I was surprised to have watched one-time the young Rene Requiestas in CinemaOne’s screening of Salawahan. It was one of the best comedies of Ishmael Bernal. The movie starred Jay Ilagan, Matt Ranillo III, Sandy Andolong and Rio Locsin. Rene Requiestas had a beat role of a gay, fashion design julalay of Sandy Andolong. He had a young and pale face that time. I never thought he already was an actor during the 70’s. He spilled the same verses, with the same speed and same nonsense connection of a topic to a English quotation. This is the kind of movies where lines are really “malupit”. Dialogues were mala-Temptation Island na straight quick bourgeois English ng mga affluent Filipinos during their time. Sandy Andolong was the perfect doll and Rio Locsin exudes sex appeal. Jay was an architect and a typical old-fashioned virgin, then Matt was the playboy, which I think, his role/character played was not so convincing.

There’a a scene there when Jay was complaining about his new clothes being used by Matt without his permission…

Matt: Diba nga friends share everything?
Jay: Share share. Baka you mean you share my everything and I share your nothing!

My workday companions.

The human body is capable of enduring activities that you might otherwise think possible. Of course with a strong mindset of determination and no choice, one has to really dunk to the abyss or arise from the quicksand. Two days ago, I was on bed, sick with fever and drowned with liter bottles of orange juice, deprived of domestication and bearing the leg cramps. And now, I'm here at Laguna, enjoying the too sunny weather, planning to eat as much, unmindful of my swollen tonsils and itchy windpipes. Maybe I ate too much ube ice cream the first day I had fever. Now I'm reaping the consequence of not being to swallow a pill that easy.

After having that hateful fever, I wanted to catch our spiritual leadership and transformation training at Rizal, Laguna. And so my travail of unknown territory came to pass. I took the Lucena bus, dropped off at San Pablo, question here question there, hailed a tricyle, forgetting my Gatorade at the jeep right after I jumped off the jeepney at that road where the Rizal Recreation Center is leading. I was victorious! I arrived at the site- such beautiful resort grounds, participated at the latter part of the discussions, had a healthy dinner (squash, sayote, carrots). But from some unknown force of the universe, I was counseled by a mythical creature that I had to repeat the whole SLT module because I wasn't there on the first sessions and it's pointless to stay, since I'll technically be an observer only. And so I decided, with a not-so-heavy tone, and controlled sighs, that I'm leaving the following morning and just stay at my Tita's place in Pila, Laguna. Sourgraping, I reasoned that I was still sick and have sleepless because of my restricted cough. I left Rizal at 6:15 am and arrived at Pila at 7 am. Whew! I thought that what I did was beyond my phycisal capacity, because really - my heart is willing but the flesh is weak. My body is still recuperating from being bed-ridden patient, and I packed off my bags and picked off carefully matched pieces for my everyday wear.

Some other photos during the Coron trip...

Day 5 – Sunday

Today is Coron Island Hopping day.
We had hotcakes and buttered bread toast for breakfast.
Our destinations:

Siete Picados
Twin Peaks
Cayangan Lake
Skeleton Wreck (eerie)
Mawowoy Beach (didn’t set foot on the beach it looks just like a stop from Skeleton wreck and 100 pesos per person is too much)
Twin Lagoon visited last because we had to wait for low tide so we can swim across the other lagoon (the best rock formations above and below water).
We had dinner at Coron Bistro, which was recommended by cousin Kim. I ordered a generous serving of Bistro Pizza, Ging had Chicken Cordon Bleu to play safe. Denise had grilled fish with herb and butter sauce, Talits had Tiger Prawns, Mer had kilawin and potato salad, Lolay and Kaycee had pasta and salad. Then for dessert, we each had a bite of apple pie which Lolay ordered.

Day 4 – Saturday

Had breakfast at Mamita’s – tocino, fried rice, sunny side-up eggs and coffee

Today was rest day for us, specifically Ging and me, since Denise et al are going to arrive mid-afternoon.

We checked out of Mamita’s and checked-in at Busuanga Seadive Resort around 11 in the morning. We were led to a deluxe airconditioned room, which was supersized (size was customized in a way that the big foreign divers would fit in the big bed and sufficient space for moving around the room. Seadive rooms were native as they had native sawali material for walls, then heavy wood for beds and dresser. Rooms are relatively old and the airconditioning was weak due to age. Me and Ging just stayed in the restaurant viewing the sea, reading my Viajero Book (F Sionil Jose) as we waited for Denise et al to arrive.

As soon as they arrived, they immediately checked-in on a fan room, then went straight to the dive centers to canvass the cheapest offer. Kaycee picked out Coron Diver’s and she booked a schedule of 2 dives the following morning. Then we passed by the local bakery and bought sandwich bread, Spanish bread, cheese spread, plastic cups and Cokes as we are rushed to go to Maquinit Hotsprings. Ate Gemma and Che are there already and they called me earlier saying we have to get there before 5 pm as a group of councilors from Quezon City have booked the whole place and they requested management to limit arrival of guests after 5 pm.

There we dipped into the salty pool, but dwelled more on the other side, which is open to the sea and took vanity photos of ourselves and the sunset view. Staying too long on the hot pool makes you palpitate and your head ache really…

We had dinner at Seadive restaurant as soon as we got back. Servings were small but the seafood dishes were good to the pallet. There were tasty, except for one Swiss chicken dish, but I remember Etang said it tasted like shoe polish.

Day 3

Had breakfast at Mamita's – longganisa, fried rice and hotcakes (sugar as maple syrup subsititute, then margarine) – way too far from what we imagined the meal to be

We had grilled fish again for lunch. I think we had tuna, and suran again, matched with Lato seaweed salad with tomatoes. The boatmen brought an icebox with them so we can chill Cokes and bottled water.

Our target destinations – East Tangat Gunboat near Sangat Island, Calumboyan Island and Coral Sanctuary, Coral Garden and Lusong Gunboat.

This was the most memorable day for me in the whole trip as I was really awed by the beauty of corals and reefs in Calumboyan-incomparable to Balicasag in Bohol. Lusong Gunboat was a thrill as I saw its magnificent length submerged to the deep blue sea yet the water was clear and so seeing them through goggles was an unforgettable site for me. All parts of the gunboat were covered with colorful coral. Amazing!

Shortly after showering, we had dinner at a small Japanese themed café. I had fried chicken with rice and miso soup, and the usual Coke light in can.

Day 2 - Thursday

Had breakfast at Mamita's - corned beef with potato cubes, stir-fried tuna, Lamayo (dinaing na danggit), fried rice and overflowing coffee...yumyum

Mang Joel, the local man who offered us a package for boating is out of coverage. He needs to take courses in Travel organizing super. After a long wait, he appeared and accompanied us to the market, where he pinpointed which fish is good for grilling.

There we bought Suran, and its sister variety which is smaller and more leathery in texture.

Our islands for the day are Malcapuya, Banana and Malaroyroy Islands.