Dora the spoiled child!

This week is my prelim (preliminary exams) week.  Everyday was supposed to be consumed primarily in studying but no, I was always in front of the monitor looking for cool places in Leyte which I might like to visit this year.  It was around 2pm, out of boredom  I was scrolling the profile pictures of random people when I saw a photo of a man in a pool.  I don't know why, but it excites me.  I was suddenly imagining myself jumping into the pool and swimming and jumping and swimming and jumping and swimming.(hehehe!)


From a simple status in facebook, Opaw commented and there and then we decided to go to Sea Breeze. It is located at Talisayan, Albuera, Leyte.  A 20-minute ride from the city of Ormoc.  I chose that pool because the time required to reach there is not that long which is very important to me because I have to be home at 5pm to study for my prelim exam which will be conducted at 6pm.  I thought it will not be pursued because 30 minutes had already passed and he was still waiting for his camera to be fully charged.  Time is running too fast! He already told me that we might not go there because the time is very short so I laid down every card I had in my hands just to convince him to go with me and yes!! He gave in.  He is indeed my laag buddy! (hahaha!)  I called a friend to come with us as his special guest (one of my cards offered to convince him..hehehe..peace paw!)


And there you can see on the picture, I actually fulfilled my desire to go swimming! I also jumped into it! : D Unfortunately, we have no camera with a faster shutter speed to capture it. But, it's still okay because it's in my memory! (hehehe!)


I actually arrived home at 5pm.  I had few minutes to study. I took my exam. I went home. I ate my dinner. I wrote this article. Now? I am happy and fulfilled enough to have a good night sleep.  Thank you Lord!


Salamat Paw and special guest for having a soft heart to bear with my hunger for adventure!! ^_^

Dora attends a wedding!

JANUARY 8, 2012
Karen Caparoso and Gatsby Ceniza Nuptial
BEST WISHES!!!

She is our first female high school classmate who enters the sacrament of matrimony.  Ohh no! They're starting to settle down!!!  Is this a sign that we're not getting any younger?!!

This is the second marriage ceremony I and Carolyn (my bespren) had attended together and every time we'll hear the vows of the couple, there is always that sweet smile in our face. Then, we end up daydreaming about how our marriage should be. But when asked if we're ready to get married at this early age, we both laugh and always say "NOT NOW PLEASE!" hahahaha!

Mt. Amindiuen Edition (New Year's Climb)

Mt. Amindiuen, popularly known as Alto Peak, is the highest in Eastern Visayas (Region 8).  I used to call it “Alto Peak” but the locals discouraged us to call it in that name because its real name is “Mt. Amindiuen”.  According to our guide, Alto Peak is the big rock located on the road intersection.   You can see it during your trek to the foot of the mountain.  Locals said that Mt. Amindiuen was only called Alto Peak because the previous mountaineers called it so.

     I spent half of my December 2011 exploring the beauty of Leyte.  I and my friends had this “research mode”. We surf the internet to look for beautiful places in Leyte where we can possibly visit.  After, either we go directly to the place or we will further research about the place by going to its nearby places to ask the people whether it will be safe for us to go there or not and the time required to trek the place. So almost everyday, I traveled with my friends.  I thought the 1st day of 2012 will be a rest day but I was wrong.  My laag buddy Benjie “Opaw” Sabelino, had always desired to conquer Mt. Amindiuen.  But due to his job, his plans were always cancelled.  On the last day of 2011, I saw in his eyes his determination to climb that mountain so I called up my friend who is familiar with Mt. Amindiuen to guide us.  His name is Peter Ian “Pets” Sano, a popular guide of the said mountain.  He was not supposed to guide us because on the day I called him, he just came from Mt. Amindiuen and 3 days after that he will go back there for another climb with “TAMAK”, a group of mountaineers.  But as a friend, he gave in to my convincing power.

trek and play

January 1, 2012, 0430H, we prepared for our climb.  At 0600H, we left and went to Cabingtan where Mt. Amindiuen is located.  We went to the Barangay Captain’s residence to ask permission to climb Mt. Amindiuen and to sign our name on his log book as visitors.  At 0740H, we started to trek to the foot of the mountain. During the trek, we get to taste the famous wild strawberries.  The trail was so steep that all we have to do was to trek without talking.  I, myself is a natural talkative but on that moment, I felt that uttering any word will cost so much of my energy. On the road intersection where you can see alto peak, Pets directed us to the 2^nd drill site of Energy Development Corp., the place where most mountaineers took pictures of themselves with the peak of Mt. Amindiuen as background.  0900H, we arrive at the 2^nd drill site. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see the peak because of the thick fog.  The place was so windy that it may even push you down the cliff. But still, we manage to pose before the camera to have at least a remembrance on that location. After some picture taking, we trail back to the road intersection and head towards the foot of Mt. Amindiuen. 

i found you leech!

