The Year That Was – Year 2016

This article is literally a year-ender post, written barely 2 hours before Year 2016 bade goodbye.  So here goes our review of the year that was 2016.

Our new year was surprised by a sad news from friends, co-mountaineers/rescuers alike, regarding the damage typhoon Nona has caused in the Infanta area.  Without hesitation, we responded even it meant walking nearly 15 kilometers under the rain and cold wind.  We passed several landslides, damaged houses and newly formed waterfalls along the road.  The team helped set-up rope access to bring the relief goods to the affected areas in other side of the damaged bridge.

We celebrated the month of love with an amazing race trip to the Eastern Visayas with a Biliran-Southern Leyte-Leyte-Eastern Samar route.  Yes, it was an arduous journey but the doting ambience of Caluwayan resort on the heart’s day was a startling compliment.

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BICOL ROADTRIP WITH KIDS [Camarines Norte – Camarines Sur – Albay – Camarines Sur]

A trip unplanned but thanks to the APEC holiday for the long weekend plus it coincided with my youngest birthday; indeed, a birthday celebration away from home.

We are true blooded bicolanas; me a full born Masbateña and hubby’s father was hailed from Sorsogon.  Whenever we’re in Bicol’s soil, it has a natural homey tone except that we missed both our provinces for this round. This however was the kids first Bicol trip which made the voyage a family tree quiz bee.

During college, the Bicol highway is a customary sight and the verge of trees shadowing the road was inscribed by my countless lonely plies then but today, it was the kids turn for the dumbfounded gaze.

The actual account of our Bicolandia road trip as follows:

Day 1

Depart Manila for Bicol

Around Daet, Camarines Norte

-       Jose Rizal Oldest Monument

-       Kapitolyo ng Camarines Norte

-       Parroquia de San Juan Bautista

-       Bagasbas Beach

Traveled to Naga City

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The Year That Was – Year 2015

We jolted Year 2015 with a rainy Intramuros roam that ended in a savage Zark’s burger meal. Yet, it failed to please the New Year travel itch…

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Baler Day Tour – Part 2, What to do in Baler?

It was 10am when we reached Brgy. Ditumabo, the house of the Mother Falls more known as Ditumabo falls.  We forgot that most trippers were held indoor as well yesterday by the bad weather, so it was then that everyone was at the waterfalls.  We took a trike to the main jump-off which was filled earlier on.  We trekked for nearly an hour by the river crossing bamboo bridges, rivers and streams.  It was fun and the kiddos were loving it.

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SNAPSHOTS | DIGUISIT FALLS - Baler, Aurora

Diguisit Falls is a series of cascades that joins Diguisit River.  Also referred to as Cemento Falls by the locals, the waterfalls is located along the highway between the Cemento and Diguisit Beach.

A short hike up and you’re at the main flow.   The rocks splitting the stream adds charm uniquely Diguisit.

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Baler Day Tour – Part 1, What to Do in Baler?

After our Batanes Trip early July, the third quarter of the year was a freeze to our adventure spree.  We were held homebound for quite some time with several trips deferred or shelved off.  It was already mid-October when a Baler trip nicked the spell.  With six kiddos onboard, we hailed it a HALLEER BALLEER trip; a jolly-relaxed jaunt with no concrete itinerary, no must-visit list; sort of wherever our host Baler native led us to.

Amidst the pebbly highway, the journey went smoothly but just when we were about to enter our lodge grounds, the steering wheel broke unexpectedly.  Lucky for us, we arrived safely.  I whisked at once the idea of an untoward incident or the least, a grope in the dark highway should it happen while in transit.  Whew!

