I was at Spicy Fingers a couple of months ago, totally impressed with the band that was playing. One song in particular gave me goosebumps. It sounded familiar, though I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out its title. I never heard the song again, not even on the radio. So off I went to my biggest source of information: Google. And Google, as was expected, delivered again.

The song is The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, by The Script, an Irish band. Below are the video and the lyrics of the song.

______________________________

Going back to the corner where I first saw you
Gonna camp in my sleeping bag, I’m not gonna move
Got some words on cardboard, got your picture in my hand
Saying, “If you see this girl, can you tell her where I am?”

Some try to hand me money, they don’t understand
I’m not broke, I’m just a broken-hearted man
I know it makes no sense, but what else can I do?
How can I move on when I’m still in love with you?

Cause if one day you wake up and find that you’re missing me
And your heart starts to wonder where on this earth I could be
Thinking maybe you’ll come back here to the place that we’d meet
And you’ll see me waiting for you on the corner of the street
So I’m not moving, I’m not moving

Policeman says, “Son, you can’t stay here”
I say, “There’s someone I’m waiting for if it’s a day, a month, a year”
Gotta stand my ground even if it rains or snows
If she changes her mind, this is the first place she will go

Cause if one day you wake up and find that you’re missing me
And your heart starts to wonder where on this earth I could be
Thinking maybe you’ll come back here to the place that we’d meet
And you’ll see me waiting for you on the corner of the street
So I’m not moving, I’m not moving,
I’m not moving, I’m not moving

People talk about the guy that’s waiting on a girl
There are no holes in his shoes but a big hole in his world
Maybe I’ll get famous as the man who can’t be moved
Maybe you won’t mean to, but you’ll see me on the news
And you’ll come running to the corner
Cause you’ll know it’s just for you

I’m the man who can’t be moved
I’m the man who can’t be moved

Going back to the corner where I first saw you
Gonna camp in my sleeping bag, I’m not gonna move.

______________________________

I don’t know if you’ll concur, but I think The Man Who Can’t Be Moved is one hell of a romantic song. In fact, I think it and Chasing Cars (by Snow Patrol, also an Irish band) are the most romantic songs of this decade. They both speak of all-consuming love, which this world doesn’t have enough of.

I’d love to be sung The Man Who Can’t Be Moved to. Wouldn’t you feel just so special if you were the object of a love as passionate as the one the song sings about?

I’ll send the lyrics to my boyfriend. If I’m not mistaken or delusional (and I’m quite sure I’m not), he seems to feel as passionately about me as the man who can’t be moved. I’ll ask him if he’d sit on the corner, just waiting for me to show up, if something ever went wrong between us (which, I really, really, really hope, will NEVER happen).

Watch my cousin Alyssa and our omnipresent Ate Marlyn morph as they Photo Booth on my MacBook.

According to Aly, it is mandatory for anyone who has a Mac to morph themselves on Photo Booth. Honestly, I think it’s just an Atenean thing. (Yes, she’s from the Ateneo.) I haven’t Photo Boothed myself. I find it more interesting to type commands in the Terminal to allow my boyfriend to remotely access my computer, which was what I was doing in between Alyssa and Ate Marlyn’s Photo Booth sessions. (Yep, I pretty much trust my boyfriend that much.)

Anyways, here’s a gallery of all Photo Booth images on my laptop. Enjoy! Hey, maybe they’ll want to make you try Photo Booth yourselves.

Yes, I am.

Here are some updates:

1. I’m now the chief nurse of Radiology.
2. My car’s in the shop.
3. S and I are talking about marriage and making babies. He just told me tonight that he wanted me to be the mother of his children. Isn’t that so romantic?! He’s sick though, and I’m worried.
4. I’m quickly finding out how emotional I can get when it comes to love.
5. Two maids who left stole some of my clothes from my closet before they left.
6. I now have a MacBook!
7. I love Scott.

It’s true, you know. I mean, I guess I’ve known it all along. I’ve just been denying it for the longest time.

But it is true. Love is really the most important thing there is.

