A Girl’s Notebook :)

Though ney and I slept around 3AM last Sunday (Aug. 23) from bar hopping in Lucena City, we still woke up at around 7AM. I guess I am just maximizing the time that we have for I would be leaving for Manila in the afternoon.

After taking a shower, we decided to eat our breakfast in a Chinese resto we used to eat then. The food store isn’t open yet so we need to look for another place to eat.

As I can recall, nothing much have changed since my last visit in Lucena, which was 4 years ago. I took pleasure in watching the local folks do their usual morning activities. Once again, I enjoyed the cool and calm breeze of the city.

After breakfast, we headed our way to Lucena public market. I wanted to buy a dried fish called “daing na pugot”. As the name implies, it is called “daing na pugot” because it is headless. I bought half a kilo of it, dilis and dried squid. Ney teased me that the bus conductor will not let me in because of my daings!

Ney then bought a dozen of longganisang Lucban for Nonet. I also got a kilo of Japanese corn and an Upo. Would you believe that I got the upo for only Php10. The size of the upo can actually feed 2 families!

We went back to our hotel room at around 10AM. We rested for a while. I pack the daings I bought properly, so it will not cause a “daing” smell in the bus later on. Then, ney and I visited another mall in Lucena called the Pacific Mall.

There was a food stall in Pacific Mall that offers very delicious spaghetti. I have craved when I was still pregnant with our daughter for the same spaghetti. We toured around the mall, and then decided to have our lunch there. I was disappointed, for it wasn’t the same taste of spaghetti I have missed.

We went back to the hotel and took a nap. By 6PM we prepared ourselves and our things. Ney and I went to Lucena grand terminal together. He will be onboard a bus going to Gumaca while I would be on a bus going to Cubao. We bid our goodbyes. It was sad to say goodbye. But then, we have our own works to attend to. Anyway, I know that we will always be together.

With God’s blessings, I know that someday, all “crumples” in our relationships will be smoothened.

Ciao!

My last visit to Lucena, if I am not mistaken was in 2005. It has been 4 years since the last time I’d been there. I got off JAM Liner at around 7:30PM and headed my way to SM Lucena. ‘ney and I decided to meet each other there. As soon as I stepped out of the bus, I really breathe the fresh air the place has. It was very a very calm and relaxing feeling. Though, Lucena has been a city for some years now, one cannot really feel the “city” feeling because it is really far from the pollution Manila has. I was happy that I was once in Lucena again.

I told ney that I want to have dinner at Buddy’s Restaurant. That restaurant originated from Lucban, Quezon. I was able to dine in their original branch already. I love their Pancit Lucban so much! The store has 2 branches in Manila. One is in Market! Market! Mall in Taguig. The other is along Pearl Drive Avenue at the back of Philippine Stock Exchange in Ortigas (I believe it is still part of Pasig City).

Anyway, we still need to check the mall’s directories list to look for Buddy’s in SM. It was located on the 3rd floor level of SM Lucena. I was really hungry! We ordered pancit lucban which was good for two and enjoyed the meal together. I was really full and fulfilled!

After our dinner, ney and I headed to a hotel in the city. We just checked in and then we decided to go out for the night. I wanted to do the things and go the places we used to go then. For me, it is something that we should do for our love and our relationship be stronger and be able to stand the test of time.

We went first to Videoke place called Skyline. It is near the hotel where we stayed. We just stayed there for like 15 minutes. Since, I don’t have enough sleep yet, I don’t have the energy to sing well.

Our next stop was a bar called Sound…, something. Oh gosh! I forgot! It was Loaded before but it changed its name to something. Anyway, it is a bar that offers live band. Ney and I found a table near the performers. Ney being a drummer and was a band member enjoyed listening and watching live bands. Oh well, we often praise and criticize band members! : Hehehe!!!

He had two bottles of SanMig Lights. I took a bottle of it and a glass of mango juice. We also had sizzling sisig for our “pulutan.”

We really had fun together. We enjoyed listening to the talented folks and enjoyed watching the people of Lucena danced to the music.

