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Last Saturday, my relatives and I got together to check out Caleruega in Batangas. My cousin's getting married there next year (Congratulations, Ate Charisse!), and we wanted to look for nearby hotels we can spend the night in after the wedding. It was my first time to go there, so I didn't really know what to expect. FYI, I'm deathly scared of old churches, especially the ones with all those creepy statues that look like they can grab you any minute. But the Caleruega Chapel wasn't scary/creepy at all—it was beautiful. Here's a shot of my Mom and Dad standing in front of it. 

We walked around to "explore," and we didn't stop until everybody was sweating buckets and about to faint from exhaustion. Haha! Here's my little brother Macu being held up by my older brother Timo and my cousin Mikey. 

And here's a photo of me and my cousin Ali trying to smile for the camera while standing in the middle of the hanging bridge. The boys were jumping around and the bridge was swaying, but hey, we still look like we're having fun, right? Right?!

Afterwards, we dropped by Chateau Royale to look at their rooms. I find the photo below funny because I look weird with my hand on my tummy. Macy says I was probably copying the statue (good point!), but I still think it's hilarious. That's me and my sister Marcy with our cousins Ali, Laurene, and Mariel.

We also checked out Chapel on a Hill (another gorgeous church), had lunch at The Grill in Tagaytay, and dropped by Pink Sisters for a few minutes of prayer. This shot is one my favorites from the whole trip. I'm not sure if my little brother was squinting because of the sunlight, or if he was just annoyed that I was asking him to pose. Hahaha.

And as Angel mentioned in her post, we'd love to hear about YOUR summer getaways! E-mail us, 'k?

Big sunny hugs,
Marla

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It’s hard to see someone you love go. But things happen for a reason, and you have to face the reality that life continues without them by your side. All you’re ultimately left with are memories of the best (or worst) times you’ve had with them.

Now don’t get me wrong. This ain’t a mushy love letter to someone who broke my heart. And no, I’m not asking anyone to take me back! In fact, it’s a message of love for someone about to leave who’s oh-so special to me.

He and I have always had a love-hate relationship. Mostly hate while growing up (I was almost hit by a yellow Tonka truck thanks to him!) that slowly turned to love when we realized how cool being friends could be. I helped him snag a girl’s number (haha!) while he let me hang out with him and his young, blundering buddies.

Though he might think I only love him for his driving skills, it’s actually his loyalty, sensitivity, and passion I admire the most. Plus, I love the fact that he’s such a ham—hearing songs such as “Laklak” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” conjure images of him going crazy. He’s turning 25 tomorrow (still so young in my eyes!), and in about a month or so, he’ll be off to another country. Sniff… I wonder how this new chapter in his life with his wife would change him, but while he’s still here, I’ll do my best to make sure we have a blast together—every single day!

Habibertday, Men! You’ll always be my pikon/kulit sibling, scary-movie date, and fill-in boyfriend/driver. I hope to redandbooze with you and Kai in Australia in a few years’ time… Haha!

No, this wasn’t taken on prom night. It was hours before my brother’s wedding.

Love you!

Be

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Hey, everyone!

We’re looking for young, talented girls who excel in guy-dominated fields such as boxing, karting, martial arts, fencing, target shooting, and even politics. If you’re one of these gutsy girls, or if you know someone who fits the description, then send over a short writeup and clear photos to marla@candymag.com and/or angel@candymag.com

We’re giving you until the first week of May to do this. We’ll be waiting. Thanks!

Lots of love,
The Candy Team

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Dear Candy girls and boys,

Since everybody's been posting about their trips (Ines in Korea and the U.S., Chesca in Hundred Islands and Baguio, Macy in Laoag and Pagudpud…), I got excited to share about my recent trip to Bicol too!

We boarded a bus from Manila to Sorsogon last Holy Wednesday and we arrived in Donsol around noon the next day. The trip took almost 16 hours (we kept getting delayed!) but we were so happy to finally arrive! After taking a quick nap, we got on a boat and proceeded with our "Firefly Tour."

The sun was just about to set when we went off on our cruise. 

I just love this silhouette shot of the boatman (on the left), who took us to the mangroves (on the right). Once we arrived, we waited for the sun to disappear completely until it was pitch black. It was a bit freaky at first—like a scene from the movie Anaconda (I kept imagining a huge snake or alligator jumping out at us!). But after awhile, the firelies started to appear. First, we saw a tiny twinkling light, and then two, and then a hundred! They gathered on certain trees and they were like little fairies in an enchanted forest. And since it was so dark, when we looked up we could see a million stars! (No smog and bright city lights to mask their stardom.) Amazing!  

