06 March 2009

I got home at around 6 o'clock in the morning. I was able to get a good sleep while on the bus, so when I got home, I wasn't really feeling tired or whatever. I was just angry and relieved at the same time when two men riding on a motorcycle tried to snatch my luggage. Good thing I was able to get a good grip on it and that probably it was way too heavy for them, so it wasn't really snatched - although the luggage got dragged in the road.

Anyway, three hours after getting home, I received a text message from my ex-boyfriend from Dumaguete saying his dad was at a convention and he had some free time, and he was asking if it's okay for us to go out on a lunch date. Because he and his dad were staying at the Richmonde Hotel in Ortigas and that there was an event at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall, I decided to meet up with him so later I could meet up with sister for the event.

It was a nice lunch, but sadly my ex had to go to where his father was because he needed to fill up form. My ex's father had a stroke and cannot write anymore, so my ex and I decided we should just call it a day and he would just catch up on us if time would allow it.


My sister arrived in SM Megamall around 2PM. We immediately head off the Megatrade Halls and wowed ourselves with lots of foods coming from different regions in the country. It was such a nice event, as most shops offer free food sampling. Actually, with the amount of food samplings, one can come to the event very hungry and leave the place completely full.

So many great foods, but the food that stood out for us was the Tahong Chips (Mussels Chips) from the province of Cavite. It was so good we decided to buy a bag. We also bought ourselves a cup of coffee each. For 39 pesos, we were able to have a good tasting coffee - and we can also take home the mug!


There were two cooking demo on that day - one was done by students of a culinary school, the other was done by celebrity chef Nino Logarta, who has a cooking show on TV called, "Daddylicious." He prepared two dishes, and although I wasn't able to taste the meatball on his first dish, I was still able to taste the young papaya salad that came with it. His other dish - a chicken one was something so good, I might try it one of these days. Best of all, we were able to have a picture with chef. I love being a foodie!

Sister and I decided to eat dinner there as it was getting near dinner time. My ex boyfriend wasn't able to come with us anymore, but it was okay. His father needed him more, actually. I am just happy we were able to meet today.

*** Jenn ***

05 March 2009

Aunt Julie and I woke up early so we can go to the cemetery and light a candle for daddy. Today was his 2nd year death anniversary, and as sad at it seemed like, it was just the two of us visiting today. I am sure daddy would understand. Anyway, we were surprised that dad has a neighbor now. Well, no very close neighbors yet because we own the lots directly next to him, but still surprising that dad's no longer the odd man out in the section of the cemetery.


After waiting for some time after saying our prayers, we left the cemetery and went to the Bacnotan Town Market. Thursdays are their market days, so my aunt didn't want to pass up the chance to get good finds today.

She decided to buy foods for lunch - we will be going to Aunt Lorie's place and have lunch there, so while Aunt Julie was roaming around to buy foods, I roamed around trying to get pictures. Still, I was fearing of taking pictures of people as I don't want to be questioned about invading their privacy. Anyway, I will be leaving for home tonight, so aside from the stocks for Aunt Julie, and the foods we will have for lunch, aunt also bought some food items I will be taking home.


Lunch was so great! They grilled bangus (milkfish) and pork, and they cooked dinakdakan and the vegetable dish I requested (banana heart with squash flowers). My cousin Weng was talking to me in Ilocano (the dialect in the region), hoping I could answer in Ilocano, too, but sadly, I still cannot speak the dialect fluently. In any way, we had a great lunch, and my cousin Weng had my respect big time after he told about quitting his high paying job because the company had an unfair treatment to the low ranking employees. I am not sure if he really had quit the job, but really, the way he spoke up and defended the subordinates - even willing to lose his job for the sake of other when he was earning quite a lot is something very commendable.

