Celebrating a decade of travel
Posted on March 27, 2007
It seems like it was just yesterday. It was in 1997, when my passion for travelling actually started. It all begun in January of 1997, when I asked my mom to allow me to go to Iloilo to witness the Dinagyang Festival for the very first time. I bargained that I won’t be having a birthday party, just to fulfill my grandest wish at that time. Then mom, never had a doubt, allowed me to sail to Iloilo from my hometown Bacolod, together with my sister, and a common friend.
I was 18 years old at that time, and I was so excited to travel to another provice and see another festival, other than the usual Masskara that we often get to see every October. Dreams were fulfilled and memories were never erased from my mind.
Then by strike of fate, 3 months after that dreamy Dinagyang Festival that I witnessed, I once again went back to Iloilo for a field trip required in my Economics subject in La Salle. We went to the various local industries of the province at that time. One of the most memorable moment of field trip was our visit to the Miag ao Church. During that time, I never knew that it was a World Heritage site yet. What is knew is that is so large, unique in color (being yellowish in tint), and quite dark inside. That was the first and last time I ever set foot in Miag ao Church.
It seems thats the word travelling will never be removed from my vocabulary. 1998, just days after the nation elected an actor-president, my family and I all flew from Bacolod to Manila. From Manila we did a road trip to Baguio, Sagada and Banaue.That road trip is my first and last with mom, dad and my sister. Three years after that momentous adventure, mom pased away.
But mom’s passing did not became a hindrance to my passion. Summer of 2002, it was my first time to set foot in an island paradise I lovingly call Guimaras.I went to the island without any map, nor any concrete information where to go to. But I wasn’t afraid because I can speak the dialect of the locals.
2003 has been a very crucial year for me. It was at this time when I finally decided to move to Manila. But being a traveller as I am, I went to Manila in style. From Bacolod, I took a ferry to Iloilo. From Iloilo, I took a van leading me to a familiar place everybody knows: Caticlan. And you definitely know what happens next. I stayed in Boracay for a week. Every every night at the bar, savoring every moment of time in the white sandy beaches of the island. From Kalibo, there I flew going to Manila with all my baggages.
Travelling was almost placed on a standstill when I was still starting with my job at SYKES Asia. Then in October of 2004, I did a homecoming just in time for the 25th anniversary of the Masskara Festival. It was a vert aweet moment for me. Old friends came to the airport to fetch me. It was fun, really. We braved the scorching heat of the sun just to see the Masskara Festival. And this homecoming of mine started my Byahilo blog.
And now, 2007, a lot more has been added to my travel list. Dinagyang and Masskara Festival is still on my usual travel list, more festivals witnessed, more food tours joined, more provinces covered. I am now actually looking forward to my 30th province this year. Some ofmy photographs have even graces some local and foreign Magazines. One of my Sinulog photo was evn used as a front cover for a Dutch Magazine. And what made this year really memorable for me was my return to the Miag-ao Church. Tears instantly fell from my eyes when I set my foot on this Iloilo town last January. It really seems like it was just yesterday…
So what’s next for me? Hopefully, more adventures, more travels, more festivals! Another 10 long years for the love of travelling!
» Filed Under Random Thoughts
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3 Responses to ”Celebrating a decade of travel”
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I’m glad you were able to start out traveling early. As for me, I’m just beginning to discover the Philippines. Masaya parati basahin articles mo. Nawa’y madami ka pang mapuntahan!
whew, pareho pala tayo lasallian at magka edad pa… ako ids graduate. buti ka pa kung saan2x province at festival ka na naka punta ako, within negros lang na festival, kasi halos every month fiesta rin ng isang town o city sa negros,pero d ko pa nalibot lahat. naka punta narin ako sa bora, guimarass, ilo2x at cebu. para sakin guimaras ang pinaka memorable at simple kasi naligo ako (tuburan) nilalabasan ng tubig at gabi pa yun, nung tiningnan ko may mga tadpoles at nangisay ako sa pandidiri. pero exiting yun at dun ako nakakain ng maraming mangga, duhat at sarguelas. pati seafoods nila masarap rin.
wow fellow la sallian! it was miss Karen Herida who required us to join the field trip, twas cool!
Guimaras is included in my travel list this year. im so excited to be back there, after 2 years. eheheh
hopefully next week. ill be in bikolandia