Going Loco over Chocolates (A Late Summer Escape to Bohol)

The plan to visit the Island of Bohol has been long overdue; it must have been last year’s. Bohol was the place where I originally planned to make a wedding proposal to Iris. This year’s schedule must have been postponed due to the company’s unexpected change of our travel schedule. I already had booked a round-trip plane tickets two months ago but my boss insisted on the new travel sked to Misamis Occidental and Dipolog City. To materialize the said vacation, I had to book another flight from Dipolog City to Cebu City just to make sure I go on schedule. And overnight hotel accommodation in Dipolog City had cost me more than expected.

I arrived in Cebu City on the morning of June 12, it was the celebration for Philippine Independence and a holiday. I had accompanied my fiancée, Iris, to Perpetual Succor Hospital for the anti-ovarian cancer (HPV) vaccination in the afternoon. HPV vaccination, anyway, is way cheaper than year’s ago. At P2, 500.00 or P3, 500.00 per session is not bad at all.

The following morning (6AM), I and Iris boarded a ferry from Cebu’s Pier 2 bound for Tubigon, Bohol. It was a 2-hour, P180.00 per passenger, sea trip crossing the Bohol channel. The fast ferry servicing this route had no schedule then for they were having their fleet regular maintenance. It would only take 1 hour to cross Tubigon, Bohol on a fast craft. A 2-hour fast craft, Super Cat, from Cebu’s Pier 4 to Tagbilaran City is another option. P500.00 – P700.00 was Super Cat’s promo fare then.

We decided the Tubigon, Bohol route for convenience especially that our business then was to visit tourist spots in the island. From Tubigon, Bohol we then headed to Sagbayan Peak. It is where you are welcomed with a fresh treat of the world famous Chocolate Hills. You can also visit a butterfly farm here. Expect to pay P50.00 per person as entrance fee.

You can rent, at Tubigon port, a car, which can accommodate three passengers, at P2,500.00 or a van, for group of barkadas, at P3,500.00 for a whole day tour of Bohol and Panglao Island. 

After a 30-minute tour of the Sagbayan Peak, we then proceeded to Carmen, Bohol, home of the magnificent Chocolate Hills. Expect to pay P100.00 as entrance fee and climb a more than 200 steps stair. I was catching my breath when I reached the top but it was worth the effort and the sweats. Atop the view deck you’ll have a 360 degree view of the mound of hills. Perfect!

From the top of the world view of the infamous mounds of dirt, we traveled toward Bohol’s Man-made Forest, also in the Municipality of Carmen. It was impressive that the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Carmen had espoused the idea of putting one in the area. There were no century old trees but LGU’s effort and initiative  is impressive. The national highway snakes through this forest similar to the man-made forest nestled at Libertad, Masamis Oriental. I was impressed because animals, insects, etc were already thriving inside the forest. My fiancée even freaked out after seeing a large millipede crawling on the forest floor. No more fees to pay; just bring your camera and experience the sweet scent of nature, and cool embrace of breeze blowing your skin.

At 11:00AM, we were headed to Bohol’s Hanging Bridge located in a certain barangay in the town of Loboc. I forgot the name of the place but I am certain it is in Loboc. It was my first hanging bridge experience. I thought my fiancée would freak out but surprisingly she didn’t. It was easy than crossing a log/bamboo sticks placed on the banks of the creek, she said. You have to pay P10.00 per person for the experience.

Then lunch time at Loboc River via the Loboc River Cruise. A bandoria, a band of guitarists, playing classic instrumental music greets guests at the pier. You can choose from hosts of floating restaurant operators for the river cruise and buffet lunch. Floating restaurants usually serve variety of sea foods. Guests on the river cruise are entertained by the dancing and singing choirs at the bank of the river. A tall limestone with lush vegetations greets guests at the end of the river. Loboc River is not quite wide and long like the river, Tago River, I used to fish but I loved the green scenery along its river banks. A sumptuous buffet lunch and revitalizing river cruise is worth P300.00 per person.

