#where to stay in Siquijor

[chrismien]

Let's talk about Elsweyr's architecture, specifically how geography influenced it.

In the Elder Scrolls Online base game, players can visit Kenarthi's Roost, which is the starting location for Aldmeri Dominion players. We could easily observe the stilted houses and buildings on the island of the Khajiits. This doesn't really reflect the nomadic culture that majority of the beastfolk have since these kinds of buildings are made to last and are built for prolonged stay in the area. How do I know this?

As a Filipino, I find this style of building especially familiar. Indonesians may also share the same sentiment. In the real world, these stilted buildings are known as "bahay kubo" in the Philippines. They are a staple of provincial life and are designed in a way that prevents floodwater and mud from entering the house. This is why they are built on stilts.

Another purpose of stilt houses is to decrease the occurrence of pests running into the houses. Tropical countries are known for the many insects and small mammals that inhabit them, and stilt houses can help to keep these pests out.

As you can see from the image above, it is quite different from the fantasy world. It is a Filipino stilted house from the Siquijor region. The roof is not exaggerated, and the windows are more open. However, the buildings from Kenarthi Roost are actually very based on real life.

Looking at the image, it is clear where the makers of the game got their inspiration. This is an Indonesian stilted house. The purpose of this kind of roofing is to let the water slide down in times of heavy rains. Observe the stilts on this house, and you can see that they have more support compared to the ones from the Philippines.

Basically, stilt houses are raised off the ground, which allows for better airflow and helps to keep the house cooler. Additionally, the stilts can be used to create a ventilated space underneath the house, which can help to lower humidity levels.

It can also help to regulate temperature and reduce humidity is the use of natural materials. Materials such as wood, bamboo, and thatch are good insulators, which helps to keep the house cool in the dry season and warm in the wet season. Additionally, these materials are porous, which allows for good airflow and helps to prevent moisture build-up.

In this pre-release image, we can see that the columns and stilts are made of stone, and the motifs of the buildings are reminiscent of the styles from Cambodia and its surrounding regions.

Adding to that, the region of Southeast Asia is characterized by heavy rains and storms. In the more tropical parts of Elsweyr, stilted houses are more common. However, as you go up north, the climate becomes less tropical and more temperate, and the houses become less stilted and more made of stone.

Below are some comparisons of Elsweyr to Southeast Asian locations (left is Elsweyr, right is the Southeast Asian location):

The similarities are quite evident.

While some references say that the Khajiit are based on the Romanian peoples of Europe, their architecture is very much based on Southeast Asian styles. It is also worth noting that traces of Persian, Romani, Indian, and other cultures can be found in Khajiit society.

Some YouTube content also states that the Khajiit can be compared to gypsies in the real world, as they are both considered "fringe people." Another note regarding the architecture is that it is also based on the domiciles of the sea gypsies in the Philippines, the Badjaos.

Southeast Asia is a very beautiful region with a great deal of cultural diversity. As someone from the Philippines, I can say from my own experience that foreigners can experience how Western and Eastern cultures merge here.

What other topics should I do next?

[jasfhercallejo]

Located not far from the Coco Grove resort where we stayed, Runik Siquijor - Adults Only has made a name for itself over the past few seasons and the quality of the services meets the expectations of the most demanding.

This captivating resort welcomed us with Asian-Mediterranean architecture that for sure took our breath away. They had big tents and beds near the cliffside, offering both the cosy comfort of the interior and the raw beauty of the exterior.

There is an in-house restaurant, plus free private parking and free WiFi are available. The infinity pool features a pool bar and a DJ on lucky nights (we went on a weekend so we witnessed how the DJ made the scene alive). Guests can take in the views of the garden from the patio, which also has outdoor furniture where you can enjoy your food and drinks.

Three day pass options are as follows: (1) PhP 500, which limits you to the restaurant only; (2) PhP 800 lets you into the bar, use the pool, and roam around, but you can't use the beach beds and cabanas. If you want to use those, you'll have to shell out PhP 2000. Since this was our last night, we took one beach bed and everything was history.

From its delicious food to its great drinks and lively music ambiance, Runik is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the flavors and rhythms of the Mediterranean.

The standout feature of Runik is its Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. With a focus on simple, high-quality ingredients, the menu features a range of dishes from different countries. There are also plenty of vegetarian and seafood options available. The drinks menu at Runik is equally impressive, with a variety of cocktails, wines, and spirits on offer. The bartenders are skilled at crafting delicious and creative drinks, and there’s always something new and exciting to try.

In addition to its great food and drinks, Runik is also known for its lively music ambiance. The bar hosts live music performances several nights a week, with a mix of local and international acts. The music here is a blend of Mediterranean and world music, with plenty of upbeat rhythms and melodies. The atmosphere is lively and energetic, but not too loud, making it easy to chat with friends or simply enjoy the music.

[onenettvchannel]

FLASH REPORT: American YouTuber 'IShowSpeed' arrives in the Philippines, causes Fan Frenzy for meet-and-greet in BGC [#TeleRadyoSerbisyoEXCLUSIVE]

(Written by Rhayniel Saldasal Calimpong / Freelanced News Writer, Online Media Reporter and News Presenter of OneNETnews)

TAGUIG, NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION -- The American variety and veteran YouTube sensation 'Mr. Darren Jason Watkins Jr.', finally set foot in the country today, part of his highly anticipated Southeast Asia tour. This arrival of the 19 y/o Ohio state native, straight from the United States of America (U.S.A.), created frenzy among his Filipino fanbase, which led to huge masses of crowds and traffic jams across Metro Manila.

Indeed, his Philippine adventure started off with a bang. He played at a local basketball court in 'Brgy. 39, Zone 3, District 1' in 'Tondo, Metro Manila, National Capital Region'. The place was thronged with fans as the eagerness got the better of everyone to get a glimpse of the male YouTube star. It set the tone for a day that became truly frenzy-filled and filled with fervor.

Before going to the heart of the city, IShowSpeed made a quick detour to a local Chowking branch on Bustos Street, Sta. Cruz, this said city and province. The fast-food stop served as an emergency impromptu meet-and-greet location, where he was sat and hydrate himself in plain cold water, as eager fans were gathered outside to catch a glimpse of their online male YouTuber idol. He followed up his interest in Filipino culture by riding on top of a Kalesa, a horse-drawn transportation contraption, waving a Philippine flag to the delight of all that watched, helping spur his growing entourage on in excitement.

The joyride to BGC turned out to be a spectacle in its own right, as the male YouTube star replaced Kalesa with a motorbike, knowingly called as 'habal-habal'. The ride through busy Manila attracted even more attention; traffic came to a halt with fans trying to stay alongside their idol.

The chaotic night concluded before 7:30pm at 5th Avenue, BGC, in a Mercedes-Benz showroom, where IShowSpeed found refuge amidst a sea of people. Outside the unforgettable local dealership at Cats Motors Incorporated (CMI), chaos was at nothing less than pandemonium. If this day wasn't exciting enough, IShowSpeed teasingly posted to the internet media, including 'TeleRadyo Serbisyo: Dumaguete' and 'OneNETnews' that he would be meeting the Boxing legend and former senator "Manny Dapidran 'PacMan' Pacquiao", scheduled for tomorrow on Thursday (September 12th, 2024 -- Manila local time) when social media would once again go ablaze in the star-studded encounter.

In LIVE chats throughout the night, rumors are rife that the IShowSpeed Philippine Tour may well extend to the Visayas region on Day 2, including Cebu, Bacolod, Dumaguete and Siquijor. For now, unfortunately much however, Mindanao appears to be out of its itinerary.

IShowSpeed's arrival most certainly has left an indelible mark within the Philippines, and his livestream drew in more than 300,000 viewers from around the world, over half from the Philippines with 56% online audience share in this video sharing platform. And as this male YouTube star still goes on a rampage in this South East Asian adventure, one thing is for sure: IShowSpeed fever has finally swept the nation of the Philippines, and it isn't going away anytime soon.

This ongoing tour to South East Asia would be continued across the continent, first stopping in Thailand and later adding probably with the likes of Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia -- all for this month of September 2024.

SCREENGRAB COURTESY: IShowSpeed via YouTube LIVE VIDEO

SOURCE: *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWuJYrEZBkw [Referenced YT LIVE VIDEO via IShowSpeed] and *https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx685Idjol8tdYoSpnEhUNmxqKLfMVUOTW [Referenced YT Poster PHOTO via IShowSpeed]

-- OneNETnews Online Publication Team

[walaumalistulog]

After more than fifteen days have passed, I still find it challenging to find the right words to express my Siquijor and Dumaguete adventure.

It marked my first journey to the captivating Visayas islands, a dream realized that made my mother fret over my distance. Taking my maiden flight, the thrill of firsts lingered throughout the trip.

Upon our arrival in Siquijor, we chose to rent a motorcycle, seeking a slower pace to savor every moment. While most could explore the entire island in a day, we craved a deeper connection with its beauty. As a motorcycle enthusiast, riding 160 kilometers across the island felt like a personal triumph.

The beaches in Siquijor---its golden sands caressed by gentle waves. Here, tranquility whispers in the breeze, and the azure waters beckon your soul to dance with the tides, a paradise embraced by the gentle, tropical embrace. A place where I almost cried in awe for its picturesque view that no camera lens could give justice to its glory.

We were also able to stay at a place near this enchanted river. Each morning, I would wake up to the melodious symphony of the river's flowing waters and gentle rustling of leaves. The waters of this river gave me a sense of tranquility washing over me. It was as if the river embraced me with its healing touch, relieving my whims and worries, and filling me with a profound sense of peace.

Leaving this beautiful island was bittersweet. It was a place where I had discovered the enchantment of nature and the enchantment of my entire soul and being, a place where I had found that heaven is indeed a place on Earth.

Siquijor—an island, like a devoted mother, watches over her child from afar, patiently waiting for their return. A home for everyone, where the warmth of your absence lingers, patiently awaiting your return.

Leaving this island with so much love and emotions. I really had no plans on visiting this beautiful place this year, but I really am glad to experience its serene beaches and mysticism.

There's a sense of comfort in knowing that this place will always be there, ready to welcome its visitors back with open arms and overwhelming love.

[purplesurveys]

1686

Do you prefer bar or liquid soap? Liquid, I guess, but it’s nowhere near being a passionate preference.

What's the speed limit on your street? I’m not actually sure but probably like 10 kph max. It’s a narrow street and a kid or pet could come running out of their house’s gate any second.