It seems I’m back to believing most of the things I believed when I was younger, before I became a cynical bitch.

Hell, I’m scared to the bone. But I wouldn’t trade this feeling for the world.

In a sudden turn of events, I am now in the process of being promoted as the chief nurse of Radiology. I don’t exactly know how it happened. The offer just came out of nowhere. Yesterday, I was just inserting intravenous lines to patients. The next thing I knew, I was in the VP’s office, being asked if I was interested in a promotion. It isn’t official yet, but the VP did tell me that he wanted the promotion to take effect ASAP.

Whew! I feel overwhelmed. I’m still kind of in a daze. I’ve been in a daze all day, actually.

I did go back to inserting intravenous lines to patients after the talk with the VP.

If only S’ day had turned out as well as mine did, my happiness would be complete. But that’s the problem with love. If the object of your affection isn’t happy, then you’re not happy. That’s why in spite of this amazing and wonderful career  opportunity I’ve been presented with, all I can think about is the fact that he’s upset and his day was crappy.

Oh well, I guess perfection is indeed impossible to attain. But I wish with all my heart that tomorrow would be a perfect day for him.

“Love is giving someone the power to destroy you…
but trusting them not to.“
— Unknown (via Oopstekalang)

I never thought  it would actually happen, but it has. Now I believe in moons and Junes and ferris wheels again.

I pray (to whatever) that I never lose this magic.

August 8-10, 2009
Coron, Northern Palawan
Spots visited: The Coron Island Loop – Siete Pecados, Kalachuchi, Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, Banul Beach, Skeleton Shipwreck

Amidst some rocks, at Banul Beach

Palawan is called the Philippines’ last frontier. It is comprised of the main island, Palawan Island, and the smaller islands surrounding the main island. It stretches from Mindoro in the northeast and Borneo in the southwest. It is located just north of Malaysia’s Sabah Island.

The islands I visited are part of the Calamianes Group of Islands, comprised of  Busuanga Island, Coron Island, and Culion Island. I did not get to go to Culion, which used to be the world’s largest leper colony. There are no lepers in Culion anymore, but the island has become a tourist attraction because of its rich history.

The view from a cliff overlooking the ocean

Takes your breath away, doesn't it?

Before the weekend of August 8, I had been dying to visit Palawan for quite some time. I originally wanted to see Puerto Princesa, where the underground river is, but a lot of people I had asked told me that they found Northern Palawan more breathtaking. On the said weekend, I got to fulfill my dream (or one of my many dreams, at least). I went to Coron. I arrived at the Francisco B. Reyes Airport in Busuanga before lunch. From the airport, I went straight to my hotel, the Busuanga Seadive Resort.

I was supposed to climb Mt. Tapyas after lunch. But I  lacked sleep, and the beer I had with my vegetarian curry had a sedative effect on me, so I decided to sleep Saturday afternoon and Saturday night away. I know, I know, one does not go to Palawan to sleep! But hey, I was scheduled to go island hopping on Sunday, and I didn’t want to be ill-prepared for my seafaring adventure.

I woke up bright and early Sunday morning. I was scheduled, along with 5 other people, to take a tour of the Coron island loop. To say I was excited would be an understatement. The sea was beckoning, and I was more than willing to let it seduce me.

I won’t write a narrative of my island tour. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

I said goodbye to Palawan a couple of weekends ago. But that’s not to say that I won’t be saying hello to it again. I plan to go to Culion on my next visit, as well as to Calauit. Calauit Island, for your information, is a wildlife sanctuary. It was declared such in 1977, when then President Marcos imported eight species of African animals from Kenya: giraffes, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, gazelles, eland, topi, and bushbacks. These animals run freely on the island, which means going on a Calauit safari is like going on an African mini safari. I’ll make sure to rub elbows with these wildlife the next time I set foot on Palawan soil.

If you want to take a trip to Palawan, I suggest you contact Mr. Owen Ferrer. He organizes Coron trips for very reasonable prices. And when I say reasonable, I mean really cheap. You may want to check out his website, DIY Coron.

Bye for now!

