On Ms Philippines 2012 and how Pinoys See Pageantry

The 2012 Winners, L to R: Ali, Nicole, Janine, Katrina, Elaine

In the end, we are all BUT spectators.

I have only been a recent fan of Philippine pageantry. Consequently, I also get excited and nervous come Miss Universe when that fateful filipina sashays the elegance and beauty of the Philippines to the rest of the world. We Pinoys look at pageantry as an opportunity to re-introduce ourselves as a nation.  If and when we emerge victorious, the pride we feel is tantamount as to when Manny Pacquiao knocks-out a boxing opponent. Most foreigners get annoyed with this “proud to be Pinoy” moments of ours but they can never understand it in full unless they learn our history and be Filipinos themselves.  Our experiences as a nation compels us to be dutiful in re-establishing our lost pride. Yes, at face value pageantry may just be entertainment but for us it is another avenue to present and stimulate a fresh perception of ourselves.

Everybody's favorite: Mary Jean /MJ

In light of the recent BB Pilipinas 2012 finals, majority of the fans got disappointed with the results. Mary Jean Lastimosa, who what majority thought was the strongest delegate didn’t get any crown. With her killer curves, fierce facial features and arresting persona, many thinks she is the best bet to coninue our top-five streak in Miss Universe. But the night ended in disbelief.

Or did it really?

Notwithstanding all the rumored conspiracies hounding the pageant, what happened on the finals night was in fact a deja-vu of the previous years. I wanted Mary Jean to win but my brain told me it would really be Janine Mari Tugonon – though heavily criticized for her flabiness and unpreparedness. I felt a resurgence of anxiety with the almost similar situation between last years favorite Patricia Tumulak versus the pageant newbie Shamcey Supsup last year. The latter won the local tilt and reminded everyone of the fighting spirit and resilience of the Filipino when she placed 4^th during Miss Universe 2011, proving all her critics wrong. I hope the tides turn out the same for Janine. BUT just like Shamcey and Venus Raj, It all depends how much she fights for it.

As with many I was also disappointed with the results and sad for my favorite MJ. I turned off the TV, went straight to the kitchen and drowned my sorrow with a glass of water and then slept everything off. When I woke up this morning, I realized that the result is just as consistent as the previous years. Natural beauties always win. I realized I have no right to critique against it when I know only so little of pageants. It is also unfair to Janine when she still has yet to prove herself. I'll give her that chance the same way everyone did to Shamcey and Venus. Because wether we like it or not, Janine will wear the PHILIPPINE sash in the future and along with her is EVERY Filipino’s hope of a third crown. The real competition is out there. 

Camiguin Island: My Private Sanctuary

Cloud affair: Arrival at the Port of Benoni

Born of fire and magma spewed out from volcanic eruptions is an island province abound with diverse ecological resources. Cradled at the bosom of the Bohol sea, Camiguin is the second smallest province in the Philippines. Far from the extensive arms of greedy commercialism, it remains to be among the few vacation destinations that has unspoilt natural charm and unadulterated scenery.  

Camiguin: Island of Fire
Mt.Hibok-hibok is covered by the white clouds

The usual traffic

The usual street-side view

Clear green waters to Mantigue Island and Sanctuary

Five hours away from my hometown, I have been to this Island a couple of times since I was young. Being an Island province, it’s a given that this small dot on our map is teeming with a lot of nature’s wonders. Life here is unsophisticated and uncomplicated yet just like the island itself, the people also beams with charm. From the the allure of old, antique houses lining the sides of clean streets to the smell of fresh provincial air down to its beaches, waterfalls, springs and even food is both a sight and an experience to behold. The island’s mysticism even ante’s up its rustic appeal. I hope that every wee bit of how and what Camiguin is, is preserved for years and unfazed from the damaging effects of an overgrowing and uncontrollable population. 

Almost sunset at Mantigue Island
(Php 550/5 pax boat ride to the island plus Php 20 environmental  fee upon arrival)

The usual architecture

The famous landmark: the 20 ft cross at the Sunken Cemetery
(Php 20/per head boat ride that takes you across the sea to the kiosk  below the cross)

When Mt. Vulcan Daan erupted in 1870's, it claimed almost one-thousand lives and buried some parts of the island. This marker is a reminder of that tragedy and to memorialize the lost lives. 

The trees have outgrown the old walls. 

The old Gui-ob church ruins in Catarman was also devastated during the eruption. 

A chapel built in the 50's inside the walls of the old church ruins.

Horizon highway

Boardwalk at a mangrove plantation on the way from the old church ruins

New church
Darn the ambulance

Faucet-like Katibawasan Falls
(Php 15/per head environmental fee)

The freezing waters of Katibawasan falls. And if it's not cold enough then take a dip 

at Santo Nino cold spring.

