BLOG GIVEAWAY: UPDATE

My apologies for the delay of the actual "raffle" because of two (2) reasons.

1.  Despite several attempts, I cannot seem to get RAFFLECOPTER going.  Well, I did all the registration and stuff, but when I post the HTML on this blog, a different thing comes out. Help, anyone?

2.  I was sick.  No, make that I AM sick.
     Despite several "bago lumala" remedies, I have now what you may call, a full blown flu.  Worst is that I have a summer class ongoing and I would not want those little kids catch whatever I have. Eh todo halikan at yakapan pa naman kami doon.  Sad.

Anyhoo, here is the final list of participants of my first blog giveaway.
Thank you very much for joining.  The list will be drawn manually in the presence of some participants and the result will be announced tonight.

Again, SALAMAT FOR JOINING and watch out for more giveaways in the future!

Anie Buce

Ariez Buce

Art Tecson

Artheena Tecson

Baby Joy Costinar

Bren Layola

Chard Llemos

Clemen Perea

Delia Bitara

Diane Natividad

Divs Munar

Edcel Costinar

Edmar Costinar

Flor Natividad

Jeff Budiongan

Joebelle Perfas

Lara Budiongan

Laurence Calungsod

Lyn Bonagua

Maki Jamir

Michael Munar

Noel Soberano

Paula Jelley

Renz Llemos

Ricky Llemos

Risa Costinar

Ver Natividad

Xianon Munar

Zildjian Budiongan

Zui Ramos

IT'S TIME FOR A GIVEAWAY!

Yes, you read it right folks.

My very first blog giveaway is UP!

Pero bago ang lahat, kaunting "dramarama" muna. Puwede?

I have always wanted to write.
Keber na if I am a good writer in the eyes of my readers pero sa totoo lang, this has really been my longtime dream - to right about my travels.

Ngunit dahil kailangan kong magbanat ng buto, this "dream" of mine has been put to the sidelights for the longest time.

In fairness, I have tried putting up a blog naman and was quite successful a few times - during our Wedding Preps., when we we just got married, and a couple of other times.

But sadly, after a few posts, I was never able to maintain it.

Fast forward to July of 2012 when my Dad was hospitalized and was already spending what would be his final days here on earth.

One night, I was the only "bantay" in the hospital and when he was awaken because a nurse had to take his vital signs in the middle of the night, we both could not sleep afterwards.

For several hours, we were just talking about anything and everything.

Suddenly, napunta ang usapan sa pagsusulat.

Dad:  "Mye, ituloy mo ang pagsusulat mo.  Kayong tatlong magkakapatid ay may gift sa writing."

Flattered na sana ako pero bigla siyang may dinugtong pa na muntik akong mapa cartwheel sa kinahihigaan ko.

Dad:  "Sa totoo lang, sa inyong tatlo, ikaw ang pinaka mahina sa pagsusulat - sa spelling,  sa composition, sa lahat.... "

Anak ka ng Max yan Oo.  Manlalait lang pala si Padir.

But what he said after really struck me:

Dad:  "Pero among the three of you, ikaw ang may pinakamalakas na loob.  Very gutsy ka and your writing has heart and soul".

Palong palo ang dinugtong ni Fudra na yun. Mangiyak-ngiyak ako framis!

Dad:  "I nurture mo yan.  A few hours of your day, magsulat ka... Para paglaki ng anak mo, masasanay siya sa environment na nag-iisip at nagiging creative.  Hindi puro TV o mall....

So ayun na nga mga kaberks.  When he died a month after, one of my promises to him is to cultivate this gift that God has gave me.  And, for the first time, I am able to maintain a blog for more than a month already with more than ten posts to boot!

Yipee!

So ayun na nga, to celebrate, I would like to give back to you -my blogreaders (yes, all ten of you na puros yata mga kamag-anak ko pa at may kasama pang pilitan hahaha!).

