Ako si Vanjohnn

One Cool Summer Weekend in Manila

Apr 22

The PhotobloggerTravel iBlog 6, Manila 8 Comments

So summer classes have already started and I’m already dying to get out and have some fun of my own. Fortunately I was able to book months before for the 6th iBlog Summit in Manila.

It seems like yesterday when I once stayed longer in Manila to be able to attend the 5th iBlog summit. Back then I was able to meet a whole lot of friends and I was pretty excited to once again be part of this iBlog summit.

Friday, April 16

I wake up with a complete luggage and I was ready to fly to Manila but I still had classes in the morning so I just left my stuff in the shop and I proceeded to class. The whole time I was already very excited to go out and just take a taxi to the airport but the parents wanted to send me off.

During my lunch break I rushed off to Ayala to buy some last minute pasalubongs for my friends (I don’t haz taym to shop kc T__T ) then I rushed back to school so I wouldn’t be late for class. After class I got ready, dressed up for my travel attire and then ran all the way to Alavars just to buy someone’s greatly desired pasalubong. Because I was super paranoid with the whole overweight luggage thing, I decided to unpack and repack everything again. While doing all these I did a very stupid thing which later led to a funny but stupid moment. I did not return the padlock to the luggage thinking I would need to add anything else to the bag.

Dad, mom, ahia, and I went to mass in Redemptorist and then we headed to the Airport to check in my stuff before having dinner. Because i was super paranoid I placed the padlock on my lap. This led to a rather stupid and unfortunate event (how many times have I said stupid?) In my panic and paranoia, I jumped out of the car (and prolly while unaware, said goodbye to my padlock) and then ran in the airport while hyperventilating.

I then lined up in the check in line (gosh I was uber proud of myself as this was the first time I ever flew alone ). While lining up I discovered that I lost my padlock. So what else could I think of at that time? I took out the ring from my key chain and latched it on to the two zipper handles.  (Take note this is a Samsonite Medium Travel Stroller bag with a built in Numerical Lock Code) Am I a genius or what?

10 minutes of panicking later I am sitting in Golden Cowrie in Marina Mall nomnoming on my favorite Sizzling Gambas. I was nomnoming very fast that time because boarding time was only 10 minutes away (talk about Rush hour). This day also happened to be very significant as I made my first payment ever in Credit Card. (yep, mom and dad supplemented  me with a Platinum BDO Credit Card…. with a 5000php limit X__X so much for platinum)

Off I went to the airport where Mom, Dad and Ahia said their last goodbyes as I would not be able to see them for 12 days because they are off to Holy Land. I then entered the airport in a rush (with poise pa, as if super sanay sa flying alone). Apparently my tripod needs to be checked in. So I had to go back and rush to have it checked in (I even asked the lady guard if I could bring it with me because I was afraid that I would get left behind.) I had my tripod checked in (and the Eee PC charger which I borrowed from Mom was in there o_0 and the tripod bag had no lock, daring noh?)

I went back into the gate lounge and since I was panicking I didn’t care to look at everyone’s relaxed expressions while they were all waiting for Flight PR 864 to start boarding. I walked up to the man in charge and asked if the flight PR 864 was already boarding. Though it was very embarrassing at least I already calmed down and was ready to relax during the flight.

While in flight I got to sit down in Aisle seat and just played with my 6 year old Palm T|X during the whole duration of the flight. I arrived in Manila pretty much intact and quite excited to go out already. Ahia Rell texted me that they (mak mak, jeh jeh and him) were all coming to pick  me up. This made me even more excited because Jeh jeh was supposedly not going to meet because of unforeseen reasons (or maybe reason that I don’t wanna see). I got my luggage and tripod bag and praise the Unmoved mover for all my things were in place and nothing was lost. I love PAL!

While waiting for the Nyoks I was able to see some Jejemons who are becoming quite a popular breed of humans in the net. When the Nyoks finally came I was already very excited. Mak mak was driving and Jeh jeh was in front seat. During the drive Jeh jeh, Ahia, and I tried to Bisayafy Mak mak. She did learn a whole new set of words and phrases which she later used in Twitter. (maki’s twit “maghikog ko” *facepalm*)

I was then dropped off at Kuya erik’s flat where I settled down (sorry Kuya erik for waking you up) and then I slept in preparation for iBlog 6 the next day.

Saturday April 17

We woke up pretty late because I was still exhausted from yesterday despite not doing much. The going-to-iBlog 6-early-to-network  was a phail because we were already late. Thankfully I haz new calling card designed by Ahia rell and specially picked up by Kuya erik (thanks Kuya and Ahia!!)

We ate breakfast prepared by kuya erik and then we took a taxi all the way to UP Diliman (where I was supposed to give my shoti a package from home too). This year I’m pleased to say that I finally have an ID. (What is it with me and IDs. I haz a collection of em.) When we entered the Auditorium it was packed with new faces. We knew we were late because we weren’t able to catch Han han’s talk and also because the ever inquisitive you-know-who blogger was already there (when he usually is late).

iBlog 6 was rather interesting at first but I was constantly distracted because I had to contact my shoti who could not get his stuff from home.

