Here comes 2009!

Whew, and 2009 came! 2008 ended with a blast with our Sagada post-Christmas venture topping my list of unforgettables. The 8liens, I mean, me and my 8layer colleagues, invaded Sagada again last 26-29 of December (twas this time last year that we were there). This time, instead of Sagada surviving us, it is we who survived! Especially, our dear Kuya Willy, who almost peed in his pants trying to hold on to dear life in one of the tricky part of the cave connection trek. Sad to say, I wasn’t there to see it. Our group came a bit later, not fast enough to overtake the first group. I had to rely on the very detailed recollection of the 8liens about the rescue mission. (Lester of Saggas, you’re a hero!) Haha!

Another 2008 ender for me was the reunion of the V5 dabarkads last December 30 and held in our home sweet home. I survived it too! Imagine, fresh from Sagada and from the Autobus mishap (ran out of fuel, fortunately, we were already somewhere in QC!), I was dizzyingly still recovering from the cold (literally!) nights of Mt. Province, sleepy and battered from the long travel back.

I miss my “baby” Datdat too. I’m sure, Dada and Nellie misses her too. Lovely, she is. My “adopted” Christmas baby is one lucky girl. She captured two baby-less couples wanting to take her as their own. If only her true family can realize what an angel she is. Sigh!

It’s already 4AM and I am rattling my brain on what other things in 2008 have been quite unforgettable for me… Wow! Can’t list them down for now. All I can say is that 2008 was tons of blessing. Been with truly amazing people and every inch of them, every experience I had, every memory would take a whole lot of space… yehoy!

Well, I guess, it is better to look forward than look back.

2009, here I come!

A blissful and productive year ahead, everyone!

P.S.
This blog is supposed to have photos… still waiting for uploads… got no cam, yet. hehe.

Sagada Survived 8lien Invasion

26 December 2007

We we're supposed to leave for Sagada. It was planned as if no planning was needed. And so, we weren't able to leave as planned. There were clients left and right. And a new 8lien (to be announced) was given a verdict. Welcome welcome new 8lien! Your name may sound a bit vulgar but to us, you're a name to reckon with!

27 December 2007

We slept in the office the night before. And I woke up feeling battered. Who wouldn't? I guess Chox really hated me that he kicked me thrice when I's about to nudge myself to sleep. Haha.

The 8liens made the most of the morning moving things here and there. Oh, yes, I forgot. We just moved into a new office.

By the afternoon, Chox (anxious to meet his "baby") with Yvette went ahead to Baguio. Pangkal and Henyo (with their "babies"), eager to rendezvous followed hours later. Meric, Deng and Roz were doing a client call. Nilda and I were there. Just there. Haha.

28 December 2007

By 2:00 am, the five of us drove to Baguio. We arrived there past 7:00 am. By 9:00 am, we were at Dangwa Terminal boarding a bus to Bontoc.

The 7-hour Baguio-Bontoc bus ride was the longest one I had but i won't mind taking it forever. The view from inside looking out was a "cooling" experience.



The jeep ride from Bontoc to Sagada took 45 bumpy minutes.


When we finally arrived in Sagada, it was drizzling. The first inn we found (Ganduya Inn) can't accommodate the 12 and a half of us. The 2nd was the Sagada Guest House were we stayed for two nights.

Dinner was a delight. Deng cooked adobong pusit and chicken afritada. What happened after that, I didn't know, because as soon as I got stuffed, I was already halfway to bed... then snoring.

29 December 2007

The adventure began late in the morning. We walked our way to the Sumaging Cave. And it was a real blast! It would have been blastier if Chinkee and Ehriel were there to enjoy it, and not just waiting at the mouth of the cave. Hmmm.


Then off we went to the Sogong Cave where the Hanging Coffins were. Amazing!



Next stop, Yoghurt House. Good thing they're serving delights of gargantuan servings. One order is good for 2-3 persons. Tsarap! We enjoyed the food too much that we didn't know we didn't have enough time to venture away to Bomod-ok Falls.

So, we whiled away the time exploring the town, the Parish Church, the "place where it's most peaceful", and the Echo Valley.



Again, Deng cooked pancit for all of us for the nightcap. I didn't eat much as I was still full from the meal I ordered at YH.

Then, everyone huddled by watching the news. Until...

Until Yvette showed the group the one image that made everyone chill. The ghost bride!

30 December 2007

Meric and Deng left at 7:00 am. What's new, client meeting! But they were nice enough to let us stay and still enjoy what's left of our time in Sagada--to buy souvenirs!

The plan was to take the 1:00 pm bus to Baguio but it left earlier so the group has to take a jeep ride to Bontoc and from there, take the bus ride to Baguio.

Well, I may not know what transpired after the group left Sagada. Because I (and later joined by Roz) opted to stay for two more days... Yep, to experience a Sagada New Year. I hope the gongs can cast the bad spirits away from me. Haha.

Special thanks pala sa pinagnakawan ko ng mga pix -- kay Tatay Einstein at Pangk Einstein. Kung wala silang dalang camera, wala akong ibidinsya ng Sagad-Ah! =)

Basta Oo!

Ang dali kong napa-oo samantalang dati, bago ako sumagot, kailangan walang nasasagasaan na trabaho o kahit personal committment.

Pero kanina, ewan ko ba, um-oo kagad ako. Siguro dahil ang tagal ko ng hindi nakakatanggap ng text o tawag mula sa kanya kaya isang aya lang, sama na! Walang gatol, walang pagdadalawang isip.

Ngayon ko tuloy naisip na baka bumulagta na ako sa pagod. Bukas kasi, este memya, kailangan kong tapusin yung manual para sa pos applix. Tas bili ako gift para kay Ditse kasi birthday niya ng a-uno. Magsisimula na rin kaming gumawa ng floral arrangements para sa Undas. Pero nakasagot ako na tatao sa Sizzlers buong araw bukas. Doon din kasi magpipickup ng bulaklak yung mga umorder sa min.

At sa Biyernes, matapos ang ilang taon, aakyat ako ulit ng bundok. Ang nakakatawa, yun nga, basta um-oo lang ako. Walang tanung-tanong kung saan at kung ga'no kataas yung aakyatin namin. Basta gusto ko lang. Siguro kasi wala ako sa sarili ko. Napagalitan kasi ako sa office. Dami ko kasing backlog. Puro umpisa, pero hindi ko pa natatapos. Masarap sana, ang daming bago. Pero ang dami ding kasing commercial sa trabaho. Kaya kanina, hayun, the invitation was a welcome deviation. Kahit pa isang milenyo na kong hindi man lang nag-eexercise, isa lang ang pumasok sa isip ko. Bagong lugar. Bagong kasama. Kahit man lang isang araw.

Haay! Buhay pa naman siguro ko pagdating ng Sabado kasi itutuloy namin yung napack-up na MTV shoot ng kasal ni bespren.

Susulitin ko na lang malamang ang pahinga sa Linggo.

At kung sakaling humihinga pa nga ako sa Lunes, kailangan ko ng isang epektibong strategy para magawa ko na ang mga gusto kong gawin sa buhay.

Hmm, sa bundok ko na lang mumuni-munihin kung pano. Mahabahabang akyatin din naman yon. Good luck na rin sa 'kin!