Bacolod City

In May 2005, our family went to visit Mindanao once again. Since 1993, we have scheduled our trips to Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog every four years during the summer months.

Upon learning that our ship would have a 2-hr stopover in Bacolod, Bobby called up his batchmate that we would like to have a taste of chicken inasal, one of Bacolod's specialties. Ate Marlin was gracious enough to accommodate us at very short notice. So, we immediately proceeded to the "Manokan" and satisfied our digestive juices with inasal and matching garlic rice. Yummy!

After our dinner, Marlin guided us on a quick tour of the city. The cathedral, capitol building, and the plaza. Wow! Bacolod City in one hour.

Baguio City, 2005

On April 30, 2005, two Cero families went on a weekend trip to the City of Pines, Baguio. The trip was a gift to my niece who just graduated from college. We left our brother-in-law's house in Caloocan Friday evening so we could maximize our day trip to the city's attractions. It was the first time for the kids and their cousins to see Baguio. Boat ride in Burnham Park. We caught everyone's attention when our boat became unstable as we paddled along the pond. Mines View Park. The Mansion. Strolling along Wright Park and the Philippine Military Academy. Everyone was in high spirits despite the tiredness and sometimes late meals. To me, it was extra special for the families to have bonding times together. When will be the next?

Naujan, 2004

Revisiting the birthplace.

It was almost three weeks before I celebrate my 40th birthday and I had the rare opportunity to go back to my birthplace. I still remember the rugged road leading to the place. It is still the same road although the public cemetery has expanded and the wooden bridge is now elevated and made of concrete.

A fork lies less than two kilometers from the barangay proper. We took the one on the right only to find out that we had to go back and take the other one. A few minutes later, we could already smell the morning breeze from the sea. We were in the right direction! I could see from the road the river we frequented to swim and gather freshwater shells called "paros".

The house was no longer the same old house we went to when I was a small kid. There may be more houses and other structures now but the landscape looked just like before.

Mixed emotions filled the air when I saw my cousins. They could not help but cry upon seeing us. Who wouldn't? It was such a long time since we last visited our hometown.

Kuya Mar was seated by the door, unable to stand up and welcome us because of a mild stroke he suffered almost four months ago.

After an hour of "kumustahan", we bid them goodbye.

Much as I wanted to feel the sand on the beach nearby and reminisce about the happy childhood experiences while strolling along the shore, I simply did not have the luxury of time for my daughter and I had to catch the late morning trip of the Supercat bound for Batangas City and finally to home.

Satisfaction stirred my heart for the opportunity of bringing my daughter to the place where I was born and where I grew up before our family migrated to Calapan City in the late 60s. It was a gratifying experience to spend time with my relatives no matter how short it was and to extend help to them in the littlest way I could.

As we boarded the van going back to the city, I wondered, "When will I set foot on this place again?" 12-05-04

Niagara Falls

"The most beautiful spot I have ever seen", wrote my sister in a postcard sent to us during her first year in the US.

I could only agree with my sister when I saw Niagara Falls. With more than 4 million cubic feet of water falling over the crest every minute, who wouldn't find it awesome?

The massive waterfalls lie between the border of Ontario, Canada, and New York, USA. I had a picture taken near the falls where I was just a bridge away from Canada. Sorry, no visa. They say the Canadian view is much better than the US side.

The most exhilarating experience was the Lady of the Mist boat ride around the area where the water falls. We were all garbed in raincoats because of the mist. As my face got wet with mist and tears, I thanked the Lord for his wonderful creation.

Hoover Dam

During our stay in Las Vegas, we joined the trip to Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Colorado River with Lake Mead as the reservoir created. It is on the border between the states of Arizona and Nevada. It remains one of the biggest dams in the US and in the world. In fact, it is considered one of the national historic landmarks. On our way, the guide narrated to us the stories about the construction of the dam even the different accounts as to how many died during the construction. It is interesting to note that the dam crosses the border between two time zones. Imagine, there's an hour difference between the two intake towers of the dam. Unfortunately, we did not run fast enough to capture the time difference in the picture.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a city in Nevada internationally known for its gaming industry, shopping, and adult entertainment. The populous city is a far contrast from the surrounding desert of Nevada.

We stayed in The Mirage which is located on the famous Las Vegas Strip. The water fountains in front of the hotel turn into an erupting volcano every 15 minutes at night. From the hotel, we walked north along the strip to see the other hotels. Each hotel has an attraction. Not the usual box type of structures. And all hotel lobbies will direct you to the casinos.

