water Archives - Between Bites - Bites of Food, Travel and Lifestyle

Typhoon Glenda and Preparedness

July 15, 2014 by Janey

I find it a little strange how people can celebrate escalating winds and storm signals just to have work suspended or canceled. I appreciate holiday from work and would likely do cartwheels every time I get some bit of separation from it, but not at the cost of dangerous weather forecasts since a degree of risk, whether to us or other people, is always attached to it. PAGASA is always scrutinized being a work in progress (aren’t we all) but shouldn’t we all be silently praying that the storm changes direction and never hit any part of the country? Or do we just find satisfaction in proving someone wrong?

PAGASA reports that Typhoon Glenda as of 12pm today is at 40km northeast of Catarman, Northern Samar.

PAGASA advised the public to prepare and take pre-cautionary measures.

PAGASA urges public to constantly monitor weather updates.

PASAGA expects typhoon Glenda to intensify further with likelihood to raise storm signals to Signal #3.

Check Typhoon Preparedness Advisory from time to time.

Below are some practical preparedness tips we sometimes overlook, time to double check:

Keep all your mobile phones, laptops, and other communication means fully charged.

Disseminate information on weather and warning advisory to your family members, friends and colleagues. Check on them and ask them to go home already soonest possible time.

Store an adequate supply of food and clean water. Prepare food that need not be cooked.

Keep flashlights, candles and battery-powered radios within easy reach.

Always keep yourself updated with the latest weather report.

Should you need to evacuate, bring clothes, first aid kit, candles/flashlight, battery-powered radio, food, water, among others.

Typhoon Glenda is expected to hit Metro Manila this afternoon.

Classes in All Levels and Government Offices Suspended Tuesday August 7, 2012 and TIPS for EMERGENCY

August 7, 2012 by Janey

Classes in ALL levels (yes, including college) suspended. Government offices suspended work except those who provide basic services during calamities like this. Our company also suspended work due to severe weather conditions and massive flooding.

Weather and Flood Updates:

As per PAGASA observed data (Science Garden:222.6 mm in 9hrs; Port Area:154 mm in 9 hrs)

During the passage of Ondoy: PAGASA Science Garden station(QC) measured 341 mm of rainfall in just a span of 6 hrs

Red warning signal was issued at 4:30 for Metro Manila. It means more than 30mm of rain in the next 2hours. Expect heavy flooding in low lying areas, response should be evacuation.

As of 1:00 AM, Marikina River water level is 17 meters now on 3rd alert. Force evacuation is implemented. #mmda

As of 6:50am, highway in Tarlac passable.

Streets near Quezon City Hall not passable.

Flood in North Fairview, waist deep.

Raining heavily again in San Juan.

Marikina River, 3rd Alarm

La Mesa Dam water continues to rise.

Obando, Bulacan FLOODED for more than 1 week

As of 7:08 AM, August 7, 2012, Tuesday:

8 Gate in Manggahan Floodway, OPENED

Some baranggay in BF Homes FLOODED, NECK-DEEP

18 Baranggays in Cavite, FLOODED

CAMANAVA area, WAIST DEEP FLOOD

Maceda and Tayuman in Manila, not passable.

Mandalay and Tumana, Forced evacuation.

Balintawak Exit, not passable.

San Mateo River, 2nd Alarm. Forced evacuation.

Pampanga, Pangasinan, Laguna, Cavite, Tarlac, Batangas, NO classes in ALL LEVELS (including COLLEGE)

FLOOD around Manila City Hall, KNEE-DEEP

As of 7:20 AM

Twitter Updates: DOLE Sec. Rosalina Baldoz: Work in PRIVATE offices in NCR are suspended.

As of 7:40 AM

DOLE Sec. Baldoz CONFIRMS on LIVE interview on UKG that she has NO AUTHORITY to SUSPEND WORK in private offices and companies. Private companies still has the DISCRETION / DECISION on suspension.

