It may sound crazy to want to go back to the year that was after spending two fun-filled days (not to mention food-filled) in 2016. But as I stare at my ceiling and reflect on what has transpired in 2015, I realize that I have indeed done a lot of “going back,” and this has resulted into 2015 being my most adventurous year as of yet.
I started my love affair with mountains in 2014, and this has continued on to 2015. I climbed six mountains, one of which was the highest peak in Luzon, Mt. Pulag via the Akiki trail. I almost cried as I watched the sunrise from the summit, in amazement of the sea of clouds and the rest of God’s creations. I also did two repeat climbs – Mt. Natib, this time including Pasukulan Falls and Tarak Ridge in Bataan. A little over a year has passed since I scaled these mountains, but a lot has changed in the terrain and of course, the view. I still didn’t get bitten by the limatiks though. 🙂
I also went back to one of my favorite countries, Malaysia. I explored Kota Kinabalu and its lovely islands and beaches at a time when I badly needed to clear my mind and get a new perspective on things. The many similarities between our culture and theirs is one of the reasons I came back, and of course their food and their malls!
In 2015, I have also gone back to my passion for teaching. I am a trainer by profession and after spending two fruitful years in Operations, I took a leap of faith, handed in my resignation without any concrete plans, traveled, rested for a month, and landed a job as a trainer for Camp Australia. Little did I know that this was just the start of big things, as I got promoted on my third month and was tasked to handle the training and quality team of the company.
I found myself going back to the running field as I completed two half marathons in 2015. I may not have beaten my 2014 PR, but I sure as hell felt so proud after completing the 21k run for Run United 1 and 2 without collapsing in the middle of the street (my legs were turning to jelly as I struggled halfway through the run). I am crossing my fingers that my 2016 schedule would allow me to complete all three 21k legs of my favorite marathon.
I thought that 2015 would be a difficult year for me because I faced some serious issues and had to make tough decisions, which meant leaving my comfort zone and even a few of my good friends behind. Yet it turned out to be one awesome year, and I couldn’t help but be amazed at how each experience transformed itself into another unforgettable page of my 2015 book. And oh, I have just made another milestone when I turned 30 last year, and despite most of my friends not being physically around to celebrate it with me, I enjoyed their birthday surprise.
It’s the start of another book, which means that we’ve just been given a new chance to make things right. I have written down my “little-things-that-make-big-differences” list and will definitely make sure to keep this list in mind each day:
I will continue making my bed in the morning, no matter how sleepy I am.
I will continue spending more time with my parents even if it means that I have to take them out for dinner at their restaurant of choice.
I will make sure to check on my friends regularly, as most of them are already out of the country (thank you, Facebook and Viber!).
I will hug my dogs everyday even if they have a goal in life to chew on all of my slippers.
I will eat healthy and ditch soda and fries and chicharon (I’d have to TRY my best to not eat seaweed flavored Lays almost everyday though).
I will start reading the books I bought or received last year (nine books, I think) and will finish them all this year.
I will wear my retainers every night (okay, and every morning before I start my shift).
I will limit myself to buying only two bags this year (promise!!!), and reallocate the money to my travel funds instead.
I will continue with my workout routine everyday (except you know, that time of the month).
I will remind myself of those nine must do’s and push myself to stick to them for 365, or rather 366 days.
I have taken a step back and embraced some parts of my past, but it doesn’t mean that I’m stuck and not moving forward. Not a big fan of the “new year, new me” thing because we always carry with us a little something from our past experiences. Yet I have never been this ready to welcome 2016 and wait for its thrilling surprises and twists. Cheers to a new year! 🙂
In a couple of days, I will be turning 30. Like what I usually end up doing when my birthday draws near, I recall how the last year went, and I had to smile upon remembering how I spent my birthday in the beautiful city of George Town in the state of Penang, Malaysia.
My lovely birthday week started with a three-day stay in Coffee Atelier, a quaint and lovely gallery/residence/restaurant in Lorong Stewart. We took the bus from KLIA going to Penang (you may take a direct flight to Penang though), and another five-minute ferry ride to George Town to get to the center of the city. We were welcomed by the hotel staff who were fellow kababayans (imagine our joy upon hearing them say “Mabuhay!”) and who immediately served us coffee as both Cindy and I looked puyat.
The exhaustion from flying out that early in the morning was forgotten upon seeing our suite. We occupied the one on the ground floor and everything in the room was just so charming and welcoming, especially the bed and the pieces of furniture. A lovely bonus – Coffee Atelier also houses the Gehrig Art Gallery!
