Akyat Pinatubo: Update

In May 10, I wrote about the Akyat Pinatubo Bloggers Climb for a Cause. It was scheduled tomorrow, but because of typhoon Chedeng, they decided to move its date. From 28 May, it will now take place on 04 June. I totally understood the reason for moving its date, and still, I am very excited for this trip.

The trip now has more supporters: SM, Jollibee, Havaianas, Unilab, Travel Factor, GeiserMaclang, Primer Group of Companies, Sledgers, Solid Hosting, R.O.X., Kiss Tourist Bus, and Blogger Manila.

Media partners are still Nufffnang Philippines, ChurpChurp Philippines, Orange Magazine TV.

Last Wednesday, there was a pre-travel briefing at R.O.X. in Bonifacio Global City. That day, I wasn't feeling 100% because of the heavy rain from the previous day. My sister, who is also part of the trip just went on my behalf.

Being one (or two) of the first 10 participants to register, my sister and I got a pair of Havaianas flip flops each. At the event, sister asked me my choice, and I told her to get me the "typical" looking flip flops, and since there were only two flip flops my size, sister chose the brown one. The other pair (she said) looked like one of my old Havaianas flip flops (see the picture on the upper right part of my blog's header), so she got this one for me. I still haven't used it, as I still have flip flops to wear. :)

The trip has quite a handful of supporters, and since they gave out products, the organizer decided to use these to raffle off. I got to win a thermo-tumbler and a bottle of Swish mouthwash from Unilab and a soap (with coconut shell soapdish) from Body Flavors. We also got to receive 100 GC because the trip fee for bloggers is now 1800. Since we paid 1900 for our slot, this was a good way of giving back the 100.

One funny thing to share, while at the pre-travel briefing, my sister asked me what my blog URL is because she needed to list down my name (so the organizer will know that I already got my "freebies"). Like I said, I wasn't feeling all that good, so I gave her the URL of my food blog (as the recent events I attended were for my food blog). Later I realized I gave her the wrong URL, which is why one blogger asked my sister why my blog is about food. Anyway, I would just like to say that my blog for the Akyat Pinatubo is this one. :)

*** Jenn ***

My Kind of a Rest Day

Fish Cages - Mayongan

Bolinao, Pangasinan

01 May 2010

The night before, my cousin Ailene asked if I can watch over her three daughters because she will be out that night to take care of some coal shipping. I certainly didn't mind the favor as her daughters aren't that young anymore. As a thank you gift, she told me she will just tag me along with them when they visit her boyfriend at the fish cages come morning.

Macallawan Port. This was where we waited for the boat cousin rented that would take us to the Fish Cages. Happy to say that the boat was big (no need to feel scared on my part), because cousin also brought her motorcycle.

The Hut. Cousin's boyfriend works as one of the supervisors in the fish cages. These cages houses thousands of milkfish, and if he wasn't watching over the workers, he would stay in this hut and help with the feeding of the fishes.

The Boyfriend. A candid moment of my cousin's boyfriend while he was watching over the girls feeding the fishes.

Dark Clouds Approaching. The girls and I stayed at the hut because cousin and her boyfriend sorted out problems with the coal shipment. It rained so hard last night and cousin wasn't able to bring tarp to cover the sacks of coals, so she really made it sure that the coals were okay.

It rained late in the morning, but just after we had our lunch, the skies cleared up again.


With Abing. With the girls feeding the fishes and me just watching over them, I figured I should just read the book in my bag. The book is entitled, "For One More Day," written by Mitch Albom. It's a bargain book I bought at a thrift shop (it's hardbound, by the way) for only p40 (usd0.92). A very great book that really made a punch in my heart. :) I finished the book in one sitting.

Feeding Station. Cousin Ailene got back sometime in the afternoon and took two of her daughters (the two youngest) with her because she felt a little guilty leaving them with me. I certainly didn't mind, they were nice kids anyway, but since it was just Grace and I left, we just took pictures after pictures and laughed our hearts out. Grace might just be 12 years old, but she's so mature it felt like she's my age.

Sunset. Before night time came, cousin's boyfriend came to pick us up. He told us the boat that would take us back to Macallawan already arrived, and since we needed to transport the motorcycle again, we needed to come to dry land instead of the big boat picking us up.

It might be a very lax day, but I was glad I was able to spend my "rest day" being in a different place. Reading a book under the sky and in the middle of the sea was certainly an experience worth experiencing. :)

*** Jenn ***

Alaminos Cathedral

St. Joseph Cathedral

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Alaminos

City of Alaminos, Pangasinan

+63 (075)552-7062 / +63 (075)654-0073

30 April 2010

It was a short trip to the National Museum in Bolinao, so cousin Dang suggested we take the bus to Alaminos. I actually have planned to visit this town because I wanted to check out the 100 Islands and maybe the Lucap Wharf, but my cousin is not into discovering places and she can't just let me roam alone (because she feels she is responsible for me), so I just told her as long as I can enter the church, I would be really happy.

After eating some snacks, we walked to the Cathedral.

Facade. The original church was built in 1770 but it was destroyed by fire. The present church was inaugurated 1857, and has been made into a cathedral in 1985.

Shell Basin. Of course, the first thing to do whenever I enter a Catholic church is to dip my fingers in the basin with holy water and make the sign of the cross.

Inside the Church. For a Cathedral, I think this was the very first time I entered a church and see it really bare. Well, it didn't really matter for me, I was there to say my prayers (and yes, take pictures later).

