20th Neil Pryde Funboard Cup Day 1 (Jan. 6, 2008) Part I

Hey guys! It’s just now (4:30 p.m.) that I get to have some time to start blogging about my most amazing trip in Bora. I bet some of you have seen a segment of this on TV.  It was shown on HARDBALL last Wednesday night, 10:30 pm. Then another segment of the cup was shown last night at ANC and tonight it’s on News Central, Studio 23. So why am I blogging about this just now? Well, I’m happy to say that I filed for terminal leave in the office yesterday. I can’t wait for Feb. 1 to finally live my life! And amazing, why? Well, not only because I spent a week in the land of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters but because blessings just kept pouring my way every single day I was there…

~~~oOo~~~ 

My flight last Jan. 6, Monday, was at 9:00 a.m. via Seair. At around 6am, I was already at the domestic airport. Since it was still very early, we spent some "alone" time by having breakfast at a nearby restaurant. I was trying to act cool and excited when I was actually feeling a bit anxious and sad that I wouldn’t be with my hubby for 6 nights. But I shrugged it off, talked about mundane topics instead and made jokes about all sorts of things.

Finally, it was time to check-in my luggage and say our goodbyes. Thank God my shades were on even if it was cloudy that morning. But apparently, Peter noticed that I already had tears in my eyes. It was a first for me to travel ALONE. I already did travel before without my husband. But at least, I was with my friends. This time, I practically knew nobody from the cup and it didn’t even cross my mind that it could’ve been a scam used to lure young women into prostitution. *GASP!* Thanks to my mantra, nothing of that sort happened (at least I think so). "ALL GOOD THINGS ARE COMING TO ME…" And so they did.

Mike Palacios, my contact for the Funboard Cup, who I learned later on owns an online head hunting firm and who was also a Psychology major at the Ateneo a year ahead of me, paid me a call that morning. I learned that another volunteer marshal, Jana, won’t be in the same flight as mine as she will be boarding the 10:30am plane. I was looking forward to meeting her prior to landing in Caticlan so I can get my bearings straight and brush off any anxiety or panic attacks I may be having. Then flights got delayed that day due to inclement weather. So I guess it would be okay to panic right about at that point, huh?  I ignored whatever negative feeling I had and focused on the excitement of it all, instead. I passed the time clicking the minutes away with my digicam until finally, it was time to board.

I arrived in Caticlan at around noon. I was visualizing a good weather for the entire trip. So even if it was windy and cloudy, it was okay since I know that we would be needing at least 6 knots of wind for the windsurfing and kite surfing competitions to take place. But still, it wouldn’t hurt for the sun to shine a bit, right? Hehehe.

The moment I arrived at Laguna de Boracay at the Bulabog Beach (the other side of Boracay island), I turned on my extrovert button. I introduced myself to the organizers and to the other volunteers and started working.  We were tasked to distribute shirts and rashguards to the participants. It wasn’t so hard. It was actually exciting coz I got to meet a lot of cute wind and kite surfers from all over the world and my co-marshals were so nice and friendly. When Jana finally arrived, it seemed like we’ve already known each other for ages! She’s so bubbly, smart and funny that since that day I met her, my life has been livelier and more blessed. We were even branded as twins a.k.a. the Bora Angels (with fallen wings? hehehe). And everbody thought we were only 19 despite the fact that we’re both in our 20’s (I’m actually turning 30 next month and Jana’s 25). Hahaha! It must be the lifestyle we have! Naks!

In moments when there wasn’t much to do anymore, I dragged my butt near the beach and took some pictures. Remus, one of my co-marshals who is also a scuba dive instructor and a DJ at a new bar, Beachcomber, told me that the following day might be busy, busy, busy for us coz that’s when all the action starts. So I took this opportunity to take as many shots of the event as possible since I might not have the chance to do so in the next several days.

To be continued… have to get ready for Xaymaca now. ;-p (8:00 p.m.)