Fête de la Musique

Last night.
June 22, 2004.
El Pueblo.

Performers I actually stayed for, listened and danced to:
Makiling Ensemble.
They were stupendous! World music is really my thing.
Brownbeat All Stars.
As always, Skarlet is hyper as ever.
Pinikpikan.
Finally, I get to listen to them. Another world music band. They really got me dancing. And the rest of the crowd, too. I love them.
Noel Cabangon.
He only got to sing “Kanlungan” and closed the program with “Give Peace A Chance” with all the other artists.

We couldn’t get in for the other bands because the bars was full.

It was also a star-studded evening, faded as some of them may be, there was time they were famous. Gio Alvarez. Mylene Dizon. Ira, her boyfriend. Karl Roy. Pepe Smith. Barbie. Cookie. Kevin Roy. And so much more, I don’t even remember anymore.

I really had a great time perspiring from all that dancing. Happy.

SAGADA ADVENTURE Part 3

Finally, the last installment of my favorite vacation.

June 11, 2002. – How many days should a body ache!? We wake up early so we could have our breakfast at Masfere once more before we catch the 8 AM jeep to Banga-an which is the town where the Big Falls is. Luckily, Gigi knows someone from there so we don’t have to hire a guide anymore.

We got more lucky since there were some freshly baked Muesli Cookies, famous among tourists. The three of us ended up swiping around half of the containers sold. Eight of them. Mind you, they’re really good.

Fast forward. Banga-an. It was supposed to be a two-hour walk to the falls. Even if my claves were still a little sore, I know I could still manage that. We went through the town below Banga-an and got to check out the inside of a Dapay-an. Very small but quite cozy. And a cool (literally and figuratively) pine bed.

On and on we walked after that, once again, through rice terraces. But definitely, a more friendly trail than Batad’s. While the rest of us were making good progress (actually, it was slow for my pace but manageable for my patience), Tatit was trailing behind because her knees were already hurting. We went on while she rested for a while in one of the shady entry ways.

When we finally had a view of the Big Falls, I was in awe! It was spectacular. The best (or second best – competing with Mindoro’s own) I have seen so far (and I have seen quite a few!). Its spay was so strong and fine it can hurt the eyes. But of course that did not stop me. Ako pa. I went near the bottom of the falls with half-closed eyes and mojo-clad feet. Good thing it was not that deep since I was not a good swimmer. Man, the water was coooold! But refreshing for tired limbs. Positioning myself under one of the smaller falls, I got a free shoulder massage.

I wanted to climb up one of them just for a picture. Jumping would not be advisable because the pool is less than human height. That would be a bad move. Anyway, I was not able to make it because it was too slippery with or without shoes. There was no one with me because all the others were content in their little corners. So I stuck it under the Big falls, shivering in the cold water. But happy nonetheless. The fall of the falls was getting stronger though, so the spay was getting more fine and hurtful to the eyes. We looked for a more peaceful spot.

Anyways, Eiza, Tatit and I left earlier because we had to catch a jeep back to Sagada. Our walk was much faster, around one and half hour we got back to Bangaan. Unfortunately, not quick enough for us to catch a jeep, so we rented one.

Back in Sagada, we still had enough strength to roam around town. Picture taking by the church was the only thing we have not fulfilled in our itinerary that is doable in our remaining time. So we did. On the way back, we bumped into Dranreb Belleza, this teeny-bopper from the 80’s turned gay artist of the 90’s turned reformed Christian of the Millennium. He was good-looking, I must admit.

Eiza and Tatit went ahead to the rest house. I decided to roam around the town a little longer. It was really quaint and picturesque. The whole idea and look of Sagada is so unreal. Especially with the fog coming in and out, all the more that it felt like a dream sequence.

It was our last night in Sagada! I delighted myself to a great meal in Café St. Joe.

June 12, 2002. Happy Independence Day! We woke up early, 430 AM to catch the 5AM bus that arrived 530.

The sunrise was one of the best I have seen. Clouds, with the slightest tinge of pink, were creeping in and out, cascading down and climbing up the fissures of the mountain. There was this thin layer of cloud against the sun, so you could see an orange ball steadily rising up between mountains and clouds. Amazing. God the artist, at work once more.

Most of the trip to Baguio, I slept.

BAGUIO. We got there around 1 PM. Just a quick lunch for us then shopping time! Record time of 30 minutes for Tatit and 45 minutes for Eiza and I. We had to do shifting so someone could look out after the bags.

3:45 PM. We start our good-bye to the North. Back to Manila. I was a bit sad but then I was delighted at the thought of seeing my baby again. : )

11:00 PM Home. With my sis and bro and baby. Home.
---------------------------------------

So ends my glorious adventure.

