The year that passed left me with
tribal inks that I believed confirmed all my authenticity. That was indeed
traditional, as considered by many. That was a conventional yearning that later
mystified my identity in the customary scheme of things. It was the traditional which was considered as
not conservative by several.
The year that passed, which was
filled with travels that happened every now and then and even more than often,
moved me to go for more this year. But this time, it was literally chasing my
trips, running after all of the reserved flights. More than the usual
journeying me, the travels were more utilized for reflection purposes.
There was Bangkok and the temples
where I prayed. The second time for Singapore which was sprinkled with child-likeness,
taught me which in life I should give value to. Chilling in wintry Beijing
while walking along the Great Wall of China, confirmed my strength as a human
being. Choosing not to pursue the trip to Seoul, Korea which was completed with
a visa, plane ticket and hotel bookings, was truly hurtful. But it was a time
to tell self, “stop and walk awhile.” Which I did. And I regret it big time on not going. It was not worth it to call it off.
Another trip was again supposed to be cancelled, but I just had to persist on travelling
and keep on moving on. It was a great choice going to Malaysia’s Cameron
Highlands, Melaka and Kuala Lumpur.
Because I cannot live fully
without going places, I had to intentionally choose to travel. That trip to the
other side of Panay Island, Antique & Capiz, was mystical and swift,
squeezing a quick spree to Boracay Island in between. Visiting Bacolod &
Iloilo were filled with sweetness, majestic and historical experience.
The
unplanned tours of some provinces in Mindanao were spontaneous. Pagadian, Zamboanga,
Dapitan Dipolog, Davao’s Samal Island, & Davao;s Eagle Sanctuary, General
Santos, Saranggani, South Cotabato, Ozamis, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Agusan
del Norte, Zamboanga and Basilan were unexpectedly peaceful and thrilling. In my intense desire to be back to that
journeying me, I had to support the things that make me joyful, which is
giving. Impromptu G.I.V.E. Bukidnon was done, followed by G.I.V.E. Lake Sebu,
South Cotabato. A short and sweet trip to Davao Oriental Governor Generoso’s
lighthouses and rock formations were fearlessly reviving. Literally, it brought
my spirits of gentle fierceness back to existence.
The second time trip to Palawan’s
El Nido would have bonded my camaraderie with a very good friend. It was an
incredibly good plan. There are just countless matters that arise which I
sometimes wished never ever transpired. Do I regret that I aborted the plan and
left my friend doing a solo trip? Yes, I did. Somehow it made my friend become
more independent. And I am glad that she was all geared up and she was grateful
for my tips.
My short-time trip to Samar &
Leyte, likewise, did not push thru due to some unusual catastrophe that brought
the United Nations to show their sympathy and display their warships to the
world, which every Filipino was truly grateful for.
The year cannot end for my
journeys to be just like that – a mix of go and no-go trips. A mixed of
emotions of sadness over trips that were called off, and of thrill that was
brought by my “pack & go” short and sweet, and really exciting travels.
Batan, Itbayat & Sabtang
Islands are in the list, as I landed on the 30th of December in
Basco, Batanes. G.I.V.E. Batanes is sealed in boxes waiting to be given away to
children in one of these islands. This trip extends to the first days of the
new year. And that long vacation is what is creating butterflies in my stomach.
And air in my mind. What more can I ask for? I have a bed, a house, for free. I
have instant chef who cooked his fresh organic produce of lettuce, beef, green
veggies, native eggs of chickens and ducks; An instant photographer who took my
photos in lieu of my tripod and perspectives; An instant travel buddy whom I
roamed around to places not commonly visited; An instant travel guide who
brought me to places of his childhood; An instant tour of Batan Island during
the chilly, drizzly, cloudy first day, just the way I liked it.
There is nothing more challenging
for me now but to drain my heart and mind of all the ghastly and heart-rending moments
I should have triumphed over this year. I actually forgot everything. The
breeze-y winds on my face while viewing the sea as far as my eyes could see, took
all the quandaries of my spirit. And this island has brought me into daydreaming;
encouraged to journey more than I used to do; inspired to surmount with bliss
whatever downbeats that will draw close to my human bubbles. And live
intensely, victoriously, and earnestly, (L.I.V.E.) & keep on holding on.
Hanyit mabendito vayu a wan! (Heavens
bless your new year!)
And happy 12-days of "living" in Batanes for me from now onwards. Wishing it to be 12 months or years!
****
uploading this post in a chilly night before midnight of January 1, 2014 in the plaza of Basco was frustrating due to the bad signal of my wireless internet. it was thrilling though to witness bicycles tagging cans and metals behind them for a noisy new year.
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