4th Jollibee store branch in Iligan City opens, with modern and tropical design.

Jollibee Tubod Drive Thru
Photo credits to Maayong Iligan.

One of the best successful fast-food restaurant chain in the Philippines opens their new branch on Tubod, Iligan City called Jollibee Tubod Drive Thru and they opened the store branch June 7, 2013. Being the fourth branch, it is the first and its kind modern tropical store in Mindanao and second in the Philippines.

The store accommodates 248 sitting capacity and 60 for the party area. There is also a space in the store that allows you to have business meetings and an alfresco dining ambiance outside so that the customers will enjoy their bamboo shoots with mini-garden. Jollibee Tubod Drive Thru being one of the most improved kitchen design in the rest of the other branches using the second-generation kitchen system. The modern and tropical design of the store could last up to 10 years and there’s a possibility that within the next five years, they will open another branch in Marawi City, according to Mr. Jun Reyes, Operations Director for Jollibee. He also wanted that this branch will be the last stop going outside Iligan City and first stop going to Iligan City.

Alfresco inspired dining areas
Photo credits to Maayong Iligan.

Party Area section. Can be also served for business meetings.
Photo credits to Maayong Iligan.

Counter areas of the newly open Jollibee Tubod Drive Thru.
(L) Explore Iligan. (R) Jollibee Crew.
Photo credits to Maayong Iligan.

More of it, there are almost 80 crews serving throughout day and night, most of them are from nearly barangays of the store and most the numbers are students which are part-time employees. According to them, they encourage students to employ to their store. The crews are given  free meals to ensure that they won’t get hungry during their shift.

Iligan Bloggers Society members and the Jollibee Administrative Staff takes "One for Jollibee" sign during the Dry Run and Press Conference held last June 6, 2013.
Photo credits to Maayong Iligan.

Operating hours of the Jollibee Tubod Drive Thru runs from 06:00AM to 11:00PM for now but these will be changed later soon. The other side is that they have a WiFi access.

For deliveries, you can call them to this number 222-6800.

If you want to see more photos inside the new branch. Click here. 

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The Farewell to Mountain Climbing. Welcomed Backpack Travelling.

A pose photo during the ascent to Mount Malinas in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte

I was encouraged to have the guts on mountain climbing by my fellow friends, way back when I was studying. My first climb was at the Mount Agad-Agad which located in the Barangay of Puga-an here in Iligan City, that was around April 2012. On my mind, is the terrain too hard? Will I able to do it? Hours later, we reached the 1st camp with a viewing deck, seeing most of Iligan City downtown, it is really recommended to climb during dusk so that you can see night-time Iligan City, glowing lights everywhere in the downtown. After my first climb, I came back-to-back climb in Mount Agad-Agad to develop my cardiovascular activity on my body, up until I joined a mountaineering group on our school for which I’m a student and at the same time, an employee.

The mountaineering name is, ICI Mountaineers, it is a group consisting of ICI faculties, students (graduate or still studying), staffs, and alumni, have a climb in twice a month, and to give importance to the given nature by our Mother Earth. It was the first two climbs of the mountaineering team that lead them to the summit of Mount Agad-Agad. According to the leader of the group, it serves as a exercise and a practice climb for the upcoming Major Climbs that will soon climbed like Mount Sumagaya in Claveria, Mount Apo in Kidapawan, Mount Kitanglad on Bukidnon and Mount Malindang on Misamis Occidental province. Up until then, the ICI-CDO based mountaineers joined forces to climb the Mount Agad-Agad, marking my 16th climb.

On my 17th climb was in Mount Sumagaya, located at Claveria, Misamis Oriental, it is considered as one of the Major Climbs of the mountaineering team (now Hangak Mountaineers). I underestimated the climate of the summit because I thought that it was the same as the condition at the camp in Mount Agad-agad. Though it was foggy and very cold, it was a great achievement, having myself conquered such a cold summit mountains.

On my 18th climb was in Mount Malinas, located at Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte. It was not only the mountain climbing activity that we are doing there; it also includes the exploration of three out of seven caves of Mount Malinas and their great waterfalls; Santa Cruz Falls and Cathedral Falls. Although, it is one of the most tiring and adventurous trips that I had, I came across to my mind that this would be my final mountain climb activity.

