Pangasinan- llocos 2014 Yearender Getaway

A friend and I were planning to go to Bicol during the extra long Christmas break this year. The night of December 26, we decided to go to Pangasinan instead. I was thinking that finally we will be able to go around the big province and visit each town together with its respective churches. The town of Anda was our first stop.

Itinerary:

Day 01:

Tondol Beach

We caught the sunrise at 828 Gems Beach Resort owned by the generous couple Engr. Felix and Grace Chong. I'm planning to go back and bring my friends to visit the beach. It's as my officemate says, the road to the beach was long, but what the heck, at least one can get peace and quiet there, and enjoy the white sands as well.

Top photos: sunrise at Tondol Beach
Bottom photos: CDCC

Crusaders of the Divine Church of Christ Church in Anda town which we passed by on the road to Alaminos. The church is still in the middle of construction. Nevertheless on my visit, there was a funeral march and it seems the structure is already in use. I remembered the distinct minaret I first saw in Badoc and I was told that it pertained to a church of a certain cult. The local whom I interviewed wasn't able to name the cult and it is only this time when I discovered it pertains to CDCC.

(I unfortunately wasn't able to see the old Roman Catholic Church because we just hitched a ride on the way to Alaminos.)

Saint Joseph Cathedral and many ancestral houses in Alaminos.

Hundred Islands day tour. We shared a banca with a friendly couple.

Because the couple we met had their own car and were already going back home down south, we accepted their invite to get a free ride all the way to Dagupan were we slept from 6PM to 3AM at Value Star Inn.

Day 02:

Waking up at 3AM feeling a bit sluggish despite getting enough hours to sleep, we proceeded to Laoag. We boarded a bus going to San Fernando, La Union, after getting quick breakfast of cup noodles in a 7-11 store. From San Fernando, we had to get another bus all the way to Laoag, sleeping all the way to our destination.

Arriving at 1PM, first thing we did was check in Texicano Hotel where I stayed during my solo trip last year. Then, lunch at City Cup Café where I had my first taste of malunggay pesto pasta. After lunch, we went straight to Paoay to try the sand dunes adventure in Culili Point, experiencing both the roller-coaster-like 4x4 and sandboarding.

Paoay Church was still breathtaking and this time around we spent hours near the church until darkness fell and the lights were all turned on. We visited an exhibit hall featuring the works of Ricarte Puruganan, a late Filipino modernist painter. (The exhibit is still ongoing until February 27, 2015.) We also got to know a gown designer who graduated from UP Diliman. He was very nice to us and accommodated us in his studio.

Finally I had the appetite to try Paoay's empanada. It is a filling snack since it has monggo. Also, the ground meat went well with the egg. Tastes better with ketchup than with Ilocos vinegar, IMHO.

CCW from top left: empanada in Paoay, gallery near Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte Capitolyo, Paoay Church

Since we skipped dinner last night, preferring to sleep instead, we pigged out on this night. We went back to Laoag and checked out the mini food market near the Sinking Bell Tower. I had soft shell tacos from one of the stands whereas my friend took out Laoag longganisa. We ended up sharing an order of beef pares at Mr. T and Mrs. Y. It doesn't disappoint and the price is fair enough.

Day 03:

Waking up early to catch the 4AM bus to Pagudpud, we ended up disappointed because the bus left at 5:30AM. In Pagudpud we met my friend's friends and I got to know a fellow Wikipedian there! Small world! Because of connections, there was no need for us to rent a cottage or pay shower fees.

Patapat viaduct where we had fun taking photos even in the middle of the road. Now this is a bit dangerous since vehicles usually speed up on the road.

Bangui Windmills. More picture-taking.

Lunch of bagnet and rice at Johnny Moon Café in the town of Burgos.

