My blog turns 3!

Source: Google Images

Every November, I'd always have an out of town trip. The first trip I did which started this blog was my first SEA trip, Kuala Lumpur-Singapore-Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand. The eleven-day journey was epic! Celebrating my second blog anniversary, I went to Sagada with friends taking the Banaue route this time to see the rice terraces. And last year, I did my second SEA trip, Hanoi-Laos-Thailand, closing the loop. This year, I was planning to do a third solo trip..but..Leyte happened. So, a trip right now doesn't feel right. So I decided to help, in small ways I can. I already am on my second day repacking relief goods at a nearby Red Cross chapter. Pagod, pero masaya. I know, it's just a speck of what really needs to be done but it gives you a feeling that you are part of a bigger cause. 

Cancelling my trip this month? It's the right thing to do.

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,nothing is going to get better,it's not.

~Dr. Seuss

Thank you to all who donated!

But the Yolanda survivors still need us.

Let's not get complacent of helping them.

I, myself, can't imagine losing everything.

Family, friends, properties, everything...

So, you see, no matter how big help comes,

it's never gonna be enough for them..

I know it's frustrating hearing the news.

Of donations not reaching the victims.

Of our government's inefficiency.

Please don't let this be the reason to stop helping.

So do me a favor and shut up.

And help.

Please.

Kate-100; Maysie-1,500; Lulu-20; Arman-20; Josie-500; Myra-200; Doc Auds-100; Doc Kate-100; Doc Justine-500; Vangie-100; Eve-50; Lalaine-200; Jerome-100; Anonymous (hindi daw kasi kilala ni Jacob)-50; Chris-20; Claire-100; Tin-100; Glenn-40; Mau-20; Krystle-100; Mark P.-500; Liza-500 Total: 9,920

Grocery- 8,608 ; Red Cross Cash Donation- 1,320 Total: 9,928
Thanks Maan for the transpo! 

DISASTERS

#ReliefPH: Victims of Typhoon Yolanda need your help

BY RAPPLER.COM
POSTED ON 11/09/2013 1:25 PM  | UPDATED 11/10/2013 12:30 AM

OPEN RELIEF OPERATIONS CENTERS

(as of 11:58pm, Saturday, November 9, 2013)

Donors are advised to conduct due diligence before donating money directly to personal bank accounts. Ask the organization or individual receiving the deposit for an acknowledgement receipt and how they intend to spend the money.

For corrections or edits, please email: move.ph@rappler.com or make a comment in the comments page.

NATIONAL

• DSWD is accepting donations: NAIA Chapel Road, Pasay City (at the back of CAAP)
• Roel Montesa - 09263469927, roelmontesa@gmail.com
• Elma Pille - ecpille@dswd.gov.ph
• Cash deposits accepted - DSWD Bank Acct. at Landbank of the Philippines Nos. 3122-1011-84 (current) and 3124-0055-81 (savings) Fe Catalina Ea - 09186281897
• Repacking of relief goods ongoing at DSWD-NROC, Pasay City. Interested volunteers can call 8512681 to schedule.
• World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian, development and relief organization is accepting donations for Typhoon Yolanda survivors. Donor hotline 372-7777 or visit their website
• Operation Walang Iwanan - Gawad Kalinga
• World Food Programme Philippines is accepting donations through their website
• ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya pledge lines (02) 411-0183, 411-0182, 411-0115
• The Philippine Red Cross provides many ways to donate. Hotline: 143 Trunkline: 5270000
• You may also SMS donations by texting REDAMOUNT to 2899(Globe) or 4143(Smart)
• Cebu Provincial Government, is in need of volunteers to repack relief goods for Northern Cebu, Leyte, and Bohol. Contact Ms. Evelyn Senajon at 254-7198 and 254-8397, PSWDO, Ground Floor Executive Bldg., Cebu Provincial Capitol.
• The Office of Senator Bam Aquino, Extension Room 23, 5/F Senate of the Philippines, GSIS Financial Complex, Pasay City, is accepting donations Monday to Thursday from 9am - 6pm. ContactMr. Ares Goyena at (0917)621-6311.

