Of Sunburns, Snorkeling and Finding Nemo

Snorkeling in Balicasag Island, Panglao, Bohol

Unbelievable. They look straight at you, doe-eyed and incredibly cute, you can’t help but stare back as intently, as adorably. Clown fishes.

Clown fishes by their writhing anemone. They have to be the most adorable sea creatures ever. And very brave, too, they don’t dart away at the site of mere humans. I couldn’t believe I met them, just then. And there. At a beach whose coral reef was previously unheard of (at least by me). Punta Cruz Beach in Maribojoc, Bohol isn’t exactly the best beach in Bohol. There’s barely any sand, the seashore’s rocky with the kind that maims, and it’s dotted with sea urchins, huge sea urchins. The place is flocked with locals and tourists alike because of the centuries-old triangle-planned stone watchtower, Punta Cruz. And it’s not as crowded as the ones in Panglao. It still has the rustic feel about it.

Punta Cruz, Maribojoc, Bohol

Anyway, it was only the second time in a year that I actually swam in seawater. Going to the beach for me mostly meant just hanging out with friends, enjoying the view, picnicking, stuff other than swimming. The first time was the previous weekend in Panggangan Island, Calape, Bohol. I swam because it would be my first time to actually snorkel. I decided to snorkel because it was about time I did. And I was so glad I did, at last. I was even thinking, why the heck didn’t I do this way, way before?

Panggangan Island, Calape, Bohol

Okay, I know why. One, I don’t know how to swim. I previously thought that you had to go into the deep to actually see the beautiful fishes and corals. Not exactly. In Punta Cruz, the feeling was intimate, the coral reef was only a few meters from the shore and the water was just about chest deep.

I got a new 'skin-pa-lang-damit-na' top

Two, I only then realized? My skin burned too fast. So maybe I was a little too carried away, swimming with all the lovely fishes of a heady assortment, blue ones, those striped black and yellow, clown fishes (turns out I only knew so little fishes) that I exposed my back too long under the seething sun. The result? The nastiest sunburn mark ever, brutally slapped on my back.

Balicasag Island, Panglao, Bohol

Three, I don’t know how to swim. Okay. So, apparently, I could still snorkel in the deeper parts with the life vest on. I learned this, in fact, the following week, when another opportunity to go swimming and snorkeling presented itself, I again grabbed it. And at the famous dive site, Balicasag Island too, southwest off Panglao Island. (And this time, with a GoPro Hero, first roll of film inside, strapped to my wrist.)That was my first time, too, actually swimming in the deep. The place was trenched, we were just at the border between the not so deep (where the bottom of the sea is still visible) and the deep deep (where the water is so endlessly bluuuueeee, like seeing in the dark only it’s blue not black, it’s scaaarrrry). It was a wonderful experience. Not as intimate as the Punta Cruz snorkel but more breathtaking, spine-tingling, thrilling. It actually felt like I just conquered something really big after that swim. I again found Nemo, bigger and bolder. More corals and fishes. And a huge shiny swirl of jack fishes, the stuff that you only see on TV.

Next stop: Pamilacan Island, Baclayon, Bohol

Four, I’m really not as adventurous as one would think. But all this, is gonna change. I’m going scuba diving this weekend – not!

Of course I don’t have the moolah to do that, not just yet, moreso, the guts. One step, or one stroke, at a time, I guess. And my skin hasn’t recovered yet. Though ultimately, I don’t think sunburns would matter much any more. (We again went to the beach, in Manga this city, last Sunday, making it the fourth in a row, but remnants of Frank’s powers were still there, the sea wasn’t just as charming that time.) But if come weekend, the beach would again summon me? I don’t think I can say no any longer. Snorkel set in one hand, sunscreen lotion on the other, lord of the seas, here I come!

Sunset view from Tagbilaran City

Yes, We Can!

This is an awesome video of an awesome song inspired from an awesome speech. I wish we had as riveting politicians. I would readily create a video like this for him or her. I still believe that it is quite incredible for the US of A to have a colored President, but I'm willing to rethink my view. Obama just might can.

The Dead

I discovered this ages ago and am rediscovering it after a recent death in the family. Very poignant.

We Let Her Die

May 1. Late afternoon. I was awoken by my sister Eden's squealish cry which only meant one thing - Honey died.

Honey is the daughter of a cousin. Honey was 12 and was living at my sister's. Honey's been admitted at the government hospital since Sunday, of a platelet disease, ITP. She's been transfused with nearly 20 bags of blood in the last three days. And watching her lifeless body at her hospital bed, her face and body, bruised and blood-streaked, the rejected gallon-ful of deep-crimson blood nearby, her mother's distressing cry, infectious, tears started streaming down my cheeks.

My first thought: we let her die. It was true. We did.

