Signing In

I was checking my facebook account yesterday when my father chat me up with this, " Let's skype! " At first, I thought ...Why? We can chat on facebook. But then I realized, maybe he's trying to maximize his latest subscription to the internet. So I said okay. Now I'm starting to feel bad while writing this blog. What was I thinking?! Of course they wanted us to talk face to face and not just over a chatbox. I wasn't that eager then with the idea because I know I'm going to tutor him again on how to use Skype. The last skype-ing session we had was a couple of months ago so I was expecting we had to go over the process again -from app installation to signing up. ( My parents are sometimes technologically handicapped.) Good thing he had the app already installed. The bad thing is he forgot the password. If I'm going to let him recover the password, it would take some time because he doesn't know how. So to speed up the process, I decided to just create another account for him - his 3rd Skype account, actually. ( I hope we won't forget the password in our next skype-ing session.)

 

And so we started skype-ing. As soon as I saw my parents' excited faces, I felt like crying. I suddenly missed them. Why did we have to live separate lives after marriage? ( Of course it was just a rhetorical question.) Their smiles were priceless! We talked about everything- from talking about the weather to joking about how big our noses as we tried to stick our faces to the video camera.

It dawned on me that, someday when I have a child of my own, I will be the parent trying to bridge the techno gap between me and my child. I will be signing up with all these social networks just so I can keep up with the line of communication the younger generations are using.

So now, before you laugh at your parents' technologocal incapacity, recall what were they doing while you were busy updating your statuses on Facebook or hashtagging over on Twitter. Probably your bubble thought would say something like this - They were busy at the office and at home so you can have a good education and so you can have that pricey gadget you are holding.

Over Coffee

      No, this isn't about my withdrawal of drinking coffee and neither is this a paid write-up for SB (Starbucks). I am also not a coffee addict because I can survive a day without it. (Okay, maybe not too frequent.)

     I know there are some jokes going on that some go to SB to earn the bragging right that they can afford coffee at this "elite" coffee shop. Though I must admit that I find the prices of SOME beverages ridiculously high, but there are also some intangible perks to it. 

     I have this group of friends, though we seldom hang out, whom I really love and are very funny to be with. Because we each have our own lives to live and because our scheds are erratic, we seldom meet - usually when there's something to celebrate. (Lame excuse, eh). Whenever we meet, we always have dinner and then have coffee until the mall closes. (Maybe next time we should go to a branch that's operating 24/7, if there's any.) Coffee time is the time we catch up with what's going on with each other's lives. There's always a list of endless topics to talk about - personal lives, politics, careers, the latest in Showbiz and Yeye and Bryan's lovelife. ( Nope, they are not a couple.) The 2 to 3 hours of meaningful conversations helped rekindle and fortify the friendship that was somehow weakened by time and distance. It's a good idea that the coffee shop bills you for just at least P100 and you get to have one good coffee and an avenue for you and your loved ones to meet and greet. Hmmm. This leads me to this equation - Quality conversations equals quality time.

As far as SB is concerned, Yeye is Beauty.

Our group is getting bigger.

 SB already closing yet the conversation still continues.

Britannia Group of Islands

Some things are better when left untouched or hidden from the destructive hands of human. I speak of the group of islands and islets I visited recently- the Britannia Group of Islands. I was born and raised in Surigao del Sur but it was only last year that I have heard of such place. It's a good getaway for those who wanted to enjoy some privacy at the beach plus you get to experience the white sand and sparkling waters that Boracay has -at least that's what most people say after visiting Britannia. I have never been to Boracay, so I'm afraid I don't have the right to give you an objective opinion on which of the two is better.(not that my opinion even matters)

Buslon Island

Britannia Group of Islands consists of 24 island and islets. It is in Brgy. Salvacion, part of San Agustin, Surigao del Sur. It's a two-hour ride from Tandag (capital of Surigao del Sur) by bus or hired van. If you are coming from Butuan, you can take the bus which will take 3-4 hours of travel. Then take the habal-habal (motorcycle) going to the shorelines of Britania. (If you are not of the adventurous type, brace yourself on this ride!) From there, boats for rent are available to take you to some of the islands. 

It's ideal to start your island hopping adventure early. You'd be able to catch the low tide (you don't want rough seas)  and you'd get to enjoy the place minus the scorching heat. 

