THE MATABUNGKAY EXPERIENCE

GETTING UP AT THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED...
It was one of those days when you just don't know where or how to start with things pretty well... those days when you don't know exactly where to go or what to do.

Luckily enough, i have friends...the best that i could have i must say, who are wacky, sensitive and thoughtful enough to do extraordinary things for me like an unplanned getaway in the province of Batangas.

All right Mark, I can almost hear you complaining.... well the get away was somehow uh, planned....but it was not supposed to be on that day anyway.... but since you (Mark) are already going with Mike (in fact you came in the office as early as 7am), why not bring us along eh? hahaha...

After much time of deliberation and convincing each other to cancel whatever plans we have for the weekend just to make this beach adventure come true, (aside of course from Father B, whom we know will never come with us no matter how hard we tried to beg him to go) alas, by lunchtime the four of us had come to a common decision... we'll all go home after office hours, pack our things and by six o'clock the four of us should be present at the trinoma MRT entrance. (I don't know why do we have to set a time to meet when we know for a fact that one of us will gonna be late anyway...hahaha... alam na!)



THE TRIP, THE SHORE, AND THE SHADOW

We left QC at almost 7pm and reached Pasay at almost 8pm. Don't know when exactly the bus left the terminal but it took us more than three hours just to get at Nasugbu, Batangas where we wait for almost an hour for Mike's father to pick us up.

Finally, a quarter before midnight, we reached Mike's place and had our belly filled with foods (my favorite part alright...hahaha) We we're all tired and sleepy, our eyes are drooping but the sight of the ocean was so inviting that night and it made us all go out after we had our dinner to catch yet another glimpse of it just before we sleep. The midnight air was also refreshing that we stayed for a couple of minutes walking on the shore just planning what we are to do for the next day.

We also made fun of our shadows in the sand and took photos of it while performing different wacky and funny positions and formations.

THE AQUA BIKE, THE GROTTO, THE SHELLS AND THE (OUCH!) SEA URCHINS

Ah, it seems that we guys are getting accustomed to doing things and going to places that we're not included in our plans, eh?

By 9 am, we we're discussing over breakfast the things that we could do for the whole day (kasama na ang walang katapusang asaran...all right guys, BAWAL ANG EMO...COPIED... LOUD AND CLEAR...CHILLAX!)... We we're all talking and suggesting for great exciting things that we can do while Mark, on the other hand are just sticking to his plans saying." Basta ako maliligo ako. Kagabi ko pa nga gusto, ayaw niyo naman." (fine dun ka sa tubig wag kang aahon hahaha)

By 10 am Sha and I were staying in one of the floating cottages that were scattered near the shores reminding me of the houses situated atop the sea somewhere in Mindanao. Minutes later, Mark came riding on an aqua bike owned by Mike's family.

"Tara punta tayo dun, dali!!!" he excitedly exclaim while pointing on a grotto situated on a shore far across the sea.

"Doon, with that?" I asked him while doubting if it's just another prank he's playing with sha.

An hour later, with only the digi cam, the life jackets and four little children on board the aqua bike, we set northwest towards the grotto without any foods, drinks or cell phones (playing cast aways or being stupid and dumb?) Just having fun I guess... if nothing bad will happen...

It took us several turns on which pair (Sha and Mark, Sha and Mike, Me and Mike, Me and Mark until finally, Mark and Mike) drove the aqua bike on our way to the grotto and reached it by nearly 12 noon. There were times when we we're already in the middle, got tired of stepping on the pedals and thought of going back. But the distance that we traveled in every single pedal towards the grotto and away from the shore where we came from was really challenging. To our dismay, however, we've found out that the grotto, by God's grace, is not open to the public. (Ah! Now i can really feel my legs getting numb...)

But then, we are here anyway. Why complain when you are already surrounded by a magnificent view of the sea reflecting the beauty of the blue sky? Moments later we are all looking around the place, searching for shells with different shapes, sizes and colors.Unmindful of the sea subjected to lowtide and of the sounds coming from our hungry stomachs, we even took pictures, trying to make wacky, serious and even sensual poses.

Minutes before 1pm, we finally decided to go back...but uh... the water really turns shallow now and we had to push the aquabike towards the deeper part of the sea... (mind and be aware of the sea urchins... it would really hurt if you'll step on them OMG!) Mike's relative got worried that his uncle followed us and brought the kids home with him leaving with only the four of us pushing the aquabike.

WOW!! FISH!!!

An hour later, we then reached the other end of the shore and had our lunch on the floating cottage. Some shallow part of the sea had already exposed a part of the land. Mike's youngest sister told us that during low tides, some of the small fishes got trapped in the land surface. Bea's (Mike youngest sister) excitement influenced us that we hurriedly went in the exposed land surfaces carrying two small plastic cups with us where we can place the fishes that we are going to catch.

Chasing after one small colorful fish to the next, our voices are even louder than the screams of the children who are with us that day. Every once in a while, Mark and Mike throw us brittle stars (a creepy creature similar to that of a starfish only that the brittle star has longer limbs reminding me of five moving worms!!!), sea cucumber (looked much more a fat leech to me) or whatever peculiar and creepy sea creature that caught their sight making us run in panic .. especially Sha who seems to be more afraid that I really was..chillax gurl haha...

When it is nearing sundown, the three of us (Mike, Sha and I) decided to went home and take a bath while Mark stayed much longer in the water that can hardly reached his knee... (uhm...Mark define sea water addiction...)


THIRTY MINUTES BEFORE SUNDOWN....

We finished bathing just on time...the sun is still about to set on the west so we, fascinated by its breathtaking beauty, went in the end of a cemented path, merely talking to each other and just feeling the moment, looking far across the horizon where the crimson sun slowly fading to our sights. We then started taking pictures capturing the sun's last ray of light for that day along with the rest of the sky that is getting pink. By the time Mark joined us, we again started our wacky poses, jumping high up in the air while the sun that is setting and bidding the world its temporary goodbye is going going gone on the background....


LET THE SEARCH FOR VIDEO KING AND QUEEN BEGIN...CAST YOUR VOTES EVERYONE!!!!

The fun has just began I guess... when the darkness finally robbed the light from the sun and began to spread its blackness in the night sky, the four of us decided to went home, supposedly to sing our hearts out with the videoke machine. Unfortunately, the videoke of Mike's uncle has been rented so we look for (because we really must seek ways for) other options. Luckily enough, mike has an auntie who owns yet another videoke machine nearby... so let the fun begin!!!

"Yan, gurl may karapatan ka ng maging emo!" sha jokingly told me when we reached the place. When Mike began to sing, sha and I could not believe what we our ears... OMG Mike can sing really well... (never mind the height..just close your eyes and hear him sing and uh, you'll sort of forget whatever it is that you want to forget for a moment...)

When Mark's turn came Mike told us that it was the first time that Mark gave in to the request of his friends to sing.. we we're fluttered all right but uh... never mind his singing... it's the effort that counts hahahaha..


The night went on with us alternately singing after one song to another, emptying just two large bottles of beer before finally calling it a day (okay another day for it is nearly midnight, I stand corrected).

FAREWELL AND GOODBYE

All of us agreed... it was one of the best weekends of our lives. Even before leaving the place, we vowed to come back for more and much exciting adventures.

But then, since it's going to be Sha's turn to bring us in their place, we plan to maybe climb Mt. Banahaw in Quezon next time... another thrilling experience that again, i am sure i am not going to miss to write here... hasta la proxima vez..