GWEB at Grande Island, Subic

So here’s my break-it list for Grande Island Resort, Subic.

• For a starter, the “island” doesn’t have a long and pretty shore that islands should have. So lower your expectations if you’re about to visit Grande Island.
• There’s no exhilarating view of nature or whatsoever. Not that I’m being a cynic here, but hey I’ve been to beaches and islands and places like that, and I know how to appreciate natural beauty.
• When you ask for water, you will be given tap water. And by tap water, it would taste like tap water. Rusty.
• Banana boat rides will only last about 5 minutes, more or less. It didn’t go far in the water and it wasn’t fast enough to send all of us hanging, sliding and falling.
• The infinity pool that they are boasting on their site is not even full when we got there, and in the morning after we arrived, considering there were at least 300 other guests coming in that next day.
• They have ATVs but there’s no terrain to use that vehicle for. And it cost a fortune. A hundred for a 15-minute ride. Meh.
• Yes they said they have wi-fi, they do, really. But hey, it’s not for free. You need to login and you need to buy the credentials from the front desk.
• You can’t enjoy snorkeling because there’s not much to see under the waters of Grande Island but hundreds of little fishes (like dilis, only an inch bigger). No colorful corals and fishes and stuff like that.
• On the other side of the island, there’s the waste drain straight to the water. That side of the island looks dead. And smells dead.
• The ferry service that took us from Subic mainland to the island was scheduled two in the afternoon, and took us back 1pm the next day. That means we didn’t enjoy much the morning beach thing you would normally enjoy.

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Anyway, what made this week so special? More special than the Subic and Boracay getaway last week? I dunno, maybe it’s the simplicity of things and the humblenesss of the activities I did this weekend. Or maybe because it was spent with the two most special guys in my life: the Boiffie and the Bestfriend.The whole Saturday was spent with the Boiffie, I accompanied him to his dentist because he’s due to receive his retainers. We went to the far land of Bulacan then back to Trinoma where we would catch I Miss You Like Crazy later that day. The commute to Bulacan and back is tiring considering that it was around 3 in the afternoon – the sun is stubbornly up and the time suggest a nice siesta sleeping in a hammock at the back of your house, under that big Langka tree, you know what I mean.

So Saturday was a visit to the dentist, stroll in the mall, dinner, frozen yogurt, I Miss You Like Crazy, and a visit to The Medical City. Doesn’t sound like a real fun day but it is for me. I got to enjoy one carefree day with my Boiffie, away from work, away from stress, away from my phone sending EGN messages* every so often.

Then came Sunday with the Bestfriend. Because of the visit to the ER, it took me million of years to got off my bed. I woke up past 2pm and it felt like I still wanted more sleep. But I have a worship to attend to so I needed to drag my lazy butt off and went to shower. Bestfriend and I had late lunch before going to church. Then we dropped by SM Marikina to buy some stuff and do a little grocery. We were screaming “Marikiks”* the whole friggin time. I don’t know but it’s was one helluva fun!

“Manong, dalawang Marikiks”, the Bestfriend said to Manong FX driver when he gave our fare. We kept on saying “Hello Marikiks” and “Buhbye Marikiks” and we laughed our silly lungs out.

Then I went home tired but still has the energy to cook the mother a kickin’ pasta. I made her Tuna Basil in Spicy Tomato Cheese sauce poured deliciously over a nice pile of angel hair pasta. I know that sounds really yummy. And I’m not kidding you when I said it’s kicking! I wish all of you can have a taste of it haha.

And then I spent the rest of my Sunday doing my “me” thing: I watched episodes of American Idol, played a bunch of games in FB, scribbled a little on my private journal, downloaded stuff (movies, mp3′s, ipa’s, games) and blog.

I am glad I had this weekend. It reminded me of:

• the small things I used to enjoy – and I still, like reading a book and committing to finish it, cooking a random dish for my mom or the Boiffie or for my friends, strolling around the kitchenware area of a department store wishing for the pretty glistening stuff to have on my own kitchen someday, finishing a story or a film (I haven’t made a film for almost two years already, and I haven’t written anything since I graduated college) and how I missed out on those things recently and how I wanted to get back in doing those stuff again.
• how lucky I am to have these people around me who care for me so much, and should I say they GENUINELY care about me because really, in one’s life or another, there’s a bunch of people who just pretend to care, I know some and I tell you..
• the raw talents people believe I have, and how I think it’s all gonna go to waste if I don’t do anything about it, that’s why I’ll be going to LIRA this year and maybe enroll in SOFA or Sinelab or I dunno, any way I might utilize and most especially improve on the stuff they believe I am good at, because really I’m finding it hard to find something I know I am good at

Me wants to have more weekend like this one. Aja!

See you guys around =)

*EGN messages – work-related stuff, Marikiks – SM Marikina

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I know this wouldn’t be the last time I would look back to 2009. It wasn’t the first and it wouldn’t be the last. 2009 wasn’t as crazy as 2008 but it’s wonderful like all the other years in my life. The people I met and have been friends with are invaluable.

In a nutshell, 2009 was a year of:

• travel
• opportunities to explore new things
• frequent hospital visits
• getting in touch with friends and old classmates
• happiness and love
• love-hate relationship with **
• and a whole lot of learning

January last year I got to be a lead actress on a film Kuya Bunso made by my dear friend Mica. It was the first time that I did a role and woah! Was it really hard! I already directed three films in my young life and never had I imagine how difficult it is to act. Before I would always get frustrated when my actors won’t deliver what I wanted for the film, but now.. I know.