When was the last time you wore your favourite article of clothing? I don’t really have a favorite one.

Do any of your family members have an upcoming birthday? The next one is my mom’s in September.

On a scale of 1-5, 5 being the best, rate your last kiss. 0, It was a nothing kiss at that point, but I didn’t feel so at the time which to me makes it even worse.

What is your favourite flavour of Jolly Ranchers? I’ve never had those.

Where was your Facebook profile picture taken? Somewhere in Zambales.

Do your parents smoke? Neither of them do.

Would you rather bake cookies or a potato? Cookies.

Who was the last person to stay the night at your house? Reena on my last birthday.

Do you live close to a park? Private, tiny subdivision parks, yeah. Those barely count as anything though.

Is your favourite animal endangered? One of them is.

Have you eaten pizza in the last week? I haven’t. I did buy pizza-flavored Pringles here in Thailand the other night but I haven’t had pizza here yet. I don’t think I’ll have the time to do so either.

Who was the last person you added to your contacts list? I have no clue; I never add people to my contacts anymore. Since I greet people with “Hi [name]!” anyway I always know whose number I’m texting even if I don’t designate a nickname for them anymore.

How long does it take you to shower? Around 10-13 minutes. I’m usually able to finish a whole vlog in the shower, no more no less haha.

Do you prefer a brand of bottled water over others, or is it all the same? I don’t drink bottled water enough to have a favorite brand, but yes I do prefer certain brands over others because the taste difference can be super blatant.

Have you used Wikipedia today? I don’t think I have today.

Are you better at writing fiction or non-fiction? Non-fiction.

Do you know anyone who has moved to a different state? I know very few people who’ve moved out from Manila to the province. People do the opposite like 90% of the time, but moving to the province happens too although a lot more rarely.

How many pens can you see from where you’re sitting? There aren’t any.

Have you ever dated someone one grade/year above or below you? Nope.

What language do you think you’d be good at? Not sure, maybe Spanish. I have a decent handle of the language from the colonization anyway. :) What language do you think you’d fail at? Any Chinese language.

Do you still have a landline phone at your house? Yup, my grandma still calls via landline so we keep it.

What is your current desktop background? BTS.

How big is the television you last watched? No idea, it’s an Airbnb TV and I can’t be bothered to ask about the specs.

Have you ever been stung by a bee or a wasp? Nopes.

How many schools have you been to in your lifetime? Just two; I stayed in one school from kinder to high school and only switched when it was time to go to college.

What is the middle name of the last person you texted? Her middle name is her nickname, so Angela.

Are you of legal age in your country? Yep, I think 25 is legal everywhere?

Why did you last visit a doctor? Needed to get my braces readjusted.

Would you prefer an ice cream cake or a regular cake? Pass for the most part, but fine I’ll go for the regular. I don’t understand ice cream cakes. Why get a cake that, like, disappears?

How old is your best friend? She’s turning 25 this year.

What is/was your high school’s mascot? Both of the schools I attended don’t have one.

Do you carry pain relievers with you at all times? Nope.

Where is your mother right now? She’s in Siquijor vacationing with my dad.

What was the last thing to make you smile? This nice lady who was helping me get back into our Airbnb room without the building cat entering through the door. I think she’s the one who runs the laundry shop attached to this very Airbnb.

Are you currently saving up for anything? Not right now but the moment I land back in Manila I most definitely will have to save in general because I went balls to the wall crazy with the shopping.

What’s the view like from your bedroom window? An abandoned house on the right, two very quiet houses behind, some trees.

Generally speaking, do you prefer sweet or savoury? Savory. I don’t like desserts.

What would you do if you got home and you saw your house had been destroyed? Depends. Destroyed by a fire? Was it trashed and some shit got stolen? Did Agi tear off all the tissue rolls? Idk I could either have a panic attack, cry, get angry, be frantic, or anything else depending on what the house looks like.

When did you last go outside, and what for? I wanted to look for a cafe here in our neighborhood area in Bangkok and found one on Maps, so I tried walking to it but when I got there there was nothing :( So I just went back to our Airbnb since I don’t want to wander too far all alone.

Who is your favourite Sesame Street character? I didn’t really have a favorite but if you asked me now I would probably go with either Cookie Monster or Bert.

How often do you check your emails? Only when I’m on shift.

Do you have any plans for this Thanksgiving? I don’t celebrate that.

What colour is your backpack? I don’t use a backpack anymore but my main handbag is brown.

Would you slap the last person you talked to for twenty dollars? No.

What search engine do you usually use? Google.

How much did the shirt you’re wearing cost? No clue, my mom got this for me hoping I’d use it in Thailand. And now I am :)

Patrick Stump or Pete Wentz? I never preferred one of them over the other.

Do you know anyone who gives way too many hugs? A little bit, yeah.

What time do you usually wake up on Sundays? 8 AM.

Have you whispered today? I don’t think I have.

What grade did you get on the last test you took? The last kind of anything I was graded on was like this writing workshop for work where we were given a prompt and we got a seasoned journalist come in to review each of our works...anyway, I got like a 48/50.

[elbertoko]

[words-set-to-kill]

SEVEN NO MORE

I took for granted the days where i'm supposed to indulge and savor the moments as if it's the last. Because if i think about it as if i'm leaving now, I did not really took any of my travels as if it is the last.

My last travel to Negros Oriental,

My last travel to Siquijor,

My last travel to Bohol,

And my last travel to Cebu

While I'm employed in the most beautiful and self improving environment i could ever ask for, where I consider my co-workers as close friends, brothers, sisters, and most especially family.

And now as i'm thinking of welcoming my Mindanao stay of God knows when will last, I thank all for this wonderful experience.

[aworldofmymaking]

Exploring the Beauty of Siquijor

By: Jenel B. Maribujoc (GE 5 T-TH 10:30-12:00)

My two days and two nights stay at Siquijor was extraordinary. In the evening of April 17, 2023. My nephew and I traveled from Dumaguete port to Siquijor port via ferry.

As we arrived in Siquijor port, we were picked up by our aunties and uncle together with my niece, who had arrived in Siquijor earlier that day. I was very exhausted and tired because of the trip, but as I watched the lights and the people walking around the streets going to their respective places. It made me more excited to explore the Island of Siquijor. I couldn't wait for the night to be over, so that I could explore and see the beauty of Siquijor during the daylight.

Fast forward to April 18, 2023. The day that I anticipated, we decided to go on a road trip to visit some of the famous places in Siquijor. The first place that we visited was Paliton beach, which is the most famous beach in Siquijor. Ever since I was a kid, I have really loved going to some beaches. I love how the waves touch the sand on the seashore and the scorching heat of the sun that touches the enticing water of the sea, but as I saw the crystal clear water of the beaches in Siquijor. It made me fall more in love. I've been to some beaches in Negros and Cebu, but the white sand and the clear waters of Siquijor made me want to visit all of the beaches here in the Philippines.

Our second stop was in the old enchanted Balete tree. It was so peaceful and enchanting. Below the old Balete tree is a natural spring flowing directly to the man-made pool. There were a lot of fish in the man-made pool. Where you can dip your feet and they will flock around to nibble the unwanted skin on your feet. It was fascinating to watch and it felt so good whenever the little fishes would nibble my feet, but I would always raise my feet whenever the big fishes swam towards me. I feel like they would bite my feet. Although, I knew in my mind that they just wanted to nibble my feet for some unwanted skin. Lol.

Anyway, we didn't stay in that place for so long because we wanted to go to the Cambugahay falls. To see the beauty of the falls, but unfortunately, we weren't able to go there due to the lack of time. So, we just decided to go to the place where we took some beautiful pictures called Hapitanan, which is located in Tignawo Lazi, Siquijor. We also didn't stay there for too long, because my aunties decided that we should go to a place where we could have a drink and relax. For us, to be refreshed by the exhausting but enjoyable road trip that we had. As we arrived at that place, we weren't able to sit there, because the place was crowded with a lot of people, specifically foreign nationals. They were sitting while watching the sunset in front of them. Some of them were sketching the captivating red-orange sunset. However, it didn't stop me from taking some memorable pictures of the beautiful sunset.

As we watched the sunset, we decided to go back to the place where we stayed for the whole trip. So, that we can watch the sun as it sets and hide on the east side of Negros Island. When we arrived, we literally ran towards the shore and what I saw was the most beautiful sunset that I'd ever seen in my existence. It made me realize that maybe this is why Siquijor is called the Island of fire, because of the flaming color of the sun as it sets while facing the Island of Siquijor. Not only that, but the way the light of the setting sun touches the sea water and the shape of Negros Island made me think that it was an unrealistic painting that was painted by a great painter.

That's how I ended my day, by watching the sunset as it fades and turned into a wonderful dark sky. The day after that, April 19, 2023, was the day that we're scheduled to leave. As we wait for the right time to leave the Island. We decided to roam around the nearby area of Siquijor port. I was a little bit sad that we didn't stick to our original plan. That we would roam the whole Island of Siquijor. However, I was still satisfied with the warm welcome and the warm goodbye from the mystic Island. Hopefully, in the future I can go back there and visit those places that I've never been to and make more memories together with my family.

[itsjanetimbengan]

Siquijor and its Exquisite Charm

It was a cold, rainy, and cloudy kind of morning when we arrived at Dumaguete Airport. After a peal of thunder, we decided to take a tricycle going to Dumaguete Port. We touched down Siquijor after an hour of ferry ride and rode a tricycle again to reach our hotel.

Palm trees swayed gently in the breeze, fresh air filled my lungs and my eyes felt refreshed with the lush of greens around me. Siquijor might be notorious for black magic, mystic, and sorcery, but I got a sense of serenity in this place.

For an island known for witchcrafts and folklores, Siquijor boasts its exquisite charm with its unspoiled palm-fringed beaches, scenic water wonders, and laid-back setting.

HOW TO GET THERE 

We booked our flight to Dumaguete because this is the closest airport with frequent flights from Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.

From Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport, charter a tricycle or a cab to get you to the port. Several ferries like Oceanjet, Montenegro Lines run as early as 7:00 am until 4:30 pm going to Siquijor which fare ranges from P130 to P240.

From Siquijor Port, there are a lot of tricycle drivers you can rent to bring you to where your accommodation is. Tricycle is the usual mode of transportation in the area so tourists normally prefer to hire tricycles for the island tour.

WHERE WE STAYED

Located in San Juan area, Eastern Garan Seaview Resort offers an amazing cliff top views and not to mention a super chill vibes with its outdoor swimming pool and beach front view (and incredible sunset!!!).

