TravelKage

10 Essential Things to Pack for Every Surf Trip

2011-11-28T14:51:00.001+08:00

I admit sometimes I leave without checking if I have my fin keys. Oops. My list of essentials items as published in TravelBook.ph is right here so make the jump :)

Samar Only We Know

2011-11-08T12:44:00.008+08:00

Photos from the recently concluded national competition held at Calicoan Beach, Guiuan, Eastern Samar:

To get to Calicoan from Manila by air:

Fly to Tacloban

Hire land transport or take the communal bus from Tacloban to Guiuan.

From Guiuan town proper, ask about renting a motorbike or a jeepney to take you to Calicoan.

The Donavon Weekend. Sanuk's Opening Act.

2011-10-25T16:06:00.002+08:00

Incredi-weekend. Glassy 3-4 foot right-handers, solid morning sessions, non-stop sunshine, the Donavon show on the beach, cold beer, random laughter, photos galore... good vibes all around. Love these trips where I not only get to hang out with old friends but meet new ones as well. ♥

It started on a Thursday afternoon when - through the kindness of Vangie and Ruby - I was given one-on-one time to interview Donavon Frankenreiter. See, I have been a fan of both his music and his philosophies on surfing/life since before I even learned to make the drop. So that afternoon? A good 10 years in the making. Brought Elaine with me so she could interview as well and we could maximize exposure for Sanuk. :) A few hours later, Donavon and Matt played at Gweilo's where good vibes and smiles were aplenty... and I won a pair of Sanuks! :D Just in time for my baby bro's birthday too!

Then it was off to El Yu at midnight on Friday. Left at midnight, arrived at 430am. Slept at 5, was putting sunblock on at 6:30. In the water by 7:30. Suffice it to say that it was three hours of super stoke -- friends in the line-up, 4 foot glassy peelers, sunshine, no jellyfish. The afternoon was filled with the costume surf contest, a lot of hanging out and prepping for the evening's concert... which by the way was likely the most amazing thing to happen for many a sexy surf beastie in the country.

Sunday: three hours at the Point, then got hit by the lazy stick and just hung out most of the afternoon with various peeps, using Kahuna's wifi to live Tweet photos.

On the road by 10pm and in Manila by 4am.

Missing Balian

2011-10-25T11:12:00.005+08:00

Back in March of 2010, I was recovering from a bout with viral arthritis, an auto-immune illness and a break up. A trip to Bali had been booked months before and it was with a lot of excitement that I boarded that Air Asia flight to the Island of the Gods.

We split into two groups - mostly based on where we were all booked. We spent the first two days apart - constantly in touch via SMS and Facebook. One evening Dom, Annie, Wiwi, JP and Tin texted us to say they were heading to Balian in the morning. So Philip, Miki, Ja and I hooked up with Nata, rented an extra board for Jam, woke up at 5am and made the trip up.

And fell in love. If I could have married a surf spot during this trip, I'd have come home as "Mrs Balian."

We hit Balian twice all in all where we all scored fun rides, cheered for each other, had epic siestas on epic beds, ignored the annoying needle thingies in the water, stayed away from aggro haole boys (where is your aloha?!) and had the best time ever.

Jam and I weren't able to do a Balian trip this year though so my reunion with the spot I wanted to marry is going to have to wait.

For photos of my future husband, the Surf Spot, check out my gallery on Facebook.

*BALIAN is located halfway between Kuta and Medewi. There are accommodations in the area ranging from upscale to mid-priced. As of 2010, there were no backpacker-budget friendly lodges though. You can hire a van to take you there (I highly recommend Nata, hit me up for his contact deets) or rent motorbikes and make the drive up yourself. Leave early in the morning to beat the traffic.

Vitamin D from Vitamin Sea

2011-09-12T14:37:00.005+08:00

Sunday day trip to one of fave new spots. I was scared we would get totally skunked and be drenched in rain. But it was peeling and sunny... the perfect combination for a day trip.

Paolo holds ground lessons for his students

Morning sesh: 2-3 feet for us (scored fun little right-handers as well as a few lefts), and further down the beach, perfect baby waves for the first-timers.

Pia takes off at the smaller section of the beach

Lunch: scrambled eggs, luncheon meat, cheese, peanut butter, brown bread, bites of Migui’s incredi-sandwich, bananas with Nutella, some spag from Pao, a sip of milk, lots of water and Golden Oreos. Random. Yummy.

Afternoon sesh: 4 feet with some close outs, what felt like never-ending sets (“Lull! I want a lull! I need to rest!”).There are no photos (from my camera) of the afternoon sesh because I was in the water trying to catch as many waves as I could before I started cramping.

Ting Pats, Pao and Julienne decided to paddle to the reef break at the tip of the cove. According to them, it was slopey, overhead and just the teensiest bit too shallow.

We were packed up and showered by 5pm. Had a really good catch-up conversation with my friend Raf - who I hadn't seen in at least 5 months that was largely about religion, spirituality and opening yourself to the universe.

On the road by 6pm. Slept the whole way home. :) It wasn't my best day trip this year but it was still super fun. A day at the beach, on your board... very few city options can truly compare.

Long Weekend in Baler: End of August 2011

2011-09-07T17:32:00.005+08:00

Started the long weekend with quiz at Pivo where we once again dominated the rounds. :) Good job to our very own Rainman - Vincenzo Giorgo Armommy Tagle. Then went to Senator's house to wait for everyone to trickle in so we could be on our way to Baler for the next two and a half days.

Baler was... amazing. In sunshine, in rain, in glassy conditions and horrifying close-outs... for some reason, Baler always finds a way to be good to me. And I would like to think that Baler was good to first-timers Jako and Will as well.

We surfed mostly at the beachie and once in Lobbot with waves varying from head high close outs to waist high peelers. The weather went from overcast to sunny to sunny but drizzling. Scored my personal best rides during the Sunday afternoon session -- clean drops on waist high left-handers with green walls just peeling down the line. Gill was able to stand on Pandora, Will and Jako were able to get waves and Senator was dominating on his 9'6. :) Stoke for everyone.

Hidden in between surf sessions (and sometimes during) were moments, hirits, conversations and jokes that I'm not likely to forget and I pray I never take for granted.

Ended the weekend with Casa Nami sing-along night -- sunkissed, stoked, kinda tired but ready to rock it out in celebration of Gill's last hosting night.

In honor of Shark Week

2011-08-03T11:30:00.002+08:00

In honor of Shark Week and the Save Our Philippine Seas' valiant efforts to spread the word on the horrors of shark finning, shark's fin soup and shark slaughter, I present... the nurse shark I saw while diving last year :) I crawled in to take photos then lost the camera when it detached from my wristband w.o my noticing. These photos were taken by a lady we shared the boat with. I would give her full credit if I knew her name.

But I digress.

My point: please follow @SavePhSeas on Twitter and regularly check the hashtag #reefwatchph for updates on the movement to make sure sharks like these can continue to live unmolested in our waters.

Pass the HB 174 already!!! :D

Boycotting Tong Yang, Megamall

2011-07-28T15:07:00.004+08:00

Yes, that label says BABY SHARK FILLET. And so Tong Yang restaurant in Megamall joins the ranks of restaurants I've decided to boycott until they make changes to their menus.

In case you live in Manila and you are want to join the cause this is the current running list of restaurants: Gloria Maris, Passion, New Dynasty Seafood Restaurant, and Emerald Palace.

We have sent letters to each of these requesting them to remove shark from their menu. Lend your voice to the cause by spreading the word and signing this online petition calling for the ban on shark's fin soup.

Keepin' It Real: Photos from the Weekend

2011-07-18T15:02:00.006+08:00

Say No to Shark's Fin Soup!

2011-07-13T14:32:00.005+08:00

If you are new to the blog allow me to get you up to speed.

I know it's called TravelKage but lately, the blogs haven't been about going places. There is something much more important and pressing that requires blog space - the threat to our local shark population due, in part, to the practice of shark finning.

Organizations such as Save Philippine Seas have been vocally asking to stop this needless slaughter, going so far as to explain why shark's fin soup contains no curative or nutritional properties.

In this light we'd like to ask you to make the jump and sign this petition asking Gloria Maris to remove shark's fin soup from their menu. UPDATE: at the moment, this is an OPEN LETTER & not a PETITION but please feel free to repost both this blog entry AND the open letter. The more people we reach, the better chances we have of getting GM and similar restaurants to cooperate.

And if reading about the problem isn't enough then we hope that this photo will move you:

Nominate your bets for the Tatt Awards

2011-07-13T14:19:00.001+08:00

Social Media has made waves in recent years and it’s about time that someone rewarded the people who have effectively used this new tool to make a difference in the way we think and pass the time. The Tatt Awards seeks to identify those who have excelled and led the way in innovating the way Filipino netizens have used the internet and social media towards creative and worthwhile ends.

For more information make the leap to this blog entry.

Are You Eating Responsibly?

2011-07-11T14:52:00.000+08:00

Before I begin, I have to warn you all that this is a little nerdy but not really that much fun. What with the reports on the illegal collection of reef fish and coral, I felt it behooved me to remind everyone that pelagic fish are just as important to the ecosystem as the pretty fish that make it to Disney/Pixar films.

It's always important to know where your food comes from. Just because an item is on your favorite restaurant's menu or in your local grocery's freezer doesn't mean it's sustainably farmed or environmentally safe.

Here's a list you should read and a few links to help you get started:

- Monterey Bay's Seafood Watch
- A guide to eating fish the sustainable way from The Guardian
- Recipes using Sustainable Fish

Most of these resources are from North America, I know. But they serve as a good guide. We will be publishing an entry on how to eat responsibly from a Philippine perspective very soon.

Stop the Shark Slaughter

2011-07-08T15:35:00.005+08:00

This is a heartbreaking photo of my fellow "Surfers for Dolphins" co-founder Guerrero Saño at the scene of a massive shark slaughter in the Philippines. Some of these sharks are practically juveniles, finned then left to die on the sand.

In his own words: "I was with the humpback whale research team when we found sharks being slaughtered on the beach in Cagayan, near Aparri. there were about 16 of them.then in a few minutes, another boat came with about 32 more dying sharks.they were butchered in front of us and the fishermen told us the fins will be brought to Gloria Maris in Manila while the livers will go to Taiwan."

This HAS TO STOP.

The finners had no idea why it was bad to do this when the research team confronted them. For them it is simply a source of livelihood. They don't know any better. So it's not enough to ban the finning or the trade... alternate means of livelihood need to be taken into account as well. The problem is bigger than just sharks lying dead on a beach, we are all well aware of that. One of the steps we need to take is to push for the passing of HB 174. And until we get legislation in place to protect our marine resources, I ask you to please stop patronizing restaurants known to serve real shark's fin on their menus. When the buying stops, the killing can too.

Feel free to repost this entry and spread the word. Follow #reefwatchph & @SavePHSeas on Twitter and join "Save Philippine Seas" on Facebook. Join the fight for conservation and preservation.

Photos from El Nido, Palawan

2011-07-04T17:43:00.008+08:00

Intro taken from my El Nido article published in the Philippines Yearbook 2008: Travel Issue. Photos are from my latest vacation there (June 2011).

If Palawan is the Philippines' "Last Frontier" then its town of El Nido is the vanguard of the frontier's borders. Flora and fauna are a premium draw here as there are only five islands where development for tourism purposes is allowed.

Majestic marble cliffs stand guard over sandy shores and glassy waters. Small villages co-exist a mere boat ride away from some of the most luxurious resorts in the area. There are lagoons filled with emerald depths and endless discoveries. Explore age-old caves and learn their whispered secrets. Or simply be on the look out for the multitude of wildlife both common and rare that make their homes on this enchanted place. There are 16 endemic and 10 threatened species of birds, 6 types of marine mammals endemic, and four species of endangered turtles that call the waters and forests of El Nido home.

Celebrated author Alex Garland is said to have drawn inspiration for his bestseller "The Beach" from his stay at El Nido's Bacuit Bay. One visit to this marine reserve and you will understand why.

My brother swims with the resident Jacks that come for breakfast at Miniloc.

Kayaking the Small Lagoon

Snorkeling Cove 2.5 off Lagen Island. (I dove down and hung on to a rock - not a coral - for this snapshot)

Sunset from Lagen Island.

Join the Fight to save our seas

2011-06-09T14:44:00.002+08:00

*gets on sparkly pink soapbox*

June 8 is World Oceans Day as well as Blog Action Day. The upshot of which is this:

If you would like to bring awareness to the plight of our marine ecosystems or find a way to help/volunteer/pass legislation/create noise/fight the good fight then please head to the Save Philippine Seas group page on Facebook and join up.

On Twitter, search the hashtag #reefwatchph to keep updated on what's been going on the last few weeks.

*gets off sparkly pink soapbox*

And now I leave you with some photos taken on various dives and snorkeling trips in the country.

Coron, Palawan

Panglao, Bohol

Panglao, Bohol

One of thousands of stingless jellyfish in Suhoton Cove just off Siargao Island.

Butanding, Donsol.

It's Baaaack! The Ugly Postcard Contest.

2011-06-06T12:46:00.006+08:00

Some of you know that I am an active member of a travel message board filled with lovely people (and our fair share of freaks). About five years ago, I casually posted a message there about my love of snail mail - especially postcards. Long story short: to date, I have received over 100 postcards from all over the world. Cool beans. Some from people I have come to see as friends. Others from total strangers just willing to send a postie junkie her snail mail fix. They range from scenic travel shots to witty one-liners to self-designed. And I love them all.

And so I launched the Ugly Postie Contest. I gave everyone a month and a half to send me the ugliest/tackiest postcard they could get their hands on. I picked my top three. And had everyone help me decide on the winner. The winner -- a wonderful person who usually has amazingly good taste -- received a prize in the mail.

I wasn't in the mood to throw a contest in 2009 and I totally forgot to in 2010. But I think I'm up for it this year. So, everyone interested, you have a month and a half to send me the fugliest, tackiest, campiest postcards you can find. Send me a message to get my address. Winner will receive a special prize.

Below is a sample of one of the postcards that made it to the winner's circle. Gotta love the grass-lined roof.

One Day I'd Like to Do This For Pinay Surfers

2011-06-05T20:28:00.004+08:00

Record numbers turn out for the Rip Curl Girls Go Surfing days in Bali

29 May 2011, Double Six beach Legian – Bali.

Bright sky’s and perfect 2 -3ft waves decorated Sunday morning at Double 6 beach Legian, Bali for the 2011 Rip Curl Girls Go Surfing day.

A record breaking 130 girls of all ages and nationality turned out from as far away as Malaysia and Thailand to register and join the annual Rip Curl Girls Go Surfing Day now in its 8^th year.

The day began with registration at 9.30 followed by the first class of the day ready hit the surf at 10.30. Joining the lesson were Rip Curl facebook photo competition winners from Jakarta who had won an all expenses paid trip from Jakarta by posting pictures of themselves to Rip Curl’s fan page. Girls started out with a warm-up and stretching followed by basic standing, positioning on the surfboard and how to paddle. The introduction was made by Rip Curl School of Surf Pro instructor Jonathan Deaker who made all the girls feel right at home with his relaxed and fun spirit before they took to the perfect clean waves.

While the first group was getting amongst the action on the water, the beach scene was hotting-up with fun and games to win top prizes, girls having manicures, body massages and temporary tattoos in the specially designed beauty booth.

As the third and final session of the afternoon came to a close around 3pm, live music kicked-in on the stage and the crowds of girls gathered to dance together to a hot salsa music lessons with fun choreographer and dance instructor.

A beach BBQ added to a perfect afternoon of fun and games in true Rip Curl style with hot dogs and cold drinks ready to feed the hungry girls.

To end the day on stage, the prize giving of the Coca Cola ISC Women Division Tour was announced with Rip Curl team rider Diah Rahayu Dewi taking first place starting her 2011 campaign on a high note. The presentation was followed up with some special awards for best wipe-out, best ride and best style that was won by Rip Curl’s media guest’s form Thailand and Malaysia.

“It was a great start for the women's pro tour. We had some good waves and the girls were challenged but showed that they are more than motivated and are frothing to compete. We are looking forward to a tough and challenging competition for the 2011 women’s championship.” (Tim Hain - Media Director- Coca-Cola ISC Tour)

Thanks to Rip Curl’s co - sponsors and media partners; GUS, All Seasons Legian Hotel, Rip Curl School Of Surf, Coca Cola ISC, OZ radio, JUICE, Magic Wave, Sister Girlfriend and Go girl.

Sometimes the Universe gives you a photo-op

2011-05-19T13:38:00.004+08:00

Cross-posted on Us3Girls

I was en route to Manila from Bali via Jakarta late Friday night. Rushed to the baggage carousel as I had to grab my gear and go so I would make it to the next free shuttle service between the domestic and international terminals.

Got to the carousel and saw this:

Classic traveler moment: waiting for your bags to arrive, looking forward to a warm meal, a soft bed and some shut-eye.

Bali: Shop the Surf Outlets

2011-04-29T16:24:00.004+08:00

I've been to Bali during the months of March, April and May and the sale season that has given us the highest yield and best value for money has been the one in March.

1. Surfers's Paradise. Oakley, Reef, Roxy, Quick Silver, Sunsuko, Cult, Volcom, Hurley, Industry, Bilo Australia. On Jalan By Pass I Gusti Ngurah Rai
-- This is on the way to the airport and accessible by taxi. Hardly any sales at the main store but right across the street is their factory outlet wc sometimes has super good deals.

2. Billabong Factory Outlet on Jl By Pass Ngurah Rai
---> Three floors of sale items ranging from 30% to 75% off on most items. It's on the same road as Surfers Paradise but in the opposite direction. Walking distance from my favorite outlet of all time -- the Quiksilver/Rip Curl/Surfer Girl. Have the taxi drop you off at that one first then just walk down the road to this one. It will be on the left side so keep your eyes open for it. Super good deals.

3. Quiksilver/Rip Curl Outlet on Jl By Pass Ngurah Rai
---> See above :) I was able to get shorts for RP50,000 and tops na RP25,000 (Php125 to Php250 pesos) and bikinis for Php500 lang.

4. Quiksilver/Rip Curl/Surfer Girl Outlet On Jl Dewi Sri
--> Closest one to the Kuta and Legian area. Usually has rummage-style sales outside the store proper and more sales inside.

5. Surfer Girl. On Jl Legian.
--> Head for the sales floor upstairs for the best deals on both men's and women's brands. Also, it's along one of the main shopping-eating roads

Bali Tips: Money

2011-04-29T16:20:00.003+08:00

These are just a few reminders and tips that I've picked up from the various trips to Bali in the last four years. Generally, my advice will center on the Kuta and Legian area so if you're looking for info on Seminyak, Nusa Dua, the Bukit etc, this might not be the blog for you.

