PSI Max Jim Tria: My job is not for the faint-hearted

Two years ago, during a small family reunion, you told me something I have never quite forgotten. 

"... not for the weak o faint-hearted ang trabaho ko."

While I felt pompous dishing out details of my adventures in Southern Mindanao, you were understandably silent about the specifics of your work. All I knew was that, you belong to an elite unit in the PNP Special Action Force. 

But now I truly understand what you meant back then. Indeed, your job is something that not so many people would take on. It entails stepping into the peripheries, and into the wild.

My sister’s budget-friendly dream island wedding

KISS- keep it super simple. I know that we, Filipinos, have the propensity to make important events in our lives grand and festive, and a wedding is definitely not an exception to that.  Pulling off a standard wedding ceremony usually takes months or even years of taxing preparation. Very often, a couple allots a big chunk of their savings for the wedding, but sometimes, long after the visitors left and the ceremonies ended, the newly-wed find themselves in dire financial needs.

While weddings are important as it marks the start a couple’s lifetime of togetherness, in my honest opinion, the preparedness for what comes after it should be a top priority.

But tell you what, being short on budget should not hinder you from pulling off a wonderful wedding ceremony. The key is to keep things low key and practical. Just like how my sister, Cielo, did.

Coming Home Now: A Story of Passion for Surfing and Love for Catanduanes

The news spread like wildfire over the internet last night. I was in total disbelief. Probably like many people, I couldn't grasp the idea that a man who seemed to be in a perfect physical form and someone living a life most of us could only dream of, could be gone too soon.

But your online profile confirmed the unthinkable. The ocean is now forever yours, Ezra.

One of Ezra's last posts (Photo Credit: Ezra Efondo)

I remember one of our conversations during the BookSail event in Palumbanes Island, you shared how you left the corporate world and chose to go back to our home province. I remember how your eyes lit while you talked about Jack Johnson, sunsets, and surfing in Puraran.

Support Catanduanes Reef Break: Surf Music Festival

This summer, something really exciting (and majestic!) is about to happen in my home province, Catanduanes. The first ever surf and music festival will be hosted by our homegrown surfers and will be held at Puraran Beach, Baras on May 16-18. 

This festival, entitled Catanduanes Reef Break 2014, aims to generate funds for the local surfers who are short on budget when competing in local and national surfing competitions. It will also promote tourism in Catanduanes -- visit our unspoiled beaches, vibrant waterfalls and heritage churches.

Summer 2014 Travel Guide: 16 Best Unspoiled Philippine Beach Destinations

Summer hasn't officially kicked off yet, but the blue sky and the sun beating down hard outside are nature's way of reminding me that my favorite season is just around the corner.

I love summer! It's the season we see flowers in full bloom, the skies clear and the beaches are postcard-perfect; we get lazy basking under the warm summer sky and get much longer sleep; we go out at night for firefly-watching, camping, and road trips; and doze off to sleep in the cool afternoon breeze while on a hammock underneath a mango tree. For most of us, summer is synonymous to vacation. It's the time of the year when we plan out getaways, travel with our family and friends, and head to our summer refuge --the beach. 

With our endless coastlines, there's definitely no shortage of white sand beaches we can go around here. But in the recent years, beach-goers have been mostly concentrated in the world-famous island in the Visayas-- Boracay. Year after year, this paradise has been seeing huge man-made developments to cater to the demands of the growing influx of foreign and local tourists. Yes, huge amount of money goes to the island's coffers, but I have to say that too much commercialism is also taking toll to this once pristine, quiet and immaculate island. I wonder how beautiful it must have been there before madness settled in.

This summer, my advise is to try to veer away from Boracay and explore the lesser-known but equally pretty beaches (without the party crowd). 

After visiting the 80 (of the 81) provinces in the Philippines, I'm blessed to have been to many splendid beaches that boast of quality fine sandy shoreline, spectacular sunsets and sunrises, amazing dive sites, lush mangrove forests, and clear emerald-colored waters. The beauty of these beaches will blow your mind!

Top 30 Favorite Spots in the Philippines: 14. Catanduanes

There's a lot to love about Catanduanes -- time grinds slow, friends are everywhere, Sundays are about family and churches, mornings are crisp and cold, and beaches are within close radius. Growing up in this island was about things that matter most and these make me look forward to going back again and again and again - like family, friends and nature. 

