celebraTINg exisTENce

We checked out at 12 noon and headed to SM Cebu because that's closer to the airport and it has a traveler's lounge where we can place our bags the whole afternoon.

We had the whole afternoon left before going back to Manila. If I was with friends, malamang magi-ikot pa kami sa labas pero since I was with my family, dito lang sa SM paikot-ikot at hintay na lang nang nakaupo kasi pagod na. Buti na lang meron din silang Prestige Lounge sa SM Cebu.

We ate here at Sunburst Chicken since I've read reviews that the food here taste good but we were disappointed. I won't get into details but we did not like it here.

Here's the atrium of SM Cebu.

No Cebu trip is complete without trying their lechon but since we have not tried eating one, we just took home a kilo. A branch of CnT is just walking distance from SM.

Fatty goodness.

SM Traveller's Lounge reminded me of Kuala Lumpur's KL Sentral.

This is a great help for travelers since the lounge have a baggage deposit counter, charging stations, shower rooms, and waiting area available for a minimal fee.

Outside the Traveler's lounge, we were supposed to hire two taxi cabs but a man approached us saying that he can drive us to the airport in a Toyota Grandia van for P 500.00. We haggled and our agreed price was P 400.00.

When he left, a taxi driver told us, "Okay lang na 'yun? May tiwala kayo agad?"

And we were like, "Oo nga pala. Nakakatakot."

Then a man from behind, "Okay lang po 'yun. Ganyan talaga trabaho niya saka mas okay pag ganyan kasi pag may naiwan kayong gamit, makukuha niyo pa kesa pag sa taxi, wala na. Sigurado po kayo dyan. Kilala 'yan dito."

With his assurance, we felt fine.

So when we were about to check our luggages in at the airport counter, we noticed that we were missing a bag. I immediately contacted the driver while hoping that it isn't a modus operandi, Iba talaga nagagawa ng lagi na lang negative news naririnig natin, noh? No matter how much we like to trust, hindi nawawala 'yung thinking na, "Ano kayang gagawing masama nito sa'kin?"

He answered my call and there was it. Our bag was left in the backseat of the van. Hindi napansin probably because it's black at medyo madilim na nun. Then he told us, "Sige po, babalik ako dyan. Medyo matatagalan lang." To my surprise, he was already away from the airport with another set of passengers when he got my call yet drove back uttering no excuses and blames especially since it was our responsibility to make sure we left nothing in the van. Sabi ko tuloy sa sarili ko, ilalagay ko 'to dito. Just in case one of my readers would look for a driver for hire in Cebu, paki-contact naman siya and please thank him again for us.

It's crazy how travelling makes you more vulnerable to people who would take advantage of you yet despite that probability, you choose to trust. And as far as my experiences are concerned, fortunately I haven't encountered any one who did me harm while travelling. Sa Manila ako na-snatchan ng pera at sa Quezon City naman na-snatchan ng phone at muntik na mabiktima ng dura gang (Sana hindi na maulit! OMG LUNGZ At documented pala sila lahat hahaha!).

I wasn't paying attention to this before but we're really entrusting our lives to other people more than we realize, noh? Sana in our everyday lives, we will always choose to look for the good in everyone. Haaay. Challenge din 'to para sa'kin.

Our flight back to Manila was more than an hour delayed. Shems. Lahat na lang ba mangyayari?! Travel is a hassle. Travel is not for the weak. Travel is not for those who are easily irritated. Nakakapagod, nakakainis minsan, daming hintay, daming gastos, daming palpak pero despite these inconveniences? I will travel anyway. Totoo nga naman, pag nalampasan mo 'yan lahat, diba magbabago ka? Travelling challenges and changes us. Kaya God-willing, I shall continue to embrace this lifestyle and try to be thankful for all the things that won't go my way and more thankful for all the things that will.
More. More. More <3

Thank you very much to all people who, no matter how difficult life is, choose not to take advantage of others. May God bless you more in all aspects of your life. :)

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Given all Cebu-grown restaurants we can try...

"San tayo mag-dinner?"
"Dun ulit sa BBQ-han."

And for our second night, it's Larsian again. I am not complaining. The experience, the food, the affordability. Bet. :))

From Robe's Pension House, we walked to this street and rode a jeepney to Larsian.

Larsian's pronunciation is lar-shan.

Anyway, the jeepney that you should ride from here is 6C. Alphanumeric ang Jeepney codes dun kasi madaming routes. May nakasulat naman na lugar pero mas madali kasing mabasa 'yung codes kaya nakakatulong din.

So I said, "Sinong 6C pa ba hinihintay natin e andito naman na ako?"

HAHAHAHAHA. WALEY YAN SAKANILA!! Waley na waley!! Lagot ka sa'kin 'pag hindi bumenta sa'yo 'to. HAHAHAHA! Tawang-tawa nga ko oh. HAHAHAHA!

We ate here once again.
Hindi na kami naghanap ng iba pang stall 'cause we were satisfied with the taste and the service.

For first-timers (2nd time ko na kasi!! HAHAHA!), you might get the shock of your life once you enter the gate and several men would approach you promoting their stalls. This can also be, several men would mob you and force you to eat at their stall. I even saw a a lady who was covering her ears while walking because of those men.

It harassing especially when you're already hungry and/or when you can't understand them since most speak loud and in Cebuano language but just be considerate since it's the culture in Larsian. The competition among the stalls is stiff so they have to do that.

Want to experience that kind of stress in Manila? Head to Macapagal Avenue. Marami din dun.

