A Breeze of Good Deeds # 28: TamTam is finally home...

I wasn’t able to catch Wish Ko Lang yesterday. So thank you, Chod for sharing these links.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

So TamTam is finally home. I’m very glad he is.

I don’t know with my other friends who helped him last Christmas, but how come I didn’t feel any anger when I found out about the truth?

Maybe because my father taught me that when you see someone who needs help and you deeply feel that he needs it, go on and help without thinking twice. He probably has reasons why he made up those stories. He was probably scared to face the family that he left behind.

Or maybe because more than the fact that we helped him, he was actually the one who helped us. He made us realize how lucky we are, that the problems we are facing are just trivial compared to his. We are lucky to be surrounded by our loving family and friends. And though I always complain about my legs getting tired from walking all day, I’m still lucky because there are people like TamTam whose probably only wish is to experience that same pain.

Or maybe because I’m just happy that he’s finally reunited with his family. And I’m glad that in some ways, my friends, relatives and all the other strangers who reached out to him, became his family while he was away from his own.

Last Day in Coron: Lunch at Everly’s

We wanted to squeeze in some time to buy pasalubong on our last day in Coron. After buying some dried fish and shirts from the nearby market, we asked Kuya JR where we could have our lunch other than at Centro Coron. Boyet even teased him that he should not get hurt that we’re eating outside. He explained that their food is really delicious but we just wanted to try out something different. Kuya JR graciously directed us to Everly’s. He even personally called a tricycle for us.

We first bought some cashew nuts before getting our seats. The sun’s heat was scorching so we were unsure whether it’s a good idea to eat outside. Fortunately, one wait staff ushered to us a shady spot. We were seated in their sturdy wooded shed. We were lucky that the place wasn’t crowded. If it was, we would have been forced to seat in those plastic chairs with merely a big umbrella protecting us from the sun.

Hubby, Joie and Jeff

Jeff said that he wanted sisig because we’ve been eating almost all kinds of seafood for days. So sisig was in our priority list. We immediately mixed the egg and put some calamansi as soon as it arrived on our table. It’s delicious, probably one of the best-tasting sisig I’ve ever had.

Pork Sisig PHP150

We asked the waitress what are their bestsellers. She said that Seafood Festival is their specialty. I know that we got a little tired of eating seafood during our stay but we simply could not let this one pass. There was nothing appealing to this dish at first glance. But the burst of flavors was superb. The combination of its sweet, sour and spicy flavors was well-balanced. It definitely made a mark on our taste buds.

Seafood Festival PHP250

Another suggestion by their wait staff was their Buffalo wings. We got intrigued as to what’s special about this common dish so we decided to give it a try. The way it was prepared was different from the usual Buffalo wings which are completely coated with sauce. Theirs are just drizzled with a few that’s why the taste isn’t overpowering. We could taste the tangy sauce and yet still enjoy the chicken’s crispness, the one thing that’s sometimes lacking in the usual Buffalo wings.

Buffalo Wings PHP180

Dining in at Everly’s was a nice way to conclude our three-day Coron vacation. Good food paired with friendly people made our dining experience enjoyable.

ÜnOfficially Yours

This is not a movie review. I’ll leave that to the film critics. I just find this movie really interesting so I decided that it deserves some space in my blog. Don't take me (and this post) seriously. And if you have plans of continuing to read beyond this sentence, make sure that you've already watched or you don't have any plans of watching the movie.

It was a battle between The Vow and Unofficially Yours. I still couldn’t decide what to watch the night before. But on Sunday morning, I realized that I wasn’t in the mood to watch a drama film so we settled for Unofficially Yours. Besides, the screening time suited our schedule best. So yes, I chose John Lloyd Cruz over Channing Tatum!

Photo taken from Wikipedia

The first thing I tweeted after watching was, “Na-culture shock ako sa Unofficially Yours!”

I’m glad that I watched it now that I’m married. It would have been a different story if this movie was shown eight months earlier. I was a little skeptical that the Filipino audience is now ready for something like this. But I’m glad that somebody had the guts to tackle such a mature theme. It only shows that we are now open, and slowly accepting what used to be taboo in our society. (Sorry but I'm still against it. ^_^) With the help of Cathy Garcia-Molina’s magic, what seemed to be a promiscuous subject was transformed into something entertaining.

