Isang Taong Resty

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Makalipas ang sampung taon ay mabibigyan tayo ng bagong kaalaman tungkol sa kasalukuyang buhay ni Resty. Ngayon ay dalawampu’t anim na taong gulang na ang binata at naninirahan sa pangunahing lungsod sa kanilang lalawigan kung saan siya iniwan ng kanyang inang si Aling Tonya. Mabibighani si Resty sa ganda ng kasamahan na nagngangalang Renata subalit mayroon na itong kasintahan at sila ay malapit nang mag-isang dibdib. Sa pag-alis ng dalaga upang lumipat sa Maynila ay magpapasya si Resty na lumuwas na rin upang makipagsapalaran kahit na hindi tugma ang pananaw ng kanyang ina at lola. Sa Maynila ay mararanasan ni Resty ang hirap ng buhay manggagawa pati na rin ang kasawian sa pag-ibig. Mamumulat naman din siya sa mga di pangkaraniwang pamamaraan upang kumita ng salapi habang nakikitira sa barong-barong ng kanyang amang si Mang Ador kasama ang kanyang kapatid na si Totoy at ang ina nitong si Aling Daisy.

[ORIENTAL MINDORO] Budget and Itinerary

MONDAY: February 10, 2025

Bus (Alabang - Batangas Port) - 214.00

Dali (Groceries) - 104.00

Terminal Fee (Batangas Port) - 30.00

Galerian Ferry (Batangas - Balatero - Batangas) - 1,460.00

Tourist Fee (Balatero) - 120.00

Tricycle (Balatero - White Beach) - 200.00

Dreamwave Beach Resort (2 Nights) - 3,000.00
PhP5,128.00

[PUERTO GALERA] Oriental Mindoro at Last

Puerto Galera for me is a good example of a Philippine province that is just there and can be visited anytime, easily accessible from Manila and, thus, always remains to be an option but never a choice. Like, let’s visit other provinces first. Now that I have slowed down and finally reviving my local itineraries, I’ve decided to finally cross out Oriental Mindoro off my list of places to go to. Timing couldn’t have been worse considering it’s been raining non-stop for a couple of days now and the main attraction there is the beach. Oh well, let’s see where this will lead us to. But first, how do you get there anyway?

[ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR] Budget and Itinerary

WEDNESDAY: January 22, 2025

Cebu Pacific (Manila - Zamboanga - Manila) - 2,085.00

Coffee Hour (Tapsilog + Water) - 285.00

Grand Astoria Hotel (2 Nights) - 3,600.00
PhP5,970.00

[ZAMBOANGA] Latin City of Asia

I’ve heard a lot about Zamboanga. Latin City of Asia. A city where a Spanish creole called Chavacano is the lingua franca. As to why I haven’t really gone until now has always been a question of my quest to prioritize international travel. Now that I seem to be done with the 100-countries goal, it is perhaps just normal to explore domestic destinations once again, considering the last domestic trip I did was a decade ago. I scored roundtrip fares on sale that cost me just around PhP2000 which is already a good deal for a two-hour flight. Off to Zamboanga we go, then!

[QUEZON] Budget and Itinerary (2)

SATURDAY: June 13, 2015

JAC Liner (Buendia - Lucena) - 209.50

Bus (Lucena - Mauban) - 52.00

Supplies 1200/6 (7 Eleven/Market) - 200.00

Boat 1500/4 (Mauban - Cagbalete) - 375.00

Island Hopping 1200/6 (Cagbalete) - 200.00
Nipa Hut w/Fan 1200/4 (MVT Resort) - 300.00

Bonfire 120/6 (MVT Resort) - 20.00
PhP1,356.50

[MAUBAN] Cagbalete Weekend Getaway

It was a toss-up between Calaguas and Cagbalete, and if there is something you should know, it’s that Calaguas never happens in this universe of mine. It’s always a plan and stays that way. Cagbalete won because it was more accessible and relatively closer coming from Manila. It did not really matter that much to me because I haven’t been to either destination. I just initially thought that Cagbalete was in Aurora. It turns out to be located in Quezon. Okay, let’s mark Aurora red in our map some time later!

[TARLAC] Budget and Itinerary

SUNDAY: February 15, 2015

Mt. Pinatubo Day Tour Package (Tripinas) - 2,090.00
Double Cheeseburger x2 (McDonalds) - 196.00
Total - PhP2,286.00

[TARLAC] Wearing Your Wedges to Pinatubo

“Some people actually come here in wedges,” the tour guide said before rolling her eyes and adding, “Shopping?” When I hear the term “wedges” what really comes to mind are those scrumptious slices of baked potatoes drenched in cheese and mayonnaise that KFC serves whenever I am in Malaysia. She had to be talking about some sort of footwear, though. Since Google is my friend, I figured out later that wedges are that kind of women’s shoes with a flat and rather inconveniently elevated base.

[CAVITE] Budget and Itinerary

WEDNESDAY: December 17, 2014

Corregidor Day Tour Package (Sun Cruises) - 2,350.00
Malinta Tunnel Show (Corregidor) - 200.00
Coke (Corregidor Hotel) - 75.00

Total - PhP2,625.00

[CORREGIDOR] Correct Me If I'm Wrong

“Corregir” is a Spanish verb which means to “correct”, and a fundamental knowledge of Spanish suffixes should tell you that a “Corregidor” would be the one doing the correcting. Why name an island as such then? It does pique one’s curiosity, but there are several plausible theories mentioned by the tour guide to justify this island’s name: one involving the Acapulco-Manila galleon trade; and the other, that of the island being used as a correctional facility.

