Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Mt. Pulag "Solo" Climb


Climb Mt. Pulag - Check
Go on a Solo Trip - Check
Socialize - Check
Reflecting - Not so much...

All of my siblings have already been to Mt. Pulag, all of them saying the same thing to me: Climb it! After 6 months of coordinating my schedule and finding a climb-mate, I finally had an opening in my schedule to climb Mt. Pulag on April 21 and 22, 2012. I was still hesistant, though because I couldn't find anyone to climb with me. (I was thinking of even paying for one of my siblings' fare so they could go with me.) But what the heck, after subscribing to a My Super Charged Life, and boosting my courage levels, I finally went out of my comfort zone and just climb with a group where I didn't really knew anyone (except for the group leader Deo of Backpackers United, who happens to be my sister's ex-boyfriend).

I was really hesitant, because I didn't know where to go. I am prepared for much awkwardness and shyness because I know my expectations. I find it hard to socialize! (It's one of my new year's resolutions!)

Anyway, I arrived in Victory Liner Cubao, precisely as Deo instructed. Unfortunately, there was still some time left. I didn't know where to go. But you could see our group, because they were talking and laughing, with their big backpacks in the middle. But me? I have my backpack with me plus a separate bag for my sleeping bag, sat on a chair, and just quietly read the e-book from my phone (I was finishing the second book of the trilogy of the Hunger Games). I really don't want to call attention to myself, but made myself known to Deo that at least I was in the vicinity hehe When they started walking to the bus, I followed them. Problem was, I don't know where to sit, so I just sat on one of the chairs. Fortunately, knowing I didn't know anyone, Deo sat beside me. He introduced me to some of his friends, who was seating behind us. Deo unfortunately, introduced me as a doctor! Great! What happened to the Not Calling Attention to myself? People tend to remember doctors...

It was a 6-hour bus ride, comfortably enough, and we arrived in Baguio City around 4 am, I think? (I don't have a watch so I'm estimating! Haha) We waited for the two jeepneys, which Deo rented for us. Then it was another 3-4 hrs of bumpy jeepney ride along the winding roads of Cordillera before we reached our first stop, Jang-Jang eatery, where we had our breakfast. Another awkward moment for me, since I can't help thinking, "Who or where do I hang out?" (There's Danna, whose friends with my sister, but they have their little group of 4. I find it intruding to put myself in.) One of our jeepney mates was telling Deo that he's dizzy. Doctor that I was, I offered Cinnarizine for the dizziness. I introduced myself, and thought to myself, "Yey! I made a friend!" At least, there is someone I can eat breakfast with. We first went to the hanging bridge, where there's a very shallow river below.

Thanks Ron for the pic, taken from his iPhone 
Then we ate breakfast and introduced ourselves. (I introduced myself as a marketing associate of our family business, which is partly true, but I don't really practice! I handle the company accounts... Right, now I remember, I'm supposed to contact some companies... Okay, I will... after finishing this blog hehe) Then another 2-hr jeepney ride to the Visitor's Center for some orientation. Unfortunately, there was a moment where the guide was asking about a medic, and Deo said, "We have a doctor, si Meme." (Boom! There goes my cover... And as I suspected, people started remembering me, and calling me Doc. Hmph! Low profile pala ha?)

Anyway, we went back to the jeep and started from the jump-off point. Actually, it wasn't really the jump off point, but we got down sooner because the road was under construction. I was really envious on how they managed to pack everything inside, even their sleeping bags because I couldn't manage it! I vowed I will fix it when we're in camp! Grabe, sementadong daan palang, nakakahingal na! But no, I vowed I will not use a porter like my sisters did! (Competitive?? Hehe) Anyway, we ate lunch at the Ranger Station. And started the trek from there.

Backpackers United at the Ranger Station; Pre-Climb

I brought two liters of water, but actually a liter will do. Aside from the fact that there are water sources available, for some reason I didn't want to drink that much or eat trail food during rest stops. The trail was okay, generally long, but there wasn't much incline; it's just that I find my backpack really heavy and I have another bag in my arms for my sleeping bag!