Your writer and a bangka, near Twin Lagoon

Tagaytay, August 22

This is my tribute to the person I love most in the world.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMY!

…Is that now, I have responsibilities that adults are expected to have. It also goes without saying that I am expected to take care of these responsibilities. Therein lies the problem. Most of the time, I can’t be bothered with these things. I can’t be bothered with talking to insurance people, negotiating with taxi drivers and taxi operators who charge too much for the repair of a bumper that has seen better days, spending cash on paperwork and legal matters when I’d much, much rather use it to go island hopping in Calaguas and surfing in Bagasbas. Oh damn, when did I suddenly become an adult and have to deal with grown-up stuff?! It seems like just yesterday when my mom was taking care of everything for me, and all I had to do was relax, sit back, and wait!

I remember Meredith Grey’s words: “When did we become adults? More importantly, how do we make it stop?” I swear, I could have written that line. It sounds like something I would say…today, next week, 10 years from now, and maybe even 50 years from now. Sometimes, when things stop going my way, I just want to lie in bed, curl up in a fetal position, and let my mommy take care of everything for me. I know, I know. Sometimes, one has to stop being her mother’s daughter. And the world doesn’t owe me anything. (Note to self: Russ, the world definitely doesn’t owe you anything.) But sometimes, I wish it did. That way, I can stake my claim on it.

My mom and I had breakfast together this morning. Before today, it had been a while since we had breakfast together. She was berating me the whole time, though, because of the car accident I got into last night. Yes, the accident was my fault. And yes, I have been avoiding having to take care of some paperwork for my car, until the last minute. The last minute, as it turned out, was last night. That meant that I had to run some errands so that it wouldn’t be too late. Anyone who knows me well enough knows how I hate running errands. I avoid them like the plague! But this morning, I had to face them!

When will this stop?

Well, probably never, seeing that I’m not getting any younger, and will most definitely never become younger again. Would that I were a child again, so I would still be shielded from all of this grown-up stuff!

But hey, who am I kidding?! I may hate most of the responsibilities that adulthood entails, but I know I’ll forever savor these moments…yes, both the good and the bad. These are the best years of my life, unavoidable duties I would much rather shirk from notwithstanding. Yes, these years are definitely the best thus far.

You people are probably getting a headache from reading this blog entry. You’re probably asking yourselves, am I mental or what?! Sometimes, I ask myself the same question. Let me put it this way: I both hate and love being an adult. I hate it that I have to deal with tasks and events that I never had to bother myself with when I was a kid. But I love the fact that I now know a lot of  important things that I didn’t know then.

So would I rather this growing up process stop? Well, no, not really. Maybe sometimes I want to regress into childhood, maybe even infancy. For the most part, however, I think I can take it. Bring it on.

If only responsibilities weren’t such a nuisance, however!

Oh, don’t mind me. I guess this is what happens when a person who is fallin’…fallin’…fallin’ (in love, that is) is suddenly forced to face the non-romantic aspects of the daily grind of living!

Today, the late President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino will be buried at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City. A mass will be held at 9AM at the Manila Cathedral, after which, her remains will be brought to Parañaque. She will be laid to rest beside her husband, Ninoy Aquino, one of our national heroes and one of the most pivotal characters in our country’s modern history.

For those who do not know, Cory Aquino became president after Marcos’ fall. In 1986, after the Filipino people decided that they had had enough of the dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, they marched to EDSA with the cry of “Tama na! Sobra na!” (“This has got to stop! We have had enough!“) What ensued was a 4-day series of demonstrations and prayer rallies, known as the People Power Revolution or the EDSA Revolution. It was the revolution that toppled the Marcos government. It was the revolution that stunned the world and served as an inspiration for people power movements in other countries, not because of the fact that it ended a 20-year dictatorship, but because it was able to end that dictatorship through non-violent means. Some of you have probably seen the pictures: the military among the civilians, holding their guns, but not using them; people giving roses to the soldiers; the soldiers smiling at the people, as if they were one with them.

