After owning what is arguably the best phone in the world, I decided to go back to basics so I took out the first mobile phone I bought with my hard earned wages from my first job. It was a Nokia 8210, and it's still working after 10 years. The aesthetic condition leaves a lot to be desired but it's still functional, only the charger and battery needed to be replaced and maybe the case too. When I inserted my sim, it asked for a security code, a five digit number that I have conveniently forgotten, good thing I still have my master code generator based on the IMEI so I was able to unlock it.

I looked at the picture logos and the picture messages saved on it and smiled at how it paled in comparison with the multimedia-rich content that new phones now have; but it's a classic and I love it.

While visiting Ayala, I saw those new brands of mobile phones - Cherry Mobile and MyPhone. Their designs are interesting, they looked like carbon copies of some Nokia models, except they are way cheaper and had more functionality, like a dual sim holder and a built-in TV tuner. I wonder how the build quality is though..

When I first saw the P1, I new I had to have one, it was small and it looked like a calculator, but the selling point of this phone is not really its looks but its price - $23. I was computing the cost of getting a new battery, charger and front and back covers for my 8210 and it looked like it would be more practical to just get the P1 to house my other sim.

After searching for a black P1 at three malls and coming out empty handed, I finally opted to get the next model instead, the P2. The only difference is it has a color TFT screen, an FM tuner and a flashlight, which I still don't know how to activate since I'm refusing to read the manual. The price difference is $7 so I took it home and am now happily listening to the radio on its loud speaker, not bad at all. I just hope it lasts for a year at least.

Last Friday I got an email asking me for hotel recommendations in Cebu and as I was typing my reply, I also outlined a sample itinerary: ShangriLa, check. Waterfront, check. Olango Island hopping, check. Kawasan waterfalls, check. Moalboal, check. Bantayan Island, check. Hmmm, what else? Bohol? Boracay? Palawan?

While I was browsing over the places to see in the island, I realized that it's been a while since we last went to the falls. Ever since I first visited the site back in 1997, it's been a yearly event to just go to Badian, rent a cottage at La Playa or Kawasan then trek to the top of the waterfalls. So that evening I packed my stuff and invited the fam to escape the city's sweltering 35 degrees.

We left for Matutinao at 6AM the next morning, it was a three-hour drive along winding roads that overlook the sea and the mountains. Good thing there were vacant rooms at the resort and the rate was $20 per night, we got the second-floor suite with a balcony that looks out to the coastline. After a quick trip to the public market to buy food for lunch, we proceeded to hike up the falls. Entrance fee was $2.5.

Going up there brought back lots of memories for my older brother and I teased him about the songs he used to sing way back when.. He said he loved too much then and he won't be as stupid this time around. When we finally reached the top, we sat and watched as throngs of people dove into the cold clear blue waters. Somehow the magic of the place has been broken for me, it doesn't remind me of people or feelings anymore, it was like an empty exercise that one does to commemorate a long forgotten ideal.

On the way down, rain greeted our every stride as we navigated through the slippery stone footholds. I wonder how many pairs of sneakers and flip flops have gone through these same leaf-covered steps before mine did, and I wonder how many more will pass this way after I do. 

Back at comforts of our room, we watched the sunset from the veranda and listened as the waves broke the shore. After everything's been said and done, this is still one of my favorite nooks, a place where one can just hide away from the world. Next year I'll be back here again.

So we finally decided to try this famous Balamban liempo - roasted herb-encrusted pork that comes from this mountain town in the northern part of Cebu - talk about food trip! We drove two hours to the mountain tops just to visit this place where they make this special dish.

We took the Transcentral highway and the view going there was amazing, a true photographer's haven, we even saw a couple having their prenuptial photos taken at this wooden bridge connecting two tall cliffs overlooking the ocean - I wanted to stop and take photos too but we were in a bit of a hurry so that we'll reach the place before the fog comes down.

After a dozen more twists and turns and more magnificent views, we finally reached our destination and had lunch at the only place that serves food in that small town. I must say their roasted pork is indeed worth the long drive, but man, two hours?! I'd be hungry again by the time we head back home.

On the way back, we took the SRP road, I like the tunnels and ocean view here, it looks like that race track from need for speed, they say some people do midnight drag races there. Looks a lot has changed in this city since I was last here six years ago. Well, greater things are yet to come here =)

We have three dogs - Wookie, Frou frou and Cooper, they're a mixed breed of Japanese Spitz and Yorkshire Terrier and they occupy half the ground floor living area in the apartment that we're renting. They rarely go out of the house because there's no proper lawn area where they can roam freely, they might cross the street and get run over by speeding vehicles.

I've had Wookie since 2003, she was given by a friend from Davao and is probably my most well traveled dog by far. She has taken the boat, car and bus, she's been to hotels, malls and parks, and has moved with us to every new place we've leased. Frou and Coop are her sons and they rarely leave the house, but when we accidentally leave the door open, they run for it and play hide and seek at the neighbor's backyard.

This year, after much deliberation, we've decided to let go of the dogs and posted an ad for adoption. We were giving the dogs away for free with passport and vaccination papers, the condition was that the new owner should genuinely care for them and have a lawn where they can run around and be happy. A lot of callers answered the ad, but none passed the interviews so far.

Last week we decided to invent the Dog of the Week Award, a lucky dog will be randomly chosen and given a walk along the park with food and refreshments. First thing we did was buy a leash, which we didn't really know how to put on.

Q: How many people does it take to leash a dog? 
A: Three, one to carry the dog, one to figure out how to tighten the collar and another one to actually put the leash on the dog.

Cooper got to be the guinea pig in this exercise. He was happy to go out of the house but unfortunately didn't really want to walk and would just rather chase the neighbor's cat up the roof of a car. Kuya had to carry him until we reached the narrow streets that led to the park, the activity became a carry-the-dog day instead of a walk-the-dog morning. When we finally reached the park, Coop played around on the grass and chased birds, then he got tired and just sat on the sidewalk, refusing to budge. Drei tried to use fried chicken and water to make him respond but he just sat there and ignored the food. In the meantime, we all stared at another guy's dog who was walking beside his owner without a leash, I wonder if Coop will ever be like that, the scene reminded me of the movie "Morley and me".


Q: How many people does it take to walk Cooper? 
A: Three, one to hold the leash, one to act as bait and coach Coop to run towards him and another one to take pictures. =)

All in all it was a great morning to bond with my two brothers, I hope Cooper had a nice time too.