Dear Santa,

                This came in really early this year. The imp handed me this sticker-sealed off note saying, "I know you are Santa so..."

Graveyard Shift

With everyone's consent, we scheduled a two-day graveyard shift to experience how is it like to work when everyone else is in bed. The first night was a test of mettle. My liniment was put to good use to alleviate nausea, stomach and head ache. I'm sure it wasn't the cold from the air-conditioner so the culprit must be the anticipation of the online interview .

The interview went on until an hour after "lunch". We spent the rest of the time answering situational questions using the classic STAR method. It revealed a lot about everybody's personal lives, their struggles along the way and their collection of small victories. By that time, a handful of them were already down, oblivious to our emotional exchange.

Today, we had a mock panel interview with bff Came focusing on their Communication skills, delivery, body language and knowledge. More than a handful got an A+ from her and my heart is beaming with pride at how far they have come.

To God be the glory!

A Most Pleasant Surprise

Are we there yet? Yeah, I've changed lines since Mt. Mandalagan.

At 3:00 A.M., somebody's persistent phone alarm roused me from my shallow sleep. Just outside Lloyd's room, I could hear 'Nay Lourdes bidding 'Tay Bebot to get the chicken for slaughter while getting the fire started to boil water. It has been ages since I did it myself I forgot my manners I just watched them prepare lunch.

It was already light when we left but 'twas  early enough not to get cooked in the morning sun as we passed the cane fields that separate the Esparagozas' home with that of the Aldeas'. My lack of exercise had me struggling already by the 15th minute. I had yet to know I still have 5 hours of walking ahead of me to get to our destination.

I had no idea where we were going actually. They just told me that Delfin will get us "there". Delfin is Tay Ely's son. As the latter has already retired from guarding the forest as a member of Mt. Kanlaon Green Brigade, his son took his place. We had another round of coffee.

Soon, the inevitable came: the walk that took all morning. I never thought I wouldn't make it sans breakfast. I'd walk really fast for 10 seconds and rest for 2 minutes. It was all uphill from our last pit stop. We passed by gorges which were formed by the locals and made permanent by the water that ran through them when it rains. Some were inches deep in loose earth, some were slippery with the dried leaves that cover it. The walking stick that Ivan made me helped.

On our first hour, we were in the middle of a vast coffee plantation. They were a mix of robusta and arabica, which varieties can be differentiated by the shape of their leaves. They are flowering at this time and their fragrance filled the air.

On the third hour, I was already tired and hungry and the inevitable happened. I got cramps, big ones, on both legs. The pain was blinding I saw stars. I had to catch my breath for a few minutes while Tay Bebot and Tay Moroy took one each of my legs.

When I finally caught up with the young ones, the olds shared my story so Ivan took my pack for the rest of the way.

On the fifth and sixth hour, the terrain changed. Tall laua-an trees loomed over us. As part of the government's effort to deter "kaingeros" from cutting down more trees for coal, the "bantay lasang" planted spiny palm variety of palm around them.

The boys were too impatient to wait, they went on ahead racing to the ranger station guided by a seemingly built-in GPS.

A few wrong turns later (as there was no distinct trail to follow anymore), we heard a jolly banter a few paces ahead. Finally, we have reached the ranger station. That meant, I made it almost to Mt. Kanlaon crater. I was elated alright, but the adrenaline wasn't just enough to get me to the top. I just enjoyed the shared lunched, the freshly brewed home-grown coffee and a quick shut-eye before heading downhill.

(BMS -Biodiversity Monitoring System)

Sitio Pacita

Of the five who received the invite, three passed. That left only Jale and myself, as usual, to make the trip.

***

La Carlota - It was already noon and my mind strayed to my unprepared climb pack. I already took out some shirts and shorts from my closet but I haven't decided yet which ones to bring. Before going home for the day, I stopped at the grocery for a liter of mineralized water and 3 packs of chocolate-coated peanuts and that was it.

Jale was already at the terminal when I arrived. We were an hour later than the time I set with Lloyd so I was a bit worried our hosts will not be able to meet us at our stop.

***

La Castellana - While waiting for the tricycle to fill, we engaged our driver, Ali, in some small talk. He was an easy one. After hearing on the purpose of our visit, no sooner did he regale us with his own adventures at Kanlaon's summit when he was in high school. The highlight of his story was that he personally know the Esparagozas. That set my heart to rest especially that Lloyd is not part of our welcome party.

The short trip was uneventful except for one. When we were about to cross a metal bridge, the trike chains came off so we had to alight for a spell so Ali could put it back on.

