Planning (Zamboanga Trip)

NOTE: I started writing this post weeks days before our actual departure for Zamboanga.

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.

August 7

 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

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.

Suspension

August 7, 2012 will go down in my history as the first whole-day work suspension in my government career. The rain has been pouring non-stop the past week. If forecasts are right, with emphases on 'if'  'forecast'  and 'right' since we are in the Philippines, we will be expecting less rain on Thursday, August 9.

In the meantime, I am trying to stay home although I have been itching to go out. I'm stuck at home, and it's for the best.

News feeds and status updates all say that the rain is not stopping anytime soon and that conditions outside are bad. Groups are coming out with relief drives for the victims.

My images are different from those that make the news sites and papers. There is nothing much to do; hence, this post.

Either way in Sucat is flooded

Men in umbrellas.

White dude about to swim in the pool.

College students having fun in the pool as classes are called off.

Another man in umbrella.

He still works despite the rain.

Some girl...

In fashion.

I wonder where she's going. It's none of my business, really.

I am stuck in my unit. These are shots from my window, nothing compared to what's happening in most part of Luzon. I pray conditions will be better tomorrow.

Wet pose!

I came to the office one morning in wet shoes and hence wet socks. Awful. Good that I have got a cubicle to hide my feet after removing my shoes and socks to let everything dry. But there was no way to stay barefooted all day. I was not going to buy a new pair of shoes, but I had to buy new socks, at least. 

Barefooted at the office

It's the rainy season again. I don't enjoy commuting in the rain, really, but I gotta do what I gotta do.

In one of my recent commutes, I had to go to Alabang. It was raining, and I hopped on the first Alabang-bound bus I saw, which was a 'Southmall' bus. That will do, I told myself. 

Upon entering, I was instructed to leave my umbrella by the driver side. I was hesitant, thinking that someone might take it, but I understood the instruction. I went farther inside the bus sans my umbrella and with no view of whatever was going on at the driver side. It was a one-hour long ride, and my mind was on my umbrella.

When we arrived at SM, I was glad to have my umbrella with me. I was made to think of my distrust for fellow commuters. I was ashamed that I even thought that someone might steal my umbrella; umbrellas during those time were hot commodity, and I had no plans of parting with my umbrella on a rainy day!

Growing up in Zamboanga, a city not part of the typhoon belt, I did not experience having class suspension because of the weather. It was my college education in  Manila  that prepared me to brave the storm of the city. And since I chose to live in our nation's capital, I should not complain; the school kids of Paranaque are not.

Paranaque school kids trying to keep themselves dry

I took this on July 23, 2012. I like her pose.