PLACES TO VISIT

Siquijor, located in the Central Visayas, is the third smallest province in the Philippines, thus can be toured in one day only. It is locally known as “Esla del Fuego” because of its mystical fireflies.

We rented a tricycle for the whole day tour around the island.

CENTURY-OLD BALETE TREE

Believed to be enchanted up to this day, the 400-year-old Balete Tree lies in Lazi which is considered to be the oldest and biggest in the province of Siquijor. Apart from being said that mythical creatures live in Balete Trees, what makes it really mystical is that a natural spring flows right underneath the tree. If you’re up for a quick foot spa, just dip your feet and let the fish doctors nibble around your feet!

There are stalls that sell some souvenirs, voodoo dolls, and love potions!

CAMBUGAHAY FALLS

Less than 200 steps going down, you will be mesmerized by Cambugahay Falls’ clear and turquoise warm water originating from natural spring. Lots of locals and tourists go here and enjoy making their sway to the falls.

This falls has a three-tiered level, the top and middle which usually serve as swimming areas and the bottom and the largest as the jumping site. It usually gets crowded in the afternoon but just a tip, the top tier is the least crowded area where you can do unlimited swings for only 20 pesos.

SALAGDOONG BEACH

Ahhh, I have to say that this is my favorite place in Siquijor! You will be lured with its magnificent stretch of translucent blue waters and fine white sand. Salagdoong Beach is also famous for its cliff diving area with almost 35 feet high, waiting for adrenaline junkies and daredevils to take the plunge straight into the water.

GUIWANON SPRING PARK

Guiwanon Spring Park is a mangrove preservation and protection area which is managed by the fishermen and environment organization in this community. 

A minute of walk on wood and bamboo bridges, you will be led to an open area or seminar hall which offers a magnificent view of the sea with a crisp, fresh air, surrounded by a lush mangrove forest. This sanctuary is a refreshing stop with an entrance fee of 10 pesos and in fact, there are small cottages you can rent if you want to stay overnight.

PALITON BEACH

The giant palm trees lined up at the shoreline, the powdery white sand, and the sparkling blue waters make Paliton Beach a nice spot for basking under the sun. 

It was 3 in the afternoon and the sun shone brilliantly, making the water in the ocean glitter invitingly. Definitely a perfect tour-ender – we just unwind and chill by the beach until it’s time to go back to our hotel.

Other tourist spots in Siquijor:

Saint Francis de Assisi Parish Church

Hapitanan Cafe Restaurant

Lazi Church and Convent

Lagaan Falls

Capilay Hot Spring

FOLLOW ME!

Instagram: https://instagram.com/janetimbengan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/janetimbengan

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrBSwTcWdhohq2UCPzUOs_Q

[francisdominictan]

________________________________________________________________ I always caught myself reading books about creatures of the unknown. It started probably when I was a young kid and would watch documentaries series about aliens, elemento, Bigfoot, and the likes.

Because of that I earned my fair shares of names and bullying in school due to my obsession. Like a good freshman I pushed up my glasses and disregarded it and moved onto college where I earned degree in Zoology and eventually masters and now PhD. Along the way I had discovered the things life had to offer; women, gym, sex, alcohols, and other things. Though, my first love was cryptozoology.

Together with famous scientists, zoologists, and marine biologists, we’re looking for new species and studying others of whom, we knew very little. I spent my late 20’s traveling around the globe. My colleagues and I found new insects, birds, reptiles, but none would fall into the strange or imaginary. In the scientific community, I made myself a name. I might find anything except Bigfoot, people liked to say. I enjoyed my little popularity.

I chose to work somewhere more conventional after those exciting years. As it was fun to create footprints around the world, I was sick of never being in one place over a couple of weeks. I would also like to spend more time to try to find these storied creatures than work on someone else's expedition.

I ended up teaching in the department of biology in a major state university in Northern part of Mindanao in the Philippines. I also started a club in cryptozoology that attracted a large number of students. I would take students to the alleged unearthly places, hot spots of unknown animals, and the likes with permission from the university. We always have a documentary of our trip; a blurred video and a grainy picture. It was enjoyable for the students and me. We never had any definitive information, but it helped them to think outside the box about what our world really is. My curiosity in it was a deep passion for trying to find the elusive that I want to witness.

Like I said before, my first love is cryptozoology until one foundation day of the University. I met Nap there.  She was this beautiful brown haired woman about my age, who taught creative writing in the English department. I knew that I instantly fell for her. I'm not now the scrawny nerd from high school anymore. I was fit, effective in my profession, and not too bad looking (I told myself that, at least).I used a corny pickup to show myself. We've smiled, spoke the whole party and exchanged number, and the rest is history.

We moved in together a few months after we began dating. We had many shared interests, but there were also many differences. She preferred to stay in, and I enjoyed the outside. She was more reserved and I was the extrovert. But we both liked a good book and wine. She’s also a writer who particularly likes to write about simulated creatures, which is why we clicked.

“Nap,” I said closing and setting aside her newest book as I lounged out on the sofa in our living room one night. “Did I already told you that you are an excellent writer?”

She was in our room folding the ‘fresh from the laundry’ clothes. “You already did. But I won’t mind if you tell me again,” she playfully responded.

“I’m wondering, where did you get your inspirations for these stories?”

She came towards me. I corrected my sitting and she sophistically took a seat to me. “I got them from my grandmother’s story.”

“Tell me more, please,” I said with agog evident on my face.

“With my cousins,” she began with a look of commemoration on her face, “Each summer, we would visit my grandmother in the Visayas. She was living in a Remote Village neighborhood. Many people haven't been there. It was a lovely town shaded by the dense canopies of the tree. Between the town and the nearest mountain, there was a large forest. Perhaps it was about a few hundred acres. Glassy lake, filled with fish and that emptied into a small river can be found at the base of the mountain. All children in the town would play in the wood, the river and the lake, yet past sunset was strictly forbidden. The town’s people, including my grandma, have strictly implemented this.”

“Continue,” I encouraged her with a smile.

“So my grandmother told me about the forest fairies and how they liked to trick people. They'd take me away forever if I disobeyed my elders. Such tales have always been disturbing to me. My parents didn't like that, but they agree that I should be inside before dark. The stories didn't get me too much worry, until one of the young boys I was playing with got missing in the woods. One night after a fight with his father, he ran away into the forest. They never found him, and the people of the town did not bother to look for him until after sunrise. I can't just believe that people would not go in the forest looking for the boy until it was sunrise, except that they all really believed in the fairies. My books contain fairies that are scary but are much better than those in the tales of my grandma. They never took people away.”

She raised her one eyebrow and asked, “It is your kind of thing, isn’t it?”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked at her, frowning.

“You know… The unexplained creatures of the dark.” She looked at me with a smart-ass grin.

“Well, I heard and read about fairy folklore, but many cryptozoologists don't spend a long time on it. I never heard of a city that is fearful of fairies, particularly from an account on the first hand. Anything like that should be investigated.”

A vexatious grin stretching from ear to ear plastered on Nap’s face.” Very Good! My parents would like to meet you and I'd like you to meet them. When I was young, my grandmother died and my parents inherited the house. And a couple of years ago they retired. This summer, you can come with me and solve the fairy problem of the town.” She stood over me and gave me the puppy eyes to agree.

Like this, our summer plans were drawn up, and in early March, with Nap and a bag filled with my recording equipment, we booked a plane ride from Cagayan to Siquijor located in Central Visayas. Once there, we hired a rental car and drove into the forest mountains, which felt like hours. We left the winding road for an even hazardous two-lane mountain road. After 15 minutes, we reached at what looked like a ghost town. Several small businesses were shut down and looked like an unfinished hotel in the 1960s.

We pulled into the driveway of her parent a couple of minutes later. Her parent’s house was sitting in a few dozen houses on a short dead end road. The dark, majestic forest that she described to me lies behind her home. A majestic moon hidden by the cumulus cloud loomed in the distant background.

Her parents greeted us at the door with a smile. Nap kissed her mom and dad with excitement. I tried to cover my nerves and for the first time met my girlfriend's parents, shook their hands quickly and introduced myself as Francis, the man who was here to solve their fairy problem. Before saying through their teeth, they both smiled and paused, “Come now. The dinner is about ready.”

My awkward attempt to be funny seemed to be an outrage. Dinner went well and we spoke about our trip and what I've done at work. With our bellies full, Nap’s father invited me on to the rear porch for a beer.

"So you are a university professor of cryptozoology?” Nap’s father asked until he took a big swig of beer from his bottle.

"No, I'm teaching animal behavior and social interaction. I'd like to teach cryptozoology, but before I can, I need a written and approval of the curriculum." I sat in my porch chair and started enjoying my beer.

"I guess Nap told you a lot of insane fairy tales in our forests?" I took another sip from my bottle and looked at him and nodded a bit. "Everything’s real. Sounds dumb, but the whole thing is true. Those stories have been told by my wife, and I wouldn’t believe them if I had not seen a crazy thing or experienced that one night. Our neighbor's niece disappeared in that forest two summers ago.” He pointed at the wooden line right at the back of his yard and takes a second swig from his bottle.

“You want to see a magic trick?” He asked me excitedly.

"Um, sure," I said half waiting for him to take the coin out from behind my ear.

"Look at the back door. Today's sunrise is around 21:00. The lock will pop up around this time and it will swing open. No hands." He responds shaking his hands upward.

The courtyard of Nap’s parent was closed with one back door that leads directly into the forest. Some of the branches of the forest trees hang over the entrance. I didn't know how to take the statement from Nap’s dad. So I've been waiting. Behind the mountains, the sun slowly crept and the clock reached 21 pm.

As we sat silently in the back porch, I finished my beer. I was about to get up and let Nap’s father know it was the longer trick that I had ever been waiting for, the scraping sound caught my ear from the opposite side of the fence.

It started at the rear of the valley. It sounded like a child dragging a stick over his pickets while he was walking. Towards the gate the sound intensified. I concentrated on the gate and didn't pay attention to Nap and her mother, who had gone with us to the deck. The door latch went Ching and the gate slowly swayed as if softly pushed by an unseen force.

"No way," I murmured, as I started to walk away slowly from the deck to the back gate. I was pulled up on the deck by a powerful hand. I whipped my head around to see Nap’s father violently grab my wrist.

He said with a stern voice and look. "Don't go over there," he said.