John Lloyd Cruz is undeniably a good actor. He is not the typical matinee idol but I guess that’s what makes him more adorable. Pair him with Tia Pusit and he can still probably tickle the hearts of the viewers. He was very convincing with his portrayal of an awkward guy who experiences being in a casual relationship for the first time. He’s really charming each time he woos Ces (Angel Locsin). And of course, I don’t need to mention how great he is in making the viewers empathize with his heartbreaks. His character has actually hit a raw nerve not because I was once in the kind of relationship that he had with Ces but because I have long dreamed of being a writer like him. I actually envy his courage for doing a drastic move on his career. But I refuse to treat this movie as a sign! Haha! Not now! :p

I have always loved Angel Locsin as a celebrity but never as an actress. But this changed after I watched this film. She is undoubtedly oozing with sex appeal and she made it evident in the entire movie. I applaud her for taking such a daring role without looking cheap at all.

The movie has a superb supporting cast! John Lloyd’s friends are so hilarious! I’m glad that Star Cinema is giving Edgar Allan a break because he is really a good actor. And Panying’s presence on the screen is simply refreshing. Mukha pa lang nya, natatawa na ko! Anyway, the three actors succeeded in making the viewers see that though boys can get naughty at times, they can still offer sensible advices to their best friends. And even if they may seem to always have sex on their minds, they can still unleash their sensitive sides.

Their colleagues led by the hilarious Kaye Brosas were also amusing! Tarsier jump! Hahaha! You can never go wrong with Kaye! She wasn’t just there to provide comic relief. She has served her purpose as the reliable confidant of Ces.

People may think that the families of both Ces and Mackie were just decorations in the movie. But their parts were crucial in explaining why Ces and Mackie behave the way they do. Mackie turned out to be a loving guy because he was surrounded by an affectionate family (Edgar Mortiz, Melissa Mendez and the Martinez sisters). And Ces, other than her a$Shole ex-boyfriend, has a dysfunctional family who contributed to her fear of falling in love. She can’t rely to a man because his brother (Ian de Leon), the only man in their house is not dependable at all. You’ll know that Ian is a good actor because he gave justice to his role with a few lines, a play station and some cigarettes. And who can forget Tetchie Agbayani who was very good in playing the crazy mother? But amidst her craziness, the turning point was when she became the “mother” to Ces. The “kitchen scene” was actually my favorite as it reminds me of my “under the table” sessions with my college best friends. Even before the scene was shown, I was already thinking of what I am supposed to say to Ces if she’s my friend. It’s as if Tetchie read my mind! Haha! But seriously, it’s the same thing I tell my friends who are heartbroken and who are starting to lose faith in love. The moment you get scared to love, you deprive yourself of being with the one that is meant for you. Believe me, I have once been there.

All in all, Unofficially Yours is more than a sexy romantic film. There is something more than the “basagan ng kasangkapan” sexy scenes. The cheesy parts got me cringing at times but the movie is still entertaining.

Coron Day 2 (Island Tour Part 6): Barracuda Lake

After spending almost the whole day in water, Kuya Chris told us that we're off to our next destination. The first thing I asked him was whether there are barracudas in the Barracuda Lake. He casually said that there used to be barracudas in the lake that’s why it was called such.

We needed to go down a very steep path to reach the lake. There’s a very pungent smell along the way so be ready for that.


The sun was still up so we had the luxury to stay longer in the lake. The serene water would have been a perfect way for us to relax after a strenuous day. But we were mistaken. What happened to us at the Barracuda Lake proved to be the most memorable part of our trip. It was scary yet funny at the same time.


A group of tourists left the place when we arrived so we had the lake all by ourselves. We all enjoyed floating in the very calm water as we were surrounded by a picturesque scenery.

Jeff

Boyet about to take the plunge

The boys sought for more excitement so they dared to take some underwater shots without their life vests. I was initially discouraging them but insisted in doing so. Boyet told me that there is a ladder which they could hold on to.

Kuya Arvin candidly posed for us. So now you believe what I said in my previous post that our tour guides were also enjoying the tour. Haha!


