From Tawi Tawi with LOVE 100 Ways
From Tawi Tawi with Love 100 ways
Super Duper Great Blessing to the Max talaga ang LOVE in LORD!!!! I only prayed for simple visit in the famous Turtle Island in Tawi Tawi (coz I did Batanes already)
And GOD blessed me with a very Meaningful Enlightening Full of Blessing Journey to Tawi Tawi
Let me count the ways
1. It is a Medical Mission
2. I am invited by a very very good friend Tina A
3. Tina is from Ligaya ni LORD north
4. It is Organized by Tina Pelejo
5. Tess is from Ligaya ni LORD Alabang
6. With us is the Happy Alamonte Family (Grace, Kuya Dennis n Papa Honesto)
7. Grace is from Rotary Pasay
8. Kuya Dennis is an Airport Personnel
9. Papa Honesto inspires us about life, love and more
10. Mr. Tammy, our local host from Zamboanga.
11. So many donors gave the medicine and we got 25 boxes (detailed blessing is with Tess)
12. Tina’s family help in the repackaging and transportation of the medicine to the Airport.
13. Since we have so many medical boxes, we got 90kilos excess baggage worth P2000+++, but with the help of Kuya Denis, Airline staff for the discount and friendly people going to Zamboanga, we are able to work things out all FREE.
14. The Air Philippines flight is soooooo delayed but it gave us time to get to know each other well.
15. Upon Arrival in Zamboanga Airport, there were no pushcart/trolley available to put all our 35 boxes of medicine and bags, because they are horded by the porters (what a welcome), and Mr. Ems and staff came to rescue and help us.
16. We are provided with our own private aircon vehicle.
17. We are greeted by our Muslim Host and New Friends that will treasure the new Friendship with Christian
18. We are welcomed with Grand Seafood Buffet for Dinner in the garden.
19. We got our comfortable cabin in the ship to Bongao (ETD Zambo 8pm: ETA Bongao 4pm)
20. Got free beauty tip from Ms. Grace
21. Did a spiritually reflective conversation with Tina and Tess
22. A group sponsored our Videoke Session in the dining area
23. Got a great view while doing your thing in the Toilet
24. Had a super duper sarap grilled chicken for breakfast.
25. Got to know each other more while repacking the last minute donations.
26. Meet super friendly and humble Dr. Wee on board
27. Bongao have a very very scenic view of the peak (from the ship)
28. We meet more friends in the boat to join us in the medical mission.
29. Lost my bag of chips and crackers upon arrival, during disembarkment in Bongao, but it made a kid or more happy.
30. Check in a great beach hotel, clean and great ocean view, white sand
31. Had our Grand Dinner, its our first Muslim food, super sarap
32. Boarded the Floating Clinic with friendly crew.
33. Ate our mixed sotanghong & canton for breakfast super sarap at walang nag-inarte.
34. Enjoyed the cruise, dolphins, birds, whales, people on board.
35. Had a high endrenalin challenge, when the crew asked me if I see any island on sight, meaning we don’t have a landmark where we are going ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. But we have our compass.
36. Met mama Tammy, coolest mom with us.
37. Met the other lady volunteers from Bongao and shared the most delicious tapa w/slight spice for lunch, with puso rice.
38. Met Mr. Poh, coolest marine escort with us.
39. Sited more dolphin, whales, birds, flying fish etc
40. Turtle island looks really like a turtle from afar.
41. Watching our host being welcomed by the whole family is soooooo warming.
42. The community is equally friendly and warm receiving us. And in their super simple life, they prepare so much merienda and grand dinner for the medical team.
43. Discovered we can call our friends in Malaysia at no extra charge. Forgot to roam our cellphone.
44. We stayed at DENR Turtle Sanctuary Office, and saw the egg hatchery.
45. All the volunteers have our own share of bloopers, of course samin na lang yun, he he he
46. Meet Dr. Lee the coolest dentist in the World!!! Ever
47. We ate super duper fresh sashimi.
48. Turtle Island have a super duper white sand beach, great for swimming.
49. We reach Bacongan Island, the farthest southest island of the Philippine, that when you buy something, they will give you a ringgit as change.
50. We are drinking imported softdrinks in cans, light beer in cans, fruits and had a grand seafood buffet again!!! Kakataba ng puso at katawan na po.
51. Kuya Denis was able to by the cheapest and most delicious dried fish.
52. Was able to talk to a local Bacongan Teacher, and discovered that school attendees dropped 40% during rainy season. Maybe they need rain coats or family lacks food because they cant fish in stormy weather. Open to donations or help.
