I HAVE NEVER FELT SO ADULT UNTIL I TURNED 25

 Hey, it’s been 7 months since I last posted on my low-key blog. I have had this for the longest time but only had the chance to enhance it to the best of my ability in 2017. That’s when I started real trips on my day-offs and paid vacation leaves.

The last post was when our family went to Boracay for a three-day vacation. I have never felt as complete as those days. Every day, you become older and older, and you just get to know who you are, in a much deeper sense. In a way that only you can understand in the present time. So much has happened since the day we lost our father. All the dreams and aspirations that seemed to be falling in place, fell into broken pieces once more. There’s nothing more hurtful than losing a piece of you, a person who’s been a part of you your whole life. 

But it’s July, it’s also the 9th month of our grandmother Rosario’s passing. So many have passed away already. My dad and cousin in 2020, my grandmother in 2021. Life is indeed just like a blink of an eye, it just looks like a flashback in front of your eyes that you may just be playing in the present time. Just like what they say, life is like a movie, so better play along with it.

So I figured, we can only do so much by doing everything that we want, love the people around us genuinely, show support to your friends, don’t be bitter, be the BEST that you can be, it’s not bad to accept a piece of advice from a person who you know cares about you, and I could go on and on… (oh i think i’d be making a list of how to live your life happily next LOL).

Honestly, being genuine in everything that you do and with everyone around you, is the simplest and the best key to having a rich life.

So, here’s a trip that I would like to share with you on my 25th. I’m skipping my 24th birthday because it was the worst. I was pregnant and my hormones are not giving me a good mood all the time. I was so emotional, considering everything that had just happened that year.

It was the very first time I ever spent my birthday on an island with our grandmother Rosario. Our province is filled with beautiful gems and Casa Consuelo is one of them. Our family has been here in 2019 but I wanted to show this to the new additions in our family, Aaron and Heaven. And of course, our granny who’s always been left in the house.

Casa Consuelo is a family owned beach resort. It has an infinity pool, Dos Hermanos island at bay view, a rocky shore, a calm sea, little kubos, and function halls inside. We stayed in a family Casa and a standard room for 2 nights! Heaven was seven months at the time and I am already making her my little version of a mermaid. 

The pool was a bit slurry, we did not have snorkeling gear for the small fishes in the shore, the waters were on a high tide, so we just stayed the nights on chill. It was just like welcoming adulthood in a more adult way. LOL.

After my dad’s second death anniversary, me and Aaron decided to go back to Manila to search for greater opportunities as well as with the purpose to expand our milk tea shop and open up new investments. 

We rented a condo unit located in Paranaque near BGC, Taguig.  And ever since, opportunities came flowing like a stream. First, we had a part-time job getting whitelisted for various NFT collections. After a month, I resigned at my full-time job so I could get accepted at the American Express. A side hustle that we did was with Riverbend Consulting where we assisted many Amazon sellers with their online stores. That job lasted from March to July until I can no longer balance my time with my full time job as fraud specialist and the demands of the consulting firm asI was about to get promoted as a consultant/appeal writer.

It was a great opportunity too, being with a start-up company and getting promoted in just 4 months, but the benefits were lacking. We had to have something to cover our daughter’s and Aaron’s healthcare expenses just in case. 

This year’s boosted our desire to start now, as soon as possible. We have started inquiring some loans for real estate rental business and a car for vacation car rentals too.

This year has really got us excited about life and the future that will come moving forward. It just makes as feel the bloom in life that we’ve always been dreaming of back when we were still in the province. 

Everything is falling again in place. And I hope that my father will be very proud of what we have become. Our youngest is continuing her taekwondo journey. My mom is continuing and expanding the security business our father left. And our middle sister is working at an area where she excels most at  (hotel front desk work) and has plans of moving abroad too!

The little wins in life are the most satisfying when combined together. Especially so, Aaron and his family have gone through a lot this year too, losing his uncle along the way and making them stronger, testing them to be more than themselves than ever before. 

It’s just August, a month away from my 26th. Is another beach getaway a good idea with Heaven? But I am quite sure I have the same excitement and energy like when I first started this beach birthday series when I was 21! #

20th - Hiking and Batangas Beach

21st - Coron Palawan, Canyon Cove (Batangas)

22nd - Siargao (5 days)

23rd - Boracay Island (3 days)

24th - Family and Pagudpud Ilocos Norte trip

25th - Casa Consuelo (3 days)

See you again soon… at the beach? Or anywhere I'll be on my 26th!

Tiktok and Instagram: Meaganmangoma

Summer in June 2019

When I go home, I make sure to make it memorable and fun, especially with the family. In the first of June of 2019, I just got home from Manila after resigning from work.                                              

Since I started working, I’ve been obsessed with travelling, so why not tag your family along right? And if I run out of cash, there’s my credit card to save me LOL.