We had three days to discover what made George Town a UNESCO World Heritage. The first one was spent walking around the nearby streets, shops, bars, local food stalls, and just taking in the sights and sounds of the city. On our second day, which was also my birthday, I felt like I was acting out a scene taken straight out of a Koreanovela! We biked around George Town searching for what it is known for – street art!
It would be unforgivable to spend a few days in this town without embarking on a gastronomic adventure. Hawker stalls and eateries and restaurants are all over the place, offering distinct cuisines from Malaysia and its neighboring countries. Looking back, I’d say that George Town is a haven for someone who likes to walk a lot and discover eccentric stuff and eat and eat and eat without worrying about spending a fortune.
We also learned that one of the coffee shops in the city makes 3D coffee art. On Lebuh Pantai we found Coffee on the Table, and since it was my birthday, they let me watch how they create 3D coffee art. Their coffee creations were really cute, and it broke my heart when I started stirring my coffee and the pig slowly vanished into the drink.
Thank God that the weather permitted for our last day in George Town to be spent by the beach. After a bus ride of about 30 minutes, we reached Batu Ferringhi which is said to be the most popular beach near the city. The beach is lined with hotels and stalls offering activities like canoeing and parasailing, but we chose to just enjoy the view and soak up the sun.
A little shopping was done in Gurney Plaza, but it would be a shame not to spend my last day (and my remaining ringgits) shopping in Kuala Lumpur. Hello there, Petronas!
If I can choose a vacation that I could replay, it would be my visit to this impressive city that has a mix of old architecture with modern buildings and malls, with streets filled with IG-worthy corners and mouth-watering delicacies, and in which I celebrated another year in my life.
It’s only been a few weeks since we welcomed the new year with hopes and wishes for a better life. But every time I say “last year,” 2014 feels like many months ago. Nonetheless, looking back at the year that was makes me feel contented and fulfilled. I daresay I achieved what I wanted before the year ended – peace of mind and a clean slate to start 2015 with.
I finally had the chance to catch up with my dear friend Cindy after the holiday break. We talked about 2014 and both agreed that it was the most magastos year ever! Why? We both spent our hard-earned money on our favorite activity – traveling. True enough, last year was exciting and fun-filled because of all the traveling I did with friends and family.
The cold weather, the sights and sounds of Sagada, the simple life of the people up north. I will never forget how breathtaking it was to finally see up close the rice terraces built by our ancestors. A.MA.ZING.
I have a confession to make – I don’t know how to swim. Hahaha. But I loooove the beach, and it’s obvious naman, I went to Baler twice with my teammates. Proud first time surfer here who got on the board a number of times! Yey!
It still surprises me how something this beautiful exists and takes my breath away. Because of the awesomeness of the islands that we visited in Caramoan, I vowed to make sure that I will visit more islands in our country in 2015.
Fourth stop – Penang and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
It was a happy, happy birthday for me in October. I got to explore Georgetown in Penang, Malaysia. Corners and streets and walls with street art, yummy street food, and hospitable people – what more can I ask for in a birthday celebration? Maybe no more stalkers while biking around town. LOL. (Yes, I have yet to write about this travel to Malaysia. Soon. :))
In between all the traveling, I also managed to discover my love for two new hobbies – running and mountain climbing. I never imagined that I’d fall in love with these activities. You see, I wasn’t an “outdoorsy” type of person before. I hated getting my hands and feet dirty with mud, I didn’t like running long distances, and I wasn’t a big fan of sleeping in a tent. But all that changed when I tried hiking and when I covered 5k, 8k, 10k, and finally 21k in marathons. At first, it was only for fun, only to veer my attention away from thoughts I don’t like lingering in my mind. Yet I found myself joining more marathons and wanting to climb more mountains. I started investing in mountain climbing gear and subscribing to all these websites where run schedules are posted.
An important event that capped off the year and made it even more unforgettable was the wedding of one of my college best friends, Irene. I was blinking back tears as she walked down the aisle to the arms of her love. It was a simple yet touching ceremony of their union, and of course I was honored to be her maid of honor.
I’d have to say that 2014 was unlike any other year. I let loose, I became more adventurous, I forgot my fears and embraced challenge. Looking back, I can sum up what I feel in one word: Thankful. I am thankful for the people that I met in one of the trails, on the road while running, or on the plane while on my way to one of my destinations. I am thankful for the changes that taught me that nothing’s really permanent, and you won’t be happy if you stay stuck in one place. I am thankful for another year, another chance to move forward and do right.
