The Story of my Life

I called my in-laws' house yesterday (looking for my brother-in-law) and I got the chance to talk to my niece, Charlotte. This is how our conversation went:

Me: Hi baby, how are you?

Charlotte: Ok. (in her monotone voice)

Me: What are you doing?

Charlotte: I’m eating.

Me: What are you eating?

Charlotte: Sabaw. (When she moved here she had an accent that we sometimes find hard to understand. But now, she can speak straight Filipino.)

Me: Wow! What time are you going to school?

Charlotte: I said I’m eating. Call me again later.

*Pause*

Me: (Not knowing how to react) Oh, okay. I’m sorry.

Charlotte: Call me again later. Around 5:00 okay? Cause I’m going to school. I’ll be home by 5:00pm.

Me: Okay. Bye baby.

Charlotte: Bye.

Now I know better. Never never interrupt a child in the middle of her meal if you don’t want to be scolded.

Did you hear how big is the Lotto Jackpot now? Last I know, it’s at P194M. Wew! That’s a lot of money.

Do you also remember how I secretly wished I win in the Lotto though I never placed a bet?

Last week, while the whole country was preparing to go on vacation for the Holy Week break, I urged my lunch mates to bet in the Lotto. And so, the conversation about what you’ll do if you win (it was only P185M then) began:

C: If I win, bibigyan ko kayo tig-iisa ng P1,000. Hahahaha.
G: Wag ka nang magpakita sa amin pag nanalo ka.
C: Ikaw G2, anong gagawin mo?
G2: Magtratravel tayong lahat sa Europe! Sagot ko. Magkano ba isa, sabihin nating P400,000 each times 6 pax. P2.4M lang, chicken!!!
I: Grabe no, pag may P185M ka, magleleave ka agad ng 2months. Tapos magtravel ka lang ng mag-travel.
R: Mag-reresign ba kayo pag nanalo kayo?
R2: Oo naman. Mag-reresign na ko!
R: Ako din, mag-frafranchise na lang ako ng Jollibee. Sigurado yun.
C: Ako siguro hindi muna. Sisiguraduhin ko munang okay yung negosyo ko bago ako mag-resign.
G2: Oo nga.
I: Grabe! Pwede ka nang maging individual donor ng opis natin pag nanalo ka!
C: Ako, magpapakasal na kami ni Jerome. Tapos sasabihin ko sa kanya sagot ko na. Pati engagement ring ako na magbabayad, bigyan ko na lang sya ng pera pang bili. Pati kasal ni Kuya, ako na magbabayad. Kahit bukas mismo!
I: Pag madalas kang mag-leave tapos papagalitan ka, sabihin mo sa amo mo, kukuha ka na lang ng reliever mo. Kahit ikaw na magpapasweldo! Hahaha

That afternoon, after all our day dreaming, we marched to the mall and placed our bets. We even agreed that if we lost, we would all wear black the next day to mourn our shattered dreams.

One busy Friday morning at work:

Email subject: Mr. X's chair

Dear All,
Please let me know if you borrowed Mr. X's small
chair. It disappeared
from his room.

Staff A

Replies were:

Staff B: Sinong nag-uwi? Umamin na!
Staff C: Sorry hindi ko kayang iakyat sa MRT.
Staff B: Sa bank car kasya!
Staff D: Baka hindi lang niya napansin at inuupuan pala nya.
Staff E: Mwahahaha...Kakatawa naman iyun! Sa 'small' ng chair at sa laki nya, baka nga!

Email subject: The Case of the Missiong Chair SOLVED!

Nahanap ko na po yung "small" chair. Nayupi pala sa ilalim ng table
nya. Di nya napansin. May extra chair pala sa cluster nina Ms.
Y. Probably nakalimutan ibalik ng mga cleaners after they cleaned his
room.

Staff C: Hay naku Staff A, ang silya naglakad papunta kila Y dahil hindi na niya kaya ang torture pag umuupo si Mr. X.

"Pansinin ninyo ang ngiti nya,
ngiting nanganganyaya't
ngiting walang kahambing."

