My Baguio Escapades

BAGUIO has always been a point of interest for me. I’ve always wanted to visit it since I was a kid. I’ve heard a lot about it: the climate, the warm people and exciting places. Last October 21, my dream finally came true.

Day one

The night before I hit the bus, I felt kind of scared. I was worried about the possibilities of a surprise bad weather on the way to the City of Pines, scared about possible landslides and earthquakes (which, by the way happened while I was sleeping at a friends house that same night). But since I was wearing my scapular, I told myself that everything’s going to be fine and God will protect me all the way.

Anyways, from 8pm to 12nn, I was really wide-awake. We planned to catch the first trip at 2:30am but despite that, I really wasn’t able to put myself to sleep. Later on I figured that aside from anxiety, I was also quite excited and pumped up to go to “the” place that my adrenaline couldn’t allow me to cool my heels. So as not to waste my time, I started imagining myself strolling along Burnham Park, then being with the Igorots and even going to the Wagwagan shops, which Baguio has recently been famous for. Funny, but I felt like a kid again who is about to go to the carnival or the zoo. Gosh, I missed that feeling!

At 2:00am, we finally arrived at the terminal and after a few minutes, the bus went off (well, not literally ha?).

The travel time from Cavite to Baguio is 8 hours so you could just imagine how long our trip was. So in order to keep my sanity, I tried to mix some activities that only a bus ride can offer. First, when I felt sleepy, I took a nap. Then, when I’m awake, I tried to take pictures of my seatmate, Ces and me. I also tried to enjoy the rice fields, the carabaos and other interesting sites along the way. When I felt bored, I tried to recall my geography class and remind myself that Baguio is just a few kilometers away. Luckily, these things surely helped in preserving my energy and enthusiasm.

At around 10:30am, we finally reached Baguio City, called for a taxi and went to the hotel to drop our baggage.

The first thing I noticed was the cool and soothing breeze of the Summer Capital. All along, the books and other travelogue I watched on TV were true! Baguio really has a very fine climate. In fact, the sun was already up but we were still comfortable wearing our jackets!

Then, at 5pm, we’ve decided to go to SM Baguio. I was so surprised to learn that the mall doesn’t have airconditioning at all save for, probably the cinemas! Henry Sy can’t to that to Manila or Cavite or else we’ll all die of heat stroke!

Anyways, we walked around the mall and played some video games in Quantum. When we got tired, we went home.

At around 7pm, we had our first ever dinner in Baguio. We went to this grill house and ordered for some T-bone and sizzling chicken. The food was amazing and I felt very satisfied after an eternity of munches.

Our next stop was at Burnham Park. It was already nightime and the wind was so cold (good thing I was wearing a thicker jacket) but we still opted to saunter around the very popular park. There were several people strolling all over the park, too! From Burnham, we have an awesome view of the SM Mall. It (SM) was really a good site from there with all the lights showering the mighty structure.

After almost an hour, we came home and retired.

To be continued…

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Purefoods lost to TNT

TALK N TEXT SIZZLES IN BIG 108-99 WIN OVER GIANTS
Carey leads 6 Pals in double figures
Wednesday, 04 October 2006

It probably has something to do with Asi's new 'do, but nevertheless Talk N' Text Phonepals was impressive!

Barry Pascua couldn't put it any better in the first quarter by saying that both teams were just exchanging jabs to size up one another. It was really tightly contested. At one point, Purefoods lead by as many as 4 points but TNT came roaring back to grab the lead by 1. That was pretty much the story of the first inning although, it was clear that TNT was the more agressive team having to score from offensive rebounds and on excellent plays set-up by Alapag.

Now, the real turning point of the game happened in the second quarter when TNT stepped on the gas to erect a fat 20 point advantage at 50-30. And to think that they were able to do that with Asi languishing on the bench made it even more frustrating for me. Jay-Wash, Mac Cardona and Harvey Carey triumverate became "the" thorn on Purefoods cause. They were scrappy and quicker to the ball. They all made Purefoods look like fat cats and the thing is, RG has been preaching his boys to be quicker and faster so seeing them being beaten on every loose ball is really not very pleasing. I thought I was watching a different team, not the champion PF team I knew.

Fortunately, Purefoods was able to comeback in the 2nd half. Coach Ryan might've given them a mouthful in the locker room so they came out with more intensity especially on the defensive end. From 23, they were able to trim down the lead by as low as 7 point at the end of the 3rd. Then, I was practically up on my feet in excitement in the 4th quarter when PJ, James and Kerby combined their powers to make the lead even more manageable. But TNT kept plugging away too, especially behind the guns of Ren Ren Ritualo. In fact, it was him who made the 6-point swing in favor of TNT when he buried a shot from the rainbow territory. While in the preceeding play, James muffed a wide open trey which could've reduced the lead to 4. It was perhaps the play that summarized the story of the game. It's absolutely apparent that TNT has the rhythm and the better feel of the game at this point while PF is still struggling to get back to their old form.

***

The other thing I notice was the impressive play of Jay Washington. From the looks of it, he seems to have earned the confidence that would help him justify his being the number 1 over-all pick last year. Jay was running the whole time, dunking the ball a couple of times, one is on a put back. He was very active and quick to the ball which was a far-cry on his performance during his first few games in the league. He must've learned so much in the off-season. He'll surely be a big help to Taulava, Pablo and Carey on the rebounding department. Same time, I wonder what Air21 had to say about him after the game. They're probably scratching their heads now.

