Long Weekend

Weeeee! Labor Day (which is supposed to be on May 1st) is moved to Monday, making it a legal holiday = no work. :)

So, what’s in store?

•  Roadtrip to Quezon/Laguna. This is a tipid trip so nothing of the fancy stuff. We just want to be with nature.
• LapDance Gateway for repair of bag
• Send money to nephew for his guitar
• Attend Bo Sanchez’s event
• UP run
• Talk to landlady about moving out
• Apartment hunting
• De-clutter. Pack unused stuff to be sent home to Baguio
• Continue HK IT
• Research for more online jobs

It will be a busy and productive (hopefully) long weekend.

Oh, it’s the last day of the month and it’s the last day for this work week. Yipee!

Happy weekend everyone!

Government documents

I’m pushing myself to complete all those government IDs. I’m bound for HK in July and I remember that I still haven’t gotten a travel clearance from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). I don’t want the nightmare of being left behind for that trip just because I was not cleared of travel out of the country. So I have to make sure this won’t happen. How? I need to research on that still. All I know is that I need a COE so I’ve already filed a request to our Site HR for that tonight.

**Background: As a DOST scholar, we were required to work in the Philippines equivalent to the number of years that we were scholars. So during those payback years, we were banned to go out of the country. If we need to for leisure or business trip, we still have to get a clearance.

Next thing I remember was that I applied for my NBI clearance ages ago but didn’t receive any copy. One time, I was given a slip of paper that they are requiring me to report to their office for interview. I’m guessing this is all about the DOST thing so I might as well settle my DOST clearance first before heading to NBI. :p

Want more? I want to have my e-passport before the HK trip! So I’m in the process of attending to that as well.

What else? Oh, there’s the TIN card, Philhealth card and SSS too. :)

I’ll have all of you in no time hehehe. Pramis!

Anything else I forgot? Is there an ID for Pag-ibig? That I have to check.

So now, off to researching on how to have all those. I’ll post important details if there will be any.

*Image from here.*

Moving...Moving On

After almost 5 years of staying at our current site (and of course endless floor transfers), our team will once again be moving back to OSMA (back since we've already been there before). The Capacity team says it will be our permanent location. Hopefully, since I’m also planning to move out of my current apartment to a place nearer to our new site. And when I say nearer, I mean to a new apartment that’s just walking distance from the office hehehe. So I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll be able to find another smashing apartment that will fit all my things and with big windows of course. :)

I’m excited. New workplace, new home, new neighbors, it’s nearer Ultra. Perhaps I’ll be able to jog this time.

So…moving on….

*Image from here.*

Sunset @ La Union

Took a picture of the sun setting while passing by La Union last April 4, 2010. This was on our way back to Manila from our Ilocos tour. :)

Pasyar Ilocos: Wrapping Up

Expenses:
Tour – Php4,088.00
Day 1 – Php1,280.00
Day 2 – Php650.00
Day 3 – Php600.00
Total Expenses – Php6,618.00

 Some thoughts:

• Thank God for digicams, we were able to capture a thousand pictures.
• It's fun to travel with friends who are photography enthusiasts hehe. SLR kung SLR.
• Unfortunately, we were not able to visit the falls and the rock formation. Oh well, next time :)
• Along the way, there are a lot of newly built houses or houses under construction. And these are big houses with complete exterior (and perhaps interior) finishing. At times I wonder how they did it. But I’ll just take it as a sign if progress for these owners due to their perseverance and hard work :)
• During socials (any socials for that matter), lovelife is and will always be an interesting topic. Hopefully soon, I’ll have one interesting story of my own to share :)
• There are a lot of wonderful places to see in the Philippines. Hopefully, everyone will be given the chance to explore it. :)

Thank you Ilocos. I had fun especially during the times that I was able to converse with locals in Ilocano hehehe. It feels closer to my home sweet home. :)

Thank you father God for the unending blessings. I am forever grateful.

Note: All pictures in the Ilocos posts are courtesy of Jacq and Vivi. Thanks girls! :)

Pasyar Ilocos Day 3

Happy Easter! In Ilocano, naragsak a pascua ti panagungar.

Our pitstops:

St. William Cathedral and Sinking Tower

After a quick breakfast at Eagle's nest, we hailed a tricycle to take us to St. William cathedral where we attended the Easter mass. Unfortunately, we didn't have any idea on the schedule so we arrived late for the 7:30 mass. Also, the mass was in Ilocano so it was more challenging for our non-Ilocano friends and to me as well since I was not used to it. It was more than a decade since the last time i heard mass in Ilocano so errr I forgot the responses ahihi.