Presenting my FIRST among many prizes to give away:

Not one, not two, but THREE Tickets to ENCHANTED KINGDOM

Photo grabbed from the Enchanted Kingdom website.

or SPLASH ISLAND

Photo grabbed from the Splash Island website.

or ZOOBIC SAFARI

Photo grabbed from Zoobic Safari website.

Mechanics of the Contest:

1.  Open to everyone.  Yes, you read it right, everyone!
2.  Get Five (5) of your friends to like the Magnets on MY Fridge Facebook Page.
     Here's the link:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Magnets-on-MY-Fridge/131199050395134
3.  After you have done that, please COMMENT at the end of this post and type the names of the five        friends that you have asked.  Note na dapat new "likers" sila ha at hindi dati ng nag like.
4.  I will then verify it and I will inform you if your entry is valid.
5.  On Sunday, April 27, 2013, I will raffle (through rafflecopter - an electronic raffle system) and will immediately announce the winner.
6.  Only those who have "verified" entries will be included in the raffle.
7.  The tickets are fully transferable.  If you are abroad, you may give the tickets to your friend or relative here in the Philippines. Kahit sa Charity ibigay nyo. Kering keri yan. :)
8.  Choose only one among EK, Splash Island or Zoobic Safari as your destination of choice.
9.  My relatives are eligible to join and win.  Basta for everyone ito.  Walang hindi kasali , okie? Pero sana naman hindi Nanay ko o Asawa ko ang mapili ng rafflecopter.  Parang nakakahiya naman yata yun.  Lutong Makaw. :)
10. Kapag isa lang ang mag join - SIYA NA ANG AUTOMATIC NA WINNER.  Sana naman kahit isa may mag join para hindi naman ako mapahiya. Hehehe

The Contest starts NOW!

Goodluck and have fun!

BUKIDNON ADVENTURE

From Camiguin, we went straight to Bukidnon to complete the last leg of our Mindanao getaway.

Photo grabbed from Wikipedia

We left our resort in Camiguin right after breakfast, rode the ferry back to Balingoan Port, and met our Van Driver for the day.

The road going to Bukidnon is steep and "zigzaggy" as it is located atop a mountain.  There are also parts when it is "dusty" as there were unpaved roads.

What is good is that the weather there is much lower than the lowlands, pretty much like Tagaytay - truly a welcome treat for all of us.

The pride of Bukidnon is their pineapples which are said to be the sweetest in the country.

Del Monte Philippines has set its central operation there for a long time already and one could not help but admire the simple yet systematic community built by the said company for their employees.

We passed by hectares and hectares of pineapple plantation on the way up.

I do not own this picture. Grabbed it from http://www.philja.com

Our destination for the day is the DAHILAYAN FOREST AND ADVENTURE CAMP.
This is where you will find Asia's longest dual zipline and J was eager to try it along with the rest of the group including my niece Siobee who is so adventurous by nature.

We are finally here and we are eager to conquer it.

But first we had to find an area for Mommy and Tita Remy so they too could enjoy the scenery without actually riding the zipline.

Alas, they finally found their spot already.

So, the gang were all set for the Zipline Adventure

Ate Grace and Ate Lyn were first to arive.

Then came Spiro - You did it Kuya!

That's it?  Too simple for Siobee's guts as expected. 

All smiles si Tito Deck.  Hindi halatang "napilit" lang. Haha!

Tito Bonn arrived with those blue "thingy" on his hands.
Please do not ask me what is that for. ASK. HIM. DIRECTLY. Bwahahaha.

Jon arrived the last, and, judging from his face and thumbs, it was all good!

After the Zipline experience, we grabbed some snacks in one of the kiosks there and off we went to Del Monte Club House to have some photos before going back to CDO.

A lovely afternoon spent communing with lush greeneries and awesome company.

Then we wasted no time in going down to CDO and back to Travelers Pod where we relaxed until dinner time.

After dinner, we rode a jeep and went to their famous "Divisoria" for a night of "Ukay Ukay" Shopping.