Ney and I arrived at our hotel at around 3 o’clock in the morning already! Well, though I was really tired because of the travel on top of not having a good sleep yet from previous night’s work, I really had a good time! It was the relaxation, which I have longed for sometime now. It may sound cheap to you, but it’s different when you’re in Lucena.

Ciao!

I know I owe you many stories since I have not been updating my journal lately. Please forgive me I am still adjusting myself into the “night shift” schedule for work. Well, it has been 3 weeks already since I have been in the gy shift but I am still not used to it. I do not even have a “life” when I am in gy because I am sleeping the whole day when I have a work. Anyway, I know that I will get used to it soon.

I told you last week that I would be going to Quezon to spend sometime with ney and to celebrate his birthday. Though, I was very sleepy before I set off, I made sure that everything I need to attend to while I am away would be taken cared off.

I told my daughter that I would be visiting her father but she cannot go with me. I told her that I would buy her something when I get home. Well, she was disappointed because she would really love to go. She loves her father so much and she misses him. I told her that I would bring her along next time.

I left the house at around 2PM last Saturday. It was a good thing, that there is a bus stop for provincial buses already in EDSA across Robinson’s Galleria. Before those provincial buses need to take the fly over in there, so commuters going to the province, need to go directly to the bus terminals.

It took about 30minutes before I was able to go onboard the JAM Liner going to Lucena. It would take about 4 hours to get there. After I paid my fare, I sent ney a text message that I am on the bus already and I am on my way. Since I came from a gy shift and did not have any sleep yet, I slept during the ride. I got awaken occasionally when the bus needs to stop to load and unload passengers.

When the bus entered the premises of Lucena City, I sent ney a text message again and told him that I am in Lucena already. We decided to meet each other at SM Lucena. I was there at 7:30PM. Of course, ney was wearing a red shirt! It’s his birthday remember?!

I greeted ney and handed him my birthday present. It was a book, well, some sort of English to Portuguese dictionary and phrases. Remember I told you before that he would be leaving soon for work abroad. The language that Angolans in West Africa uses is Portuguese. I believe that, people in Madagascar speak the same language.

Well, ney and I really had a good time. My adventure in Lucena continues in my next posts!

Ciao!

My bestfriend Daisy was able to read my post about Nonet and I’s quick vacation to Quezon. She asked me if I can take her there, ofcourse I can but maybe after she gave birth to her second baby.

I have not replied to her comment yet, but surely if our schedules will meet then I will definitely take her and her family with my own family. The place is quite far indeed, but then the place will surely paid the travel time.

I hope to offer her some free hotel stay so that they could really relax and enjoy the place. I am thinking of inviting our two other girlfriends, Pinky and Ime.

I actually miss them all already.

Ciao!

I took advantage of my 2-day stay in Quezon to visit the places I love to go to. Ney went to my Tita Lyn’s office early in the morning to see us. Nonet was still sleeping when he arrived. It was like 6AM then. My tita and tito are already awake then. I decided to take a walk with ney and to buy food for breakfast.

We walked through the railroad on our way to the store. I remember the old days, when that railroad was still made of wood. But it has been replaced with concrete few years ago already. The means of transportation is a trolley or iskit just what the local people calls it!

Railroad

The said railroad is from Manila all the way to Bicol. There used to be a passenger and cargo trains that pass by it. But ney said that there aren’t any nowadays.

Trolley or Iskit

The picture above is the trolley I am referring to. Then, it was the only means of transportation to get to our barangay from the town proper. Today, you have the option of riding on a tricycle!

Papa’s Kubo

On our way to the store, we passed by Papa’s old Kubo. It was built when I was in highschool. Then it was renovated when I was working. It used to be a feeds store. Then, it was turned to a videoke house. You see, there are not much past time you can do there but sing.

When my father died, my elder cousin bought it from us and it is now again sari sari store and a fish stand. I had a lot of wonderful memories in that kubo. During summer, my sister and I used to look after our little store and the videoke machine. Ofcourse I had sing couple of songs there!