The main reasons that I ended my adventurous mountain climbing because I’m need something more than that, like knowing the culture, foods and their unexplored tourist areas. Another reason is the gears are mostly needy in the mountain climbing which I can’t make a budget on the expenses. And the last one is the accidents that made me injured for many days, so I officially end it, as a Mountain Climber. I pledged to myself that I will not to climb mountains again, depending on the invitations that I will receive when mountain climbing is a prerequisite.

Since I’m leaving the Mountain Climbing world, I would like to say thanks in the deep of my heart  to those people I know, the Hangak Mountaineers which I’m in, and my friends who introduced to me the mountain climbing. 

I am now welcome myself to the world of travelling, I mean Backpack Travelling. Days after the said “retirement” of mountain, I immediately posted the temporary poster image that listed the 27 cities of Mindanao which will be part of my travel starting next year, 2013 and it’s called, 23+ Mindanao 2013.

23+ Mindanao 2013: Listed Cities

Click on the image for the full-sized resolution.

Thank you very much and expressing my full-support to the Hangak Mountaineers.

Jerick Carlo Almeda

Blogger and Founder of the Pagkalaagan – A Blog by Jerick Almeda.

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The Great Kapatagan: Mount Malinas + Cave(s) + Waterfalling

Participants of the Kapatagan: Mt. Malinas, Caving and Waterfalling. Image Credit to Sir Daryl Tolero

Last November 2-3, I witnessed the beauty of a such peaceful and happy town inside the Lanao del Norte province, its nature, the people around it, and the wonders that you will never regret it. It’s Kapatagan.  This time, I will write about these natures that I visited together with the friends of these wondrous Kapatagan.

After a few days before and after the Mount Sumagaya climb at Claveria, Misamis Oriental, i seen the poster on Facebook from the LGU of Kapatagan inviting people to join the climbing of Mount Malinas, the caving, and the visit of the best waterfalls named Santa Cruz and Cathedral which they are proud of, so I got interested and joined in.

In the early morning of November 2, I was thinking that, “Would I ever make it to the KTC (Kapatagan Town Center)?” because I arrived on the Southbound Terminal at around 4:00AM then the bus went to Kapatagan starting 4:13AM. In my thoughts that I will arrive before 6AM, I tried to convince the bus driver to speed up his driving, because he’s maintaing 60-70 KPH, but he told me that it’s against their so-called “protocols” and have the possibility to get scolded by the inspector. 6AM was the expected time of departure going to the Barangay of Malinas, which will mark the start of trekking.

The Trek to Mount Malinas

I arrived on the assembly area, but then little frustrated because I thought that we will move on-time at 6AM to Barangay Malinas and delayed around 1 hour. I had breakfast of one of the fast food store just outside the Town Center, and that time I seen Alex, one of the members of Iligan Bloggers Society which I’m a member also. Bags are packed and ready to go, I sat on the top-side on the large jeepney going to the Barangay Malinas, after a 30 minute trip, we arrived.

Assembly area - Photo by Mam Rio

We started the climb together with the ICI Mountaineers, ICI Alpinist, students of the ICI-Kapatagan, LGU of Kapatagan, and some invited-to-join parties for about 15-20 minutes. After that, we made a stop which you can have the option to cross the river, hanging bridge or cross the river on-foot, some of them crossed the river through the hanging bridge but then I prefer the easy one, crossing the river on-foot, so I joined the other team, ICI Alpinist, to cross it and taking pictures among ourselves. Weather on the ascent to the Mount Malinas was quietly hot and sky clear, and I think, climbing on that day is very tiring because of the sun rays hits directly on our body.

After the crossing of the river bank together with the ICI Alpinist. Photo by Mam Rio

On the middle of the trek, we need to cross a bridge again, it’s made of bamboo shoots, well it is firm and strong but it is advised to cross it, one after the other, because there is a slight chance that you will fall, the height was around 10-15 feet from the bridge, down to the water. We crossed numberous rice fields, encoured a slight rain, but the bad side is, there is really no trees as you passby while going to the summit, tireness and exhaustion to the climbers was due to head which can be possibly fall on to dehydration or heat-stroke. The group was supposed to move on together but due to the heat and taking to much rest, the others are already in advance, some are the last people on the trek, and we are on the middle (me, my ex, and her best friend). The trek was not really a hard one compared  to Mount Agad-agad, it took 3-4 hours to climb. We’ve reached the summit of Mount Malinas in the afternoon, taking a break and assembled our respective tents. If your facing Kapatagan as your North, you will see the perfect vicinity of Mount Malindang and the Panguil Bay on left, on the right side you will see mountains bigger than Mount Malinas, on the south-west, you will see the Pagadian City, much little to see in broad daylight but it’s perfect when viewed during night time.