UKG has announcement billboard for work suspension in private companies (but to be verified by employees on their own through a number given). For your own safety, just miss work today whether there’s suspension or not.

As of 10 AM

Malacanang has announced suspension of work in private companies in NCR.

—

TIPS: START PACKING AN EMERGENCY BAG

SOME SURVIVAL TIPS:

1. Stock on food at home, car, office and in your bag. No one knows how long this climate will last or when a state of emergency happens. It’s always better to be armed with necessary stocks at home like:

Food

Bread -gives the carbo load you need in replacement of rice. Rice still has to be cooked.

Biscuits/cookies –alternative to bread, sugar helps relieve pangs of hunger

Candies –the sugar will help ease acidity in case there are more eminent task at hand than eating

Canned goods (like corned beef, Vienna sausage, tuna, pork and beans, chili con carne, corn) –not easily perishable and ready to eat

Instant Noodles –are also ready to eat although it’s best enjoyed cooked. Snack on the noodles like crackers.

Bottled water

Carbonated drinks/Coffee

Items

Flashlight and Batteries

Thick Blanket/Comforters/Mattress Covers/Pillows

Jacket/Sweaters/Socks/Caps/Rain Boots

Radio and Batteries

Umbrella/Tents/Mono Block Chairs

Towels

Knife, Candles, Matches, Plastic Wares, Plastic Utensils, Napkins, Plastic Bags

Empty plastic bottles

Lifesavers/Old Tires/Styrofoam

Big Pails

Slippers

Antiseptic/First Aid Kits/Medicine bags

**If possible, keep all items in one area or fit everything in one “EMERGENCY BAG,” so it’s easy to locate and grab.

2. Unplug all appliances (particularly on the first floor) and keep a watchful eye on refrigerator and electricity outlets.

3. Always have extra cash handy. ATMs might not be available or accessible.

4. Improvised flotation device can be made out of empty Coke/Pepsi/C2/Juice/Water plastic bottles. Just securely tie the plastic bottles together (4-10) and it can work as a flotation device.

5. If possible, CHARGE all equipment necessary, emergency light, mobile phones (for communication), etc.

EMERGENCY HOTLINE NUMBERS TO CALL:

ABS-CBN Hotline 0928-5078592

Typhoon MEGI Expected to Hit Philippines Tonight

October 15, 2010 by Janey

As of the PAGASA’s Press Conference at 530PM today, October 15, 2010:

Typhoon MEGI is expected to enter Philippines’ area of responsibility tonight.

Typhoon MEGI will reach the Extreme Northern Luzon by Monday afternoon. Landfall expected around the same time.

Typhoon MEGI has maximum winds of 120 kph with gusts of 150 kph.

PAGASA advised the PUBLIC to prepare and take pre-cautionary measures.

PAGASA urges public to constantly monitor weather updates.

PASAGA expects typhoon MEGI to intensity further.

For weather updates: http://www.twitter.com/dost_pagasa

For the latest news: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com

—

Some safety/survival tips:

Food

Bread -gives the carbo load you need in replacement of rice. Rice still has to be cooked.

Biscuits/cookies –alternative to bread, sugar helps relieve pangs of hunger

Candies –the sugar will help ease acidity in case there are more eminent task at hand than eating

Canned goods (like corned beef, Vienna sausage, tuna, pork and beans, chili con carne, corn) –not easily perishable and ready to eat

Instant Noodles –are also ready to eat although it’s best enjoyed cooked. Snack on the noodles like crackers.