Bonn scored a lot of major finds while the rest of us settled on hanging around and enjoying the vibe.  It was all in all a night of fun and laughter.  Very worthwhile indeed.

The next morning, Bonn and Deck had an early flight back to Manila while the rest of us relaxed in the hotel until it was time to head to the airport for our 2PM flight.

Thank you Lord for another safe and memorable trip spent with family and friends.

WE WILL COME AGAIN, CAMIGUIN!

After a hectic day in Cagayan De Oro the previous day, we were in for a really busy day as we were getting out of CDO (our homebase for this trip) and go all the way to Camiguin.

We wanted to see this place not only because of their famous landmarks but also to taste their Lanzones, which was said to be the sweetest this side of the universe.

The call time was originally at 4AM pero nagpakatotoo na kami and moved it to 6am.
Keber na kung madaming tao.... Tao din naman kami eh. :)

We are to embark into more or less 3-4 hours of travel.

Ito ang detalye:

CDO to Balingoan Port via hired Van                               2 hours
Balingoan Port to Benoni Port (Camigiun) via Roro Ferry  1 hour

MADUGO.
Don't you think so too?
Isama mo pa na may dalawa kaming Senior Citizens at isang Toddler na ubod ng kulit.  Complete with their accessorries ha na itago na lang natin sa tawag na Wheelchair at Stroller.

Kaya sinimulan namin sa isang piging bago mapasabak sa bakbakan, hehehe.

Pupungas-pungas pa nasa Jollibee na.

Kaunting sandali pa ay nasa Balingoan Port na kami.
Sakto naman na may paalis na barge that time so gorabels na kami agad.

Nag bonding kami sa Toilet nyan ni Mommy and R kaya di complete this picture.

At, hindi nga nagbiro si Manong Driver ng Van.
Cast of multitudes nga ang peg inside the ferry.
Pumunta din ng Camiguin ang taumbayan!

Hindi umobra ang pa-tweetums mo, Cousin Bonn kahit pa naka magic "Sarong" ka.

     Walang gentle-gentleman dito!  Tumayo ka lang jan for the rest of the journey, ehkei?

Habang eto naman ang mahal kong asawa nangarap

 maging Kapitan bilang wala ngang maupuan.

Sad.  The things these boys will do for money. :(

Huwag tangkilikin mga Peeps.  This is dangerous and inhumane.

Magtinda na lang sila or something.  Really really sad.

Maya maya pa, natatanaw ko na that we are already near sa aming patutunguhan.

First glimpse of Camiguin

And, here we are na nga!

Hayun na si Governor oh, may pinagawa pa talagang tarpaulin just for us.

I heart you already Mr. Governor. You are so accommodating. Chos.

We were met by our our hired driver in Camiguin and since it is almost lunch time, he brought us na sa isang "Eat all you Can" eatery.
 Keribels ang presyo:  Tumataginting na 120 pesoseses lang. Winner!

Then, inumpisahan na namin ang field trip.

First Stop:  Katibawasan Falls

Thank you for visiing and please Camiguin!

But since it was a long walk from the entrance to the falls, Mommy decided that she stays in the entrance na lang and, being the dutiful daughter that I am, sinamahan ko na lang siya.

Ang bait ko ano?  Hehehe.

That is the truth pero partly, dahil din yon dito:

SHOPPING GALORE!

Imbes KATIBAWASAN Falls, napunta kami ni Mommy sa KABAWASAN ng bulsa.

Pansinin ang attire ni Inay.  Nakapag costume change na already?

Gusto talaga agad agad nang ipakita ang purchase? May pinagmahan pala ako, haha.

Ito ang susunod na destinasyon sa aming itinerary.  Honestly, wala na akong na re-remember diyan.
Sorry naman.

Wala ngang na re-remember di ba? Sana patawarin na kung wala ring caption di ba?

And then, we were brought to another place that is supposed to be another Camiguin attraction.
Ready to go down the van na kami miski slight nag-uuntugan na mga ulo namin sa antok habang nasa biyahe.