Our destination was where the concrete road stopped. In front of the store waited our hostess who was hard to miss. She was the splitting image of Lloyd. I introduced myself and I think she was expecting somebody younger perhaps. She delegated us to Jessie to take us to their house as she still had to stay for their dance practice.

The walk to the house was a kind of a warm-up, with us not having any preparation at all for the climb. The dirt road is so dry, each step sends up dust in the air. It is flanked on both sides with month-old sugarcane which gave us a clear view of our goal. What a beautiful sight to behold.

***

Atop a hill stood a hut, our home for the night. It was fenced off to keep the chicken in. Inside, the man of the house welcomed us with  a pitcher of cold water. Phone signal was excellent, electricity was available, water flows freely off the black pipes and the fresh mountain air cleared my lungs. I haven't coughed since I got there.

Dinner was a bit late. We actually had it started after foraging their mini store of sardines and eggs. Jale and I ate first, then the kids and the parents ate last. When the table was cleared, the talking began over steaming mugs of coffee. It was surreal how they treated us like family who had gone overseas and just visiting for a spell.

The told us how their family witnessed the armed struggle in the 80's that claimed thousands of lives.  Of the many government programs that the government implemented,  they have benefited the most  from the agrarian reform.  It has dramatically changed their lives from being laborers to landowners which enabled them to send their children to school. They have seven (7): the eldest is a seaman, the second (Mac2) just took his criminology exam, the third (Ivan, a.k.a. Mane) works at Ayala as a welder who plans to teach in senior high in the future, the fourth (the only girl) works at Astoria in Boracay, Lloyd is the fifth, Jessis is sixth and [] is the youngest (the last two are 7 and 5-years old, respectively). Jale quizzed them about the tales of the maranhig and other mythical creatures, a topic which they took on in earnest.

I was a long night and the coffee's strength and my excitement for the next day kept me awake until it was already time to wake up.

El Tzino Resort, Cauayan

As planned we checked in at El Tzino on our second day, this time at Brgy. Elijan. The resort has the same coastline as its more famous neighbor, Punta Bulata. To get there, we passed through almost three kilometers of  interesting landscape. The road snaked through hills and valleys with exciting climbs and dips that rendered the road invisible from the passenger's vantage point. As expected, there is minimal radio signal in the area making it a perfect place to disappear for a spell.

I've been to more beautiful beaches but the resort served its purpose for Summer and Rain to have their fill of swimming. We rented the suite for the night. It was spacious but the air-conditioner was not built for it that the room was a bit warm for comfort all night. It was disappointing also  that come check-out time, we were charged extra for the kids' accommodation.

I enjoyed breakfast though. We had fish stew which tasted divine. The couple who manages the resort brought a box of fresh catch the night before.

During my brief alone time, I sat on one of the rubber tire seats and attempted at progressing beyond Chapter One of the Rule of Four.

Rhys & Eira Beach House, Cauayan

This is the second long drive that the family did together in thirteen months.

It is a vast improvement from last years like no:
1. incessant blowing of horns
2. daredevil overtaking or swerving
3. travel discomfort (sis next to bro-in-law, mom and kami in the middle seat and the kids and myself in the backseat)

I have more responsibilities beside booking for the accommodation like:
1. sit with the kids while in transit
2. feed the kids
3. keep the kids entertained off shore
4. mind the kids at the beach

Except for our last night's dinner (the cook left for Sipalay  before we realized it was dinnertime so we had reheated pork adobo from the resort's kitchen) food was excellent, consists mainly of fresh catch from the nearby mercado.

We spent out first night at the Rhys and Eira Beach House in Brgy. Bulata. The house is conveniently located just a few meters from the highway. We missed our turn because their signage was too small and obcsured by the politicians' tarpaulins. The fenced property sits just across two islands owned by the Locsins and the Ledesmas, one of which boasts of a Marine Reserve which I would like to explore someday.

The beach is not part of the property which explains why it is poorly maintained. During low tide, it is visibly littered with plastics, old clothes, cigarette butts and even broken glass. The grassy and slimy seabed is home to a host of marine animals that provide sustenance to locals. Still, that did not deter us from taking a dip under the midday sun. The morning after, it provided us with a vast playground to enjoy kite flying.

From the house, a long stretch of  white sandbar lies tempting the bum in me but my aunty responsibilities come first, without question.

We had the property for ourselves as it was back to work for the rest of the world. There were two rooms upstairs that can accommodate a rowdy bunch of 10 and a wide verandah to play cards or board games with or simply catch up.

Bong2 (brother of the property owner) entertained  us with his karaoke singing and even humored nanay's offbeat attempts (as in more than one song) at it. Except for the poor water pressure in the tap, our stay with Rhys and Eira was great.