I’m glad that I’m old enough to remember People Power. I was 9 years old in 1986.  I was just a self-absorbed kid who was still playing with her Barbie dolls, but even then, the images I saw on screen touched me. I wanted to be part of the momentous events that I was witnessing on TV. But I was just a kid, and the grown-ups wouldn’t let me go with them. Until now, though, whenever I see footages of the EDSA revolution, I still get chills.

The Filipino people love Cory, that much is evident from the unanimous grief that is almost palpable in the air today. I think we have always loved Cory. Her detractors called her weak; some people thought she was too nice and too good to lead a nation. In this country, one has to have a heart ruled by greed and balls of steel to become a politician. She had neither. What she had, though, was principles. She sometimes made mistakes in supporting candidates (she used to support Gloria), but it was apparent that she wanted what was best for the Philippines. When it became too obvious that the present government was (and still very much is) an extremely corrupt one, she withdrew her support.

Today has been declared a special non-working holiday in her honor. If I didn’t have to work today, I would go to the Manila Cathedral even though I’m agnostic. I just want to pay my respects. But we nurses have no holidays, so I guess I’ll just have to watch from the sidelines again.

Who among you are hoping that Cory’s death and the memory of her life, as well as the legacy of EDSA, will rouse this sleeping country once again; rouse it enough to say, once again, “Tama na! Sobra na!“?

At 5AM today, I learned that former president Corazon Cojuangco Aquino has passed away.  She died at 3:18AM. She battled colon cancer for months, and early today, her body finally gave up the fight. I don’t have time to write a tribute or to enumerate the reasons why I feel her loss even though I didn’t know her personally, but I will say that her death saddens me very much. She was the only Philippine president I actually liked.

She also reminds me of my mom. No, they don’t look alike or have (had) the same life, but the way she was with her children (especially with Kris) is the way my mom is with me.

Goodbye, Madame President. I think that, in the Philippines’ history, you were the only president who actually cared about this country.

I never cry at the moment of departure, and I always manage to put on a brave face. But saying goodbye always stings. It’s like a part of me, no matter how small, is ripped from my heart. What’s left is a wound, albeit small and even negligible at times, that I know will eventually become just a scar.

Whenever I say goodbye, I’m smiling. And I always wish the person leaving the best. I always manage to utter the words, “Have a good life. I wish you well. See you later.”

But all I’m yearning to say is…Don’t say goodbye. Stay. Don’t go. Please don’t leave me.

I know the wound will eventually heal. But that knowledge doesn’t help much. Not at the moment of goodbye, anyway.

I’ve said a few goodbyes in the last couple of years. I said goodbye again on Friday. On August 9, I will say goodbye again.

I’m tough. I don’t break. The past farewells have seen to that. They have helped to mold who I am now: a woman who’s strong and beautiful and free.

I’m still wishing, though, that this time, goodbye will not be the end. Maybe this time, goodbye will be followed with a “Hello again.” After all, according to one of the messages of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, when you want something bad enough, all of the universe will conspire to give it to you.

I’m banking on your words, Mr. Coelho.

July 19, 2009
Lago de Oro, Calatagan, Batangas
Activities: Wakeboarding on the lake, frolicking in the South China Sea, and (of course, of course, of course!) camwhoring
Participants: The thrill-seekers (yet again), Russ and Jen

Shhh. I'm daydreaming.

I was scheduled to go to Calaguas island on July 18-19. But due to the effing rain, I decided to forgo the trip. I signed up with TF to surf in La Union instead. But again, because of the effing rain, everyone was against me going. So I decided I’d rather be safe than sorry and had to forgo that trip, too. The sun came out on Saturday, though. Yours truly, longing for some adrenaline rush, convinced Jen to go wakeboarding on Sunday…

…And so off to Batangas, Jen and I went!

But going back to Calatagan meant going back to basics for me. I’m out of practice, and I really should head back to the Cam Sur Watersports Complex soon.

On surfing vs. wakeboarding:  Surfing is more fun, with the sport being done amidst the beauty of either the sea or the ocean. But wakeboarding is more challenging, giving me more of an adrenaline rush.

After two hours of wakeboarding, we headed to the beach, all sore and ready to be overwhelmed by the beauty of the vast backyard of the resort, the  South China Sea.

