dumaguete to bacolod by bus

Bacolod City, is the capital of the Province of Negros Occidental. It is known as the City of Smiles because of its warm, friendly, and hospitable residents. It was also nicknamed as the "Football City of the Philippines" because of its accomplishments and passion for the sport. It is famous for the Masskara festival held every third week of October that is frequented by local and international visitors.

The shortest route from Dumaguete City to Bacolod City is via Mabinay-Kabankalan route which takes approximately six hours; the aircon bus passenger fare is P284. Aircon buses are limited and have specific schedules of departure. When we miss the aircon bus from Dumaguete City, we take the regular bus and get off at Kabankalan City Terminal then board another bus (usually aircon and non-stop) to Bacolod City. Because the bus from Kabankalan is usually a non-stop trip, our total travel time to Bacolod is usually under the usual six hours.


Other routes are via San Carlos City-Don Salvador Benedicto (about seven hours) and San Carlos City-Escalante City (about eight hours). Routes are serviced by Ceres Liner with regular hourly trips daily.

before 2010 ends

This has been a great year even with the trials and challenges. I have learned a number of things and I believe I have grown more mature compared last year. I am excited to face the next year - 2011. I know it won't be that easy but I believe that it would be greater than this year.

God, thank you for being our Father, Lord, and Savior. We, my wife and I, thank you so much for the great year! We look forward to a greater year next year!

To all our friends and acquaintances, a great and glorious new year to you all! May Christ be with you always and may you experience blessings and prosperity in the next year! Enjoy!

sampaguita gardens aklan

Just after Christmas, we decided to travel and spend a night in Sampaguita Gardens Resort and Spa in New Washington, Aklan. The resort is the creation of the Samuel John Butcher, an American artist and creator of the Precious Moments that promote messages of love, care, and of sharing. More than a resort, they feature an all year round celebration of Christmas.

We booked our rooms a few days before Christmas thinking there might be a number of people visiting the resort after Christmas. Getting to Sampaguita Gardens from Iloilo City took us about four hours. We took a the Ceres Tours aircon bus from the Tagbak Terminal in Jaro, Iloilo City. The fare from Iloilo City to Kalibo Aklan was P216 per person. 

Upon arrival in Kalibo bus terminal, we asked around how to get to Sampaguita Gardens. It was not my first time to go to the resort and I recalled there were multicabs going to New Washington. I learned that the multicabs unload passengers only at the town proper and not straight to Sampaguita Gardens. So we decided to take a motorcab. Some motorcab drivers offered to bring us there for P150; which was not reasonable since the resort was just a few kilometers away and there were only four of us. So, we walked a little and got another motorcab and negotiated with the driver. He agreed to a fare of P100. Sampaguita Gardens was located in New Washington, a municipality next to Kalibo. It took us around 20 minutes to reach Sampaguita Gardens. To show our appreciation, we paid the driver P120.

After a few hours of rest in our rooms, we went around the resort to see the sights and take some pictures. To name a few, we visited The Mansion, Jojo's Christmas Cottage, Precious Moments Chapel, Sammy's Circus Ride, Aquarium, Oriental Flavors Restaurant, and the Pool.

Upon check out, the resort offered free transport to the bus terminal and off we went bringing with us precious memories from our short visit to such a wonderful resort.

For more information contact

Sampaguita Gardens Resort and Spa

506 Rizal Street, Poblacion, New Washington, Aklan

Tel # (63) (36) 264-3422

Tel # (63) (36) 264-3474

overjoyed

The Journey of the Magi by James Tissot, 1894

The story of the Magi in the Bible is one which is familiar to most of us. But because we are so familiar with the story we miss out the great lesson we can learn from them. I recently learned that according to Jewish tradition or legend, they were considered to have come from the east possibly Persia. Considering Persia to be their origin and their destination was Israel, it is estimated to be more than a thousand miles and yet they took that journey with a single purpose: to worship Jesus. They knew that Jesus was the fulfillment of a promise given hundreds of years before their time. A promise of salvation to man and redemption. Despite the distance and the hardships along the way, they braved the journey just to come to Jesus and worship Him. Moreover, they did not come with with weary hearts or faces but the Bible says in Matthew 2:10, that when they found the star leading them to Jesus they were overjoyed or in other translations, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