- Many of the money changers will offer a higher rate than others (lets say normal is 8635, they'll over 8900). Unless you are super confident about your own counting skills, dont be greedy. Go for the normal rate na lang at a reputable changer rather than the dodgy money changer operating out of the back of a dvd store. ;)

- Along Poppies Lane (coming from beach side) 1 at the very top of the street near the head office of Big Kahuna Surf School. They issue receipts and I trust them.

-Another reputable money changer is DIRGAHAYU Money Changer sa corner ng Legian Street and JL Pantai. Bank-style siya. They also issue receipts.

In general, we tried to change USD$100 at a time.

Other money related notes:
-- do not bring US Dollar bills minted in 1996!
-- do not bring US Dollar bills minted in 2003 with serial numbers beginning in CB
Those bills will be rejected by almost all the money changers in Bali. Even the banks.

Helpful Link: http://www.baliblog.com/travel-tips/bali-travel/money-in-bali.html

I'm a Wild Cat, how do you compare? Personality quiz - Youniverse.com - Be Understood

2011-04-15T19:51:00.000+08:00

I'm a Wild Cat, how do you compare? Personality quiz - Youniverse.com - Be Understood

Published in Town & Country 2010: The Maldives, A Slice of Paradise

2011-01-24T16:46:00.005+08:00

Unedited draft of the Maldives article that Town and Country Philippines published in their October 2010.

A SLICE OF PARADISE
By Kage Gozun

Subhead: Big gifts often come in the smallest sizes and Paradise Island Resort is a snack-sized buffet of living large.

We all know that some of the best things come in the tiniest of packages. Diamond rings and other pieces of worthwhile jewelry are wrapped in the smallest of boxes, (pale blue boxes if you’re a lucky girl indeed). The same adage holds true for one of the most luxurious vacation spots on the planet.

The Republic of the Maldives (pronounced with a long e) is so small that it barely registers on the map. To find it, look for Sri Lanka, then move your gaze down to the group of dots right below. And there you have it... the island nation of the Maldives. Of its 1,192 islets, only two hundred of them are inhabited. And of these two hundred, a fair number house island-resorts. Even the airport is on a stand-alone island. Forget grabbing a cab upon arrival, for the duration of this trip, it is watercraft all the way. Boats ferry incoming tourists from the airport to their resort destination.

One of these resort islands is Lankanfinolhu, home to the aptly named Paradise Island Resort. Located only 20 minutes away from the International Airport, this 5-star resort lives up to its name in a big way.

LIVING LUXE:

Opened in 2004, the resort lays claim to two saltwater lagoons, a wide range of activities, several choices for dining and a top-notch spa. Accommodations are divided into three classes, with a majority of the rooms set within the resort proper. These 220 rooms all feature the usual amenities one expects during a big budget vacation including a private porch, outdoor shower (for beach bungalows) and satellite television. Walkways wend through these lush grounds, which are hugged on all sides by pristine beaches, and gently touched by water so clear it looks white. But for the ultimate in luxury vacations, it is the rooms on the other side of the island that define luxury living.

Dubbed “The Haven,” these suites are set just slightly away from the main resort by two long wooden walkways built directly over water. Think of the Haven Villas as an upgrade on an already top grade trip. Guests have been known to spend entire days without moving more than 5 meters away from either their front door or their back porch.

Aside from the usual trappings of life in the luxe lane, each of the rooms also comes with direct access to the ocean from a private back porch. For a quick dip or snorkel, a quick walk down the private back stairs leads straight into the Indian Ocean’s inviting waters. A private Jacuzzi, daybed and two chaise lounges rounds off the sundeck nicely. Inside doesn’t disappoint. A personal espresso and tea makers, en-suite wifi, plasma television screens and beds that mimic hugs makes it near impossible to leave the room. And when they do, they can choose to ring The Haven’s separate reception desk and ask to be fetched by one of the special golf buggies. Why walk, when you can ride?

LEISURE LUXE:
Paradise Island Resort’s list of activities is too tempting to resist. A sign-up board is displayed prominently right off the main reception area. On it, all of the day’s excursions and possible pursuits are listed with all the pertinent details including the times of departures (for boat trips), meeting places & minimum numbers of participants (depending on the activity). If a guest needs more information, flyers are tacked right next to the sign-up board and a helpful staff member is on call at a nearby desk. Interested in something? Sign up and enjoy!

Prepare to overload on nature. Just walking around the resort can yield sightings of herons flying overhead, tiny lizards crossing walkways and, hermit crabs scuttling along the sand. When crossing over the water walkways, baby reef sharks swim the shallows. They are so common that they soon become part and parcel of the scenery. Eagle rays and sting rays also skim the sand, most often seen towards sunset. Even without getting in the water, nature-trippers get an eyeful.

To get closer to the marine life, guests often try their hand at snorkelling and/or diving. The reef systems of the Maldives boast some of the most spectacular marine ecosystems in the area. There are over 2,000 species of fish including the ever-present reef sharks to giant triggerfish, moray eels, and, during the right season, the whale shark. Turtles and dolphins are also frequently spotted during dives so keep those cameras at the ready.

And while Paradise Island Resort is not strictly a dive resort they do have an in-house dive center (Delphi Divers) that offer everything from lessons (beginner to advanced classes) to half-day dives. A white board at the dive shop is updated in the afternoon with notices on where dives are scheduled for the next day along with departure times.

Snorkelers can choose to book trips or just hang about the island. The house reef is situated right off the Italian restaurant and is home to parrotfish, puffers, unicorn fish, pelagic fish and is often visited by reef sharks passing through (don’t worry, they’re skittish and shy away from human contact). The restaurant gives out bread for fish feeding, don’t be afraid to ask.

Boat trips to neighboring islands are also on offer. These excursions take up half the day and include a visit to a local fishing village, some souvenir shopping, a picnic lunch and time for more snorkelling, swimming or just lazing under some low-lying branches while the sun filters through the leaves.

For a bigger rush, kite-boarding, windsurfing and parasailing are other options. In the evening, night fishing trips are arranged. A tennis court, small gym and a swimming pool are also on the premises just in case you’d rather not be near the ocean one day.

On the opposite end of the activity spectrum, a visit to the spa might be just the ticket. The Araamu Spa is tucked away in a corner of Paradise Island’s beach. Trained therapists whisk away any tension or stress with a full range of services. Aside from the usual treatments (Swedish, Thai and Reflexology massages), this luxury spa also lists Indian Ayurvedic therapy and a special “romance package” of loabi loabi massages for couples.

DELISH DELUXE
Even just sunbathing burns calories and everyone needs to eat. Thankfully the island has diverse options for meals spread out around the grounds. The main coffee shop opens for business thrice a day at specific times. Meals at the coffee shop are served buffet style with a salad bar, at least 5 viands and a surprisingly extensive dessert selection. Right beside is the Paradise Bar where the drinks flow and, once a week, a DJ spins for a party-ready crowd.

Fuyuka Teppanyaki serves your meal as a show with a chef trained in the art of “show cooking.” Traditional sushis share space with an array of specialized dishes. The ingredients used are flown in from Japan, the seafood fresh from the ocean.

From freshly-made maki move on to freshly-baked pizzas at Ristorante al Tramanto which has the added bonus of being built at the end of the jetty. In the evening, sitting at the outdoor area sipping a Caipirinha and munching on a slice of oven fired magherita may just be one of the best ways to end a long day. And since this is your vacation, if you’re too tired to make the walk, they’ll deliver the pizza straight to your doorstep.

At the edge of The Haven’s walkway is The Blue Lagoon Restaurant which serves up an ala carte menu . But it isn’t the food that draws the guests so much as it is the staggeringly beautiful view of waves crashing right outside the barrier reef. This is a place for an ice cold beer on a warm afternoon or a coffee at sunrise. Don’t try to catch the sunset from here though as the sun sets on the other side of the island (where Ristorante al Tramato is located).

If you are on the lookout for a treat that hasn’t yet been spoiled by a horde of trampling tourists, Paradise Island Resort should definitely be on your list. Days spent as active – or lazy – as you want them to be while the sun tints your skin in its amber glow. Nights under the watching stars, listening to the tide come in and out of the island’s lagoons.

I should know. After a year of low-cost airlines, budget hostels and counting every expense to make sure I didn’t run out of cash before my trip was over, spending a week at the Paradise Island Resort was bliss. My days began with a fresh cup of coffee a swim in the ocean. Entire stretches of afternoon found me in the water, under the sun, burning off calories from the luscious buffet meals. And in the evenings I would sit out on the porch, blogging and Tweeting about the day’s experiences while eagle rays swam under my feet . Believe me, It really doesn’t (didn’t?) get much better than this (that?).

For more information on Paradise Island Resort: http://www.paradiseislandmaldives.net/

Late App Adopter

2011-01-24T15:22:00.004+08:00

I might like my tech toys but I will be the first to admit that I am not technologically savvy. I am better off asking someone to show me what I need to learn rather than read about it. Manuals make my head hurt.

I am also not free with my money. I like making sure I am getting a good deal... which usually means waiting for the beta model to come out because everyone knows the first issues always have bugs.

So it isn't out of character for me to be a late adopter when it comes to new gadgets. Which is why it took me this long to get w the iPod Touch program. I love it. It isn't an iPhone - something whose purpose I continue to question (ok, so it's got a great screen... so what?) - and it suits my needs. I can have music, watch videos (still figuring out how to do this), surf the internet (it's got WiFi) , take photos (the new Touch has a camera) ... and it's got apps!!!

I kind of love apps. I come late to AppLand but I am catching up. Below is a list of the apps I've come to know by heart:

GAMES: My current favorite games to play while waiting in line and/or in traffic. Or sometimes during Quiz Nights when the round is something I can't contribute to.

Angry Birds - If I have to explain what this is to you, then I'm shocked you found my blog. And for the haters, I'd just like to point out that the game involves thought and a slight understanding of physics. "Structural integrity" as well as "Take out the keystone" are phrases my brother and I often use in game play. I blazed through the 12 levels in 4 days.

Bookworm - One of my favorite PC games ported to android and Apple games. Keep finding words and save the library of letters from the burning tiles. Longest word so far: Unhinged. Current top score: 1,591,350

Veggie Samurai - Almost mindless game where you slice veggies while avoiding bottles of poison. Same as Fruit Ninja except you get to slice the items more than once.

Dismount - Pick a point on the dummy's body. Shove him down the elevated platform. Score points based on how many bones are broken and how many revolutions the dummy makes before it stops falling. And then you can take a screencap. Best of all: if you have an upgrade, you can take someone's face and place it on the dummy. Violent catharsis. ;)

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Lomolomo and Hipstamatic - Analog goes digital. Play with the way your built-in digital camera takes photos without having to pay for film developing. Many hard core lomographers are quite upset about the advent of these digital versions of their toy cameras. Personally, I enjoy that they've programmed the apps to work like the real cameras... the element of surprise is still there.

CameraTan - To post process and add filters to photos, there's CameraTan.

HEALTH & LEISURE

CrunchFu and iBelly - Workout apps that talk me through core and strength training. Handy when I don't have access to a trainer.

Pocket Yoga, Five Minute Yoga, Yoga Relax - Yoga programs for travel. Again, for when I don't have access to an actual class.

MyLangPro - Handy for traveling outside the country, it translates more than 20 different languages.

Any other apps I should be looking into?

Stepping Down.

2011-01-11T11:35:00.000+08:00

Hey sexy surf kiddos!

It is with a very grateful heart that I step down from my post as your VP for Membership. It's been a long and sometimes trying ride but I don't regret a single year I spent working with and for MSA. Many of you have been asking me why I've chosen to do this -- and it's simple: I'd like to rest and be a civilian na. I've been doing this for almost 7 years. Time for someone else to learn the ropes and help steer the ship.

I can only hope that whoever is chosen to come after me also has the same vision in mind as I do for the direction of MSA. But if s/he doesn't, there is nothing I can do about that except lend support where I can as a member and as one of the B.O.D.

Which brings me to this: be awesome to your new membership head. Cooperate. Comply. Wag kayong pasaway. :P

To all the sponsors and media peeps I've had the opportunity to work with in those seven years, many thanks for the continued support.

See you guys in the line-up and watch out for news on the El Yu comp from the remaining officers.

Bestest vibes,

Momma Kage

35 Before 35

2011-01-07T01:12:00.004+08:00

In no particular order - and inspired by the incredible Celine Novenario - here is my list of 35 Before 35. Some are goals that I intend to achieve while others are habits I would like to cultivate. A lot of them entail willpower, self-discipline and the support of my peers.

I had to edit a lot - there were items on the original list that are dependent on factors out of my control. Those ones are on a mental list (parang The Secret).

1. Swim at least twice a week if I don't go surfing.

2. Do "Yoga for Surfers" every morning.

3. Capoeira at least once a week (should budget allow it)

4. Finally take that pole dancing class with Djong and Pia!

5. Surf at the very least once a month, using mostly Pandora and Alexa Jazz over WC.

6. Try that all female gym Ria told Binky about.

7. Go sugar free for a month every quarter

8. Stick to the "1x a month for fast food" plan.

9. Surf Cemento's peak on a shoulder-high day and make the drop consistently by the start of the late North Swell.

10. Go on one photo walk every month, even if it's just around the city.

11. Finally organize and publish my online photo portfolio.

12. Get back in the publishing game - freelance more.

13. Update my blog weekly.

14. LITERALLY inch my way back to the 2005 body or a close approximation thereof.

15. Attend SpinDependence at least every other month to spin fire and light.

16. Learn to make bread.

17. Get my driver's license.

18. Dive Cebu.

19. Go to Bicol.

20. Swim with the whalesharks again -- this time with a proper underwater camera.

21. Manage my finances better than I did in 2010.

22. Visit the Pahiyas festival the day BEFORE the actual fiesta.

23. Put the "No more split ends" rule into full effect. ;)

24. Do or try something new -- something I've never done before -- once a month.

25. Learn to make pasta from scratch.

26. Drink 8 glasses of water a day. For real na talaga.

27. Do a 5k "run" with Djong

28. Join every single free contest and raffle I come across.

29. Get Brown Belly into more stores in more cities.

30. Dive Palawan.

31. Get to the office before noon. All the time. :P

32. Get inked.

33. Own more than two pairs of "grown up" shoes and two sets of "grown up" clothes.

34. Be more involved with charity and outreach work.

35. Begin - and end - each day in prayer.

Two Old New Year Greets and One Totally New One

2011-01-01T01:17:00.000+08:00

This one is from me:

As you walk through the coming months, may there always be sun to warm your face.

And love to warm your heart.

May there be breezes to cool your brow.

And friends to calm your fears.

May the road be clear and your footing be strong.

And may the adventures be both exciting and enlightening.

Look back with gratitude and look forward with faith. May He bless your 2011.

***********

This I got this as a text during New Year's Eve 2004/05 from my friend Candy:

"Now let us believe in this year given to us.

New. Untouched.

Full of things that have never been."

- Rainier Maria Rilke

***********

And this from Three Bugoys of Cabugao:

These three bugoys were photographed during a 2007 trip to Cabuagao. Looking at them never fails to make me smile. May the "bugoy" that lives inside of us all continue to smile in 2011.

Thoughts from my mental roda

2010-05-28T11:44:00.006+08:00

I played capoeira for a solid 4 and a half years. Hard core got into it. Four, sometimes five, times a week.

I learned not only to do the kicks and combos but also to embrace a holistic way of thinking. Because capoeira is not just about the Eddie Gordo moves you see in video games. It is also about music and dance and energy. A game is not just two people in the middle of the roda. That game is dictated by the bateria, it gets its energy for the people surrounding the players... and the singers and bateria get their energy from the back-and-forth flow of the players. It all goes round and round. Axe. Ie. The fact that I developed a four pack was a bonus I gladly accepted. ;)

So, back to what I was planning to say. I played capoeira for 4 and a half years. And then, I stopped. For many very different but substantial reasons, I stopped playing. For four years. And now, for reasons way too personal for a public blog, I am back. Back to reclaim the axe. Back to reclaim Pretinha. At least, that's the plan.

It isn't easy. I am easily frustrated with myself. Moves that were once as natural as breathing - the martelo rotado, the meia lua de compasso, the simple act of a bananeira - now elude me. My brain remembers the mechanics but my body is not at a stage where it can cooperate.

The first time I held a pandeiro again, I could barely play it for more than a few minutes. I used to be able to hold that pandeiro for entire rodas. I don't even want to try picking up a berimbau yet during the roda for fear that my hand will cramp and I will ruin the melody. And when my joints start to hurt, vestigial reminders of my recent bout with viral arthritis, I can hear the small voice of Kagey in my head go "Dammit." I reluctantly remove myself from training to rest, catch my breath, wait for the swelling to subside. Same thing when I get dizzy and have to find the nearest source of air so I don't faint. I don't remember it being this difficult. I really don't.

Frustrating.

And yet, I am so happy to be back. With every ginga, with every note of the bateira, with every shuffle of the samba... I can feel axe pouring back into my body. I am thankful to my camaras, to Fantasma, and to the new EBC students who have been so supportive of my return to the roda. Thank you for not only the encouragement but also the patience.

My body is still recovering. I know that.

I am expected to still be weak and get tired. I know that.

Slowly, slowly... it will all come back. I know that.

At the end of the day, I can move... I have almost full mobility again... and for that I should be thankful. Only a few months ago, I couldn't close my hands into fists and had to walk by shuffling my feet like a geriatric. So yes, I remind myself every day, to be grateful for the use of my body again.

"Meu Deus, muito obrigado, pela capoeira eu pode jogar."

Today is Day 5 of the EBC Summer Workshops with visiting Profs Pimbal and Sapo giving special classes. The Bacolod students have arrived. Tomorrow there is a public demo at BSide at 5pm which goes straight into this party featuring Brigada and some other musical guests. I have a feeling the axe is going to be through the roof.

Old Stock: Pet Peeves Ba Kamo?

2010-03-18T11:09:00.002+08:00

No this is not because I have PMS today. And this isn't because I switched pill brands and am now wildly hormonal. And don't try to blame it on coffee deprivation. Yes, I am drinking 3-in-1 now (shudder) but it's delivering some caffeine to the bloodstream... enabling me to be human even before my first yosi of the day. Anyway, I don't think I need an excuse to be snarky because, as my very good friends already know -- I am not always a nice person. You know those stickers that say "zero to bitch in 2.5 seconds"? They meant me.

So without further explanation (and no provocation), here are some of my top pet peeves in random order.

1. People who say MTV when they mean music video. It's like saying Xerox when you mean photocopy. Only worse. And far more annoying. MTV is a network. MTV stands for Music Television. "Did you see Britney's MTV?" Oh, she bought out the network did she? Has her own cable channel now huh? Good for Brit-Brit. Maybe from the residuals, she can finally buy underwear. Or longer skirts.