"Oh well, ganun talaga...
hitsurang lalaki...
pero lasang babae...
isang talulot na namumukadkad...
tuwing alas-12 ng tanghali.

Kapag ang lupang tigang
ay nadiligan
tiyak ngiti sa mga labi
ay mamamasdan."

"Hating kapatid ang turo ni inay
hatiin ang mamon pati ang monay
ensaymada, mocha roll dapat pantay-pantay
at wag lilimutin ang mga mahal sa buhay."

"Eto na si kaka, bubuka-bukaka."

"Naku kaka, ingat ka pagbukaka
baka makita ang ube halaya
malayo pa ang fiesta.

Sarang hamida!"

"Masakit,
makirot,
dahil makipot.

Lumusot,
nautot,
ako'y haliparot."

Chuva,
chenes,
eklavu
Vavayu...

My last trip was a blast! It was so much fun we hardly recognized the time. In fact, we felt we should have stayed longer to enjoy the site and the food. I've been to Cagayan de Oro several years back. But it was a business trip so I didn't have time to go around the city. I was not, in anyway, impressed with CDO so I never planned to go back. But when my friend told me her thrilling experience white water rafting, I had a change of heart. That's one of my motivation, second to Camiguin of course.

White water (actually, I don't know why they call it as such when the water is brown...yuck corny!) rafting takes about 2hours as you have to tackle 14 rapids. We were charged for Php700, inclusive of a sumptuous lunch and transportation to and from the river.

If you're not the adventurous type, fear not because the Guides are well trained. During our batch, there were a total of 6 rafts. In one of those, there was a 7-year-old or less, and she enjoyed every bit of it. No tinge of fear on her face. Several weeks before us, they had a 10-month-old on board. If a child made it, what more for an adult like me? You just have to listen to your guide, do as you are told and you'll finish it with flying colors. If ever you get so unlucky and you're thrown out of the raft, your life vest will keep you floating. Promise, it's a piece of cake.

One thing that made it memorable for all of us was when our raft went under a rock formation. We were asked to back paddle, to back paddle is to put on brake, as we were moving too fast and was about to hit under that rock. But since we were enjoying the ride and we were too thrilled, the next thing we know Ritchie was doing ala matrix-bending backwards almost breaking his back bone. Wilson got scratches on his left hand. From then on, Ritchie started counting so we would all paddle.

After the white water rafting, which ended around 2pm, we went straight to Balingoan pier to catch the ferry to Benoni, Camiguin. Land travel to the pier took about an hour, but that's because we rented a van, it might take longer if you take the bus. The ferry ride took another hour, and from Benoni it took us an hour and a half to get to the resort, that's inclusive of all the stops we did to get food and drinks. By the time we reached the Paras Resort, we were all starving and exhausted. After dinner, it was good night to all.

Day 2 - Camiguin Island Tour

The next day was rainy, and my cold was getting worse, yes I was ill again. The night before our trip, I had fever but since I waited for this for so long, I can't just back out because of this pesky illness.

The hotel has a ready map for tourists who want to tour the island so after breakfast the following day we were off on our road trip. There were 9 destinations in the itinerary, most of which were hot/cold spring. The part I liked the most was the waterfall. We didn't get to swim though because the water was murky, because of the rain, and the fall was gushing. So we contented ourselves by taking pictures with the waterfall.

Lunch was super. We ate at Kinamot, a local version of Kamayan Restaurant. I love their Calamares and Halaan soup, and their sweet pineapple. One thing I love about these two provinces is their sweet pineapple, I don't get a lot of that in Manila, especially in ADB. Our pineapples are pale yellow, genuinely sour. hehehe

If you're planning to go to Camiguin, you have to allot 3 full days to see everything, that's exclusive of travel time. We were there for two nights and two days and we didn't get to see the nicest destinations in the island. What a pity. It would have been more fun if we have set foot on White Island, Mantigue Island and Mt. Hibok-hibok. The weather didn't cooperate and there wasn't enough time so we had to delight ourselves with what we could get.