So I booked this family room in Casa Consuelo, and by the day we are about to check in, I downloaded long road trip music… including my dad’s playlist as he wished!

We just had this sedan black car (NOM 781) which is no longer ours, and we drove for about 3 hours. Of course the outfits, not to mention, are well-prepared. You know me, and my previous blogs would always have this trademark of outfits, I have a lot of them in my closet.

Casa means house or home. And when I asked the person from the reception area, it was family owned turned into resort.

The room and the furniture looked antique, all were dark brown, the room was dim lit. and not to forget, what we actually paid for, the view!

It was the nearest resort to Dos Hermanos Island (Two Brothers). They were called that because they were two big hills adjacent to each other. In most time of the day it was low tide that you can walk to the islands and climb up. Me and my dad went there and took some nice photos. I was teaching him how to use this Gopro cam that I borrowed from Gelo. LOL.

Here, you have to wear slippers when going down for a dip or a walk as it was rocky. My grandmother said it was because people were fond of picking up rocks at this area.

It was a resort with its own infinity pool, a big lounge area for celebrations, and cabanas that can be used for free when you’re checked in. We were all so happy and that was the last summer I had with the family. It will always be one of the trips to remember.

Ever since we purchased our first car in 2018, we’ve been going around Ilocos Norte. Like The Boracay of the North with the entire clan, Little Batanes of the North, to Vigan Ilocos Sur. My dad was always all in when I give a travel itinerary, simply because he was living the life he had always dreamed of, a life he had always been working hard for. And I’ve always admired that in him.

That is why I beat myself to writing my goals on a piece of paper, or notebook, or here in my blog. It mught be read by people, may be not, and it’s okay. These are memories I can and will always go back to, no matter what age I will be.

Now that I have a family, it has been more defined and clear to me, working hard and smart’s not enough, being a good parent is a different story. And my dad was all-in-one, good, hard-working and smart. J

*end*

Tiktok/Instagram: meaganmangoma

 

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

Hiking Meagan

When you hike, you just don’t get to conquer a mountain, you get to conquer yourself with all its weaknesses and fears. There’s just this urge that visits me around when I know I have an upcoming climb. It’s just something that makes me think less and become excited more.

Yes, it could be so much better with my girlfriends in these trips. But I  think that’s just one dream that seems impossible to come true, otherwise, it’ll take about five years.

As we age, plans become more difficult to fulfill, but of course, acting on these plans immediately will definitely bring the best results we are eyeing for ourselves. Dreams are planned. They don’t just happen, do they? Dreams demand sacrifices, action, hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
There are so much realizations you have when you get to hike and conquer a mountain. By conquer, I mean, owning what you’re seeing and feeding your soul with more power and happiness.

I started to try hiking when I was twenty. I have had climbed six mountains since then because of my limited days off and schedule conflicts. My first was in Mt. Pamitinan, Rizal in January 2017. That was the first time I ever appreciated being tired and overwhelmed at the same time. The slopes were treacherous and the height was nerve wrecking which took us two hours to climb. It was rocky and there was traffic above. You get to expect a lot of people during weekends. But as everybody say, it’s all worth it.

It was DIY kind of trip. You just have to ride an FX  from Cubao going to Rizal. And ususally, in their covered courts, the registration booths are ready to welcome hikers with the guides waiting for their guests. It was 500.00 every guide. Being early is the key to getting best guides and better view. Less hikers as the highlight if you want to get the best shots.

Second was in Mt. Gulugod Baboy in Batangas. These first two were just minor trails, five or seven out of ten. It was in December 2017. There was a good spot for camping at the top. It rained so it was like sleeping in the mud on our tent. It was indeed very cold in there as there was even a storm that time. There are bus liners in Taft Avenue in Pasay. We rode the Jam Liner bus for an hour and a half, took a jeepney upon reaching Batangas grand terminal, rode another two hours to Mabini, Batangas then registered before hiking.

This was another DIY trip and you can climb freely as long as you know the route or if you’re with experienced hikers.

Third was in Mt. Ulap on February 2018. This one is a major. A five hour hike to the top. Unfortunately, the sea of clouds was at the other side of the mountains, still, every view was beautiful. It was a day hike and I am a joiner this time, together with my friend Jie and her boyfriend, Brad. There were three peaks. I can say, watching the sun rise while you’re on top of the mountains is one if the best.

When hiking, aside from being priceless, it also wakes up your soul and lets you cling to yourself and even makes you listen to yourself. Number one rule in hiking is to never leave marks and trails. Especially garbages. And if you smoke or cook up there, you better know how to throw them properly. No one wants to go to the jail after a good hike.