First, we visited Hagonoy Island. It is the farthest of the four but the most wonderful. Sign says that cooking, camping and overnight stay are not allowed in order to preserve the place. Probably, this is why no cottages are provided on the islands to ensure that these prohibitions are strictly followed. I am totally A-okay with that. 

Hagonoy Island

We were amazed by the beauty of the place - pristine waters, fine sand and clean sea bed. It only proves that Nature, especially left uninterrupted, does really know how to take care of itself.

 Too bad we didn't stay long because we were in a hurry. We were worried that we won't have enough time to visit the other three islands if we stay longer in Hagonoy. So if you are planning on a island hopping here in Britannia, don't make the same mistake we had. Linger on the island as longer as you can- enjoy the pristine water, roll on the sand and never mind the heat!

Hagonoy Island

Next is naked island. As the name puts it, it's purely sand and no trees. My mom said its actually not an island but a sandbar. Manong Marlon, the boatman, said the island disappears on a high tide. So what do I think? Sandbar or Island? Hmmm...pretty much a sandbar to me. (Pardon me for being too theoretical on this.) Freedictionary defines sandbar as 'a long mass or low ridge of submerged or partially exposed sand built up in the water along a shore or beach by the action of waves or currents' while Island is defined as 'a mass of land that is surrounded by water and is smaller than a continent.' 

Approaching Naked Island

My brother said that it is a rare opportunity to see waves, coming from opposite directions, meet in one place. Hence, we did not let that rare phenomenon pass without proof!

Picture perfect for the much-tried jump shot!

Jump shots are for all ages!

Next is Hiyor-hiyoran island. The water is clear but the seabed has quite a number of seaweeds. We did not take a dip but we still enjoyed the place because of the very very fine white sand.

Hiyor-hiyoran Island

The sand in Hiyor-hiyoran is the finest of all the four islands. It feels like baby powder and looks like "polvoron". Mental note: If you are planning on taking some of the sand back home, be sure to pack it discreetly because airport security prohibits taking home of sand and certain shells. My sister-in-law tried to take home some sand and shells and a BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Agriculture) representative stationed at the Butuan airport confiscated all of them (well, except one tiny shell).

Look at those sand!

Last is Buslon Island. It's where we stayed longer and ate our lunch. (Remember to share your lunch to the boatmen.) Tourists usually stay on this place when they are done island hopping. It's the nearest to the shorelines of the barangay so that going back will only take a few minutes.

Buslon Island from afar.

From Buslon island, you can reach the nearby island by just taking a walk over ankle-deep waters.

Crossing from Buslon Island to the nearby island.

Here's to give you an idea of how much you'll shell out for this trip:

Manila-Butuan plane fare (roundtrip) - 4,000

Butuan-San Agustin (bus) - 200

Habal-habal - 20

Boat ride- 1,500 ( max of 15 pax)

If coming from Tandag:

Tandag-San Agustin (bus) - 150

Tandag-Brgy. Salvacion (hired van) - 3,000 (try to haggle if you can)

Nature is yours to enjoy but not to destroy!

My Road to A New Beginning

Just recently, the company I worked for organized a seminar on values formation. At first, I wasn't too excited about it. I felt like I was back in high school again where seminars like these were a regular thing. Good thing, I didn't allow my prejudices to get in the way. Actually, I enjoyed the seminar  and so with the activities we had prior to it. Yup, there were activities prior to the seminar itself. That's how serious the company was with this thing. The speaker was good and funny- never was there a dull moment; and believe me, my dear readers, I did not doze off! :)

The seminar also focused on working out ones goal and mission in life- and I didn't have one. :) We were given a few minutes to come up with the answer." Am I in a beauty pageant?", I thought to myself then. I had a lot of plans in my life but I just can't think of the most concise way to express it. Basically, I want a simple life and I want the people around me to understand it and influence them, too. There's joy in simplicity.

Now, I would like to share to you my life map. It's suppose to let the maker realize what has he accomplished in his life and what he has not; where his life is leading to; what were the ups and downs that he has gone through; and, most of all, how God intervened in his life. :)

My Life Map

I doesn't matter how many ups and downs we've gone through. Our life here on earth is temporal- a road to a new beginning with God. :) Wear a smile everyday. Just keep on breathing and let that heart beat while it can! :)