***

On our way to the resort we stopped to stretch and enjoy a cuppa at Wouda Cafe. It is a modest structure perched on a cliff overlooking the breathtaking view of Cauayan coast.

***

Imbibing a steaming cup of brewed coffee is a non-negotiable day starter. When the sun was too hot to enjoy a dip, we explored the area asking the locals where we can find the magic potion. They were a friendly lot and after four inquiries, we found the coffee shop. It was a small sari-sari store with one table inside and another one outside. We chose to enjoy our cup in a shed facing the highway where the action was.

Resorts Negrense

               Swimming is one activity which people of all ages can enjoy doing together. In pursuit of going somewhere new without exhausting everyone, we celebrated sis' birthday at Resorts Negrense in Punta Taytay.

          The Resort is a kids' paradise. It has a pool and a playground (with seesaw, merry-go-round, animal rides, slides, swings, a wall for climbing). 

              For the adults, they have a lagoon for kayaking, pool slides, pool table which we haven't had the chance of using except for picture-taking and a bonsai garden to die for.

       

   We checked in after lunch and lost no time in getting wet (even before we got our wrist bands to use the pool). Testing period lasted an hour when the 'titas of  La Carlota' had no other choice but to play in the kiddie pool. Summer and Rain's gurgling laughter filled the air and the huge grins that were plastered their faces were priceless.

         When Rain retired for his afternoon milk, Summer took courage venturing into the adult pool in her "floatee". We played pirate-made-up-games going around the pool until the light waned, stopping only to refuel with mommy's spaghetti and buko salad.

          It was a day to remember despite lola's finding only 50% enjoyment in the whole event.

       

LasalteChamps Razil and Ralf

           Siblings Razil, 31 and Ralf, 25, know how it is to be wanting in material things yet remain optimistic. Born 4^th  and 5^th, respectively, in a brood of seven to a carpenter father and a vendor mother in La Castellana. Both had to quit college to help their parents and to make ends meet.

            Razil and Ralf  have always wanted to work in a call center. The idea of spending an eight-hour day in a “laid back” environment where English is the language of communication felt both stimulating and exciting. To Ralf, it was rising to the challenge of getting hired in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company after so many rejections while Razil was inspired by an educational trip to a BPO when she was still an Information Technology student at Bago City College.

            They had very little information on how a call center works or what it takes to be an agent then. It was through their brother’s mother-in-law who works in Brgy. Haguimit that they learned about TESDA and its free training for aspitring call center agents.

            They both wistfully recalled having very little sleep during the training period. After spending the night at the training center, they still helped their mother sell “singkamas” and indian mango to provide food for the table and save some for their transportation to and from the training center. Dealing with hardships on a daily basis only strengthened their resolve to make the most of the 100 hours Finishing Course for Call Center Agents and redesign their future.

            Short as the training may seem but the language skills they imbibed lent them the fire and confidence to go through the rigors of getting hired in a call center.

            Working at PanAsiatic has dramatically changed lives. They were modest about their contribution to the family but their older brother, Ryan, proudly shared how they provided for the needs of their parents as the first two gainfully wage earners in the family.  He also added that their lives became living testimonies that being poor is not an obstacle to becoming financially viable and reaching your dreams. Ralf and Razil have inspired many of their young neighbors to work in the BPO industry too with the same end in mind.

            Ralf bought a DSLR camera with his savings. He often volunteered to cover the company events until his works got noticed. Bookings for weddings, birthdays and other occasions started to pour in and he now has a sizable portfolio of customers and offers.

            Education is still foremost in his mind that he is now in his 2^nd year at La Consolacion College under the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) taking up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Marketing Management. He plans to put up his own studio someday. He is presently working at iQor after five rewarding years at Panasiatic.

            Razil, on the other hand, took an indefinite hiatus and invested her earnings into backyard hog raising. She is biding her time immersing in experiential learning exploring places around the region, honing her photography skills and meeting people. She does clearly know what she wants and that includes going back to extending customer service over the phone in the foreseeable future.

In Search for a Success Story

The bus just left when I got out of the door. It was after thirty more minutes when another one passed by. I sat in the middle of a three-seater and was glad that the man across the aisle alit somewhere in Haguimit. The trip was short or so it seemed.

The municipal hall was dominated by bright red and yellow colors. One of the staff was organizing a throng of men and women in the manner which suggested they are going to welcome visitors.

While wandering up and down the balcony, a local approached me. It was Felipa, an alumnus of the school. She gave me an insider's info. Bong Revilla was due to arrive that afternoon. With no certainty of getting a close encounter with the mayor, I left my letter for later and went to meet my subject for the long overdue interview.

