Trip to Philippines, November 2012
The first day back at work (Tuesday since I took Monday off) and I already lost my keys. Evil Man had to pick me up in the morning to work. Luckily we still work for the same company. Not really a great start heading back to work from vacation.
Seriously, my trip to the Philippines felt like a dream. Ten years is a long time. There were countless of tall condo buildings, bikers here and there, and they even have marathons on weekends. The driving is the same as always but the traffic patrols are actually strict now. Despite the changes within the last decade, it still feels like home as if I just woke up from a long sleep. Some people may say it’s filthy since it’s a third world country afterall, but it’s perfect to me. I doubt Evil Man would survive there though.
Traveling with my parents wasn’t as bad as I expected since I made the most of this trip. In my honest opinion, they really shouldn’t travel especially when they’re not in shape. Aside from slowing down from old age, they need to work on their communication and being stuck in the middle has only made me a filter for their issues to one another. On the brightside, neither one of them complained with my actions since neither one want to ruin my trip. Hopefully now that I’m no longer there, they will actually talk to each other.
In regards to my luggages, I only needed on check-in since I was only there for one week. In fact, about 80% of my luggage’s content are souvenirs for my relatives in the Philippines. So I gave my second check-in luggage to my parents since they’re staying there longer.
Okay now on to the long entry.
Day 1 - Arrival
We landed around 1pm in the Philippines and I wanted to take a shower so bad. The last time I took a shower was the morning of Thursday. My family and I celebrated Thanksgiving at my brother’s house and flew around 12 am that night. After a 14-hour flight, I needed a shower and thanks to the warm weather in the Philippines I got showered with my sweat. We dropped our things off at my grandmother’s house and gave her and her sister who was visiting the family posters I made. They studied all of the names well and didn’t know some of our other relatives. That’s okay because I didn’t know them (and still don’t) either. Overall, they’re appreciation made all that research and effort worth it.
I was hoping to take a bath but ended up going to a spa to get facial, manicure, and pedicure. Afterwards we went to church and headed back to the spa to get an hour massage. My jet lag was so bad that I passed out from the intense massage. However, by the end of the day I was finally able to take a bath. I didn’t know how to work the shower so I used the old school bucket of water and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The cool water felt heavenly as it cooled me off from the warm weather and exhaustion.
Day 2 - Corregidor
Early morning we headed out to the harbor and rode a boat to Corregidor with my aunt (Auntie Leonor) on my mom’s side. I took Evil Man’s gargantuan camera with me and had no regret despite of the dead weight. It took about an hour to get to the island and I managed to stay awake throughout the boat trip. We landed on the island and were separated into 7 tour groups. Because of its WWII history, the Japanese tourists get to have their own special tour which made us curious as to what the tour guide would say to the them. The island is well known for the Japanese invasion during WWII since the US mostly occupied the island and recruited of Filipino soldiers for expansion. There were countless of batteries (cannon) stationed all over the island and unfortunately most of the batteries we either damaged from the Japanese aerial missiles or dismantled by Americans to prevent the Japanese to fully use these weapons. Before WWII, these cannons were only designed to attack naval ships. They were deeply hidden so that they are not visible to enemies at the sea. However, they were defenseless to the Japanese airplanes on the second world war. Anti aircraft guns were soon built along the side of the island.
Aside from the batteries, the tour guides also showed us ruins where American soldiers once stayed in. There were movie theaters, dorm rooms, etc. Eventually they built new complexes for recruited Filipino soldiers. The island was a paradise for them until the Japanese soldiers dropped numerous aerial bombs. These building were never restored after the war. They were kept as is as the forest slowly started to grow over them.
Another historical area scattered on this place were the Japanese caves. These caves were built by escaped Japanese soldiers who did not surrender after the war and hid themselves. The last Japanese soldier who left Philippines was Hiroo Onoda who stayed hidden for almost 30 years thinking the war was not over. He did not surrender in 1945 until his former commander traveled from Japan to personally relieve him from duty in 1974. This was however in Lubang Island which can be seen from Corregidor.
Towards the end of the tour, our guide showed us the Japanese Garden of Peace memorial park. When the allies finally won the war, most of the Japanese soldiers chose suicide (kamikaze) over surrendering to the enemy. Bodies of dead Japanese soldiers soon piled up and no one knew who they were until a group picture of these Japanese soldiers were found at a garage sale. Both the Philippines and Japanese government worked together to identify them and once they were able to identify them, the Philippines government decided to create a memorial park for these Japanese soldiers in Corregidor in remembrance and as a peace treaty. In the garden a giant Buddha stands tall facing north towards Japan.
Our last tour was the Malinta Tunnel. The tunnel was called “malinta” (means leeches) because of the numerous leeches it once had. This tunnel was used as a headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur and USAFFE. It was also served as a hiding place for other Filipino government officials.
Corregidor is a beautiful island and rich with history. From memorial parks, hidden Japanese caves, to the green forest burying the ruins that were once occupied before WWII. Despite its history, I think Evil Man would’ve wanted to visit. Tourists are welcomed to camp overnight and hike the tunnels.
After exploring Corregidor, we had dinner with my uncle (Uncle Ernie) and two of their sons (Kevin & Keith) at Philippines’s second largest mall, Mall of Asia. Its location was once a water ground until the government decided to create a mall for tourist attraction. So they filled it up with land and created the Mall of Asia. It’s a big mall filled with shoppers as if it was Black Friday. It was also filled with Christmas decors and carolers. Of course since I was a tourist, I headed straight to the souvenir shops. At the end of the day, I gave my relatives their souvenirs from stateside.