Kapurpurawan Rock and Burgos Lighthouse via rented tricycle. We also saw the Lopez-owned windmills which were just recently installed in the hills of Burgos.

clockwise from top right:Patapat viaduct, Kapurpurawan rock formation, Bangui windmills, Pagudpud Beach

For dinner, we opted at La Preciosa in Laoag. I was super disappointed at the slow service and at the price and serving of food there. The only thing I liked is the P100 carrot cake. I simply cannot understand why it took them so long to cook bucto which is asohos cooked like paksiw. Nothing special there and the asohos are significantly smaller than the ones I am used to eating in Manila.

We spent our second night at Texicano Hotel again.

Day 04:

We woke up at 4:30AM to catch an early bus to Vigan, our last stop. We left Laoag at 5:30 and got to our destination at a little past 8AM. Lots of tourists flocking to Ilocos. We just walked along Calle Crisologo so my friend can see the preserved heritage town. Of course, we also visited Vigan Cathedral and Plaza Burgos.

in contemplation of Rizal's greatness as we were in Vigan on Dec. 30.

A eulogy was being said for Marjo Villanueva-Gasser who was killed just this Christmas eve. It was a sad tragic event for all cultural heritage workers since Marjo has been instrumental in the revival and protection of Vigan as heritage site.

Then off we went to a pottery place owned by Fidel Antiporda Go. We tried pottery-making but to no avail.

Quick shopping for pasalubong at the Public Market then boarded Partas bus to Manila at 11AM.

Heavy traffic along Balintawak was caused by the big market allowing vehicles to occupy two to three lanes of EDSA for parking! Just why the hell did the MMDA allow this to happen when they know that many vacationers will be going back to Manila for New Year’s Eve!

Got home at 10:30PM.

Sariaya, Quezon Province

Last month, the mapping project volunteers went to Sariaya in Quezon Province to map the whole town. The town is pretty small and one can walk around in one day but built heritage was abundant so all volunteers for the day went in groups together with local guides.

For the second time, I was mapping buddies with a fellow archaeologist. The two of us have a reputation in school for our big appetite and naturally we band together to go on side trips for the sake of food. It's funny how we started the day in Sta. Ana with a quick breakfast in a tapsilogan while the other volunteers already started with their respective zones. In Sariaya, we stuffed ourselves with leche yema and tamales, and even planned to visit a local restaurant in the afternoon but this didn't materialize because we had to work.

Thank heavens the weather wasn't bad. It wasn't that hot in the day and we were already conveniently working on our articles inside the convent hall when rain started to fall. The initial plan was to leave the town with everything mapped up but it was impossible given the extra slow internet connection. Late in the afternoon we packed our things for the most anticipated event of the day.

Gala-Rodriguez Mansion facade

Gala-Rodriguez Mansion interiors

Tour Guide E. Dedace is part of the Sariaya Heritage Council

Gala-Rodriguez Mansion interiors

We were treated to a tour at the magnificent Gala-Rodriguez Ancestral House. Unlike the houses that were assigned to us, this erstwhile residential mansion-turned museum bespeaks of affluence as the architecture stands out with many fine intricate details.

Like most ancestral houses, this mansion has an interesting story. It is said that a daughter of this prestigious family was so beautiful that when World War 2 broke out, she was to be kept hidden away from the eyes of the Japanese. The ultra spacious basement served as a hideout for her and her companions when the Japanese would arrive. The basement is now a darkly lit museum housing artifacts like bottles (yes BOTTLES! woohoo!!!), old gadgets, Imeldific shoes, and many other things of a bygone era.

After the tour, we were treated to a song and dance performance. Of course, any visit to Southern Tagalog region would be incomplete without a taste of their lambanog. We all drank just a weeny bit, enough for us to quickly feel the intense heat in our body.

Then dinner was served, followed by speeches by the Wiki leads. They talked about building the nation by building an information database through crowd-sourcing, which is precisely what Wikipedia is all about. Of course ours is just a small project in relation to the wider and more general goal of Wikipedia to build a reliable online encyclopedia for free.

