Cebu and its Wonders

Justine Beato

As soon as we stepped out from the airport the heat of the sun welcomed us as
if it was saying “welcome to Cebu!”. It was a different kind of heat though. It was hot but
at the same time breezy, unlike in Manila where it is very humid.

Cebu is famous for its rich history. it is where Christianity in the Philippines all
started. During the 1520s, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan stepped in the
island of Cebu bringing Christianity in the Philippines, thus having one of its famous
tourist attraction the ‘Magellan’s Cross.

From Mactan Cebu airport we stopped at Jollibee to meet and eat with our
other churchmates who are also my batchmates. We went to Cebu for our mission trip.
Mission trip is where we hold an evangelistic camp for students like us whose age
ranges from 12-22.

After we ate our lunch, we set back to the road on our way to Balamban, Cebu.
On our way to our destination, the road was zigzag. There were a lot of trees along the
road, and not a single household in sight. After three hours of car ride up to the
mountain, we have finally reached our camp site, Kool Adventure Camp (KAC). The
campsite was amazing! Their facilities were complete, clean, and modern. The
campsite was on top of a mountain so we had to hike trails in order to get to the
different facilities for our events. The place was really perfect for leadership trainings
and team buildings.

During our four day stay there, we slept in their cabins where it can hold up to
20 people. The cabins were painted white and the roofs were brown. It has a basement
where the showers were located and an area where we can hang our wet clothes. The
cabins had an overlooking view of the mountains and the sea. The view is astonishing
most especially during the evenings when the moon reflects on the sea, and the stars
were bright and visible.

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 Morning came and our second day in KAC started. That morning we went to
finish the preparations necessary before our participants comes. As part of the
registration team I was assigned to welcome the participants. It was pleasing to meet
people on the other side of the country. We did a little chit chat to everyone who signs
up, exchanging some hi, hello, and ‘how was your ride going here?’. Through these little
talks I’ve discovered that they are way more comfortable speaking in English than in
Filipino, crazy right? The day was spent getting to know our triad mates and our
discussion group for the sharing time that we would need after the talks.

On our third day in KAC, alongside with our participants we were taught first
aid. We spent most of the time that day at their rope courses, we had to hike down the
very steep road for at least 15 minutes just to get there. They lend us their diaper
looking safety gears and smelly helmet for protection as we do the rope courses. There
is this one rope course where we should climb a wall but the wall only has three thin
planks. Those three planks are the only things we could hang on and step on to climb
the wall. The moment I saw it, I whispered to myself “this is impossible”. And It’s not just
that it was also our teammates, who are about our age and are not professionals, are
the ones will hold on and guard the ropes that are holding us. It was really scary, I need
to trust my whole life to people I just met yesterday. I really thought that the people
behind this must be crazy. It took us about 4 hours just to finish, and I am surprised by
it. I never expected for us to finish it, I thought my group will back out, since it was really
difficult, but they didn’t.

After we have completed the courses we need to head back to the main hall,
we hiked back up the steep road then it started drizzling. It was refreshing after all the
activities we did today.

After the successful camp we had it was time to say our goodbyes to our new
Cebuano friends. Not to lie even though we had language barrier we made a tight bond,
in fact we are still in touch with each other. It was a new found family for me.

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 After the packing we want back to the road again on our way to Oslob. After
about 5 hours on the rode we have finally reached Oslob, when we arrived it was
already past eleven in the evening. We checked in and went ahead to our assigned
rooms. There were at least 15 rooms in the resort, each room was named after a color,
it has a double-deck bed, one double bed, and a CR with a heater. It was already late
but it seems like my batchmates are still full of energy. They went out of there rooms
and went for a walk along the seashore. The seashore was not exactly sandy it was
more like a rocky one, the shore was full of dried corals and seashells. Me and my
roommates went out and joined them. I really don’t have a chance to hang out with
them since we live in differents part of Metro Manila some even lives in Laguna. Times
like this are really fun we get to update each other with our lives. They seem to still have
a lot of energy, but me and my roommates are already drained, we eventually went to
bed ahead of everyone.

As soon as the sun rose they woke us up so that we may catch the whales of
Oslob. Oslob is famous for their Whale Sharks, where we can swim up close with them.
Before getting to the sharks we would ride small boats that carries around ten people.
From the shore you’ll see smaller boats that are surrounded by the whales. The sea
was really deep, clear and really blue. After about 3 mins of the boat ride we stopped in
the middle of the sea where the smaller boats and the whales are. As soon as we
approached them the awful smell starts to linger, it was the dead shrimps the smaller
boats were carrying, it serves as the whales’ food. One by one we started going down,
there were a lot of whales around us it was an overwhelming experience. There were
really big ones and small ones, they had white spots all over them and they are
identified through it. We could go near them but it is advised to us not to touch them.
Through this experience I learned that they might eventually stop doing this as a tourist
attraction, since the whales are now just depending on the fishermen who are feeding
them, and it is unnatural for them to just depend on it.

After swimming with the whales we rode a different boat much bigger this time,
it was holding at least twenty-five people. About twenty minutes of the boat ride we
reached Sumilon island. It was a small island that was full of trees and rocks, there were

3
bamboo made benches throughout the island. It was high tide when we went there, so
the sandbar wasn’t visible. The water is wonderful, it is very clear I could even see my
toes under water, and the temperature was just right. The water is divided into two
shades of blue, the shallow part where you can swim is blue-green in color, then the
part where the sudden drop was royal blue. At first the sand is kind of rough and there
are hard white dried corals, but as you go deeper the finer and whiter the sand is.

Couple of hours have passed we went back to the cabin we stayed for the night
and started getting ready to leave. After all the packing we hit the road again and for the
last time here in Cebu. On our way back to Mactan we stopped by the “pasalubong”
stop where we can buy their famous Dry Mangoes, ​Chicharon na may laman ​and a lot
​ fter buying the goodies my parents asked me to bring home, I settled down at
more​. A
the van and told myself ‘I will definitely go back here in Cebu’.

Sources:
1. EXPERIENCE KOOL ADVENTURE CAMP. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.rafi.org.ph/book-adventure-at-kac/
2. Facts and Figures. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.cebu.gov.ph/about-cebu/facts-and-figures/
3. Jackson. (2017, July 14). WHAT TO DO IN OSLOB CEBU - AN OVERNIGHT
STAY. Retrieved from https://www.journeyera.com/what-to-do-in-oslob-cebu

4
 Changing Beauty
Allysandra Rose Lim

Many tourists and Filipinos have Boracay on the top of their list for vacation spots.
Boracay is a small island located in the province of Aklan in Western Visayas. Boracay
showcases powdery fine white sand and crystal clear blue waters, some would even
call it a paradise. I visit Boracay almost every year for my grandparents live pretty near
the island. My first visit to Boracay was when I was still a small child. From what I can
remember, Boracay then was very beautiful, the word ‘Paradise’ suited it well. Multiple
sand castles lined the shore, other children my age were running around, either playing
in the sand or taking a dip in the clear waters. The shore was clean, the locals were
kind, the air was fresh, multiple foods and products promoting the Philippines were
being sold, it was truly a wonderful experience back then. I can’t say this enough but
Boracay was very beautiful…was.