Today, where travel is just a few minutes or hours away, do we feel the discomfort and complain or give up our time to worship God? When we are in such situations, let us remember the Magi who never gave up on their journey to come and worship Jesus and more importantly, when they arrived, they were exceedingly joyful.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

new generation of bank notes

image courtesy of philstar.com

I was really excited when I read the Facebook status of message of PNoy yesterday regarding the launch of the new generation of Philippine bank notes. I searched around the Internet for some fresh pictures of the new bank notes and what I found really impressed me. I do hope to really see and get one within the week. 

The new bank notes are impressive. All six denominations (P20, P50, P100, P200, P500, and P1,000) have the same old colors but new designs. The P500 bill now features the late President Corazon Aquino with her husband the late Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. Some marvelous landmarks in the Philippines were also featured such as the Banawe Rice Terraces (P20), Taal Lake (P50), Mayon Volcano (P100), Chocolate Hills (P200), the eight-kilometer Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (P500), and the Tubbataha Reefs National Park (P1,000). Aside from these some important species were also featured such as the South Sea Pearl Pinctada maxima, blue-naped parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis) Philippine tarsier, butanding (whale shark), maliputo fish, and the palm civet of the Cordilleras.

image from pinoyexchange.com/forums

Indeed the three years work of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has paid off. According to the BSP, the security features of the new bank notes include security threads, fibers, watermaks, invisible fluorescent inks, optically variable ink, microprint, more pattern, and iridescent band. They day that these new bills would make it difficult and more expensive for counterfeiters to produce fake money. I do hope that indeed you will be ahead of the counterfeiters this time. Good work BSP!

divisoria

image courtesy of frs_1111 of flickr.com

My wife and I went through Divisoria the other day to shop and we really had a great time. It still is the best place to shop for cheap but quality shirts, blouses, jeans, bags, accessories, etc. Depending on your haggling skills, you can really purchase a lot for a few bucks. Just be wary of your pockets and belongings and enjoy shopping!

let us recycle

I have heard a number of advocacies on recycling and it is especially tied to reducing waste and creating a better environment. This morning, someone came knocking and was buying plastic bottles and tin cans. We have been saving cans and plastic bottles from the garbage for these past months and thinking of selling it to recycling centers. But, since we did not, so we decided to sell it to the person this morning. We were able to make P25.

There is still a few bucks that can be earned from the trash that we throw. In our country there is not much recycling yet since there are only a few recycling centers but I learned that in Sao Paolo, Brazil they recycle 96% of the aluminum cans they use. I wonder how much of our waste do we recycle? Let's recycle. Less waste. Less pollution.

handling loose bowel

I spent a few days in the hospital a few days ago and one of the things that I learned was when you are suffering from loose bowel movement, the best thing to do is to just let it out and not take loperamide or anything that stops it. In most cases, you had ingested something toxic or not stomach-friendly hence your body is trying to excrete it. After every trip to the comfort room, take hydrite or oral rehydration salts so as not to dehydrate your body. But if the problem persists, visit a doctor immediately.

dakak beach resort for a few days

We attended a retreat a few days ago that was held at the Dakak Beach Resort in Barangay Taguilon, Dapitan City. We stayed for four days and three nights. I was not able to really go around since we were preoccupied with the activities of the retreat but we really had fun.

To reach Dakak, we traveled early in the morning from Dumaguete City (for more information see dumaguete to dipolog by boat) and disembarked at the Dapitan City Port. Upon arrival, we traveled to Dipolog City to eat lunch and buy some supplies since we were informed earlier that Dakak was far from the premises of the city and there were no convenience store around. The resort's van picked us up at the Lee Plaza City Central Dipolog. The travel to Dakak aboard the van took us almost an hour since some roads were still under construction.