Please, for all things great and small, stop saying MTV when you mean music video. For your own good as well as mine.

2. People who try to cut in line at the elevator queue. This is especially trying for me as I work in a company where three elevators are expected to service the needs of over 1,000 employees spread out over 17 floors. Elevator space is at a premium here. I sometimes have to wait up to 15 minutes for one to stop on my floor with enough room me to squeeze in. So, when there is an orderly line at the office lobby and I see somebody trying to pull a sneaky (usually by pretending to talk to someone ahead in line), it takes all my energy not to yell "Hoy gaga, may pila!!! Pumila ka!"

3. When someone sends a private message to half their contact list. Ouch, someone out there reading this has probably done this already. Let me calmly explain why this bugs the sh*t out of me. Having half your contact list on a single private message invalidates the concept of a private message. Also, half the time these are invitations to gigs, shows, and parties. That's why there is an EVENTS option. Plus whenever someone on this incredibly not private flight path hits reply, the rest of us receive it as well. Really, I don't need to know that taborkek247 said "kewl pare, see you there!" to your invitation to watch some garage band play in a high school gymnasium. Why not just write a blog and limit its recipient list? Wouldn't that make more sense? So everyone can reply to their hearts' content.. .and I dont need to know about it. Let's keep those private messages... private. Kaya ba? Let's keep Spam where it belongs... in a frying pan with a light coating of brown sugar.

4. People who don't bother to read blog/album/thread descriptions. Exhibit A: I post a review on a wonderful Italian restaurant complete with menu prices and location of branches. And then I get a comment or reply that says "Wow, sarap! Where is this?" Um... *sigh*Exhibit B: I post a photo of a dress for sale, including price, sizes and colors available. Of course, it is only a matter of time before someone goes online types in "Super cute naman ni2! How much?" Again... *sigh* There is nothing wrong with this per se. People can not help it if they are 1. highly unobservant and/or 2. suffer short term memory loss and are unable to retain information for more than a few seconds. But still, every time this happens, it bugs me.

5. Text language. Make it go away. "Hir n me. Wer n u?" "D2 na aq s bb. Cno cno kau?" I actually once had a job applicant inquire about openings in our department using text language. Needless to say.. "Wla me wrk 4u. Xenxya n. B-by" Pagod na ako. Mamaya na yung iba. Coming soon ... whoever writes the awful copy on ETC and 2nd Avenue, bad service in the service industry and a host of other annoying things.

The truth about commercial dog food

2010-03-18T10:54:00.000+08:00

A lot of commercial pet foods are not good for the loving non-human member of your household. Don't trust what they tell you at the pet stores either (esp if you're buying from a random stall in Cartimar... where they once told me that I didn't need to feed the green snakes they had for sale... "wisikan mo lang ng tubig ma'am"...oooh-kay). Another one told me that all our Moluccan Cockatoo needed was sunflower seeds (so not true). Anyway since most of the peeps here have dogs, basically check out the first five ingredients listed on the label. If it has corn (or corn meal) in there, then chances are you are feeding your dog low-quality junk food. Sort of like having fast food at every meal - it'll fill you up but it won't necessarily be good for you. Another thing is to aim for a dog food that has meat listed and not "meal" (chicken is different from chicken meal).

2010-03-18T10:52:00.001+08:00

I am not a morning person. I really am not. Not even if it was 4 foot, glassy, blowing offshore with only my crew in the lineup.

So imagine how cranky and sleepy I was at the clinic today when I rocked up to 1. give them the pee I'd collected over the last 24 hours and 2. get the results from my blood test.

They only gave me one sheet of results (for blood sugar) when there should have been two (the other is for the thyroid stuff).
Me: "Miss, saan yung results nung para sa thyroid?"
Miss: "Blood chem mo lang yan."
Me: "Oo nga. Kaya ko hinahanap yung sa thyroid."
Miss: "1,200 yun." (At this point napipikon na ako, plus ano pake ko na P1,200 siya?!)
Me: "Nagbayad na ako kahapon. Nakasulat sa request ni doc yun."
Miss: "Nasaan yung request?
Me: "Nasa inyo na. Kinuha nung nag-extract ng dugo ko kahapon.
Miss: "Nakasulat doon yung isa mo pang hinahanap?"
Me: "Oo. Kaya nga umabot ng ganun yung binayad ko."
Miss: "Kung nasa request yun, gagawin yun."
Me: "So nasaan na nga yung results niya? Nakasulat doon sa request yun e." (At this point gusto ko na siya turukan ng syringe kasi parang pinapalabas pa niya na 1. slow ako and 2. possibly liar din ako)

Miss mumbles as she goes through the stack of papers on her desk... after mga 20 seconds she pulls out a piece of paper with my name misspelled.
Miss: "Ah ito pala."

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Super pet peeve. And I get to go back tomorrow to get my urine test results and get a thyroid ultrasound.

Was McDonald's Being Snarky?

2010-03-18T10:50:00.001+08:00

So.Cousin Mia, Phil and I were all hanging out with Adrian at Casa Sun. We got hungry, made a call to McDonald's and ordered 1 5-piece chicken nugget meal with bbq sauce (Mia), 1 6-piece chicken nugget with bbq sauce (Phil) and 1 6-piece chicken nugget with sweet and sour sauce (me). Adrian? Was a good boy and didn't shove fake chicken into his gullet.

Order arrives.
Mia passes around our boxes.
Philip's order has only 5 pieces instead of 6.
I do not have sweet and sour sauce.

No one is pissed but, just to find out what would happen, Adrian calls McDonald's again and tells them what happened in a very genial tone... even going so far as to say we were just curious as to what they would do with the missing nugget and sauce. The woman on the other end sounded flummoxed and said she would ask someone and ring us back. The call never came. BUT... a McDo delivery guy did come to Adrian's gate bearing a box! Inside the box? A single nugget and a packet of sweet and sour sauce!

Now comes the tricky bit -- was McDo being nice for messing up the order OR were they being snarky and thumbing their noses at us? Only comments answering the question above will be entertained.

Returning to Suhoton Cove

2008-09-27T13:02:00.000+08:00

My first time to Bucas Grande was back in '04 with Millie and Scuba. Four years later, I find that not much has changed... which is a good thing. The boat ride is still epic (6 hours of travel time total), the scenery is still insanely amazing and the water is still crystal clear. The one thing I would change -- that boat ride! Hahaha.

To truly maximize the trip, leave when the sun is just about to broach the horizon. The three hour trip to Bucas Grande gives you a tour of Guyam, Naked Island, Dako and the La Janossa area. Bring enough water, food and other supplies (beer? snacks?) for the day because there is no store at Bucas.

At Bucas Grande, there is a short orientation about the island and its environs. After that, you take a smaller boat into the first cove. So yes, be prepared to spend an additional P200 per head for the tour of the island. The boat you paid for to take you there is exactly that -- just a boat that takes you there.

There a few caves and a lot of great scenery but the true highlight of Suhoton is the Jellyfish Lagoon. Hundreds of stingless jellyfish (two species as far as I know) swim unmolested by predators in this 50 meter deep saltwater cove. The jellyfish actually still have stingers but, due to lack of competition and fear, have devolved their stingers to a point where humans no longer feel the toxins that usually cause great discomfort.

At first it does feel a tad strange to swimming towards jellyfish instead of away from them. But you get used to it in time. And the experience is truly unforgettable.

If you get there early enough, you can take your time swimming and snorkeling. Just make sure you start making your way back to Siargao before 4pm since it will take another 3 hours to get back. And you don't want to be in the open ocean when the sun goes to bed.

My personal favorite itinerary goes like this:
-leave for Suhoton at sunrise
-get there by mid-morning
-hang out until lunch/ leave at noon
-on the way back make stops at Dako for surfing (if there's swell) and Naked Island for photo ops
-head back to Siargao island just in time for dusk
-wash up and then have a full dinner washed down by a cold beer

Some photos:

San Francisco Hits

2008-08-10T12:43:00.000+08:00

I hadn't been in SFo since I was a child and I was excited to see the city again. I remember loving the vibe there - and also being enamored with the idea of hippie runaways ditching the draft and finding "freedom" in the streets of Haight and Ashbury. What can I say? I was young(er) and easily swept up by romanticized ideals.

And now, over a decade since my last visit, I realize that I continue to love San Francisco. Not for those same reasons necessarily (I know now that the era of free love was also the era of free herpes and shared hypodermic needles) but for the same, hmmm, distilled essence of what the city stands for. The vibe is more organic, less pretentious.

Highlights:
- The view from the Golden Gate bridge (yes, a stereotype but what can you do? I love it)
- Clam chowder eaten along the Wharf while fending off seagulls
- Watching the buskers
- Ghirardelli square (hello, chocolates!)
- Cool breeze, warm sun. Love.
- Wandering around Chinatown

Some photos:

Happy Birthday Papa

2008-07-04T17:24:00.005+08:00

Let's begin with a chat I was just having this afternoon with Millie. Only hours after I spent some quiet time at the Church of the Gesu. :)
Kagey: well... its my dad's bday today and so i went by the chapel at my old uli to say a small prayer and right after singing happy bday to him, i found myself totally losing it. just crying and crying. so i feel a bit weird today as well.
Millie: aww. sorry kage
Kagey: its okay. its like i just never really got used to the idea that he's really dead. and i wish sometimes that i could know for sure that he's watching us. not in a creepy restless ghost way...
Millie: yeah,sometimes that reassurance would be good.
Kagey: just cos like so many awesome things have happened for me since he passed... and i kind of wish i knew for sure that he knows about those things. like getting on wetsand's homepage. and my promotion at work. or even that i got my cordao in capoeira.
Millie: i think maybe if you believe he's there,then he'll be there.
And that leads us to this... my 2008 sort of birthday gift for Papa. I'd like to think this is what he was telling me today.
I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun,
I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.
I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,
If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles.
You will hardly know who I am or what I mean,
But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,
And filter and fibre your blood.
Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged,
Missing me one place search another,
I stop somewhere waiting for you.

~ Walt Whitman
Song of Myself (Leaves of Grass)
For those nights at the ULTRA sitting right behind the Purefoods bench, screaming ourselves hoarse (even on school nights). For picnics at midnight in your room with Mama and Ton. For coming to all my figure skating practices and driving me home afterwards. For teaching me "it's not what you know, it's what grade you get." Hahaha. For letting me stay home to watch the Chicago Bulls' Threepeat finals. For giving me my first camera (Mama too). For yelling when you should have (I could be a snot sometimes, I know) and for hugging when I needed it. For impersonating Goofy's voice. For playing practical jokes on my friends. For correcting my grammar and editing all my papers, even my book reports. For introducing me to the wonderful world of the Food Network. For 27 years of being the best dad ever, there will never be enough space for all the things I want to thank you for.

Show and Tell: I Made it to the Main Page

2008-07-03T17:36:00.002+08:00

There is a photo I took of Osot Alcala at Cloud 9 that has been living in the Philippine swellwatch portion of Wetsand , an international surfing site. It is one of my favorite photos primarily because Osot looks absolutely relaxed in it. There he is in a perfect standing barrel at one of the most famous right-handers in the country... with zero tension or stress in his body language. For all we know, he could thinking about what to eat at the Boulevard after his session. I love it... one of my favorite chargers completely at ease at his home break.

Anyway, get this. Today I got an email from one of the peeps at Wetsand. He told me they moved my photo to the main page for the month of July!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH! How stoked am I?!!! Lemme tell you, I'm pretty f*cking stoked. :) I am as stoked as Osot is relaxed in that shot. I could do cartwheels right now if my body would only let me. Heehee.

That is all for this session of show and tell. Thank you to Chuck and Paolo!!! And of course to Osot. If he hadn't been out that day, there would be no photo.

Popping the Cemento Cherry

2008-06-24T17:40:00.000+08:00

I have always maintained that there is magic in Baler, Aurora. There is a powerful, mystical magic that permeates not only the Sierra Madres but the town of Baler itself. If you respect it and honor it, it will reward you.

This has been proven to me time and time again, one surf trip after another. Never more so than our last trip there when, after almost seven years of just watching from the platform, I finally paddled out to Cementos. Not just paddled out but actually caught my first Cemento wave. Not only caught my first ride but actually caught my first ride on the first wave that I paddled for.

In the line-up with me to share the stoke were Moro, Viva, Doc, Atornz, Roxy, Kev, Jong and two local Baler boys.

It wasn't epic. I never would've paddled out if it had been.
It wasn't a fun size. I would have actually liked it to have been a bit bigger on the smaller sets.
And yet, it was sooo much fun. Partly I think because, even at waist high, Cemento is powerful. And partly too because this was it -- I was popping my Cemento cherry. Finally.

And even though the photos of Manong Boatman did not capture the ride, I will never forget it. I will never forget what the nose of my board looked like as it slotted itself into the wall. The color of the ocean. The tip of my right foot. The sounds of everyone cheering behind me. Even the sensation of the wave finally dying out underneath me. I will never forget any of it.

Other highlights from the trip -
- Fun sessions (albeit in kind of less-than-ideal conditions) at Sabang
- Daily drives to Logbot and Charlie's to check for swell
- The obstacle course right-hander at Logbot that Philip witnessed
- Arvin's secret spot kainan on our way home
- Sexy time with corals nila Phil, Kuya Jayps, Raf, Yuri and Super Perry
- "Pating o. Gusto niyo?"
- Rox and Kev's sunset couple's cruise
- Room service kasi umuulan at tamad na kami bumaba

Kittens!

2008-04-30T17:06:00.001+08:00

They came home with me last night straight from the CARA adoption center in Makati. Two beautiful rescue kittens whose names have yet to be determined. Already I am in love with them. :)

The tri-color is a girl. Her brother is a handsome lad clad in orange. She is kind of shy and is spending most of her time hiding inside their box, sussing out her new home. He is all over the place, being charming and cute.

Again, for those who would like to add a cat to their homes, CARA has over 20 available kittens at the moment. All of them have been spayed/neutered and are litterbox trained.

*Update: My boy's name is Trigger... he is confident and trigger happy when it comes to his playful bats and nibbles. My super shy girl is still unnamed because I want to get to know her more before I name her.

For more photos:
http://kagey.multiply.com/photos/album/373/Whats_Up_Pussycat

Pantry Cheffing: New experiments

2008-04-30T17:02:00.001+08:00

The first is from the time last month that I was obsessed with kesong puti. I put it in everything: rolled up tortilla cigarillos with chopped mushrooms & garlic, heated raclette-style with sauteed onions and, how could I resist, stuffed in the middle of 4-season spiced meatball. Ground beef mixed with egg, shredded carrots, garlic, onions, breadcrumbs toasted with steak seasoning, pepper, & garlic powder... rolled into balls then stuffed with kesong puti. And when I ran out, stuffed with pepperjack cheese instead.

The other one is my take on a recipe I saw on some Jamaican cooking show. Their one uses coconut rum and as I didn't have any, I used Mezcal and decided this dish would be called "Shrimp on my Island" if people liked it. If they didn't, there would be no need to name the dish because I would never make it again. It features brown sugar, pineapples, red peppers, shrimp and a healthy splash of tequila.

For photos check out: http://kagey.multiply.com/photos/album/374/Snaps_from_the_Pantry_Chef#

Pantry Cheffing: Chicken Mango Curry Adventures

2008-03-10T17:54:00.001+08:00

The best thing to eat in Siargao aside from super fresh fish and the pan de surf is, hands down, Chicken Mango Curry. Ocean 101 has it. Marife serves it too. It's like your trip to the island isn't complete if you don't eat this at least once during your stay. Millie and I became obsessed with this dish when we were on the island almost four years ago. It has a lot to do with our mango fanaticism I think. But that's a story for some other blog.

And this morning, because I've been in a cooky mood ever since I got that herb garden, I decided to attempt my own version of it. Red chilli paste, ginger, spices, coconut milk, chicken, potatos and sweet luscious mango all thrown in together and made to party. It didn't come out exactly like the Siargao versions but it's still pretty damn tasty.

Okay, so it doesn't look like much in that tiny ramiken, shot with a point and shoot and no lighting. In fact, I will be the first to admit that it kinda looks like afritada. But believe me, it was super yummy! Close your eyes and imagine the smell of spicy coconut milk with just the slightest undernote of sweet mango. See? Yummy.

It put me in such a good mood that I decided to head to the aforementioned herb garden to see what I could harvest. Today's herb? BASIL. Lovely sweet and American basil... bright shiny green leaves just aching to be rough chopped and added to garlic, olive oil and lemon juice to make a quickie pesto marinade for the rest of the chicken pieces I had left over.

But since I can't leave well enough alone, I had to look for something else to add to the chicken pesto. Japanese firm tofu sliced into small rectangles joined the mess on the stovetop. The skin crisped just the way I like and the chicken absorbed the fresh pesto like a sponge. Then, again because I don't know how to just be still in a kitchen, I dusted the tofu with oregano and a little cayenne.

The result lacked a little kick. Maybe because there were too many chicken pieces and not enough basil leaves? Hmmm... I'm not sure. Which only means that the next time my basil becomes harvest-able (yes, I know it isn't a word), I will have to try this again. And maybe I wont be tamad to bust out the D200 to shoot proper food shots. Heehee.

That is all.
Thank you.

Too tired to paddle, too stoked to stop

2008-03-10T17:51:00.001+08:00

One of the best all around sessions ever, ever, ever.

The Point was 6 foot on the face and kinda scary so we (Manang Mi, Roxy, JP Ong, Moro and I) opted for the milder waves at Bacnotan. 3-4 foot sets breaking both left and right. The left was sometimes giving 4-5 foot sets but those were closing out. The right (the one near the pier) was smaller but peeling. Waves barely had any juice but the walls were clean, the line-up was composed of friends and there was music blasting from the shore due to an ongoing competition.

Mia had a new (old) 8'1 balsa that is what I like to call a fun gun (okay, so I'm inventing my own terms). I was on Alexa Jazz, my 6'0 kite/hovercraft/fish. She and I swapped boards for a bit... and fell in love with each others' boards. So yes, we are board swingers! Haha.

I was out from 11am to 3pm... then back again from 4pm to sunset. And, like Vic said, I'm usually never that masipag. Unless I really, really like the conditions. (I'm kind of picky in that sense). I also have ZERO photos from that day. Hahaha.

It was one of those sessions where you catch a fun ride and, as you paddle back out filled with stoke, you watch your friend make the drop on yet another really fun wave... and you just know how stoked your friend is... so that adds to your own personal stockpile of stoke... and it just keeps going on like that until sunset. Too tired to paddle, too stoked to stop. Then you all pile in, drive back to San Juan and almost fall asleep while eating popcorn cos you're just that exhausted. And you know your body is going to be mean to you in the morning but you dont mind. It'll hurt... but it's the good kind of hurt. Those twinges in your back and shoulders that silently remind you of the session from the day before.