I can’t help but feel excited that in 24 hours, it’s already December! This month is what almost everyone’s looking forward to because of Christmas, and according to that famous holiday song, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” It is, indeed. Everyone is in a jovial mood, despite the hellish traffic jams and huge crowds in malls and parties left and right.
What’s not to love about Christmas? It’s when most reunions happen, when those lovely gifts are given and received, and okay, I admit I’m using it as an excuse to do some shopping. Last year, I spent my hard-earned moolah in malls and in one of the bazaars in Makati. But this morning, my shopping buddy Maggie, together with her ever-supportive hubby Mike and sister Mai, brought me to the St. James the Great Christmas Bazaar in Ayala Alabang Village. Maggie has just left the company where we used to work together, so I’m really happy that we still got the chance to visit her favorite bazaar while talking about how being a stay-at-home-mom is going on for her.
Our mission earlier was to buy stuff that we don’t normally find or are more expensive in malls. So we skipped purchasing clothes and shoes and bags and were on the lookout for items that we’d usually see sold online in Instagram or Facebook. After about ten minutes of going around and checking the stalls, I was impressed with three things – the sellers are very friendly and they don’t hard sell (my pet peeve), most of the merchandise sold are really hard to find and are cheaper compared to mall prices, and it wasn’t super crowded for a bazaar with free entrance (maybe because we were there at 9am LOL).
I bet you’re wishing that you were there this morning, too! There were a lot of nice finds – from novelty items that you can give as gifts, to crafts and calligraphy tools, toys and kid’s apparel, make up, Christmas decors, home and kitchen ware, accessories, and even plants!
Chances are after shopping, you’d want to rest and munch on something. Not a concern for us because there are food concessionaires in the bazaar as well such as Potato Corner, Inengs BBQ, Pastor’s Gastro Pub, and Amicii, to name a few. Maggie, Mike, and myself grabbed a quick bite before exploring the stalls again.
The preggy shopping buddy bought gifts for her godchildren and stuff for her kid, Lucas, as well as a few items for arts and crafts.
As for my loot, I was finally able to find a sturdy and inexpensive laptop bag from Husq that would look nice even if I’m wearing business casual or I’m dressed down at work. I also discovered a make up brand from Korea named Y.E.T, and I got their primer because it looks promising (and waaay cheaper than Benefit). I also found some colorful and unique accessories which I’m planning on giving out as gifts. Oh, I also got a pink Bobble water bottle which retails for about 700php in malls (Yey, I can finally stop buying mineral water at work). The best part is I got all these for less than 2,500php!
You can still catch the St. James Christmas Bazaar on their last day tomorrow, November 30. It’s in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, and it’s open from 9:00am to 9:00pm.
If you can’t make it, there are other Christmas bazaars that you can find in the metro. Mommy Maggie has listed them here. Enjoy your Christmas shopping! 🙂
I’ve been out of the loop for quite some time, and I just realized on my way back home this afternoon how much I’ve missed writing. I’ve been quite busy with a lot of stuff – work of course, a week-long leave to travel and meet up with friends for my birthday last month, and *drum roll please* Hay Day. LOL. Seriously. Hay Day has been very helpful in making me feel relaxed after 12-hour shifts at work.
When I found out that I had to refresh my blog’s connection to Facebook, it finally hit me – it’s been ages since I last logged in on WordPress and posted something. And because I want to veer away from negativity (hey it’s Christmas in like three weeks), I’d like to share my top three stress busters despite my tight schedule, the daily strain from commuting and the horrible traffic, the unavoidable fact of life that we need to deal with obnoxious people, and the recent changes at work.