You climb to get memories, experience freedom and create inspiration. Because that’s how hiking is supposed to be. Mt. Ulap is located in Itogon Benguet so if you’re a joiner, everything is included from van transfers, guide fee, driver fee, organizers’ fee, food sometimes. So you really don’t have to worry except your climb and trail foods and clothes. It took us about ten hours which includes ascending time, lunch, rest time, and descending.

When you hike, you just don’t conquer yourself, if you’re some introvert and you manage to go on this type of activity often, you’ll slightly learn somehow to interact easily, become friends with other hikers and even tour guides and locals. One of the best things about this adventure aside from boosting self love is that, you’ll also get to share your happiness with strangers who are also trying to find their own happiness.

Happiness after all is another version of success. I cannot define success more than just being happy. We could have all the money, but that does not necessarily define and guarantee happiness within us. If you found what you’re finding, if you’re doing what you love, if you keep that positivity in you, if you get to see the natural creation while standing at a mountain top, then you’re one of the lucky people in the world who has time to define what being real happy means.

Pin pointing your passion and what we love to do most is always subjective. Why? Because you only get to decide on your own;

Whether it’s who you want, what you want, how do you want it, why you want it, where do you want to do it and when do you want to do it. Familiar? The five W’s and H. These are key questions in again, defining what makes us happy. Your options are always available to you and it’s just a matter of choosing what works best for you.

Down to my fourth climb. A very hot summer in April 2018. It was in Mt. Bira-Bira (binabalik-balikan) mountain in Zambales.  I joined my friend Jie’s first self organized hike. So most of us knew each other. I brought my sister here. It took us four hours to get to Nagsasa cove. A hike plus beach this time. It was also a day hike.

My fifth was in Mt. Mt. Marami in Maragondon, Cavite. We were supposed to also visit the Pantihan falls but it was too late as there were hikers who can’t make it to the top or those first timers who don't usually do cardio exercises have weak endurance, which are inevitable.

Then my sixth and my first hike this 2019 was in Mt. Batolusong in Tanay, Rizal. I was with Gelo, my high school batch mate. He invited me to this event, together with some familiar friends from my Mt. Ulap trip, like Christian.

See, there’s a lot of people you can get involved with and are willing to have fun. They are experienced hikers so we did not have any problems wth the slopes, heat, and the major trail. It took us three hours to mke it to the top, three peaks, just like Mt. Ulap. Duhat was the first peak,  then Plateau (the ‘patag’ ones), and last, Rangyes Peak which you would need a rope to be able to make it to the top. Abd the way down was more if just going down, litereally, it's slippery, dry, and dusty. So it also helps if you bring a mask with you.

We started at 5:00 in the morning and finished at 8:30 am. We were then able to make it to the jumpoff at around 11:00 am. One of the fun parts as well is when you get to take a bath and feel the cold water running out of the pipe like a baby trying to get her first bath.

All you really need is arrange schedules, at least prepare your body and go for a cardio workout to help condition your body before the hike if you’re not that active in working out, prepare your budget, don’t eat too much on the way up (you can make up for your tiresome hike after you take a bath and eat whatever you want at the jumpoff LOL), bring what’s only appropriate like flash light, water, face towel, cap, jacket, and light snacks for trail foods. Though I still struggle with packing lighlty, I am working on it. (Wink!)

In addition, you'll know what you’re craving for when you’re tired. Me, it’s just pancit canton with egg, a very very cold small bottle of coke, my pictures taken by my hike mates, and my neat clothes on after a fresh bath. LOL.

Don’t ever tell your parents how high you’re climbing, you have to first make it before telling them. You know you’re safe when you follow the rules in a hike, when you don’t separate yourself from the tour guides or fellow hikers, and you’re wearing your ready to kill hike outfit! Those are the things I do. And my fellow hikers just thinks I’m weird and funny at the same time that I always interview the tour guide and joke around them.

I just had so much fun hiking that I just had today to make a journal like kind of blog about my experiences. Not too many mountains I've hiked yet, but many more to climb and get astounded to. It’s not only sunrise and sunsets in the mountains that make it best. Because when you live in the city, you barely get to see stars as well. So I always am in awe whenever I see inter-galactic creatures, wherever province it is that I am.

Lastly, the question I always hear is that, “Why do these young people spend money to get tired?”

Well, it’s just priceless when you get yourself to the top! When you haven't experienced or you haven’t witnessed yet what kind of nature’s beauty  is out there, you actually haven’t seen anything yet. Thay's for real.

