban: Talao Talao Rock Formation in San Narciso

From my last visit in Alibijaban island last January 2, and having mentioned that I have been busy doing cause projects, my local contact in Alibijaban island has mentioned that they are having problems sourcing medicines from their Rural health center.  So, before I left, I told them I’ll see what I can do.

Just like the rest of my cause projects, travel friends have committed to helping out. We were able to gather funds to buy their 1 year supply of OTC meds. Then, apart from handing out medicines, being an island, I thought of having an activity that will give a bit of awareness to kids about climate change and its effects: How the sea level is rising due to global warming, and looked at the recent calamities as examples of the untoward effects of global warming. We have enumerated and demonstrated ways of slowing down and not contributing to the acceleration of this phenomenon.

As an activity, we asked them to gather island scraps that we can turn into sellable souvenir items to stimulate recycling and entrepreneurship among kids.

Given the limited time and manpower we have in preparation for our activity, and although there were a few older kids who picked up the concept, and chose to use artificial materials such as plastics, etc., majority of them used and painted shells. I have been telling them that the shells are naturally beautiful, and that they are part of what makes the island pristine and beautiful, but I could not quite demonstrate this to them. Again, just like how islanders don’t see how great their islands are since they rarely get out of their environment, they grew up with plenty of these materials that they thought are nothing more than abundance.

It was great nonetheless how the kids enjoyed paintings. So far, this is the second event I am making use of art with kids, and I am so glad to see how kids enjoy it. Henceforward, as I travel, with or without a cause event, i will be bringing my small bag with paints, brushes, pallete, etc; Whenever I see a group of kids, in the street, along the beach, etc i’ll let them play around with these paints .

Groups who are interested in doing an outreach activity in the island, please focus on the kids/neigborhood in the far side (Pulo 2) of the island. I was told these people rarely get attention from anyone because of their distance; However, with the limited manpower that we have, inasmuch as we’d want, we don’t have enough resource to do so. If you have any question, don’t hesitate to buzz me.


see here for a cool sidetrip of your travel to Alibijaban: Talao Talao Rock Formation in San Narciso

Read More »

The State of Education in Tawi Tawi

Back when I was gathering information about the Patikul Project, I have spoken to a friend in Tawi Tawi who gave a brief of how the education system works in their province.

Thanks to a traveller friend, I got a ticket to fly to Tawi Tawi this weekend to check personally. We have visited 5 schools: Baloboc National High School, Malasa Primary School, Patal Elementary School, Boheb Basag Elementary School, and Layak Elementary School.

From the conversations I had with residents, teachers, and students, the development of schools in Tawi Tawi seems to be rather interventions from concerned groups: The seal of the organizing group such as AUSAid, or USAid, or "Donated by" labels from various Armed Forces Batallions.

Because a community is spread out in a vast land, and transportation is expensive, there are primary and elementary schools. Primary schools have been setup to address the need to travel very far away. Primary schools would normally have pre-school and grades 1-4. When students reach grades 5 and 6, they move to the more comprehenaive elementary schools where they would most likely temporarily reside with relatives nearby.

Because there is not enough classrooms and teachers, students from supposedly several grade levels (e.g. grades 1 and 2, or sometimes, even 1, 2 and 3) are mixed up into a 1-2 hours class a day.

In cases where there is an available teacher but not a room, a divider is put into one room. .But dividing the room will mean compressing the classrooms and calibrating the noise. 

dividers used to split 1 classroom into 2 grade levels

With the shortage of teachers, instructors will have to divide their time to accomodate teaching for the other grade levels. 

Mixing up grade schools, and counting the hours spent teaching at each class, I realized the teaching hours is just rounding up to around 4. I have wondered if work is not counted per 8 hours. 

Technically speaking, these teachers are volunteer individuals receiving an allowance of P2,000 per month, and this will be inclusive of any resource they may need in teaching, such as chalks, papers, etc. Truth be told though that there is not enough employment opportunity in the province; People actually chase and fight for even these volunteer opportunities. This is the most you can get for some and is actually better than nothing.

