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firstpumpkin-blog · 9 years ago

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Sapientum: On the Road, Over the Hill and Under the Falls

December 12, 2016 - Monday

Meet The Gang

From being plantamates and designing equipment and plant, Sapientum is now on pursuit of a good place to be. We have Philip, our mighty driver who was in charge of keeping us safe and alive. He owns Tanner, a tangerine Vios. (Got a hint why he’s named Tanner?) Raemiel on the front seat was our navigator/living Waze. Among us, he’s the most familiar to the area. And at the back seats were the prettiests, Aura, Erika (yours truly), and Jesserie. I was the snack distributor in chief aka Pandesal Girl. Aura was the “promotor" who napped like a boss. She turned the back seat her personal couch and me & Jesz her pillows. (talented being) Jesserie was our RnD representative who made sure that cameras were always ready for photo op. She is also our natural happy pill.

We, Philip Raemiel Aura Erika and Jesserie, are Sapientum and this is our first road trip/getaway.

Let the road trip begin…

From our good friends’ apartment (big thanks to Miller, Chie and Sarah for accommodating us when in LB), we hit the road at 5:20 am, driving around UPLB first.

Off we go

Mandatory stopover and photo op

Our morning drive was very cool and serene I can still imagine how the wind felt as it brushed my skin. There weren’t the usual green fields and blue skies because of the gloomy weather but the sight still brought some kind of inner peace.

Seeing the day break while in transit

We were on a lookout for arcs on the road because passing one means one town farther, a milestone!

I read blogs for directions to Hulugan Falls. So I had ideas of which jeepney to ride, where to take off and what towns we were supposed to pass. But since I barely know the place, I was surprised when I noticed we were driving over a hill overlooking Lake Caliraya.

I must admit then I had uneasiness considering the slippery road, newbie driver, and the unfamiliar place. Also, we almost had the road to ourselves which was both creepy and exciting. But then and there I realized Rule no 1 for road trips. Travel with people you trust.

Rule no. 1. Travel with people you trust.

In that way, you can shake off the worry you may feel about being in a place new to you and appreciate it better. You’ll barely notice the heavy traffic or other delays or conflicts.

First Stop: Japanese Garden

After 1 hour and 40 minutes, we reached Japanese Garden. According to Laguna Travel Guide, it was made to remember the Japanese soldiers who died during World War II.

The main attractions there, for me, are the little toris and the site dedicated to General Yamashita.

When in Japanese Garden, be sure to climb the stairs there for you to see why Luisiana is called the “Little Baguio of Laguna”. It was a good place to emote...

Philip: Nasaan ka na?

Raemiel: Darating ka pa ba?

Aura: Maghihintay ako.

To discover...

Apple Tree

To be free...

And to let lose.

(Mabuting tao po si Philip, palabiro lang)

Aside from the good sight, the garden has approachable staffs and clean rest rooms which were a plus. We left there with happy hearts from the “chill walk” which we didn’t know by then was our warm up for our next destination, Hulugan Falls.

Hulugan Falls

In search of an affordable destination within Laguna, Kuya Google directed us to blogs about Hulugan Falls by The Lost Kids and The Poor Traveller. It was called “The Hidden Gem in Laguna” and had good reviews so we decided to go there. From the Japanese Garden, it was 1.5 hours away. Bloggers were right when they said that you will not miss the drop off point to the falls. There, we were welcomed by tour guides who were very polite.

Tarp to travelers: “You won’t get lost. I’m hard to miss.”

We were directed to Kap’s House. We parked Tanner there. Kap and his housewife were also kind and hospitable. They had a little sari-sari store where you can buy snacks or toiletries. But since the place is remote, their goods cost more than they should. They also have 5 shower rooms. Taking a bath cost Php20. BTW, entrance/registration fee is also Php20 as stated in reviews written in September 2015. No price increase.

