Boracay with the Hs

This post is long overdue. I just had to wait for all the photos to be uploaded in Facebook so I could post some here.

I was lucky to be invited by Ns family, the Hs, to Shangri-la Boracay, and that's where I was two weeks ago. My sister would always tell me that they'd always have beach outings before I was born and before all of them developed a severe case of heliophobia, and so I never got to go to any of those. So technically, this was my first family beach trip.

Shangri-la reminded me so much of Bellarocca. Just replace the Greek houses with huts and both had basically the same layout. It was incredible.

The villas were so nice. We stayed in one of the beach front rooms and N's parents and nephews stayed in the treetop villa. AMAZING.

N chilling with his nephews in the Jacuzzi

I'm already kicking myself in the head for eating so much. I forgot that we had another beach trip coming up. Must go to the gym soon.

My love.

Seafood platter. Oil and Aligue. And Fries. Aray.

Mark Nelson, if you are reading this, I just want to you to know that we are huge fans of Loco Frio! We got N's 10-year old nephew drunk with Your Strawberry Kiwi mix. Accidentally, of course. Huge mix up with the tumblers.

We even found time to reef walk. It was pretty cool. I think this is the first time I went way underwater without crying first.

Me, N, Princess Glutton, Prince Glutton and M, N's 10-year old nephew (slightly intoxicated). 

Just wanted to post this because wala lang. N's other newphew, S. We got him watermelon slippers. Super cute. 

Coron

Back from Coron!

The view from the steps of Kayangan Lake. R calls this the famous Coron shot. I googled Coron and it is indeed very famous. The tiring "climb" was worth it when we saw the view. WOW. And to think the beauty didn't end there.

There's no place like Palawan. The government should preserve the islands make some kind of rule that would prevent Palawan from looking like Boracay. 20 years from now the place could be so dirty and overpopulated and the next generation would have to spend their vacations in other countries.

Anyway, here are some more photos from the trip.

"E" Island. We were lucky to visit this one. This island is owned by a famous politician. How we were able to have access to this island is beyond me. We were welcomed by the friendly caretakers and a whole pig roasting on the spit. Talk about spoiled.

Kayangan Lake. That's R making her way down the lake.

N "Waiting For Nothing!!!" They also have a "Waiting for Something!!!" shed.

The pesky jellyfish at "E" Island

Kokosnuss Resort. Finally. 3 years in the making, and I've finally stepped foot on this resort. Long story. Better late than never! Thanks to Princess Glutton for the recommendation. Want huge bathrooms but on a tight budget? Stay here! They even have their own theme song!

NEXT STOP: CALAGUAS ISLAND

Potipot

I've been dying to visit Potipot again ever since N, a few friends and I went there almost three years ago. For me, it was the most beautiful "nearby" (6 hour drive) beach I've ever seen. The perfect opportunity to return to the island came when one of my best friends, Camille, who now resides in Canada, told us that she was coming home for a visit. I immediately planned the trip with my high school friends.

Potipot back in 2007

It took us a gruesome 6 hours to get to the resort. I felt so sorry for N because he had to endure 6 hours of non stop yapping and girl talk while driving. I haven't seen Camille in 5 years!

Okay. Potipot island. Where do I start? I guess you can say I was a bit disappointed. It looked so different. It was still beautiful but not as majestic as before. There were tons of people, huts and pay bathrooms. Maybe it was just the timing... *shrug*

Potipot now. We found a secluded spot so I didn't get to take a photo of the crowd.

If it weren't for the company, I'd still be ranting about how different the beach looked. But I was just too happy. I got to be with my friends again.

We spent hours talking about high school. We reminisced about old friends, crushes, and misadventures. Oh and no trip is complete without Guesstures. I missed my high school barkada. I hate growing up.

Our little trio. Me, Camille and Anna (who looks like she's about to give birth). I'll miss this when Camille goes back to Canada. =(

I wish Camille and Anna could go to Coron with me, but that seems like a long shot because the flights are ridiculously expensive already. When I get back from Coron, I'll only have a few days left with Camille. Maybe minus 2 days because I just KNOW I'll be overtiming at work dammit. Hmmm... Wonder what else we could do... Suggestions?

Tell Me What You Want What You Really Really Want

I am at that age wherein most of my friends are either settling down or already trying to have a baby or at least in very serious relationships that COULD possibly turn into marriage. They think that they are ready to take that next step into being ADULTS.

As for me, I do not want that kind of responsibility in my life. I am not saying that my friends are heading the wrong direction because seriously, I would support them in all their decisions. I am simply saying that I want a different kind of life. It is not necessarily the better life, but it is the life I want. And I do not want to be judged with that.