Mica, Jehz and Cai at the set of Kuya Bunso, Platinum 1000 rooftop

Also, January, I met an accident. I got hit my a flying bottle.. a broken soda bottle.. on my right knee, and I have to undergo surgery so they can remove bits of glass on my knee cap. Ouch, I know. I  was confined and wasn’t able to walk properly for a week. Aaron that time wasn’t the boiffie yet but he took care of him. Really sweet, ayt? My bestfriends Mitch and Louis were there too.

February was an exciting month at work. I had my first project and the results was great.  Also, Boiffie took me to a wonderful (and pricey) V date – we dine at Pepato GB3, watched Push, grabbed coffee at CBTL and went to party with Mica and other bloggers at  a Single’s Party night somewhere in Makati.

The first time Boiffie and I went out of town was on the first weekend of February. We went to Baguio to relieve the stress and trauma brought about by the accident I just had. The long bus ride to Baguio, the time we spent there, and the ride home brought Boiffie and I closer together. =’>

Then March came and we conquered Mindanao. Boiffie and I had a 4D3N Camiguin-Cagayan De Oro trip with his college friends. It was the first time I was able to travel by air, by land, and by water all in the same day! Camiguin white beach is really a beauty! It was the highlight of the trip for me! Unfortunately, on the last day I got really sick so I wasn’t able to enjoy the rapids that is white water rafting in CDO.

April Boiffie and I had another trip somewhere in Northern Luzon. We conquered Pagudpud, Laoag and Vigan. The beaches in Pagudpud can rival the beaches in Boracay. I lubbit!! We went to Paoay Church in Laoag, hitched our way to Cape Bojeador (and lost my wallet while taking pictures), beach bummed in Saud and Blue Lagoon, ate at Cafe Leona (Vigan’s finest), had a walkin-after-midnight at Calle Crisologo and a lot more.

Paoay Church, Laoag. We got there almost sun down.

Cape Bojeador, Burgos. And because Boiffie and I were just backpacking, we hitched our way up to the lighthouse. Cheap and practical. Wooot.

Calle Crisologo, Vigan.

"I waited. And waited. But you didn't come." LOL @Calle Crisologo, past midnight.

May was full of anxiety and not much at all exciting. It was the month I presented my results and achievements for the first six months of my stay in the company. June was also uneventful, or maybe it was, I just can’t remember it right now haha. But seriously, other than the Boiffie’s birthday, this month was uneventful.

Boiffie’s birthday was memorable. It was the first time I went greater lengths with regards to efforts and surprises. I prepared a series of surprises for Boiffie and I almost made him cry.. poor little guy, he had no idea what I planned for his birthday.

Aary J Fat. LOL

Then came July, the getaway to Palawan with my teammates.

And then August! My birth month! Woooot this time it’s Boiffie’s turn to make my birthday a blast. And he did! He gave me a classic Anne Klein wrist watch and a weekend getaway in Tagaytay: Spa at Sonya’s Garden, dinner at Buon Giorno, party at Kontiki bar, picnic in Picnic grove, roadtrip to Caleruega, lunch and cheesecake at Bag of Beans. Melai and JC were also with us that time.

Parang pre-nup lang, LOL. Thanks Melai for making the collage =D

September I went home to Cebu for the first time in ages. Woooot excited much to see the grandfolks. Also I met some CBS people. It was also a getaway with Mica, Ada, Jehz, Winston, and Van and  my first time to travel alone by air.

The folks at the airport when I arrived. =)

Lolo.

The Big Cai and the Little Cai.

December Last getaway before the 2009 ended: beach bumming and food tripping at Canyon Cove in Nasugbu Batangas and at Leslie’s in Tagaytay, with Boiffie, Paolo and Mark.

Boiffie, Cai and the Lady with hat LOL

And then the rest of the year was history – days in between days.

Excited much to create new experiences for 2010. =)

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Last friday, my sisters Malen, Melai and Roanne went out for a lovely bonding night. It has been a long time since the four of us spent time together. I think the last was during Melai’s birthday October 2 2007. I know, that was ages ago. So I was really glad we finally found the time to be complete, for once in a while.

We had dinner at Gotti’s, The Atrium SM Megamall. With us was Fabs, Malen’s boiffie. My boiffie Aaron was supposed to join us too but he has to leave for a meeting at 9PM and the girls arrived a quarter before nine. We had Godfather’s pizza, carbonara and a red pasta ( I forgot what wuz it heeee ). We ate and chatted and joked around. And took pictures. Heeee

Gotti's The Atrium SM Megamall

Godfather's Pizza, carbonara and red pasta

Why do I always have to be the one to look the wackiest?

After dinner, we decided to hang out at Starbucks Shang-ri la Mall. On our way out of Atrium, we saw David Cook on his way to Häagen-Dazs. 

David Cook, buying ice cream at Häagen-Dazs, The Atrium

Malen, Cai, Melai and Roanne were all sad and disappointed because they weren't able to get really close to David Cook. To hug him. To kiss him. To jiggin him. LOL

We stayed at Starbucks until the wee hours in the morning. The boiffie Aaron also dropped by to hang out with us. It was soooo fun, I swear. I really missed being with them. I feel really blessed to have these wonderful ladies to be my ever supportive, ever loving, and ever beautiful best friends.  

Lub yoo besties!

Wanna see more pcitures? Here! Here!

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