Malubal Falls: The Revisit (Dec 28, '08)

This morning at around 8, I prepared the "head" of the lechon as our pasalubong for our friends who were waiting at Malubal. I also bought a small can of fruit cocktail and a can of condensed milk as we would be making a buko salad at Dude's home. Audz, Edz and I went off to Malubal., and got there past 10:00 am. Audz had to fetch Sargz and his friend JR so Edz and I just waited at Dudez place. Dudez came over after some minutes and soon enough Audz, Sargz and JR arrived. Audz cooked lechon paksiw while Sargz, though quite tired got some buko. After the rice and the paksiw were done, we wrapped our baon, as we would be revisiting the falls, this time with Sargz. Dudez' mother was delighted that we left her some lechon paksiw.

At almost 12, we started walking. Sargz had to really rush with our trip, because he'd be playing a championship basketball match at around 4:00 pm in Guinabucan. With that, we had to get at the crossing Piling, through a habal-habal ride. We were six, so loading us all in one habal-habal would be a crazy thing, considering both our number and size. But then, we proceeded with it as the driver was OK. JR seated on the front, I was next to the driver, Dudez followed, Sargz, well, in standing position (there's just no other way to fit us all in) came next, Edz, had to face Sargz' rear bumpers, having positioned next and at the back most was the superior leader, Audz. I could really feel the strong compression of us all. Sargz had his hands holding on my shoulder and it felt so tickling! But I couldn't move - doing it would endanger everyone. I was so helpless. Anyhow, we reached Piling and paid the driver 30 pesos.

We got to the place, earlier than the last time we got to the falls. Moving down the cliff wasn't as difficult as we already have had the experience to do so. The falls was reduced of its water, most possibly due to the lower amount of rainfall. But the majestic view of the falls was still there. It was only Dudez and I who were swimming on the water. But after we took our lunch through a boodle fight, everyone swam already. We had Sargz took a picture with us. He wished the group was complete. But Jenz and Armz were attending to other invitation(s), they just couldn't be with us. At almost 2 pm, we climbed up the side of the falls to go home. We were making lots of fun as we were on our way back home. Sargz and JR took a habal-habal ride after we bid goodbye with our distinct group sign.

Edz, Audz, Dudez and I dropped by Malubal Elementary School. We took pictures of our selves there. (The pictures (falls and school) are albumed at my friendster account). Audz and I left Malubal at almost 3:00 pm. I got home at 4:15 and dressed up to attend the Mass at St. Joseph's Cathedral. The Celebration was on the Feast of the Holy Family.

Tres Andanas Falls: Twice Lost, but Got there Anyway

Sargz (Kevin) has been telling the group about "Tres Andanas" Falls in Guinabucan. It was last December 8 that Audz (Dwight) and I went to Guinabucan just to see the place of Sargz in San Fernandino. We'd be back to go to the waterfalls, Sargz has been proudly telling us about. Yesterday, Audz and I went back again to Guinabucan, and by the time, to set our feet at the falls. We left Ipil at around 8:30 am and got to Malubal at past 9 am. We gave our presents to Dude'z mom. She was so thankful with our gesture. Dude'z dressed up and went with us. We dropped by Ed'z place and she also went with us to Guinabucan. Sargz was just outside his house when we got to the place. We grilled the marinated pork we brought for our lunch. I and audz gave our gifts to sargZ mom and she too was grateful with our presents.

At almost 1 pm we started walking off to the falls. Sargz invited two of his friends to serve as our guide. While we were on the way, I noticed that none of us really know the place as our supposedly guides kept on asking whenever we passed by a house. Their not knowing of the place was confirmed when we were lost after we walked through Kasay - I. Oh, I remember! We passed by a Center of Daughters of Christ of Saint Vincent. It was a nice place, with playgrounds for children. Anyway, we shifted our path when someone told us that we were on the wrong way. Then we got to a house, which was nearest to the falls. The owner of that house was kind to offer us water for a drink. He pointed where the spot was - the place from our view was a forest area. We walked downhill and again, ended up lost. But we decided that we walk downstream to get to the falls. It was already more than a hour of walking. I have had an experience of walking through stony brook, but the journey we had yesterday was the longest and most challenging to date! We met two girls along the way and our thinking that there was no "tres andanas" at all was erased when the kids told us that we were already nearing the "busay". I and Audz were at the last line and when we got to the falls, everyone ahead of us was already marveling at the falls.The falls, which is at Kasay - II, has been so named "Tres Andanas" (Three Floors) with the basis of how the waterfalls are arranged. At the top, there are two waterfalls from separate streams. Both flow toward a single waterfall, which is at the lower level. Such waterfall flows towards the lowest waterfalls, which has the widest drop. We were so afraid to dive on the water because it appeared so deep. We moved down the lowest falls and then took a swim. The water was both deep and very cold, that we had to swim as fast for fear of what might be in the deep water. We left the place at 4:18 pm, upstream that time. Thanks to my jogging at the Capitol, I somehow had the physical preparation of walking long distances. We got to the Guinabucan road at 5:48 pm! We dropped by Saberon Store for a refreshment. Then, we proceeded to sargZ house. They prepared us a nice dinner - lechon kawali, with macaronni salad as our desert.This morning, we left the place to attend to the first birthday of my nephew - Mark Joshua.

