Falling in love for many people is a walk in the park. For many others, however, venturing into a relationship is like going to a battle. A relationship is put to test when one's true color comes into the picture, thereby tainting a rather happy frame of romance with hues of disdain and discomfort.

It is always good to salvage a relationship from the brink of extinction. When reality, however, dictates that no matter how much you wade in the waters of hope, you will imminently lose your her, you're left with two options "swim back to the shore or drown in misery". Those who choose to sink in grief are dead by now or boobbing up and down in the water of uncertainties. Those who choose to coast until they reach the shore are anchored on finding hope, finding life and finding love again.

The art of letting go is mathematically proportional to the art of self-preservation. Like all ethics and etiquettes, letting go and preserving one-self are crafts that can be mustered and mastered by people who want to get out of the crude and vicious cycle. These skills are summation of one's conscious conviction - albeit peppered and punctured with nerve wracking and heartwrenching feelings - to be happy and complete in one's silence and solitude.

Love makes the world go round, sure. I say, however, that loving yourself more by letting go of someone who loves you less (or doesn't love you at all) makes you a better person.

In the department of romance, many fall prey in their own emotional trap. They almost always blame themselves for the collapse of the relationship. You hear them say: "Probably i am not good enough", or "it is because i dont look good anymore". These are incantations of individuals who are emotionally battered; those who do not love themselves. Many times, they will fight tooth and nail just to win back a no-win situation. They become destructive of themselves, defeating the very essence of life, survival.

What they refuse to recognize is that many suffer from a broken heart because they don't want to move on. Why hold on to your love for someone who, come hell or high water, would not love you or will not fulfill her end of the bargain of loving you back. Why do you have to stick it out with someone who will choose either the devil or the deep blue sea but you. If someone you love has clearly pointed out that you're no more than friends, please be brave enough to win this defeating situation or you will die brokenhearted.

Letting go starts from the ultimate conviction that you love yourself more and you believe you dont deserve to be hurt. Happiness is a responsibility. We have options in life, and yes, the ultimate option is to remove that happiness from within us. When you finally discover that happiness is an inside job, then you will appreciate that there are more people who are worth loving and caring for.

Get up! So what if the person of your dreams doesn't love you? Life does not stop there.

Redeem yourself by letting go.

Here's a brief history of Camiguin.

The name Camiguin is derived from the native word "Kamagong," a tree of the Ebony family that thrives near Lake Mainit in the Province of Surigao del Norte. The original inhabitants of Camiguin were "Manobos" who migrated from Surigao. Thge old native language in Camiguin is called "Kinamiguin," which is similar to the dialect spoken in Surigao. Camiguin was part of the province of Misamis Oriental from 1946 to 1958. It became a sub-province in 1958 and finally in 1968, a full-pledged province with Mambajao as its provincial capital.

Camiguin is an island which has so many tourist attractions ranging from natural, historic and scientific to religious which are only minutes from each other. In the island you will find hot and cold springs, waterfalls, white sandy beaches, lagoons, white islets, breathtaking rain forests, a walkway to the top of an old volcano, ruins of an ancient church, coral reefs and many other interesting sights and landmarks.

Here are some of the places the guide was able to take us.


Katibawasan Falls
Five kilometers southeast of Mambajao at the foot of Mt. Timpoong. Waterfalls which measure about 250 feet high cascades to a rock pool surrounded by ground orchids, wild ferns, trees and boulders. Ice cold water provides an ideal summer splash to bathers and picnickers. The falls tumble down into a green pool, ideal for a refreshing swim. Giant ferns decorate the surrounding land, carpeting for space with huge trees and dropping vines. It is an ideal place to cool off during hot and humid days. Katibawasan Falls is one of the treasured gifts nature has bestowed on the island of Camiguin.



Ardent Hot Springs
The resort is located six kilometers southwest of Mambajao in Esperanza, Tagdo, Mambajao and is the most popular of Camiguin's hot springs. The hot spa at the resort is a natural pool of about 40 deg C coming from the bowels of Mt. Hibok-Hibok. It has a four-tiered pool of varying depths and warmth. the hottest and shallowest is on top. There are cottages, a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, and dormitory facilities provided for local and foreign tourists. The ideal time for swimming is early morning or late afternoon. Because of the hot temperature of its pools, the suggested length of bathing should not be more than 20 minutes. Dipping in its hot water is a best treatment for any therapeutic ailment since it contains sulphur, which is said to be a medicinal element that may cure some illnesses. Picnic huts, cook-out facilities and restrooms have been put up to accommodate the increasing number of visitors. The resort, with its lush vegetation, offers the serenity and restfulness of quiet and peaceful surroundings.



Sunken Cemetery

Lying 20 feet underwater in Barrio Bonbon, Catarman lies the sunken cemetery, the remains of a volcanic eruption. Coral encrusted tombstones can still be explored by snorkellers and scuba divers. A huge cross was installed in 1982 to mark the community cemetery which sunk during the 1871 volcanic eruption. The first major Spanish settlement established in 1679 was called Katagman or Katadman (now known as Catarman). This settlement grew and prospered to what is now Barangay Bonbon. On May 1, 1871, Mt. Vulcan Daan erupted and destroyed the town. A portion of the town sank beneath the sea. After the eruption, the settlement moved to where the Catarman town center is presently located. Today, all the remains of old Catarman are the ruins of the ancient Spanish church, a convent, a bell tower and the sunken cemetery.

