June 30
I am planning for a trip to Mindanao with my friends from the DFA. The last time I did something similar was for my (former) co-teachers in 2007. With my teacher group of four, I was made the default tour planner because I was the most domestically traveled. hehe. The 2007 adventure started in Cebu, continued in Bohol and Dapitan and ended in Zamboanga. It was fun going through the tourist spots with friends, but going to previously visited places did not excite me anymore. I prefer going to new places, but, I tell myself that I was doing it more for them than for me. There was joy in sharing the beauty of the Philippines with others. This time for the DFA peeps, it's just going to be Zamboanga City as our destination, but I am looking forward to this. We are thinking of including Basilan since it's just a one-hour boat ride from Zamboanga. I have not gone to Basilan, so it's going to be new to me. I don't look forward to it, however. There is the issue of security to think of. I shall wait for the my dad's advice on this.
The idea of having a new set of people joining me in a trip is exciting in itself. I will have to be overly hospitable, which is something, strangely enough, I do with much effort. But I should do what I must.
To get all my travelmates all psyched up for the trip, I sent them an email on August 7, 2012.
Dear friends,
I look forward to traveling with
you to Zamboanga and Basilan and touring around the city which I have the
pleasure of calling mi ciudad . It’s my honor to have a group of fine ladies
and gents in my hometown. Speaking of my home, which will be your home for
three days unless you decide to take a hotel or motel (as the case of Alan) instead,
I also look forward to hosting you there. It’s a middle class home, so don’t
expect a mansion. Hehe. I don’t worry much that you’d be overly picky since I
think most, if not all, are ‘cowboy’ as we say it in Philippine English. I trust that rich kid Jason will be just as happy as a kid with a balloon. Hehe.
For our security, I suggest we
don’t post anything announcing our trip on Facebook or other social networking sites; we’ll never know how a simple info might be
put to our disadvantage. We could post pictures after we have arrived safely in
Manila, however. To be truly safe in any travel, we must be cautious and listen
to advisories. I usually listen to my father, he was a former intelligence guy
with the Marines. If we don’t hear anything on our Basilan trip, I would
surmise it’s a go; otherwise, let’s make do with the city. We have to ensure
everyone’s safety. Ok lang ba ‘yon?
On Thursday, I’ll be sending out
an itinerary for your comments. I shall try to include everyone’s interests.
Timmy would want to do some food tripping and touring, while Alan would like to
acquire some indigenous textiles. Jason would want a biking trip (Jason, parang
wala ata ganon pero will think of something). I reckon Andrei would be happy
with a good coffee (May 3-in-1 sa bahay. Our coffee maker is broken. We could
go to coffee shops pero walang Starbucks or anything similar doon). Candy is
just happy to be in Mindanao. Period. Hehe.
In going around, we will be
taking public transport most of the time. Note that there are no cabs in the
city. Our beat-up aircon-less car is a sedan. So if we ride in it, two small-bodied
individuals take the passenger seat, and that leaves the bigger-bodied people
like me to the backseat. Yes, Timmy, backseat tayo. You, too, Jason. Hehe.
There, feel free to ask anything.
I am really looking forward to having you there.
Warm regards,
After August 7
Two Thursdays came, and I was busy; thus, I was not able to send a proposed itinerary. I got home Thursday evening, August 16 and was met by news reports of a twin bombing incident in Zamboanga City. My initial concern was, "Will they still push through?"
The next day, I sent out our itinerary still.
August 17
Two Thursdays came, and I was busy; thus, I was not able to send a proposed itinerary. I got home Thursday evening, August 16 and was met by news reports of a twin bombing incident in Zamboanga City. My initial concern was, "Will they still push through?"
The next day, I sent out our itinerary still.
August 17
ZAM-BAS ESCAPADE!!!
ITINERARY
19 AUGUST 2012 SUNDAY
0330 CHECK IN AT AIRPORT TERMINAL 3
0415 DEPART MANILA
0555 ARRIVE IN ZAMBOANGA
0630 BREAKFAST AT HOST’S RESIDENCE
0700 REST
1100 LUNCH
1200 TRANSIT TO PORT
1245 DEPART ZAMBOANGA FOR BASILAN
1330 ARRIVE IN BASILAN
ISABELA CITY TOUR – Cost of
Basilan Tour is approximately PhP 500/PAX inclusive of fare, terminal fees,
light snacks and security adventure
1645 DEPART BASILAN FOR ZAMBOANGA
1800 ARRIVE IN ZAMBOANGA
1900 DINNER AT PASEO DEL MAR
Cost
of Dinner is approximately PhP 120/ pax.
2030 RETURN TO BASE
20 AUGUST 2012 MONDAY
0600 BREAKFAST
0700 TRANSIT TO PIER FOR STA CRUZ ISLAND
0730 DEPART FOR STA CRUZ ISLAND
0800 ARRIVE AT STA CRUZ ISLAND
1130 DEPART FOR ZAMBOANGA MAINLAND
1200 ARRIVE AT ZAMBOANGA MAINLAND
1230 LUNCH * ( DOWNTOWN )
1400 TRANSIT TO SINUNUC – YAKAN WEAVING
VILLAGE AND BRASS CRAFTS CENTER
1430 YAKAN WEAVING VILLAGE AND BRASS CRAFTS
CENTER
1600 TRANSIT TO LA VISTA DEL MAR
1700 EARLY DINNER AT LA VISTA
2000 BACK TO BASE
* IF MY PARENTAL UNITS CAN GET US TO AN EIDL FITR
CELEBRATION, WE SHALL HAVE LUNCH THERE.
21 AUGUST 2012 TUESDAY
0730 BREAKFAST
0830 TRANSIT TO PASONANCA PARK
0900 PASONANCA PARK
Outdoor
Activity. Come in comfortable clothes and footwear.
1130 TRANSIT TO LUNCH VENUE
1200 LUNCH
1300 LAST MINUTE SHOPPING AT BARTER CENTER
1400 BACK TO BASE
1630 TRANSIT TO AIRPORT
1700 CHECK-IN AT ZAMBOANGA AIRPORT
1850 DEPART ZAMBOANGA
2030 ARRIVE IN MANILA
The response I got from my travelmates is still positive. No bomb explosions or security issues would stop us from going. We are all set to go.
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