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday evening, I heared the Christmas Vigil Mass with Dwight at St. Joseph's Cathedral. Earlier, I cooked pancit and escabeche for the noche buena and got ready by 6:50 pm to hear the 7:15 vigil mass. After the celebration, we went home and ate. Then we got up to the Capitol to have a party with Dwight's relatives. The spaghetti was really delicious. I met Charmaine, an student of mine, way back my first year of teaching at Marcelo Spinola School. After some shots of Emperador, we moved down and shared Tanduay with iced tea at Arturoz's. I was sending this text message I made to some friends:

Celebr8
Christmas
d
way
Jesus
ws
born
4
us.
He
bcame
human
2b
a
perfct
sacrifice-
a
gift
frm
d
Father
2save
us.
Ds
season
lyk
Christ
may
we
b
gifts
4
aders
too!

(that was exactly 160 characters)Today, I woke up around 7 am, took a bath and dressed up for the Christmas Mass at 8:15 am. Kuya Manny had the English songs ready, but because we learned that the medium should be Visayan, JC (kuya Manny's son), the LCD-Laptop operator had to shift from PowerPoint files to another files. Anyhow, the mass was solemnly celebrated. I got home straight and slept a lot. This afternoon, Dwight and I planned our travel tomorrow. We bought the things we need. I went to Daday's place but she wasn't there. She was just home and the kids were there too. I bought home a 105-peso ice cream and the kids ready loved it. Papang was there too. Later, Mamang arrived and gave Dimple and Angel some nice outfits.

Christmas Party '08

I could not have much time with my students to plan for a Christmas party because I have been attending to the needs of my Provincial Chess players, being their coach. The kids anyhow managed to inform me that they already made a plan for the party. This morning at ten, the program got started with a doxology of the ZSNHS Choir, with me as the guitarist. We sang "Emmanuel", as it is timely for the season. Last night, the choir was doing a splendid singing during the 3rd Anticipated Novena Mass, in celebration of the Feast of the Birth of our Lord Jesus at the jam packed St. Joseph's Cathedral of Ipil.

Then the program was opened with my welcome remarks. I emphasized to them: "you would never have your third year life again, so make memories of fun and joy." "you will only be third year once in your entire life." There was a nice dance presentation, which was followed by search for Mr. and Miss Christmas , III-Diamond Class '08. The kids were really thrilled as their classmates did their catwalk. Parlor games followed. There was a paper dance contest. Jimboy and his partner won the game. There was also statue dance, which I joined in. Unfortunately, I was eliminated. Then we took our lunch, after which, the Chris Kringle followed. I gave my gift to Kristelle Ann and i got a gift from Jeraldin.The kids proceeded a park at Suclema. I couldn't go with them because I had to see my chess players at Central.

Blocked Road

It has been like four times that I found a hard time passing through the street in our purok. Of course, the path itself has been difficult, but it's not a big problem to deal with, as anyone in the place got used to it after having driven along the road again and again. Now what is this hard time I'm talking about? Look at this picture:

It is really difficult to drive further because the road is like blocked entirely. Those people at the left side are the ones operating that truck in the picture. They are selling water. They really saw me taking picture of them, but I knew what I was doing. They have not done it once, and they would certainly do it again. I hope they would have a parcel of their mind that would consider other passers by of the road. After all, they are not residents of the purok. Too bad!

Tennis for me was simple as it seemed to be but…

I woke up early, put my jogging wear on, placed the tennis rocket on my bag and fetched Jenny from her place to Neil’s house. Yesterday, we called for a tennis play that would be played this morning. We left the motorcycle at Dwight’s place and started hiking up the hill of Ipil Heights. It was around 4:30 am when we got to the base of the hill. We jogged up right away on the inclined road. It was my first time that I made it all the way up. Then, we started on hiking again till we reached near the National High. After some deep breathing and ample stretching, we started on brisk walking along the slope, and when we were around 70 m to where there’s a rugged path, we jogged up again. It was calorie-burning as I almost run out of breath having got to the top. Then we walked up further till we got to the highest point. Then we walked downhill to cool down. We were half way through the concrete road and decided to jug up again. It was still dim when we got to the tennis court.