Karaoke inside our jeepney-bus ensued, with volunteers singing one song after the other. I took my much needed sleep since prior to this trip, I've been lacking sleep and I was afraid I might come down with a fever. Sleeping with all the noise was never a problem and by the time I woke up, I already had the energy to have my revenge by singing some of my favorite OPM: Regine Velasquez's Dadalhin, Join the Club's Nobela, Aegis' Luha. These, alongside Eagles' Desperado and A1's Heaven by Your Side. 

Got home at 1AM, tired and sleepy but happy nevertheless. For once, I felt like the volunteers were finally being friendlier and more outgoing. It was a joy to interact with those whom I haven;t even spoken to before. Hopefully the project will be a success.

___________________________

Except that as of the present, we are yet to hear news of our new project lead following the resignation of the original lead....

Busy September

Every year, whenever August is about to end, I would always condition myself for the following month. September has always been a busy month for me. It's also my favorite month of the year, not because it is the beginning of the BER months (and I would always create my wishlist this early only to modify it in the succeeding months), but mainly because of the Mid-Autumn Festival. This special day actually falls on the 15th of the eighth month of the lunar calendar and the equivalent date in the solar calendar is almost always within the month of September.

Because of the festival, two weekends would be reserved for family and friends. I love the dice games that accompany this special day. These dice games are played after a meal at some Chinese restaurant. I also look forward to raffle games where prizes may include flaky hopia (the ones I love most) and cash prizes. Add to that the fact that during the whole 19 years of my schooling I have been a consistent honor student so I would get additional cash prize, (which I would later partially surrender to my parents. Boo!) which they call as scholarship award. Of course it's not enough to cover even a semester's tuition fees but at least I got motivated to do well in school because I was always after the money to buy books.

This year is different. September 13 just had so many events that I wanted to attend. (Enough reason for me to write a separate entry on what I did yesterday.) I was invited to two gatherings cum dice games but since it's an annual event anyway, I chose to decline so I could attend the Wikimedia-sponsored Santa Ana walk where I got to meet really interesting people with LOTS of stories to tell. I had to leave early though to rush to Makati for Chino Gutierrez's concert where I think I was the only female adult in casual clothes because I didn't bother to bring a dress with me as my bag was already full of stuffs required for the whole day walking activity and also of freebies we got from SMART Communications.

I got home really late last night and commuting was such a pain because it rained. Somewhere in the Philippines, typhoon Luis must have landed. However I couldn't help but smile at the thought that at least I finally had the courage to talk to a former prof in UP and to my erstwhile classmate who do not even knew of my existence until last night. That said, I don't expect him to remember me if ever we get to meet again should he have a concert here in the future. My only wish is that he keeps on getting better and better at violin because he now serves as an inspiration to me especially now that I'm learning how to play the instrument he mastered at a young age.

So now I think I'll stay at home the whole day and try to at least get substantial work done for my paper presentation next week. I'll just have to build on and update one archaeology-related paper I submitted as class requirement two years ago and I'm good to go.

Busy September indeed. Sometimes I just want to sleep through it all and have someone wake me up when September ends. #Greenday

Batanes 05082014 Day 1

Ever since I decided to be a traveler way back late in 2012, Batanes has been in my bucketlist. Stories of how the place retained much of its traditional ways attract me, not to mention the many times I saw beautiful photos of Batanes in magazines and newspapers which elicited this deep desire to explore this paradise one day.

I really wasn't expecting to be there this year but one day I received an invite from a former travel buddy who was part of my Sagada adventure. She was someone I looked up to mainly because she travels out all on her own most times. I think I caught this so-called travel fever from her. Listening to her stories of beautiful secluded beaches inspired me to have the courage to go out and see the world for myself. One thing led to another. Before I knew it, friends were already labeling me as a traveler, much to my delight.

So despite not having recovered financially after my consecutive travels from January to early March, I said yes to the invitation. It was a good thing she agreed to book my ticket, too, otherwise I wouldn't have had the resources then to do so. Being poor is the biggest hindrance to traveling but I don't use it as an excuse. Instead, it motivates me to work hard [BUT play harder].