The next morning, we got up bright and early to swim with the whale sharks or butanding. Every summer, they go to Donsol to feed on the plankton found in the ocean water. (No, they do NOT eat humans so it's perfectly safe to swim with them!)

First, a spotter looks around to see if there's a butanding nearby. As soon as he spots one, he tells everybody to JUMP!

Here's what a typical butanding looks like. An adult one can grow up to the size of a bus! (See that tiny diver near the tail?)

And here's what we saw!

Check out the butanding skimming the surface of the water in the first pic. The next few pics show his (her?) head, gills, and body. It was a bit daunting at first because of its sheer size but after awhile, it was pure ecstasy to be swimming alongside this magnificent creature. Talk about an all-time natural high!

Here's a shot of our happy group after a successful whale shark watching expedition!

That afternoon, we drove off to Camarines Sur where we dropped by the famous Cagsaua ruins. It's a church that was buried by rocks and lava when the Mayon volcano erupted in the 1800s. It's incredible how this tower's still standing after hundreds of years! 

Do you guys remember last month's Hard Candy article about natural disasters? Bicol was one of the provinces severely devastated by typhoon Reming. This site is where a whole town used to sit before it was completely wiped out by landslides coming from the Mayon Volcano. :( 

Our next stop was the CamSur Water Sports Complex where we saw people wakeboarding!

Check out these hot wakeboarders doing some cool tricks with their boards. It looked like so much fun! Too bad we didn't get to try it though 'cause we didn't have enough time. It just gives me an excuse to go back! :p

Our final destination was Camarines Norte. But the journey was far from over. we still had to conquer Mt. Labo!

Here I am posing in front of the provincial capitol just minutes before the climb. 

We take a dip in the cool river after a few hours of trekking.

Meet the little critters we encountered during the trek! (Can you say, "A Bug's Life?") 

A shot of our group at the summit of Mt. Labo and me searching for that elusive signal. 

Though the climb was a tough one, we were refreshed by the sight of these pretty little pine trees on our way down.

And that, my dear friends, caps off my Bicol adventure! Are you still with me? Hope you had a fun ride! Keep sharing about your exciting summer getaways this month! We can't wait to hear about them.

Hugs and summer kisses,

Angel

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Hi, Candy girls!

 I guess by now you know that I'm saying goodbye to Candy and I'm starting a new chapter in my life. It was a very hard decision to make (so hard to leave my girls!!!), but I feel that it's time for me to go back to something that has been calling out to me for so long! I'm going to go back to education. I used to be a teacher — in fact, I was Angel's teacher in high school! Haha! And I loved it — and I guess I really can't stay away. 

So for the past two and a half weeks, I was in the States training for my new job. I'm going to be the director of Tutoring Club, a US franchise that my tito is bringing in. It's a super cool concept because we're not just going to help with your homework, we bring your skills up to the level they should be! We'll do an assessment test to find out what the gaps are in your math and comprehension skills, then our computer program creates a lesson tailored just for you! I was able to see how quickly the students progressed in the states – and how they go from being behind in school to being grade levels ahead! Quite awesome. I'm going to put myself through the math program hehe!

Here I am in front of the Tutoring Club center in Las Vegas. 

That's my classmate Jeff and Kim, our trainer. They were so much fun to hang out with! I'm going to miss them

Guess where I am here? In Korea! At the palace of the king! Before going to the states, I dropped by Korea and blended in with the locals! haha! It was FREEZING! 

Ever the ham, I posed as a palace guard complete with spear and helmet!

In my tito's farm in California — isn't it gorgeous! It took my breath away! I felt like I was in a movie!

On my tito's boat called the Kasadya — which means "so much fun" in Ilonggo Of course the Americans do not know how to pronounce this properly! Haha!

With Jen (she wrote the Hard Candy article on nursing, Dec 2006) — one of my best friends who flew all the way to San Fran from LA just to spend one day with me Love you, girl! Here we are in Union Square in the city of San Francisco — freezing our noses off! 

Yes, I went shopping in H&M! The line to the fitting rooms was soooo long! But we braved it! 

My (not so) little sister was also there on vacation and we met up for lunch and I lent her two dresses that I had just bought (from Wet Seal) the previous weekend. She needed a dress for a party she was attending and she had no time to shop!

Though I was homesick a lot, it was such a fun trip! And I'm sure that this next journey of mine is going to be as fun too! But I am going to miss all of you Candy girls and boys so much. It's so hard to say goodbye — so I won't. I'm going to say thank you to all of you. I will forever and ever be a Candy girl. Because that is not something that you outgrow. I love you all!

Love Heaps (and bounds!),

Ines 

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