The Magic of Igbaras
09/12/2015

Featuring: Nasadjan Falls Igbaras
Location: Brgy. Passi, Igbaras, Iloilo

About an hour and a half away from the city of Iloilo is the quiet town of Igbaras. You'll know you're there because you'll feel like you have entered some sort of a time warp. If you've ever seen Fernando Amorsolo's Afternoon meal of the rice workers, 1951, oil on canvas painting. of a rural place with mountains and wide stretch of rice paddies, the town of Igbaras looks like it was the inspiration of it.

The people of Igbaras are warm and friendly and doesn't seem to shy from outsiders, they are proud of their town and take really good care of it. The perfect example is their public market. The cleanliness and how orderly people were inside will surprise you.There is no foul smell and even though it is a wet market, everything in sight is dry. You can do your last minute shopping (for food) here without hassle.

 From Igbaras plaza it would take you another 30 mins to get to Brgy Passi.

 The road during rainy season is not as friendly as it is on dry season so a 4x4 vehicle or a single motorcycle is your best bet when it comes to transportation.

On the way, you'd get to pass this bridge and this will be your first indication that you are near.

 Next will be this path. The Tangyan River in Sitio Sonsongon. You'll have to be very careful when crossing this road, when the water overflows the current will be too strong, strong enough to carry your vehicle. Not to scare you or anything but in 2006 an overloaded jeepney met a fatal accident here when the driver decided to cross the road even though the water was overflowing. 22 died and 21 missing up to this day including 2 infants. See full report of the incident here:
To give you a little ghost story, for those who like scary adventures, people in the brgy will hear babies crying here at night. The Songsongon overflow is believed to be some sort of a cross road to the other side.

We continued our journey, but passing through this very spot where the jeepney was swept away, it does give you a little grim feeling.

 Arriving at the "Tourist Center" which is just a small table beside a small "tyangge" from there it would be a 45 min trek to the main attraction which is the Nasadjan Falls. The Brgy. Captain of Brgy. Passi would greet you with a warm smile and sometimes may offer that you rest in his home. The home is a beautiful log cabin that was made by the Brgy. Captain himself.  You'd be amazed by the craftmanship and wood work, a sign that the captain built the house with love and dedication.

We initially planned on setting up our tent and go camping, but because we visited on September, which is on a rainy season, there was a heavy downpour in the afternoon and so the brgy captain insisted that we sleep in his lovely log cabin.

We started trekking to the waterfalls around 9 in the morning, it usually takes 30-45 minutes but our journey was close to about an hour because we chose a different, less taken path which was more difficult to trek.

The objective? It was so  we could climb this beauty.

 The view at the top is worth it.

We climbed down and continued our journey towards the Big one. Because we visited on a rainy month, the current was so strong at times we have doubts if we can cross the rapids. But, for the love of adventure we pushed on. Normally the peak season where there will  be a lot of tourist is during April to May because the water won't be as strong but there will be hardly any water at all and the forest won't be as cool and green.

The pictures that I have will not give justice to how beautiful this place is when visited in its full glory, We know because we went back last april and the vegetation was dead and the water was about just an ankle deep and the trek was easy even a 5 year old (our daughter) can handle it.

But during the rainy season, you will have to crawl, climb, slip and splash on really cold water.

Finally, the Big one

Nasadjan falls got its name because you won't be able to see the waterfalls because your view will be blocked by a big boulder, In local dialect Nasadjan (Nasiradhan) means "being blocked" or being "closed off". Keep in mind that the photos I have did not give even the slightest justice to the beauty of this place, but I gave you the raw and unfiltered shot that my camera phone can provide.

Beside the waterfall, as if a constant admirer is a century old Balete tree.

During Summer, when the water isn't that strong you'll have a chance to dip in a mini pool of water right below the waterfalls, but during rainy season you'd have to be content to dip on another mini pool below that boulder.
During my trek, I picked up plastics along the way and cleaned up the mess some tourist leave in the area. If you plan to come here, please do the same :) If you can't then just take your trash with you.

If you're feeling super adventurous, try the Kipot Cave which is about  1-2 hours of trek from here. I dont have pictures of the kipot cave because you literally have to climb a vertical wall on the side of the mountain to get there. The typical buwis-buhay stunt. But Kipot Cave is 10x worth the trek. You just have to be really brave. Enjoy the experience, respect nature and live the moment.


"Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but pictures. Burn nothing but calories. Keep nothing but memories. Kill nothing but time"

5 years later

5 years later
09/01/2016


It's weird to put the title on this post. It feels like there had been some sort of hibernation or that of a total disconnection to life. That wasn't really the case of course. Instead it was more of undergoing a process of renovation, of breaking down and building up.
In my 25 years of existence, I thought I had my life planned out. I will graduate college by 21, get myself employed immediately (a day after my graduation in fact) and be a useful citizen of this country. The social goal was to not add up to the burden that my mother land was enduring, to not be another mouth to feed by my "Average in economic status" family and to set a good example to my cousins who looks up to me and I love dearly.
I then thought of stepping it up by being a woman of science, a doctor. So I went to med school only to be met by financial constraints and seeing that that did not go with the plan of not being a burden, I dropped med school. I promised myself that when I am able I will go back, it was my way of proving to myself I did it and that I wasn't a failure. 