Because not only you will see green all around you, but you get to see through the view. You get to see your soul in freedom and peace. In good condition and health. Most of all, you get to realize how to properly treat yourself. It is to give whatever it demands to have. #

All these photos were taken from my last hike. So please visit my social media accounts to see the other hiking activities !

Please check my photos
ON facebook: Meagan Mangoma
Instagram: @chasingmeagan

Thank you!

ISLA SIARGAO - PART II

On the third day...

So I have already survived the first two days. The arrival and first day of island tour!

The second tour package I’ve availed was the land tour which includes Sugba Lagoon and Magpupungko Rock Pools. And luckily, we managed to convince the guides to include visiting the bent tree as well! You can try convincing your tour guides too!

At 7:00am, I was picked up by the van, it was an hour ride to Del Carmen. You have to get a heavy breakfast as bringing food to the lagoon is strictly prohibited unless you’re going to let the staff from the lagoon cook you a sumptuous seafood meal. Yum!

I can recommend another option which my new friends, Dudz and Dee took. This is going to be another itinerary for the day though. Only if I had the courage to drive alone using that automatic motorcycle, I could have been with them. But I already scheduled mine with kuya Bebot. But I sure will tell you about it later. ;)

Before riding the boat, there’s a mandatory picture taking with your boatmates at the pier near the tourism office and you’ll have to claim it at Php50.00 after the lagoon tour. You can even have a view of the place with 4, 000 ha. of contiguous mangrove in Del Carmen alone and approximately 8, 600 ha. of mangrove in Siargao! And out of 54 mangrove species worldwide, 44 can be found in Del Carmen, Surigao! I am not kidding.

So during the boat ride to Sugba Lagoon, enjoy the Bahamas feels this place gives you.

Well, for the tour I have availed, it also included either kayaking or paddling (Php100.00 each) and the table (Php100.00) excluding the snorkeling gear though for Php200.00 (unlimited use).

And so by 8:00 am, we went to Sugba lagoon which gave us another two-hour ride and stayed there until 11:40am. There’s not much fish in the lagoon but you can sure jump at the famous platform, make sure to take a picture first, if you have a gopro cam, take it with you on your jump!

It’ a good thing as well is if you have time for the sunset here, go to the mangrove wharf, make sure it’s low tide so you could take a good shot. I was not able to do this as we were based in General Luna which was at the other side of Surigao. Maybe one boat ride will cost you around Php500.00.

But anyway, I had to stick with the tour schedule so the next stop was Magpupungko rock pools.

We had lunch at one of the huts, it was still high tide at 2:00pm and the water current was strong. You must have a dry bag here as you might get slipped.

Actually, you should always bring a dry bag with you alone wherever you are in the island.

So after a short natural pool dip time, we headed to the bent tree. It was just at the roadside when you’re heading to General Luna from Del Carmen. And there’s no fees or anything at all.

I really am very envious how the kids can do three turns on the rope just by holding at a single rusting metallic handle!
And when I tried to climb up at that bending coconut tree, tried to swing, I immediately fell. Yet it was a good experience! And another new friend, Jachim, took the video of me swinging!

The tour ended at 4:30pm, so I played table tennis for a while with another guest at Villa Solaria, took the numbers and facebook page of Jach and Mark. Until 6:00pm, I prepared for another chill night until 8:00pm, went out with Jach and for almost three days without a proper sleep, I felt the  sleep coming over me. LOL.

So we went early and had a good night rest for the first time.

For Dudz and Dee's itinerary, they rented a motorycle for themselves instead. Drove to Del Carmen at 6:00am, had the Sugba Lagoon to themselves at 8:00am. They rented a boat there for 2800.00 including a tour to two remote unknown islands to tourists which Dudz told me they had the islands to themselves on that day! So DIY sometimes has its own amazing perks!

Again if you're alone, it is highly recommended to join tours and meert friends and you can do DIY on your own by then. That's a tip. 😉

On the fourth day...

It’s surfing day finally!

So I wore my rashguard, rushed to Cloud 9, had a good first breakfast at Shaka Cafe and started the Surf with Dudz and Dee along with gladys who’ll take the photos of us for Php325.00 each!

Her Sony camera has this incredible lens that could focus and zoom in even though you’re there, just enjoying your first surfing experience with a professional instructor for Php500.00 an hour.

If it is your fist time to surf, I suggest that  you prepare your muscles to get sore as you need to paddle hard to get to te waves and do the three step preparation, push up, right or left foot bend (whichever you’re comfortable with), then put your other foot in front of the bending foot, bend your body altogether to balance and ride on the waves!

If you are a first timer on this, it is highly recommended you try it at the Jacking Horse just very near the Cloud 9 where the surfing cup is being held so you kind of feel like you’re one of them!