OVERSEAS/ONLINE

• For the Ayala Foundation's 'Laging Handa Fund', overseas donors can use this online portal for donations.
• De La Salle University's Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) is accepting web-based donations from overseas individuals via GlobalGiving.com. Credit and debit card donations accepted. Contact Joseph Rosal, Coordinator for Community Engagement, COSCA at 525-4267 or local 147 for more information.

• The Catholic Relief Services is accepting donations through their website and through Caritas Filipinas Foundation.
• Victory is accepting online donations for Yolanda relief efforts via BPI Express Online or credit card.
• Save the Children is collecting donations through its website. Save the Children has a team on the ground in Tacloban working to respond to this emergency.
• UNICEF is accepting online cash donations thorugh its website.

OTHERS

NCR

• UP Diliman USC Student Council, New CHK gym, UP Diliman, Commonwealth Avenue, Alex Castro, 0917-8725396, Tweet @uscupdiliman
• Tulong Kabataan: UP System, UP Office of the Student Regent are accepting donations in cash or kind. Dropoff point: Vinzon's Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Contact Eds (0927)384-1392 or Zie (0916)796-5740) for more information.
• Phi Yolanda Relief Operations of Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity and Phi Lambda Delta Sorority of UP Manila, Pagkalma Park, UP College of Medecine, Pedro Gil St., Malate, Manila, Contact Miko - 09175129144 or Gela - 09277029488, tweet @PhiLambdaDelta1
• Tulong Tomasino of the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office in Manila is accepting donations. Tweet @USTCSC.
• Center for Social Action and Concern (COSCA) De La Salle University Manila, food and non food donations can be droped off at the COSCA Office 2nd Floor, Br Connon Hall. Contact Joseph Rosal at (0922) 899-2558 for inquiries.
• Ateneo De Manila Disaster Response and Management Team is accepting cash donations. Check this page on how to donate. For inquiries contact the Office of the Vice President for Social Development at (632) 4266001 locals 4051, 4054, 4099.
• De La Salle College of St Benilde's Yakap Mo Yakap Ko Benefit Concert was originally a benefit concert for the kids in Smokey Mountain. The Betina and Catalino Yap Foundation was planning to build a library in the area. They will be accepting donations during the event on November 22, 2013, 6pm-10pm. Regular price for the concert is Php 300.00
• Dakila's Ride and Rock Relief is calling on artists, cyclicts, donors, and individuals willing to donate their talent, time, and relief goods on November 10, 9am to 4pm at My Little Arts Place, 222 Wilson St., San Juan City, Metro Manila. For inquiries call 435-4309.
• TindogTacloban, a partnership among private individuals, Victory Christian Fellowship (VFC), and the City Mayor's Office of Tacloban are accepting donations and volunteers for deployment. Contact Ms. Joey Hernandez at 347-3975 for inquiries. Donations may be dropped off at the following locations:
• VCF Alabang - 4th Floor Filinvest Wing, Festival Supermall, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
• VCF Fort - 32nd Street corner University Parkway Bonifacio Global City
• Operation Blessing Philippines is accepting donations in cash and kind at E. Rodriguez Ave. C5 Road cor. Corporal Cruz Bagong Ilog, Pasig City. Call 477-7802 to 04 or (0917)581-2603 for more details. Operation Blessing is also accepting volunteers for their partners in Cebu and other nearby areas.
• De La Salle Santiago Zobel through its Social Action Office (SAO) now accepts donations for the affected communities in the recent Typhoon Yolanda. Kindly bring all donations to Gate 2, 3, and 7 of the campus. For inquiries, contact Mr. Jayjay Jacinto at 0917-8597602 or Ms. Evangeline De Peralta at 0917-5638870.
  • Please deposit your cash donations to the school account with the following details:
    Account Name: De La Salle Santiago Zobel School
