Dazers Weekend @ Tiaong & Laiya

Spent my weekend with the Days with the Lord, St. Luke's Community (plus Baya) conducting a circumcision mission at Tiaong, Quezon. Upon arriving we were given a pre-tuli meal of longganisa and eggs. Given that I planned to shoot it was a sign that I'd be holding scissors and clamps instead. It had been a while since I've stitched up someone so I had my usual 1st case of jitters. Poor 1st kid.

As the day wore on, the kids kept streaming in and the Dazers started to arrive. The pre-clinic tally was 150 but there were people who kept arriving from far barangays. There were children who were relieved when we told them that they couldn't be circumcised (because of anatomical/pathological reasons) ajd there were others who were relieved for their turn to get it over and done with. There were those who, as soon as they lied down started to cry and those who kept crying despite the anesthesia. There were those who cried "aray" and those who cried "ouch" (maybe because he thought that Baya would understand that). There were those who covered their eyes, some stared into nothingness and one just read the newspaper. There were those who called for their moms and those who called for their dads. I couldn't help but notice that it was the parents who were more excited than the kids.

Past 6, I started to notice that aside form the unlimited patients, we had bottomless supplies. So  circumcision continued until someone asked "Wala na po bang lidocaine?" Sigh. I could finally see the end of the clinic. Then surprise, surprise another bottle of lidocaine surfaced. It was 8 pm. Finally, someone announced "last 12 patients", the disappointed parents (with their relieved kids) finally ended their wait (but without a fight). We thought that they would start to form a picket line outside the hospital. It was finally, 9:30 when we had our dinner of crabs, squid, monggo and of course dinuguan with banana for dessert...

We finally inched our way toward Laiya (Llamar resort) with sleep first thing in our mind but the last thing we did....

Intramuros: test walk

I've been working in the outskirts of Intramuros these past 2 weeks. From the start of my work days, I've planned to bring my camera once I get comfortable with my surroundings. The weather however prevented me from doing so. So seeing that the weather might improve this weekend, I happily obliged to a much needed third person to help on the Saturday OT.

Having accomplished the charts, I proceeded to walk around Intramuros at first heading towards the golf course. There were several tiangges set-up beside the fort, and the place I wanted to go to was courdoned off. The clouds starting to form and drops beginning to fall, I made my way towards San Agustin church instead.

I wanted to walk around and make sure that taking photographs were allowed. With the exemption of a few rooms, taking photos is allowed as long as you don't use flash (I've read, or was it watched, that harsh lights could destroy certain documents and/or paintings). So off I go taking photos (more photos in the next few days).

My main aim today was taking photos inside Casa Manila, challenged by our crushed attempt to take photos before. After a go by the guard, I gleefully took out my camera. A few seconds after however, came throng (ok not actually a throng, a few people maybe) of tourists. So I took a few shots and vowed to return on one of my lunch breaks. Weekday. Less people.

I have a few months to make my rounds in Intramuros. So, cross my fingers, for a few good shots. :)

P.S. I have been experimenting on post-processing my photos.

More on Intramuros:

Discovering Philippines: interesting maps of Intramuros

Within the Wall Enclosure of the City: a correlation of the old structures with the new ones

Wikitravel

Backpacking Philippines and Asia: Intramuros

Ironwulf: San Agustin Church

Traveler on Foot: Casa Manila

Today the Philippines, Tomorrow the World

As part of our highschool evaluation, we had to answer a set of questions which would more or less give us an idea of what our work would be in the future. My probable future would involve lots of traveling. At that point in time, I did think that the evaluation was wrong. I hated shuttling back and forth Manila almost every week. It triggered my vertigo so much that I slept most of the trips and woke up only when we reached our stop-overs or destinations. I never did foresee myself living in Manila my college years and more. I did outgrow my vertigo although it was replaced by migraines. I preferred to travel in daylight so that I can see the places around me and everytime I wished I could drive and stop more often than a bus taking in passengers.

Had I discovered that I could go into photography before I finalized my UPCAT, I would've entered UP Diliman as my first choice instead. I could remember placing architecture as one of my choices but I qualified for my primary choice. Two diplomas plus a year or two, not forgetting a detour I took, I'm finally rekindling my passion for photography and learning that traveling is something that I'd like to do.

After winging it at Anawangin and wanting to go back there again, I decided to see how much of the Philippines I've been to and be graded. It never changed from the first time I took it around a year ago.

My Lakbayan grade is D!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

I'd rather have a higher grade not because I like having high grades but because I'd like to go around and see the Philippines more. Bakpacking would be a great way to do it, haha, but well, let's just see.

Finally climbing out of the grave I've been digging myself realizing that I can have something positive out of what I've been through, I've decided to make the most of this year (before throwing myself back into residency) and the years to come. I'm listing down places I'd like to go/return to (some for personal reasons) and hopefully ,one by one, blog about it.

Anawangin

Angono, Rizal

Antipolo

Batanes

Balatoc

Corregidor

Banaue Rice Terraces

Batan Islands

Caramoan Peninsula

Chocolate Hills, Bohol

Davao

Hundred islands, Pangasinan

La Union

Legaspi City

Malapascua, Cebu

Mt. Pinatubo

Mt. Pulag

Pagudpud

Palawan

Pescador, Cebu

Sabtang, Batanes

Sagada
Siquijor

Subterranian River National Park, Puerto Princessa

Taal lake, Batangas

Tawi-tawi city

Vigan
Zamboanga

Hmmm, now where to go next...

Links:

1. Backpacking Philippines and Asia

2. Vistapinas

3. World Reviewer

4. Lakbay Pilipinas

5. Travel Philippines

6. Addicted to travel

7. Lantaw

8. En route

9. Philippine weather
10. Tropical Paradise of Asia