Our province has not been in the radar of many seasoned travelers I know, which I find both fortunate and unfortunate. Fortunate because many of our beaches remain unspoiled and a strong sense of provincial life is retained. But unfortunately because I see a lot of potential for it to be the next BIG adventure destination. 

So what's in Catanduanes, really? Well, for one we have one of the country's best surfing spots, the majestic Puraran (the mighty swell!!); we have  pretty beaches with pretty sunsets and sunrises; we have old and historic churches, we have beautiful cascades; we have rugged and contoured mountains (if you're up for adventure climbs); and yes, of course, the people, the warm and gentle Catandunganons. 

See it for yourself. Visit Catanduanes! :)

Check my posts about Catanduanes here. 

Locals cruising the Bato River

BookSail - Braving Philippine Seas for Literacy: The Road to and from Palumbanes Island

FACE of BOOKSAIL. Ralph Christian Delvalle Zape, 1st place winner in the Division Kindergarten Festival of Talents held last December 16, 2012 in Catanduanes. He bested 17 other contestants! And he's from Palumbanes Elementary School, the recipient of the first book drive of BookSail. Photo by: Ezra Efondo

Ralph Christian, 6, held the book tightly in his hand. In that cramped and poorly ventilated room filled with excited bunch of grade 1 pupils, his tiny voice, reading in rhythmic patterns, was going through the pages of "Ang Alamat ng Lansones." He was unmindful of the tiny other voices trying to rival that of his. He was pensively reading,  that with a total youthful intent.

I was also in that classroom with Ralph Christian along with seven other volunteers who came mostly from Manila. We were all ears at his reading.

It was a special day for him and the rest of the kids and teachers in Palumbanes Island Elementary School. The books they have been waiting for months has finally arrived. Although it was a Saturday, the attendance in the school was swell. We could see the eagerness in the eyes of the kids. And the whole BookSail volunteers were as enthusiastic as they were.

Top Surfing Spots in the Philippines

I'm not a pro-surfer, and not even close to being one. I've tried surfing several times but my rides end up mostly in heartbreaking wipe outs and no more than five successful rides each session. I also brand myself as girl-tulak being that I hardly go out to the sea without an instructor. The instructor also acts as my taga-tulak when the waves arrive. :) And my surfing ritual starts with briefing my instructors that I don't know how to swim. They'd often assure me that I should do fine and that I just need to stay close to my surfboard. 

I feel like a beginner each time I surf, always like my first time to try it. But I'll never stop attempting to ride no matter how many times the board refuses to keep me afloat. Despite the pre-ride jitters, the wobbling legs while trying to stay up on the board and the cuts I sometimes get from falling, I will continue to surf!

I'll do so because I get an unparalleled high in surfing. It teaches me to conquer my fear, to harbor patience, to feel a certain balance, and to let myself out in the sea. Each session is about waiting for the perfect waves, paddling mighty hard once it arrive, taking time to feel the rhythm,  and standing without hesitation when the board dances with the waves.

Surfing also teaches me to never give up after every ungraceful and disheartening wipe out. A fall from the board means getting up, and doing the same routine again until the "better" ride comes in. A good ride and a hard fall are in every surfer's diary. And most of the time, the harder the fall, the more exhilarating the stoke is!


Tips:

1) Don't forget to put on sunblock.

2) Wear rash guard and board shorts. It's important to be on the right surfing attire to avoid putting on a show. :)

3) It's okay if you don't own a surfboard since most of these local surfing spots offer rentals for hours of use. Prepare P200-300 rental fee. 

4) Beginners need not worry because there are instructors who could help with the basics in surfing (P200-300 hourly fee).


If you ever get the chance to be near one of these surfing spots, try to get on the board and surf! Experience the thrill and you might end up being hooked to it. Just like how I've been bitten by the surfing bug! :)

1. Cloud 9, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte

Hailed as one of the best surfing playgrounds in the world (recently ranked 9th in CNN's World's 50 Best Surf Spots), with a lot of tantalizing photos to back it up, I thought I must try surfing it myself no matter what. And I did! Well, not really the powerful barreling Cloud 9 waves, but at least the one closest to it. I was stoked during my solo surf trip to Siargao last July! Riding the waves as the sun set and the rain pounded heavily is one of my favorites while completing the 80 before 30 trip. 

Kuya Lino, one of the top surf instructors in Could 9, said that Siargao has the most consistent waves in the country, with almost no flat season. It is in this regard that it's worth its reputation as the Surfing Capital of the Philippines. 