I once again visited Boracay last summer 2017 and I noticed multiple changes.
Most of which were changes that damaged not only the reputation of Boracay but its
beauty as well. Boracay has become very crowded over the years. Not only did a lot
more people live on the island, but more and more stores and establishments were built
everywhere. The place has become very commercialized, it seemed more like a
marketplace rather than a beach. More souvenir stores and restaurants were built as
compared to my last visit, numerous street vendors lined the shore, and trash was
scattered everywhere. The then ‘paradise’ of Boracay has changed to a place of
business.

A tourist spot is supposed to help promote the country’s culture, though that
aspect seems to have disappeared for Boracay. Establishments and vendors rather
than selling products that promote the Philippines' culture, instead sell products that
they believe will acquire more foreign tourists.

​Boracay has changed, not for the better but for worse. I had multiple
unforgettable memories of the beauty Boracay, but it seems like these will be the only

5
things I will have regarding the beauty of the island.

Sources:
1. Philippine Central. (n.d). Boracay Philippines – Exploring The Beauty Of Nature.
Retrieved from:
http://travel.philippinecentral.com/boracay-philippines-exploring-the-beauty-of-nat
ure/
2. Karsten, A. (2015). Boracay – The worst Tourist Trap In The Philippines.
Retrieved from: ​http://annaeverywhere.com/boracay
3. Sheard & Hudson. (2015, February 24). What Makes A Successful Tourist
Destination?. Retrieved from:
http://sheardhudson.com/2015/02/24/makes-successful-tourist-destination/

6
 Hi I’m a Gallivanter
Fellecia Malgapo

When I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to travel the whole world as if all countries
are an inch apart from each other. Basically, my plan was to go to a different country
every day. Not thinking about the airfare, itineraries, pocket money, accommodations
and the like, made my dream possible for the young version of me. But as I grow older, I
asked myself that for me to travel the whole world, shouldn’t I start exploring the hidden
gems in my own country first before I fly to other countries? In this way it will help me
appreciate my own culture through the different places here, in the Philippines, and
enjoy the trip at the same time. With this, let’s not go too far and experience the fun and
excitement in Laguna.

Laguna is a place blessed with abundant natural attractions, rich cultural

heritage, and even inspiring centuries-old churches. Thinking about the calm breeze
and motivating sceneries of the Province attracts people and it sets the perfect
ambience for tourist destinations. The people residing in the Province also play a big
part in making every tourist’s trip unforgettable. Besides the fact that they are highly
conversant using the English Language, they are very welcoming and willing to show
you around.

My first two destinations were the historical churches that can be found in
Laguna which is the Magdalena Church and St. John the Baptist Church. These
churches are as strong as the faith of the people since, as said by our tour guide, it
cannot be easily destroyed. I immediately remembered when my mom told me that
whenever I visit a new church, I should make a wish because it will come true. But in
that moment, I did not really care for my personal interest but instead, I cherished my
moment inside the churches with my companies. Truly, besides the fact that the
churches were built a long time ago, the beauty of the churches were still evident and it
really draws you close to the Philippine culture.

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 My stay in the Province of Laguna will not be complete without me visiting Taytay
Falls. It is a ​10-15 meters high waterfalls is located along the Dalitiwan River in Brgy.
Taytay, Majayjay, Laguna. ​Before you can actually see the magnificent view of the
place, you’ll have to challenge yourself and walk a long distance to reach the falls. This
heightened my excitement and it was one of the reasons why I want to go back to the
place and enjoy it with my friends. Gazing at the scenery just made my heart melt for
the place was very clean and the water, close to being transparent.

Travelling may be tiring for some, but experiencing all the fun and excitement just
makes everything worth it. It makes the exhaustion disappear and it will make you ask
for more. Also, thinking about it, it’s not required for you to go somewhere really far
because any place you go to, as long as you pick up something along the journey, it will
broadens your horizon​ ​and it will create memories for a lifetime.

Sources:
1. Province Profile. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.laguna.gov.ph/province/province-profile
2. Taytay Falls, Majayjay. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.laguna.gov.ph/attractions/taytay-falls-majayjay
3.

8
 A Hidden Meaning of the South
Julia Vanessa Orillaza

People would often ask me, “Are you not scared to go to your province?” I
usually answer that question with sarcasm. Why would I be scared in going to my own
province?

As soon as you reached the nearest airport in our province which is General
Santos City International Airport. There are a lot of places for you to go but I want to
focus on one place that I will cherish forever, Lake Sebu.

Lake Sebu is located in South Cotabato and from what I remember it is really far
it would take how many hours just for us to get there. I don’t know how to go exactly in
Lake Sebu in using public transportation because it would take you hours just to get
there. That’s why my family would often use our own car in going to Lake Sebu.
My first visit in Lake Sebu I think I was six years old. From what I remember, Lake
Sebu is not fully developed that time. Lake Sebu is also known for their tilapia. It is
usual for a child not to eat fish because of being a picky eater, however; their tilapia is
the best.

One of the attractions in Lake Sebu is the seven falls, Hikong Alo, Hikong Bente,
Hikong B’Lebel, Hikong Lowig, Hikong Ukol, Hikong K’Fo-I and Hikong Tonok. A activity
that will allow you to get closer to the falls is riding a zipline. However, I did not do it
because I’m afraid of height. Some of my cousins rode it and they same that it was a
great experienced.

An unforgettable moment that was made in Lake Sebu is when me, my brother,
and cousins are riding a boat to tour in Lake Sebu. An accident was made during that
tour and that accident was when I dropped my sunglasses to the lake. The accident
went so fast to the point that I was still in shocked. The kuyas that serves as our tour
guide get some tools to get my sunglasses but unfortunately the sunglasses went down
really fast.

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 It’s now time for lunch. During lunch, we sat in a bahay-kubo style place to eat.
We occupied almost four of that bahay kubo -. While we are eating, there are
performances from the indigenous people in Lake Sebu. Some of them are T’boli or
from Ubo tribes. They sang, danced and even scared some of us because of wearing a
gorilla costume. I was amazed with their performance and I really adored on how they
learned these skills with a limited amount of resources.

I want to connect the indigenous people of Lake Sebu with the Lumads that
came to visit our school. When the Lumads, told that some of their relatives are from
Lake Sebu and some of them was injured during the Lake Sebu Massacre. I felt bad for
them because when I’ve visited their you can see the determination of the indigenous
people in entertaining the guest. It just sad that these things are happening to our
indigenous brothers and sister. I just hope for the betterment of our government to focus
also to these people.

Sources:
1. Lake Sebu: Travel Guide, How to Get There, Where to Stay, Activities & More.
(n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.lakwatsero.com/destinations/travel-guide-lake-sebu/#sthash.vohcMl
Ud.dpbs
2. Lake Sebu (Cotabato City) - 2018 All You Need to Know Before You Go (with
Photos) - Cotabato City, Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Attraction_Review-g661417-d338277-Reviews-La
ke_Sebu-Cotabato_City_Maguindanao_Mindanao.htm

10
 When in Rome
Gillian Tabios

Through the walls that crumbles, the brown and dirty white rubbles of ancient
stone; there lies the haunting beauty of the colosseum. Stepping in, you close your eyes
and hear the faint sounds of gladiators cheering as a showdown happens in the circular
battlefield. The crowd roaring, as you open your eyes and snap back to reality. This is
Rome.