The Sea

Jen, beckoning you to join her in her playground

Shall I see you on the beach one of these days, people?

Me in my soul's asylum

Where: The Billabong Surf School, San Juan Surf Resort, La Union
When: June 27-28, 2009
Participants: TF Kaladkarins

Ready...Paddle...Stand up!

Surfing, Day 2

Your writer, riding that wave, girl! Woooooohoooooo!

According to surf babe Tikoy, one evidence of global warming is that surfing season in the Philippines has now started, when it used to be only during the -Ber months. But what is bad for the rest of the world is turning out to be good for me and other thrill-seekers. We’re all definitely in the mood for surfing!

My next surfing destinations are Baler, Bagasbas, Virac, and yes, even Siargao, famous for its 9-foot waves. Even though the thought of surfing in Siargao somewhat terrifies me, I would still love to go there. Some Aussie surfers say that the Siargao surf is even better than the surf Down Under. So I definitely wouldn’t want to miss experiencing it!

The newest surfer girl in town

I’m saying goodbye for now, but I just have to write about one realization: I am now tan and extremely surprised that I’m actually loving my new skin color!

Till the next wave, dudes and dudettes!

Date: June 14, 2009
Location: Talisay, Batangas
Activities: Tandem kayaking on Taal Lake in the pouring rain, swimming in a big tub, hobnobbing with sailors
Participants: The thrill-seekers: Your writer and her partner-in-crime, Jen

The Paddlers

Your writer, quite eager to engage in yet another water sport

For the first time in ages, Jen and I had the same day off. So we decided to mosey on over to Talisay, Batangas, to engage in any water activity we could engage in at the Taal Lake Yacht Club.  We got to the club at around 4PM, which was already rather late. The proprietor, the very friendly and accommodating (not to mention charming) Joe Hagedorn, wanted all boats to be back in the marina by 5:30PM, to avoid having to rescue sailors/kayakers/tourists who may have ventured too far out on the water. But being the charming chap that he was, he allowed us to stay out until dusk. He said he didn’t want all the driving I did from Antipolo to Talisay to go to waste. So Jen and I got to do some tandem kayaking, in spite of the pouring rain.

Taal Lake on a dark and cloudy afternoon

A sailboat

I was hoping to do some wakeboarding or sailing on the lake. But since we arrived late in the afternoon, there wasn’t much left to do. We had to settle for kayaking, which, it turned out, was quite enjoyable. And the rain and wind, which picked up at around 5PM, proved to be somewhat challenging. It gave us a bit of a thrill, which was what we were seeking.

Here are some basics of  tandem kayaking:

• It involves a front paddler and a rear paddler.
• The front paddler sets the cadence. The rear paddler steers the kayak.
• Sit straight and relax your shoulders. Plant your feet firmly on the footrest.
• The basic stroke is called the forward stroke. This is used to propel the kayak forward. Basically,  you paddle on one side, then on the other side. (Whether you’ll paddle on the right side first or on the left side will depend on you and your partner.)
• To turn the kayak in the direction you want to take, paddle on the opposite side. For example, if you want to turn left, stroke your paddle on the right.
• If you want the kayak to move backwards, a backward paddling stroke is used.

After we surrendered the kayak to Joe (a bit hesitantly, I must admit, for we still wanted to stay out on the lake after dusk), we joined him for drinks at the kiosk. He then proceeded to give us a tour of the resorts fronting the lake. The inns looked more like country homes than inns, and the whole neighborhood had a community feel to it. I remember thinking that it felt like I was in an exclusive subdivision where the neighbors all  knew one another. I can describe the atmosphere as cozy, with everyone in the “neighborhood” making even strangers feel comfortable and familiar with the surroundings.

Needless to say, I loved the place. And I know for a fact that Jen loved the place, too, as well as the experience.

The view while we were docking at the yacht club

We had dinner at the Flamingo Lake Resort, Taal Lake Yacht Club’s next-door neighbor. There was a 4-foot deep pool that looked more like an enlarged tub or jacuzzi. But the water was warm enough, and in between swims, Jen and I spent the rest of the night taking pictures of each other.