A year later my father died.

My father's death was my ultimate awakening. I started recognizing the inner screams I have in my soul. What matters most to me is my family, they are the reason I wanted to be someone of value. When I was a child I said i'd like to be a doctor so I can cure the sick, but if I really listened to the scream, it was because I wanted to be able to do something should anything happen to my family. On my father's death, I held on to his hand, the screams in my soul louder than I ever heard it, the truth was forced on me that I could not do anything to stop it.Even if I was a doctor back then, there was nothing I could do. I dropped Med School completely.

It took a while to pick myself up. It's not that there wasn't any direction where to go, it's just that I could envision  the pointing arrows and contemplate if it was worth following it. I must admit, I did pretty good for a lost child. I did not do anything stupid. I was just there, like an observer of the world I feel I did not belong to. The sea was my comfort and I settled myself in the familiar grounds, I did not welcome any change. I was content with the familiarity of my home, my friends and my solace.
Until something unplanned happened, something that turned my world upside down. Completely unexpected as there were no arrows or warnings that I would go that path at that point of my life
.I gave birth to my daughter.
All of a sudden my world changed, and I'm not saying this to romanticize the event. I was forced to confront my fears, I wasn't ready but I wasn't backing down either. It was just not in my imprint to back down, but the whole thing took over my life I was left speechless.
At this point, I speak up, 5 years later and coming out as someone new, even to me. I am, for the first time in my life, a stranger to myself. So I take baby steps while my daughter takes her own, almost as if I was reborn with her. I took my milestone after milestone until I  developed a different understanding of the world. Learning to understand words and its meaning in a different perspective. I have a brighter sunshine in me than I ever had before along with a whole new darkness. 
I finally understood and that was when I let go of the control and learned to just flow.
It wasn't easy, it still isn't, but the 5 years that had passed gave me more than the 25 years before it. 
I no longer walk my path alone for there is another soul about to discover life and I am her chosen guide. 
30 years before and onwards.

Cabaling Beach Resort


Location: Sitio Cabaling, Barangay, Jordan, Province of Guimaras in the islands of the Philippines.


How to get there? Via Philippines Airline, Cebu Pacific, and Air Philippines from Manila, 9 times daily from Iloilo City. There is also a daily boat trip from Cebu and 21 daily trips by fastcraft from Bacolod to Iloilo City. The Guimaras mainland is close to the Iloilo Harbour and reachable in 15 minutes by motorboat or ferryboat that service the island from 6am to 6pm daily. Travel time is from 5 minutes to 5 hours depending on how you wish to wonder around. For special arrangement, motorboats or pumpboats can be utilized to directly hop to Cabaling Beach Resort and also to visit other different islets.


website: http://www.cabalingbeachresorts.com/

We didn't take the boat ride and preferred commuting from Iloilo harbour to Guimaras, when we reached the island, we took a motorcycle ride to the place which cost us 300 php. Travel time would take 45 mins in total to get to the resort. After a grueling bumpy ride, you'd have to take a 5 minute walk to get to the entrance but this to me is a pleasant experience considering you'll have to get your feet wet as you would walk a white sand shoreline.







The place has complete amenities, and you don't have to worry about packing for food as they have a restaurant inside the resort. The place will surprise you,in a good way, with its features and structure.
The best part of this place is, it has an infinity pool that will give you a picturesque view of the sea and the city of Iloilo.








For the beach bums, the water will lure you into a laid back mood with its cool breeze and white sand. They also have a man made Jacuzzi on a nearby rock for a private a relaxing experience.





For us though, the highlight of the place is this beautiful bridge, withered by time but exhibits timeless beauty nonetheless. Salutation to the sun is best done in this place.














and if you get so enchanted by the place that you'd like to experience it on nightfall, they offer air conditioned rooms that rivals any hotel rooms in the island.


from 1 out of 10 I'd rate it as 7.5 but I'd like to go back to the place someday and spend the night there with my daughter and friends.

When the Sun came down to kiss me

Lilith Eir 
She was named Lilith by her dad, from the flower Lily. symbolizing Universality and Enlightenment and Purity. Lilith, the first woman according to old scriptures of the Christian Bible was an independent woman who refused to be inferior to a man for the reason that they were both created equally.
Her second name Eir,was given by her mom. From the Norse Goddess of Healing. Also as a Norse noun it also means means graciousness, mildness. as a Norse verb, "eira" it means to care for, to help or please.
Born Sept 16,2011 at 5:30 in the afternoon. The First time I saw her she was bathed in my blood, she was so pale, but I guess that is how newborns in her first few minutes look like.Her eyes were closed at first and then she took a tiny little peek, I was the first person she saw. She took my breath away. I didn't cry, instead I felt renewed, happy,and most of all healed. At that moment, I felt peace while I was holding her. I felt like I was a different person, like I was perfect, and I knew I was the only one person who was perfect for her. You know that feeling when the afternoon sun, in all its golden splendor, enters your room and touches your skin and then it gives you this sense of happiness, this sense of contentment? It was that exact feeling, except there was no sun. At that moment I felt like the sun came down to kiss me this time.

