#ForeverJ21

Thursday, that was the day of my 21st birthday. I still haven't felt my 20's and i'm not yet ready to deal with myself being 21 years old. But, let me share to you the different happenings for my birthday.

Part 1: September 17,2015

There was this noise in our kitchen that woke me up around 5 a.m. I was guessing who of my apartment mates was making that noise. I had two options: First, I thought of Den making cake for me, and second, I thought of Ryan cooking because maybe he's hungry. At the end, I didn't mind much to avoid spoiling whatever they were preparing.

When my alarm did its job, I opened my door and saw 3 pink roses, breakfast ready, and a plate in our dining table. I immediately guessed who prepared it. The breakfast prepared was ham and french toast with egg in the middle, and there's only one person who I taught such here in the Philippines. He was taking a shower back then when I saw everything, so I knocked heavily at the door as a way of saying "Thank you". We had breakfast together and got ready for a very busy day at school. 

September 17, 2015 was the first day of our College Selection, and I had a lot of responsibilities to do throughout that day. I was in-charge of the participants and players, and had to assure that everything was going well with my fellow ekonomistas. In the morning, while I was watching the hip-hop competition, my classmates gave me a cake, our traditional gift when there's a birthday celebrant.

In the afternoon, I was already tired. I had the option to watch the Mr. and Ms. CBEA or not. I was about to call it a day and go home, but Hannah told me to go and watch the whole show. I wondered why she told me to do so and made me intrigue. 

During the show, Den texted me that he is one of the board of judges and he was on his way to our school. I got excited, and while waiting ,me and my classmates enjoyed the show. Time passed, and the show was about to end and he didn't appeared yet. I tried to call him, text him, and everything. I was already getting mad because he kept on rejecting my calls, nor replying immediately. I lost all hopes when he texted that he didn't make it because there was a breaking news and he had to go back to work. I was all pissed off, but I had to keep calm because I didn't want to ruin my birthday, but he already did ruin it somehow. 

My laoageña classmates already left, i was the only one left, except from my classmates from Batac. 

On my way home, I wanted to pray, but angriness kept on interfering my mind. I couldn't focus. I texted Czarina to accompany me to buy cake and food for a mini feast with my relatives. She came with Aian. After, I insisted them to go and eat somewhere because I was frustrated and everything, but they didn't want me to. So they accompanied me to the apartment. And then that's when everything made sense...

I opened my door and boom! 

These liars planned a surprise birthday for me. I cried and didn't want to enter the door at first, cause i was in a state of anger and surprised at the same time.

They prepared a surprise video with my family and friends from Barcelona. Made me cry more and more.

Later on, we had dinner prepared by kuya Allen. We had games, and had a lot of F-U-N.

Indeed it's one of the best birthdays I've had. Thank you, guys. For all the effort, never mind the lying part and making me angry, I'm very thankful to have you guys in my life. You made my birthday unforgettable. You guys are the best!

Special thanks to the man, Denish, and to my very caring mom, for planing this. Kuya Allen for cooking, and the rest for decorating and for the friendship. Lucky to have you all.

The one who I got mad with. Silly person who lied to me like 3 times because of this surprise birthday party. Most effort award goes to you my dear! 

Part 2: September 19, 2015

Before celebrating my birthday, I already planned to do this. Distribute food to 21 persons. And will make this a traditional action for my birthday from now on. 

Thank you to Czarina+Aian for helping me and Den. 

Smiles like this compensates everything.  

Part 3: DIY Burger party 

Had a simple celebration with my main.

One my of my favorite people.

Side trip: La Presa & La Union.

LA PRESA, BENGUET

You were just a dream that I once knew. Yes, I stepped in the place where they tape the series Forevermore. I'm not really a fan of the serie but I love Liza's beauty, who doesn't?

The actual name of this place is Sitio Pungayan, and sad to say but there were no strawberries. I expected it also to be cold, but it was very hot. Maybe it's because we were nearer to the sun. It's around 40 minutes to arrive the place from the city of Baguio. 

Since it has become a tourist spot, residents have placed fee to everything, even to the house of Liza. 

There's an Php 20 environmental fee, and you can also Agnes's house for Php 25. 

Souvenir shops are everywhere. I even bumped into I love La Presa t-shirt. It's funny, knowing that that called place only exist in the serie. 

I think they were Broccolis. 

THUNDERBIRD, LA UNION 

Such a class A, expensive, big, greece style resort. Their cheapest room was around Php 8,00/night. So we just took pictures (harhar)

Roaming Pangasinan

It's more fun with the Felipe Family!

Part 1:

Pangasinan is indeed a very big province. I was able to roam around from Urdaneta to Bolinao, the northwest part, and Tambobong, southwest part of Pangasinan. I was very lucky to travel with my family and relatives. So I would like to thank each and everyone of them.

Im writing this after many weeks after my trip, so my brain had somehow disarranged how it went.

The main  reason why i went there, in Urdaneta was to attend my sister-in-law father's funeral. And later on spontaneously gathered with my fatherside relatives in Manaoag. Resulting of a roadtrip adventure with the family.

Church of Manaoag parking space

Lingayen, Pangasinan

Capitol of Lingayen

And we finally arrived in our main destination: Tambobong, Pangasinan.

We took a boat that brought us in an white beach island. Time travel was around 20 minutes. It was a really small island because we walked around it in less than 30 minutes.

Part 2: 

I went back again in Pangasinan to visit Bolinao at Hundred Islands with my big bro and his wife's family.

Bolinao kinda dissapointed me, or maybe it's because it was holiday and it was really crowded everywhere. 

