Hungry for a Library

Since we started homeschooling in June of last year, we have been trying to get Elise a library card so she can borrow books.  She is an avid reader and like any six or seven year old,  loves fairy tales, escapades, magic, making friends and being brave. 

I brought her to the British Council over at the Taipan Place in Emerald Avenue, Ortigas Center when we were still in Manila.   I grew up going to the one in New Manila where I would watch classic movies, borrow storybooks and just hang out with my mom.  Even until college, it was an escape for me, somewhere I could be alone where nobody knew where I was. I told her what a wonderful place it was, and she got all excited. When we got there, she happily asked the librarian where the Children's Section was.  The librarian seemed almost scared to tell us.  Then she said something that devastated Elise.  "I'm sorry, we no longer have a library.  All that is left is an English Proficiency Center.  Elise and I simultaneously freaked out.  "WWWHHHAAAAT?!!!" Our anticipation of going there regularly for some precious reading time and  her excitement of having a library card to borrow books, burst to a billion pieces and splattered all over the librarian.  We even asked her what we could do next, since we really NEEDED a library, maybe at the British Embassy?  Elise even asked if she was sure that there wasn't a library in there somewhere.  Of course, she couldn't help us.  And as we walked away, I think she was more devastated than us.  We crossed over to Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and shared an iced blended drink.  We survived the afternoon. 

A few weeks later, we visited the Pasig City Discovery Centrum and Learning Resource Center, where the three of us had lots of fun.  They had a good enough children's library on the ground floor and an interactive play area similar to Museo Pambata.  We donated some college books for their third floor.  For a public library in the Philippines, it was a good. one.  We got ourselves some 1 x 1 ID pictures for our library cards and were just about to have our forms signed the following Monday by the barangay captain, when Typhoon Ondoy (Typhoon Ketsana) struck. Of course, the Pasig Library was badly flooded.  And when this happened in the end of September, many other unfortunate incidents followed .  Getting a library card became the least of our priorities. 

 When we finally set foot in Palawan, we found the City Library beside the Palawan Museum!  The children's section was the only air conditioned room, and had the usual encyclopedias and some storybooks.  The books were very old and it looked like that there was no strong children's literacy program going on., or funding for one.  Well, we were there to get a library card for Elise. We were informed, however, that we can't get one unless we have a permanent address. After two months, we still did not have a permanent address.  We went back and requested to be issued one anyway, since we are in the process of getting a permanent address. They reluctantly obliged, and Elise and I got our library cards! 

We chose our books, and headed over to the desk.  Guess what, they were doing their annual inventory, and we had to wait until April 26 to borrow books, three more weeks.... Elise's face fell and I comforted her, assuring her that at least, we already had library cards! She was so frustrated, and my only consolation was that this whole ordeal that had been stretching on for about six months was building her character. 

We planned to go last April 27, Tuesday, but it rained so hard that we stayed in.  On April 28, we scheduled ourselves to join the 3:00P.M. shuttle but the van had to wait for a delayed flight, so we left late and arrived at the library at 4:00P.M., just when the building was being padlocked for the day.  

So, this afternoon, we were FINALLY back and very ready to borrow some books.  Yay, right?  Oh no, borrowers were limited to a single wall of four five-foot shelves filled with adult romance, some really old self-help and gardening books, and few young adult books about horses and some irrelevant plots. Everything else was free to be photocopied, can you believe it??????!!!

Anyway, Elise and I chose one book each.  I felt disheartened, but tried to be cheerful for  her.  I hoped that she was more excited about the process of borrowing a book than the actual book she would borrow. 

Puerto Princesa really needs a good children's library.  How does one start a library?  

A Basketball Game and a Busted Mobile Phone

I have always wanted to take the kids to a live basketball game.  Little did I know that we would end up doing it here in Palawan!  Rene was given some tickets.  Unfortunately, he could not join us. Although I do not follow the PBA games, it was another good opportunity for a field trip!

The two kiddos and I took a spunky silver tricycle to the town coliseum to watch the face off between the North and the South from the upper box. We were so high up, and the kids had a good view of what was going on. We could not see the players' faces -- too bad as I was a bit curious to see James Yap in person, hahaha.

As the game progressed, I explained how basketball is played, what a foul is, what would earn one point, or two points, or three points. Nacho rooted for the blue team, and Elise cheered for the white team. I think we were the nosiest bunch in our side. Nacho was busy eating his doughnut but squealed whenever the blue team shot a basket.  And when the white team would lead, he would growl so loudly. 

