What To Prepare for Bucari, Leon

Bucari, Leon, Iloilo is dubbed as the "Summer Capital of Iloilo," akin to Baguio City in the North as the Summer Capital of the Philippines. They both share the blessings of cool weather, a forest of pine trees, and lush agricultural produce. For the longest time, Leon fruits and vegetables have been famous in the city for being pesticide-free and chemical-free. Their mangoes rival that of Guimaras'. They even have a rice-terraces-like plantation for their vegetables. Lately, Leon is now growing strawberries! Indeed, it has earned its monicker as our very own "Little Baguio."

If you do plan to visit Bucari during the day and experience Baguio in Iloilo, here are some tips that you may want to take heed:

1. Check the weather. If there's any hint or possibility of rain, don't go. The road going to Bucari is not only steep and narrow, it is very rough. And when I say rough, I mean very, very, very rough. The muddy and slippery road will be very dangerous and I fear the possibility of a landslide. Best time to go, summer!

2. Plan your itinerary well. Better depart the city early. It would take approximately one hour from the city to Leon and another hour going to Bucari. Our itinerary involved going to the Bucari Pine Forest campsite first where we had our lunch. Then, we proceeded to Imoy Falls. Allot some extra time on your way back because you will be sidelined by all the fresh produce that you will pass by along the road and you couldn't resist to buy! Leave Bucari before it gets dark if you have no plans of staying overnight. If you plan to stay overnight, you can do so at the Bucari Pine Forest campsite. Just bring a tent with you! When we went there, the delegates of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines were just leaving. Don't expect luxurious provisions. The bathrooms are tolerable since there was ample supply of water. If you're not into camping, check out Pineridge Resort, the same owner of Casa Fiammetta. You have to book ahead of time, though, should you wish to stay there.

3. 4x4 vehicle is a must! Oh, and a good driver. Thank goodness we rode the Mitsubishi Strada going there. And my hubby is a very meticulous and careful driver (especially since our son and I were onboard). You will realize how helpful it would be having a 4x4 should you decide to go to Brgy. Camandag where the Imoy Falls are located. Otherwise, better hire a jeepney with an experienced driver, someone who is from Leon and knows the terrain of the place. I don't have any tips if you plan on commuting. I suggest that you get in touch with the LGU of Leon so you can arrange for a transportation from the city to avoid any hassle. Although, I know that some of my companions from Tigbauan took the Tigbauan-Leon jeepney and joined us at the Leon town proper. You could probably make arrangements there as soon as you arrive.

4. Fees to prepare. Apart from your transportation fees, prepare for the following: entrance at the campsite (donation only) and Php 50 if you get a table. If you wish to venture further to the neighboring Barangay to swim at the Imoy Falls, prepare for a Php20/ person entrance fee and a tour guide fee (unfortunately, I forgot to ask!). Better check with the LGU of Leon.

5. Fruits and vegetables to check out: they have eggplants, sayote, calamansi, tomatoes, radish, pechay, cabbage, mangoes, to name a few. The Orchard Valley Farm of the Que family has the lettuce and strawberry farm but you can't go there without permission from their main office. Remember: the fruits and vegetables will be irresistible so bring extra bags or baskets to carry your pasalubong!

6. Clothing. It could get chilly so bring a light jacket with you. If you decide to go the falls, bring swimwear, aqua shoes/socks with you, and change of clothes. There's no bathroom in the falls area so a malong would be an ideal companion to cover you while getting undressed/dressed.

7. Bring food and water. In keeping with nature preservation, a boodle fight type food preparation is ideal so there's no wastage and plastic used. There's a store where you can buy some snacks but prepare to pay a little more that what you're used to paying in the city.

8. Cellphone signal is not good in some parts so prepare to be ex-communicado at some points.

9. Commune with nature. More than taking pictures, marvel at the wonderful sight before you. And may it inspire you to take good care of Mother Nature.

sacrifice

And so it's Easter and everyone is heralding a change of heart and a new life. The priest in the homily today mentioned that other people are taking this literally - some are now sporting a new hairstyle and new pedicured nails. Hmm, I never thought of that but it's an interesting thought. I should probably have my hair dyed to a lighter color. And straighten it. Oh, wait. This new change costs much. Nah. I'll think of something else.

