I got a crazy SMS around 4:30pm, telling me to scram--go out of the office and pack for a weekend on an island. I needed to be at the bus station at 7pm to catch the free bus. I was like, "What the..? Free bus? Who would give free bus rides these days?" Then my cop friends sent another SMS saying they were able to get a free bus pass, so we could hitch on a bus headed for Manila. Hmmm, cops in the Philippines. I hoped they didn't bully anyone for a cheap bus ride we could afford anyway.

I knew about this trip for about 2 months before today, but it kept getting postponed that I had actually thought we weren't going anymore. A cop friend invited us, asking us to be godparents of his 6-month-old baby. He wanted us to be physically present during the ceremony, and it kept getting postponed because he and some of the other godparents-to-be were in training camp.

So okay, it's finally pushing through tomorrow morning. I groaned inwardly; their place is an 8-hour [like a whole shift at work!] bus ride away, and then a boat ride of I don't know how long.

And so, I finished what I had to do at work, went home and packed up. We managed to get to the bus station at 7 sharp [this is like a record for me, woohoo!]. And then we waited...and waited.. then I realized that I didn't pack a camera, forgot my goggles, and I felt hungry. Grrr, haste makes waste. We waited for a whole hour before they started calling their contacts and asking around for possible alternate rides. Meanwhile, I ate instant noodles and tried to figure out how I could take photos of my trip. It was too late and insane to go back to the house now. I hoped fervently that the island is not as backward as I was assuming it would be.

After waiting for the supposed free bus for like two freaking hours, we decided to book seats on the regular 10pm bus to Northern Samar. Haha, cops getting conned, brave bus operators lol :-)

I bought more food for the trip, then picked my seat. I sat by the window, then I put on two layers of knitted jackets. I intended to sleep throughout the whole trip, I mean, what else could I do? It was 10pm, high time for landscape watching, I might even spot bats, how exciting zzzzzzzz

*~Whoa!~* Guess what woke me up? Halleeerrr I was like, thrown off my seat! *~sigh~* back to reality, I knew we were on the way to Catbalogan--awful roads, like parts of it's been blown off. And the driver has probably forgotten he was transporting people, and not pigs. Don't ride Alvin Bus Line if you are transporting your Ming, you might end up in jail--for killing the bus driver! Grrrr..

So after eight excruciating hours of disturbed sleep we finally
*~under construction~*

-the wait - is this a practical joke?
-the little fast craft and smooth morning ride - splendid sea color

BAPTIZING BABY ASH
- preparations - octopuses, lobsters, crabs

- little church

- Baby Ash - the short and straightforward ceremony

- Filipino traditions

THE CELEBRATION
- [ ] Filipino island fiesta food - kaluntaha, crabs, Indian curry,
cassava dessert, island salad

- [ ] traditional roasted pig

- [ ] dog stew! ugh!

- [ ] the storm-like rains, zero visibility

- [ ] the warm swim and the diving local boys and girls

- [ ] rinsing off then coffe and more food

- [ ] after snack settled, we headed for dinner (more food!) and videoke

- [ ] hit the bunks early

THE ROCKS BY THE BEACH
- [ ] the walk around the brgy and a glimpse at traditional island life
- kaing, the crab catcher
- [ ] air drying octupuses, trading squids
- [ ] kalumpihig and gokoy
- [ ] mangrove plantations and rehab
- [ ] rock formations, rock climbing, orchids, century tree, more
mangroves and leaf-eating shells
- [ ] nice swim - almost drowned (well, not nearly), mask, arrows,
fresh danggit and Tusa, the boxer crabs

GOING HOME
-Allen or Megavan?