Breakfast at Aling Ganda’s Tapsilugan

Aling Ganda’s tapsilog is Php70. It was okay for me. I liked that they served their food in banana leaf atop a native plate. If you’ll eat there, be sure to try their Pansit Habhab. It cost Php60 only and was good for all of us. Aling Ganda also sells souvenir items including shirts and key chains.

We rode a tricycle until where we had to trek. (Fare is Php10 each) And so we reached the trail. Reviews said it was steep, so I expected scary steep. The trail was worse than I expected but doable. After all, we managed to reach the falls and go back alive without major injuries. (Ehem! May nahulog, ayun nasaktan. And so the hugot series begins.)

I categorized the trail into two levels. I call the first as “Maddy Mud” and the second as “on the Rocks” (Akala mo, Rocky Rock?). Maddy Mud lasted for about 10 minutes. We didn’t wear rubber shoes since we were already warned that the trail then was extra muddy due to the bad weather. (Mahirap maglaba ng rubber shoes) We ended up trekking barefooted since it was more slippery wearing flip flops. So if you have one, be sure to use hiking footwear. (Para hindi ka iiwan sa ere o hindi ka ilalaglag).

Feel the earth.

We left our slippers in the first aid station. Kuya Arnel, our tour guide, made each of us a cane out of the fallen branches. They take care of visitors in Hulugan which made the place charismatic, I guess. Lesson in life: Show people you care. Next up: on the rocks where the struggle became real.

Before the reality of what’s coming bites. (Nakakangiti pa)

Station 2: Rest then suffer.

In level 2, my fear of heights was intensified by my fear of falling. I repeatedly told myself: “Bawal ma-fall, nakamamatay!”. I also thought “Di ko na ‘to uulitin” because it was scary for me. One wrong step, you may slip. You may even hurt those ahead of you on the way down. But then again I was with determined and careful people. They motivated me to carry on. Really, company matters. Very much. We were on the rocks for more or less 25 minutes which was tiresome but hearing the sound of the falls fueled us to go on. It was exciting.

Her majesty - Hulugan Falls of Luisiana, Laguna

Seeing this hidden gem for the first time

Sapientum conquered Hulugan; a happy place to be.

My words may not equal the joy Hulugan gave me that day so I wouldn’t describe it. Just a friendly reminder if you’re planning a visit too, bring waterproof camera. We only managed bringing a waterproof bag and an alay phone. On the way back, we maintained our formation which we found efficient. Kuya Arnel lead. Raemiel followed, then Jesz, Yours truly, Aura then Philip. Squad for keeps.

Rule no 2. Expect all possibilities and conquer.

When on a getaway, especially if adventurous, expect all possible scenarios instead of sticking with what they usually say “Don’t expect, you’ll only get hurt”. In that way, you ready yourself for whatever lies ahead. Will yourself to attain the purpose of the trip. Yes, as carefree as the word road trip may sound, it has one or two. In our case, see the hidden gem in Laguna – Hulugan falls with our own eyes. I’m glad we conquered the trail and sleepiness. (We partied the night before so we barely had a decent sleep) Hadn’t we conquered these, maybe up until now I’m still wondering how the falls looked like. I’ll set up another trip and postpone and get frustrated. So I'm just glad we did it. Achievement.

Caught in the crime of napping | Sapientum made it to Hulugan.

When in Hulugan, don’t miss their special bibingka. It was delicious I forgot to take a picture. It is 3 pieces for Php100 and comes in a small woven basket which makes it a very good pasalubong.

Last stop: Air Summit Gourmet

As soon as we got back to the car, I felt accomplished that day. It was only a little past afternoon. We still had a couple of hours before the day ends and we were up for more drive and spontaneity. We decided to head to Quezon. Raemiel knew of a good place there to eat. Here comes rule no. 3.

Rule No. 3. Go with the flow.

Sometimes, the best attitude is just let things be. Let life’s surprises unfold on their own and make it worthwhile. Do not worry. So long as you’re with trustworthy people, you’re on the right track.