    Bank: Union Bank of the Philippines, Ayala Alabang Village
    Peso Account: 0180-3000-6691
    US Dollar Account: 0181-0100-9418
    Send a scanned copy of the deposit slip to lesacasr@dlszobel.edu.ph orjacintojn@dlszobel.edu.ph for proper acknowledgment.
• Citizen's Disaster Response Center is calling for donations and volunteer's at 72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City. Call 929-9820 for inquiries.
• The Mu Sigma Phi Relief Operations of the UP College of Medicine s now again accepting donations for victims of Typhoon Yolanda. Eman (0925-884-3050) or Billy (0927-571-1017/0922-535-6100).
  • Monetary donations may be deposited at the following account:
    Account name: Mu Sigma Phi Relief Operations
    Account number: 504259500015
    Bank: Philippine National Bank (PNB) – PGH Branch
  • Donations from overseas may also be coursed through the following:
    Swift Code: PNBMPHMM
    Routing # 01008-0081
• St. Michael's Church at The Fort is accepting donations through Father Arnold. Water and food are badly needed. The church addesss is at 39th Street, North Bonifacio Triangle, Bonifacio Global City.
• DLSZ through its Social Action Office (SAO) now accepts donations for the affected communities in the recent Typhoon Yolanda. Kindly bring all donations to Gate 2, 3, and 7.
• AWANA Organization Philippines is accpeting donations starting Monday, 9am-6pm at 35-A Scout Tobias Street, Brgy Laging Handa in Quezon City. For cash donations, you may visit us at our office or deposit your donation to: BPI Family Bank (E. Rodriguez-Broadway Branch) Peso Current Account Number: 6871-0015-86 Dollar Current Account Number: 6874-0059-22 Swift: BOPIPHMM. Contact Jennifer Jansalin at (02) 376-5688 or 0928-8531693
• ETYSBM Student Council of Mapua Institute of Technology is now accepting relief goods at 333 333 Gil Puyat Ave, Makati City. Contact Angeline Bernardino (0915)446-9715 or Edgar Aquino (0905)149-2319 for more information.
• Santuario de San Anotio Church at 3117 McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati will be accepting on November 10 at 9am at the Parish Center. The goods will have to be packed in Manila for immediate distribution in Tacloban and other affected areas. Call (632) 843-8830 to 31 for more details.
• Air21 offers free door-to-door pick-up of relief goods on Sunday (Nov 10) 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Just call their hotline at 8542100 to schedule pick-up.Call 8542100 or tweet @Air21ph
• Tulong Kabataan Relief Drive is calling out for volunteers, food, medicine and non food donations at the following addresses
• Kabataan Partylist HQ: #5 Palosapis St., Brgy Amihan, Proj 3, Quezon City
• CEGP National Office, 37-C Yale St., Cubao, Quezon City
• LFS HQ, 1650 Sisa St., Sampaloc Karatula Up, Manila
• Give a Drop of Love, CFC Foundation, Inc. WWP at Apartelle 12, Starmall Complex, EDSA cor. Shaw Blvd., Madaluyong City are accepting food/non-food donations. For cash donations: CFCFI BPI Mandaluyong Branch, Dollar: 0184-0279-84 or Peso: 0181-0504-89. Fax your deposit slip to (+632) 718-2213. Contact Anna Arcaya at 718-2213 or (0923)583-8577 for more details. 
• St. Scholastica's College is accepting donations (cash or in kind). You may drop off the donations at 2560 Leon Guinto St., Manila, located behind DLS-College of St. Benilde. For cash donation, you may look for Sr. Selene or Dr. Rebecca Cacho. For donations through check or deposit, account name is St. Scholastica's College Manila, BDO account number 4580-000-210. If the donor is not based in Manila, inform the BDO manager that the deposit is for relief operations and have your fees waived.
  You may then email your transaction receipts to lizaban2@gmail.com for proper acknowledgment.
• Lingap Gabriella Manila, drop off relief goods, medicines, and cash donations at 35 Scout Delgado St., Brgy. Laging Handa / 25 K-10th Street, West Kamias, Quezon City. Contact 374-3451 for more details or tweet @gabrielaphils.