After a mouth-watering lunch, we then proceeded to meet one of the smallest primates in the world, the Tarsiers. I was expecting a forest-like setting or seeing them in their natural habitat but it was not like that. The tarsiers I met was housed in a make-shift nipa hut on side of the national highway. They were playing and hiding on the branches of a large San Francisco flower. They really have big eyes. I learned that most of the tarsiers are located in their habitat at innermost town of Bohol. Our driver, Jun, had told us also that it came from Korea. Anyway, seeing them breathing and alive was worth enough. No fees are collected but donations to tarsier conservation project are most welcome.

Then we road toward the Spanish-era Baclayon Stone Church.  There is a museum adjacent to the church. You can also buy the replica of your birth angel from a nun. Saint Michael the Archangel is my birth angel while Saint Barochile is my fiancée’s.

Next stop was the marker for the Sandugo, the historical statement between the bond of Boholanos and the Spaniards. The site is where the blood compact between the king of Boholanos and the Spanish officials was consummated.

We then proceeded to Duis Church in Panglao Island where miraculous water is believed to be outpouring from the well beneath the altar of the church. This was featured in Korina Sanches’ Rated K show. People drove to this place to get containers of water to drink for cure of their illnesses.

From the church, we then went to Alona Tropical Beach Resort where we retired for the night. I thought I would have enjoyed a perfect sunset but rain started to pour at 5PM. True to its name, Alona Tropical large trees and gardens surrounds the resorts where I saw Joel Torre, an icon in Filipino movies wandering arou  nd the resort. Indeed, white sands are abundant on Alona beachfront; white sand that I grew accustomed with in my province of Surigao del Sur. The white sand shoreline of Alona is not quite long but the whole stretch is already full with affordable to high-end beach resorts. Alona Tropical Beach Resort is sandwiched by two high-end resorts. Fan room rate is at P1,400.00 per night while the lowest aircon room rate is at P2,000.00 per night. We got the P2,000 aircon room which don’t have a hot-and-cold shower, telephone and TV set. I was disappointed at first knowing the price. However, quite good for you visit there is to commune with nature.

The following morning, we walked the whole stretch of white sand, from end to end. It was then when we knew that an island tour including dolphin watching can be arranged with a local tour operators at P1,200.00 – P1,300.00 for whole day. It’s easy to get that said tour for many operators were actually peddling there services at the beachfront. We didn’t get one because we planned to by noon. If only it didn’t rain the night before, we would have booked one for a 5AM-9AM island tour and would have enjoyed a vibrant night life at Alona Beach.

Breakfast at Alona Tropical Beach Resort is P250.00 per person and meals can be arranged at P270.00 per person. They are all in American size serving, not bad for the price.

Taxi/car fare from Alona Beach to seaport or airport is P500.00 per trip. Vans are for P700.00 per trip.

A sneak peak of Sagbayan Peak, a top of the mountain glimpse of chocolate hills, a nature embrace of man-made forest, a first experience of the hanging bridge, a face-to-face encounter with tarsiers, a stomach-full river cruise, a taste of history in the blood compact site, a bottle of water at Dauis Church, a birth angel at old Baclayon Church, a dinner and a peaceful night sleep at Alona Beach, Panglao plus a warm company of Iris, my beloved fiancée and my life, every penny we spent is worth the experience we got.

The Senate President is scammed

The issue or complaint on the disappearing cellphone loads is gaining ground these days. This was given due attention yesterday. It was no less than the SENATE who called for an investigation of this issue. People from giant mobile providers and officials from the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) were invited to the inquiry.

Disappearing load credits of cellphone users became a hit issue because it’s present victim is the Senate President, Juan Ponce Enrile. Even the president, before leaving for travel abroad, had directed NTC to look into the matter.

Many ordinary Filipinos and consumers had been prey to this scam of mobile providers. This issue had been reported in the two giant television station years ago yet NTC had not taken an action. I believe that many complaints had already been lodged at the lobby of NTC but they remain unresponsive to these complaints. 

