It all started with us planning to go to the beach for the summer/rainy season. We just can’t let all the hard work and stress we’ve been through during our break consume us altogether! (naks) So it was settled, we’ll go to the beach. The first plan was to go to Bora, but due to unforeseen circumstances/financial constraints (since we were counting the eggs before they hatched, so to speak), we settled on Galera.
Ngunit, subalit, datapwa’t…lahat na lang ng hadlang sa mundo nangyari na. First off, we couldn’t decide which date were we supposed to go, we had to consider canvassing for the elections, internship of other people, those who had to go home to their provinces, the weather… lahat na. In the end, almost everyone backed out.
And then there were THREE. Haze, Ces and Euns. We almost didn’t go na rin but we decided to push through. We even entertained the thought of going somewhere else like Zambales, buti na lang we didn’t. Considering na we don’t have accommodations waiting for us there in the first place. So we were set. We’re finally going to Galera.
27 May 2007
The plan was to meet up at Jac Liner in Cubao at 7 am. Kumusta naman? I slept at around 3 am and woke up when Ces texted me at 6. In short, our ETA at the bus station was approximately 8:30 since I had to pass by Mercury to buy Bonamin for the boat ride and we had to pick up Ces who was apparently over at AliMall in the wrong bus terminal. Bwahaha.
The bus ride was for like 3 hours max. Then we were at the Batangas Port. And we found out that the boat that was supposed to take us there had already left so we decided to ride another one, the MV Falcon with its red curtains and flags. The boat ride was quite long, almost two hours coz we had to stopover another island and I actually thought that that was already Galera and I was soooo dismayed and disappointed (kumusta naman ang concrete ang lahat ng bagay dun at walang beach in sight). Buti na lang I was wrong.
Ngunit, subalit, datapwa’t…lahat na lang ng hadlang sa mundo nangyari na. First off, we couldn’t decide which date were we supposed to go, we had to consider canvassing for the elections, internship of other people, those who had to go home to their provinces, the weather… lahat na. In the end, almost everyone backed out.
And then there were THREE. Haze, Ces and Euns. We almost didn’t go na rin but we decided to push through. We even entertained the thought of going somewhere else like Zambales, buti na lang we didn’t. Considering na we don’t have accommodations waiting for us there in the first place. So we were set. We’re finally going to Galera.
27 May 2007
The plan was to meet up at Jac Liner in Cubao at 7 am. Kumusta naman? I slept at around 3 am and woke up when Ces texted me at 6. In short, our ETA at the bus station was approximately 8:30 since I had to pass by Mercury to buy Bonamin for the boat ride and we had to pick up Ces who was apparently over at AliMall in the wrong bus terminal. Bwahaha.
The bus ride was for like 3 hours max. Then we were at the Batangas Port. And we found out that the boat that was supposed to take us there had already left so we decided to ride another one, the MV Falcon with its red curtains and flags. The boat ride was quite long, almost two hours coz we had to stopover another island and I actually thought that that was already Galera and I was soooo dismayed and disappointed (kumusta naman ang concrete ang lahat ng bagay dun at walang beach in sight). Buti na lang I was wrong.
When we finally reached Galera…umulan. Yun na talaga. Para bang isang malaking joke ang aming pagpunta dun. We were so tired that we checked in, ate lunch, went up to our room and slept till 7 pm. It was a good thing that the rain stopped and we went out for dinner. 
Dinner was just in front of the place we stayed. Our location was actually really great since as we call it “It’s the place to be”, in Galera. Dun kami tumambay sa bar just across our hotel. Good food, great music, what more could you ask for? With that, I eventually realized that all of the “waitresses” in the bar were gay. And kumusta naman ang mga outfits and pag-rampa? I swear. Even I can’t tell if some of them were actually girls or not. They weren’t really accommodating to our group (I wonder why?) Haha. Maybe it’s coz we didn’t have any guys with us. Wala naman silang mapapala sa min eh.
So we ordered a pitcher of Mindoro sling, na diyos ko, lasang Robitussin (that’s according to Ces ha) Hehe. And I ordered a Margarita. And I think we had some beer. I can’t remember na actually. After we paid the bill, we went down the beach and just chilled there for a while. Haaay. I miss it already.
28 May 2007
We woke up late the next day. Around 10 I think. Anyway, the Lord was so good to us coz he finally let the sun shine! Yay! So we ate breakfast, changed and headed out to the beach. We walked around the beach first and Euns decided to go get a henna tattoo. She got a phoenix on her back as of now (na according to other people ay isang sarimanok!). Our next agenda: BANANA BOAT RIDE. The manong asked us to sign something and the good law students that we are, we read first before signing. Lo and behold! It was a waiver. Na in case you die out there in sea or something, they will not be held liable and in case you’d need medical attention, you’ll allow them to perform it but you’d have to pay up for whatever are the expenses of actually saving your life. Kumusta naman di ba?
