WEEKENDS AT 30

        It's been a rough week, right? Now we're all looking forward to the sunny (rowdy?) weekend ahead. Some of us are only living for that, sadly. At 30s, you think you have it all figured out, but only one call from  a friend asking to meet up for drinks is all it takes to become a complete clueless mess.

 Back on our roaring twenties, this is a no brainer. Friday through Saturday nights are the best days of our lives, and sometimes even Sunday afternoons. We'll only slow down on Sunday evenings, when the grim realization that Monday is inevitable has already started creeping up. 

But now at your calmer 30s, what do people your age usually do during weekends? After a lot of observation and painful personal experience, here's what I've got:

1.) They prefer to stay at home. No shit Sherlock. People in their 30s are always tired or sick. So staying at home never sounded any better.

2.) When they go out, it's usually just at some friend's house. They prefer to hang out inside the house still, just not their own house. Well on the brighter side, some of their friends are already moving to new houses, so it's always nice to pay a visit now and then.

3.) When they go out, they prefer open spaces like rooftop bars or open air bars. It's nice to actually be able to have a conversation while gettin' fucked up. Indoor clubs can't provide you any of that.

4.) When they go clubbing, it's usually out of town like music festivals, annual holiday raves, etc. If you're already married, clubbing in the metro is no more fun. It's nice to really dance and get messed up on a nice beach somewhere with your long-time friends, compared to throwing up on a puke/piss-filled toilet on your local pub.

5.) Travel has become therapy and a luxury. Whether it's a financial or an existential crisis, most of them crave to get away every time bad luck comes knocking. But oftentimes, they can't just go. Work, family, kids and other adult commitments makes it almost impossible to be away even for a day. Planning usually takes months only to end up not going. 

6.) Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. Those non-alcoholic friends of mine look forward to trying all the new cafés weekly. It has become their salvation.

7.) Groceries. What's more therapeutic than having to walk on different aisles of soaps and detergents on a rainy weekend?

8.) Laundry and cleaning day. Don't be surprised to see a lot of us hanging out at the laundry shop with our phones or even laptop all day. This is the only time we have actual time and will to do these things.

9.) Sleeping in. They are just too tired of their lives and angry at the world that sleep outshines everything else.

10.) Nothing. Sometimes they want to do this and do that. But there's no one available, or they're broke. Or they simply don't know what they want, and that's okay. We're just big clueless kids who have jobs to pay bills after all. 

 

Can you relate?

17 going on 30. Which one is better?

17 going on 30. Which one is better?

Quiet sunsets, books sprawled all over the bed, afternoon teledramas ringing on the background, and the continuous beeping of your cellphone from your poorly named group chat. That's how most of my summer was spent over a decade ago. Everything was calm, no fuss, and we're all just waiting on what the world has in store for us.

Occasional beer drinking spree, out of town travels, random catch-up with friends, continuous flow of bills left and right, own cars and houses, regular attendance on baptisms and 1st birthdays, work bullshits, occasional trips to the doctor for pain checks here and there-- that's how I spend most of my days now.

So the real question is: which one is better?

You can't really compare because those are two different eras, different goals, different perspective, but you can't deny the fact that there are certain good and bad times for both.

Thirteen sunny years ago, all I had to think about were my dreams after finishing off college, how badly I wanted to land my first job and progress to the Andy version of myself in The Devil wears Prada. I just couldn't wait to be the girl-boss that I aspire to be, and to be able to treat my friends and families using my own hard-earned cash. I was full of hope and angst and energy that things will eventually go according to plan and that I will crush it. That was where my problems all began, too much hope and optimism. Lol.

18-year-old me feeling all grown up and bougie

Post graduation, I was a hot drunken mess. I couldn't for the life of me land a single frickin' job. I had good academic records, and I was pretty back then (too much hope and optimism). Furthermore, I nailed every interview, or so I felt. But I never got the call. I drank myself til' I landed a mediocre job that I hated every minute of. I think that's the second phase of my life spiraling downwards to nothingness.