Upon entering the resort, we were awed with its beautiful landscape and cool atmosphere. It had paved roads even in steep areas. From what I gathered, the resort is around 15 hectares with a 750-meter powdery white sand beach. The reception area was located near the restaurant and the beach front while the rooms were situated a few meters away. Bringing our luggage to our respective cottages was not a hassle since there were pavements and directions that clearly mark where our rooms were although it took us around five minutes to get to our rooms. Those who had cottages that were really far took the van that regularly services guests to their rooms or to the parking area.

In my stay at Dakak, I do appreciate the services of their housekeeping since they delivered what we required even though our cottage was far. However, calling through their phone proved to be a challenge since their phones were not user friendly and the instruction card they provided was complicated. The food they served for us was enough to just to ease hunger and not really encourage you to feast although I have not tried their buffet which cost around 335 (breakfast) and 385 (dinner).

What I enjoyed in Dakak was the beach, the pool, and the climb to the 325-step repeater. The repeater gave us a view of the whole resort area and it was just simply breathtaking.

dumaguete to dipolog by boat

wikipedia.org

Dipolog City is the capital of the province of Zamboanga del Norte. To its southeast are rolling hills surrounding the city while bounded in the north by the Sulu Sea. It is known for its sardine industry hence it was called the "Bottled Sardines Capital of the Philippines." It is also popular for its wild orchids. Furthermore, Dipolog City is known to be the "Gateway to Western Mindanao."

We took a boat serviced by George and Peter Lines, Inc. from Dumaguete City and left at exactly 6 AM. The fare was P260 plus a terminal fee of P15 which you have to pay upon entering the Dumaguete City Passenger Terminal. 

At around 10 AM, the boat docked at the Dapitan City Port. We needed to travel from Dapitan City to Dipolog City via land transportation. George and Peter Lines, Inc. had arranged free shuttle buses that will drop us off in Dipolog City. We had to disembark from the boat in a hurry to get good seats in the shuttle bus. The travel from Dapitan City port to Dipolog City took around 40 minutes. If you fail to get on the free shuttle bus, you can opt to ride a tricyle that charges P50 per person to Dipolog City.

a thought on trust

It's just so amazing that with all the things going on for the past few weeks, I learned one important lesson: trust.

I realized how God, our Father trusts. When He sent Jesus, His one and only Son to earth to redeem man, He trusted Him. When Jesus came here on earth, He was prone to sinning. Just one hint of sin and He will be separated from the Father and He would also fail to accomplish the task and plan that the Father and Jesus had. But, the Father trusted him that much that Jesus was able to do it. The Father had faith in His Son, that He said, "In Him I am well pleased."

When Jesus Christ fulfilled His task here on earth (John 3:16). He left to be with the Father and He entrusted the "fate of the world" to 11 men. The wonderful thing is: He trusted them. did He have a plan B in mind? No. He trusted them completely. He had faith in them - that whatever He taught them would bear fruit in their lives. Were the apostles not prone to sin? Yes they were. Actually if they chose to deviate from their calling they could do so becasue of their free will. An example of one of their imperfections, is the case between Peter and Paul - when Paul rebuked Peter on the issue concerning the Gentiles. Though they had the Holy Spirit working in their lives, they were still prone to failure. But Jesus trusted these men. The results of the trust that Jesus had on these men is evident today, 2000 years later. See how Christianity has grown and spread. It started with the eleven men whom Jesus trusted.

How much do you trust your children, people you are following up? I don't undermine, however, the need for correction, rebuke and teaching especially in the years of the children's growth and to the beginnings of the people you are following up. You need to put that protection over them as a father does for his children. you need to coach them. Feed them. Make decisions for them. But, there comes a time when you just have to let them go and make the decisions themselves. You just have to trust them. The correction, rebuke and teaching is still applicable after you've released them, but, you have to allow them to make the decisions themselves whether they fail or succeed.

I realized that some of these young adults who are "mama's boys" that get involved in gangs know that there is danger to what they get involved into. But they want to have that feeling of being reponsible for themselves. They don't just want to look cool. They want to show the world that they are able to make decisions for themselves. When we don't put our trust on the people we love when its time for them to walk on their on steps, they rebel. They distance themselves.

