Okay, so it’s been more than a week since we got back from our 2-week vacation in Leyte.  I was busy…and still busy at work.  What do you expect after a two-week vacation??.Anyway, so we’ve been out of the “circle” for two weeks and experienced a simple life…no internet, limited phone signal, vegetables, fresh food, fruits, etc.  Honestly, when my “normal” life started to sink in, I missed the two-week experience in Leyte.  Hello to traffic, pollution, fried food, and stress!

We had a lot of fun and bonding with Dann’s relatives.  But before we reached Leyte, several problems welcomed us.  While we were at the airport (terminal 3), the staff there said Ria was not in their system.  So we had to fix it before they can check-in for the flight.  The counters were nearly closing when we finished.

So after, we had to rush to the gate where we will board.  The gate started to open when we arrived.  Apparently, we had to ride a bus to get to our plane.  Unfortunately, I was not able to take pictures because of stress and other people didn’t offer us their seats.  But I took a quick picture of Dann and Ria before riding the plane.  Ria knows how airplane looks like so while we were on our way to the plane, she kept on saying “epane!”

Welcome to Cebu

That was my first time to be in Cebu, even Ria.  We went to Waterfront Hotel to meet Dann’s aunties and uncles and Bea with Stephanie.  So we rode a cab going to the hotel.  Ria had to blow her nose but Dann used a lampin with sipon so Ria said “eeewww, yuck, eeewwww”.  The only time she blew her nose was when Dann used a new one.  Ang arte much! 🙂

The original plan was to meet up for lunch then ride a fast craft going to Leyte.  Unfortunately, it was signal no. 1 in Leyte so all trips of Super Ferry and Weesam were cancelled.  So we had to spend the night in Cebu.  We stayed at Sugbutel, a popular hotel for backpackers.  This picture was taken at the lobby of the hotel.

We attended an early mass the next day at the Basilica in Cebu City.  Since we were so early for the mass, we managed to see the surroundings of the church.

We went to Magellan’s Cross inside the church compound.  We were supposed to see the Sto. Nino but the line was so long that we’ll miss the start of the mass if we stayed.  So I said, there will still be next time. 🙂

And since it was Sunday, there were balloon vendors everywhere.  And Ria kept on pointing at them and asking us to buy her one.  But it will be hard for us to travel if we’ve got balloons so I said to Ria we’ll buy one in Leyte.

After the mass, we went back to the hotel to get our things.  We already have tickets for our roro trip (a large ferry: roll on roll off).  So it was time for us to leave Cebu.  Mama and Papa were already waiting for us in Leyte.

Fascinated with the sea, Ria couldn’t take her eyes off her surroundings.  She saw boats below the ship with people waiting for passengers to throw some coins.  Then when I threw one, aba nagdemand si Ria na magtapon ulit, at ulit, at ulit.

We left Cebu at 12noon and the expected arrival time in Palompon, Leyte was 6 in the evening.  We just entertained ourselves by sleeping…haha.

Nature at its finest.  We saw flying fish and dolphins.  Unfortunately, they were too fast for me to capture them.  So I just took a picture of the beautiful sunset.

It’s Leyte time!!!

And so we arrived in Palompon, Leyte at 6pm.  Papa was already waiting for us in the pier.  It was nice to be back in Dann’s hometown.  So peaceful.

We stayed most of the time in Palompon for the reunion and fiesta.  San Miguel is Mama’s home-barangay in Palompon.

We’ve got so many days to spend.  It was also San Miguel’s fiesta during that time.  So we spent some afternoons attending mass.  We also went to San Juan beach, impulsively.  We were awakened early in the morning and Mama told us we’ll go to the beach.  So we quickly packed our things for the beach.  But since it was unplanned, we didn’t have a sunscreen for Ria.  Eto ung unang beses na nangitim sya sa two-week vacay namin 🙂

She had so many bonding times with her ates/aunties and kuya/uncle..we explored Palompon, Leyte for the first few days with Dann’s cousins…since Dann’s cousins are relatively young, we told Ria to call them ate or kuya.

This picture was taken at Liberty Park in Palompon.  The park is near the municipal hall and Palompon port.

Ria’s first time to ride potpot.  It was my second. 🙂

Just near Nanay’s house, there’s a river that we visited.  Ria saw carabaos taking their daily bath.. 🙂 She calls them “baw”.

This was the morning before she ate the fried chicken above.  Nanay showed Ria her chicken just before they were slaughtered for a meal.  Ria enjoyed holding them, as if they were her pets.  Nanay also showed Ria how to “ihaw” (ihaw in bisaya is the process of killing the animal; sugba is the process of roasting) the chickens.  And gladly, hindi natrauma si Ria sa blood..hehe..unlike her mother.

