A new beginning

What I have written now should be posted many months ago but I already explained to you guys why I just posted this entry now. So here it goes…

August 22, 2008 – one day to go and I’m off to a new place, new culture, new possibilities, new beginning, new atmosphere, etc… etc…. The past weeks were quite a bit of whirlwind to me. I attended lots of parties; most of all were farewell parties for me, had to make lots of tons of errands, packing my things, sorting all things that I should leave at home, shopping for some appropriate dress for travelling, arranging my room and so on and so forth. With all the activities that I had, I had no time to lurk and let the reality of moving on sets in. My flight going to Canada will be tomorrow. I don’t want to cry in front of the people that I loved most. I just want to be happy that now I finally realized one of my dreams. I just could not be fret and be sad right now. I know that what I will be facing the next day is really a huge challenge for me. I know it’s difficult to leave alone especially in a strange place.

August 23, 2008 - we woke up at exactly 3 AM in the morning to prepare for my flight and meet my friends at Davao Airport. The time was moving so fast when I took my shower. Before leaving my home, my mother leads the prayer for our safe trip. All the kids handed me their letters and kissed me goodbye. All of them hugged me as if it’s the last hug that I had from them. I felt so sad during that time leaving them. Those kids were like my own children too! But this is my choice so I have to go on. I know I have to face the reality that someday we will part ways from each other but be reunited again in the future. As we headed for the airport, I sat beside my mother and father. My phone was busy during that time giving updates to my friends. Thirty minutes before we arrived at the airport, I hardly breathe properly. It’s a mixed emotion of excitement and sadness. I don’t want to cry in front of my family. I had to be strong in front of them. I don’t want to leave them a painful moment. My special friend told me one time that the airport is one of the most heartbreaking places in the world. I knew what he meant by it. And I felt that I was crushed down leaving my family. When we arrived at the airport, they all kissed me goodbye. I directly went inside and never looked back to them. Well, that’s just my idea of going on “never look back so I would not cry.”
While at the airport, we were busy checking out our papers, our tickets and weighing our baggage. While waiting for the plane, I kept myself busy by sending message through my phone to my friends with my new roaming number. There’s a part of me that wanted to go back home but there’s a part of me that’s quite excited because it’s my first time to go abroad. I think my emotions during that time were so stressed thinking of many things. It’s a mixed feeling of excitement and sadness.

We went inside the plane. I can see my companions faces being so excited. Some of them were crying. While on the airplane, all I did was thinking of the happy moments being with my friends and especially with my family. I talked to Josh for a little while and asked her if she’s fine. Josh and I were seatmates on the plane. We slept for a little bit. And then check on each other if we’re okay. After 1 hour and 45 minutes we arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. That’s the last time I saw Manila. We stayed at the airport for 6 hours. We were waiting for our flight going to Vancouver. During those hours, we were busy sending again text messages to our family and informing them about our new roaming number. The airport was a little bit crowded. There were lots of people who were stranded because of the storm. We were hoping during that time that we will not be stranded.

It’s already 4:00 PM and we have to get ready to be on the plane. I was sending a text message to Ate Abhet to meet her. We just knew each other through text messages also. Ate Abhet is from Manila. We just exchange pictures through email so we could recognize each other at the airport. She will be working with Josh at Karen’s Catering Corner. I saw her busy with her phone and she waved at me. So I went to her and introduced her to my friends. We’re already complete! So we’re ready to go! Things run on smoothly especially with our papers. When we’re inside the plane, we checked on each other because we don’t want each other to be left behind. I was seating with Juvy at this time. When the plane started its engine, I prayed for our safety. I was happy but a little bit sad. I was wondering why I can’t cry. I wanted to cry but I can’t. I really don’t know why.

So the plane started, I want to sleep. I was tired. All I want to think during that time is all about Canada. I was also excited to meet Dexter at Calgary. He’s a good friend of mine too. I slept and maybe I was dreaming about my life in Canada. Oh! Canada here I come!!!!