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THE YEAR THAT WAS… OUR YEAR 2014 TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS…

We opened the year with an amazing race adventure that even typhoon Agaton failed to hinder…

In my page’s post, I borrowed the quote from the great discoverer of all time:

"The sea is dangerous and its storms terrible, but these obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore... - Ferdinand Magellan

HINATUAN – BISLIG – SAMAL ISLAND TRIP

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Part 3 - Gwacheon National Science Museum, Outdoor Exhibits

The Gwacheon National Science Museum also has outdoor exhibitions.  At the center is the Planetarium in a beautiful white dome, just a few steps from the main museum’s back door. 

the Planetarium

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Part 2 - Gwacheon National Science Museum, Indoor Exhibits (The Aerospace and the Natural History Hall)

The second level of the Advance Science and Technology Hall is about the aerospace.  It exhibits about the nano world, the astronaut training and living in space, the aircraft pilot training and flight control.

At the entrance, we were hailed by this chamber that says International Space Station.

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Part 1 - Gwacheon National Science Museum, Indoor Exhibits (Advanced Science Hall_1st Floor)

We woke up with a flurry and the sight of it hasted my kiddos.  After breakfast, they were downstairs enjoying the snowfall.  I yearned in silence for a great day ahead.

The kiddos saw last night a poster at the train station about Seoul Grand Park, so we all agreed to spend our last tour there.  The park has a zoo, an art museum and an amusement park.  The zoo was said to be the world’s 10^th largest with over 3,000 animals and a botanical garden having more than 36,000 plants.  Since last night, they imagined an up close encounter with dolphins, giraffes, gorillas, hippos, camels, bears and more…

At the Grand Park’s station exit, a big notice announcing its closure greeted us.  The excited faces turned gray with query eyes, what we’ll gonna do now?  For safety and health reasons, the park was closed to prevent spread of animal-flu related disease to humans.  Thanks to our host for responding quickly, don’t worry, there’s a science museum across the park.

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The National Folk Museum

Towards the rear of Gyeongbokgung Palace, we saw a gate leading to another building.  We followed the trample unaware of what’s in store ahead until we entered an entrance with marker “free admission” to museum.

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The Gyeongbokgung Palace

Next on our palace tour is the Gyeongbokgung Palace and the earlier National Palace Museum is situated within the Gyeongbokgung in Sejong-ro. Its writings say:

It was in 1395, three years after the Joseon Dynasty was founded by Yi Seong-gye, when the construction of the main royal palace was completed.  The palace was named Gyeongbokgung, “the Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven”.  With Mount Bugaksan to its rear and Mount Namsan in the foreground…

Gyeongbokgung Palace has six gates with Gwanghwamun as the main gate.  Since we came from the museum, we forewent the main gate and just entered the second inner gate called the Heungnyemun and into the third inner gate or Geunjeongmun Gate passing through Yeongjegyo Bridge.

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The National Palace Museum

On our 3^rd day, we sat off for our Seoul city tour.  The first on our IT is the National Palace Museum or the museum of the Joseon Dynasty. 

Like the other facilities in Seoul, the museum offers strollers/wheelchairs as needed and it has wide hallways with benches to accommodate guest’s rest or short stops. 

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Snow Slide at Suwon Worldcup Stadium

We planned to rise early to make most of the day but the weather and the time difference took a sluggish shot.  Their belief that the male are the kings and should therefore not do household chores or even assist to the kids needs was a major drawback.  Even if I so wanted to contest, I refrained, it's harder to be blamed later for a misfortune you never prayed.  So aside from being a maid to the three kids, I had a king to serve as well. Huh!

We had no idea of what’s in store for the day; we just followed the kings… To our surprise, we entered the parking area of Suwon Worldcup Stadium.  We thought for awhile that we will be watching a football game until we were directed to a snow park.

Wish granted… a feel of the snow.

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A Hike to Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

We arrived at Suwon, our residence for 4 nights, a little after 11am.  Hubby was able to grab a raspberry roll for our birthday girl.  After lunch and a simple celebration, we rested for awhile before we started the stroll.  It was 4pm when everyone was up and all set to brave the freezing temp.

We’re bound to Hwaseong Fortress and unknown to us, we’re going there by foot.  We trekked for nearly an hour where we passed by Gyeonggi Provincial Government and had a short hike by the woods.  I was surprised not to hear a whinge from the kids; either they were busy sniffling under the -7deg breeze or were amazed by the scenery.