To supplement the under-employment and satisfy their needs,especially if they are raising a family of their own, they have to do some additional livelihood on the side. Hence, they can not complete an 8 hour task. On the side, they work on farming, etc. I was hoping they can have more dedication, especially their children are attending the same classes, but we can't hold them accountable as well for the little that they are receiving. 

The result, its the kids, short of what is supposed to be their right to learn.

Going into the structure of the schools, you can safely assume that the bigger and better room must have been for the lower grade levels. There would have been an estimated 40 students in a class of mixed grades 1 and 2. The enrollment then declines as they progress in school. 

Students become lazy to keep coming back to school because they have to walk 3-4 kilometers away, for an hour (or two) of class, at which the lesson would have been heard earlier; in the case of Grade 2 students who are mixed up with grade 1. 

By the time they enter grade 5-6, there would have been only less than 10 of them left from that class of 40. Consequently, they get the worse room in the school. Such as that in Patal Elementary school where their wooden, not so ventillated classroom, don't even have flooring. 

interior of the Patal Elementary School Grade 6 in Tawi Tawi

Patal Elementary School Grade 6 room in Tawi Tawi

Layak Elementary School Grade 6 in Tawi Tawi

On one of the conversations I had with the teachers, asking her about what the students could be learning out of their schooling, like if a grade 5 student can answer 7 times 8 (7 x 8 = ?), she said, maybe not. They realize they can only teach so much because of the very limited resources, and so, as per advice from their principal, so long as they can read and write, that shall be good enough.

Because there is no fund for seats, students squat in the floor of the classrooms. They would be lucky if there is a provision for linoleum cover for the flooring.  

Of all the 5 elementary schools we have visited in Tawi Tawi, only the Boheh Basag Elementary school had 1 classroom for every grade level; Thanks to the volunteer teachers who has been sharing P250 each every month since 2013 as installment payment for the purchase of materials for the construction of additional makeshift classrooms for the kids. 

Boheh Basag Elementary School in Tawi Tawi

Boheh Basag Elementary School in Tawi Tawi

Makeshift classrooms Boheh Basag Elementary School in Tawi Tawi funded by teachers

grade 6 room in Boheh Basag Elementary School in Tawi Tawi

Boheh Basag Elementary School in Tawi Tawi

One school did not have toilets. The school is nowhere near the houses of the students, so what happens is, when there is an extreme need to go to toilet, students go home, and would be so lazy to come back to school especially if they were close to the dismissal.

Toilet in Patal Elementary School in Tawi Tawi

It was also ironic that while the other schools did not have enough rooms, there were schools, such as the Malasa primary school where there was a new structure built, whereas the old structure could have just been repaired, and excess from funds could have been used for other necessities such as chairs. Moreover, there seems to be only 1 volunteer teacher for primary school, grades 1-2, and grade 4, and then another teacher courtesy of an NGO for grade 3. In turn, only 2 out of the 4 classrooms are actually used. The vicinity of the school is also quite bushy and forested. 

Malasa Primary School

abandoned buildings in Malasa Primary school in Tawi Tawi

abandoned buildings in Malasa Primary school in Tawi Tawi

As mentioned on the shortage of chairs, one of the rooms of the abandoned structure had chairs which could have been used, but for some reason, they were locked inside the old building.

We also spotted some new books hanging loose on the floors of the locked abandoned building. Later, we asked the teachers why books are not being used, and we were told these were provided for K-12 curriculum (which is an impossible concept in this province because of the lack of resources; not even the grade school 1-6 system is working). 

Last February, we were able to provide a small amount of Laboratory Materials for Balabac National High School. 


To see other schools in Sulu,
see here for Tandu Bagua Primay School
Tandu Dagmay Primay School



For other efforts in the SULU, see our #SULOngSULU page

Back when I was gathering information about the Patikul Project, I have spoken to a friend in Tawi Tawi who gave a brief of how the education system works in their province.