1. FOOD, FOOD, FOOD!
My close friends know that I looooooove to eat. I take the time to check out highly recommended or popular restaurants (but I have yet to convince myself to line up for a bowl of ramen in Ippudo) and see (or rather taste) for myself if they’re just all hype or if talagang pop na pop. My latest discoveries and favorites:
Frankie’s Buffalo Wings!! I know I have previously talked about this, so by now you should know how much I love their wings. My officemates and I have a bi-weekly pact to visit our favorite chicken wings place and get our fill of their Classic flavored buffalo wings plus a few beer bottles.Tim Ho Wan, finally we meet! This Michelin 1-star restaurant that started off as a hole-in-the-wall eatery in Hongkong has established a name here in Manila and everyday, there’s a long queue of people waiting to get their hands on the famous baked pork buns. The other day we got lucky – my officemate and I fell in line for just about five minutes and were seated agad. I ate five pork buns! At least generous ako and I shared one piece. Never ever leave Tim Ho Wan without ordering their Mango Pomelo Sago for dessert.A recent discovery, like this afternoon lang. Haha! BRGR: The Burger Project in Maginhawa Street. Foodies are well aware how this street has turned into a food haven, and The Burger Project has made a name for itself by allowing diners to create and name their own burgers. My verdict – I love my BURGER PATTY! Syempre, love your own. 🙂
2. FRIENDS!
I am just thankful for my friends, especially those I’ve known for a long time, for being my constant source of happiness and strength. One group of friends that I will forever cherish would be my college friends. We’ve been through a lot, and when I say a lot kasama na dun ang tampuhan, months of not seeing each other, and the geographic issues (as in LDF – Long Distance Friendship because two of them are abroad for work and studies), but we’re still as close as ever. I had a great time with them during my birthday dinner, and the dinner was made even more fun because my friend who’s studying in Japan happened to be in Manila for a convention, kaya we were almost complete. We had a laughter-filled night full of bullying. Yes, friends talaga kami pero that’s how we show our love and affection for each other. And one event that we’re all excited about – my college best friend’s wedding this December! I’m the maid of horror honor!
With my college best friends (and their boyfriends) enjoying a night out in Eastwood.You are missed, Nebee!With the student in Japan and the bride!Maid of honor duties! Can’t wait to see you walk down the aisle, Ai!
3. FINISH LINES!
In life, there are literal and figurative finish lines. I’m glad to have finally reached a figurative finish line by cutting off ties with someone for good.
Another finish line that I reached is one that I wouldn’t mind seeing again. On October 5, I had my first 21k run after a series of 3k, 5k, and 10k marathons in the past few months. I joined the Alaxan FR 21k division of the Run United Philippine Marathon 3 in SM Mall of Asia, together with thousands of runners and enthusiasts. The race was organized by RunRio, and like most of their marathons, it was fun, orderly, and well-managed. I loved how hands-on Coach Rio was during the event and how he encouraged the runners (myself included) to run the last few meters and dash to the finish line.
It was probably one of the most fulfilling (and tiring) achievements that I’ve had this year. After covering about 15kms and two hours into the race, I was starting to feel my legs tremble, so I had to alternate jogging – walking – jogging – sprinting – walking. It was exhausting, and I was so close to giving up but kept going and thinking of that coveted medal. After a little over three and a half hours and the finish line was a few steps from me, I badly wanted to tear up and give a high five to everyone as one of the usherettes handed me my first ever half-marathon medal. It was truly an unforgettable experience, something I’d like to do again really soon.
Yay! Pawis at uhaw at pagod at haggard pero it was all worth it!That Finisher Shirt!This medal deserves a spot next to my medals from college.My running buddies na hindi makatawid ng maayos after the run!We were all super hungry but didn’t have enough energy left to explore the restos in MOA. We ended up having lunch at Savory. Not complaining though, their chicken was still as tasty and juicy as I remember from the last time I ate there.
Whenever I feel like life’s so unfair, or when I start spiraling down into that abyss of despair when things don’t go my way, I help myself get back on track by enumerating what makes me cheery and excited about the future. I know my friends and officemates have witnessed my sungit moments and stressed-ako-walang-kakausap-sakin days, but trust me, those moments will not last long. I always make sure that my thoughts and emotions are anchored onto something – like these three Fs – food, friends, and finish lines, and they’re enough to bring that smile back on my face. Have a fruitful weekend ahead!
I think some people have been led to my previous post on the UAAP Cheerdance Competition last year by mistake when searching for this year’s results. So I thought I better post this year’s videos as well. 🙂
But before letting you watch the UAAP Cheerdance 2014 videos, allow me to congratulate the UP Pep Squad for another excellent routine that I think should’ve been awarded the first place. We didn’t bag the top spot that I’m sure each Isko and Iska wished for, but I am really proud of that amazing performance that gave me goosebumps. It’s not only because I came from UP, but I have never seen any other school do something bold like what the UP Pep Squad did (or has always done). The group knows for a fact that ADVOCACY is not part of the criteria for judging, but they showed through their theme of equality what they truly believe in, or if I may say, what all Iskolars ng Bayan believe in. So thank you, UP Pep Squad for making us proud every year. Go get ’em next year! 🙂
Without further ADIEU sabi ni Jessy Mendiola, here are the videos from the top three schools:
2014 UAAP CDC Champions: NU Pep Squad
Congratulations on your flawless routine! I admit, I was wishing for just one glaring error, but you guys executed your stunts well na parang ten years na kayong nagre-rehearse. You’ve come a long way from your performances na may kasamang gingerbread man. Dapat may 3-day sale sa SM dahil dito! Tanong lang: San ba talaga ang campus niyo?