Anyway, yes, it's Easter, and the week before was Holy Week. Everybody is in the retreat, repent, and sin-no-more mode. It also seemed that everybody was giving up something or abstaining from something as a form of sacrifice. In my case, I gave up technology, specifically mobile phones and social media, for almost two days. Food, the usual - no meat. But since I do it on a conscious level especially with my diet and exercise, I felt it wasn't really sacrifice. 

But, well, this is sacrifice. 

It was Easter Vigil last Saturday at Santa Maria Parish, Gen. Blanco St., Iloilo City, where I serve as a choir member. Been serving the parish since 2000 and Holy Week is one of the busiest times to be serving. Easter Vigil Mass starts at 7PM and ends two hours later. Snacks were prepared for us before the mass and dinner after the mass. I found out that we had burgers from Love 'n Kisses, a famous local pizza place, as our snacks so I grabbed one and thought of sharing it with my husband later and proceeded to the dining hall for our dinner. I only had a small plate of spaghetti. I was so excited to fetch my hubby and share the burger with him because I haven't tried it yet. 

Lo and behold! There were two boys who presented themselves as having watched over my car at the parking lot. Since I don't give money as alms as a matter of principle and based from my series of bad experiences with beggars in the past, I had no choice but to give up my burger. I looked at it long and hard and said to myself: "It's alright. I can buy my own burger and I've just had a plate of spaghetti. They need it more than I do." So, I gave it to one of the boys and told him to share it with the other boy. Oh boy! He just got it from me and without smiling said a faint "thank you" and didn't call the other boy to share it with him! The other boy had to run after him! I was looking at them as I was driving away and muttered: "Sigh. Okay. I shared it with him and now he doesn't want to share it with others."

Should I really expect people to act in a certain way? Did I judge that boy correctly? What if he was really hungry? What if he was also denied food to be shared previously? What if he was actually pissed off at me for giving him food instead of money? When you give up something, do you really want the assurance that it was given up for a good reason? Or, do you just give it up and let go of it and not mind whatever happens to it?

When Jesus died for our sins, He knew exactly what He was doing. There was, however, no guarantee that we would all believe in Him and thank Him. Yet, He still did it. He just did it anyway.  

For love.

a little sunshine

today is not only a national holiday (ninoy aquino day) in the philippines, it's also a stormy day. typhoon maring is wreaking havoc in manila and other parts of luzon, endangering the lives of so many people there. i just pray that they heed the warnings of their local officials and evacuate as soon as possible while there is still time and sunshine. the incessant rains are causing everyone quite a strain in their rescue operations.

well, off to some little sunshine in an otherwise dreary day. i was so amused to find an old picture of my husband in a webpage while i did some narcisurfing (to include that of my hubby hehehe). look what i found! 

http://www.queenchesca.20megsfree.com/custom4.html

this is one of the few parts of my hubby's life that i didn't know having met him later in life. so nice to see him in his younger days (Batangas Blades) with fans. better check the link and find out what the blogger had to say about him. ;)

it has been awhile since i've been in quezon city as a commuter. the last time i toggled from FX to jeepney to bus to cab to trike and all things in between and back was when i reviewed for the bar examinations at the UP Law Center in 1998. wow, that's 15 years ago! oh well, to make the long story short, i didn't make it in the bar exams, and have since carved a niche elsewhere. :)

anyway, it was a journey filled with great intentions (curative education for children with special needs) but it was likewise fraught with apprehensions especially when it came to traveling to, around, and from quezon city. but what do you know...angels were everywhere!

day 1 - iloilo-manila

arrived at the NAIA on time! but oh wow...the wait at the airport taxi cab terminal took me an hour! i could practically still remember that i was seated to a couple to my right and an american to my left. we were like playing trip to jerusalem as we transferred from chair to chair as our turn approaches.

the driver was a talker and he has a heart for special children (he supports a special child) so our conversation was a great one. i was so glad to have helped him about referring the child to a developmental pediatrician for assessment. 