[ZAMBALES] Budget and Itinerary

TUESDAY: April 8, 2014

Taxi (Makati - Caloocan) - 80.00
Victory Liner (Caloocan - San Antonio) - 265.00
San Antonio Market (Supplies) - 170.00
Tricycle (San Antonio - Pundaquit) - 30.00
Hammock (Pundaquit) - 150.00
Environmental Fee (Anawangin) - 150.00
PhP845.00

[BATANGAS] Budget and Itinerary (3)

MONDAY: April 7, 2014

Bus (Manila - Tanauan) - 96.00
Tricycle (Tanauan - Jeep Stop) - 10.00
Jeep (Tanauan - Laurel) - 45.00
Boat 1500/4 (Laurel - Taal) - 375.00
Registration (Taal) - 50.00
Mineral Water (Taal) - 125.00
Coke x2 (Taal) - 100.00
Snacks (7 Eleven) - 225.00

Total - PhP1,026.00

[PALAWAN] Budget and Itinerary (2)

WEDNESDAY: February 12, 2014

Air Asia Zest (Manila - Puerto Princesa - Manila) - 1,157.60
Tricycle (Airport - Islands Stay Hotel) - 10.00
Underground River/Honda Bay Package (3B's Tours) - 2,800.00
Islands Stay Hotel (2 Nights/Single Aircon) - 1,750.00
Tricycle (Islands Stay Hotel - City Hall) - 10.00
Environmental Permit (City Hall) - 175.00
Tricycle (City Hall - Islands Stay Hotel) - 10.00
Tricycle (Islands Stay Hotel - Irawan - Robinsons) - 500.00
Starting Over Again (Robinsons Cinema) - 150.00
Robinsons Cinema (Popcorn/Mineral Water) - 60.00
Jollibee (Burger Steak w/Rice & Coke) - 51.00
Multicab (Robinsons - Highway) - 10.00
Tricycle (Highway - Islands Stay Hotel) - 20.00
PhP6,703.60

[SIQUIJOR] Budget and Itinerary

THURSDAY: June 6, 2012

Gazebo Pensionne (1 Twin Aircon/2 Nights) - 1,700.00

Jollibee (1 pc Chicken w/Rice & Coke) - 79.00

PhP1,779.00

[SIQUIJOR] Not a Single Aswang in Sight

Well, well. Whoever was responsible for spreading nasty rumors that Siquijor – along with Capiz usually, but I have never been there – is full of Aswang and the supernatural probably did so to keep everyone away and have the awesome beaches all to himself. My Habal-Habal driver’s upper body did not detach from its lower half; neither did he try to eat me. So no, no single supernatural creature in sight but rather just beaches with the typical trio of azure, turquoise, and dark blue that turns every body of water into a powerful visual spectacle.

[BOHOL] Budget and Itinerary

TUESDAY: June 4, 2012

Terminal Fee (Balbagon Port) - 11.20

Super Shuttle Ferry (Balbagon - Jagna) - 400.00

Bus (Jagna - Tagbilaran) - 80.00

Jollibee (1 pc Burger Steak w/Rice & Coke + Pretzel Crunch) - 87.00
Tricycle (Island City Mall - Panglao) - 250.00
Panglao Chocolate Hills Resort (1 Dorm Bed/2 Nights) - 600.00

Van (Panglao Chocolate Hills - Alona - Panglao Chocolate Hills) - 200.00

Hayahay (Chicken Fried Rice & Coke + Ube Shake) - 270.00

PhP1,898.20

[CARMEN] Our Hills Are Chocolate

They say that back when the population of water buffaloes far exceeded that of the human inhabitants, it took a million of them simultaneously taking a dump to form what is now known as the Chocolate Hills. This is a joke, but since many people would take anything they read as gospel truth, let me put some joke tags. [joke] They say that back when the population of water buffaloes far exceeded that of the human inhabitants, it took a million of them simultaneously taking a dump to form what is now known as the Chocolate Hills [/joke]. Kidding aside, this popular tourist attraction is a sight to behold, as long as it is not raining and there aren't too many camwhores congregating at the few photo-op sites like there is no tomorrow.

[CORELLA] Three Tarsiers for Wednesday

Today’s pathetic excuse for an itinerary was short and sweet, thanks to my laziness, but you have to give it to me. I am improving. Forfeiting my second day at Panglao Chocolate Hills Resort, I went back to Tagbilaran and booked a room for one night in a pension house because Panglao is just too far to serve as my home base in Bohol. The plan to leave by 7 AM got delayed by two hours, and given how going to the Chocolate Hills would take more time, I just chose the tarsiers for today. It has been a simple itinerary, really, and only took less than two hours. What did I do the rest of the day? Sleep.

[PANGLAO] Some Boracay Kind of Vibe

For someone who has been traveling for years now, how I plan for my trips remains to be a good source of embarrassment. What is so wrong with research? Nothing. But we want spontaneity! Well, spontaneity would cost you some of your hard-earned cash in the long run. Perhaps I was too smitten with Camiguin that I forgot planning for Bohol altogether. Before I knew it, I was on a ferry to Jagna with no clear itinerary in mind. I did reserve a dorm bed for two nights, though, located at Dauis on Panglao Island. Off to Tagbilaran I go.