Has it ever happened to you the moment that you haven't moved on in a vacation and yet there's another ones coming. I was still stuck in my Boracay experience in September when October seemingly came in just a snap. How time goes by! I don't deserve this, oh Lord, this is too much. ( or am I acting too much? Lol) but seriously, one of my goal is to have a pinch of vacation and adventure every month if possible. I've been searching for places all the time but there's always an unexpected and a surprise vacay for me
. 😁 While waiting for the month of September which is the much-awaited boracaytion 😬, my mother told me that we're going to attend the 42nd annual convention of Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines or IMAP, a 3 day event for midwives all over the Philippines that is happening on October 19-21. Yes, I'm a Midwife. (As if I have a reader who don't know me at all 😅). It's my first time to attend IMAP's convention in 5 years of practicing my profession. Glad my mom decided to include me like why not!?, I'm also a Midwife!! 🙄😅
ON OUR WAY TO ILOILO
19th of October, we were fetched by a silver van in 711 Sta. Clara, Sta. Maria Bulacan at 2AM with Tita Benny and Tita Remy, both owners of Well Family Midwife Clinic located in Pandi and Pulong Buhangin and of course with my ever witty Mom. We take the route to Malolos to pick up Tita Ester, Lovi and Ditas. 5AM when we reached NAIA Terminal 1. Our scheduled flight is 9:10AM so we grabbed the chance to take a power nap in the benches around waiting area.
At 6:30AM, we entered the boarding gate and had our breakfast inside with a bowl of Arroz Caldo and scrambled egg combined with corned beef rice meal. Takeoff was at exactly 9AM. How am I supposed to sleep in 50 minutes travel time when I finally had my chance to see the aerial view on the most perfect time (because it's evening the last time I rode a plane 😌). Just wow! It's color cottony white on my side while there's a dominant of blue below and a dot of green which was the last thing I can remember before I slowly fell asleep. Suddenly, there goes the pain in my ears which means we're about to land.
TOUCHDOWN ILOILO CITY, PHILIPPINES
Arrived in Iloilo Airport at 10AM. This airport is one of Asia's best airlines, yes! Despite all of the bashes we've been receiving for having the worst airport, we must know that we have one airport we should be proud of! It's quite simple but calm, peaceful, far from the madding crowd, surrounded by green fields, freshest of air all of these which surely complements the very hospitable and sweet voices of Ilonggos. Indeed, we are in the city of love. 💕
Another 30 mins ride from Iloilo airport to Injap Hotel where we stayed for 2nights. Injap hotel is said to be the tallest building in entire Iloilo city with 25 floors and is located at the heart of city in front of Mall. We left our bags in the counter and headed to Iloilo Convention Center for the IMAP event. Another welcoming place in this city and also known as the largest convention center in our country. I'm starting to like this city more! Who wouldn't?
We had our lunch at the convention which is included in registration fee worth 4,000. It's a bit crowded but still managed to have blank spaces. IMAP convention is one happy, noisy and very enriching event for us midwives. It's the biggest event of our profession that must be attended annually. Countless guests, speakers, sponsors and discussions about the new trend for midwives, updates, training and seminars, and new set of officers.
It's almost 3PM when we decided to get back in our hotel to take a good rest. Our room is at 18th floor of the tower. Room mates are Tita Benny and Tita Remy, the Sta. Maria girls! 👯 It's a nice comfy room with two double sized bed, cabled television, freezing air-conditioner and a wide glass window picturing the panoramic view of Iloilo city. Since Injap is the tallest one, unlike other cities within Metro Manila, the city lights is more lovable because there's literally no other building structures in the area.
After some refreshments, we took elevator to the 21st floor and had our lavish dinner sighting the lovely city on the better view. There is a guy wearing the traditional ilonggo ethnic costume who entertained us during our dinner. And finally headed back to the room and had a smooth, soundly sleep.