It was the summer of grade 9, freshmen year in high school. My parents

decided that a trip would be nice and it was a somewhat reward for me for finishing the
first year of high school. My family and I went to a Europe tour to 12 countries in 45
days. One of them was Rome. Coming from 7 previous countries, we finally arrived in
Rome. The last 7 were quite cold and required me and my family to wear at least 5
layers of clothing, so, when we arrived in Rome, sweat started forming, as our bodies
started to humidify and warm- up. The heat was just as bad as the heat back in Manila.
Me, my sister, and my parents stayed at a hotel that looked just like an apartment from
the inside. We rested for a while, and then later on decided to go a bit sight-seeing for
our first day. The first place we went to was the colosseum. It had been closed off due
to reconstruction of the inside. Instead, we took pictures from the outside, sitting on the
ledges and putting our cameras to landscape to get the whole structure. The place was
very festive, many tourists were walking and there were many street performers. Some
were selling colorful balloons; we saw a mime, the typical one in a black and white
striped shirt and a white painted face. After that, we went to St. Peter’s Basilica. Its
entrance was very grand. The stairs were white marble and leaded up to the iconic
place where the pope usually is seen at when giving mass or waving to the people.
Some parts had been barricaded due to the recent use of it by the pope. St. Peter’s
Basilica is also known as Vatican. After roaming around Vatican, our feet got tired from
walking and so we decided to go to a small convenience store and buy a few snacks
before heading back to our hotel. That night wasn’t such a pleasant night as family
laughs turned into shouting, which left me and my sister puffy eyed the next morning. To
lighten up the mood, we went to the old Piazza Navona, and looked around for

11
souvenirs. My mom bought a coffee maker and me and my sister bought some gelato
made in the shape of a rose. It was very good and soft. The way the vendor made the
gelato like a rose looked very easy from afar. When we were in Piazza Novena, my
mom insisted that we find the Superga store, a brand of shoes. When we found it, it
looked very small, and the shoes they sold were only for kids. Finally, the last day of
being in Rome, we went to our last destination, the Trevi Fountain. There stood many
people tossing coins and making wishes. As I went up for my turn, I got a coin, turned
around, closed my eyes, and whispered to myself a wish for a good trip for the rest of
Europe, a good family resolve, and lastly, a good summer and a new start for second
year.

12
 A Trip to the World’s Greatest City
Faye Lanzar

I sit by the dining table while I write this article. Beside my laptop is a bowl of hot
Nissin ramen noodles in black garlic oil flavor that I cooked. The aroma of this noodle is
so calming and as I enjoy slurping on the soup, it makes me forget that I have two
essays due on Monday. I remember the first time I tasted this ramen noodles in Hong
Kong when my uncle cooked some for us and even added egg and some strips of
MaLing or luncheon meat. They even bought some more packs for us to bring it home.
Gladly, these noodles are also available here in the Philippines although at a higher
price compared to the other local noodles.

Anyhow, the noodle isn’t just the only memorable thing I cherished in Hong Kong.
It was on March 2017 when I first travelled to Hong Kong. I’ve had a lot of encounters
since we were on the airport until the time we have arrived in Hong Kong. Our luggage
are all ready, all things had been packed and we head off to the airport together with my
parents and my older sister. It was supposedly a trip with my family but unfortunately,
there had been a problem that’s why my parents weren’t able to come with us. That
time, I was just sixteen and was of course considered a minor. My older sister and I
decided if we would pursue our trip or not because we weren’t really sure what to do if
we get there on our own. Since we thought that all our efforts and money will be wasted
if we wouldn’t push through our trip, we decided to go, bringing not only our things but a
lot of doubts and fear. We were scared because it was our first time to travel alone
without our parents. Even while we were on the plane, I couldn’t stay calm and kept
thinking that I wish I could ask the pilot to bring us back to the Philippines.

It was around 10 p.m. when we arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport.
Our uncle fetched us at the airport and ate dinner there. It was actually just my second
time to meet him. He lives with his wife and two sons in Hong Kong for almost fifteen
years. After dinner, we went out of the airport and walked going to the bus station. A
very cold and breezy air welcomed us as we were walking out the airport. I checked on
my phone to see the temperature and it was 17 C. I noticed a double decker bus

13
arriving and so I asked my uncle if that’s the bus that we’re going to ride on. “​Oh yes,
buses here in Hong Kong are plentiful and really comfortable. There are three different
types of buses that we could use but this one’s what we call the CityBus. This operates
the routes that cover the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories.​ ” We rode the
bus and my uncle brought out an Octopus card which he tapped on a scanner. “​This is
what people use here in Hong Kong. Instead of paying in cash, we use this reloadable
card for paying fees in buses and MTRs (trains). We could also use this for paying food
for us to get discounts. Tomorrow, we should buy your own cards. Besides, it doesn’t
expire and you can use it again when you want to visit Hong Kong again for some other
time.​ ” We went to the upper deck so that we could experience it. On the upper side of
the windows, final destinations are prominently displayed in English and Chinese which
could also be seen on the front of each bus. The airport is just 30 minutes away from
my uncle’s place since there was no traffic that time. They live in Fanling which is
located at the New Territories East of Hong Kong. Fanling is a town in the North District,
where most of the people in the area live. When we arrived at Fanling, we rode on a
green taxi. Their house is actually just near; approximately 5 minutes walking distance
from where we are but since we have some luggage, we cannot walk that’s why we
rode the taxi. Taxis in Hong Kong are categorized by three colors, each indicating a
specific area. Red taxis operate throughout most of Hong Kong, except for Tung Chung
Road on Lantau Island while green taxis only service the New Territories. Blue taxis
only operate on the Lantau island. As we arrived in their humble abode, Bobo welcomed
us. Bobo, a black labrador dog is their pet for almost 7 years that time. My cousins went
out of their rooms as well and welcomed us. I was shy because we weren’t really that
close to each other. My uncle brought us to our room so that we could rest. When we
were about to sleep, my aunt went inside the room to say hi since she just came home
from work.

On our second day in Hong Kong, we decided to go to Disneyland. I noticed that

the weather is humid and not that cold anymore. From Fanling, we rode two buses. The
first bus dropped us off at the Diamond Hill Station. From there we rode another bus
that took us to Disneyland Resort. Finally, we rode the MTR at the ​Sunny Bay stations
which serves as an interchange station. The pink colored bus just gave me all the feels

14
that I am finally in the “happiest place on earth”. We walked around the park, took
pictures, watched free shows and 3D shows. Among the different attractions in the park,
we went to Adventureland, Grizzly Gulch, Mainstreet USA, Mystic point, Tomorrowland,
and Toy Story Land. First, we rode on the RC racer at Toy Story Land. The design of
the ride was the race car from Toy Story and it was a really thrilling ride since it has big
drops, gravity-defying race, speeding back and forth on a soaring U-shaped track. After
the ride, we saw Woody and Jessie of Toy Story and took pictures with them. Walking
around Grizzly Gulch, we rode on the Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars. At first,
we thought it was just a simple kiddie mine train but we were surprised with the twisting
caverns and sudden drops the ride was making. It was like a roller coaster in Enchanted
Kingdom. After that, we decided to try a water ride so we went to the Geyser Gulch, the
home to all sorts of water-logged fun. This one reminded me of the Jungle Log Jam in
Enchanted Kingdom, but it was way more fun and exciting. It also had thrilling and
unexpected drops. We were supposed to ride on the Rafts to Tarzan’s Treehouse but it
was under renovation that time so we decided to go to Jungle River Cruise instead. This
ride has a tour guide while it was sailing around the river. It actually looked like a real
jungle with different animals, Melman, Gloria, Alex, and Marty, some of the characters in
Madagascar. After a long day of walk, we decided to have some snacks at the Main
Street Corner Cafe. I couldn’t remember how much our bill exactly costs but I’m pretty
sure that it was expensive. We waited until 8 p.m. to watch the Disney Paint the Night
Parade. It is a procession of Disney characters with different performers that lights up
the night. I even saw some Filipino performers who were dancing on the street. After the
long parade, we watched the fireworks display right above its signature castle. It was
truly a magical and wonderful experience being in Disneyland.

