Lingganay

Located on a hilltop at the southern part of Boracay Island, "Lingganay" (bell) for Aklanons may sound music to the ears. History tells that Lingganay was named after a bell-like shaped stone found in the place’s cave. This cave and its small hidden beach has been known as Lingganay ever since it was found by the island’s inhabitants many centuries ago.

Lingganay Resort offers high quality residential units for those seeking a luxury lifestyle at its best. From the big common rooftop terraces, one can enjoy a stunning 360-degree view of Boracay and nearby islands.

Be windswept by its opulence and natural charm.

But costs of units are as breathtaking as its infinity pool:

PS.
The place is exclusive for residents and guests only.

But There Are No Carabaos in Carabao Island

Carabao Island, also known as Hambil, is one of the not so well-known gems of Romblon, perhaps because of its proximity to Boracay, where tourists mainly go.

But I guess this is what makes the island more appealing to me. Less crowd means a perfect hide-away. And this trip would have not been possible without Jai who knew someone from the island.

I really fell in love with Hambil the moment I set foot on the island. I mean common, even without carabaos (water buffalos), the island is a slice of paradise.

Carabao Island can be reached via one-hour boat ride from the port in Caticlan, Malay, Aklan. The passenger boat usually leaves in the morning. The most convenient way to go to the island is via boat rental from Boracay, which if course charges higher especially if you are just travelling alone.

Punta de Fabian

Quaint and charming Punta de Fabian sits like a queen on the mountaintop in the heart of Baras, Rizal, a 1½ hour drive away from Manila. Decorated in Filipino-zen style, the 3-hectare resort, overlooking Laguna de Bay and Sierra Madre mountains, offers a wide selection of recreational and sports facilities, including function and guest rooms (honeymoon suite, family loft, or dormitory-type), restaurant, ball court, swimming pools, jacuzzi, campsite and garden.

I wasn’t told though, by the reservation officer that we need to hike (that long) and traverse the serpentine uphill road from the entrance to the main resort. From the time we reached the top, we were already dog-panting and hungry.

But it was all worth it. The staff were friendly and courteous, the place may be small yet it has that certain invigorating appeal. But what makes this place truly remarkable is the story behind its establishment. Used to be a family vacation house, its owner Teresita Fabian-Pamintuan, opened the resort to the public in 2003 after successfully winning her long battle over cancer. The place might have played a part in her recuperation that’s why she decided to share the place to other people so too they could enjoy and experience the magic and serenity of the place.

In a busy, polluted Manila, Punta de Fabian is like a breath of the freshest air.

Punta de Fabian Resort
Manila East Road, Brgy. Evangelista,
Baras, Rizal
Tel. No.: 653-1966, 433-1995

Apo Reef, Sablayan, Mindoro

"Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth 'you owe me'.

Look what happens with a love like that, it lights the whole sky."

- Hafiz

Captivating. Beguiling. Ethereal.
A slice of heaven here on earth.

Math 17 Diaries (I Think I'm Fallin')

Masarap… masakit ang umibig.
Remember the first time?
First meeting.
First blush.
First skip of the heart.
First heartache.
Hehe… mararamdaman mo lahat nang to pag nag Math 17 ka.

Dubbed as the “most dreaded” subject, marami nang mga pangarap ang winasak ng Math 17. Ika nga sa love, kung hindi mo kinaya ang sakit… either nagpatiwarik ka na o tuluyan ka nang nabaliw for life.

Matagal-tagal na rin akong nakipagbunuan sa Math 17. Pero kumbaga, eto talaga ang maituturing mong first love sa mga subjects na kukunin mo. Alam mo ang kasabihang first love never dies. Yes Math 17 never dies too.

Freshmen orientation pa lang naming nun, pamungad ng speaker “Good luck sa mga mag-ma-Math 17! Dahil inabot din ako ng siyam siyam bago ko yun natapos!” Shriek of terror among the audience. Tahimik lang ako. Well at least may warning na kung anong giyera ang susuungin. At humahalakhak na ang mga mata ng mga probinsyanong Math geeks na inalipusta ng mga konyong bubing sa Math kanina sa labas. Iniisip na siguro ng mga konyo “Gosh, they can’t speak proper English but they’re speaking numbers!”

Pero based on experience, 1 out of 50 lang naman talaga ang super henyo sa Math. Ganyan ang isa kong blockmate na si Paulo, exempted na kaagad sya hindi pa nagsisimula ang aming kalbaryo. And the rest of the block, first day ng class will meet new (pero sa totoo lang, old) faces – yung mga previous bagsak, take 2, take 3, take forever.

Buti na lang hindi terror ang teacher namin. Basta ang rule simple lang: Ipasa ang algebra at trigo divided into 1st, 2nd, midterms, 3rd, 4th and final exams. Kahit pasang-awa or 60%, tyak tres na sa classcard. In general, kahiya-hiya ang tres pero sa Math it’s considered a grade to die for.