After minutes, Mama and sister Auntie started to roast the chickens.  Wala pa ring takot si Ria.  For more, kumakain pa sya ng chichirya just like eating popcorn while watching a movie.  Brave girl!

One afternoon, we had an impromptu swimming in Jordan Spring.  It is a 45-minute drive from Palompon.  It is already in Villaba, the next town after Palompon from Isabel.  It is a VERY cold spring.  I was not able to enjoy the pool because of the temperature, and aside from the fact that I can’t swim in deep water..hehe..

There’s a diving spot in the pool.  Dann and his cousins jumped.  Then Ria looked at me and said “Mama! Jump!”..ay demanding ang anak ko..e hindi nga ako makaalis dun sa kinatatayuan ko dahil medyo malalim na..papatalunin pa ko sa malalim…adik na anak..hehe

The Clan Reunion

The children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Lolo Pablo and Lola Coning had a reunion in San Miguel.  Lolo Pablo and Lola Coning are Nanay Francing’s parents.  Currently, there are only three surviving children of Lolo Pablo and Lola Coning: Nanay Francing, Lola Pane and Lola Epang.  Ria is so fortunate to meet them all.

Meet the Tordillo family, Nanay Francing’s family. 🙂 All of her children attended the reunion.  Some were from the US and Singapore, who dedicated their time just to be there with us.  It’s nice meeting them all.

Ria enjoyed the reunion kahit may sarili syang mundo sa kakalaro.  She met her third degree cousins and uncles and aunties.  Most of her aunties and uncles are still young.

We were not able to count how many bananas she ate that day.  But she had a lot!

The Tordillo famiy used green bandana for our presentation.  The kids danced Gangnam Style and during the second verse I think, all of us joined them in dancing.  Of course, Nanay Francing didn’t let this event pass.  She went up to the stage and danced with us.  A dancer, indeed.

Just before the presentation, Lorraine and Ria were already on the stage…waiting for the presentation to start.  Although Ria didn’t dance, she had fun running while all of us danced.

The Kalanggaman experience

Of course, we went to Kalanggaman the day after the reunion.  It’s just sad that many of Dann’s cousins had to go back to their respective provinces/cities because they still have classes.  But we enjoyed the beach.  Ria really enjoyed the beach.  Kaya nga sobrang umitim eh..nung una ayaw pa raw tumapak sa sand, aba nung huli na naglalaro na ng sand 🙂

While we were waiting for boarding going to Kalanggaman, some of us waited outside the office.  It was a busy day in Palompon.  It was the market day.

This is the famous potpot (or padyak in Manila).  Ria calls them “popot”.

You can reach Kalanggaman through boat.  The local government has boats to rent so people can go to the island.  When Ria saw the boats, she said “BOT”..haha..parang sa computer lang.. :))

Kalanggaman is a small island under the jurisdiction of Palompon, Leyte.  Population is zero in this island (I think the island is 1 km?. But i’m not sure).  Attendants stay in this island just to maintain the cleanliness and order.  During this visit, tourists are already not allowed to take home sand, corals, etc.  This is to preserve the beauty of Kalanggaman.  Bakit pa magboboracay if there’s Kalanggaman 🙂

The island is really beautiful.  So peaceful, so serene.  Not yet commercialized and hopefully, it will not be exploited just like Boracay.  I’m hoping that the local government will preserve its beauty.

Ayaw pa ni Ria magsuot ng two-piece..conservative??.hindi, gusto daw nia bold. hahahha

Ria loved the sand and the beach.  Ayaw paawat.  When she drank some sea water, she said “alat”.  It was her first time to say alat..hehe..at dahil pa nakainom ng tubig dagat.  She enjoyed playing with the sand.

This moment was really funny.  Dann was really trying to build a castle.  Then came Ria who destroyed his sand art.  Then Dann tried to rebuild the castle (as shown in the picture).  Then Ria destroyed the castle again.  It was a loop.  Dann just gave up.  hahahahaha

When you say picture, everyone’s game.  What ever pose they may have.  Basta picture! 🙂 It’s really nice taking pictures kasi walang shy shy.  Everyone will smile, everyone will make a wacky pose, everyone will look at the camera.