Rented this place for Php 3,000. It's very expensive for it's quality but we didn't had a choice. There were no place available anymore. 

So we still had to make the most of it. 

My brother and his wife

Bolinao Lighthouse

I wish I were able to visit Bolinao falls and some caves, but i guess that's the perks of travelling in a group.

We slept overnight at Bolinao and early in the morning we packed up to our next stop:

Hundred islands, baby! It's very hassle to get a boat and stuff cause you  had to register and everything. The weather was unbearable either. It was extremely hot. And I didn't expect hundred islands to be like that. Mostly of the islands were just like rocks. 

I'm afraid of heights but i didn't want to miss this. I jumped. Yey for me! 

Lessons learned during this trip: It's hard to deal but you have to keep up with people who are not into adventures.

4 days 3 nights adventure in Coron

If there's another definition for paradise in just one word it would be "Coron".
Definitely mesmerized by the beauty of everything that Coron has to offer. Every island has its enchanting magic. They're all different but have something in common, beauty.
 Plus, seafood dish can be found in any restaurant. All cooked in different manners but still tastes superb.
White sand, clear water, sun, good company... what else can I ask for? Nothing.

Coron is a small town, so you won't probably get lost. And I highly recommend it for solo travellers. I felt really safe during my stay. Everything is just blocks aways. Travel agencies and shops are all walking distance. And for another recommendation, it's way better to purchase tour packages in Coron. It's way cheaper than booking online.

I must say that it's the best and most beautiful place I've been to so far. Seriously. No hesitations about it.

So here's the itinerary of our 4 days 3 nights trip, may 6-9,2015, in Coron with my friends, Melvy and Dianne.

Day 1:

Our 3:15pm flight with Cebu pacific was 1 hour delayed so we arrived in Coron around 6 pm already.
We hopped in a van that took us in the town proper. We had to pay Php 100 each for the ride. Time travel is around 30 minutes. It was surprising that there were no rice fields along the way, i wasn't used to it. Instead, there were mountains everywhere.

We checked in at Jazmine's Place (http://www.jazminesplace.com/). We spent Php 8,000/3pax for 4D3N of stay. Their rooms are very pleasant, i highly recommend it, too.

After resting, we rented a tricycle to bring us at the Maquinit hot springs just for Php300, back and forth. Entrance in Maquinit is Php200, but if you're a student remember to bring your I.D for discounts. Too bad we didn't bring ours.

The maquinit hot springs was really hot, literally. But it was indeed relaxing. We didn't catch the sunset so we didn't take too many pictures.

Then, we had dinner at "Lolo Nonoy's Food station". It was about to close when we arrived there but, luckily they still welcomed us and had us as their last costumers for the day. Their food is really affordable and delicious.

Afterwards, we booked our first DIY island hopping in Expeditions.

Day 2:

We had our first island hopping tour in private by paying Php 1,700 each, lunch included. We DIY-ed our tour. We were able to visit 7 islands: Siete pecados, Kayangan Lake, Barracuda, Banol beach, Calacuchi beach,Twin Lagoon, and Hidden lagoon.
(Pictures below are in order)

We had to manage our time so we can hike Mt. Tapyas before sunset, and so we did.
Mt. Tapyas was really a tiring activity, i can't recall how many stairs there were, but the view was really worth it afterall. Imagine the scenario, the sun setting behind the islands of Coron. Amazing.

 

Later, we had dinner at "Sinugba sa balay" and their food was totally exquisite!

At night, we walk around the town proper and spent like more or less 30 minutes to surround it. It's that small.

Day 3:

This time we had a joining island hopping tour to save money. The fee for visiting Malcapuya island, Banana island and Bulog dos island costs Php 1,200; lunch and snacks included. It's expensive due to it's distance. Time travel is around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

At first, i thought that joining a group tour would be awkward but I was wrong because you get to know people, make friends with them. In our boat, we were 16 + 2 tour guides.

Malcapuya Island:

Banana Island: It is called Banana because the island itself has a shape of a banana leaf.

Bulog Dos Island:

After our tour, we decided to have a dinner altogether at "Kawayanan Grill Station". A place where they serve cocrodile sisig and el nido soup. We took the tricycle to reach the place by paying Php 10 each. We ate seafood, we sang the karaoke, played billiards, etc.

This day was fun because of the new people we have encountered.

Day 4:

Had our breakfast at "Kawayanan Grill Station", again.

Last day also means last minute of buying souvenirs! Bought their traditional delicacy, cashew nuts. It's really delicious. I should have bought more, but it was kinda expensive.

And before our 12 noon flight we had to go back to the airport and had to bid goodbye to the paradise. Sadly, our flight was delayed again for 2 hours.

Back in Manila, again.

And that's our memorable adventure in Coron. Here's an additional information about our expenses:

Just for more or less Php 10,000/person you can enjoy an unforgettable underwater experience in Coron. But you can spend less by joining tours, picking hostals or room for backpackers instead of hotels if you're in budget.

Roundtrip airfare : Php 5,000
Island hopping tour: Php 1,700+1,200= Php 2,900
Airport fee : Php 70
Airport-Coron-Airport transportation: Php 200
Souvenirs: Php 500
Maquinit hot springs: Php 200 (entrance)
Food: Php 1,000 (depending on your prefence)

In our case, we had to spend more for transportation because we live in Ilocos. Spent around more than Php 2,000.

I hope everyone gets to visit and love Coron like I did.



Watch our Coron adventure video in this link below:
https://www.facebook.com/jessicafelipe17/videos/vb.1552909790/10206089322262740/?type=3&theater


Most of the pictures and the video are taken with: Goprohero4silver