We were back at the resort in time for dinner. Our objectives were to get to White Island, buy Pastel and catch the last ferry to CDO. We were planning our itinerary for the following day when I asked one of the waitresses for travel time:

Me: Miss, alam mo gaano katagal ang biyahe from here (resort) to pier?
Waitress: Mag-vavan po kayo Ma'am?
Me: Oo.
Waitress took a deep breath then clasped both hands.
Waitress: Hindi po ma'am eh.

While I was controlling my laughter, I could see Ritchie from my peripheral doing the same. When the waitress left, we all burst out in laughter. At some point there, we all thought she knew the answer. So if I answered "no, we're taking public transport" would she have answered differently? hahaha

We downed one bottle of Absolute Mandarin that night. As usual, Ritchie was the casualty. It's not obvious with the pictures, is it?

Day 3 - Bumpy ride

It rained again the next day so we were not advised to go to White Island. How sad...As I said, abot tanaw na hindi pa rin napuntahan. Towards noon, the rain stopped but the rest of the day was gutsy. Our boat ride to Camiguin was very bumpy. The ship was swaying intensely. The ship behind us had to re-route because it couldn't stand the wind. I was getting uncomfortable, imagining the worst things that can happen to us. I couldn't sleep because I could fall off from my seat. Some passengers were beginning to become restless, standing, walking back and forth. Then we saw a rainbow. Living in the city deprives us of natural wonders such as this. It was beautiful and we were pleased with the site. Our fears vanished and the next thing we know, we were back. Haaayyy...thank God for rainbows.

Day 4 - Last hurrah

We started our last day in CDO early, early as in 5:00am as I got a text from Cebu Pacific informing us that our 1:30pm flight is cancelled. It was a for-your-information message, no explanation why they cancelled, nor an option. When we called, the option they were giving us was to take a flight the next day. Wow! What a great option. When we agreed, but on the condition that they'll pay for all the expenses we'll incur for having to stay an extra day, they booked us on the 5pm flight on the same day. Which we all thought was a good schedule because then we don't have to rush. Case closed.

When we've all finished breakfast, we went to Macahambus park for another adventure - canopy walking and zip lining. We were charged Php250 for both. With Canopy walking, you have to walk on a 154-meter-bridge that is 174 feet above the ground. This one is a no brainer. Zip lining, on the other hand, is quite scary. You have to go back to your starting point zipping. I zipped first, when the guide let me go I screamed my lungs out! It was liberating.
After all this excitement came a text from Cebu Pacific. "Good am. Please be informed that your flight today 5J386 bound for Manila will resume today, same time of departure." Don't you just love how easy they change schedules? We took the flight, nonetheless. Hehehehe

After hoarding Pastel and ham, we left CDO with a smile on our faces and an experience we won't forget. We will be back, but next time we'll do pinoy rafting.

Never ever dare single women to drive to Tagaytay for coffee and dessert on a hot holiday afternoon. You don't know the power of these women.

Vicky: To Greenfields take Exit 41. Yan, dyan tayo!
(moving past Exit 40)
Ako: Hindi pa yan, Exit 40 pa lang eh. Yung next exit.
Reeya: Sure?
(moving past Exit 43)
Vicky: Lumampas na ata tayo. (voice fading)
Ako: Pwede naman tayong bumalik eh, ikot lang ng Cabuyao Exit. Mabilis lang yan. (defensive)

And this little mistake will haunt us forever and ever and ever...

* We never found Exit 41 and because of that, I will sue LTO or DOTC for misleading signages!!!!!

Last week we had our much-awaited housewarming party for Meyri. And because it was her party, she had the license to say these:

HEZIL: So, bakit kayo naghiwalay?
MEYRI: Cultural differences.

So, ano ka? Chinese at sya Pakistani?

MAMA CARMS: Cler, have you ever had a boyfriend?
CLER: Of course naman Mama Carms.
MAMA CARMS: Gano kayo katagal?
CLER: Five years po. Parang 4th year high school to 4th year college kami.
MEYRI: 8 years kayo?!?!?!?!

So kailan pa naging 4+4 ang pag-count nun?

View pics at http://cafanlo.multiply.com/photos/album/29