Philippines Vacation 2012: Dinagyang

What is Dinagyang?  Find out about the experience here.

The main reason why we planned our trip around this time is because I wanted my family to experience one of the great festivities Philippines has to offer and it so conveniently happened to occur on the island that we're from, Iloilo. 

If you ever visit the Philippines, you HAVE to come around this time and you HAVE to come to Iloilo to experience it first hand. 

We opted to watch the actual competition from home, seeing that we had 3 kids and the heat tends to peak between the hours of 2-5pm.  But we managed to get to the festival around the time that all the dancers walked around the streets and we were able to take some pictures with them.

My cousins Rema and Kate went with us and these girls are simply the best.  Not only did they take us to where we would get the best experience but they are so much fun to be around.  My boys look up to them as older sisters and they oblige playfully. We are truly lucky to have such awesome girls in our lives. It's a shame that they live so far away.

They told us about how much money goes into this festival and how most of this money comes out of the dancer's own pockets.  Did you notice how intricate and detailed their costumes are? It's simply beautiful and vibrant! It just shows how dedicated these kids are in what they do and how much they want to share their culture with the world.

We spent the rest of the evening at the Dinagyang food festival and did a little bit of shopping. I really wish I could afford to buy one thing from every vendor, they offered so many things that were beautiful all uniquely designed in their own special way. 

 My boys had a blast and I hope one day they can understand the true meaning of being part Ilongo and just how important this festival is to our culture.  I know when I first experienced this 17 years ago, I never appreciated it at all. In fact, I felt like it was a drag and waste of time. But as an adult now, I'm so happy that my family made me experience it. 



Philippines Vacation 2012: Boracay Day 2

We had a day filled of activities planned so we knew we had to get up pretty early to have breakfast.

Our guide met us at exactly the time he said in front of our hotel and led us to the location where we would start our first adventure: Banana Boating. Okay, so it's not quite an adventure but it was definitely something we have never done as a family.

The water was warm and the air was crisp, it was all perfect.  The speed boat pulling our little banana boat didn't go too fast knowing we had little kids with us.  We road a good 30 minutes across the entire beach front, making our way to Manny Pacquiao's beach house, can you tell we were all pretty excited?

On our way back, we got dropped off at a floating dock where we got situated to get started on our second adventure: Helmet Diving.

(Brandon, Jerry, Cuzin' Kate, and Me)

I have to admit, this was probably the most out-of-ordinary experience we had for everyone. Coming out of your comfort zone and trusting that this very heavy helmet would not only weigh you down but supply oxygen 15-20 ft under water in open sea, was a little unnerving. Daniel made it only to touch the ground, but gestured he wanted to go up. We didn't force him to stay because we were all a little nervous ourselves.  Brandon took a couple of times to get used to the entire idea and bopped a couple of times before finally trusting that the helmet was secure enough. I was a little a nervous myself but like most things that we did on this trip, I didn't complain and just went with it.  Jerry later admitted that he was a little nervous.

After we got over the initial fear, you couldn't really help but admire the beauty and serenity of life under the sea. The beautiful corals under the sea, the vibrant colors of the friendly fish, the deafening silence, and the ommission that something dangerous was out there lurking.  It was beautiful and in an odd way you felt safe. 

The divers were incredibly helpful; they took pictures and videos of our family as we explored under water and handed us pieces of bread to feed the fish swimming close by.  Jerry noticed that all the divers had thick skin beneath their feet, showing the years of diving in nothing but a torn wet suit and age old scuba gear.  Even under water you can appreciate the little folks here need to ensure they make a livelihood, but never compromise your experience as a tourist - That's the Filipino way.

Matt was too little for the helmet and too young to comprehend the rules of going under water, so one of the divers took him out with goggles to explore the sea from above.  He was a little scared, but loved the experience.  When we all surfaced back up, he was elated to let us know that he saw us and saw all the "little fishies" swimming. He didn't stay long, but I'm sure that memory will.

Afterwards, a little boat picked us up to start our Island Hopping adventure.  There was really only one island I wanted to really visit and it had the Crystal Coves.  The researcher in me, found great reviews about this place and I just had to go... in fact, I told the family, "I don't care what you make me do, but I'm going to Crystal Coves with or without you." And this is why...

The island is covered in beautiful ruins, I'm not sure what the history is but I'll be sure to look that up when I get home.  There were a couple of little stair cases that you can take down to the coves and small little caves that the boys were able to crawl through and experience (I didn't dare to go, knowing I'd probably getting panicked from the tight spaces and pass out, ha!)

Afterwards, we took our little boat out to another island to have lunch.

