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byaHINDOT # 4: Semestral Break in Liliw and Pagsanjan
Dear Lindsay,
THE SEM THAT WAS
Work hard, play harder. After that harrowing semester, my gal pals at UP and I deserve some mind-blowing fun.
In my case, I, along with group mates Ayi and Jhen, faced data gathering in Nueva Ecija and Antipolo, numerous revisions and post-semester contact with NGOs for our program evaluation. For my elective, I drained my cranium dry for that perfect topic and bullied so many people to make them contribute in my research paper, sacrificed my mad Saturdays for sober and uneventful afternoons in the library, begged for schedule swaps at work which resulted to erroneous log records and, sniff sniff, menial salary. This may sound very stressful to you but imagine what my other classmates endured simply by enrolling for 9 units. (This kid NEVER took on more than 6 units.) I remember receiving laments and misdirected death threats around Holy Week whilst I feast on Rocky Road and ice candies deemed necessary to aid my post-oral surgery recuperation. I tend to be immensely competitive in terms of complaining but, in this case, I am willing to admit defeat.
But then again, this getaway also aimed to revel on the friendship we developed along the way and, well, to continue our habitual bashing normally directed to our least favorite classmate. *evil laughter*
LET’S VAULT IN!
After my last-minute drama (“I regret to inform you I can’t join the trip. Our salary is not yet credited,”), the girls text barraged me with assurance that nothing on earth can impede this well-deserved trip. Besides, food and lodging at Joyce’s rest house is of free charge. I guess I just refuse to be a plain observer when the main events roll around. Thankfully, the girls were willing to lend me. I can’t be absent, they say. And I completely agree with them. After all, it’s uncharacteristic of me, of all people, to be the party pooper!
We met up in a coffee shop early Saturday morning. When we were all present, I felt a sense of happiness to see them all again outside the four corners of UP. This had happened before, in Serye during Joyce’s **th birthday dinner, but it was truly refreshing to be with them on a sembreak. I felt this astounding energy among us. It was my first time to see Jhen and her little curls (which made her colleagues christen her as “Goldilocks”) and Chiqui’s braces since the end of sem. I was tempted to share the removal of my impacted tooth and let them take a peek but I changed my mind.
And so we vamoosed. The road trip to Pagsanjan involved insufferable traffic but we managed to push back any “Are we there yet?!”. As expected, we were too busy recalling someone’s long list of verbal booboos (which made me miss Rei) and sharing celebrity gossips or, at the risk of sounding employing euphemisms, a delightful review of pop culture. We’re Communication students, fer gawd’s sake!
FOOD TRIP
Upon reaching Joyce’s home, her equally charming mom served us a parade of suman, bibingka, espasol and other sweets. Served best with the view of the river below us and the feel of calming wind! A couple of chillax moments ensued then we found ourselves feasting on lumpia, torta, sinigang na isda, watermelon for lunch. For dinner, we had stuffed squid and beef. Then we had a bottle of tequila rose for nightcap. In preparation for shooting the rapids, our power breakfast involved pan de sal, fried rice, itlog na pula, tomatoes, fried fish, torta (which Chiqui hogged to herself) and the best-tasting coffee I had in weeks. Lunch was held in the rambutan farm. We indulged on fried tilapia, roasted itik, sinigang soup, pork chops, buttered shrimps, huge crabs, ripe mangoes and melon. Kamayan mode had never been that exciting. Before we left for Manila via the mountain highways route, we enjoyed a tall glass of mais con yelo which tastes too good to be true. The sweetness is just fine and there were white strips which I imagine to be kesong puti. Ayi, bless her heart, managed to stop me from asking for one more.
During these meals, we can not help but ask Joyce, “Pwedeng magpa-ampon?”. Her folks need not to ask if we enjoyed the food, we were enthusiastically exclaiming our compliments in between mouthfuls. To quote someone, “Mapapapikit ka sa sarap!” How sweet it is to be spoiled rotten!
SOLE SEARCHING
There’s an Imelda in all of us. Sometimes, this imeldific mindset consumes some people who, in reality, do not have the slightest inkling they have bad taste for shoes. Oh, please stop me from openly name-dropping such individuals!
GOING BACK: Our traipse to Liliw in search for the perfect pairs to prettify our abused feet was one of the main events. In my case, my history of purchasing too many sneakers last year rendered my flat feet in need for some revelation. In preparation for my businesswoman days, I hoped to locate cheap yet powerful puta red pumps (the one I saw in Zarah amounted to P3,400+. Que horror!) and other feminine pairs.
When we arrived in Liliw, we were amazed to realize they were holding the town fiesta. Joyce was under the impression the feast was already celebrated the previous weekend. Lucky us, we got to enjoy discounts and witnessed performances from children adorned in colorful costumes.