It’s more of a question of what it is you really want in life.

When I met up with my friend Alf in Vegas last November 2009, we were talking about how different his life is with mine. There he was, in his 5 bedroom house living with his very beautiful wife Gail and his 3 lovely kids, shuttling himself from Vegas to LA and back to manage the company operations in both cities. While I… well, I can’t really say much about my life. hahaha

But seriously speaking, I have started making movies and been to a couple of international film festivals. I have seen Brad and George in person, have met directors like Pen-Ek Ratanaruang of Thailand, HOU Hsiao Hsien of Taiwan, Mohsen Makhmalbaf of Iran, have spoken to Darren Arronofsky (The Wrestler) and even Danny Boyle (The Beach, Slumdog Millionaire). More importantly, I have walked on a red carpet with lights flashing and people clapping!

 George Clooney and Brad Pitt

with Darren Arronofsky

with Dany Boyle

More importantly, I have been given the chance, the opportunity and the responsibility to be able to shoot films which hopefully could touch the hearts and minds of not just the Filipinos but other people from around the world. It is in having this privilege to tell stories that could hopefully influence, change, inspire others or simply make people laugh and cry, reminisce, find hope, share love, forgive and forget that I am most proud of.

This brings me back to my conversation with Alf. Back in 2002, he wanted to have a big family with Gail in the US while I wanted to go back to the Philippines to make movies. 8 years later, Alf and Gail now happily lives with their 3 kids – Avi and the twins, Amie and Aidan. While I am making movies, shooting in exotic locations, putting my life in danger, partying with friends, traveling and most importantly, meeting interesting people from all over the world.

That is the life he wanted. And that is the life he chose to live. And this is the life I wanted. So this is the life I’m living.

What about you? What is it that you really want in life?

Ooh-la-Lagen

N surprised me with a trip to Palawan. Well sort of surprised me since he slipped weeks before the trip. But remind me to thank him over and over because it was the best trip ever! Not everyone can ask for a date and get THIS. Definitely tops my list of beautiful places in the world. I don't care if I haven't seen a lot of places. I don't need to. I can just visit Palawan with N again and again and again!

Here are some favorite photos:

View from the plane. I knew this was going to be goooood.

Approaching Lagen

View from our room. Thank you Chi and Mitzi for the beach front (hmmmnnnyeah) upgrade.

Lagoon Tour. AMAZING. The lagoons were so... blue and green and breathtaking and mysterious and scary at the same time! Loved it.

As I would call it: The nakakaiyak na sunset.

Lagen, please buy this photo for your brochure!

Nakakaiyak na rock formation

Pinaghugutan Island. We had our private lunch here. Reminds us of Potipot Island.

Can I just say? I hate diving. It scares me to death. So this is compromise at its finest. Me (unwillingly going down 5 meters underwater) while flashing N the finger. The instructor didn't even say: "Ready, Set, Go." This was my Palawan low point. And even this was breathtaking (literally).

N and I snorkeling. This I can do calmly. 

Thank you, N!!! I'm as speechless as the time the diving instructor jammed the mouthpiece in my mouth! I love you!

How to throw a semi-surprise party

N turns 30. Out of town. On an island.

1) Tell him you're in charge of food because, let's face it, you can't hide everything from him given the situation.

2) Proceed by creating a theme because themes are cool. For this party, R and I chose a NEON/BRIGHT everything color scheme... with a hint of Spongebob because those Spongebob party hats on eBay were simply irresistible.

The brightly colored, um, class AA "Ray-Ban" wayfarers were a hit! Piracy is bad, folks. So don't copy our idea. Think of your own damn giveaway.

LANDMARK is the place to be. It really is. More party goodies shipped to R's place in an attempt to be inconspicuous.

120s

N’s cousin, Mikko, gifted with me 4 rolls of 120s, and I’ve been meaning to refrigerate them. I only go to bring the rolls home the other day since I kept on forgetting to take them out of N’s car. 

Missing Bellarocca

Last year I got the chance to visit Bellarocca Island Resort in Marinduque. I received an e-mail containing photos of the resort, and it was hard to believe that the place actually existed in the Philippines. I just knew I had to go there. I forwarded the e-mail to R, and a few weeks later she told me that she was able to get a HUGE discount because of her impeccable negotiating skills. SKILLZ, I tell you. A couple more weeks after and we, along with 16 other friends, were off the see the “beautiful rock.”

Approaching Bellarocca or "beautiful rock"