Lakbay Philippines

Convergys Perks

Being an employee of Convergys Cebu, one gets to enjoy the company’s flamboyant display of wealth, literally and figuratively. I’m about to go five years this coming November, and I have been to three summer outings and about four Christmas parties, each event trying to outdo the previous one. Who gets to enjoy? The employees!

Last summer, Convergys Cebu held it’s summer parteyh! entitled Convergys Heat Wave in Maribago Blue Waters Resort. If I’m not mistaken, this was the second time that the event is held here. Second, in a row. To think this is an expensive place to rent, not to mention the number of people you’re going to entertain and feed.

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Tags: beach, beach bumming, cebu beach, cebu resort, cvg, cvg heat wave, lapu-lapu resort, mactan resort, Maribago blue waters resort

travel ban

Reports lately are saying that Hong Kong is issuing travel advisories for their nationals against traveling to the Philippines. This was right after the hostage-drama that resulted to the death of 7(?) of their citizens. They felt that the Philippine government, specially the National Police did not handle the crisis efficiently and effectively. Well that is an understatement if you look at the fact that the victims died as a result.

Will other countries follow suit in advising their citizens that Philippines is a dangerous place to travel? There are already travel advisories by the US government and other countries against their citizens in traveling in some parts of the Philippines especially in the Muslim Mindanao area.

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Tags: Hong Kong travel advisory, political effect of travel advisory, travel advisory against philippines

Cebu is experiencing scattered rainshowers, thunderstorms, and jejemons!

August, the Start of Habagat

I don’t quite understand when the shifts start, or whether there really is a definite time where the winds would replace each other.

So far, if you plan to travel to Cebu, it won’t be much of a hassle as of this month as the rains are scattered. Or what does scattered rainshowers really mean? Can we start dissecting weather reports while we’re at it?

Dissection Using A Rusting Scalpel

According to WikiAnswers, (apparently it’s not only me who has this dumb question), scattered rainshowers means rain may fall in certain parts of your area, and may not in others. It means to say, some of the rain likes to pour here in Lahug while it doesn’t like it in Labangon. I imagine them clouds bickering to each other, “Hey let’s go over to Lahug area, there’s plenty of space to play there!” and others would chide, “No don’t be silly, what would Labangon say if we don’t go there too?”

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Tags: weather update

Magayon Mount Mayon

When the plane was approaching Legaspi city, I saw on my right window the enormous and gigantic mound of land that protrudes from the otherwise relatively flatlands. I then said, “oooohhh, aaahhhh, aaamaaaziiinggg!!!” and my seatmate looked at me with asking eyes.

He looked like a local there so he’s unfazed with the sight. But for me, it was like meeting a giant for the first time. Well, I’ve never met a giant before and so do you.

When the plane landed, I couldn’t wait to get out and be inundated by the rushing scene before me. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a camera so I only got to take photos with my cellphone. (That’s why I bought a cam!) I had this stubborn attitude that all the places I’ll go to will be preserved in my memory, not on some kind of caricature that is devoid of meaning and experience. Well I was wrong. Definitely you can associate your memories with the pictures you took, like this one above. I couldn’t help it but take pictures right away while I was still on the plane!

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One of the common transportation in the Philippines is the Habal-habal. It translates to motorcycle-for-rent-including-the-driver-and-you-the-passenger.

Etymology, Epistemology, and other Ologies

The etymology of the word comes from the local dialect term for animals mating: habal. It must be the position of the people on the motorcycle that is why it is called so. Interestingly, the word is repeated and it signifies in the local dialect that it is actually a pseudo mating. Usually, a stand-alone word that is repeated would mean that it is not the real thing. Enough of the epistemological dimension of the word.

How it Works, or How to Hire One, or How it Works

To the uninitiated, this is how a habal-habal works. You approach the driver, or most of the time drivers of habal-habals mob you, you tell them where to go, you mount onto the motorcycle, off you go to the destination, you get off, pay the driver, and go your way. Well, sometimes a driver would pick up other passengers if you did not pay the driver to be the only passenger. But it is more likely even if you paid more that you will be with other passengers if you are in a remote place where there are only a few transportation available. It becomes a duty for drivers to pick those passengers.

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Tags: habal-habal, motor, motorcycle for hire, skylab habal-habal

My buddies at work invited me one day to join them in one of their biking adventure in the outskirts of Cebu City and beyond where perhaps a biker meets the countryside scenery; free from smoke and pollution from the city. The only problem is, I do not have a bike.

It just crossed my mind that several days ago, there was a bus that plunged into one of the deep ravines of Balamban where about 20 people where killed, and I think it was one of the places we would be passing through. I just shuddered at that thought.
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This travel blog may posts more of Cebu’s tourists spots as my funds are declining. Hehe. Also, and hopefully, I will get back to school and finish my Bachelors in Arts, Political Science. That would limit me here in Cebu and I can not easily go out of the province. Might as well be featuring Cebu’s promising destinations and vacation places, as well as its other adventures.

Speaking of which, a friend-photographer gave me permission to feature his über cool photographs.

Here’s a sample:

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Tags: barili, barili cebu, cebu, cebu water falls, how to get to barili cebu, how to get to mantayupan falls, laag, laagan, laagan cebu, laagan sa cebu, lakbay, lakbay philippines, Lemuel Montejo, Mantayupan Falls, photography, tourist spot

Summer, beach fever! Bolod Beach, Panglao!!!

Bolod Beach Panglao

Summer is almost over, and I am near satisfied. I could say I beached around the Visayas region (well actually just Cebu and Bohol) and I could say Panglao still has the best beach!

Skim in Panglao beach

Flatland/inland Skimming

When we arrived there, it was about to go low tide so instead of taking pictures, I took a dip right away. Enjoyment is the first priority, not this blog. Lol.
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Tags: beach, beach bumming, boholano, bol-anon, laag, laagan, laagan sa bohol, lakbay, lakbay philippines, philippine tourism, philippine tourist destination, philippines beach bumming, skim, skimboarding, tourist destination, tourist spot, vacation