Jeff courageously followed Kuya Arvin.


When it was Boyet’s turn, he panicked and almost drowned! Haha! Fortunately, he was able to hold on to the ladder and my head! Yes, he accidentally grabbed my head and my vest during his struggle. Nagmamagaling kasi! :p


Joie and I were both scared to try what the boys did so we settled for the traditional underwater shots. By this time, three more tourists arrived.

All underwater shots courtesy of Joie

While all of us were having fun in the water, Kuya Chris gave us a worried look. He told us to come closer to the ladder and not panic. I asked him what’s happening. He said, “Walang magpa-panic! May ahas!” What?! I was expecting barracudas but we got a snake instead! The moment Kuya Chris asked us not to panic, everybody panicked! Kuya Chris tried to get me out of the water. But the moment he pulled my hands, I pulled back. Because of it, we both fell back into the water! Haha! And while Joie was trying to get out of the water, she left her slippers behind. She was more worried to lose her Havaianas than being bitten by the snake! :p

Jeff and Boyet actually saw the snake swimming away from us. The other tourists downplayed the snake saying that it’s just small. But according to Kuya Chris, the snake won’t bite unless aggravated. But you’ll only have 8 hours to live once you’re bitten. “Maliit lang pala, e di bumalik sila sa tubig,” Kuya Chris said. Nyaha!

We didn’t want to risk our lives so we decided to call it a day. My friend also told us the same experience while he was in Coron. So be extra careful when you plan to go to the lake. Fortunately, we had tour guides who are very alert.

After all the adrenaline rush, Kuya Chris told everybody, “Ang bigat pala ni Ma’am. Hindi lang halata!” Bwahahaha!

And that concludes our second day in Coron. :)

Coron Day 2 (Island Tour Part 5): Twin Lagoon

Our second to the last destination was the Twin Lagoon. Like what I mentioned in my previous posts, we availed of Centro Coron's worry-free package so I didn't even try to do some research about our trip. It also helped me to lower my expectations. So when we were about to go to Twin Lagoon, I asked Kuya Chris what to expect with the place. He said that we need to go through a very narrow opening to reach the inner lagoon. If the tide is high, tourists need to use the bridge. Or if you're the adventurous type, maybe you can still swim if it's high tide. Kanya kanyang trip lang yan!


Twin Lagoon was crowded when we arrived. Boats were everywhere making it extremely difficult for us to find a spot to dock our boat. More boats were arriving so the queue became longer. Because of this, Kuya Chris asked if we could manage to swim even if the opening was still far from our boat. Without thinking twice, we jumped to the water and battled the big boats along the way.

Fortunately, the tide was low during our visit so we were able to experience passing the cave-like entrance. Kahit butas ng karayom, papasukin namin! I think it would be less fun if you don’t swim and just use the bridge. It was scary at first and I figured it's definitely frightening for those who are claustrophobic.


After minutes of endless buwis-buhay swimming, we finally had a glimpse of the beauty of the place. We were like mythical creatures swimming in enchanting waters.


Our tour guides warned us not to drop anything because the water is too deep. When you drop something, say goodbye to it because you’ll never retrieve it. That’s why Jeff and Joie were very careful with their underwater camera! Haha!

Joie

Some parts of the lagoon are warmer than the other parts. It was a running joke among all the tourists that the warmer parts are the lagoon’s restrooms! Nyaha!

with Boyet and Kuya Chris

I really enjoyed the company of Boyet, Jeff, Joie, Kuya Chris and Kuya Arvin. Yes, I intentionally included our tour guides. It was very obvious that they were having fun. They were laughing with us and even cracked a few jokes. They were like kids acting like it was their first time to see the place. We all kept on playing like there’s no tomorrow!

Joie, Jeff and Kuya Arvin

PS: Photos courtesy of Joie

Coron Day 2 (Island Tour Part 4): Coral Garden

If compared to having exercise, our bodies were just warmed up after going to Siete Pecados and Kayangan Lake. Fortunately, I ate a lot during lunch in preparation for a strenuous battle.