Thanks to a traveller friend, I got a ticket to fly to Tawi Tawi this weekend to check personally. We have visited 5 schools: Baloboc National High School, Malasa Primary School, Patal Elementary School, Boheb Basag Elementary School, and Layak Elementary School.

From the conversations I had with residents, teachers, and students, the development of schools in Tawi Tawi seems to be rather interventions from concerned groups: The seal of the organizing group such as AUSAid, or USAid, or "Donated by" labels from various Armed Forces Batallions.

Because a community is spread out in a vast land, and transportation is expensive, there are primary and elementary schools. Primary schools have been setup to address the need to travel very far away. Primary schools would normally have pre-school and grades 1-4. When students reach grades 5 and 6, they move to the more comprehenaive elementary schools where they would most likely temporarily reside with relatives nearby.

Because there is not enough classrooms and teachers, students from supposedly several grade levels (e.g. grades 1 and 2, or sometimes, even 1, 2 and 3) are mixed up into a 1-2 hours class a day.

In cases where there is an available teacher but not a room, a divider is put into one room. .But dividing the room will mean compressing the classrooms and calibrating the noise. 

dividers used to split 1 classroom into 2 grade levels

With the shortage of teachers, instructors will have to divide their time to accomodate teaching for the other grade levels. 

Mixing up grade schools, and counting the hours spent teaching at each class, I realized the teaching hours is just rounding up to around 4. I have wondered if work is not counted per 8 hours. 

Technically speaking, these teachers are volunteer individuals receiving an allowance of P2,000 per month, and this will be inclusive of any resource they may need in teaching, such as chalks, papers, etc. Truth be told though that there is not enough employment opportunity in the province; People actually chase and fight for even these volunteer opportunities. This is the most you can get for some and is actually better than nothing.

To supplement the under-employment and satisfy their needs,especially if they are raising a family of their own, they have to do some additional livelihood on the side. Hence, they can not complete an 8 hour task. On the side, they work on farming, etc. I was hoping they can have more dedication, especially their children are attending the same classes, but we can't hold them accountable as well for the little that they are receiving. 

The result, its the kids, short of what is supposed to be their right to learn.

Going into the structure of the schools, you can safely assume that the bigger and better room must have been for the lower grade levels. There would have been an estimated 40 students in a class of mixed grades 1 and 2. The enrollment then declines as they progress in school. 

Students become lazy to keep coming back to school because they have to walk 3-4 kilometers away, for an hour (or two) of class, at which the lesson would have been heard earlier; in the case of Grade 2 students who are mixed up with grade 1. 

By the time they enter grade 5-6, there would have been only less than 10 of them left from that class of 40. Consequently, they get the worse room in the school. Such as that in Patal Elementary school where their wooden, not so ventillated classroom, don't even have flooring. 

interior of the Patal Elementary School Grade 6 in Tawi Tawi

Patal Elementary School Grade 6 room in Tawi Tawi

Layak Elementary School Grade 6 in Tawi Tawi

On one of the conversations I had with the teachers, asking her about what the students could be learning out of their schooling, like if a grade 5 student can answer 7 times 8 (7 x 8 = ?), she said, maybe not. They realize they can only teach so much because of the very limited resources, and so, as per advice from their principal, so long as they can read and write, that shall be good enough.

Because there is no fund for seats, students squat in the floor of the classrooms. They would be lucky if there is a provision for linoleum cover for the flooring.  

Of all the 5 elementary schools we have visited in Tawi Tawi, only the Boheh Basag Elementary school had 1 classroom for every grade level; Thanks to the volunteer teachers who has been sharing P250 each every month since 2013 as installment payment for the purchase of materials for the construction of additional makeshift classrooms for the kids. 

Boheh Basag Elementary School in Tawi Tawi

Boheh Basag Elementary School in Tawi Tawi

Makeshift classrooms Boheh Basag Elementary School in Tawi Tawi funded by teachers

grade 6 room in Boheh Basag Elementary School in Tawi Tawi

Boheh Basag Elementary School in Tawi Tawi

One school did not have toilets. The school is nowhere near the houses of the students, so what happens is, when there is an extreme need to go to toilet, students go home, and would be so lazy to come back to school especially if they were close to the dismissal.

