Ano Ba Ang Nangyari sa 2017 mo?

Magsesenti po muna ako.

Ilang araw na lang bagong taon na. Hindi ako makapaniwala na ang daming nangyari nung 2017. Ibang-iba of what i envisioed it to be. Pero sabi nga nila, ang buhay puno ng sorpresa. Katulad ngayon, nag tatagalog ako kahit na English major ang kurso ko. Di kasi ako masyadong magaling sa grammar at rhetoric. Kaya para safe, tagalugin na. Bilangin natin ang mga panibagong nangyari sa akin ngayong taon

JANUARY. Nakayanan kong lampasan ang Dinagyang Festival. Salamat sa tulong ng mga kaibigan, katrabaho at kamag anak

FEBRUARY. Naku. Masaya ito. Hindi man swabe and pasok ng buwan pero ang saya parin. Bakit? Kasi nagka lovelife ako. Keeleeeg. Charets

MARCH. Namaalam sa isang katrabaho. Na realize ang ibang bagay at nag sinungaling sa mga importanteng tao sa buhay ko para makapag resign. Opo. Humihingi ako ng patawad. Di ko na po uulitin. I’ve learned from my mistakes

APRIL. Pinakamahabang 30days ng buhay ko. So far. Lungkot. Pamamaalam. New chapter ika nga.

MAY. Bagong trabaho, kakilala, kaibigan. Isang buwan akong namalagi sa manila. Bago para sa akin yun.

JUNE. Pasukan na. Balik iloilo para patunayan sa sarili na kaya ko nang mag isa mag trabaho. Charot level 300

JULY. Pagsubok, tagumpay at adjustments. Nakapasa sa financial advisors exam. Nagpa hiv test. Naglaba at kung ano2x pa. Parang andaming time eh. 

AUGUST. Pagtawid sa mga naghihirap na sales ng tenants. My ghad. The pressure. Nagpa rebond, nagpagupit at ngayon, kulot pa din.

SEPTEMBER. Konting kembot pa. Taguyod ang regularization. Gagalingan pa para sa target na increase. Kaya ko to mga beshies. 

NOVEMBER. Regular na! Pwedeng nang umabsent, ma late at mag trabaho na parang kalabaw. Balik manila life. Ang saya. Dito ata umalis si lablife. Naku. Masaya nga ito.

DECEMBER. Matatapos na rin ang taon. Ang saya. First time ko ata makukumpleto ang simbang gabi. 

Natatawa ako sa sarili ko paminsan-minsan. Parang bata mag isip, umiiyak sa maliliit na bagay. Hayup. Ang dami kong napuntahan. Ang daming first time. Di ko alam kung naging mabuting tao ba ako, o ganun pa rin. Madaldal, mataray, malandi at mapang alipusta. Pero bes, magaling akong kumembot. Cheken

Salamat. Salamat sa tatlong daang animnapu’t limang araw ng 2017. Hindi ko inakalang matapang pala ako. Kaya ko palang makipagsapalaran sa mundong walang kasiguraduhan. Nagkakamali, nagtatagumpay, pero patuloy na naniniwalang ang mundo ay isang malaking quiapo. Masikip, maingay, may banta ng dilubyo, chaos at agawan. Minsan baka manakawan ka pa ng pagkakataon at paniniwala. Pero kapit lang bes. Gabay natin ang Panginoon. 

Salamat po mga beshies! Sa uulitin. Ang iyong sandigan ng katotohan at pagmamalasakit. 

Kapuso sa salita, kapamilya sa gawa, 

kasamang Jan Rae Aguilos. 

Savoy Hotel Boracay, what you need for the holidays

It’s the holiday season! And what better to celebrate it than to be in the comfort with family and friends. Before the year ends, I got the chance to spend some night in one of the world’s most beautiful island, Boracay!

Yup, you heard it right. Got to stay in a five star, London based Savoy Hotel while I was there. Located at Newcoast Drive, Boracay Newcoast, Barangay Yapak, Boracay Island. It’s quite a long trek going there with an estimated of 25minutes travel time from the ferry port, but trust me, the wait is totally worth it.

