Run. Takbo.

Whenever I run
It’s just me and the concrete road
Everything turns silent
I can only hear myself breathing
I can hear and feel my heart beating
I hear the sound and feel every step I make
As if I’m on my bare feet
And I can feel the concrete road
Feeling every drop of sweat
Feeling the wind go through my body
Feeling every stride I make
My body is enjoying every second and every minute of it
Whenever I run...My mind is empty
Indescribable concentration
I can just hear myself saying, “You can do it!”
A euphoric feeling whenever I see the finish line
As I pass the finish line
I feel like I’ve conquered the world
And I can surpass anything
I’ve accomplished another race or journey of my life

(PART 2) Celebrating my 20ish Birthday in Bantayan Island

May 31st, at midnight, I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling with an ice cold can of beer on my right hand. I was listening to the echoing sound that the gecko was making. Bantayan Island was so quiet, it’s sleeping. I turned to the native side table and looked at my cell phone. I realized that I turned it off. I wanted quiet time for myself. I just whispered to myself, Happy Birthday Malaya.
When I woke up, I looked at my legs and my feet, stretched and wiggled my toes. I’ve never felt so alive and even more enthusiastic. I felt different and realized that my life has turned around 360 degrees. I’m Malaya! I am her! I had all the sh**ty things last 2009! Yes, I’m moving forward! “Konti na lang Malaya malapit kana. At matatapos na ang unos. Pinaka masaya sa lahat completely masasara mo na ang kabanata na yun sa buhay mo.”

So I washed up, put some tanning oil, wore my black bikini and mini black beach dress. I prepared my coffee. Put some oatmeal cookies, my malong, my digital cam and fisheye cam in my Imelda eco- bag, then went off to celebrate my birthday in the beach.

What a perfect day! It's 7:00 a.m. and no one was around the beach. I took a dip and cooled off. While I was floating in the sea; I just looked up the big blue sky and saw the fluffy looking clouds. Celebrating my birthday on the beach, what else can I ask for, right? The last time I celebrated my birthday on the beach, I was in Palawan. “Eto ang buhay! Simple lang! Ang sarap mag chill sa beach, lalo na kung birthday mo.” The clear, cool and refreshing sea water made my day.
Then out of nowhere, a group of teenaged Cebuano boys came. I think I gave them a hard time speaking in English. Sorry boys!!! Hahahha!!! They were there for YFC (Youth for Christ) Convention. They asked the usual questions and asked why I’m traveling alone. They told me things to try and sights to see about Cebu City. Then, took some pictures and I think we exchanged numbers. Which I think I deleted. Honestly, I can’t remember their names. I’m not good with names. I remember one guy said that I was lucky to meet them. I asked him, how come? He said you met the Cebuano version of John Estrada. He was pointing one of their friends. We all laughed. There was also this guy who kept saying some English expressions that made no sense at all. I remember we were all laughing. Then, we all said our “nice to meet you” AGAIN and goodbyes.

While I was walking back to my inn, I bumped into Kuya Buboy. He works for the tourist office in Bantayan Island. We agreed for a reasonable amount (Yep, travel tip! Practice your hardcore bargaining skills!) for touring me around the Bantayan Island and a boat going to the Virgin Island. Oh yeah, we also went to Paradise Beach.

So Bantayan Island here I come. Kuya Buboy brought his tricycle and toured me around. The best part of this trip was, he taught me and asked me to drive the tricycle! I DROVE THE TRICYCLE FOR 15 minutes. Oh yeah!!! It was scary at first because I might crash it but once you get hang of it, it was really cool. After that, I have decided to learn how to drive a motorcycle; hopefully before the year ends, take note not a tricycle. Too bad I wasn’t able to take a video of it. Sayang!!! Anyway, I learned that Bantayan Island has a lot of chicken farms. Lot of lands there are actually for sale and cheap. I’ve always wanted having a sturdy Nipa house near the beach.

Then we had a few stops in the town proper and the other docking areas of the island for trade. I also went to one of the premier beach resorts of the Island, Ogtong Cave Beach Club/Resort. Yep, they have the famous Ogtong Cave there. Clear, cool and refreshing water of the cave made my legs feeling refreshed. They have great facilities and even a super hunk life guard. Hahaha!!! Take note hunk lang katawan parang bouncer yun sa Corneto commercial at hindi gwapo!!! Oh yeah di ko siya type! So for travelers who like the resort feeling and can’t leave without the swimming pool, I would recommend this resort.

How did I end the day? I ate at Ate Khel’s Barbecue then ate a big bowl of mixed fruit in D’Jungle resto and drank one liter of C2! Hahahaha!!! It was simple but I was so happy and satisfied. There’s no other thing I could ask for more. Simple things in life make me happy.

The VIRGIN este in VIRGIN ISLAND

Before I took off my bikini top, I shot this video just to show that no one is in the island. This was taken in Virgin Islands last June 1, 2010.