Through The Window

Point-of-view of my road-trip from Cebu, Masbate, Albay, Ilo-ilo, Manila, until Laoag, and back.

So the first night was unlike any other trips I have had - probably the most awaited.

Guess what? I know it sounds and looks so fancy, but this hotel is something you thought would be expensive. We only paid, more or less, P5000 for 14 persons. Three couple and two good-for-four rooms only for a night though, and we have to evacuate before 9 am. A perfect deal - if you only need a bed and a bathroom, two of the most important places to think of while traveling (because you just can't take a dump on the street, not unless your motto is #YOLO).
In the morning, I had gathered full energy for my second day. I washed up. Got dressed. And we jumped back on the road again. It was probably unnecessary to even mention where we ate our breakfast but I'll tell you instead. We had our breakfast in Chowking. 
There are countless parks in Luzon with figures of the heroes from the past. It was Sunday, there was never a fixed plan to where we were heading first. I just figured that we will be visiting a lot, and I mean a lot of shrines and churches. It was fun because I threw a parcel of wishes on every shrine we went. And hoping that someday I will see them come true in my life.
First Shrine - Our Lady of Penafrancia in Naga City, Philippines. It is an active church since 1750, and when we got there, the shrine was renovated so I don't know what the altar looks like from the inside. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to go in from the main entrance, just to keep us away from the falling debris on the roof. But we got the chance to go to their church office, and offered mass for our living and dead families. Thoughtful isn't it? I know. It's a trait that my family has been teaching me ever since. To always think of the ones who are living and to those who are dead. Yep, I think I have that on me already. I'm thoughtful.
What captivates me to this shrine was the children. As I went inside, there were youngsters at the hall, outside this Good Shepherd Sisters. They looked at me with curiosity, like I'm some kind of an alien. Or maybe, they were just wondering why I took there picture. Afterwards, they approach me and asked "Anong ginagawa mo? Naglitlitrato ka ba?" (what are doing? Are you taking pictures?). Then I replied, "Oo, kasi ang cute-cute niyo" (Yes, because you are all cutie-pies). So I asked them to pose for a formal picture. They giggled and laughed and made jokes that I don't understand because their mother-tongue were Ilocano. So I just laughed back like crazy at them.
It was only then that we started to pray the rosary for the Lady Penafrancia, which stood at the back of a prayer room. She wore her golden gown, crowned with diamonds, and she was so bright that it lighted the space around her image. I felt scared when I saw her. Believing that her presence was with us during the rosary, I offered my endless prayers to her. The prayer ended with a graceful song, I don't know the title of the song (how incompetent of me!) but I have heard it before. Then, we bid goodbye to the lady as we went on the highway.
On the road, I can see The Great Mayon Volcano. Her beauty is just so magical, so perfect, so active, and all the beautiful things in the world molded into one triangular shape. We simply can't wait to arrive at the proper spot to take pictures, so at this farm we stopped! And tadahhh... my second picture with her.
It was also an unforgettable experience that my aunts hired a carabao to take a picture perfect scenery -a carabao, the mayon volcano, the Nipahut- all in one picture 'it was SO PHILIPPINES!' P.S. I took this picture.
You might not see it in on face, but the sun was burning hot. Yet, we managed to smile and posed and baffled with the tall grass beneath our feet. For 15 minutes on the rice field, it was enough, we had tons of pictures, we need to save energy for more pictures at Cagsawa Ruins - the best view or the most common scene when taking a picture with the pretty mayon volcano.
We had our lunch at Cagsawa Ruins, and what's so interesting to try was their signature shake 'SILISHAKE'. It's so weird. Why would they invent a spicy cold drinks? Shakes are meant to be sweet and icy for a reason, to make an individual soothe their thirst for sweet and ice. I bought one and it tasted the same like mango mixed with avocado. A chili shape key chain was the only difference. I was expecting unusual spicy flavor of the shake rather than having a free key chain.
WOOHOO! Finally, this picture came to life in the sight of my hungry eyes. I've only seen this on my history books and school charts. Now, I looked at Mayon for several minutes and thought what if it would erupt that very moment. What should I do? Where should I go? Nahh.. I'm not gonna run, I want to watch it and take a footage of it. But my aunts would probably grab me and they would save me so.. no problem at all.
At the end of the day, we did not sleep in a hotel. Actually, WE DID NOT SLEEP AT ALL, if we did, it was only for 20 minutes or we're just closing our tired eyes. We simply can't afford to rent another hotel, because we're too far from where we're really going. So the result: we slept in the van.

CONVERSATION

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