To boldly go where no... er... cow (?) has gone before

You are Spaceman Spiff! Zounds! You are the intrepid Spaceman Spiff, the engaging explorer ensconsed in an unending universe of exotic and evil extraterrestrials! You're brave, but you should give that dictionary a rest. Take the What Calvin are You? Quiz by contessina_2000@yahoo.com!

noel. gary. joey. bayang.
o kayong mga nasa bistro. 2.

dahan-dahan
ang paghiwa sa aking
pusong luhaan,
ng talas ng hiyaw
ng mahiwaga mong gitara.

tila mas pinalalim pa ang
sugat ng kaluluwang
binabagabag ng tinig mo --
tinig mong
tila hinugot sa karagatan
ng pighati
o marahil ay
nagmula sa kabundukan
ng hinagpis.

walang magawa
kungdi bumigay sa
pait na iniiwan sa bibig,
hindi ng serbesang malamig,
kungdi ng katotohan
ng napiling salita
para sa iyong awit --
awit ng mga binuong himig
mula sa kalawakan,
mula sa kawalan.
hinabi ng pawis,
luha (minsan ngiti)
at karanasang hindi iyo lamang.
hinabi ng kinakalyong daliri
at mapaglarong isip.

walang magagawa pa
kungdi tumahimik
at pumikit
na lamang.
at hayaang
sakupin,
lunurin
ng iyong
musika...

june 19, 2002
11:42 PM

it's sort of a dreary today.
must be the rain that affected my mood.
or was it really my mood that made it rain.

burgers. i think i want burgers.

SAGADA ADVENTURE Part 2

June 9, 2002 – The line-up woke up with aching bodies but still determined to go on with the journey. After a struggle taking a bath and going down the stairs for breakfast while lugging around out backpacks, we were ready.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), it was a Sunday and the bus to Bontoc arrives irregularly. While waiting for the chance arrival of a bus, a pesky guy kept pestering us about getting a private jeep for P1,500 for all seven of us. He was rejected for many reasons, mainly for being so damn irritating. It came to a point that we were ready to give up for a public bus so we decided to look for Bobot, the guy who brought us to Batad the day before. It was our lucky day! He actually agreed to take us to Sagada for P1,500! Regular rates are P2,500. Even if hiring was more expensive than commuting, the additional 100 bucks per person was definitely worth it. For every good view, he kindly let us down to take pictures. And we were all comfortable in our seats.

The jeep departed Banaue by 12:30 PM. By 3:30 PM, we were in Sagada. The whole trip we were ooooohing and aaaaahing the sights. Greens and reds of burnt pine trees, eagles swooping in the air, more rice terraces. Simply spectacular!

Anyway, since it was raining that afternoon in Sagada, we decided to just settle in our rooms at the St. Joseph’s Resthouse (one of the more popular ones) and have a meal at their café. Man! Talk about fresh and delicious food! Every one of us were satisfied from our meals.

During the night, we decided to invade the lobby and warm ourselves to the fireplace. Most of it were just for photo ops, though. How often do you get your picture taken in front of the fireplace when you are in the Philippines!?

The rest of the night, we spent in our rooms chit-chatting about our JVP friends.

June 10, 2002 – The most wonderful day of our trip. Our bodies still felt like masticated, undigestable fat… or something like that. The pain was still very-much present but a trip to Sagada can never be complete without a visit to the Sumaging Caves.

After having a scrumptious breakfast at the Masfere Inn, we went to hire a guide to take us to the caves. By the way, Eiza saw some old friends from Davao who were planning on going to the caves, too. But since they were still eating, we went on ahead.

When we got to the caves, it took us a long time to get in because the guide did not have enough fuel for the Petromax and had to wait for another guide. Luckily, Eiza’s friends arrived thirty minutes after us. Tots, our guide, got some fuel from Candy (?), their guide. And we went down as a group. If I may say so, those two Davao boys were definitely papa material *sheepish grin.*

For some reason, I didn’t have a hard time going up and down the rocks. In fact, every step felt so natural for me. That was when I realized that spelunking may just be my thing. Even if there were guys with us, I was the fastest one. Especially since I brought this 18-inch-maglite with me so I didn’t have to wait for the guide (of course I made sure he was always within my sight!). Jedi was I. Teehee!

The uncle of the two guys were a bit of a hassle, though. When it was time to just take a dip in the pools, he wanted to go on ahead. So we ended up staying for only one and a half hours. Dang! But I am definitely going back for a longer stay in the Sumaging Caves.

When we got out, further discussion with our newfound friends led us to explore the Small Falls but first stopping by at Sagada Weaving. Definitely, much work and skill is put into making those cloths.

The Small Falls was apparently where Noel Cabangon shot his video, though I haven’t seen it still. There was not much difficulty for me getting there, but the others had a harder time. Maybe it was still the natural high I got from the caves. Anyway, when we got there, the falls were not really that impressive. But still, it was one of the more famous sites of Sagada. A swimmer I am not. Actually, I can hardly swim. And one of my bigger fears is jumping off cliffs into deep water. Maybe because I almost drowned from a falls in Antipolo when I was in third year high school. I really don’t know. But like the many times that I have been to different falls, I make it a point to jump off the cliffs. Twice I did it that day! With much fear and just a dab of courage, I actually made it alive.

That was most of the adventure we had that day. Though we had another sumptuous meal at Café Joe of St. Joseph’s which in itself is an experience, too. Yum!
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Part 3 to follow

Fear Factor

They actually consider eating balut a challenge.