Ulog #1 : Sizzling Summer 2018

It's that time of the year when we celebrate for longer days in the scorching sun with a dripping ice cream on hand and longer hours on bed with a sleepy head. Even before the day starts, we subsequently arouse in excitement to pack up stuff and prepare the best bathing suit from our closet, but what's beyond important is that we'd make the most of our time to step aside these stresses in life - and also remembering to put on sunscreen before beating the heat. It's called rejuvenation. Summer is rejuvenation. Scientifically, even the beaches help our souls to unwind. And unfortunately, it has come to an end. To make it seem it less unfortunate to me, reminiscing the moments and memories I've had this summer is indeed a remarkable thing to do, and I would like to share it with you.

On the south-west part of Cebu, Moalboal is known for its white beaches and resorts. Earlier after my graduation, my parents decided to go out on a one-day trip at Moalboal abruptly out of the blue. We drove approximately 4 hours from Lapu-Lapu City and I can say that it was really a sudden trip I didn't enjoy. We went there on a short span of time and it wasn't just enough to roam around in one place while missing out the exciting place of all - the Kawasan Falls. As optimistic as I tried to be, Moalboal was an excellent place to gaze around the stupendous scenery of the sunset and the colorful underwater realm.

Right after that short trip from Moalboal, we stopped at Boardwalk and you could already tell how lovely the place is right in the picture. It's perfect. And I look dazzling too. (I'm jk) Anyway, the simplicity of the ambiance was even more enjoyable for me because the place is perfect for taking instagram photos and I love taking photos, and of course photos of me taken by my brother @chuuuckie who nearly has every DSLR cameras. The funniest part of this mini vacation was that we went to Jollibee reluctantly bringing rice with us instead of ordering. At the end of the day, I realized why both of my parents decided to have an early vacation and it was because they didn't have much of the time to free themselves this summer. They worked almost every day.

Travelling alone is like an opportunity that goes once in a blue moon for me. I was given this chance to venture out on my own from Visayas to Mindanao to meet my cousins. It was both exciting and scary given that I had to be independent on my own 'til I've reached the municipality of Calamba. I took a ship that had set its course to Dapitan City and as I arrived, I took a bus finally going to Calamba. Eventually, I have found solitude and inner peace for myself. I spent three days in the municipality with my cousins beaching, road tripping, eating, eating, and eating.

Apparently, I've already prepared myself for stuffing thy belly and whatnot through correct diet and water therapy (HAHA), and choosing the excellent place for spoiling thy cravings is a must to avoid possible dissatisfaction. Fortunately, we went to the right neighborhood. My cousins and I absolutely savored the food and it wasn't just the food that made the place excellent but also with its service to the customers. I personally would give 5 stars to Chapters A Book Cafe and recommend it to y'all, especially to all the bookworms out there.

My experience in Iligan City highlights our bonding moments like strolling in the malls, drinking tea, and watching "A Quiet Place". Some might say the movie, A Quiet Place, is only filled with horror, but for me it was truly heartbreaking and touching. I couldn't forget that moment my cousins and I ended up crying on a particular scene as we munched our popcorns. But what I couldn't ever forget was that time when we were about to enter the theater and suddenly a man approached me asking for my identification card to prove that I'm thirteen and old enough to watch the movie. The worst part was, he didn't just ask once but twice. Thankfully, my cousins were there to explain things and we just laughed on that stinky situation. Thus, this memory will forever remain in me.

The real fun only begins when one is faced with deep waters, breathtaking scenery, extreme showers of water, and 400 steps on stairs. Before we went down to see the falls, we knew we had to take 400 steps down which already made my knees shake thinking how more exhausting would it be going back up. In the end, it was all worth seeing the beauty of nature hidden in this place.

You're probably wondering why I only rated 3/5 while we looked so happy in the picture. Actually, I lived for 12 years in Cagayan De Oro and basically I consider it as my hometown. I felt nostalgic as I recalled my childhood memories back then, but we went there shortly and I realized it was time to go home in Cebu. (Before I forget to say this, don't plan to go on a trip to Agutayan Island in Jasaan. They have poor services and a screwed up system - another reason for me to rate this trip a 3/5).

I was awakened by the noises of my parents preparing for the day in adventure park. We went there early to see the animals and it was a good thing to be there early because then you'll only have to deal with minimum people. It was fascinating to see various kinds of wild animals and the cute ones (LOL) in Cebu Safari, but as much as I wanted to add more features of it, they didn't have a tour guide so naturally we were learning on our own about the lifestyle of the animals while gawking at them intently.

From listening to the word of God to evacuating from one tent to another in a rainy midnight, everything is still fresh from my memory. @hermonarch and I joined a relentless camp with other young people from different churches. It was fun and really challenging for me to sleep in a tent, meet new people, and most of all, it was amazing to encounter the Lord again with His undying grace.