The sinking tower is also at the same area where the cathedral is so we had photo ops session after the mass hehe.

Heritage Village

At around 9:30 AM, we checked out at the hotel and started the trip back to Ilocos sur. We arrived at the village at around 11 AM so we had at least 1.5 hours to tour around, have lunch and buy pasalubong. We agreed to just have our lunch first at the Vigan Hotel. When we were about to go out of the hotel, we saw Jomari at the lobby so we had our pictures taken wahaha.

After lunch, we bought some pasalubong. I only bought chichacorn for the office and tsokolate de vigan for me hehehe. Unfortunately, empanada is only available by mid-afternoon so no empanada for us. I thought of buying bagnet for home but it might already be spoiled by the time I go home to Baguio. Besides, I think some are already selling it in town.

 

The heritage village is just a small area. We actually just walked one street and had photo ops session to our heart's content on all nice spots.

At around 1:45 PM, we started our trip back to Manila.

Expenses(Php):
Breakfast - 100
Lunch - 230
Pasalubong-270

As of this writing, it's already 3:13 PM and we are already at Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur.

Pasyar Ilocos Day 2

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, we immediately proceeded to our itinerary for the day.

Our pitstops:

Patapat Viaduct

This is a concrete highway built along the coastal area of Pasaleng Bay. As per other sites, this was constructed to answer the landslide problems in the area. Now, it’s one of the tourist attractions in Ilocos Norte.

Market

We made a quick stop to buy the necessary supplies for our lunch. For our group, we just bought liempo, pork chop, and tilapia which we later asked the locals at the beach to grill for us.

Blue Lagoon

This is not the famous Pagudpod beach but it's one of the many resorts in Pagudpod. The waves were strong so we opted not to swim. Instead we had photo ops and played a little with the waves reaching the shore. There were a lot of people today maybe because it's Holy week and most people are off from work.

Bangui Windmills

Breathtaking site! Amazing technology. And oh, one of our travel companions works for the company who built the windmills hehe. We had more fun here playing with the waves. We met another couple who gladly took group pictures of us while jumping in the waves. Fun! Fun! Fun!

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

We arrived here just before sunset. Unfortunately, the way to the tower was already closed. Perhaps it’s for security reasons. You only have to climb a few steps before reaching the tower so it’s not very tiring. Once on top, you’ll have a spectacular view of mountains and seas, with the wind blowing gently. Perfect way to end the day.

The lighthouse was our last stop for the day. We went back to the hotel after for dinner and socials. For the second time, the singing group serenaded us again. :)

Expenses (Php):

Breakfast - 90
Lunch - 200
Dinner - 360

Pasyar Ilocos Day 1

At around 6 AM, we were already at Bantay Bell Tower in Vigan. After stretching and a few minutes of picture taking, we were called to proceed to Cafe Uno where we had a sumptuous breakfast.

After breakfast, we went back to the bell tower but there were already a lot of people so the driver suggested that we just visit it the third day.

Our pitstops:

Baluarte

Marcos Museum

Cameras are not allowed inside. This is where a replica of Marcos (made of wax) was laid for viewing. It's still a little eerie to me even though I know it's not his actual body. Another building contains the photo gallery where we saw the different faces of Macros and his family through the years. Imelda is a real beauty. No wonder Marcos was smitten by her.

Herencia Cafe

This is where we had lunch. We tried their famous Pinakbet pizza, together with tuna pizza. I loved it. Nice innovation to make a famous Ilocano dish to a pizza. Also, their mango shake is made of ripe sweet mango. Two thumbs up for that. It takes a while for the pizza to be cooked though, especially so that we were there during lunchtime where there are a lot of people. It's still worth the wait.

Paoay Church

This must be one of the old structures that still have its own beauty and charm.

La Paz Sand Dunes

A patch of desert in the Philippines. According to our driver this is also a famous location for shooting of movies and TV series.

Malacanang of the North (Malacaniang ti Amianan)

As per history, this is strategically located because beside it is the sea where it can be an escape route when Marcos was ousted. The building is maintained, and it's a good place for photo ops hehehe.

Java Hotel

Malacanang of the North is our last stop before proceeding to our hotel. It's located a few minutes away from town so there's green scenery all around. Service is ok as well. Their extra bed is literally a bed, not just foam placed on the floor. We had dinner at the hotel's bar and restaurant as their food are reasonably priced. While eating, we were serenaded by a singing group. Nice.

They also offer room service massage which we availed.

Expenses (Php):

Breakfast - 100

Hat - 100
Lunch - 200
Dinner - 280
Massage - 600