Well, though I didn’t stay long there, I was able to visit the places I wanted to go to and reminisce the old days! You bet I’ll be coming here again and will definitely stay for couple of days!

Ciao!

Since ney and I don’t live together, there are really times that he misses our daughter and I. He lives in the province where he attends to their business. They are contractor which mostly deals with road widening and power plant construction. Recently, I need to go to Quezon to check on him for he’s kinda losing “out of his way”. He said that he wanted to be with us but he can’t. To ease that kind of longing, he just spent his time drinking beer and the like. But, he’s being out of control.

Anyway, last Thursday, Nonet and I had a night trip to Quezon. It was our first time to go there alone. I mean just being with each other. We went to Jac Liner bus station in Cubao to get a ride going to Lucena. There aren’t much aircon buses that will pass directly our town in Quezon unless you’ll take the bus bound to Bicol. So, we just had a cutting trip to Lucena and then another bus ride to our town. It took us around 5 and a half hour to reach our town. It was already 10:30 PM when we arrived. My aunt Lyn fetch us from the town proper and then we took a tricycle ride to their house.

It was really our plan to stay at ney’s house but he’s drank :(  I don’t want to compromise my daughter so we opt to stay at my aunt’s house. I just sent ney a text message that we arrived already and that we’ll just see each other the following day.

Nonet slept soundly maybe because of the long hours of travel. She was really tired. We woke up early the following day, and she really enjoyed the lawn of my aunt. Nice bermuda grasses are growing beautifully at her backyard. I felft a very calm and relaxing feeling

Our little town in Quezon is a place where you’ll experience the “province ambience” thing. Fresh air, green scenery, moutains, seas. Peace and quiet place. It is a place where you could really rest your mind from the busy surrounding of the city!

Nonet and Tita Lyn at the backyard.

See the thick bermuda grasses?!?

Nonet still in her pj’s. Goodmorning anak!

My father was born in Atimonan, Quezon but they moved to Plaridel, Quezon during World War II. Plaridel (Siain) was then part of Atimonan. We visit the place during vacation when I was younger. But since I have to work to support my family and my little princess, I just go there to visit my grandmother during special occasions or when I have time and extra money.

Quezon played a big part in my being. Of course, my father was a quezonian. I usually spent my childhood vacation there and I met ney there.

Quezon province has to offer many beautiful places. Like other provinces in the Philippines, this province offers scenic spots which, tourists will definitely enjoy.

Quezon is divided into 4 Districts. It is currently head by Governor Raffy Nantes. Its capital city is Lucena City. Oh I have a lot of happy memories in Lucena.

I have selected my favorite spots in Quezon but let me tell you, this province has many sites you can go to.

Quezon national Forest Park and Zigzag road.

This is the zigzag road that cuts between the towns of Pagbilao and Atimonan, Quezon. It is also called “Bitukang Manok”. During the old times, provincial buses pass through this road. But due to safety concerns, a new diversion road was developed for buses. Only light vehicles are allowed to pass this. Though, there are still some hard headed bus drivers that pass this road specially on night trips. The trip is shorter is you’ll take this route compared to the use of diversion road. I really miss passing that road. It is kinda scary though, but you’ll really enjoy the view. I always pray when I pass that road.

Mermaid in Atimonan

This is the statue of a mermaid in Atimonan. During my visit to Siain, I always look out of the bus’ window and wait till we pass this statue. It is located along Maharlika highway, and you will really see her. Well, mermaid and siren stories really interest me. There were a lot of talks and hearsay about this mermaid. As of now, I really don’t know the real story why a statue of a mermaid has been built there. Though ney has his own version of the story of this mermaid thing. He said that not so many years ago, a fisherman caught a mermaid in the shores of Lamon Bay in Atimonan. A rich doctor from Atimonan, too, bought the mermaid and freed her. After that incident, the doctor became richer and really had a great fortune. Ney said that it really happened and he knows the family of the said doctor.

Tumagay Beach Resort

I am still thinking of what interesting spot our little town, Plaridel has to offer. Then I remember this beach. It is Tumagay beach resort. The water is clear and clean. Just a like ordinary resort. But the people are great here. Very accommodating.