Day 3 - Shopping
The following day was our only relaxing day. The main event of the day was having lunch with my relative on my dad’s side and meeting my cousin’s (Allan) fiancé (Marissa) for the first time. I’ve only known her for a couple of hours and I’ve already liked her. I’m not sure how they met since some say it was an arranged marriage because of the short notice but honestly she was a good catch. Hopefully my cousin will treat her well since he and his family are a bit on the selfish side. My cousins are the same as always, somewhat socially awkward but I paid no attention to it. Afterall I am here to enjoy my trip. They were happy with the souvenirs I got them so it’s all good.
Later that day we met up with Auntie Leonor, Uncle Ernie, and Keith and decided to go shopping. The first mall we went to was Greenhills Mall where there were gimmicks and cheap stores that can easily be bargained. In short, more souvenir shopping and I’ve crossed out all of my coworkers that day. Then we headed to another mall, Mega Mall. I looked around for a bit and was cautious with how I spend my money since I wanted to save up for Palawan.
Day 4 - Wedding
This was the main reason why I decided to go to Philippines: my cousin’s wedding. Since none of my brother and sisters could make it, I decided ‘why not?’ Besides that, my dad has always wanted me to go and so I did.
Before the wedding, my mom had me go to the marketplace with two of my grandmother’s maids. The first exciting part of the day was finally riding a tricycle since I haven’t been on one for more than 20 years. It was so much fun being the passenger, watching the driver speed up and maneuver through traffic. I wanted to record it all on my iPhone but I thought it was best to leave it safe at home. Still, that drive was stimulating.
Now I know some people may find the smell of a marketplace unpleasant but everything smelled fresh. The fruits, vegetables, meats; everything smelled. Of course I had to run through the chicken area since they were freshly butchered but honestly, it was the best place to shop for organic foods. I’ve also had a nice chat with the maids while we bought exotic fruits and learned a couple of tips on how to pick fresh fruits. It felt so much like home.
Back at home we were greeted by a glass of fresh taho (fresh soft/silken tofu, brown sugar mixed with vanilla syrup, and pearl sago) waiting for me on the table. Usually I’d gulped that thing with one go but this time I savored each and every flavor of it. Afterwards I lounged and napped for a while and then got ready for the wedding.
Both Auntie Leonor and Uncle Ernie were invited to the wedding. It took a while to get to the church and the ceremony itself took longer than I expected. It took so long that my uncle decided to take a 30-minute bathroom break which included eating bibingka (Filipino rice cake) that was sold outside the church. The wedding pictures were taken after the ceremony. On the way to the reception, the traffic was so bad that I was starting to get really bad motion sickness from my uncle’s driving. I had to sit down for a while to catch my breath when we got to the reception.
The reception was beautifully decorated but the execution was awkward. There was no introduction of the bridal party since they all just walked in. The guests on the tables were called to take a picture with the bride and groom and afterwards directed to the buffet. While the guests were eating, the coordinator showed a slideshow of childhood pictures of the bride and groom. Afterwards the single ladies were called for the bouquet tossed which I didn’t know they were doing the reversed version. The bride was to throw 6 flowers and whichever girl (there were seven of us) didn’t get the flower “wins.” Yup I was the girl who wasn’t paying attention to the rules and so didn’t put effort, hence was declared the winner. The same rules applied for the guys and thankfully they removed my cousins. The guy who ended up not catching the garter was so shy that he apologized before he placed it on my leg. Thank goodness I decided to shave my legs that morning.
Then came the speeches. I have no idea why the speech duty was placed on my dad instead of the groom’s dad. The bride was apparently an orphan so her parents weren’t there. As I was listening to the speech, I realized that their wedding day was also the same day as my aunt’s (groom’s mother) birthday. It’s no wonder my cousin’s mom dressed up flashier than the bride. Not only that but my cousin’s siblings will also be going with the couple on their honeymoon in Bangkok. They sure made some weird arrangements.
Once the 5-minute speeches were done (there were about 4 of them), the MC announced the bride and groom’s first dance… Seriously? By the time the other guests were able to dance, most of the guests were already going home. I mean the reception location is really nice but the organization sucked.
Day 5 - First Day of Palawan
Woke up early in the morning to get my things ready for Palawan. Uncle Ernie picked us up and dropped us off to the airport along with Auntie Leonor and Kevin. We met up with my other uncle (Uncle Dionix) on my mom’s side who also happens to be close friends with my dad. The flight to Palawan was about an hour and my aunt warned us that the first hotel we’ll be staying at would be a little ghetto. Instead of cringing from the hotel’s ghettoness, it only made me laugh. It was a tiny one-bedroom hotel with a bathroom that didn’t have a shower divider. Not only that but there was a funky smell to it as well.
The first day we did a city tour with a tour guide name Jake. We had the van all to ourselves. We went to the Immaculate Conception Parish in Puerto Princesa. Close to the area was a tunnel where the Japanese soldiers killed 150 prisoners of war (mostly Americans) to prevent the advancing allies’ rescue. This was known as the Palawan Massacre. Palawan was also occupied by the Spanish in the 17th century thus the reason for the Spanish name (Puerto Princesa).
