How Am I going to plan the Year 2011

Each year, it looks like my schedule is getting tighter and tighter. Seriously I lost count of the number of flights I have this 2010. I no longer know the number of provinces and cities and festivals I have been to this year.

There’s just a lot!

Food, Festivals Fun and more!

And even before the year 2010 comes to an end, I can now say that, my Schedule for 2011 is almost 97% Complete. and when I say complete, I mean, plane tickets have already been booked! Wala nang atrasan yan!

Schedule will be very tight. That’s for sure. For now my plane tickets are all stored in my mobile phone, and safely kept in my email inbox. But if there’s one thing that I really need today. I guess thats a planner.

The Ruins, Talisay City Negros Occidental

It is a NEED for me to plan my day-to-day travel itineraries. A must in order for me not to miss my flights or bus trips. A perfect travel companion when I Visit Donsol Sorsogon and swim with the Butanding, experience the calmness of nature in Lake Sebu, feel the adrenaline rush of white water tubing in Sarangani, or explore once again the breathtaking views of El Nido.

A planner is going to be my best buddy when, for the first time, I will be traveling to the Island of Biri, in Northern Samar, or when I go back to Malamawi Island in Basilan.

White Water Tubing in Maitum sarangani and Lake Sebu

A planner will be an invaluable partner when I travel from one food destination to another. I am so thrilled to return to Roxas City, known as the seafood Capital of the Philippines and savor the mouth watering oysters and diwal (angel wings shell) again. The sweet Moron and Binagol from is a must-buy pasalubong when I return to Tacloban city during the Pintados Kasadyaan Festival in June. The sinfully delicious cakes from my hometown, Bacolod is something that I always look forwad to when coming home. Calea and Felica’s pastries are always on top of my list.

Calea’s mouth-watering cakes

I also want to chronicle my visits to popular structures of the country like The Ruins in Talisay City in Negros Occidental, the San Juanico Bridge in Tacloban, the old churches, mansions and cemeteries in Iloilo, and the mosques in Marawi City.

L-R, SanJoaquin Church and Guimbal Church in Iloilo; Bottom: San Juanico Bridge

I need a planner as I hop from one tropical island to another as I experience the best and colorful festivals of the country. Next year, I will be able to experience The Sinulog Festival in Cebu City, the Masskara festival in Bacolod. The Pintaflores Festival in San Carlos City, The Kalilangan Festival in General Santos City, Tnalak Festival in Koronadal South Cotabato, Kadayawan sa Davao. Pintados Kasadyaan in Leyte. I have also confirmed to sit down as one of the judges for the Kasadyahan Festival, Dinagyang Festival and Samba de Regatta Streetdance competition in Iloilo. Having a new planner is a great way for me to organize my schedule.

Clockwise, from top left: Dinagyang Festival, Iloilo City; Masskara Festival, Bacolod City; Kadayawan Festival, Davao City; Pintados Kasadyaan Tacloban City

More than just a partner where I can jot down my travel tales, A planner is also important is is where I will be listing my must do things for 2011. Among them:

- Go back to Sipaway Island, San Carlos City
- Go back to Malamawi Island, Basilan
- Go to Tugaya, Lanao del Sur
- Will sponsor another group at the Masskara Festival
- Explore the Carbin Reef and the white sandy beaches of Sipalay in Negros Occidental

My schedule for 2011 is pretty heavy. I just hope life can be easily simplified by tools like Xavierian, da ba? Xavierian is a web tool which shortens long URLs. I really wanted to get the Stabucks Planner so that I can easily organize my trips all over the Philippines. With an organized schedule, it simply means, I have less tendencies of missing flights, and bus schedules. This translates to more cities to be explored, more delectable cuisines to be samplaed, and more festivals to be experienced!

For now I still depend on my trusty excel files, when organizing my trips. I just hope I wont miss my flights and bus trips.

That’s me enjoying the sea sand and sun in El Nido Palawan