I like to share my memorable experience in Puerto Galera.  For me this is one of the best white beach I ever laid my eyes on in person.  Me and my college friends together with my boyfriend decided to have a summer vacation back in May 2009.  Actually I’m scared of traveling both in air and by sea, but I did my best to fight my fears in order to be with them and also to experience travelling in water, and really it pays off.

We travel for almost one and a half hours in land and when we arrive at Batangas Port we waited for at least 30 minutes before we can ride on a boat that will bring us to the white beach of Puerto Galera.  While we wait in the port we saw an old colleague, his name is Iris - a tall guy with a lots of humors (I really miss the old times with my colleagues *sad*) we never imagine that we will see each other again and we never thought that we are going to the same destination (what a coincidence! *grin*). We travel for 1 hour into the wavy morning sea of Mindoro it was scary at first, but later on while watching the sea and the scenery it makes me feel relax and calm.

It was hot when we reach the beach side and I was in awe, I love nature so much! (In clouds *floating*).  When we arrive at the place where we are going to stay, we cool down a little bit since it was really hot that day.  Then after that we manage to eat really good foods from the sea and from that Island (thanks Anna for the delicious foods *bow*).  We thought that everything is good, but not when we heard the news about the boat that sunk hours after we leave the port of Batangas.  I saw that boat before we leave and there are many people inside I guess 30 to 40.  I can’t recall but there are kids and elders inside that boat. I got goose bumps when I heard about it.  I thought Iris was there but thank GOD I learned that he came after us.  But I felt so sad about it there are 12 fatalities and it was even featured on televisions.  In the news, the reason why the boat sunk was overloading there should only be a maximum of 42 persons per boat.  That was so sudden and the supposedly happy and fun vacation turns to a nightmare for those people inside that boat.  I thought that we are lucky and feel blessed because GOD did not allow something happen to us. We pray for their souls.

That night even though there are bad things that take place, we still manage to explore the island.  The next morning we set off to the sea and bask every moment in that paradise. We can see the colorful fish at the bottom of the sea, I wanted to catch them but they are too fast! (I can put them on an aquarium when we got home *grin*) Anyway until the end I didn’t get any (stupid me ha-ha).  On the afternoon we look for souvenirs and then geared up to go home. 

That afternoon before we go home, Anna asks us if we can pay a visit to her family in Calapan since it was along the way.  We all agreed to it and set off.  I didn’t expect that the travel will be uncomfortable and scary, we are travelling in the sloppy mountain side not to include the number of persons inside the jeepney (I thought we are going to fall *scared*).  But to be fair, during the more than 2 hours travel the scenery is really beautiful the falls, the nature and the sea.

When we arrived at Anna’s home we are welcome warmly by his family and offer us a delicious meal. The crabs and the shrimps it was so delicious (I’m so full, thank you *bow*).  After that we ride on a tricycle going to Calapan Port and then ride on RORO (Roll-On/Roll-Off) back to Batangas Port.  And that’s where our adventures end.  It was so memorable, enough to make me remember the place and everything about Puerto Galera.

"Any man can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a dad."

Last time I wrote the story about Bonding with my Mom on Mother’s Day.  And now let me introduce the subject of my new story it’s non other than my runaway father.  Why runaway?  It’s because he is always away from us to work abroad (it’s not literally he left us for someone or something *grin face*).  Anyway I do understand the circumstances why he is not always around in every gatherings, anniversaries, birthdays and so on.  I know that it’s hard for him to work and live alone in an unfamiliar country.  The sacrifices he made, the chance to guide us his children while we grow up personally and the loneliness of not seeing his wife for so many years, that is the pain beyond my imagination.

Okay I have made the introduction and now let me describe my father (I call him papz). My papz as I can recall him ever since I was a kid: he pampers us (me and my younger brother) very well and taught us the importance of values and principles in life.  He is a serious looking guy, but once you got to know him you will know in an instant that he is a good man (if you have a sharp eyes).  He loves to joke around but knows when to stop, (yeah when he saw my mom cry because of his ultra tickling attack! *grin face*) he is very supportive, intelligent, clumsy, fighter, achiever, professional, has a mottos of “I can” and “never give up”, high-spirited, superb in using chopsticks (no sweat in eating rice *high speed*) and loves GOD, us, his parents and siblings very much.