So anyway, since we were not able to fix our itinerary, we decided to go along with tour groups. It sucks but we simply didn't have that much time to talk about our traveling plans. Also, at that time, I was extra busy with volunteer work and everything else was put in the periphery.

Before we boarded the plane, we contacted one tour guide named Ryan. By the time we landed, I was already able to get a reply and shortly after we checked in at Marfel's Homestay, we found ourselves inside his van touring South Batan with four other persons.

Because Batanes is, as they say, a photographer's paradise, I think it's best to post more pics than write texts. Below are some of the places we've been to. It is an understatement to say that wherever in Batanes is photogenic.

Chawa Viewing Deck

Mahatao boat shelter port

Hohmoron Lagoon (where priests are said to bathe in colonial times)

House of Dakay (the oldest standing stone house in Batanes)

Mahatao Port (where one takes a boat ride to Sabtang Island)

Alapad Hills (its got awesome rock formations like the photo above)

San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel in Imnajbu

rolling hills (too bad the grass is not green when we visited)

sun-dried dorado fish 

Boulder beach in Valugan

Basco Cathedral

Batanes Day 2
Batanes Day 3
Batanes Day 4
Batanes Day 5

December

The last month of the year 2013 was spent without any travel to far away place. My officemates and I had planned to spend Christmas eve in Pangasinan but it did not push through. And we had planned to spend our first Christmas eve away from our families and in an island where we would camp and cook our own food.

December is one month I dread the most. I always get depressed on the last few days of November which usually lasts until the early part of January. I dread my birthday. I dread Christmas. I dread New Year's Eve. Maybe it's because my mind always withdraws back to the past, waxing nostalgic about my childhood, my highschool life (which I considered the happiest phase of my life because of my innocence and naiveté), my fall-after-enlightenment in college, my turbulent post-college years... The last days of November would always urge me to open my diaries, where I recorded most of my teenage years. It's both amazing and weird at the same time how I was able to write that much back then and how I even had the time to record SMS to me by people who mattered a lot then. And I am thankful that the younger me was that addicted to keep memories for posterity's sake so it's easier to see where I went wrong in some aspects of my life.

December 2013's important highlights:
1. Lots of food trips but the ones I enjoyed most were the ones with my highschool friends and the one with my ex-officemates. I'm glad to be reconnecting with those people. It's very seldom when I meet people whom I truly care for. (Being nice to everyone doesn't mean I truly care for everyone.)

2. I won a scholarship to a learning institution and might be studying again anytime soon but there are no definite plans yet.

3. Attended Handel's "Messiah": A Christmas Concert at UP Theater and was treated to a night full of wonderful music. I especially loved the UP Madrigal Singers for their extraordinary skills in mimicking animal sounds. Really wow! (On the downside, I was reminded of how I was discouraged to continue my music lessons... I could have been a musician... Boo!)

4. Shopped for clothes. The last time I did so was in December of 2012. I very rarely shop unless needed. My wardrobe looks pitiful compared to my sisters'. Also, that day was another sisterly date. I just love eating out with my sisters (coz they're always the ones to foot the bill...)

5. First time to interact with the Heritage Conservation Society-Youth (HCS-Y). I found the people really knowledgeable and very friendly. I might consider volunteering more. The project was to tour students from UP Visayas who are currently staying in UP Diliman following the disasters in the region. We visited Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral, San Agustin, Manila Collectibles, Casa Manila, and National Museum Art Gallery.

6. Disposed a lot of useless things from the shelves in our bedroom. Less trash, more useful space, which means, I can finally have space for my books. (Don't tell my sisters!!!)

2013 Ilocos Trip Itinerary

THIS IS A VERY LENGTHY POST...
... so I highlighted important things for my readers.

This is the continuation to my previous post on my first solo travel.