Nap pulled me out of her dad. "Mom, dad… stop." She turned to me and said, "Tomorrow, I'm going to take you into the woods. It's all right. You are going to see.” She turned back into the house and graciously marched.

"All you want during the day, you can go into the forest, but once the sun sets you have to come back," Robert cut me off before I could go in. I stopped and looked at him. His face was genuinely anxious. Nap’s mother has the same look on her face.

I agreed and that, as Nap’s parents insist upon being away from the woods after darkness, I came inside feeling a little confused.

That evening Nap and I prepared for bed and she laid her head on my chest. I tried to work together if her family had really believed in "fairies" and if their facial concern was sincere earlier.

"Doesn’t your family really believe in the fairies?" I ask Nap.

She turned around and put up her head in front of me.” "It's humiliating, not because they really believe in this, but because they’re so strongly confident that the woods are a bad place. I would have run into the woods many times if I had been rebellious as a kid. When I was a child, they started to act as my grandmother. I don't know how the gate trick is done by my father, but it gets older. Two years ago he pulled it on me, saying it wasn't him.”

The more she spoke, the more annoyed Nap became. "Tomorrow, I will bring you to the woods. You’ll see. As a child, I used to play there. Nothing's wrong with it.

I firmly held her to my side, gently kissed her. "Ok, we'll go to have an adventure tomorrow." I said before dozing off

After breakfast Nap took me into the forest the next morning. She showed me everything she had been able to remember from her childhood. She showed me her favorite trails, which had slightly become overgrown. She showed me her favorite river spot and her favorite lake shore. Here and there, the lakeshore was littered with dead fish but oddly no trace of rotting fish.

An old foundation to a building that never began was on the lakeshore. Nap said in the 60's it was intended to be a lodge for tourists but it was never done. The crumbling foundation was covered in moss, and looked more than anything else like a pathetic version of Stonehenge.

It was about noon and we decided to go back into the woods to have some lunch at the house of her father. As we walked hand in hand through the woods on trails I was surprised she was still able to navigate memories from her childhood. I noticed the mahogany were almost all brown or brownish green. Their trunks were rather large, even swollen, as if they were stuffed with something, and most of the underbrush was dead or seemed as if it were dying.

Nap reported that the summer and spring of the last few years had been little rain. I thought it was odd that the forest was going to dry out but the river and the lake didn't seem to be at low levels.

Robert brought the subject of cryptozoology and my interest, “Have a chat with John Salon. He is town detective, who lives down a few streets. He is also the last of a tribe who lived here once. He's kind of an amateur historian for the region and has lots of stories to share about the woodland fairies. I'll call him and tell him that you're coming over. "Robert gave me his address and that afternoon, at Nap’s encouragement, I went to his house as Nap and her mother planned to go shopping in the next town.

I knocked on John’s door. The lock unlatched and the door slowly opened revealing an older man.

“Are you John?” I stick out my hand for handshake.” I’m Francis Tan and..-“

“You want to know about the fairies at the woods?” He said cutting me off. “Robert already told me about you. Please come in. I have only few hours before I need to head to work to cover a night shift.”

I walked into his house. It was huge and packed with mounted animals, fish and a number of what seemed to be memorabilia from farther south. He led me to his living room, and guided me to sit down. His living room walled by filing cabinets and bookshelves on all sides. There was no TV, and the most surfaces were caked with a thick layer of dust.

"So what can I tell you," said John, slowly taking a seat in the chair opposite me.

"Well, whatever you know about the forest, or the supposed forest monsters," I started. "I'm researching unknown beings, mythological creatures, or whatever you want to name them, and I'm familiar with folklore fairies, but I've never seen a whole town that seemed to fear these monsters."

For a moment, John leaned back and looked up at the ceiling, as if to recall his thoughts.

"My tribe was the first to settle that area, or rather my ancestors. We were once, as the oral tradition goes, a large and proud tribe that had great numbers in Siquijor long before the Spanish came. A harsh winter run and war with other tribes cut down our numbers and our enemies drove us out of our original land. We wandered around until we found the place. Cold, hungry and desperate for shelter, we felt blessed to have found a place with good hunting, the mountains to shelter us, and a river and lake to provide fresh water for us.”

I looked eagerly at him, as he took a little break to remember his words. He sat up in his chair, and leaned forward.

"Some strange creatures that lived here prevented us from entering the forest. My people would call them Engkantos. They said that they were here before, guarding the forest. The chief seeing his people starving and having no place to live struck a deal with the creatures from the forest. We could hunt fish, stay here and they'd protect us as long as we agreed to give them one of our own once every moon cycle.”

"Wait," I cut. "So ...... just like a sacrifice?”                            

"Yes" continued John. "We'd send one person into the forest each full moon. The cries will fill the sky of the night. It was a terrible thing but the chief made the offer for us to live and we stuck to it. Many years passed, as we lost ourselves one after another. Our numbers would gradually decrease over time, but those who remained had hunting food and fresh water.”

John got up from his seat and walked up to his bookshelf, pulling out a leather bound book, the edges were yellowed from age.

"This book," he said, "Contains all the stories about Engkantos that have been passed down to my tribe from generation to generation. When I was young, I had started writing them down before they all died. I'm the last one and I thought somebody could record it so others could know what we've been experiencing.”

"When the Spanish came into our land, it all changed. It was one man at first. He was an explorer. We didn't consider him a threat so we let him pass. However, he did find gold in the water and he told other people. Eventually many others turned up in the river looking for gold. They brought crucifix, meats, beads, and weaponry and taught us religions. They were willing to trade for small pieces of land so that they could prospect in here. We consented. The prospectors supplied us with new stuff and we were exchanging small parcels of land for them. The Spanish people cut down trees to make the clearing that now sits out of town. They constructed houses. They fished and hunted. Each full moon, we no longer sent one of our own to the forest.”

"So the sacrifices stopped because you got necessity from the settlers?" I asked. "What about the creatures that you deal with?”

"We lived alongside the Spanish in harmony," John began again. "There was rage among the Engkantos because we broke our deal. They'd watch us in the shadows, from the tree line. The extreme fury could be felt. One night, several prospectors who were fishing the lake in the forest came late. One of them was taken violently by the Engkantos upfront the others. Their screams had filled the air of the night. The survivors did flee and never came back. They left their possessions and even their money for they were so frightened. Those who had been past dark in the woods soon began to disappear. No trace was found.”

John sat down and breathed deeply. "As people began to flee the woods after dark, they tried to trick people into going into the woods. During the night they would imitate the sounds of kids or loved ones. Anyone who enters into the woods would be taken. They took our tribe's three mothers once because the creatures were crying out on the forest line like children. The women fled to save the "babies" only to be killed. They only took one person at a time but began to take more as revenge.”

"They can imitate voices?" I asked.

"Yeah" he began as he rubbed his head. "They can use anybody's voice or sound so you’d be lured into the woods.”

"Why do people still live here, then?" I asked. "If it is cursed, why not leaved?”

“My people agreed to keep this place guarded and keep people from going here. They made a deal and broke it. But, regardless of what they did or said, the word still made it out about the fishing and hunting or gold in the river. People would come and they would vanish. A party heard about fishing, and tried to build a lodge on the shore on the lake. All are gone. We were trying to warn them but they were calling us crazy. This town and forest has only recently gone unnoticed by the outside. In the last 10 years there have been only a few disappearances.”

"I saw the foundation." I sat up in the chair as I got drawn more and more into his stories.

John got up and walked to one of his filing cabinets. He pulled a black binder full of paperwork.

"Here," he said with a motion to take the binder.

"What is it?" I asked him as I take the big binder.

"I am in charge of all the missing people’s cases. They're all here.”

"That’s crazy," I said while opening the binder.

"Many people say I'm a useless detective. I know what happened to those people, but you can't put it on an official report and still keep your job. If you look at the reports, the pattern is the same for everyone. All of those people were last seen in the forest before darkness.”

I finished my conversation with John, as he was about to get ready for work. He had been operating from two towns on a missing person case. He let me borrow the case binder and the book about the stories of his family.

The next day after taking Nap over to the next town for breakfast, I went door to door asking people what they knew about the creatures. Many hesitated to speak with me until I explained who I was, what I believed, and that I intended to study what was happening. I had been warmly welcomed into their homes.

People in the town had a vast array of stories. Tales ranged from family members vanishing to hearing odd voices at night, to seeing groups of travelers vanish without trace. Many were older tales of loved ones wandering late into the forest and failing to make it out before sunset. It seemed that everybody believed in the creatures that inhabited the forest, but no one had ever seen one. An older gentleman reported that his sister had gone on an afternoon walk into the forest and never returned. He could hear her voice calling from the woods to him every night, but he doesn't dare to enter. Eventually the voice stopped.

I devoted the rest of the afternoon to taking notes on all the missing people’s cases. I just stopped kissing Nap farewell, as she and her mother left to get chico fruits in the forest. In an hour, or two, she had expected to be home. I was comfortable with her leaving as it would have been many hours before the sun had gone down.

Every case had the same set of circumstances. No clear explanation was given as to why the people were missing. News clippings placed the blame on people getting lost in the vast outback, or on the likelihood that these people could run into wild animals.

I closed the binder full of cases and sat back in my seat in the living room, exhausted after all my note taking. I took a deep breath and stood up to collect the binder and book that John had let me borrow.

I finished collecting my stuff and walked to John’s house to return his articles. He was sitting at his front porch when I arrived, still in his police uniform with a beer.

I handed the book and binder to him, and took a seat next to him.

“What do they look like?” I asked.

"Who?” John answered sitting up a little straight as if shocked by my question.

"Engkantos or the fairies or whatever you want to call them. So what do they look like? I don't have any descriptions in the text you gave me." I stood up and looked at John with a stern look.

"It's a full moon tonight. In the last ten years just a few people were lost in the woods. They are mad. You can sense them in the current. I will be retiring in two years. I have spent my life trying to find those people that were missing. During day I’m in the forest. They are difficult to see. They are very slender and tall. You can see their outline amongst the trees if you look hard. It's very hard to figure out but hundreds of them are there. They're not going to move until dark but you can look among the tree line and see them standing still, even now.”

John pointed from to the woods that were across the road. I looked hard but in the fading light, I could see nothing but trees. I thanked him for his time and resources, and made my way back to the fading light of Nap’s parents ' house. The sun had set, and a cool breeze swept across the road and into the woods as if the forest itself were breathing in. I walked down the broken sidewalk looking into the dark trees to see if I could get a glimpse of what John had described. The moon was full and bright. With a slightly bluish hue, it seemed almost like day out. There was no echo. No crickets. No animals scratching. The night air was packed with just the wind and my footsteps.

