August 30, 2010

Celebrating Family and Life Aug2010


August 20, 2010
7pm was our scheduled travel to Dumaguete City. We rode onto the last bus trip to Dipolog City and left 9pm. The travel was ok except for a fact that the next bus that left Zamboanga bus terminal after us was hijacked by the hijackers. There has been news already of the same incidents that some of the buses that travelled to north of Zamboanga Peninsula were hijacked. Accordingly, the critical place was in the town of Tagasilay, still a part of Zamboanga City. We passed that place with the lights turned off with only the headlights on. When we arrived on the town of Ipil, we felt relieved.
August 21, 2010
At 3am, we were already at Dipolog City; the bus went straight to Puluan Sea port. We rode
onto the shuttle bus ferry boat and had three hours of travel. We arrived Dumaguete City at around 10am passed and there we met my mom and lea.
Upon arrival, we ate Lemon Square cheese cake and the local delicacies like the torta and tinalay bread. We went straight to the house of Lolo Odo and had our early lunch. After having our meal, we took our bath and brushed our teeth. Then went straight to Dauin as they were already calling us.
We arrived in Dauin at 11am passed. There we met Lola, Anti Quela, Micah, and Uncle Gary. I was so happy as I embraced my lola. I felt the thrill sensation that I have been longing for so long. Then, I saw Micah, she haven’t changed a bit except she got a lot more igat. Uncle Gary was still the same him since I first met him in the year 2003. He was bullying me that time. And I was so shocked when I saw Anti Quela. She gained weight a lot and had buyunun as they call it.

After that, the pasalubongs was given to us. I had Victoria secret, Hollister shirts, and some pants from uncle gary. I had airwalk slippers from lola. And my Asus EEEpc Netbook which I asked Anti Quela to buy for me.



Later that afternoon, we went to Dumaguete City for shopping. We passed Super Lee Plaza, Tessie’s house of gowns for the measurement and Robinson’s Dumaguete. We ate our dinner together at Chicken Inasal. One noteworthy to mention was the frequent requests from the kid’s table for unlimited rice.
That night, my nieces, nephews and cousins were busy preparing for a dance number for the wedding event. I fell in love with the song the first time I heard it. I was so jealous that I ended up dancing with them. Waka waka was the title of the song of Shakira that was the official theme song for FIFA 2010. The dance moves was easy to learn so I enjoyed it together with my cousins and sisters. Little that we knew that someone was taking a video while we were busy memorizing the dance steps. Uncle Ining was also there busy dying and trimming our hair. They ended up 2am that I haven’t got my hair done. I was waiting for my turn until I felt asleep.
August 22, 2010
This was my first day that I woke up in Dauin. I had a good night sleep. And this marked the day that I got a close encounter with my Asus EEEpc Netbook. I called up Bregette that I haven’t had my hair done yet and she informed Osang. We went to Osang’s house and told her that there are some people waiting for her home service.
At 11am, I dyed my hair with copper brown and had it trim since I already cut my hair last August 07, 2010.
At 2pm, we went to St Nicholas Church for the practice. I received a text message from someone I don’t know and she named herself Melanie. I don’t mind her text as I know that she was just fooling me or maybe one of my relatives is making a good time out of me. After few days, I knew it, it was Georgia who was texting me.

At 4pm, we went again to Dumaguete City with Bregette, Pearlie, mom, and I. Alen joined us because she was assigned to cook dinner and she bought at San Miguel, Bacong for the fish.

In Dumaguete, we dropped by Super Lee Plaza and had our groceries. There we bought recipes for the macaroni and buko salads, and the wine, gift wrapper for the offering. Then we went straight to tessies house of gowns to get the wedding gowns and the gowns of the entourage including the dummy mannequin.


When we arrived Dauin, we went straight to VIP Private Resort to check the room accommodation and deliver and arrange the gowns. Then we went to church to check on the designs that the organizers are busy preparing with.

After that, me and my sisters went to Ilithon to visit Anti Jesel. I haven’t personally met her but I know her from the stories of my mom. She used to be our house helper. She left for hongkong a day before I was born. And I remember the scripture that was written on the wall of our door before.

Back at home, me, lea, my sisters and anti lita were the ones left, all the rest including mom slept in VIP Private Residence. We arranged our clothes to wear the following day. I slept late because I was still busy doing the acknowledgment speech for the wedding.

August 23, 2010


The wedding day. Everybody was busy. I woke up early and went straight to the bathroom to take a bath to avoid being last. Everybody prepared their selves too. We left the house at 9am, and passed the church at 9am, while me, alen, anan and their kids went to VIP Private Resort for the pictorials. We left VIP Resort together with the entourage at quarter to 10am. We had a little chitchat with our relatives and some group picture taking.