I became the typical office lady, all lipstick and dead inside. 

It only took me six months to realize I wasn't fit to sit my life away in a cube 10 hours a day. So I quit and started my own travel agency business at 24. I was smitten over by the thought that I could earn and not put up with a shitty boss, plus I could travel. I was always amazed by traveling, maybe because that is the only way I can escape my average existence here in the city.

The business had a good run for three years before my partner and I decided to start up a new business, a bar. That's the only other thing we knew to enjoy, drinking. The other one is traveling. 

Four years, lots of tears and a pandemic later, that too also closed down, and I'm now working remote. Things are a lot quieter now. Most of my friends have already succumbed to parenthood. I now look forward to weekends, hoping to see a single soul other than my husband.  I developed a new love for surfing and beach trips with a few close people now and then has become my salvation. I accepted growth, and I'm still taking my sweet time before eventually caving in to having kids. 

I'm not going to lie, I sometimes miss those sunny days thirteen years ago, where a lot of people surrounded me, and everything was a nice blur filled with alcohol for days and days. I loved the simplicity of it all. But I also have grown to love the freedom of having money that my 30-year-old self is providing me. I can go wherever I want and buy the things that my 17-year-old self will cry in bed for. So all in all, nothing is better. It's a colorful combination of the good and bad, some things you wish you had done better and some things you wish you have never done. But everything that happened all comes down to who you are now. It's a part of who I am. It just adds to how you define yourself in the present. I loved the dumb risk-taker I was before, and I also love the goal-oriented angry person that I am now, haha.

What about you?

30-year-old me enjoying the sunshine (and beer)

LaBoracay or LaBoraNYAY? DAY 1 #TAGALIZED

Well, so eto na ang hubad na katotohanan, sa lahat ng nagtatanong kung mga anak ba kami ng Diyos at taon taon nalang nandito kami sa Boracay lalo na pag Laboracay haha, pwes surprise, oo. LMAO Anak ng Diyos ng diskarte at pakikipagtawaran. Hahaha.

Hindi po kami mayaman, sa katanuyan ay nagbabarko lang kami papuntang Boracay lalo na pag LaBO, dahil namamayagpag ang presyo ng mga airlines. Ngayon, ikukwento ko step by step kung pano kami sumosocial climb pa Bora tuwing Labor day para maging inspirasyon sa mga kapwa namin mga pusang gala. :D

NOTE: Wag gagayahin kung a.) maarte b.) mainipin c.) maraming dada at maraming pera (mag eroplano ka nalang), pero note ulit, gagastos ka pa din ng malaki all in all pero hindi kasing laki pag sinama mo airfare sa expenses.

So here it goes:

Usually mga April 28 kami naalis ng Manila dahil ang start ng bayuhan galore sa LaBoracay from April 29-May 1. Pero kung marami ka namang baong biyaya kahit mga April 27 palang e gumora na kayo. This year (2017), tumapat sa holiday ang April 28, 2017 dahil sa ASEAN, kaya long weekend ang mga tita mo. Maganda para sa mga hindi nanaman lilipad o tatawid ng karagatan, pangit para sa mga katulad namin rarampa sa malayong isla. Haha.


Day 1 (APRIL 28, 2017)

9:00am- Call time, nakakasakyan kami kaya dadaanan namin ang mga OTW (cavite kami lahat)
9:30am- GORA na papunta sa Batangas Port via MCX-SLEX-STAR TOLL (sa slex pa lang traffic na huhu)
1:00pm- Arrive in Batangas Port, secure parking for car for 5 days, hanggang May 2 kami rarampa mga bes (fees below), buy ferry tickets to Calapan, Mindoro, preferably FAST CAT dahil eto ang me pinakaamyos na vessel (for us)

Balyahan sa Batangas Port palang

NOTE: Since hindi kami prepared nanaman, hindi kami nakapg book ahead of time ng FAST CAT, at pag dating namin doon ay fully-booked na at ang next alis pa ay 6PM (aguy), kelangan masunod ang schedule, so bute nalang may aalis ng 1:50pm via Ocean Jet (P250/pax for aircon) . For online reservations sa Fast Cat, please click here.

