Day 62: All About BXU - Orange as Orange Gets (3rd of a series)

Once you enter the city boundary of Butuan, you will know that you've arrived once you spot these bright orange-colored motorized tricycles on the road. These heavy-bodied trikes are the primary means of transport around the city. I believe they're even more popular than the multicabs that ply the city's specific routes. These orange things will get you almost anywhere within the city limit and even right to your doorstep. The only place these are prohibited to pass by is along J.C. Aquino Avenue. For P6/ride it is quite a cheap way to go around...that is if you don't mind smelling like exhaust at the end of your ride. 

Day 3: My Little Troopers

The end of vacation is never something anyone looks forward to...in fact, it is dreaded by all! In the Philippines, where Christmas and New Year are the longest holidays of the year, Filipinos always wish the vacation was one day longer.

Well, school resumes today, hence the rush to go back home. I was still contemplating on extending our Cebu vacation 2-3 days longer and am I glad I didn't succumb to the temptation or else we would've been stuck or stranded somewhere due to the nonstop rains and flooding all the way home to Butuan. 

My troop of 3 young ones proved themselves brave and ready for anything. The actual boat ride from Cebu to Surigao was actually a breeze, with all three of them on their best behavior. I'm glad it was a day trip which took only about 6 hours compared to the usual 10-12. It was already raining very hard when we docked at Surigao and we had no choice but to don our hooded jackets and disembark. Only our jackets were soaked when we finally made it on the bus bound for Butuan. The kids were mostly asleep throughout the 2.5 hour bus ride. Heavy rains greeted us at the terminal and we were fortunate to get a tricycle to bring us all the way home. Soaked and hungry, we finally arrived home safe and sound early last night. A quick bath, change of clothes and some leftover "baon" as dinner, we snuggled together in bed basking in the cool, rainy weather. Thank you God for keeping us safe!

Day 352: An Overnight Boat Ride

For the first time in many years, the family will be spending Christmas and New Year holidays in Cebu. The excitement about the trip has been teeming for the past couple of weeks. The kids would always ask how many more days to go 'til our trip. We took the Cebu Ferry 2 overnight trip from Nasipit to Cebu shortly after attending the Christmas Party festivities in Jarred's school. The kids were filled with so much joy and anticipation for what lay ahead for the rest of the holidays.  I'm so glad they were all well-behaved during the trip and didn't give Mommy a hard time. I was able to spend some quiet time too when they dozed off early, safely tucked in their bunks.

Day 349: All our bags are packed...

As you can see, we are ready to go on our long Christmas holiday in Cebu.  Since I'll be traveling alone with the kids, I had to send our bags ahead through an earlier voyage of Cebu Ferry 2 courtesy of BCBP Bro. Jensen.  In two days, we'll be in Cebu, spending the holidays with hubby and his family.

Day 138: Waiting for Daylight

In life, there are many surprises - some will sweep us off our feet and others may shock or even disappoint us. I'm the type of person who abhors getting rocked or being jolted out of my comfort zone. I absolutely hate it and it takes me a while before I can fully adapt and accept changes in my life. Suffice to say, I'm for those types of surprises that excite and bring happiness (hey, I'm only human...with human frailties).

As I look upon the horizon, I can see part-darkness and part-light...with yesterday's sorrows and failures behind me, I can only see today's uncertainty...and yet, there is a radiance that peeks in to tell me that tomorrow is another day and that I should embrace it with newfound hope and joy.

Day 134: Dawn of a New Day

Waking up to find this breathtaking scene before me gives hope for tomorrow and the future. There's so much to look forward to and a whole lot more to be thankful for.

May the beauty of God's creations continue to inspire us to become better Filipinos, better human beings and better Christians.

Day 130: PILIPINAS and SoLey...on a balance...

This is the paradise in SoLey that's awaiting a bright tomorrow...Together with the rest of the nation, its future is hanging on a balance.

Today is Election Day...Go out and exercise your right to vote!

Your country and fellow Filipinos need you to make a stand for a principled choice. Whatever happens to us and the future generation lies in your mighty hands.

I pray that tomorrow will be as clear and as beautiful as what you can see here. I see hope and peace on the horizon. May God keep us in the safety of His bosom and may He bless us all!