"FRANCIS!!!!!"A scream of blood-curdling echoed just inside the line of the trees.

That voice. I knew that voice. It was from Nap. The hair on my neck was standing up straight. My heart started pounding with a violent fervor. Nap and her mother hadn't come back when I left. What if she did not make it from the woods? What if they hurt her? What if they had taken her?

"FRANCIS!!!!"The scream echoed again. This time it sounded as though she was in anguished agony.

I was twenty yards deep in the woods before realizing what I was doing. My eyes agitatedly scanned everywhere. "NAP!" I screamed. Only dead silence. The moon was so vivid that from the light shining through the tree branches I could make out almost everything. "NAP!”

I was breathing through my mouth. My breaths matched my heart's tempestuous pace. I stood in silence. I looked closely at the thick canopies before me. My vision spotted movement. I'm not alone. There was movement but I could not see exactly what it was. It didn't make any noise whatsoever and it seemed opaque, almost invisible. As if opaque forms melded into reality from nowhere.

They were the height of man. The skin was pale. Their legs, arms, and body structure were thin. Their skin looked dry and it was ridging like worms. A head was in the shape of large white sideways cones with no features but a small black hole in the forehead.

My muscles tensed as pure terror flows through me. I couldn't move. I was awestruck and was filled with terror. There were dozens of those things before me. They all looked the same appallingly. I wanted to run but I couldn't. One slowly moved toward me. It stopped 20 ft away from me. It was dead quiet. My heart shook so hard that I could hear it.

The hole at the front of his head was growing bigger as if something were pushing out of it. Like the peeling of a sausage casing this thing's skin pulled back and the head of a young woman seems to be out of the black.

My jaws dropped. I felt my heart was beating in my ears. Her hair looked black and greasy. Her eyes were ovals black. Her skin blenched. She stares at me. It felt like an eternity as I looked upon at this monstrosity. She opened her mouth.

"Francis," she spoke. I recognized that voice. It was Nap’s. Confusion took over. The woman head on this creature bent sideways in a horrible way while staring at me with a blank expression.

"Francis... Francis... Francis..." Nap’s voice echoed more frequently and more intensely. Then from her mouth burst an ear shattering maniacal laugh. My face was strewn with tears as my lips began to shake. It stopped. The woman's face split from jaw to forehead in half spreading from side to side as if it had been cut by, exposing a mass of razor-sharp teeth and flailing tentacles like tongues.

The creature shrieked. It was so high pitched and growling that it shook the forest and buzzed my ears. I fell on my back and for the first time since I saw the entity, I could now move. I amokly shuffled my legs backwards to propel me away from the entity. The creature fell to all fours, and then charged me as inhumanly as possible. I realized that there was no way I could get up and out run it in time. It was about to consume me. I put my hand up to cover my lip.

"No!" I cried as I looked away. Nothing. I didn’t feel any pain. There was no creature landed upon me.

"FRANCIS... MOM... DAD... NOOOO!!!!" It sounded like a scream from Nap, but this time it sounded like it came from her home's direction. I got up straight away trying to understand what was going on. The creatures had gone but something moved violently away from me in the underbrush, tearing up ground and shaking branches as it went.

"Ana, NO! “Another voice resounded. It was owned by Robert. I was still confused and afraid but I wasn't going to stay any longer in this woods. I raced to Nap’s parents’ house as fast as my legs could manage.

Robert restrained Ana who was sobbing in the backyards, "Let me go... Let me go..."

"She's already gone. They might also take you,' replied Robert, hugging his wife with all his might.

“What happened?” I commanded.

"Oh my God, Francis," said Robert in horror, turning to me. "Nap swore that she heard you scream in the woods, and ran after you. We tried to get her to stop."

In the distance, a cry of Nap’s agony rang out. My fear and the rush of adrenaline transformed into rage. They took my wife. Those hideous things took the woman I loved. I went to the garage without thought, and scooped up the gas can that Robert filled up earlier in the day. I searched the garage frenzied, and found a torch of propane on the shelf. I quickly made my way through their backyard to the tree line.

"Robert, hold this," I ordered while shoving the lighter propane into his arms.

I started to pour the gas on the trees carelessly, and the brush along the forest line.

“What are you doing?” he asked with a puzzled look on his face.

I looked at him dead in the eye and coldly stated, “Give me the torch. I'm taking the woods from them, if they want to take her.”

He gave the torch that I just forced him to hold reluctantly.

The woods were dry. The wind blew in through the forest. I opened the valve for propane, lit a torch and threw it into the brush. There was a towering hell ahead of me in seconds. Robert and Ana were stunned by what I had just done. The fire burned fast and moved faster. Soon the whole town stood on the road, watching the forest they knew about consumed by blaze. With rage in my eyes, I stood still between them.

Suddenly, horror and pain filled the air with inhuman shrieks. They were like a knife cutting other people's ears. The people of the town tightly held their ears to block the screams. Most ran home in terror or grabbed each other for protection.

The shouts resonated tumultuous as the fire burned until suddenly the shouts ceased and only the blaze could be heard.

The fire department was called by someone who warned the forest guards. They couldn't do anything. The fire spread so quickly that the whole forest was burnt to the ground before a plan was drawn up. I admitted that I was the one starting the fire and was arrested by the police that night.

With little or no human contact, I was in prison for three days. The police were going through the office in an uncomfortable way as though they had more work than they could handle. They ignored and only fed me and checking on me before night.

John was there to welcome me when I woke up in my jail cell on the third morning.

I said groggily, "Good morning."

He opened the cell. “You’re free to go, Francis.” He nods at me to follow him. “Come with me." I got up and did as he requested. "They found Nap."  

"Is she all right? Is she hurt?" I asked delighted.

“She had some burns, cuts, bruises, suffered from some inhalation of smoke, and she seems to be in shock but is alive.”

“Thank God!” I shouted.

The car ride to the hospital was an hour or so. During our way over, John explained that I was now the least of the problems the town had to deal with. None of the town's houses got damaged. The wind blew the fire the opposite way. Search and rescue teams searched the forest at night and found Nap on the lake shore early in the morning. She was naked and shocked but alive.

The biggest problem the town had to tackle was the hundreds of skeletons discovered in the forest. They weren't scattered around like the victims of a forest fire. The burnt-out trunks of the narra trees contained dozens of skeletons, as if stuffed into the trees. John showed me a picture he'd taken at one of the scenes on his phone. The picture showed a tree trunk that looked bloated and had been burned out. Inside the bark you could clearly see a human skeleton contorted with the tree growing around it in horrible fashion. What appeared like wooden bark threads fused into the skeleton, as if they formed together. Some of the skeletons were identified as missing people in the woods in the 1900’s. Others had been estimated to be centuries old.

At the hospital, John dropped me off and I made my way to Nap’s room. Here were her parents. She was swollen and wounded but lying in her bed looking ahead, agape mouth, not blinking at all. She turned towards me slowly as I came in, not blinking. When our eyes met she started sobbing. I rushed to her, and warmly embraced her.

"They've took me," she said with heavy sobbing. "They ripped my clothes and tried to put me in there."

"Where?" I asked fighting off my own tears as I kept holding her closely.

"In the forest... In the trees," she said sobbing. "They feed the forest with us. The forest was dying and it starved to death.”

No other word was spoken. I just hugged her close, until she stopped sobbing.

With the forest gone, a development company bought all the land and turned it into homes. To my knowledge, no one has since disappeared. There are some rumors that the place is haunted and that odd voices and cries can still be heard at night.

The night of the fire, my camera was recording. I looked at the video once before deleting it. My voice can be heard in frightened tone calling Nap’s name. One can see Nap running into the woods calling for me. As she disappears beyond what the camera can see, there is a voice that giggles like a little child and then, in a raspy high voice, states, "We take." The brush all around is shifting quickly towards where Nap was last seen until her cries can be heard.

[starsscribble]

No one asked for this but I finally finished her profile! Profile layout by AnnJoanne on DeviantART

Introduction

Name: Luana Kekoa Nickname:  Lua, Ana, Luna (family only), Green Bean Age: 15/16 (S2) 18 (S3) Birthday:  March 13, 2000 Astrological Sign: Pisces Gender: Female Sexual Orientation: Pansexual Past/Bio: Born to a polyamorous couple; Siofra, Diwata, and Leo Kekoa, Luana is the eldest of three siblings. Siofra, Luana's biological mother, was from a noble Fae family in Gemworld. Not wanting to go along with her family arranged marriage she fled to Earth; sometime in the late '80s. Fearing her family would track her; Siofra kept traveling Earth. One of the most notable places she stopped at was Siquijor, Philippines. The magic of the small island cause Siofra to stay longer than normal. In doing so Siofra met Diwata Villena; an apprentice witch. The two would become lovers and traveling partners.

In the mid-'90s the lovers made a stop in Hilo, Hawaii. Like what happened in Siquijor; the magic of the island caused Siofra and Diwata to stay longer. In doing so they met Leo Kekoa who worked as a part-time tour guide. It was Leo who fell in love first. He tried to spend as much time as he could with the women. Siofra and Diwata were no strangers to having another person in their relationship. Leo himself seemed fine with this as well. The issue came when Siofra decided it was time to move on. Leo wasn't willing to leave and even Diwata was ready to find a place to call home. Talking it over Siofra agreed to stay; assuming that her family has given up their search.  

Leo and Diwata married a year after into order for her to gain U.S. citizenship, she also started up her own business; similar to where she studied and worked at during her apprenticeship Siquijor.

Two years later both Siofra and Diwata turned out to be expecting. The women had homebirths; Siofra giving birth to Luana a few days before Diwata gave birth to Marisol; Luana's half-sister.

The family of five was content with the lives. It changed when Luana and Marisol were seven. Siofra's assumption was wrong; it had taken a long time but her family finally tracked her down. Siofra fought against family members that came to take her back to Gemworld. However, when one cousin threatened to harm her children she stopped her attacks. Forced to go back to Gemworld; Siofra was denied from saying her farewell to her children and spouses. Luana's last memory is watching her mother disappear through a portal.