Finally on our third day, we decided to go on a night market at Mong Kok. We

took the bus to go to Fanling station MTR. Arriving at the MTR station, we took the
subway going to Mong Kok east station. There are seven stops before arriving at Mong
Kok and it took us approximately 30 minutes to get there. Night market along the streets
of Mong Kok was really fun. It was like the “​Divisoria of Hong Kong”​ . The place is quite
sketchy, there were a lot of people walking around, the streets are crowded and noisy,
and the place isn’t that clean compared to that of Fanling. It was literally the city life in

15
Hong Kong. We walked around the streets of Mong Kok and bought some of our
pasalubongs f​ or our friends. Just before we arrived there, my aunt told us some tips on
how we can bargain with the sellers. It was actually easy to bargain on Chinese sellers
compared to Filipinos.

My trip to Hong Kong was really a memorable one for me because I learned a lot
of things, from traveling alone and learning a new language. It has influenced me to
take up Mandarin classes and it was a really great opportunity for us to get to know
more about our uncle’s family. I think this trip made us closer to each other. I enjoyed
every single day that I spent in Hong Kong especially with the weather, being away from
traffic, the comfort of their transportation system, and the food.

Sources:
1. Discoverhongkong.com. (2018). ​About Hong Kong | Hong Kong Tourism Board​.
Retrieved from
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/seasia/plan-your-trip/traveller-info/about-hong
-kong/index.jsp
2. Hong Kong Disneyland. (2018). Art of Animation.​ Retrieved from
https://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/attractions/art-of-animation/
3. En.wikipedia.org. (2018). ​Fanling​. Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanling

16
 Record Breaking Grill: The Malangsi Festival in Bayambang
Agnes Cruz

On April 4, 2014, Bayambang, a small town in Pangasinan attempted to break a

world record and the thought of the people joining forces to pursue this objective made
me inclined to see for myself what it would be like to be part of a crowd with music,
dancing, and to just feel the joy of the people bonding together while cooking tilapia, an
abundant fish in the town. My siblings and I were dead-set on to go to Bayambang, a
place where most of my relatives are living in, to be part of the festival. We left the city
on April 2nd to witness the first part of the celebration, taking us a total of three long
hours from Manila to arrive in Bayambang in time for the Malangsi Festival, a festivity
that commemorates the abundance of fishes like mudfish, catfish, and tilapia in the
Mangabul lake, the main freshwater fishing spot in Bayambang.

At around 6 AM, under the scorching sun, lower school students wore their
bio-crafted fish themed costumes, and paraded around the streets, dancing at the tribal
choreographed dance, while the band sang at the top of a moving float, decorated with
blue cardboard waves and an extravagant boat shape shed. As I thought that the
parade was over, several floats drove by the street, representing the several barangays
of Bayambang, parading diverse decorative floats outdoing the designs of one float to
another. Some threw candies towards the young onlookers and some threw fish shaped
accessories on the streets to signify the Malangsi Festival, a term used to associate the
fishy smell of the town’s most renowned freshwater creatures.

But it was not the colorful parades that the people visited the town, it is because
of the highlighted event of the festival which is the Kalutan Ed Dalan, which can be
translated to grill at the streets. That year, the town prepared for the largest feat that
they can achieve yet, which is to break the Guinness Record for the longest barbecue
grill in the world. My family was eager to join in and be part of the history. In fact, we

17
purchased a total of five grills and for each barbecue grill, we will be given a total of five
kilos of tilapia for us to cook.

After the street parade, several town patrols rushed in to lay down the steel grills
at the middle of the road, disregarding their drenched clothes due to the summer heat.
They had also placed several meter poles, to measure how long the grill is. From what
they have told me, it extended to a total of eight kilometers from Bugayen to Nalsian
village which is an attempt to beat the six kilometer record that was set by Turkey.
During that time, another event was held inside the town’s plaza which is a day long
concert that showcased several celebrities like Max Collins, Lovi Poe, Jaya and Silent
Sanctuary. My cousins and I decided to skip the concert, and instead watch the
photoshoot of the Ms Gay pageant in Ariel and Fe Garden Resort and Restaurant, a
famous resort in Bayambang.

The next day at the 3rd of April, the roads were closed. Vehicles with four to
three wheels were not permitted to traverse to the road in Bayambang. Luckily, at the
place that we were staying at, several food stalls sold various foods in the streets under
the shade of the tall Santol trees and the purple and yellow banderitas mixing together
in perfect pattern, selling foods ranging from grilled squid, fish, isaw and desserts like
ice scramble and halu-halo, to provide us with food for the time being while the road is
closed. During the festival, ten rock and pop bands were stationed in every significant
landmark of the town, to let the people hear the music and feel the atmosphere of the
festival no matter what part they are in even if they can’t come to the the event prepared
on that day which are the street dance battle and the Ms Gay pageant.

As I was eager to see more of the festival, I joined my siblings, to watch the
street dance battle which was held near the sports complex in our barangay. We asked
a stranger who spoke the Pangasinan language fluently who parked near the gate of
our place, to ride on his motorcycle which he accommodatingly and joyfully agreed, a
common hospitable trait that most of the Bayambangeños possess. As we rode at the
stranger’s vehicle, he told us how excited he was for the Kalutan Ed Dalan the following
day, hoping that he will be given a nice grill and fresh fish for his family to enjoy. The

18
gleeful way of how he explained his anticipation, clearly depicts the excitement that
each of the people in the town are feeling. A sense of exhilaration for the Kalutan and
the hope that together, they can set a new record.

When we arrived at the event, the street dance battle was what one could
expect, a energy-filled dance routine and a fun upbeat music to compliment the dance. I
did not remember who won but I knew for certain that both of the routines that the final
two group gave were at the same level and the result could be a draw. We went home
after the competition, and I slept early, while dozing at the thought of the Kalutan Ed
Dalan that will take place the next day.

It was 3:00 PM on the 4th of April, when the festival volunteers gave us our six
fresh tilapia fishes and the number of our respective grills. Each section of the town
were given color coded shirt and media reporters prepared their cameras to document
the whole town’s effort. Loud sounds echoed at every street and large banging drums
beat at a pattern. Patrollers held an unlit torch at every tenth grill to prepare for the start
of the Kalutan Ed Dalan. Gasoline was poured in each grill to make the coal burn faster
and as soon as the loud trumpet cue was , the festival volunteers lit their torches and
with a count of three, they uniformly placed the embers at the nearest grill, setting a
chain reaction of flames from one grill to another. Each of the people were astonished to
see the sight and the sense of unity was shared.

