My Dreams: Aude Sapere (Dare To Know)

 This experience is worth blogging for…

A true friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

A month had passed by and this was the only vacant time I can make this blog. A blog made of fulfillment, joy love, and happiness on my point of view what happened on an event that was simply awesome and worth remembering.

Day 1: Trailer of Pleasure and Happiness

 So here it goes baby…

Seventeen of us from CPU participates this MYC. All of us from 3^rd and 4^th year of our course which is accountancy took all the way. Small in number doesn’t mean that we will not enjoy the rest of the days prepared by the officers. In fact, it surpassed our expectation of our definition of the word “enjoyment”.

The president of our chapter decided to assemble us at Andok’s Chicken House near Jaro Plaza. It was an advantage on my part because our flat is located about 300-400 meters away the meeting place.  While everyone was busy packing their trolleys and bags, I was hooked up on the net in the morning of our departure. I just did that because I was assigned to do a contest with Jhon and Dareen which was only a game on our part. Win or lose has never been a big deal for us but we were hoping just a little bit. No preparations, no expectations, only a game. And that’s it and really is.

Going back to our departure, I was the last one to come on time. I do apologize with my colleagues for that irresponsiveness.  Around 7:30am when we departed our assembly place and headed the terminal bounded north of the province. About 15minutes time travelled was consumed. Another travel was expected going to Dumangas where the port is located. Assuming all my readers know that Negros and Panay Islands are not connected. Wondering why we chose the route in Dumangas rather than the city? I can say that it was for economic purposes. We can save as much as 200php if we choose the RoRo than a fast craft. That’s why accountants are called the nation builders in economy and development.  I was not able to calculate the time we spent travelling from Tagbak Terminal to the said port. One thing I’m sure was that we took the coastal road going to our destination to avoid traffic jam. Out of a solitude situation, I just put on my earphones and listen to my favorites songs played in shuffle manner. Our fare from city to Dumangas was not included in our payment for the convention. 50php was deducted from our personal allowance which varies in quantity.  When we arrived at the port, we waited again for almost an hour which made us meet each other physically but not intimately the other delegates from Panay which came all the way from other provinces like Capiz and Aklan. There were instances where parties (pertaining to us and the carrier) interest does not coincide and ended in deadlock. Authorities from the organization did a good talked with the carrier. The bottom line was I don’t know the real story.

And we finally get in to the RoRo (a project planned and materialized by our former Pres. Arroyo to link archipelagos closer with each other) which stands for roll on roll off.  I just did a milestone for myself for I experienced so many “first times”- first time in RoRo, Bacolod, bonding a longer time with trusted friends, Mambukal ( a place where sulfur wrecks all around the clock) and meet faces from our region who are taking the same course as I am.

At around noon, I took my very first leap to the City of Smiles which at that time celebrating its last day of Masskara Festival- equivalent to a Mardi gras in States. I was not that allured with the place but it was good totally in the sense that it looks like a twin city of Iloilo. We were not able to roam into the city because everybody was waiting for us to arrive. We were compressed on a rusty bus that if you accidentally wound yourself, you would probably face a tetanus toxoid vaccine. Two gals from the convention accompanied us as a guide. They were sitting behind me. Good thing I have this “gift of the gab” to talked to them and expecting to respond me in a good manner also. We can saw from afar the “Canlaon View” which the silhouette seems to be gigantic. Covered by clouds, we can’t see its summit. I’m expecting a long travel but it was a short one for me maybe because I was already immune by long travelling since high school.

*****An entrance of lunch was given to us at the resort. Chicken Inasal, beef menu with jackfruit were served. First, we have to register our names and get our cool ID. Bad thing was that mine was not printed. So the committee put it on a hand written. That’s what you get if your name is unique (sarcastic tone). Out of 7, 5 of us have a common name. “John” was the room name for me. As you can see in the picture the evidence.

 

 *****Bonding in room 7a with my roommates and choosing our own respective designated bed which we will be comfortable with. Unluckily, I was not able to occupy the best bed. Upper deck was designated to me. RAWR! I really want the lower deck besides a window but it was already occupied and he really doesn’t want to sacrifice. Okay fine. Room7a was a room to remember. We did our personal necessities in that room like tooth brushing, changing clothes, peeing and showering to name a few. Recreational pool is located across our room but unfortunately, we were not able to swim.

 *****After a couple of hours, we are preparing for our contest. We bathed and did some of our formal stuffs. On the contest proper, we top the easy round and I wished that round ended. After that, following rounds were history. We placed 5^th among 12 participants all over Western Visayas. There is nothing worth the wear of winning, but laughter and the love of friends. That was really matters to me and it really is.

***** First dinner on the resort took place. Although the viands were really good, we ate it with a little disappointment.  We were disappointed in a way that the quiz master intentionally chose the topics we are not inclined with. Literature seems to be my dreaded subject since then. I look at that topic so broad and different interpretations from different cultures make it difficult.