Months of idleness

Today, I have lots of things in my mind. I don’t know where, what and how to start my blog again. I was not able to do blogging for the past few months since I arrived here in Canada. It’s maybe because of the scattered emotions that I have, missing a lot of people especially my family and the things back home but the main reason is I don’t have my own laptop yet and I was so lazy to write using my pen again. So I have to wait for the right time for me to buy my own so I can do blogging again. This is me! I love to write but not with the pen anymore. Maybe I’m in the habit of using a computer or what we called the high tech things. Just like writing letters, it’s gone anymore because of mobile phones and internet. Well they say that the world is getting smaller because of the gadgets we’re using now. But I still like the old way, though I’m lazy to do it, I still love it.

Although, I don’t have a laptop to use during the past months, the memories that happened to me is still so clear that I can remember every details of it. My friends thought that I stopped blogging. I didn’t consider myself having a few months of doing nothing. Actually I’m always busy with my work and with my new life right now. My last blog that I posted was last August 4, 2008. It’s been a few months now without any new posting. Now that I have my own laptop to use, I will keep on posting whenever I have time to write back all the memories that happened to me especially now that I’m here in a new place. I know that I have lots of reason to write now because of the new experiences that happened to me and the lessons I learned from being independent.

My months of idleness was between August 2008 to December 2008

Living My Hearts Desire

One Saturday afternoon of September 2005, my family gathered at our home for a brief seminar handled by my mother. The seminar was all about visioning, creating, dreaming and making it realize. We were given a piece of bond paper, pens and art materials. We were told to draw our dreams who and what we wanna be in the future. We were told to be specific with our time frame when we’re going to achieve our life’s goal.

After the drawing sessions, we were told to explain to everybody about the sketch and the symbols we made. I can still remember all my nephews and nieces the way they explain their drawings. I can still remember their happy faces telling us their vision and goals in life. When my time comes to explain mine, I told them that when I reached 28 years old, I will fly going abroad. But I was not specific with the place yet. I was only specific with my age when to reach that goal. I only drew in the bond paper an airplane, sky, and a globe map. It’s really my dream to travel around the world ever since I was in elementary.

I experience a dry period regarding my love life and career last year 2007. I was really bored with my work but as I said in my previous blog, My Resignation Letter, I was not bored with the friends I have in the office. I was only referring about my work. Maybe because I’m doing the same things almost everyday! I can’t imagine how I survived with this kind of job. I am working for almost 7 years with the same kind of work. Imagine doing the same routine for 7 years! You will get bored of course! Maybe you can understand why I am feeling this.

I was just thankful that there’s an opportunity that was given to me to go to Canada. This good news was delivered to me last August 2007 before reaching the age of 28. I considered this as a good sign. When I was told about going to Canada, I hurriedly went home and searched for my drawing. It was still kept inside my cabinet. I have my own goal book. Everything that I wanted to happen to me in the future was written and I also posted some pictures also. I just followed what Gleena did in her goal book. I read about her when I was in college. I just wanna be like her.

December 20, 2007, I celebrated my 28th years for surviving this world. I don’t know why, but I felt inside me that there will be good going to happen this time. I knew it already that it’s a start of my dream. I just prayed hard and did my part too!

February 2008, my application kit for Canadian Visa arrived. I was happy that my prayers were answered one by one. This Chinese New Year, I made some rituals following what Chinese did during their celebration so as to achieve ones goals. A Chinese taught us how and I just followed him. We bought some lucky coins and a paper where we can write all our dreams and what we wanna achieve in our life, successful career, travel abroad, good health, etc and burned it and kept the ashes inside the red envelope. I made those rituals at 12 midnight during Chinese New Year. At 5:30 AM, our contact from Canada, texted me that he will be arriving in the Philippines with the papers so I can start the processing of my visa. I was just so excited. Another step to fill in!