After the city tour, we went to a couple of gift shops. Each shop had a brief history behind it but I didn’t really pay attention to it since I was focusing on the upcoming zip line. It was my very first zip line so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It wasn’t my cousin’s first time but he seemed a bit nervous as well. We were grouped with 3 other couples so it was no surprise that the instructor thought we were a couple as well. Three guides first went ahead to test the lines and took our cameras with them so they can take pictures of us as we slide down. The first line went super fast and it didn’t help that body and legs were stretched out per my uncle’s suggestion to increase the speed. The brakes immediately pulled me back and I thought I was going to fly off to the jungle. The instructor on the second line suggested we not hold on to the handles. I was a little nervous but I managed to lay back a bit. After climbing on the steepest stairs I’ve ever climbed in my entire life, I tried the upside down form on the third line. Looking down on the jungle made me wonder what it would be like if I fell down headfirst. Not a pleasant thought. By the time I reached the other end, all the blood had gone down my head and I felt dizzy when I stood up. I was also upside down on the final line since it will probably be the last time I get to do it. It was so much fun!
For dinner, we ate at an exotic restaurant where people can only come in bare feet. The food was great as always and I thoroughly enjoyed it with a large glass of pina colada.
Day 6 - Second Day of Palawan
We were with a young Filipino couple on our second day of the tour and headed out to a new island to explore an underground river. The island we went to was inhabited by giant monitor lizards and baboons, which I thought was a cat at first sighting. We rode a small boat to an underground cave where we saw rock formations and different sea levels. We also saw rocks that looked almost like figures and hundreds of sleeping bats sleeping above us on the ceiling. Surprisingly, the cave was nice and cool compared to the other caves I’ve been to. Not sure if it was because of the water but it was nice. We didn’t go deeper into the cave since that was reserve for a special tour.
After the underground cave, we left the island and had lunch at the beach. Kevin and I had our mini Food Adventure: Tamilok. As long as you don’t think about it, some of are actually not that bad. The tip just tastes weird. Afterwards we went to some more souvenir shops. Once again, I didn’t pay much attention to its brief history because once again, we were heading to another zip line in Ugong Rock. It’s not just any zip line but it’s apparently known as the fastest zip line in Philippines. I did, however, fully appreciate my first buko drink on this trip.
So to get to the fastest zip line in Philippines, you have to actually climb inside Ugong Rock. OMG, that was the best obstacle course ever. Not only was it short, but these obstacles were real and the best part is that there was no cliff next to it unlike Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park. You have to squeeze yourself through a couple of cracks, climb on rocks using a rope, carefully walk through sharp rocks, see awesome rock formations, pat on rocks that makes a ringing sound, see a sparkling rock that will put Edward to shame, etc. Everything was done inside the cave so no direct sunlight. By the time we got to the top, we had a nice view of our surrounding. And the last part is a zip line, which is a fun and easy way of going down. Not all visitors are required to take the zip line since it was higher than the one we went to the day before (we came across a couple who backed out) but they are encouraged to scream as loud as they can on the way down for tourist attraction.
We soaked in the view around us and waited for the group ahead of us to go on the zip line. We didn’t realize that the group in front of us was actually having second thoughts on going on the zip line and so the guide strapped us first. Kevin first went while Uncle Dionix and I had a challenge on who can scream the loudest. Heh, I won the bet but there was no price.
Apparently the first zip line I went to the day before (the one with the killer brakes) seemed so much faster than this one. Then again, that was my first zip line so it might’ve seem faster. Regardless, this zip line however was the longest and had the nicest view ever. Best part is that they didn’t have to use my camera to take pictures. They already had a built in camera and since the pictures were cheap, I not only bought my own souvenir picture but also my cousin and my uncle’s pictures for them.
It was a long drive back and we relocated our things from the ghetto hotel to the resort we were staying. We ate at another nice restaurant filled with Christmas decorations and the meal was once again made in heaven. The day’s adventure ended with firefly watching by the river. Unfortunately the moon was full but we were still able to see the fireflies. They can seriously light up a giant tree like a Christmas tree especially when the tour guide flash them a red light. Our tour guide told us the fireflies light up as brightly as a defense mechanism when they are threatened hence their reaction to the red light. The guide named out most of the stars, showed us different types of trees, and gave us a brief history of both. The scenery was so romantic that the tour guide told us many proposals were made here. I wouldn’t want Evil Man to propose to me but I sure wished he were there with me to see it.
Day 7 - Third Day of Palawan
The third day’s tour was spent on island hopping on Honda Bay with a Korean couple. Seriously, it’s no surprise there were a bunch of honeymooners all over Palawan. These islands are sanctuary to all wild life so there’s a hefty penalty for stepping on corals or killing any fish. It was the best way to preserve its natural beauty.
The first boat stop was actually in the middle of the ocean where the visitors can snorkel and see exotic fishes and numerous corals. At first I followed my mom, aunt, and boat guard when they were swimming around certain areas and then I went out on my own. It’s been a while since I swam in salt water so I was a bit drained by the time I got back. Man, there’s a huge difference between swimming in salt water with waves versus swimming in a swimming pool. After finding my way back, my mom told me to swim with the boat guard so he can show me around as well. Sigh, workout of the day. On lap two I ran into my dad and uncle who was trying to figure out how to work his underwater camera. The water’s reflection and sunlight made it difficult to see the monitor but we were able to work it. Sadly I didn’t bring my underwater camera with me but at least I was able to enjoy the view more. Still wish I brought it though. That was the only time I saw a giant clam and Doris from Finding Nemo.
The second boat stop was on a small island where visitors can feed the fishes. Man, those fishes were starving like freshly bitten zombies. While the little yellow fishes with black stripes are more cautious in approaching the bread in my hand, the big blue ones can sure bite hard. This time I brought my underwater camera with me and it was a struggle juggling the bread and the camera together. Overall it was fun feeding the fishes and watch them go at the bread. It definitely made me go back and feed them a few more slices of bread.