Mount Banahaw

Who will forget Mount Banahaw?  It is a mystic mountain. I have never been there though. But the mountain has a lot of secrets ready to unveil for those people who are “ready” to know it. They said that there is a certain falls in there, that the waters will clean your soul. There are also talks about a certain passage, that if your soul is not clean then you’ll not be able to pass it. I have found a site that talks about this moutain. You can read the full story here. The said moutain is in fact a volcano. But instead of lava and magma, it contains boiling water.  There are also hearsays that the trees at the top of the mountain is kneeling. Many devotees and faith healers visit the place especially on Tuedays and Fridays. I love to go there as well.  Hopefully, I will have my own story to tell with regard to my experience in going up the mountain.

Kamay ni Hesus

This is Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban. It is a shrine dedicated to Jesus and it is about 325 steps if I am not mistaken. There is church at the foot of the hill and it is a healing center as well.

Villa Escudero

Villa Escudero can be found in Tiaong Quezon. You may check more information about it here.

Ancestral Houses in Sariaya

If you walk into Rizal Street in Sariaya, you’ll find old houses or ancestral houses. The one above is called the big house owned by Rodriguez-Gala family.

Minasawa Bird Sanctuary in Burdeos

The sanctuary is home to bird species such as the nutmeg imperial pigeon, black-naped oriole, rufous night heron, swifts.

Lighthouse in Macalelon

This century - old lighthouse was used as a watchtower fitted by a canon to protect the municipality from invaders during 1784 - 1854.

There are many more places that will interest you when you visit Quezon province.

Boodle fight is a term used A boodle fight is a messy and seemingly uncivilized yet extremely practical way of serving a meal to a large group of people when in the middle of nowhere and eating  utensils are not easily available. In simpler terms, when you put banana leaves on a flat surface and then pour all the rice you have and the viands of veggies, meat and seafood, then you can start the boodle fight!

I remember when I was 10 years old,  we went to what we call our “bundok” which my grandmother inherited from her parents. I went there with my paternal cousins, titas and titos. We brought along 12 cans of sardines and there we had a picnic. There were no utensils available. I remembered my Tito Afin cut several banana leaves we ate there with our hands. Just nice to remember the old days in Quezon.

Well, there are places in Tayabas, Quezon which the whole family can really enjoy boodle fight. There’s an available utensils there, though. But the whole family can really enjoy eating with their hands. If you’re heading to Lucban, Kamayan sa Palaisdaan will be on the right side of the road. When ney and I had our visit to Lucban, we had our lunch there.  

Of course I had my picture taken there..

Another resto that you can go to is located in the opposite side of it. It is called Palaisdaan Restaurant. I researched on the owners of the two restaurants and found out that they’re actually siblings. Hmmm..

Ney and I had a lunch here as well during one of my visits to Lucena. We had a lot of fun for we were serenade by their staff.

Aside from enjoying the feast, the ambiance, the two restos are actually floating restaurants!

Another place that I love going to in Tayabas is the Graceland Estate. I believe it was patented to Elvis Priestly’s Graceland in the US. But you need to be a member to enjoy its facilities. Luckily! Ney’s father is a member and ney is a dependent. So, we’re able to enjoy the place and its facilities.  A family can have picnic, go swimming and enjoy jacuzzi, which we did! :) 

Of course! How can I forget to have my picture taken?!?

Well, like many other places in the Philippines, Quezon offers great places to go to.  And I really love going to these places. Hope you can visit them, too.

Honey and I are on the process of patching things up. He may not be perfect but inspite of his imperfections and immaturities, I know that he loves me inspite of many imperfections that I have. And so, we were talking last night on how we can spend sometime together. Just the two of us. Of course, since Antoinette is around already, we often go out with her. But we really lost, quality time for the two of us alone. Sometimes, in a husband and wife relationship, though the kids are around already, they should still find “bonding moments”. So, I told him that whenever we have enough budget already, I’ll just love to spend time with him in Quezon. Visit the same places that we usually go to so we can “rebuild” the love we have for each other. Well, the love has always been there. But due to life complexities and everyday stress from work and other things, sometimes, that love is being overpowered.

