Manjamanak, Apo Whang od!

It has been a great trip.

<3

April 29 - May 2, 2015

Buscalan Village, Tinglayan, Kalinga, Apayao

with: Kevin, Martin, Potpot, Dada, Val, & Will

#BackpackerTeacher Monthsary. Haha!

Exactly a month ago, I blogged how excited I am for the project of Two Monkeys Travel. After seeing Kach's post, I sent her an email right away to show my interest about this life-changing project. And to cut the long story of emails, fb chat convos, and skype meetings, she was able to form a Core Team and that includes me as the Regional Coordinator for Luzon. Yay!!!

In just one month, we already accomplished the following:

1. Our team was able to put up our website - BackpackerTeacher

2. We got more than 200 volunteers from all over the country.

3. We got several sponsors.

4. We were featured on GNN - Global News Network 's HOTSPOT!

5. Our facebook page - Project Backpacker Teacher of Two Monkeys Travel  got 1,428 supporters as of writing.

6. And lastly, we were able to officially launch this Project!

If you share the same passion, come and join us!

Like our page or feel free to ask and send any questions at backpackerteacher@twomonkeystravelgroup.com

xx

Random Beach Trip

Burot Beach, Calatagan Batangas
04.10.15

Long hours of travel.

Trash.

Lying on sand.

Stars.

Wishing stars.

Laughter.

Peace of mind.

Starfish.

Wine.

Bonfire.

Mangrove.

Love songs.

Tears.

Answered 36 random questions.

College.

Friends.

Life

xx

Hashtag, BACKPACKER TEACHER!

After I saw the post of Kach Mu at Two Monkeys Travel Forum, I can't stop thanking God and the universe. haha!

Here's her post:

This is my MOM's ultimate dream, to have our own organization giving back to the community! So a lot of you have been asking about Volunteering, Teaching and Backpacking.. why not do it at the same time?

I'm creating the long project plan and now in progress with company partners. You guys can volunteer and gain teaching Experience before we help you teach English abroad! We can give certificate too!

Do you know any communities or local schools who need would like to have a long term English curriculum partners?

If you have books, school supplies please start collecting it as this new project of our community will start this summer in Philippines! IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA FOR THIS PROJECT, PLEASE MESSAGE ME (EMAIL: kach@twomonkeystravelgroup.com or facebook inbox! smile emoticon

We need 5 CORE MEMBERS who can help us with Marketing, Lesson Planning, Coordinating and Organizing Events! Hopefully we can pay you and give you allowances but might take for few months.

