Zoobic Safari As Easy As 123

When you want to have an exciting getaway outside Metro Manila, common choices are Tagaytay, Batangas, Cavite and other neighboring cities. However, if you like to go farther than that, you might want to consider going to Subic. Can you go to Subic during your one and only rest day for the week? Of course. Believe me, this is easy as 1,2,3.

1. Go to Victory Liner or other Bus Terminals that has Manila - Olongapo Route.
- I suggest that you take the Victory Liner Bus since it's very convenient. Well, aside from the free wi-fi on board, they have trips every 30 minutes. Travel time from Manila to Olongapo is approximately 4 hours. Bus fare is 218 php, so set aside 440php for your round trip fare.

Note: There's also a trip to Olongapo via SCTEX where you can get to Subic faster because travel time is just 2 hours and 30 minutes but buses going there have schedules. When we arrived at the Victory Liner Terminal at around 8:00am, we asked for the Olongapo trip via SCTEX but the ticketing staff told us that the bus for that trip is scheduled to leave at 2:00 pm. So if you intend to go to Subic fast by taking the SCTEX route, make sure you call the bus terminal for the schedule.

2. Go down at the Olongapo Terminal and look for a taxi.
- At the terminal, there are already taxi drivers waiting for tourists. There are also fast food chains around that area so I suggest that you fill your stomachs first because restaurants and food inside the Subic Bay are quite expensive. Also, food are not allowed during the tour so make sure you are full. You can bring beverages, though.

After eating, you can now look for a taxi. Taxi fare from Victory terminal to Zoobic Safari is 400php (for one way trip and not per person). These are revo type taxis so it can accommodate 5 - 9 persons. There are no maximum passengers for taxis in Subic so if you are a group of 8 and the taxi driver told you to take 2 taxis because he can only accommodate 4 passengers, leave him and find another one.

Note: Regular one way fare is 400php so don't agree with a price higher than that. Some taxi drivers can be very opportunistic that they charge as much as 600php. Always make sure that you agree with the price and destination before you take the ride. Some drivers might offer to fetch you after the tour, so if you don't want any hassles, you can agree with the price for the round trip fare. If you are lucky and you found a nice driver, you can haggle.

3. Arrive at the Zoobic Safari, buy the ticket and start your tour.
Ticket is 495 php + 50php for the Zoobic Tram ride. Tram ride is optional but I strongly suggest that you purchase it because some tours require a ride, and surely, no one wants to walk under the heat of  the blazing sun.

Entrance Ticket already consists of 12 tours inside the Zoobic Safari namely:  Zoobic Park, Muzooem, Tiger Safari Ride, Croco Loco, Aeta's Trail, Zoobic Cave, Forbidden Cave, Bird Walk, Serpentarium, Rodent World, Savannah and Close Encounter.

My top 3 favorite tours are:

• Tiger Safari Ride - To maximize your Tiger Safari experience, make sure that you buy a chicken for the Tigers. Chicken costs 200php, but this will be divided into your groups. In our case, we shared the expenses with the other group, so we paid 100php for the chicken. It gets exciting when the tiger approaches your jeep and show you his deathly claws and teeth. Here's a pic of my sister with the hungry tiger.

• Bird Walk - In bird walk, aside from seeing different type of birds, you'll have a chance to get inside the cage and let them feed in your hands. 

• Aeta'sTrail - In this tour, guests will have a sneak peak of the Aeta's culture as they performed their ritual dances. Also, the trees and statues in this area will make you feel that you're in Siem Reap.

The Zoobic Safari tour will last for 3-4 hours and the entrance fee is really worth it. It's also nice to listen to your tour guide because he/she will give you infos about the animals. During the tour, I don't really mind what our tour guide was saying, but when I intently listen to her, I learn something. Here are the things I learned from my attentiveness (Naks, Ako na!!)

• Lions are called kings of the jungle not only because they're fierce but also because their lazy. They live a king's life because they sleep for almost a day and the lioness are the ones who look for their food.
• You'll know when a monkey is irritated and ready to attack, when it shows and grits its teeth.
• The size of an ostrich's eyes are similar to golf balls but their brain is sized of a peanut. When our tour guide said this, I heard one child asking his kuya, "what did she said?". His Kuya answered back, "In short, they're stupid!". Lol

The 12 tours are all fun but it is also very exhausting. So if you plan to visit Subic Ocean Adventure and Tree Top after your Zoobic Safari tour, make sure that you arrive early so that you'll have time to rest.

Few more things, I suggest that you'll be in your most comfortable clothes since the activities are outdoors, it is very hot and you'll be sweating a lot. So, don't forget to bring your towels, handkerchiefs, bottled water and extra shirt. You might also want to try their zip line for 199 php.

Have a Fun-tastic day in Subic!

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Byaheng Jeepney.

Commute? It’s more exciting in the Philippines!

