Saturday, March 5, 2011

The City in a Forest

This was the first time that I took my parents to an out of town trip. Their smiles were priceless.

(Puerto Princesa International Airport)

What made this trip more exciting was the company of my uncles, aunts and cousins.

(Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm Recreation Hall)


Especially when they are also up for some fun...

(Crocodile Farm)

Even when it's raining!

(Still at the Crocodile Farm)


We also made a quick stop at the Butterfly Garden.

(Butterfly Garden)


It was drizzling so the butterflies were hiding but at least we had a good look at one of them.


(Still at the Butterfly Garden)


Thank you Lord for the wonderful blessings.

(Immaculate Conception Cathedral)


Then a walk in the park opposite the church -- where the Palawan Massacre in 1944 took place.


(Plaza Cuartel)


The trip would not be complete without visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(40-minute or so boat-ride to the Underground River)


Finally landed...

(The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 kilometers north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan - Wikipedia)


(Palawan’s UNESCO World Heritage Site and entrant into the contest for the New 7 Wonders of the Natural World, the underground river near Sabang is officially known as the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park - from www.undergroundriver.org)


Before reaching the entrance, Mama wanted to stop because of this...

(photo ops with the monkey lol)

We're almost there!

(The entrance to the 8.2-kilometer underground river)

Here we go!

(We're in!)

Magnificent!

(The cave formations are spectacular and include stalactites, stalagmites and columns as well as other formations and of course bats and swallows abound. -- from undergroundriver.org )


(They only allow the tourists to see the first 2 kilometers of the river.)


(End of the ride)

(And we're out!)


Back to the beach where my cousins played with some crablets...


(Sabang Beach)

And their all time favorite beach game - the sandball fight!

(Sabang Beach)

Off to some island hopping!


(Honda Bay boat ride)

First stop: Pandan Island.


(Pandan Island)


(Pandan Island)


(Patrick the Starfish at Pandan Island!)

(The jellyfish that ruined my Aunt's day)

Next stop: Snake Island.


(Snake Island -- where we also had our lunch)


(Papa's a good swimmer so no need for a life vest. Mama's a errr...a great floater! LoL)


(My cousins with their favorite Aunt)


Our travel package was inclusive of all meals but we opted to dine out for our last night in the city. We ate at a restaurant where we had to take off our shoes/slippers.


(At Ka Lui's)


(Ka Lui's - great food, great service, great ambience)

Time to go home.


(Breakfast at Bulwagang Prinsesa)


(My aunt owns this place by the way...No, we didn't stay there for free, hehehe!)


(Boarding time)


(Oh, my cousins won Cebu Pacific's inflight game!)


GOODBYE PALAWAN!



























Friday, March 12, 2010

The Valentine Love Affair

It all formally started with a Valentine Date search in February of 2008. What initially was just a betting game for fun among friends became a real competition when money started pouring in. Two boxes were passed around the 41st floor of the PBCom Tower, one for the Cyrus-Feb love team and the other is for the Leo-Feb love team. And the latter love team won. So who was the biggest contributor? Leo of course... Unknown to many, this couple has been going out for weeks discreetly, but were not sure yet where it was heading. But one thing's for sure. Leo was serious from the start. What they just needed was a BIG push...and we pushed really hard. July 28, 2008, at the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish, Marikina City, they headed the altar...on their own. No pushing needed :)


Friends waiting outside....

(Angge, Ailes, Fortune, Quincy and Maya)


The Cord Sponsors...

(Ace and Sajah)



The Cord Sponsors...

(Jal and Nice)


The Maid of Honor...



The Couple...

(Leo and Feb)


Again, the Maid of Honor...



The Groomsmen...

(Ace, Jal, Kim and Jerome)



The Bridesmaids...

(Mayet, Sajah, Nice and me)


The Secondary Sponsors...





With friends...



RECEPTION AT KAPITAN MOY


Before the program...



The wedding singers...


(Kay and Amir)


I knew they were planning something that night...





Mr. and Mrs. Salinel with friends...



The Maid of Honor and Angelica...

Angge...



Angge and the couple...



The Maid of Honor with the couple...





And finally, the Wedding Singer and the Maid of Honor :)