With the scorching heat of the sun, our boat stopped in the middle of the sea. Then, our tour guides suddenly jumped out of the boat. Surprised with what was happening, I asked Kuya Chris if we should also go into the water. He said that it was the farthest that the boat could get because the area is protected. The boat’s anchor and propeller might destroy the corals.

Just like soldiers who are about to face the battle, I prepared my battle gears.

That's me testing the waters, literally!

Kuya Chris and Kuya Arvin were both swimming without their life vests. Kuya Chris took out his vest and asked us to hold into it while he was holding the other end. Kuya Arvin also did the same for Jeff and Joie.

Jeff with Kuya Arvin

The current was so strong! I admire our tour guides for courageously facing the strong current and putting our safety on top of their priority. Each time I pull the belt of our guide’s vest to signal that I need a break, he would stop and make sure that everything’s fine. There were instances that I needed to adjust my vest, wipe my goggles or fix my snorkeling gear. Snorkeling in the Coral Garden was absolutely hard. But the underwater experience was surreal! Thanks to Joie for the underwater shots.

After a few minutes, Kuya Chris spotted something and caught everyone’s attention. It was a lobster, the very first one I saw other than those being cooked in the Lifestyle Network shows. I was a little bothered when Kuya Chris took it out of the water. I told him that he might disturb the ecosystem. Haha! But he assured me that the lobster was already dead when he got it.

Hubby with THE LOBSTER

It was very tiring to swim non-stop. I was really scared of two things – the strong current and the sun! Heller! Ang itim ko na kaya! But I’m glad I faced my fears. It was definitely worth it!

Coron Day 2 (Island Tour Part 3): Atuwayan Beach and Banol Beach

We went back to our boat after our Kayangan Lake adventure. After a few minutes, Kuya Chris took out a can of Century Tuna, put it in a bowl and mixed a sachet of mayonnaise in it. He handed the spread to us along with a pack of sliced bread. “Ma’am, Sir, appetizer po muna kayo,” Kuya Chris said. I initially thought that it would already be our food for lunch! Haha! I never imagined myself feeling heavenly after eating bread with tuna spread! If you’ve experienced non-stop boat ride, hiking and swimming, you’ll definitely grab and munch anything edible.

A few minutes passed and we arrived at Atuwayan beach. Our boatman initially had a hard time finding a spot to park our boat. The beach was a bit crowded when we arrived but it didn’t stop us from enjoying the serenity of the place.



All the cottages were already occupied when we arrived so we were forced to sit on the sand. Fortunately, it didn’t hinder us from enjoying the feast prepared by Centro Coron. Our tour guides brought a large basket which housed our food and a cooler where they stored our cold beverages. We were so amazed each time they take out something. They brought water, ice and soda. They served shrimps, grilled liempo and fish. I told Kuya Chris, “Ang sarap ng liempo sa toyo’t kalamansi na may sili!” “Don’t worry Ma’am,” he said as he started slicing the kalamansi and mixed it with soy sauce and chili. Anong sinabi ng boy scouts?!

And yes, we didn't eat using paper plates and plastic cups!


Our feast didn’t end at that. Kuya Chris took out a plastic bag containing something that looks really familiar. He cleaned it, placed it on a plate along with the sliced red onions and tomatoes. I said, “Wow, arorosep!” Kuya Chris was bedazzled because the seaweeds is known to them as lato and not arorosep.

I saw the disgust on the faces of Boyet and Joie. I asked Jeff if he eats the slimy green seaweeds. He gave me a smile and started digging into the plate. Suffice to say, Jeff and I enjoyed it!


We were encouraging our guides to join us for lunch but they begged off. They insist on having theirs after we’re done. So after our sumptuous lunch, there was nothing left to do but to enjoy the calming view and the crystal clear water.

Joie

with Joie

with Hubby

Joie and Jeff

Hahaha!

Huh?!

After a few minutes of resting, our tour guides told us that we were off to our next destination.


Banol beach was quieter than Atuwayan, well at least when we were there. There was nothing much to do other than swimming and taking pictures.

Banol beach photos courtesy of Joie

We were so eager to continue with our water adventures but Kuya Chris told us to take advantage of our break. He advised us to recharge because we’d definitely need our energy for our next stops. I later found out that he wasn't lying!

Until my next post! :)