I do not like reading articles that are too verbosely written, I did not even realize I have written one with so much verbosity after reading my last post here in my blog. I do not have any intention however to edit my post. Just leave it as it were. It’s up to the reader if they’ll find it amusing or painstakingly boring, although I would hope it would always be the former.
So we enjoyed our little time with the cute harmless Tarsiers. They have names actually but, the introduction was so fleeting, I couldn’t remember their names anymore. I wonder how a person would react if we were just introduced and after less than a week I’d forget his name! It would be too rude… but they’re not human so I’m excused.
The best thing Bohol could offer to its visitors is not those that I have already described in this journal actually. I know, those who had been in this Island would somehow agree that the best thing we can enjoy viewing here is the numerous mounds that are randomly sitting on the landscape of the municipality of Carmen now known as the “Chocolate Hills”.
This view is something to behold! Seeing this site would make you be amazed at how nature made this possible. Well I’ve read how the tectonic plates and the fact that the Philippines is on the path of the earth’s Ring of Fire does not actually sate my curiosity. The ‘how this nature made this into what it is now’ is something that can not be explained easily by science. This is maybe a part of the divine universal design and this is not what I think as something to be considered as an accident done by nature. Well, whatever! I know there are other things on earth much more magnificent and tremendously fascinating view than this, but this is definitely one of a kind that is accessible to my place and I’m so glad I’ve been here to experience this view!
The view from where I stood is definitely breathtaking. It would had been better though when you would spent time here alone, but I was with a big group of tourists and other than us there were also some noisy chinks (sorry for the word and slang…) chattering at my back. It is true that you can appreciate nature at its best when you are alone with it, confronting the capabilities of its forces and beauty, and conquer whatever it is that makes you think you are less noteworthy than the creation around you…
Here though I was trying hard to focus, trying to make a connection with the spirits of the environment but only got so distracted, not just by several chattering creatures at my back, but by some hunks which happened to be around during this tour. Kenneth definitely just as he normally does, was busy again taking pictures of himself and to some random guys… LOL…
After here we went to the last destination of the tour, back to Panglao Island where the Dauis Church can be found. Similar with Baclayon, it was built around the 17th century and mysteriously has an interior spring situated right at the nave of the church. Local people believe that the water is miraculous and so visitors would somehow think it is so, and they would line up to ask for a bottle of agua bendita. I had collected too and I brought it with me here in Surigao. Perhaps I will use it to gargle everytime I would commit oral abuse, you know what that means!... LOL!…
The last day of our Chem Congress was a tour, but we’ve read that not all of Bohol’s Tourist sites can be accommodated for the day’s tour. We decided to spare our last afternoon before the day for the official tour be spent in PanglaoIsland.
I was with some participants from ZamboangaCity, we were nine of us in all. We were able to make three stops, which were seemingly hectic but it was cool, considering that we had limited time that afternoon and the driver we contract for that tour was paid fairly cheap enough compared to the usual tour packages. We paid the driver of a cab with Php 1,000.00 only (he only asked Php 800.00) for the whole tour, while tour agencies would usually require Php 900.00 for an individual tour package. That means, we were supposed to pay Php 7,200.00 if we were to avail a tour package from any of the local tour agencies!
Our first stop was at the HinagdananCave.
The cavern was dark and has an underground pool. The water was fresh and not salty. It’s clear but you can not see the floor of the pool because the cavern was seemingly dark even when there were few light bulbs inside, purposely installed to allow the visitors to see their path since the rock that forms the flat-forms for catwalks is always slippery or most of the time covered with water.
It’s a little creepy and silent, what you would hear inside are the sounds of bats trying to find some niche where they couldn’t be disturbed from their own siesta. Even if the visitors would not try to make loud talks, their murmurs would somehow reverberate inside this chamber as if the whispers were made by a lot of enchanted beings, echoed several times which does not also stop because the time the echoed whispers dissipates another one would somehow start to reverberate.
We passed a certain old church that was accordingly built during the 17th century. San Agustin Church has a five-storey BellTower that stands majestically even if its first floor is almost completely submerged below the ground.
