Nagising at Nauntog.

Waiting for the writing juices... Hopefully soon. Hell, it will be soon. You wait.

Inhale. Exhale.

Save Marianne from the fires of hell

For Sale:
Ipod 80 GB
Harry Potter Books 1-7 (6 and 7 hardbound)
Digital Camera (Pentax, 5 MP)
Playstation One (everything except joystick; MC 1GB)
Gucci bag (blue, striped)

that's me, hanging in there.

How Weird My Hometown Is... this year

1. People skimboard on overflown drainage.

I actually know someone who is so proud of this feat.

2. During one of the city celebrations, people paid the minimum amount of 100 pesos to see Jenny Miller and Jeffrey Hidalgo. Jericho Rosales appeared on the city show for 3 pesos a ticket. Wow!

3. There are people who got lost inside the new Gaisano in town, and it's like 1/4 of SM City Cebu.

... in the process....

The One with the Tired Backs and Sore Butts

Solar Generation volunteers prepare for their trip to Boracay where they will have a Skillshare and Save the Climate, Save Boracay Exhibit. The Skillshare aims to develop the organizational capacity and SolarGen and improve its campaign strategies and network through the student coordinators fom Manila, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Boracay, and Bacolod by providing workshops and training on campaigning and project management, a platform for SolarGen and youth coordinators to interact and learn from each other's experiences.

Day 1
The Long Trip
December 10, 2008

2 a.m. Ceres Terminal, Dumaguete

Wonder. A trip to Boracay, they say, is worth all the time and monetary expense; but SolarGen Dumaguete (the ones with the longest road trip and all first-timers) has yet to gauge the 16-hour trip. Surrounded by monsters of suitcases at two in the morning, April, Argie, Jordan and Marianne waited for the first bus trip bound for Bacolod.

8:00 a.m. Bus

Panic. The fastcraft for Iloilo leaves at 8:15 but Team Dumaguete is nowhere near Bacolod. SolarGen Pilipinas Coordinator Albert Lozada says it’s okay and all can just take the next trip.

8:45 a.m. Bredco Port, Bacolod City

Getting to know each other. Team Dumaguete and Andrea, Jeffrey, MM, Karl, and Albert of Team Bacolod meet for the first time. Nagkakahiyaan pa. Albert remains the loudest of the pack and the awkward silences and baryo-baryo conversations are interspersed with photo sessions. Breakfast, as I recall, was msg-filled. ;)

9:30 a.m. Oceanjet, bound for Iloilo

I speak whale. Perhaps it is safe to thank the movie Finding Nemo for breaking the ice. Because of Dory, there is no room for awkward silences.

10:30 a.m. Iloilo Port

The van. A burly guy wearing a Solar Camp shirt greets us on the port. We would soon learn that his name is Vophi. Ellen, Allyn, Jazz, Raizza, Elvin, and burly guy of Team Iloilo are added to the pack. Another thank you to the hybrid Nemo that hangs in front of the van for it is another topic that we can talk about.

1:00 p.m Van

Breaking ice. The gals and guys of SolarGen slowly break the tension. Persistent Albert throws anecdotes after anecdotes trying to make everyone laugh and engages everyone to start talking, provided, of course, that we they are not dozing their ass off.

3:00 p.m Van

Tight. One may argue about the group’s closeness, especially since they all met only hours ago, but one thing is for sure, Allyn and Raizza are now officially Marianne’s and April’s pillow.

5:00 p.m Van

Sore. By now, everyone starts to complain about tired backs and sore butts. Albert assures everyone that Caticlan is just an hour away. Everyone heaves sighs of relief. With Bora only an hour away, most forgot about sleeping and started talking…

6:00 p.m. Van

… and complaining. Sabi mo isang oras nalang? Everyone accuses Albert as the van had no intention to come to a halt and continued to move forwards. The signs say we are indeed in Aklan but still definitely not Caticlan.

6:30 p.m. Caticlan

Finally. Where o’ where is that bank? was Albert's battlecry. The monsters of suitcases are hauled out of the van and onto the jetty. The ledge to the jetty is narrow and unstable but the prospect of setting foot in Boracay eliminates the fear of slipping and falling into the water.

7:00 p.m Tryke.

Slopes. Skillshare delegates boards the tryke and followed the winding and sloping roads of Boracay Island to...

7:30 p.m. Faith Retreat and Convention House

Hello. Everyone meets Pao and Carlo of Team Manila and Ate Joan of Greenpeace.

7:35 p.m. Mess Hall

Dinner. Immediately after settling in, everyone clamored for food. Well, no one can fault everyone’s hungry stomachs and eager mouths

9:00 p.m. Hallways

Cram. It seems everyone is still finishing their presentations for the Skillshare tomorrow. Work! Work! Work!

10:00 p.m. Boracay shores

Yeah, right. Weariness and Tiredness are a state of mind. Everyone must be tired, beat, and sore, but who cares? Off to the shores of Bora.

Spot Me.

me so so young. love it. love it.