The wedding ceremony started at pass 10am. Now one thing that I noted was my mom busy providing ventilation. She was as if the coordinator or assistant of the coordinator doing it until I called her and stop it. Maybe she just wanted to make it perfect, so she made an effort to cover up the flaws.





In the first part of the reception, it was held at the function room of the VIP Private Residence resort. There are few things that I will comment on the reception. First is their ventilation. The place was so hot, that as if the air conditioners do not function or maybe a refurbished one. Second, the food was just ok. It didn’t surpass my expectation with the fee that they charged. Imagine a 500 peso per person charged. Third, service. Very Very bad… The foods and drinks were not served well and on time. There was just a small amount of food served for a numerous crowd. Probably fault of the organizers on lack of anticipation or maybe on the part of the discipline of the guests as well. The organizers could have chosen a family service type, the flow could have been better and meals are well served. The program was ok. But beyond these limitations, one thing that surpassed was the family bonding. I love that we danced to the tune of waka waka, and nobody nobody as a group presentation and what’s even nicer was it was captured by video cam and I am so excited to watch it being uploaded in youtube. A family portrait was also captured after the program and it was the best picture I have ever seen closest to a family picture since a quite number of years. We also had our videoke with the sounds coordinator together with lea, micah, uncle gary and tonton.



The second part of the celebration was held at the residence. The crowd even grew bigger. There was an issue actually that we let the whole people of thet own of dauin eat. There were three tables prepared one on the balcony of the second floor, the other was on the main receiving area downstairs, and the third at the back house, Salakot. A Street on the back house was closed for the Auto reversal Band. It was as if there was some politician just won on the election.
It was very tiring, What’s even worst was there was no water supply. The water in the tank was consumed up probably due to the slaughter of the cow and pig and the demands of the people living.
August 24, 2010
Laundry Day. We went straight to Lea’s cousin at Andy’s house to do the laundry. I had many shirts from mom for washing and mine was just few. That day also was the coronation night of Miss Universe. Miss Venus Raj was judged 4th runner up of this prestigious event. She was plagued with issues regarding her major major answer during the Q&A portion. We spent the whole day cleaning the house, rest and chitchat with lola… During late afternoon, we gathered together at the sala upstairs to view Anti Quela and Uncle Mike open gifts they received on their wedding.
August 25, 2010
The Picnic day. The first part of the day was having breakfast together at the salakot. Then mom, micah and I went to malway market to buy foods and stuff for the picnic. The rest of the day, we spent it on the beach.
I had my second try on the Bangka and the ones that row or they call it bugsay was uncle gary. It was funny to note that I was carrying a Salbabida for assurance. I really don’t know how to swim so I brought with me that thing so I can be sure of my life for any eventuality. I saw corals and fishes with all sorts of colors when I used the goggles and gear for snorkeling. It was very very fun.
Before we went home, a majestic sunset view revealed unto us. That was my first time to see the moon rising up so fast preparing itself for the set.
I went home last, at around 7pm to avoid crowding at the bathroom but still there was no water supply so I ended up bathing at Andy’s house. I asked Liezel and jane to join me to Andy’s house and we were also accompanied by Micah, Jemar, and Erika. That was my first time to bath at night outside a bathroom or house. It was really a provincial scenario.


Then I went to the plaza together with bregette and micah to watch the basketball tournament and the dance practice for the upcoming festival. We were so bored that we ended up looking for some adventure. We thought of going to boulevard to eat some tempura but we cannot seem to find a driver. Then we stayed at Araula’s mini food court at akasya and taught of some other things. Good thing uncle mike’s group was there and we were invited to the KTV bar nearby somewhere along the highway. We had some videoke, micah chose the songs Tattoo and So sick for me to sing. I also had some few glasses of redhorse extra strong and tanduay ice for a drink. I went home at around 1am and slept directly without even having wash my face and brush my teeth. EEWW!!!
August 26, 2010
I miraculously woke up early for a fact that I was drunk and slept late. Mom and sis An invited me to join with them to Dumaguete City to withdraw. But before going to the city, we first pass by at Ilithon to talk with the niece of Lola Ipang. Then we went to Lola Naiding’s house to visit Anti Marife, just arrived from London. But we failed as she was at the city to fix her brace. We were offered for a snacks and it is called anagon locally, but it is just a nilagang mais. But nevertheless, I missed mais so much that I ate 4 anagons while travelling to Dumaguete.