As soon as there was some little brightness, we started on smashing the tennis balls with our rockets against the tall wall with imprints: “Go Tennis with Hofer”. It was difficult to hit back the balls since it was still not that bright. In my case, I got the ball flown out of the wall and I had to tediously find it each time it got out. Anyway, when the dawn completely broke, we got started on playing at the court. It was my first time to hit balls inside a court. Tennis was simple as it seemed, when I saw almost every game of grand slam events on TV. But it wasn’t easy at all. There were many approaching balls, which I failed to even hit. But as the game progressed, I got my timing, which is an important element – move back a bit and smash on the ball! I could not forget how I hit the ball with my forehand, and got it all the way in, really fast. Neil, who has been playing tennis, even marveled at what I just did. The playing got me really sweat a lot. After we felt we had enough, we walked downhill and took our usual refreshment at our “suki”.

I am looking forward to playing tennis. My father was a player himself. The rocket that I used, Dunlop (McEnroe Series) was given to him by his playmate, Dr. Vicajoy.

Happy Fiesta, Nuestra Señora Imaculada Concepcion

It was since last week that Kevin, John Dwight and I planned to go to Malubal to attend the christening of Reneheart’s (Kevin’s elder sis) son, on the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Yesterday morning, after the jogging, the three of us went to the cold place of Malubal. It was around 10:30 am that we got there, so Kevin asked that we proceed to San Fernandino, Guinabukan for us to see his place. Along the way, Kevin was skeptic about us pursuing the trip because he felt like bashful that we would see his home. But we told him we go there for the people, not for the house. We got there at 10:46 am. I was bringing with me an apple. I was feeling thirsty so I had it eaten. We were waiting for Kevin’s mother but she wasn’t there. We learned she was washing clothes at the river.

At 11:11 am, we went back to Malubal straight to Reneheart’s home. At the time she was at the Chapel with her husband and son for the Christening Rites. It was near lunchtime when I saw Reneheart approaching, carrying her little boy. The table was prepared and the family asked me to lead the prayer. We ate the sumptuous lunch and right after, a long-neck Tanduay was served. When we were about to finish the rum, Kevin’s father came. He was already loaded; hence, he talked a lot. He ordered for another bottle long-neck of “the number 1 rum”. That really got me loaded too. At around 4:45 pm, we left Malubal and went back to San Fernandino to meet Kevin’s mom. There, I met his beautiful mom and she was so accommodating. I told her that by this Christmas vacation, our group will drop by their place to go to the waterfalls called “Tres Andanas”.

After a short talk, we drove off back to Ipil. We dropped by at “Ego’s” place and then went to the IMAVEMCO noodles factory to see my Papang. Then we went to Arturo’s place to have another Tanduay session. Then we all went home after finishing 2 Senior bottles.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.

My blog has been created by me with the big help from Blogger.com, for probably the same reason as those of other bloggers. Well, I personally have this as a channel to which I may be able to document my very life – whatever might and will have come to pass as I continue with my existence here on earth. “It’s My Life”, the title of my blogsite, clearly tells that the stories here are and will not be that of others, but how their lives have and will have become part of my very life's stories, whatever the circumstances might have been and may have happen.

After having posted a number of events of my life here in this site, I have become skilled in writing, spontaneous with my expression of thoughts, more appreciative of friends and things life has to offer and top of it all, been finding answers to the question: “what on earth am I here for?”.

Certainly, I am the most avid reader of my own blog. Now that I learned that many have accessed and read through my stories, I have felt a bit flattered that they too, have taken the time to read my blog – the story of my life. To them, I thank so much for somehow, I have some people around, knowing my stories. It is an unexpected added value to this site, that they may become better, as this site fosters the unfolding of the beauty of life that lies behind this seemingly unhappy world.

Pacman's the Best!

