Dailies, Family Matters
Island Province
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I’ll be coming home soon to my wonderful province called the Isle of the Eastern Seas, Catanduanes, my island paradise of serene beauty.
…. can’t wait.
I miss that old bench I once knew when I was a kid. That endless line of isolated beaches, with clear waters of deep blue that beckon to weary city folk and surfers.
… an exquisite early mornings and catch that beautiful sunset which makes you feel like you are in another world you almost wanna scream.
The sidewalks that are almost empty where at certain point along the road to get a glimpse of the silhouette of Mt. Mayon from across the sea.
… drinking of a round of beer, and demolish a song or two at a karaoke bars with childhood friends.
While relaxing on the shores, I can relish everything that becomes the South Pacific, without having to contend with people who merely want to be seen.
… a place that bound to turn any visitor into a lingerer.
And once again, to see my family, the beautiful people, the place I’ll forever loved and call my home.
Walkin’ Home
by: Spyro Gyra
K, that sounds beautiful. When are you heading back? Mom knows or isit a surprise?
You must be on cloud 9 yeah? Keep smiling!
Ssshh Asha, I’m paying her a surprise holiday visit and although I did already told my sis (a big-mouther) maybe she’d get the feeling about these whole crazy plan of mine in celebrating her bday. I’m heading in a week from now… feck I need to start packing up.
Not really that get excited cuz I’m suppose to ask her fly over in HK but she declined. Maybe I’m the one who’ll get a surprise.
that’s nice! it’s always pleasant to head home after being away on your own…back home to be with family and close friends and enjoy the surroundings! I miss my home too!
It’s like a small family reunion minus my two brothers who went home early last month. She hate us going home all together, she thinks it’s a bad luck. At the same time, I would never want to miss the Holy Week highlights so that’s pretty much about relaxing and oh yes, the popular local dishes.
I’ll definately be soaking myself in a deep blue sea water. I want SUN!
your home sounds so serenely beautiful! few people take the time to appreciate familiar surroundings and it’s refreshing to come across one =)
.. and reunite with my long lost school friends. Many years ago, it said to be one of the most peaceful place becuz of its unspoiled beaches, very rich in history you probably can compare the island to Guam. But nowadays I think it has become a tiny “city” with few buildings.
The island is located at the Pacific, so during typhoon season in the Philippines, travelling by air or jetboats are dangerous and because of these, the island was known to as the “Land of the Howling Winds”.
in two weeks i’ll be in Ilocos! i love the province. i loved growing up there. i can’t wait to see my grandma
Dez, I’ve never been to Ilocos. I grew up in BICOL from kindergarten to college - all my life I wanted to build my own house there near the beach - big windows like a balinese house near a cliff that abuts the sea - kaso pag bumagyo, dedbol ako! hahaha.
There’s always story to tell if your grannies are from the Province. You have a place to escape away from the city.
Take more PHOTOS. I’ll be doing that for sure.
have fun i will fly out in few hrs
will miss you
will sort out my internet as soon time allows me
next time i come with you to catanduanes never been there
wait a min thought its part of main land at Bicol
island? duh oh my got to learn Phil geography again
tell me more
how you get there from Manila?
land trip to bicol or plane from Manila to virac
hey 22 years nawala ako sa pinas ha. sorry i meant it i just feel so bad there are many places of my country of birth which i do not know much
whats the main dialect?
Sha. BIKOLANDIA is huge. We are located in the eastern side along the typhoon belt (binabagyo kami lagi pero parang wala na sa amin yan, matitibay ang bubong ng mga bahay dun).
There are 3 ways to get there: (if you’re a city girl, magrereklamo ka ng todo-todo pero it’s worth the journey)
BY AIR: PAL used to travel in Catanduanes but since it’s only a small island (I think as big as HK island) pinalitan na ng Asian Spirit and Air Philippines. This airline flies direct from Manila to and from Virac daily (45mins or an hour flight).
BY LAND: 13 hrs maximum journey. I’m not travelling by air dahil gusto kong mag enjoy ng BUS-riding along with my iPod (songs worth for 2days). Air Conditioned buses travel direct from Manila to Virac (the Capital of Catanduanes where I live) daily. Other air-conditioned buses can take you from Manila to the Port of Tabaco where a ferry boat can take you across to Virac. Sa Cubao and Pedro Gil St., in Malate, ata ang station (sana hindi na magulo sa bus station).
BY SEA: The most exciting for me. if you are more adventurous tourist and sightseeing travelers, Virac is the best reached throuh the sea. There are two big shipping lines that set asail from the Port of the Tabaco to Virac/San Andres port daily. Ang ganda, you can actually watch a “school of fish” around.