You will be given plastic hand gloves when you eat at Larsian. Okay naman magkamay pero okay din na ganitong naka-gloves.

Sabi ng Tito ko, "Tantyahin niyo na ng maayos kakainin niyo kasi matatagalan pag nagpadagdag kayo ulit tapos ihahabol na naman."

Kami, "Tantya ba kamo?"

Ga-bundok na BBQ at hindi lang 'to 'yung order namin.

So we walked to Fuente Osmena Circle before riding a jeep back to Robe's Pension House. Medyo buwis buhay lang tumawid papunta dito sa Circle kasi kahit may pedestrian lane, mabibilis pa rin 'yung mga kotse pero dahil landmark 'to sa Cebu, e sinubukan pa rin namin.

Fuente Osmena in English is Osmena Fountain which is a bit obvious since there's a fountain in the middle of that small park. It is also a rotunda so the location is very strategic.

It was named after the fourth president of the Republic of the Philippines, Pres. Sergio Osmena who is considered the patriarch of one of Cebu's well-known political families. Para siyang Quezon City Circle natin na pina-liit ng bonggels.

Sabi nila, nasa puso raw 'to ng Cebu.

Sabi ko tuloy ngayon as in kakaisip ko lang: Ikaw (Oo, ikaw), nasaan ka? Hihi. Edi nasa puso ko. <3

EDI WOW. :)))))

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Saan nga ba naghahanap ng himala? Saan nga ba nagdadasal para humingi ng himala? Sabi naman, kahit saan at kahit anong ginagawa mo pwede ka magdasal, diba?

Pero iba pa rin pag pupunta ka sa mga lugar gaya nitong Simala Shrine sa Cebu kasi makikita mo talaga 'yung iba't ibang paraan ng pagpapakita ng pananampalataya ng mga tao. O ewan, basta sa dinami-rami ng simbahang napuntahan ko na, gusto ko pa rin pumunta sa iba, hindi dahil sa lakwatsera lang ako talaga pero bawat simbahan kasi iba 'yung pakiramdam na binibigay eh - 'yun siguro 'yung hanap ko :))

This is my second and definitely not the last time going here at the Miraculous Simala Shrine in Sibonga, Cebu. 1-2 hours drive away from Metro Cebu, pa-South.

Compared to the first time I saw it in 2009, it now looks like a castle more than a church. Nung una kong punta, 'yung blue lang sa harap eh. Isang building pa lang.

Someday! Makakasama rin ako sa isang pilgrimage to Holy Land or Europe. Kakayanin ko 'yan financially. Huhuhaha!! Claim lang ng claim pa rin! Ayoko isipin na impossible. :))))

We arrived there a bit past noon, a little late for the mass but attended nonetheless. I didn't understand a word though since it was conducted in Cebuano but it's nice to once in a while attend a mass held in a different language.

MASS SCHEDULE:
Sunday – 12:00 nn and 3:30 pm
Monday to Friday – 12:00 nn
Saturday – 10:30 am
13th of the month (I think this is a healing mass) – 10:30 am & 3:30 pm

Upon seeing these letters of thanksgiving for their "miracles".

I kind of asked, "Bakit ako, wala?"

Then I saw my reflection in the glass and that's it - that moment was my miracle. Aside from being able to go back there, ayun na ako oh. Malabo pa man pero may direksyon na. Matatagalan pa man pero I'm on my way. 'Yun naman 'yung dinadasal ko dati lagi eh. Oy, pero walang emote emote 'yun ah hindi tipong, who is that girl I see staring straight back at meeee. :)) Wala lang, nakita ko lang reflection ko tapos may nangyaring intrapersonal communication.

"Bakit ako, wala?" Sabi niya siguro, "Wala pa."

AT

It's my miracle to be back there after 5 years with the people I've been wanting to show the world to.

It's my miracle that I've been to many places and experienced many things. I'm not rich so funding my lakwatsas is definitely a challenge. Again, it's my miracle that I am able to make this work.

It's my miracle that I've gone through a lot of challenges and yet after everything, I'm still standing strong - stronger than ever that is.

Ikaw? Ano 'yung mga daily miracles mo? :)

I'm happy for everyone who've given and showed proof of their life's miracles by writing letters/leaving their wheel chairs which are currently on display at the shrine but more than that, I'm happy for myself because even if I forget sometimes, I've long realized that my life is my miracle and I'm consistently thanking God for this. Wala man akong sulat na ilalagay doon e ilalagay ko na lang dito na Maraming Salamat po, Mama Mary! Kayo na bahala sa'kin at sa kung sino man na nagbabasa nito.

Hindi naman ganito ka-drama nung andun kami pero ganito 'yung thought. Na maswerte ganyan. HAHAHAHA! Nahiya pa ko eh. Oo na, paminsan madrama 'yung ka-intrapersonal communication ko. :)))

"Every moment of our lives is a miracle."

Kayo na po bahala, Mama Mary!!
Nakuhanan ko na ng picture bago ko mabasa na bawal pala. Hehe. At pinost ko pa talaga evidence ng pagsuway ko sa rules noh.

This place is perfect for everyone especially for Marians because the shrine have a lot of Mama Mary images displayed in the second floor of the church.

Until next time, Simala Shrine!!!

Kung makabalik man ako ng Cebu, dadalawin pa rin kita. Ayun eh. Ako na rich kid. HAHAHAHAHA. Jk lang pero malay naman natin!! :))

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