Think Tank

I didn’t have any plans of going to Baguio, but the day before my vacation started, Pryor suddenly texted me and said:

"How about we go to Baguio tomorrow?"

I have recently told him that I’ll be on leave by that weekend until the next week. He told me that he was also longing for a weekend out of town. It was so tempting that I actually thought hard before replying. I replied with:

"Hmmmm… very tempting. As in tomorrow na? Are you absolutely sure about this? I’m planning to go to Baguio but at the end of the week, not this weekend."

"Yes! Super sure about it. We’ve been planning to go there so let’s just do it this weekend. Tutal, you’re on leave naman, diba?"

I was actually planning of going home to Pampanga first, then, go to La Luz with Abby, THEN go to Baguio with mom, bro and Wenna. I missed hanging out with Pryor and the time we spent together in Baguio was unforgettable. So very tempting and I kept thinking …I have enough budget to go to Baguio AND then go to La Luz with Abby. With a bit of apprehension, I told him:

"Pwede. Are you really serious about this?"

"OF COURSE! Gusto ko talaga!"

"Eh pano tayo magkikita? I still have a shift tomorrow and that means I’ll be out by 8am pa. Where will we meet? what time?"

"Dun nalang tayo sa Victory Liner Cubao Terminal magkita, around 9am."

I freaked out realizing that I’m doing something totally spontaneous again:

"Grabe na to! We’re doing this again!!"

The last time we went to Baguio, well.. just read my entry about that. Anyways, to cut the story short, we finally decided to go. Imagine, I wasn’t even packed? And I still had to sleep because I had a shift that night.

When I woke up, I realized I will be starting my vacation the next day. I started packing my things, clothes enough to last over the weekend.

I texted Pryor: "All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go!"

Bursting with excitement, it was a different night because I was all happy and giddy to finally start my vacation. Nobody knew where I was going– and that’s the beauty of it. Nobody knew that I’ll be gone for a few days.

And so, I tried to finish all the work I had to finish for the week, sent out the emails I needed to send, reminders to my direct reports and made the necessary arrangements with La Luz so all will be arranged once me and Abby go there. I was buzzin like a bee — so many things to do and to finish all in one night.

(Told Abby that day that we’ll meet up at around 6am, Tuesday @ Jollibee Insular- we can’t communicate because in this cellphone age, she doesn’t have a phone. Hahaha! Love you, Abbybot!)

Anyways, I was running late with my admin work, so I left the office at around 830am and I had to get my digicam from my sister, so I was really late. Pryor was frantically texting me, telling me to hurry because the buses were leaving. I told him that I’m already on my way and that I had to get the camera first (I knew he would understand, the fact that we’ll go to Baguio without a camera would be UNACCEPTABLE for him.. hehe).

Rode a Cubao-Ibabaw bound bus and planned to ride a cab near Cubao so we can just make a U-turn to go to the terminal. That was the problem– Victory was still on the other side of the road. If I will walk, I might be too late by then. Besides, Pryor sounded pissed already and I don’t want any one of us ruining each other’s day just because of this.

I told him to buy tickets, and good thing, he already bought tickets bound for Baguio at 10am. I was still in Edsa at around 930am, and getting frantic and panicky. Pryor wasn’t helping with his texts, so I just made sure I hurry as fast as I can. Once the taxi U-turned near Kamias Rd, buses were stuck in traffic. I was stuck in traffic. We were moving at around 20kph- I asked the drive if it’s too far from Victory– he said it wasn’t, so I decided to walk (run??) because it was already time. So I half-ran and half-(brisk)-walked and finally arrived at the terminal. Saw Pryor and then we went in the bus.

Our conversation once we sat down the bus didn’t stop until we arrived Baguio. We were very much excited to spend time in Baguio.

First stop was SM Baguio because I had to buy a towel and some water so we don’t have to buy  expensive bottled water at the pension house. It wasn’t summer, but it seemed like everybody decided to go to Baguio that weekend. We realized it was Octoberfest at SM, so that’s probly why all the people in Baguio as well as the tourists are all hanging out at the mall. Of course our radar was stronger as ever, for any "gifts" that we may disover. That’s the good thing about Baguio — the weather, the atmosphere, the environment and it seems to be a great place to meet other people. And the fact that nobody knows you there is also a plus. We looked around for gifts, found towels, bought water and other toiletries and off we went to the pension house to freshen up and rest a bit.

We were really looking forward to listen to some Ska from our favorite Ska band in Baguio, Spaceflower. We had so much fun the last time we listened to them that it gave us a lasting impression of how good the local artists (from Baguio) are. So we took a nap, got ready, ate dinner and headed to 18BC.

They played our favorite songs:

More Today Than Yesterday

Come on Eileen

We freaked out when they played it. They still have their magic. It was fun watching them and listening to them. They made us into real fans of Ska. Ska, ska, ska. Jologs, pero … love namen kayo, Spaceflower!! Hehe. We didn’t go home without a dose of Spaceflower.