Bottled water

Carbonated drinks/Coffee

Items

Flashlight and Batteries

Thick Blanket/Comforters/Mattress Covers/Pillows

Jacket/Sweaters/Socks/Caps/Rain Boots

Radio and Batteries

Umbrella/Tents/Mono Block Chairs

Towels

Knife, Candles, Matches, Plastic Wares, Plastic Utensils, Napkins, Plastic Bags

Empty plastic bottles

Lifesavers/Old Tires/Styrofoam

Big Pails

Slippers

Antiseptic/First Aid Kits/Medicine bags

**If possible, keep all items in one area or fit everything in one “EMERGENCY BAG,” so it’s easy to locate and grab.

2. Unplug all appliances (particularly on the first floor) and keep a watchful eye on refrigerator and electricity outlets.

3. Always have extra cash handy. ATMs might not be available or accessible.

4. Improvised flotation device can be made out of empty Coke/Pepsi/C2/Juice/Water plastic bottles. Just securely tie the plastic bottles together (4-10) and it can work as a flotation device.

5. If possible, charge all equipment necessary, emergency light, mobile phones (for communication), etc.

—

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A Run for the Pasig River

November 13, 2009 by Janey

November 8, 2009.

My eyes fluttered open at 430 AM because it was the day of the Pasig Run. Our company registered for the 42K relay marathon. “Ms. Susan” volunteered my participation and I couldn’t decline. Anything extra I can do for the team would be my pleasure –plus it being for a cause to save Pasig River, I can’t find any better reason to join.

It was a fund-raising event for the rehabilitation and restoration of Pasig River.

The running group had a preliminary meeting and the runners were free to choose the points they wanted to take. I volunteered for point 11 to point 12, from Rockwell entrance gate along JP Rizal street to Robinson’s Pioneer. It was the only point I was really familiar with. Unbeknownst to me, it had an uphill stretch.

There was a point in time where I was a total gym buff. After work, the ritual is to go to the gym 3-4 times a week. At times, I’d even go during lunch break just to get a quick workout and get my adrenaline pumping. Running the treadmill and boxing were my favorite. I also enjoyed lifting weights as long as my trainer was there to assist. Interestingly, I haven’t gone to the gym since the start of 2009. It’s been almost a year since I last did any workout. I think I can attribute that to burnout and mental/emotional stress at work. De-stressing at the gym used to work but I feel so drained sometimes that it also manifests physically. Therefore, I generally do not have energy to burn at the gym.

I didn’t have any practice run at all. It was literally my first exercise of the year. I arrived at Point 11 at 530 AM, 40 minutes earlier than my supposed schedule, so I can run around, warm-up and stretch. It was tough, like waking up a polar bear during hibernation. I couldn’t get my vigor going.

635 AM, 25 minutes later than my expected run, my teammate appears and he accompanied me during my run since 2KM felt so short for him. I paced myself and didn’t attempt to outrun anybody. My teammate was 5^th to arrive at my station, which means there were more than a dozen of people (at least that’s what it looked like when I left) waiting for their relay tag at the station. Admittedly, I brisk walked the uphill part of the run. I know that I’m going to be out of breath if I pushed it.

I think I finished my run in 11-12 minutes but I can’t be too certain since I didn’t have a watch. What I was certain was, my heart felt like it was going to burst even though I cooled down. The chest pain was piercing but it eventually vanished after a few minutes. Thank goodness that the team left for the next runner and did not see –or that would have been quite embarrassing if I wasn’t able to control the pain and started wincing there.

Despite that, it was such a good workout and a great event to participate in. The Pasig run marked my very first workout of the year. It was also awesome to perspire that much again. Other than cooking, I once again recalled how therapeutic running could be.

Our group finished the 42K relay in 4 hours 13 minutes, not bad when the estimate is 5 hours. Mizuno ruled the 42km relay race with Army second and PNP Special Action Force third.

This Weekend in Events Album

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Typhoon Ondoy: Helping Hand

September 29, 2009 by Janey

Last Saturday, the backyard experienced half-a-foot of floodwater due to overflow of water and clogging of drainage. My sister’s room, which was on the first floor had ankle-deep water. We only found out when we opened her room. She was stranded overnight in UST with other students, slept on the floor as food for the mosquitoes, exceedingly hungry and exhausted. My dad got stranded overnight also in his office with water up to the 6^th flight of the stairs. His car got flooded to the roof. A digicam and 2 phones busted. We were lucky.