Look at them, all laughing! And me? Silent and alone, but ready for the pic! Haha
 
I had no idea of the time, but we reached camp maybe around 4:30 pm? There was still some light when we arrived, and we were able to climb a nearby hill for photo-op purposes. Initially, I started hanging out with Danna, and offered to help with dinner (generally, because I don't know what to do; I feel restless to sleep, and I don't really want to miss the mountain wind!) I did ask her if she wanted to climb a nearby hill, close to our camp, but looking at it, makes us feel tired already haha But then, another group asked us if we wanted to go, and I changed my mind and went with them. (I remembered my sister Matel telling me she wasn't able to climb the nearby hill because she fell asleep unexpectedly haha)

Going uphill? Or downhill?


There's our camp, behind and below us
After climbing, we helped with dinner (I just love slicing!). We had sinigang na baboy for dinner. Then we had socials. Socials is usually a fun social interaction between the climbers to bring them closer together, but since Deo wasn't able to prepare any game, it was actually a moment of awkward question-and-answer Haha Especially for me since for some reason, I was in the hot spot. (Ganoon pala pag mag-isa? Nagiging hot spot?? Hehe)

Sinigang na Baboy for dinner (Not your usual camping food)
We waked up around 4 am to climb the summit. It was still dark when we get there, a few minutes just before sunrise, but it was glorious! The view was just... amazing. No matter how good the camera or the photographers are, it wouldn't catch the view.

Taken at the summit, still dark, waiting for the sun to rise, with Dino, Jasper, and Danna

Sea of Clouds
Sea of Clouds behind me


Jump Shot at the Summit with Ron, Jomar, and Clariz
Rein, Ron, Jomar, Clariz, me, and Miko
Grabe, kung kanino lang talaga ako sumasama! Initially, I was with Danna and most of the group in the summit. But I find that there are so many people, so I walked to another area to have a solo picture with the clouds! Siyempre, hindi maganda pag ako ang nag picture kasi masyadong malapit. So pakapalan lang ng mukha, and asked someone else (who came from our group) to take a picture of me with my phone camera. Before I knew it, I was asking them to take a picture of me, and tag me in facebook! Haha (How's that for stepping out of my comfort zone?? Hindi ko alam kung mas nahirapan ako diyan or going skinnydipping with my friends!)

After a while, we went back, had breakfast, and break camp! It was about 9 or 10 am, when we finally started our descent. (By the way, I consider myself one step closer to becoming a true mountaineer because I was able to pack my sleeping bag within my backpack, and I have therefore two free hands! Yey!)
Backpackers United at Mt. Pulag
Ranger Station Post-Climb

After the Ranger Station, we went back to the Visitors Center for graduation and some post-climb pics.
Congratulations! (unfortunately, thanks to Deo, that's not my name!)
Backpackers United at Mt. Pulag Visitor's Center, Post-Climb
We went back to Jang-Jang Eatery, where we had a late lunch, and had a chance to wash up. Unfortunately, there were only two comfort rooms. And there was a lot of us. Basically, I just want to get wet and just change my clothes! I'm going to do a full bath once I get home anyway. Fortunately, a few of them were going to the river and were going to wash up there. My love for freshwater made me agreed wholeheartedly! And I really thank them for inviting me! Hehe

Since no alcohol was allowed during socials, we consumed our alcohol inside the jeep going back to Baguio. (Imagine, that the journey can already make one dizzy because of the zig-zags, plus we're drinking? It was a good thing that no one vomited!)

Inside our Jeep (there were two)
We got in Baguio City, around 7:30 pm. We had dinner, and left, catching the Victory Liner bus back to Cubao.

It was a very fun experience for me! Considering that I don't know anyone, and I'm really shy! Haha This is a real test of comfort zone for me. Thanks Backpackers United for making me feel so welcome! It's actually because of the comraderie (and the scenery) that made me want to climb a mountain monthly... Okay, plus it's also the feeling of adventure and achieving something :)

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Importance of Investing

I wonder how many know how banks make their money?
That we as consumers, willingly deposit our money with them, which at the end of the year will earn a measly 1% interest? And we're happy with that?!

I wonder how many know that the money we deposit, is used by banks to use for investment in mutual funds and stocks, which earn 8-12% annual interest conservatively! And it could go as high as 30-40% per year! And yet, we're happy with the 1% interest? When the thing is, inflation rate is about 7%, meaning the money that we put in the bank loses it's value!

Tsk tsk! I only learned of this recently, and it astounded me that so many of us do not know this!
Hence, I think we should put our savings in investments.