Toilet in Patal Elementary School in Tawi Tawi

It was also ironic that while the other schools did not have enough rooms, there were schools, such as the Malasa primary school where there was a new structure built, whereas the old structure could have just been repaired, and excess from funds could have been used for other necessities such as chairs. Moreover, there seems to be only 1 volunteer teacher for primary school, grades 1-2, and grade 4, and then another teacher courtesy of an NGO for grade 3. In turn, only 2 out of the 4 classrooms are actually used. The vicinity of the school is also quite bushy and forested. 

Malasa Primary School

abandoned buildings in Malasa Primary school in Tawi Tawi

abandoned buildings in Malasa Primary school in Tawi Tawi

As mentioned on the shortage of chairs, one of the rooms of the abandoned structure had chairs which could have been used, but for some reason, they were locked inside the old building.

We also spotted some new books hanging loose on the floors of the locked abandoned building. Later, we asked the teachers why books are not being used, and we were told these were provided for K-12 curriculum (which is an impossible concept in this province because of the lack of resources; not even the grade school 1-6 system is working). 

Last February, we were able to provide a small amount of Laboratory Materials for Balabac National High School. 


To see other schools in Sulu,
see here for Tandu Bagua Primay School
Tandu Dagmay Primay School



For other efforts in the SULU, see our #SULOngSULU page

Read More »

Beware! You may be over travelling

I've had enough! I may have not been as travelled as people I had been with, back when I was backpacking, but hailing from the Philippines, I think I have seen enough.

Sometimes, I wonder how my life would have been if i did not get into the habit of travelling. It may have been "Normal" - drive a car to work, meet and have lunch with colleagues and clients, get dinner and drinks with friends. Then, simply, repeat until friday. Come saturday, shop and go mall, family on sundays, and an occasional out of town to some celebrated destinations and notable hotel. End of the story.

But since I chose to go places, it's a little different. You'd rather eat on cheap and spend on a bus ride 300kms away, even for a day trip; Or, keep your old battery depleted phone because a new one costs the same as what you'd spend elsewhere for 30 days. You barely want to spend because there is so much else to see and learn (plus you are also probably not earning any money as you travel.)

Then again, you don't care. You just want to keep moving further; And, sometimes, when you are asked where to? Again, you don't care; "Just Anywhere!" After all, you've probably been to the great beaches, falls, mountains, etc. 

Then, it reaches some point of just being able to say "Yes, I have been there." You keep exploring, and you acknowledge that you are not bound to see anything surreal or better than the ones you have already seen. You get to the sharp corners of everywhere, meeting locals, knowing how they spend their time, their livelihood, their stories, including their miseries. You enjoy your time with them better (especially these are the people who'd give everything of the littlest they have and for nothing in return all in the name of hospitality). 

Suddenly, you become so thankful of all you have. You have seen the unseen. Alongside your satisfactory existence is someone in famine, in disadvantage, in hopes to have the same life you have. Only that, they did not have the same opportunity as you. 

Not everyone sees them. None has spoken to them. Only you and a few are aware of their existence, life's joy, and even miseries.. 

You have eyes, you have ears, you have all there to figure out that something might be done better. As humans, you are capable, no matter how little, to do something.

Like that of the third eye, you shall not seek it, if you are not prepared for it. It will sting. It will be a struggle to your guilt and conscience to resist not doing something. And, when that hits, that's when you know you have travelled. There's no turning back.

Your old life is nowhere ahead. You have no choice but to pause and do something. It's not like you are in wonderland... It's Third World - where travelling might just be a call to action.

Right now I am busy with some outreach projects with the help of some friends whilst studying Bahasa Indonesia/Malay in Indonesia. This is in the hopes that later I can assist in co-operational development in the (Philippines') south where after delimitation of the national boundaries, what used to be a casual crossing and migration has become an illegal and unaccounted activity that is delimiting the rights and privileges of the people.