(Php15/head environmental fee)

But if you prefer a hot and relaxing evening: 

Me in my hot spring corner

(Php20/head environmental fee)

The spa-like Mt. Hibok-hibok Ardent hot spring pools is a must. Hottest at 39 deg Celsius water temperature

Didn't add photo filter on this.

The night scene at the shore of Sabacajan Cottages where I stayed. 

Tribal necklaces and trinkets for keeps

(Php 5/head environmental fee)

View from the 6th station

The walkway to the old Mt. Vulcan and stations of the cross. If I counted it right, there's about 14 stations you'll pass by before you reach the top. Once reached, the view of western Camiguin from the top is breathtaking. This time, I wasn't able to reach the top but I still vividly remember how it looks from there. 

This time, I skipped this for fear of getting burnt: It was a really hot day.

The famous White Island: A sandbar of powdery white sand. 

The famous VJANDEP Pastel of Camiguin
(Php 120/Box of 12 delectable buns)

One should not leave without bringing home VJANDEP PASTEL: A Camiguin pastry of supple BUN with sweet yema filling. 

The famous LANZONES of Camiguin: succulent and sweet

Every third week of October, the island province is in full festivity for the Lanzones Festival; A thanksgiving celebration for a bountiful harvest. 

How to get here: By air to Cagayan de Oro. From there, take a bus to Balingoan port then cross by     ferry to Benoni Port of Camiguin. 

I just love the sky

Side-note: Environmental Fees listed are as of March 2012.

                Playfully photo-filtered Images (except for White Island, Pastel and 

                Lanzones) are mine and are copyrighted. :)

A Hongkong Chronicle

The glass door slid open the very moment the bus halted adjacent the bus stop. A few blocks before, at the upper deck, we were already on our toes readying ourselves to step down. The moment the timer flashed 60, we hurried on alighting from the bus one by one. There were seven of us and a couple of passengers and all of us had only a minute, exactly sixty seconds to climb down the vehicle lest we all want to find ourselves on the next bus stop, a few kilometers off. As the bus sped away, I was fidgety on my scarf. I coiled it twice to add warmth over my nape. The temperature was at a freezing 11 degree Celsius. It was only until here that I had experienced this much cold in my life. I tucked both of my hands in my jacket-pockets as we started to walk. I tugged-on with my siblings while my folks were ahead of us a few steps away. Along with them is my mom’s friend uncle Rey, who relegated himself to being our tour guide. He has been here for almost 17 years. He likes it here more than in his land of birth. Who wouldn’t? Even I have found myself liking the place after only a couple of days. We were walking within Tsim Sha Tsui district. Getting lost but then finding our ways amid the dense crowd. With all the organized, effective and high-technology public transportation scheme this country has, one will find it amusing how most locals prefer to walk – even the old ones. We chatted our way until we stopped to sample the local street-food at a very busy stall. I had dumplings on a stick. The fusion of sweet and spicy aftertaste was great on the palate. “Tomorrow when we’re at the night market, we’ll sample their spicy seafood”, uncle Rey said while finishing his melon drink. I was talking to my brother when a woman approached him and muttered something to him in Cantonese. My brother smiled and stutteringly said “Sorry, I only speak English”.  My mom asked what that was about so I told her the incident and my dad laughed at it in jest. My brother has slanted eyes so it’s not really hard for him to be mistaken as Chinese though he looks more Japanese to me. We continued on our parade taking pictures of anything that caught our interests; amazing infrastructures, cutting-edge architecture and even of people we find fashionable - anything that we haven’t seen back home. 

The wind blew colder as the night got deeper but the crowd builds up by the minute. We found ourselves frolicking back in Victoria harbor. It was just last night when we astonished ourselves with the harbor’s symphony of light: a dazzling synchronization of laser, light and music multimedia of forty-four buildings.  “If I live here, I would watch this show every night giving up ten minutes of my life to pure awe and amazement”, I said to myself.  We all stopped at the promenade and sat at the benches admiring the city sky-line opposite the harbor. Our feet, weary of walk and our bodies, shivering from the cold. “The ice in Mongolia had melted and the wind is blowing all the cold here. In fact, temperature there has gotten below negative and some plants and cattle have died of it”, uncle Rey explained. “But this isn’t even the coldest yet, three weeks ago it was down to 9 degrees. February is the coldest month, you know”, he added. He went on explaining further about the light show; how expensive it was and how many tourists it draws every night. I listened eagerly until a familiar whisper of a warm, almost cry-like tone stole my ears. As uncle Rey’s voice grew fainter to my hearing, the melodious sound grew louder seemingly engaging on a duet with the frequent howling of the cold winter wind. I discreetly searched where the sound was coming from. A few benches away, a woman was romancing the strings of her cello as people passed her by. - Not a care in the world. I kept my eyes at her while I listened to her music. That rich, soothing sound and almost human-like singing kept me entranced for a long while. Ah! This should be life – not a care in the world for me, too.