I have lots of memories with my father but the most memorable are the following:

• When I have a cheering competition in college, he was there cheering on me as well (ha-ha) and even take my picture (ugh! Papz you know what happened so you are free to laugh!)
• During my college graduation he was so excited that there's a lot of calls on my phone and that's sweet ^_^
• Never missed to say Happy Birthday because he is 2 months advanced (*palm face*)
• On my 10th birthday after I woke up, I saw a stuff toy hanging on the door of our house and he greeted me with a smile (his the first person who greeted me that day)
• When he told my cat “if my daughter doesn’t love you I will throw you out of the house!" (actually I didn’t know about this, my mom just told me and I was really touched *about to cry*)
• When I got back home from work he always told me to wear my slippers
• Never fail to say “How are you today?” everyday
• Cheering me up on my downfall days

For me my father is the best.  Distance is not an issue for him to still do his responsibilities to us.  Maybe he has done something bad in the past, but for me it’s what they called imperfection.  What matters now is the present and the future ahead of us.  And now for the final words “Thank you papz and stay the same always, Love you.”

I know this is very late but I believe in the sayings that “it’s better to be late than never”.  And I like to share this happy bonding moment with my mom, for me she is the best mother in the whole world the sacrifices she made, the patience, the understanding, the love though she doesn’t say it, it was unrequited.  

Back then when I was still a student I don’t really paid so much attention with dates, that is why I forgot to even greet people close to me during their special days or special occasions (yeah so evil right?).  But somehow I manage to greet them even it’s 3 days late (I said sorry and I know I was forgiven).  I realize that it’s bad to not even greet people during their special day, that is why I became sensitive with dates and good thing there are social networking sites like facebook, twitter and more. They have the apps that will give you a notice of your friend’s birthday and ofcourse the groups that will remind you of what day is today - like mother’s day, father’s day, independence day and more.
 
That is when I started to always remember the special occasions particularly mother’s day and father’s day.  I promise to myself that I should always made this occasions special even in a small ways. Because I believe that memories are important it’s not always the things you give, but how you remember them and the feelings you made them felt.

Now back to adventure with my mom. I ask her where she wanted to eat that day and she said: “anywhere!” (yeah she is always like that giving me that type of answer ugh! *palm face*) but that is one of the character I like about her she’s just so childish and honest (love you ma). Since she did not mention where she wanted to eat, I decided to just bring her to Tokyo Tokyo (I’m not rich yet so I think this is fine). My mom when she is happy she looks so serious and never smile (weird isn’t it? But it’s cute).

After eating a lot we go to the department store to check on something my mom wants, and after that we check on other stores. I can see that even it’s a limited time, I saw how happy she was and that is what matters the most to me.

This is my first post and it was really hard for me to pick up which topic to post since all of the selections are good.  But I decided to dedicate this first post to my beloved Baby L (Lino).  Me and my baby has been together for almost 5 years (yeah really it’s been that long and I really can’t believe it myself as well! ha-ha) .  But honestly I’m not counting the years, months, weeks, days, nor time I just enjoy every moment with him, for me it’s a treasure to keep.  I also never realize that it was already that long, but I was hoping that we both remain the same to each other. 

Okay enough with the introduction I’ll now proceed to my story.  My boyfriend ask me to go to Enchanted Kingdom. Since I was a kid I’m not a rides lover.  I remember back then my father brought me to an amusement park and my very first ride was the ferris wheel!  I’m so scared to death and I told my father that I wanted to go down immediately (yeah the coward me but what should I do I am really scared *so sad*).  And from then onwards I decided not to ride on those rides.  But I never thought that there will be a day that my cowardness will be tested. I was forced to ride on Flying Fiesta, Log Jam, Anchors Away, and Rio Grande, above them all what I enjoy the most is the last ride, because it’s the only ride that made me relax due to water’s coldness it was like Wild River of Star City.

During that time I feel mixed emotion excited, scared, proud, and happy at the same time.  I never thought that I can manage to face my fear (*rock sign* yeah!) and that was thanks to my boyfriend and friends even though it’s really scary.  They tried to let me ride the Extreme, but that one is an exception I have a feeling that I will lose consciousness before it reach the top (ha-ha).  So that’s how it ended, how I faced my first adventure with my bf.  I know to some people it’s childish but for me it’s an achievement.