Part of this, I'd like to contribute to opening more formal channels between our countries. We are countries of the same race, of the same language, color, food even, yet, it is far easier to get to East Asia, or even Europe, and even cultural acquaintance with the latter countries is far more pronounced... that is wrong!

Why do I do or start things alone? Well, let's just say, I like to show people the power of an individual. A lot of times, we have second thoughts of doing things just because we think we lack resources. Yes, it may be right, but it does not always mean we can't. Our worth is nowhere to be found on our own bodies, on our own house, but with others. Our worth is where our existence reaches as far out to. As it is said, no man is an island.

I've had enough! I may have not been as travelled as people I had been with, back when I was backpacking, but hailing from the Philippines, I think I have seen enough.

Sometimes, I wonder how my life would have been if i did not get into the habit of travelling. It may have been "Normal" - drive a car to work, meet and have lunch with colleagues and clients, get dinner and drinks with friends. Then, simply, repeat until friday. Come saturday, shop and go mall, family on sundays, and an occasional out of town to some celebrated destinations and notable hotel. End of the story.

But since I chose to go places, it's a little different. You'd rather eat on cheap and spend on a bus ride 300kms away, even for a day trip; Or, keep your old battery depleted phone because a new one costs the same as what you'd spend elsewhere for 30 days. You barely want to spend because there is so much else to see and learn (plus you are also probably not earning any money as you travel.)

Then again, you don't care. You just want to keep moving further; And, sometimes, when you are asked where to? Again, you don't care; "Just Anywhere!" After all, you've probably been to the great beaches, falls, mountains, etc. 

Then, it reaches some point of just being able to say "Yes, I have been there." You keep exploring, and you acknowledge that you are not bound to see anything surreal or better than the ones you have already seen. You get to the sharp corners of everywhere, meeting locals, knowing how they spend their time, their livelihood, their stories, including their miseries. You enjoy your time with them better (especially these are the people who'd give everything of the littlest they have and for nothing in return all in the name of hospitality). 

Suddenly, you become so thankful of all you have. You have seen the unseen. Alongside your satisfactory existence is someone in famine, in disadvantage, in hopes to have the same life you have. Only that, they did not have the same opportunity as you. 

Not everyone sees them. None has spoken to them. Only you and a few are aware of their existence, life's joy, and even miseries.. 

You have eyes, you have ears, you have all there to figure out that something might be done better. As humans, you are capable, no matter how little, to do something.

Like that of the third eye, you shall not seek it, if you are not prepared for it. It will sting. It will be a struggle to your guilt and conscience to resist not doing something. And, when that hits, that's when you know you have travelled. There's no turning back.

Your old life is nowhere ahead. You have no choice but to pause and do something. It's not like you are in wonderland... It's Third World - where travelling might just be a call to action.

Right now I am busy with some outreach projects with the help of some friends whilst studying Bahasa Indonesia/Malay in Indonesia. This is in the hopes that later I can assist in co-operational development in the (Philippines') south where after delimitation of the national boundaries, what used to be a casual crossing and migration has become an illegal and unaccounted activity that is delimiting the rights and privileges of the people.

Part of this, I'd like to contribute to opening more formal channels between our countries. We are countries of the same race, of the same language, color, food even, yet, it is far easier to get to East Asia, or even Europe, and even cultural acquaintance with the latter countries is far more pronounced... that is wrong!

Why do I do or start things alone? Well, let's just say, I like to show people the power of an individual. A lot of times, we have second thoughts of doing things just because we think we lack resources. Yes, it may be right, but it does not always mean we can't. Our worth is nowhere to be found on our own bodies, on our own house, but with others. Our worth is where our existence reaches as far out to. As it is said, no man is an island.

Read More »

Outreach Event: To feed or not to feed?

Sitio Banaba, Porac, Pampanga during Aeta Feeding program by GIZ's outreach event last december

I have gone hungry after a terrible queue in the supermarket from rush last minute shoppers for Christmas eve dinner (and that includes me of course). It was 5pm, and I could not spot any more restaurant that is open; everyone closed out early to make up for the dinner. I was left with no choice but the streetfood fishballs, kikiam, etc. It wasn’t bad after all as I have been missing this anyway after being out of the country for more than half a year.