Of course, the moment we got off the boat three lovely ladies came to us with baskets of goods to sell. We obliged, knowing that we needed a lot of souvenirs to take back home with us for our friends.  After the "formalities" we were presented with a large platter of FRESH fish.  We picked which one we wanted and how we wanted it cooked. Matthew made a new "friend" and loved hanging out with her, I never got her name =( After we stuffed our faces with the fresh food and ice cold drinks, we sent the boys out to play in the water before leaving.  Seriously - I just loved how the simple life can have more LIFE in it then what we experience every day in the fast pace we're forced to live in LA. Island Life has got it down!

Afterwards we went scuba diving for a little bit and headed back to our hotel room to shower and rest for an hour.  Then our guide met up with us again, and we headed out to do some ATV/Buggy Riding at a nearby location.

Our little excursion took us to two beautiful locations... The Aviatory where Jerry and the boys got to take a picture with this pretty awesome bat. (Right after this picture was taken, Matt said, "The Bat is looking right at me!!!" LOL - what a trooper though, he still did it!)

and then we visited the Ocean View Terrace, which is the highest point where you can get a 360 degree view of the entire island. It's there that we ended our evening with the a beautiful sunset that Boracay is known for. 

Phillippines Vacation: Boracay Day 1

You know how people send you post cards from their vacation spots and you say to yourself, there is just NO way it ACTUALLY looks like that there.

Well... I can definitely vouch for Boracay!

We arrived pretty late in the evening, so while the kids and I washed off the day at our hotel, Jerry and my cousin Kate walked the beach front strip and enjoyed the night life.  

We couldn't wait to wake up in the morning and see if the beaches were as beautiful as everyone claims them to be.  So when we ran down to the beach, we literally could do nothing but stare and be astonished at just how beautiful it was.  The sands were white and powdery, the water was clear and warm, and the breeze whisped through the palm trees gracefully. We were indeed in paradise.

We spent the entire morning and lunch time on the beach, what's so wonderful about Boracay is that it's not nearly as commercialized as the Hawaiian Islands or the Bahamas, everything here is pretty rooted.  Yes, there are some pretty awesome hotels and restaurants, but you can't help but be reminded that you're still on Island Time.  Another great plus is that it's not overly touristy, not too many people, where you can't find a spot on the beach to sit back and relax.  But there are tourists from all over the world here, which just makes this location even more wonderful.

Around lunch time, we decided that we were ready for some awesome adventures and so my cousin called up her activities tourist guide contact and he hooked it up great!  If you ever have the urge to visit paradise and want to take advantage of what the island has to offer let me know!

The first thing we did was the Zipline, yup... you read that right! I went Ziplining! And so did the entire family in exception of Matthew since he was still to young. 

I never thought I'd ever do this, but I'm so glad that I did. 

Afterwards, we immediately headed over to the Zorb activities. I've never heard of this before so I was a little hesitant, but I still managed to get the courage to not only do it myself but allow all of my children to do so as well.  There were two options: The Hydro and The Harness.  The kids were too young for the The Harness so they did two rounds of The Hydro, Jerry was too tall for The Harness so he did two rounds of They Hydro and Kate and I did The Harness and The Hydro,.  The Hydro was was filled with enough water to swish you around as your inflated ball went down this hill.

The Harness, well you were harnessed.  And my cousin was lucky that I didn't vomit all over her. I enjoyed the Hydro much better than The Harness LOL!

I couldn't take any more excitement so we headed back to our hotel to rest and re energize for the following day.  Overall the day was spectacular.  I'm telling you Boracay is the place to be if you want to feel like you're in paradise and enjoy all the great activities and seriously the BEST price ever.

Some great moments today to cherish forever:

• When you set aside your fears, you'll amaze yourself at just how much you can accomplish.
• Zorbing is pretty fun
• I really won't die if I Zipline!
• Paradise does exist and post cards aren't just for photo albums or to be boxed away, you can actually enjoy a vacation in one. 

Philippines Vacation: Day at Kalibo and Ati Atihan

Before reaching our Paradise Destination we took a very long road trip to the port. My little cousin, Kate was with us and our family insisted that we make a stop in Kalibo and attend the festivities in their town, Ati Atihan.  Kate had a friend that lived in Kalibo, so when our bus stopped we met up with him and he quickly whisked away to his home where their family was having a family reunion.

If you haven't heard of the great hospitality of the Filipino people, you've been deprived.  The moment we walked into their home, they greeted us with smiles and welcomed us with literally... open arms. There weren't any moments of akwardness or stares that made you so uncomfortable you wish you could crawl out of your own skin to hide in a dark corner. Oh no! It was like we were family, though we have never EVER met before.