Yesterday, Bubba and I left the office early to buy and pack relief goods. Extremely long lines in the cashier indicate that a lot of people are buying to donate and/or “panic-buying” for stock goods (since PAGASA expects another typhoon to hit Manila tomorrow, Wednesday).

It felt good to be there despite the chaos and sort out what donations are needed, primarily food like bread, biscuits and canned goods, and secondary like toothbrush, alcohol, etc. This is one of the few times, I really wish I were rich -more money to spare means more money to provide for others.

Overhead the mom and daughter tandem in front of us bought items for donation amounting to quite a huge amount and never bothered to sign the slip –it is most heartwarming when people help in private, anonymously. Silent in lending a hand. Politicians can probably do the same.

Not giving aid for the sake of the flashbulbs.

Note: If you’re shopping in Unimart, LSGH (La Salle Greenhills) has a donation drop-off point in the grocery area handled by students. You can drop off donations there right after shopping or order directly from the admin (if it’s in big bulks) and just present the item sales slip to the cashier. Any amount of donation and effort helps.

A lot of inspiring act of humanity and spirit of bayanihan seen during the calamity, both regular people and celebrities alike.

Blessed enough to be spared by Typhoon Ondoy, let’s HELP Donate!

List of Donation Centers and Assistance Centers

Google Compiled List of Donation Centers and Rental of Rubber Boat

**** This website is open for any public service announcements.

Email betweenbites@gmail.com ***********

—

3 Comments Filed Under: A Taste of Manila and Other Things Tagged With: 24 hours, 40 years, 8 hours of rain, 9 hours of rain, ABS CBN, act of nature, action shots, affected, affected areas, all walks of life, Angat Dam to release water, announce, announce suspension of work, announcement, assistance, assistance centers, bagyong ondoy, bantay bagyo, batangas province, bayanihan, Bread, bulacan starting to flood again, cable signal out, Cable TV, cabs, Cainta, calamity, calauit, canned goods, cars, celebrities, channel 2, circulating, cities, class, classes, Claudine Baretto, clearing operations, climate change, CNN, companies, company, contact number, contact numbers, continuous heavy downpour, council, coverage, Cristine Reyes, crowd control, death toll, Destiny, devastation, donation centers, donations, easy, efforts, electricity, emergency hotline, emergency light, evacuation centers, Ex PBA, exact locations, exclusive photos, Filipino, flat rate, flood, flooding report, flooding story, food, fury, Gerald Anderson, Gilbert Teodoro, Gladys Reyes, GMA7, government work, heartwarming, heaviest rainfall, heaviest rainfall in Philippine history, HELP donate, helping, helping in silence, Holiday, house submerge, how much, how to help, how to receive donations, how to survive, how you can help, humanity, in action, inspiring, insurance, Insurance agency, Jericho rosales, Kestana, laguna, landslide, latest, latest news, less fortunate, LGV, list, list of assitance centers, local government, Loyola Grand Villas, LRT, lucky, Marikina, Marikina dam, massive flooding, mayor, Meralco, Metro Manila, miracle, MMDA, Monday, MRT, Nat Geo, National Disaster Coordinating Council, NDCC Chairman and Defense Secretary, neighbors, news, no work, non-working, number coding, obando, opening dam, operations, Pasig, PGMA, PHP 10, PNP, police assistance, politicians, price, Provident Village, quick, rain, rain flood, rainwaters, Raymart Santiago, reaction, Red Bull, relief goods, relief operations, rental of rubber boat, reports, rescue operations, rescue rubber boat, rescue team, resettlement area, response, restoration, rice, Richard Gutierrez, robbery, Rolio Gomez, rubber boats, Sagip Kapamilya warehouse, San Mateo, Saturday, Saturday morning, scheduled power outages, sell, Sept. 29, service, several towns, SMS, special non-working day, state of calamity, state of emergency, steal, stock, stores, stories, story, story of bayanihan, story of survival, stranded, students, subside, surfing, survival kit, Survival tips, survive, survivors, suspend, suspended, SUVs, taxi, Taytay, telephone number, Teodoro Gilbert, text messages, Tony Chua, total cost, tropical storm, Tuesday, typhoon, typhoon Ondoy, update, updated, updates, UST, Video, waist level, water, what to do, work suspended