I could relate to that. I am a "mama's boy" myself. I'm proud of it. But i thank my mother because she realized that at a certain point, she needs to let me go and do things on my own. Because of that, I learned to make decisions, grow up and fight on. I am thankful that I wasn't driven to get involved in gangs - though I was on the verge of doing so years ago. instead, I got involved with something that's so important in life - Jesus Christ... and I know, He trusts me.

Note: This is a repost (with a little editing) of my original blogpost entitled "On the Issue of Trust" posted on Multiply last December 3, 2006 at 8:52 PM.

working online

For the past few months, I had some free time from work and while I was browsing through the Internet I came across opportunities to earn money online. I have discovered that there are many things that you can work on. Most of these jobs are easy and does not require a degree. Some of these jobs include article writing, data entry (spreadsheet or document), virtual assistant, and website designer and maintenance. There are also sites that feature surveys that pay you a good amount for taking the time to answer their questions.

Those that I have tested that had employers who really pay you for your work are EasyOutsource and OnlineJobsPH.

facing mistakes

What do you do when you make a mistake? when you are at fault? Do you take responsibility for it and face the consequences of your actions? or do you blame the situation or other people?

It takes courage to do so. It may be difficult but it is the right thing to do. We can never make it in life if we do not learn to accept our faults. The great thing with mistakes is learning from it and so you can do the right thing next time.

foundations are vital

I had a great time with friends last night and I learned a lot from our exchange of thoughts and realizations. One of the most important things I realized was the significance of foundations in life.

Foundations play a crucial role in life because it is where beliefs and principles are founded. Through time foundations, like those in buildings, need to be checked because cracks might have built up making the foundation unstable. We have to review and strengthen our personal foundations so we avoid crumbling down when life situations become tough and challenging.

how to choose your netbook

I have been scouting for a laptop for the past few months. My first consideration was something light and handy since the laptop I'm using is bulky and carrying it when I travel is not much of a comfort. So, I decided to consider buying a netbook.

Netbooks are small, lightweight, inexpensive, and are designed for mobility, wired and wireless online access, word processing, and general office applications. It usually weighs a little more than one kilograms and features LCD screens between six to ten inches. It is fit for people who want to work and be connected on the go.

In comparison to notebooks, netbooks has some trade-offs features such as optical drives have been omitted. It has smaller screens, keyboards, and trackpads. Its computing power has also been reduced. However, aside from being cheaper and lighter in weight, it now has longer battery life (with netbooks running on Intel Atom processors).

Choosing the netbook I wanted to purchase took me a lot of time in research. I wanted to make sure that I won't regret my decision after. I read product specifications, tech reviews, and user reviews. It is important that before purchase you know the unit's pros and cons.

These are some of what I considered (aside from budget):

• brand (i.e. Lenovo, MSI, HP, Acer, etc.) 
• what brand am I comfortable with? or what brand would give me my money's worth? what brand is trusted by most users? 
• processor (i.e. Intel Atom N455, 470, 475, or 550?) 
• would I be comfortable with a single core CPU at 1.87 GHz or dual core at 1.5 GHz? (if you are not familiar with its significance, google it) 
• RAM [random access memory] (i.e. 1GB or 2GB) 
• for a faster netbook, it's better to get it to 2GB but if you are patient enough and have budget constraints then you can always settle for 1GB
• HD [hard disk] (i.e. 160GB, 250GB, 320 GB) 
• how big would you want it? when you want to store pictures, movies, etc. you want this to be bigger or else you need to purchase an external HD 
• thickness (slim & light or any) 
• this is a good consideration when you want to travel light 
• other features (i.e. tablet) 
• if you want the latest in technology and you feel that this latest innovation will address your wants and needs, then, why not? 

These were my considerations aside from how much I can shell out for a netbook. Reviewers say that a netbook usually is at its best condition up to five years. After that, consider buying another one (well, you need to since by that time, your unit is obsolete).

i believe..

I am reminded of a principle someone shared during our meeting the other day. He said, "A change in belief will lead to a change in behavior." I actually heard this awhile back but during this time it got me thinking and I realized that our beliefs greatly influence how we live life.

neon sculpture by joe rees

For example, if we believe that there are great things in store for us in the future, we remain hopeful and positive despite the hard and challenging times of the present. Our eyes are fixed not on the difficulties of today but on the opportunities of success tomorrow. On the other hand, if we believe that nothing good will come out of life, we are often pessimistic of our situation and of people. There are also people who do not firmly believe in anything so they end up being swept into everything without accomplishing something.