NOTE 2: Meron din direct Batangas- Caticlan via 2go pero naubusan na kami ng Cabin for 6 kaya nag cutting trip nalang kami pa Caticlan. For more details regarding 2go you can check them here.

Party Party sa Batangas Port
Are you readehhh?

2:00pm- Ferry departed to Calapan Mindoro
3:30pm-  Arrival at Calapan, Mindoro. Now pag dating niyo dito sasakay kayo ng van. And please take note, only the van na papuntang BULALACAO ang sasakyan niyo, kasi nandoon ang FAST CAT ferry bound to Caticlan, which leaves every 10pm and 3am sa gabi.

Dahil 4-5 hours ang biyahe, at minsan malas ka pa sa driver mo na kala mo nangangampanya kung tigilan lahat ng kapitbahay niya, mga around 8pm ka na makakarating sa Bulalacao. Which for us is very risky lalo na super holiday, iniisp namin na baka fully booked na rin ang 10pm na alis ng Fast Cat.

Magkabilang dulo ng mundo mga beshy.

8:30pm- ANG SAYA DIBA, ngayon lang kami nakarating ng BULALACAO. Mananalo nang Congressman yung driver ng van namin sa dami ng kinampanyahan niya.

Fortunately, we still managed to get us tickets for the 10pm departure for Caticlan, although na over-booked na ata sila dahil sa sahig nalang kami sa labas nakaupo at nag royale rumble pa mga tao dahil me hindi pinasakay na Bus.

Para sa Ekonomiya

11:00pm- nakaalis na din ang barko, so from Bulalacao, it's a 3-hr sail to Caticlan, then from there sasakay kayo ulit ng maliit na bangka that will bring you to Boracay island mismo, tapos sasakay kayo ulit ng Tricycle to your hotel. O diba Triathlon lang ang peg hahaha.

3:00am- Nakarating din kami sa Hotel namin namely Francis Hotel, nasa kakaibang lugar to ng Station 2, parang executive subdivision ng mga Local doon haha. Okay ang Hotel at bago palang ito kaya wala pa sa social media. Nga lang nasa tabi siya ng mabahong sapa/kanal na kelangan mo talunan tuwing lalabas. 2 minutes walk to the beach. For reservations kindly contact (0907) 185 3421. Room rates starting at P3,400/pax good for 4pax pero nagawa namin tawaran na good for 6pax na yan pero dalawang double bed lang. Higang bente lang hahaha.

NOTES:
P250- Boat from Batangas port to Calapan Mindoro (Ocean Jet- Aircon)
P290- Van from Calapan to Bulalacao (ililipat pa kayo sa ibang van pero wala na kayo babayaran)
P375-  Fast cat from Bulalacao To Caticlan (ECONOMY) pero dahil super holiday pang aliping upo lang sa labas terrace part yan
P100- Terminal Fee Caticlan
P75- Environmental fee Caticlan
P50- Boat ride to Boracay island from Caticlan Jetty Port
P20- Tricycle
P100- Ambag sa Gas papuntang Batangas Port
P50- Ambag sa Toll gate
P167/pax- Ambag sa Parking fo 5 days for 6pax(200 per day)

P1,477pax- NASA BORACAY KA NA ON LABORUHHCAYYY

Pawisan at Lagkitan sa Batangas Port

So after a long, tiring day na halos manapak na kami ng driver at makipagsaksakan sa barko, makakapgpahinga na din. Halos 16hrs na biyahe total from Cavite (Imus) to Boracay. Pero worth it naman ang natipid ng mga tita mo. At hello, LABORACAY kaya ngayon. HAHAHAHA

Stay tuned for DAY 2! :D

CAVITE FOODTRIP DIARIES: The Black Apartment

Recently, my wish of having more hip and funky new restos in this side of the south (Cavite) is slowly being heard by the food Gods up above. My friend won't stop talking about this cool, new burger diner just in Imus, Cavite (only a few steps from home!) and the only way to calm her balls is to just go and check this thing out.