Good times.

Philippines Yearbook 2008: Baler, Aurora

2008-02-07T16:29:00.000+08:00

Philippines Yearbook 2008: San Juan, La Union

2008-02-07T16:07:00.001+08:00

LONGBOARDING IN LA UNION
Text and photos: Kage Gozun

San Juan, La Union is in the Ilocos Region. La Union itself is considered to be one of the gateway provinces that connect Southern Luzon to the Northern provinces. It is bordered to the north by Ilocos Sur and to the south by Pangasinan. Its eastern border is Benguent province and to the west is the South China Sea.

Surfing came relatively early to San Juan and in the last decade alone, a growing surf industry has been witnessed along the stretch beach in the town of Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union. Most, if not all, of the residents living along this short strip of beach are part of the local surf community. Each household will have at least one member who surfs, teaches surfing or is a good friend of a surfer.

The laidback vibe has also attracted its fair share of foreigners, mostly of Japanese and Australian persuasion. Some have been living in town for over two decades and are considered as locals in the community.

A combination of an established surf industry and its accessibility from Manila has created one of the most tourist-friendly surf spots in Northern Luzon. Most would-be surfers choose travel to Urbiztondo simply because of the ready availability of boards, specifically longboards, for rent and instructors for hire. Beginners hooked on the sport but have no personal boards can easily rent one for the weekend.

The influx of beginners and students has also allowed for a longboarding culture to sprout in the water. Most of the local La Union surfers are equally adept at handling longboards as well as shortboards. It is not uncommon to find an equal amount of longboards and shortboards being ridden on any given day. Longboarding is in fact more commonly seen in La Union when compared to the other breaks nearby. In fact, the local La Union surfers have sort of a reputation for dominating longboard-related competitions and contests. And come the weekend, as more Manila longboarders pour out of cars and buses, expect to see more longboards sitting outside in the line-up.

Throughout the season, surf competitions are often held for both longboarders and shortboarders. But it is the annual international longboarding contest held town at the start of year that is the longest-running. . Run by long-term foreign residents in cooperation with the La Union Surf Club, the year 2008 will mark its tenth year in existence. The event is open to all people and has attracted its fair share of loyal followers who arrive each year to join the friendly competition.

For the rest of this... you'll have to buy the book.
For the rest of this, please go out and get yourself a copy of the yearbook. National Bookstore retails the yearbook for around Php1,800. Support your local travel writers and photographers!

Philippines Yearbook 2008: El Nido

2008-02-07T15:57:00.000+08:00

This is an intro to the article I did for the Philippines Yearbook 2008 whose theme for the year is Travel and Adventure. Filled with informative activities throughout this awesome archipelago, supported by excellent photography from some of the country's best, the book as a whole is an excellent addition to any bookshelf. It makes a great gift as well.

El Nido: The Last Stop of the Last Frontier
Text by Kage Gozun
Photos by: Erik Liongoren
Photo in blog: Kage Gozun

If Palawan is the Philippines' "Last Frontier" then its town of El Nido is the vanguard of the frontier's borders. Flora and fauna are a premium draw here as there are only five islands where development for tourism purposes is allowed.

Majestic marble cliffs stand guard over sandy shores and glassy waters. Small villages co-exist a mere boat ride away from some of the most luxurious resorts in the area. There are lagoons filled with emerald depths and endless discoveries. Explore age-old caves and learn their whispered secrets. Or simply be on the look out for the multitude of wildlife both common and rare that make their homes on this enchanted place. There are 16 endemic and 10 threatened species of birds, 6 types of marine mammals endemic, and four species of endangered turtles that call the waters and forests of El Nido home.

Celebrated author Alex Garland is said to have drawn inspiration for his bestseller "The Beach" from his stay at El Nido's Bacuit Bay. One visit to this marine reserve and you will understand why.

To Do:

Island Hopping is of course, a major portion of the activity. Within the area of Bacuit Bay alone are over fifty beaches. Many of the larger resorts offer packages that cover your boat, tour guide and a packed meal for the day. The higher-end hotels will even load a few kayaks onto your boat so you can paddle around the lagoons and explore at your own pace. Barring that, the town proper can supply you with the same. All you need to do is take a walk down the beach.

Scuba diving is a popular pastime. There are at least 30 known dive sites suited for a wide range of certifications from Open Water One to advanced qualifications. Keep your masks clear for sighting of dugong, rays and turtles. Live coral, a variety of reef fish, morays and, if you are lucky, the whale shark completes the list of marine wildlife on display. The larger resorts will sort this out for you or even offer a 15-minute intro dive as part of the package. On the mainland, look for Bacuit Divers and ask around for Willy, who has gained a good reputation from many a satisfied diver.

Make note of Paglugaban Cove for its healthy population of Gorgonian fans, table, fire and brain coral and fields of Staghorn coral. And what would this coral fiesta be without its accompanying reef fish? The rainbow of color will take your breath away.

Miniloc Island houses two hidden lagoons, the smaller of which is good for snorkeling. The larger (northern) lagoon is accessible through a quick swim along a break in the cliff.

If dry land is more to your liking, you can book guides to take you spelunking and cliff climbing. The El Nido Tour Guides Association is your best bet for assistance, especially if your resort does not have this included in your package.

Now, if packaged tours are not your thing, then hire a motorbike, get some information from the friendly locals and take off on your own adventure through the Final Frontier. The bikes are for rent at about Php800 pesos. Mountain bikes can also be rented in town.

Local lore states that during the last war, the Japanese held prisoners in a series of caverns now called Bone Cave. If this is fact or myth is still on dispute but this shouldn't hinder you from crawling through the small opening to come into the first of the caves. Tunnels lead you to other chambers, many inaccessible without a rope and a sturdy guide. A natural skylight in one of the easier-to-reach chambers sheds a soft and lovely light.

For the rest of this, please go out and get yourself a copy of the yearbook. National Bookstore retails the yearbook for around Php1,800.

Philippines Yearbook 2008: Batanes

2008-02-07T15:49:00.000+08:00

Yes, I am drooling as I type this out.

2008-01-28T21:07:00.000+08:00

Due largely to the holidays and my new herb garden, I have renewed my interest in all things delicious. Today, I found this:

The all bacon burger made its online debut in the middle of 2007. Then the creator of this thing of total beauty took it a step further and found a way to stuff it with cheese and DEEP FRY the sucker. And now, thanks to writer and major foodie Adam Kuban, you too can recreate this sinfully delicious delight at home.

For the full recipe check this out

Pantry Cheffing: Brown Sugar and Rum Bananas

2008-01-28T21:01:00.000+08:00

I grew up with fried banana served with sugar for merienda. Later on, I tweaked the 'recipe' a little to add more flavor. I usually make this when I'm in charge of bringing dessert to parties but without the rum. Then my friend Venus made it with rum once at a party and I've been sold on that version ever since. I've done a bit of tweaking to her recipe and came up with this.

Ingredients:
Unfortunately, I often cook by taste so I dont have actual measurements for the ingredients. Heehee.

Saba bananas
Brown Sugar
Rum (preferably Tanduay)
Cinnamon (sticks or powder)
Lemon Juice

Directions:
Slice bananas lengthwise.
Combine Rum, Lemon Juice, Brown Sugar and Cinnamon in a deep bowl.
Soak bananas in liquid for 15 minutes.

In a heated pan, melt butter and introduce banana slices. Pour rum-sugar liquid into pan as needed to heighten flavor. Once slices have turned a golden brown, remove from pan. Place on paper towels in futile effort to absorb excess oil.

Best served warm with a side of French Vanilla ice cream and eaten in a hammock overlooking a pristine beach while the smell of frangipani blossoms wafts in the air. Or you know, for merienda on a Sunday afternoon, whichever comes first.

Note: you can also grill the banana slices in another effort to make it a healthier version of this rum soaked, sugar packed pottasium filled treat.

Pantry Cheffing: Shop Boys' Chicken

2008-01-28T20:59:00.000+08:00

Cybs introduced me to the term 'pantry chef' many moons ago. It banks on going through what you have in your kitchen and inventing a dish. Some are total duds. Others become staples at potluck dinners.

This is an impromptu meal I invented for Jun's Despedida and it is super easy to make.

Goes great with olive oil-based pasta or with dry brown rice. Best eaten with friends over cold drinks and amidst lots of good vibes.

Here we go:
- Chicken Breast Fillets, cut into strips or cubes.
-1 bottle Sweet Chili Sauce (I am partial to Jufran)
-2/3 bottle fresh honey (different varieties taste slightly different, I like Palawan honey)
- One bulb of garlic, rough chopped
- One inch of ginger root, rough chopped
- Chili powder to taste

-Marinate chicken in sweet chili sauce, honey and chili powder.
-Allow chicken to sit for at least half an hour.

-In a heated non-stick pan, stir fry garlic and ginger in light olive oil.
-Add chicken when garlic has started to brown.
-Coat the chicken pieces with chili-honey mixture for added flavor and color.
-Remove from heat when chicken is cooked through. (use a toothpick or fork to test)

Serve with love.

Pantry Cheffing: Sundried Tomato Pesto

2008-01-28T20:33:00.000+08:00

For Christmas this year, I thought I would make pasta again. Then I found out that a neighbor had sent over spaghetti and some green pesto. So I looked around the pantry and cobbled this together instead. And you know what? I think we have a new winner!

If you dont have the time to make your own pesto, you can always get the pre-made ones from the local grocery stores. I like the brand Bravo, P220 for a bottle. Really yummy.

- For Sundried Tomato Pesto
250gm sundried tomatoes
toasted pinenuts
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
2/3 cup shaved parmessan
150 mls olive oil
chopped basil
chopped parsley
salt to taste
pepper to taste

- One box All Purpose Cream
- 5 fillets spicy sardines, deboned and shredded
* * Alternatively you can use shredded anchovies, tuna or chicken breast

For Sundried Tomato Pesto place all the ingredients except the olive oil into a food processor and blend to a course paste. Gradually add your olive oil and blend to a smoother paste. With a wire whisk, slowly add the all purpose cream and shredded sardines no longer lumpy. Keep adding cream to desired texture. Personally I like it a bit lumpy.

Spread on thin bread with some shaved pepper jack then toast, or use as a dip for chips. Or thin it out with more all purpose cream and use as a pasta sauce. (When I do this, I like to shred some old queso de bola as a topping for a little zing)

Serve to friends and family members with a smile. :)

The Ten Hour Road Trip home

2008-01-15T20:48:00.000+08:00

Gloomy Baler weekend for Aya's first despidida. Only one day of surf where it took me an hour to get out during the morning session. Moro, Aya, Dom and I were all on borrowed boards. JB didn't even have a board at all. Then Tin's new board came with faulty screws, which led to the immortal phrase of the weekend "All I need is a long screw." Hahahaha.

It took me close to half an hour to get to the line-up. But I refused to quit and finally made it through that one tricky section. Of course, by then I was too tired to do much more than sit there and rest. I did feel a tremendous amount of satisfaction though that I didn't just turn back and go have a coffee.

The afternoon session had a majority going to Cemento. Moro, Del, Raf Aerika and I stayed behind to surf the beach. I actually only got one wave that afternoon. Decent, not anything to brag about but still, fun enough to talk about post-sesh.

By sunset, it was raining haaaaard and we were all getting worried about the next day.

Sunday was pouring down rain and howling winds. So for the first time ever, we were out of Bay's Inn before lunch. And yet it still took us 10 freakin' hours to get to Manila. Why? Well... first there was the rickety bridge incident. As Philip drove his pick-up over the temporary timber bridge, they noticed that one plank was too small for the car. It was definitely going to buckle under the weight of the vehicle. So they stop right on the bridge, which really was just a bunch of large planks thrown together. The entire convoy held their collective breath as a "rescue plank" was found by some enterprising locals. Once Phil's car was over the river, the rest of followed with a mixture of speed and caution. We made it through the rest of the mountain with no incidents.

Then Raf's front tire bearing decided to call an early retirement. It took us two hours to find a mechanic. Then Philip's rear tire went flat and we had to make another roadside stop. Seriously, this was the longest trip home from Baler ever.

But I'm just glad nothing more adventurous happened to us (like landslides and getting swept away by the raging rivers). And that this crew knows how to roll mellow-like, with no high maintenance hissy fits or tantrums.

We are Surfer, even when there's hardly any surf to be had. (We are Surfer is a trademark of Paeng de Leon)

For photos: http://kagey.multiply.com/photos/album/333

A birthday in three parts

2008-01-14T20:43:00.000+08:00

Part 1: The traditional salubong with the Crew. This year's venue: La Maison. This year's unexpected theme: Playing with Frames (aka Chino! Stop it na!) As usual walang photos ng food cos we were all playing catch up... and picking on Jen kasi sabi ni Chino masungit daw sya that night.

Part 2: The traditional early morning wakey wakey then, much later on, family dinner. Not a lot of photos from part 2 cos we were eating like 90% of the time. You must try Hula Hula in Shang Mall. It's the best! It is also owned by Red Crab so they have that menu plus a lot of new items. I love, love, love the Lemongrass & Coconut seafood soup. Every sip was a bit of heaven. And they also have their own version of Nasi Goreng that goes perfectly with my personal version of culinary heaven: Crabs Lillian (steamed crab in a coconut and chili sauce) Yum! Then we spent the weekend in La Union with Mama, Ton, Sug, Moro, Gigi and Jason. I didn't surf much over the weekend but I also didn't mind much.

Part 3: OMG!!! Super thanks to Moro, Dom and Aya for planning a surprise party for me! I was totally oblivious to their planning... and even when I arrived earlier than all the guests, I still didnt have a single clue. Hahahaha. This is the first time anyone has thrown a surprise party for me and I was super duper stoked.

For photos: http://kagey.multiply.com/photos/album/332/A_Birthday_in_Three_Parts

F- You Curfew!

2007-12-27T02:05:00.000+08:00

Moro and I were just about to start a super yummy meal at Bellini's when they announced curfew on the news. (Curfew?! Gago ba sila?) So instead of savoring the dinner, we scarfed it down so we could meet up with Isa, Aids and Terence and hightail it out of the curfew zone. Our goal? Be out of Tarlac before midnight.

Aids was The Man, getting us past the last checkpoint at exactly 11:51pm. Nine minutes to spare! We tried to take a photo of the clock but it came out blurry so you'll just have to believe us.

Friday morning session -- you know how sometimes you feel switched off? I felt switched off. Couldn't seem to get my game on. Managed one ride that I was really stoked about but that seemed to be it. The afternoon session was so much better... I felt reconnected to my board and not as bummed as I was in the morning.

Saturday - the return of The Colony with two new 'brellas and coolers galore. Super crowded - and kind of dangerous - Bacnotan line-up. Dom's first five waves resulted in her getting hit five times by various boards. Hassle. It got to the point where I sacrificed rides for safety and sat myself at the very shoulder just so I could be away from the board traffic.

It cleared up a little after lunch and we managed to have fun without being afraid for ourselves and our boards.

Sunday was beach break and Point day as the swell had really died down. Crowded everywhere too as the grommets were done with their comp and could now freesurf to their hearts' content. At first I took the longboard out thinking I would have an edge over the groms. No cigar. I spent the rest of that day hanging out and watching the action from the beach.

Then it was time to pack up and head back down to Manila.

Highlights:
- JP Sarmiento's major wipe out at Hacienda
- Marnie turning out to be a rehab center worker
- Tin Terrible and the C-Class
- More apples and coco jam snackage! Spread the love!
- Seeing the Siargao & Baler groms again
- (For once) not minding that we were doing 160 in Tarlac

For photos: http://kagey.multiply.com/photos/album/316

Cover the World with Stoke

2007-11-27T14:45:00.000+08:00

Super stoked weekend that more than made up for last weekend. It was firing everywhere! Saturday was all about Bacnorth Shore's wild, wild lefts and crazy impact zone if you went right. Stoked, stoked, stoked from my second wave. Tired from walking out and around and paddling back to the peak. The afternoon sesh lasted only 45 minutes but it was sobrang worth it! All of it was so worth it.

Ride of the day and comp champion? Tin Terible and her superdrop! :) Plus, the sunset colored our world bronze. Miko and I were padding back out when this set came through... first wave went to Marky and Phil... next one to Aston. Once they were past us, we resumed paddling... all of us glowing from that killer sunset.

Sunday began with rain. But the rain begat better swell. Heehee. We split the line-up between the Point, Carille and Bacnorth Shore and everyone came back so filled with stoke that if we could've bottled it and sold it, we'd have enough to buy the Indies Trader II. No kidding.

Bacnorth was unbelievable: wild, wild lefts at the rivermouth (shoulder to head high with overhead sets coming in every 15 minutes... and some paddle or die moments and of course, me & Phil sharing some white wash and laughing as we rode past the impact zone)... mellow rights at the pier (shoulder high and clean). Personal ride of the day? The first wave at the pier, dropping and slotting it in... with a mellow right hander peeling along. Haaaay! So much stoke that I dont know what to do with it. I think I might dance for a bit. Hahaha.

Spoiled by the North Swell (so far)

2007-11-20T18:02:00.000+08:00

In the last five weeks we've been enjoying an amazing run with the North swell season.

Joncy's Birthday
We kicked the first of a series of long weekends with "the event of the year." It wasn't an official MSA event. But it was a major event without peer... Joncy's Fabulous Fete! Loads of food, a big-screen projector, a sound system and over 30 cases of booze. Yan ang birthday party!

Also over the weekend: super stoked sessions for everyone at both the Point and Bacnotan (Dom/Aya: I used Alexa all weekend!) ... Olracs' birthday... ice cream sessions on the beach (Pinipig Brazo de Mercedes the best!) ... and the boys all trooping down to vote for Kuya Enteng on Monday.

Best conversation of the long weekend?
Buji: Ang sarap ng alon!
Nica: What?
Buji: The waves were delicious!

We drove home Monday night to spend two days in Manila then packed our bags again to head up for another long weekend in La Union.

Reunion Weekend/Surfing Break 2
This particular weekend was a major reunion for me. In attendance were my first ever surf buddies (Daddy Alex, Rico, Al, Ter, Gab, Bjorn Pabon, Pao, Killer, Lui, Mama Amanda), the new crew (the Sarmientos, Gamboas, ToPhil, Del, Marky, Tin Terible etc) and most of the apartment gang (Earl, Roxy, Joncy, Viva, Doc, Adda, Olracs, Quito), the weekend ampons (Isa, Aids, Jam, BJ, Lib)... plus basically almost everyone else. Note to Aya and Dom: I missed you girls super much but I'm glad that you guys had an excellent week in Baler!

