Balagon Uphill

Balagon Uphill...

It's been almost a year since I last visited my blog (I've been very busy with some stuff)...and I can't wait to share the latest experience, well actually this was late last year. It was September 2013 when I set my foot again to my favorite spot of my home town, Sitio Balagon. It's one hour trekking (including few stops) from my house since I haven't done it for quite a while. So just a week after I arrived, I prepare my self to visit the place. Just after fifteen minutes of walking my sweat is already pouring like s**t. It was then that I realized that I really need a regular exercise. Ok, back on track, me and my buddy Rey keep walkin' (he's like five meters a head of me) and he seems like it's natural for him to walk like that in a rugged and steep terrain.

It's really hard for me, I almost catch breath but I have to keep goin'. See, the trick is to stop every now and then to take picture so it wouldn't look like I'm really resting.(LOL).

My buddy, Rey...

God I miss the place! It's also getting cold as we go higher. But I didn't appreciate that much since I sweating really hard. We stopped in an abandoned water tank were we sip some water, still fresh though. And we continue walking according to Rey, It's supposed to be an hour trekking but since he has a neophyte with him, he dought it!

Some interesting shot I took...

A lot of things to see there, like the one above I don't really know what is that It just caught my attention the beauty of nature. There's a lot more, plant that even my mom doesn't know the name. All I know is that my cousin said if you see a fruit that looks delicious check it there's a bird bite. That you'll know if you can eat it, otherwise don't.

Here's one we saw it looks like a banana but it's a vine...there's no bird bite!

So I'm contented with the photoo and I just took one piece and showed it to my mom, and know what she doesn't recogize it. I'm so excited with that tour my struggle really paid off when we reach the apex.

We did it!!!We made it on top!!!

Marinduque & Semirara Island Mining

Photo credit to Inquirer.Net

Many years back, I used to hear a lot about this island. When i was a kid when my father was still in soil testing company I can't really recall what was the name. I just remember that my dad's gonna be gone for a while because it's located down south. But this kind of job, my family are used to this. We even join him when we don't have school like summer vacations in his field jobs.

Picture credit to Taga Capayang Laang Pede FB Account

Well, that was long time ago. I was just struck by the latest news about mining tragedy in Semirara island. I felt sorry for the affected families. Can't help thinking about the Marcopper and CMI. CMI, which is located right at our backyard. I can still see it there, the open pit mining ground, deserted. And never miss to take a glance whenever I'm in town. Now serves as a playground of the locals and occasional venue of x-treme sports. I hope we found something useful about that place.

Going back to Semirara, I know that it's our major power source but again I hope we found alternative and renewable power source. Something that will not destroy our natural resources and create devastation. Something that will not take lives and instead protect us. Protect us from the effects of destroying our land, protects us from some individuals whose main concerns are their tummies and their pockets. When are you gonna stop killing mother earth???!!!

Maniwaya Island, Marinduque

Maniwaya Island, Marinduque

Wow!!! That's one word to describe this island. Another island to offer the world, I really wanna go back to this island see the picture below, it's so inviting. Surely this place is the number one again on my list next time I go back there! Great place to unwind, long vacation or just a quick weekend get away from the city hassle-buzzle.

How to get there? there's a lot of ways to get in this island paradise, just half-hour flight from Manila to Marinduque or from Manila by bus via Dalahican, Lucena city.

PHOTO CREDIT TO OWNER

Great opportunity for business investment too, now is the right time! If you don't do it now somebody will...catch the plane or be left behind!

See you there!!!

Marinduque as I recall

It's been 20 years since the last time i set my foot on this island. After high school I told my self I will never come back here, Well, for a city boy like me it was a total shock when my family decided to move there out of nowhere. My Grandmother was sick then, my mom is the youngest among her siblings. So i guess that was it there's nothing I can  do about it.

Day one, as a boy; i totally freaked out when I saw the place there was no TV, no malls, no nothing at all. How can I live in here. It's so weird, there are so many new faces. The only person i knew in that place is my Granny.

She was sick, actually. My mom has to take care of her since she is the youngest among the siblings. We were introduced to the folks, meet and greet sort of things. It was really difficult at a young age, pretty traumatic. But then, can't do anything about it. So if you can't beat them, "have fun"!!! LOL!

Next few days, we go around the barrio continued the meet and greet with cousins. Even says hi! to the buffalo tied under the mango tree. Chickens running around everywhere. I started to appreciate the countryside so quickly. So green everywhere, fresh air, fresh food and friendly people. I even go to the mountain that I have never done before (of course i was just a kid) but until now i can't forget those experience. There was a time that my little sister saw a running water "sapa" and she's trying to put a piece of wood to avoid it from running. She never realized it as a small river or sapa, and our cousins can't help it to laugh out loud about it.

We never got tired of going places, so wonderful! Beautiful marinduque!