There were lots of positive vibrations during that time. I was asked by my mother to buy a laptop. My officemates and I went to Silicon Valley so I could purchase it there. When we went to the computer center, there were no costumers except us. So I told Cindy, my friend who works there, to help me find the best laptop. Then we left Silicon because the laptop needs to be programmed first. I told Cindy that we will just be back to claim it. After eating our dinner we went to Silicon Valley to get the laptop. Cindy was so happy. She told us that after we left her office, there were 5 costumers who also purchased laptops in cash! She told me that I was bringing luck in their company. I just smiled and laughed at her. Maybe it’s true or maybe it’s just really a coincidence. I was full of blessings during that time.

When our contact from Canada arrived, I was so much eager to fill in all the papers. But when my officemate saw my passport she told me that there was no number indicated to it. Josh had a classmate working at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and referred my passport to her classmate. I was told that it should be changed. So I apply again a new passport with the help of her classmate. After 20 days, it was released.

Many people were helping me during the processing of my Visa. I was just thankful to them. God is really good! I called at the Canadian Embassy so my documents will be scheduled for pick up through Fedex. After making that step, I waited for eleven days for my medical papers to arrive.

I went to the accredited doctor here in Davao for my medical examination. It was done last May 20, 2008. I was so thankful to God that it’s successful. I want to drink coffee and celebrate with my friends. Please refer to my blog entry about “More Coffee Please” so you will understand the reason why I did not drink so much coffee during that time. That’s the reason why….. my medical exam!

After the successful medical exam, I waited for my visa. July 11, 2008, the final judgement comes! When I opened my pouch from Fedex, I wanted to shout and jump for joy. My prayers were answered! I was granted a Multiple Entry by the Canadian Embassy!!! Whooooah! I felt really good and I thank God enough with the blessings I had received from Him. This is really meant for me.

After office hours, Josh and I hurriedly went to the Redemptory’s Church to pray and thank God for the wonderful blessing. Until now, I am wearing my best smile because finally my dream and my goal that when I reached the age of 28 I will be going abroad. My flight is on August 23, 2008. There’s no reason for me to frown now. This is it! This is the start of my new life & my new journey. Thank God! And I do believe that God will grant all my hearts desire in His time and will.

My Resignation Letter

I was having a difficulty to write my resignation letter. I’ve been searching for the website with samples of resignation letter. It’s hard for me to come up with a thought on how I’m going to express and write my letter. It’s my first time to write this kind of epistle.

I’d been working on three different companies for the past 7 years. The first one was Davao Musatech Corporation, a tissue culture laboratory owned by DOLE Philippines, Mindanao Organic Ventures Enterprises, (MOVE), Inc., a banana export industry and Organic Producers & Exporter Corp. (OPEC), a banana export industry also.

We’re laid off at Musatech because the order of the banana tissue culture was reduced to millions so we were forced to resign. But we didn’t make any resignation letters. Our attention was just called at the Admin Office. I didn’t feel bad anyway. I understood the company’s situation at that time. It’s for the company’s sake that we had to cut all the expenses. I was working with the firm for almost 8 months. I enjoyed my work there and learned a lot about the tissue culture. I also learned about time management. But I enjoyed most during my night shift there. We don’t have a boss during night shifts. Speaking of no boss…. Ah you know what I mean.

I was employed at Mindanao Organic Ventures Enterprises (MOVE), Inc. for three years. I was holding two positions; Shipping-In-Charge and as a Cashier. Although I enjoyed my work here, there were lots of pressures I had experienced. I cannot be absent anytime. I should not be late at work. I had lots of responsibilities here. As if I was carrying the whole company. I have to communicate also to Japan for our loading reports. And the company is pretty much going up! So just imagine what I had been to. But we had some staffs who are very supportive ever since I started this work. I learned a lot from the company also specially dealing with the banana growers, about exporting bananas. I learned to work fast and finished my work on time. I had to meet deadlines regarding letter of credit & learned to be more accurate on the data to be passed at the business center of Bank of the Philippines Island or else I will be fined $11.00 per mistake. I had undergone so much pressure in terms of relationship with my boss but I can still cope up with her. I just think that she was pressured too! That’s why she pushed me always. Well life as a worker is always like that. MOVE survived for three years. The Japanese buyer didn’t want to extend its contract with us. And there were lots of problems in terms with the relationship with our bosses. The management agreed to close the company. The company paid all the staffs. We were just given notice about the closing of the company. Memories at my MOVE days are still in my mind and in my heart up to these days.