Kaso lang, napaurong kami nung nag dialogue si Kuya Driver slash Tourist Guide slash Comedian nang ganito: "Maganda po diyan. Aakyat kayo nang hagdan ng mahabang mahaba tapos nandun po ang Stations of the Cross at Volcano".

Ay Manong, the last time we checked, February pa lang.  Holy Week is not until the last week of March.
Tsaka malapit naman sa amin ang Tagaytay.  Old Volcano din naman po ang Taal.
LET'S SCRATCH THE IDEA, NOW NA!

Salamat Tita Remy for saving us from kahihiyan.  Siya lang naman ang bukod tanging napilit ni Kuya

na magpa-picture man lang. Clap Clap!

Next stop was a "ruin" na mabilis namang dinugtungan ni Kuya nang "Mga sampung hakbang lang po makikita nyo na!" kaya naman dali-dali kaming bumaba ng Van.

Very rustic at picture perfect nga namn. :)

May bonus pa na centuries old na puno. So, our verdict, winner ditey mga Kumare!

Bongacious sa laki di ba?

Piktyuran muna uli.

Piktyuran nga. Ano pa ba hinihintay nyong caption.

Hehehe.

Ayan, we were nearing the end of our tour.  Sa totoo lang, we were dying to get to our resort na and enjoy the beach.  Kaso lang, kabilin-bilinan ata ni Governor (na winelcome kami warmly via the tarpaulin kanina remember n'yo?)  na iikot kami sa lahat ng lugar doon so who are we to refuse hindi ba?

The next stop, I really made sure to see for myself kasi this is quite famous.

The Sunken Cemetery

Apparently, nilubog ng earthquake ang buong bayan including a cemetery thousands of years ago.  Scary really pero hitik a hitik sa history. Me likey likey.

To the showbiz fanatic:  Dito nag shooting si Juday and Jolens ng kanilang horror na pelikula na pinamagatang Ouija. Tumabo ba ito sa takilya mga Ateh?

Common, aminin mo na, napanood mo iyon!

After that, we were ready to check in na sa aming house for the night:  PARAS BEACH RESORT!

Yeah, that's our "soshala" house in the backgound. I know, right?

It was a good choice for we had the pool just outside our door. As in no more than ten steps din like the ruins.

Yeah, that's our "soshala" backyard pool. I know, right?

So, after settling in sa respective rooms namin, we wee ready to go to the highlight of this Camiguin trip of ours:  A trip to the famous CAMIGUIN WHITE SAND BAR located in the middle of the ocean.

We purposely chose Paras Beach Resort because it is just 10 minute away the resort by boat.  As in natatanaw na namin from our room.

The Boys' Boat.  Camera shy si Manong Bangkero like me?

Ito naman sa amin.  May pinagdadaanan yata ang Anak ko dito ah.

Approaching the Sand Bar.  I was hyperventilating.

Danda danda nga!

We were told na no one is allowed to stay there overnight. May mga caretakers ang island and they make sure na nakaalis na lahat ng tao pagdilim.

Walang kahit anong estblishment/structure sa area and that made it even more special.  Pang day tour lang talaga.  I also heard na kapag high tide, lumulubog ang part ng island.  I just do not know how true is that.

Just like the way I want it....

We rented (sa caretaker na may bahid ng pagiging entrepreneur) an umbrella and banig at spent the rest of the afternoon there to watch the sunset.  What a surreal feeling.

Ah, this is the life....

Walang basagan ng trip ang drama namin doon.

Father and Son bonding.  I likey so much!

May dumaang nagtitinda ng "snail".  At syempre pa, pinatulan pa rin namin bilang wala namang mapaglilibangan doon. Haha.

Jackpot ka Manong!  

Eh Kuya, baka naman may tinda kang ref magnet o kaya "I heart  the White Sand" T-Shirt diyan?

Wahaha.

Busy ang Bacocoy namin!

Ayan,  dito na nagtatapo ang Camiguin leg ng vacation namin.
We went back to our resort, ordered room service, chit chat a little, and off we dozed the night away.

