Balik sa Bohol, Balik Balik!

Realizations from my trip to Bohol:

1. I love my HCCC family.Truly, I had fun with them. Thanks to the PM sisters who were so kind throughout the trip.

2. Eat bananas to get rid of menstrual cramps. Yes, I had my period on the first day of our trip. Usually, I experience dysmenorrhea whenever I have my period. Yet, I never had it during the travel. It never interfered my happy summer trip. 

3. Travel is not a caprice, it's a necessity. Yes! Jose Rizal was right. Through traveling, you can discover many things such as new cuisine, new views, new perspectives and new friends. Travel as much as you can! 

Photo Credit: MS. ROWENA BATAUSA

4. I shall return to Bohol with Shai. Indeed, Bohol is truly a nice place. While on the road, your eyes will be filled with lush green meadows. I was stunned when I saw the Chocolate Hills. It's geological formation awes you. When you see them, hundreds of them, you will definitely ask how these hills were formed symmetrically. In Wikipedia, legend says two giants had a fight. They were throwing rocks and sands against each other. After the fight, they became friends and forgot to clean their mess. Such mess became the Chocolate hills. 

5. Tarsiers, one of the smallest animals in the world, can turn their heads around amazingly. They have huge eyes. Your eyes will get bigger too when you see them. 

6.  Bring a nice digital camera with extra batteries. Sadly, I had no nice cam with me. Yet, got my bare eyes to capture everything.

7. Stick to the budget. Don't be carried away by your heavy emotional impulse in shopping souvenirs. I made a budget before I had the trip and included all the projected expenses. In fact, I gave some copies to my friends too. Somehow, when you get there you will be really tempted to buy lots of stuff. It's a matter of discipline. I'm glad it never came up as dilemma for me. Otherwise, I will be thinking all throughout the trip about it and miss to enjoy it with my dear friends.   

8. For constipation and gas relief, take Dulcolax. I had no choice I have to take this tablet. Namamahay kasi pwet ko." On the first day in Bohol, we had our lunch buffet at Loboc River Cruise for 450 pesos. I ate a lot of fish and fruits. Yet, I could not feel any call of nature to let it out. Perhaps, I was too overwhelmed with the trip. Speaking of Loboc River Cruise, yes, certainly, definitely, it's really a beautiful experience. The river is so green, an indication of a healthy river. It's perfect for a couple seeking for a romantic place.      

9. Buying water from a grocery store is much cheaper. Drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration and grab the chance to pee whenever you see a clean toilet. 

10. Pray for your safety and everybody's safety. Visit some churches too. There are lots of nice stone churches in Bohol. Find ways to attend Sunday mass in your trip. Thank God for everything! In Bohol, we visit many churches. It was my first time also celebrating at mass at Mommy Rufa's Mansion. It was very intimate. I could feel Jesus' presence during the Eucharist. Thank you Fr. James and I support your advocacy. 

11. Vehicle's headlights, sidelights and rear lights are crucial especially at night. Yes, check your vehicle before the long trip. 

12. Hillcolate is yummy and it's cheap. For 6 pcs, it's only 50  pesos. My daughter ate most of them. Indeed she likes them. When I get to Bohol, I'll buy more.

13. Calamay in bagul is delicious. Yet, so heavy. 

14. Wear slippers while on the beach. Almost had a close encounter with a jelly fish.

15. Let not the negative things spoil your days in Bohol. 

16. Before your trip, search some featured places about the place. Read from blogs so that you can get better ideas where to go or what to do in Bohol. They are truly helpful. In one of the blogs, I read about Bohol Bee Farm. I like their organic products particularly the spreads. That is why, no words could express how I felt that day when we went to Bee Farm. Some of my friends said my eyes were really glittering with joy. Indeed! I bought a raffia bag which costs 180 pesos and a pesto spread for 190 pesos. Yes, the pesto spread is so yummy on a toasted bread. It's smell reminded me of Olive Garden in Carson, California. Try also their organic ice cream. There are variety of flavors. I bought a scoop of malunggay ice cream for 40 pesos. It's cone is a cassava. I like it and now I'm craving for it. 

17. Bring wet wipes to keep you fresh. It was so hot then good thing I had with me my wet wipes.

18. Avail check in baggage when you get home especially when you wanna buy lots of pasalubong.

19. Have a good week of sleeping early before your trip.

20. Throw your garbage properly in the trash bins. Leave nothing but footprints as John Kay wrote. Be kinaiyahan friendly!

21. Be pretty and alert as always.

Visita Iglesia

Visita Iglesia! It's a phrase with two words in completely distinct definitions. However, when melded together these words will definitely give you a significant meaning. Visita is a Spanish term. In English, it is an act of going to see a person or a place socially. Meanwhile as stated in Wiktionary, Iglesia comes from a Latin word ecclesia which means assembly. In Christianity, this is not just a mere assembly. This means church. For Roman Catholics, church in small letter refers to the place of worship while Church with a capital C means a whole group of people in communion with Christ. Thus, Visita Iglesia refers to an act of visiting churches. For Catholics, visita iglesia is done every Holy Week, also known as Mahal na Araw for Filipinos. Such week is considered as one of the significant weeks in Christian Liturgical Year. It begins the week with a Palm Sunday and ends it with an Easter Sunday, the day where Christians are commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the son of Almighty God. Thus, this is the perfect time to do the Visita Iglesia. For some, they consider this as their holy obligation or Panata. Others would think of this as an opportune moment to be with their family and to renew their relationship with God. As for me and my family, we have been doing this Visita Iglesia since I was young. Unknowingly, it becomes a Panata already. For this Holy Week, we visited 7 Churches. A week before, I was asking my friends about the number of churches they visit in Visita Iglesia. Some said 9 while others said 7. Now, I am confused. To end my confusion, I asked one of the prayer warriors about it and  she said 7. I asked why. She said the Christians considered 7 to be a Holy Number. It's biblical basis is the Genesis. So, we visited 7 Churches. We had it done last Good Friday. We woke up early in the morning and prepared everything we need for the visit. I had with me my daughter and my in-laws. On the road, I instructed my 10-year old daughter to kneel down and pray with me while we are inside the church. When we got there, she did everything I told her to do. However, I was not certain if she did it wholeheartedly or she just do it because I told her to do so. Anyway, at least for this day, I made her realize the significance of Holy Week for us Christians.

Here is the list of the 7 churches we visited:
1. Our Lay of Lourdes – Apo Road, Central Park Phase 2, Bangkal, Davao City, Davao del Sur 
2. Pink Sisters, Holy Adoration Convent – Catalunan Grande, Davao City, Philippines
3. St. Paul Church – Juna Subd, Matina, Davao City, Philippines 
4. St. Jude Thaddeus Church – Malvar St., Davao City, P hilippines
5. San Pedro Cathedral – San Pedro St., Davao City, Philippines
6. Sta. Ana Shrine Church – Sta. Ana Ave., Davao City, Philippines
7. Carmelite Church – Lanang, Davao City, Philippines