Had I made my passion for landscape or interior design a career, could have it sucked? For one thing sure, I could have done much better by now than these amateurish attempts:
But then wouldn't the endless alterations by clients injecting their personality into the design, prove to be too frustrating? It is their home anyway!
On the other hand, had I honed my passion for writing to make it my bread and butter, could have it sucked too? Consider the never-ending 'beating-the-deadline' affair. Yes I do agree, writing as a career would definitely suck.
It is by stroke of providence therefore, that my aforementioned passions were relegated to the background, in the most essential recesses of my being; where at any time at my own beckoning, they can be unearthed: raw as they are.
There are statements though that should be taken with a grain of salt.
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| Luneta Dancing Fountain |
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| La Mesa Ecopark |
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| Paco Park |
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| Museo Pambata |
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| Matawe tideland, Dingalan, Aurora |
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| 600 year old Balete tree, Maria Aurora |
It could have been a two-day sojourn: a day trip to Potipot Island and an overnight stay in Dawal Beach Resort. There is nothing truer than the adage 'everything happens for a reason': more often than not, for the best reasons. My career came into the picture. Although it is not one of my passions, my career not only brings the bread and the butter, but all the same gives me fulfillment and, unbelievably, gives me a glimpse at man's connection to a Supreme Being. So when it calls, I have to take heed.
But the question was: would the Potipot trip be deferred then? No, "It can be a day-trip Mom", trampingphilippines Dane and Agnes quipped. Well, leave it to the experts then!
Did we sleep that Saturday night? DeeJ should have energized for the 244 kilometer-drive; but he didn't. He and Kathleen mingled with Ynah and Bhest who prepared the foodies: rice, adobo, sweet and sour pork, stir fried Baguio veggies, chicken sandwich spread. "There is no carinderia there Mom," Dane reminded, "only store and peddlers of soft drinks and bottled water".
We left Santa Cruz Manila at 3:03 AM: 3 minutes later than the appointed 3AM departure time. Ah! The advantage of early birds: they do not only get the worms; they have the whole wide world to themselves. We were in Subic at 4:30 AM. We had to fill the cooler with ice cubes. When we arrived at Iba, Jollibee was still closed. Only 44 kilometers away from our destination, we had not breakfasted yet. In Santa Cruz, Zambales we finally got our servings of beef tapa, pancake, Jolly hotdog, chocolate and coffee. "Take your time Mom, 1 hour stop at Jollibee is part of the 5-hour travel itinerary". Dane and Agnes, travel guides Supreme!
Along the long and winding road through Zambales, mountaineer Dane kept me abreast with the renowned mountains of Zambales:. Mt. Tapulao way up there towering at 2,037 meters was covered with fogs, or shall we say clouds?
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| Mt. Tapulao / Dayhike to Redemption |
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| Anawangin Cove / Sunrise Hike to Mt. Pundaquit |
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| Mt. Balingkilat/ The inferno Traverse to Nagsasa |
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| Panorama of Nagsasa Cove from peak of Mt. Balingkilat |
But of course, i had my own reminiscing of the only Zambales journey I had in the past. DeeJ and Dane were mere kids then; 2 years after the June 15, 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Somehow, there are still traces of lahar now, of wide river banks with shallow water traversing mountains amidst Mt. Pinatubo, draining into South China Sea.
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| Lahar-laden river bank, Iba Zambales |
"Where are we now to Dane?" DeeJ broke into our reverie. "We are in Masinloc, next will be Candelaria". Tug my brain, Masinloc is in El Nido while Candelaria is in Quezon. "All eyes on the road sides please, scan for signage of Dawal Beach Resort".
Candelaria beach is fine grayish black sand, clear water and gentle waves; but what really fascinated us was the sight of Potipot Island seemingly at arm's reach. Roughly one kilometer away from where we were standing, Potipot Island was Lilliput re-incarnate. Could it be possible that Gulliver had traveled there instead?
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| Potipot Island view from Dawal Beach |
I looked at my husband Dannie. He did not come with us to El Nido because of one bad boat ride experience in Matawe. But this was not Pacific Ocean; neither was there 'habagat' nor 'amihan'; and the destination was so near. He even volunteered that he, together with Dane, Agnes and I took the first boat. Not bad indeed!
From afar, we could see the white beach teeming with people but as soon as the boats were anchored, the welcoming smiles of fellow vacationers were as warm as the fine beige sands of Potipot Island. This spot of Paradise has to be shared!
Canopies of century old trees shaded us from the morning sun as Dane paid for our entrance fees.
As soon as we settled in our cottage, Dane demonstrated his backpacking cooking expertise. Oh! it was only 8:30 AM: too early for even a merienda. Had the 2 day package pushed through, we had to leave the island at 12 PM to check in at Dawal Beach Resort. What would we do in Dawal then? Swim at the beach? A dip in the swimming pool? We traveled this far for the Potipot adventure. A check in at Dawal would cost Dane a few thousand pesos: a package none of us wished to have. Another testimony that things happen for the best reasons.
We stayed there up to 3 PM: exploring the whole island, retracing our footsteps on the entire shore, dipping and re-dipping in the pristine water, taking pictures, showering in the deep well, eating, and sleeping in the hammocks (Dane brought two and we bought one). Precious family bonding!
When we boarded our boats amid gusts of wind, the undulating mountains of Zambales silhoutted an overcast sky; yet the water was still calm.
After tidying up in Dawal Beach Resort, we routed back to Manila happy and content.
Bringing home memories and lessons learned. Since everything happens for a reason, if is best that not all statements be taken with a grain of salt. More importantly, whatever your passions in life are, travel with the family should be one of them.
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| Potipot Island coast |
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Coastline of Potipot lined with trees
As we were accosted to our designated place, through flat terrain bedecked with big sampaloc trees, we noted a 360 degree view of the clear blue sea.
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| Inside Potipot Island |
And judging from camping tents sprawled inside the island and along the coastline, it was apparent these families had stayed here overnight.
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| camping tents pitched along Potipot coastline |
Given a choice, I would have this wooden table with benches as our resting place; but sorry madam, one family was still enjoying the site.
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| Potipot coast picnic table |
How then would we while away time in Potipot? For Dannie a hammock we bought for 300 pesos (which included the ropes and its instillation) was perfect; but before he could lull himself to slumber, he received a phone call from Manila. Yes, network signal was excellent here.
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| Hammock pitched on 2 Potipot tree trunks |
I, on the other hand was raring to explore the 7.5 hectares island. "Mom, if you want to get the best snap shots, do it when the sun is a little higher", again a friendly advice from Dane. The best thing to do now is either to lie down and rest or take a dip into the sea as what those two kids were doing.
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| Crystal clear water of Potipot |
Which Dannie and I did. DeeJ observed: "The air is not humid here, it does not make our skin sticky"
Dane was right again: the best lighting would be the sun really up there. We encircled the coastline of Potipot: this time I was speechless, for no words could aptly describe what met my eyes at Potipot. Even my Canon Powershot D10 and ipad air could not give justice to the mystique and simple grandeur of this little island...
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| Scenic view of Potipot seashore |
When we boarded our boats amid gusts of wind, the undulating mountains of Zambales silhoutted an overcast sky; yet the water was still calm.
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| Zambales mountains one overcast day |
Bringing home memories and lessons learned. Since everything happens for a reason, if is best that not all statements be taken with a grain of salt. More importantly, whatever your passions in life are, travel with the family should be one of them.
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