I was about to finish washing my clothes when the "Dream Match" between the "Pacman" Manny Pacquiao and the "Golden Boy" Oscar dela Hoya was about to commence. I rushed to Ate Bibing's house to watch the fight. (Our TV just got damaged; it will be fixed tomorrow yet). When I got there, I saw some neighbors, eagerly waiting for the start of the fight. I thought at first that Pacman wouldn't simply make it, considering dela Hoya's stunning titles, advantageous height and a stronger physique. Many pre-fight analyses saw dela Hoya's success in the so-called Dream Match. When the fight was about to start, I felt like anxious about Pacman's fate. But from the first round till the eighth, Pacquiao was way better than his Mexican opponent, that the latter had to succumb to the fight for a reason that "his heart still willing, but his body couldn't sustain the fight anymore". Everyone in the house was in jubilation of Pacman's easy victory. The highway was also de-loaded of passing vehicles. The shouting of the people from nearby houses could be heard, the moment Pacquiao got his power punch on dela Hoya.

Pacman's truly the best. His most recent fight proved that a dream could come true if you worked enough for it. Congrats Philippines!

ZSNHS Students pay Tribute to Teachers

Dec. 5, this year was the day for the culminating program of the Education Week, sponsored by the English Department. The program was incorporated with Tribute to Teachers, in commemoration of the school's teachers' day. The program got started with my students of 3rd year Diamond's doxology: "God of Silence". Then the students of both campuses showcased their literary presentations.

The second part of the program was presented for the teachers. The Supreme Student Government (SSG) officers rendered a song to the tune of "...parang kaylan lang", with lyrics expressing gratefulness to teachers. The teachers also presented a song number, the "T Song". After a student representative read a "thank you" message, the SSG offered tokens to the teachers. I for one received cards from my advisory class and I thought that was heartwarming. I got all the cards read yesterday only.

These Past Days...

Bukodventure!

(Nov 30)

Jenny kept on sending me text messages to fetch Joven and proceed to her place to prepare buko salad. I brought with me a fruit cocktail and a can of condensed milk. When we got to Jenny's place, we got all the containers and scrappers ready. When we were at the coco plantation, Jenny decided to go back for a while to get a better container. Joven climbed up a nearby coconut and we got some 6 cocos. When Jenny came, she helped us scrape the coconut off its meat. Jenny was like very busy texting while we were scrapping the coconuts. She was exchanging text messages with her best friend. We thought what we got was not enough so walked further and got some more. At around 4 pm, we went bach to Jenny's house. We prepared the salad. It was so delicious. I had a pleasant conversation with her Mom as we were eating. I brought some when I went home. Thanks JenZ!

I was the encoder for Math Area at the Regional Team Supervision at Buayan
(Nov 28)
Sir Dodong, our school head asked me to be the encoder for math area, to prepare the PowerPoint presentation of the Math Report on the Teaching Demonstration. I got there at past 7:30 already. I was tasked to edit the pictures of the observers in such a way that those would be incorporated in the slide presentation. I finished ahead of time so, I asked Ma'am Hepshie, the Math Supervisor that I go home ahead. She asked me if everything was ready. I assured her that the presentation was ready to be shown anytime. She brought me to where the tokens were and gave me one. She was so good to do that to me. I drove back here and got home at 11:00 am.

Ipil Soared in Chess in SLC Meet '08
(Nov 19 - 22)
Both the elementary and secondary chess reaped gold medals at the SLC Meet, Chess Tournament. Board 1 Elem. and Sec. Girls and board 2 Elem. and Sec. Boys, won first. Board 2 sec. girls and board 1 elem. boys, settled for silver medals. Ipil Delegation was proclaimed over-all champion in Elem. (B/G) and Secondary (G). I'll be coaching the Sec. Girls Chess this coming Provincial Meet (Dec 22).

Getting physically fit

(Nov. 16 - present)

It has been 14 days of brisk walking, jogging, sitting up. Be it on a slope, a concrete road, a rugged path, a plain street, I wake up at 3:20 am to get my self clothed athletically and text on my friends to wake them up too, to start each day right with a brisk walking and a strenuous jogging. Earlier, for two days, I got my self warmed up with walking, through a 30 plus-minute hike in Sanito. Then, on the third day, I hiked up the Capitol Hill with Jenny, Dwight and Joven. It was indeed calorie burning as my shirt really got wet. When Dwight and I squeezed it, the hot sweat was really dripping down. Waking up early has been like a daily routine. As the hill-hiking progressed, we invited hikers - Almie, Noime, Leevani, Corazon and some other walkers. My 140 BP is now down to 130/90! I pray I get to sustain this one.

The experience up the hill has been so worthwhile. There have been many times that I saw meteors, scratching brightly in the dawn sky, stars that simply amaze me with their arrangements in constellations, the reddish to golden morning eastern sky, the edges of the shorelines, the cottony fogs that kiss the grounds, the serenity of Buluan Island and the beauty of Ipil.