Everyone placed their fishes on the grill, while smiling and dancing at the beat of
the melody. The festival was brought to life by every people in the town, and together,
we felt the spirit of the Malangsi Festival, making it one of the most memorable
memories that each of the Bayambangeños shared with each other. It did not take us
long, to find out that we indeed broke the record and we were given the award,
declaring the town as the holder of the record of the longest barbecue grill in the world.
It felt good, that I too am part of the people who helped the award come to fruition.
Indeed, a historical day that can only be brought to life by the coalition of the people in
the town and a successful ending to the Malangsi Festival, 2014.

19
Sources:

1. Bayambang Beats Longest Grill Record. (2014, April 5). ​Manila Bulletin.​
Retrieved December 9, 2018.
2. Bayambang, Pangasinan Is 400 Years Old. (2013, May 16). ​Manila Bulletin.​
Retrieved December 9, 2018.
3. Malangsi Festival. (n.d.). Retrieved December 9, 2018, from
https://greedypeg.org/pangasinan/Malangsi-Festival.html
4. Pangasinan Seeks to Reclaim Longest Barbeque Grill World Title. (2014, April
4). ​Manila Bulletin.​ Retrieved December 9, 2018.
5. The Malangsi Festival in Pangasinan. (2018, September 02). Retrieved from
http://www.traveltothephilippines.info/2013/03/10/the-malangsi-festival-in-pangasi
nan/
6. Traveling A-Z: Pangasinan. (2010, December 18). ​Manila Bulletin​. Retrieved
December 9, 2018, from
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-244738922.html?refid=easy_hf

20
 A Memorable Adventure
​Chyna Mercado

I am well aware that celebration of birthdays make every single person in this world to
be joyful, since they get the chance to spend their special day with their loved ones,
whether they spend it in a birthday party, traveling, or even just dining out with their
family. In my case, I spent my 14th birthday in Singapore with my friends, relatives, and
most especially my family. Our experience in Singapore was a blast, since we were
given the opportunity to try all their special facilities there. And for a short history of
Singapore, it has attained a full-internal government in 1959 and it was developed to be
one of the safest, cleanest, and most economically prosperous cities in Asia.

The moment that I first viewed Singapore, I was literally so excited on what it
would contain around the whole place since my first impression was that it is so clean
and the environment is different from other countries in the universe. Actually, I've
already spent my birthday in Singapore for 2 times which is my 7th and 14th birthday. It
was such a memorable experience since we visited a lot of places there, such as the
Merlion Park, and numerous fancy restaurants with great food and desserts. We also
went to the Lego Land park to enjoy and try all the rides and facilities there, as well as
Universal Studios Singapore, wherein we also tried almost all the fun rides there.

I can definitely say that Singapore can be considered to be one of the gorgeous
places wherein several people can go to, to spend important occasions with their
families. Based on my experience and observations, Singapore is also has a very clean
environment, and I noticed that people really follow the rules and regulations there, such
as people can't leave their trashes on the streets due to the fact that they should learn
how to segregate their trash properly without doing something that is against the law. I
can also say that the place is free from malevolent people who do or sell drugs,

21
stealing, kidnapping, and murder cases that usually happen in other countries.

Staying in a place that has a good reputation and feedback from many people
can actually be beyond inspiring to all the other countries in the world because it could
give them a hint to improve their country, as well as the formulation of the rules and
regulations that definitely make a huge impact to the people living there, as well as
those who are going on a vacation on that specific country, it would be nice to see that
everything is well- organized.

Sources:

1. Tim Lambert (2018). The Foundation of Singapore. Retrieved from

http://www.localhistories.org/singapore.html
2. Library of Congress (N.D.). History of Singapore. Retrieved from
https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Singapore-history.htm

22
 Typical Quezon City
Dylan Caro

Quezon City, a city named after former Philippine president Manuel Luis Quezon,
was once upon a time the capital of the country. This explains why the Sandigan Bayan
and the House of Representatives are located in this area of Metro Manila. Quezon City
is composed of a total of 6 districts and 142 barangays so technically speaking you can
do almost anything here. For my entire stay in the city I find it amazing how I can go on
and on with my usual travels only to stay in the same city, going from Batasan Hills to
Tomas Morato both places giving off totally different vibes but at the same time familiar.
But living in the city means traffic everywhere, holdapers left and right, polluted air, and
well in my case a load of worth it memories.

Commonwealth Avenue is one of my daily routes from where I live to school,

malls, groceries, and so much more. It has a total of 18 lanes making it the widest road
in the Philippines and it extends for 12.4 kilometers long, so there’s no doubt that it’s
also called ​The Killer Highway ​since you know, Filipinos and their brave selves. Traffic
has always been a constant no matter how wide the area is, traffic will always be
present. But because of the train construction going on in the middle of Commonwealth,
it made traffic even worse. The then empty looking road with old almost dying trees in
the center was long gone and was replaced by oddly tall cylinders made for the train.
Ever Gotesco, a mall located alongside Commonwealth can barely be seen despite it’s
big red castle architecture because of so much happening on the road itself. I used to
always find myself wanting to go to the mall to buy my usual snacks before but recently
it’s starting to become more of a burden than something I would look forward to. Well on
the bright side, the death rate probably decreased since there are boundaries for the
construction in the middle of the road which forces people to actually make use of the

23
then good for nothing footbridges so I guess congratulations Philippine government?
The right turn to enter Don Antonio is starting to get more annoying not only because of
the jeepneys and private cars overtaking each other but also because the Puregold
customers are getting caught up in traffic as well since the grocery’s entrance is
completely blocked. Commonwealth is hectic, the construction even if it’s for the benefit
of the public in the future, is causing so much nuisance to every passerby in the then
wide road. One of Quezon City’s pride is literally going downhill as day passes by
because at this point I can literally see nothing that will make Commonwealth Avenue
that great again. But despite all this no one can take away the fact that I would have the
best car karaoke with my friends or the relaxing road trips with my family in this very
avenue.

I study in Miriam College located at Katipunan Avenue beside Ateneo and UP

Town Center. To cut it short, Katipunan is also a headache. Imagine having to wake up
every morning hours before your brain should be functioning only so that you can adjust
to the traffic from Commonwealth to Katipunan. The traffic light near the main entrance
of Miriam College is literally, literally,​ my least favorite traffic light in the entire world. I
know it’s a machine but the stoplight isn’t really the reason but rather, the angry MMDAs
who act so high and mighty when they try to help, ​they’re not really helping​, ease the
traffic. To give credit to Katipunan though, this place has got to be one of the best
places to ever live at if you’re settling in Quezon City. I mean you have so much schools
and review centers ranging from Ateneo, UP, Miriam College, Multiple Intelligence just
to name a few, you also have easy access to the UP Town Center that has been one of
the most convenient places for me for my last minute needs, not to mention the number
of restaurants present in the stretch of the road like Chicken Bacolod and
Samgyupsalamat. You can easily go to different hangout places like the UP Campus or
party places like the newly opened Pop Up. Berkeley and SM Blue are literally tall
condominiums planted on top of the faultline but who cares anyway. Xavierville and
Loyola Grand Villas are pretty decent places to reside to as well. Katipunan’s wild to be
honest. One minute you can be relaxing at a yoga session at Regis Center or get your
phone snatched while walking in front of the burnt Shoppersville building. And if that

24
doesn’t satisfy you then go to the Katipunan extension which is basically just a road with
stores and restaurants but of course the traffic, you know, typical.