We stopped for a while to have a rest and there they found out that there was a leech in my left eye.  We were still on the 2^nd drill site that I felt there was something in my eye. I asked Opaw about it but he said there was none so I ignored it.  The leech may have hidden itself in the eyelid to have a better taste of my blood. Fortunately, the leech was already full that it was easy for us to get it out from my eye.  

 1100H, we arrive at the foot and immediately started to ascent. We have to do the 4-wheel drive (somehow related to crawling) on some part of the mountain to stop ourselves from falling because of the slippery trail brought by heavy rains.  Roots were very useful in pulling ourselves up.  At 1200H we had our lunch.  I ate with my muddy hands sitting on a wet ground.  This is the point in my life where I realized that we don’t really need comfy chairs and complete set of eating utensils before we can swallow our food.   And lastly, we don’t have to be picky on our food, any food as long as it is safe to eat will do.  After 15 minutes, we again started to ascent.  

Pets said we are halfway to the peak.  He decided to carry Opaw’s camera and be our photographer (huwaw!..guide na, photographer pa!).  He also informed us that from that point to the peak, trail will be more difficult, steeper and slippery. And he was right, on our assault to the peak; we were like climbing a 90-degree wall.  Rain pours hard which makes our assault more dangerous and any wrong move may cost our life.  1320H, we safely reached thepeak of Mt. Amindiuen.  All exhaustion gone!  Beautiful wild flowers were like welcoming us and unfamiliar insects were there.  We may not see the view down because of the fog but the thought and feeling of reaching the peak safely is amazing.  I prayed secretly and said thanks to Him.  Sadly, we saw trashes on the peak, from empty bottle to coffee sachets to cigarettes. I just hope next time, other mountaineers will be responsible enough for their trashes. 

We all know that we are only on the 50% of our adventure; it will only be completed if we can return back home safely.  1400H, we decided to descent. If it was hard on our way up, it was harder on our way down.  Our pace was much faster than on our ascent, but the effort we put was twice or more.  We had countless slips.  We had to swing on tree branches.  We even have to hold on to thorny plants to stop ourselves from falling or slipping. We arrive at the foot at 1530H.  We immediately head to Amindiuen falls to wash ourselves.  Actually, it was only us who named it.  That waterfall will only be seen during heavy rainy days. Pets even told us that it was the first time he saw it.  Its cold water was so refreshing that it washes out not only the dirt on our clothes but also our tiredness. 1600H we bid goodbye to Amindiwin Falls and started to trek towards our jump off point.  It was non-stop and as newbies on the sport of mountaineering, it was already amazing for us.  I think Mt. Amindiuen was pleased because we named a waterfall after her name that she gave us the strength to do a two-hour non-stop trek. 1800H, we reached our jump off point.

After putting on some dry clothing, we head back towards the city carrying with us the memories we had on our trip to Mt. Amindiuen.  As Filipinos, we consider this adventure as palihi (“Palihi” in Cebuano is akin to an act that invites luck or the act of doing something that you want to be repeatedly done for the whole year).    I hope more adventures will come on 2012. ^_^

MY 2011

Year 2011 ends and I just felt the urged to write everything that happened to me during this year.  For the 21 years of my existence in this beautiful and amazing world, 2011 is the best year so far.  This year is the biggest turning point of my life. 

I started my 2011 in a very sentimental state. Like every teenage love affair, I tasted the pain of heartbreak.  My 5-year boyfriend who was also the person I used to call as my best friend, found his happiness from someone else.  For five years, we broke up four times and four times we made up.  But our 5^thbreak up was different; I felt it’ll be the last break up and there will be no chance of making up. And I was right! For two months, I was down. I was desperate. I was lost. But for that 2-month period of melancholy, my family and friends proved to me how great they are. And GOD? HE showed me how much He loves me.  He hugged me and made me feel that everything will be alright. And YES!!!  EVERYTHING TURNS OUT RIGHT!