We left at the end of the first game. We still had to catch the 7:00P.M. Mass at the cathedral, and Nacho was beginning to feel sleepy. The blue team won, 38-37. I am not a basketball expert, nor a fanatic. But I was a bit disappointed at how lazy the game was. The next day, we found out from the news what happened after we left. The white team won. 

We made it just in time for Mass. We decided to take a multicab instead of a tricycle.  Right before the Mass ended, I sent a text to the van driver to let him know that we would join the 8:30P.M. pick up schedule.  It was getting late, and he unusually he did not reply.  My heart sank as I found out that the message was still in my Outbox!  I repeatedly tried to send it, and tried to make some calls, but my phone could not send, nor call.

We walked to nearby stores and asked if we could use a land line. They shook their heads - no land line.  A bakery had a pay phone outside that takes five peso coins.  I tried it, but I could not be heard.  The person on the other line thought I was making a crank call.  We walked some more, hurrying, as it was getting quite dark, and most establishments close between 7:00 to 8:00P.M.  We reached a gasoline station and the lady computing credit card sales on her desk was kind enough to let me use the phone.  I left a message for the driver that we would be waiting outside the bakery in front of the cathedral.  

We walked back to the bakery, and they were pulling the steel shutters shut.  We just stood there, waiting.  Nacho asked to be carried because he could see the shop lights turn off one by one on the street.  It was getting pitch black, with all the trees around us.  Even if Puerto Princesa is the safest city in the Philippines with the lowest crime rate, I still did not want to be there with two small children.  My phone still could not call!  The driver called me but I could not understand a word he said. Then the line got cut off.

I flagged down the last of the few tricycles in the area and asked to be brought to Itoy's Coffee Shop at Rizal Avenue, the center of downtown, where places close at 10:00P.M. and even later. We got there shortly and I informed the driver through their pay phone that we were waiting somewhere else. 

Barely five minutes passed by when I saw the familiar white van slow down and park in front of the coffee shop.  I looked at Elise's smiling face.  Yay, we were going home!

Island Hopping at Honda Bay

The kids and I have gone island hopping at Honda Bay thrice, and each time, it is a slightly different experience. 

The first time was in May 2009 with a couple of close relatives.  We had a licensed tour guide with us and he brought us to almost all the islands.  There was Bat Island, where fruit bats flock around in the afternoons.  He pointed out Luli Island, named as such because during high tide, it seems to sink into the water - "lumulubog, lumilitaw" (sinking, surfacing).

 
We had lunch in Pandan Island, where we had fresh fish, green mango salad, grilled eggplant and okra with shrimp paste and fresh lobster grilled over an open charcoal fire.  We even had one wrapped in banana leaves to take home.  Our guide brought the kids and I to the fish feeding area and before I realized it, the water was dark blue!  I panicked momentarily and hurriedly asked the guide to tow us back!

We also went to Starfish Island, but did not get to try the restaurant there.

We enjoyed Snake Island the most.  It is named such because it is shaped like a snake.

Here is Nacho enjoying the sea.

And the two, playing in the sand...

The second time we went was Christmas Day last year. Rene's parents, siblings and nephew came over.  We skipped all the other islands and just went straight to Snake Island, where there is a good reef for snorkeling.

This is what greeted us when we alighted from our banca. 

There were huts that sold fresh buko (young coconut) juice, Coke, Sprite, Minute Maid, some toiletries and some other items.

photo by M.C.S.

There was a hut where you could have fresh seafood grilled. 

photo by M.C.S.

We ate our inihaw na liempo, inihaw na talakitok, sinigang na talakitok (not in picture) lunch with our fingers,

photo by M.C.S.

...drank Fresh buko (young coconut) juice

and had Halo-halo for dessert.

 photo by M.C.S.

There was good snorkeling in 3 to 4 feet of water.

There were many other things to see aside from the fish underwater.   Here is the tagak that "gave" Nacho a feather...

photo by M.C.S.

...and the tracks that he left...

 Some mangroves...

The long stretch of the sandbar...

 Nacho's wooden paddle...

We rode the boat to go back at nearly sundown...