Oceanway Suites by Boracay Newcoast is a condominium unit by Megaworld Corporation .
This is the your welcome establishment on the way to Savoy Hotel

Savoy Hotel Lobby

Let me remind myself how to be me

Feeling a little bit dramatic. It must be the weather

2017 will soon be over but I am still here pooping colors as if I am some kind of unicorn. Since the start of the year, I have experienced a lot of major changes in my life. From leaving 5year relationship to my previous job, buying a new house and spending time with friends, the life I have been living in is far more different from what I imagined it to be.

I should be hungry for adventure and learning, this is what I need to remind myself everyday.

Now, as I sit here at Iloilo International airport, waiting for my flight to Manila, I realized a few things.

1. It’s not all bad to go back to basic. I am starting to see the old Jan Rae come to life. No longer the grumpy, miserable and bitter Jan Rae who always had a toxic knack to life. The Jan Rae who sees the positive, the beautiful, the solution and the good. I don’t know what has made me go back to this basic self, but I certainly want this to be a fresh start of something good.

2. Life has a few twists and turns, and you can’t do nothing about it. I entered 2017 with a heavy heart. With pure sadness and less hope for my life to get the direction I always wanted, I thought this year will be like some other years where I have little drive to continue, to dream, to live. But God has a beautiful plan in its perfect timing. It might not go as smooth or according to our plans, but our hopes will surely be granted. Not a minute too early or late.

3. Stumbling blocks are pavements, not obstacles. Those big boulders thrown at you, those small cracks that you thought would swallow you, those big or small things are stairways to reach that door of opportunities, that window of happiness. When facing a puddle of mud to overcome, I usually think of the dark roasted smell of a newly  brewes coffee, I slightly scratch my head, and face them with a forced smile. It was never easy, but imagining it done can make a very big difference. Trust me, it works.

4. It is so hard to say goodbye. I had a couple of teary goodbyes this year. To my former boss, colleagues, workmates and old flame. It was a hundred times harder than what I thought it would be. Full of tears, fake smiles and positive encouragements just to console the aching soul. However, these hard goodbyes make me appreciate the people around me more, the value of time, and the attention each relationship needs. These hard goodbyes offer learning, they test people to see who will stay, who will judge you for being you and who will always be there to support and pat your back. These goodbyes open new views, bigger space and a wiser you if you just take the courage to move forward.

5. Not all goodbyes are sad. I said goodbye to the me who people hated. The me who never stops criticizing the good. The me who will never run out of sarcasm. The me who likes to belittle others just to get ahead of the game. It was a nice goodbye. I just hope I never see that kind of me.

So here I am, ready to face what life throws at me.

So let me remind myself how to be brave, how to fight, how to say no, and how to openly love the world without hesitation. To not think of giving up or letting go. Oh wait, I think that’s my flight calling. Hate to cut this short bu I guess you can hear a lot of me more starting today.

By the way, I am still a sailor sailing my way across the seas. Happy sailing!

GUIMARAS FLOATING COTTAGE, A MUST TRY FOR EVERY TRAVELLER

Most of time, I think my body is connected to the sea. It feels most alive when my feet would dangle up and feel the cold waves rushing back and forth. The sand in my feet and water touching my skin. I am at peace.

Even on my most normal days, I would plan out for a quick weekend getaway, and the experience is more exciting than the last. With friends behind me, and a beer in my hand, I am ready to face the road.

And so, we took the trail that led us to the famous Guimaras Floating Cottage. It’s quite a surprise that only a few people, mostly Ilonggos, know the place. This beauty can compete to that of Manjuyod in Negros, or the common dream beach, Maldives.

Found in Nueva Valencia, the cottage is located in the middle of the sea surrounded by green islands and rich marine life.

This was taken on the way to the cottage.
You can see various marine life and a vast space of mangrove

One of the things you can see on the way to the cottage

Girlyn is my featured model for this blog.
Her excellent pose compliments with the clear view of the water.
And I am expecting a Christmas gift from her.

The view of the cottage before docking

How to get there

· Ride the Bangka from Ortis Wharf going to Guimaras. (Php14.00/ head)

· Upon arrival, directly proceed to their tourism office for assistance

· Either ride a mini van or jeepney going to ALIBHON TERMINAL/ PUBLIC MARKET for Php13.00

· Ride a private motorcycle to the drop off point of the Floating cottage (Php70.00/ head)

· From there, you can hire a banka (boat) at P400/3hrs to bring you to the floating cottage

You can also opt to hire a private jeep at P2000 for a round trip to directly go to the drop off point or a multi cab at P1500. We were in a group of eight (8) so that is way cheaper for us to rent a private cab.