The last stop was at a bigger island where we had a mighty tasty lunch. There were some local dogs and cats in the area to keep the other guests entertained since they don’t really look like they’re starving. The beach was beautiful. According to my Auntie Leonor, the sand in Boracay is smoother but the water is almost the same as Palawan. As our tour guide prepared our lunch and my parents, Auntie Leonor, and Uncle Dionix bought crabs to cook, Kevin and I went to the beach to feed some more fishes. This time the fishes were a whole lot closer to the shore. The more bread you feed them, the more fishes will come. They were mostly the small yellow ones with black stripes and small black ones as well. There were some small silver ones and a few big blue ones. Oh man, they’re so cute especially when you throw the bread on top of the water. You can actually see them swim up to take a bite. I was so enthralled that I totally forgot to record them from the top view. Now I have an excuse to come back.
Lunch was so tasty that I no longer cared how my stomach stuck out when I was wearing my swimsuit. Sadly there were only beer and no other liquor on the island but the buko drink made up for it. Good stuff man, good stuff. Afterwards, I fed the fishes again and sunbathe to get a nice tan only to fall asleep and gotten myself a so-and-so tan. Regardless, it was the best lounging ever.
We headed back to the resort and had our last dinner in Palawan by the beach, a night of relaxation.
Day 8 - Back to Manila
We woke up early morning and had the traditional seafood Filipino breakfast by the beach. It was such a nice and relaxing view. Afterwards we headed to the airport around 9 am. I bought some last minute souvenirs on a really tight budget. As expected, the souvenirs at the airport were more expensive rather than the ones at local market. Oh well.
It took the entire one-hour flight back to Manila to write on the postcards I bought. I didn’t expect it to take that long but at the same time I was a bit disoriented. Perhaps it was a combination of exhaustion and jet lag.
Uncle Ernie picked us up at the airport and there was an awkward moment when he got pulled over for making a wrong turn in front of a cop. One thing for sure, I was surprised he got pulled over since the driving there weren’t as strict as before. My dad was no help at all when he tried buy our way out by name-dropping my other uncle (Uncle Dionix) who was a retired general in the army but wasn’t with us since he left with a cab before us. Not only that but my dad pulled out his own wallet when my uncle tried to buy his way out which only made the corrupted cop increase the free pass. Siiiigh, I really hope he has no plans of going back to the Philippines if his mentality is the same as it was 20 years ago. He wouldn’t survive a day with that kind of attitude.
We stopped by at my Auntie Leonor and Uncle Ernie’s house and there I met two of the most cutest and most playful black Labradors ever: Jericho and Jacob. I just love big dogs especially when they’re hyper and obedient at the same time. While Jericho loves to play fetch, Jacob loves to be petted. So adorable and well taken cared of!
Since there was still time to kill before my last dinner night, we went to the mall to eat lunch and do some last minute shopping. I wasn’t expecting to buy anymore things but I ended up buying magazines and a purse that pretty much ate up the remaining money I had. Well, at least I got myself a new purse.
My last dinner night was spent at my Uncle Dionix’s house. My dad grilled some steak while my uncle served everyone wine. My cousin and I killed time by playing pool and man, our suckiness definitely killed a lot of time. Afterwards we ate steak, baked potato, and grilled vegetables. I only drank wine that night since Uncle Dionix didn’t open the 70-year-old tequila I bought him from stateside. In fact, he didn’t even remove it from the box and just displayed it. Well it is his drink so he can do whatever he wants even though I was a little curious how it would taste. Knowing my alcohol level, probably not curious enough for seconds.
My other cousins, Ramona, Audee and her husband Francis, who I haven’t seen for a decade later on showed up and we mostly talked about tennis, Christmas decorations, and eventually relationships. Keith later on left for work while Kurt showed up not wanting to miss my dad’s steak. It was nice catching up with them although I was a little buzz. At least I remembered giving them their souvenirs I brought from stateside.
That night I only slept for 4 hours since I had to pack my bags. I didn’t really have to pack much since I didn’t unpack that much but we pretty much came home late from dinner. I passed out when I hit the bed.
Day 9 - Last Day in Philippines
Woke up early morning to pack up my toiletries and charged my phone. My stomach started feeling funky after drinking too much wine the previous night and had to go through a few rounds of evacuation until my dad finally gave me a medicine. Before I left the house, I gave the last of my stateside souvenirs to my grandmother’s maids and driver which were for them to begin with. Lastly, I took a picture of me and my grandmother with my iPhone. She loved how she could see herself on the reverse camera.
My grandmother and maids walked us out to the car as we said our goodbyes. As we drove through the streets, I looked out at the locals and their usual activities. An old lady swept her front house clean, a mother hand washed her family’s clothes outside as her children played with a stray cat, a young man tuning a guitar, girls gossiping, etc. Despite how some buildings are covered with graffiti, how drivers don’t pay attention to lanes, how squatters dressed in rags, how stray animals are not cared for, I soaked in all of its imperfections. All of this was once my home and I couldn’t have been any more comfortable. I love Philippines and I’m sure going to miss it.
Auntie Leonor and my parents dropped me off to the airport and I flew back on my own. Of course, my parents assumed this was the first time I’ve traveled alone so my dad panicked which also made my grandmother worried. I did let them know that I got back to the US safe after I landed which was about 14 hours later since my phone was off.
When I landed here in the US around late lunch, my sisters were waiting for me at the airport. We ate at a ramen place as we also caught up with one another’s updates. At the apartment, Ash was the same as always although he would sniff me and my luggage here and there. I was back in the grind again.