...but stopped by Pambato Reef for a bit for some coral reef sightseeing. Pambato daw nila ito sa Tubataha Reef.  A fisherman discovered this coral reef by accident when his hook got caught in one of the corals.  He was amazed at how the untouched beauty of this reef existed in the middle of busy Honda Bay, where a lot of corals were already damaged by dynamite fishing.  A local Philippine Network, ABS-CBN, featured this in their environmental program, "Dalub-Karagatan".  This project aimed to educate people about the ecosystem of corals.  The network sponsored the building of a floating house with a sea turtle shaped roof and anchored it to the site.  

We left the reef at sunset.

Last weekend was our third visit, and we also went straight to Snake Island. We were 5 adults and 11 kids!
The waters were a bit rough because of the habagat (Southwesterly wind) and we could not go to Pandan Island, nor Starfish Island .

The boatmen said it was just normal for this season.  See their calm faces below.

Snake Island was still as beautiful as ever.

There were more interesting sights to see this time around, like this small hut.
 

 

We saw a boat was docked on the sandbar on our walk to the tip,

On our way back, we noticed that it drifted away a bit as the tide started to come in.

We snorkeled around, and there were a few people who were stung by jellyfish, which were in season.  The boatman said that they bring lots of vinegar to relieve the stings.  He and the other boatmen snorkeled around us to catch any jellyfish that might sting us.

For lunch we had fresh grilled taningue and labahita, which were very tender and moist.  Choices were limited for the day.  They ran out of vegetables and other seafood early.  I was happy with one small fish and flaked the it, and popped the tender white meat into my mouth!  Yum!

We also went to Pambato Reef and the kids were brave enough to sit on the edge, with their feet hanging, feeding the fish.

Distance from the downtown Puerto Princesa to Sta. Lourdes Tagbanua is 12 kilometers, where there is a wharf with a tourist office and facilitates the renting of boats.  Book an outrigger boat for the whole day for P250 per person.  Children who are 2 years old and below are free. There are minimal entrance fees in the islands, except Snake Island, as it is owned by the government.

There are no bathrooms, so bring wet wipes and toilet paper.

Bring plastic bags, as you have to bring your trash with you.

Our Lot

I thought the Sta. Monica lot would be The One.  It was near Baker's Hill where the kids could play.  It was near the main road.  There were beautiful houses nearby.  Rene suspected that they were vacation houses, since they were padlocked. He was wary about buying the lot since there would be times when we would need to be home alone at night without him, and we did not have immediate neighbors.  Also, Sta. Monica was filled with rolling hills, and most lots had a good view of Honda Bay.  This was behind two other empty lots filled with trees and was just flat, with no view and no elevation.  Another downside was that the road going to the lot was still pure soil.  It might be very muddy during the wet season. I still liked it, nevertheless. But we had to look at some others.

The lot in Abanico Road had a view of the sea. Very nice. But it was too far from Rene's work. And besides, I had been trying to contact the number on the poster board, and all I ever got was a fax tone.

Then Tita Myrna showed us another lot that was five minutes away from Rene's work.  I liked it because it had a nice rectangular shape.  It was between two existing properties with nipa huts and sari-sari stores, and there were a lot of people passing.  It was on the main road where all the vehicles pass. Rene would just have to be dropped off when he goes home to us.  He liked the perfectly rectangular shape too. But when he saw the surrounding area, he remembered that the locals there made a roadblock made of rocks the first few months the hotel was in operation.  Even if the hotel donated all the lamp posts that lighted the road, and was the main reason why the land in San Jose has appreciated more than a hundred percent., they were not happy with the development.   The fishermen could not cross over anymore and had to go around the property because of the high walls. Also, it was not a free for all beach anymore. It was now a private beach.   If we build our house there and they find out that we are the manager's family, they might not treat us too well.  He wished that the lot was a few streets down, a little farther away from the negative vibes. 

Tita Myrna knew someone who was selling another lot a few streets away too, next to a small inn.  She strongly discouraged us to even look at it because during the rainy season, it floods a bit there, as part of the road descends.  So, scrap this possibility out.

I mentioned to her that Elise is going to the nearby private school, and it would be nice if we lived around the vicinity.  The very next day, she called and said that her relative owned a large 4,000 square meter lot that could be divided and sold to whoever wants to buy a piece of it.  She said it was in front of the school entrance, between a big mango orchard and a house. 

When Elise, Nacho and I went to the school two days later for Elise to take the achievement test for entrance to the school in June, we took a look.  It was indeed right in front of the school entrance, between a big mango orchard and a house! The frontage was less than 10 meters from the school gate. Elise was already planning to have her classmates over for snacks.

We have been talking about it these past few days and think that it could be a good location since there were already a few residents in the area, it was fifteen minutes away from his work, and I could set up a home-based business beside our house.