I just find this crafty and nice, =)

And the photo session begins

You can go on a floating spree using this.

No photo edits made

Take note:

· Entrance fee of P50.00

· Be sure to bring all the things you need such as Food, toiletries and drinks. You can’t buy anything there.

Budget breakdown:

Fare	Round trip with boat and jeep	Php 237.50
Entrance fee		Php 50.00
Food	(Depends on appetite)	Php 200
Total		Php 487.50

The Queen Lee striking a candid pose. Though she was not aware this was taken

Our hugot king goes candid 

You can enjoy the whole afternoon goofing around, breathing in the sweet sea breeze or maybe telling snippets of stories to friends. The caretaker was really nice. She gave us ideas on where to go next in Guimaras. I guess you can expect more adventures soon. =)

It's fun to goof around the place when you are with friends.

I will never cease to love the beach

Definitely a genuine smile for everyone on our way home.

It was really one of the best trips I had with my friends. Bourbon on a sunny day at the beach. Not bad. It was all smiles and less drama. And that made all the difference.

Say hi to my happy friends who were also my crying and fighting friends. See you on the next trip!

The lonesailor will go on another adventure to bring you more discoveries!

For updates you may follow me on my instagram account @janraethesailor or follow me on facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/janraethesailor/

BUDGET TRAVEL TO TATLONG PULO, GUIMARAS

I sometimes have these 12 midnight realizations which can turn into early morning beach trips. In those not so rare moments, I discovered tatlong pulo. A simple and private island in Guimaras, Tatlong Pulo boasts its blue beach surrounded by two islets. If the tide permits, you can readily swim from one island to the other.

7 COMMON THINGS YOU DO IN BORACAY: A GUIDE FOR FIRST TIME TRAVELERS

“The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.” – G. K. Chesterton

Boracay! Oh the wonderful sun and the blue sea makes me want to dive right back into my thoughts.

As I think of hundred ways to start this blog, my mind wanders to every beautiful beaches I have been to. But what can be compared to Boracay? Oh the wonderful sun and the lovely blue waters!

My thoughts come rushing back to the those three wonderful days I’ve been there. This time, not with friends but with family. Which in fact is more exhausting, chaotic, and fun.

What more can I tell you about this beautiful destination? There’s not much lounging, drinking booze of sleeping beside the beach that happened. Although I am more for that laid back beach experience, it’s the first time our family ever went out on a trip.

And so, at 4am in the morning, we braved the roads to Malay, Aklan.

How to get there

From Iloilo:

1. Take a cab going to Tagbak Terminal
2. Grab a ceres liner going to Caticlan, Aklan
3. Go down the Boracay Jetty Port
4. Take the boat going to Boracay Island

From Manila

1. There are Manila- Caticlan flights available
2. Take a trike going to Boracay Jetty Port
3. Ride the boat going to Boracay Island

I am sure most people have heard about Boracay Island. With various websites and international media that features the island, it rose to fame not only to the locals but to foreign tourist also.

Although the island might be really crowded on certain days, Boracay still continues to shine its glamour as the best destination in Asia. With me, my brother, my sister, my niece and everybody there, I don’t know how it can get more chaotic.

But here are some most common things to do in Boracay Island. 

Sex and the Iloilo City: Beer and Bladder Explosions

I just wanted to make make him feel special and that he could trust me.

I wanted it to stop, but it was a lie I can never escape with.

Nope, as much as I wanted to tackle living cadavers and mannequins in bedroom action something is stopping me. Now I am quite aware how alcohol reacts in desperate measures.

As explained by my intelligent crush and ultimate target for some steamy relationship, alcohol triggers the brain and increases the libidinal drive for almost an hour. It wasn't my gall bladder which was aching after a long drink over a cold cup of "tea", it was actually something near my bladder  that was itching to explode. Imagine the feeling of the universe collapsing the moment you release it. I do like my ever intelligent crush and my ultimate target for a relationship. Hope progress is soon to come. 