Seriously, my trip to the Philippines felt like a dream. Ten years is a long time. There were countless of tall condo buildings, bikers here and there, and they even have marathons on weekends. The driving is the same as always but the traffic patrols are actually strict now. Despite the changes within the last decade, it still feels like home as if I just woke up from a long sleep. Some people may say it’s filthy since it’s a third world country afterall, but it’s perfect to me. I doubt Evil Man would survive there though.
Traveling with my parents wasn’t as bad as I expected since I made the most of this trip. In my honest opinion, they really shouldn’t travel especially when they’re not in shape. Aside from slowing down from old age, they need to work on their communication and being stuck in the middle has only made me a filter for their issues to one another. On the brightside, neither one of them complained with my actions since neither one want to ruin my trip. Hopefully now that I’m no longer there, they will actually talk to each other.
In regards to my luggages, I only needed on check-in since I was only there for one week. In fact, about 80% of my luggage’s content are souvenirs for my relatives in the Philippines. So I gave my second check-in luggage to my parents since they’re staying there longer.
Okay now on to the long entry.
Day 1 - Arrival
We landed around 1pm in the Philippines and I wanted to take a shower so bad. The last time I took a shower was the morning of Thursday. My family and I celebrated Thanksgiving at my brother’s house and flew around 12 am that night. After a 14-hour flight, I needed a shower and thanks to the warm weather in the Philippines I got showered with my sweat. We dropped our things off at my grandmother’s house and gave her and her sister who was visiting the family posters I made. They studied all of the names well and didn’t know some of our other relatives. That’s okay because I didn’t know them (and still don’t) either. Overall, they’re appreciation made all that research and effort worth it.
I was hoping to take a bath but ended up going to a spa to get facial, manicure, and pedicure. Afterwards we went to church and headed back to the spa to get an hour massage. My jet lag was so bad that I passed out from the intense massage. However, by the end of the day I was finally able to take a bath. I didn’t know how to work the shower so I used the old school bucket of water and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The cool water felt heavenly as it cooled me off from the warm weather and exhaustion.
Day 2 - Corregidor
Early morning we headed out to the harbor and rode a boat to Corregidor with my aunt (Auntie Leonor) on my mom’s side. I took Evil Man’s gargantuan camera with me and had no regret despite of the dead weight. It took about an hour to get to the island and I managed to stay awake throughout the boat trip. We landed on the island and were separated into 7 tour groups. Because of its WWII history, the Japanese tourists get to have their own special tour which made us curious as to what the tour guide would say to the them. The island is well known for the Japanese invasion during WWII since the US mostly occupied the island and recruited of Filipino soldiers for expansion. There were countless of batteries (cannon) stationed all over the island and unfortunately most of the batteries we either damaged from the Japanese aerial missiles or dismantled by Americans to prevent the Japanese to fully use these weapons. Before WWII, these cannons were only designed to attack naval ships. They were deeply hidden so that they are not visible to enemies at the sea. However, they were defenseless to the Japanese airplanes on the second world war. Anti aircraft guns were soon built along the side of the island.
Aside from the batteries, the tour guides also showed us ruins where American soldiers once stayed in. There were movie theaters, dorm rooms, etc. Eventually they built new complexes for recruited Filipino soldiers. The island was a paradise for them until the Japanese soldiers dropped numerous aerial bombs. These building were never restored after the war. They were kept as is as the forest slowly started to grow over them.
Another historical area scattered on this place were the Japanese caves. These caves were built by escaped Japanese soldiers who did not surrender after the war and hid themselves. The last Japanese soldier who left Philippines was Hiroo Onoda who stayed hidden for almost 30 years thinking the war was not over. He did not surrender in 1945 until his former commander traveled from Japan to personally relieve him from duty in 1974. This was however in Lubang Island which can be seen from Corregidor.
Towards the end of the tour, our guide showed us the Japanese Garden of Peace memorial park. When the allies finally won the war, most of the Japanese soldiers chose suicide (kamikaze) over surrendering to the enemy. Bodies of dead Japanese soldiers soon piled up and no one knew who they were until a group picture of these Japanese soldiers were found at a garage sale. Both the Philippines and Japanese government worked together to identify them and once they were able to identify them, the Philippines government decided to create a memorial park for these Japanese soldiers in Corregidor in remembrance and as a peace treaty. In the garden a giant Buddha stands tall facing north towards Japan.
Our last tour was the Malinta Tunnel. The tunnel was called “malinta” (means leeches) because of the numerous leeches it once had. This tunnel was used as a headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur and USAFFE. It was also served as a hiding place for other Filipino government officials.
Corregidor is a beautiful island and rich with history. From memorial parks, hidden Japanese caves, to the green forest burying the ruins that were once occupied before WWII. Despite its history, I think Evil Man would’ve wanted to visit. Tourists are welcomed to camp overnight and hike the tunnels.
After exploring Corregidor, we had dinner with my uncle (Uncle Ernie) and two of their sons (Kevin & Keith) at Philippines’s second largest mall, Mall of Asia. Its location was once a water ground until the government decided to create a mall for tourist attraction. So they filled it up with land and created the Mall of Asia. It’s a big mall filled with shoppers as if it was Black Friday. It was also filled with Christmas decors and carolers. Of course since I was a tourist, I headed straight to the souvenir shops. At the end of the day, I gave my relatives their souvenirs from stateside.