Survival Tips- Tyhpoon Ondoy and Other State of Emergency/Calamity

September 28, 2009 by Janey

UPDATE: Sept. 29, 2009

List of Donation Centers and Assistance Centers

Google Compiled List of Donation Centers and Rental of Rubber Boat

08:34 AM – Restoration of electricity and water services to take at least a week.

08:40 AM – DepEd: Classes in NCR suspended until Wednesday

09:11 AM – Singapore/Japan Give Aid to RP

09:12 AM – 240 killed in the wake of Ondoy

09:21 AM- Napocor to release water from Angat Dam at 10am today -pre-release of water as precautionary measure of leveling the water (standard amount) since PAGASA expects a typhoon to hit Manila.

Angat Dam to release water: affected are Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliuag, Plaridel, Pulilan, Calumpit.

————————–

UPDATE: Sept. 28, 2009

12:30 PM – Number coding scheme suspended for one whole week.

1:25 PM – (RP from AdeMagnaye ) Red Cross Shaw has run out of donations. Nothing to repackage. For donations, text 0917 5370265, they can pick up.

1:30 PM – Rolio Golez confirms that SMS circulating regarding opening Marikina dam is not true. There’s no Marikina dam.

1:50 PM – 5 Cainta subdivisions still in need of relief operations.

2:06 PM – Death toll reaches 100.

2:06 PM – China donates $10,000 to Red Cross to help victims of Ondoy.

2:09 PM – Accdg to Jun Guidote, water continue to rise in Laguna due to high tide. Relief operations ongoing in Laguna.

————————–

The wrath of Typhoon Ondoy devastated Metro Manila and its nearby provinces like Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Pampanga among others.

Hurricane Katrina was at 350 millimeters rainfall while Typhoon Ondoy at 412 millimeters. The continuous downpour of 9 hours submerged most parts of the Metro including Marikina and Valenzuela. 9 hours! Can you imagine? Another manifestation of climate change that is really unnerving. The documentaries on Nat Geo about Earth not surviving another million years haunt one.

Image Source: Archiemedes Sy

My officemate Karen just told me she saw in the news a dog trying to piggy back on a man’s back but the man shoved him off for survival. Both are trying to survive. How heart wrenching.

No one expected that in a matter of few hours, certain areas would be submerged in floodwater. Big houses are not spared. Celebrities and politicians weren’t either.

Some survival tips:

Food

Bread -gives the carbo load you need in replacement of rice. Rice still has to be cooked.

Biscuits/cookies –alternative to bread, sugar helps relieve pangs of hunger

Candies –the sugar will help ease acidity in case there are more eminent task at hand than eating

Canned goods (like corned beef, Vienna sausage, tuna, pork and beans, chili con carne, corn) –not easily perishable and ready to eat

Instant Noodles –are also ready to eat although it’s best enjoyed cooked. Snack on the noodles like crackers.

Bottled water

Carbonated drinks/Coffee

Items

Flashlight and Batteries

Thick Blanket/Comforters/Mattress Covers/Pillows

Jacket/Sweaters/Socks/Caps/Rain Boots

Radio and Batteries

Umbrella/Tents/Mono Block Chairs

Towels

Knife, Candles, Matches, Plastic Wares, Plastic Utensils, Napkins, Plastic Bags

Empty plastic bottles

Lifesavers/Old Tires/Styrofoam

Big Pails

Slippers

Antiseptic/First Aid Kits/Medicine bags

**If possible, keep all items in one area or fit everything in one “EMERGENCY BAG,” so it’s easy to locate and grab.

2. Unplug all appliances (particularly on the first floor) and keep a watchful eye on refrigerator and electricity outlets.

