Overnight(mare)

During the middle of the spiritual visit of Pope Francis last week, I worked.

I missed the Manila Cathedral and Tacloban mass on TV while our endurance were being tested for an 11-hour land trip from Manila to Baguio! WTF

Last Friday, I went to my first activity for the year (and probably my last) for work  in Baguio. I should have anticipated that my travel will be a torture. Since its a non working holiday for most employees due to the papal visit, a long weekend and everybody just got their pay, I think 1/4 of Metro Manila residents went to Baguio to see La Presa. But, as my colleague said to me “your moon and stars are properly aligned” that’s why I survived that overnight(mare) travel.

Quarter to 7am- my sister and I went to Victory Liner Caloocan to catch the 7am trip directly to Baguio. The next trips were at 2pm pa, anong petsa na kami nun makakarating? So we went to Victory Liner Cubao since every hour naman ang mga direct Baguio trips doon. But there’s no more direct Baguio trips, and everyone else were up for chance passengers. So, I had no choice but mag-2 trips. Sumakay kami ng Dagupan then from Dagupan, sumakay kami pa-Baguio. So akala namin OK na? Pero hindeeeeeeee!

From Dagupan, we were able to catch a bus that normally takes only an hour lang (Dagupan- Baguio). Pero inabot kami ng 3 hours! Papasok pa lang ng Baguio city proper, pila na ng mga buses at private vehicles. Grabe! So, halos mag-6pm na nang maka-check in kami sa hotel. Wala halos masakyang taxi so from bus terminal nilakad na lang namin to hotel. And as you walk, you’ll get irritated and exhausted dahil ang babagal ng mga turistang maglakad. Kakain kami ng dinner, pila pa rin,
Pabalik, ganun din. Right after the activity ng Saturday, our plan is to eat lunch pa, try out Tea House, go to the market for pasalubong, relax at Cafe by the Ruins, etc. pero we were afraid we need to go straight to the bus terminal again para mag-check at bumili ng ticket pabalik ng Manila. And it was the worst! The line at the ticketing was unbearable and hopeless. There were several lanes for chance passengers going to Cubao and Pasay. People looked as if kanina pa silang umaga nakapila don as chance passengers and I thought we’ll be waiting there magdamag. Kumain muna kami then got our bags back in the hotel tapos bumalik na kami bus terminal by almost 3pm. Sakto may bus na pa-Caloocan. Tried to haggle 2 seats as chance passengers sa konduktor, sabe ko “Monumento lang kami kuya. Baka may 2 seats ka pa dyan?” at thank YOU Lord talaga at pinasakay kami agad agad at umalis na rin ng exactly 3pm ang bus pabalik ng Manila. Nauna pa kami sa mga nakapila! Sobrang thankful talaga.

Yun ata ang pinaka nakakakaba at pinaka panget trip ko sa Baguio. I’ve been there several times, pero first time ko lang to naranasan! Aside from we were able to catch rides on time, my sister and I were able to visit Mt. Cloud Bookshop. It’s the mainly reason, she came with me haha I was planning pa nga to drop by La Pressa in Sto. Tomas Road (outside Baguio City) pero next time na pag-off peak na ang mga turista.

The morale of the story is never under estimate the power of 3: holiday, long weekend and payday. LOL

The sunset when we’re going back to Manila.

PS. On Pope Francis’ last day in the Philippines, nakita sya nila Mama at Papa towards his last motorcade back to Villamor Airbase. #LiteralNaBlessed

This was taken from Papa’s video on his cell phone. #blessed