sirang dike sa cabato road

we took these photos along Cabato Road in Zamboanga one weekend before Ondoy rampaged Luzon... a week before Manila got submerged, Zamboanga was also battered by continuous rains for 3 days.... After the second night, we saw this portion of the dike that fell off... i immediately took pictures after finding out that these are actually newly built projects....

promding chamimay back in manila

...well at least for one day...and before Ondoy spread its fury in Metro Manila.

Ninoy's Letter to Noynoy

i cant help but be teary-eyed after reading this...

read the letter here: sulat

Canelar Barter

this is one of the few remaining barters in Zamboanga City... you'll find a lot of things here ---- from our fave maggi kari noodles, sotanghon, coffee, Malaysian/Indonesian chocolates, batik, malong, clothes, pearls, etc...

i heart Sta Cruz Island's underwater too!!! (2 of 3)

no matter how pretty a beach is, if its not swimmable then i dont get impressed. :D im just glad i wont be including sta cruz island in that list... i love how its crystal clear,probably because the shoreline is not really made of sand but crushed corals that are not totally pulverized yet. Notice how it doesnt get murky even though we've been swimming for hours.... and notice how the color changes behind... we didnt dare go to that darker part not only that its deeper but the current is really strong at that time...

i heart u... pink sand Sta Cruz Island (1 of 3)

can you get any "pinker" than that? :-)

Pasonanca Park - Camp Atilano & Tree House

Here's our last stop in Pasonanca park before we head downtown... I've noticed this wigwam sign outside the camp...another first for me in Zamboanga.. hehe :D

Pasonanca Park - Jardin Lobregat

We dropped by the Jardin Maria Clara Lobregat in Pasonanca Park. Since entrance is free in the butterfly area, we brought the gang there... :-)



I was getting frustrated trying to capture my fave big butterfly that I didnt get to try taking photos of the ones that are not always moving...

Freedom Park, Abong Abong

From the Cruz Mayor we stopped by what the legendary Mayor Climaco considered his “labor of love”, the Freedom Park. This is actually the jumpoff area going to the Stations of the Cross. There are 2 canyons (also known as the “Guns of Aggression”)in the area, probably used during a war. Also placed there was a large helmet which became a mausoleum for the remains of an unknown soldier.

Cruz Mayor & Mt. Pulong Bato

actually I didn't know it's called Cruz Mayor until i heard it from Leo... All I know is that this is the end of the 14 Stations of the Cross built on the side of the mountain which is our family's destination during Holy Week. I grew up having my Holy Thursdays spent on this mountain... our parents would wake us up really early so we can head to this place before it gets too crowded...

china phone and 2009 UAAP cheerdance comp

We've been having brownouts in Zamboanga for the past 2 weeks... but despite that I never thought the sunday for the 2009 UAAP cheerdance comp will also be black day... i was getting frustrated already (specially since i decided not to go anywhere so i can watch it)...


...until i remembered my cellphone has a TV function!!! I'm just glad it was only La Salle performing when i tuned in....

zamboanga tour of GE friends

Finally, I was able to convince friends from Manila to come to Zamboanga... it had been my wish to invite friends over since college but i keep on getting excuses.... well you can't blame them... for one fare cost is quite expensive, but the major reason would be the abu's... sigh***


Out of the 8 who bought tickets, only 4 made it.... Karen, Ezra, Gagay and Julie. :)

(Dianne backed out because her mom didnt allow her, Johanne is out of the country, Ray & Ryan came late and was not allowed to check in anymore..grrr! hehe)


These are just their first day photos... we brought them to the following:
- Cruz Mayor (Abong-Abong)
- Camp in Abong-Abong
- Butterfly park in Pasonanca
- Camp Atilano (Pasonanca)
- Barter (Canelar)
- La Vista (Upper Calarian)
- Fort Pilar (Rio Hondo)

I'm glad I was able to change their impression of Zamboanga... :)

artsy fartsy in patalon beach

father and son portrait.... time's up for swimming!

zamboanga city sports complex (grandstand)

Assemblyman Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Complex - A sports complex of 57,500 square metres considered one of the most modern in the country. Ten contractors and 1,500 workers joined hands to complete the facility in time for the March 6, 1992 Palarong Pambansa (National Games). Total construction cost was a little over P64-million. The latest synthetic rubberized coating known as Super AG was used for the oval, only the second in the world after one in Saudi Arabia.
Source: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Zamboanga_City

chicken ride

eksenang promdi series#1



no need for trucks with individual cages for each chick that brings them to the slaughter house.... this one made do with his motorcycle... and the chicks were even brought directly to the market....

my parent's luneta day out

IMG_1433, originally uploaded by charmie04.

my mamang would always tell me she wants to tour old Manila everytime they come visit us during my metro days.... i finally get to bring them there last year. :-)

That's the Rizal Monument behind us.

Luneta Park
Manila. Philippines
November 2008

the trip that started it all....

it only takes one fun trip and you'll end up addicted to travel...

i was very "kuripot" back then, would love to travel but doesn't dare go since i am more worried on the cost... this was a shotgun trip...Iya bought tickets to Kalibo before we can even say yes.... but then looking back i'm glad she did... :D


my HSBC buddies... the girls who convinced me that it's ok to travel, cost may be a problem but everything will be worth it after....

muslim wedding

never been to a muslim wedding before... our muslim friend got married recently and he allowed me to take photos... according to him the ceremony usually takes days (i mean there are various meetings and discussions before the actual day)...

we were able to attend only a portion of the whole ceremony....


traditional muslim wedding with their traditional clothes...

im coming back to you..sta cruz island!

see you in 3 days!!! :-)


15minute ride from the Lantaka hotel to the Big Sta Cruz Island

country food and tea house (nuñez ext, zamboanga city)

i've been struggling to find a nice place to hang out eversince i came home to zamboanga... so far i'm glad there's 3rd Cup and Coffee Mix already, at least we have options with venues for meet up with friends. :-)

my sis' friend dianne introduced me to Country Food and Tea House, a nice little crepe house (well that's what i want to call it because of the many choices of crepes, although i think they're selling it as a tea house instead --- too bad im not a tea-lover)... it's located right beside Coffee Mix.



Mango Crepe - kinda very sweet for me. I'm a bit bothered by too much nuts and stick-o like stuff included... hehe i love my mango crepe plain and simple with vanilla ice cream. :D