They fed us with an over abundance of food that catered to the local town's taste.  And though it was hot, we managed to cool off with the glass bottles of coke handed to us.

After eating, I started to feel ill and while sitting in the car waiting to head out to go sight seeing a sudden rush of nausea filled my stomach. I ended up vomiting in the bathroom and when I finally felt well enough to walk out the door, I nearly fainted. So while, Jerry and the boys headed out to Sampagita, I stayed in bed in one of the rooms.

Here's our hospitable they were; while I layed on their bed with what felt like my death bed, someone would come in every so often to check my temperature, give me a glass a water, cover me with a blanket, or brush my hair away from my face.  But here's the kicker... I don't know them at all! At all! Yet, they were kind enough to care for a stranger.  That kind of compassion is unheard of in the States without some sort of hidden agenda tied into it. It simply blew my mind!

Meanwhile, the boys were having a blast!

After I came to and the boys came back from Sampagita, we headed out to the bus terminal ready to head to Boracay. But Kate's friends parents were insistent that we stayed for Ati Atihan. I didn't think I was up for it, but once we were there a sense of celebration came over me and suddenly we caught ourselves in the middle of the parade dancing with the locals and a few tourists to the beats of drums and footsteps. The experience was beyond amazing and I know my boys will never forget this experience. What a gift it's been to be showered with the blessings we have in a country so foreign yet fulfulling.

Some great moments today to cherish forever:

• Compassion and love is the universal language of the world.
• Heat stroke and exhaustion CAN cause vomiting. Blegh!
• Good food can be found anywhere, you've just gotta be willing to try it.
• Small town celebrations can make a huge impact in your life.
• My boys are pretty awesome for adapting to an entirely new environment. 

Phillippines Vacation 2012: Day Two, was...

...was eventful in so many ways.  We are so blessed to have such an extended family here in the Phillippines, which has proven to result in constant invitations to tour the island with the company of some pretty amazing people.

Due to the jet lag, the entire family woke up at about 3 am, which gave Jerry a great opportunity to work in peace while the entire was asleep.  Well, I lied... we actually woke up to the roosters cock-a-doodling and it sort of freaked us all out from the dead sleep we were in, ha!

After we got ready, we headed out to my dad's little pig farm where two of his Mama Pigs gave birth to 19 little piglets. When my parents were visiting the States they had promised Matthew that they would show him the little piggies and like good grandparent's they delivered. 

After our short visit, we headed out to my Mom's hometown... a little province called Dingle about an hour away from the main city in Iloilo.  My cousin was having a small little gathering to celebrate their son's 1st birthday and I had a goal to go and visit my grand parent's grave site, since I was unable to make the trip out during their funerals.  We also wanted to visit the Rice Fields and Family Farm that my mom and her siblings grew up in... THAT was something the boys were excited to do.



When I was pregnant with Brandon, my grandmother fell in and had to return back to the Phillippines, I promised her before she left that if she wasn't going to be able to meet Brandon that I would one day come back to the Phillippines with my own family and visit her.  I made a similar promise to my Grandfather the last time I spoke to him a couple of years back. 

Keeping my promise, I brought Jerry and the boys to visit their gravesite.  I thought I'd be hesitant and scared being in a cemetary from such a small town, but the visit was magical and spectacular.  The moment we opened the gates to where they were it began to rain for about 3 minutes and then the sun came out for the rest of the day. I might be superstitious but I really feel like my grand parents were proud of me for keeping my word.  I never thought in a million years, I'd be able to keep my promise.



Traditionally, when visiting our loved ones that have passed you're supposed to light a candle and bring some flowers of some sort. As jet lagged and rushed as we were this morning I forgot both, but thankfully one of my Aunts had two that I could use.  

At any other time, I'd probably gasp at the idea of my boys sitting on a truck bed on route to a destination, but my boys were so elated to be given the opportunity to do something like this so we took the chance. Considering I trusted the driver, hesitation didn't last too long. 

We celebrated my nephew's 1st birthday at one of our cousin's homes near by and were able to visit a lot of the cousins I haven't seen in over 15 years.  What a joy it was to finally see them and see how much we've each growned. I really have to make the effort to not let that much time pass by for too long again.



After the birthday celebration we decided to visit the Family Farm that my mom and her siblings grew up in.  How exciting was this for the boys! We walked about an hour into the farmlands along side rice pads with nothing but a foot's width to keep us from falling into the water and mud.  We crossed about 6 man made bridges where I learned that I'm a lot more braver about bridges than I'd confess I have. 

We walked through super tiny groups of homes with kids amazed about us as we were about them. Which was great to see as the boys asked questions but politely waved when given the opportunity.