I have three bank accounts. I recently opened a new one at BPI Maxi-Savers, because it earns interest monthly (instead of annually). But my original BPI Regular Savings is my active account, which I use to regularly transact everyday expenses. And I have a deposit account at RCBC, simply because of payroll... And I will have a new deposit account at Metrobank, also because of Payroll, and I will use this to conduct transactions and invest in FAMI (a mutual fund).

I originally want to close my BPI Regular Savings account, and transfer everything to Maxi-Savers, however I cannot make withdrawals within a month (actually I can, but I can have the incentive of having a higher monthly interest rate if I didn't make a withdrawal).

Anyway, I may want to simplify my life and close some of my bank accounts, but I guess this is part of diversification. Diversification, meaning putting your money in different sort of investments. I have money in banks, stocks, and mutual funds.

Anyway, I'll go about this tomorrow... I still have some working to do. I'm currently on duty while I'm writing hehe


Friday, December 16, 2011

Bangkok Shopping Spree with Jill




Nov 30 - Dec 5, 2011
Bangkok, Shopping
Day 1: Arrive. Shop. Pratunam.
Day 2: Siam. MBK. Madame Tussaud. Pratunam.
Day 3: Bobae Market. MBK. Pratunam. Siam Niramit.
Day 4: MBK. Mass. Pratunam. Platinum.
Day 5: Pratunam. Platinum.
Day 6: Last minute shopping at Pratunam. Departure.

Bangkok Shopping Spree with Jill


Jill and I already went to Bangkok last March 2011.
And yet, we wanted to go again, because we wanted to shop there so much that we book another trip!
Actually, I'm not that enthusiastic, but I was convinved, hay... (So much for pagtitipid!)

Anyway, what actually convinced me was the low fare that we got from Tiger Airways. Imagine only PhP 5500 compared to the 11k that we bought from PAL 9 months ago!

Anyway, it was a trip scheduled for shopping!
We only scheduled a trip to Madame Tussaud and to watch Siam Niramit show.
The rest was a shopping spree in Pratunam and Siam area. We didn't even thought about museums hehe

This was our planned expenses (aside from the shopping spree)
5550 - airfare by Tiger Airways 5,550
735 - upsize luggage to 25 kg (it was a good thing because my baggage after shopping was 26 kg!)
600 - Terminal Fee
1620 - International tax

2786.50 - Siam Star Hotel for 5N/6D (yep, that's almost a week! booked online via booking.com; a very good cheap online reservation system)
1,222 - Siam Niramit (booked online via hotels2thailand.com; this was cheap because it costs 1500 Baht or almost PhP 2k)
669 - Madame Tussauds (booked online via hotels2thailand.com; also cheaper than in the official site)

For food, it was cheap there. You can budget yourself 50 baht per meal. Sometimes we have breakfast at 20-30 baht consisting of this fried dumplings or lugaw, etc already good for both of us. Jill likes drinking their cold coffee priced at 15 THB (or around PhP 22.50). There are lots of cheap street foods. (There's even this noodle menu that has the texture and similar to the Philippine isaw! Yum!) It's one of the things I will miss in Thailand!

Anyway, we stayed in Pratunam area, where the market and shopping never sleeps! As early as 6 am, there's already the street market. Then the "official" shops open at 8 or 10 am to 4 pm. Then there's another night street market! And during Sundays, the stalls are also different (and there are soooo many other choices). I went shopping for Christmas gifts already, because it's WAY cheaper there... And I really though of buying a new cellphone there. They have lots of accessories for Blackberry there compared to the Philippines.







Thursday, December 1, 2011

Lubang District Hospital

I've been working here for over a year now. And I really like it here.
What can I say? I'm a simple girl, satisfied with the feeling of seeing green all around me, feeling the natural provincial smog-free breeze, and loving the feeling of a small community knowing everybody.

When I passed the boards, I know I didn't want to go straight to residency training. I know my passion for travel, so I looked for job openings in places away from Manila. As it turns out, I got a call from Dr. Sayapal in December if I could start on January 2011. And that's how I began.

Lubang Island is a small island located north of mainland Occidental Mindoro... which is why every time I say that I work in Mindoro, for some reason they associate this with Puerto Galera, and mainland Mindoro. I have to explain it's a different island, and travel in between is hard because you have to go to Calatagan and Batangas piers first.