DAY 2: ISLA DE GIGANTES
For the second day of our stay in Iloilo City. We wasted no time so we take the opportunity to visit great spots this place has to offer. Remember my babe Jhaneah? My companion in Pinto Art Museum visit and a midwife by heart as well. We had a joined group tour, it was supposedly me and Mom with Tita Benny and Tita Remy but because it's totally windy when we went outside the hotel, the two refused to join and decided to attend the second day of convention instead. Jhaneah's clan includes Tita Luz (her mom), midwives from Las Piñas and Longos Cavite, and the newfound friend with long pretty legs, Chrissie, who happens to be my Babe's bestfriend. Jhaneah reminded me about our plan to have out-of-country trip with her Bes and evidently this is the first #BabeBes trip as travel trios. We are apparently destined to meet each other with same thoughts, travel goals and love for catching babies!! 💕☺️
ON OUR WAY TO CARLES PORT, ILOILO.
Almost 5AM when we departed the city. The two hours of long drive was just a minute because of the satisfactory sleep I had inside the van. A sudden stop in the market for a pandesal woke up my consciousness and in a minute we've finally reached the Carles Port. Our package rate is 1500/head inclusive of van, boat ride for island hopping, environmental fees and foods. We listed down our names and divided ourselves into two groups. Mom and I were included in the group of thirteen, a bigger boat than the group of nine's. We struggled in sailing away the port because the anchor was blocked by something. Almost one hour of waiting before the problem has been fixed.
PULO PANDAN aka SPONGEBOB ISLAND
Hour passed and we touchdown on the first island, the Pulo Pandan, which also called by locals as Spongebob Island. Cutie! An island with eye catching elevated tree that you can imagine when you hear the pirate shouting "Whooooo lives in the pineapple under the sea!!?" Lol.
What to expect in an island? Yes, there's always white sands and those kind of sands comes with crystalline water. It was so breezy that time that you can hear the whisper of air rhyming the waves. After picture taking, Mom and I were transferred in the smaller boat and the wind filled the sails to the next island.
It's almost 11AM when we arrived in the next island to have lunch. It's just a typical island where locals lives and not a tourist spot but the water is amazingly beautiful. Seriously it's the clearest water and whitest sand I've seen next to Boracay. No joke! To think it's just an ordinary island, what! Anyway, we went straight forward to the bunch of Bahay Kubos where we supposed to eat. They served us unlimited fried unshelled scallops and chicken with rice. We washed our hands and started eating barehanded until a woman unintentionally surprised us as she enter the kubo carrying a bowl of humungous crabs! Oh, yeah! This is what beach life experience must have! We were delighted by our simple yet sumptuous lunch partnered with sodas. The satisfied and bloated gang rested for a couple of minutes, changed swimming outfits and had our bladders emptied. We clambered back to our boat and it's very unfortunate that we weren't able to experience Lagoon and Sandbars because of the large waves.
GIGANTES ISLAND IS LOVE
After 30 minutes, we finally reached the famous Isla de Gigantes (Gigantes Island). The island is either difficult to describe or totally indescribable but one thing is for sure, its drop-dead beauty is irresistible. 😌 We immediately jumped into the water when boatman tied the boat to the dock. Climbed in almost 20 steps to reach the view deck. The most perfect place to see the beautiful scenery of Island of Giants. Yes, "Gigantes" is derived from the word "Higante" because of the hearsay that there was once a Giant found in this island during the Japanese Colony. Cool story, isn't it? When one tale remains in a particular place and became an exciting story to listen.
As you can see in the picture, it has a group of coconut trees in the middle part of island with layered rocks that looks so stunning. The rock formation is also eye catching and of course those tiny little shells in the shore just made it my second favorite island so far.
The waves are getting bigger and frightening so we opted to sail away from Gigantes Island at two. We didn't get the chance to swim on its transparent water yet our eyes are fed with amaze and unforgettable experience.
HEADING BACK TO CARLOS PORT
During our boat ride, we couldn't help but to be afraid due to the terrific waves we've encountered. Imagine a small boat that can only accommodate nine persons in the middle of largest part of water with monsters of waves slapping our watercraft, seriously stressing.😓 We almost forgot how beautiful the island we've seen because of this very fatal experience. It's getting harsh with each passing minute. The worst boat ride I've ever had! In the middle of our journey, boatman offered us coffee which is also included in the package but in this kind of life and death situation!? Are you kiddin' me? Guess what! If you think the boatman is insane, you wouldn't believe my mom is five times crazier than him for accepting the effin' offer! Mom challenged the boatman that if he can make her a coffee in our dancing and wet boat, she will drink the coffee then. In just five minutes or ten, despite the bumpy situation, the boatman finished her coffee. Now time for mom's challenge, as she started drinking coffee the wave crashed and she sprinkled each one of us with coffee. So silly! Eventually, she finished her coffee with a boastful smile after.
