One Relaxing Trip to Pagsanjan Falls

May 10, 2008. With Nil, Mari, Ivan and Kara. Saya-saya mag-hike, trekking, rappelling going to the famous Pagsanjan Falls in Laguna. Though I grew up in Laguna, it was my first time to be there! The hike was tiring but it was fulfilling naman when you've finished the trek. Sarap mabasa sa ilalim ng Pagsanjan Falls!, the best yung feeling, lalo na pag tumatama yung splash of waters and yung mist sa mukha mo! Relaxing! We had a sidetrip din sa Liliw Laguna which is famous for their footwears! It's like 2 hours ata yung travel time namin but it was worth it! Here are the pics!!

CALAMBA DAY

April 16. Went to Calamba to visit my relatives and to my surprise it's my cousin's wife's birthday. Next thing I knew, I was having a hefty snack. And damn, I just can't resist the double dutch ice cream. Went home at around 6pm and arrived at around 7. Took a rest, watched tv before I had dinner.

I lay down on my bed again, called jenny for some burst out moment, which lasted for like an hour, ansaya ginawa ko landline ang mobile ko. Well, actually I could have texted her but because we had a deal that we wont text each other for a week and the one who can't resist it would treat the other. Now, I am not going to accept being a loser on this one haha!

Well, what have we talked about? Hmm.. It's a privileged communication man! Hehe!

BAKASYON NA!! ^___^

At last! The term has officially ended. After the exams in bus. org. Nil, Mari, Hazel and I had dinner at Giligan's. The planned metro bar qc thing was not pursued, instead we went to Tagaytay, with Jamie and Jem (Nil's sister). It was one cool night to remember, Jamie was so funny and Jem was full of stories!! It was really fun sharing laughs and stories with them!!

A lot of things happened for sem that was, but somehow it made me realized a lot of things and learned a lot!

Despite, the stress that the sem gave me, academically and with the relationships I have with others, well I managed to survived and I know that when another school year begins it's going to be back to square one! And definitely when that day comes, I know I will be ready, but for now I should be enjoying the summer!

A night to remember!

Met a friend at Festival Mall at around 7pm, I thought we would be going to any of the bars within the area, but he insisted on going at the back of the mall. We stayed there for quite a number of hours and talked on a lot of things. Things which I never expected I could share to anyone else, except for a few of my closest friends.

The good thing about this night is that I get to experience something I've never experienced before which at first seemed to me unenjoyable. At around past 10pm We walked around the whole alabang area while we continue talking, starting from Festival Mall, to Metropolis, the Alabang Public Market, to the intersection between the course through alabang zapote and the west service road, the corporate avenue, and the streets where the big buildings around Alabang are located. It was quite a fun night and I never thought it felt good to walk during the night at Alabang, where there are few people, few cars, bright lights and cool air breeze. Thanks to my friend who shared with me the experience! It was really relaxing!

Balik-bayan

It such a great feeling when you had a chance to go back to your hometown. A place which was a witness to your childhood and immaturity. I just did last Saturday.

I grew up in the birthplace of our “National Hero” Dr. Jose RIzal, Calamba City. A few kilometres drive from Manila and since I am living in Muntinlupa City right now I actually had to travel less than an hour to get there.

The promulgation of an Act making Calamba a city gives rise to a lot of changes in the town, it was a lot more urbanized than before. There were many establishments present right now, but somehow, I still could feel the breeze of the old Calamba.





First stop. I went to the famous Rizal Shrine. The actual birthplace of Rizal, where I actually was assigned during college to be a tour guide. I went inside the shrine and look into the different parts of the house, Rizal’s bedroom, her sisters’ bedrooms, master bedrooms, the kitchen and others. There were no changes at all from the last time I saw it. Too bad, there was some renovation going on in a museum located near the house, so my companion and I headed to the garden.



The wide garden of the Rizal Family was very much relaxing, there were lot of trees and plants in there. Just sitting on the benches and breathe fresh air truly made me feel good. In the garden as well you could see the statue of a young Rizal and a dog which purpose was to inspire the kids who tour the place. The “bahay-kubo” where the Rizal siblings played during their times was still there.

Second Stop. After my visit at the Rizal Shrine I got the chance to eat again Lomi, “Calamba Style”, luckily there was still a stall there selling it. The Lomi we ordered was actually good for three persons but we almost consumed the whole bowl of Lomi! It was good!



Third Stop. After eating Lomi, we went to the famous “BANGA”. It was a structure located in the plaza of Calamba, which was actually a “Kalan” and “Banga” (these were early forms of cooking utensils during the Spanish era). According to History, these “Kalan” and “Banga” were the origin of the name “Calamba”. A woman, carrying a “Kalan” and “Banga” during the Spanish era, come across a Spanish military man, and asked of the name of the town. Because the woman, didn’t understand Spanish, she thought that he was asking what she is carrying. She answered back, “Kalan”-“Banga”.
And from then on the town was called Calamba.

Last stop. Calamba Parish Church. I got the chance to kneel and pray in Calamba’s parish church again. I remembered my childhood days where in I was involved in participating in religious activities for kids, the days where I’ve been assigned to read the first or second readings for a particular mass, as well as in the collection of contributions from people.

It was really a nostalgic feeling when I went back to Calamba, and it’s like I want to go back for more, since there were still a few more spots and nice sceneries in the town. But I don’t have the luxury of time to visit them all. Well I just hope I would have the time again to visit my hometown and relive the moments which somehow became a part of who I am right now. I’m proud to be a Calambeño! and a Kababayan of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

By the way, Happy 146th Birthday Rizal on the 19th of June! =]