53. We did stargazing while traveling back to Turtle Island poblacion
54. Meet Omar, one of the running mayor on the floating clinic, and shared to him, that they don’t need a extravagant improvement on the Island for eco tourism. It’s the visitors who should adjust to the simplicity of life there which is so doable and englightening.
55. The family of our host welcome us again warmly and prepared for dinner, served brewed coffee.
56. Second night at the Turtle Island Poblacion, we saw the cute baby turtles hatched.
57. Saw two Turtle Moms laying eggs (and they are crying, talk about the pain of giving birth)
58. We enjoy walking at the beach pass 12mn, lighted by stars and camera flashes he he he
59. Meet the friendly Marines and Navy, who ask us to join them in their Turtle station, to wait for more turtles.
60. Enjoyed more swimming with lots of twinkling planktons
61. The Navy guys is soooo friendly that they even fetch waters for our bath. In gratitude, we gave them some medicine.
62. 3am we boarded back the floating clinic to head back to Bongao, and had a sound sleep.
63. Had another great reflective conversation again with Tina, about what we can do for environment awareness in the community. I suggest that I want to send each barangay a copy of Happy Feet, Awareness posters from DENR. Tina will send books about recycling trash to small art craft, then have this crafts sold as Island sourvenir as their alternative livelihood And we are open for donation to ship the goods at Tawi Tawi and all over the Philippines.
64. Sited more dolphin, shark, whales, manta, flying fish, birds and more
65. Enjoyed the scenic Bongao Peak again
66. Meet Buddy, coolest niece of our host, who took us to the Catholic Church in Bongao
67. Check in our Beach front hotel
68. Ate a super duper seafood buffet to the max, with giant alupiha dagat.
69. Enjoyed a culinary tasting of local sweets and sticky rice.
70. Enjoyed their ukay ukay, but bit expensive because we don’t speak the language
71. Had the delicious Tinolang Baka for lunch
72. Went to the beach and had our best time singing in the Videoke
73. Another super seafood dinner buffet
74. Papa Honesto, was able to locate his long lost girlfriend in Bongao which is very romantically inspiring.
75. Another culinary tour of local sweets and sticky fruits.
76. Meet Ms. Erlinda, (long lost friend of Papa Honesto), who are helping the Badjao in their Medical needs, and coordinating with local nuns for the community outreach programs. Donation for Medical Help for lungs and skin disorders is very much welcome (contact to follow, so donors can send direct).
77. Finally tasted Bongao SATI (grilled chicken with red sause and puso rice)
78. Enjoyed the cute babies and sweet grandmas in our next barangay medical mission.
79. Buddy took us up to the capitol Bldg of Bongao
80. Bongao have a great sunset and moon rise together.
81. Boarded the boat going back to Zamboanga (ETD Bongao 8pm : ETA Zamboanga 3pm)
82. Nurse Ghie gave us 4kilos of beef tapa for our dinner.
83. Super duper bonding Friendship was discovered during dinner. We don’t have plates, spoon & fork but we have plastic cups. Ever have u ever eat in a plastic cups. Blessed Humbling moments. WALANG nag inarte!!!
84. After eating, we cleaned our floor with alcohol so no creatures with crawl in our cabin.
85. Sharing on Religious History was discuss and spirituality between Muslim and Christians was reconciled. SUPER duper blessing talaga, very spiritual, no Religious boundaries.
86. Topic on future project was also discussed. Super duper inspired talaga ang group.
87. Was able to make up for my lost AG Meetings with Tess regarding Culture and Spirituality of Lingkod and Ligaya ni LORD.
88. Got another invitation to visit Langoyan Island in Tawi Tawi for their town Fiesta in September. (just pay your fare and all expense from Zambo and around will be free, syempre open to Active NACCI members only)
89. My Muslim name is Salama for Peace and Congeniality.
90. Tina’s Muslim name is Jameela for Beautiful
91. Tess is Rahiema, Grace is Mujahiera, Kuya Denis is Madik, I forgot Papa Honesto’s
92. Met Mr. Ems, our super duper coolest escort in Zamboanga.
93. Ate Zamboanga Satti (a little bit with chilly)
94. Was able to buy super cheap Malaysian chocolates, and umbrella in Barter Market.
95. Finally tasted Zamboanga’s Famous Lechon
96. Enjoyed the Mangoesteen sooo much.
97. We had our last Zamboanga Lunch in great buffet with CRISPI PATA!!!
98. Datu Widz gave us our Certificate of Appreciation with our Muslim names on it.
99. We had another bunch of excess luggage for Free Again
100. And we flew back to Manila safe and sound and blessed and enlightened and blessed and better person to share all these wonderful BLESSINGSSSS and hope to reach out to other people to also want to desire to be a blessing to other people.