Turista lang? Yes I was a tourist, certified tourist 🙂 dahil may picture ako ng map..haha

And this picture proves the statement above 🙂

Ria’s 2nd birthday

So we agreed that Ria will celebrate her birthday in Leyte.  We prepared food and everything.  Little did I know that there will be lots of guests.  It was an impromptu invitation, care of Auntie Lorie.  We were really surprised when we got back from the town, andami ng kids…andami ng visitors.  We were only out for 30 minutes just to get the cake and puto.  Then when I went inside the house, may loot bags pa.  It was a surprise.  We really thank Mama and Papa for everything.  Jam took care of the balloons and party hats.  Auntie Lorie invited the kids and prepared the loot bags.  It was a fun celebration!

Ang dami diba? Even Dann was surprised.

Ria enjoyed her ice cream.  Nasobrahan nga sa enjoy eh, namantsahan ang dress. tsk tsk

Then after the party, it was time to open the gifts.  She played with her toys and all of us just watched her.

Moments in Leyte

It was a fun vacation.  Ria was more responsive than the first time we visited them.  Nung una ayaw pa niya pansinin si Mama at Papa, but then they got along just well.  One time, Mama called Ria “ria, ria, ria”.  Then Ria answered, “lola, lola lola.” haha..funny!

She also called Papa “lolo gwapo”.  It took so many days before sumama si Ria kay Papa.  So when the time came na okay na si Ria, naglaro sila.

This was the last night in Leyte.  We had to go back to Cebu to ensure that we will be there before our flight.  We didn’t want to experience the same aberya when we were about to go to Leyte from Cebu.  So Papa maximized the night by playing with Ria.

Welcome back to Cebu

So we stayed at Diplomat Hotel for the night.  Our flight back to Manila was at 8pm the next day.  We arrived in Cebu around noon.  So sister auntie dropped us off the hotel to make sure everything’s okay with the booking and she went to her hotel just near ours.  When we were already settled, we roamed around the city.

First, we had our lunch just near the hotel.  I told Dann I want to eat in a carinderia.  So we found one just beside the hotel.  We ordered chicken and went inside the eatery.  I asked Dann for utensils.  He said “wala, magkakamay ka dito”.  Then I said, “seryoso??” Apparently, seryoso si Dann.  So we ate in bare hands.

We went to Carbon, a place where the handicrafts used to be.  Guitars are still being sold in this place.  Well, Cebu is known for guitars.  So I will not let a chance to buy Cebu guitar pass.  I even had a picture.

We also bought a ukulele for Ria.  She loves musical instruments.

We also visited Uncle Ely and Auntie Arlene who are residing in Cebu.  Bea came along with us.  Fortunately, Uncle Ely was near the Gaisano when we contacted them.  So sumabay na lang kami papunta sa kanila.  Sa Minglanilla sila nakatira. Ria met her uncle/kuya and auntie/ate.

Then we went back to the hotel after dinner.

Flight back to Manila: End of vacation

So we had to leave the hotel before 12 noon.  We went to SM Cebu to leave our things at the Travellers’ Lounge.  Good thing there’s this place where people can deposit their things.  We paid P50 for our 5 bags.

Bea went to meet us there and we had our lunch together.  Since we had so many time before our flight, Bea and Ria went for some rides.  Bea revisited her childhood 🙂

We went to World of Fun para lang magpalipas ng oras.  At tumambay sa food court.  Ang kulit kulit lang ng anak ko 🙂

We stayed in SM until 5:30pm.  Then it was time to go.

We first went to meet sister auntie for her tarp then we went straight to our departure area.  Since we were relatively early to check in, tumambay muna kami sa airport.  I went out of load so I had to look for an autoload.  Unfortunately, walang available except for the vendo.  But I didn’t have P50 that time, e no change ung machine.  So I tried to call my sister for load.  Pero hindi rin niya nasagot.  So Dann looked for a store kung san pwede sya magpapalit.  So I stayed with Ria to guard our bags.

Then the counters opened.  The staff called me to go to the next counter.  So I was the first one to check in.  Pero wala pa si Dann.  So I asked Ria to stay since I had to put our baggage on the conveyor.  Then Dann arrived.  But when I turned around, Ria was no where to be found.  I felt my heart stopped beating and my eyes quickly looked around for her.  I cannot explain how I felt, my brain started to think fast.  Then we saw her far from us.  My goodness, ganun pala ang feeling ng nawawalan ng anak.  Lumundag ng bongga yung puso ko.

We went to our gate and waited for boarding.

It’s time to go back to Manila.  Bye Cebu, bye Visayas.  Back to reality.

We had so much fun with Dann’s family.  It was a really nice two-week vacation.  Magiipon ulit kami for our next vacay.  Ria will have full fare na by that time.  Hindi na sya baby.. 🙂