I have accomplished to tour Bohol province's places of interest for the nth time, visited my folks in my hometown 15 km. from Chocolate Hills, gone Dolphin watching, snorkelling in Pamilacan island, travelled 5 hours to Cebu Northside, attended a series of seminars and gone under the knife of a surgeon, all in a week's time. POW!
There were highs and there were lows. But to keep balance, the supposedly long weekend, that spans a week, was a tad too wanting.
KICK-OFF: After taming the wild schedule of the quarter--with all the test paper construction and all things in-between as the 2nd quarter ends, I found my way to Hazel's company. Bored with the usual fare of a Friday night, we hailed a cab that brought us to an artist's haven of a cafe in the outskirts of the Cebu Business Park. It was a gig of an unknown artist, a part of the rising lot, I presume. Her dusky complexion did not betray the texture of her voice. On her playlist is a line-up of well-loved folk, rock and country music. Like all black artists' voice, it was soothing. Their group's name escapes me now, but the charm of her voice left a desirable aftertaste like a vintage Bordeux. All the other artists, or somebody that looks like them--hardcore rock fanatics, were congregating next door for the limited engagement type of a gig. It was rather a brief company, but a relatively smooth transition of time, as I ushered the next day to a different adrenaline rush in the island.
DAY ONE: While rummaging through my workstation for a misplaced file, I got a call from my college buddy Amed. He and his future wife Michelle, together with their family on both sides, planned to spend the weekend before halloween in the Republic of Bohol. In such a short notice, I was able to catch up the gang at 9PM, which was dismayed earlier not to get a room at Alona Tropical (my personal favorite in the Alona beachfront). Fully booked as always.
My former colleague Rose, who purposely went to Bohol to celebrate her birthday, had her soiree also in the not so distant Dumaluan Beach. I got the invites as early as September. I promised to drop by on my way to Alona, but did not make it. It was past eight when I parked my dirt bike near the junction. One missed celebration of good food, good company and the good life!
DAY TWO: Taking the island tour is like knowing the back of my hands. I advise the gang to take a stop at the Bohol Bee Farm to sample organic produce. The itinerary was changed last minute. First stop eventually was at the centuries-old Dauis Church. The Gothic in design church, whose facade tries to achieve a replica of St. Paul's Cathedral in Vatican left much to be desired. The interior though, with its vaulted ceiling and all the paintings, looked grand and divine. After we said our prayers to my patroness, Our Lady of the Assumption, we headed near the old convent, then off we go to the Sandugo marker passing through the land bridge that connects Panglao island to Bohol mainland.
Second stop was in the famous Baclayon Church and Museum. I annotated all the information I could recall about the history of the church and the broa--the delicate delicacy whose history dates back to the coral walls of the church.
Then the Chocolate Hills complex beacons as the driver navigated the snaking concrete road. The day's heat made buko juice a must-buy after the climb from the viewing deck.
Off we go to my hometown. The stretch of the dirt road, in between the well-paved one, made the trip a drag. We finally reached my hometown too early for lunch. After meeting my folks and taking lunch, the trip toward the hanging bridge in Loboc, with a stop-over at the man-made forest for a picture-taking was a good breather for our sore bum.
Shooting the falls was next. The boatman assigned to us provided a lot of information about the old town, the captive tarsier, Dagohoy the hero, Panaghoy sa Suba the movie, the river and its composition, as well as its temperance by way of flood and of course, its falls.
DAY THREE: I once thought that Apo island has the best dive spot. I had one, big, huge mistake because right in my home province' backyard lays the great underwater world of Pamilacan. The sudden drop or the underwater cliff is home to a variety of fishes that for a lot of reasons, I need to study marine biology to identify all of them. I was just there, stunned with the beauty of its marine life. Barracudas, anemones, blue ribbon, what have you, perhaps Nemo wasn't there, taking his day-off for the long vacation. I will devote another page of an entry for the beauty of Balicasag after I ease this backpain I have now while typing this entry.
Earlier, we had to wake up at 5:30AM to prepare for dolphin watching. After 30 minutes in the outrigger, a school of dolphins started to be playful. Finding the best spot to be near them was a whole lot of fun, and chasing to be near them was another.
In the evening, as I checked my email, I was elated to hear that my poems were a part of many shortlists--it's this part in me that seeks validity if I am able to communicate well through sound and imagery. I also seek for another person's viewpoint on the maturity of my persona. Proved effective.
I didn't have the drive to take photos this week. POW!
DAY FOUR: Cebu-bound
DAY FIVE: Seminar-Workshop on Evaluation Tools
DAY SIX: A Seminar for Class Advisers in San Remegio
DAY SEVEN: Surgical Procedure *cringe*
DAY EIGHT: Get to work now kiddo!!!
My back hurts, really. Wooooooooooowowo!
Officially signing off.
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