Mindoro First Day: Perfect Weather

Here’s the start of a series of blogs and pictures of  our 4-day (June 18-June21, 2009) vacation in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro (somewhere in the southern tip of the island).  My travelmates were Agape Miguel (our hostess), Anne Villanueva, Hazel Turingan and Karen Jucutan.  Enjoy!  Leave me a note if you can.

It all started in February when our friend, Age,  invited us to their place in Mindoro for a vacation.  Cebu Pacific was having its usual promo and the plane to San Jose, Occidental Mindoro and back to Manila would only cost us Php600.00.

Four of us agreed and 4 months after, we are extending the summer season to accommodate this dashing June out-of-town trip.

For you who weren’t able to come and you who are reading this, allow me to share this uplifting experience with some of the mightiest women of God that I know.  Let me take you to a walk to the many blessings and surprises that truly are testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

ARE YOU READY?

Let me start with the first of our four days together.  Our flight is scheduled at around four in the afternoon (around, because it was moved but we still didn’t leave on time).  Age, our hostess, was already at the airport while the rest of us were still in Victory-QC center in Katipunan waiting for Hazel who is rushing some work bilins for the upcoming Sunday service.

1300. Hazel making work bilins in Victory-QC center

We didn’t want to be late of course.  I am a person of time and panics at the thought of being less than on-time but Karen’s gentle assurance pulled me together, as always (thank you Ka, even though I was tensed).  Age was already calling when Hazel had the courage to leave her work in the hands of many very capable officemates.

1345. Waiting for a cab. Age already waiting at the airport

The talks inside the cab, the late Chowking lunch, the distribution of face masks, and all the laughs and jokes were just teasers to more fun moments that are to come.  The trip to the airport was surprisingly quick.  Thank God we were not late!  So here, the super hardworking and admin Haze fishes through her stuff to get her “work papers” and continue coordinating Sunday service stuff.

1445. Haze double checks her stuff at the airport

[Mommy] Karen gets all our tickets and IDs and checks us in.  Karen is always “at your service.”

1455. Karen (middle) checks us in

After paying the terminal fee, which costs almost the same as our ticket fare, the group started to feel relaxed and excited at the same time.

1515. Paid the terminal fee

Everyone grabbed a donut.

1530. Age takes in some sugar

And what else to do while waiting but to capture such moments?

1540. Ladies wait. Anne and Gina take pictures

This is it. An early boarding.  Excellent.

1600. All ready to board

If  arriving early and safely was not enough, God blessed us with an airbus for a faster and more comfortable ride.  That’s what a loving Father does.  I’m glad we’re not angels, but instead daughters (remember Kuya Sky’s preaching about sons and slaves?).

1605. Air bus. A blessing

Here’s my seatmate, pretty Haze.  Her eyes are very sensitive to bright lights.

1610. Gina and Haze are excited for the ride

I guess Karen’s seatmate was saved during the 40-minute ride; or somehow blessed by her presence.

1615. Karen entertains herself with SMILE magazine

Anne is the photographer in us.  And the model too.

1640. A few minutes after take off, Anne moves to an empty seat beside a window

And so we’re off to the sky.  Sometimes, a physcial change of perspective is needed to keep you in the right track.

1655. Sea of clouds

1700. Over seas

1705. Preparing to land

And so I welcome the candidates for Bb. San Husi, Uksedintal Menduru as they promote environmental awareness!  Hehe.  Seriously, as I stepped out of the plane, what greeted me are the rays of the late afternoon sun.  You have to rememember, this was June 18, it was raining cats and dogs the night before and even that morning.  We prayed, believed and hoped for the skies to clear up.  But it’s more than our prayers.  It was God’s way of showing His love in times when you think the circumstances are gonna ruin your vacation.  Naiiyak ako nung naarawan ang pores ko.  God surprises me like this palagi.  He answers your requests and all you can do to respond is to bow down and cry for He is so Holy and Wonderful.

1710. Arrived in a sun-soaked San Jose, Occ. Mindoro

Tita Lety, Age’s mom, welcomed us at the airport.  We rode a tricycle (big ones) to get to their place.  I learned that tricycle is the main mode of transportation for the locals to go around the town and even from one town to another.  There are also jeepneys for the latter’s purpose but trikes are like cabs, you rent them for convenience.  The airport in San Jose, by the way, is just across the beach.  We were so ecstatic to be greeted by the public beach.  The blue waters never fail to amuse me.

1715. Beach greets us on our way from the Airport to Miguel’s residence

After settling down, the group had to go to the town proper to buy some groceries and check e-mails (for the masipag church worker).  The picture below reminds me of Victoria, Laguna where my family lived for some time while my dad managed my tita’s duck farm.  I remember the dirt, the moist, the trees and the cool air.

1725. On our way to the town proper to buy groceries, connect to the net

We were all tired when we got back to the house.  We had a sumptuous dinner that night — the start of a series of meal times devoted to the worship of food (hehe).  Finally, we had a good rest in the home of a God-centered family in Aurelio Subdivision.

(Please visit my site again for more updates.  May you be blessed!)