Experiencing Anawangin with the 4As

Imagine an overnight stay in a remote place deprived of electricity, concrete buildings, cellphone signals and all the hustle and bustle of the city life.  That's what I and my high school buddies had to go through last month at Anawangin. 

Described as a crescent-shaped cove bestowed with off-white sand, lush pine forest surrounding and crystal clear waters, Anawangin is an island located in Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales. It is a 4-6 hour drive from Manila, a perfect destination for those who want to get closer to nature.  

In our pursuit for the perfect summer getaway, I and my 4A friends came up with a non-traditional out-of-town get together last May 12-13, 2012 at this place.  Despite of the 2-hr. boat ride from Mindoro to Batangas seaports, the 3-4 hr. bus ride from Batangas to Manila and the long journey all the way to the north, our group braved all the odds just to experience the cove's wilderness.

Station I: Calapan Seaport

Station II: at a Montenegro Shipping Line bound for Batangas

Station III: SM North EDSA

Station IV: Subic

Station V: @Resto Bar, Subic

Station VI: Chilling at 7/11

Station VII: waiting for our boat ride heading for the island

Hence, after all the endless walks, the tiresome boat rides, the never-ending drives and the long wait, we were finally able to set foot on the cove.  We then saw the evergreen pine trees, the calm shore, the colorful tents and a camp site like no other.  We were somewhere unlike any other places we've been with before.  We were one with nature.  

Anawangin, Here We Come...

Our Camp Site

My twin sister and I experiencing the Camp life

4As at Anawangin

It took us a while to set-up our tents and prepare for the next adventure for the day: the trip towards Capones island.

Prepping-up for Capones Island

Famous for its lighthouse,  the sand and rock mixture, and the open sea, Capones Island is one of the main attractions of Pundaquit Zambales.  It is a 20-30 minute ride from the cove, a place to go if you are in for some adventure.

 Capones Island

the view atop the island

sitting by the rock

by the light house

the light house

the view from the top

The weather suddenly became unstable as we headed back to the cove.  Clouds overshadowed the sky giving way to the pouring rain.  Then, we went to the shore and swam our way at a place away from our home, somewhere we were only dreaming of seeing before.

Hence, as the day has finally come to an end, we all went back to camp.  There, we had to survive a dark, rainy night at the wilderness with nothing but our tents, bags and each other.  We were somewhere away from all the facebook dramas, the cheesy telenovelas, the stressful workplaces and all the negativities of the world.  We were at peace and before we knew it, a new day has finally arrived.

What a beautiful morning...

Good Morning Anawangin...

Start the day right!

Unlike the previous day, the next one is all about exploring the wilderness.  We've had two activities before we finally geared-up towards home. First, we had to climb one of the steep, rocky mountains of the cove.

Activity: Climb that mountain!

4As on a hike

My hiking adventure

Our last activity at the cove involved a visit to one of the rivers by the area.  It wasn't as grand as the other rivers I've come across with but I had fun.  We took a lot of pictures, had our own dose of 'kulitan' moments, and explored Anawangin for the last time as we then headed back towards home.

Time for some river adventure

by the river

with the Tamaraw skulls

Kulitan by the wilderness

I had to sacrifice another busy night shift at our ER for the sake of the long trip towards home but it was all worth it.  I was able to spend some time with my long lost high school buddies and amidst the scorching heat, the endless search for normalcy and the quest for survival, my experience at the cove is something I'll always remember for the rest of my life.

As we head back home...

Lovelots,
Maica Angelle

  


 

Team Medicine goes to Puerto Galera

Summer- just the thought of it puts a smile on my lips.  The endless walks by the beach, the heat of the sun against my skin or simply the thought of taking a break from all the stresses of life makes the idea worthwhile.

This year though, I've had my own dose of the summer heat with my friends from the Medical Department of our hospital.  Henceforth, while the rest of the Philippines go gaga over Boracay, our team has taken another route down towards the Pearl of Oriental Mindoro- Puerto Galera.

Located on the northwesternmost part of the province of Oriental Mindoro, Puerto Galera is considered as one of the most beautiful and well-developed beach resort communities in the country today.  It is a town that has always been close to my heart.

How was my experience there so far?  Honestly, it has been nothing but great. It all started when I and my the rest of the Medical Team met up by the Calapan City Market on the morning of May 1, 2012.  We ate at one of the well-known Panciterias at the area and chitchatted for a while before heading off to our destination.