These two avenues are only two of the many places that Quezon City has to
offer but they’re the only ones that I’ll most likely remember no matter what. They’re
crap literally everything I just said can be done some place else but unlike those other
places, these two are places who can define me. Quezon City, if studied would be really
interesting, the history of how the katipuneros would use the Katipunan Avenue back
during Andres Bonifacio’s time or the most interesting deaths in Commonwealth
Avenue, but then again who simply has a time for those. I never even knew a museum
existed in the Quezon Memorial Circle up until last year where we had to go there for
the most boring field trip known to all Grade 11 students. Quezon City’s great, boring,
fantastic, interesting. It just all depends on the person eyeing it.

Sources:
1. Talalsarwarkhanniazi. (2016, July 15). Commonwealth Avenue Philippine: The
Most Dangerous Road in the world. Retrieved December 11, 2018, from
https://medium.com/@talalsarwarkhanniazi/commonwealth-avenue-philippine-the
-most-dangerous-road-in-the-world-9931a120a9a
2. Remo, A. R. (2017, June 10). The 'magic' of Katipunan. Retrieved December 11,
2018, from ​https://business.inquirer.net/231124/the-magic-of-katipunan
3. Bueza, M. (2014, October 12). FAST FACTS: Quezon City. Retrieved December
11, 2018, from
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fast-facts/41205-fast-facts-quezon-city

25
 Snow in the Philippines?!

Riah Ching

Christmas time is such an awaited season in our country, not only because of the
festive celebrations happening village to village, but also because of the cold weather it
brings, a factor that greatly contributes to the Christmas spirit. The Philippines only has
two seasons, it’s either wet or dry. The wet season usually lasts from June to October,
while the rest of the year is dry, with an average temperature of 27.2 degrees Celsius.
The warm weather I experience most of the year makes me look forward to rainy days
and the -ber months. In my younger years, it even made me wish for it to snow as my
Christmas gift from Santa. Who would’ve thought that after years and years of hoping,
my foolish and unrealistic wish was going to come true?

In the year 2015, my family and I decided to do something different for

Christmas. Instead of traditionally celebrating Christmas in our house, we traveled to the
city of Baguio, a mountain resort city known for its cold weather. I remember rolling the
car windows down as soon as we drove up the mountains, feeling the fresh breeze
against my skin. Smelling the distinct scent of thousands of pine trees while inhaling
clean air was an unusual and addictive experience at the same time. After 6 long hours
of travel time, we finally arrived at Camp John Hay, an industrialized area with hotels,
houses, and recreational facilities. Camp John Hay was actually a former American
military base in the 1900s. Previously known as “Hill Station” or “Ibalois”, Camp John
Hay served as a military reservation for American soldiers, it is a place of refuge from
the hotter temperature in the lowlands, as per the order of the former US President,
Theodore Roosevelt. During the second world war in December 1941, Camp John Hay
was heavily bombed with 72 Japanese warplanes, then later on became an internment
camp and headquarters for the Japanese. However the Japanese’ reign over the camp
didn’t last long since they eventually surrendered to the Americans. After the war, Camp

26
John Hay remained under America’s control, and was only turned over to the Philippine
government in 1991.

We resided at a vintage looking cabin with a wooden exterior but a modern

interior, just like most of the houses in the camp. After unloading the car with our bags
and putting them in our respective rooms, we immediately head out to the Bell House,
considered as the historical core of the City of Pines. The Bell House was named after
the commanding General of the American Forces in the Philippines, Major General J.
Franklin Bell, who lived in the house during the time the camp was an American military
base. The main attraction in the Bell House is the Bell Amphitheater and its Italian
Garden. Imagine a Roman amphitheater but the steps and seats are made from grass
and designed with different kinds of flowers and plants. It is said that General Bell
himself supervised the construction of the attraction and even adapted Ifugao terracing
technology. The amphitheater was beyond pleasing to the senses. The sight of colorful
plants, the smell of clean air, the gentle sound of crickets and birds, and the soothing
breeze of the air made me believe that I was in a magical place, almost like an
enchanted kingdom.

Another tourist spot in Baguio City is Burhnam Park, one of the most famous
parks in the country. The park was a bit crowded when we visited, but its peaceful vibe
stood out nonetheless. Being in the park was very much like a scene in the movies.
There were children biking around, lovers on rowboats on the lagoon, and families
having a nice mid-day picnic at the open field. What really caught my attention though,
was the skating rink and mini carnival. My siblings and I rushed to the rink and
immediately exchanged our shoes with roller blades. Although I didn't exactly know how
to skate and was only holding onto the rails the entire time, I enjoyed hours of laughter
and spending time with my family. Our feet grew sore and our throats thirsty, as the sun
sets and it gets darker. We decided to end the day with a delicious meal of Filipino
house food such as kare-kare, sisig, and sizzling bulalo.

Although the previously mentioned places were both delightful, I’d say the most
magical of them all is the Christmas Village. Visiting the village was like being in another
country, or better yet in a cartoon dimension on Christmas setting. Festively designed

27
gingerbread houses and twinkling pine trees surround me. There were also small stalls
selling Christmas ornaments, stockings, and sweaters, but the best of them all, is a
fresh cup of hot choco. Listening to live Christmas tunes sang by the choir while the
warmth of the hot choco slowly travels down my body is absolutely the perfect vibe for
Christmas. Just as I thought it couldn’t get any better than this, “snow” suddenly burst
out the top of the gingerbread houses. Even though I knew it wasn’t real snow, my face
lit up with amazement and I couldn't deny the fact that my 7 year old self couldn’t be any
happier.

Sources:

1. Burnham Park | Baguio City. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://philippinescities.com/baguio-city/destinations/burnham-park/
2. Camp John Hay. (2018, August 19). Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_John_Hay
3. Climate and average monthly weather in Manila, Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved
from
https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshin
e,Manila,Philippines
4. M. (2015, May 29). BAGUIO: What to See at Bell House Museum and Bell
Amphitheater, Camp John Hay. Retrieved from
http://www.pinoyroadtrip.com/2015/05/baguio-what-to-see-at-bell-house-museum
.html

28
 It’s a Small World After All
Danielle Lopez Vito

It was my eighteenth birthday. It’s a Filipino tradition that whenever someone in

the family is celebrating her eighteenth birthday, they have to celebrate by throwing a
“debut” party. I was given that option, however, I chose to celebrate my “coming of age”
by going outside the country and go to the place I’ve been dreaming to visit ever since I
was a little child. It’s of course, Disneyland. Everybody dreams of this place, it is labeled
as the “happiest” place on earth.

The nearest Disneyland we could visit is the one in Hong Kong. If you purchase
tickets from the actual Disney website, it will cost you a fortune. My family purchased
the tickets from an app that offers big discounts and packages namely Klook. After
buying from the app, an email confirmation will be sent directly to you to which will also
represent your temporary tickets.