Everyone, hope you can start our campaign #backpackerteacher

~~~~~~

THAT is a photo I edited years ago just because I wanted to see myself teaching these kids.  Hahahahahha 

This was my post last May 2013...

Say I WANT! -not 'i wish'

Now I remember the dream I wrote two years ago...

Gusto kong maging guro.

Sa Pilipinas.

Sa liblib na lugar.

Yung hindi ka lang basta guro.

Yung tipong isa kang life-changer.

Ayoko mangibang bansa.

Ayokong magtrabaho para sa ibang lahi.

Gusto ko dito.

Gusto kong makitang unti-unti tayong umuunlad.
Lalong lalo na ang antas ng edukasyon.

This is it! Thank You for making a way when I thought there is no way.. Sobrang saya ko ngayon, G. :)

A Faulty GoPro Unit.

I recently bought a GoPro Hero 4 Silver Edition 2 days (February 11,2015) before my 2 consecutive trips up north - Mt. Pulag & Ilocos. The only time I saw it working properly was when the Sales Lady showed/tried it at SM City Calamba.

I didn't have the time to test its durability because I was busy packing up for my birthday trips. It started acting up on our first day going to the province of Benguet. The screen will just go black after I turn it on. It was freezing up and I couldn't turn it off. All I had to do to turn it off was to remove the batteries. I reset everything, I even removed/reinserted the SD card but NO LUCK.

I even read some articles online regarding my problem.. 

If your camera is freezing up, that usually means that you need to update the camera's software or there are some issues with the SD card. - http://gopro.com/support/articles/camera-freezes-up

Still, my GoPro Hero 4 Silver Edition was not working properly! I didn't believe it was about my SD Card because it is the one recommended by the Sales Lady! Btw, I am using SanDisk Ultra. After reading articles, I realized it would be better if I purchased SanDisk Extreme. But anyway... Again, it's not about my SD Card.

After my Pulag trip, the problem became unbearable. It wasn't working 85% of the time we were in Ilocos! It froze up, won't turn off, the battery was getting hotter than usual, screen would be divided into three or more parts, it was just black screen, sometimes pink, sometimes purple, and sometimes green! Dafuq?!

Look!

this is part of a video I took.

how it looked like. So upsetting. isn't it?

parting ways. chos!

*sigh

Imagine going on your vacation having this dilemma. Nakakawalang gana!

So last Friday, I decided to bring this hard-headed GoPro to iFix (one and only service center of GoPro in Luzon). Their website is down. There were several contact numbers of iFix which I got from facebook but those are not working. Fortunately, I got their working number from other bloggers. I called them first just to make sure they're open every Fridays, and if they're still in Kapitolyo, Pasig. I asked them if I can get my GoPro on the same day and they told me that I might just receive a new unit (this is after I gave them the serial number and the issue of my GoPro Hero 4 Silver Edition)

Friday... This is it pancit! I left Calamba around 10 in the morning and arrived at Shaw Boulevard an hour and a half after. Took jeepney going to Kapitolyo proper and asked the driver to drop me off at Petron Gas Station. Walked 2 blocks, turned right and viola! I'm in iFix Center.

It was already 12:20 and the employees were about to take their lunch. Ms. Marbie Rubio (a pretty, kind, and sweet looking lady) still entertained my GoPro issue. After less than an hour, the staff called my name and informed me that I got a defective / faulty unit and they will just provide a brand new GoPro Hero 4 Silver Edition. He told me that it has something to do with the sensor and mine was eventually an "old" unit.

Here's the serial number of my old GoPro: C3131125333632 - it might help you figure out why yours is acting up as well.

The employees at iFix Kapitolyo are soooo accomodating! Really!!! *insert all the happy emojis here*

Here's their contact information as of writing:

iFix Center, Inc.

4 United St. Cor. First St.

Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City

Philippines, 1603

(+63) 9275607676 , (+63) 9497199908

02 631-1705

service@ifix.com.ph

TIPS AHOY! How to score cheaper plane tickets.

I recently posted my super murang ticket going to one of my dream destinations in the Philippines, BATANES! I was asked numerous times on how on earth I scored that Php2,429 all-in/two-way ticket going to Basco, Batanes. So, here's how!

promo fares!!!

• FIRST - humanap ng kakilala na nagtatrabaho sa isang airline company. Chichika nila sayo before ilabas sa public if their company will offer promofares at 12midnight. hehe
• SECOND - like the facebook pages of these Airlines like CebPac, AirAsia, et al.
• THIRD - maging abangers at magpuyat till 12midnight para makakuha agad ng tix.
• FOURTH - join their newsletter
• FIFTH - memorize your creditcard info dahil mas mabilis pa sa kabayo ang pagkaubos ng mga tickets
• SIXTH - abangan at dayuhin ung mmga travel expo ek ek. maraming murang tickets dun!
• SEVENTH - wag magdadalawang isip. if you want it, get it. kesehodang wala ka pang kasama. You can always cancel your tickets naman eh if magbago isip mo.

goooood luck! :)

xx

Finally, ILOCOS!!!

ILOCOS

February 20-22, 2015

Few months back, I came across this Facebook page of  Extreme Outdoor Club -a travel and tour group that offers Ilocos Getaway for only Php3,000. It was my first time joining a group of strangers and I knew it would be fun!

INCLUSIONS:

• Private Van (Nissan Urvan 14 seater or Toyata Hi ace Commuter) - we were 17 including the driver and the guide. no biggie. I expected that. Though I was really hoping it would only be 3pax per row since Ilocos is really far.
• Vigan, Laoag, Pagudpud Tour - yes, your 3,000 pesos is soo sulit! 
• 2 nights room 4/6pax sharing accommodation in a beach resort - the room is actually good for two persons only. It has one bed and one extra mattress. I asked the guide, Kuya Mike if we can transfer to another room. He called Edzhel Herrera - the owner or maybe the founder of EOC. He agreed. We settled our things, freshened up, charged our gadgets, et al. and then suddenly, the air-conditioner stopped functioning. We transferred to another room which is actually bigger and good for 4-6persons. Lucky? Kind of. I guessed. Morning after, Kuya Mike was asking us to pay additional Php500 each because we requested a separated room. Of course, we firmly disagreed. They should have informed us about that fee before allowing us to get a new room.
• Entrance in Kabigan Falls, Kapurpuruwan Rock Formation, Entrance in Blue Lagoon
• Bagtag ID - no. we didn't receive any bagtag ids

My viewpoint:

EOC was on time! We left Manila at exactly 10 in the evening of Thursday.

Hope they would post a tarpaulin outside the van so we would know na yun na pala yung inaantay namin. 

Group tour is a lot cheaper than travelling alone.

Be open minded but know your rights.

Pack Light.

Always be on time.

Patience!

***To our driver, Mang Pedro -kahit inakala mong mga tilapia kaming mga sakay mo sa sobrang bilis mong mag-maneho, thank you pa din. Salamat for allowing us na makisabay hanggang Sucat though ang usapan is until Balintawak lang. hehe! To Pham Manayan and the family from Mindoro that became our instant friends, Thank you sa masayang kwentuhan, tsismisan, takutan at food trip. Haha! And to that woman (in her 40s maybe)- who blurted out "Hay nko! Nababadtrip nko ha!" after I said "Jan ho ata kami." calm down, momma. You could not choose your preferred sit inside the van. The organizers already prepared the sitting arrangement. Not our fault, madame. So please, wag ako. Charaught!

All in all, I will still recommend EOC. They offer tours in a reasonable price. There may be some issues on the road but it's amenable.

xx