Finally, like little kids, we put on our life jackets and got on. Since tatlo lang kami, we had two other companions, younger teens who were scared and excited at the same time. Tinanong pa kami ni manong, ilang “taob”? At first I was like, “Huh? Taob?” Ayun naman pala, ang tanong ay ilang beses kami magpapahagis sa gitna ng karagatan. Bwahaha. We “coerced” the two kids to agree na twice kami magpapa-taob.
The ride was fantastic. Minus the fact that the manong brought us to this part of the sea which was already dark blue and he was telling us there were sharks there. Grrr. Anyway, our first “taob” was near the cave dun sa may dulo, where the water was still green and you could still see the bottom of the sea. When we hit the water, pagkamalas ko naman talaga at kinailangan ko pa talagang mauntog dun sa nasa likod ko. Para bang headbutt ang dating. Ouch! In fairness, gumana ang life jackets (we were kidding around kasi before the ride na hindi magwo-work yung mga yun). The second “taob” was near the shore. When it happened, that was when we realized that “anak ng shet! Malalim ang tubig!” Kumusta naman ang mga hindi marunong lumangoy di ba? I now realize na I panicked so much that I forgot I was wearing the life jacket and I could’ve just floated towards the shore, kasi I was frantically swimming towards it until my feet reached the floor beneath. Bwahaha. Stupid Hazel.
After that, I had one of my “bright ideas” as according to Ces. I made us walk down to almost the end of the beach in my attempt to avoid other people while we go burn ourselves under the sun. The waves there were a bit rough so we were stuck swimming near the shore lang. But, the trendsetters that we are, people started coming our way and also decided na that was a good place to soak up the sun. Damn.
We were forced to pack up by the large, gloomy clouds from the mountains. Not to mention the ambon and thunder that came along with it. The rain fell really hard. As in. Kala mo tuloy may bagyo at wala nang katapusan ang ulan. We were dismayed that we would have to spend the rest of the night in our room since most of the establishments around us were packing up. Losers!
But still, the Lord loves us. At around 9 pm, the rain finally stopped and the bar started setting up, so we decided to get ourselves some drinks. We first sat sa may bar mismo since most of the tables were still wet from the rain. We just ordered San Mig Light this time coz I don’t think we enjoyed the “Robitussin” very much. Eventually we transferred to a table.
The night started to pick up when a group of magicians were apparently at the bar and were doing all sorts of tricks. We decided to take a look but when we got there, the trick was already done. So we went back to our table. Then all the ruckus by the bar went on again and by that time tinamad na kong lumapit, so Ces and Euns left me sa table. That was the biggest mistake of my entire life! A guy approached me and asked for a light and he started talking to me and asking for my number. And in my mind I was like, “No way man!” Buti na lang Ces saw me and saved me from my agony when they returned to the table. They wanted to watch the magic show yet again, and this time I came along. But the horrible stuff kept on coming…dammit. Ces and I were just around, nakikiusyoso when these two guys came up behind us and offered us drinks. I said, “No thanks, I still have some.” Then turned my back on him. I kept on nudging Ces to control the situation, coz no way am I talking to those guys again. Sabi nga ni Ces, pinain ko sya. Sorry dude, I really didn’t know what to do. Then this guy says to Ces (or something to this effect), “You like magic? What if I told you that I can do magic?” Yun na. The “magic words”. We just had to get away from there. Then those guys were actually ordering drinks for us and I signaled the “waitress” NO! and Ces and I escaped as far away as possible. Eunice who was calmly, sitting on the stool didn’t know what to do, so she followed us. Ces and I went down the stairs while Euns jumped from the platform. Up until now, hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit mo ginawa yun. Payn. Payn. Madilim. Hindi mo nakita ang hagdan. But still… Laughtrip ka! Sabi nya nga, pinatalon nyo ko sa bangin! Muntik na nga ata syang mag-split sa taas nung tinalon nya.