All set for the trip

Kuya Allan, Ivy, Joel, Rechelle annd Dr. Reyes while waiting for our ride

Say Cheese everyone :)

Puerto Galera here we come...

It took us two long and agonizing hours at the van before we were finally able to set foot on the beautiful shores of Puerto Galera.  We had to look for a place to stay in and prepare some food as we got there. 

Taken at our Inn

As the day went on, we all headed to the beach for some swim.  We played beach volleyball and saw the beautiful sunset.  It was all worth it!

Team Medicine at Puerto Galera

by the shores of Puerto Galera

Swimming during the sunset

Experiencing twilight with my buddies

We all headed back to our inn after that memorable swim.  We had our dinner there and bonded as a group.  As the night went by, the team got some dose of alcohol.  It was really remarkable!

our first night together

on getting some dose of alcohol

bonding by the seashore

Then came bedtime.  It was my first time to spend the night with my Medical buddies and it was really cool!  I couldn't sleep much because of my colds but I was really happy.  Then I dropped by the beach for some walk the following morning.  It was really nostalgic!

Good Morning Puerto Galera :)

Our second day at the Pearl of Oriental Mindoro was fun as well.  We dropped by the same, familiar shore, took a bunch of pictures, bought some 'pasalubongs' and had our last meal together.   

at White Beach, Puerto Galera

Swim, Swim, Swim...

Banana Boat Ride?

Kaiser, Ate Joey, Me and Lemuel

with Lemuel

Thus, the time to bid our goodbyes to the place which has brought us closer together has finally come.  I then took a glimpse of the shores of Puerto Galera for the last time knowing that my experience there is something that will always be treasured deep inside my heart.

 Lovelots,
Maica Angelle

My 23rd Birthday

Como estas Mis Amigos!  I've been trying to blog about my recent birthday for ages!  However, it seems that I still couldn't find the proper words to translate how the day went out for me.  So forgive me if this blog post isn't as intricate as my usual stories.

 

Anyway, I had  a simple celebration with my family, friends and co-workers for my 23rd birthday.  It started out at 12 midnight of March 2, 2012 when I received a text message from my dear Caselle:

 

'Happy 23rd birthday my dear.  I wish you'll have a lot of dozens of birthdays to come and that we'll always be together forever.  I love you so much.'

 

I also received a text mesage from Papa:

'Happy, happy Birthday. God Bless. May the good Lord protect you always.' 

 

I had to report for duty by the morning so I had no other choice but to wake up earlier than usual.  Sadly, things didn't turn out well as planned.  I came in late for duty and I wasn't able to eat my breakfast at home.  However, despite of it all, I was clearly happy because I received a lot of birthday greetings from my fellow nurses, doctors and employees.  It was just overwhelming! 

 

Then, I had breakfast with Caselle at the canteen.  He gave me a couple of gifts and we chitchatted for a while.  It was clearly a fun way to start the day! 

Caselle and I on my 23rd birthday

at the Emergency Room

By mid day, I was able to share some birthday goodies with my ER buddies .  I was with my fellow morning shifters Danah, Lawrence, Madam Rhea, Ate Mej, Grace, Luh and Dr. Nuestro.  We ate Mom's home- cooked baked mac and pastries and we had fun.

Grace, Lawrence, Mam Rhea, Danah, Mam Annie, me and Dr. Nuestro at the ER

with my ER buddies

Say Cheese, everyone :)

As the morning shift ended, I had a long and tiring trip to my hometown San Teodoro.  I had a simple celebration with my parents, cousins, aunts and uncles.  We ate a lot, partied harder and sang until evening.  I received some birthday goodies along with my twin sis.  We even had some visitors.  It was clearly memorable!

Twins' birthday goodies

 Dr. Nuestro, Mara, Me, Kuya Paul and Dr. Lomio by the seaside

by the Feraren's residence

posing by the videoke machine

 

Tito Edward and my twin sis Mara singing

Hence, my 23rd birthday has finally come to an end.  I came to realize that no matter where I am or whom I'm with, there will always be people who never fail to remind me of how great life can be at times. Life is tough as they say but I can be tougher.

The 23 yr.-old me

Lovelots,

Maica Angelle