After the surf, we headed to the beachfront cafe called the Loka Cafe. They sell beer for Php60.00 each and a very good banana cake for Php50.00 and you and sit in a place with a carpet, a big umbrella, big pillows with leather case that you can sit on comfortably.

So we had a beer together from 9:00am to 11:00am, shared stories on our jobs, had a taste of what seems to be a big tortillos chip with coconut jam made of cacao and God it was delicious!

Since it was Dudz and Dee’s 3rd anniversary, they had a dark chocolate cake (Php250.00) and pizza (Php215.00) from Aventino’s, just in front, left side from Villa Solaria.

Then I rented an automatic motorcycle for Php500.00 since it was just for a day (Php350.00/day if you’re borrowing it for a minimum of two days).

We headed to the coconut tree view on the top of the road and to Tayangban cave pool which was a total of one hour ride. The trail to the Tayangban cave pool was an hour only. So we were done by 3:00pm, did not have much time to go to the Pacifico (Pacific Ocean) sadly as it will be another 2 hour ride back and forth and they had their own schedule ealy dinner as well and I don’t want to ruin that.

One good thing though, we were able to visit the Malinao beach,  plainly a white sand beach. Took some photos then I headed to Kermit Surft Reosrt while they headed to Harana Beach Resort. The best time is to wait for their afternoon pizza time (5:00-9:00pm) or happy hour (4:00-6:00pm), so since I was there at 4:00 pm, saw @maramatokong in the Gwapitos area just jokig around, I sat on my chosen spot, waited for an hour as I was able to choose my pizza carefully.

 Tuazon pizza famous for its truffles ingredient was my choice for Pp550.00. They also serve beer and cold and hot coffee for a reasonable amount.

Then it’s time for souvenirs! It will be the last night so it has to be the best.

The party’s scheduled at Rumbar. Since I stayed at Kermit until 6:00pm, bought souvenirs and prepared for the night, at 8:00pm, I went to Rumbar.

 A very good thing here is that, people born with different races are here to party, dance all the way up, drink to their limit and take a bath at any of the beaches. The beach at Kitya’s was open during the night. You can enjoy the night beneath the twilight there for free. It’s near the cemetery but it’s not a delicate place you can just leave your bags and even take a bath at that beach naked. You can own it and have it to all yourselves through the night! It's just very low tide. So it will take a hundred or two hundred meters before you can reach the actual level of water at normal sea level.

Here are the party schedules. I was not able to take the other schedules for one whole week though.

Party Schedule:
Friday – Jungle Disco and Octopus
Saturday – Harana and Rumbar
Sunday – Kitya’s and Bravo
Monday – Rumbar
Tuesday – Harana

The Primitivo bar holds an artists night every night as told by Louie who came all the way from Boracay (since it was closed) and continued to live the island life. That maybe the reason why they play a good music, they have so much time to chill out and hone their talents here.
For the last day, since my flight was 12nn, I had to check out at 10:30am at least. So I woke up at 5:00 am where there’s moon and sun at the same time. Drove to Cloud 9 and Shaka Cafe. Headed straight to the top of the road and at 8:00am, after I had my last breakfast at Shaka cafe, I prepared my bags and ready for living.

I already missed the place the first minute I passed General Luna. I sure will come back, Siargao.

Thank you for taking the time to read everyone!

Please do visit my IG: @chasingmeagan
FB: @Meagan Mangoma.

Thank you! Til next time!

ISLA SIARGAO

BUHAY ISLA SA LOOOB NG LIMANG ARAW (ISLAND LIFE IN FIVE DAYS)

DAY 1 AND 2

I have finished my blog about all the other places I’ve been in order to write this piece for my 22nd birthday. It is such an overwhelming experience to be able to travel independently. I always keep in mind that I have to forget about all the stress the city life gives me before I go to Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.

There’s a lot of places, beaches, islands, resorts, activities to discover, but I chose this place. I am not a good swimmer, but I managed to do cliff jumps and snorkeling without a life vest.

There’s just a lot of people and tourists who watch you conquer your fears. This place, I suppose, is a combination of all the other places in the Philippines. Palawan (Puerto Princesa, Coron, and El Nido), Cebu, La Union or Baler for the surfing experience. Though Siargao has the most impressive waves and this is where I was able to witness the 24th national surfing cup personally!

On September 28, and every time of this year until the first week of October, they hold the international surfing competition and we have our own representatives here in PH as well. It is the time of the year that they hold the competition as it’s the perfect time for high tides and big waves.