Day 3 - Shopping
The following day was our only relaxing day. The main event of the day was having lunch with my relative on my dad’s side and meeting my cousin’s (Allan) fiancé (Marissa) for the first time. I’ve only known her for a couple of hours and I’ve already liked her. I’m not sure how they met since some say it was an arranged marriage because of the short notice but honestly she was a good catch. Hopefully my cousin will treat her well since he and his family are a bit on the selfish side. My cousins are the same as always, somewhat socially awkward but I paid no attention to it. Afterall I am here to enjoy my trip. They were happy with the souvenirs I got them so it’s all good.
Later that day we met up with Auntie Leonor, Uncle Ernie, and Keith and decided to go shopping. The first mall we went to was Greenhills Mall where there were gimmicks and cheap stores that can easily be bargained. In short, more souvenir shopping and I’ve crossed out all of my coworkers that day. Then we headed to another mall, Mega Mall. I looked around for a bit and was cautious with how I spend my money since I wanted to save up for Palawan.
Day 4 - Wedding
This was the main reason why I decided to go to Philippines: my cousin’s wedding. Since none of my brother and sisters could make it, I decided ‘why not?’ Besides that, my dad has always wanted me to go and so I did.
Before the wedding, my mom had me go to the marketplace with two of my grandmother’s maids. The first exciting part of the day was finally riding a tricycle since I haven’t been on one for more than 20 years. It was so much fun being the passenger, watching the driver speed up and maneuver through traffic. I wanted to record it all on my iPhone but I thought it was best to leave it safe at home. Still, that drive was stimulating.
Now I know some people may find the smell of a marketplace unpleasant but everything smelled fresh. The fruits, vegetables, meats; everything smelled. Of course I had to run through the chicken area since they were freshly butchered but honestly, it was the best place to shop for organic foods. I’ve also had a nice chat with the maids while we bought exotic fruits and learned a couple of tips on how to pick fresh fruits. It felt so much like home.
Back at home we were greeted by a glass of fresh taho (fresh soft/silken tofu, brown sugar mixed with vanilla syrup, and pearl sago) waiting for me on the table. Usually I’d gulped that thing with one go but this time I savored each and every flavor of it. Afterwards I lounged and napped for a while and then got ready for the wedding.
Both Auntie Leonor and Uncle Ernie were invited to the wedding. It took a while to get to the church and the ceremony itself took longer than I expected. It took so long that my uncle decided to take a 30-minute bathroom break which included eating bibingka (Filipino rice cake) that was sold outside the church. The wedding pictures were taken after the ceremony. On the way to the reception, the traffic was so bad that I was starting to get really bad motion sickness from my uncle’s driving. I had to sit down for a while to catch my breath when we got to the reception.
The reception was beautifully decorated but the execution was awkward. There was no introduction of the bridal party since they all just walked in. The guests on the tables were called to take a picture with the bride and groom and afterwards directed to the buffet. While the guests were eating, the coordinator showed a slideshow of childhood pictures of the bride and groom. Afterwards the single ladies were called for the bouquet tossed which I didn’t know they were doing the reversed version. The bride was to throw 6 flowers and whichever girl (there were seven of us) didn’t get the flower “wins.” Yup I was the girl who wasn’t paying attention to the rules and so didn’t put effort, hence was declared the winner. The same rules applied for the guys and thankfully they removed my cousins. The guy who ended up not catching the garter was so shy that he apologized before he placed it on my leg. Thank goodness I decided to shave my legs that morning.
Then came the speeches. I have no idea why the speech duty was placed on my dad instead of the groom’s dad. The bride was apparently an orphan so her parents weren’t there. As I was listening to the speech, I realized that their wedding day was also the same day as my aunt’s (groom’s mother) birthday. It’s no wonder my cousin’s mom dressed up flashier than the bride. Not only that but my cousin’s siblings will also be going with the couple on their honeymoon in Bangkok. They sure made some weird arrangements.
Once the 5-minute speeches were done (there were about 4 of them), the MC announced the bride and groom’s first dance… Seriously? By the time the other guests were able to dance, most of the guests were already going home. I mean the reception location is really nice but the organization sucked.
Day 5 - First Day of Palawan
Woke up early in the morning to get my things ready for Palawan. Uncle Ernie picked us up and dropped us off to the airport along with Auntie Leonor and Kevin. We met up with my other uncle (Uncle Dionix) on my mom’s side who also happens to be close friends with my dad. The flight to Palawan was about an hour and my aunt warned us that the first hotel we’ll be staying at would be a little ghetto. Instead of cringing from the hotel’s ghettoness, it only made me laugh. It was a tiny one-bedroom hotel with a bathroom that didn’t have a shower divider. Not only that but there was a funky smell to it as well.
The first day we did a city tour with a tour guide name Jake. We had the van all to ourselves. We went to the Immaculate Conception Parish in Puerto Princesa. Close to the area was a tunnel where the Japanese soldiers killed 150 prisoners of war (mostly Americans) to prevent the advancing allies’ rescue. This was known as the Palawan Massacre. Palawan was also occupied by the Spanish in the 17th century thus the reason for the Spanish name (Puerto Princesa).