First exam, takot na takot kaming lahat. Eto na ang unong suong sa gyera. 1 pm ang exam namin sa Math kaya during lunchtime pa lang bumabaligtad na ang sikmura ko, di na ako makakain ng maayos. At habang nag-eexam, ano ba to… halos lahat ng numbers present sina x at y. You need to find their values or else… Kahit na ang mga familiar characters sa word problems na “ano ang kailangang speed ni Harry Potter para maabot ang snitch na may speed na 100 km/hr doon sa may intersection” hindi ka pakakalmahin. Pero take note: joker rin ang mga Math teachers ha. Kung hindi si Harry Potter ang bida sa word problem, si Winnie d’ Pooh.

At after the exam, what’s in store? Syempre, the waiting… the waiting that’s driving you out of your mind. Dahil next meeting, malalaman mo na kung ikaw ay in or out. So syempre on that big day assured na yun 1/5 of the class ay magtatalon sa tuwa dahil sila ang mga mapipiling "chosen few" and the rest ay mapapahandusay na lang kasabay ng mga malulutong na mura at mga threats na pasasabugin ang Math Building o “Lord bakit sa akin nangyari to?” with matching luha at tumutulong sipon. Hindi ka talaga matatawa sa sight kahit funny sya. Ganun talaga ang buhay… este ang Math 17. Buti na lang naka 81% ako first exam pa lang. And the rest para na lang syang cyle. Sabi ko nga love in disguise to e.

Pag hindi ka nakasagot sa teacher, mapapa-blush ka sa hiya.
Pag naperfect mo ang assignment katumbas na rin nun ang matamis na “oo”. Oo 100% na may tama ka!
Pag nakalimutan mo ang formula, magdasal ka na.
Pag pumasa ka sa finals, ang sarap-sarap ng gising mo sa umaga.
Pag-bagsak naman, lagi mo sya naiisip… the pain, the kirot… sa shower, sa canteen, at sa mga sandaling hindi ang crush mo ang naglalaro sa kukote mo.

After the first exam hindi ko na maalala in detail ang mga scores ko, basta pasang-awa na lang ako nung midterms. Pero ang most unforgettable experience talaga… ang araw ng bigayan ng classcards. Usually I call it a day of mourning dahil maraming mga pusong masasaktan… Sa stairs pa lang marami nang bulagta dyan sa kakahagulgol. Imagine the scenario… After “This is Spartaaaaaa” natalo kayong lahat at nagkalat ang mga putol na ulo at kamay. Gross. And then a sad music starts playing in the background. Bato na lang ang di lumuha. Parang ganun. Sa mga weak-hearted, ang failing grade ay katumbas na rin ng mga gumuhong pangarap. Kahit na gusto mo man silang batukan at pagsabihang “Math lang yan, there’s always the next sem…” Pero hindi e. Di ba pag napaso ka rin sa pag-ibig parang ayaw mo na rin buksan uli ang puso mo?

Alam ko… marami pa dyang Math 17 horror stories. Mga nakick-out nang college dahil sa Math 17. Mga na-dismiss sa university dahil sa Math 17. Mga na-delay at nagkaugat na nang dahil sa Math 17. Mga umakyat pa ng Baguio para doon na lang mag Math 17. Mga nag-shift na lang sa Educ para wala nang Math 17. Mga nag Math 11 at Math 14 na lang para hindi na direktang mag Math 17.
Pero sa totoo lang maiisip mo Math 17 is not just any massive ethnic cleansing. Dahil if it doesn’t kill you… it will make you stronger. Buti na lang nakapag Math 17 ako. At least nalaman ko, kaya ko naman pala lampasan ang takot. At least may isang subject pala na wala talaga kayong choice ng mga kaklase mo but to stay, get close, huddle and pray together ke langit at lupa man ang estado nyo sa buhay.

Sabi ko nga e… pag nag-Math 17 ka para ka na ring nagmahal. Yun nga lang substitute the kilig with the nginig factor.

Bewitching Siquijor: Isla del Fuego

No wild parties. No disco lights. No rowdy people.
No fancy cars. No traffic. No pollution. No noise.
A little paradise. My little paradise.

Lazi church

San Isidro Labrador convent

Coral Cay Resort

Cantabon Cave

Salagdoong Beach

Black Magic Mary

Coco Grove Beach Resort

Siquijor has magic. Lots of it!

Many years ago, Spanish colonizers called the island “Isla de Fuego” (Island of Fire) due to the glow of the multitude of fireflies that would gather nightly, making the whole place appear like it was on fire.

Siquijor's allure and mystery is not shrouded by black magic. But in every sense, it is truly a naturally-enchanted tropical paradise.