IT'S 2019 ALL OVER AGAIN

I don’t even know where to start.

It’s been a long time since I wrote my last blog, and it’s been almost three years. Where have I been? Or what have I been doing? Really?

I’ve always written blogs as my form of creative journal, and this is where I can also post photos related to the blog, combined with all the possible imaginable feelings I am feeling while writing and while memorizing every inch of emotion there is in those moments. I’ve always had that enthusiasm, but I somehow lost it.

It’s 2022, and it feels so good to be back and write again. Being a mom hit me hard last 2021. As for the death of my father in January of 2020, it turned my world to an almost empty feeling, crushed it, turned it upside down, you can name every sad feeling in the world, but that’s how it was for me, devastating and very heartbreaking. This was the same year we said hello to COVID-19. So I’ll be writing back in time, and we will be rolling the films back to 2019.

In May of 2019, I finally decided to leave my first company, and move to a new one. I have been a part of the account for 3 years, and it felt good leaving as I wanted a leap of faith and take a chance on a new role.

I studied communication arts and the skillset needed on the job is not plain communication skills but listening skills too. Being able to respond appropriately and being able to use positive language all the time can be a hard task.

But before I resigned, of course I already had a back-up plan. I already applied to a technology company with the same role. I started on the second week of June and this is where I met Aaron.  He looked curious, serious, new, and confused to the world he just entered into. We are the same age but I have already worked three years, and this is his first. He looked like a gentle bad-ass which what totally killed my impression of him. He was wearing a black plain shirt, curly hair on top and a clean cut on both sides of his head, he had this remarkably well-shaped eyebrows and lips that’re perfectly shaped.

He sounded shy and had a slightly deep voice which added flavor to my curiosity of wanting to know him more. He was so handsome. And after a month and a half, we were together! Yep, just as fast as that, no formal courtship!

September came and I’ve had my 23^rd birthday not-so-planned. I decided to celebrate it with the whole family and it so happened that my parents were having a meeting in Boracay Island. So I booked them plane tickets, not to my expense, LOL, as well as their hotel room for their first three nights.

A day before my birthday, after my shift, my sister came to my office and we booked our grab to the airport. It is her first time riding a plane and she was excited too! We landed at Kalibo Aklan because it was cheaper, then we rode a bus for 2 hours to arrive at Caticlan Jetty Port.

We rode a speed boat going to the main beach (Cagban Jetty Port) and we spent around Php175 each. It was just a 15-minute ride. Once we reached the island, we then went ahead and made our way to station 1.

In the island, there are three stations. Station 1 is where the most private and secluded hotels are. Station 2 is like the city part of the island where you can go to malls and this is where most hotels are and each also offered a taste of luxury at an affordable rate, if not, reasonable rate. Station 3 is where the cheaper hotels are found. But those hotels are literally in front of the beach, just a minute of walking and voila! You’re there! 

Going back to where we’re headed, at station 1’s Alta Vista De Boracay. We rode a tricycle and paid Php200. It was quite far from the Cagban Jetty Port (around 20-25 minutes).

Once we arrived at the hotel, we immediately saw our youngest sister and dad waving from uphill. We were down below and it just took a 3-minute ride up to the hotel with their private e-jeep. We were welcomed with tropical drinks and while checking in, I asked if they had special treats for birthday celebrators at the hotel. I almost forced it but they agreed to be at the buffet area with some special treats the morning of my birthday. Yayks!

Upon checking in, they handed us with wrist tickets for access at their private beach (Puka Beach) and the breakfast meal as well as van and e-jeep rides to and from the hotel.

It was a family room with two large beds and a balcony with coffee and drinks. I did not vlog that much here because I wanted to enjoy the quality time more than taking films. We had beautiful photos though. J

Once we settled, we decided to go the private beach. It was really a secluded area as only guests of the hotel were able to spend time there with a few souvenir vendors and a volleyball play area. And when we got back to the hotel, we decided to spend the night at station 2. We ended up eating at a local fast food restaurant because it’s the cheapest!

We wandered around the area and took videos and photos for my vlog: MEAGAN (please check me out on youtube).