After my MOVE days, I was absorbed at OPEC. I’ve been working here for three years. My work here is just related to my work at MOVE. I did not have much training since it’s the same duties with MOVE. Although my salary here is much lesser compared to MOVE, I still enjoy my work because of my officemates. We had this kind of bonding and we enjoyed our friendship so much! Some of the staffs of MOVE were also absorbed by OPEC. I established a good relationship with my officemates here. And we enjoyed the moment being together. I learned a lot from my work especially coping up with the crisis. There’s much pressure also with the company regarding financial matters. We were affected with the crisis also. I felt bored with my job but not with the friends I have in this company.

I was just lucky that finally the much awaited Canadian Visa has finally arrived. Heaven knows how happy I am now. But there’s still much pressure on how to tell my boss specially the Executive Director of the company about my resignation. It’s been 2 weeks before I finally tell my boss about this matter. When I uttered the word “resign,” I was a little bit teary eyed. I don’t know why. It was my first time to tell a boss about quitting a job. Of course we have to pass a resignation letter to formalize it. When I first tap the keys of my computer, I can’t find the exact words to come up with a thought about resigning a job. It’s a mixed emotion. I really don’t know how to write about it. It takes me four hours to finally write about it. I didn’t imagine myself writing about it! It’s my first time to pass a resignation letter. Well, finally I did and I was happy with the outcome of my letter. Hope that on my new journey, I will be more blessed so I may become a blessing to others also.

P.S. Here’s the resignation letter that I just made:



July 22, 2008



Ms. Raquel Fulgencio
Finance & Admin Officer
OPEC
Km. 4 Garcia Cmpd. ,
Bajada, Davao City


Dear Ms. Fulgencio,

Please accept this letter as my formal notice of resignation from OPEC effective August 15, 2008 but my last day of duty will be on August 8, 2008 as I will be availing my 5 days vacation leave.

This was not an easy decision which took a lot of consideration particularly with respect to my own plans for my future. I am confident, however, that this new journey of mine represents a positive move toward fulfilling my career goals.

I appreciate the opportunities, knowledge and experiences that have provided to me during my 3 years of service. The time that I spent working at OPEC has been rewarding and will be memorable for years to come. It’s been my pleasure working with the company. I considered OPEC as my second family.

I wish the company a continued success, and I want to thank you for allowing me to be a part of your team. My main thought now is to work as hard as possible to wrap up my current responsibilities and to hand over my tasks as smoothly as possible. Please feel free to contact me anytime if I can be of further assistance in helping with a smooth transition.

Thank you and more power to OPEC.

Sincerely yours,


Jean P. Relabo

Once upon a time in Korea

It was a dreadful day for us here in the office. We’re waiting for the night to come so we can get out here as if we’re avoiding some problems here. No one even smiled. There’s a little bit misunderstanding between my colleagues here. I can’t hear anyone laughing at each other. I can only see from their faces.

I sent a message to my colleagues through their YM and cellphones that we have to go out on time by 5 PM so we could go to a place where we can relax, sit and just talk. But we don’t have any plans where to go yet. It was Josh who decided to go to Gam Ja Tang @ Lanang. It’s a Korean restaurant. The group agreed to eat there.
Upon reaching at the Korean restaurant, we were greeted by the cute waiters and also the Korean owner of the bistro. I like the ambiance and the simple yet elegant architectural design of the resto. We ordered Korean food namely, Kalbichim (beef stew), Hemolpa Jon, (Omelet), Samgyubsal (grilled pork) and the famous Korean seafood noodles, Champong.