And now, we drown ourselves in our own tears.

Dig this

Submitted to JPG Issue 17: Street Fashion.
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Would you watch Ploning?

I don't get this movie. Not yet. Not from the trailers. Not from the website info. Plus it's too star-studded. The cinematography is promising though. Will I watch this movie? Possibly.
Well, would you?

Which came first?

I'm so happy. I finally completely downloaded one of my all-time-favorite-i-am-yet-to-see movies. After so many attempts, wohooooo, at looooong last - IL POSTINO. I started downloading it Saturday afternoon and almost didnt believe it'd get done when I left my laptop while it was at it until tonight and wohoooooo! Un-fucking-believable.

"What came first the music or the misery?" Plus, plus, a bonus - HIGH FIDELITY. One of my all-time-favorite-i've-watched-too-many-a-times movies. Dang. I love this film. And I can't believe I haven't even read the book.

I'm watching it right now. 'Loooove it. And I had a light-bulb moment just this past instant: I think my favorite actor really is John Cusack. (Move over, Brad Pitt.) The guy's a cutie and he does cool movies, cool roles, which makes him hot.

And oh yah, the IL POSTINO? It's a Spanish movie. Spanish-language. And my downloaded copy? No subtitles, of course. I guess you really couldn't have your cake and eat it, too.

But I will. I'm gonna learn Spanish - not. I'll download the subtitles. Meanwhile, I'm just gonna delight on the fact that I have a copy of IL POSTINO. That's enough, for now. Woohoooooo!

Pablo Neruda. You're a genius!

Summer Splash

(Cover Design and Text by Me. Photos by Ryan Macalandag)

Summer must go on. Rain or shine.

But now that the splendor of summer sunshine has finally crept from behind the clouds, the downpours which threatened of a wet ‘dry season’, now all but intermittent drizzles, or perhaps mere mirages in the seething heat – summer, as we know it, is definitely on.
Pleasures abound in this island paradise we call home, the Bol-anon summertime itinerary should be as profuse.

This summer, seize a waterfall.

Mag-aso Falls in Antequera might be the most accessible from the city, but the must-visit: Bohol’s highest drop of frothy white water, Candijay’s Can-umantad Falls.

Getting there might entail light trekking onto rolling hillsides and a bustling river leading up to the foot of the Can-umantad, but it’s all worth it. When feathery mists start touching your searing skin, while still scrambling the last tricky hurdles towards base of the falls, the only recourse is to succumb to nature’s majesty.

An encounter with a towering waterfall is an exercise of veneration towards a power that’s beyond us. You look up, spread your arms, close your eyes, and be drenched and cleansed with the waters from heaven.

And you’ll believe, Bohol is paradise.


Other waterfall attractions spread throughout Bohol are the Inambacan Falls in Antequera, Kawasan Falls and Niluksoan Falls in Balilihan, Camugao Falls in San Isidro, Dimiao’s Twin Falls and Pahangog Twin Falls & Caverns, Kinahugan Falls in Jagna, Tontonan Falls in Loboc, and Kawasan Falls in Trinidad. You might want to seek the help of local adventure groups like the Divine Word Outdoor Club for the trickier falls adventure.

(Oops... You're reading this first. This article is the cover of tomorrow's LifestyleBohol, the lifestyle section of the Bohol Chronicle Sunday Edition.)

Nuts Huts

Impossible connecting road from the highway. The steepest staircase, from the entrance down to the reception area and restaurant, then down to the huts by the river. Very basic amenities. The restaurant closes at 10pm. You can't bring food in your room/hut. That's Nuts Huts for you.

And yet people keep coming back there. (We did, Good Friday 'til Black Saturday.)

There's just something about this place, tucked safely beside the famed emerald river of Loboc, and in between lush vegetation off the inclines of a friendly mountain, scored enchantingly by the gentle cascades of a nearby low waterfalls and the constant chirping of birds and cicadas. Lazy hours that could stretch to days.

And so people keep coming back.

(Nuts Huts is a backpacker's hideout located in Gotozan, Loboc, Bohol.)

It's not easy, gettin' to paradise.

We are dwellers of the Empire of the Sun and Rising Sun. Rooms at the Nuts Huts are named after classic movies.

We 'scrabbled'. Board games abound in the common room / restaurant.

We could get used to this.

Holy Wednesday!

Baclayon Church, the Bohol's oldest, her Semana Santa procession, in particular, became the object of our curiosity this Holy Week, us the un-church-ish types.

Iloilo/Guimaras

Had the chance to visit Iloilo City again last weekend. And while there, Guimaras just had to be visited, too. Short boat trip, about 15 minutes. Not too impressive, I must say. Save for the mangoes. And that may just be enough.

[JSYK (just so you know) photo is just a photo of a mango, not necessarily guimaras mango.]