Mount Malindang during dusk before night - Photo by Mam Rio

If you’re asking about the climate of the Mount Malinas, for beginners, it is really cold but for myself, it is not really cold, comparing this to Mount Sumagaya, you really some serious gears to keep you warm due to the very cold climate at the summit, much like of a freezer playing around 10-15 degrees Celcius.

From Left-to-Right: First left: Sir Randy | Third left: Myself
Photo together with the ICI-Kapatagan Students
Photo Credit to: Sir Daryl Tolero

A photo of myself - Thanks to sir Daryl for the photo.

Due to the resulting stress of the early travel to Kapatagan and the trek to Mount Malinas and the Caving Activity, I slept early to fill-in the missing hours of sleep and I intentionally not to sleep before November 2 because, if not, I won’t be there, maybe waking up on the late morning. Since the night is up, everybody else went to sleep and waiting for the early morning air catch.

Sunday Morning Photo, ICI-Kapatagan Students
Photo by: Sir Daryl Tolero

When I woke up, I went outside to catch the cold air but suddenly there was a little bit of argument coming from the other side of the mountain, not really sure of where he is come from, and I know later that Mount Malinas was disputed between Kapatagan and Sultan Naga Dimaporo, but I believe that it is really in Kapatagan. Not to mention the main reason of the disputed mountain. After that, we take our breakfast and preparing for our descend going to the Town Center, visiting the two great waterfalls, Cathedral Falls and Santa Cruz Falls.

Early Morning at the Summit of Mount Malinas

The Great Caves*

According to the guides, there are an actual count of 7 caves that are already explored which we can visit, but unfortunately we visit 3 caves, although we didn’t have the other four, we are enjoying it. Before we arrived to the first cave which the guide instructed, the trek is really-really slippery, I slipped four times I think, and I wore my badminton shoes not the mountaineering shoes. As we arrived at the entrance, I was really amazed on the rock formations inside of the cave, more than that, it is pitch-dark and quite slippery. As we reached quite distance from the entrance, I noticed that I catching the air to breath, the guide told us that, as you reached quite far, the amount of oxygen to breath is thinner.

We experienced the same on the second cave, lack of oxygen air. Another guide told us that, “Don’t look above? Because bats will intentionally urinate, and when it gets contact on your skin or eyes, it really itchy.” And again, we weren’t to see the exit of the second and first cave but we got into some crawling activity as we got far.

The more challenging part of the caves is the third, when you looked up on above, it is really high, measuring higher than 10 meters, according to the guide(s), there is a ladder which simply you can move down but unfortunately there is no such ladder. So moved-in to the third cave going down using the rocks that are on the side of the entrance to the cave. I was really nervous of going down because there is no harness support and then, if your not careful on the steps, it has a big chance of getting an injury because of the slippery track going down. The good thing is, we find the exit of the cave and moving back towards of camp at the summit of Mount Malinas.

The Waterfalls: Cathedral and Santa Cruz

It was a great experience having a visit of Mount Malinas and its great caves. We immediately went back to Kapatagan Town Center to put up our Mountaineering Equipment there and then getting ready for our departure going to Cathedral Falls. I was really impressed when I see the Cathedral Falls’ photos on some of my friends of Facebook and finally, I seen it on my very own eyes. I considered Cathedral Falls one of the greatest waterfall in my whole life because of the rock formations surrounding the loud bang of water from the top of the bottom. More than that, we take the opportunity to take photos neither portrait, group photos and even jumpshots, that was the time I take a picture with my girlfriend (now my ex, and only that photo is the only we had as a couple). We bid goodbye to Cathedral Falls and went so Santa Cruz Falls.