BACK TO THE CITY
4PM: Back to the Carles Port. Some had shower but most of us just changed shirts and started our another two hours of journey back to the city. As we go along, we had a quick stop in the middle of our trip to try their delicious version of Bibingka. The set of four teeny-weeny sizes of bibingka for Php20 was indeed a delish. 👌🏼
It's almost dark when we reached the city. Hungry as ever. We wanted to have Bachoy for dinner but the Original Bachoy house is already close by that time of Eight. We headed back to Injap hotel and had our dinner at 21st floor. Went back to our room and have our eyes shut after taking a shower.
DAY 3: TIME TO EARN NO. OF UNITS
On the third day, woke up at seven, grabbed our breakfast and swiftly proceed to Convention center. After some discussions, we had brunch and went upstairs to buy souvenirs and claim out Certificates. Afternoon when headed back to Injap.
DAY OF FLIGHT
Our flight schedule is 6:50PM. We grabbed the chance to try Iloilo's most popular delicacy, the famous Lapaz Bachoy. The Original Bachoy House is about 30 minutes away from our hotel but there's another Bachoy house inside the SM Iloilo which is just a footbridge away from Injap. Since my companions are very young at hearts and not in bones, they decided to pay for taxi going to Mall instead of walking up the stairs. How ridiculous that experience was! In a couple of minutes, we're down to the Mall and the taxi ride costs Php50. Ted's Oldtimer Bachoy House is just 20 steps from the main door of the mall. We ordered their best-seller original bachoy. Like what I've said in my instagram post, you cannot leave iloilo without ever trying this. The only bachoy I've tasted aside from Supreme's. Lol. Taste good but not that tasteful for me. Just good to know how the original tastes like. 😋
BACK TO MANILA!!!!
3PM when our service arrived and reached the airport at 3:30PM. While looking for sears, a familiar faces approached me with ecstasy, look who I've found! My very jolly BSM classmates! Had small talks and very loud giggles. Yeah, missed these two and the rest of them. 😌 It's only 4PM and the long time of waiting is just so perfect for me and my mom to have a chatting moment over coffee. She was still on a high about our water experience that time. She wanted to get back in Isla De Gigantes one time with the whole family. All she wants is for her baby boy to experience the extreme plane ride he's been dreaming of; for daddy to experience the island hopping like no other;for her eldest daughter to see the beautiful island of Gigantes ; and I promised her to have an eye in every upcoming promos that local airlines will offer. 😉
We flied at exactly 6:50PM. I'm starting to love Cebu Pacific for having no delays in flight compare to AirAsia. Touchdown Manila at almost 8PM. Took our check-in baggages and looked for our van service, and quietly had our smooth travel way back home. Mom and I were fetched by Daddy in Santa Clara Sta. Maria Bulacan at ten. Had our dinner in Gelline's Restaurant and finally reached home at eleven.
Isla de Gigantes is the kind of island you don't even expected to be real. It's like a dream, like the ones we see in fairy tale movies or what we've imagined in fictional books. Iloilo City, a plain simple and very convenient place to visit. From the moment I stepped on its ground to the last drop of saltwater I've tasted. Everything is memorable. I am simply amazed on how Iloilo became this wonderful in my sight. The wide clean road, systematic traffic and organized people. Sometimes all we thought is we've got it all in City, no, correct me if I'm wrong but places like Iloilo can have everything that a city has but a city would never ever have all of the quality these places has. Iloilo City might not be the first one in my list but it surprised me with lot of things like their Airport, Convention Center, delicacies, lovely island etc. You are, without a doubt, the City of Love. Madamo gid nga salamat, Iloilo!
There's surely lots of photos we can see in just one click on the internet but nothing beats the actual experience of seeing it personally; There's surely lots of stories you can hear about it from other people but none of them can defeat your own personal story; And above all there's surely lots of creations God has created but this one is very special because He lets you discovers it. Appreciate life and celebrate every little details of it. 😌
Always embrace life's adventure because journey is measured by experience, not miles.
-journeying rochel.