Batangas

• Isla Verde in Batangas is also in need of donation. Drop-off point is at Meralco Site, Kumintang, Ilaya. Brgy Captain Arnold E. Briton will bring the goods to the barangay-island through a boat. Contact Briton at 0910-884-3334.

Laguna

• Operation Walang Iwanan of UP Gawad Kalinga - Los Baños & UPLB USC are accepting donations of relief packages and cash. Contact Cyril (0926)341-9140 or Rohanne (0915)449-0589 for inquiries.
• Oplan Sagip of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) is accepting donations at theUPLB Baker Hall. For cash donations, deposit to: Plantersbank UPLB Branch, Account Name: UPLB University Student Council, Account Number: 017-604-0580. Contact Arthur at 09054155616

Cebu

• UP Cebu SC and UP Katilingban Han Leyteño Ngan Samarnon ug Biliranon, contact Darl Santos of KaLeSa-Bi and Ynna Bisnar of UPC SC - 09434116336, 09328637303
• Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. is accepting donations in cash or kind at 35 Lopez Jaena Street, Cebu City. Contact Edwin Marfil (local 510) or Totits Ocampo (local 204) at (032) 418-7234 for inquiries.

Bohol

• Lingap Gabriella Bohol, drop off relief goods, medicines, and cash donations at FARDEC Office, Lower Butalid St. Tagbiliran City. Contact (0912)5949170 for more details or tweet @gabrielaphils.

Bacolod

• Operation Yolanda, University of St. La Salle Bacolod, is accepting donations in cash or kind. Drop off point is 2nd Gate Security Office, Center for External Relations, Institute for Negros Development.

Iloilo

• Gawad Kalinga- Iloilo, have ongoing operations for badly hit areas of Panay. You can drop off relief goods at the following addresses:
• Maxximiler Warehouse, Fastcargo Logistics Corp, Lapus Norte, Iloilo
• The Mango Tree Restaurant, Guzman Street, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
• For Cash donations
  BPI Lapaz Branch
  Account Name: Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Inc.
  Account Number 1471000325

Cagayan De Oro

• Liceo Ripple of Hope of the Liceo de Cagayan University is accepting cash donations at the R.N. Pelaez Boulevard, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City from November 11 to 15. Cash collected will then be deposited to ABSCBN's Sagip Kapamilya account. Contact +63 (088) 858 4093 to 95 local 231 or +63 917 716 1613 for more details.

Help map location of Relief Operation Centers

Help us map relief operations centers and donations drop off points. Please include complete details (name of organization, contact number, address, what is needed). Click on the image below to edit the map.

Crowdsourced List of Relief Operation Centers and Donation Drop Off Points

You can also help us fill up this list of relief operations centers. Click here to view and edit the list.

- Rappler.com

Revisit this page for the latest updates.

HELPING LEYTE

Yet again, I am asking my friends for any form of help in these trying times.
Kindly forward your donations to Histopathology Section.
Let's all help in any way we can.
I do wish our Laboratory fund be donated to the victims.
I'd prefer my share to go there instead.

Bacolod: MassKara festival

Authentic Bacolod Inasal at Chicken Haus, Lunch at Aboy's, Aboy's famous scallops, Masskara Festival Streetdance Competition, Sunset at The Ruins, Desserts overload at Calea, Lunch at Mambukal Resort, Testing my fivefingers at 7falls

This is the youngest we'll ever be..

This is the youngest I'll ever be..

Sounds cliche..but, yes, life IS short..

Take control of your life

Because, at the end, you've no one to blame

but yourself..

So, get off your ass and stop whining

And start acting!

Please..
seriously..

10. Dive

Anilao

Having a hard time writing posts..