While waiting for our orders, we talked and poured ourselves out. We knew that there are many problems that we’re still currently facing. Especially to the persons who are quite against us. I don’t need to mention their names. It will only create more chaos between us. It really helps when you have someone to talk to. It can ease burden if you have friends who are ready to listen to you. I’m glad that they’re always at my side. I know that we wanted to cry but we just can’t let it happen. Maybe we’re afraid that we’re crying in front of our friends.

When the food was ready, we prayed. Kuya Jun told us that it was our first time to pray to ask God to bless the food that we’re going to eat. And he was right. I enjoy the food. I really like the taste. I want it because it’s very hot. I don’t know how many peppers they had put in the food. I enjoyed using the chopsticks too! We stopped talking about the problems. It’s time for us to relax and enjoy the food. There were many free side dishes served. There were lots of Kimchi too! I like kimchi a lot! We really enjoyed this Korean moment of ours. We suddenly forgot our problems. We can’t help but took some pics for our souvenir.

After eating, we still didn’t want to go home. So we decided to have some coffee at AL Fresco, still located at Lanang. I ordered espresso chocolate. The smell is good. And I love the taste. It energized me again! But we can’t stay that long in the coffee shop because Juvy have to be at terminal bus at exactly 9:30 PM. So we hurriedly drink our coffee.

We parted our ways after Al Fresco. We were relaxed and we enjoyed the Korean dinner. I think this was a semi-farewell party for us friends. I had slept well that night knowing that I have my “bestest friends” here always with me.









P.S. I learned one Korean word today: KAMSAHAMNIDA thatt means Thank You!

Why and how I started blogging…

When I was still in my grade school years, I started my own diary. I wrote down all my important events in my life, my first crush, about my friends, family and etc. But I stop writing down my memories, because I was not able to keep my diary a secret. Somebody discovered it in my cabinet. And she shared it to everyone. Oh! I need not to mention her name. She’s close to me but I hated her during that time. I was ashamed and a little bit frustrated of what had happened. So I stopped writing. But I still have the urge to write something about me or anything that pops in my mind.

I am not a perfect writer. I know I still have some corrections the way I write but it doesn’t matter. What is important to me is that I can express more my feelings through writing. If I am hurt, happy, and mad or how I feel with the situations, I can write something about it. If I am able to do that, it’s an accomplishment for me.

During my college days, my mother told me about her prayer journal and creating a goal book just like Gleena’s Goal book. I had read about her goal book when mama bought me a very inspiring book entitled, Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hanssen. This book was with me since I was in my 2nd year college. During that time, I was inspired to write again. I wrote about my prayers, about my dreams, and created my own goal book also. During this time my goal was just to finish college and maintain my grades for my 2 scholarships. I can still remember, I posted my scores that I have to aim in a particular subject. And I got that score. I even wrote about my bf. It seems that writing is really in my blood. I just need to improve my craft.

After college, I become busy searching for a job. And when I landed a job, I stopped writing again. It’s not because I lost some inspirations. During these days, I was not able to write with my pen because my fingers were used to tap the keys of my computer and I am more comfortable with it rather than using my pen. At my work place, we don’t have access yet to internet. Only one computer has a connection and only one person was assigned to check e-mails. The internet connection during that time was still a dial-up so it’s very limited. Somehow, writing was put on the backseat when I started working. When we transfer to our new office, the management decided to connect the entire computer to the internet. So we were just so happy hearing the good news. So I began journalizing again using Microsoft Word. I still don’t have any idea about the online diary.

