Yzel, my cousin, my friend

I met my cousin Yzelie in 2004, when we stayed at their hotel in Laoag for our honeymoon. And I'm glad that she was very warm and accomodating to us, because I first worried that she was otherwise.

Well, she is definitely NOT.

She and her boyfriend then, Tyrone John, now her husband were very hospitable. They treated us iced coffee and then brought us to their favorite stall which sells the famous empanada.

It was quite "bitin" because she had a duty then, working as a nurse in Mariano Marcos Medical Center in Batac. But we kept in touch through SMS and Internet chat. Once in a while we saw each other when she was in Manila.

Sometime in 2006, she left for US and just came back for a short vacation in March this year, in time for her birthday. And this time, she and Tyrone treated us big time!

We met again the following day she arrived in Manila. It was a short date for we had a plan of having a short stay in Ilocos before the end of March. And indeed, after the much awaited, date, we came to Laoag in March 26 at around 7 in the morning.




Yzel and Tyrone had barely slept for they monitored our trip. And we were welcomed with a warm and sweet smile.

Our first breakfast.
fried rice, daing na bangus, sunny side up eggs, longganisang Laoag and tomatoes
yummy!

Subic Escapade 2008

We spent the Holy Week in Subic for the second time around. The first time was in 2006 but that's another story, hehe. I can say we enjoyed it better this time. Mica is almost three years old and very excited to go swimming. In fact, she was not interested to play with her pail and sand molds. All she wanted to do was be in the water. The deeper, the better, more enjoyable for her, ohmigod!!!

She even went night swimming, ten pm till midnight!

And gets up at five in the morning, changed to her bikini and goes straight to the beach, again. (sigh)

I'm lost for words so I just uploaded more pictures for everyone to see.

Gem was looking for his ring... at one in the afternoon!

Indeed, looking for that ring which, I guess, has monumental sentimental value! After two hours, he found it, at last.

Somewhere in Morong, inside SBMA

the big boys went go-karting

Mica was afriad to ride the horsie...

Nanay, Mica and Lolo Pabling

I'm very satisfied with our picture here. I think we're cute, he-he.

FILIPINOS, let us all vote to this!

Just yesterday, I heard in the radio, and later last night, I saw on TV about the new seven wonders of the world.

I was amazed (and became proud, eventually) that there are places in the Philippines that became nominees in this worldwide search for the new natural wonders. and why not? We indeed have lots of beautiful places we can always be proud of, especially if we learn how to preserve and take care the natural beauty of our nature.

These are the Philippine wonders that now included in the ranking, as of April 23, 2008:



Tubbataha Reef is an atoll coral reef in the Sulu Sea that belongs to the Philippines. It is a marine sanctuary protected as Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. The reef is composed of two atolls, North and South Reefs. Each reef has a single small islet that protrudes from the water. The atolls are separated by a deep channel 8 kilometers wide. Over one thousand species, including many that are endangered, can be found at on the reef. These include manta rays, lionfish, tortoises, clownfish and sharks.






The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 km north of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The underground river is reputed to be the world's longest. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.


I guess the Mayon Volcano in Bicol and the Chocolate Hills in Bohol are also nominees.

Fellow Filipinos, our vote on this will make us famous in the world again, on the positive side, he-he. And I believe it will make a big boost in our Tourism industry as well. Boto na tayo!

*pictures and descriptions of the sites are from the new7wonders website.