April 1, 2011, I woke up with a smile and lighthearted. I do not know why, I just felt the need to apologize to my ex-boyfriend and start a new life without him.  I knew God wanted me to be happy. And GOD as my creator had always known what can make me happy. LAAG (traveling/adventure). My friends <I think it would be okay for them to mention their names>, Beridz and Opaw, tagged me along in their every escapade!  The fourth month of 2011 was a blast! This is the list of my April LAAG:

4/4/11                          Mahaplag Joyride

4/6/11                          Villaba Joyride + Jordan Spring

4/6/11                          Palompon Joyride

4/9/11                          Kuting Reef, Macrohon, Leyte

4/10/11                        Cagnituan Falls and Cave, Maasin, Leyte

4/14/11                        Hanginan (Prayer Time), Maasin, Leyte

4/14/11                        Canigao Island, Matalom, Leyte

4/16/11                        Calanggaman Island, Palompon, Leyte

4/22/11                        Agas-Agas Bridge Zipline with Baryo Wakwak

4/22/11                        Immaculate Shrine, Maasin, Leyte

4/30/11                        Tadjaw Beach Resort, Dulag, Leyte

4/30/11                        Hill 120

4/30/11                        Agas-Agas Bridge Zipline

Amazing right?! 13 LAAG in a month!!

May was like a rest month. I spent my 5^th month getting ready for another episode of my life. My “katkat sa bukid” life.  Remarkably, I disciplined myself to jog around a public school ground every morning to increase my endurance and to be able to surpass any challenge a mountain may offer to me.

June 2011, I conquered  Alto Peak, the highest  in Eastern Visayas (region 8), Mt. Panamao, the highest n Biliran Island and Lake Janagdan, a large inland body of water in Mount Janagdan located near Ormoc City. 

But the most extraordinary of all within this month was the stepping stones laid down by my father that leads to my dream of becoming a lawyer.  I also received from him “Motoy” (my motorcycle) during this month. 

From June to August, I again became a student.  It became a routine for me to study every afternoon and go to school. But, on the 4^th of September, I was invited to visit Tinago Falls which is located in Biliran Island. In the middle of the 9^th month, I was hired as a substitute teacher. In the morning, I am teacher and every 6pm, I transformed into a student. Amazingly, I successfully finished my 1^st semester as law student.

My teacher/student life continued. I was hired again as a teacher.  I enrolled for the second semester. And life? It started to get boring.  But since I am Aiai, the “mapanghimatas-ong Aiai”, boredom cannot defeat me.  I always find my day complete if in that day I can laugh genuinely, so everyday, I look for ways to achieve that laugh.

Christmas vacation! And indeed, it was a vacation.  A vacation well spent with friends. Our target was to visit waterfalls and caves which are only located within Ormoc City or at least within Leyte. This is my LAAG list for the month of December:

12/14/11 – RM Tan/Nueva Sociedad/Kan Idon Cave, Ormoc City

12/16/11 – Gunhuban Falls, Bato, Leyte

12/20/11 – Albuera Roadtrip

12/22/11 – (Morning) San Juanico Bridge

12/22/11 – (Afternoon) Wall Climbing at Bukid Outdoor Shop, Tacloban City, Leyte

12/22/11 – (Evening) Parokya ni Edgar Concert at Baybay City

12/25/11 – Christmas Laag at Uban Falls, Libertad, Kananga, Leyte

12/26/11 – Bakwitan Mountain Resort, San Agustin, Baybay City

12/28/11 – Busay Falls, Apale, Isabel, Leyte

Exhausting yet fulfilling.

2011! 2011! 2011! I heard you will bring bad fortune for those people born on the year of the dragon. But hey! We defeated you!! 

2012, Year of the Dragon.  Chinese said, our year! But I know, 2012 will be the year of the LORD just like every year that have passed! And I know, God will always be with me to guide me in every step of the way either in my career or in my adventure.

Like great adventurous people said, “All people who live, die. But, not all people who die have lived.”  I am just so glad that I started to live my life as early as this year. All thanks to Papa Lord, my family and friends (so happy and blessed to have you guys!)

Hoping for more laag to come in 2012!!! Thank you daan Papa Lord!!   x(^.^)x