48-hour Cebu Adventure

Hi. I’m here in Cebu and will be flying back to Manila in about two hours. I thought I’d blog something before we leave, just because it sounded like a good idea to blog from some place besides my desk (or my bed) in Ortigas.

I’d like to think I’m well-traveled, being here for the second time in the past two months — I was here with Mae and Joni just last May. But really, it’s mostly because a cousin from New York is in the Philippines for a 2-week visit, and I have been one of his designated babysitters and tourist guides since he arrived. He wanted to see Cebu (and our relatives here), so here we are.

Now this has got to be my longest 48 hours ever. We landed here Wednesday morning, and tried to squeeze in two days as much of Cebu as we can.

That’s me (the one wearing the hot pink shirt), with the beautiful people I share my genes with.

It was a short trip, but it’s one of those trips that you’ll always remember and associate a place with. The secluded Mantayupan falls, the unforgetable rafting experience, and freezing cold water. The yummiest ice cream in the world made of cow’s milk from Molave — I can’t remember ever eating five ice cream cones all in one day. Sleeping in one of those bamboo gazebos and waking up to the smell of fried tilapia (that my cousins fished themselves), native tinola, and churizo. Daddy Rods’ home-made avocado ice cream, and Kuya Ginggoy’s kaldereta. Losing about 200 pesos over Majong and Poker. Cheetos, chapstick, the Terraces, cheap souvenirs, and making up funny songs on the road. And most of all, spending all of these with family.

I had to lose sleep and squeeze in work as much as I can in the middle of all of that, but it’s okay. I shall resume regular programming and catch up on piles of work as soon as I’m back in Manila, I don’t care. The past 48 hours is priceless.