On the front: Participants
On the back: Cathedral Falls
Photo by: Daryl Tolero

Reaching the Santa Cruz falls requires you to take a hike around 30 minutes from the highway to reach the perfect view, at the first minutes of the trek was really easy but as you move towards the waterfall, you’ll step into big rocks and crossing into small portions of flowing water. Luckily, that I was wearing slippers because when I wore the badminton shoe, I don’t know on how I will forgive myself why I wore it. Apart from that, when I reached to the waterfall itself, I was some kind of speechless, because, it is really beautiful waterfall, it was like combining 3-4 Tinago Falls piled-up together. Really, it was wider than the usual waterfall I seen. Most of the participants of the climb take the opportunity plunge in to the deep cold water. I didn’t take that opportunity because I had a post-traumatic experience when I was drowned due to the cramps on my left foot. I went immediately back to the highway road at first because I was experiencing light headaches and dehydration due to the very hot climate on that day.

Santa Cruz Falls - Photo Credit to Daryl Tolero

Conclusion

It is an honor for me to witness Kapatagan on what they are really proud of, the countless rice fields, the great mountain ranges especially their Mount Malinas, the caving adventure and the waterfalls visit. It’s an opportunity for me as a blogger, traveller, or a friend to explore Kapatagan.

Thanks to Sir Daryl Tolero of LGU from Kapatagan for the invitation and photos, the ICI Mountaineers-Alpinist Climbers now called as HANGAK Mountaineers, the tour guides who gave us the way which takes us away from danger, MSU-MCI team, and any people who participated on the event.

It’s really more fun in Kapatagan!

This is going to be my 18th and final mountain climbing, I will return some day on this year or next, but I want to try something new to myself, travelling Mindanao.

*There is no yet photo for the Caving, I'm still waiting to the owner of the photos to grant me permission to post it in this article.

Photo album:

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The Adventure Begins at Waterfalling Adventure Tour 1.0

I'm so excited to join the 15 invited bloggers to the upcoming event hosted by Iligan Bloggers Society called Waterfalling Adventure Tour 1.0 which having a round tour in Iligan City in 5 days. It is part of the month-long celebration of the Diyandi Festival 2012 of its patron saint, St. Michael the Archangel. 

It is a great opportunity for me to explore Iligan City where I couldn't have a time to visit the places because of the work which I am currently employed in, specially you're a COO. Though I can only attend 2 days out of 5 day adventure, I won't forget the experiences, fun and exciting that I'll encounter for this tour.

It's really more fun in Iligan City!

Waterfalling Adventure Tour 1.0 will not be possible without the support from the event sponsors: Tita Fannies, Red Planet / Calda Pizza, El Canto / Macki's, Iligan City Government, UNILAB, NPC Natures Park, Third Team Media, TravelJams, PurpleSlipperz, and Pinay Travelista.

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2012 Diyandi Festival Calendar of Events and Activities

Guys! The city fiesta here in Iligan City is just started! It is called Diyandi Festival! Again it's getting more fun, enjoyment and exciting! I'm also very excited to celebrate together with my fellow Iliganons to experience Diyandi Festival 2012 like never before! 

Here is the 2012 Diyandi Festival Calendar of Events and Activities!

CORRECTIONS OF SCHEDULES IN THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

"EAT MY DUST V"

From September 23 to September 16, 2012

Venue: From Seminary Drive transfer to Brgy. San Miguel, Iligan City

Contact Person: Boyet - 09267863733

"PAGANA A TASTE OF ILIGAN"

Moved to September 14, 15 & 16, 2012

Venue: The Strip, Quezon Ave. Extension, Brgy. Pala-o, Iligan City

"6th Mayor's Cup National MountainBike Downhill Competition"

Brgy. Dalipuga, Iligan City

Image Courtesy:
http://iliganbloggers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DIYANDI-calendar-2012_final.jpg

Prepare your cameras and capture the memorable moments in one of the greatest festival in Northern Mindanao, the Diyandi Festival in Iligan City.

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Get a taste of their dishes @ Delecta

If you are a resident or not in Iligan City and looking for a affordable and yummy dishes, consider going to Delecta where you experience the best fine dining restaurant or cafe, so far.

Delecta is considered one of the best restaurants here in Iligan City. It has many dishes from different styles fitted to match the taste of the Filipinos especially Iliganons. Delecta opened around early 90's period and founded last 1987 then the restaurant closed on later years, I don't know what's the reason of the closure, what I'm craving there when I was a little child is Halo-halo where you can put milk as many as you wanted to. Then last year or 2 years I think, I heard of some of my friends that Delecta opens again! I was so excited to have a dine there. Yess!