Its thick walls were made of corals from its local seashores! Imagine if the Green Peace and other environmentalist groups did exist early during the Spanish Time, the gobernadorcillo and other Spanish Officials, even the Friars would have been charged for destroying the environment! Not to mention all the force labor employed just to have this work done. The cruelty of humanity can sometimes create a magnificent work of art/architecture.
The group decided to cool off at the beach, while the sun was still a bit at the middle of the sky. We went to a beach beside one of Bohol’s expensive Beach Club. It was so because if we want to experience the ambiance of the expensive Beach Club resort, we only have to cross the beach front and go to their well-manicured area, hehe….
I wish I could put the picture facing this beach… the water was actually serene and clear, although it would have been much better if the beach was a little bit deserted like the ones you would see in the beaches of SiargaoIslands. This time of the year however, Panglao is so inhabited by a lot of tourists and local people, obviously because it is near Cebu City and people from the urban areas would find this place a very accessible escape from the summer heat.
The next day was a bit more exciting as we were scheduled to visit a lot of sites including the world-renown Chocolate Hills. I was there ones after I attended a friend’s wedding which was held at a church in this same Island.
Our 1st stop the next morning was at an old Governor’s House. The building was now transformed into a government seminar house and a souvenir stop for tourists. Then we went to the Blood Compact Shrine. I do not know why they have to put the shrine there when the Blood Compact Rites between the Spanish Conquestadors and the Filipino Indios in the 16th century did not actually happen in that area. I can recall my College History that it happened somewhere in the VisayanIsland but not actually in that area. I would have wanted to ask the tourist guide this but I wasn’t at the mood in making a debate regarding the exact historical recounts, and for one, it would be insensitive of me to hurt the pride of the local tourist guide considering that they put so much pride in the fact that it really occurred in their island.
Nonetheless, the view in this part of the Island is breathtaking. You can see the sea and far to the horizon the beauty of the world.
That island that can still be seen from where we stood is actually an Island inhabited by dolphins. There was another tour package for this. You can have an actual exposure to the dolphins and frolic with them in the sea! I would have loved that. I love water and I would have chosen to go but my extra pocket money was not enough for that tour package. I believe somehow I’d be able to come back. By then I would really go there…
Several kilometers from this area stood the BaclayonChurch.
Built in 1727, it is said to be the oldest coral church in the region. It is one of oldest in Asia and foremost among the best-preserved Jesuit-built churches in the Philippines. The convent which is connected perpendicular to the nave of the church, houses the well-preserved olden implements, church’s gizmos and tools during the Spanish Friars’ time. The altar has an elaborate design where a lot of niches were suspended at the back of the altar as alcoves housing for a lot of statues and idols of saints.
The walls are thick and the windows still hold tinted glass panes.
At a certain moment during our short stay inside the church I studied every figure and the crevices and design of the interior, then I knelt on one of the pews, trying to pretend I was praying. I pictured everything with my eyes closed, relive everything I saw with my poor memory, and I felt the hair at my nape raised in a goose bumps, as if I saw an old moment in the past, in a trance I was like observing a mass that happened long, long ago when this church was just newly-built. I couldn’t understand the feeling. Maybe it was some sort of a feeling of nostalgia, sad but a little bit holy. There was a sense of total respect to something I couldn’t understand. I am not a strong believer, not even to my own religion. I am the least Catholic in my own family but I always believe about a certain Supreme Power, I know there is something or someone more powerful than all the energy combined in the whole universe. I was just so awed this church was able to concretize the absolute gratitude of human beings towards this Divinity, whatever or whoever we call IT that. I do not know whether people today still think and do something good in honor to this Supreme Power or Being. With all the amenities and conveniences we have, we do not even think there is This entity whose total wisdom knows no bound. I can only trust my life to HIM or to IT.
