FEB 13

Very timely post.

Happy Valentines!

Tuna Spaghetti

moral lesson: eat whatever's on the table, or face the wrath of mom.

The Thing I Left Unsaid

I should have but I did not so I cannot. (What a hipster line that was, sigh)

What I do Before School Starts

My artwork for Ang INK Corner, found in the Students and Campuses Section in Manila Bulletin.

Yes, I was a diligent and prompt student. WAS. 

Sagada Somethings

I don’t usually go out. The thirst for grand adventures and exciting places and new experiences never really appealed to me. For one, nowadays we have an exciting technology called internet and it’s easy to google away all the places I wanted to see. And if I want to know something, I wikipedia it away. End of the problem.  And I’d rather lie in my creaking computer chair  and use all my precious time looking at every post update in 9gag and facebook. And I think my stomach’s too sensitive for foreign food (by foreign I mean anything not having monosodium glutamate and preservatives). So yeah, I’d rather stay home.

And then I just said yes to a Sagada trip to my orgmates at Ang INK. For all those who are lying down and find it cumbersome to type “Sagada, Philippines” in Google, it is a municipality in Mount Province, known for its “hanging coffins”, a traditional way of burying people. It is an ultra-long drive from Manila (12-hour-butt muscle-building workout) and its tourist destinations include trekking, cave explorations, and many others. I told them that I needed a change of pace, but back in my mind, I know a massive blackout is scheduled in the weekend. Might as well.

So we cut to me in Sagada. Beautiful place with lots of trees and rocks and grass and stuff.  I feel like a living person, not a zombie staring at a computer monitor. I feel like a legit, hardcore tourist. Like a boss. F*ck yeah.

We first went to Sumaguing Cave, the guide described as a level one, noob-friendly cave to explore. I personally did not trust him, and my instincts did not fail me. A level 1 cave for me was like hell. With full of bat poop and freezing mountain water.

Next day, we decided to do something easy-watch sunrise at a place called Kiltepan. But we saw nothing but billowing fog. As I looked around, I swore I saw the headless horseman in Sleepy Hallow. So I quickly asked them to leave the place at once, since viewing the sunrise was futile.

Then we took a hike to Pongas falls. I have not brought my camera and I learned that if you are with fellow artists, let them take the pictures. Makes it easy for you.  I don’t have any pictures but I can tell you I almost shit my pants. The hike was an awful lot harder.

Then to relax ourselves for the unexpected pain, we went to Lake Danum to experience a beautiful lakeside view (This is Isa's hand, btw).

Our friendly guide offered to cook us the Sagada specialty called “Pinikpikan” (roughly translated as “battered”).  It is made by battering (yes, you heard it right) a live chicken before cooking it. As much as we want to prevent a violation from the Animal Welfare Act, it was unevitable. I felt sorry for the cuckoo, and I swore I shed a tear while eating it later in the evening.

What I’ve learned from the trip is that it’s better to enjoy it with friends. At Ang INK, where children’s book illustrations are our common ground, connecting to them is not that difficult. We simply had all the same wavelength-from the places we wanted go to the food we wanted to eat.  They were better up close and personal, better than just merely answering their twitter posts and yahoo group emails. Here at Ang INK, everyone is a friend. Yahoo!

I’ve never felt tired and happy for a long while when I arrived in Manila. Maybe I’ll come back again in Sagada. With friends. But I will bring my laptop next time. All restaurants there have wifi.