Holy Week in Pampanga

My Holy Week was spent with my family in the province. In Pampanga, the Holy Week is celebrated like nowhere else in the world. The week starts off with the reading (or singing) of the pasyon. You can hear the singing anywhere you are coz you will find stations in every barangay. Every night people go from pasyon station to another and volunteer to read and then enjoy the refreshments afterwards. Usually, they also serve dinner for the readers and visitors who drop by. There's also the re-enactment of the stations of the cross wherein parishoners would carry the cross around the plaza in the early morning. And then there's the devotees who actually get nailed on the cross. I've never seen this actually happen though coz I dont think my stomache can handle it. Aside from that are the occassional nagpe-penitensya walking around town while hitting their backs with rope til it bleeds. Friday night is the procession of the images of Jesus, Mama Mary and the characters in the stations of the cross and our town's patron saint. On Easter Sunday, after the early morning mass, they have this tradition wherein they make a paper mache image of Judas and light it up with firecrackers. Unfortunately I had to go back to Manila yesterday night so I wasn't able to watch it this year.

At home, I tried to make it as similar as possible to the holy weeks I had when I was younger...and basically, that consists of spending time at home with the whole family. To make everyone stay, of course, I had to make sure that there's plenty of food in the house. I asked the helper to go the the market and the grocery store to buy lots of pika pika. I also had to prepare menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner for 4 days and make sure that the food is to my dad's expectations. I need to do this to keep my dad from going to his other family =(

Anywayz, it was actually a very relaxing week for all of us. We hang out in the rec area and watched movies on the DVD, TV or played video games. On friday night we watched the procession and then went to church. I'm glad my dad stayed home friday coz he usually leaves the house friday afternoon. I had to ask him not to leave though, so he just left Saturday morning *sigh* At least I was leaving Saturday afternoon so I just didnt let it bother me.




me and my sibs before the procession on Good Friday

Out of Town Adventures Part II

It's Sunday and I'm in the office. Last night I got home from an overnight trip at Puerto Galera. I went back with Madakers, Lori and her bf and Lori's Team (Susan, Daphne, Hasmin and Francis.) However, Olan, Kate and Amboy plus Joyce and Che opted to stay another night. I was so tempted to stay behind with them but I promised to go back because only 5 agents will be left on the helpdesk team if I stayed.

I didn't really mind having to leave early though as I had so much fun on the beach. I got a massage and the perfect tan (hehehe) As I'm writing this, I am still so red and my skin is still a bit painful.

When we left Manila on Friday morning, typhoon "Auring" was just leaving the Visayas-Mindanao region. We thought we were not going to have fun since it was drizzling occasionally and the sun was hiding behind dark clouds. But when we got on the boat, the sea was so calm the bus ride was actually bumpier than the boat ride. When we got to the beach, the sun was shining brightly and the water was beckoning us to go and swim.


hungry peeps just arrived at the island


Jet ski kuno (hehehe)


Lori, Me and Olan...snack time


The Gang (hanging out at the beach)


Me and My Friends


Drinking by the Beach


This is what Relaxation is All About


Susan, Me, Daphne, Madaks, Olan and Kiko

Out of Town Adventures Part I

Last week, I went out of town with my gal pals Dona, Kate and Madakers. We stayed at Dona's family's resthouse in Tagaytay. We drove, took pictures, ate, took pictures, slept, took pictures, went sightseeing and took more pictures. It was an overnight of fun, foodtrips, and girl bonding.

We checked out Villa Estancia, Palace in the Sky, Sonya's Garden and even went as far as Batangas to visit the Callaruega Chapel. We had dinner at RFS Lutong Bahay, it was a very cool place to hang out and the food is also great. There is an option to eat inside where there are large aquariums or outside with individual bahay kubo's. You will also be seranaded with your choice of acoustic songs.




Playing around with the big pineapple


Dona, Me and Kate in front of the Callaruega Chapel


Me, Dona, Kate and Madaks


Kate and Me in front of Sonya's Bed & Breakfast


Me, Kate and Dona hanging out at Sonya's Garden


Waiting for dinner to arrive


Coffee Break at Bag o' Beans