After the city tour, we went to a couple of gift shops. Each shop had a brief history behind it but I didn’t really pay attention to it since I was focusing on the upcoming zip line. It was my very first zip line so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It wasn’t my cousin’s first time but he seemed a bit nervous as well. We were grouped with 3 other couples so it was no surprise that the instructor thought we were a couple as well. Three guides first went ahead to test the lines and took our cameras with them so they can take pictures of us as we slide down. The first line went super fast and it didn’t help that body and legs were stretched out per my uncle’s suggestion to increase the speed. The brakes immediately pulled me back and I thought I was going to fly off to the jungle. The instructor on the second line suggested we not hold on to the handles. I was a little nervous but I managed to lay back a bit. After climbing on the steepest stairs I’ve ever climbed in my entire life, I tried the upside down form on the third line. Looking down on the jungle made me wonder what it would be like if I fell down headfirst. Not a pleasant thought. By the time I reached the other end, all the blood had gone down my head and I felt dizzy when I stood up. I was also upside down on the final line since it will probably be the last time I get to do it. It was so much fun!
For dinner, we ate at an exotic restaurant where people can only come in bare feet. The food was great as always and I thoroughly enjoyed it with a large glass of pina colada.
Day 6 - Second Day of Palawan
We were with a young Filipino couple on our second day of the tour and headed out to a new island to explore an underground river. The island we went to was inhabited by giant monitor lizards and baboons, which I thought was a cat at first sighting. We rode a small boat to an underground cave where we saw rock formations and different sea levels. We also saw rocks that looked almost like figures and hundreds of sleeping bats sleeping above us on the ceiling. Surprisingly, the cave was nice and cool compared to the other caves I’ve been to. Not sure if it was because of the water but it was nice. We didn’t go deeper into the cave since that was reserve for a special tour.
After the underground cave, we left the island and had lunch at the beach. Kevin and I had our mini Food Adventure: Tamilok. As long as you don’t think about it, some of are actually not that bad. The tip just tastes weird. Afterwards we went to some more souvenir shops. Once again, I didn’t pay much attention to its brief history because once again, we were heading to another zip line in Ugong Rock. It’s not just any zip line but it’s apparently known as the fastest zip line in Philippines. I did, however, fully appreciate my first buko drink on this trip.
So to get to the fastest zip line in Philippines, you have to actually climb inside Ugong Rock. OMG, that was the best obstacle course ever. Not only was it short, but these obstacles were real and the best part is that there was no cliff next to it unlike Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park. You have to squeeze yourself through a couple of cracks, climb on rocks using a rope, carefully walk through sharp rocks, see awesome rock formations, pat on rocks that makes a ringing sound, see a sparkling rock that will put Edward to shame, etc. Everything was done inside the cave so no direct sunlight. By the time we got to the top, we had a nice view of our surrounding. And the last part is a zip line, which is a fun and easy way of going down. Not all visitors are required to take the zip line since it was higher than the one we went to the day before (we came across a couple who backed out) but they are encouraged to scream as loud as they can on the way down for tourist attraction.
We soaked in the view around us and waited for the group ahead of us to go on the zip line. We didn’t realize that the group in front of us was actually having second thoughts on going on the zip line and so the guide strapped us first. Kevin first went while Uncle Dionix and I had a challenge on who can scream the loudest. Heh, I won the bet but there was no price.
Apparently the first zip line I went to the day before (the one with the killer brakes) seemed so much faster than this one. Then again, that was my first zip line so it might’ve seem faster. Regardless, this zip line however was the longest and had the nicest view ever. Best part is that they didn’t have to use my camera to take pictures. They already had a built in camera and since the pictures were cheap, I not only bought my own souvenir picture but also my cousin and my uncle’s pictures for them.
It was a long drive back and we relocated our things from the ghetto hotel to the resort we were staying. We ate at another nice restaurant filled with Christmas decorations and the meal was once again made in heaven. The day’s adventure ended with firefly watching by the river. Unfortunately the moon was full but we were still able to see the fireflies. They can seriously light up a giant tree like a Christmas tree especially when the tour guide flash them a red light. Our tour guide told us the fireflies light up as brightly as a defense mechanism when they are threatened hence their reaction to the red light. The guide named out most of the stars, showed us different types of trees, and gave us a brief history of both. The scenery was so romantic that the tour guide told us many proposals were made here. I wouldn’t want Evil Man to propose to me but I sure wished he were there with me to see it.
Day 7 - Third Day of Palawan
The third day’s tour was spent on island hopping on Honda Bay with a Korean couple. Seriously, it’s no surprise there were a bunch of honeymooners all over Palawan. These islands are sanctuary to all wild life so there’s a hefty penalty for stepping on corals or killing any fish. It was the best way to preserve its natural beauty.
The first boat stop was actually in the middle of the ocean where the visitors can snorkel and see exotic fishes and numerous corals. At first I followed my mom, aunt, and boat guard when they were swimming around certain areas and then I went out on my own. It’s been a while since I swam in salt water so I was a bit drained by the time I got back. Man, there’s a huge difference between swimming in salt water with waves versus swimming in a swimming pool. After finding my way back, my mom told me to swim with the boat guard so he can show me around as well. Sigh, workout of the day. On lap two I ran into my dad and uncle who was trying to figure out how to work his underwater camera. The water’s reflection and sunlight made it difficult to see the monitor but we were able to work it. Sadly I didn’t bring my underwater camera with me but at least I was able to enjoy the view more. Still wish I brought it though. That was the only time I saw a giant clam and Doris from Finding Nemo.
The second boat stop was on a small island where visitors can feed the fishes. Man, those fishes were starving like freshly bitten zombies. While the little yellow fishes with black stripes are more cautious in approaching the bread in my hand, the big blue ones can sure bite hard. This time I brought my underwater camera with me and it was a struggle juggling the bread and the camera together. Overall it was fun feeding the fishes and watch them go at the bread. It definitely made me go back and feed them a few more slices of bread.