First Runner Up: UP Pep Squad
Matatapang, matatalino, walang takot, kahit kanino! I’ll never forget that pyramid where the girls lifted the boys. If you could just see me while I was watching, nakanganga ako promise. And like I said on my FB post, your performance is just like me – almost perfect. LOL. (At nagda-diet ako ngayon dahil nainggit ako sa abs nung mga girls.)
Second Runner Up: UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe
It’s nice to see you back, Tigers! Mej corny lang yung tiger na parang nag-dragon dance. Pero sige na nga, it’s nice to see you back pa ren. You made my friends from UST really happy. Go USTE!
Kudos to the rest of the schools for their entertaining routines! Entertaining, oo sarcastic ako. Aabangan ko ang Ateneo next year baka sakaling hindi na sila mahilig mahulog na una ulo. Eto na din yung video kase alam kong macu-curious kayo.
Bonus videos – the group stunts of Adamson University and De La Salle University! Watch them ‘pag depressed kayo, ikakasaya niyo promise.
Adamson University – Sorry na, Ate, ‘Wag ka na magalit kay Kuya.
De La Salle University – ‘Yung totoo? Nag-vitamins ba kayo? Pagod ba kayo? Inaantok ka ‘te?
Hope you had fun! They all deserve a PLEYK (sabi ulit ni Jessy Mendiola), right? See you next year! 😀
I’ve been running two to three times a week to train for my upcoming *drum roll please* 21k run this October! I am really excited about this endeavor (naks, endeavor talaga) because I will be able to finally check it off of my bucket list this year. I’d be getting my first ever medal from a marathon, too! Yay!
Before finally deciding to join a 21k run, I had to know if I’d be able to complete 10k without much difficulty. I signed up for the Energen Healthy Run Manila Leg and of course chose 10k from the race categories. I did two 5k marathons early this year, so I thought I should be able to do 10k already.
The race was held in Bonifacio Global City on July 20 (late post, yes). By now memorize ko na yung street dun where all races are held, so we got there on time. LOL. Armed with a Gatorade bottle, 400ml of water, and lots of energy, we started running at 5am. I aimed to complete the race after an hour and a half, and I still feel successful despite falling short of the target. I completed my first 10k in one hour and 34 minutes (and a few seconds).
About to cross the finish line. Photo credits: Tara Trip Tayo The line for the loot bags a few meters from the finish line. Well organized, I must say.Got my loot bag! Guess what’s inside? Lotsa Energen goodies! 🙂
I was really impressed with the organizers because the claiming of loot bags was systematic, with marshalls guiding the runners where to go after crossing the finish line. And there were cups of water available near the finish line as well, cold water! Yes. Even the raffle prizes were pretty interesting, as Energen gave away ten mountain bikes for lucky runners (still not one of them). I am looking forward to joining this run again next year – it was well-organized, the registration fee was less than 500php, the marshalls were friendly, oh and we ran on the Kalayaan flyover! It was a real treat!
Can’t be any prouder wearing my first 10k finisher shirt (mej oversized lang Conquered 10k! Yay!
Of course we had to load up on carbs after that tiring morning. We went straight to Recovery Food BGC and had a bowl of Tapa de Morning. No photos of the food – it went straight to my growling tummy. 🙂
Thanks, Energen for this awesome event. You made my first 10k run an unforgettable one.
After a month-long hiatus, I am soooo back in the blogosphere. I was out of the loop for quite some time, extremely occupied with work, personal schintz, and weekly nights out at Frankie’s where my friends devour dozens of buffalo wings while I chug down bottles of beer. LOL. Regressing to my early 20’s when I used to drink and party until maabutan na ng mga nagja-jogging sa umaga? Maybe. 🙂
Speaking of weekly nights out, I have been spending the last few weeks making rounds of holes-in-the-wall or restos or bars that I see on social media or hear from my friends. Yes, I am dieting I am trying to eat healthy and maintain my 40-something-kilogram-body, so I can run faster during marathons. But once in while I go out, and apart from consuming a bucket of beer while my great friends laugh at my jokes and leave two pieces of chicken for me at my new favorite spot Frankie’s (yes I know I said this earlier), I have discovered a few new go-to places for yummy nomnoms.