So we returned to our table and I was freaking like hell. I really wanted to get out of there in case those guys had any other ideas. But I sure am glad Euns talked us out of it coz we got ourselves a private magic show from Derrick and Oliver who was also with another friend Mark. (Euns, wink! wink)
I was so fascinated with everything they did. As in WOW! Ang galing! I really can’t remember all of the tricks they did though. I’ll try to share what I remember. There was this trick when Derrick asked me to pick a card, he shuffled the deck and asked me to press the deck (while he was saying “toot!”, sabi nga ni Euns, “parang elevator lang ah! Haha.), and we did that a couple more times and for the last time, I was expecting that the card would be on top of the deck, so I turned it over, but it was the wrong card! I started to react and when I looked at him, my card (I think it was the Queen of Hearts) was already in his mouth. I was so surprised and dumbstruck. I ended up laughing so hard.
Another trick he did was he asked us three to each pick a card from the deck and keep it. And he was like, “Think of your card” and he would just look at you as if trying to read your mind. Well, in the end, he knew what our cards were. Freaky. I also remember him taking Ces’ flip top and then he opened the plastic underneath and then he sealed it back with his fingers. He just rubbed it a few times and that was it! I was so frustrated trying to figure out how he did it.
He did this stupid yet funny thing though, he asked me to put my palms together. Then he put his hands over mine and started rubbing my hands. And I was like, “Tapos?” Sabi nya, “Wala lang. It just felt good to do that.” Sabay high five. Yun na. Tawa talaga ko ng tawa. I was punked by that “trick”!
Then Oliver came over and started to do more tricks for us. But the best one yet was when, he managed to take Ces’ watch from her wrist without her even feeling it. Ces was like, “No shit!” Galing! (Di ba obvious na bilib na bilib ako sa kanila? Haha). Another trick he did was when he made the cards float in the air. Wala. Speechless ako.
I also remember Derrick, while at the bar, he made this trick where he managed to put the beer cap inside the bottle from underneath the bottle and also from the side of the bottle while the opening of the bottle was covered by a finger! He also did this other trick where he took off his ring, placed it on the table and the ring moved towards him.
Haaay. I love magic.
28 May 2007
For our final day, we had some serious sunbathing to do. Ngarag na ngarag ako coz I didn’t get any sleep at all, coz Euns caught a cold or something and she was tossing and turning the entire night! I should’ve gone out na lang pala at nag-hangout sa beach, I am sooo regretting that. Seriously, I am hating myself right now...
Anyway, we ate breakfast then we went for a swim. The water was great. We then lay under the sun for several minutes pero di ko kinaya. Ayoko maging kirara no! Of us three, ako tuloy yung parang hindi nag-beach. Haha. Kebs.
We packed up our stuff and checked out. I was really sad we didn’t get to say goodbye to Derrick and the rest of the guys. They actually went to see us off but it was a little too late. We were already on the boat by the time they got there. Sadness.
And so we headed for Manila.
The Galera Trip was sooo worth it. I am so glad na tinuloy natin to guys! Despite everything that was in our way, we made it. Who’s the bitch now?!! Bwahaha! Let’s go back sa sembreak!
I JUST WANNA BE ON THE BEACH….SUNBURN!!!!
Then Oliver came over and started to do more tricks for us. But the best one yet was when, he managed to take Ces’ watch from her wrist without her even feeling it. Ces was like, “No shit!” Galing! (Di ba obvious na bilib na bilib ako sa kanila? Haha). Another trick he did was when he made the cards float in the air. Wala. Speechless ako.
I also remember Derrick, while at the bar, he made this trick where he managed to put the beer cap inside the bottle from underneath the bottle and also from the side of the bottle while the opening of the bottle was covered by a finger! He also did this other trick where he took off his ring, placed it on the table and the ring moved towards him.
Haaay. I love magic.
28 May 2007
For our final day, we had some serious sunbathing to do. Ngarag na ngarag ako coz I didn’t get any sleep at all, coz Euns caught a cold or something and she was tossing and turning the entire night! I should’ve gone out na lang pala at nag-hangout sa beach, I am sooo regretting that. Seriously, I am hating myself right now...
Anyway, we ate breakfast then we went for a swim. The water was great. We then lay under the sun for several minutes pero di ko kinaya. Ayoko maging kirara no! Of us three, ako tuloy yung parang hindi nag-beach. Haha. Kebs.
We packed up our stuff and checked out. I was really sad we didn’t get to say goodbye to Derrick and the rest of the guys. They actually went to see us off but it was a little too late. We were already on the boat by the time they got there. Sadness.
And so we headed for Manila.
The Galera Trip was sooo worth it. I am so glad na tinuloy natin to guys! Despite everything that was in our way, we made it. Who’s the bitch now?!! Bwahaha! Let’s go back sa sembreak!
I JUST WANNA BE ON THE BEACH….SUNBURN!!!!