These are those moments I have to squeeze my head for something..

Rereading my recent posts, I found them thoughtless

It was like written out of a need, not well thought of..

White bull staring back at me..

Apo Reef Itinerary and Expenses

Php 6000 : Tourist boat good for 10-12 persons Php857
Php 750 : mandatory tour guide Php 107 
Php 600 : (2) tents = Php 300 each Php120
Php 1,125 : Environmental fees  = Php 225 each
Php 8,475 : Php 1,695 each (5 persons)

Php 140 : Bus from San Jose to Sablayan (Php 280,2way)
Php 205 : Pandan Island entrance (each)
Php 400 : Aroma room for 2-3 persons Php 133.33
Php 30 : terminal fee

Php 200: kalan
Php 100 : kaldero, kawali
Php 75 : water
Php 75 each

GRAND TOTAL : PHP 3,727.33

For food, we shelled out Php200 each. It depends on what you guys will consume. 

They also offer other activities:
Apo Reef Natural Park : diving, snorkeling, bird watching
Pandan Island : diving, snorkeling, bird watching
Mt. Siburan and Libuao Lake : Bird watching, trekking, canoeing, picnic
Mt. Iglit - Baco Natural Park : Trekking, tamaraw count/viewing

Contact numbers:
Sablayan Tourism Office
Ate Norie : 09284659585
Ate Bing : 09159953895/09391515737

Ate Bing of the tourism office was so accommodating, she answered almost every bit of my questions and concerns.

Apo Reef Experience

 

 

25 April 2013 Thursday morning

writing from Apo lighthouse

breaky with Marga, Mark

My 27th...

almost

I spent my birthday sunrise with Mark and Marga. No use of checking my mobile, no signals out here.
We went back camp to see the two already prepared breakfast, cheese omelet and hotdogs. We have to start early for our snorkeling before the waves get ruly.

And we were in for a treat!

We were hauled by the boat's katig. We saw APO reef at its finest! I wonder what else we could've seen if we went deeper or diving!

We saw sharks, yes, two juveniles! turtles and a good variety of underwater creatures! dolphins na nga lang un kulang.

After that, the boat took us to another spot for snorkelling.

And the last stop was Pandan Island, where we saw the resident sea turtles few meters from the shore! 

I was really in awe with this whole Apo experience. It's a bit of a travel to go to this place, but it's all worth it. I will attest to that. And just spending for less than 3k (lesser if you're travelling with a large group), you get to experience all of these. Spell awesome!

"When you talked earlier about after a few years how a couple would begin to hate each other by anticipating their reactions or getting tired of their mannerisms-I think it would be the opposite for me. I think I can really fall in love when I know everything about someone-the way he's going to part his hair, which shirt he's going to wear that day, knowing the exact story he'd tell in a given situation. I'm sure that's when I know I'm really in love."

 ~Before Sunrise 

There are so many things I want to do, but I end up doing not much.

~Before Sunset

Apo Reef: 26th

Apo Reef. Not the Apo Island in Dumaguete. This one is in Mindoro.

I've been reading blog posts about this place and twice, we attempted to reach this place..but failed. Mainly because we booked our two trips on rainy days. Now summer's here, we tried again and boy, was the place sooo worth the wait!

We took the early morning flight to San Jose, Mindoro via Cebu Pacific, which flies once a day only. So missing a flight is not an option.

Tip: Do not take the airport tricycles, which charges a minimum of Php 50. Instead, flag a tricycle at the main road which is just a three-minute walk. Pay the basic rate of Php 8! Yes, I know..

We bought our food and groceries at the San Jose market. And took the two hour bus to Sablayan.

haggling for a kilo of liempo

Arriving at Sablayan, we took a trike, also costs Php8, to Sablayan Tourism Office. Here, we paid all the necessary fees to Apo Reef. See, it's a National Park, thus regulated by the government. So all tours and transactions are settled here.

We head to Apo reef. The almost three hours boat ride gave us a scenic view of the reef with waters changing hues.