Via Cruzes - Old Volcano Slope

It is where life-size statues depicting the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ - the 15 Stations of the Cross that dot a trail to Old Volcano's peak are found. At the last station is a sepulcher carefully carved and chiseled out of volcanic rocks. The pilgrims congregate here to pray during Lenten Season.

Sto. Nino Cold Spring

Four kilometers north uphill of Catarman proper with a pool measuring 25 m by 40 m and 1/2 meter deep of cold spring water sprouting from its sandy bottom. The area has stores, picnic huts, cook-out facilities and restrooms for picnickers. The water flows into smaller pools built for children who could not swim in the bigger eight-foot deep lagoon.



We were not able to visit the other spots since we are running out of time (Paras Super Cat Leaves Camiguin at 3:30PM) not to mention our vehicle had a flat tire...




We arrived at cagayan de Oro around 6PM, tired, but satisfied...

After the rafting, now comes Camiguin. To give everyone a background, there are three ports operating in the province of Camiguin. The main port of entry is in Benoni, with minor ports at Balbagon and Guinsiliban. Balbagon Port links Cagayan de Oro and Cebu, Benoni Port links with Balingoan and Cagayan de Oro, and Guinsiliban Port which also has a roro landing facility links with Balingoan and Cagayan de Oro.



We traveled around an hour and a half to Balingoan Port, which is 84 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro. The ferryboat ride to Benoni port in the Municipality of Mahinog was almost an hour.



We arrived at Camiguin around 1PM, unfortunately Paras Resort was fully booked so we have to look elsewhere and found the Golden Sunset Beach Club.





The group decided to postpone the Tour around Camiguin for the next day since it was already 2PM and we won't be able to maximize it. After getting settled, we ordered lunch and went off to White Island.




White island, also known as Medan Island, is one of the most popular sites to visit in Camiguin. This small inhabited white sand bar, with picturesque Mt. Hibok-Hibok and Mt. Vulcan as its backdrop, is located two kilometers across from the beaches of Agohay and Yumbing. The island, with a shape that differs depending on the tide, is ideal for swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling. The best time to go there is at early morning or late in the afternoon.



Jc on EMO mode hahaha




Enjoying the Water

After the body aching experience from Airsoft, we have yet to embark on another... White Water Rafting, the reason why we came here to Cagayan de Oro on the first place.

So, at 8am in the morning we were already at the Great White Water Tours waiting for the service that will take us to the area.

Before riding the rapids, we had a briefing. Here's something I learned that I thought you guys might be interested in:

1. Strokes - there are three types of basic strokes during rafting, the forward stroke, wherein, you will just paddle forward, easy and relax, the full forward, where half of your paddle is in the water (hard paddling) and high five where you raise your paddle upward.

2. Survival tips - whenever the raft flips, don't panic, if you surface underneath the flipped raft, just carefully go down the water and out of the raft, once out, float on your back, with your feet forward, and just glide through the water. Again, key here is not to panic.

3. Paddle - hold the paddle at the T-grip, and be careful not to let it slip since it may cause injury to some of your friends aboard.

I forgot the rest, but trust me, just listen to the briefer, and you'll survive.

We opted to go with the advance course, where there are a total of 21 Rapids for rafting, with a total course length of 17 kilometers. After the briefing, off we go to the starting point.











By the way, the rafting experience won't be complete without the actual flip nor the instance that you will be falling off the raft. So, just always be prepared, since you'll really never know.

Snacks are served at the middle of the course. We were given the delicious pastel.



The end of the journey...

Back at the Great White Water Tours office, we were treated an eat all you can buffet. Wow, what a way to finish off...


Looking back, rafting in those waters is kinda like our navigating through our lives, we must always be relaxed and think clearly amidst the rapids and strong current life is throwing at us. If you fall, don't panic, relax and try to stay afloat, don't struggle... for someone is sure to pick you up and put you on the raft once again...

The white water rafting might be over now, but the memories and lessons we have gathered from this experience is truly both rewarding and enlightening. Surely, they will always be remembered...

Ready for another ride at the Rapids?

And the day came... Seems like eternity but is here!

We arrived at the airport around 3AM, and wow, Cebu Pacific was on time. We left Manila at exactly 4:30am and arrived 20mins ahead of schedule.

Ate Rins and JC at CDO Airport:



Jinxes: I just really don't get it, hahaha first, Ecchi lost his bracelet, and then JC lost his cap, and me, I lost something really valuable - a bag that contains my digital camera, and wallet. What a way to start the trip hahaha...

All of us were surprised to know that we will be playing Airsoft on our first day, hahaha had Ecchi mentioned, I would've brought along my gears. Well, so much for that, we just dealt with whatever is offered at the site.

The game site was literally near the top of the mountain, took us around 20mins from the town proper.




This is Me

There were 11 of us playing, and we had about 5 rounds. Twas fun.










We ate our lunch at Mang Inasal, where we took advantage of their unlimited rice hahaha.

And then went home after, exhausted yet happy. Looking forward to our Water Rafting tomorrow, plus a visit to Shadewest's shop.