The Altar, up close. In my observation, most churches I have seen had altars with the image of its patron saint as the biggest image in the middle part and the image of the crucified Christ either in the middle (a smaller image compared to the main image) or the side part of the altar. This one had the image of crucified Christ as the biggest one, somehow, seeing this one made me feel nostalgic as most churches when I was younger all had the image of the crucified Christ at the center of the altar.

Pulpit. One of the distinct indications that this church is certainly centuries old. However, this was the only pulpit I have seen that didn't have stairs. I guess when the church had their renovation, they decided to make it more of a well decor.

My cousin didn't really entered the church with me as she went to do something else. I just asked her to meet me at the Cathedral, and the time I had was long enough to say quite a lengthy prayer. Primarily, I just thanked the Lord for the blessings and asked Him for guidance as I carried on with the last few days of my vacation. When my cousin arrived, it was then that I started taking pictures before we went to the mall for some window shopping. :)

*** Jenn ***

Bolinao Museum

National Museum

Bolinao, Pangasinan

+63 (075) 554-2065

30 April 2010

I am on my last few days of my vacation, and since my cousin's little store is nearly empty, she decided to take me with her so she can also show me other places I can blog about. We first made a short trip to the market, and after leaving her list to some merchants, we hailed a tricycle driver who took us to the National Museum.


The museum opened in 1970s after some excavations. The local government donated the lot and building to house the precious artifacts.

Though the museum was a bit bare and didn't have a whole lot of items to show, it certainly was able to show materials used by the locals from centuries back. Most materials on display were used for livelihood - baskets, nets, pots, spears, and a lot more. What took my interest was the paper making machine. My cousin told me, back then the local used the fibers of the Maguey Plant (Agave Cantala) to make paper.

Aside from the objects gathered from different towns in Pangasinan, one that attracts tourists here were the dioramas showing different bird species found in Bolinao. This picture above wasn't a painting... it was one of the dioramas, and these birds were once real. Outside the museum, they have a big cage with live birds, which they took care, too, and is part of the museum tour.

The museum is open Mondays to Fridays from 9AM - 4PM. If you want to visit the museum on weekends and special holidays, you need to contact them for appointment. No entrance fees to pay; everyone is welcome to visit the museum. It is located along the National Highway, fronting Cape Bolinao High School.

*** Jenn ***

The Great Bolinao Outdoor Adventure

Bolinao, Pangasinan

29 April 2010

I have been roaming around since the day I got to Bolinao, and again, they suggested this day for us to rest. Seemed the universe really wanted me to explore, because around 9AM, electricity was cut off and all of us just became bored an hour later.

Cousin Dang's boyfriend was out that day, and when she made a phone call, we just couldn't help not to tease her. She asked if he already had something to eat, and when the phone call ended, I asked why won't she deliver his lunch instead? She answered me with a question and in no time we just found ourselves preparing for a late morning walk to the forests of the island.

Her boyfriend earns a living by making coals from tree trunks. Getting to where he was at was a very difficult walk trip as not only was the sun too strong, the land was hard and brittle, and there were too many dried grasses, too.

With the help of the phone calls they made, we were able to locate the boyfriend, and since there was no area in the forest for us to stay at, we walked further away 'til we reached the island shore. There was an empty hut which quickly became our shelter for the day, and all of us were thankful there were huts near the shore for people to stay at. Of course, the huts are owned by someone, but everyone is welcome to use it if they want to. My guess was that, these huts were built to provide temporary shelter to the people making coals.

It rained that time, but not for long... thank heavens! While the rains were pouring, we ate our lunch, exchanged stories, and laughed our hearts out. Sometime after, a family dropped by, which shared the hut with us.


Tummies full and rains gone, we went out to enjoy the view. The family started fishing and collecting clams near the shore, and soon after my cousin, her boyfriend and niece Grace started digging near the shore to get some clams, too. Me? I walked around and took pictures. :)

With bags filled with clams, the boyfriend suggested we start walking back home because the rain might pour again. We took a different route... the boyfriend wanted us to see a different side of the island, and I was thankful about it.

On a different side of the island, we saw an old woman collecting clams, too. Here in Bolinao, food is not a problem really for the sea is gifted with so much gifts. Dig shallow and you can see clams. On rocky island shores, you can get oysters and other shellfishes for free.

Cousin Dang wanted to get more clams, but the sun was shining brightly on that side of the island, so the boyfriend guided us to go to the other side, and we hiked to cross the island. Very tiring, but like what I told them whenever they asked if I am okay, "This is the kind of pain that I wanted - very fulfilling."

The other side of the island was more beautiful, indeed, that Grace and I went to explore more and just leave cousin Dang who was still trying to find more clams. I was happy that Grace has learned how to use my camera because she was very willing to take pictures of me. Often when I travel, I don't get to have as much pictures of myself as I was more into taking pictures of the scenes and actions. This time, I had more pictures, and that was a reason to celebrate.

Around 3PM, we really decided to walk back home. Again, different route, and not only did we cross the islands, we also tried balancing ourselves in some land forms and bamboo bridges. I don't have fear of heights (though of course I get scared), I was more afraid of losing my balance and falling off.


The end of our hike took us to Aunt Ligaya's house where we stayed to have some refreshments. We heard of a story of a woman being struck by lightning (such a sad and awful story), and walking back home we just feared we might get hit by lightning, too, as there were still lightning decorating the sky. We got home safe, and we were just thankful for this very awesome adventure.

Legs were hurting and we were really, really tired, but looking at the bright side... it did help us sleep easy.

*** Jenn ***