Days before our trip, my friend unexpectedly got sick. For days I was debating within myself if I should forego the trip altogether or pursue it all on my own. It would be my first time to do a solo trip (not counting Palawan since I joined the archaeologists). Also, I thought that it would be a very cool way to welcome my silver year which I will be celebrating soon.

Because I was suddenly thrust into a solo trip with all my romanticism intact as I threw myself to the winds (lol! I love that phrase from Paul Auster's Moon Palace so please forgive me if I tend to use it many times), OUR plans changed at the last minute to MY plans. On the day of my departure, I did one last quick research on how to get the most of my solo trip, with plans to forfeit my return plane ticket and take the southbound bus instead. I even planned to stop by Pangasinan and La Union, but that didn't actually happen because suddenly I found myself buying a lot of pasalubong and moving around became difficult.

So below is my actual itinerary:

Day 1: ETA Laoag airport at 9:20PM (was supposed to arrive at 8PM but there was a typhoon in Manila and zero visibility caused the delay)
Now as what I have learned from my Hong Kong trip early this year, as advised by my uncle when he fetched us at the airport, never leave the airport without getting brochures and maps. I asked for maps at the information desk and registered for the free shuttle ride to Laoag. Cool huh?

I was second to the last passenger to be dropped off at my chosen place--- Texicano Hotel. It was already close to 10PM when I got there and rested for a while. I thought of sleeping on an empty stomach but after some thought I realized this wouldn't work. Texicano Restaurant was already closed at this hour so I had to do a quick exploration of the area within a 100 meter radius. Good thing I found Papa Pau's Diner where I had an order of fish and chips (P100). Couldn't get enough of fried cream dory. The chips were like Shakey's mojos. The umay factor was to be expected but I did finish everything. Of course I also requested a cup of hot water.

While eating alone, I felt lonely. If I did so in Manila, it wouldn't matter since I'm used to solo dates. But somehow a trip wouldn't be that fun without a companion...Went back to the hotel afterwards. Stores were already closed so I didn't get to buy a gallon of water. Washed my clothes and went to sleep before 11 PM.

Day 2: Woke up at 5:50 AM. Couldn't sleep well because my room faces a major road and vehicles passing by caused lots of noise. That, or I'm just not used to sleeping alone. Left my room at 6:30 AM and was befriended by a stranger. I forgot the basic rule: don't talk to strangers. I guess it was my first major blunder. But after our conversation and realizing my mistake, I did the next best thing: inquire about him. I was very much tempted to request for a change of rooms, but I totally forgot about it.

The first thing I did upon leaving the hotel is to look for a store to buy water and breakfast. Since it was still early, I bought 5 pieces of Durong's malunggay pan de sal (P2 apiece so P10). These also were my lunch since I kept on moving around yet didn't have the appetite to enjoy lunch at a restaurant.

Note: I only knew about Roque Ablan during this trip. He was considered a hero of WW2 for forming the Ablan-Madamba guerilla group of Northern Luzon.

With only half a bottle of water left, I explored Laoag city... well half of it anyway. While exploring I was also noting the jeepney routes. So when I was finally able to but a liter of water, I took the jeep to Sarrat to visit Sta. Monica Church and Convent. Fare was P15. Nobody inside the church. Felt creepy but was grateful for the chirping of birds which broke the cold silence. The museum was not yet open.

After touring Sarrat, I was ready to go to Piddig but encountered a problem: there was no jeep to Piddig at that time and I was already waiting for half an hour. I was told I had to go back to Laoag. It dawned on me that I broke another rule: farthest place first and nearest place last. I should have gone first to Piddig since the jeep passing from Piddig to Laoag also passes by Sarrat. DAMN!

Had a quick lunch at a carinderia near the jeepney terminal. I was attracted by the P10 pancit. It's too salty and I thought of our Ilocana secretary immediately because she also cooks pancit like that, too salty but with lots of crushed peppercorns. I had to add spiced vinegar to somehow counter the saltiness.