In the afternoon, me, anan, alen and janus went to Dumaguete for shopping. First, we passed by at Super Lee and there I bought my mosimo shirt. We went on the topmost floor of the said mall and had our meal. I ate batchoy and some pepsi drink. Then we passed by Handumanays shop and bought a souvenir shirt with SU print on it, keychains and native bags for my coworkers. After that we went to Robinsons Dumaguete. There I bought the Dickies shirt.


It was passed 6pm so we went to Lolo Odo’s house where mom , lola and the rest were waiting. We ate our dinner on the said house. After that, we went to Rizal Boulevard to refresh and some picture taking together.



We arrived home at arund 9pm and the second floor was locked so we still waited for aunt quela’s arrival but they didn’t brought with them the required key so uncle mike went on open the windows and allowed jemar to get inside and open the door for us. We were supposed to be sleeping at Lolo Odo’s house but because of certain circumstances the plans were changed.
August 27, 2010
All woke up early for the thanksgiving mass. We prepared ourselves and went to church. One thing that is worth to mention was the comment made by Lola. She was introduced to a nun, and she was shocked by the nun’s reaction. Accordingly the said nun is a Tuballa clan.
After the mass, we went to the local cemetery to offer our prayers and candles to our beloved departed relatives. This time Lola uttered the famous phrase “walang ganyan sa States” in a tv commercial. There was comparison between the cemetery local and there in US. Lola talagang iba talaga sa US, wag niyo naman ikumpara ang public cemetery sa amerika.
After that, we ate our breakfast at home. We had tsokolate, puto, cheese bread, frances. This time I had a time to chitchat with lola and anti quela regarding my plans and dreams. Until I received a text message from mom asking me to come to the city and bring anan’s ID. So I went to dumaguete commuting. Then we passed by western union to get some money. After that we ended up at Robinsons Jollibee to have lunch. Anan still wanted to buy things for herself so we still had some shopping. While anan was busy doing her thing, me and mom busy roaming around the mall and take some pictures.




At night, we were invited at Lolo odo’s house for a slept over. So the Bantoto’s family slept at their house and the following day do some laundry early.


August 28, 2010

I slept well today; it was my longest hour of sleep since I arrived Dumaguete City. I received a text message from Lea telling us to be home for the trip to balanan lake in Siaton. There were all sorts of problem encountered including the delays, lea went to dumaguete with no apparent reason given to us and Indang’s busted motor.


We left Dauin around 1:30pm, it was a long travel. It took us about three hours travel to arrive at the said spot, about four liters of gasoline that ached our butts on seat. It is like 50 kilometers from downtown Dumaguete City and another 10 kilometers from the national highway. The travel from highway to the spot was bumpy as the road was still not yet cemented but nevertheless the view was spectacular as we were travelling on the mountains and showed the aerial panoramic view of the Negros Island.


On the Balanan Lake… We took a lot of pictures for sake. First, I saw the infinity pools. There was four pools on the house and the deepest was with 5feet and 7inches. The water in the pool was clear and freezing. The water came from the river flowing and supplying the lake.



The next pit stop was the Balanan Lake. We sailed through the lake with the Bangka. Accordingly it is 160 feet deep. The place is very clean and green. It is so inviting to plunge in but as if it’s like in one of the Hollywood movie that a certain monster is hiding on deep. It took about 30minutes rowing until we arrived at the spot to the waterfalls. We spent another 20minutes walk through the waterfall. We passed on certain brooks, large stones and some manmade runway to the scenic spots. Until we arrived at their waterfall. There were also local tourist around. There were about three waterfalls to total.


After the great balanan adventure. We went directly to Lolo Odo’s house to get our laundry. Then off we went directly to Tanjay City. An event sponsored by the beer na beer was coordinated by Bregette happened in their entertainment area. We had our late dinner along the road with barbeque, rice and some softdrinks. I saw blandenith the first time after two years.



Then we went home directly after their waka waka dance. We arrived 1:30am at the house. We immediately pack our things for our departure in about 4 hours.
August 29, 2010

Our travel back to Zamboanga, I can say that its both fun and tiresome. Fun because i enjoy the scenic view of zamboanga Peninsula of which i haven’t got the chance to view because the first time we travel here was at dawn. it was also a bit fun because of the many bloopers that happened that day. First was the famous word of lea, shet! shet! when she almost lost her bag but it was found out that it just fell down the bed.the next was Anti Lita’s outrage behavior over Lea when she was asking for some bucks for food and expenses, anan’s tummy when we’re at curuan, and i, myself who just arrived home then straight to the bathroom to report to duty……

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