South Bound - Batangas

I was trying to reach my friends during Christmas Eve when i'm almost done with my drinks. Then, one crazy idea hits me!! Annie picked up the phone (oh! thank God she did!), i was a bit intoxicated and she knew it! She's currently having a blast with her board mates then. I said, "Mare, punta tayo kila mads bukas!" - pertaining to Batangas where Mads is living. she responded "cge mare", with doubts. She thought i was just kidding. At 10 in the morning i texted her, to confirm the plan. Now she's believing me. hehehe! She tried to reach Mads but still at work. Annie made sure that Mads will never say NO!. After lunch, i packed my things and tadaaaah.. Manila bound to South Bound, with lots of crazy ideas in mind. This is the very first time that i left home on Christmas Day. 

At around 6pm, i arrived at Buendia, and meet up with Annie. Since she's not having her lunch yet, she had a meal in Jollibee. We haven't seen each other for 14 months, to be exact, so the talk was unstoppable until we started our travel going to South. And as expected, we were just 2 but were like conquering the bus. Again, the talk was unstoppable. Things i need not to blog out. LOL!

Mads is just in Tanauan. We arrived at 9pm and goodness gracious, i wasn't expecting that the weather in Batangas was like in Baguio..severe ang coldness.. Here's my outfit and i dont know how i survived. I have a low tolerance to cold.

I was trembling due to cold, but i was able to strike a pose like that. hahaha!!

Mads fetched us from the bus stop and we had dinner in her place. I said, "mare magsswiming tayo!" Mind you, its not a question, but a demand! They were all in shocked. I wanted to drink beside the pool, since a beach is not realistic. There's no beach resort in Tanauan. I won! hahaha! We prepared stuff and all.. Her dad said, "Magbaon kayo ng kumot.. malamig dun.." Mads replied, "You dont know what they are capable of doing!" hahaha.. I laughed, and i will never forget her statement. 

We tried to search for an open resort. Frustrating, because we found none after almost 2 hours of search. So we decided to drop by to a convenience store to get an ice for our drink, and taddaaaa.. ice cream.

IT IS REALLY COOOLLLLDDD!! :P

We started the drinking session as soon as we arrived in her home. Tequila sunrise. oh yes! (tequila + orange juice + grenadine) =SHOT!

We ended at 4:30 in the morning. 

The ff day, the 26th, we woke up at around 10:30 in the morning and breakfast was set. YUM! tilapia + hotdogs + rice + coffee. I love to eat fish and since its holidays most foods that were being served are meat. Burp burp! i had so much fun with the food. Too bad, i wasn't able to take a shot. 

I thought our trip was over, and needed to give up the pool plan already, but God directed us to Lipa City. YEY! =) During lunch time we left Mads' house and started traveling going to Lipa, with my big bag already, since were going home after. The original plan was to go to Our Lady or Carmel Church. I've been longing to visit the church since 2009. Now i know why it didn't happen then, for this day is really the right time. I have my own reason. I'll try to blog soon. We got to drop by first in the Cathedral.. I never thought it was that amazing. I was thinking, maybe its just a simple church. But, i was wrong. IT IS THE BEST CHURCH I HAVE EVER BEEN TO! The construction, the ceiling, the altar, everything.. i can't describe it through words. It is really amazing.

Front. ceiling. the altar.

the ceiling and the angels near the front door, with the enchanting chandelier.

WHAT CAN I SAY, IT IS PERFECT!!

My eyes were mesmerize, really. So overwhelming. There is something very special in this church, and the feeling was magical. 

This is located at the left side of the church (facing the altar), at the back of the candle corner. THIS IS MY FAVORITE SPOT! There's a platform so it is elevated. When i stepped into another platform under that crucifix, and looked up, He was like looking at me.. tears started rolling in my eyes, without saying any word yet, i had goosebumps, felt like He was hugging/touching me. There's a simple prayer (St. Francis of Assisi's) attached in the stone where the crucifix is stoned. I can't remember the exact words, wasn't able to capture it either because i was so overwhelmed and just took a deep breath (Mads told me that she saw how my shoulders went up when i was standing there). Tears were falling, together with those goosebumps. That was so magical. Then, i whispered my prayer.

the candle corner

We didn't expect that a wedding is about to began. I thought it is already over. They wanted to see the bride walking in the aisle, but i said, "ayoko! maiinggit lang ako". So we went outside, without knowing that the bride was still inside the bridal car and the window was opened. When we were already walking near the car, the bride turned her head onto our side.. Amazing! i was trying to avoid it, but there she was. Then we decided to stay and watched.

The wind was blowing so fast so they were finding hard times to fix the veil to have the best photo. I was just staring and keeps taking a deep breath . countless sigh again, wishing and praying to be a bride soon. WOW! yes!, it is really my dream. Mads said, "mare nakatingin sayo yung bride." haayy.. "dear Lord, please make me a bride soon."

Next stop, Our Lady of Carmel Church.

the front view.

It has a very large parking space, and since its just an ordinary day, there are only few people inside.

the entrance.the church/altar/a prayer 

This is my favorite spot in this church. It is just located on the right side of the church (facing the altar)

This is a prayer i found and keeps on sharing to all my friends. It soothes my dying soul. Words were written perfectly for a dying spirit. Thank God i found this.

Mads was supposed to take us to BluRoze but it was quite far from where we were. It was already 3pm then and we were going back home, so i insisted a swimming. hahaha. the tricycle driver took us to Luntian Resort nearby.

This is what you could see in the entrance.

Swimming time!!! I was literally freezing, but this is what i wanted.. to swim! And now im paying off the consequence.. Im having bad cough. hehe. this is expected. But, its fine..i had so much fun though. Too bad Mads can't swim due to her ear's condition. It didn't took us long under the water since it was really cold and there were some bagets who were a little tipsy in the pool. But i enjoyed it even though it didn't last that long. The place is good. The environment is fine. Annie even said. "zoo ba ito?" hahaha! because there were birds in the cage and animals' dispaly (i don't know how the call it., hahaha) beside the pool.

After all the lakad, we searched for an open lomi house, and this is what we found. Bennylyn Lomi Hause. This is the best lomi i tasted so far, which according to Mads is not yet the most special Lomi in Batangas. We'll try to taste it next time. But this is awesome for just 45 pesos. The serving is good. so yummy!!! =), with lots of spices. 

BURP! BURP!

Thank you so much sisters! I missed you both and I really had so much. (Jelly and Julius, we missed you here) To the Narit family, thanks for accommodating us, even with just a short notice. Thanks to Mad's dad and siblings. I really appreciate your kindness.  Thanks Annie for the treat. And thank you Lord for giving me these wonderful people. I love you mga mare. Till our next escapade. =)