The ordinary consumers first filed their complaints at mobile providers consumer representatives but the answer is always “you have subscribed to infotext, ring tone services, etc..” This was even emphasized by the lawyer of this giant mobile service provider when she said that the load of the Senate President got drained because his mobile number  was subscribed to a ring tone service.  We have heard these reasons long before that is why complaints were elevated to NTC. But there was inaction on their part. Cellphone companies were only penalized with P200.00-P500.00 per violation. Is that reasonable? Mobile phone consumers even spend P300.00 of load every week.

NTC excuse that “it was what is provided by the law” is unacceptable. NTC has remissed on their mandate to protect the consuming public. If the law provides this slap on the butt fines then they should have asked and lobby congressmen and senators to pass or amend the law that will give stiff penalties to the misconducts of these telcos.

There is no need to wait for a time that a senator, a congressman or a higher ranking official of the land to get victim of this scam before NTC will take its move. A complaint filed by one or two ordinary consumers should warrant an investigation of the concerned agency, which in this case is NTC.

If all the government agencies,like NTC, will work and respond in this manner in issues that concern consumers then we are not going nowhere. Bigger businesses will prey on ordinary people in quest for profit. This should not be happening.

HB 1109 and the Street Thugs

The House of Representatives Resolution (HB 1109) convening the congress into a constituent assembly or Con-Ass is not reason enough for people to go to the streets and protest or show their disgusts. Many Filipinos don’t need to march under the scourging heat of the sun or get wet by heavy pouring rains on the street to express their beliefs and their stand against political issues. Many have already learned that they get nothing by being so reactive to anything being discuss in congress. Besides the street is no longer the “in” avenue to express oneself. People have utilized blogs, web journals or fora to discuss this issue.

Personally, I don’t think there is really a need to go to the street this time. It is not yet time. It is too early. We clearly understood that the resolution doesn’t proposes any amendments yet. It only proposes convening congress to Con-Ass, so what’s the big deal? Does it, in effect, extend already the terms of the elected officials in our government? Hell, NO!

I don’t find any logic why administration critics are already HB 1109 (High Blood Pressure = 1,109). Isn’t this pre-mature? They always assailed that the motive behind changing our Constitution is to prolong, further, extend the term of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA). Personally, I don’t want any Gloria as president or prime minister or whatever we coin that higher position in the government as much as I hate seeing the same faces of trapos, political dynasty occupying similar positions in our government. If there would be term extension, it would not only be extension of GMA but term extension of her cohorts too.

Unfortunately, there is no concrete proposal on term extensions. There has no amendment/s to our Constitution that is/are being proposed yet. Hence, there is no issue to argue nor a reason to protest in the street.

I strongly favor changing our Constitution and I want to propose a change from presidential to federal system of government. If extension will be included in the proposal, expect me to go first to the street and strongly protest against it. It’s time, perhaps, to awaken the activist side of me.

With Charter Chang issue hanging for a long time and everytime somebody brings it to the open, the critics, opposition, activist groups and church always opposes it. When would they see that there is really a need to change it for economic reason? They always argue on the premise of term extension. I think this is now the best time that the people and media will highlight what are the benefits it would bring to the Filipino people socially, politically and economically.

Let us strongly oppose and condemn term extensions of officials. But let us strongly support a Constitutional change for social and economic benefits.

Con-Ass is short term for Congressmen’s Asses

I am for Charter Change (CHACHA) long before for economic reason. I am from Mindanao and we saw and continue to see unfair distribution of public services. More social services and economic projects are concentrated in the Greater Manila. Mindanao is always the last priority. I even have the notion that war in small, actually very small, part of Mindnao has been used as their pretext of not giving enough social and economic support to this Promise Land. I even think sometimes that perhaps the people in Luzon must have been the architects of this little war so that projects will be poured only to them.

I believe that CHACHA could pave the way for a better and progressive Mindanao especially if we change our political system to federal. I strongly believe that the people of Mindanao have capabilities to manage our own resources and our people. Urban migration will be minimized. I know that many great, intelligent and talented Mindanawons are working and using their talents in improving businesses in Vizayas and Luzon, particularly in the greater Manila. If only the central government is fair enough to give Mindanao what is due to us, there would be no need for Mindanao professionals, think-tanks, inventors, consultants, etc working in Manila. They can used their gifts in bringing us to economic prosperity.