However, we also have to be careful with what we believe because we can sincerely believe in something and at the same time be sincerely wrong. In other words, the danger in belief is in what we believe. It might be a lie.

following wholeheartedly

When we want to live a fruitful life, we need to follow Jesus Christ wholeheartedly. Whatever it is that hinder us in following Him totally must be rid of. The key to growing spiritually and fruitfully as we follow Christ is total and absolute surrender to His Lordship.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:1

no longer servants

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. - John 15:15

I find it comforting to know that Jesus Christ does not consider us servants who need to do His bidding. Instead, He considers us friends with whom He has shared everything. We are his dear friends whom He loves and cares for. He gives us the freedom to think, ponder, and act on the words of truth that He shared with us.

seeking Him first

Sometimes we are all too focused on the things we need (and want) that we forget and miss out on the important things in life. There are times when, out of desperation to acquire or achieve, we neglect the people who love us most - our families and friends. But, the greatest tragedy, is when we miss out God just because we are so focused on the desires of our hearts. Our needs and wants are important but it does not compare to God who is the reason why we are here and why we can have life after this one. In addition, we have to realize that we actually have all that we need when we seek God first. Moreover, God knows what we need and He has appointed Jesus to be head over everything for the church, which is his body..

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. - Matthew 6:33

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills everything in every way. - Ephesians 1:22,23

a superhero like no other

A while ago we watched Megamind at Robinson's Movieworld. The movie was about Megamind, a highly intelligent blue alien who was sent to Earth, aboard a space capsule, a few moments before his home planet was destroyed. After a series of unfortunate events on Earth, he was able to finally win a battle, get the girl, and most importantly, his life's purpose: to be the defender of Metro City. The movie was both entertaining and funny.

Some lines I can remember from the movie:

Megamind: You're a villain alright but you're not a super villain.

Tighten: What's the difference?

Megamind: Presentation!

because it has been a wonder

I have written this poem out of nothingness. Nothing else of interest except that with full confidence I’m sharing it to you. Even then, enjoy as I’m enjoying dragging myself. I ought to be getting some sleep. It’s 2:30 in the morning. My sister before going to sleep had but a confused sense of what she was going to say to me. She had instinctively avoided mentioning of putting off the lights early. She had grown tired of prompting me and was seized with the despairing sense of helplessness. She knew well enough of my having kept the lights on as long as my mind does not grew perfectly drained.

Because It Has Been A Wonder

It has been one of the wonders 

For the iron heavens seemed to melt and rain down sweetness

Having done something glimmering in my empty world 

Giving a warm sense of constancy and reliance

Stealing a wave of reticence

Regaining any signs of exhaustion and contend.

It has been one of the wonders

Coz I’m apparently driven with such taste and impulse

My silence conceals far reaching resentments

Beyond further pretense of reserve

With some shred of memory

Something must be done at once.

It is madness then to withhold

To be terrified with the bliss of feelings

Thinking of confused possibilities

At other times, hiding with joy of indifference

In the stillness of accelerated beat of my thought 

I’m going to do something less definable but more exquisite.

Because it has been a wonder.

To take pleasure in the shattered fragments of expectations.

Note: This poem is a republish of my wife's original post in Friendster dated 18 October 2006 at 9:18pm

the time is right

We all have needs and wants. Needs are important. Wants, on the other hand, are things we can live without. But, when we do not get what we want, we end up frustrated or depressed. So, we ask God for all these things but sometimes it does not get answered the way we hope it would. Some of us feel bad, ask God, and complain why.

For the past few years I have been one of those who question God why. However, recently, the messages that have been preached and the words of truth that I have read have begun to sink in and I have come to accept that God knows better and He knows when the time is right.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

booked worm

Growing up, my parents exposed me to the world of books. Some of the first few books I read, as far as I can remember, were The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, The Little Mermaid, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, The Emperor's New Clothes, Oliver Twist, and Ben Hur. The stories and kept me interested and in want of reading more books.