In Hong Kong, their number one preferred type of transportation is by a train they
call the “MTR”. In order to get to the island where Disneyland is located, you have to
ride on a train that they call the “Disney train”. There are also other types of
transportation you could ride in order to get to Disneyland, but we chose to take the
train. My family initially planned to go around noontime, however, we were still bringing
the “Filipino time” even in another country. We arrived at the train station around 1 pm.
In Hong Kong, their trains are scheduled and the time of arrival is estimated. We had to
wait a few minutes before stepping into the train. When you enter the train, you can
already feel the “Disney” vibes around it. You sit onto a cushioned, royal blue seat
marked by the famous Mickey Mouse logo. Alongside your seat, you’ll get to seat with a
bunch of mini-statues of the original characters like Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy,
and so much more. Moreover, the train handles are in the shape of Mickey Mouse, as
well as its windows.

29
 Arriving at the Disney station, the first thing you will see is the main entrance arch
that pretty much everybody who visits the place takes a photo with. Next thing you’ll
sight is a fountain that has Mickey surfing on top of a whale waterspout. Entering the
gates, you’ll be greeted happily by the security people who will check your belongings.
Arriving at the actual park, the first thing you will see is the Disney Railway Station that
takes you around the whole actual park. Before entering a mini tunnel to get to
Mainstreet, they have stalls wherein you can get a map of the park and a brochure of
schedules of the parades. The Mainstreet, which is designed and inspired by the USA in
the early 1950s, has all the stalls and services you might need throughout the day. A
few minutes in the Mainstreet, they announced that a parade will be passing through
our eyes. The parade had all the original Disney characters perform and entertain the
crowd. I felt all the joy seeing the characters I grew up watching come to life, I found
myself in awe and in tears. Mickey Mouse even caught a glimpse of me waving at him,
which was the highlight of it all because Mickey Mouse waved back and gave me a
flying kiss. At this point, I was the happiest girl on earth.

Moving forward, besides the Mainstreet, the park also had a recreation of
Tomorrow Land, Fantasy Land, and Toy Story Land. The Tomorrow Land consisted of
all the Disney owned Sci-Fi movies like Star Wars and Iron Man. The Star Wars side
had the Space Mountain ride, which is a dark rollercoaster ride that takes you on an
adventure that involves the storyline of Star Wars. I am a massive fan of the Star Wars
Sequels and Prequels, I exploded from happiness during the ride. The Iron Man had a
3D-experience ride, which was some whole new level of 3D rides.

Next to the Tomorrow Land is the Fantasy Land. The Fantasy Land contained
almost every Disney Cartoon that is meant for the eyes of little kids. One of the
attractions at that part was the It’s A Small World ride that takes you on the different
parts of the world by introducing their cultures through miniatures and dolls. After, since
I had no patience to go on to the little rides, like the Tea Cup ride that spins you around
while you are inside a teacup, my family headed straight to Toy Story Land. The Toy
Story Land had rides that will take thrill to a whole new level. It had a U-shaped roller
coaster and drop ride that is designed like a parachute. All of the rides were designed

30
and inspired by the Movies. Unfortunately, the rides were closed and we only had the
chance to walk around it and take photographs.

Though, the fun did not end there. After the Toy Story Land, there were still parts
of the park that had amazing and perfect rides for the thrill-seekers like me. One of it
was the Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars. Before riding, I thought about “What
if this ride is a boring?”, I was wrong. The ride had major big drops, a sudden change of
direction, and change in speed. It was an unexpected ride and if even a chance, I would
do it over and over again.

Another ride to which also left me in shock is the Mystic Manor. The ride is inside of
a "haunted" house. At first, I thought it was a walk-through type of attraction. At this
point, my feet were already in pain because of the long walks. I wanted to back out and
find another attraction, good thing I did not because it was the best ride from all the
rides I rode. It will do start off as a walk-through, a monkey puppet will entertain you by
telling a background story before riding the ride. The ride will shock and scare every bit
of you, but in a fun way.

Apparently, the people in Hong Kong are obsessed with walking. At the end of the
day, I wanted to have at least one round of some rides again, but my feet were already
killing me. Likewise, the park had to close too. My family agreed that it was time to leave
the happiest place on earth. Overall, the decision of me choosing to go to Disneyland
instead of having a debut on my eighteenth was the best decision I ever did. It all felt
like a dream, but it was not.

31
Sources:

1. Primer Media Inc. (2016, May 28). Birthday culture in the Philippines. Retrieved
from
http://primer.com.ph/tips-guides/2016/05/28/birthday-culture-in-the-philippines/
2. 10 Reasons Why Disneyland Is The Happiest Place On Earth. (2017, November
14). Retrieved from
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/10-reasons-why-disneyland-is-the-happiest-pl
ace-on-earth
3. Attractions | Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/attractions/

32
 Batanes: Home of the Winds, Promises, Sleeping Beauties and Hope
Pauline Matabang

Have you ever woken up on your birthday because your mother ‘accidentally’ hit
your luggage on your bed and hit your arm that was hanging off the side of it? Well I
have, and it was painful, like getting your arm squished between the bed and a luggage
kind of painful. The first thing my mom told me was neither a sorry nor a birthday
greeting from her, instead, she told me “Get up, our flight is in two and a half hours.”
After that, it was all a blur, I remember seeing folded sets of clothes in my closet and
tossing them into my luggage then running to the bathroom to take a bath, only to get
out about five minutes later. Next thing I know, I was on a GrabCar with my parents on
the way to terminal four of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

I was tasked to line up for the check-in line for the luggages, only then did I see
that, for my 16​th ​birthday, my parents and I were going to beautiful Batanes group of
islands. During the very uncomfortable, cramped and bumpy plane ride, I couldn’t sleep
because of my excitement, and partly because the plane ride was very bumpy. After
what felt like 30 seconds after departing from NAIA, I could faintly see the green
landscape of Batan Island. Finally, the plane was beginning its descent, the flight
attendant was warning us about something, but I couldn’t understand her as I kept on
staring at the large amount of greens that covered the land below us, and it wasn’t even
moss! A few seconds later, I realized what the flight attendant was warning us about.
Because the Batanes airport is surrounded by hills, there is no space for a smooth
descent and a big runway, so their only choice if they want to make a safe landing was
a literal drop from the air onto the makeshift runway and hope for the best. The seatbelt
lights were turned off, and just like that, I arrived in Batan Island safe but traumatized.
As I exited the plane, the first thing I did was take in a lot of air, living in the city for three
years can be very exhausting, and unhealthy because of the pollution. Now that I was in
Batanes, it literally was a breath of fresh air. My parents got our luggage and were
picked up by representatives of a local travel agency called BISUMI, whose name was

33
actually an acronym of the six municipalities of Batanes, namely, Basco, Itbayat,
Sabtang, Uyugan, Mahatao and Ivana. We were asked to ride a white van that would
take us to our hotel. As we left the airport, the van passed through alleys that were
exactly big enough to avoid the sides of the van from being scratched by the cement of
the walls. We asked the driver why he chose to pass through alleys that were just as
wide as the van, the driver then explained that those ‘alleys’ were the main roads of the
island. Since none of the Ivatans use big vehicles for their daily lives, they never saw
the use of having road widening projects. To say I was surprised was an
understatement, if they normally don’t use large vehicles for their own transportation,
why use it on tourists? Why go to such extent for people who just want to experience
the Ivatan way of life?