After lunch is always a nice time for some siesta, but it was so hot, we can't even catch a nap! My Aunt Lorie planted tobacco this planting season and they were harvesting the tobacco leaves and prepare it for selling. Obviously, I took some pictures and at first some of the people weren't up for it, but after Aunt Lorie told them that I took Mass Communications in college, and that I am a person who loves documenting a day through pictures and words, they all eased up and carried on with what they were doing. The image above was my Aunt Lorie, while he's skewering the tobacco leaves. Not a good shot, but I loved the motion into it.


Cousin Weng's daughter saw me taking pictures of different subjects while there, and she gave me these flower buds - a gift from her to me. She said I could take pictures of it if I want to, and of course, I wanted to! For someone who first received her flowers February of this year, receiving these had been sweet!

I took the 11PM bus trip home. It had been a very great trip, but I think there will be no out of town trips for the coming months, I really need to save up for a big trip in October.

*** Jenn ***

03 March 2009

I was still scared, so even if I planned to go to San Fernando to visit the Pindangan Ruins and the La Union Capitol, I decided to stay home. As usual, it's back to DVD for me, and aside from watching another episode of Mr. Bean, I also watched "Wicker Park" and the first hour of Stephen King's "Rose Red." I am not easily scared, but the incident happened yesterday really put me in stress. In the end, even if I wanted to see the sunset in Paratong Beach, I'd rather be on the safe side - who knows, I might cross paths with the man again. Scary!

Anyway, I sent a text message to my Cousin Mai if she would want to go to Baguio with me. She told me she had no budget for it (she just resigned), and seeing that I still have enough in my wallet, I told her I would take care of everything. I was happy that Aunt Lorie allowed her to come with me.

She arrived in the house around 8PM. I was happy I will get to bond with her.


04 March 2009

Mai and I left the house around 6:30AM. Just like what my siblings and I did summer of 2006, I prepared a list of places we will be visiting in chronological order. The first landmark was the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, and I did tell Mai a little (was it little?) warning that this trip would take lots of walking, and I hope by the end of the day she won't curse me for dragging her to lots of places. She said she was up for it and was looking forward to it - in so many times she has visited Baguio, it would be the first time for her to roam around the city. Before, she would go to Baguio for school or family reasons.

Anyway, upon reaching the place, we both took a deep breath and took the 252 steps leading to the Grotto. It was a tough thing to do, but we were both happy we were able to do it. The last time I was here, I remember I was so overwhelmed and started hyperventilating. Mai and I talked that we will be taking our time, no rush. Reaching the end of the stairs really made us both happy. We offered prayers, tried to breathe normally, took a look of the view from the top, then we carried on our way.

From the Grotto, we walked towards St. Vincent Ferrer Church. Not so near and not so far, we were a bit relieved once we reached the place. Since there was a funeral mass, it did give us time to take a rest and say our own prayers as well as for the soul of the departed one.

We hoped to get a jeep going to Burnham Park, but it's very difficult to get a ride so we decided to walk again. It was tiring, yes, but the thing about leisure walking with someone is that you don't feel tired - for the chitchats people share was enough to take their minds off the feeling of "being tired." I was supposed to take a picture of the Baguio City Hall, but it was under renovation, so we just went to Burnham Park.


We had some snacks and we stayed in Burnham Park for quite sometime. My cousin and I, although she's more or less 7 years younger, have no problems conversing. We can tell things about we want to tell - we can rant, we can rave, as if we were of the same age. I knew Mai was tired (she's just a little shy to say it), so I let her relax for some time while I took flower pictures. The park didn't have much flowers unlike last year, so it didn't take long before she and I walked... again.

Next on our list was Mines View Park. We kind of took the wrong road, and we had to walk long just to take the jeep. Oh well, at least we still haven't ran out of stories to tell. =)


I have seen in several Friendster albums that Mines View Park had been renovated and I could see in pictures that it looked way much better now, but when we arrived, the Mines View Park I saw in 2006 was much better than how it looked like today. A little disappointed, yes, especially when I didn't see the big dog, but it was okay. It was nice that there wasn't much people in the park, so enjoying the view was something we appreciated a lot.