So we went there on a weekday, Tuesday I think, to keep away from the usual weekend/noisy/irritating crowd and long lines. This is just located in Medicion, malapit lapit pa rin naman sa katotohanan. If you're from Imus, malapit lang sa Imus Cathedral, but still, lumagpas pa rin kami syempre, because that's part of the fun isn't it?

When we arrived at the street, nasa medyo bukana naman sya, and for sure hindi mo mpagkakailang eto na yon, kasi siya lang ang nag iisang itim na apartment na napapagitnaan ng mga all-white nyang kapatid. Rebel look kumbaga.

Outside of The Black Apartment

Ayos ang concept, may waiting bench sa labas ska onting mono blocs para sa mga waiting, wala nga lang bubong. So pag umulan party party na haha. The exterior is simple, all black with huge, bold white letters indicating their sign and yung wall sa gilid (ung pinipiktyuran nung yosi boy), may naka-paint din na name nila. 

Ung pinipiktyuran ni Yosi Boy

We waited for a good 15-20 minutes before getting seated inside. Well still not bad, I've experienced worst sa iba, and standing pa. Atleast dito, may pampalubag na mono-bloc at sariwang hanging pwede mong yosihan. Habang nag aantay, ibibigay na sainyo ni Kuyang nka all-black din ang menu para maka-order na. Hindi ko na piktyuran ang menu (sobrang gutom sorry), but I can tell you, the prices are all reasonable, abot kaya mga P130-270 lang range niya, and ung P270 yun na ung pamatay sa laki at cholesterol na burger nila. 

So when we finally got inside, malamig at may libreng radio sa background. Kaya syempre

Let me take a selfie/groufie

After 5 more minutes into waiting, dumating na yung order, nagbayad na pala kami agad pag pasok, as advised by the waiter, para pagtapos kumain, larga/yosi na. Here's what we got:

The Landlord

Hot Chix

The Bedspacer

The Nakalimutan ko po (sorry)

Hole in the Wall

All in all, it was good. Not bad para sateng mga Imuseño, mababawasan na tayo pakpak kakakaen sa Jollibee, Mcdo, at KFC. We should embrace the possibilities even more. I hope more of us here makita ang potential ng lugar naten to become one of those hip food hub in the South para dayuhen din tayo para sa pagkain, hindi lang pag me inuman, Haha.

Definitely one of the must-try here in Cavite.=)

The Burot Experience

Recently, underrated, quaint and quiet beaches have been the new craze to all sorts of travelers out there. Kumbaga "cool kids" ka pag nakapunta ka sa medyo di kilalang beach. Feeling pinoy explorer datingan pag nagpost sa FB at Instagram. Kaya naman syempre hindi papahule ang iba kong tropang cool kids forlayf. Haha.

Just last week, one of my friend invited us to go with him sa Burot Beach, Calatagan. It is an underdeveloped beach  owned by SM Holdings (based on what I've read, just google for verification) and isa to sa mga patok sa mga camping boys or dun sa mga tipid meals ang gusto pag nag outing.  

So we set out for the 3hr drive from Las Piñas to Calatagan, Batangas. We readily suggest you do your last minute grocery sa Palengke ng Calatagan bago tumuloy dun sa beach kase tindahan lang ang meron don, offering basic necessities pero walang bilihan ng mga karne. 

Beautiful trees along Calatagan road. 

Once you reached the gate of the property, sisinglin kayo ng guard ng 10php/pax as pre-entrance fee (hindi pa po ito ang tunay na entrance). 

Rules and regulations and a free trash bag upon entering the gate. 

The place has no electricity, no accommodations, may ilang open kubo at floating raft para sa mga yamanin, pero other than that, you really have to pitch a tent for your own accommodation. Kung wala kayong tent, meron sila pinaparentahan starting from 300php  pero I believe ung 300php na tent nila is only good for 2pax, pangisahan lang kung medyo lusugin. Haha. 