Anyway, how do you get here? There are generally two ways to get there: (1) 6-hour ferry ride and (2) 3-hour boat ride. The schedule of the ferry Nikki travels once a week, except during the summer where it can travel twice a week. The ferry docks in Pier 12 in Manila, traveling usually at around 10 AM. From Manila to Lubang, it travels during Fridays. (It used to be Saturdays, but they moved it.) From Lubang back to Manila, it travels during Sundays. Fare costs PhP 650-700/one-wayThat's the easy way. There's a harder and complicated way, but it has more flexibility in schedule. You have to travel to Calatagan Pier, and from there, catch the 400-capacity boat God's Grace to Lubang. It travels usually at 12 NN, Mon-Thu-Sat from Calatagan to Lubang, while it travels back to Calatagan on Tue-Fri-Sun. Fare costs PhP 500/one-way.

Reasons why I like it here:
1. Peaceful and quiet - every one knows every one so there's not much mauling (except usually when people get drunk) and crime rate.
2. Friendly - people are really friendly and helpful, they know who are the new-bies when they first enter the island. My friend Julie came to visit "me" but she goes to the bayan all-alone, without any agenda. She just borrowed a bicycle from one of my co-workers. And yet, she spends the whole mid-morning to afternoon there. She told me, people just approached her, knowing that she's new. They invited her for lunch, and even invited her to stay overnight! Haha
3. Primary hospital - from the first assessment, I can tell if the patient needs further evaluation and management, and if can be referred to Manila. So from the start, I explain the limitation of the facilities and medicines here, and at least explain up to what we can do. (Hmm, therefore leading to less malpractice issues.)
4. Less expenses - since I live in the hospital, I have free food and lodging. There's not much to buy here because there's not much commercial establishments. Oh right, my family's favorite pasalubong is lobster which only costs PhP 300-350/kg, which is really cheap! I try to take home every duty, but sometimes it depends on the season and the wind.
5. Internet - is super fast! I used to download one TV series in a couple of hours. I usually finish and catch up on my TV series while I'm on duty.
6. Benign - except for Monday (where the OPD is a lot because the local health center is closed), it's a generally benign duty. Love it! That's why I can catch up on my TV series, writing and blogging (haha!), and whatever things I may need to be reflecting about (haha as if! with the internet, there's already lots of temptations to do other things)

Reasons why I don't like it here:
1. Ferry schedule - because of the ferry schedule, two weekends are covered! There is also one-day allotted for traveling (actually two days, because it's a two-way trip). Because of this, even though it's only a one-week duty, 9 days is gone from your month (two days for traveling, and basically 1 free day in Lubang to roam around). There goes my traveling schedule...
2. I'm getting fat here! - I just can't go jogging here because there are dogs around, which they say don't bite, but whatever! They bark and they scare me! Hehe Plus since there are no commercial establishments here, one of their possible past times is cooking, and there are lots of food here! Especially during fiesta, where there's this habit of going from one house to the next, eating never-ending meals! Grabe... And their fiestas happen almost every month. (It's probably also another reason why a lot of them has high uric acid and cholesterol...)
3. Risk for being stranded - Since this is a separate island away from the mainland, there is a risk of being stranded, especially when the boat or the ferry didn't make it because of the wind or the water. When that happens, the doctor who's supposed to replace you cannot come, and you're forced to go on duty for another week... Actually, I think that's an advantage, because it's cheaper (in traveling expenses) if you go on duty for two straight weeks. (My longest duty was three straight weeks.) Since it's benign, you're not really tired. But okay, sometimes I get homesick and I miss not talking with them. If you get stranded, and went on duty for two weeks, at least you don't have to go on duty for another month. Because basically, the requirement is 7-days-duty per month. So, if you had 14-days, then you just advanced your duty for the next month.

I've been on duty a lot. I had experience a lot of fiestas here (so I know it can be fattening!). And when it's fiesta, people all over are very neighborly! Their houses.. are just open!

I will miss Lubang, that's for sure! I haven't been able to tour it yet! Maybe next time I come back, I will just be a visitor, so I am free to tour around and see its natural beauty... My friends who have been here (Tasha, Julie, and Lyka) all agree that it's a very peaceful and friendly island. Julie and Lyka has been able to tour some of it more than I was able to!

Thanks Lubang for showing me such great hospitality!