One day of 11am to 6pm and then two days of 9am to 6pm in Bacnotan. Ginawang opisina ang Bacnotan e. Hehe. Coolers and pink umbrellas rock! "The Colony" sharing ice, beer, food and stoke. Two "comps" with no rules... except no stretching. Haha. Super fun sessions on Alexa, who is still running faster than I am. But we're getting there, slowly... but we are.

The one and only time I brought out the D-200 was also the one day that the Point looked unphotogenic! Haha. Wild waves for the comp ... as in wild with an h. WHILD. Check my multiply account to gaze at the craziness that was the comp's waves.

Congratulations to the winners of this year's event:
Moro for Men's Open
Kaw Kaw for Expression Session
Bilmar for Grommets

Which brings us to the Back to BacNorth Shore weekend!

Yay! Another surf weekend with good friends, good waves and great vibes!

Scored waves in Bacnotan in between shoot sessions with the Aloha team. Special thanks to Phil, Lemon and Doc Mark, the witnesses of my nice Bacnotan rides. Aya's sexy snap. JP dropping in on Aston thrice in twenty minutes. Bic vs Paddleboard? The paddleboard always wins.

Paddle or die? Paddle! Tired from walking around and paddling back out? Find a longboarder and beg them to tow you for a bit. And never forget to bring your snack box and cooler!

Champion of this weekend's comp: Phil "Switchfoot Ampota" Santiago.

post-script: Nagiinarte ang skin asthma ko at tinatanong na ako sa office kung baket ako mukhang leopard. Halos lahat ng meals namin galing sa de lata kasi sobrang budget na yung weekend namin. Lutang sa opisina ngayon kasi puyat sa biyahe. Pero stoked naman! Woot, woot!

And PLUGGING our surf school: Mayat Ti Daluyon offers surf lessons and board rentals in San Juan, La Union. For more information check out http://tajmoro.multiply.com

From La Maison to La Union

2007-10-25T18:53:00.000+08:00

Started the weekend with birthday lunch for my brother at La Maison (got free birthday brownies!!! Woot, woot!) then off to La Union for another weekend of sunshine and surf.

The Point was glassy and big and peeling and perfect. Getting out was the opposite. Wild. One million duck dives plus extra strong current. So... I went to Bacnotan instead. Hahahaha. Same thing for Sunday. It was smaller there but so much easier to get out to the line-up. .

Highlights:
- Akaw Daluyon is now in the hospital :( His deck buckled while Moro was using him at the Point so now he is in the loving hands of Aki Akinaga, the Yoda of LU Surfing.
- Angel made a special batch of turon for dinner. Sobrang sarap!
- Scored three extra stoke rides that I continue to replay in my head
- The standard LU sunset never fails to take my breath away.
- Lunch at Hacienda this weekend came with sinigang! Woohoo! Love sinigang.
- Hangin' out with Paolo Babycakes ni Bjorn Soler again. It's been too long Pao. Glad to see you back in the line-up.
- Moro shredding on his new 7S superfish (no name yet)
- The ride home with only me in the backseat of the Santa Fe = snoozing the whole way down to Manila.

North Swell Na 'To!

2007-10-24T18:57:00.000+08:00

First long weekend of the 'ber months! :) Chest high with shoulder high sets at both the beach break and the Point. Clean and glassy. Surprisingly not that crowded. Longboard days (taba nung alon!). Scored a super good ride Friday morning that set the mood for the rest of the weekend. And got some fish time in too on Sunday morning.

Rode home with Joncy and his new surfmobile. Not a lot of photos cos we were in the water A LOT.

Some things that weren't photographed but are worth mentioning:
- A full rainbow during the Saturday afternoon session. One end at Surfmaid, the other at Hacienda :)
- My view of Lemon clapping for me as I made that awesome drop :) Moro on the inside yelling at me to keep charging it. Hihihi.
- Daisy framed by the sunset, sitting on her board in the line-up.
- Super good lunch at Hacienda -- inihaw na manok with adobong bamboo shoots for only P75!
- The new lights in the driveway of Surfers' Inn.
- Carla Sebastian charging the beach break on her fifth time surfing.
- Two seven year olds getting their first tastes of stoke for three whole days.

Check out this album for the snapshots.

My new favorite surfer!

2007-10-01T13:26:00.000+08:00

This has to be quick cos I'm only tapping into someone's wifi signal and I should be going through my photos. But, blog-whore that I am, I felt compelled to fire off a quick blog about my new favorite surfer.

It used to be Matt Hoy. Then I found out some crap about him and he fell from grace.
So Ryan Agustein, my second in line, moved up. He's super cool, super chill and for a guy who can charge Mavericks, is really down-to-earth. Hella humble. We met him two years ago and it's always so nice to see him on the island.

But... then I met JASON SHIBATA!!!

Shibats is one of the mellowest cats I've ever met. PLUS he's really friendly, super down-to-earth, kalog and he rips like maaaaaad! I'm super duper stoked to meet him. Don't get me wrong, I still love Ryan heaps and heaps. But how cool was it to meet Shibata and find out that he's this really great person?

Update as of Oct 1st: Ryan and Shibats are equal first with me. Super cool, super nice, super surfers. Hard to beat that kind of combination.

Yun lang, sharing from a surf aid.

And already I miss them...

2007-10-01T13:14:00.000+08:00

It's my first morning back in Manila. And after the pattern of the last ten days, it feels strange to wake up in my own bed... in my own room. It doesn't fit into my day anymore to walk to a kitchen and jusy grab a glass of juice from the fridge. Most of all, how odd to be back in the city and so far away from the island. Far from Siargao's perfect office view and even more perfect waves.

But more than anything... it's really this that I miss the most right now:

Siargao only feels like Neverland... but unlike it, these kids do grow up. These are my new batch of grommets. My first batch has grown up and declared themselves too old to be hugged, too old to be following my around the island, and definitely too old to be kissed and coddled. So these groms are my ones from last year... a little bit older... but young enough still to think it's cool to hang with "Ate Kage."(In photo: Mike, Ken, Lorse, Enteng, Phillip)

Breakfast beckons. How odd that I can now have pretty much anything I want for brek -- waffles, bacon, three cheese toast, garlic rice - but I would much rather be sitting in Ate Layda's store as the morning sunlight drifts through the trees, sipping on a coffee and budgeting my meal by having only a single egg with toast.

Teh Botol = Bali

2007-08-24T19:39:00.000+08:00

Snapped this one afternoon while waiting for the rest of the crew to come up from a surf session at Kuta. Now let me explain why this bottle of sweetend jasmine tea encapsulates our Bali experience:

- A brand new taste of something familiar
- Refreshing
- Surprisingly affordable
- Addicting
- Something to tell your friends back home about

Teh Botol = Bali.

The End

Sakit vs Surfing: LU Weekend Sessions

2007-08-13T19:34:00.000+08:00

Finally made it back to La Union!

Saturday morning surf check showed blown out beach break with strong current. You'd start paddling in front of surf camp and end up in front of Surf Maid if you werent careful. So... no. Breakfast na lang muna while the big boys paddle out.

After lunch we checked out Carille. Unfortunately it was working. Dammit. I dont like Carille cos the water tends to be hella dirty. Especially after a big rain has just washed debris downriver. Syempre, ulan ng ulan di ba? So ang dumi nga nung tubig. To top it all of I was on the second day of surfing the crimson wave. Hello open cervix!

But no... ang ganda nung alon!!! Long rides, uncrowded line-up, clean walls. Aaaargh. Double Dammit. It took me an hour to convince myself that one session was not going to be worth the hassle of having to buy meds. So yan... chinika ko na lang lahat ng tao doon while watching enviously as people took off on waves that were not scary. Hay.

Sunday morning we loaded up and decided to do a swell check. Kung saan saan kami umabot. Hanggang Poro Point naghahanap kami ng alon ("mas mura daw babae pag umaga") but no. So we ended up heading to my favorite La Union beach break... also known to forum posters as "Aldrix's backyard."

Sobrang panalo!!! Steady, mellow waves with occassional overhead sets. Clean walls. Easy drops. The tiniest hint of a current. Uncrowded line-up. Lefts AND Rights. CHAMPION.

Even Lor was stoked and temporarily forgot the loss of her bag. Jong was back in the line-up, test driving his shoulder (welcome back Jong, well done). Attorney Ely was cruising on the smaller sets plugged into his tunes. Plus Olracs and I had many Guarana moments (as well as nice long right handers).

It more than made up for my non-session Saturday. No photos cos... well, no photos.

This was the kind of session I had been looking to have for almost a month na. The search for fun waves... yun na yun. Saya man.

Aldrix - Sa uulitin!

Bali: Padang Padang for the Rip Curl Cup

2007-08-10T18:33:00.000+08:00

We were lucky enough to catch the trials for a major event on our second week in Bali. The Rip Curl Cup is entitled "It's On When It's On" because Padang Padang is such a fickle break that the smallest changes in weather can cause the biggest changes in swell size. There is a month long wait period for the comp - one of the longest known in the circuits.

The same break whose inside section we had surfed only two days before was now throwing massive double overhead sets that broke in front of the cliff and wrapped around the cove towards the beach. DAMN!

And of course, my first order of business was to check the heat schedule and find out who was around. On the menu for the surf aids? Friend Mostafa Jeksen, Tipi Jabrik, and Betet Merta. Rizal Tanjung, Made Widiarta, John John Florence, Kahea Hart, Nathan Hedge, and Koby Abberton! Woot, woot!

We found a spot safe from incoming tide and tried to get comfortable while watching the heats. Unfortunately, my lens couldnt quite cover the distance but I think you'll get a good enough idea of what Padang was like that day.

More Padang pics coming soon. Photos by me, Moro, Phil and Aya.

Bali: Ubud and The Bukit

2007-08-10T18:15:00.000+08:00

We rented a van for half a day and checked out Ubud, Bali's art central. We didn't get to eat any babi guling (boo!) or see Antonio Blanco's gallery (boo!) but we did score a nice print for my mom (yay!), some carvings for JP's mom (yay!) and take a walk through the Monkey Forest where we found ourselves in the middle of a monkey tribe war. National Geographic moment!!!

In the afternoon, Phil and Moro surfed while the rest of us chilled on the beach with Teh Botols and, later, cold Bintang. :)

On the next day, we finally left Kuta beach to check out the Bukit Peninsula. On the agenda were Dreamland, Padang Padang and Uluwatu.

Dreamland is BEAUTIFUL. Terence plans to retire there. Hehe. Phil, Moro and Ter went out while Aya and I waited for the conditions to get a little better. Eh, wala. Hahahaha. So only the boys scored Dreamland... land of shoulder high shorebreaks. To be fair, the waves from outside were breaking naman but there were monster sets coming in that were hella scary. A lot of the guys out had to suffer close out barrels if they couldnt manage to bail in time.

Our new friends Sam and Paddy came up to us and said they were going to move to Padang Padang. They promised it would be smaller and cleaner. So, despite the rep Padang has, we went to check it out.

The break, which is usually hella gnarly, was nice and clean. So we did the pre-sunset session there. My fingers were so frozen that I couldnt feel my board anymore. On one of the bigger sets, I lost my grip and nearly dinged Moro on the head with my nose. Eeep! That kinda rattled me so I crept away from the peak and sat on the inside (again) with this cute Thai grommet. Got a few good rides but ultimately, nearly spearing Moro through the head had shaken me too much... so I left everyone and paddled in... (this is the good part)

While waiting for everyone to come in (Aya caught one of the best right handers that afternoon by the way... super yeah, yeah wave for Aya!!!), I noticed this girl about ten feet away from us... I thought I recognized her from somewhere but I wasnt sure... so I checked out her gear and her board... all Billabong... and I stared at her some more before I became convinced ... I WAS TEN FEET AWAY FROM SANOE LAKE!!! Sobrang kinikilig kami ni Aya.

I'll post our whole convo about it later cos it merits its own space. Suffice it na lang to say that we cam-whored with Sanoe, who is super nice and very friendly... and then went to Uluwatu to see the sunset.

We ditched the prices of Jimbaran Bay and ended up having dinner at this awesome place near Kuta Night Market. Go to the place owned by Romano. You cant miss him. He looks like he is on his nth round of roids, is cross-eyed and has this charming personality. Total character man. But one of the good guys. His food is cheap and tasty. Para siyang Gerry Shan of Bali. :)

All in all, a good day... even if the Dreamland waves did try to kill us.

For photos click this link

Bali 2007: From Kuta to Uluwatu

2007-07-31T10:09:00.000+08:00

Landed in Jakarta well past midnight and spent the rest of the night at the house of Aya's tita (we slept girls in one room, boys in the other). Breakfast was thin slices of proscuito and heaping spoonfuls of nasi goreng. Then... off to Bali!

Arrived in the Island of the Gods after lunch and spent the first day getting settled in. Moro, JP and I were booked at Taman Ayu Bungalos -- really cheap place with clean rooms, comfortable beds, and a super friendly staff. I found out about Taman Ayu through Denver, who stayed there last year and made friends with one of the staff... this super nice local named Juli. Juli is the best.

Aya, Phil and Terence stayed down the street at Masa Inn. We heard about this place naman through Paolo and Cat (later backed up by Vince and Andrew). Value for money. Really great digs for a price you wont find in the Pinas.

Across Masa Inn is a restaurant called Nusa Indah. Yummy food at really low prices. Most of our meals were eaten here. Most of our Bintangs downed right after those meals. We made friends with one of the waiters pa. Komang (I know, whattaname!) became our command central... "Hey Komang, did you see Phil and Aya?" and he'd go "Yes, they just ate and went back to Masa Inn". Really convenient.

Oh... I took everyone to Legian Street the first night and introduced them to the Surfer Girl and Quiksilver store there. Third floor = sales floor. Little did any of us know that this was going to be a very small portion of what our shopping was going to be like. Hehe.

Surfing happened the second day. COLD water. So cold that after a while our fingers were going numb and our toes felt like they were going to fall off. But, since the swell had dropped off, we at least managed to have a fun session. I got long rides and got to practice my turning. Timing lang cos a lot of the waves were closing out and the sections that were consistently working were filled with locals we didnt wanna hassle.

Ano pa ba? Ah, Moro scored a board! He sold his 6'3 before we left for Bali so we were on a mission to find a a good deal on another board while we were there. The Kuta area is awash with surf shops so it took us a while to make a decision and to wrangle a good price. But on the third day of our stay, we made a choice - a 6'0 pintail Barreira board.

After we found our bearings, we decided to stick around the Kuta beach area for a few days, braving the cold water and the often close out waves. I made friends with some local instructors and they picked waves for me to take. Nothing great but deffo long fun rides. By this time, we'd all developed a taste for Teh Botol, a locally bottled tea drink. And we were starting to make friends with the vendors on the beach... getting discounts on our Teh Botols and Bintangs... and earning a safe place for us to leave our bags while we all surfed. (Most of the hangin' and surfin' Kuta pics are with Terence).

Moro and I took an afternoon off to head up to Uluwatu. We rented a motorbike (Rp80,000 with insurance for two days), asked Juli to draw us a map and took off. Ulu was small that day - small for typical Indo standards. As it was, waves were head high, peeling and perfect. We watched the line up at Ulu and this cool guy taking off on double overhead waves with his paddleboard at Temples. Then up to the temple itself to catch the sunset... and lose sunnies to a cunning macaque.

Terence joined us in the motorbike brigade the next day and we went off in search of... sales! Hahahaha. Really chill day lang using the bike, surfing a bit and then checking out Joe's Place for the first time. Think Big Sky but chiller pa.

Next up! Ubud and the Monkey Wars!

Addicted to Online Quizzes

2007-07-13T14:06:00.000+08:00

You are Andie Walsh from Pretty in Pink

You are original and clever person. Although your family may not be able to buy you all the cool stuff you want, you are able to make cool stuff for yourself. Like a rocking 80’s prom dress.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

So pleased with this one because I grew up loving Molly Ringwald and her generation of Brat Packers. Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club... love, love, love!

Happy Birthday Papa

2007-07-04T01:00:00.000+08:00

Since we cant have a real birthday for you this virtual one will have to do.

So anyway, I know this blog is more for me than it is for you. But I wanted to do it anyway. Never mind that I am usually not this emotionally naked online. It feels right to do this right now.

For breakfast, I would've gotten up early to make you French toast and bacon, double dipping the toast just the way you like it and crisping the bacon so that it made those crunchy sounds. Served, of course, with real maple syrup (none of that Karo Light stuff). And we'd eat it while watching reruns of Cheers or maybe Friends... whatever is on Star World before Ellen/Oprah. :)

And for your present? I've been thinking hard about this because there are so many cool things that you'd have really liked. But I think I have the perfect one. Check this out Pa...

The Beatles' ... one of their 45s and a photo from their appearance on the what I think is the Ed Sullivan show.

Happy birthday Papa. Miss you.

Left Ako Kage, said Vic in Zambales

2007-07-03T22:12:00.000+08:00

A year ago a certain spot in Zamba gave me one of the biggest and most painful bruises I've ever seen on anyone not involved with boxing, URCC or in prison.

So it was with more than a little trepidation that I returned to the spot last Saturday. Thankfully instead of a horrifying repeat, I had a really good session! Waves were a fun size, no scary wipeouts, no close encounters with the reef and even managed to get off a few blurry shots before the D200's battery ran out.

Del waived the "we drop in on each other all the time" edict and gave me a wave all to myself. And Vic switched gears by warning me that he was going to go left instead of letting me drop in on him. Heehee.
We were here for close to seven hours and then decided to turn a weekend trip into a day one. Giant pizza sessions. Moisturizing sessions and trying-not-to-fall-asleep-at-the-movies sessions.

Halina't Sumayaw sa Ilalim ng Araw ng Baler

2007-07-03T22:08:00.000+08:00

This is a long ass intro. But I'm going to write it out anyway. ;)

You know how you learn a new skill? And then later on you realize you've lost the touch and you arent as on the money with that skill as you used to be? It could be a grande jete, or a 3 point shot, or an au sem mao... and it frustrates you cos you know you can do it... you've done it before... how come it's so hard to do it now? Well, that's basically how I've been feeling lately with my pop-ups and my walls.

So the mission for the weekend was to relearn those skills, fix the mistakes I am making before they become bad habits. The first morning was frustrating and then after lunch we saw that the beach break was working... and even though Dom and I hadn't slept for over 24 hours, we went out to play. Aya stayed near me to make sure I stayed focused. And I fixed the problems!... the popping up, the turning so you slot yourself into the wall... committing to those drops. All of that. To make it even better, everyone was getting good waves too. Aya's frontside is looking better and better. Dom is dialing into that retro fish so well. Nicola, Tin, Kim, Mons, Aerika and Raf joined us later and made the line-up even more fun. Too bad there are no photos cos the boys were all asleep.