The breast stroke expert, catching her breath

They call it a pool, I call it a tub.

We promised Joe we’d be back to do some sailing. And I’m certain we’ll deliver on that promise. After all, we haven’t really explored the lake yet, have we? There’s still a 3-hour boat ride around the lake that we’re planning to take. And I long to try wakeboarding behind a speedboat, which one can only do on Taal Lake, not at Lago de Oro or in Cam Sur.

If you want to check out the Taal Lake Yacht Club, just visit their website. It will provide you with information about their rates, facilities, and programs, as well as directions to Talisay. I would definitely recommend the place. The rates are reasonable, the facilities are clean, the programs cater to water sports enthusiasts, and the water is warm and tempting. Best of all is their customer service, which is superb. Joe personally entertains his guests. Even one of the manongs at the Flamingo Lake Resort went over and beyond the call of duty…and wouldn’t even accept gratuity!

Let me end with (what else?!) my mandatory sexy pose:

Showgirl

Till my next adventure/travel/new water sport, folks!

1. Sagada, Mt. Province
2. San Juan, La Union – June
3. Samal Beach, Davao
4. Hong Kong and Macau – Aug. 7 to 10
5. Amsterdam, the Netherlands (to visit Sander and Belle) – September
6. Mt. Pulag, Cordilleras
7. Coron, Northern Palawan
8. Calauit, Northern Palawan
9. Malapascua Island, Cebu – October
10. Bantayan Island, Cebu – October
11. Calaguas Island, Camarines Norte
12. Bagasbas Beach, Camarines Norte
13. Caramoan Island, Camarines Sur
14. Virac, Catanduanes – Aug. 28 to 31
15. Kalinga-Apayao, Cagayan Valley
16. Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte
17. Baler, Aurora
18. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia – Nov. 13 to 16
19. Apo Island, Dumaguete
20. Batan Island, Batanes

I learned recently that a cable park as big as the one at the Cam Sur Watersports Complex will open in Clark, Pampanga in September. Yippee! That’ll make wakeboarding more convenient for me. Clark is much more accessible than Bicol, though I wouldn’t mind going back to Cam Sur at all.

I can sum up the unfolding of events in the last couple of weeks in one statement:

The pen is, indeed, mightier than the sword.

About a couple of weeks ago, I wrote a seemingly innocent blog about the death of a friend. Then I left my site alone. Well, my, my, I had no idea how much havoc that seemingly innocent article was wreaking on some people, until 2 friends sent me text messages about the commotion my blog was causing. I logged in to WordPress the same night I got the SMS. Lo and behold! Several hostile, accusatory, and rude messages were waiting for me. All messages were ordering me to do one thing: Take down the blog.

I understand where they were coming from, of course. However, I resented, and still resent, the harassment, especially since I did not write the blog in a spirit of meanness. I most especially did not appreciate being ordered to do something on my own personal site. I didn’t deserve the harassment. In my opinion, I didn’t do anything wrong. And my opinion matters more to me than anybody else’s opinion. I wrote the article in good faith, after all. And, after all, I didn’t send anybody a link to this site. The people involved just found it.

To the people involved:

I didn’t put a gun to your head and force you to keep coming back. You did that of your own accord.

Am I being hostile now? Yes, of course, I am. Am I being sarcastic? Yes, of course, I am. Am I still annoyed? Yes, of course, I am. Like I said, I resented, AND STILL RESENT, the harassment.

I reiterate, though, that I understand where you were coming from. That is why I have changed the blog’s title and password-protected it. I’m sorry, I can’t and won’t take it down. I never delete any of my written works. My site is for posterity. Don’t worry, only I and my best friend know the passwords to The Beat. You can rest now.

All comments are screened before they are posted. Comments that are rude and disrespectful are immediately marked as spam. They will be submitted to WordPress and reported as abuse.