Huy, may susunod na kabanata pa ito ha.  Pumunta pa kami sa Bukidnon bago kami bumalik ng CDO.
Abangan mga mudrabels ha. Ktnxbye.


POSTSCRIPT:  We were not able to taste nor at the very least see any Lanzones. :(
Apparently, hindi daw in season. Boo for us.

CDO-BUKIDNON-CAMIGUIN GETAWAY

Welcome to the so called GATEWAY OF MINDANAO!

J and I love to travel together - just the two of us.
We did it several times in and out of the country and, of course, during our honeymoon in the US thousands of years (and pounds!) ago.

But since R came into our life, we have been enjoying "group travel" and has done it several times lately.

We are very blessed to have three (and still counting!) sets of traveling companions:  The Azarcons, The Lacsamanas and the recently formed "Barkada" we found in my cousin Bonn and my guy bestfriend Deck, who was the Man of Honor at our Wedding.

For this travel, we are blessed in the company of Bonn and Deck along with the rest of our barkada - Mom, Ate Lyn, Ate Grace (Mom's assistant), Tita Remy, Spiro
 (my nephew) and Siobee (my niece).

Imagine the riot when you are 11 in all  in the group with different age groups and preferences.

Get ready for us, Cagayan de Oro!

So ito na ang kuwento ko.

Everyone except for Mom, Tita, and Ate Grace took the earliest flight out of Manila - 4AM.  It was too early for us "night people" that we did not even catch a minute of shut eye the night before the trip.

What's worse is that we had to go back to Manila midflight due to "technical problems" of the airplane.  It definitely scared the wits out of the "self confessed acrophobic" ME!

Apparently, what I thought was the Pilot's announcement that we will be landing shortly, turned out to be an announcement informing everyone onboard that the plane we are on has issues and that we have to go back immediately.

Of course, we were assured that "everything is under control" but I was not able to breath normally until the plane touched down, I tell you.  Afterall, no airline will admit that the flight is on distress, ayt?

I kept on kissing my little boy who was fast asleep and kept on whispering "sorry" to him for getting on that flight.  Haha. I am dramatic that way. :)

Side Kwento:  J, who was seated at the back with the other boys was sound asleep and knew nothing of the developments.  So, when we touched down at NAIA, he blurted out "Wow, ang ganda naman ng airport ng CDO at Ninoy Aquino din ang pangalan?"

We all had a good laugh of course.  He felt really stupid for thinking that way pero I really can't blame him kasi who would have thought nga di ba.  Natulog siya, airborne na so natural, pag touch down, nasa destination na kami.

Parang Victory Liner lang ang peg nang Cebu Pacific kasi when we landed sa NAIA, ayun, naghihintay na ang airplane na pampalit.

Buti na lang after deplaning and afterwards, boarding in the new aircraft, the flight was smooth na and we landed in Lumbia Airport in one piece (and alive!).

Ate Lyn looking calm, cool and collected despite the midflight scare we just experienced.

Sleep was a luxury we could not afford that day because our schedule was so tight.
So, after a quick breakfast at a "carinderia" just across the airport, Siobee and the boys were fetched by "Kagay" for their very first "White Water Rafting" experience.

They did not look like it pero they were very excited to experience this much raved activity in CDO.

Promise yan.

Here are more pictures of their experience.
Warning:  Plenty of  pictures ahead.

Orientation churva muna

All set na!

Here we go!

Upstream:  Now you see them,

Now you dont!

Feeling victorious for hurdling the first obstacle

Kaso, tumaob na agad. Waaaaa!
Deck:  Poised pa din?

Sige, mga walang kadala-dala ha...

What an experience indeed!

When they arrived in our hotel later in the afternoon, they were all dead tired and slept right away.
Gabi na nung nakita ulit namin sila.

In the meantime, us girls were already having a party inside the hotel.
We were very happy and satisfied with our choice.

Cheap yet stylish and cozy!

Party party!
Day Two will be up soon.