Went to Nevada Square after that, and we were surprised to find a lot of people (KiDS!) hanging out. It was brimming with people — probly college kids who’s on sembreak or more college kids having a vacation like us. Nevertheless, we ordered more drinks, hung out more outside to (boy)watch. It was fun. And tiring too– using Pry’s words:

"Shet, nasusuka ako sa dami ng mga cute at gwapo dito!!!"

On our Nth beer, we had to go home because we were too tipsy and sleepy at the same time. You know what they say — "body’s willing but the mind is weak."

And so we went home to get sleep. As soon as I finished freshening up, the moment my head landed on my pillow, I snored like a horse. That’s how tired I was.

Not as exciting like the last time, but still, it was relaxing to be not in the office and just chillin somewhere else than Manila. We just drifted in and out, checking out old places, talked about our plans and gossiped about the people at the office.

I realized, vacations can really be therapeutic. Even if you just spend some time at a coffee shop in Baguio or at a park, or somewhere really relaxing — sipping coffee or drowning yourself with beer or eating on some pulutan, the conversation gives you the necessary release of the stress that’s been building up. Sarap.

We went home on a Monday afternoon, tired, but contented. Eager to go home and start our lives again. Planned to go somewhere else next time, so it’ll be a totally new experience for both of us. He was going home to Lucban again, and I, planned to go home to Mandaluyong because I was scheduled to meet up with Abby the next day.

Funny, because I can really be wishywashy about my decisions, especially when presented with a situation. On our way home, I think we were already in Tarlac then, I heard some passengers who will be going down in Dau. This gave me an idea - I go home to Pampanga, ride with mom to Manila the next day (they had an exhibit) and then meet with Abby. Nakakapagod, really, but I wanted to go home too (and I wanted to sleep on my bed, dammit!). So I decided to go home to Pampanga even if I paid for a Cubao fare. That’s how decided I was.

I surprised mama that night, she really wasn’t expecting me but she shrieked when she saw me hiding in my sister’s car (asked my sister to fetch me at the terminal). She was happy but worried that I’ll be too tired the next day. I told her, I’ll be alright.

They didn’t know that I was also going in Batangas the next day.

I’m so crazy, haha. I wanted it that way- tire myself out and rest in Batangas.

And my story isn’t finished yet.

It has been weeks since I have been stressed out — job is easy, yet, there’s a lot of stress that comes with it. Little things like worrying about a particular agent’s attendance or why he always comes in late or what needs to be done with particular situations only the supes think about.

Baby, you just think that we’re not doing anything but admin work, go to meetings, roll out new policies– it ain’t easy coping with the stress that goes with it. For months, I really felt so old. (i AM old, but i feel older!)

And not only that– there are other personal things. Besides worrying about myself, I have to worry about my sister, who I live with, who seems to be not home most of the time. We don’t see each other much these days, so what she does with her life, I don’t know anymore. And it frightens me sometimes with the decisions she make for herself, knowing in my mind that she’s still young. 

Funny, I’m acting like my mom. Can’t blame me, I’m supposed to be the "ate" (older sister) who’s supposed to be looking after her. I am, the eldest you know. And she, the youngest of the brood. I *should* be looking after her.

A friend told me to just leave her alone and let her live her life — but then again, how will she know if she’s doing the right thing if the she can’t even listen to family who’s worrying about her? Imagine going home alone every single day and she, not finding the time (or finding a way) to talk or spend time with me.

And this reminds me — more and more, I keep spending time alone. I go home with no one to talk to, so I just sleep. Then I wake up, still alone, get ready for work, walk a bit to Barancca Drive and ride the taxi, arrive at the office and start working.

AND, by the way. I also worry about my LOVE LIFE. If you call it that.

Argh. It’s not that I’m complaining, but ….

Haaaaaay.

(What a life! What a loner! )

See? STRESS!

Everyday, I keep worrying about the same things over and over again, with only a  few really close friends to tell my woes to and sometimes even deciding to just keep it all to myself.

If I was a glass, I can be spilling out water now — too overwhelmed and tired with all this to even try to pour out the unnecessary water.

So — the idea of a vacation was becoming more and more vivid with everything that’s going on with my so-called life. I daydreamed a lot about where to go (with my limited funds!) — will it be Cebu? (So I can visit my friends there)  or Boracay? (If I choose to go there, I can’t just go alone?) or Baguio? (Will Pryor go with me?) or should I go some place where I haven’t gone to yet?

And I learned that Abby was also interested in going somewhere. We started planning –and decided that we go to a beach. The idea of stargazing, listening to the waves, playing with water and snorkeling was enough to get us excited. We decided to go to LaLuz.

I filed for a 7-day vacation, but if you count my restdays, it’s a 10-day vacation! Über-excited with just the idea of what to do with my vacation, it kept me motivated to keep worrying about things and thinking about where else to go.

Things got *really* crazy after that.