My First UP Experience

I always wanted to go to UP for college. But when I got a response from dad saying "hindi ka marunong maglaba ng panty mo, sa Manila ka pa mag-aaral!" ten years ago, that urge remained a wish for me. No, don't get me wrong, I love my university.

I have a lot of failed trips to UP years back but when Levy and I were left with nowhere to go, we decided to drive around UP. Now I realized, it was a better way to spend the Araw ng Kagitingan than spending an hour or two watching "Date Night". OK, the Filipino in me is kicking in. :D

I did not realize that  I was already in the university until I asked Levy where we were. Apologies, I was used to a campus whose gates are tightly manned by baton-carrying creatures! I call it more of a community, rather than a campus. It seemed like inside UP was like an independent town who has her own lifestyle. I do not know, but there is an unknown factor which let me feel I am in a "free" community! I think it is because of the open air, wide roads with lots of trees (old trees I mean) giving up an aura of open environment! My dream ten years ago was alive once again, and I got envy to those students who happen to be independent at such an early age and manage to assure their parents that they can handle themselves away from home. Ah, that made me want to go back to school once again!

Let me give you my shots with the UP grounds while Levy and I were paving the roads a great school!

it's like a road in a province. hehe. 

i love how the trees spell out the age of the school.

i can't remember seeing the sunset from the grounds of my school.

was it because i'm always inside the library?!

i just love how i ended the afternoon and welcomed the night at UP!

levy told me that UP grounds used to be so green with grass...

but due to El Nino fever, everything is brown in there. :(

as a chocolate lover, i always wanted to go here and try out Chocolate Kiss

but since another branch is just across my new office, i did not bother to check out the original CK

a visit to UP won't be complete without getting a hand of Isaw ng UP!

the isaw community! 

nice cars were parked with groups of family and friends.

i regret not coming here with Erms, as this is one of her "to-dos" 

my first isaw held by Levy! 

served in a plastic cup to avoid street food bacteria contamination

isaw ng baboy and manok - my cup cost 35 php. i did not finish the pork though. 

paired with Mountain Dew at 27 php, it really was a cheap and yummy snack!

My other regret though, not getting a close encounter with the oblation statue!

I may be too old for the experience, but I really am thankful that I got the chance to experience UP! :)

Lipad Na, Bumoto Ka!

And so 2010 national election is at the tip of our nose. We know it, this is one of the most crucial turning point in the history book of the Philippines. Our fate as a nation is at hand. We need to give our share, no matter how little it may seem or gigantic it may be.

We always hear in every media outlets that we, as Filipinos, should exercise our rights - the right to vote specifically. I admit that I'm not a die-hard Filipino but I feel the need for me to ensure that my vote will be counted. But what hinders me to do so? It is the skyrocketing airfare that will leave my ATM grieving once again. You may ask, why did I not transfer my registration here in Makati? It is simply because my home is in Negros. My vote is needed in our local city - a blossoming city in which if will not be taken cared of, the growth will be staggard. I am passionate to bring my local city into a different level.

This is a national issue where everyone should help. The voters have the will, but sometimes we do not have the means. This is where I see the need of the companies to help out. Airline and bus operators. They can HELP a lot. In this trying times, it is the best time for them to take their corporate responsibility into a deeper level. Drop your fares to a lowest level specially designed for the May 10 elections. I assure you, people and politicians will thank you a lot!

This does not mean though that I am not grateful to the frequent promos each of these airlines have. My previous blogs can attest how thankful I am! This time, dedicate your promo taglines to the election such as "Lipad Na, Bumoto ka!"

Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Airphil Express, Zest Air - ARE YOU GAME?

Who/What Ruins Your Air Travel Experience?

Domestic flights are very common nowadays, thanks to the magic of competition as it yielded cheaper airfares! But along with this frequent travels come an equally frequent irritation with the airline services and nasty co-passengers.

What are your top five list? Here's mine!

