May 24. I have packed my things that night and completed all the
items I might need for a 3-day getaway. Of course, I have not forgotten to use
the checklist I used last
year when I backpacked Cebu. It was still useful—perfect for this spur of the moment, last minute preparation. I have only few bucks (read: pesos) left in my wallet now but I was hoping that I could still get through a round trip bus ride.
Though I was also kind of hesitant because I don't have enough to spend, I
could still say I was ready for this adventure.
I don't really have any plan of doing this at all. I have
been to backpacking trips lately but I guess this trip is somewhat different.
As a matter of fact, the reason why I have to leave in a heartbeat is I was
having an emotional battle inside. I am not sad or happy. I just feel so alone.
But the crazy thing is I want to do this trip all by myself again. I was also thinking of writing a love story again. This is not going to be like the same as the old stories I have written before
but it's going to be more personal. It’s about me trying to find true
love again. I am a fan of happy endings and endless romance and I still want to continue
believing that so I thought that going out alone would be perfect to find a
match. Call me miserable but I just wanted to write a whole new true-to-life romantic screenplay hoping that it's going
to be a happy ending after all.
But then again, I was not sure if I will just go home and unpacked or
otherwise go somewhere at this point. I don't even know if this will be like a
dream come true for me either. Sometimes I am just a bit pushy without even
considering the roughness of my decision making. But since I do not really mind
going out from my comfort zones, I decided to just go. Then so I did—I finally ended up roaming around Cubao bus station looking for a
bus to ride to bring me elsewhere. Bahala
na! I just want to let go of myself and maybe want to write a new page
again.
Brave enough, I hopped onto a bus going to Batangas Pier. What
else? I finally stood up for my chosen final destination—Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental. My mission? To create new
memories, end this emotional war inside me and find true love.
At the Batangas Pier
Arriving 12:30 in the afternoon after a nearly 2-hour bus
ride from Manila, I finally reached Batangas Pier. I immediately rushed down to
the booth to get a one way ticket to White Beach. The fare costs P275
not including the P30 terminal fee and P50 environmental fee. In thirty
minutes, I’ll be boarding from Gate 3 and expectedly in roughly one and a half
hour, I’ll be in Puerto Galera.
As I sit on the empty chairs at the terminal, this emptiness began to eat me up again. I don’t know but I guess I was just a little affected by playing around with this girl last week—a girl that somehow knocked me off my feet. I was like playing the role of that frustrated little coward dude secretly and desperately in love with this freedom loving lady. Thinking about her again and again made me sick and I was not really sure if she’s still the reason I felt this way. But I couldn't even say that I’m really in love with her because as a matter of fact, I am still on the search for true love—the reason why I am at this pier and about to leave in few minutes.
As I stare and observe the people in this terminal, this
loneliness is getting more intense. I could now finally feel the challenges of
being alone, of being single, of being not in a relationship. My frustration grew, becoming like a dog biting my legs deep to my bones as I see couples here
who’re so excited to see Galera. I started to envy these barkadas who never stopped sharing a bursting laugh. I ended up
imagining myself with someone right now. It’s crazy but it’s an unavoidable
feeling that just popped along the way.
Arriving at White Beach, Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental
Now here I am after less than 2 hours of boring boat ride. I
arrived at exact three in the afternoon at the shore of White Beach, Puerto Galera.
As we drew closer to the shore while still on the boat, I could now picture what
would my life be in two nights and three days here—I’ll be a day dreamer, beach bum dude from sunrise
to sunset.
I started to scout a cheap but a nice place where I could spend a night or two. I have met this guy just in front of the cottages at the beach front and he volunteered to help me find a cozy place to stay. Convinced by his guiding thoughts, he leaded me to this small, quiet, single-detached apartment, 10 minutes away from the lively, noisy, modernized beach front.
 |
| My small blue house... |
 |
| And my neighbors |
I did not get my desired price so I felt a little frustrated
and consciously felt ripped-off. I tried bartering for as low as P500 per day (which
for me, it’s still expensive since I’m solo) but the owner did not let me to
have it as cheap as that. He insisted a higher amount of P750 per day! I ended up having no choice after all—I was there, too tired, I was already ‘trapped’—so I gave in. I okayed for P750 per day meaning I need to pay P1500 for two nights of stay.
Here’s my video (I actually took on my last day here) in
the apartment. It was nice but paying P1500 was like being ripped-off with
consent!
After dealing with the apartment rental fee, I decided to go
back to see the beach again, explore, eat a late lunch and just enjoy the
scenic view of the sea while sitting on the fine, beige sand.
Tired of the almost 5-hour trip to get here, I unconsciously
found myself lying freely on the sand. I started to think about that
old feeling again. I eventually closed my eyes but I still felt restless as I hear the voices and noises of the people passing by. I don’t know but I kept
on thinking about more possibilities and thicker adventure here. It’s just the start
of my day I thought though I could already see the sun setting down.
I was tired physically but still looking forward to get a good night sleep and wishing to have a brand new day tomorrow. The reddish orangey horizon would be so lonely enough to see but I still want to stick to my mission here—to create new memories, end this emotional war inside me and find my way back into true love…
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