woman on top

i recently spent my holy week in surigao. while waiting for my plane at the naia 3 terminal, i was already planning to capture, thru my cam, the bird's view of my beloved hometown. unfortunately, all i saw were the serene, blue waters guarding the place and before i knew it, we were already approaching that cute little airport.

good thing that, on my way back to manila, i had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of surigao from above. check out and let me know of what you think of my pictures!

Erap was in Butuan!

Here's an article I just got from ABS-CBN News. Read on:

To the immense surprise of customers, former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada visited a local Jollibee fast food chain in Agusan del Norte Thursday.

Estrada had just arrived in the region to continue his nationwide goodwill tour called "Lakbay Pasasalamat", when he decided to stop at Gaisano Mall in Butuan City and eat at a Jollibee outlet, a statement said. The awed crowd reportedly took pictures with the former president, who was eating a 2-piece Chickenjoy meal.

Margeux Salcedo, Estrada's spokesperson, said in an interview that the incident was a rare occurence. "He does not usually [eat at fast food chains] at all, it was so hard for him to eat, actually because dinudumog siya ng tao," she said.

Salcedo added that the group only decided to eat at Jollibee because one of Estrada's "Lakbay" companions, Mrs. Gina de Venecia, wife of former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, mentioned that she was hungry and wanted a Chickenjoy.

The Jollibee restaurant was also filled with other bigwigs, all companions of Estrada during his campaign, including Atty. Adel Tamano, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, former Senate President Ernesto Maceda, and actor Rez Cortez.

Salcedo said the "Lakbay Pasasalamat" is Estrada's way of thanking fans who supported him through thick and thin. "When he was in jail in Tanay for six years, he promised himself na kung makakalabas siya, he'll go around and thank his supporters. It is for [former] Pres. Estrada to thank the Filipino masses for never forgetting him even if he was incarcerated, even if he was accused [of plunder, graft, and corruption]," she said.

Estrada and his escorts visited the Butuan municipal hall during his tour. Their motorcade, however, a regular feature of the "Lakbay Pasasalamat" where Estrada throws out candies to the crowd, had to be canceled because of the rains.

Estrada and his escorts are set to visit Surigao after touring Butuan.

Historical Butuan

Here's something that Butuanons can be proud of. Interested? Read on:

The historical wooden boat which did not use any single nail and built in a lashed lug technique believed to have been used by Malay settlers in their vast sea travel during pre-Hispanic times will be used again to circumnavigate the World.

This time, the Philippine's Mount Everest team with tourism officials and scientists composed of Leo Oracio, Ervin Pastor Ermita, Noel Winceslao, Karina Dayondon, Janet Belarmino-Sardina, Dr. Ted Esguerra, Fred Jamili and Dr. Walter Villasco will circumnavigate the World using the remodeled ancient Balanghai Boat.

Dubbed as Voyage Balanghai, Department of Tourism Undersecretary Art Valdez, who served as RP's Mt. Everest Team Captain, will accompany his team with experienced master sailors who will assist the team's voyage.

(to be continued..)

bachelor's pad for rent

my two-bedroom house is no longer available but my bachelor's pad is! it was vacated just this weekend. rental rate is at P2,500 per month.

the pad has its own mini-receiving area, mini-kitchen, mini-bedroom, comfort room, and laundry area, among others. outside the pad is a spacious lawn where one could park his/her vehicle and/or just lounge at the mini-garden.

my pad is good for a maximum of three persons. it is safe especially for kids since my gated compound is situated few meters yet from the main road.

if interested, please contact me at 0918-367-3455 or check the unit at 1st street, saint joseph subdivision, butuan city. you may look for libeth gesultura-trangia for assistance. she may not be around all the time, hence, i suggest you text/call me first.

for directions, please check my prior posts. :)

an update..

to those who are inquiring about my bachelor's pads, i regret to inform you that these units are no longer available for rent. however, if you want a larger space, then what i can recommend you is a two-bedroom bungalow house. it also has a covered parking lot and garage.

if interested, please contact me at +63-918-367-3455 or you may visit the property. for directions, please check my previous post or click this link. :)

house for rent

my two-bedroom house in butuan is now available for rent.

interested? just check out the property.

its address is: 1st street, saint joseph subdivision, butuan city.

it is around 3 houses away from the waiting shed near the intersection of santan street and villa kanangga road. right side going to or facing the back of capitol. nearest landmark is the aneco post where the signage "house for rent/sale" is currently posted.

just look for ms. libeth gesultura. her house is beside the said aneco post. or just text me at 0918-367-3455.

ciao! :)

i might not be able to go home on all saints' day..

i'll be writing the 2nd part of my post entitled, "my recent journey", next time.

for now, i am in great dilemma. i received an office order just this afternoon that I will be part of a team organized for the special audit of a controversial agency. (for now, the media has not smelled blood on it yet. thank God!). audit period is on october 6 - 17 and november 3 -7, 2008.

that means, my scheduled trip to surigao city via butuan city on all saint's day is at risk. it might not push through.. huhuhu! what am i gonna do? whaaaaa!!!

let's wait and see!!! :)

my recent journey (part 1 of 2)

Last August 1 of this year, I arrived in Butuan at 2pm, which is about 45 minutes behind from its original schedule. As I was already late for my 2pm appointment with my dentist, Dr. Grace Yee, I immediately called up her secretary informing her of my dilemma. It took me 30minutes to claim for my checked-in baggage and fortunately, I was given until 3pm to show up at the clinic.

Since I no longer have a place to stay in Butuan (remember, I have my house rented at present), I decided to check in at a hotel. It was when I spotted a woman inside the arrival area of the airport. She was holding a signage with Dottie's Place written on it. I immediately approached her and asked her if I could still get a room considering that Butuan is packed with guests at that time since the following day, August 2, marked the city's Adlaw Hong Butuan annual celebration.

That lady a.k.a Debbie immediately contacted the hotel and reserved a room for me. Whew! Still, lucky me! But as the saying goes, when it rains, it pours. Debbie offered to drop me to Dr. Yee's clinic before heading to the hotel. She even volunteered to bring my bag right into my room. God bless her!

I got to Dr. Yee's clinic just in time, i mean, at 3pm (hehehe). She conducted a thorough examination on my teeth with so much expertise and grace, as expected. When we were through, Congresswoman Angel Amante and a companion were waiting at the lounge. Needless to say, Angel is still stunningly beautiful!

to be continued..

I am also a mindanao blogger..

I just recently registered my blog in the website of Mindanao Bloggers. I hope my application will be accepted..

I did not know that such website existed until I accidentally bumped into benjie's website entitled, A Lianga Diary. His site contains a link to Mindanao Bloggers. Thanks to benjie! :)

Mindanao Bloggers currently features the 2nd Mindanao Bloggers Summit which will be held at the Family Country Hotel and Convention Center at the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, General Santos City on October 25-26, 2008.

Sounds exciting right? (sigh..) How I wish I could attend that event.. (sigh again..)

Are You A TV Buff?

When I was still in Butuan, I used to watch Saturday Night Live (SNL) a lot on TV. However, when I transferred to Manila, things were a bit different here. I have my eyes fixed on Early Edition while briskly walking on treadmill at Fitness First on weeknights.

At home, I have a collection of DVDs for my fave movies and TV series. In fact, I just finished watching Season 4 of Desperate Housewives. It was addicting! I must be a TV buff!

While looking forward for the showing of Series 5, I came across with this survey which I hope you'll also find time to get your hands on: