Its been a very stressful week and I’ve been meaning to get a massage since the last three days. Finally, i got to go at the Lifestyle Spa in Timog Ave. Q.C.

How nice it was to evidently feel my blood circulating in my veins, and to get my heart beating fast again and relax my muscles like never before. I guess when you are most tired that you appreciate the finer things in life most too.

Well, all the showering, the hot dip in the jacuzzi, sessions at the sauna & steam, topped by a relaxing combination of shiatsu and swedish massage did wonders. I feel totally revitalized…

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My former school Trinity College of Quezon City has recently been granted a University status and is now called Trinity University of Asia http://www.tua.edu.ph/. A great deal of my life growing up was spent in this school.

My favorite teachers were Mrs. Castigador in science because I wasn’t really fond of this topic but she explained things in a way that made the subject seem easy , and she has style too, i find her very classy…And also, Mrs. Sarao, my English teacher, she presented topics in a very lively way and in a quite unconventional manner, I recall her being very refined, not that the others were not, our teachers were all very good, she just sort of stand out. It was cool studying the Greek Mythology in her class and the speeches.

And in Nov. 10, 2006, I met the wife of our retired School President Dr. Rafael Rodriguez, Mrs. Gloria F. Rodriguez, their house is very near ours. She is a very nice lady, with whom I learned a lot from talking to her for just a little over an hour. She is now 78 years old and look younger than that, and you can tell how much she loves her family coz she spoke so well about each one of them, her husband and three daughters. I can say that the Family is very important, it makes one happier and succesful, and live longer graciously.
The best teacher I ever had though is my own Mom, she is a retired grade (1) school teacher. It’s in that level where a kid progress from “no reading” to being able to read. That’s a tough feat i believe, and she does it well. I remember she took a leave in school just to teach me English, I was down poor at it, and she said it would be a shame if her own child can’t understand lol… I didn’t knew English because after i was born in Manila, i was flew in to the province where I lived for 5 years till it was time to start school and came back to Manila. You can imagine i didnt know even tagalog, but only Visaya hehe..There you go. I am “promdi”…

Congratulations to Trinity!!! I believe they’re making waves in Nursing…My cousin Michael Valla goes there. Go Mike!

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The temperature outside the house makes me want to fly to Boracay instantly, but have to “raincheck” on that, because of my still recovering dad who needs us to stay home as much as we could and because my sister who is the Annual Family Boracay Trip promoter is in the US right now. Boracay has been sort of the holyweek destination for the family for many years, it has be come a tradition. Even if i don’t get to see it this summer time, the family is scheduled to go in August for a wedding.

I have tried most of the public means to go there, (as if I’v been there on a private plane and a yacht, haha,?!) since more than the past ten years of going, my first time was in high school (now my age is revealed) I’v witnessed the transformation of Boracay from a quiet paradise to the kind of party paradise that it is now. Nevertheless, I still find it captivating.

Shall one take the plane? Ferry? or the Roro? My story applies to those who are adventurous enough not to take a Travel Agent booked trip.

By Plane, we normally took PAL at P3,800.00 more or less, that’s a 45 minutes flight from the Naia Domestic to Kalibo Airport. From there buses or vans are for hire at P1000.00 exclusive or per seat fee of P150 each that takes you to Caticlan. Caticlan now has a nice Station where you get your boat ticket for P40.00 and done in an organized manner. Boat ride is 15-20 minutes or so, depending on what Station you are getting off. There you go! Welcome to the paradise island of Boracay!!!

Another way is to take the Ship From the Port Area, Manila. We take the Mary the Queen or Virgin Mary of MBRS Lines, that leaves Manila at around 5PM and arrives in Caticlan early morning (before sunrise). The ferry could not dock very near the Caticlan shore so it stays a few hundred meters away. A fleet of boat waits at the exit doors of the ferry ship where you hop in and brings you to the island directly. Btw, Ferry Ships have a movie house, Karaoke, and Lounges for Dining to keep you busy in the almost 13 or so hours of travel. It has different types of accomodations ranging from Economy (P1,100.00- no airconditioning, and you need to bear with some smell), to Cabin Suites (P2000-3,000+), we usually go for the Tourist or De Luxe Class (P1,400.00 more or less with Airconditioning). If you are in the company of many family members and/or friends, and only one person pays for the bill like the parents this could save some bucks to be spent on the island and if you are somewhat adventurous enough with no small kids in tow, this would be good. Its just sleeping one night in a boat and the next morning, you are a 15 mins boat right away to the Island.

The longest route would be the RoRo but the cheapest at around P1000.00, fine for the young ones who can carry back packs and move around from vessel to vessel, and enjoy the sites along the way. You can take a bus ride from any Manila based bus station bound for Batangas City, this is a 4 hour ride. Upon reaching the Batangas City port you take a ferry to Mindoro, then in Mindoro you travel to the other side of the island called Calapan via per seat fee van. From Calapan you take a boat again, this time it takes you already to Caticlan. In there you, then take the 15 mins boat ride to the island. In each and every stop you buy a ticket, but PhilTranco offers a straight ride there, where you just pay them once and thats it, you ride the bus all the way, how? well, the bus rides the boats too. Total travel time is at least 12 hours or more if you missed a boat either in Batangas City or in Calapan. This happened to us in Calapan so we ended up renting a hut where we could stay and relax a while for a few hours.

You are now in Boracay, and the next thing to do is get settled. There are three (3) stations a kilometer apart from each other, with resorts lined one after another to choose from. You can pick from P1500 and up room per night, that can house as much as 4 people (ideally its just for two, the other 2 will have to sleep in a “banig” on the floor) each depening on location and size. At P1500, there would be no A/C, but its fine if you don’t mind sleeping with the natural beach breeze. We have stayed in more than 10 different resorts and it was all a memorable stay. The Lorenzo Villas had a very nice room and pool, the one we stayed at is a ride away to the beach front though, good for honeymooners who want privacy hehe, they have beach front villas too. The Peninsula had a nice terrace in front of each unit, which we find really cool since we got units facing each other. The other resorts, il try to remember the names yet, all beachfront and served good breakfast too.

Food is not that expensive, breakfast can be around P80-P150.00, Lunch is maybe P150-250, and dinner is P250 and up. You can even go marketing and have your resort kitchen cook them for you if they offer that option. Massage is around P300. Bike can be rented at P250 per day. Boat rentals to visit other islands is P250 each person for 5 pax/boat including lunch, snorkling and stuff.

In a nutshell, a Boracay Trip can cost as little as:

P 2500 – back and forth ship ride

P 3000- accomodation at P750/night share on the bill x 4 nights.

P 3000 – for meals at P750/day x 4 days (if malakas ka kumain at sa mejo mahal):-)

P 3000 – for fun and pasalubong.

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11,500.00 per person.

Don’f forget to buy your ticket on the way back upon arriving in Boracay to secure your way back or better yet buy them together before leaving Manila. And remember security controls for your things and yourself, plus have your ATM’s ready in case you want to splurge on something…Enjoy!!!

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