Rene will look at it as soon as he is available, maybe Tuesday this week. The PBA all-star games will be held here in Puerto Princesa and some players are coming to visit!

Mangroves

Here we go again, walking along the lagoon.  Today, we explored the other end of the property leading to the other side of the beach.

I love these bamboo canopies along the path.  They planted bouganvillas on the base of the others and will let them crawl upward. Soon, all these arches will be filled with fuschia, red and orange blossoms.

We reached a part of the lagoon that had a stone hedge around it.  The kids could not resist walking on it, and I was surprised at myself for not stopping them, as they might slip and fall into the water.  Oh well, the water was only a foot and a half deep.  I tried not to think about the possibility of their hitting their heads on the stones....Paranoid mom.

We left the lagoon and followed a sandy trail, which led to a small clearing with small mangrove stems shooting sharply from the ground.

The stems were soft, and bent as our feet stepped on them. They tricked us by looking threatening and managed to make Nacho nervous.  

Mangrove trees are strange.  Their roots are partly above the sand, and are exposed during low tide. But they are extraordinary plants as they prevent soil erosion over long periods of time, are homes to oysters, crustaceans and other important animals that maintain the ecosystem, and protect the coastlines from strong waves and tsunamis.  Here in Palawan, mangroves are planted very frequently around the islands.

There is a local delicacy here called the "tamilok" (also called the mangrove woodworm) that is a foot long.  They say it tastes like oyster. But it's actually not a worm, but a mollusk. Tourists get a kick from trying it. But I have met many Palawenyos who have not tried it and do not want to. 
 

We chanced upon an abandoned hut...

...and several tree stumps that would look eerie at night.

Here we are. Hello, sea!

We walked past the trees and Elise stopped and just gazed out into sea for a good few minutes.  She gets that way when she sees natural bodies of water.

Nacho found the small shell and coral coastline more interesting.

When they got their fill, we headed back...

They noticed an easy to climb tree that couldn't be left unclimbed.

We really had to head back.  The sun was setting in the east, and it would be dark in a few minutes.

So we walked south to go "home."

A few days later, I told a local of our walk in the mangroves.  They said to make sure we leave before dark as there are rattlesnakes there that bite when disturbed.

Wild Palawan.

Christmas in Summer

Just when we were missing our relatives back home in Manila, Rene arrived from his trip with huge box of thoughtfulness!

Tito Gregory sent a Spiderman inflatable boat with a steering wheel and a mask and snorkel set.  Cousin Nina, Mela and Tita Kathy sent some sparkly headbands, ponytail holders and an adorable Hello Kitty pen with a bright pink fluffy pompom.  Elise was giggling and smiling while she was writing, as the Hello Kitty head would light up as it pressed on the paper!  They even sent a white leather bracelet with her name spelled in bright decorated silver letters!

Tita Lisa sent "The Gruffalo's Child" storybook.  Nacho was wide-eyed with his mouth forming a small "o" as he listened to the story.  His eyebrows went higher and higher, and he almost did not want to finish it.  I hugged him as we slowly read the end of the book and he ended up loving it. Today, we will visit the website and do some activities.

Lisa also sent me some useful teaching books. A lot of what I do and how I do it are from her advice and her resources.  I will start reading them next week, when our schedule is a bit more relaxed.  (We have two big families visiting from Manila: 11 kids total.)

Lolo Greg and Lola Baby sent us preschool workbooks, instructional arts and crafts books for the summer and a notebook for each of the kids.  There was a small stapler with colored staples and a one-hole puncher that they used for the rest of the day, punching holes and making small pads with colorful staples!

Nacho was also sent a plastic bowling set.  He was busy playing with the golf set that got left behind before, when Elise held up the bowling set from Lola Baby.  He dropped the golf set, jumped up and down and exclaimed,"BOWLING!!! My FAAAVORIIITE!" He immediately set up an empty box behind the bowling pins, so when he hits them, they fall straight into the box, "like a real bowling thing!" Then he bowled away, knocking not just the pins, but everything else.   It was a riot in our room. But a good riot, since Rene is back and we felt the love and concern and thoughtfulness of everyone.


Rene brought one box of my favorite puto pao from Taytay, Rizal. Soft and sticky puto with adobo (pork cooked in vinegar, garlic and peppercorns) shreds and itlog na pula (salted red egg). They lasted for a week! Yummmmmmmmm.