There are locals from Siargao who had been practicing the whole time as they can have the island to themselves when it’s not time yet for the surfing cup. This is an advantage for them. Though the winner was from San Diego, CA, @maramatokong from Kermit Surf Resort (a friend of the ‘gwapitos’) landed second place, I’m still proud I was able to witness it with my own eyes.

At the opening of the 24th surfing competition.

On the first day...
All the surfers were just walkig to the cloud 9 beach with their bare feet, shorts, sexy body, and surfing boards. Only Skyjet and Philippine Airlines offer a direct flight to Siargao though and it might get a bit expensive if you book it like a month or week before your flight. Some of those people that I was able to be with in the island hopping activities booked their airfare for only Php2, 400.00 to Php3, 000 roundtrip with PAL from Clarke Pampanga, as they were on sale and it was their first time to do the direct flight. Since I was not able to catch that promo, I booked with Cebu Pacific around two months before the flight which had cost me Php6,958.00 in total for my round trip. There’s a transit in Cebu. So from Manila, NAIA terminal 3, I boarded to Mactan Cebu airport at 5:30am then waited at the Cebu airport for 3 hours before my flight to Siargao.

Photo taken by: @grybxx (insta)

Good thing you can sit down at one of the cafes at the aiport and review your itinerary. So far, I was following a tight budget. Php12, 000 was my pocket money. There's no atm machine in the island! If there is, it's going to be far for sure. So make sure you withdraw enough cash once you're at the airport.

At exactly 12:00 PM, I was at the Sayak airport already. There’s going to be vans lined up and everyone knows where Villa Solaria is or wherever you booked your stay with. It will be Php300.00 per way. It was a one hour ride to the place. You’ll be able to pass by General Luna where everything that I’ve researched for in the internet came to reality!

The Shaka Cafe, Kermit Surf Resort, Bravo Beach Resort, Kokai Resort, Viento Del Mar, Bleu Resort, Barrel, Souvenir shops and tattoo bars, Primitivo, White Banana Beach and Harana (which are just beside Villa Solaria) were all happening on the first day! There’s not a part of the road where you cannot see coconut trees! It is true the coconut trees were lined up as if someone really planted them with their own hands. I was too overwhelmed with where I was. Everyone will be.

It is also inevitable that when you plan out of town trips, there will be friends who won’t be able to make it therefore leaving just a few in the actual travel experience. But I had to go, I had my leaves fixed, my mood set, and my eyes ready to witness whatever there is to see in this place everyone had been talking about.

When I talk about going to this place, everyone would be in awe and would envy me. Because it’s every city person’s dream (wink).

Of course, it was the opening of the competition, so I went to Cloud 9 beach. It was just a 10-minute walk from Villa Solaria. Entrance was free due to the event. Beside the famous Cloud 9 was the Jacking horse, most common beach for beginner surfers. Rate is Php500.00 with instructor. Php200.00 if you’re just renting the surf board for an hour and Php400.00-500.00 for the whole day.

After that, I looked for whatever’s looking for at night, a place to chill. There’s the famous Shaka Cafe near the Cloud 9 but it only serves breakfast meals from 7am-5pm so I went for a mexican cuisine near Cloud 9 then headed to Harana (just passed by) as the party during Friday nights are at Octopus and Jungle disco according to the locals. Then I found White Banana Beach Club, it was serenity and peace that I found there, the beach is right in front of you and there were couches everywhere. Beach couches I mean. so I settled down and listened to the live music. I love local artists in the islands, they’re incredibly great!

On the Second day...
KUYA BEBOT’S ISLAND AND LAND TOURS

So I was lucky, upon going out on my first day, there’s this one woman who approached me after settling down in a small room if I had booked for my tours already which I was exactly looking for. It was Php 1700.00 for the first set of tour for my birthday, three island tour (Naked island, Daku Island, and Guyam Island with Sohoton Cove – a cave hike adventure with underwater cave swimming experience and cliff diving) and Php1,600.00 for the second set, the day after my birthday, at Sugba Lagoon in Del Carmen with Magpupungko Rock Pools.

So I said yes instantly as it was within my budget expectations.

First stop was in Sohoton cove, it was a 2-3 hour boat ride. Here, I proved that if there’s an airplane jet lag, there’s a boat jet lag. For real!

I'm smiling but jet lag is real!

First activity was going to the cave underwater. It’s just a 6 minute boat ride from Sohoton stop, where you have to wear an engineer’s cap (LOL) for the stalactites and stalagmites. First was we had to swim undewater for 15-20 seconds with a guide holding your neck down and dragging you to swim underwater in order to enter the cave.

The first time for me was unforgettable, I almost was not able to breathe but thank God I made it! So make sure that you breathe slowly and properly before asking the guide to drag you down the waters. It’s too delicate to just go under without breathing properly you might get drowned. It's a 15-20 second underwater pass for God's sake.