She is 10 months and 2 day old now. It wasn't all happy and sunshine. There were times when I felt I wished I wasn't her mother, I felt incompetent, especially when she gets sick. I get so frustrated when she seems uncomfortable and it seems like there was nothing I could do to ease her discomfort. You feel like you could curse the world to hell. But She, like she always does, tucks her head in my breast and starts to doze off and in her slumber starts giving me random smiles and unprovoked giggles, then I go back to that moment when I knew I was the only woman perfect for her.

It gives me so much pride and joy when she extends this feeling to the family. When she is held, I can see that the people who held her, loves her and in turn Lilith Eir "heals" them. You can see that obvious shift of emotion, that swelling of happiness in their eyes, only Lilith can give them that.

I knew when I found out I was having a girl, that I wasn't ready. I was ready to be a mom, but I wasn't ready to mother a female. I was scared that she would grow up to be mundane and superficial. I was scared that she might get hurt, as much hurt as I have experienced. This may be because I didn't want her to see what I have seen or feel what I have felt. I didn't know how to protect her. But as she is growing up now, it seems like she didn't need to be protected. And everyday she gives me confidence that despite the cruelty this world will feed her, she will remain unmoved, unstained and she will rise from the muck that the world is in and still be the beautiful person she is meant to be.

Indeed, a child teaches you so many things, even the things you thought you knew. And now, all that I was before, all the mistakes I have done, all the hurt that I went through, they become a distant memory. Because I have her, I am nothing but complete.

And Now You're Mine...

When: April 6,2011
Where: Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish,Iloilo City Phil.

I got what every girl wanted on my wedding day. <3
I got my closest friends with me
I got my Family
it was a private affair.
Everyone was happy.
and i married the man i am madly in love with :)

So every girl wants to walk the aisle at her most beautiful, I definitely did :) My hair and make up was done by my college friend, Mr. Junriz Henderin.

I walked the aisle with Pablo Neruda's poem airing.

Our Giveaways, a dream catcher, was made by yours truly, i would estimate around 2,000 pesos for 50 items.Good deal :)

Our Wedding Invitations were designed and printed by my Husband, He's a graphic designer/Layout Artist :) i would estimate around 40 pesos for each invites.

My wedding Gown was rented at a local boutique for 2,000 pesos, the package includes the veil, cord,ring/arrhae pillows.

Our Wedding pictures both Prenup and Wedding pics were taken by our friends, Diane S. Loberanes,Darren Kayes Solis and Mia Reyes

http://cargocollective.com/dayanmari#1264146/-PRE-NUPTIAL

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.154021704665842.37159.121235781277768

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.145210418880304.30507.121235781277768

I didnt want to spend so much on flowers for aisle decors so we opted for Lanterns. They were designed by Architects Vhal Libutaque,Cristopher Ebreo and Alcor Mandario. Around 2,000 total cost for 10 lanterns

We had our reception at River Queen Hotel, We got the wedding package which was 20,000 pesos. it includes the place, food, a room for 2 nights and the Bridal car and the Wedding cake :)

I would say we spent around 50,000 pesos for our wedding all in all, which is still pretty cheap compared to other wedding expenses. :)

If you want to hire the people mentioned above, please contact me so i can arrange a meeting for you, its the least i can do to thank them for their help in my wedding :)

Here are the links to our Photographer's Official Website

Mia Reyes: http://www.facebook.com/polarizedmedia http://polarizedmedia.com/

Diane Loberanes: http://cargocollective.com/dayanmari

Darren Kaye Solis: http://dkaie.xanga.com/weblog/

If The Shoe Fits....

Aside from being a travel freak, i also have an addiction for shoes. Wedge ,open-toes, stilletos, or flats makes me go "gaga". I prefer shoes that have the classy or laid back look. Im posting some of the shoes that i have and love. hope you like them :) some of the shoes are for sale, i got them from fellow shoe-lover's as well. Some of the shoes are from the countries my mom visits, she has the coolest job as she gets to travel almost every month to beautiful countries like Thailand,Sweden,NewYork etc.

i'll be updating this post once in a while

get the classy gothic look

Cool boots can make you feel like you can handle anything 

this one is the first shoe i bought from my 1st paycheck :P

I used to dance ballet, so i have this fascination for ballet shoes:) this one is still available for P1,700

My mom gave this to me, this one is from India

Also, Follow me @shoephoria, http://www.myshoephoria.com/sunkissedtraveler,  they're giving away Fab shoes there  and they're no hoax :) 

If you do win  and want to thank me, im size 7. :P keep the shoelovinspirit!

again for inquiries, my number is on my profile :)