And finally, we arrived.

The island was undeniably breathtaking! We were lucky we came in at the right time because yesterday, a group of 30 local tourists were present. The whole island is deserted, only for us. Happy birthday to me!

We went to the light house to wait for the sun to set.

 

There are no phone signals, no electricity. The rangers rely on batteries generated by solar panels. They man the island for eleven days. They get food and water rations. After eleven days, another set of rangers will do the manning. When the weather's not good or there's a typhoon, the 11 days becomes longer. FYI: From Apo Reef, it's a two to three hours boat ride to Coron. Yes, Palawan.

That night, we feasted on grilled liempo, sinigang na talakitok and green mangoes. Yum! And my friends prepared a surprise for me! Wow. Thank you guys!

 

 

That night, I spent my last day as 26 in a paradise.. surrounded with my friends. God gifted me a wonderful evening. Thank You! 

:I feel close to you
:Yeah?
:But sometimes, I don't know. I feel like you're breathing helium and I'm breathing oxygen

~Before midnight

Siargao Island: Habal-habal ride

Siargao has a nice beach vibe..

I particularly love the habal-habal rides. 

The beach on your horizon..
the sun peaking through the coconut trees..
the cold wind on your face..
the warm weather..

Staying on this island..

yes, i can do that..

Surigao del Norte: Sohoton National Park, Bucas Grande Island

Our last stop before leaving Surigao was Bucas Grande Island..
When I was planning this trip, I found out that there were more to see in Bucas Grande than in Siargao..but then again, why travel this long if we are not to surf in Siargao? 

So the Sohoton National Park in Bucas Grande Island became the side trip..

From Dapa, Siargao, we rented a boat to Hayanggabon port with side trip to Sohoton. We took this option because there were no public transportation at the time because its Holy Week. We got the boat for Php4,000 and the trip was a four to five hours not-so-smooth boat ride experiencing a bit of rain showers along the way.

This is what I am frustrated with our local transportation. Boats and buses from almost of the terminals we've been to do not have a fixed schedule. So, for the most part of the trip, we relied on hunches and from the locals, whom, no offense (mawalang galang na po), most were really not helpful. Whenever they learn we're not from around here, they rip us off!! And would often give us vague directions. Now, where is that so-called Filipino hospitality we're famous for?

view from Sohoton National Park Tourism office

We arrived at the Tourism Office. We were looking for something to eat but  no one's selling. We paid the necessary fees before entering the 
park. 

The whole place was really something. I notice a lot of lagoons along the way... and the underwater caves were magnificent. You know those scenes on some movies where they'd go exploring caves and there's a glowing light underneath them? It was like that! 

 Now, we went into this cave where the only way out was to jump off from a not-so-high 15 feet cliff! No choice talaga. Kailangang tumalon.

Jump! the only way out

Save the best for last.

Now we're off to see the famous Bucas Grande stingless jellyfish! They're like jellies!! Swimming with them wasn't aloud. The tourism office has long banned this activity; they noticed it agitates the jellyfish. Just like in Donsol. Same reason why they suddenly implemented rules when swimming with the whale sharks.

You're allowed to touch them but not swim with them
Photo courtesy of Mark Pelobello

Photo courtesy of Mark Pelobello

I was even trying to do some snorkeling before we leave, but time won't permit it. The whole tour took almost five hours, I think. And we haven't had lunch! Heading to Hayanggabon port, where we will be taking a bus to Surigao city, we saw a group of birds feeding.. Mark was able to take some photos. But it was something seeing it out in the wild.. 

Photo courtesy of Mark Pelobello

I enjoyed Bucas grande than Siargao..Bitin. From the stories of our tour guide, there's a lot more to see. It aptly deserves more than just a side trip.

Contact numbers:

09088963975 - Surigao Tourism Office

09394380618 - Kuya Kenny, boatman

09399047019 - Sohoton National Park Tourism Office, Kuya Dodo