3. Always have extra cash handy. ATMs might not be available or accessible.

4. Improvised flotation device can be made out of empty Coke/Pepsi/C2/Juice/Water plastic bottles. Just securely tie the plastic bottles together (4-10) and it can work as a flotation device.

5. If possible, charge all equipment necessary, emergency light, mobile phones (for communication), etc.

** UPDATE ** There are enough volunteers in Sagip Kapamilya of ABS-CBN, more donations are needed like cooked rice, bread, boiled eggs, etc. Kindly bring donations to Sagip Kapamilya at #13 Examiner St. QC.

—

4 Comments Filed Under: A Taste of Manila and Other Things Tagged With: 24 hours, 40 years, 8 hours of rain, 9 hours of rain, ABS CBN, act of nature, affected, affected areas, all walks of life, announce, announce suspension of work, announcement, assistance, assistance centers, bagyong ondoy, bantay bagyo, batangas province, bayanihan, Bread, bulacan starting to flood again, cable signal out, Cable TV, cabs, Cainta, calamity, calauit, canned goods, cars, channel 2, circulating, cities, class, classes, clearing operations, climate change, CNN, companies, company, contact number, contact numbers, continuous heavy downpour, council, coverage, Cristine Reyes, crowd control, death toll, Destiny, devastation, donation centers, donations, easy, efforts, electricity, emergency hotline, emergency light, evacuation centers, Ex PBA, exact locations, exclusive photos, Filipino, flat rate, flood, flooding report, food, fury, Gilbert Teodoro, Gladys Reyes, GMA7, government work, heaviest rainfall, heaviest rainfall in Philippine history, Holiday, house submerge, how much, how to help, how to receive donations, how to survive, how you can help, insurance, Insurance agency, Kestana, laguna, landslide, latest, latest news, less fortunate, list, list of assitance centers, local government, LRT, Marikina, Marikina dam, massive flooding, mayor, Meralco, Metro Manila, MMDA, Monday, MRT, Nat Geo, National Disaster Coordinating Council, NDCC Chairman and Defense Secretary, news, no work, non-working, number coding, obando, opening dam, operations, Pasig, PGMA, PHP 10, PNP, police assistance, price, Provident Village, quick, rain, rain flood, rainwaters, reaction, Red Bull, relief goods, relief operations, rental of rubber boat, reports, rescue operations, rescue rubber boat, rescue team, resettlement area, response, restoration, rice, Richard Gutierrez, robbery, Rolio Gomez, rubber boats, Sagip Kapamilya warehouse, San Mateo, Saturday, Saturday morning, scheduled power outages, sell, Sept. 29, service, several towns, SMS, special non-working day, state of calamity, state of emergency, steal, stock, stores, stranded, students, subside, survival kit, Survival tips, survive, survivors, suspend, suspended, SUVs, taxi, Taytay, telephone number, Teodoro Gilbert, text messages, Tony Chua, total cost, tropical storm, Tuesday, typhoon, typhoon Ondoy, update, updated, updates, UST, Video, waist level, water, what to do

The Others

May 9, 2009 by Janey

I am not the only woman in Bubba’s life. In fact, he has other “babies,” sometimes with more emotional needs.

Krie, The Albino Ratsnake

Krie is the partner of Skimpy before. Since Skimpy’s death, Krie is the oldest baby in the family. Krie has a lot of poise and class that probably were brought about by age.