Suddenly I felt the urge to light a candle before the saints parading on the altars and pray for gratitude, for the grace of life I enjoyed even until that moment where what prevailed inside my head was loathing for the misery of being abandoned by a lover. I somehow felt as though I had grasped a certain wisdom, that everything that happened in my life has a meaning. Whether I understood it at the time or not, I just felt that the answer to a lot of selfish questions that still lingered at the back of my head had been put into the light and was meant for a divine purpose. I just know that, whatever it was I’d been mulling as useless investments to a person I considered important, was somehow significant. I know that I made a connection; that somehow I have touch a single soul, longer than I suppose to have made, and I am blessed that for a long period of my life I was important to this soul and I mattered to him. When we got out from the church I felt no regret for all the bad and good things I experienced in my life recently. I just know that I’d be content and happy that even if I did not achieve certain things people consider with so much greatness, I am not insignificant after all. I was also relieved from all the worries that I wouldn’t be responsible anymore for this soul, because I made everything possible to be of good service to him, I had been a provider, a friend and a lover. I was so thankful to God for giving me the chance to meet this person, and for all my moments with him and beyond.
The bus took us then to the docking area at the LobocRiver where the next tour activity would be a cruise along this river.
We had our lunch on the cruise while enjoying the scenic views along the river and a duet band was making rendition of Carpenter Songs as a means of extra entertainment. We sang along with the two singers and the air was so festive! The air was neither so cold nor so hot, the ambiance was just too perfect and the company that I was with, were so cheerful!
We docked at another area where several domesticated tarsiers were being showcased (along with flying lemurs) to tourists.
Tarsiers are the smallest primate on earth, their size is no larger than the palm of an adult human being. They can only be found in Asia. BoholIsland is remarkably the only place in the Philippines where this creature thrived. However they are considered endangered species as their number has significantly dropped in the recent century. They are logically fated to become extinct as these primates do not have a dominant ability to reproduce. When a female tarsier is fertile it can only accommodate one single lover, since their vagina closes after every sexual encounter. The breeding season takes almost a year and they give birth only to a single off-spring, after the maternal labor these creatures would be busy nurturing their babies that they do not have anymore attention for any creature of their kind. They are considered loner and territorial as their domicile should be one that is more or less a kilometer away from its neighbor tarsier. Interesting actually!, I haven’t known a single tribe of human beings who are totally monogamous and loner...
I think I need to recapitulate the memories I have had during my short sojourn to Bohol Island before I will leave it into total oblivion. Reading them in my blog will surely help me recall the few good things I’ve got to experience this year.
We have to cross the water towards Cebu City on an overnight trip before taking another fast craft to Tagbilaran City the next afternoon. The trip to Cebu City was my first since the time I’d use to cruise or fly in between islands for the project development activities that we were tasked to monitor during my short stint with the Australian Aid for International Development (AusAID), and that was over 6 yrs ago!
Aside being with Kenneth’s company, Ate Warly, Biboy’s close family friend and neighbor, was also with us. (Ate Warly has become my confidante as well since the time she was introduced to me by Biboy. She is also the mother of Biboy’s best friend, John). I think it was such timely that we were with her so I could have a better chance to ventilate more and get to the issue deeper about our break-up since Ate Warly seemed to know more about it and Biboy’s recent undertakings. We talked so much about it almost all our waking time during the trip. It helped ease me up a bit, but it did not relieve me from all the pain. I kept on thinking anyhow that I was there on the trip to escape from that miserable fate.
Ken has a way of annoying his companion while not knowing it, it’s the way he offer advises and comments on things as if it is really needed by someone who is listening to him. Well, that was not actually my concern during the trip, although I would somehow suffer his rantings during the entire period we were attending the Chem Congress (LOL!). But I would somehow enjoy his company, it’s amusing when he leer to alluring male species as if he can catch them with the timid expressions of his eyes, hehehe… He was also busy during our boat ride to Cebu, lurking on some college boys who were returning to that city for the Summer Classes. I wasn’t just so sure he was able to get one on a quickie because he was always out of my sight most of the time until I woke up early the next morning. He invited me outside the boat so we could view the city, while taking pictures at the edge of the railings as the boat was just about to dock yet.