Four days ago, I saw a bulletin regarding this food place near Mines View Park, but we couldn't find it! I hoped we could eat lunch there, but the food places near the area were selling unappealing foods with oh so high prices. After some deliberation, Mai and I decided to just go to SM City Baguio to eat lunch. I told her I still would like to go to Wright Park and see the Mansion, which are quite near the park, so we just ate corn on a cob and decided to visit all the places first before we eat late lunch. I asked her if it's just okay with her to eat a little late, and as a sweetheart that she is, she said it was just fine.

We took the jeep going to the Mansion, then walked towards Wright Park. I knew there was a church near Wright Park, so we went there as well. We took a little break - eating halo-halo - before going to St. Joseph's Church. We knew the Botanical Garden was just near, but we both decided to cancel it because we really felt hungry already. Our tummies crave heavy lunch, so from there we took the jeep going to SM City.


I asked my cousin what kind of food she wanted to eat, but I guess she was really still shy to tell me what she really wanted, so we just went to eat at Jollibee. I told her she can order anything she wants, but she said she just wanted their chicken meal. Okay... I, on the other hand had pretty much a lot to eat - spaghetti and chicken, with rice! Hahaha.

Before leaving the mall, we went to the bookstore first to buy aunt the magazine she was asking us to buy. We did stroll around the mall first before leaving. We were supposed to take the jeepney towards the Public Market - where I would buy my pasalubong and where we would take the bus going home. However, as the guard told us that the jeep would go around, we decided we would just hail a taxi.


We didn't take the taxi anymore, for just outside the mall, there was a flea market, which we decided to check out, and as we walk along Session Road, we realized we've been walking for a long time without noticing it! Seeing all the regional products were total eye candies for us!

We reached the market and was sad to see the burned area. Just a day after the Parade last weekend, a portion of the market was burned. People are doing their efforts to clean the area, and soon, it'll be back to normal. In the market, I bought some pasalubong for my family and for my Shutterbug friend Erick, and I also bought some flowers for my dad as it would be his 2nd death anniversary tomorrow.

While on the bus heading home, I had a funny realization. Exactly a year ago on this day, I was in Baguio, too (but I was with my sister). I wonder if I will be back in Baguio next year, too!

Big thanks to you, Mai, for coming with me! Mwahugs!

*** Jenn ***

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

02 March 2009


My Aunt Julie's duty at the hospital was at 7AM - 3PM, and because I have been going to different places since 18 February, my dear aunt just asked me to stay at home. She said that vacations don't always necessarily mean going out everyday, so I obeyed her. The thing was, it was a bit boring to be home alone, for our house in La Union didn't have Internet connection and there was no cable television either. Just to ease up the boredom, I just watched DVD. I watched an episode of Mr. Bean, then seeing the DVD of Chicago, I decided to watched it. I am no big fan of musicals, but it's free film, so why not? The movie's great, if I may say so.




While waiting for my lunch to cook, I just took my camera and started thinking what image would I have for my Project 365. Before leaving for Baguio last 27 February, I read a photography tip in one of the forum threads saying, "Don't always look down when photographing flowers." I am one of those people who often times takes photos of flowers looking down, so taking the tip to use, I checked out Aunt Julie's plants to practice the tip. There was this big euphorbia plant with flowers positioned slightly higher than my head if I sat on the ground, so I took an image of the flowers from the back. As I focus on the flowers, a little spider was there - a very nice surprise.

I also took time to take pictures of the neighbor's cats. Seeing them made me miss my cats, if only these cats aren't afraid at people, I would've love to play with them.

After lunch, I decided to go to the Internet Cafe to check my sites. I got to chat with my Shutterbug friend Erick, who asked my permission if I would be the "guest of honor" over his thread at the forum. For a chick magnet like he is, I was a bit surprised, but then again, I accepted it. He said that since I am always visiting his thread to have a small chat with him, he just wanted to give me some distinction. In any way, I wanna say thanks, brother! =)

We were still chatting when I received a text message from my Aunt saying she was already home and cannot go inside the house because the key was with me. I went back to the house and asked Aunt's permission if I could walk around the neighborhood to take some pictures. She allowed me to go out again, but something creepy happened.