Walked around again. At this time I was already thinking, how far can I go without turning back? So seeing a  jeepney to Paoay which also passes by Batac and San Nicolas, I boarded it. Learning from my foolishness earlier, I asked which is farther, Paoay or Batac. The driver says Paoay so I asked to be dropped off at Paoay Church where, despite the rain, I marveled at the big buttresses and meditated for a time in the garden where they also kept well known quotes from St. Augustine. I asked around to go to Paoay Lake but a one way tricycle ride costs P200 so I left it for another Ilocos episode since I was more than sure I'd go back there for a complete Ilocos experience.

Off to Batac afterwards where I visited the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum, World Peace Center, Batac Church, and Aglipay Shrine. Jeepnety fare from Paoay was P10. I didn't get to eat their famous empanada because I wasn't in the mood to eat anything at that time.

From Batac I took a bus bound for Laoag and got off at San Nicolas , fare was P20.

San Nicolas Church, a pottery monument at the road junction, and the town hall

The jeep I took from San Nicolas to Laoag was from Banna, a town I didn't go to. Hopefully next time I will. After a rainy day of much walking I was delighted to find that the jeep stops very near Texicano Hotel. Yay! Time for bed. I washed my clothes again and slept a while before dinner at Texicano Restaurant. Had chopsuey with shrimp with no rice (P150) and a glass of pineapple juice (P35).

Message from my KJV Bible which I found to be comforting in my solitude:
2 Chronicles 15:2 "(...) The Lord is with you while you seek Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you."

How apt that this solo trip has turned into a Visita Iglesia of some sort with me trying to find spiritual rejuvenation.

Day 3: Got up before 6AM and cancelled by Pagudpud/ Burgos tour because of the weather. I went to Pasuquin instead since I was told the beach there is more serene and waves are calmer. I had my apprehensions but ultimately, I chose the path less traveled. Who knows what stories I will bring when I go back with my unusual Ilocos trip?

I took out a cheeseburger (P80) fron Texicano Restaurant. Tricycle from Texicano to the jeepney terminal was P15. Jeep to Pasuquin was P25. At Pasuquin, I prayed a while at the church there and hired a tricycle to take me to Nalvo where I bought salt worth P20. Stopped by Villa Florentina Resort where I enjoyed the company of nobody but sea, breeze, sunlight, and a cute dog who seemed very friendly.

date with nature and furry friends, and just a cheeseburger

Before leaving Pasuquin, I bought a pack of their famous biscocho (P75). On the way back to Laoag, I dropped by a Chinese temple and offered some incense.

Chinese temple near the border of Laoag and Pasuquin

And finally, to Museo Ilocos Norte, my final stop before I leave Laoag for Vigan. I spent a considerable time in the museum as there are a lot of things to see and learn inside. For instance I noticed that Ilocanos have many different uses for basketry and so they also have various names for these based on functions. The whole museum was modeled as half market, half bahay na bato. The second floor provides a glimpse of usual things to be found inside an elite's house. I took pictures of almost everything so as to familiarize myself on the artifacts one may expect to find if ever I get to join an excavation in Ilocos.

upper right: preserved open trench. lower right: glass floaters (Bulintik)!

Back to the hotel and packed my bags for Vigan. I am so warmed by people's concern for my safety. People I've talked to wished me good luck and repeatedly told me to be very careful. I said goodbye to Laoag with a happy heart and with a vow to come back again. It's a good thing Texicano Hotel was just a few minutes' walk to a bus terminal leaving for Badoc and Vigan. I was having second thoughts about stopping by Badoc for Juan Luna's house since I was already carrying 3 bags but on the other hand, I cannot miss the opportunity to see the Luna Shrine because... because... Antonio Luna is a favorite hero and I think if I were born during his time I could have pursued him... In the end, my curiosity won and I found myself telling the bus conductor to drop me near Juan Luna's house. Non-AC bus fare from Laoag was P50.