The First Impression

Delecta was re-opened with new style, new look and their best foods, offering their best dishes to match the Filipino taste! I eat on Delecta last month was a burger, I forgot the name of the dish, the price of the burger I think was P150 (Philippine peso), my first initial reaction was "What would be the size of this 150 peso burger?". When the order was served, Wow! I didn't expect that it is 3 times bigger than the regular size of a burger. Despite of being hungry at that time, so I ate it with all my might because the burger is good for 3 persons. 

The Place

Delecta is located at General Aguinaldo St. here in Iligan City (location and map will be shown below on this paragraph). The restaurant has 2 floors, the second floor has a larger dining area and operates Mondays-Sundays, 09:30 AM - 09:00 PM. Specializes in Asian Fusion and Filipino-style delicacies, offers also on Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

The Foods (Images)

Fresh Lumpia

Fruitty Garden Salad

Crispy Noodles

Garlic Chicken

Fried Spring Rolls

Adobo Flakes Salad

Delecta Coolers
A blend of fresh fruits (e.g. Watermelon, Pineapple, Apple and more)

Moist Chocolate Cake
Is the very definition of mouth-watering 2 layers of dark, rich velvety cake

Crispy Bangus

Grilled Baby Back Ribs

Pancit Palabok

Layered Garden Salad

The Venue

More details about Delecta

Description: A Fusion Of International Cuisine Reinvented To Fit The Filipino Taste.
Founded: 1987
Location: General Aguinaldo Street, Iligan City, 9200 Philippines

Click on the map for full-map view. Highlighted on red is Delecta.

Food Styles: Asian Fusion and Filipino
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday: - 09:30 AM - 09:00 PM
Specialties: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Services: Walk-ins are welcome, Take-out, Waiter Service
Culinary Team: Deliciously Filipino
Parking: Street
Payment Options: Cash Only
Phone Contact Number: (063) 221-3397
Images Courtesy of Delecta Official Facebook Fan Page. https://www.facebook.com/thedelecta

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"Loading at Unloading" traffic signs? Ano ba sila?

Magandang gabi sa lahat, nagdaan ang panahon na hindi ako nakapagsulat sa aking blog dahil sa busy kong schedule sa trabaho, pag "tweet-tweet" sa mundo ng Twitterverse, asikaso sa sarili at sa pamilya, wag muna yung lovelife, nakakahadlang sa araw-arawing ginagawa ko, sa akin lang po yun ha. Ewan ko naman sa iba, basta ako happy naman sa pagiging simple sa buhay. Teka, parang sobra na ata ang pagsusulat ng pagbabalik ko sa blogosphere (mundo ng mga bloggers), diretso na tayo sa topic natin.

NOTE: Hindi talaga ako 100% accurate o magaling sumulat gamit ang Filipino. 

Naisipan ko 'tong sumulat na kauna-unahang blog entry na Filipino (noon Tagalog) para maintindihan ko ito kung ano talaga ang ibig sabihin ng "Loading at Unloading" signs na makikita mo sa daan. Dahil rin to sa na-engkwentrong sobrang traffic kaninang umaga kaya naisulat ko ito.

Ano ang "Loading" at "Unloading"?

Base sa aking kaalaman, ang loading ay isang traffic sign kung saan doon nakaparada ang mga jeepney trucks at maghihintay ng pasahero na papasok sa loob ng jeepney hanggang sa mapuno ito at pupunta sa kanyang ruta o destinasyon. Ang unloading naman ay opposite ng loading meaning ito ay isang traffic sign na saan bababa yung pasahero sa isang pwesto ng daan. 

Image Courtesy of Google Images

Sa dinami-dami nga pasahero at jeepney ngayon, minsan nag-aagawan na nang pasahero at pipila pa ang mga jeep na sanhi naman ng traffic sa isang lugar. Magbigay tayo ng isang example. Tulad sa isang iskwelahan dito sa Iligan City kung saan maraming estudyanteng lalabas at papasok ng eskwela lalo na pag rush hour. Sa may tapat lang ng iskwelahan, apat na lanes lang yun, meron kang makikitang road sign na "No Loading or Unloading, Before and After sign", siguro ang mga estudyante at mga ordinaryong tao ay nakakaintindi nito. Ang problema nga lang ay bakit ang mga driver ng jeepney ay doon sila pansamantalang magpa-parking sa "No Loading or Unloading, Before and After" sign at mag-aantay ng mga pasaherong estudyante. At isa pa, hindi lang siguro mga driver ang gagawa nito, pati siguro mga estudyante na nagmamadali dahil mayroon sila pupuntahan sa syudad. Meron naman mga traffic enforcers na ginagawa ang kanilang mga trabaho na gagawin ang makakaya para manatiling smooth and comfy ang traffic ng daan. Dahil siguro hindi nila mababantayan ang mga jeep at mga estudyante na nag-aantay ng jeep lalo na pagwala ang presenya ng traffic enforcer, naku, good luck talaga sa traffic.