By far, one of the most memorable trips to Baler with the Band of Brothers.

These are just the snapshots taken with the Pentax OptioW30. The action shots taken by Coy and JP will be in another album.

Super highlights?
1. That Saturday afternoon session. I stayed out until it was too dark to see. "Too tired to paddle, too stoked to stop." Nica and Aya win for coming up when the stars were coming out. :)
2. Trying to hang on to six boards on the back on the pick-up with Philip.
3. Raf getting smacked by a center fin... and snapping the center fin clean off the board with his cheek.
4. Dom to Aerika "Paddle!" (Aerika paddles) Dom again "You're not paddling!"
5. Watching Saddam demolish waves AND a bottle of Nutella
6. Vic playing along with "Astro" by Sago on the car horn as we sped through the Sierra Madres
7. The group photo with Gerry Shan the Man!
8. Pop up Close out sessions at "Lubot"
9. Using Pandora again. First time since November.
10. Twenty people for one Baler trip, a record breaking cast.

Photos of it are here.

Tama Ba?!

2007-06-29T16:36:00.000+08:00

Tama ba na kinilig ako nung nakita kong mag-transform si Optimus Prime?! Kilig ha... not excited, not impressed... KILIG.

Like when you're about to see your favorite musician/rock star (in my case this was Sting) for the first time and you're sitting in this crowded arena and you dont quite believe you actually scored seats and he's actually deigned to come to your Third World country to play... and the stage lights go on and the crowd gives up a collective cheer... and there he is in front of you... in front the mic... it's Sting! It's really Sting! And even though the roar is defeaning and you're probably screaming along, deep down inside is this intense excitement that ripples through your body... because you cant believe it's really happening.

That's how Optimus Prime made me feel last night. I couldn't believe my childhood toy was alive... coming to life... right there on the screen. I was eleven all over again.

Indie Long Weekend in La Union

2007-06-18T16:35:00.000+08:00

Where do I even begin? Hmmm...

1. Moved out of the Yeah, Yeah house and across the street to Surfers' Inn
2. Used my new Pentax Optio W30
3. Surfed Bacnotan Saturday and Sunday then scored big time at the "isang spot natin" on Monday.
4. Turned over photog duties to Coy

Lent my Tamron lens to Coy for the long weekend and he was nice enough to shoot us surfing in between his own surf sessions. Next time Coy, take turns tayo para may kuha ka din sa tubig. :)

Memo to self: next time, don't think of Coy shooting! Nakaka-conscious pala... I was more invested in making sure my tummy wasn't sticking out than I was in turning my board. Hahahaha. Next time, next time.

Again... big ups to Coy for shooting these excellent images of stoke in action.

5. Got Mang Bong to finally have a surf lesson!
6. Listened to the Jellyfish song
7. Got sprayed with vinegar in the eye by Phil, then later sprayed with dirty rainwater in the face by Raf.
8. Got to use a 9'1, 9'0 6'6, 6'0 and an 8'4 at different points in the weekend. ;)
9. Pimped Millie's clothes
10. Had an awesome awesome surf trip. Woot, woot!

For photos check out this album

My Visual DNA by Imagini

2007-06-15T10:14:00.000+08:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Wahines in the Water: full version

2007-06-04T13:22:00.000+08:00

I submitted this article to Elev8 Magazine's second issue. The last few paragraphs didn't come out due to a printing glitch. So here is the full article in all its unedited self.

There was a time that the idea of women surfing brought to mind Gidget, the Hollywood Beach Blanket icon. While cute and perky, she didn’t quite portray the most empowering image of female surfers.

In recent years, the presence big-wave riders such as Layne Beachley, Malia Kamisugi, power wahines the likes of Sofia Mulanovich, Keala Kennely and new talents like Chelsea Georgeson have made it quite clear that there is room for bikinis in the land of boardshorts. Whether it is in Australia, Hawaii or as far south as Brasil, women are definitely holding their own in the liquid arena.

Here in our neck of the world, more and more women are paddling out and taking waves in a sport more often than not designated for men. Point in case – the Philippine Surf Federation’s 2005 Circuit included an all-women’s surf competition was held at Siargao island’s Cloud 9, a right hander famous for its hollow barrels.

Anyone who watched these Filipinas charge Cloud 9 that year came away with much respect for them. These girls grew up in a line-up peppered with boys. This is especially the case for Nildie Blancada and Manet Alcala (Siargao) and Mocca Edusma (Daet) where they are often the only females out with the boys.

The event was seen as a gigantic step forward in the arena of women’s surfing. This year, the competition saw an even larger contingent of participants, including Australian pro surfers Sheridan Shields, Lyndsay Noyes as well as local wahines hailing from all over the country. The ripple effect of seeing women taking on monster waves has inspired a younger set of girls to get on a board and get in there. Only months after the comp girls as young as 6 began paddling out with Siargao’s normally all-male grommet posse.

Even back in Manila, the number of wahine weekend warriors has tripled in the last two years. The membership roster of the Manila Surfers’ Association has a nearly equal number of men and women.

On a personal level, it is not only empowering to see more girls in the line-up. It is, quite simply, more enjoyable. I am no longer the only girl on a weekend road trip, having to put up with pranks, fart jokes or actual farts. Now, there is always at least one other female to talk to about the more substantial aspects of life, namely: shopping, shoes and spas.

I am not a professional surfer. I am not even an intermediate level surfer. What I am is a chick with a waxed stick that enjoys every wave that she gets, whether it’s a wall that just keeps going and going or a party wave shared with four other friends. And it’s just fun that now, the chances are higher that those friends I share that one ride with are also fellow females.

From observations and conversations with other female surfers (and yes, even in the line-up, we girls like to yack it up), it seems that The Philippines is among the best places to be a chick in the line-up. The boys are less aggressive, more accommodating and actually quite encouraging. I don’t know if it is the way that Filipinos are raised to respect women, if it is the intrinsically mellow personality of Filipinos in general or a combination of both that makes these local line-ups a good place to be a woman surfer. Granted each line-up will have its fair share of macho men that will never see women as equals in the water. But they are, thankfully, the exception and not the norm.

My good friend Mille Fairhall is a free surfer who surfed competitively in her teen years. She shuttles back and forth between her two homelands of Australia and the Philippines. We were talking once about the state of women’s surfing in the Philippines and she said “There have been a few women who have dared to challenge the stereotype (that surfing is for boys). And I think that gender has no relevance on a wave. If women can get past that intimidation factor, the old guard thoughts and physical inhibitions there would be a lot more of us out there… enjoying surfing for what it is.”

By the way, Millie charges and rips so if you happen to be one of the rare aggro boys, don’t even think about asking her to move to the shoulder.

Hi Papa

2007-05-24T14:00:00.000+08:00

Has it really been three years already? As with the first time I had to pick a song to play at the funeral... here we are again... listening to the Beatles together.

We miss you.

Here comes the sun,
here comes the sun
And I say
it's all right

Little darlin'
it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darlin'
it feels like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun,
here comes the sun
And I say
it's all right

Little darlin'
the smiles returning to their faces
Little darlin'
it seems like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun,
here comes the sun
And I say
it's all right

Sun, sun, sun,
here it comes
Sun, sun, sun,
here it comes
Sun, sun, sun,
here it comes
Sun, sun, sun,
here it comes
Sun, sun, sun,
here it comes

Little darlin'
I feel the ice is slowly meltin'
Little darlin'
it seems like years since it's been clear

Here come the sun,
here comes the sun
And I say
it's all right

Here come the sun,
here comes the sun
It's all right,
it's all right

I will always always always love you. There are days when I super miss you. And moments that I wish you were still around for me to share with you... experiences I wish I could make you kwento about... but I know you're watching me... and that almost makes it better.

Random Map: Northern Luzon

2007-05-22T17:09:00.000+08:00

I always associate the northern end of the Philippines with a man in profile. Bataan is where his chin is... Pangasinan is near the tip of his nose... La Union is where his eye is... further up is the sloping forehead (Ilocos Sur).

On the other side, Cagayan makes up the back of his pate and Isabela the back of his head -- the spot that is vulnerable to blows made by blunt objects... Bulacan to Laguna is the neck... random thoughts on this Tuesday...

Map courtest of an army website.

Surf Videos from the Pinas

2007-05-22T15:30:00.000+08:00

Surf videos by my friends Paolo and Kerwin. All shot in various breaks in the Philippines and featuring some seriously hype local talent:

Big ups to them both. Watch out for the video Pao is putting together of our sick surf session at a secret spot in Siargao.

Travel Must-Have: Solar Powered Charger

2007-05-14T13:01:00.000+08:00

More and more I am finding out that talk show tv is really educational! On the Tyra Banks show today (and in my defense, I was channel surfing), and she featured this product for a cleaner and greener environment. As with the iKaraoke, I am rating this based on concept and not an actual product test.
It's a bit expensive but it's deffo on my wish list of Travel Must Haves.

The Solio Portable Hybrid Solar Power Charger. The nifty device stores energy directly from our very own sun (and from the socket as well) to power most of our handheld electronic devices.

According to the site "Solio generates free and clean energy right out of the box. Solio has been made Carbon Neutral by planting trees in protected bio-diverse forests."

According to Amazon: * Charging Solio's internal battery takes 8-10 hours of direct sunlight.*
* With Solio fully charged, an average mobile phone will charge in approximately one to two hours--as efficiently as a conventional charger. * Using the included wall adapter, Solio can be fully charged in approximately 5.5 hours. * A fully charged Solio will completely charge an average cell phone at least once. * When charging a cell phone directly from the sun, 60 minutes of sunlight will provide approximately 10 minutes of talk time and four hours of standby time.* * When charging an iPod directly from the sun, one hour of sunlight will provide one hour of play time.* * Solio can store energy for more than one year.

Each Solio charger comes with connector tips for compatibility with most mobile phone brands, iPods and other music storing devices.

Plug into the sun baby!

Endangered Tales, Endangered Planet

2007-04-27T15:19:00.000+08:00

Jukka Holopainen's team unveiled their documentary "Endangered Tales" at Megamall last Sunday (Earth Day 2007).

For those that missed out on it, shame shame. It was well-made, informative and very relevant to all Filipinos. As the press release goes "Endangered Tales of the Philippines shows why this archipelago is one of the most biologically rich places on the planet.

This 58-minute film features unique footage from over 15 expeditions and eye-opening interviews with over 30 biologists, scientists, and conservationists—all of whom highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts."

For anyone interested in being part of the effort to save the country's rich biodiversity check out the website of the Center for Environmental Awareness.

Baler Summer Longboard Jam

2007-04-25T19:50:00.000+08:00

Congratulations to ASRAI for the success of their very first longboard competition! Most of my photos are already up on my multiply site. The shortlist will be uploaded to my pbase galleries. (Mahdam and Kidlat - use whatever you want for your blogs.)

We all went up for a weekend of surfing, good vibes and magical Baler aura. On a personal note, I actually joined this comp because I figured it was a zero pressure situation -- first, it was a longboard comp and everyone knows I dont really know how to use longboard and second, I had zero expectations for myself. All I knew was that I wanted to get at least one wave during my heat. I cant help it, the competitive side of me just doesn't go to sleep I think.

I had a full day to get used to using a longboard and paddling for the super baby waves. First I used Aya's 540 Surf Buffalo board but come Sunday, it was decided that I was better off using Philip's 9'1 Southpoint.

My heat had Daisy, Elaine, and Jovin in it. And true enough, it was super fun and super zero stress. In fact, I was so stoked from that heat that I decided after this trip to seriously consider getting a longboard to widen my "quiver." (Addendum: I did buy a longboard a few weeks later. A 9'1 Southpoint we're currently calling Dagat because it seems like a suitable name for him)

The one thing wrong with this trip? We didnt get to eat at Gerry Shan's. :( Haaay. No mapo tofu, no sweet & sour fish, no buttered chicken. Sadness. BUT! We had Bay's Inn Onion Rings so I guess that makes it a little bit better.

Anyway, the results from the comp are as follows:

Men's Invitational:
Champion: Ian Saguan
1st Runner Up: Moro Gandawali
2nd runner up: Chris Par

3rd runner-up: Ronnie " Poks" Esquivel

Men's Open:
Champion: Okoy Rojo

1st Runner-up: Jefferson dela torre (AU)

2nd runner up: Allen De Vera (AU)

3rd runner up: Edmund mendoza (AU)

Wahine:

Champion: Daisy Valdez (LU)
1st Runner-up: Menchie Espenilla ( LU)
2nd runner-up: Marie Aquino (LU)
3rd Runner-up: Aubrey Namoro (AU)

Grommet:
Champion: Marvin Abat (LU)
1st Runner-up : Jefferey Esquivel ( LU)
2nd runner-up: Robin Dela Torre ( AU)
3rd Runner-up: Wilson Faraon ( AU)

That's Not Al Gore!

2007-04-20T17:36:00.000+08:00

So we're in Singapore now for the UNEP Champions of the Earth 2007 Awards. Proud to say, my mom was chosen as the champion for the Asia-Pacific region. Woot, woot!

Anyway, I'd been looking forward to these awards also because Al Gore is a co-awardee, representing North America. I even brushed up on global warming just in case I got a chance to talk to him. Plus we bought a real copy of his docu (kakahiya naman kung Makati Cinema Square pirated dvd yung papa-sign namin di ba?!).

Imagine my surprise when, instead of Al Gore arriving in the Merlion City... the award is received by (drumroll) ...

DARYL HANNAH! As in the original mermaid princess of the silver screen! Apparently they are very good friends and she is an advocator for the environment as well.

So yeah... I didn't get to meet Al Gore, much less actually impress him with my witty repartee (hahaha). But hey, props to Daryl for making the trip in his place and delivering his speech with as much panache as Bono lobbying to Free Tibet. And again, major ups to my Mama for winning!

(Super editorial: For an aging mermaid, Miss Hannah still looks good.)

For more information on UNEP and the Champions of the Earth click this

OMG, I'm in Surfline!

2007-04-11T17:57:00.000+08:00

Late last year photographer/writer John Callahan asked me to help him out with some surf spots that needed to be covered for Surfline.com. And now, months and months afterwards, the've finally come out!

San Antonio and Bagasbas Beach

Super thanks by the way to certain local groups from both places for helping me with some of the more technical information.

Let Kage Eat Post-Lenten Cake

2007-04-11T16:11:00.000+08:00

Every year during the Lenten season I give up either ice cream or cake. And believe me, it is a struggle for someone who loves pastries and sweets as much as I do. This year was made more difficult by the sudden proliferation of dessert places in the city. But, I made it. 40 days without cake. Woot, woot. And now, time to reward myself for the willpower.

On a lead from an old friend, I chose Banapple to end my Lenten sacrifice. Good call.

Banapple is a small bakery that specializes in pies and cheesecakes. Cookies and brownies go from Php35. The giant chocolate chip cookie (Php40) manages to be crunchy and chewy at the same time and is super delicious.

The Banoffee cake and the Strawberry cheesecake (see photo) are their top sellers. But since I am a contrary sort, I went for a slice of their Caramel-Fudge cake (Php75). And OH WOW... PANALO. The cake is moist and packed with fudgey goodness. The caramel icing is not too sweet. In a word: chewy. This cake is chewy and should probably be shared with at least one other friend because there is only so much gooey goodness that you can have before your body says "stop!" and your tastebuds rebel.

In fact, I still have half a slice left over from this morning. And I'm thinking with a fresh cup of hot milk tea, there's merienda waiting for me.

(Surfers: Bannaple is just beside the Shop, where City Jam used to be. Woohoo!)

Holy Week in La Union

2007-04-09T16:25:00.000+08:00

This year I went up to LU for Holy Week. The weekend before, I rode up with Aya, Philip, JP and Miko. They were there to pick up their longboards, I was there to drop off my Holy Week supplies. There were super baby waves that we kinda surfed but mostly, we were in the water just to keep cool. Until Miko smelled, then spotted, the dead rat floating nearby. Next thing you know, we're all getting showered and clean and heading to CSI for lunch and aircon.

I was back in Manila (and work) for two days, leaving to return to LU with Buji, Nikki, Earl, Migs, Tweet, Heart and Jing late on Tuesday night. Buji drove their refurbished VW Combi. Super cute. Unfortunately it broke down and we were delayed by almost three hours. We finally made it to LU at 9 in the morning.

Mid-week swell led to baby waves followed by the fear of a total flat spell for the weekend. My mom followed on Good Friday with a couple of her friends. I was thinking we'd get her on a board since the waves were super small. But no! She didn't want to try it just yet. Maybe next time daw. She met up with a friend there who took her around and invited her to their beach house. So, at least she wasnt bored di ba?

Easter Sunday we were blessed with 2-3 foot solid waves at The Point! So...

1. nagka-alon and
2. a lot of us had gone home na the night before so
3. I actually surfed The Point
4. with maybe 10-12 other people lang!

First I was using Doc's magic longboard and then after a few rides, I swapped with Joncy and he let me borrow his wonderful fish. (Thankies muchly to Doc and Joncy for the use of the boards). My boards (Pandora, Alex and even the newly named S9 Sage had gone home na ahead of me. Hehe).

In between the surfing: naps in the kubo, episodes of Heroes and Prison Break, nasty jellyfish stings, watching 300 again, cooking at the ancestral apartment of Viva and Doc, adopting Jam in the Yeah, Yeah house, having Mama spend the weekend in LU, the difference between sunblock and suntan, karaoke and jamming with Atty Ely, sushi ala Takahashi and a very steady ride home with Moro, Beej and Perez.

SCALPED!

2007-04-03T17:54:00.000+08:00

SCALPED!

Corporate Bohemian Kage Gozun gets to the root of her dry scalp woes for Metro Magazine's March 2007 issue.

I am perpetually under the sun. Even before the weekend approaches, I am already plotting my next out-of-town beach trip. Snorkeling one weekend, surfing on another, it doesn’t matter to me so long as I am near salt water.

As with most of my friends, I have learned the adage “rays today, rasin tomorrow” and have long ago shunned suntan oils in favor of high-spf sun block lotions and zinc creams to protect my precious skin from UV rays. This comes complete with an after-sun regimen that includes moisturizers and regular bouts of exfoliation.

The one thing I seem to have neglected is my head. Sure, my hair has lovely natural highlights and is free of split end. Each strand is conditioned on a regular basis and does not resemble a witch’s broom.

But my scalp? It recently came to my attention that it is dry. Starting to flake kind of dry. The type of dry that could no longer be ignored. Little did I know that a healthy head of hair is reliant on a healthy scalp. Under our scalps exist a network of muscles and that bring blood, nutrients and oxygen to the hair root. And a collaboration of sun exposure, salt water and product residue had conspired to block these pores, giving me (literally) head full of woe. Left untreated, my precious hair was bound to suffer too!