They have an entrance fee of 130php/pax and 30php fee for each of  the tent you brought for yourselves. I wasn't expecting much knowing na camping nga to and walang kuryente, but with that entrance fee siguro manlang karapatan ng mga customers magkaron ng disenteng CR. For the whole place they only have like 6 CRs. 2 sa boys and 4 sa girls. Hindi ako maarte sa CR, pero ung CR nila during that time e beastmode haha. Sayang d ko napiktyuran, but I can clearly describe it kase di talaga malilimutan. Hollowblocks lang ang pader, semento ang sahig (which is okay lang), indiro lang ang nandon, no flush, may isang balde at ginupit na 1.5 para sa tabo. Wala rin ilaw syempre (pero okay paren koboy naman kami). Nga lang, nasampolan ako pag pasok ko nung kadarating lang namin, (excuse for the words) pag bukas ng pinto e may suka sa sahig tapos me taeng nag a-outing sa inidiro. Hahaha urong lahat e. Isa pa wla manlang kahit plastik na tapunan ng basura, kaya ung mga gamit na pantyliner at napkin e kala mo ninja kung mkasingit sa pader.  

Ayun, isa lang din ang lababo (hugasan ng plato, karne, etc) for the whole resort. Since maaga pa, nakakuha kami magandang puwesto at nai-park namin ang mga sasakyan just behind our tents.

We rented a table w/chair for 300php and we talked to one of the kuya to arrange a bonfire later that night for 200php. 

Our tents with our emo friend. 

Our rented table.

Crowded Saturday afternoon. 

I really won't recommend going here on weekends, kase when we arrived umaga palang medyo ayos lang number ng tao, pag dating ng hapon, lahat ng klaseng reunion, team building at field trip makikita mo. Sobrang siksikan. And to think na anim lang ang CR, ediwow.

The sand here isn't really white and fine, in fact mabato, but still hindi siya itim, creamy white siya which is always better. About sa water, hindi rin siya ganun kalinaw. Hindi mo makikita paa mo sa ilalim lalo na't puro seagrass o "buhok" (tawag ko sa kanila) ang lapag ng dagat.

Sunset view.

Ang mumunti naming bonfire. 

Nag island hopping pa pala kami which is 130php/pax pero wala naman kami pinuntahang isla. Dinala lang kami sa gitna ng dagat mga 2x haha. Okay na rin kase walang "buhok" don sa gitna at may makikita kang starfish.  

Anyways, 7pm palang e wala na kaming  magawa kaya isa isa na naming binuksan  mga baon naming kwatro kantos. Ayun, alas-jis palang tahimik na ang kapaligiran. Haha. We readily packed up as soon as  we were awoken by the early drunk-risers in the area. Ayaw na namen abutan ng purgatoryong init nanaman and wala na kaming kahit anong supplies.  

All in all, I don't think I'd be going back anytime soon dito, maybe if medyo na develop na siya or nagkaron na ng makataong CR hehe. But for the people who really want to check this place out, please, just please skip the weekend. 

Burot- twilight.

Cliff Diving Paradise in Boracay - Ariel's Point

Boracay is widely known for its pristine beaches, fine white sand and the never ending nightlife. Well that's true, yet one can only dance so much and eventually you'd be looking for something new to kill your well-anticipated vacation with. Fortunately, Boracay offers an activity that will lure the hell out of all adventure seekers and adrenaline junkies out there, Cliff diving.

BOLINAO- Hidden Paradise of the North (Except on holidays)

Last April 2, 2015 (Maundy Thursday), my friends and I decided to act like normal people and agreed to swim out of town since all our folks decided to stay in and become holy. Not that we are against it, or not that we don't practice it, it's just about taking the opportunity to grab all available friends to go out and about with them not having any damn good reason to say no.

So we opted to go to Patar, Bolinao since it has one of the cleanest and whitiest sand beach I have ever been to, and we thought that the butt-numbing distance from the metro would be enough to keep all the usual holiday-crowd away, or so we thought. We left home (Las Piñas) at about 11am, which is a real bad idea since travel time will take about 8-hours.