From road trip to air trip. We ate inside an airplane-turned-restaurant. It’s fancy and very #KMJS worthy. What’s even cuter is the staffs acted as if they were flight attendants and we were passengers. We even had plane ticket. The role-play completed the flight experience. Below are pictures of us while we were waiting for our "flight" and a piece of the "terminal".

No comb moment. For some, no shirt moment. | Place for hearts and roses.

33 feet above ground on a business class during a cuddle weather

Cozy

Eating aboard

They served good food at a good cost too. What we had best there was quality conversation which we’d like to keep to ourselves. Indeed, we’d traveled far. But at the end of the day, we came back to the place where it all began - UPLB. And that’s how our trips will be. Always.

It had been a long day. So now signing off, Sapientum. Until our next trip. ;)

#SapientumTravels2016 #LaZonCheck #CaBaRSoon #Roadtrip #adventure #foodtrip

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firstpumpkin-blog · 9 years ago

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I K N O W

you know when you’re talking w/ someone and you just feel.. Warm. like.. not.. warmth temperature-wise but just this.. sense of overall coziness like on an emotional level speaking w/ them is the equivalent of whenever you step into a patch of sunlight… that’s something

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firstpumpkin-blog · 9 years ago

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It’s time to forgive yourself for once accepting less than you deserved. For letting ghosts into your heart; for kissing mouths that were weapons when you thought they were roses.

It’s time to forgive yourself for never being able to love in halves. For giving yourself to someone who did not know what to do with the brevity of your soul, who did not know what to do with the weight of your bones under all of the feeling you held within you.

It’s time to forgive yourself for hoping, for having faith in the softness of love and how it could prevail. It’s time to forgive yourself for trying, for believing so ruthlessly that “I love you” meant “I’ll stay.”

It’s time to forgive yourself for the people who walked away. For the ones who didn’t fight, for the ones who made you feel like you were not worthy of being loved the way you loved others. It’s time to forgive yourself for the way in which you trusted, the way in which you let them leave fingerprints along your spine. It’s time to forgive yourself for unhinging your chest, for letting them leave their memories in your ribcage, for letting them take so much of you.

It’s time. It’s time to forgive yourself for once accepting less than what you deserved. It’s time to understand that you had absolutely no say in how long someone stayed — that you couldn’t have loved them any more, that you couldn’t have bent them into someone who understood the core of you.

Trust me when I say that there is a love out there for you. It is the kind of love that will understand the very language your heart speaks. It won’t fumble with the depth of you, it won’t take you for granted. Out there thrives a love that will rise above anything you have ever felt, a love that will feel as if it was made for you, but you have to be patient. Do not fall back into the arms of those who broke you; do not let your scars convince you that your heart does not hold value. Fight for the kind of love you know you deserve, demand the kind of love that speaks to you; the kind of love that makes you want to be a better person, the kind of love that inspires you, and it will come.

It will come.

(Source: thoughtcatalog.com)

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firstpumpkin-blog · 11 years ago

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"Black is the absence of all colors," Mike said. "We don’t segregate by color here. We all respect one another and our abilities, and we all help one another understand them. […]”

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firstpumpkin-blog · 12 years ago

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nightthatfeltlikefoerever <3

say hi to these party arty pipz. ;) #spotlightwelove

i miss going home with these two ladies,,

had my first time to host en event like this.. yes, it was tiresome but i enjoyed it. i wanna say congrats and thank you to my co host kuya JC, the one in stripes. :)

True Friends Indeed! love my mates :)

waki waki din pag may time ;)

gusto ko lang mag hi sa mga photo bums na sina kc jones punzalan, allyn mae mirana, at allan ulitin at gusto ko lang din sabihin na cor aris mendoza, nakabalik kana pala.. MAGPAKAIN KA NAMAN SA BIRTHDAY MO!

simply, i wish moments like this will come by more often..

doesnt need to be formal, to be grand.. just us together!

#HAppy Family :)

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firstpumpkin-blog · 12 years ago

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it's been ages! haha

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