Thankfully, Hairworks Salon has a range of treatments that target specific types of scalp trouble. Three L’Oreal products are the main features in this product line-up. A variety of scalp troubles is treated by mixing and matching these three. Everything from a flaking to itching to general dryness can be addressed.

Usually, only two of the three remedies are used on clients. For the purposes of my visit, we decided to use all three to see what magic they could work on my beleaguered scalp. First up was L’Oreal Soft Peel, applied between rows of my hair directly to my scalp. Tiny beads and massaging hands gently exfoliated the dry skin, leaving my scalp with a fresh, “breathing” layer of skin. A quick rinse and L’Oreal Sensi Post was up next. It was explained to me that even scalps need moisturizing and this nifty little tube was going to do the trick. I felt a soft tingling sensation. Although I am not sure if this was due to the treatment or blood rushing through my head and the moisturizer was massaged into my skin.

As a last step, my hair (and my body along with it) was transported back to the sink for another quick rinse. The final step of the procedure involved L’Oreal Power Clear, a leave on that was supposed to banish any dandruff I’d caused from my years of scalp mistreatment.

An hour later and I was left with a scalp that felt softer and refreshed. It is suggested that clients come in one more time after the initial visit for a follow-up check and another dose of the scalp care regimen. It takes more than one round to truly banish the baddies of itching, dryness and dandruff, especially if you’ve been disregarding scalp care in your day to day routine.

At home products such as L’Oreal Sensi Balance shampoo help maintain the scalp’s moisture while Sensi Balance leave on gives you protection all day.

Hairworks Spa is located on the ground floor of BSA Tower along Legaspi Street, Legaspi Village, Makati.

THE ULTRASHAPE SOLUTION

2007-04-03T17:50:00.000+08:00

THE ULTRASHAPE SOLUTION
By Kage Gozun (published in Metro Magazine, March 2007 issue)

The newest way to sexy!

You know how this goes. After months of exercising and eating properly, you’ve still got that last little hump to get over before achieving your ideal body shape. Sometimes it’s those last stubborn five pounds. Other times it’s those final few inches that just refuse to budge.

Well, hard-working woman, be frustrated no more! A new treatment has been introduced that promises to re-shape your body without the hassle and stress of traditional yet invasive procedures such as liposuction.

The treatment is called UltraShape, after the company that patented the technique. The technology that drives UltraShape is a patented machine that uses therapeutic ultrasound waves. These waves target specific fat deposits and fat cells in the stomach, flanks and saddlebags. It breaks down fat cells in these problematic areas without damaging the tissue in nearby areas of the body. Afterwards, the body’s natural flow processes the fat through the liver.

UltraShape is painless, requires no recuperation time and doesn’t take more than two hours per session. The contouring treatment is revolutionary and continues to expand their scope and market.

To date there are over 100 clinics in 35 countries around the world that offer it. In the Philippines, it is the Marie-France Bodyline International chain that has added UltraShape to their menu.

Finding answers

On a mission, I checked out the Marie-France clinic in Makati to sit down with their doctors and discover more about this seemingly “too-good-to-be-true” procedure. Doctor Hajji Palaruan and consultant Evelyn Meriales took me on a tour of the facilities, where we came upon somebody in the middle of an UltraShape session. And it turned out that this “client” is actually another doctor of Marie-France.

In fact, many of the staff have tried the treatment and are living testimonies to its effectiveness. Of course, explains Doctor Palaruan, you cant expect miraculous results if you aren’t a “good patient” afterwards. Essentially this means no salty, oily and creamy food for at least four days after the treatment. Also, a change in lifestyle is needed in order to maintain the sexy new body that you’re sporting around. The ultrasound waves may have destroyed the fat cells but that doesn’t mean you wont get fat again if you insist on chowing down on fast-food. The fat may return, just in different areas of the body not treated with UltraShape.

UltraShape can show results after even just one procedure although the recommended standard treatment is four sessions spanning a phase of four months.

Doctor Palaruan also clarified that this is not a solution for everyone. There are certain restrictions for would-be patients of UltraShape. “UltraShape is more of contouring the body so it is not offered to obese patients. It will not have a significant effect (on them). We treat them with other treatments before we can offer them UltraShape. We also can not give this to patients who are too thin. And because the fat that is disrupted from the fat cells is processed by the liver, we can not give the treatment to clients with liver diseases.” Also on the blacklist for UltraShape are people with wound-healing or coagulation problems, cancer patients, expectant mothers, and those with pacemakers and metal prostheses.

The procedure is currently only available for the stomach, flanks and saddlebags because the device used to deliver the ultrasound waves (known as a transducer) is too bulky to use on smaller portions of the human body such as the arms and inner thighs. As of press time, clinical studies are in the works on a smaller transducer.

Trial by Treatment

I decided to go under the frequency knife and have my stomach go through the UltraShape procedure. Dressed in a comfy Marie-France tank top and shorts, I let Doc Palaruan measure my body and carefully marked the areas that the transducer is meant to target. It was explained to me that the transducer – a round instrument with a flat surface – is moved over these targeted zones with the aid of some castor oil.

Next, I lay down on a table under a bright light while assistants draped my sides with rubber sheets to keep the oil from spilling. A computer monitor was switched on and I could see myself on the screen. It felt very Nip/Tuck only without the blood and the drama.

The process took a little over an hour. True enough, it was painless and trauma-free. At most, there was a tingling sensation as the transducer was moved slowly over my abdomen. Near the bonier areas such as the ribcage, it felt slightly hot but not uncomfortable. In fact, I may have fallen asleep a few times because next thing I knew, it was over.

Hopping off the table and wiping off the excess oil, the attendants reminded me about eating properly and getting exercise. Mentally picturing the fat-less abs I could be sporting I made a mental note to pay heed to their advice.

The UltraShape solution is currently offered at the Timog, Makati and Alabang branches of Marie-France Bodyline International.

Batanes In Photos.

2007-03-29T20:27:00.000+08:00

Take the English countryside, add a Palawan coastline, throw in a culture completely all its own and you sort of have Batanes. But it doesn't stop there. Most of the island's charm is experienced in the hour-to-hour interaction with its people and environment. Oh and lobsters everywhere... lobsters you can dip in the fat of coconut crabs and eat with rice. Yummy.

Until I get the words sorted out in my head, I'll leave you to browse the photos through these links: Sabtang Island and Basco Island

So, I'm in Batanes!

2007-03-26T20:23:00.000+08:00

I've always wanted to say those words and not be lying... and now I can! I am actually in what my friend Drew calls "my favorite place that I've never been to." I'm traveling with Erik Liongoren, friend and kick-ass photographer, and his asisstant Jong for a project. We arrived Sunday morning and have been making our way through Basco (the main municipality) and Sabtang which is another island municipality.

There is definitely a tranquil, almost sleepy, air here. People are in bed right after dinner and are up with the sun. No bars, no discos. It's a great change of pace although I wont lie... I am very happy I have my laptop and a stack of dvds with me.

For the surf rats out there -- yes, there are waves!!! Mostly right-handers. But no, I havent been able to surf yet. Mainly because we've been working and also cos it's been really low tide, even at high tide. I think that's due to the moon being en route pa lang to fullness. The re are a few spots I've seen that look really rideable if the wave was bigger or the tide was higher. Then again, what do I know? Maybe a higher tide will change the shape of the wave? In any case, I am definitely sure on this one spot we saw yesterday.

We have one more full day here and then back to Manila on Thursday. So who knows? Maybe tomorrow I will get my chance to paddle out and catch a few waves. Or maybe I wont and I'll come back to Manila without even taking my board out of its bag. Whatever the case, I'm sure I'll be blogging about it.

Anyhoo, to the people that I miss, wish you were here with me. Sobrang fun siguro nun! To the people that have been here -- I am sooo glad I got the chance to finally experience what you guys did. To the people planning a trip naman, you should. Just dont forget to bring a laptop and some dvds. ;-)

Back in Baler for a weekend of pure stoke

2007-03-20T01:03:00.000+08:00

March 10-11. Back in, you guessed it, Baler for another weekend of stoke. The waves may not have been epic but the stoke sure was. Saturday was a bit windy come 10am so we surfed til about then (got super fun rides) and then everybody crashed 'til just past lunch. (Surfers, today we will dine at Gerry Shan's!).

In the afternoon at Cemento was hella low tide so Dom, Aya and I strung up the hammock and enjoyed watching the tide pools for reef fish, octopus and herons. Woot, woot. The boys, by the way, had a good sesh.

Sunday morning and it was all sunshine, waist to head high glassy waves at the beach break. Moro surfed with the big boys down near the lifeguard tower. The girls had our own patch of ocean that we to ourselves (after Okoy left, that is) in between Bay's Inn and Surfer's Inn. The band of brothers and Del staked out their own portion a little bit away. But not too far that we couldnt clearly see the fun waves they were getting.

Speaking of fun, Aya and I party waved once and it was so long we were able to actually have a conversation while we rode it. Haha. Love it. But that was only one of many super fun waves that morning. I kept waiting to the wind to pick up, as it normally does come mid-morning. But it didn't appear until nearly 11am. Good deal.

We all finally came out only when it was obvious that we had to come up for food and water. Lunch at Bay's Inn.

Packed up and loaded the cars afterwards. A scenic ride back down past the two mountains. Three stops for snacks, pre-dinner and actual dinner. We were back home by 9pm. Good weekend.

There are almost no photos of waves or people one them because we were in the water like... all the time. But if you'd still like to see what we got up to you can click this link .

Epic Weekend in Baler

2007-03-06T18:31:00.000+08:00

March 3 to 4, 2007 What: Two days in Baler. Epic swell. Epic food. Epic room. Epic-ness all around. With: The Band of Brothers (Sarmiento and Gamboa), Moro, Raf, Marky and Olracs plus Team Dakine, Papajovs, Annie C, Vince "ST" Liwanag, Lets Get Piskal and Earlmoticon Noche.

What an insanely great weekend. We used the epic shortcut and took two hours off our travel time. We booked the epic room at Bay's Inn. The boys got epic rides at Cemento and then the rest of us got jealous so we left them there so we could surf the beach break and, later on, the rivermouth. (Na linakad namin at binato pa kami ng buhangin nung mga bata!) Di bale na na 36 hours yata akong gising at walang tulog... sobrang worth it yung puyat.

We ended that first day with an epic dinner at Gerry Shan's. We had 11 different viands, five big bowls of garlic rice and it only cost us Php105 each! Wild. With an H. Whild. And then a few rounds of Red Horse just to hurry us along to bed.

Oh and Olracs got barrelled at Cemento but we have no photos cos that's when I was back at the beach break. There are, however, many eyewitnesses. So big ups to baby boy Olracs. ;)

SUNDAY:

We set the alarm for 5am... we eventually wake up at 5:30am... Olracs and Vic had a look and came back into the epic room to say it was hella raining and we could afford to sleep for another hour. By 8pm we were all mostly awake. Earl was already out there, the only longboard on a glassy (albeit rainy) morning. And Jovin paddled out to enjoy the inside section.

The Cemento Crew headed off for another epic session while Aston, Raf, JB and I decided to risk hypothermia and surf the beach break first. THATS WHY THERE ARE NO PHOTOS OF THE MORNING. WE WERE SURFING. ALL OF US. And despite the dumpy conditions later in the morning, stoked pa rin kaming lahat. No one though could possibly have been more stoked than Jovin.

Four hours later, it was time for lunch... and then a quick pack up and check out so we could go back to Cemento for one last shoot and surf session. Super high tide (Aston and I should've brought our boards). Super drop in sessions. Super super stoked. Ahon nung madilim na with matching walk through the mangroves and almost getting lost. Dinner at Gerry Shan's with matching internet checking the forecast for next weekend. Back in Manila by 2am. Stoke all around I tell you.

It totally encapsulated what Corey was telling me about during the MSA auction... about how it isnt the shape of the wave or the size of it that counts... but how much fun you have. And from overhead waves that broke over sharp reef to tiny walls of white water that reformed on the inside to a rivermouth that was paddled for the first time... it was the same amount of epic stoke.

For Saturday photos click this.
For more photos click this.

Article: Paradise Found

2007-02-20T16:28:00.000+08:00

Paradise Found

As published in Metro Magazine’s February 2007 issue.

Imagine finding out that you've magically dropped that stubborn ten pounds, and been given three months paid leave to go lounge in a tropical island… with Johnny Depp. Multiply that giddiness by three and that should approximate the excitement I felt when I first laid eyes on what Marionnaud had to offer.

Inhabiting 900 square meters of space Marionnaud is home to over eighty different brands of luxury fragrances and beauty products. Most of these names are hard to come by outside of Europe, where Marionnaud is the largest beauty chain on the continent. Not two minutes into my goggling and I could see why.

Row upon row of product after product graced elegantly curving walls and brightly lit shelves. There were bottles of skin care treatments, boxes of make-up, and vials of perfume. It was enough to drive any self-confessed kikay girl mad.

Marionnaud redefines the retail therapy experience. This is the Disneyland of beauty products and the grown woman's version of a toy store. I dare you not to giggle and go "oooh" as you walk around checking out the merchandise.

As if this wasn't enough, the store allows its customers to interact with the products. Strolling through the store is an experience in itself. Products are arranged by need and not by brand. The two exceptions are the stand alone counters of MAC and Origins. An open plan for make-up and fragrances gives everybody easy access to whatever happens to catch their eye. Grab that tube of Skin Doctors lip plumper and try it on without the intimidating presence of a saleslady hovering around you like a nervous vulture. But if you do need some assistance, the staff that work the make-up counters are trained make-up artists and are always ready to lend a hand.

Shopping and sightseeing are fun activities but for the complete Marionnaud experience, give yourself over to their proffered spa treatments, waxing (yes, even the Brazilian, priced at P950) and by appointment only make-overs.

The signature massage (P850) blends traditional Filipino hilot with Swedish techniques. An hour long session of kneading knots and soothing muscles leaves you feeling refreshed and ready for more shopping.

Deluxe body treatments using luxury brands such as aroma and skin care specialist Decleor are available as well. The indulgent Facial and Head Massage (P800) uses Indian massage therapies and facial reflexology combined with exclusive Decleor products for an hour of pure bliss. Not only that, the therapy also boasts of anti-aging benefits!

There is a nail bar set in the store premises where you and girlfriend can sit down for some quality talk time.

Deluxe and Spa manicures range are P500 and P600 respectively and involve soaks, hand massages, and complete cuticle care. If you don't have a lot of time, you can ask for Express Hands (P180), a 40 minute affair that involves grooming, shaping, polishing and a 15-minute hand massage. Or if you really want to squeeze in some mini-pampering into your day, go for the 15 minute hand massage sans the nail polishing portion (P90).

What's good for your hands is most definitely good for your feet too. Behind closed doors just off the Nail Bar, two squishy comfortable chairs await you, a good friend and your tootsies. The spa manicure (P600) is 70 minutes of footbaths, stone scrubs, reflexology, a scalp massage and, of course, nail polish. As with the manicure, Marionnaud offers Express Feet (P230), 40 minutes of grooming, shaping, polish and a foot massage that makes your toes curl.

All the nail polish brands that Marrionaud carries are available for choosing. A favorite is Christina Fitzgerald, whose colors are named after her first customers. I walked out of the pedicure area wiggling my newly cleaned and groomed toes, coated in "Jessica", a shade of pink no one would dare to call shy.

Never had one store made me feel like such a girl. So much so that I almost forgot about Johnny Depp. Almost.

Marionnaud is located on the 2nd floor Main Mall of the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Customer service inquiries may be directed to (02)556-0422.

Travel Supply Must-Have: Mr Coconut Lotion

2007-02-07T13:56:00.000+08:00

I like:
- organic products (less chemicals = better for your body)
- supporting local industries whenever i can (more peso going back into the country = better for the philippines)
- coconuts (gata, oil, scents) and their healing properties (soothing, moisturizing)

Mr. Coconut Body Lotion hits all three in a bottle that only costs Php180! I discovered this maybe three years ago while walking around Megamall. On a whim, I decided to buy it (it costs the same as a drink at Starbucks so it was a cost-effective experiment). And guess what? IT WORKS.

The lotion goes on smooth and light. None of the sticky, icky feeling you get from thicker lotions. And even though it goes on like water, it's actually quite effective. My skin stays hydrated, smooth and it smells yummy! It's great for everyday use, it battles super dry skin, soothes pesky mosquito bites and have I mentioned how great it smells? ;-)

I give it out to friends as presents and always have it on hand for trips. Go out and get some... help a local industry out and get delicious skin in the process.

Holidays for 2007

2007-02-02T00:53:00.000+08:00

The following are the expected holidays for the year 2007 (weird by the way cos isn't there usually a Feb holiday? Like EDSA revolution or something?) --

April 5
Maundy Thursday

April 6
Good Friday

April 7
Special Holiday (as declared below)

April 9
Araw ng Kagitingan

May 1
Labor Day

May 14
National Elections (date might
change)

June 11
In lieu of June 12 - Independence Day (as declared below)

August 21
Ninoy Aquino day (Special Holiday)

August 26 Last
Sunday of August - National Heroes Day

Nov 1
All Saints Day

Nov 2
Special Holiday (as proclaimed below)

Movable Date Muslim Ramadhan (normally in
November)

Nov 30
Bonifacio Day

Dec 24
Special Holiday (as declared below)

Dec 25
Christmas Day

Dec 30
Rizal Day

Dec 31
Special Holiday

A Birthday Blog.

2007-01-10T23:00:00.001+08:00

January is my birthday month. January 3rd to be specific. It's kind of a big letter month for The Crew since there are four of us who celebrate: me then Peewee on the 4th, then there's a huge break and then Jay and Dicey on the 26th and 28th respectively.

Over the years certain traditions have naturally evolved:

One is that my parents wake me up at 3 in the morning because I was born at around that time. They bring in a cake, with a candle ready for wishing on. There is singing. And, of course, there are hugs and kisses. Once I was still awake so I pretended to be asleep when I heard them coming to my door. Another is that I meet my birthday at midnight accompanied by The Crew and I have a dinner everyone on the 3rd itself.

This year was a small break from these traditions as I had a lot of relatives visiting for the holidays. They were in Boracay til lunchtime of the 3rd so they was no ceremonious waking of the birthday girl. BUT they did all call me anyway during my blended salubong (had dinner with the Crew at Penang Hill and drinks with everyone else at Grilla, reserving my actual birthday for family) ... and there was singing and greeting and virtual hugging.

At Bellini's for the big 3-0.

My cake was served not in the dead of the early morning hours. Instead it came -- warm and fragrant -- at the end of a delicious meal at Bellini's. Cake in the morning or cake at night is all the same to me when it is presented with love that I can feel 24 hours of the day.