I learned a lot of Theoretical Aspects in Photoblogging 101 from Kuya Juned. After that it was already mostly about some product which had to do with Mobile Blogging. After the first half of the iBlog talks THE Manuel Viloria came near me and said “IRFANVIEW”. Now what in the world is IRFANVIEW? It’s a totally cool software which now aids me in my photoblogging tasks at hand. I love it! Thanks to Manuel Viloria for telling me about it.

During the lunch break it was rather fortunate that I met two bloggers from Iloilo, one of which was Habagat Central’s Bern. We discussed a little about Cebu Blog Camp and the later Visayas Bloggers Summit. I’m pretty excited for the event. It was rather unfortunate that I had to leave early together with the Tech Tanod Bloggers as we had to head over to Ateneo de Manila University where a Tech tanod session was to take place. Before that we had lunch in Mr. Kebab, I finally had the honor to meet THE Marocharim (and I still regret not having made a haiku to introduce myself to him). Gawd is he white, I seriously need to know his secret of pale-ific glory.

After lunch we then proceeded to ADMU and on the way we kidnapped Yoshke to join us. Ahia Rell had his talk first on how to make money online and then Coy then talked about Video Blogging.   It’s been a long time since I last saw him and it’s nice to meet him once more. (Coy happens to be one of my fave vloggers,its just sad that he doesn’t vlog much anymore )

After Tech Tanod we went back to UP Diliman but we were too late for the group photo T__T sayang ang Tripod ko T__T. Actually come to think of it, in the whole duration of the trip, I don’t think the tripod was of much use. I think it was only used once. Toinks.

When we arrived in UP Diliman we were able to see to Mica and Mak mak nomnoming on Isaw. When Mak mak was through with her Isaw she let me play with her Canon 7D. Sigh, Mak mak you make my heart fill with desire. Canon 7D you shall be mine. I can’t wait to see Mak mak’s Asian poses

We then head on to Mang Inasal in Makati where we ate while waiting for Cai cai. When Cai cai arrived I finally got to use my Tripod (just this one time T__T ) It was rather unfortunate that Billycoy had to go home na T__T he couldn’t join us in our Karaoke moment in Music 21.

Music 21 in Makati is a fun place to be in. I love it! There’s just something about the tight black room, huge remotes, colorful cocktail drinks, salty pika food, and modern music karaokefied while your friends just sing away. I had so much fun that night, I felt… free. (drama ayu?)

The night was well spent with out three ladies: Mica, Maki, and Cai singing the night away.  I wish we could do something like that again. And this time naman with Jeh jeh (he apparently was last seen somewhere in Nagsasa ata and then he was in an unchartered area in Google Maps)

We  then went to a Starbucks to drink the Frapuccino na Green tea (which will be the last time I’ll do so) Everyone had to go home because they had business to do so I had to head back na.

Sunday April 18

We woke up pretty late that morning (I’m thinking it had a lot to do with the cocktails) It was the annoying sounds of campaigning that woke me up. We headed over to the Sunday Market and bought lots of dimsum (hakaw FTW!!!) and then I was also able to try out the Ratatouille for the first time ever!

After washing up we went to Rockwell so I could meet my shoti there. I could really feel the distinction between the rich and the poor in Rockwell. I bet I was the only poor person there. o_o

My brother came with our beaten up car from Cebu which was nearly as old as I am. (yes, a really old car yet not old enough to be an antique, entering the very roads of Rockwell) So to avoid embarrassment we headed over to Joe’s Kebab where my brother loved to eat. It was quite near our Condo in Astoria Plaza. My brother has had his fill so we headed over to UP Diliman where he bought this cool Mango shake and then we also bought a UP-D ID strap. (I just love UP)

We attended Mass in the Parish of Holy Sacrifice in UP. Mass was every hour pala o_0 grabeh. I love the architecture of the place.

We then went to SM Mega in Ortigas so we could watch Clash of the Titans in 3D. We ate in Bigby’s. I ordered my fave: Pescado al Fresco. When we watched Clash of the Titans I really couldn’t feel it being 3D. I think the End credits is the only 3D part. I’m still disappointed and confused as to why the blue eyed wizard guy died.

After which I helped my Shoti in his Mandarin homework and we headed home. I packed up for the trip home and so I didn’t sleep..at all.

Monday April 19

On my flight home to Cebu I was already wearing my School Uniform, this of course brought a lot of attention to me. Oh well, it was a fun experience wearing uniform from Manila to Cebu.

When I arrived in Cebu I found it irritating that we passengers had to walk half a Kilometer before we could flag a Taxi because they prioritized the Taxis in the airport. Tsk tsk. So i rode on the Taxi and went to McDo Jones to eat breakfast and calm myself before taking an exam that I didn’t prepare for. Since the exam is still at 9 am I slept. When I woke up it was already 9:30 am so I had to run to school.

After I took the exam I realized my body just can’t handle it. So I went home early instead of going in my other classes. And that was the end of my adventure.