About Her

Personality: Luana is a go with the flow kind of person; however if what is happening around her become reckless she will voice her opinion. For her it is up to the person to listen, she will not force them. Luana tried to be tactful as to not hurt others' feelings; of course, she does have her blunt moments. Protect of those she cares for; she is willing to put their needs first even above her own. Luana is bad at dealing with negative emotions; like grief or insecurity. She will often time bottle those feeling up. Saying she will deal with them at a later date, she never does. Once these emotions bubble over she is left confused as to why she feels this way. She will try to isolate herself and once again bottle up and avoid certain emotions; because she doesn't others to worry about her. Occupation: High School Student (S2), Shop Assistant and Potion maker (family business) Likes: - Warm Climates - Nature - Meditating - Fae Mythology - Sunrise - Spending time with family or friends Dislikes: - Cold Climates - Movies with kidnapping - Urban areas - Deforestation - Disrespectful People Hobbies: Gardening, Yoga, Hiking, Spell Crafting, Surfing, Seashell collecting Fears: Separation, Losing loved ones, Losing control of her powers Talents: Foraging, Herbalism, Multilingual

Appearance

Height: 5'3 (160.02 cm) Skin Tone: Medium Beige Eye Color: Bottle Green Hair Description: Emerald Green (natural), Brown (Glamour), Wavy, Long, Kept in a ponytail when in hero mode.

Relationships

Father: Leo Kekoa Mother: Siofra (biological/mom), Diwata Kekoa (mama) Siblings: Marisol Kekoa (younger), Erik Kekoa (baby brother) Best Friends: Jason Todd Friends: Kaldur, Tula†, Rosaleen Lareine (oc), Cassandra Sandsmark, Mentor(s): Siofra (formally), Leo and Diwata Kekoa, Zatanna Love Interest: Jason Todd

Hero Information

Code Name: Mana Place of Origin: U.S.A Residence: Hilo, Hawaii Affiliations: Kekoa family, The Team, The Outsiders (S3) Powers and Abilities:

Mana Manipulation - A combination of life-force manipulation and magic; Luana is currently the only known user. Similar to a life-force user; a mana user can draw energy from their surrounding. However, mana relies on spells and magic objects to create the user desired effect.

Energy Projection - This is created without a spoken spell; by the users will. The user controls the shape, intensity, and range of the attack.

Mana Form - Formerly a sealed power; the seal was broken when Luana underwent experiments when in Reach custody. In this form, Luana becomes a begin of pure mana. Luana doesn't have full control of this power. When she uses it she will draw in mana indiscriminately; this is dangerous in high tech areas. As she will take mana from the close living things she can find.

Occultism - The mystic arts have been around Luana all her life. Along with her research and training with her mother Diwata and Zatanna. Luana has a great understanding of magic; by no means does she know it all, but she is willing to learn.

Spell Creation - Due to her powers needing spells to better focus the energy, Luana is skilled in form spells for her needs.

Non-Vocal - There are a few spells Luana doesn't need to say aloud to use. Currently, these spells are barriers, levitation, and telekinesis using mana.

Potions - Studying beside Diwata and using her talents in herbalism. Luana can brew potions with the desired effects of her needs or the request.

Weaknesses:

Iron - Because of her far heritage; iron has the ability her contain and hurt her. In small doses, iron will have similar effects to allergies; mostly hives and feeling sick. After an hour or so Luana will start to feel better. Large doses of iron will cause more problems and she might go into anaphylaxis shock.

Basic Human Weaknesses - Even with her powers and heritage; Luana is still part human and has the weaknesses of one.

Emotions - Her powers in some way are connected to her emotions. They can affect the size and strength of a spell if she is not careful.

Mana Reliant - Luana is very dependent on her powers when in a fight. When joining the Team Luana was barely even a novice in hand-to-hand. Even with her now begin more capable in hand-to-hand, and even a few weapons. She will fall back to her powers.

High Tech Areas - Since her power relies on energy found in or around organic/living begins. High tech areas pose a problem to not only Luana but her teammates. As she doesn't want to pull mana from them to weaken them.

Vocal Lose - Since Luana's powers need spells to focus them. If she was to lose her voice she would be limited to her non-vocal spells.

Weapons: On Luana's suit there are four gemstones each holding one object. All Luana has to do is touch the gem to activate them.

A wand with a small amount of stored mana

A staff with a larger amount of stored mana

Siofra's spellbook

Her spellbook

Extra Information

Quotes:

"It’s not cheating. I’m just helping my plants grow."

"I may or may not have turned Jason into a weasel." (Time-Skip)

"Leave me lone. I just sad girl."

Theme Song: Reasons to Stay & Talk to Me Food:  Lumpia and Guri Guri Drink: Lemonade Color: Emerald Green Animal: Monk Seal

[travelwithgraceyu]

Day Four: April 20, 2019 | Dinner at Baha Bar, Siquijor

For tonight’s dinner, I have picked Baha Bar. It’s one of the famous restaurants here in Siquijor along with Dagsa Bar from yesterday’s dinner.

The moon shone so bright tonight. Through the days staying here, the moon shone the brightest tonight. It’s so lovely.

The thing about Siqiujor since it is a small town, there is no traffic and less cars. It took a few minutes to get here though driving at night was quite difficult because there were no streetlights at all but they had really good roads to begin with.

We got inside and saw that there was a live band. I’m assuming that they’re the owners of the place since Dagsa was also owned by a foreigner.

For tonight’s dinner, it is buffet style. The food is Filipino cuisine and there was lechon! And of course, I mostly ate only lechon. Lol. After eating, we listened to the live band and enjoyed our time. 

We didn’t stay long since everyone was starting to get tired. When we arrived at the resort, we went directly to our respective rooms and I just noticed this now that there was a boat hanging on the ceiling where we’d eat our breakfast and dinner at the resort. The same gang from last night from stargazing are doing it again now. It’s just that it took us only thirty minutes to stargaze and decided to call it a night.

See here what we’ll be doing tomorrow.

[jolyssescalunodblog]

Siquijor's Travel / Life / Stories.

It was a life changing experienced when I first encountered this place. A very tiring travel that got me, but it was all worth it. I recommend this place for those who wanted to escape from the harsh and crowded cities of the philippines.

At the port you will see the untouched land of siquijor, they call it the mysterious island, because most of the conspiracy theory you read online this land was infested of whitchcraft and enchantation. But this land was a land of healing. A land of peace and a place where you can start over again.

I can tell you that cause it's true because most of the things you will encountered this place are materials for healing.

The port from dumaguete to siquijor has it's own schedule. If you are not able to make it, you can rent your very own boat. But it might cause you a lot more expenses because it's private boat called Oceanjet/ Fastcraft. You can check their facebook acount. We decided to took the ferry instead, because it is way more cheaper than the ocean jet. But as I mention it has it's own schedule and it depends to the climate and waves.

The schedule for the ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor

07:30 am, 10:30am, 1:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm. Vice versa from Siquijor to Dumaguete. But Always remember to take the ferry as early as possible sometimes they cut the time depending on the weather.

Updated Ferry Fee is 175php + 15 php for the Tourist/Environmental fee. Total of 190php. For those who are asking how to get from dumaguete airport to dumaguete port. There's a lot of service vehicle along side of the airport they offer 300-400php. Good thing we are 3 so we divided the fee from each one of us.

It's windy and cloudy as usual because it's rainy season it was late mid september as we took our out of town.

There's a lot of tour offer that you can search online but I rather took our chances to find a tour to our very own time. Time is very limited so we made the best of it. It took us 1 hour to 30minutes going here and I'm very hungry and tired but when you get here I feel the excitement to go deeper in the woods and jump in the ocean as high as I could, it was a very fun adventure with my friends. WE ARE HAPPY AND SAD AT THE SAME TIME.

You can also book a tricycle or habal habal going to the different part of the island. They offer 1200 for tricycle ride going to 8 different places. As i mention awhile ago you can see them in the port they very open about it vocally so expect a lot of them. We chooses to stay in most requested places here in siquijor because we wanted to enjoy the view itself and of course our time is limited.

Salagdoong Beach resort

Entrance fee of 20php then + 30 php parking fee.

Summer's knife.

The ocean is blue, the view is breathtaking, and you feel the morning breeze. That's the nostalgic moment when you get here. Zero waste and accomodating staff.

You can jump right where I lay down and feel the moment. Good thing there were less people jumping and we can took a lot of photos, lay down and chill.

Cliff jumping is free and you just need to take a lot of courage to do it!! THE HEIGHT IS NOT PLAYING WITH YOU.. SO BE CAREFUL.

Cambugahay Falls. - Siquijor

Entrance fee 25/head parking fee of 25 php. Tour guide is optional you can visit the place by your own because it's not that big.

Kayak is optional, the most fun thing here is the clear water and you can also jump while holding into the rope. You just need to pay 20php for unlimited jumping. It was all fun and exciting. Jumping into the cold clear water is my thing.

I like the untouched nature it gives us more energy and a calming feeling. It's a way of healing and redirecting your thoughts to more peaceful mind.

It was tiring day for us.

But we manage to kill this shot. Even though we are laughing very hard haha.

I love my bestmate.

[pauonabudget-blog]

Siquijor 2019

Tada!!! After 7 (??) years, I am back doing my first love - blogging. So for my first entry (again), I wanna share with you my solo travel adventure to Isla de Fuego aka Siquijor Island. It’s my 2nd solo travel for this year (6th overall) and I must say it is one of my favorites! (PS all photos are mine unless stated otherwise hehe). Btw I went to Siquijor June 16-18, 2019. All currencies stated are in Philippine Pesos

HOW DID I GET THERE?

Since I am always on the look out for piso fares, I got my roundtrip tickets Manila-Dumaguete-Manila for roughly 1,600.00 during Cebu Pacific’s snap sale (99.00 base fare). Not bad.

From Dumaguete airport, there are tricycles/habal habals (single motorcycles) that can take you to Dumaguete Port. If you don’t have that much of luggage with you (or if you are still not so sure on your haggling skills), it’s best that you find your preferred mode of transportation OUTSIDE of the airport since the drivers on the airport  tend to overcharge. 

Okay so once you have hailed a driver, tell him to drop you off at the ticketing counter of your preferred ferry going to Siquijor, So in my case, I told the habal to drop me off at Oceanjet ticketing office. Ticketing office is walking distance from the port entrance. To be on the safe side also, you can purchase your return trip ticket as well to avoid hassle on the day you’re going back to mainland Dumaguete.