Image Courtesy of Google Images

Nagtataka lamang ako kung bakit hanggang ngayon na hindi pa nabigyan ng atensyon kung bakit hindi sinusunod ang "No Loading & Unloading, Before and After sign". Tandaan nyo, isa itong labag sa batas trapiko kapag na violate niyo ang traffic sign na yan. Paano naman yung mga ambulansya o mga emergencies na daan? Kawawa naman yung nagmamadali o pasyente na kailangan ilipat sa ibang ospital. Ang point ko naman is hindi naman kasalanan ng estudyante, jeep, ordinaryong tao, traffic enforcer o sa traffic sign. Siguro hindi lang dito sa Iligan City na meron trapik na ganito ang sitwasyon, pati siguro sa ibang lugar sa Pilipinas na kaparehas din natin. Dapat lang tayo sundin natin ang batas trapiko para maka iwas tayo sa aksidente o sa traffic jam man nalang.

Itong blog entry ko ay isang pagbabahagi ng opinyon ukol sa traffic sign na "Loading at Unloading". Bukas naman ako sa kuminikasyon sa comments section ng blogpost na ito. 

For the foreign readers: I will have a translated version regarding of this post on English-language soon.

Maraming Salamat!

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First time and pressure.

It’s my very first time of my life that I will have to tabulate a wondrous pageant at Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte. At first, I was wowed that it would be exciting to calculate the results of the beauty pageant. But before that, I will go first why I was chosen to be a tabulator.

Last Friday, July 6. I was in the process in creating a tech article for PinoyTechnologies.com, then after a moment, Sir Jerrum (Marketing Officer) asked me if I will join him to Kapatagan, so I immediately said yes, that time I was so excited to go to place since it was my first time to visit Kapatagan also, and then Arbil (co-officemate) joined to the team as well, calling ourselves as the “Tabulation Team”.

I've been busy all the time watching the system. I think I was the busiest person at this pageant.

On the late afternoon, Sir Jerrum asked our head, Sir Fabs, for us to join him to Kapatagan he gave a no-decision because of our tasks that we have but later, sir Jerrum explained that it will happen on Saturday (July 7), and given us the permission to go to Kapatagan with a big smile on my face. J Later on, our programmer (Ringo) who develop a somewhat I call “judging system” or whatsoever as long as the judges can vote on a exposure from the pageant, giving me a orientation of the system on what to do and what will I do next to get me familiarized to the system.

July 7

At Saturday (July 7), I arrived to our office as I was the place for the assembly. We (Tabulation Team) went to the bus terminal and ride to Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, arrived around 5pm or 6pm in the Kapatagan Gym. When I first heard about Kapatagan is that, I think, it’s quite far from Iligan City, but when I told that I is very far, well okay, didn’t expect that.

Upon our arrival, the production staff are busy preparing the gymnasium because it starts at 8pm, as the time comes, I opened my laptop and finalizing the systems performance, clinched a dry run just to ensure that the system is running with no errors. Moments later, we, well the tabulation team as well as the ICI-Kapatagan Network Administrator Allen assembled the computers which will be using the judges to cast their votes. That time, we were testing the network if it connects carefully to the host computer (my laptop) by ping test. Moments later, at the bad side, we experienced a technical difficulty, like the system generates an error upon voting and the computers could not communicate to my laptop. After around 30 minutes, the network is running good and the system went smoothly.

