LENTEN-SUMMER ESCAPADE

Excruciating hot summer started to bite its painful heat that exhaustingly drained you.
The usual customary of Filipinos if Lenten Summer Holiday would arrive..everyone promptly rushed to go home to their respective provinces and hit the beaches, swimming pool, rivers or anything that would chill out and refresh you from the painful heat.
I used to go home to Olongapo and spend a much-needed vacation with my akin being at home with your loved ones is the most joyous vacation that couldn't hold out with.
Of course, when we say Subic-Olongapo, beaches and nightlife are really hard to resist since it's the most tempting recreational place to offer. This is the only Lenten season that I failed to go home...my heart is aching as I savoring the possible enjoyment that I would have had...
Soaking in the Beach is the first thing that flashback in my mind since I am a beach bummer...and in the evening chilling out at the most attractive and fine band bars are among that tickle my feet and ears that continually banging every now and then.
SBMA or Suic Bay is among the places in Olongapo that I love to stroll upon especially 5 in the evening till the wee hours...I can't help to be a nocturnal species of man if I am at home..this is the only moment that I could relax and grab the zen and peaceful serene of contemplation.
Anyway, we have the longest summer holiday in the world so it's not only the Lenten season but throughout the month of April till May.
But I can't wait to lavish my salivate of tasting the cold halo-halo in town.

CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH PILAR PILAPIL

I am awfully sorry for pulling the disappearing act for 7 days.It was during my leisure hours when I got the chance and began to engrave this short diary.
Reasonably, I had been occupied in some other work.I would have updated this blog if it's not being taken away from busyness.
Last August, I posted my trip experienced at Baguio.I relatively wrote at the coming part near the end of my writings "my up-close meetings" with a veteran Actress-Beauty Queen, whom I refused to mention as a respect to her, though,she had shown an inclement gesture because of the persistence I made of asking her for a picture taking, politely.
A week ago, while I was in SM-Dasma waiting for my friend, I had thought of dropping by at National Bookstore to avoid boredom.Instantaneously, while turning around towards the center of the bookstore, I was unpurposely passed through the Biographical section and saw this book " The Woman Without A Face".The picture was vividly clear to me that it was the young Pilar on front cover.
Immediately the recollections happened leading me to remember in what manner she swelled up by raising her voice at me.That paused me for awhile and took my time to reading half way of the book as it was the only one unwrapped with a plastic.
The book was written by herself-Pilar Pilapil was once a beauty queen representative to the Miss Universe before she joined the tumultuous world of showbiz.
Upon reading her personal testimony, my norms of passing judgment has changed and that's when I got to know her as an Actress and a person.She shamelessly revealed everything included the dark side of her life, how she went through the ups and down of life till she succeeded and found all the answers of her questionings through Christ.
I had learned of my reading on her book, that even celebrities and famous people aren't exempted of the problems coming in.What inspired me most was her strong personality as Pilar Pilapil as she is, amidst of the lewd act being done by a man-blood related to her.
She could have committed suicide in a way that her integrity was ruined, yet, she made it on top as a beauty queen and one of the most sought actresses in the country during her time.
She had failed in love several times to a different men with the hope she could find the right man for her. Her decisions of surrendering it all to God brings peace and happiness that settled her life to a woman with the face.
Well, I found myself entertained and amused of my reading.The moment you'll read her book the Pilar Pilapil whom we know as villain, antagonist both TV and movie is a different Pilar in person.
Many asked previously, why did I bother myself to have a picture taking with this not so old yet, mataray Actress?
Well, she's a veteran actress and considerably one of the pillars of the Philippine Movie.She's intelligent and one of a few local celebrities who can express herself in plain, yet, refine English.Lastly, she's a good actress  when we say a veteran, she made history.

My Trip to Baguio

I still clearly remember my first trip to Baguio last December 2006. That was my first time to spend the yuletide season away from my akin.
The trip I had last 2006 at Baguio wasn't mainly emphasizing on tour around the Pine city but a Youth Spiritual Conference. Practically, we stayed most likely in teacher's Camp throughout the 2 weeks.
Nonetheless, we tried to sneak out in the midst of the Conference just to find out how beautiful Baguio was.
My propensity or inclination to travel ignited once more when my cousin that just works in Baguio invited us to spend most of the weekend there.
We chose to leave at 11 pm at Pasay-Victory Liner Bus Station so that we can arrive in Baguio early morning of 5. Time expected to arrive by 5 wasn't met because the road traverses to Marcos highway densely filled or covered with thick fog which the driver was hard to see through the way up to Baguio.
The foothills nor the mountains can't speak the coldness of the morning, due to the garment of fogs worn over the Pine city. I haven't seen such a fog bank or mass of thick fog during the rainy season as thick as that in Baguio.
At the immediate moment of our arrival in Baguio, we decided to look for a place to stay in for a while since we lost contact with our cousin. We found one that wasn't a so expensive hotel, so to speak.
We stole some quiet moments to take some snapshots early morning as the freezing wind shooing the shrouding fog to clear the city.
I continue to demand steadily prioritizing Camp John Hay as our primary destination since it's the only place in Baguio I haven't visited, yet, on the contrary, it was the second to the last place we had stopped.
We had our sumptuous lunch in "little John Hay resto" before we went to Hotel Manor, the extravagant hotel in Camp John Hay.
The hotel that we had checked in was adjacent to Burnham Park and 500 meters away from SM. Baguio is the third shopping spree in main Luzon because of its affordable and known to be the ukay-ukay capital of the Philippines or wag-wagan by Ilocanos.
Looking for some good quality of ukay-ukay yet affordable? hit Baguio as a place for digging imported clothes while chilling out.
Honestly, Baguio is already a crowded, moderately polluted city, however, you won't feel any stress because of the relaxing and soothing weather. I think one way to stress out all the casualty and causative is to try the healing wonders of "weather therapy".Especially those worry-warts, consider Baguio as a healing place to freeze the anxiety and break the frozen ice of misfortunes in life.
As we were climbing aboard, a veteran Philippine Actress who usually plays the villain, a pure mestiza former Miss Philippines was also a fellow passenger. She seated in front of our seats. It's because we recognized her, we politely asked for a picture which I personally approached here in a certain.
Conceitedly she responded with pride to give her enough time for a catnap with raising her voice sufficient for the other passengers to look back astonishingly.
I couldn't believe that she was that nagger off-cam.
After a while she apologized for being so mean, knowing that we're professionals. If she's weren't a veteran actor we wouldn't waste time on picture taking.

A great souvenir from Baguio is to have a picture taking with the Igorot...


Different SM among the SM malls.....no need to use of air conditioner at all.


Three of a kind...which above us is SM-Baguio.


Hanging out at Burnham with my cousin....


The El Kabayo of Baguio....trimmed with different colors...refused to smile 'coz of the obnoxious odor of the dung thing.


Leaning the Mansion gate's.......


The White House of the Philippines....the Mansion.


Statue of Burnham, the man behind what Baguio it is to be now....a park was named after him Burnham Park.


Baguio Cathedral...one of Baguio's landmarks.


Freezing time at Baguio....feels like in Germany.


A giant gate that dwarfs the passersby....


Enticing colors invited the visitors to come down and see the breathtaking Mines View.


the landscape that captures our camera...honestly it was pretty.


Fogs wrapped the crowded slums of Baguio.....thanks to the weather it covers the eyesore sight.


At Hotel Manor...fog almost embraces the whole building....


PMPA...is among the destinations that we love to visit.... well-manicured garden made the environment more attractive.


The comfortable abode that we stayed in Baguio....