Second was climbing up a cave to the diving platform. It was my first time to jump in a platform, it’s the only way out, so you have to jump!

Third was riding in a very small boat, good for only two persons, so it’s just me and the bangkero whose name’s Raul. He willingy took photos of me, gave me one of his pastries as I told him I was hungry and it’s my birthday (LOL) and that he even thought it was my eighteenth birthday! Haha.

We headed to the jelly fish area. There’s not much to see here, I was more impressed actually with the very blue water that even a white jelly fish can be seen! And there’s the brown jelly fish while we were paddling, I enjoyed my unsolicited photoshoot with kuya Raul.

I gave a tip, it’s what he deserves and my genuine smile of course. He said I was his fourth boat passenger of the day and that he loves all of his customers. Wow!

After that small boat trip, the most awaited part, the buffet meal! It was exactly 12:00 NN when we finished the activities. I ate all the seafoods available, because, I won’t be able to eat them everyday in Manila.

The Naked Island

After lunch time, we already headed to the three famous islands. It took us around 2 hours from Sohoton Cove to the Naked Island. Literally, this island is bare. And it’s so hot it strikes your skin inside. Please make sure you have a sunblock lotion at least with SPF 50-150. It will help with the burning of the direct heat of the sun.

The three islands were just a few minutes boat ride apart. So the next was Daku (meaning big) Island. The biggest of the three. Beside it was a private resort but they let us enter at the the area and you can ask the boat men to order you a fresh buko juice for only Php40.00.

The last island was the Guyam Island. It’s where I witnessed the most beautiful sunset ever in my life.

It was 6:00pm when the tour ended. Then I immediately took a bath as I had to prepare for my birthday night. I decided to go to Bravo Beach Resort at 8:00pm and ordered the most delicious Creme Brulee with Mango. I jammed with the local artists with my song Down the Road. Everyone welcomed every artist and I was so happy with the crowd at that night. This is the first birthday gig I had and it was so pleasant! One of the artists invited me to jam for the second time singing Love Story of Taylor Swift. Of course!

The signal for internet is slow, so since I had to do a ‘mass thank you’ in social media as almost everyone who knew me greeted me on my very special day, I had to thank them. You’ll get to know  lot of people and you’ll know who really cares.

After the dinner and jam, I watched the moonlight at the beach, it was a calm night, full moon, and breezy. I walked at the beach with a new friend Louie and he told me about the party schedules. The party at that night was at Harana, just beside my place so we went there, all vehicles and motorcycles were there, a lot of people partying. So we opted for a more quiet place, the beach front and drank beer together talking about tattoos and music and life.

I believe you’ll get to realize how simple life can be and how being happy can be as simple in an island full of beautiful and kind people.

The night ended solemnly with Glynn, who said “hi” to every beautiful girl,  Louie, who accompanied me in my song, gave me party schedules and experience island vibe at night, and his brother who played the guitar for me at the jam as well.

It was a very long day that I had, and I’m in love with this kind of celebration.

Thank you for taking the time! Did you enjoy it? Then visit the island as well!

If you must need contact information, get ate Gladys’ number at 09493098866. She will immediately contact kuya Bebot and include you in the amazing tours!

See my third to fifth day on my other article:

Siargao – Sugba Lagoon, Magpupungko, Bend Tree, White  Banan Beach club Experience.

IG: @chasingmeagan
FB: @ Meagan Mangoma

One Ilocos Norte

Ilocos and Its Forever Crowning Glory – Local Tourist Destinations

The Saud Beach in the afternoon

This is probably one of the hardest features on my blog that I’ll be writing because it’s in my own hometown. It actually deserves an advertisement, for free, from me and from any other Ilokano (local person from Ilocos region in the Philippines) writers, I believe.

It’s not going to be hard, it’s going to be challenging because it’s where I came from and that I should establish a very good impression to everyone who’ll read this. I won’t try as hard though, I’ll make the photos as a proof instead (wink).

Burgos Lighthouse

Many of you might have heard about Ilocos a hundred times from your peers or read around twenty blogs about how refreshing it is to be in a place that is home to beaches and Spanish historical places with of course, the famous Ferdinand Marcos who lead the Philippines for two decades.

 I’ll focus instead at the place I’ve been constantly visiting with my family since I was six or seven years old – Saud, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

Of course, I won’t bore you with a single place, other than Pagudpud’s Saud Beach, there’s a lot of treasures you could see for yourself on your way to the island life.
The Hidden Treasure and The Mini Batanes of the North (both located in Caunayan, Pagudpud).

