I got a smile today –
a familiar,
endearing smile
that used to greet me
everyday
not so long ago.
Still painful, though,
as memories of promises made,
of betrayal,
came flashing back.
-Noel Jose
Chi-Chai goes to the vet
When I got home from my nanay‘s birthday lunch, I noticed that Chi-Chai’s (my five-year-old cat) food was untouched. Well, that normally happens, but this time, he was making guttural sounds every time I call his name. He was in pain. Continue reading “Chi-Chai goes to the vet”
Sagada – A Weekend Getaway
I can’t remember exactly for how long, but going to Sagada together had been my best friend Jun and I’s plan for years. I even turned down a number of invites to go there out of respect to our promise that we should go there at the same time.
Yes, I know it sounds cheesy but that’s how some friendships work. Continue reading “Sagada – A Weekend Getaway”
Matabungkay Beach – A Short Escape
It had been super humid the days following Typhoon Ompong that we thought it was perfect to end the week with a trip to the beach. My sister was driving so it had to be somewhere just near Metro Manila and somewhere that she knew how to go to. So we decided to go to Matabungkay Beach Hotel where her family goes to a lot. Continue reading “Matabungkay Beach – A Short Escape”
Timmy, the Christmas kitten
It was Christmas Eve 2017 when I decided to rescue another cat. I wasn’t sure if the house was ready for a second cat (plus I have four dogs) at that time. All I knew was that this tri-colored kitten who had been taking shelter under the ice cream freezer in my mother’s store needed help. Continue reading “Timmy, the Christmas kitten”
Guimaras – The Tour
I initially didn’t want a guided tour of Guimaras. When I booked that flight ten months ago, all I wanted to do was to sit by the beach with a beer (or two) and a book, while the sound of the waves keep me company.
Things suddenly changed, though, while talking to that tricycle driver named Gerald who took us to our accommodation in San Lorenzo that Wednesday afternoon. Continue reading “Guimaras – The Tour”
Guimaras – The Peace and Quiet of San Lorenzo
People need to recharge every once in a while, and what better way to do just that than to go out of town.
More often than not, however, our plans for rest and relaxation get ruined with wrong choices of accommodation and bad weather. Continue reading “Guimaras – The Peace and Quiet of San Lorenzo”
San Fernando City, Pampanga
It was a Sunday filled with fun as I, together with my niece and nephew, traveled to Pampanga to bond.
The trip to Pampanga was actually for the last day of the 22nd Philippine International Hot Air Baloon Fiesta, and our little tour of San Fernando City came as an impromptu sidetrip when Clark field became too hot for comfort at around 9 AM. Continue reading “San Fernando City, Pampanga”
The 22nd Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
I love early morning bus rides. It is, for me, therapeutic – that feeling that I will be able to escape, even just for a while, from my daily routine and from my ever-so-familiar surroundings and become just another stranger in an unfamiliar environment. Continue reading “The 22nd Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta”
Lingayen
I used to do solo trips on my birthday, and it’s usually Baguio because it’s my happy place. In the past two years, however, I haven’t done solo birthday trips because I had been a little more friendly (yey!) and I brought people along with me. Continue reading “Lingayen”