Although not much hiking happened on the third day of our trip, the ride on board the habal-habal (an improvised motorcycle that could accommodate at most 10 passengers plus loads of sacks filled with agricultural produce) was just terrible. The road was bumpy and since it's the rainy season, there were mud all over. We had to disembark a few times and had to walk to the top of the hill because the motorcycle could hardly climb the steep muddy road. Twice we almost fell, and twice we walked to cross a river, the last one was knee deep.
Still it was an adventure that I will always treasure.
Riding the bus on the way to the city was like, hmmm, well, I think people didn't want to sit beside me because I looked like a bum who never had a bath for a month! It was awesome, the trip, I mean.
A farmer from Avocado, on board his carabao. A very typical countryside scene in the Philippines.
On our way to Sta. Catalina, bumping at the back of the habal-habal, I could not help but take a picture of this lone tree, burned and left to decay. I think its been there for decades.
There's a rainbow there somewhere. See it? I was bumping at the back of the habal-habal trying to balance myself while taking this. My groins ached bad after this trip.
The road doesn't look so tough but it is. It's all muddy and soft. But there were fairly good roads as well. This is one of the better roads.
This is one of the paths we trekked on our way to Tamlang. Jungle adventure, indeed.
Coffee bush planted by farmers. Organizing a coffee cooperative in the area would be wonderful idea (as suggested by Simon, who also insisted that he take a look at a coffee plant and took this picture), although coffee here is not really that good quality.
That's Avocado down there.
By the way, today is International Human Rights Day. Let us take a moment of silence to remember all victims of human rights abuse and pray that the disappeared, the torture victims, and the families of extrajudicial killings would have to courage to live each day with faith that someday they would finally achieve justice and peace of mind.
(Photo credit: Simon Litalien and Tribong Upos)
South Cebu is considered as the cultural region of the island of Cebu.
Yesterday, our province's capital city, Dumaguete City, celebrated the feast of its patron saint, 
The festival was highlighted, of course, by the usual events: beauty pageant (Ms. Dumaguete), the street dancing, concerts, and the street market that's supposed to showcase bargain and novelty items from the city and almost always is nothing more than a lame excuse to propagate cheap China-made products.
Of course there's the usual thanksgiving in almost every homes, where they prepare the best that the family can offer to its guest. In previous decades, almost anybody could get inside the house, regardless if he's a complete stranger. Now, with poverty pushing people into desperation and engaging into criminal activities, many homes decided to limit the visitors to invited guests. Some believers, however, still practice opening their doors to everyone, especially poor pilgrims from the countrysides, believing that this one's a year act of charity is a celebration of the saint's life and an offering to the saint. Thanksgiving, so to speak.
In 2006 I had the opportunity of visiting the main headquarters of the 
Although considered as weeds (they are very intrusive), they are nonetheless beautiful and a wonder to look at.
And thanks to Jen for the mangrove pic 