Morning came and I’m 23. So at the buffet area, the staff sang me a birthday song with a little cake and a dedication on a plate! What a cute little surprise that my dad was so happy looking at me, at us, being happy at a different place. So when we checked out, we then headed to out next hotel (station 3). I chose this because it’s the nearest to the Cagban port and our flight is late morning of the following day.

This is when we took the island trip for Php2500. Snorkeling and seeing islands and a scenery of beautiful sea creatures were everywhere! Looking down at a spot we stopped at, it was like a different world underwater! I’ve always gone to beaches on my birthday but this one showed me a bigger picture of underwater world. And I’d love to try scuba diving but learning takes days and money too. LOL.

On our way back, we prepared for dinner, it was just a pizza night for us and a talk about me and my second sister’s future careers. Our dad loved talking about us and our plans, and that’s what I miss about him too.

Our last night as spent roaming around bars and hotels while entertainment shows were ongoing. And the next morning, I had a short dip at the beach before heading towards the airport. We arrived early at the airport and waited around an hour. Dad mom and our youngest boarded the plane first as they are headed to Clark Airport in Pampanga while me and Essa were headed to Manila. Although we all boarded on the same airline, AirAsia.

It was my first time boarding this airline too as I usually book with Cebuana Pacific or Philippine Airlines. It was our first ever out of town that needed a plane ride. And the last think we know is this was going to be our last wonderful beach trip with our dad. He passed away the following January due to road accident. But I was thankful for all the memories we have had. They’ll forever be cherished and remembered.

Cutting my 2019 birthday to Manila, Aaron booked a loft type hotel room for us somewhere in Pasay. At that time, I invited my sister and her partner for an overnight as it was good for 4 pax. We got wasted that we had to pay some fines when we checked out. LOL.

In November, when cold breeze was approaching in the hot zones of the Philippines, we decided t go to Baguio. It was Aaron’s first time and it was our first time too as a whole family. The last time I went to Baguio was during my OJT days in 2015. Whopping 4 years!

We stayed for 2 nights while dad, mom, and Izha spent one night just to see me and Essa.

Towards December, as my yearly tradition, I always go home for my dad’s birthday on the 25^th of December. Hosted his program for his security agency and spent his birthday with the whole family on both mom’s and his side. Can you imagine how big it was?

And the last time I remember seeing him spend his birthday alive, with us. He drove me to the airport to catch my flight going to Manila together with mom. And that was the last wave of goodbye I have ever seen him do.

*end*

Email: jesellemangoma@gmail.com

TIKTOK/INSTAGRAM: meaganmangoma

Club Balai Isabel, Talisay, Batangas ITI

It was my sister’s twentieth birthday. Two decades of living life on earth. I laugh at how mom would rant about her not doing the household chores sometimes when she calls and that she just wants her out of the house. But you can’t blame how time spoiled kids these days, how social media had so much influence in our characters and being. Still, it’s a matter of good discipline that we should always have.

But whatever it is that you'd like to do on your birthday, like visit a place you've never been to which I was constantly doing since I turned 20 or just being with your family if your work is away from home is perfectly fine.

When your sister's bod is Victoria Secret bod ready and yours like, **crickets** 😂

So I filed a leave on a Thursday and Friday, got approved as my sister’s birthday fell on a Saturday. It’s actually a fun fact that me and my two sisters’ birthdays fall all on a Saturday this year! I was about to go home in Ilocos but later on, I found out that she already booked for an out of town staycation in Tagaytay. Jeeezzz. I went with them instead. It was in Club Balai Isabel in Talisay Batangas. I researched the place soon as I heard the plan. And decided it’s not bad to do another trip. It was June 15, two weeks after my Coron Palawan getaway. Yayks!

I was the one who researched the guide to the place. At 9:00am, we hopped on a bus at Jam Liner terminal with ‘Tanauan/Lipa Batangas’ signage. Fare is Php70.00-80.00 We got off at the dropping point in Tanauan then rode a tricycle to Talisay jeep teminal near Mcdonald’s for Php10.00 each. The jeepney will have the signboard ‘Talisay’ and ask the driver to drop you off at Talisay church for Php25.00 each, he’ll stop near the church and you can either ride another tricycle or walk from there to Club Balai Isabel. The place is just near a gasoline station and Bulalo house that had a very good menu. 