Boei, The Ball Python

When we were just dating, Bubba couldn’t stop talking about how he wanted to get a ball snake. Everything is a sign to get a ball snake. We were at EDSA Shangri-la one time and we see an ad poster of a watch that has the word, “BALL” with a water snake and this is the forth-telling SIGN. He tries to connect everything as signs that he’s supposed to buy a ball snake. After a while, I relent and let him be. There were a few chances where he almost bought one but decided against it. Finally, the perfect ball snake came our way and I agreed that this is what he’s been dying to have.

Grumpy, The Hognose Snake

This hognose snake was actually a trade-off. Bubba traded off his two precious skinks for this baby who is throwing a fit all the time. He’s the crankiest in the bunch. He bites the hand that feeds him.

GTP, The Green Tree Python

GTP named after George St. Pierre but with a T instead of an S. I was in protest getting another snake but when I saw GTP’s uber yellow skin, it was so beautiful we both couldn’t resist. He reached adolescence last year that made his yellow skin turn to green.

Jigsaw, The Milksnake

Of course, men go for the “young.” This is why this milksnake used to Bubba’s favorite, more than me probably. Jigsaw is the latest addition in the family, which makes him the youngest. He celebrated his 1^st year anniversary just recently. He is named after our favorite thriller movie, SAW.

I think though that Boei remains to be his all-time favorite because that snake is really attached to him. They have this special “bond.” Boei is also special to me because he reminds me of days when we were just starting out.

In Memoriam:

Skimpy,

Pags, The Indian Star Tortoise

Bubba’s Pet Collection

Related Post

Find the Hidden Mickey

Milksnake Surprise

3 Comments Filed Under: Beyond Love Tagged With: albino, albino snake, animal, Animals, aquarium, ball python, ball snake, Bubba, buyers, chicks, chris, Chris Wong, Christian Wong, collector, corn snake, feed, feeding, George St. Pierre, GSP, GTP, house, how to take care, Jigsaw, killer instincts, Krie, Kuya Kim, location, milk snake, molt, molting, mouse, pet, Pet collection, pet shop, pets, pinkies, python, pythons, rats, reptile, reptiles, SAW, sea snake, sellers, shedding, skin, skink, skinks, snake, snakes, storage, store, Taste Manila, trade, trading, water, water snake, where to get

Calaguas Island

August 7, 2008 by Janey

(Photo Credit: Brian Sahagun. Others: Ayla, AJ, Jerome, Deneb, Leia, Rex)

July 11, 2008. 10pm, we were headed to Bicol for Travel Factor’s UBBE (Ultimate Beach Bumming Experience) Calaguas chapter. Our seat assignment was in the first row left side, which is the row opposite the driver’s side. I was happy that we got the first row since I’m claustrophobic. The extra space where the back of another chair should be but isn’t, helps, which means more leg room for Bubba too. Unfortunately, a mini-cooler is installed in the front seats, which actually made the leg space smaller. I was fidgeting all night trying to give more space to Bubba knowing that he was having a hard time positioning his long legs. At one point, I had it resting on top of my legs since there was more room diagonally. I barely had any sleep plus the drive was like going through a snake’s path. I had to wake up once in a while to see if the bus driver was maneuvering safely.

5am, we arrived at Daet and made a brief stop for breakfast and toilet break. I was so excited to stretch and more excited that we are so near our destination point. Though a big part of me dreaded the boat ride, which I heard prior to the trip was 2 hours (if we’re lucky!). Knowing this is my perennial dilemma, how responsible of me to forget to bring a sack of Bonamin.

8am, we set off to the Island via a huge fishing boat. 30 minutes into the boat ride, I fell asleep. I woke up just in time to see that we were some meters away from a spotless stretch of sand. The waves weren’t very strong that morning thus we were able to arrive at Calaguas Island in a short of 2 hours.