***** Our first sleep was not that refreshing and recharging for me. A friend of mine was so stubborn in the sense that I am so tired and he doesn’t want me to sleep. He did some irritating stuffs and I took vengeance every time he did those. It took nearly an hour for that play. Okay, enough of that.

And that was our first day!!!

Day 2: Exploration and Granary of Heavens

 

 *****I woke up early to roam around the resort. I was the first one in my visual vicinity to go out our room with no one except for a tour guide sitting at a bench. Suddenly, a friend also woke up and accompanied me to roam around the resort. It was a very good morning. A virgin one for me because no clean ups or any touch from a sleep like toothbrush, cleaning up my face and some personal necessities. From that scenario, we took each other pictures from different angles and poses from a scenic view like an overflowing river and a dead pool fronting a lagoon. In the middle of our amateur pictorial, two friends joined us. The four of us conversed about the peculiar place which sulfur wrecks from every corner of the resort. Sulfur stings badly even if your nose were clogged. It penetrates deeply.  Kanlaon volcano as I remember is the highest peak in the Visayas region. As we go on, we remember, all the times we were together.( a lyrics from a song=) haha). Some friends got fused with us in the lagoon area where we took again pictures just like we were somewhere in a garden in the states as one of my friend said. We pass by the officers white mansion where the lagoon looks tranquil from their point of view.

***** Breakfast time--- we entered the hall where all eyes sets on us. Why? Simply because we look exotic. We haven’t fixed ourselves from a sleepless night. We dress up as messy as a newly woke up person. So what? Food is a need. No matter how we look like, we will go to the hall for breakfast sake. Time essence should be given importance because meal time has its cut off time.

***** After we ate, we went back to our room and took a bath of course individually. I decided to be the second to the last one to bath because I’m dead tired from an escapade early in the morning. While I’m inside the bathroom, someone knocked me and asked some permission to borrow the camera and I responded immediately with a yes. My plan was that I will follow them after I finished. Inside the bathroom, I feel like my stomach is crumpling and it needs a base. Hyperacidity attacks. I pondered that I ate a pineapple slice during our breakfast that triggered it. So the plan was null and void. I’m like a helpless guy. Good thing someone remains in the room and give some meds which I didn’t take. I really need a base to neutralize my acidity. So he accompanied me in the room and sacrificed his own happiness to roam around with others I guess. I half-way slept and he was there all throughout my bed ridden time. Thank you bro =)

***** My phone beeps with a Nokia tune and got some message from a friend that they were going to have a boating in the lagoon. That time, around 10am, I feel somehow okay. We walked to the lagoon. It seems like it was good to have one but moments will not be captured. Camera battery was drained from a hundreds of pictures taken earlier by them. So we went back to room 7a and charged it for the next activities.

*****I can vaguely remember what happened next. Maybe we ate our lunch and watch some contests until middle of the afternoon came. We took a rest about 2hours for our hot spring experience. Some wants swimming pool and others wants the hot spring. We just decided that swimming pools are rampant while hot springs are rare. So we chose the latter. Only one opposed the hot spring because he will be experiencing a headache after. Then he decided to stay. Okay fine. He can’t take to be the only person left in the room because we frightened him that ghost may be present. And I suspect it has. Ghosts may appear as long as there are spaces. Hahaha!

 

 ***** It took about less than 5 minutes to go to the hot spring. We paid 50php for the entrance. A mob of people swam with us. By the way, we have our own photographer who took about nearly 200 photos in the entire swimming. It was yayabels as they call. =) Technically, I can’t consider it as a swimming. I was just a merely a play with nearly boiling water. I can’t tolerate the hotness at first. It was so hot for my senses that I retreat from having been dip at the first time. My body got too used of the hotness of the hot spring. Huh? Some cold water from the hose chilled at some point of time. We encountered a tourist (as we expect to be from other parts of our country) that made my tongue stress. I talked to him with my friends. Of course, he was the one who initiated the conversation. I don’t talk to strangers first by the way. We spoke with Tagalog to him. And for my surprise, he was also from the locality. Same province so the same language. WTF! Hahaha. We made the hot spring even hotter as we bathe there. One of the highlights of our convention as I considered.

 *****Evening came and the last super was served. We were eager to eat like a glutton. Unfortunately, no more rice was offered. We were energy less that time after we swam. So we need some carbohydrates to heat us up. We decided to eat outside and made expenses out of our pockets. For sake, food is a need. Whatever is the price, we should face the consequence. We were just happy even though we were not that full.

*****We were then back with our room to take a rest, waiting for the pageant which is the search for Mr. and Ms. AOG. Our contestants did well and to make the long story short, our female candidate bagged the Ms. Photogenic Award, Best in Talent, Best in Interview and the Best in Theme Wear while our male candidate bagged the Mr. Congeniality (which he badly dreamed) and Best in Interview.