I haven’t heard about this blogging thing yet. All I did is just to browse my e-mail and friendster just to keep me updated with my friends. I just want to keep in touch with them also. I had a bf of 4 years. He doesn’t know that I like to write. Later did he found out that in my own way, I am a writer. I kept this as secret to him not because I don’t trust him. I just really don’t want him to know about this. I think my journal book is like a very special friend to me, just like talking to a person very privately. But when my bf and I broke up, I gave my journal book to him. He read all of it. I don’t know what his reaction. He just kept quiet and went away with my book. I don’t have another copy of the journal but I was willing to give my journal to him. The journal I wrote was all about him. Though the journal was not with me anymore, memories that I wrote there is still very clear in my mind.

Three years ago, I had a schoolmate at CMU who introduces me to multiply site. I was not that interested because I am more into friendster. But when I browsed her site, I found out that she writes also. She told me about blogging. It’s just like an online diary. She told me that I can announce the entry for my blog to public so everyone can browse and read it or I can also set it to private so only me or my close friends can just read it alone. I was hesitant at first to post an entry for my blog. I browsed some blog entries and realized that blogging is a good avenue for me to express my feelings, nothing too formal, just things about what I feel, about my trips and adventure, my friends, families, and experiences. It’s a good place for me to express myself and my opinion through writing.

When I started to blog, I didn't expect anyone to be reading it aside from some of my close friends. Eventually, more and more people are reading it. It’s actually pleasant when they told me that they had read my blog. Some of my friends express also their thoughts and opinion whether they agree or not with what I wrote. It makes for a good conversation and I get to know a lot of more people. I have been writing for the past years now. It’s a one way for me to update my friends with what’s going on with my life now.

I do appreciate the comments that people leave. Some of my friends called me that they had read my blog entries and they also told me about their reactions. Maybe I will learn something from the comments. I'm pretty much open-minded with what people say. Even if they do not agree with me, I'm fine with that. As I said, it makes a great conversations to debate and talk about stuff.

Sometimes in May

I supposedly had posted this blog entry last year but I had no time to write this down but memories at Canibad are still fresh up to now. I can still remember the memories we had there. And it was still vivid on my mind.

It was May 18, 2007. Juvy, Josh, Mae, Rommel and I went to Canibad Beach Resort located at Samal Island. We were so excited to explore the new found haven for the beach babes. We discovered this place at a Sun Star Newspaper featured by Jojie Alcantara. We were attracted with the pictures and we decided immediately to go there. Since we don’t have a boss at that time, we chose that date to go there. So off we go to Canibad.

Getting there was not that easy especially we don’t know what we’re going to ride, we don’t know how to get there, we don’t know the fare, and we don’t know the facilities of the resort. So it’s a quite an adventure for us!

Our assembly area was at the Sta. Ana Wharf. We were so excited to go there because we’re all first timers and we don’t know what kind of adventure we will experience there at Canibad. We have to ride a bus going to Samal. When we reached Babak, we just asked the “Habal Habal Drivers” on how to get there at Canibad. We were shocked knowing that the fare was quite expensive because it’s far away and the road going there is rough. Because we brought many things, we chose not to ride a motorcycle because we felt we’re in danger. Then we rented a multicab and paid P600.00 pesos for a one way trip. The name of the driver is Weng. It’s a one hour ride going to the resort. The road is very rough. I did not expect that it was difficult to go there. I did not expect also that it’s very far. I thought Samal is just a small island. I was wrong.

We reached the place at 12:30 PM. We were quite hungry. Weng told us that we should walk on the cliffs to reach Canibad Beach Resort. It’s quite a challenge for us. Just climbing and going down on a mountain is not that easy.

Before we went down, we took some pictures to capture the panoramic view of the whole resort. It’s very beautiful and I like the serenity of the place. We started to walk down. At first, it was difficult for us to pass by the cliffs because of our body weights and the many things we brought there for our one night stay at the resort.

Finally, we reached the cottage. The rent of the cottage was only P150.00 per night. It’s very affordable. We then fixed our things and ate our lunch. After eating, we took some rest. We’re a little bit tired but we’re happy to reach there at Canibad Resort.