Figure 1 - Obviously just woke up...
When we arrived at Cebu we asked Ate Warly to allow us to leave our things in her hotel room so we could still go gallivanting at the SM Mall. So Ken and I had decided to see a movie (entitled T2) before going back to the pier for our next ride (on a fast craft) that would take us to Tagbilaran City. We got to the Travelers Lounge before getting into the movie-house so that we can schedule our return-trip ahead, for sure there would be a lot of passengers who would be coming back to Cebu when the Chem Congress will be over. SM Mall has definitely improved since the last time I was there. It took us longer to locate the Lounge, and the aides and guards who provided us direction were only good on giving us more re-directions. Fortunately our trip back was on promo, which means that we would not be charged with fare, we just had to take our free ticket at the port before checking in for the trip. At least that had made the morning less a disaster.
T2 is a movie about the Filipino notion of bad spirits, it was suppose to scare the audience but I wasn’t really scared. I was more scared about running out of money when I get to Bohol. Actually it wasn’t so much of a suspense, but I was alarmed though when we entered the theater, it doesn’t had any audience yet, I guess Ken and I were the only audience who occupied the upper deck. Well that was a bit more frightening, if someone would play some mischievous game to us, nobody could have helped us or witnessed.
So we boarded the Ocean Jet, and indeed it was full of passengers, every sit were actually occupied. There were some young foreigners, 5 of them in a group just adjacent our sit. This time I was the one making chancing glance at one of them. He was the only boy there in their group of white twenty-somethings. I must have scared him he transferred to other sit, LOL! Ken tried to steal a shot but failed. He was always concealed, Ken also was only good at making shots of himself, LOL!, Whenever I turn to Ken he’d pose for himself, he won’t even manage to ask me take his picture for him… hehehe… He use to do that on his own during our time together in Bohol, I wonder why he is becoming so narcissistic, hahaha!
Figure 2 - or perhaps Ken should have moved to his right a little bit...
Well, this is the picture I would have wished Ken was not on it so the boy at the back shall be revealed. This was taken just right after docking at the port of Tagbilaran City.
The second day of the Congress went well without any such remarkable events. I just sat there at our usual table and did not move to other rooms during the simultaneous sessions. When the 1st plenary session was over at the start of the day the rest of my companions including Kenneth moved to seek for better topics while I was fixed at the chair where I sat because I was busy doing my blog.
The 2nd day was definitely not exciting. Or perhaps I was just too fixated to the event of that previous night. I still had his smell on my nostrils and the memory was too fresh to savor. I made a peek at his booth before going in the Hall. He didn’t see me passed by, he was so serious at his laptop. Later I would be on mine too making a blog, and it was solely about what had happened during that previous night with him.
Two of my companions were looking at my blog while I was busy typing for another posting. They were so amused they didn’t expect it could lead that way although one of them said that she realized it could possibly happen, the fact that he accepted the invitation for the KTV chu-chu! Well, the blog posting had actually spared me from explaining to them what transpired during that evening, I just let them read it.
Later in the afternoon I sent SMS to his # asking whether he had decided to transfer to our room. He said he had already found another accommodation that’s far better than where he checked-in the previous day. I couldn’t help asking him again to just drop the accommodation and go with us at the hotel where I and Ken stayed. He said he can’t, and went on to remark further that he needed a better sleep… he said however that we have to dine together that night. So I waited until the evening…
He was already at the lobby when I went down. I was so glad as well Kenneth were with his cousins and they took Ken somewhere else; by that I would be alone with him and it would be less awkward for us to talk about things we needed to know from each other. He acted as guide since he knew the place better than I do. I’ve been to TagbilaranCity twice only, while he’s too familiar with the place as it is his market area. Like I said, he is the Account Executive of their company covering the Central Visayaz area.
He took me to a Mongolian Fastfood and we ordered food that is only familiar to him, I just let him took the reins, he seemed to know things like this, while I also know things like what I did to him the previous night, (hehehe). Later he would prove me wrong, he would confide to have excelled even to the latter… but not to people like me, but to straight girls (and over a hundred times to different girls)… hmmmm..