Sa sobrang pagka malikhain ng mga Pinoy, ang mga US military jeeps noon ay nagawa nilang jeepney ngayon. Mga  jeep na may samu’t saring kulay at disenyo, personalized din kasi nakasulat ang mga pangalan ng kapamilya, may radio at speakers para sa sounds, may rosary at sampaguita na nakasabit at kung ano ano pa. Marami na ring innovations, may mga jeepney na parang bus ang design, may “pull the string” kung papara na, may mga airconditioned at meron naring E-Jeepneys.  Wala sigurong Pinoy ang hindi pa nakaranas na sumakay sa jeepney kahit 1 beses sa buong buhay nya, kung meron man.. I feel for them, they missed ¼ of their lives.

Sa araw araw siguro na pagsakay ko sa jeep, nabigyan ko na ng labels ang mga taong nakakasakay ko. Well, ganyan talaga... observant eh!

1.       The frowning face – Eto ang mga taong pagsakay ay maayos naman then in a spilt of seconds, nakakunot na ang mga noo at di na maipinta ang mukha, tingin ng tingin sa relo dahil nagmamdali na at nagpupuno pa ng pasahero si Manong Driver o kaya nama’y bad trip na sila sa  traffic kasi hindi halos gumalaw ang jeep.  Minsan nakakainis sila tingnan dahil sa contagious nilang mood.

2.       Chillax – Eto ang mga taong pagkasakay at pag abot ng bayad, isusuot na ang earphones at makikinig ng music. Yung iba naman nakatutok lang sa cellphone nila O kaya naman may dalang kung anong gadget  at maglalaro hanggang makarating sila sa kanilang destination. Hindi sila naka frown at chill lang dahil may sarili silang mundo.

3.       Sleepy Head – Obviously, eto ang mga taong pag umandar na ang jeep, hudyat na  yun ng pagtulog nila. May taglay na psychic powers tong mga to dahil nagigising na sila pag malapit na silang bumaba.

<photo: courstesy of gossip guy blog>

4.       Chikadoras – Kabaligtaran naman ng katahimikan ni Sleepy Head, eto ang mga taong walang ginawa kundi mag chikahan throughout the ride. Madalas kahit sila lang ang nag uusap, lahat ng tao sa jeep parang kwinekwentuhan nila . Sa lakas ng boses nila, bago sila bumaba updated ka na sa latest happenings sa office nila, sa bahay nila o sa buhay ng taong pinag uusapan nila.

5.       U-si – Eto ang mga taong imbes na sa kalye nakatingin ay pinipili na lang na pagmasdan ang mga pasahero. May mga nakikinig sa usapan ng chikadoras, nakikibasa ng text ng katabi at kung ano ano pang paguusisero.

6.       Lovers in Jeepney – Mga couples na pag sumakay ay parang walang ibang tao sa jeep kundi sila. Nakapulupot na nga na parang mawawala ang isa’t isa, maya’t maya pa ang harutan at lambingan. May mga kisses moment pa sa noo, balikat, pisngi o kaya sa labi. Kairita much! TSE!

#bitterlang

<photo: courtesy of life in photos blog>

 <photo: courtesy of youarenotvictorplatton.blogspot.com>

7.       Martyr – Eto ang mga pasaherong nagsasuffer sa pagiging chubby ng iba o sa kaartehan ng iba sa pag compress at pag – usod. (Pero minsan, wala na talagang space, ipipilit pa.) Dahil sila ang huling sumakay, kailangan nilang pagkasyahin ang kanilang sarili sa pag maliit na space. May suspense thriller effect to, nakakatakot kasi parang anytime mahuhulog na sila sa upuan.

8.       Play Safe -  Eto ang mga pasaherong, wala lang. Pagkasakay, nakatingin lang sa daan o kung saan man hanggang makarating sa pupuntahan nila. Tulaley lang sila pero ang isip at imagination nila malamang naka travel na sa outer space.

Ikaw, anong kwentong jeepney mo?

The Hunger Games: The Book Vs. The Movie

I guess it's safe to say that if a movie is adapted from a best selling book, you bet, it will surely be worth your money and time. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Twilight Saga, A Walk to Remember are only few examples of ingeniously written words that came to life in the big screen.

It is quite ironic though that even if we think that authors write their books perfectly, there would always  be some alterations made in their movie versions. In the Hunger Games, I personally note for these differences.

                               Movie                                                         Book  
1. Katniss gave the mockingjay pin to Prim                                  1. After Katniss volunteered to take Prim's
so that she won't be nervous about the reaping.                            place, Madge, the Mayor's daughter who
When Katniss volunteered to take her sister's place,                     became Katniss' friend, gave her the
Prim gave her back the mockingjay pin as a lucky                         mockingjay pin for her to wear as a                                                                                                                               charm to keep her safe.                                                                District 12 symbol to the Games.

2. The mutts that attacked Katniss, Peeta and Cato                   2. The mutts are more like of a half-wolf,
at the arena are plain huge and monstrous wolves.                     and half -human. They have the human eyes
                                                                                           of the other 21 tributes who died in the Games.