***** We headed back to our room for rest and do so some unending chats. After awhile, a friend called us for some errors in tabulation. We were so excited in the sense that our female contestant will be promoted from first runner to the title. I will not put it on to details what really happened but all I can say is that we deserved more what we get from the competition.

***** I can’t tolerate anymore my drowsiness at around 1pm and decided to go back to our room. I will not put on to details but all I can say was that I enjoyed even though I was dead tired from an exhausting day.

And that was our 2^nd day!!!

Day 3: Closing time, Just A New Beginning =)

 *****Departure time was after our lunch time.

***** Early in the morning, around 5:30am, I put my mobile in an alarm. So I took a bath that so early. They laughed at me. I wondered why. As I know, we will be going at 6am somewhere. Hahaha!!! It was a false alarm on my part. It was already postponed. So I slept again. I was the only one who took a bath that time. Feeling fresh has never been bad.

*****We ate our last breakfast in the resort. My last one was so significant. Why? All the viands were my favorites. (sarcastic tone noted). EGGS and TOCINOS were served. I don’t eat a lot of them. My friends knew it. It seems like I’m in hell (exaggeration) when I ate that kind of foods. Vomit-inducing as I taste it frankly. Tasteless, emotionless and emptiness are my feelings when I ate them.  Good thing an energy drink was available and that compensates my energy requirement that morning for an exhausting long walk in a nearly perpendicular slope.

*****Seven falls was our next exploration. We equipped ourselves with waters to fight dehydration plus a couple of biscuits inside my bag. Cameras where fully charged. And the journey begins and lasted 2-3 hours of walking and picture taking to the magnificent waterfalls. The 1st falls and 7^th falls were my favorite choice. You can really appreciate the beauty that takes my breath away literally. All the stresses were paid every time we stop over on each falls.

***** On the 7^th falls which is the last one, the lens cover accidentally threw up in nowhere. I’m a wee bit in my bad trip mood as I knew that the lens should not be exposed. Only 11 hours is the grace period before it will be malfunctioning (?) as my friend told me. I asked for a help from our tour guide. He found it. A very good visual acuity was. Thank you so much.

*****We decided to take the risky road going back to the resort. It cost 50php for each of us 2 persons in a single motorcycle. I’m with a 4^th year buddy that made us bond in the motorcycle. Laugh and talks with non sense were the agenda. Our driver also joined with our talking like he was also new to that place. Hahaha!

*****Our last lunch was awesome good. I can’t remember what but I can say that I was full during that time. We took the bus with SPUI people. They were seriously quiet maybe because CPU people were loud. Hahaha!!! My buddy sat on my side and we eventually talked and listen to my music playlist until we reached the City of Smile. Rusty bus was our transportation friend that time.

***** As we arrived at the polis, it was just simply humidly hot. I was able to take an image where the background is the SM. We were able to roam on SM City Bacolod more or less an hour with a buddy at first and with the power of innovative communication, we fused with our other buddies. It’s different than our SM City Iloilo. It’s composed of left and right wing unlike here just a single huge building that nearly all your needs are there with their famous tag line “We got it all for you.” We bought some pasalubong for our loved ones to show that we love them and that was it.

***** On our way to RoRo made us all on a hurry. Oh yeah!!! We were the last passenger to arrive at the cut off time given to us. With huge trucks and other utility vehicles, made us compressed every time we go up and down the barge. I was not able to sit at first few minutes because of the mob that made the barge crowded. A buddy called me and let me in an air conditioned place that last for more than two and a half hour. We were actually delayed with our arrival on the destination port.

***** Risky and Rusty tricycle was our mean of transportation from the port to the town proper of Dumangas where jeepneys are bound on the city loop. Seven of us were passengers of that said tricycle plus a driver that made us eight. Over capacity that time because on choice at all. Rocky roads and a billion of dust were on the air that time perhaps because no budget was allocated for that place to make it cemented.

*****On the town proper bound to the City of Love.  We almost consumed 30 minutes or more going to the town. We were fortunate to get on the ride of the last trip. Bad thing was I placed on an extension part of the jeepney. Elongated chairs were place at the center and the two of you will lie back to back. It was so stressful by the way. It made me nap along the way. I’m dead tired really. For almost 3 days, I got only a maximum of 7 hours sleep and that was over in estimate.

***** Back to Tagbak terminal, we negotiated some drivers and made some deals and ignorance to those who thought we were a tourist. Do we really look like we got a lot of money because of our trolleys and looks? Haha. We just hired a jeepney and just pay 10php each as I remembered.

***** Parting time. I remember the days when I made someone and other else happy while on my way back home. And I ENJOYED also. As you all know. A sense of fulfillment sinks in my heart with people who loved me and takes care of me. Friends and family are my inspiration and God most of all. Thank you so much. You (all) know who you are. All my deeds and words I think was just still an understatement as I assess.

Indeed, I made a right decision to go to the Mid Year Convention of Western Visayas Federation of Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants at Mambukal Mountain Resort held last October 19-21 of this year.

Till my next blogging…

TO GOD BE THE GLORY <3