The van left immediately after we were dropped off, our tour wasn’t supposed to
start one in the afternoon, we arrived at the hotel at eight in the morning. Instead of
sleeping or unpacking, I went on a little adventure by myself. I walked around the area
surrounding our hotel, which couldn’t even be called a hotel since it was literally just a
quaint residential home with an extra two guestrooms. The air felt cool, enough for it to
feel refreshing, and had a bit of warmth, but not enough for me to use an umbrella as
shade. It had faint smell, as if flowers were always under your nose, enough to make
you relax and want to unwind. There was no honking of cars, skidding of tires and loud
arguing from neighbors, the typical sounds you’d hear while in Manila, instead, you’d
hear children laughing, locals talking about what the other is cooking and everyone
having a fun time. The natural color you see from the plants around you was very
pleasant to look at, unlike the super bright colored paint that covered buildings in
Manila. Even if I was just standing at a random street in Batanes, it really felt different
compared to standing along Maginhawa street in Quezon City. The atmosphere in
Batanes was really something different, something euphoric in a way that all the
residents were giving off a happy vibe. As if every step you take has a livelier skip than
the previous one, as if each breath of air you intake increases the happiness inside you.
Walking around in a daze while in an unfamiliar place is a red light when you’re doing
that in Manila, but in Batanes, you’ll find the locals accompanying you as you both walk

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around in a daze, as if they know you are there to appreciate the land they have taken
care of for years.

I walked around some more until I received a text from my mother asking me
where I was, I replied to her and went back to the hotel. I had been walking for 20
minutes, I was captivated by the ambience of the place that I did not feel myself get
tired despite walking for more than how long I would normally walk back in the city. After
realizing that I had walked for 20 minutes with a distracted mind, I immediately checked
my pockets for my phone and my cash. If I had done that in Manila, I’d be more than
just a thousand pesos poorer, imagine my surprise to find my phone still in the back
pocket of my shorts and my cash in my front pocket. I was amazed, so many people
passed by me earlier as I walked around with my head in the clouds, yet no one even
attempted to steal from me. Manileños have a lot to learn from the Ivatans, I just hope
they are willing to be taught. Then, by 12:50 in the afternoon, our tour guide knocked on
our door, asking if we want to start the tour earlier than what was planned. We agreed
and, once again, rode a rather large vehicle but not as big as the van from earlier. The
first day of the tour was uneventful for me, maybe because of the lack of sleep.
However, I’ll never forget the stone chapel on top of a hill, the Mt. Carmel Chapel was
our third destination. Batanes was already dubbed as the “home of the winds” long ago,
and our trip to that chapel had proven that Batanes was worthy of that title. The stone
chapel is a quaint little chapel with only four images, two of which were saints, one was
Mary and the last one was Jesus on the cross. Outside the chapel, there is a big space,
no fences, and a 360° view of the West Philippine Sea and Pacific Ocean surrounding
Batanes. The chapel, also called Tukon Chapel, is the proof that a promise was fulfilled,
I somewhat forgot the story but the goes like this: a son promised his parents that he
will build a chapel for them since they wanted a chapel near enough so they can just
walk to it, the boy’s parents died before it was finished and the boy was distraught and
could not accept their death, but once it was finished, the boy went to the front of the
chapel and said “Ma, Pa, I kept my promise. Now, I am ready to let go.”

As I entered the Tukon Chapel, I remember praying, asking for guidance and
thanking the Lord for the opportunity to travel to a place like this. After we were all done

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praying, we went outside for a family picture and afterwards told my parents, “Mommy,
Daddy, I promise you, in the future I will make sure that we will come back here, and I
will be the one to take care of everything.” My parents were shocked as I was not
someone who would normally say these things out of the blue, but then again, I was
also not someone who would walk around in a daze for 20 minutes. There’s this weird
feeling you’ll get as you continue walking down the road in Batanes, it’s as if each block
you reach changes your view about everything that has been happening around you,
and you manage to look at things at a new perspective.

The first day ended pretty quick, and on the second day, we had to travel to an
even more isolated island, Sabtang Island. To reach the island, we had to take a ​faluwa,​
the traditional boat Ivatans use which was especially made to combat strong waves.
That was a fun experience because, first, I sat on the edge of the boat, confident I
wouldn’t fall off, second because the waves were getting stronger and it was starting to
drizzle, and third, we had a fellow passenger who would not stop freaking out whenever
the boat would lean a little bit too much on one side. The boat ride was exhilarating, if
you look outside of the boat and stare at the water long enough, you can actually see
the fish that are swimming with you. At one point, there were also fishes who were
jumping out of the water like a dolphin, we were spooked when we saw a big fish do
that though, but the locals said it was normal to see big fish fly out of the water.

After about 20 minutes of getting splashed with water in the face because of how
fast the boat was, the tour guides who were with us on the boat asked us to take our
cameras out. They then pointed at the small island with a big mountain, that was
Sabtang Island, it was… small. I’m not sure why I found it, for the lack of a better term,
boring? I expected this big, mind-blowing site that would be the highlight of my vacation,
I’m guessing it was at that point when Kuya Arbin, the tour guide assigned to us, told
me to look at the mountains carefully. What I saw made my eyes go wide, mouth drop
open, and eyebrows rise to the heavens above. At first, it was just a normal island, with
some mountains on it, but if you take time to really look at it, the mountains were in the
shape of a sleeping woman. By this time, the movie Moana had not come out yet, but
I’m sure Te Fiti, the island where the deity Te Fiti sleeps, was based on the Sleeping

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Beauty located in Sabtang Island. It was beautiful, to the point that as the boat reached
the port, I still could not stop staring at it. What island was this perfect that it even had a
rock formation that resembled that of a beautiful sleeping woman? Where else in the
world would you see something as exquisite as this? These were the questions I had
even as that day in Sabtang ended and had to go back to Batan Island.

Two years later, here I am writing this essay, still thinking about those same
questions. I’m grateful I finally have the opportunity to write about my trip to Batanes. It
is a trip I’d surely never forget about, since it taught me things I could have never
learned about here in the city. It taught me to see the good in everything I see. It taught
me to see things using more than just one perspective, using more than one approach,
because everything did not have a one-sided story. It also taught me that when we learn
how to see things differently, we can see their real beauty.

Sources:
1. Adalid, A. (2017, July 1) BATANES ITINERARY FOR 5 DAYS (MORE OR
LESS): TRAVEL GUIDE TO BATAN, SABTANG & ITBAYAT ISLANDS.
Retrieved from:
https://iamaileen.com/batanes-things-to-do-diy-itinerary-5-days-sabtang-itbayat-tr
avel-guide/
2. BISUMI. (n.d.) BISUMI TOUR & SERVICES Website. Retrieved from:
https://www.bisumitours.com
3. Hilotin, G. (2018, February 15) BATANES: Budget Travel Guide (Budget +
Itinerary) 2018. Retrieved from:
https://www.thepinaysolobackpacker.com/batanes-budget-travel-guide/
4. thecrazytourist. (n.d.) 15 Best Things to Do in Batanes (the Philippines).
Retrieved from:
https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-things-batanes-philippines/
5. thepoortraveler. (n.d.) Tukon Chapel: A Promise Fulfilled in Basco, Batanes.
Retrieved from:

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https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2014/03/tukon-church-architecture-history-basco-
batanes-philippines/

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