A small community is the only occupant of the island. There were no other “tourists” around except for us. The island looked almost deserted which added to the charisma of the place. Soft white sand greeted my feet as I set foot on the land. As usual practice, Leia initiated the brief introduction of the group and gave us our assigned camping tents. Bubba and I agreed on a location and set our tent, which wasn’t so hard to do as I initially thought.

Lunchtime, we all gathered to the main area to feast on the lunch prepared by the Bicol boys who were also our guide around town. After lunch, I read the book I brought (the one I haven’t finished since Anawangin) and fell asleep. When I got up, I headed straight to the beach where Ced and the rest were.

That afternoon, after 20 minutes of rules orientation, we played Ultimate Frisbee –or at least tried to play. The wind wasn’t cooperating. The strong winds drove us to play different local games instead –Patintero, and a game similar to cops and robbers where you have bases, I forget what they called it but Leia passionately proposed that we play it. It was fun but it was so hard to run on sand, which made for a good workout.

Dark clouds loomed near and we had to transfer camp. With combined efforts, Bubba and I moved the tent and resettled it in its new location, under a tree. We also had to improvise an outer cover just to make sure that rainwater wouldn’t go inside.

Drinking and social time enthused immediately after our hearty dinner. Leia and Gerry were our resident bartenders who came up with different concoctions –Bailey’s ala Gran Ma! An hour or so later, we exited to retreat to our bunks and catch on much needed sleep. In the wee hours of the morning, it rained. Thank heavens we didn’t get wet but there was practically no air inside the tent. I kept getting up to open the flap and let some air in.

I have to give props to the drinking group left outside who braved the drizzle and were still having fun under the rain, singing and engrossed in muffled chatter.

The next morning I got up earlier than Bubba and walked along the beach. A few minutes later, I decided to wake him up by tickling his feet that were sticking out of the tent. One of the things I love about Bubba is: it is very rare that he wakes up with a groan. We basked in the beautiful morning walking on the beach.

(Photo: Need to poop… lest not forsake morning rituals.)

By 9am, we were in our assigned boats again returning to Daet shores. Bubba said the trip back was shorter than the trip going there. I want to disagree but I was asleep for most part of the first boat ride so I can’t really tell. Upon reaching shore, we moved our things back to the bus again. While waiting for others to load their stuff, Bubba and I treated some of the local kids to ice cream, which was loads of fun. Nothing brightens one’s day like a kid’s smile.

Next stop was the lunch at Kusina ni Anghel. We shared a table with Jaja and Brian. After lunch, we headed to Bagasbas beach where we’re supposed to spend an afternoon of surfing. Unfortunately, when we got there, it was flat. There were no waves.

Although Bagasbas beach wasn’t white, their sand was soft. The group drowned their surfing sorrows to playing intimate (that’s not a typo of ultimate. Har har.) Frisbee. Bubba’s group won. Too bad Jaja was not around to win it for us (tee-hee). I greatly enjoyed the afternoon lounging at Bagasbas beach, bonding with Ced, Ayla, Jerome, AJ, Cha, Wai, Gerry, Rex, Deneb and Leia in the water. Afterwards, we tried our skills against skimboarding. Although surfing could have been more fun, skim wasn’t so bad. It was interesting to try it out and learn how to do the skips. Skimboarding proved to be challenging for the rest of us except Gerry, but Cha and Rex incurred the biggest blows.

Learned a few pointers on skimboarding. Tried Langka shake for the first time. More memorable, my eyes have unearthed another beautiful island in the Philippines. New friends were made. I missed some people from the previous trips while having fun with new ones. I miss Madz, Marc, Tinio, Francis, Jolly, Maan, Zarah, Karen, Joan, Divine et al. It would have been great if they were with us during the trip. Calaguas Island is definitely the Boracay of the North as people claims it to be. The beach was as beautiful and the water was as clear and cool. If it weren’t so difficult to go here (at least difficult for me because I have anxiety over boat rides), I’d be back in a heartbeat and become oblivious to the rest of the Philippines.