When we finally arrived on the family farm, we were greeted by beautiful greenery, a pond for cat fish, and rice pad fields surrounding us. The moment was surreal and it was overwhelmingly wonderful.

On our way back home, this interesting mode of transportation was right  beside us, what you don't see are the 6 people crammed behind the driver and in the little cart.  Pretty amazing how different our worlds are, isn't it?



When we got back to the city, we were so filthy from all the sweat and mud we accumulated during the day, so we all took showers and changed for dinner out in the city. We had a local delicacy. La Paz Batchoy. If you haven't had it, find a Pinay who could be trusted with making this wonderful soup! After dinner my Aunt and Uncle surprised us with a traditional Filipino massage called "hilot" and facials. My Dad kindly took the boys home so they could rest while Jerry and I enjoyed the evening.

It's a little past midnight and my eyes are starting to play tricks on me... can't believe I'm here! No, really I can't believe I'm blogging from the Phillippines! It's so amazing!

Some great moments today to cherish forever:

• Roosters actually do wake people up, who woulda thunk it?
• Piglets are super cute, their doo doo? Not so much!
• Small towns are pretty charming!
• Sometimes, being unsafe is the most fun - but don't quote me on this when my boys hit the teens.
• Family is Family, no time or distance can ever change that!
• I walked through rice pad fields for an hour and didn't say once I was going back to the car!
• I crossed 6 man made bridges made of bamboo and ropes without crying - THAT in itself is pretty damn impressive.
• Jerry still won't eat balut, boo!



Phillippines Vacation 2012: Day One, was...

...a day that seemed never ending, or maybe it ended but I wasn't sure which time zone or country I was in so I just rolled it into the same day assuming that this could quite possibly be the longest day ever.

Jerry and I had the brilliant idea of staying up all night the night before we left for our trip in our hopes... wishful thinking that we could catch up with our sleep on the trip. Trouble was we didn't really account on the fact that we would be overly excited and restless the entire trip.  

Our good friends Cynthia and Josh took us to the airport bright and early. A bittersweet farewell as my sister Karen was also headed back to PI to continue with her studies. It's always hard to say goodbye when you're not sure when you'll be able to say hello again, so though I was super excited to be headed onto a new adventure with my boys, I could appreciate the toughness of their farewell was. 

 As you can tell, the kids were pretty stoked about heading out on this very big family vacation. While the adults dealt with the check in process of our trip, the kids settled themselves on the floor and watched luggages of all shapes and colors make their way on the conveyor belt and guest amongst themselves where in the world it was headed to. 

 Fortunately, Karen was able to be seated close to us though she had purchased her tickets separately, a blessing in so many ways.  Can you tell we were both ready to sleep, not even dawning our contacts but rather our pretty geeky glasses and pajamas? HA! Normally we would have flown with Philippine Airlines but opted on saving some cash and booked with Asiana and Cebu Pacific Airlines instead. Overall we saved a good $4000, but gained about 2 extra stop overs.  Both airlines were awesome! And bonus we got to stop over in Seoul, Korea and walked around the airport in Manila.  It was a grueling long travel but we eventually made our way to our final destination, Iloilo.

Some of our family came and visited us at 7 am in the morning at my parent's house, which was so great. I guess because I constantly see them on Facebook, I forget that I haven't seen most of them in 17 years. How crazy is that? Everyone has been super hospitable and have done nothing but made us feel welcome. We headed out to a seaside lunch and endulged in some fresh sea food and yummy Filipino culinary treats.

 Our first official family photo on this trip. 

My sisters and cousins... aren't they beautiful?

 Fresh Oysters good enough for 2 for only $1 (after conversion). 

My wonderful boys enjoying the tropical sun.

 Just couldn't miss a photo opt with a background that screams paradise!

After lunch, we headed out to the local malls and drove around admiring all the wonderful changes our little island has gone through in the last 17 years.  Now the boys are all taking naps at 3pm on a Thursday afternoon, adjusting to the time change while being extremely exhausted.  

Some great moments today to cherish forever: 

•  Being rammed into with a steward's trolly to not only end up with a bruised elbow but then having all the water bottles attack me afterwards. 
• Karen likes to sleep under blankets, even when sleeping in an airline chair. 
• WiFi is God's gift to FB addicts! 
• Drinking out of fresh coconuts with people you love and cherish while breathing in fresh ocean breezes on an actual tropical island is pretty awesome! 
• I think I've finally figured out how to get my kids to go to bed without showing a little crazy... travel.

Can't wait to share more with you all.... Mabuhay from halfway around the world! Muah!