The last stop was at a bigger island where we had a mighty tasty lunch. There were some local dogs and cats in the area to keep the other guests entertained since they don’t really look like they’re starving. The beach was beautiful. According to my Auntie Leonor, the sand in Boracay is smoother but the water is almost the same as Palawan. As our tour guide prepared our lunch and my parents, Auntie Leonor, and Uncle Dionix bought crabs to cook, Kevin and I went to the beach to feed some more fishes. This time the fishes were a whole lot closer to the shore. The more bread you feed them, the more fishes will come. They were mostly the small yellow ones with black stripes and small black ones as well. There were some small silver ones and a few big blue ones. Oh man, they’re so cute especially when you throw the bread on top of the water. You can actually see them swim up to take a bite. I was so enthralled that I totally forgot to record them from the top view. Now I have an excuse to come back.
Lunch was so tasty that I no longer cared how my stomach stuck out when I was wearing my swimsuit. Sadly there were only beer and no other liquor on the island but the buko drink made up for it. Good stuff man, good stuff. Afterwards, I fed the fishes again and sunbathe to get a nice tan only to fall asleep and gotten myself a so-and-so tan. Regardless, it was the best lounging ever.
We headed back to the resort and had our last dinner in Palawan by the beach, a night of relaxation.
Day 8 - Back to Manila
We woke up early morning and had the traditional seafood Filipino breakfast by the beach. It was such a nice and relaxing view. Afterwards we headed to the airport around 9 am. I bought some last minute souvenirs on a really tight budget. As expected, the souvenirs at the airport were more expensive rather than the ones at local market. Oh well.
It took the entire one-hour flight back to Manila to write on the postcards I bought. I didn’t expect it to take that long but at the same time I was a bit disoriented. Perhaps it was a combination of exhaustion and jet lag.
Uncle Ernie picked us up at the airport and there was an awkward moment when he got pulled over for making a wrong turn in front of a cop. One thing for sure, I was surprised he got pulled over since the driving there weren’t as strict as before. My dad was no help at all when he tried buy our way out by name-dropping my other uncle (Uncle Dionix) who was a retired general in the army but wasn’t with us since he left with a cab before us. Not only that but my dad pulled out his own wallet when my uncle tried to buy his way out which only made the corrupted cop increase the free pass. Siiiigh, I really hope he has no plans of going back to the Philippines if his mentality is the same as it was 20 years ago. He wouldn’t survive a day with that kind of attitude.
We stopped by at my Auntie Leonor and Uncle Ernie’s house and there I met two of the most cutest and most playful black Labradors ever: Jericho and Jacob. I just love big dogs especially when they’re hyper and obedient at the same time. While Jericho loves to play fetch, Jacob loves to be petted. So adorable and well taken cared of!
Since there was still time to kill before my last dinner night, we went to the mall to eat lunch and do some last minute shopping. I wasn’t expecting to buy anymore things but I ended up buying magazines and a purse that pretty much ate up the remaining money I had. Well, at least I got myself a new purse.
My last dinner night was spent at my Uncle Dionix’s house. My dad grilled some steak while my uncle served everyone wine. My cousin and I killed time by playing pool and man, our suckiness definitely killed a lot of time. Afterwards we ate steak, baked potato, and grilled vegetables. I only drank wine that night since Uncle Dionix didn’t open the 70-year-old tequila I bought him from stateside. In fact, he didn’t even remove it from the box and just displayed it. Well it is his drink so he can do whatever he wants even though I was a little curious how it would taste. Knowing my alcohol level, probably not curious enough for seconds.
My other cousins, Ramona, Audee and her husband Francis, who I haven’t seen for a decade later on showed up and we mostly talked about tennis, Christmas decorations, and eventually relationships. Keith later on left for work while Kurt showed up not wanting to miss my dad’s steak. It was nice catching up with them although I was a little buzz. At least I remembered giving them their souvenirs I brought from stateside.
That night I only slept for 4 hours since I had to pack my bags. I didn’t really have to pack much since I didn’t unpack that much but we pretty much came home late from dinner. I passed out when I hit the bed.
Day 9 - Last Day in Philippines
Woke up early morning to pack up my toiletries and charged my phone. My stomach started feeling funky after drinking too much wine the previous night and had to go through a few rounds of evacuation until my dad finally gave me a medicine. Before I left the house, I gave the last of my stateside souvenirs to my grandmother’s maids and driver which were for them to begin with. Lastly, I took a picture of me and my grandmother with my iPhone. She loved how she could see herself on the reverse camera.
My grandmother and maids walked us out to the car as we said our goodbyes. As we drove through the streets, I looked out at the locals and their usual activities. An old lady swept her front house clean, a mother hand washed her family’s clothes outside as her children played with a stray cat, a young man tuning a guitar, girls gossiping, etc. Despite how some buildings are covered with graffiti, how drivers don’t pay attention to lanes, how squatters dressed in rags, how stray animals are not cared for, I soaked in all of its imperfections. All of this was once my home and I couldn’t have been any more comfortable. I love Philippines and I’m sure going to miss it.
Auntie Leonor and my parents dropped me off to the airport and I flew back on my own. Of course, my parents assumed this was the first time I’ve traveled alone so my dad panicked which also made my grandmother worried. I did let them know that I got back to the US safe after I landed which was about 14 hours later since my phone was off.
When I landed here in the US around late lunch, my sisters were waiting for me at the airport. We ate at a ramen place as we also caught up with one another’s updates. At the apartment, Ash was the same as always although he would sniff me and my luggage here and there. I was back in the grind again.