1. An annoying kid and an inconsiderate guardian tandem
Kids are cute especially when they are in their distinctive baby voice. My adoration turns out to be a bitter one when these kids are unreasonably noisy inside the plane while everyone else is trying to catch a little nap before heading to a full-packed day. My irritation is fueled up when their guardians do not have a clue that these little monsters are messing up your supposed-to-be relaxing trip.

2. The magician passengers
Have you encountered those people who seemed to have brought EVERYTHING that they have in their trips?! It's fine with me as long as you won't force that EVERYTHING as check-in baggage or carry more than what is allowed as hand carry so as to save from paying the excess baggage. This makes you ridiculously cheap or a star in "Kampanerang Kuba". And oh yeah, please stop debating with the airline that you are in the right reasoning. It causes further delay!

3. The "I-must-be-the-first-to-jump-on-the-plane" passengers
I get the logic why the airlines chop off the boarding per seat number ranges. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I see it as an efficient and faster way of getting into the plane. But there are just some people who never cared to observe it. The end result? There you are all jammed in the aisle! Hello? The plane won't leave ASAP if you are sitted first.


4. The little sari-sari store inside the plane
Well, thanks to those frequent airfares, I got to travel more than the usual. I know business, and I know that it's one way of the airlines to make some profits by slashing the on-board "meals" and instead push those carts with food and souvenir items. But, can we spare the first flight with this scheme and give the guests (yes, us!) the time to grasp a small sleep?!

5. The one-sided announcements of the estimated and actual arrival time
I cannot remember if this is true to all airlines but I noticed this one when I last take my flight via AirPhil Express. The route from Manila to Bacolod took us forever. This was evidenced by the non-stop cursing of the guy beside me. No apology was announced from the flight attendants' deck. My opposite route arrived to Manila earlier than expected. There was pride in the FA's voice when she announced it. Can we at least be fair?!

Holy Week 2007 - 2009

UPDATED: Now, I remember what I did in 2008. :)

Holy Thursday and Good Friday are the longest legal holidays in the Philippines. Holidays would then mean a vacation and a break free for all of us, well, at least for me. :)

Year 2007 was a Boracay holiday with my All Star friends. Ah, that was one of the BEST escapades that I had in my life! You bet, Boracay was painted red all over when the All Star set foot on that paradise!

 :)

yes, I miss this body!

beach babes!

 with the All Star Cast!

Year 2008 was my first Holy Week with Levy. I do not know why we ended up looking for a place in Cavite (I personally does not like Cavite for some unknown reasons. :P) Befor we head out to that resort (which I already forgot the name!), we stopped and checked out Island Cove. 

 the BIG and WIDE fishpond. :P

 

the life-sized chess board!

The whole place was not appealing to us so we opted to head to the swimming pool resort we saw at the net. It was equally frustrating for us as we are not a big fan of man-made bodies of water. So there, we went home sad. :D

In year 2009, the year when Levy and I were so much into out of towns, grabbed a last minute roadtrip going to Munting Buhangin at Nasugbu, Batangas. Why there? Since it was a clock-beating decision, we can no longer find a resort who could accomodate us - only Munting Buhangin, in a tent!!! Gah, in that humble cove, with powdery sand, and abundant tents at the shore, it really was a sweet vacation!

 my green and blue mix-match!

 oh, did I say lobsters? Yum!

sunset watching by the beach, what a great way to end the afternoon!

and waking up with the beach just right in front of you!

glorious waves...

The best thing of going back to Manila on a Good Friday is the no-traffic drama of the wide roads! It was a relaxing comeback to the metro. And oh, seeing those colorful flowers and ornamental plants along the side streets of Tagaytay makes the experience even better!!!

 We are the king and queen of the road!

lovely, lovely flowers from Tagaytay!

 Don't judge me folks, it's just that I'm not too religious to strictly observe the traditional way of celebrating Holy Week. I need not to fast because I can do all away with those meats everyday!

I have my own faith. :)