During my elementary years, I began reading more books since there was a library accessible to us. I would spend my free time to reading books aside from playing games with my friends. Sometimes, I would sneak a book out of the library and bring it to class and put it on my lap and read it during classes. Maybe that is why I did not get most of the grammar classes that our teacher was teaching us since I was not paying that much attention.

Anyway, it was also during my elementary years that I started reading the Hardy Boys books. I was drawn by the mysteries and investigations they conducted. Because of my fascination in mysteries, I even ventured to reading Nancy Drew books when I finished the Hardy Boys books in the bookshop where I rented books. However, as I grew up and learned, I got tired of reading these kinds of books because the mysteries had become "predictable". So I searched and began reading other books such as those by Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, John Grisham, and Robin Cook. One of the books that kept me up all night (just to finish it) was Robin Cook's Outbreak. However, during the proliferation of games on the onset of the digital age, my attention to books waned. I began spending more of my time with Dune, Quake, StarCraft, CounterStrike, Diablo, Dungeon Siege, Final Fantasy, Ragnarok, and many more.

Later in life, after I finished my studies, I realized that since I had abandoned my time with books and even with newspapers, I had become ignorant of the things of life. My knowledge became limited to the worlds within the games I played. I may be armed with the ways on leveling up fast and upgrading my weapons but these were not the weapons I needed in the world outside cyberspace. Though requiring a lot of patience and endurance, I resolved that I would start my way back to reading books.

It's time to hit the books..

dumaguete to cebu on a private vehicle

Getting to Cebu City from Dumaguete City is one of my frequently traveled routes mostly due to work. Most of my travels were through public transportation. There are many options that can be taken: boat, fast craft, bus, and a combination of bus and fast craft, ferry or pumpboat. I had only tried thrice to get to Cebu City on a private vehicle.

On a private vehicle from Dumaguete City, travel around 20 kms. north to Tampi, San Jose to get on a ferry serviced by Maayo Shipping, Inc. to cross to the island of Cebu. The ferry docks at Barangay Bato, Municipality of Samboan, Province of Cebu. There are 15 simultaneous trips between the ports of Tampi and Bato. It costs P870 for vehicle freight and P70 for every passenger. When we took the ferry last time, they gave free fares for the driver and one passenger. It used to be free fare for the driver only.

Upon disembarking in the port of Bato, get to the highway and turn right to get to Cebu. This route passes through the Municipality of Argao and according to some, is the fastest route to get to Cebu City. The route on the left goes through popular dive site municipalities of Badian and Moalboal.

The Argao route on a private vehicle takes a little over two hours compared to the usual three hours by bus. The traveler can also opt not to go through the traffic in Pardo before entering Cebu City by taking the SRP (South Road Properties) Road in Talisay City which takes you along the coast and through an underpass that exits to S. Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City.

For more information contact

Maayo Shipping Lines, Inc.

Tampi, San Jose, Negros Oriental

Tel # (63) (35) 417-0280 | (63) (35) 419-6023

dumaguete to cebu by bus

Traveling to Cebu City from Dumaguete City by bus is one of the routes that I am familiar with since I have gone through it a number of times, mostly because of the nature of my work. There are two options that travelers can take in this route.

Option 1 - Bus direct to Cebu City

Dumaguete to Cebu
Ceres Liner Schedule

Ceres Liner (Vallacar Transit Corporation) buses service direct trips to Cebu City from Dumaguete City via the Tampi, San Jose-Bato, Samboan route. There are six trips daily and the fare is around P250 plus P70 for the ferry in Tampi. 

Option 2 - Fastcraft/ pumpboat then bus/ van to Cebu City

Travelers can take a multicab (fare is P10 per person) or pedicab from Dumaguete City to the Port of Sibulan located behind the Public Market. People can either take the fastcraft (fare is P62 including the terminal fee) or the pumpboat (fare is P47 including the terminal fee). The schedule of trips of both crafts are usually every 30 minutes. Both the fastcraft and the pumpboat dock in Liloan, Santander, Cebu but in different ports which are located a few meters apart.