A few days before, I have been told by another co-volunteer at one of our Aeta outreach event this year, that he has seen some of the aetas of Sitio Banaba in the city, begging alms.

Although the aetas has been popular for this, I did not believe him rightaway, and instead asked him some question. As far as I am aware, this group of Aetas does not do this just like the rest. Yet, he said, he recognized their faces and these Aetas remember him too. Further, there was another follow up aeta outreach through another group just the next weekend after the first, and for this event, I was surprised to see the community very quiet. Most of them have gone down to the city, and village chief confirms it happens always during Christmas.

Meantime, As I was about to pay the roadside vendor, I saw a family of aeta, around 12 of them all in all, adults, kids, and worst, infants. I looked closely, and they are one of the families in Sitio Banaba. Right there, right before my eyes.

Suddenly, all the joys I had out of the outreach events have molten into regrets. Whatever we’ve done, whatever we’ve given, fact is , it is good enough for a short 1 day. We probably helped that 4x4 owner more by paying him enough to feed his family for a week.

I’ve asked myself this several times.. especially this is the second year that we’ve done this. Where have our efforts gone? Are they any good?

Then again, it is Christmas isn’t it? On Christmas, we buy new clothes, get Lechon, or those expensively creamy desserts, etc. We don’t do this everyday ourselves.

For a day, it is probably nice to be a little bit more free to scoop up as much rice as they want, have a taste of meat, some juice, and live a day with a stock of coffee, sugar, noodles, etc. That’s probably not so bad for the holiday season.

Nevertheless, for any other day, it might be much worthwhile to spend for something else.

I’ll forward soon some projects future concerned individuals can work on for the Aetas.


see here for a list of other aeta related articles

Sitio Banaba, Porac, Pampanga during Aeta Feeding program by GIZ's outreach event last december

I have gone hungry after a terrible queue in the supermarket from rush last minute shoppers for Christmas eve dinner (and that includes me of course). It was 5pm, and I could not spot any more restaurant that is open; everyone closed out early to make up for the dinner. I was left with no choice but the streetfood fishballs, kikiam, etc. It wasn’t bad after all as I have been missing this anyway after being out of the country for more than half a year.

A few days before, I have been told by another co-volunteer at one of our Aeta outreach event this year, that he has seen some of the aetas of Sitio Banaba in the city, begging alms.

Although the aetas has been popular for this, I did not believe him rightaway, and instead asked him some question. As far as I am aware, this group of Aetas does not do this just like the rest. Yet, he said, he recognized their faces and these Aetas remember him too. Further, there was another follow up aeta outreach through another group just the next weekend after the first, and for this event, I was surprised to see the community very quiet. Most of them have gone down to the city, and village chief confirms it happens always during Christmas.

Meantime, As I was about to pay the roadside vendor, I saw a family of aeta, around 12 of them all in all, adults, kids, and worst, infants. I looked closely, and they are one of the families in Sitio Banaba. Right there, right before my eyes.

Suddenly, all the joys I had out of the outreach events have molten into regrets. Whatever we’ve done, whatever we’ve given, fact is , it is good enough for a short 1 day. We probably helped that 4x4 owner more by paying him enough to feed his family for a week.

I’ve asked myself this several times.. especially this is the second year that we’ve done this. Where have our efforts gone? Are they any good?

Then again, it is Christmas isn’t it? On Christmas, we buy new clothes, get Lechon, or those expensively creamy desserts, etc. We don’t do this everyday ourselves.

For a day, it is probably nice to be a little bit more free to scoop up as much rice as they want, have a taste of meat, some juice, and live a day with a stock of coffee, sugar, noodles, etc. That’s probably not so bad for the holiday season.

Nevertheless, for any other day, it might be much worthwhile to spend for something else.

I’ll forward soon some projects future concerned individuals can work on for the Aetas.


see here for a list of other aeta related articles

Read More »

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 »