During the dinner, I asked him courageously about what he thought on what happened between us the other night. He remarked back without apprehension or remorse, that he didn’t like it, although he enjoyed the act. He said that it was not suppose to mean anything, he just did that because he was so curious about doing it with a gay and I was someone he could possibly trust. (Perhaps I couldn’t be trusted precisely since I was on the verge of broadcasting what happened to us to all my closest friends…). Well, I haven’t revealed his identity yet although some of my friends were able to see the face and know the name of the guy via blogging and friendster. I just hope he wouldn’t be able to discover my blogsite and read blogs about him.
After the dinner he asked me to walk with him around city and to the pier so he would know the schedules for the next day’s trips. We argued on certain things while we were on our way; like I insinuated that he just didn’t like to admit he really like being pursued by gays and he like being sexually involved with persons like me. He would insist however that he is a straight-male individual and there’s no way he would be involved passionately into a homosexual relationship. Of course I didn’t delve too much on the issue for fear I might lose my chances of getting laid again by this cute guy.
I have to admit it was so interesting to have talked with him on various things, I didn’t even notice we have walked to and fro between the hotel and the pier. Sometimes when I get too serious and argumentative, he would put on a stupid face and we would laugh together like we really knew each other for so long. He stayed at the hotel for a while and we continued talking more seriously, and occasionally I would ask him to stay again for the night. He was so adamant not to, he said it was enough that we did it once. He said it again that he doesn’t like to be involved, he just wanted us to be friends.
I wish we can be more than that. I would have wished to have him for me forever. I know my being desperate had made me long for another lover but I have to admit as well that of all the guys who could be available at this present time, he is the most lovable, passionate (quite in bed) and affectionate as well. I know also that it was still so short a time to consider him that, but I really have an enormous and unexplainable affinity towards him. The rest of my friends who attended the PCC who knew what happened between us would comment that he was indeed a nice catch.
Kenneth caught us talking in my bed when he arrived at around 10pm, so Ken had decided to go down the bar to look for preys as well. I know he was trying to give us space.
Well he stayed until almost midnight, we talked some more until we barely answer each other back because we were both sleepy already.
When he left, he didn’t look back. When I asked why thru SMS, he replied that he doesn’t like to be held back.
I do not know if I should be elated or depressed… I honestly have a mixture of feelings. Recently, I feel anxious about coming here because I was thinking it wouldn’t help much to forget the ordeal of erasing an important person from your system. It is certainly not like an electrical switch that you just snap the knob off if you want to erase the person or event from your head. I can not do it that way, but I’m on my way of working it out…
Just now though I feel like being levitated into an unknown space, the feeling is so familiarly blissful (or just a little bit less of it)…
I think I should be gladder that I’m here in Bohol Island, attending this too nerdy and academic Philippine Chemistry Congress… Honestly, I am quite amused I have seen quite a number of interesting things, meet old friends and new ones, and making small unpredicted conquers…
Let me focus yet to the latter – the conquer… I usually go around at the product exhibitors’ booths just to collect product manuals and give-aways. This time I was able to pass a certain area where a cute guy is attending their booth. I didn’t notice his cuteness actually at first, but later I would discover while talking with him about a certain inquiry that he was indeed quite good-looking than the rest of other guys I saw that morning in the hall. When I was done with my inquiry I went on to see other booths and was suddenly halted by that guy. He told me that he just found on their network the thing that I was looking for, and we talk further about the issue… I suddenly realized that perhaps that simple common event – us, talking; and him, chasing after me when we were suppose to be done just so we can extend our time together – I think, that was suppose to mean something. Later I would discover more about him… and his body…
The congress went on normally as it used to be, but most of the time however the activities would go slogging, and my companion, who is also a gay chemist from Surigao and my long time friend, would badger the rest of our colleagues about his comments on the slowness and the uncoordinated management of the whole activities... I wasn’t too concern about it, I decided to attend because I just wanted to get away from my miseries… well, for sure, I haven’t wallowed on my sadness ever since my arrival in this Island.