The next day, we tried the southern portion. More and more hotels, shows, and shopping centers. I liked most the dancing fountains in Bellagio Hotel. The more than 1,000- nozzle fountain displays are choreographed to various musical pieces and lights. The show takes place every 15 minutes at night. I was so touched by the experience.

New York, 2003

I didn't think there would be another chance for me to go back to New York but my sister was generous enough to send me a round-trip plane ticket. So there I go. This time, I stayed for almost three months. I wished though that I would see and feel snow the next time around. I did! But it was not during wintertime. There was a snowstorm on April 3, 2003! Wish granted.

My sister's family lived in Westchester, which is located north of the city. I had the chance to see the city again and view the Manhattan skyline but failed to visit Ground Zero. In the city, we saw the International Car Show. High tech!

Washington, D.C.

It was still springtime, but there were only a few cherry blossoms left.

There are a lot of places to go in Washington, D.C. It is home to numerous national landmarks. In one day, we tried to visit as many as we could. There was so much to see in the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of Natural History (we saw the world's biggest diamond on display). There's the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. We were smart enough to find a spot where we could have our pictures taken with the US Capitol, the Smithsonian Institution, and Washington Monument as background. Of course, the White House is in Washington, D.C. :)

Gaithersburg, Maryland

After a 5-hour drive from New York to Maryland, we reached Ayin's house in Gaithersburg. Ayin was a secondary sponsor at my wedding. She used to be a fellow instructor in DSAC and my roommate in the faculty housing. When I returned to AIT after my 2-term maternity leave, she was already pursuing her master's in computer science. Our adjacent rooms in Dormitory G shared a common toilet and bathroom. I thanked my sister for granting my request to visit Ayin, Aung, and son JP. And thanks to Ayin for being our guide in Washington, D.C.

New York City

Big Apple, here I come. The city that never sleeps. Everybody was in a hurry to go to work or somewhere else. I could hear the sirens of ambulances and police cars passing by. There were yellow cabs, numbered buses, and the subway. 

My sister and I bought a day pass. That means we could ride the subway anywhere in the city using a single pass at a discounted rate. Great!

We went to the Rockefeller Center, the World Trade Center (less than five months later, the twin towers were gone), Battery Park (where the Statue of Liberty could be seen from a distance), and the malls. Our tour around the city was highlighted by our visit to the 102-story Empire State building. The express elevator rides to the observatory were really quick despite the hundreds of visitors wanting to see the panoramic view of the city from one of the world's tallest buildings. True enough, the 360-degree views of the city from the 86th-floor observation deck were so impressive. Awesome!

Orlando, Florida

I never thought I would have the chance to visit the US. Thanks to my sister for the all-expense-paid trip which was her graduation gift to me. My 10-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visa to the US was given to me in January 2001. 

Right after my graduation from UPLB in April 2001, I flew to NY with stopovers in Hongkong and Vancouver. A few hours after my arrival (with jet lag at that), we flew to Orlando, Florida for a 5-day visit. My experiences at Epcot, Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios, and Universal Studios woke up the child in me. I wished...

 

Puerto Azul

I was fortunate enough to be included in the summer outing of SEARCA staff and scholars at Puerto Azul in Ternate, Cavite in April 2000. The resort used to be exclusive to its members. Despite that, the place could only be reached by private vehicles. I appreciated the native cottages of the place and the ambiance which were very different from those of the overcrowded resorts. And you know what? I discovered that our director had a collection of Julia Roberts movies.

UPLB

I started my Ph.D. study at UPLB in November 1998. After a semester of commuting back and forth from Indang to Los Banos and staying at the Women's Dorm, my family joined me. 

Bobby started his Ph.D. in environmental science and so the kids had to transfer to Christian School International for their schooling. We stayed for one semester in a room at the NCPC Dorm. Fortunately, I was granted the SEARCA scholarship so we were able to stay at the SEARCA Apartments in Forestry. 

For two years, the family drove to UPLB every Sunday afternoon and back to Indang every Friday afternoon. During this time, I thanked God for giving me wisdom and strength as I assumed the roles of wife, mother, and student in one.

Marinduque, 1998

Second time in Marinduque but it was not a work-related trip this time.

Bobby and I together with Per and his wife Jing visited our friend and former colleague who migrated to Gasan in the mid-90s. Gasan is one of the six towns of the island province of Marinduque. In fact, you can have a tour around the island in one day. The province is known for its Moriones Festival during the holy week and for its uraro delicacies.

Our visit was brief but we had the chance to enjoy the beach.