As I was saying, even if Ney has a project in Palawan, I told him that we can take a tour in Lucban as we used to. What does Lucban has to offer that I love? My first trip to Lucban was in 2004.  I remember Ney and I first went to Lucban church. There was a wedding when we arrived and after the wedding, ney and I both bought a brown scapular. Then, we went to the parish’s office and ask the secretary if we can have our scapular be blessed. They were so accomodating and the parish priest blessed our scapulars and he put it on me. I felt so blessed. Lucban church is one of the oldest churches we have in Quezon and possibly be one in the Philippines as well.

The above picture is the Lucban church.

 Ney and I had our pictures taken there.

Our next stop is the Kamay ni Hesus and Healing Center. When we went there in January of 2004, it was still being developed. I counted the steps way up and its more than 300 steps! Its higher than the grotto in Baguio.

It showcases the passion of the Christ starting with the Last Supper.  Our Lady of Lourdes (Grotto) has its own place as Christ mother.  But Mama Mary has her own place in Lucban and it is called Luklukan ni Maria. I have not been there, yet.  On to the last step, there you’ll find the statue of Jesus. I don’t know how tall it is but it’s quite big! Facing the statue, you’ll find the mysterious Mount Banahaw on your right side. I have never been to Mount Banahaw also. I will find time to have a different post for Mount Banahaw soon.

 Mount Banahaw

Of course our Lucban trip will not be completed without eating their famous pancit “habhab” and their tasty longganisa. Hmmm.. thinking of these two really makes me hungry..

Pancit Lucban and Longganisa

Well, think we’ll visit the place again before the year closes or possibly in on May 15-16 when Lucban celebrates their Pahiyas Festival.

About 3 weeks ago, my mother, 2 sisters and my little Antoinette paid visit to our grandmother who lives in Quezon. They went to Brgy. Duhat, Plaridel, Quezon to be exact. My father was born in Atimonan, Quezon but his family moved to Plaridel, Quezon during the Japanese occupation. My grandfather was a member of guerilla.

Duhat is one of the 9 barangays of Plaridel, Quezon.  Plaridel was once part of Atimonan. It is situated between the municipalities of Atimonan and Gumaca. It was once a wealthy municipality. I believed I have read its history and it was once the center of copra trading.  I don’t know what happened, but it is now belongs to a 5th class municipality. Ney who where once a municipal councilor said that their municipality is a poor municipality. He even said that our barangay hall(Rosario) is much better that their municipal hall. Yet, ney’s family is one of the well to do families in Plaridel. They own a contracting company which was rated triple A by DPWH.

Along with Brgy Duhat, are barangays, Concepcion, Ilaya, Ilosong (which is kust a walking distance from Duhat), Tanauan, Central (Pob.), Paang Bundok (Pob.), Paaralan (Pob.) and M. L. Tumagay. Brgy. Tumagay used to be Remas Mabuton, but it was named after Plaridel’s Assembly man, Manuel Tumagay. He is the father of the current vice-mayor, Bernardo Tumagay.

I have collected pictures of their trip from my cousins camera. Well, I really asked her to capture pictures…

This is part of the Lamon Bay. You’ll see this at the left side of Maharlika highway going to Bicol. Oh, how I love looking at it!

Wearing the pink shirt is my younger sister. She’s with my cousin Anne and our nieces, Ykay and Yvette, enjoying the rain.

Here is my sister, Patty with our pamangkins, Ykay and Yves.

She’s my cousin Anne. This was taken at their rice field.

My youngest sister Pau doing her own pose at the field.

Picture picture so, early in the morning! Pau and Nonet. Picture was taken at Brgy. Duhat’s basketball court.

This the court. The one pointed by the yellow arrow is the “Bahay Nayon”.

See Nonet(middle) enjoying the morning breeze. My mom said she’s running back and forth in the court with cousins, Ykay and Yves.