Mark Andaya, had a very amusing debut. He was hustling, he was trying to get as many rebounds as he can and I was really happy about his performance. I think he'll be a decent back-up center.

Boyet Bautista wasn't able to register his first 2 points as a pro but he definitely made a decent account of himself. He almost had his first assist if only Yee was able to score on a lay-up. Sayang, pinaganda pa, eh. With the limited minutes that he played, he showed that he's quick and he's a pure point-guard. He looks very minute though on TV. But I'll take Coach Alas word that amongs the other Letranite draftees, Boyet is the one who can make an immediate impact.

James Yap and Kerby Raymundo, our 1-2 punch had a lackluster performance. James misfired alot in the 1st half and committed costly TO in the 4th quarter. Kerby on the other hand, had also his share of missed shots and errors. Apparently, he's not feeling well because of his ankle injury. Nonetheless, seeing them score in double digits while not yet a 100% makes me feel optimistic.

***

Purefoods next assigment is on Saturday, against Ginebra. I expect it to be an even thougher match-up for the Giants but but if they will display the same kind of push, the never-say-die attitude, I think they still have the chance to beat BGK.

End of Drought

If I were to give title to the story behind the basketball scene here and abroad, it would definitely be “The End of Drought.”

Why not?

In the NBA, Shaquille O’neal and Dwayne Wade joined forces to hand the Miami Heat franchise it’s first ever world championship by defeating Mark Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks in six games. It was mission accomplished for O’neal and comebacking coach Pat Riley who made a promise to the South Floridans that one day, the Heat would parade along Biscayne Boulevard whooping up the Larry O’Brien throphy. They sure did, after 18 years.

The PBA also had the same story with Zandro “Jun” Limpot, the 1993 Rookie of the Year winning his first crown in 13 years. Limpot, also known as the Big Deal and the Main Man finally got his long cherished dream when the Purefoods Chunkee Giants, his third team in 13 seasons, uppended the highly touted Red Bull Barako. For the Giants, it was their first championship in 4 years after winning the Governor’s Cup in 2002.

The National Collegiate Athletics Association took the similar plot when the San Beda Red Lions finally ended twenty-eight years of futility by bagging the NCAA Championship against perennial finalist Philippine Christian University Dolphins. Enrico “Koy” Banal, a Bedan himself, couldn’t help but cry with tears of joy as he was given a well-deserved victory ride by his players and supporters. Banal was given the NCAA Coach of the Year award, while forward Yousif Aljamal was adjudged as Finals MVP.

Meanwhile in the UAAP, Alfredo “Pido” Jarencio, the alumnus and rookie coach of the University of Santo Tomas beat the hell out of Norman Black enroute to a gut clenching 76-74-overtime win by the Tigers over the Ateneo de Manila University Eagles. The Tigers, which was seeded third in the Final Four failed to put Game 1 away, but came back to sweep the next two games to finally put an end to their 10-year title quest. Their last was in 1996.

Interestingly, both SBC and UST have expressed their battlecries by the number.

San Beda banners wrote End 28 @ [Season] 82, while UST rallied with Repeat 96 @ [Season] 69. It doesn’t get more interestting to note that both slogans carried numbers that interchanged one another. If it’s not destiny, I don’t know what else to call it.

Without a doubt, this season was filled with a lot of basketball drama. But more than the satisfaction of champioship hunger of previous losers, more than the number of trophies being hoisted up, this season highligthed what Coach Paul Ryan Gregorio aptly put as, “the triumph of the human spirit.”

What we saw in the Heat-Dallas series is the spirit of courage and love for the game of Alonzo Mourning, who despite his senstive health condition still able to contribute in a big way. Hence, he was paid handsomely—to be a champion after more than a decade of numerous tries.

In the UAAP and in the All Philippine Cup, what we have witnessed is the spirit of hardwork and determination. Who would have thought that the underdogs: UST and PCG could overpower the much deeper, more experienced and talented opponent? It was only them who proved that no mountain is high enough for a determined climber.

In the NCAA, believing was the predominant maxim and the spirit that heartened the San Beda faithful. Fortunately, their patience paid off as they finally found the right mentor and the group of players who could turn their dreams into sweet reality. The celebration and pandemonium at the Araneta is a gleeful display of how sweet the reward for patience and loyalty is.

With all that I have seen this year, I think there’s no other absolute source of fun, entertainment and values than sports. It simply goes beyond the norm, beyond physical aspect or the beauty of every set play. It’s simply a culture that is worth our time, energy and money spent. In away, the recent developments in basketball, be it in the NBA, NCAA, UAAP or PBA, has enable viewers to satisfy their longing for more meaningful viewing. It has quenched their thirst for a real, unadulterated “reality” show.

Speaking of real viewing, the 2005-2006 season has been nothing short of being meaningful. It has been the year of deliverance from past failures and futility. It has been the season of the human spirit. It was the season of hope.

It’s a good year, indeed.

With that, I wouldn’t mind being stuck in this time capsule forever.