But I digress.

The most recent tradition (in that this is only the second year I've ever enacted it) is I take off for a surf trip the weekend closest to my birthday. Last year I went with Zeny and Kathy. This year, I took my cousins for one last beach trip before they left for the States. My brother and his girlfriend followed for the day on Saturday to collect on free surf lessons Moro had promised them as their Christmas gifts. (I know I am going to digress again but I just have to mention that Saturday morning, we arrived at Bacnotan for their lessons to find that, save for two other beginners taking lessons, we were the only people there. Dom and her friends had been there earlier and were just about to head back to Urbiztondo... leaving the beach break to us. Woohoo!)

I wrapped up my birthday week with a visit to Skinworks (owned by my favorite tattoo artist Rikki Sta Ana) where my cousins Mark and Justin got inked. While they waited their turn, I wandered around the pet section of Cartimar, pretending I could afford to buy an adorable black Shar Pei, a chocolate Labrador, another pair of Ringneck Parrots and 50 gallon saltwater tank. (In real life I bought a darling gerbil to keep my other gerbil company. The new gerbil I've named Latte and he is currently co-existing with my other gerbil Macchiatto whose dear friend Espresso passed away before Christmas. Then there were the 8 parakeets for my mom that we haven't tried to name yet.)

Dinner saw us at Leslie's in Tagaytay. But before that, a quick pit stop at the Speedo outlet in Sta Rosa where I scored two new bikini bottoms and one top for a steal and my brother scored reef shoes for P750. At Leslie's, the wind was cold and the fog was deep. Never had their sizzling bulalo and accompanying soup tasted better!

And so ended the birthday week.

For more photos click this

BO-HOLIDAYS 2006!

2006-12-28T16:48:00.000+08:00

BO-HOLIDAYS 2006!

Summer usually means taking a trip to Boracay, the playground of beachbums from as close as Manila and as far away as Morocco. But if you would rather escape the madding crowds and find yourself communing with nothing but nature, your friends and the oddest looking creature since the platypus, then you should look into a trip to Bohol.

The 10th largest island in the Philippines, Bohol is a short flight from the capital of Manila and a two-hour boat ride across from Cebu. Teeming with culture and nature, Bohol boasts beautiful beaches as well as age-old churches; exotic dive sites and captivating views. Many weekend warriors take a two-day trip that allows them experience a majority of the top tourist desitnations. But to really be able to soak in all that Bohol has to offer, it is best to take things slow. The beaches of Bohol are famous for pristine waters and quiet beaches. Not for them are the dusk-til-dawn raves and wall to wall crowds.

Panglao island, in particular, is a favorite for both divers and hammock fans alike. Connected by a brige to the mainland, Panglao is a gorgeous stretch of sand and surf. Dive sites are easily accessible by boat and kayaking is offered by the high-end resorts. The richness of Bohol's rich marine flora and fauna are not exclusive to scuba divers.

Snorkeling, especially on the island of Balicasag, uncovers a variety of reef fish, soft corals and the occasional barracuda. A fish sanctuary has been established near the island of Balicasag to battle the devastation caused by less environmental times past. But if a day filled with activity is not on your agenda, take comfort in knowing that no one will judge you. Find a quiet spot under the shade (or in the sun) and let time slip away.

The Bee Farm is popular sanctuary offers private rooms and a relaxed atmosphere. But even those unable to book a room can partake of their delicious home-cooked meals. The organic honey and vegetables grown on the premises are incorporated into many dishes - including pesto spreads, cheese dips & fresh salads. Another interesting item on the menu is the home-baked kamote-bread.

Bohol wouldn’t be complete with a visit to the tarsiers. Tarsiers are tiny nocturnal primates with large round eyes, elongated fingers and a head that can rotate a full 180 degrees. The Philippine species is on the endangered list and conservation efforts have begun in areas of Bohol to protect the Yoda-like mammals. Nocturnal and high-strung by nature, tarsiers may look cuddly but are averse to human touch. At the conservation centers that educate tourists, it is highly encouraged that you look but do not touch them.

The famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol get their name from the brown color they take on during the dry months. In the wet season, the grass turns a lush shade of green and the hills resemble ancient turtles, slumbering amidst the rice paddies and houses. There are over 1,000 hills of about the same size, all cone-shaped, spread out over a 50 kilometer area. The best view is atop the long stairway - a steep climb that delivers a truly breathtaking spectacle. (The climb can also take your breath away if you aren't in good physical shape.)

Another perk of a Boholiday is being awake early enough to see the day come to life. How often do you see the sunrise? Savor the rare moment of stillness before the rest of the world stirs. Even better, make the effort to rise with the sun and hop on a tour boat to go look for the spinner dolphins, Bryde's whales, the occassional whale shark and even manta rays that have been spotted near Pamilacan Island. The spotters and guides on hand are former hunters, now committed to preserving the diversity of Bohol's aquatic life.

It took us well over an hour to spot our first pod. But it was well worth the early morning and the long wait. Dolphins swam in the wake of our boat, jumped and spun in the distance and generally evoked a feeling of being connected to the greater scheme of things. Unfortunately for us, we didn’t see any whales. Maybe next time?

Clear waters, fine sand and an itinerary that is brimming with nature's bounty. How could you not want to spend some time in Bohol?

Other items of interest in Bohol:

Bohol offers everything for the avid tourist. Ancient churces, cascading waterfalls, empty beaches and historical museums are all over the island. Here are some of the more popular choices:

The Loboc River Tour -- A half hour to an hour river cruise aboard a floating restuarant takes you down the scenic Loboc river. Around every bend is a photo-op. The longer tour takes you as far as Busay falls, worthy of a few megabytes of storage space on your digital camera.

The Blood Compact Site -- History has it that Datu Sikatuna, (a native chieftain) entered into a blood compact with the Spaniard Don Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, on March 16, 1565 in a show of friendship between the two races. The site of the compact is marked by a monument in Tagbilaran City.

Eva Cave -- Located in Odiong, just outside of Tagbilaran City) the area is the site of several wild orchids. tree ferns and tropical birds. Some of these birds build edible nests, which are gathered for consumer purposes.

How to Get There: There are several flights from Manila to Tagbilaran City. The flight takes an hour and 15 minutes. From Cebu City, you can opt to take a ferry across to Tagbilaran. The slower boats can take up to four hours, while the fastcrafts make the journey in an hour and a half.

For photos go to: My gallery

Christmas Party Costumes

2006-12-22T04:19:00.000+08:00

For our latest Christmas party I was at a loss as to what to come as. See, we always have costume themes and this year I just knew a lot of people were going to work their asses off to top last year's display. Some were going to have outfits custom-made... others were going to hand-make theirs. And I 1. was not willing to spend too much money and 2. not crafts-y at all. So I culled my existing clothes to see what I could come up with.

1. A Jedi - using a Jedi-esque coat I scored in Bambang years and years ago for the Episode Juan party. But no, too many people were already going as Jedis.

2. Luna, the Sailor Moon Cat - all I needed was black pants, a black top, some pipe cleaner ears and whiskers and a tail. Plus a lot of people were going as the Sailor Moon girls so I would fit right in. Except I never did get around to making the ears or the tail.

3. Death from the Endless. Some liquid liner, heavy make-up and hot rollers should've done the trick. And I was all set to go as Dream's older sister... except, two days before the party I found out that Leda and Jio had found an even easier and more fun concept... so... come the Christmas party... we showed up as Cosmo, Wanda and Timmy Turner. Known to kids hooked on Nick as the cast of The Fairly Oddparents. Yes, click on the link to see what we came up with for the night.

To see what the rest of the office came as (and believe me, some of those costumes were excellent) click this.

November News

2006-12-20T14:01:00.000+08:00

I know, I have been a bad blogger. I let an entire month pass with no updates. Eep! And sorry to say but I wont be able to give a detailed entry this time around either.

Suffice it to say that I spent a chunk of November juggling trips and work. The first trip was to Lanuza, Surigao del Sur for the next leg of the 2006 PSF surf circuit. I left Manila along with the number one longboarder in the world today: Josh Constable. Along with him were number 3 (Harley Ingleby) and eight other pro longboarders. These cats were super chill... not a single one of them had 'tude.

They were around for the first half of the competition, leaving on the same day that the swell finally came in.

To be honest, I was wishing I could've left with them because I was getting all Lanuza-d out already. Thankfully, the National competition was getting underway and keeping my occupied. Also Anna was around and we were able to play catch up with each other seeing as how I'd not seen her since September in Siargao.

Other highlights from the trip: Moro and I inventing Milo shakes, P5 mango shakes for the boys, surfing the beach break with Mayor Geri and Lemon, going twin-fin on the 7'6, listening to kuya Django's surf stories, and the never-ending supply of inihaw na manok.

We got back to Manila, rested for a few days, I got back into work mode... and then loaded up the van to head to Cabugao, Ilocos Sur for the final leg of the tour.

It was my first time in Ilocos and lemme just tell you: I loved it. Super scenic, really simple and even though it was too heavy for me that weekend to paddle out, I had a great time anyway. We ate tocino and sinigang nearly every meal and we never got sick of it. We were only there for three days and it felt bitin.

This is Jomar Gloria from Siargao. Surfing hard on a very windy Sunday afternoon, he scored top points and nabbed a P30,000 cash prize.

So that was basically what November was like for me. Oh, that and in the middle of Lanuza and Ilocos, Noelle gave me and Moro a puppy. He's a yellow labrador and we've renamed him Reggae. We took him up to Ilocos and he had the bestest time.

Photos from both trips will be up on my pbase gallery soon as I get around to them.

Sunday Sessions in Ter's Front Yard

2006-12-20T01:16:00.000+08:00

It was the second day of Rimat Ti Amianan. But since I hadn't surfed all weekend (and some of my friends wanted lessons), Moro and I followed Aya, Philip, Nicola, Ter and the Gabs to a supposedly secret spot.

Well, it's not a super secret but to respect the local boys who call this their "backyard" I am not going to say where we were. Ter calls it the Front Yard. I called it Yeah, Yeah Piggery. Someone else likes to call it Boracay Station 7. What do the locals call it? That's the secret part. ;-)

Suffice it to say we had a great day of sunshine, surf and good vibes. Dont believe me? Check this out then photos

What's On: Expat article

2006-12-12T18:39:00.000+08:00

As published in an edition of What's On: Expat (November 2006)

For photos please go to this gallery.

SURFING LA UNION

La Union's Surfing Break, spearheaded by The Dept of Tourism Region 1 Office and The Provincial Government of La Union in cooperation with Power Up and the La Union Surf Club was billed as a four-day pre-Halloween surf camp. On the schedule for the long weekend were surf lessons handled by the local surfers of La Union, frisbee clinics courtesy of the Philippine Ultimate Association and wall-climbing basics brought to the beach by Power Up. Thrown in just for the fun of it was a speed climbing exhibition and an all-locals surf competition. All backed by the ska and reggae tunes of various bands, top-billed by Coffeebreak Island.

For regular La Union weekend warriors, such as myself, it sounded like a circus was about to roll through their favorite surf getaway. Suspicions ran high that there was going to be a crowd. The cordoned-off Tent City set up along the beach may have been the first clue as to how many people had truly shown up to take part of the event. The rare sight of concession stalls selling everything from bikinis to cold beers was likely the second indication. And for the truly dense, the two hundred beginners that had signed up for the first batch of lessons on Saturday sealed the deal.

La Union locals took turns teaching half-hour sessions that covered the basics in board safety, paddling and popping up. Starting on the beach, amped beginners learned about the proper stance and position before heading out to the water to try it out "for real."

As luck would have it, the waves had picked up in size and the current was stronger than usual. But it didn't seem to matter to the students as they got their first taste of surfing's elusive stoke. Meanwhile, beachgoers ran up and down a bordered area set aside specifically for the Frisbee enthusiasts. And further up the shoreline, eye-catching in its 20 foot glory, stood the Power Up climbing wall, already dotted with climbers and would-be climbers alike.

With all this activity going on, it seemed only fit to pop a cold beer, sit on the beach with some friends and let it all buzz around us.

The second day of the event was just as alive as the first. A seemingly endless amount of energy was pouring forth from participants and organizers alike. Beginners were given the beach to themselves as more advanced waveriders took cars and jeeps out to other surf spots. Not even the prospect of the oncoming typhoon could dampen the rising spirits of the crowd.

Forces of nature are stronger than sheer good vibes and along with the darkening Sunday sky came the first signs of rain. The scheduled Battle of the Bands was postponed due to the inclement weather and the Power Up team took down the climbing wall to reduce the risk of having a Milenyo-esque accident happen.

Typhoon Paeng rolled through La Union at about 3am. People woke up to a slate gray, overcast and chilly day. A decision was made to hold off the last of the surf clinics until the weather got better later on in the day. Freed from their coaching duties, the local boys took to the water to get in precious practice time in preparation for their competition the next day. Huddled under hoodies and sipping hot coffee, their students watched in frank admiration of true surfing skill.

After lunch, the first rays of sun began to break though the canopy of clouds. The current calmed down enough to resume the last batch of lessons. Impromptu frisbee teams were created for a fun game and the ever-intrepid wall climbers began re-assembling the Power Up wall.

The high point of the day came when the sun went down… and the bands set up at Sebay Resort for the ska and reggae party. Headlining the night's party was Coffeebreak Island, who played to a crowd of thrumming and thumping bodies all ready to let loose and have fun.

Tuesday was slow in coming. It was as though it knew that it marked the end of the La Union Surfing Break. Come that evening, bags would be packed, cars loaded, buses boarded… all bound for Manila again.

But before the sad business of ending a great surf weekend, there was the spectacle of witnessing great surfing. Grommets on shortboards paddled into head-high waves, all vying for that champion's trophy and bragging right. Next came the big boys and girls of La Union. The Men's Open Longboard and the Wahine Longboard divisions showed the grommets what levels of surfing they should aspire for. Saving the best for last, La Union Surf Club showcased their seeded surfers in both long and shortboard divisions in a friendly expression session.

It was a fitting end for a weekend that was mellow yet slightly frenetic. It was the kind of weekend that leaves you tired but wanting more. A feeling long time surfers have grown accustomed to and one that will soon become familiar to the newly baptized brethren of wave riders.

SIDEBAR:

Where: Urbiztondo, San Juan is the best place to head to for a weekend of surfing.

How: Buses leave for La Union on an almost hourly basis. The most popular of which is Partas. Get on a bus heading towards Laoag and get down at San Fernando, La Union. Alternately, you can cut some time off your travels by telling the conductor to let you off in front of Sebay Resort.

Driving up is another option. With the expansion of the North Luzon Expressway, the trip can be done in 5 hours.

Learn: Lessons can be booked through the various resorts and as well as through the La Union Surf Club. In Manila, boards and lessons can be booked through Fiveforty Surf Company.

Stay: There are several surf camps and resorts that line the stretch in front of Urbiztondo's beach break. Among the most popular are San Juan Surf Resort (Google-able) Hacienda Resort (no reservations, first come, first served) and Surfers Inn (mobile: 09285588265).

October in La Union

2006-11-06T16:44:00.000+08:00

The weekend of October 7^th we rocked up to La Union again after almost a month away. Aya and I moved into the Yeah, Yeah House, also known as the former Billabong House at Waveriders. Saturday was spent sharing waves with friends. Party waves, party wipe-outs. Piskal Andrew celebrated his birthday at Surfers’ Retreat where the classic line “have you seen the beach at night” was uttered by a Dark Knight (Night?).

Sunday morning sessions gave way to a trip into town for ukay-ukay, sight seeing and a Midway lunch. Another lunch at Surfers’ Inn led to hanging out in the newly built kubo which was decked out with flowers for a special occasion. Said special occasion happened just as the sun began to set.

Good weekend. In three words: Hello, North Swell.

Photos: http://kagey.multiply.com/photos/album/131

A week later and we were back!

Drove up with Philip, Gabo and Terence (aka The Thundercat Car) and drove down with Doc Mark, Jong and Ely (aka The Other Thundercat Car).

In between was a weekend of small waves and friendly line-ups. Trying to learn how to use a 6’6 fish and a 9’0 longboard in the same weekend is not recommended. It is hella fun but also quite funny. Especially if your name is Carlo Cruz and you are watching me on try to use a longboard. We busted out my new Pentax Optio and took turns taking photos of each others’ rides.

Happy birthday again to Terence Boy! Thanks for the drinks brotha. And big ups to Mark Dimo for hooking me up with the camera. The Pentax Optio rocks baybees. Look it up.

For photos taken with the Optio go here: http://kagey.multiply.com/photos/album/134.

Two weeks later it was the La Union Surfing Break, a weekend sponsored by the DOT and Power Up in cooperation with LUSC. Surf, frisbee and wall climbing clinics went on all of Saturday and Sunday. A slight fever -- and lots of booze -- found me spending all of Saturday just hanging out on the beach with various peeplage, watching beginners get their first taste of stoke. The evening was all about Joncy's 29th birthday. (Happy birthday Joncy... thanks for the party. Happy 13th birthday to Tickle Me Olracs... kahit na wala ka nung birthday mo... ditcher).

Sunday, the Yeah Yeahs moved house. Bye bye Waveriders... hello Purple House! Within twenty minutes of moving in, we had 1. a list of things we needed to buy for the house 2. house rules and 3. our photos up on the wall.

Then there were Bacnotan sessions in the morning (hello backside! love waves that go right!) and a lazy Sunday afternoon back on the beach. We were contemplating having another go at surfing the beach break but the whitewater getting out looked wild... with an H... whild.

Sunday late merienda with Doc Mark and Viva in our "ancestral home" not ten steps away from the new house. And the evening hanging out at Surf Camp then wrapping up at Surfers' Retreat. We hightailed it home before Typhoon Paeng hit hard.

Paeng rolled through La Union at about 3am on Monday. We woke up to a gray, overcast and chilly day. Spent most of the morning sitting around at Surfers' Retreat, too cold to surf. I give major props to the people that went out to Carille and the Point that morning.

Later on in the day, I got my D-SLR and set up a station at Surf Camp. Shot the freesurfing and the clinics for a bit. Mostly, hung out and tried to keep warm. The first snapshot was taken in the evening, right after dinner.

Tuesday was the LUSC competition with groms on shortboards, the LU boys on longboards and a sick expression session of the seeded LU surfers. Then it was back to the new house for the sad business of packing up and getting ready to go home. Aya and I delayed it for as long as we could by having a long dinner at Surfers’ Retreat. By 11pm we hopped on a bus and didn’t wake up until we hit Manila at 4am.

Snapshots from that weekend:
http://kagey.multiply.com/photos/album/138 http://kagey.multiply.com/photos/album/139.

SLR photos from the comp to follow.