Shopping for shoes with equally shoe-hungry friends was supposed to be thrilling. Little did I know that Chiqui was on the Amazing Race mindset. As soon as her itch for new shoes got appeased, she dashed for the next stores and left her quite indecisive friends behind. Luckily, the other girls were happy to take a slow pace and willing to share their thoughts when I solicited them.
When we decided to come to a halt, we learned we can’t leave the place yet. The influx of people and the other parked vehicles had blocked our way to freedom from temptation. We were initially contented in killing time by exchanging stories, people-watching and making fun of them when Chiqui announced she needed to retrace her steps to buy her mom a pair of sandals. I needed to take a pee, too, so we all agreed to escort her back. It was unforgettable how she uttered she brought only the sufficient amount and how Jhen seconded her that she would leave her bag behind to avoid disgorging more bills. Of course, we contradicted ourselves. Chiqui bought another pair. Jhen was lured but ignored the urge. And I, convinced that “I would stop at 2 pairs,” and watch them suppress any attraction to available shoes, fell prey to the beauty of a pair of flats and bought it. Joyce ended up buying a similar pair as well.
As expected, Chiqui took home the most number of shoes with 7 pairs for less than P1,000. Followed by Jhen with 5. However, the shoes she left behind haunted her until bedtime. What a torture. As a result, she insisted to pass by Steprite before leaving for the urban hell.
In Steprite, Jhen got to satisfy her urge for another pair. Needless to say, Chiqui bagged home 2 more. I found a pair of wedge that the girls considered to be very me. I loved it as well but I put it down. Chiqui said it was also available in Steprite-BF Homes. I decided to buy it by next payday instead.
SHOOTING THE RAPIDS
In great anticipation for this, Chiqui watched ”Ang Cute ng Ina Mo,” in full. I remember Joyce saying the trailer is enough to show how it is like. She countered it was actually a funny flick. As long as you don’t watch it again.
Since Joyce had experienced shooting the rapids countless of times already, we first-timers paired up based on swimming ability and agreed under all circumstances not to jump to possibly point of no return.
The boat ride to the falls involved exposure to Tabing Ilog’s shooting place, Louie Ignacio’s rest house where some music videos were also shot and, most importantly, the majestic mountains and greeneries that would remind you of the Amazon River. Going to the falls took an hour while going back took approximately less than that.
As we went on, we faced rock formations and rapid waters. The boatmen would padjak their way against the slippery rocks without any aqua shoes and lift the boat to pass through these. Watching them was really impressive. Seeing them slip really made me worry.
I loved the part when we took a dip in the little falls and swam our way under the falls. The feel of the cold shower it produced was truly good. I looked up and saw the enthralling beauty as if in slow motion as the drop of water kissed the waterlilies before they fell to the moving water beneath it. We must be enjoying ourselves too much that the boatmen reminded us the actual falls is not that far away anymore. We climbed back in great excitement.
The Pagsanjan Falls, also called Magdapio Falls, turned out to be smaller than how we all imagined. A raft took us below its raging drops and braced ourselves for the massage we waited all week. The flow of the water against our body felt like being stoned to death, we had to bow down and offer our upper backs instead. Ayi and I jumped out of the raft to swim near the “eye of the typhoon”. Being always willing for masochistic fun, I aimed to get closer and, at times, attempted to face the white water. It was a pointless task as I can’t open my eyes wide and only feel the droplets slap me in fury. Beyond lies a close-ended cave where Jhen and Chiqui stayed while their pain-hungry friends yell in rapture.
Tourists can stay under the falls or the cave for as long as they want. However, you need to be alert if new batch of tourists are fast approaching. The raft might hit you and render you headless while you were whooping senseless. Nearly happened to us. Good thing I heard the guy (yes, I actually heard him) say to make way for the incoming raft. Mind you, it can accommodate up to 25 people.
Before we left the waterfalls, we were asked to lie down on our stomachs on the raft. The heavy water landed on our lower limbs, making us feel as if we were in hazing. It was supposed to be a short beating but it felt like eternity. Then I realized the raft was stationary. I screamed my pain away.
On our way back, we asked to stop by the small falls again. Then we swam by the Tabing Ilog location. The slippery stones below us made it quite hard, making me wish they were selling aqua shoes in Liliw. Swimming in this part can be risky as boats come and go. If you don’t watch it, you might be on an oncoming collision with one. There was one time when we were being sandwiched by two boats. My proximity to Chiqui’s and Jhen’s yelling mouths nearly damaged my eardrums.
We were breathless until we reached Joyce’s home. She sounded worried that we took longer than the usual. It only goes to show we enjoyed ourselves a lot. Who wouldn’t take her time underneath both falls? We loved the experience and we can proudly say that it was no longer uncharted waters. Sweltering, sisigmonster
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