Protected by the jacket Razil loaned me, off we went to that coffee "tambayan" up the boondocks, me with Ralf and Razil on their Kuya Ryan's bike. That must be my longest and uphill motorbike ride. It was exciting. The view took my breath away more than my fear of us flying off the cliff.


We had coffee, batchoy and arroz caldo. Ryan filled in the stories his little brother and sister chose not to mention for modesty's sake. He also got himself a tour-guiding job to do when the Palawan cherry blossom and rafflesia bloom comes.

Coffee Culture

Sometimes businessmen tell tall tales just to make a sale.

On one corner of the Good Year building where Alijis-bound PUJs stop to collect passengers, we asked amiably if walking to where the next 711 is, is doable. The barker said that taking a jeep would be a sound option for US (me and Carmela). He went on to add that there was once this girl, our size, who walked to get to this place and was found a little later on the pavement, unconscious from the heat of the sun. We intended to have a good time so we just agreed with him.

It was funny really as no sooner after the jeep left the stop that we found ourselves at 711 already. When we alit, we could still see the stoplight where we took the ride. Hahaha! Apparently, we've been had.

The Coffee Culture is located just before 711. It had me at first whiff!

I ordered cappuccino and allowed Carmela to surprise me with the bites options. When our orders came, it was an assortment of half of everything that the store had on display at the counter: revel bar, adobo and chorizo empanaditas, apple cinnamon (was it cake or pie???) and kalamansi-bundt cake. Finishing them off bide us time while waiting for our customer to pick up her order. I am not a fan of cinnamon so I sampled all but the pie and I wanted more. Maybe next time.



People came and went, especially the foreigners. However, the locals (like us)  stayed for business meeting /paperwork/ picture-taking...lol.

Bagtason: the eve of the Festivities

In 55 years, this is the first time that nanay took interest in attending her elementary school alumni homecoming. I was excited to go too as it is also my first time to see Bagtason in 30 years. The last time I had a glimpse of the place was when we saw lolo Pidong off to his final resting place.

Day 1:
Our timetable was full, we opted to alight at Ilaures where we can get transport to Bagtason directly. It was 4-ish  when the blue bus (KJAD Tours) dropped us at the stop and traffic was slow so we paid for a full trip that cost Php 120. It was steep according to my cousin but no matter as I was able to ask the driver to stop so I can take in the breathtaking sight and capture it with my phone.

 A two-lane paved road traverses along the riverbank. It was as long as the eyes can reach. The river is flanked by majestic mountain ranges that loomed like sleeping giants against the waning daylight. I kept my excitement at bay as I wasn't still sure how to make hiking even possible with all the festivities.

The house was manned by my rather drunk cousin when we arrived as the olds had a windfall and went out to buy some tobacco. Mother hurried off to her friend's house to answer the call of nature while I went in the 'hinabol' shop. Unfortunately, there was very little items to choose from as everyone got busy with the preparations for the fiesta, the women weren't able to remit their finished projects. Well, at least now I have an idea on how much to prepare if I wanted to buy some.

Patadyong with flowers - Php 2,000.00
Patadyong                      -            750.00
Cloth, 1 meter long        -            200.00
Shawl                             -            350.00
Hankies                          -              70.00
Coin Purse                     -               20.00

***
I  went out of the shop when I spied my aunts pass by on their way back home. There was a lot of hugging and kissing. I have lost count the number of hand-kissing I got from nieces, nephews and grandchildren who elected to visit that day, most of whom came from nanay Purin's side of the family. Boy, I have never felt that old in my lifetime.

Dinner was a loud affair. Single-handedly, Bongbong cooked KBL, chicken adobo, and another dish in really big batches. Manong Seller dominated the talk which was rally hilarious until such time when he has repeated his stories five times already.

aunts and cousins

Slowly I made my way inside our appointed room, which only window opens towards the plaza. The program was about to begin and the music from the humongous sound system reverberated making sleep impossible. I was left with no choice but to witness the rather novel affair.

The local elementary school took charge of the program which purpose is to raise funds for the school needs. Each table was sold for Php 1,700 and it came with a broiled chicken and a case of beverage. There were five muses from different groups representing  DSWD, Sanggunian and the other three I forgot. Whoever raised the most money wins the crown. The amounts I heard were staggering and it amazed me at how generous these people are.

Finally, exhaustion took over and I drifted off to a dreamless sleep. I woke up at dawn to the sound system still providing music to merry-makers who bested the twelve dancing princesses where dancing is concerned.