1. Subspace Coffeehouse in Ortigas
Ilang tumbling lang ‘to from my office! This cool and cozy coffee place specializes in coffee (duh) art and teas and serves yummy pastries. If you just want to chill and hang out with your friends on a Friday night, yung tipong makakapag-emo at usap kayo about what’s going on in your lives without those blasting speakers, clingy guys who suddenly dance or grind behind you or walang mga nagre-review na maiistorbo (you know what I mean), then head on over to this coffee place in Emerald Tower.
Must try – their Purple Potato Latte! Yay!
Purple Potato Latte FTW! The designs are just so adorbs.
Desserts and drinks overload:
Cool interior:
2. Argos Minibar in Makati Avenue
My friend Cindy and I found ourselves on P. Burgos St. one Friday night, after a whole week of stress-eating at work. I must admit, at first I got scared because of the crowd on the street pero harmless naman pala sila. People-watching was made more fun after they served us our Greek food (my third fave next to Jap and Italian). Don’t miss out – make sure you drop by this little haven of Mediterranean food when you’re in the area.
Must try – their Moussaka and Sarma Dolma!
Greek food overload! Moussaka and Sarma Dolma, love love!
Lovin’ the walls and lights and pieces of furniture in Argos:
3. Kanto Freestyle Breakfast in Kapitolyo
I’m pretty sure of two things – either you’ve been here or you’ve heard about this eatery. I have been to Kanto Freestyle a number of times, and I will definitely come back and make sure I’ve tried everything on their menu. Hey, who wouldn’t want to eat at a hole-in-a-wall which offers gourmet breakfast at an affordable price? Brought my friends and my folks here – and both groups loved it. Medyo need lang ng patience because the lines can get long and it may take a few minutes to be seated kahit 11pm na, and also the food can take about 30 minutes to be served. I’m a hundred percent sure that my teammates and I will be regular fixtures in this place come November or December when we move to Capitol Commons, tatlong kembot lang from there!
Must try (and my ultimate favorite combo) – Tuyo Flakes and Kesong Puti Kanto Boy Breakfast plus extra rice and extra tomato pesto and extra bacon! All for Php120. Bow.
Happy Patty with happy people about to fill their tummies with happy food.
These discoveries and more made up for the long hours at work, and so long as I am enjoying food with my friends and teammates, I am definitely one happy gal *skipping and hopping to my next destination* 🙂
I am starting to fall in love. With running, that is.
I joined my second marathon this year and took pride in running with 5,400 other participants at the World Vision Run 2014 on June 22. This is World Vision’s annual fundraising event held at the Bonifacio Global City, and the beneficiaries are some 8,000 children under their Child Sponsorship program. I opted to do the 5k run and promised myself that this would be my last 5k. Feelingera ako eh so I want to move up to 10k already.
Gun time for 5k was 5:10am, and this time I wasn’t late. LOL. I had a few minutes to spare to do warm up exercises and people-watch. Hehe. I gave myself a target – 45 minutes or better. I finished the whole stretch after 45 minutes and 19 seconds. More practice needed!
Baggage deposit and claiming was organized, so good job, RunRio!Zoom in to see me cross the finish line. 🙂Yay! After 45:19, a bottle of Gatorade, and buckets of sweat.Saw a former officemate from Yell Adworks, and syempre we had to have a photo taken!The mandatory finish line photo, where I was photobombed by the running guru, Coach Rio of RunRio.A marathon is never complete if there are no long lines for freebies and loot bags.And… A Zumba sesh to keep the energy level high and everyone entertained while waiting for the raffle draw and announcement of winners.Walang kapaguran!The much awaited announcement of podium finishers and the raffle draw. Argh. I’m never lucky pagdating sa mga raffle.
The marathon’s organizer, RunRio, did a good job in making it a successful and fun event. The claiming of loot bags wasn’t as orderly though, and the contents weren’t really pleasing. Sana bumili na lang ako ng Gatorade and mineral water from the grocery. Anyway, I hope that this year’s Sofitel Half Marathon which I plan on joining would be different and loot bag claiming more systematic and efficient.