Don't worry. No one ever knew. *smiley*

On another note, drinking is a habit and much more like a reason to do neurotic activation and just simply blame its drunkenness or loss of sobriety.  But that is self explanatory. Let's talk about more interesting issues like bladder explosions and alcohol.

For better or worse, there is an intimate relationship between sex and alcohol in our culture. Many people use alcohol to “loosen themselves up” in anticipation of having sex with a new partner. Alcohol increases aggressiveness to some and can even increase your libidinal call. It is a commonly held belief that alcohol is an aphrodisiac. And more sexually active people becomes better with a dash of tequila.  However, the real sexual effects of alcohol is complicated, and there are many serious negative sexual consequences of drinking too much and drinking too often. Like regrets, hunger for more, or worse, having fun. 

For instance, I  drink to strengthen my weak senses and stimuli interaction. Alcohol boosts up my irrational thinking which may trigger me to do sub conscious things which I try to repress and evaporate when I am sober. The after effect is unbelievable.

As hard as I try to remember, I once woke up with a heavy head, a naked body and a weary heart thinking it was just more than what we did that night. However, we can never rely on what if's and maybe's hanging around the corner of our sane mind when everything was alcohol induced. Trust me. I had it the "hard" way. 

After quite some thought, I realized however, that I wanted to get drunk again, do the same cycle i did the night before, cut some crap, lose the drama and know what the real score might be.

I ain't bitter. I just wanna have fun in a clean, and decent way. Even sex has emotions too.
Frankly, it wasn't just my bladder, I had my heart with it too. nyahaha

Finally, I realized, never drink and sleep, in other people's bed. Bad idea. Very bad idea.So much for sex in the Iloilo City, not Sex and the Iloilo City.

Warning: this may not be a true story. 

wink.

Sweeney Todd Laugh.

I am crazy. 

A GUIDE TO HAMBIL BEACH, CARABAO ISLAND, ROMBLON

It was both a surprise and an adventure for me to visit Romblon. We may not be aware, but Romblon is actually an hour away from Caticlan. Believe me, the adventure was more that it was called for.

BUDGET FRIENDLY TRIP AT CADIMAHAN RIVER TOUR, ROXAS CITY

The last week of August is built with long weekends and hello summer vibes. I was really itching to go somewhere but do not have enough reason. I wasn’t stressed at work, I have a pending task at home and not to mention my financial budget being stretched.

But the sailor in me calls for the sea. Or maybe some seafood. Or maybe both

And so we opted for a cheaper treat. ROADTRIP

Sex and the Iloilo City: “Rebirth”

Hello friends! i'm back!

Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to become a sex expert. A young free spirited sex expert who can tackle issues that no normal human being can talk about. Yup, you read it right, a sex expert. 

During kindergarten I would snoop around my teachers table and look for obscene shenanigans and look curiously to every physical angle my mind could goggle up so that I can tell my friends some tattle tales they have never heard before. My best friend Frances would even bring me to her house and show me different fortnightly displaying distinctive neurotic organs contracting to uncommon bodily structures of another specie. My first encounter with a female sex organ was on my 4th grade. My friend, Voldemort, had me and my other friends drop by their house for lunch. It was the most amazing experience a kid can ever witness. We slowly entered his room with trembling nerves and sweating armpits as Voldemort bit by bit opened the gates of a foreseeing haven for untimely pleasure. He made us peek into the long hole and watched his parents drench themselves doing the atypical intentional act of self expression, the next was legendary. We cried subtle tears that day being in the state of disbelief thinking his father was killing her mother with a humongous built in knife, even though its not pointed. I was so scared with the unsettling feeling in the stomach that made me want to vomit at the same time.

After quite sometime, we never stopped giggling. What a show.

JORDAN TOWN TAGS NEW MARINE RESERVE, GUIMARAS COASTAL MUSCLE FLEXES

taken from jaypeeneutron.ph

A new Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the marine waters of Barangay Sinapsapan, municipality of Jordan in Guimaras island-province has been declared a new marine protected area.
Through Municipal Ordinance No. 004-2017, the marine waters from Sitio Casita until Sitio Balingasag from the said barangay will now be protected.

It covers a total area of 24.49633 hectares.