<Schedule and ticket price of June 2019>

Oceanjet from Dumaguete port to Siquijor port is roughly 50 mins to 1 hour. Just a reminder: Dumaguete port is really wavy. I don’t get dizzy easily but man Dumaguete port tested me lol. Before stepping inside the port, you need to pay P13.00 (I forgot what is it for lol but there is a window beside the port entrance). The port itself is clean and spacious by the way and there are kiosks there for those who’ll go hungry while waiting for the scheduled boat trips.

Once you arrive at Siquijor Port, there are tricycles/habal habals waiting outside the port. Up to you what you’ll take. Being a solo traveller and having just one backpack, I contracted a habal to take me to my accommodation and tour the whole island. Kuya Elbert (my habal driver/ tour guide. VERY NICE) and I have agreed for P800.00 for a whole island tour plus him bringing me to my accommodation and to the port. I also paid for his lunches and snacks. Kuya Elbert  +639068382558

<Arrival at Siquijor Port (the water is so clear that I wanted to jump right in)>

<Outside of Siquijor Port>

WHERE DID I STAY?

I stayed at JJ’s Backpackers Village (As recommended by the British solo traveller I met on Siargao). They have bunk beds there for 400/night. One dorm room contains 6 beds (2 single beds and 2 double deck beds) and a bathroom (decent, clean, well maintained, working flush lol). The hostel also has its own in-house restaurant and bar so there’s no need to worry of going hungry lol. But the real selling point of JJ’s Backpackers is the killer beach front since it is along Solangon Beach. It’s very chill and relaxing that I can just lay in the hammock all day and do nothing kind of vibe. 

<Beach front of JJ’s Backpackers>

<Do not disturb mood>

<Dorm room 400/night> PS bring your own padlocks for the lockers.

You may contact them at +639989704452 or go to their Facebook page

WHERE DID I GO?

Siquijor Island is so small that you can tour it in less than a day. There are even some travellers that do daytour and then goes back to Dumaguete. Here are the highlights of my habal tour:

1. SALAGDOONG BEACH

This is where the famous cliffdiving site in Siquijor is located. For those who want that jolt of adrenaline rush on the body, this is your place to go. I chickened out the last minute because the jump site is so high and scary hahaha so I opted to stay on the shore and swim. There is an entrance fee going here (I think 30 pesos but correct me if I am wrong).

2. PALITON BEACH

The beach where you can find the instagram worthy palm tree shots. When I was here, I can’t believe how chill and peaceful it is here. There are also locals who is standing by the famous palm tree that is ready to assist you on your creative instagram photo (just don’t forget to give them a tip - I gave P50.00). My favorite beach of all beaches!! Free entrance!!

3. CAMBUGAHAY FALLS

I fell in love with Cambugahay falls. The water is unbelievably blue like it will take your breath away. So for this destination, Kuya Elbert stayed on the motorcycle parking as there was a designated tour guide going down the falls (it has different levels btw). We went there as early as 7:00AM (normally there is an entrance fee but when we got there, the collector was still not on his post so that means it is FREE again lol). So yeah trying going there early plus also to avoid large crowds as it gets pretty crowded around 9:00 am onwards. So after frolicking in the blue waters and braving the tarzan swing, time to go up again. I gave my guide P100.00 plus I paid the motor parking P10.00

4. CENTURY OLD BALETE TREE AND FISH SPA

I did not try the fish spa since I am a ticklish person but the fishes were big so no thanks lol. The tree looks enchanting tho but I like the one in Baler. There is also a souvenir shop beside it. You can buy shirts, ref magnets, voodoo doll keychains and the infamous love potion in a bottle. 

5. HAPITANAN CAFE AND RESTAURANT

I didn’t do the famous broomstick photo because I was not in the mood lol. But I did chill for a little bit on their backyard.

WHERE TO EAT

So for 3 days, this is how I survived lol

DAY 1

Breakfast - Cinnabon sticks and coffee from the airport (<300.00)

Lunch - 2 pcs chicken with rice and bottled water bought from one of the Dumaguete Port kiosk (P80.00)

Dinner - A hearty plate of gnocchi from Dolce Amore. This is the first time I tasted Gnocchi and it was da bomb!!! (plus their homemade chocolate cake and homemade coconut gelato - shared by us 3 roommates). My plate of gnocchi was P180.00 but it was so worth it! The desserts cost were split between us 3. (Spent around 285.00 for my meal)

<Me with my roommates Elo (Brazil - jumper) and Maria (Spain - red top)>

DAY 2

Breakfast - Leftover cinnabon sticks (I still have 4 sticks left lol) plus coconut juice (40.00 for the coconut juice of Kuya Elbert and I)

Lunch - Kuya Elbert and I ate at an eatery at downtown. Hearty lunch for 2 is at P200.00

2 cans of beer - P120.00

Dinner - Beef burger with homemade patties at JJ’s (P180.00)

DAY 3 (I took the first trip of Oceanjet back to Dumaguete 6:00 AM since I have a 10:15am flight back to Manila)

Breakfast - Sansrival Bistro Dumaguete  (continental Filipino Breakfast) - (P220.00) *walking distance from Dumaguete port*

Lunch - Since our flight was delayed for 2.5 hours, we had free lunch from Jollibee (FREE)

TAKE NOTE

1. Bring sunblock and cap

2. INSECT REPELLENT IS A MUST. Mosquitoes there are annoying as f*ck. Off lotion will not be enough

3. Always make sure to have your phones and powerbanks fully charged since there are schedules of power interruption on the island.

4. Be friendly to the locals and also to your fellow travellers.

5. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR RUBBISH ALONG THE BEACH. Throw them properly.

To end my post, I won’t be able to give exact amount but I can give you my DIY itinerary. I think 5,000.00 will be enough for 3 days as long as you have prepared your expenses. Let me know if you have questions.

Siquijor became one of my favorite destinations. Mark my words: I will be back!

[onenettvchannel]

OneNETnews EXCLUSIVE: Power91FM in Dumaguete City Now Celebrates on its 30th Anniversary

DUMAGUETE, NEGROS ORIENTAL -- The pearliest 30th anniversary at a local radio station in Dumaguete City under the affiliation of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN). Almost by mid-August 1991, a 2nd local radio station in an old-fashioned FM Broadcasting of 91.7mhz DYGB-FM's Power91FM went officially on-the-air for the first time as Power95FM with the original frequency of 95.9mhz in this same city (which is after a first launched local radio station of DYEM-FM 96.7mhz Bai Radio: Dumaguete before).

An FM radio broadcaster from this said station serves its transmitted power of 5,000 watts or equivalently reaches from Dumaguete to Dauin and backwards until nearly before Tanjay. Relay stations and far distance outside the Dumaguete area of Power91FM can be partially heard in some neighboring areas like Satander, Cebu; a single portion of Tagbilaran, Bohol; and a parts of Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte.

#OldRepresentationPhoto

Gold Label Broadcasting System Inc. (GLBSi) was introduced with a newest state-of-the-art technology from the 1990s with a transmitter and radio broadcasting electronics. Power91FM keeps everything updated with a latest music as provided from the Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. using a Digital Audio Tape (DAT) and Compact Discs (CDs) as acquired with Jam Creative Productions, Inc. (JCPi) & Tom Merriman Century (TMC) where they playing national and local commercials, jingle IDs, and station promotional materials in a customized way possible.

Speaking to a local radio programme of "Tug-anan" with Power 5 news reporter and anchor named Dionesio "Dions" Duron Manaban under a segment of "Good News, Good Vibes" with Roy Bustillio (news reporter of Power 3 and a stringer reporter of CNN Philippines-NegOr)... Danilo "Danny" Dy and Procs “Proxy Brown” R. Balatayo were first to operate an FM Radio station from the bosses themselves since the first start of its own FM Launch.

The power 'pilit' listeners expands the entire province of Negros Oriental outside the Dumaguete area like Bacong for example, widens it's reached the whole audience due to a higher demand of music. The frequency accusation of the original 95.9mhz from this same year of 1995, DYEM-FM's owner of Negros Broadcasting and Publishing Inc. (NBPi) which is under the Negros Chronicle & Bai Radio: Dumaguete files a case against GLBSi because the station was broadcasting nearer to that station's frequency in transistor radios which is at 96.7mhz. GLBSi later responded to DYEM-FM's case by moving DYGB-FM to its current frequency of 91.7mhz as rebranded from Power95FM to Power91FM. The first format of Power95FM starts with a CHR/Top 40.

3 years after its rebranded in 1994, the FM station changes to "news and music" station as shifted for a 'masa' format along with a brokered programming in selected radio schedule. Before the millennials of Dions Manaban and other Power91FM news bureaus, a public affairs radio programme called "Tug-anan sa Power 91" was first started the same year. In 2010 onwards, another public affairs radio programme was born called "Metro Dumaguete Banat". The program earned accolade for its fearless yet balance approach to its issues concerning the general public in Negros Oriental. While other radio station is trying to imitate the program but they are failed to be equaled.

A research team shows to OneNETnews, most of its blocktimer and radio commentator martyrs were spiked for a trouble like Joene Cahilog known as Rex Santos Kandos in 2014 was found guilty for a Libel. But, he is now on DYSQ-FM 105.7mhz's Radyo Bisdak: Siquijor in the morning. The late news presenter of Edmund Sestoso was died at the end of April 2018 due to a gunshot from a riding-in-tandem, immediately after the "Tug-anan" radio programme. Plus, just before the ABS-CBN franchise shutdown in Metro Manila... The 18th Congress OKs the final approval for a renewal radio franchise of GLBSi as exclusively sponsored by Chiquiting Sagarbarria. Power91FM will continue to broadcast on a local FM radio broadcasting for 25yrs. until 2045. And finally, Marlon dela Cruz known as Major Blanco on Power91FM was arrested publicly due to an unexpected drug problem of 'shabu' or crystal methamphetamine. He was b*nn*d for his Radio DJ until further notice, depending on it's prison sentence at the Dumaguete City Police Station (DCPS).

Today in the present, the celebration was started as during the "Tug-anan" radio programme by August 10th, 2021... Here's a statement for congratulating the 30th Pearl Anniversary of Power91FM in Cebuano dialect, "Mo bati kita ug maayong ika-30th na anibersayo sa Power 91: DYGB-FM, 91.7 sa dial sa imong mga radyo -- FM band. Maminaw kami na padayon ang inyong pag-suporta sa inyong pag-paminaw sa Power 91, ang sibyahanang na natug-an sa tinuod na balita, balanse, patas, ug kadangpan sa tanan. Sa tanan na mo diri sa 'Tug-anan'. Labi na gayud sa among teknisyan on board (Border Mirasol), si Power 7 (Charlie Alkisola - former Radio DJ of Maria Maldita on Yes! The Best: Dumaguete), si Power 4 (John Navarro), sa tanan na lang. Mo pasalamat na inyo sa pag-suporta na gihimo ni-ini inyong #1 sa tanan ng sibyahanan sa Dumaguete. Maayong ika-30th na anibersaryo, gikan ni Dions Manaban tiglaum".

