KUYA MICHAEL IN 5 FRAMES

FOOTNOTE: I shot Kuya Michael Valenzuela, fellow CLSU alumnus and MASP comrade, as he delivered a tribute to the flag in behalf of our ancient fraternity during the commemoration of the nation's 114th year of independence. 

AMAZING TAGUM

Pampublikong sementaryo na mukhang parke at kinagigiliwang dalawdalawin...

Magarang munisipyo na nagpapahiwatig ng tapat na pamamahala at maluluwang na kalsada na napapalamutian ng mga higanteng palmera...

Pagmamay-ari sa isang "pinakamalaki" sa buong mundo...

Malinis na pamilihang bayan na naglalako ng mga lokal na produkto...

Mapayapang hapunan ng mura subalit masarap na pagkain sa night market.

Ang TAGUM CITY

ay isang mahusay na halimbawa

ng GOOD GOVERNANCE

at POLITICAL WILL!

THE ISLAND WAS THERE BUT WE MISSED THE GARDEN AND THE CITY

The island was there alright.

Some 15 slow minutes from Davao City's Sasa Wharf.

Then some more 15 motorcycle minutes from what used to be the center of the former municipality of Babak to Penaplata which is now the IGaCoS city proper.

But there was no city.

There was no trace of the garden either.

At least I have 2 churches as a consolation.

And I was finally able to scratch that itch to cross-over to the Island Garden City of Samal.

We should have ferried to one of them expensive seafood restaurants at them high-end tourist resorts.

But we usually don't do that as self-proclaimed backpackers.

So back to the real city for a late lunch at good ol' Luz Kinilaw.

PHOTOS: [1] The Virgin Dolorosa parish church of Babak District and [2] IGaCoS's church of the Immaculate Conception in Penaplata. 

SULTAN(s) OF (s)WING

Wings. As in Whisper, with Wings. For extra protection.

The sultan is actually my college fraternity brod Moises Cipriano who also works for an NGO.

Yes, he was the Moi waiting forever at the CLSU main gate for his Ebeng although he's not sure if she'll be coming or not in those mobile phone-less days.

Right again. He was the Moi waiting until midnight to sneak a visit to his then sick Ebeng whose parents hated him so much that smelling his presence is enough to induce a heart attack

Yoh! He was the Moi who sold his Levi's jeans for love and killed cigarettes in his head in those desperate days.

And one starry night in that haunted MASP safe house in Bantug, they lay in the grass and counted the diamonds in the sky. He said: "Alam mo bang noon ay isa kang bituin na para sa akin ay imposibleng abutin?".

They now have 4 kids and happily married. Forever I hope...

PS: Neither of the 2 ladies behind the Sultan is Ebeng. They are in fact sales ladies of a stall in Davao City's Aldevinco Shopping Center who gamely posed for the photo.