THE COMMERCIAL BUILDING NEAR CLUB BALAI ISABEL

 The drinks were named after hollywood stars like Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber and many more!

Their Bulalo is the best so far. It was just called the Bulalo house. And there was even a convenience store around and atm machines. So you won’t be running out of options here. When we entered the gates, they asked for the reservation details like the name of the person who reserved for that day. Then we entered the place, saw these e-jeeps inside and started taking photos with them.

ROAMING AROUND THE CLUB BEFORE CHECK IN

It’s best that while you wait for your room to be fixed after you provide check in details at the concierge, you roam around with one of the ready drivers at the reception area to drive you using the E-jeep. You can even leave your bags at the counter and they’ll give you claim cards for free!

What added with the fun was that there were only three of us in the jeepney. It’s an open one like the one they use in country clubs, and eveything is seen! Lucky us that we had a talkative guide, Gio.

The Church Inside
Not allowed for wedsings though.

It was like 30 minutes going around the place as it was a vast area, much more than I imagined.

We were ready to rest for a while before soaking in the pool areas. The room was okay. Not really that impressive and they also warned us that wifi in the rooms were designed to be slow and almost not letting you connect, which was a fact, because they want to let people connect more to each other rather than to social media. Moreover, it was like you’re in a luxurious place inside a mini jungle, it was full of trees and the theme was beige and brown.

The Waterpark (php500.00 each)

LOOKING FOR A PASTRY SHOP

Since it was a birthday night for my sissy, we opted to do the grocery first before finally starting our Club Balai Isabel experience. There was no legit pastry shop like Red Ribbon or Cookie House in the area. So we had to look for an ordinary bakery  as our tricycle helped us get around. We found this yema cake, chose the flowers to put as its design and candles. It was a simple one.

THE E-JEEP and CLUB TOUR EXPERIENCE

There was a water park in the area, a place where you can play billiards and darts. A badminton and basketball court. A pavillion. A botanical garden. There were even mansions inside where a family can stay there for Php10, 000 a night if I remember it right.

The reception area

If you want to use their facilities for free, you can just drop by at the reception area, leave a valid ID and get the equipment for whatever you want to play and return if for an hour. There’s one for badminton, basketball, volleyball, billiards, and darts. Any succeeding fees will be charged after an hour. After an hour of rest, we changed to comfortable clothes and played billiards til 6pm.

It was a bit rainy, lucky we are that it jut rained in the afternoon then solemn at night.

There were three pools in the area. The main pool was the one near the restaurant. Locals also offer a trip to taal volcano (php1200.00 per boat which can accommodate up to 4 persons).

We had free music at night. There was a wepdding and they had reggae music around. There are assigned smoking areas by the way. There’s one near the deck where while you enjoy the scenery, you can smoke and have a short talk with whoever you’re with. We spent the dinner night by the main pool area where the bar and restaurant was. Overlooking the shore and a glimpse of the stars. It’s a cold night and there was this singer who they always hire for night jams and she plays the piano well and makes the mainstream songs sound lilke ballad or bossa nova.

Twinning! Same dress I wore when I slept with my gin. 

I came from a night shift this day, no sleep yet since 6pm yesterday and it’s already around 12midnight of Saturday when we slept. Instead of finishing the lime juice mixed with gin and my favorite Nova junk food as ‘pulutan’, I slept unconsciously and woke up to my pink dress with my boho earring on, feeling cold, wearing still the make up I put on the night before. Haha

It was a rainy day that surprised our morning. Thankfully, when we checked out, the rain already stopped yet still cloudy. I still had time for a shoot at the main pool before finally packing up. The route going back to Manila is just a reverse cycle of the route I gave you earlier. ;)

If you’re looking for tips or if you have questions, drop your comments below!

Other places at the Club:

Kape Kumintang

They also offer some juice and cocktails, aside from coffee.

The buffet area on breakfast
(all are availabe to all breakfast preferences)
Whether you're a Filipino, American, Aussie, you can find your preferred breakfast menu here.

Thanks for reading! Until next time!