(Jacket is Excluded on the Right in this Merch’d Photoshoot)

The news bureau of Power91FM, under the affiliation of RMN are celebrated peacefully for the breakfast party at a Studio Booth in Dy Chiao Kiao Bldg. as part of the 30th Anniversary. Expect when tuning in to Power91FM for this week only, you will get a chance a cash giveaway and a limited edition Power91FM T-Shirt together with a customized free Face Mask from a local sponsors in Dumaguete City. Available in different sizes during only in this anniversary celebration.

Upon continuation for the most powerful FM Radio station as based from the Kantar Media Survey starting between mid-August 1991 until right now in 2021. 3 decades for the best local & regional news and the music, from the #1 local radio station in Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental.

Power91FM in Dumaguete City is an affiliate FM station of Radio Mindanao Network.

===

RELATED NEWS ARTICLE: A Local Radio Station Franchise of GLBSI has been approved from the Senate in Metro Manila

If you missed a single-day aircheck during the 30th Anniversary, it’s available now on demand partially for a limited time:

PHOTO COURTESY: Power 91.7 DYGB-FM Dumaguete (Contributed Facebook Photo)

SOURCE: *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DYEM *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DYGB-FM *https://www.facebook.com/110526740313462/posts/367263648199505 [Tug-anan sa Power 91 - Aug102021 (SPECIAL EDITION of a 30th Anniversary for Power91FM)] *https://www.facebook.com/110526740313462/posts/350567850099611 [Metro Dumaguete Banat - Aug102021 (SPECIAL EDITION of a 30th Anniversary for Power91FM)] *https://www.facebook.com/110526740313462/posts/559341538765311 [Full Name in Vaccination Card for Dions Manaban] *https://www.facebook.com/1132676468/posts/10223834302782155 [Contributed Photo from an FB Post of NegOr Balita - 30th Anniversary Photos of Power91FM DGTE] *https://www.facebook.com/100040547274068/posts/627189948642575 [Food Photo OPs POWER91FM] *https://www.facebook.com/1691423459/posts/10208877554731426 [Behind the Scenes of Power91FM DGTE with Nikki Magbanua] *https://www.facebook.com/582332433132888/posts/110526740313462 [Quick History of Power91FM Dumaguete - Referenced Excerpt Article] *https://www.facebook.com/100040547274068/posts/627867431908160 [Old Photo Classic - Power91FM] *https://www.facebook.com/100040547274068/posts/627727115255525 [T-Shirt Promotion - Power91FM] and *https://www.facebook.com/100040547274068/posts/627831101911793 [Winners in T-Shirt - Power91FM]

HONEST DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed from this Exclusive News Article are not necessarily those from the Gold Label Broadcasting System Inc. & Radio Mindanao Network. Furthermore, the assumptions of this Exclusive News Article will NOT state, intervene or reflect those of our Radyo Patrol reporters. The show, the station, the management, interwebs and the network. Thanks for reading! Stay safe and may the Celestia blesses you. Later!

-- OneNETnews Team

[everythingunrequited]

I have never felt this way towards anybody ever before. I never felt this security, the feeling of being understood, the feeling of being seen. Until I met you, I was someone who was just a passersby to everybody’s life. Nobody stayed, nobody dared to dive with me. But you came, you broke my walls one brick at a time until you saw me at my most vulnerable state.

I love you is somehow an understatement. This feelng I have is bigger than I’ll ever understand. Bigger than me. This feeling is something I don’t ever want to lose. You’re the person I don’t ever want to lose. 

I can never pinpoint when I felt this way towards you. i mean, sure, i’ve been into you for a long time but this one right now is different. I feel different, i feel capable, i feel powerful. Sometimes, it overwhelms me and scares me how i can have this much feeling towards someone. For years, i’ve know that i have all these love that i can give, i have all thse love and affection inside but no one to give it to until you came. all you needed to do was knock and it all kept flowing.

Being away from you made me realize a lot of things. 

I can live without you, yes. I can survive without you, yes. But i don’t want to. Our life together was nowhere perfect but it was more than i could ever ask for. Waking up beside you, looking at your peaceful face. everytime i open my eyes and i see you beside me, i feel like i can survive this. everytime i see you, the voices fade away. they know that they can never do anything while you’re on my side. i feel safe, i feel secure, i feel okay. being away from you, i managed to hushed the voices down. but it’s never the same. the voices are out but i still feel unsafe. everyday is a dream wtih you. yes, we fight, aggresively at that. but somehow im grateful that we do because i know we are trying to make it work. the fights are terrible but im not backing away. everytime you cook me something, it’s like the tastiest meal i ever had. explains why i got fat too, my big appetite is being spoiled by your cooking skills. everytime you kiss me while you’re still sleeping erases all my inhibitions about myself. everytime you look at me with affection, i know im enough. for the first time, i know im enough. i know i deserve this love. i know i deserve something good in life. i love your hands. it’s something i want to hold on to forever. i want to hold it while i jump for my wins in life, i want to hold it while i cry my heart out, i want to hold your hands when im unsure and unsteady. i want to hold your hands everyday, feel the roughness, feel how big it is, feel hwo safe i am with those two hands. the hugs you give are the best. it’s perfect, not too tight that it’s suffocating, not too wide that i don’t feel anything. you are not a hugger person but you know the perfect moments that i need hugs. you know the moments when i feel weak and all i need are your hugs. you stop your work to give me hugs and cuddles, to help me sleep. you pause whatever you’re doing because you know i need you by my side. you let me hug you whenever i want. kiss you whenever i want even though you are too busy. Everything about us, i’ve been dreaming about it for years. Now that i’ve seen how colorful life is with you, i dont ever want to lose it.

I am not building my life around you, i am bulding my life with you. you may think that im too dependent on you, on this relationship. you may have a point but that’s not entirely true. i can still feed myself without you, i can still do the laundry, go by my day, be responsible, make my own decision. but it’s so much better when im with you. i ask you with all the decisions that im making not because i can’t make any decision, but because i want to hear what you think. i may have reached to a point where i felt complacent and depended too much on you but that doesn’t mean that i can’t do things anymore. it’s nice being taken care of. it’s nice knowing that someone is thinking what we’ll be eating. it’s nice to just sit while someone is doing things for you. it’s nice going to a hotel and you are not responsible for the logistics. it’s nice going out knowing you don’t plan everything out all on your own. it’s nice having someone you can ask about everything. it’s nice having someone you can depend on. this relationship for me is the relationship i want to last for years that’s why im anchoring my decisions around this relationship and with you.

i also realized that i was naive. i was ungrateful. i stubborn. i was blind. and i am sorry. i had all the lapses staring in front of me but i was too caught up in my own thoughts i never realized how difficult it was for you. i am sorry for not appreciating you enough. i am sorry for not appreciating the things you do for me, the cooking, the pep talks, the letting me decide what to watch, the blackpink all day, all the questions i ask, taking a bath with me even though you’re still working, pausing work just to let me sleep, adjusting your body clock to match mine, going out because i was suffocated inside, all the eat outs, all the unneccesary gasto. im sorry i haven’t appreciated enough all the things you do for me that i don’t notice. all the unspoken adjustments you did and still doing for me. I am sorry for not ebing grateful enough for all the sacrifices you make. for all the pep talks. for letting me squeeze your hands. for letting me feel my emotions. for understanding my unreasonable anger. for understanding me and how difficult i am to be with. for staying. for letting me stay. for being there even in the darkest times. for still being here even when your world inside is falling apart. i haven’t tahnked you enough for always making sure im okay even though you’re crumbling inside. for always making me your first priority, for making me feel like the most important person in the world. for giving me all that you have. for doing the best that you can do. for all the sleepless nights, for all the quarrels, for th elittle misunderstanding. for everything in between. im sorry i took so much of you to repair me and now you’re broken. im sorry for being so demanding, for asking too much, for being too much. im sorry i made you feel like you were never enough. im sorry. im sorry. you are enough langga, please believe me when i say that. more than enough. i can never say sorry enough for all the things i put you through, for all the things i’ve caused you, for all the times i hurt you, for all the times you felt like you needed to give me more.

i love you more than anything. i love the way the side of your mouth wrinkles when you talk. i love the way you unconsciouly lick your lips when you’re talking about smething you’re so passionate about (you don’t do this over light topics so im not sure if you’re self conscious, nervouse or anxious hehe). I love the way you cook eggs. i love how i feel so enlightened when i talk to you. i love your hands. i love the way you know what you want. i love your mindset. i love your goals. i love the way you don’t think about the future(contraty to me, it’s refereshing tbh). i love the way you randomly get your guitar and play random music. i love the way you watch blackpink with me. i love the way you say yes to my crazy plans. i love the way you encourage me to do stupid decisions (i.e. IG shopping). i love how you hate talking to your mom about political stuff but you’re still patient. i love the way you simplify concepts to me. i love how you give me answers that are so obvious but im just in denial. i love the dips you make. i love your frustration when the food you cook is bad. i love how unbothered you are. i love your hugs. i love your kisses. i love your random sungog. i love your lambing. i love how you push me. i love how you give me coonfidence and erases my hesitations. i love how you budget your money. i love how you appreciate art. i could have an endless list of the things i love about you. some things i may not know yet or doesn’t have a name for it yet but it’s all here in my mind and heart or wherever it is stored.

i love you and i love us. life with you has this particular set of colors i’ve grown to love. and i want to live in our little bubble for as long as i can still remember my name. i want you to be part of my life. i want you to be there when i can finally be in 1 job for a year. i want you to be there when i have so many emails i can’t breathe anymore. i want you to be there when i can watch BP’’s concert live. i want you to be there when im confient to wear bikini again. i want you to be there when i visit my father again. i want you to see my younger siblings. i want you to be there when i go hoome to leyte. or go to manila. siquijor. bohol. siargao. and many other places i wanna go. i want you to be there when im sure of what i want in my life. i want you to be here with me. 5, 10 , 25, 50 years from now. have our own little family. grow old together. but mostly, i want you to be there when i wake up everyday. i want a life with you. i want you. i want us. 

i love you so much.