I am actually grateful that a resolution, HB 1109, at the House of Representatives was approved. It is a bill poised at convening  congress as a Constituent Assembly, both House and Senate voting as a whole, which will propose amendments to the 1986 Philippine Constitution. I am grateful because many attempts to push CHACHA in the past did not prosper. There is, however, a downside in HB 1109 for it doesn’t propose specific possible amendments to be made.

I could not blame few sectors or people going against CHACHA. It’s just like introducing new policies in the company that some would complain. It is all expected. But I am enraged by their argument that they are against it because it would extend Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stay in office. That is not a good argument. I know these groups would still assail the same no matter who is our president today.

With HB 1109, we can now focus on what possible amendments must be introduced; not on term extensions. We can also contest if the move of convening the House and Senate as Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) is unconstitutional.  

This is now the proper time that all Filipinos will be vigilant on the proposals of the Con-Ass. This is now the time that we participate and let our elected congressmen represent our true voice in amending the constitution. I am not afraid of them inserting term extensions because, after all, their proposals will be adopted and voted by the country. And I believe no Filipino in his right mind will vote for the extension of terms of politicians particularly of the president. I don’t also believe that congress will insert it as one of the amendments; else they really want trouble from the people.

The approval of HB 1109 had sent a clear message to the Filipino people that if there is a political will there is a way to improve our country. It also manifested that if the elected representatives of the people will bring their congressmen’s asses to the chamber, important bills can be approved in a shorter span of time; they did that to HB 1109. I don’t know why the CARP extension bill was so hard to be approved by them.

I believe that Congressmen have no reason or excuse now not to approved or attend to important bills. They should wear mask the next time they will see their district if they can’t act fast on relevant bills filed at congress. If barang or witchcraft is true, they should be barang.

When you can’t upgrade your drinks at Jollibee

I always have this dilemma every end of the year; the dilemma of disclosing my financial assets and obligations. It’s not because I am fortunate enough to earn more illegal fortunes in Mafia Wars and looted more gold in Pirates besides from my wholesome income in Farm Town.

I actually have the predicament of what to write in the assets, liabilities and financial connections sections in the Statement of Annual Asset and Liabilities (SAL), which all public servants are required to submit.

Last year, I submitted my SAL with a zero Networth. Networth, by the way, is computed my deducting all payables or outstanding liabilities from your declared assets – land, buildings, vehicles and other properties. “ZERO” in the sense that I don’t have tangible assets to declare and I don’t have outstanding obligations whether in formal or informal lending sector. I mean I don’t own land, vehicles or buildings and I also don’t have any debt to pay.

In short I don’t have assets, except my handsome face, and I don’t have financial obligations, except to pay my monthly house rent.

The people in the admin department, however, wanted me to change my report. I told them that I don’t own something of value to declare. But they insisted that I will instead put value on the cellular phones I owned and books I have in possession. And to make it more appealing in the eyes,  I also included the appliances I bought years ago, which in my calculator would only be worth low four (4) figure today due to depreciation expenses.

Financially, I would say, I was living on break-even state last year. I didn’t have any savings. I don’t have extra cash but I had lived within my income. This is so unlike of me in the past for I had a principle that I should at least have P20,000.00 in the bank as savings. I can spend any amount but I should never touch the P20k in my savings. That amount is intended to keep me somehow afloat in rough waters.

I have a different story somehow this year, 2009. I was no longer living on a break-even plane. I was able to save something, P30,000.00 in my bank account, and even have a receivable of P55,000.00. But the P55k receivable can still be considered unrealizable if I opt to give it to my parents.

Similar to last year’s, I still don’t have tangible properties. I plan to purchase a house and lot though, but those still remains to be a dream now especially that I don’t have the financial capability to acquire such.

I hope that I will have a better networth next year. Much (much) better than what I have now.