Of course, I welcome comments from people whose opinions differ from mine.  If you do not agree with or disapprove of any of my articles, you may leave your comments or suggestions here.  They will be regarded as important. This is, after all, the blogging universe, where democracy and free speech abound and are highly celebrated. Comments, however, should be respectful and non-combative. Please, I refuse to waste my time on individuals who think they have the right to be abusive. No matter what the circumstances in your life may be, you have a duty to act the way a human being should.

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One person has been leaving rude comments here. But my policy applies to all visitors of this site. Please be responsible, readers.

Again, all comments are screened before they are posted. Comments that are rude and disrespectful are immediately marked as spam. They will be submitted to WordPress and reported as abuse.

I’m so pissed off because if it were not raining in Luzon, I would be in Donsol now, swimming with whalesharks. Or I would be in La Union, being taught the basics of surfing by the hunky Luke Lansing, who’s featured on Men’s Health Magazine. But this effing weather has forced me to cancel my trips, so I’m stuck in old, boring Manila! Aargh! It’s so frustrating because our travel group was all set to tour Legazpi today and then head to Donsol so we could swim with whalesharks tomorrow morning. But on Thursday, the organizers of the tour decided to cancel the trip; they were advised that swimming in Sorsogon waters could be dangerous in this weather. My friend and I already booked flights with Cebu Pacific: Manila to Legazpi at 6 this morning, and the flight back to Manila was supposed to be on June 8 at 7AM. Up until 8:00 last night, we were still intent on going to Legazpi, if only to look at – experience – Mt. Mayon, visit the Cagsawa ruins, and see what else Bicolandia has to offer. But news of similar heavy raining in Bicol dashed our hopes of having a Legazpi weekend adventure. So we were a no show at the airport today.

Another option that was given to me by TF was to spend the weekend surfing in San Juan, La Union. According to Tikoy, “Rainy weather is perfect surfing weather!” What my surfer friend did not consider (and did not know), however, is that your writer has a very protective mother who was afraid that her only child would be swallowed by the big La Union waves. That is why your very annoyed, very disappointed, very bored, not to mention disenfranchised (in my opinion), writer is staring at the monitor screen instead of the perfect wave…or Luke Lansing’s muscular physique. Bummer!

I find it an utter waste of time to have to spend my weekends or days off in Manila. I’d much, much rather be hiking to the summit of Mt. Pulag or Mt. Apo, exploring the Sumaguing cave in Sagada or the Kapisaan-Alayan cave in Nueva Vizcaya, beach bumming in Calaguas or Caramoan, island hopping in Coron or El Nido,  exploring Siargao, wakeboarding in Camarines Sur or Lago de Oro, sailing on Taal Lake, white water rafting in Kalinga or Davao, learning to surf in La Union or Baler, learning to dive in the numerous dive spots in this archipelago, trying my hand at windsurfing on Lake Caliraya or in Boracay, skywalking in Cebu, or skydiving in Clark.

Do you see how frustrating it is when one is forced to spend her free time here in Manila, where one has nothing to do but shop, people-watch, hang out at Starbucks, or drink herself to oblivion?! I used to like going to the “happening” places in Makati and Taguig. But now I view clubbing as nothing but a social climber’s sport. It doesn’t do anything for the spirit. It doesn’t give one energy, at least not of the surreal kind. But being aboard a wakeboard, learning to maneuver the turns, completing even one trip around the cable park…ahhh, THAT is living! It’s exhilarating, breathtaking, and definitely food for the soul.

I still have my fingers crossed. The weather seems to be improving. If tomorrow turns out to be a brighter day, and I mean literally brighter, my BFF Gi and I will probably head to Ocean Adventure in Subic. There, for 3,750PHP, they’ll let us swim with dolphins and 8-foot whales for 30 minutes. I guess we’ll have to settle for those whales and say “Alas, we’ll see you in 2010!” to the whalesharks in Donsol. Chances of seeing the latter after the second week of June become slim to none. They come out in groups from March until mid-June, and then hide until the next dry season.

And what if it continues to rain tomorrow? Don’t you worry, dear readers, I’ll think of something. After all, a strong-willed wildchild like me cannot and will not let this effing weather get me down. No, sirree.