How to get there:

By air, get on a flight from Cebu straight to Sayak Airport in Del Carmen, Siargao. Alternately, you may choose to fly from Manila to Surigao City. From Surigao City, take a ferry going to either Dapa (I would strongly suggest you take the boat straight to Dapa as it is closer to General Luna where most of the the surf actions happen), Del Carmen, or Socorro. From these points, take a trike or habal habal going to General Luna, where Cloud 9 is located. 

Contact: 

The Boardwalk at Cloud 9
General Luna, Siargao Island
Phone: +63 939 164 1268
www.surfingsiargao.com

The famous boardwalk in Siargao

The Rugged and Rustic Charm of Catanduanes

The placid Bato River

An island facing the mighty Pacific Ocean. A destination oft heard but seldom visited. A place where the resilience of the people is mixed with warmth and smiles. A gem beautifully molded by the harsh and wailing winds fronting east of the Philippines. A place I call my home.

Welcome to our province – Catanduanes!

This island province is one of the six provinces in the Bicol Region. Its capital town, Virac, is the center of commerce and the jump-off point to the other 10 municipalities in the island. The other municipalities are: Bato, Baras, Gigmoto, San Miguel, Panganiban (Payo), Bagamanoc, Caramoran, Viga, Pandan and San Andres.

If you want an off-the-beaten track type of vacation, Catanduanes is definitely a great choice. One of the things to consider when planning a trip there is the weather. With its geographic location in the Pacific, the weather in the island can be unforgiving especially from October to early January (which may cause delays or cancellation of flights or ferry boats). February until June is the best time to visit as the season becomes dry and there is a huge chance of a clear blue sky. If you're up to surfing, the most ideal time to chase the waves of Puraran is starting the fourth quarter of the year.

Okay, so before heading to our province, here are some words/phrases that will be useful while going around or talking to the locals.

Magayon – Beautiful

Para tabi- Pull over please

Dios mabalos - Thank you

Tigpila tabi ini? –How much is this?

Dios mayad na aldaw – Good day

Cruising along Bato River

Photo Blog: BookSail's Plates for Books

Food, music, people, and a worthwhile cause. What a fun and wonderful night it was!

Seventy seven beautiful people attended Plates for Books, a benefit dinner for the 333 schoolchildren of Palumbanes Elementary School in Palumbanes Island, Caramoran, Catanduanes. This was the first event held for our BookSail project in which we have succeeded in gathering a substantial amount of money that will be used to purchase the books for the kids.

I would like to personally thank everyone who were there last Saturday night, and special thanks to Eph, Jha, Kiks and Madel of Mirage Manila for making the event possible. Thank you also to those who brought in books and school materials during the event. Your overwhelming support for the project brings warmth to my heart. Thank you. It was a pleasure meeting y'all, hanggang sa muli po!  :)

Here are some of the still images captured during that memorable night.

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With my friends Eph  Aguilar and Jha Bobis of Mirage Manila, the event organizer

Discussing (with a huge smile) the history of BookSail, and the current and future projects. 

Meeting for the first time fellow Bicol Universitarian Alumni

BookSail Update: Plates for Books happening tonight!

Tonight, all roads will lead to BookSail's event -- Plates for Books! :)

Some 70+ awesome people (ahem! ^_^) will be meeting up tonight, February 23, 7p.m., at St. Honore Clubhouse in Quezon City, for a benefit dinner for the 333 schoolchildren from Palumbanes Island in Caramoran, Catanduanes. All the proceeds will be used to purchase books and school material for the kids. :)

There'll be food, music, and a lot of sharing of ideas for the cause.  I'm super excited, and I can't wait to meet everyone! 

Philippine Churches: Bato Church

It took 53 years (from 1830 to 1883) to build the St. John the Baptish Parish, known as the Bato Church. Said to be one of the oldest churches in my home province Catanduanes, it's one of the places that's not to be missed if one plans to visit our small island.

My Beloved Palumbanes Island

If there are two islands in our country that I feel deeply rooted to, these are Catanduanes and Palumbanes Island. Catanduanes, my own province is where I spent most of my childhood years, while Palumbanes Island is where I spent most of my childhood summer days.

Palumbanes sits at the northern part of Catanduanes, a part of the town of Caramoran. It has a local community where fishing is the main source of living. During the typhoon months, where the sea could be dangerous to small fishing vessels, the villagers opt to backyard farming (they plant rice and camote, and raise poultry).