Our dialect is BIKOL. We speak different tones of languages but can easily understand each other but ours is the most unique - we often talk using a slightly twisting of your tongue, parang mga BISAYA? Bicol is rich in traditional food - the “THAILAND” capital of Philippines dahil sa SILI. In our province alone we have 11 other dialects that some of which I can’t speak. Dami pang chekwa dun.
hope to catch u manila before u i go k!
Yuri - not sure saka nakakahiya.
I basically just want to spend it in Bicol, pabalik ko sa Manila same day direcho na ata ako sa NAIA …. via Cebu Pacific, the cheapest one I got dahil fully-fucking-book ang PAL (my choice) at CX (ok lang!)
In case, dumaan ako MLA, punta ako sa Our Tribe para bumili ng leather chinelas at sa BENCH dahil di nasisira yung underwear lycra nila. Saka bili na rin ako ng BALUT. nyak! nyak! nyak! matsalap tati.
hey! when are you coming home?
you excited? sama ako!
Duke in 10 days! Wag ka ng sumama, wala kaming available room dun for guests hahaha but can you imagine staying on a nipa cottage on a shore? Maririnig mo lang yung alon at simoy ng hangin parang gusto mong….
Masarap mag BBQ ng ISDA! Kaya lang baka pag kaguluhan ka dun ng mga guys hehehe.
yeay!
tag me when you’re in manila, k!
Ten, sabi nga ni Yuri - sana nga. I’ll be blogging over there to update. In case we meet, take me to MAX resto.
aw that’s nice
take pictures and tell us about it after.
how was your weekend k?
EAR most definately will. I’ve been thinking a lot about my itinerary - I’m sure when I get there, it’ll be a compulsory to take pictures.
My weekend was work & rain. It will never be as exciting as getting a day off - home has always been an extension. I wish I’d drop my cellphone somewhere so The Office can’t find me. Sucks, I would say.
yey, he’s coming home. (or is it “going home” since i’m in a different province) Must feel really great to be back home, huh? Excited?
My last visit was 3 yrs ago I think and I’ve always go back to the province no matter how far you’re from. Some friends say I should visit other countries. “Great, why not?” thing is, my family can’t join me.
Yeah bit of excited here but airport & custom officers back home can cause a lot stress.
You know, I could have sworn I heard sound of waves rolling as I read your description. Just entering dreamland right about now. *sigh* Anyway, I’m sure you’ll relish in seeing your mum’s surprised reaction. It’ll be memorable. ;]
Hahaha Pari, bet she’d be totally happy. Oh that reminds me of buying her that coloring hair called BIGEN that helps cover her almost “white” hairs. Note to self. Thanks!
uy gusto ko ng inihaw! sus banig ok na ako
kailangan ko lang ng sponsor ng flight ticket 
i’m sure excited ka na, K!
And speaking of tickets - I’m flying Cebu Pacific. Cheap no? I know, too small pa - no choice na kasi medyo na-underestimate ko yung exact date ng uwi eh fully book na mga airlines from April onwards eh mga Kababayan natin pauwi pa.
I’m just excited to RELAX (worry-free). I will not be using mobile phones via roaming para di tumawag si Bossing at guluhin ang buhay ko dun sa Bicolandia.
i’m jealous!! lol…there’s nothing like going back to the philippines to see family and friends. and there’s nothing like the laid-back, relaxed feel of our islands… have a wonderful trip!
Rho, diba?
2 weeks is not bad to forget the CITY forrawhile and enjoy my time with the old folks. There’s a little time adjustment on waking-sleeping time in the province. I always end up waking up at 5am when the rooster “swears the fook up” on top of someone elses roof. It should be FUN!
haha! you’re so right about the roosters!!
Provincial life, there are funny stories to memorize and I just cant keep smiling back at those little memories.
And oh, the “TAHO! taho! taho!” in the early morning - chase that dude!
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[...] My little niece Meeka, called me up with a surprise asking me to join them for dinner with her family at their flat yesterday. I asked about what the ocassion was and she replied, “I wanna show you something”. I knew they arrived from vacationing in the Philippines along with my two other nephews and her elder brother. And eventhough it was their first grand holiday, she did bring my favourite filipino dessert, Polvorons. Then she showed me their photos from the camera where she met my sisters and her Lola (Grandma) who flew a long way from Bicol to see them - they obviously enjoyed Manila, so surprised seeing a huge shopping mall, they called it the The Big Globe. I would say, how lucky of them seeing all our lovedones. [...]
[...] I’m getting pale, I need a tan. My eyes hollowed, I need a sleep. My wallet emptied, I need a loan. I wanna go home. [...]
Waaaa… I havent been to catanduanes. If I Can, i’ll visit there when I return to the phlippines.
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