The night was more fascinating. We attended the Fellowship Dinner at the bay view of Bohol Tropics (the venue). For the first time in my life I saw and heard the angelic voices of the world renowned kids who composed the Loboc Choir. I sat at the table composed of MSU ChemFolks and the conversation revolved around the topics pertaining solely to Chemistry and old friends.
Later in the night, we decided to go somewhere, a bar, before we would go back to our individual hotels. Kenneth and I are staying together in a double occupancy room so that we can minimize our expenses for accommodation. So we went to a KTV Bar, and I realized that the private room we took for the group was big enough for us (there were 5 of us, Aying, Aisah, Kenneth and Maam Cecille also from Surigao). I decided to invite him (the guy I met at the booth) by sending him a SMS although I was not precisely sure he would accept the invitation. I was so grateful he did reply to my message. Even though he replied, I still didn’t hoped too much he would really come since I was just thinking that perhaps he just replied to appear being polite but he didn’t really had any thoughts of coming in the first place.
After several minutes he really did come, I was a bit surprised because he didn’t even send me a text back. Later I would find out that he had been texting me on his way to our venue but I didn’t receive them because of my mobile’s poor network’s reception… hmmm..
We did a terrible rendition of various songs! Birit to the max!!! One of the things I discovered about him was that he can sing a song, nicely and his diction was good. Actually I was impressed. He also had a nice voice… I was playing devilish when I feel like I was already a bit drunk. Sometimes I would talk so close to his right ear, because the sounds were so loud, that I almost seemed to kiss his earlobes. When we were about to go out, I asked him about where he’s staying. He would answer that he’s staying near the location of the Congress but he doesn’t like the accommodation there. I teased him to go with me even just for the night, at least ours is a little better. He said yes without apprehension. I asked him ”is it okay with you if we sleep together in one bed?” He answered “sure thing, I know it’s cold there with your aircon, right?” I said “Yes, we can cuddle each other…” he smirked… So it goes….
We took his laptop from his hotel before we got to where I stayed. Kenneth went ahead of us. When we get to our room, Kenneth was still awake. I know Kenneth was trying to project (the verb sound) that he was expecting the guy would come with me… He (the guy) also tried to project that he too is being expected, I know it would seem like awkward, but I was amused how he played it calmly…
After refreshing, he went to my bed, it seemed like he knew that set–up : )… I followed him after switching off the light and I cuddled at his body.
His scent was good and he is not bony I really like cuddling to him… I do not know why I like it when most of the time I like boys with slim and lean bodies. Perhaps I was just too hungry, hehehe… I realized I’ve never had a good f—k for almost a month now. I could sense that my temperature had risen higher than normal. He was also cooperative, like when I crossed my right leg to his groin he’d move his hips as cue to start the ritual…
I hopped on top of his groin assuming the cowgirl position – coitus rectales (his penetration was not painful, in fact it’s the other way around because I can manage the pain when I’m on top). I do not know how he’d managed to participate to my initiation without so much fuss, any resistance or qualm. He even behaved well when I put on the rubber to his genital. He is one of the very few guys who’d submit almost completely, although he is not the type who moans and fakes just to show that he really was enjoying the act of sexual congress. Well I also like guys who behave that way…
Right after the fleeting bliss I found out that he wasn’t done yet, so I had to assume another position that I think would facilitate faster for his o-------. I’d wish to do it again but I also realized that we were both too exhausted from too much drink and that. I f I would, I’m afraid we might wake up the next morning totally naked because we couldn’t managed to put on back our clothes out of exhaustion. What a joke it would be if it would have been that way and realized that Kenneth would be busy by then documenting the scene,
I'm a Homo sapiens (as in gay), who is being placed by the 'Holy Power of the Universe' in a very insignificant rural area of the Philippines...
...when not busy or when i feel alone, i would write in here something just to defuse some thoughts... and stress... :)