Then off to Vigan. Waiting for a bus to Vigan along the major road took long. Bus fare was another P50. When the bus finally entered the famed city of heritage houses, my senses were instantly overwhelmed by the sight of colonial structures. WOW! Better than Intramuros many times over! I took a tricycle to Vigan Hotel (P10). No available single fan room so I took the double room which costs P495.

After cooling down for some 20 minutes, I went out and did my initial exploration. Visited Syquia Mansion since it was still open. And was pleasantly surprised to find Crisologo Museum open, too, so I went inside and had a look. Bought dinner at an eatery near Quezon Ave. cor. Libertad. Grilled bangus with half serving of rice was P155. I ate inside my room because it was already late and I promised my sisters I would be at the hotel before dark. Bad move coz the sauce from the grilled bangus soaked my canvas bag and I had to wash and clean my stuffs. At least I had a fairly decent dinner that night. At that point I was already wondering if my loneliness was the cause of my lack of appetite.

Quick bath, then plans for the morrow and the biggest decision on whether to leave for Manila the following day.

Day 4: Got up early to catch the Sunday mass but I missed the first so I roamed around the plaza and enjoyed the twilight hours. After that I attended Sunday mass. It was conducted in Ilocano so I didn't really understand anything but I did get to see how well-disciplined Ilocanos are compared to the barbarians of Metro Manila.

Vigan at dawn. Gloomy yet beautiful.

After mass, I headed back to my hotel for a quick breakfast of Nesvita. Then hired a tricycle for one hour (P150) to bring me to Bantay Church, Sta. Catalina Church, and St. Vincent Ferrer Church. Had the most fun at Bantay Church since one can climb up to the top of the belfry and have a breathtaking view. Also tried kalamay (P5 apiece). It's made from sticky rice with buko.

I asked to be dropped off at Burgos Museum after my church pilgrimage. I was lucky because October was museum month so all branches of the National Museum have free entrance. Yay!!! There I met Sir Efren Vister who showed me around and even told me jokes.

Back to the plaza and near my hotel, I spied Hap Chan in Vigan Plaza Hotel and realized how much I miss Chinese food. So in I went and ordered salt and pepper spare ribs with rice (P120) and took out Crispy beef with rice (P99) as my packed lunch.

By 11:30AM I had checked out of my hotel and was already outside waiting for a tricycle to take me to Partas bus station. Yes, I decided to go back home. Lo and behold! Kuya Boy, who drove me to the churches earlier in the day, was very timely in passing by the street where I waited for a tricycle. So we met again and he happily sent me to the bus station (fare was P10). I asked a bus scheduler to look after my things while I go to the market to do last-minute shopping because my mom asked me to buy tagalog garlic and my dad requested for a gallon of ilocano vinegar. My fate was secured, no more stopover and I could only go straight home because I definitely couldn't move around with so much things with me.

I got home before 10PM.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my sisters and my parents as well as my officemate Mel for being my textmates the whole time I was in Ilocos. They somehow made me feel less lonely.
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This took me two days to write....

UP-ASP Fieldschool 2011 Exhibit

As part of the University of the Philippines-Archaeological Studies Program's (UP-ASP) mission and vision to educate the public on archaeology and update them on the latest excavations, this year's field schoolers are mounting an exhibit at the Palma Hall Lobby (AS Lobby) from Sept. 6 to Sept. 9.

This year's field school, under the directorship of Dr. Grace Barretto-Tesoro, was in Pinagbayanan, San Juan, Batangas. Now on its third and last year in the same town, the excavation team unearthed a bahay na bato (mamposteria or stone house) dating to the last half of the 19th century.


A diorama was created by yours truly and by a colleague. Artifacts shall be put on display. Everyday for the duration of the exhibit, different artifacts shall be displayed according to the theme. There will also be "permanent" artifacts for public viewing.

Everyone is invited to the opening tomorrow at 4:00pm. Free food and drinks shall be served.