Sibulan, Negros Oriental to Liloan, Santander, Cebu
Fastcraft Schedule of Trips

Upon arrival in Liloan, those who took the fastcraft can take the bus waiting in the fastcraft terminal to Cebu City. The fare of the airconditioned bus is P162. The travel duration usually takes three to three hours and a half. The bus' final stop is at the Cebu City South Bus Terminal. Those who took the pumpboat can take the van standing by outside the pumpboat docking area. The fare of the airconditioned van is P150. The travel usually takes less than three hours and upon arrival in Cebu City parks at the Citilink.

dumaguete to cebu by boat

There are many boat trips to Cebu City from Dumaguete City. Tickets can be availed from the offices of the shipping companies located in the Port of Dumaguete.

Fastcraft

photo courtesy of

www.silent-gardens.com

Ocean Fast Ferries, Inc. (OceanJet) has a daily trip to Cebu City (via Tagbilaran City) which departs at 2:20 PM and arrives at 7:20 PM; taking about five hours of travel. From their website, Tourist Class accomodation is P900 while Business Class costs P1,200.

Ship/ Ferry

www.cokaliongshipping.com

Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Inc. regularly (except Mondays) services trips leaving at 12 AM midnight and arriving in Cebu City Pier 1 at 6 AM. Passage rates are available in their website.

photo courtesy of

mcgutib.wordpress.com

George and Peter Lines, Inc. has two regular trips from Dumaguete City: Thursdays at 3 PM which arrives in Cebu City Pier 2 at 9 PM and Fridays at 11 PM that docks at Cebu City Pier 2 on Saturday at 5 AM.

For more information contact

Ocean Fast Ferries, Inc.

CPA Bldg., Pier 1

Cebu City, Cebu

Tel # (63) (32) 255-7560

Fax # (63) (32) 255-0115

email: marketings@ocenjet.net

website: www.oceanjet.net

Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Inc.

Cokaliong Tower, Don Sergio Osmeña Avenue

North Reclamation Area, Cebu City, Cebu

Tel # (63) (32) 232-7211 to 18

Fax # (63) (32) 231-6825 | (63) (32) 231-6826

George and Peter Lines, Inc.

GP Bldg. Arellano Blvd. cor. V. Gullas St.,

Pier 2, Cebu City, Cebu

Fax # (63) (32) 254-0679

Tel # (63) (32) 254-5404 (Freight)

Tel # (63) (32) 254-5154 (Passage)

a few days in southern leyte

First Mass in the Philippines

by Carlos V. Francisco

A few weeks ago I had a chance to visit the Province of Southern Leyte in the Eastern Visayas Region (Region VIII). According to historical accounts, Limasawa, an island in the southern part of the province, was the venue for the first Christian mass thus considered by some to be the birthplace of Christianity in the Philippines.

I was in Southern Leyte for a few days not for leisure but for work so I did not have the luxury of going around to see the sights around the province. However, during the travel to and from the Municipality of Hinunangan, the venue for a training we were facilitating, I was convinced that the province was beautiful and breathtaking.

The province had amazing landscapes, green and thick forests, magnificent views of the coast from the mountains, thunderous waves along the beach, enchanting beaches, and uniquely beautiful islands. In addition, it is breathtakingly awesome since Agas-agas Bridge, the highest bridge in the Philippines, can be found in Sogod, Southern Leyte. The bridge is 350 meters long and is about 90 meters high from the riverbed.

Aside from the wonderful scenes, the people were also warm and friendly. It also amazed me that the Province of Southern Leyte had its own flag and hymn. For the people of the province, the flag is a "visible representation of their feelings, aspiration of fulfilling their legitimate dreams, values of faith, and confidence in their capability to undertake the task of nation-building, freed from the inequalities and maladies of old".

My visit to the Province of Southern Leyte may be short but it has encouraged me to consider coming back and see more of the wonderful sights it has to offer.

travel from dumaguete city to iloilo city

The route from Dumaguete City to Iloilo City has been one of my most traveled - from once a month to a few times per quarter. Most of my trips were through bus. I take the Ceres Liner bus from Dumaguete City to Bacolod City which goes through Mabinay and Kabankalan City. The fare as of October 7, 2010 was PhP284.00 for non-aircon and PhP250.00 for non-aircon. 