Of course I was tired and starving after the 5k marathon. I don’t eat heavy breakfast before a run, just a can of coffee and a banana. I had to treat myself to a big breakfast at my favorite coffee shop, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf at BHS.
Breakfast of champions: Chinese Chicken Salad and Quiche
I guess this love for running has stemmed from my evolving appreciation for the outdoors and for physical activities. It has pushed me to take good care of myself and start aiming higher, may it be in the distance that I’ll cover or the mountain that I’ll scale. I just love the fact that I am devoting time and effort to something that is beneficial to my health, and the bonus is I get to do this while helping out others. Cheers to all the runners of the World Vision Run 2014 and hope to see you at the following marathons: Eco R3run for Sustainability, Sofitel Half Marathon, and Color Manila Nite Run in August!
I’ve been very busy these past few weeks, and I guess the sporadic blog posts that I have managed to squeeze in my full schedule prove just that. What have I been up to apart from long hours at work? My weekends have been devoted to marathons, out of town trips, and my newfound love, mountain climbing! My third mountain and second major climb since my love affair with mountains started last April – Mt. Natib in Orani, Bataan. Mountain specs from PinoyMountaineer: Mt. Natib – 1,287 masl Major jumpoff: Brgy. Tala, Orani Minor jumpoff: Kanawan (Hanging Bridge), Morong LLA: 14.7119 N; 120.3997 E; 1287 MASL Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 3.5-5 hours Specs (Backtrail): Major climb, Difficulty 5/9, Trail class 1-3 Specs (Traverse): Major climb, Difficulty 6/9, Trail class 1-3 Features: Scenic views of Central Luzon; Woodlands; Tropical forests My Basekamp group did a backtrail climb of Mt. Natib on the second week of June. Despite the weather forecast, we decided to brave the rains and face the limatiks that Mt. Natib is known for. Armed with bottles of alcohol and covered from head to toe, we started the ascent from the jumpoff point in Brgy. Tala. There is a carinderia there where we left our car and where we filled our tummies with breakfast before the climb began. After about an hour of trekking on a wide, rocky path, we reached Pinagbutasan (there is a gate that would help you identify this area). The wind was blowing fiercely, but we enjoyed a few minutes of rest while taking in the view around us. This part of the mountain signals the start of open grasslands, wide rocky trails, and tree-covered paths, alternately making an appearance. Overall, it was a comfortable trek, and because it was drizzling after every 30 minutes or so, we didn’t feel too tired and thirsty. In fact, we were laughing while hiking every time one of us gets attacked by limatiks.
This tree is near the gate in Pinagbutasan, which is a chunk of the mountain that has been carved out.From L-R: Our guide from Basekamp Romy, our mandatory guide from the barangay Manny, and my brother Louie.Basekamp Ligaya group goes to Mt. Natib!
Two and half hours later, we reached the base camp and a bifurcated road, one of which leads to the summit, the other one to Pasukulan Falls. The rain started falling relentlessly, so we had to cover our backpacks before leaving them at the base camp. Assault to the summit began. Though the trail was easier compared to Tarak Ridge, there are three rope segments that proved to be the main highlight of the trek to the peak. The rocks were a bit slippery as the rain intensified, and the limatiks were all over place, causing one of our companions to panic and scream when she sees a limatik clinging on to her pants or her arms. I would see a few of these creatures looking for an opening in my shoes but I didn’t mind them; I was focused on the slippery and muddy parts of the path. My dad was attacked by one, as the persistent creature was able to wiggle its way through my dad’s gloves (he didn’t notice the small openings in them).
Limatik attack! Blood gushed from my dad’s hand as the limatik fell off.
We reached the peak after about two and a half hours, around 1pm. There was no clearing and the wind was still blowing wildly. It was still raining but that didn’t dampen our spirits. Thank God for raincoats and windbreakers, we still had a good time on the summit.
Yey! Mt. Natib is the highest peak in the Bataan Natural Park.Looking like a bag of basura on the summit but feeling accomplished just the same.Abot kamay ang langit.Nahipan ng hangin.My brother and I checking for limatiks on our shoes. May isang muntik na makalusot!A few seconds of clearing when the curtain of clouds parted so we can take a peek at the mountains around us.