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SOUTH KOREA TRIP WITH THE KIDS

This was supposedly a Manila–Kuala Lumpur–South Korea post Christmas holiday trip but due to the visa delay, even the KL trip was cancelled. 

Confident that I won’t have visa issues as I have visited South Korea before plus the guarantee and a corporate invite, we processed the visa only early December but with ample time before the trip.  Hubby’s visa was released 5 days after lodging but mine and the kiddos (kiddos were attached to the mother’s application) were on hold.  I was later informed of an issue in my tax identification number (TIN) that turned out to have been misread or mistyped.  Naturally, the BIR gave a negative reply.  I was required to submit other proofs related to my TIN for another BIR confirmation.  After submission, a new claim stub was given but it dates after the New Year.

The kiddo’s excited faces all flashed before me and I can’t bear seeing them frustrated.  Determined not to fail, I wrote the consul for a temporary release of our passport; even to the point of cancelling our visa application just so we can pursue the KL trip on holidays. Sad to say, their policy is a passport-lock-up once the visa process has commenced.

To make up, I had a winter Christmas theme at home… I also promised that we will pursue the trip as soon as the visas were released and lucky for us, AirAsia offered Seoul on promo with travel dates effective ASAP.  I booked at once and timed it to my 2nd child’s birthday.  Though shorter than the original plan, minus the KL trip, the kiddo’s hopes were once regained.  I prayed though for a snow shower on our visit.

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A DAY WITH THE ALANGAN MANGYAN TRIBE OF MINDORO [An Outreach Activity for the Mangyan Tribe]

Just before summer bade its final days, we joined LAKBAY KINABUKASAN at BACO, MINDORO on May 23, a Brigada Eskwela and Medical Mission Project. It was a concerted effort of groups from different walks of life who came all the way from Manila to reach out one of the Mangyan tribes in Mindoro.

We did several pre-school activities in the past and we want, as much as possible, for our children to be involved.  Among the projects I've blogged was the visit to the Mangyan Tribe of Talipanan and the Palansa Elementary School.

For this year’s project, a medical mission (free check-up, medicines and vitamins) and Brigada Eskwela project was given to the Alangan community of San Ignacio Banilad.  The Sitio is located at the foot of Mt. Halcon and an hour away from Calapan proper.

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Seven Lakes of San Pablo -- San Pablo, Laguna

After our Mt. Humarap and Matabungka Falls adventure, the final trip is the Seven Falls of San Pablo.

First stop was the Sampaloc Lake right at the center of San Pablo.  We had the view of Mt. Kalisungan and the neighboring mountains as a backdrop.  This lake is said to be the biggest among the 7 lakes with a circumference of 3.7 kilometers.   But on the downside, it is rated as the riskiest and most vulnerable among the lakes.  The presence of inhabitants surroundings the lake has greatly affected its condition.

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ISLA VERDE -- BATANGAS

Isla Verde, named after Capt. Juan Verde – the Spanish explorer, is located between Batangas and Mindoro and serves as the passage connecting Batangas Bay and Tayabas Bay.  It is accessible from Tabangao Docking Area or Leah’s beach of Tabangao, Batangas where you have a view of giant refineries from afar.

We joined Bulusok Mountaineer’s Mt. Dagit-Dagit climb for Year 2011 Climb Against Cancer with Verde Island Side Trip but with the kiddos on the trip, we were left enjoying the shoreline of the island. 

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MT. HUMARAP AND MATABUNGKA FALLS - Paete, Laguna

MT. HUMARAP AND MATABUNGKA FALLS

Brgy. Ilaya Norte, Paete
Height of waterfalls: 20-25 meters

The original plan was to ascend through the 1000-step concrete stairs to get to Tatlong Krus, the landmark of Mt. Humarap, but being lost was a blessing in disguise.  We overshoot the jump-off but with the trike drivers instructions, we found out that there is a road all the way to the top.   

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