3. Katniss and Peeta hold the poisonous berries in their          3. Katniss and Peeta already put the berries
hands and gesture to eat them, when the Head Game          into their mouths when the Capitol Game Master  
Master stopped them and announced them as                       suddenly announced them as winners. They are                          
winners.                                                                            just smart enough not to swallow them until the
                                                                                         Capitol give in to their plans.
                   

4. After the Games, Seneca Crane, the Head Game                  4. There's no specific definition of how he
Master, was taken by the Peacekeepers and was locked           died. He disappeared after the Games and
inside a beautiful room where the poisonous berries                  people believe that the Capitol executed him.
await him.

5. The crown for the Hunger Games Victors is placed              5. The crown was divided into two so that
above Katniss' head.                                                               both Katniss and Peeta can wear it.


Also, Peeta and Katniss shared much more kisses in the book compared to the movie. Oh come on! They didn't show it. Sigh.

I personally believe that the book is always better than the movie. Of course, not only it gives you full version of the story but lets you look into the character's thoughts and emotions deeply. The setting, the characters and the events are what you make of them in your imagination.

Even though we know that the movie version will be shorter and there would be some differences, we care less because we are so eager to watch it anyway. Maybe because we like to know if the producers, director and actors can give justice to the book , to see the characters' actual faces and just not what you imagine them to be or to witness how the story will be presented right before our eyes.

Personally, I think the Hunger Games movie version nailed it. If you have any doubts, try asking some of the thousand movie goers who made them earn a whopping $208, 855, 000 in just 8 days for 4, 137 theaters.

Harry Potter already gave us the final  movie, Twilight Saga is also down to the last screenplay installment. But thanks to the Hunger Games Trilogy, there would be two more (who knows maybe three) movies to anticipate! Hooray!

I guess we are so much like the Capitol people because admit it or not, life would never be the same without  entertainment.

Until the next Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

Why Benigno S. Aquino III and not Benigno C. Aquino?

Why Benigno S. Aquino III is the name printed in our Philippine peso bill and not Benigno C. Aquino?

When Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas launched the new look of our Philippine peso bills, many were amazed by the redesigned banknote features. The heroes and past presidents of the Philippines were presented in younger images. Many of the most famous tourist spots in the Philippines were also added, which can also help in boosting tourism in our country. Also, BSP added more security features making it hard for bad elements to come up with fake bills. 

When these new bills were finally released, admit it or not, we all want to have it. I'm pretty sure when your first new twenty peso bill was finally in your hands, it rested in your wallet for a long time. It's nice to look at the new designs and features of the bill. However, I don't know if any of you noticed that the name of PNoy indicated in the new peso bill is Benigno S. Aquino III. Well, we can consider the Aquinos as one of the most well known family in the Philippines. Ninoy is our hero, Cory is the first ever female president, Noynoy is our bachelor president. Lastly, tell me... do you know anyone who doesn't know who Kris Aquino is (and her famous son.. Bimbi)? Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that we all know that Cojuangco is their middle name. So, why Benigno S. Aquino III and not Benigno C. Aquino?

The answer is simple, tradition.

Ninoy’s Father, Ninoy and Noynoy are all named Benigno Simeon.

The President's grandfather Benigno Simeon Aquino Sr. used Simeon as his middle name instead of Quiambao. Likewise, the president’s father Senator  Ninoy also go by the name Benigno S. Aquino Jr. The president uses S instead of C to follow the tradition. If he uses Benigno C. Aquino, he is the only Benigno C. Aquino in the family. The suffix III will no longer be needed to differentiate his name from his father and grandfather. The option is either Benigno C. Aquino or Benigno S. Aquino III. Obviously, the president prefers the latter. This practice is common in the U.S. where they used their second name as their middle name instead of their mother’s maiden name.

What I find admirable in my research is to find out that although our President may took pride of his name, he humbly directed all government agencies “to refrain from associating the President’s personality and identity in their programs and projects.”

Amazing, isn’t it?

Love and Distance

Love and Distance.

Love and Distance.
Can we separate these just for once?

I don't know exactly what I should feel.
God knows I'm thankful for finding a love so real.
Though, there are times I can't help but be sad.
Because I have to live each day without you by my side.

I wonder why you have to live so far away.
Why can't I have the chance to hug you everyday?
Why can't you be here and celebrate with me on the special occasions of my life?
Why do we have to spend our weekends looking at each other on Skype?
Why do I have to count the days and months until you go home?
Why do we have to spend overseas bills on our phones?
Why can't we be like other lovers?
After the stress of a long day, they can be together.

When will I stop saying I miss you?
When will I stop daydreaming about us two?
When will I stop going out alone?
When will I stop texting and calling you on the phone?
When will time and fate allow us?
Please tell me, how long would this last?

I don't know if there are answers to these.
Nor I know if distance and love can really co-exist.
All I know is that, for you, I'm willing to take all the risks.
All it takes, for the sake of our love and happiness.
Because after all our ups, downs, rise and fall
In my heart, I'm 101% certain, you're worth it all...