There are also places like Paoay (famous for the Paoay Sand Dunes and Paoay Church), The Rock sand that formed like a boat (Kapurpurawan Beach), The Wishing Tree, where you can drop any amount of money at its fortress, Burgos Light House, Bangui Wind Mills, Patapat Bridge (a very long bridge), an abandoned mansion lying above the sea and at the end of the bridge, and Paraiso ni Anton (a very fresh water coming from the mountains).

Instead of the usual beach outing, we went to the Patapat Viaduct, the Vista Grande Resort where naturally fresh and cold water run. There’s vey big rocks all around the place that if you don’t old to them, you’ll be swept by the strong flow of the water.

It was quite an adventure that I had here. And it was home at the same time. I was with my family and cousins. This was a two day trip over the weekend and I was able to do these things:

Day 1
At 10:00am, we took the road to Saud. You can stop over at the town of Pasuquin where the famous ‘biscocho’ (a type of bread) is located. This is the only store that sells freshly baked ‘biscochos’.

Just before the Burgos Light House, we stopped over at the famous ‘Balete Tree’ in town which people believed as a wishing tree. Then we were on the way up to the light house. It was all our first time to go there. Entrance fee is only Php20.00 and someone will offer you a photo op where they are good at doing panoramas! At the front of the house, it looked like you were standing in a big ship. And beside the light house (originally called Cape Bojeador) was already the open view of the sea. It perhaps served as a place for people of Burgos to see any activities or people coming to and from the light house.

Afterwhich, we headed to the sanctuary. Plainly, this is a place of sharp rocks and clear waters. We held a short picnic session and headed directly to Bangui. At the top of the hill, there’s a place where tourists could buy delicacies and have a view of the many windmills surrounding Bangui and Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. This is for free! It’s picture perfect!

And then we were for Saud already. You might want to shop first at their main town before heading to the beach place to save a little time and money.

It was nostalgia, seeing the place together with my parents again after 14 years maybe. I remember that big shell which was a sign that we were already near the place. Tarpaulins all around directing you to the beach.

We finally arrived at our relatives’ place, it was my uncle’s widow and her daughter with her cute grandson in the house. It was already 3:00pm, usually it will just take you two hours to go there if without stop overs.

When you ride a public transportation by the way, from the city of Laoag where the airport is near as well (30-45 mins ride), you can ride at the Pagudpud terminal or GMW bus liner. Just tell the driver to drop you off at the town of Pagudpud.

Then there’ll be a line of tricycle ready to take you to your destination. There are a lot of hotels at the beach and they are cheap, you won’t regret coming here. You may want to check or book online if you’e planning ahead (which I suggest for you to know where the most tranquil or convenient place is).

There was no rest, though it was cloudy, we headed to the main beach. They offer water activities in some resorts like trying water sailing with a professional teacher. I was just too afraid to be taken by the big waves, so I di not try. LOL.

It was the best time of the day to visit the little Batanes of the North. It was a one hour tricycle drive for Php200.00-Php300.00 back and forth. Haggle, haggle, haggle!
At night, you may want to camp instead of staying at your home for Php150.00-Php200.00. There’s a place for you to grill and do hotdog party except for doing a bonfire. This is a white-sand beach, okay.

Day 2
In the morning, catch the sunrise at the beach and indulge yourself in a good breakfast. There’s a lot of fishermen who sell freshly fetched fishes at around 6:00am in the main beach.

Since we were a big group, we decided to go to the Patapat bridge all the way to Paraiso ni Anton. That trip could take you two hours each way and depending if you’re going to stay for the Vista Grande for a dip.
We were done at around 3:00pm and for the two remaining hours, the others used for a drink and beach waves. That burned me.


We were at Laoag city by 7:00pm, exactly a two hour ride this time as I needed to go back to Manila.
If you’re looking forward as well to go to Hannah’s beach resort, you will pass by the place when you’re on your way to the Patapat Viaduct.


If you want to try the Paoay Sand Dunes, it’s going to be a different route and this includes a 4X4 desert-like ride for Php2500.00 for a group of at most 5-7 people.

For Ilocano cuisines, like longganisa and empanada, they are all over the town.
In Ilocos Sur, what I could recomend is in Viga, Ilcoos Sur. They already have a food park that could satisfy all your cravings!
There’s museums and Calle Crisologo. Feel the old vibe!

Other than those mentioned above, there’s just a lot of places you can check out here in our town. Well, of course the Sinking Bell Tower is still sinking. While it’s still there, take a photo. They say it sinks about 3 inches every years. It’s a quite long journey for the tower still.

Thank you for dropping by! Check my IG @chasingmeagan. And facebook at Meagan Mangoma. Message or comment down what you think.

Mabuhay, Ilocos!