However, There are times that I do not opt for the bus that travels directly to Bacolod City especially when it is a non-aircon bus. From Dumaguete City, I choose to get off in Kabankalan City and take the non-stop aircon bus to Bacolod City. The fare from Dumaguete City to Kabankalan City on the non-aircon bus is PhP155 and the non-stop aircon bus from Kabankalan to Bacolod City is P110.

Upon arrival in Bacolod City, I took the taxi to the fast craft terminal for Iloilo City which costs around PhP70.00. Before entering the terminal, there is a terminal fee of PhP10.00 for the taxi. The fares for the fast craft range from PhP275.00 to PhP300.00 for one way. If you are planning to get back to Bacolod City from Iloilo City within the year, you can purchase roundtrip tickets which cost PhP390.00 to PhP400.00. The fastcraft to Iloilo City takes an hour to an hour and a half.

The Iloilo City fastcraft terminal is located in the Iloilo River. Transportation is not a problem since there are taxis in the port premises and outside the main gate of the terminal. If you have a few baggage and is on a limited budget for fare, you can walk to street where jeepneys pass by. Jeepney fare starts at PhP7.00.

extreme sports can help you lose weight fast

Losing weight has been a struggle for most people. Some are willing to invest on fitness packages, though costly, with an assurance of successfully losing weight. Others modify their diet, either by being calorie conscious or organic, as promoted by reliable nutritionists and celebrities who have undergone the method. These schemes, with commitment and diligence, can successfully lose weight but will take time. Because of wanting to lose weight faster, some have resorted to taking up slimming medicines which has unclear long term effects. People who want to lose weight fast and have the guts to face the tremendous challenges while enjoying the thrill and excitement of the activity take extreme sports. Experts have revealed that these intense activities burn calories in great amounts that contribute to loss of weight in a short period of time compared to those offered in fitness centers.

photo courtesy of karl h. epp  www.cebu-travel.com

People who love the water can do a number of water sports such as going sailing, windsurfing or simple surfing which can help burn around 200 calories an hour. Those who have the taste for a more extreme activity can do whitewater rafting to burn as much as 350 calories per hour. Those who love exploring the world’s magnificent corals and marine resources can benefit 350 calories an hour of burnt calories from snorkeling. Those who go to the depths doing scuba diving profit more at 500 calories and hour.

There are also a number of activities for individuals who prefer to be on land such as skateboarding that can burn as much as 350 calories an hour or skating that can burn more calories at 500 an hour. Those who love bikes burn 280 calories an hour in motor-cross while those who love cars can go drag racing and lose 420 calories an hour. Going up the heights can achieve not just the glory of conquering the peak but also of burning calories. While going up in rock climbing, as much as 750 calories an hour is burned; while, going rappelling down can cut down 500 calories an hour.

Those who seek more than the thrill of going up the heights can do extreme sports in the air like sky diving or hang gliding to lose as much as 245 calories per hour. However, lower energy is exerted because most of the work is due to gravity and not of the body’s efforts.

image courtesy of www.canada-photos.com

The change of season to winter is not a hindrance to extreme sports because there are a number of activities during this period. Its cold atmosphere favors those who want to burn those calories faster because the body works extra to keep itself warm and every activity requires exertion of more effort. Activities like snowboarding can burn as much as 500 calories an hour while downhill skill can lose as much as 700 calories an hour. Cross country skiing which requires a bit more effort compared to the two activities can help the individual lose up to 1,000 calories an hour.

It should be noted that the number of calories burned is influenced by body weight and dependent on the effort that the person devotes to the activity.

Losing weight through extreme sports, like those programs in fitness centers, cannot happen overnight. Desperation to lose weight as a motivation to do extreme sports is not enough. Extreme sports are not for the faint of heart. From its name alone, these activities are quite challenging and involve facing your fears. Passion, courage, and diligence are requirements to continually involve in these activities and see its results. When doing extreme sports, the most important thing is to enjoy the challenge and adventure and have fun.