The start

The pageant started past 8 PM, the program runs first the opening prayer, that’s the time that I prayed hard and asked guidance to the God that He will give me courage and strength to take on the tabulation process and others. After that, the 10 lovely candidates showed the exposures, I lost my copy of the program, as long as these exposures were performed at that night. In no particular order;

• ·         Cocktail Attire
• ·         Filipiniana Dress Attire
• ·         Kahumayan Festival Attire
• ·         Long Gown
• ·         Preliminary Interview
• ·         Production Number
• ·         Swimwear, and lastly
• ·         The Question and Answer portion, which will be answered by the top 5 finalist

Every after a exposure, I was tasked that every an exposure has been done voting by the judges, I must locked the access so that they will cannot alter the scores, to avoid such bias in the pageant, and afterwards, printing the results of these exposures and submitting them to our head, sir Jerrum, as the Tabulation Committee Chairman.

The special award has been given to the winning contestants that were chosen by the judges from voting. From a moments later, the audience, the contestants, host and judges and the people inside the gymnasium waiting for the results of the Top 5 finalists. This was the time that I was too much pressured to myself but aside from the pressure, that I must done this task that was given to me. After the Top 5 finalists’ announcement, I was asked again to generate the overall scores for the Top 5.

Question & Answer + Bb. Kapatagan 2012

The Top 5 finalists of the pageant had to face the hard part of that competition, the Question & Answer portion because it will be decided who will be crowned as the Bb. Kapatagan 2012. As the finalists’ answer the question from the five judges, we’ll I didn’t heard those questions because I was focusing too much on the system, luckily Arbil had recorded the entire Q & A portion, but until now I still haven’t watched that video. My bet was the candidate No.6, why? Because she has beauty, confidence, guts and the intelligence, when she smiles she looked like Shamcey Supsup. In despite of her qualities, she had a number of fans at the upper courtside on the stage cheering on her.

Top 5 finalist

When the Top 5 finalists’ done answering those questions, I went immediately to the system and busy calculating the results of which on these finalists grab the crown for Bb. Kapatagan 2012, rechecking, rechecking and validating the results, after that, I printed the results and submitting them again to the chairman. But before the crowning, the former Bb. Kapatagan 2011 delivers her last message as being the Bb. Kapatagan winner and gives a good luck message to the desired finalist to be crowned.

Windelou Hope Pasiol crowned as the Bb. Kapatagan 2012 by the previous crown holder.

Due to tensions around the gymnasium, the Bb. Kapatagan 2012 was declared as the winner and crowned, she is Windelou Hope Pasiol, and she was also my bet to win the pageant. I can see on her face that she cried and smiles on winning the crown. After the photo shoot thingy, I had a chance to myself to have a picture with her and also the rest of the team.

A photo with the Binibining Kapatagan 2012 (Windelou Hope Pasiol)

And after all of that, I was very relieved, stressed, tired and pressured on a big and prestigious pageant. I also thank this pageant that I was able to overcome such tension, pressure and also the guidance of God and prayers.

Congratulations to the Windelou Hope Pasiol for being the Binibining Kapatagan 2012.

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Back to school is near, nearly there!

Back to school is just there. Being a student, going to school is the most crucial part of our life. Enrollments to other and different schools are busy at the same time buying school materials and supplies. Though some of the students face's say "Balik skwela nanaman, ang bilis ng panahon!" (The school is back, time moves so fast!).

Some others also spent their late summer vacation 1 week before the school starts or the enrollment begins. Remember, spend those little remaining time to wander around, visit other place or anything other else. Also, don't forget to upload those precious moments to Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler or any social networking websites.

Lastly, since the school-ing period is very very near, you can make new friends, explore new things at songs and learn the teachings by your teachers at your school.

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On Cue: Ozamiz City - June 2-3 (Prologue)

This coming June 2-3, that's next weekend starting this day. I'm planning to visit Ozamiz City, their tourist attractions, several establishments, and their outstanding university, La Salle University. In my travel itinerary, which I planned it by myself, I'm going to visit these 6 areas around Ozamiz City, named below.

• Bukagan Hill
• Immaculate Conception Pipe Organ
• Cotta Fort and Cotta Shrine
• Gaisano Capital Mall & Shopper's Plaza
• La Salle University

I pray for my safety to travel in this city because I heard some rumors that its not the best to go around the city and I also wonder why. But I think this city is peaceful and heartwarming community. Although, I posted this early and the eagerness to go, I'm not sure if I will travel on that day or schedule it to another day or maybe I will cancel the trip and choose another place.

As of now, I'm searching for blogger, a local (who lives there) or a partner who can guide me there, really. You can contact me through the "contact page", skype (ID: jerickalmeda), twitter (@pagkalaagan) or in facebook.

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