taken by surprise...but a welcome one

Almost ten years after lolo (lolo pidong) passed away, just about the same time since I last went to bugasong and saw my paternal cousins , we were able to see each other again. Admittedly, we're not as close to them as we are with mom's relatives but our recent common loss (we lost tito buddy in January changed that. We talked like we havent grown up on separate islands (them in panay and us in negros).Negros, they said, was out of their itinerary but since they were already in iloilo, they decided to take the 1.5 hour roro trip and the 1 hour land trip from bacolod to our humble abode. They were already close to home when we got the news.

We don't usually stock food in the fridge, the public market being only two blocks away. But since it was already late to buy, we made do with the canned kind, augmented with stewed beef and pork kebabs.

As for the accommodation, Jiggy was tasked to book one. But when we checked later, the place was already booked for the night. Apparently, he talked to only one of the tennants and not with the caretaker herselft whom I found to be staying in the room on the far end of the building. Well, at the state that he was in, it was too much to hope for. He had already imbibed a fair amount of alcohol from a birthday party he attended earlier in the day. Luckily, Comfort Inn was available. Despite the fact that it took a lot of patience to speak with the caretakers, at least they had a place to stay in as it's impossible to fit them all either at sis' house or at the olds' place.

Everyone was up by 5 the next day. Breakfast was al fresco at Auntie's and we had boiled crustaceans (crabs and shrimp), bananas and watermelon which is just we need for the trip to the boondocks.

Destination was Guintubdan. Sis deemed the place to please a different crowd. I thought the same but couldn't think of any other place to bring them given the time constraint. At our first stop, which is the Pavillon, Nanay and Auntie had to stay at the main building while we explored the place. The much advertised 300 steps down to the waterfall was not manageable with the three toddlers on our charge so we just stayed a bit at the viewing deck and took pictures of our visit.

I was getting desperate by the minute seeing that they didn't seem to enjoy so I suggested to hike up to the dipping pool. Well, since i couldn't very well take a dip and take the trip home dripping (like we - sis, bro and myself - used to during our weekend trips to ara-al with dad when we were yet kids), i just relished in soaking my feet in the cool spring waters.

Going back at the drop off where we parked the car, the sight that greeted me alleviated my worries. Everyone but bebing and bombit were busy choosing plants from the display on the side of the road. They bought so much that when we finally went back down, there was very little room at the backseat .The city is working on making Guintubdan commercialized. I wonder what other products they are going to sell. I hope not the natural bonsai which I overheard the locals collect and sell to tourist :(

For future reference, I asked the lady at the Pavillon a copy of their room rates, etc.

Visitors Center Entrance Fees

Adult Php 20.00

Children 10.00
Room Rates

Executive Rooms 1000.00

Annex Rooms 600.00

Small Rooms 400.00
Rentals

Picnic Table 100.00

Beddings 50.00

Small Tent 150.00

Big Tent 200.00