It was already 4 PM. We strolled @ the beach resort. Sometimes, we ran and sometimes we jump on the sand. It’s very relaxing just to laugh yourself out as if we were the only person at the resort. We climbed the rocks and the trees. We took a lot of pictures. We screamed just to release our stress from work and problems. Hehehe! After one hour, we decided to go back to our cottage to prepare our dinner. It was getting dark I like the smell of the sea breeze. We just learned that there was no electricity at the resort. Being the girl scouts, we gathered some dried leaves and woods for our bonfire.. We were just lucky because manang, the caretaker of the resort gave us some improvised lamps and candles. She instructed to us that the bonfire should be placed far away from the trees. We just followed her instructions.

After eating dinner, we lit the woods. Every cottage has a bonfire. I can still remember our scouting days during my grade school camping under the trees with a bonfire. We played cards and we talked and laughed a lot! The sky and the sea were so peaceful. I like to watch the stars. But we can’t go far from our cottage because it’s very dark and we’re afraid if we leave our things at the cottage since it’s an open cottage. Nobody will guard our things. The night was getting colder. We decided to sleep. It’s hard for me to go to sleep because Josh and Juvy were snoring a lot! Hehehehe! So it’s very disturbing for me. I had not slept well at night.

We woke up early in the morning just to witness the beautiful sunrise. My favorite scenes of the day are sunrise and sunset! I’ve been taking pictures of it from different places. That’s why I always bring my camera with me. I was able to capture the sunrise. I was in bliss during that time! I liked it very much. We went swimming after eating our breakfast and strolled again at the resort. We went on rock climbing at end of the resort. We just paid P10.00 per person climbing there. I thought that particular spot was free because it’s already a part of the resort.

After how many hours of swimming there, we went back to our cottage and be ready for our things and waited for Weng who will pick us up going back to Babak. We climed to the hill again and waited for Weng. We left Josh at the resort because she still had a reunion with her classmates from college.

We were fortunate enough because Weng had another route going back to Babak so we can explore Samal. We were able to view the Small and Big Ligid Island. I learned from Weng that the Small Ligid was owned by the Ayalas. I wanted to go there but I know it’s very expensive! He told us that there were sharks there. A scuba diver died there. I thought there were no sharks here in Davao Gulf. Along the way, Weng pointed to us the crash site of the plane. I think there are ghosts at the crashed site. All of the passengers of the plane died there. Then we stopped by a site were we can see the Vanishing Island of Samal. You can’t see the island if it’s high tide. It’s a white sand island just like the White Island at Camiguin. Then we proceeded to the Monfort Bat Cave and paid P15.00 per person for the entrance fee. Thousands of bats reside there. I don’t like the smell of the Guano but it’s a good fertilizer for the plants. I think it’s very expensive also. We can’t go inside the cave because of the smell and thousand of bats were flying. I can hear the sounds of the bats. They were noisy. After taking some pictures, we went to the Holiday Bus Terminal so we can go home. We thank Weng for being so nice to us also. He’s also a good tour guide. I learned from him a new way of saying “Cheese” when taking pictures, we should say “Mais!” hehehe!

We then rode the bus and later found out that one of the wheels of the bus was not functioning well. So we decided to look for another ride. We asked the tricyle driver to take us to the port. At this time, we rode a small boat. I was a little bit afraid of the small boat. I just prayed that we can reach Sasa Port on time because it’s already 5:00 PM.

We reached Sasa port and I thank God for the safe trip. I really enjoyed my stay there at Canibad even though it’s just a one night stay there. I fell in love with the place. It’s far away from the problems and it’s so relaxing. I wanted to go back there just to relax and enjoy the calmness of the place. I always thank the Lord Almighty for creating such a wonderful place to live. I miss Canibad a lot now. I think I left my heart there.


Beathtaking view of Canibad


Our Bonfire