Cge Antoinette takbo pa!

They’re actually stepping on a railroad. At night, there are still cargo trains that passes that rail road. When I was younger,  I used to play there..

This was taken at “Paradahan”. This used to be a train terminal.

This is at Tita Lyn’s house.

See the smile on Antoinette’s lips? She really did enjoy her 3-day vacation. I’ll visit the place soon. I’ll go there once I have time and money

My daughter Antoinette, together with my Mom and my two younger sisters, went to Quezon to pay visit to our paternal grandmother. She’s 89 but still has a good appetite. Well, I would like to share here my father’s province,  Quezon.

Quezon province is part of Region 1VA called CaLaBaRZon(Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon). Executive Order No. 246, dated October 28, 2003, designated Calamba City as the regional center of CALABARZON.

 I found a brief history of Quezon from www.quezon.gov.ph. It says:

The province formerly known as Tayabas, was explored by the Spaniards in 1571 and 1572 when Juan de Salcedo visited and explored upon the order of the first Spanish Governor General of the Philippines, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. They passed through the central portion of Tayabas in his march across Laguna Province to Paracale. The following years, Salcedo led his famous expeditions around the northern coast of Luzon. He visited the “CONTRACOSTA” towns of Casiguran, Baler and Infanta.

In 1574, Father Diego de Oropesa, who found a group of native barangays with their own culture and government, founded the municipality of Gumaca, then called Bumaka.

The territory which now constitutes the province of Tayabas was at one time under the jurisdiction of various provinces. The southern and central portions, for example, were in 1585 under the jurisdiction of the province of Bonbon, sometimes called Balayan (now Batangas). the northern portion was divided between Laguna and Nueva Ecija, while the other portion was divided into the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque and Camarines.

In 1591, Tayabas was created into a province under the name of Kalilayan. Its capital was the ancient town of Tayabas, now a barrio in the town of Unisan where ancient tombs and artifacts can be found. However, by the middle of the 18th century the provincial capital was moved to what is now the municipality of Tayabas.

The year 1595 marked the spiritual birth of Quezon Province with its incorporation into the Diocess of Nueva Caceres. The first Catholic Bishop of the province was Fray Francisco Ortiga, an Agustinian Friar, while its first Alcalde Mayor was Don Simeon Alvarez, who served from 1625 to 1655.

In September 7, 1946, President Manuel A. Roxas, by virtue of Republic Act No. 14 renamed the province to Quezon, in honor of the late President Manuel L. Quezon, the most illustrious son of Baler, formerly part of Quezon.

The present seat of provincial government is Lucena City, the province’s capital.

 My father was born in one of the Quezon’s town, Atimonan. Then, during World War II, when Atimonan was conquered by the Japanese, they relocated to Plaridel(Siain). The town is surrounded by mountains and then virgin forests which made it hard for the Japanese to occupy it. 

I used to spend my summer vacation there when I was a kid. I love Quezon for I found the love of my life from there. Tell you more about him in different post.

 Quezon is comprised of 39 municipalities and 1 city, Lucena City which is also the province’s capital. The province is subdivided into 4 Districts.  The municipalities are Agdangan, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Mulanay, Padre Burgos, Pitogo, San Andres, San Francisco, San Narciso, Unisan, Alabat, Atimonan, Calauag, Guinayangan, Gumaca, Lopez, Perez, Plaridel, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Burdeos, General Nakar, Infanta, Jamalig, Lucban, Mauban, Pagbilao, Panukulan, Patnanungan, Polillo, Real, Sampaloc, Tayabas, Candelaria, Dolores, San Antonio, Sariaya, Tiaong.

Each town has its own tourist spots to offer as well as very interesting history.

Known Filipino personalities from Quezon are Ran Danseco (Calauag). He is a Sports Editor of (Bagong Tiktik). Aiza Seguerra (Calauag), who would not know Aiza. She’s a former child superstar. Now a very renowned singer. Manoling Morato (Calauag), PCSO Official. Gil Portes (Pagbilao), movie director.