I just got out of the gate and was walking towards the plaza, when I crossed paths with a man with a backpack. When I looked back, he was already following me! Startled, I stopped for a while and acted as if I was trying to use my phone. He stopped a few steps away from me, and as I was getting scared, I acted as if I left something. I walked back home and we crossed paths again, and when I looked back, he was following me again! I am not sure if he was lost and would want to get some directions, or he wanted to rob my cellphone and my camera, but whatever his motive was, I was already scared and I run back to our house.

My Aunt asked why was I home so quick, and when I told them what happened, she said that maybe the man was trying to rob me, he just didn't know how to do it. I still would want to do a photo walk around the neighborhood, so after about 30 minutes, I went out again.





I would want to walk to Paratong Beach to watch the sunset, or take pictures of the flowers in the neighborhood, but the fear inside me was still there, so I only walked until the Plaza. I still would want to take more pictures, but the fear didn't leave me. After a few shots, I walked back home. Aunt was teasing me and was making fun of me, saying I looked like a freaked mouse, but being serious about it, she said I have to be really careful especially that people in the neighborhood don't really know who I am, as I don't really live there.

I ended a day with a question, "Should I go out tomorrow or should I just stay home?"

*** Jenn ***

01 March 2009

When I met my Aunt Julie and my cousin Mai at the sub-station of Viron Transit in San Fernando, La Union the night before when I traveled from Baguio City, my cousin said that the much bigger and more exciting part of the Panagbenga Festival would be Sunday (01 March), but I decided not to watch it anymore because if I want to watch it, I had to leave the house at 4AM so I could get to Baguio City at 6AM, and I am not sure if there will be available buses going to Baguio that early. So, I just told them I will do a church hop instead.

I woke up late. Aunt Julie already went to hear mass at the nearby church, which was just fine with me because I will be hearing mass in the town of Luna. I still haven't visited that church for nearly three years already, so I thought it was the time to check out the church again. I just waited for Aunt to come home then I left.

I did drop by the nearby church, because even if the St. Michael the Archangel Parish is just walking distance from where we live, I still haven't taken pictures inside the church for my blog. Since it's a Sunday, and Aunt Julie said that there was a break in between masses, so I just passed by to say a prayer and took some pictures. Then, I went on the road.


I took the bus going to the next town - Balaoan. From there, I took the tricycle going to the town of Luna, and since the mass is still not over, I just stayed outside. I was able to climb the stairs from the front of the church, giving me a good view of the whole facade of the church. When my siblings and I last went here, brother had a hard time taking pictures of the facade from the ground. Now at least I could say I took a much better image.

The english mass was scheduled at 10AM and it ended at around 11:30AM. I was still hoping I could visit the church from the next town (Bangar), but the weather was so hot, and I was hungry, so I decided to just go back to Balaoan and take the bus going to San Fernando City.


I ate lunch at KFC as I was trying to save the money I have in my wallet. The slow service turned out to be a blessing, for when I passed by the plaza, I noticed that they were preparing for a program. The city was celebrating their fiesta, and part of the programs lined up for the fiesta was the Drum and Lyre Competition, and different schools from all over the province took part of the program.

There were 14 groups competing, but I only got to see the first 7 because the audience were getting restless. Some mothers would let their children sneak in the front then they would get them a few minutes later, and voila! They were already in front! Even if I can use the zoom, I still had a hard time getting shots because people in front of me would move and block my view.

Since the program was held in the main highway, buses can only be accessed from the diversion road, which was awfully far from where I was. Good thing the traffic enforcer was nice enough to show me the way to the jeepney stop where I took my ride going back to Bacnotan.

My feet hurt bad that night. All the traveling might be taking its toll, so my aunt practically begged me to stay at home the next day.