We stayed on the summit for about 30 minutes, and every so often the clouds would part to give us a sneak peek of the supposedly beautiful view behind them. We were granted a few seconds of clearing but the clouds quickly obscured the mountains and a part of Bataan that we expected to see had the weather cooperated. We decided to commence the descent because our tummies were grumbling already. It was way past lunchtime and we had a couple of hours to spend going down. A side trip to Pasukulan Falls was part of the itinerary, but as we reached the base camp all soaking wet and with our knees trembling (out of hunger and exhaustion), we agreed to proceed to Ka Goryo’s hut and set up camp there instead. This was a good idea, I guess, for the only water source apart from Pasukulan was the river near the hut. In addition, the weather forecast said that it will rain until Sunday afternoon; we didn’t want to risk staying near Pasukulan where limatiks would definitely abound. We were about 15 minutes away from Ka Goryo’s hut when something spooky happened to me. I was walking with my dad, when two of our group mates slowed down and fell behind because of leg cramps. My dad stopped to assist them, and he instructed me to walk with my brother and proceed to the hut. My brother and another companion was about four meters ahead, and I started walking towards them. But in the blink of an eye, I lost them. I called out my brother’s name and clapped three times, but he didn’t respond. It felt weird because I walk pretty fast all the time, and I began to wonder how they could walk that fast when one of them was wearing a pair of rubber slippers. I continued to walk, and my mind was racing – I was alone, with just trail food in my belt bag, only five liters of water in my backpack, a sleeping bag, a flashlight, a knife. Then I remembered, I have a whistle! I started blowing, calmly at first, then frantically and loudly as I didn’t hear a response. I didn’t think at this time that I could possibly be experiencing something “supernatural,” but I was more concerned that I got lost. I started running-walking-running, whistling in between. It was utterly impossible for me not to be heard because there was no sound apart from the gentle drizzle of rain. I kept checking my watch to see how long I’ve been alone, and I was cautiously peering at my surroundings to note if I was going in circles. This went on for about 30 minutes, and I almost decided to walk back to my dad and our companions who were left behind. When I was about to turn back, lo and behold, my brother and our group mate were there a few meters in front of me. All I managed to say was – Hindi mo ba ako naririnig? Kanina pa ako sumisipol! He said he didn’t hear a single manmade whistling sound because there were a lot of birds chirping and singing about. Shit. I didn’t hear a single effing bird. This weird incident was forgotten as we instructed our guide to go back and help my dad and other companions. We reached Ka Goryo’s hut (and my dad and other group mates got to the hut after ten minutes, kinda weird) pitched our tents, and ate super late lunch.
The water source near Ka Goryo’s hut. The hut has been renovated by his sons (if I remember correctly) so that mountaineers have a place to stay.
That night, we had our usual socials and at 11pm we decided to call it a day. That was after securing our food – there were big ass rats lurking around the hut and our tents.
My fave part of the socials: raffle time! Lahat kami my prize LOL
The next day was more relaxing, and the dark clouds were slowly replaced with white, fluffy ones. We had breakfast and lunch and continued teasing each other and joking around, most of the jokes about limatiks.
Breakfast: danggit and scrambled eggs!Mandatory photo with the banner.The Basekamp Ligaya group’s mandatory wacky shot before heading back to Brgy. Tala.At Pinagbutasan, taking more photos before the finish line.
We headed back to the jump off point at around 12pm and reached it a little after 1pm. We made a side trip to a river about ten minutes from the jump off (and took a bath there as well). The carinderia serves delish Batangas goto and Lomi, and despite the simplicity of the food, we managed to celebrate Father’s Day together that day.
The nameless river where the water was oh so cool and refreshing!Yummy lomi from Mang Louie’s carinderiaMt. Natib – conquered!
I consider my Mt. Natib adventure the most entertaining (albeit scariest due to that incident) climb among the three I have done this year. The limatik attacks, the rat who stole some bread from our companions’ tent, the socials, and the wacky photos – they all compensated for the trek under the rain. This climb also tested my patience and tolerance, as it was my first time to climb while drenched in the rain. And yes, I was able to tolerate those wiggly, blood sucking creatures without screaming and getting a panic attack. Just a few tips if you are planning on climbing Mt. Natib – the most important would be to make sure that you are well-covered. I was wearing stockings underneath my leggings, and I used my 3M utility gloves. Be ready with a bottle of alcohol to spray on the limatik in case you find one sucking your blood. Never ever pull them off of your skin. They will fall off once you spray alcohol on them. Hope to bump into you in my next mountain climbing adventure! 🙂
Pink Pens and High Heels 