with a backpack and a big bag, i arrived at the senate of the philippines garbed in jeans, a t-shirt, and raincoat, with only my fuchsia lipstick reminiscent of my corporate look in days gone by. ( i used to work in this place :)).  it was a good thing one of the guards remembered me so even if i looked suspicious, i was led in after they checked on my bags, of course. i went to the office of senator bong marcos where my friend works and also went to the office of senator serge osmena where my other friend works and met up with another friend who works at the gsis, who used to work at the senate, too! we ended up dining at cafe breton where i indulged in my favorite - la pinay (dessert crepe with mangoes, chocolate, and ice cream).

at cafe breton, sm mall of asia . photo courtesy of sheryl

day 2 - fairview to seameo-innotech to UP teacher's village

i used to hear jokes about fairview being referred to as "far-view" and i experienced it myself to validly say that indeed, yes, it is quite far from everywhere! via cab, it took me around 15 minutes to reach the venue of our workshop and it costs around php155.00. but the route was so easy coming from fairview because all you have to do is travel straight along commonwealth avenue and then make a right to PNRI.

i spent the entire day at the workshop and had lunch at ayala technohub by default. (we were not allowed to have lunch at the cafeteria of seameo because the food for the employees weren't enough so we had to make a 15-minute trek to the nearest food place). lunch at bon chon chicken where i ended up eating bulgogi. :)

one of my artworks at the workshop

after the workshop, my kind-hearted seatmate offered me a ride to UP teacher's village where i was going to meet a friend for dinner at their house. the thing was, she got stuck in traffic from makati, and i was bored waiting at seattle's best coffee along matalino road (where i had sea salt caramel mocha) and explored the area instead just walking around. pretty soon i already found myself at the philippine heart center so i literally had to go back before i get lost! i went to a korean grocery store, dropped by 7-11 but still no sign of my friend. eventually, i took a trike to their house upon her advice to meet her husband and two lovely girls. she arrived around an hour later still! we feasted on her husband's cooking (soup with ribs, sausages, shrimps, and ginger tea). i had so much fun playing with the little girls so time flew so fast! they brought me to fairview.

day 3 - fairview to seameo-innotech to rockwell to airport

for 2 nights, i stayed at the house of my friend in fairview. it was eid ul fitr last friday so my friend finally had the time to have her driver escort me to the venue. arriving at seameo, i immediately asked one of the organizers if there's anyone going to makati after the workshop and lo and behold i got myself a ride! during lunch, it was yellow cab (spaghetti) for us, again at the ayala technohub. after the workshop ended, i got a free ride to the powerplant mall where i met up with other friends from the senate at a tea place called twg. they serve dinner, too! i had their lasagna infused with morroccan mint tea and chocolate tea.

with my cup of chocolate tea

the culinary expert and the lawyer

we capped the night by having another cuppa (this time a hot choco for me) at ucc one rockwell before they brought me to the airport.

all's well that ends well?

well, just before powerplant mall closed my shoe broke and i had to buy a new pair at the trunk show! i arrived at NAIA at 12 midnight and my boarding time was 4 hours later so...i slept on the floor of the terminal because the pre-departure area wasn't open yet. after i checked-in, i slept again on the chairs this time. oh well, when the plane touched down, my husband and son fetched me. i'm home.

 

it's thursday and there's usually nothing momentous that's happening on a thursday for me except that at Maya Playgarden, thursday is one of the most eventful days in the kindergarten. we have our nature walk and baking every thursday and our weekly staff meeting. 

well, i've always wanted to do my own take on "throwback thursday" but i never really had the chance to do it. chatting with my husband just awhile ago, whose nickname is tonyboy, i decided that my own TBT should read "tonyboy thursday." well, for obvious reasons: i couldn't possibly do a "throwback tonyboy!" :)

a year ago, together with my family, my hubby and i went on a trip in the northern part of the philippines. it was such a memorable vacation that albeit filled with misadventures it was still a great adventure nonetheless! there is so much to tell about our week-long road trip but for now...let this "tonyboy thursday" be a highlight of our....

shared love for travel! at the ilocos norte capitol where the song "pamulinawen" was playing over the megaphone.

shared love for adventure! at the cape bojeador lighthouse, ilocos norte. the view from the top was exhilarating!

shared love for family, fun, and food! at the paoay church for a photo-op before we gorged on the famous pinakbet pizza at herencia cafe.

at the bangui windmills, bangui bay, ilocos norte.

simply a shared love. ♥ TBT