We found Batman! He was good at trying to hide his true identity.

Kenji Tei for the win!

After the provincial life in Antique, you also can’t stop but spoil yourself with what the city lacks (or so far), a great movie cinema. And what better way to come back to Manila then to watch the last part of the epic trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. This movie did not hold back at all, although if you really are a fan of the batman comics you can tell that this movie is severely inaccurate but that won’t stop me from praising this highly with all the intense cinematography that is lined up with pure magnificent action. Spoiler alert, my most penetrating part was when the police finally got out of their hole and walked together against the mob that was waiting for them. You could really feel the heat! I won’t say any more about the movie but this was something I really would applaud for. I think for movie critics, this goes without saying; this gets a 5 out of 5 ranking.  

And what better way to follow-up something dark and intense with something light and hilarious. The Dictator may be Cohen’s comedy revival after his flop in Bruno. I was laughing my ass off the entire time. Slapstick, yet with a clever combination of surprising wit.

We were also able to finally eat at Kenji Tei after we failed to get a seating the first time. Great Ramen, a but pricey but still something that satisfies the soul.

Huod! Mayad nga umaga!

The awesome driver and heartwarming uncle

Tita Inday "Ire-ne", owner of the eye-popping burger joint, Perry Todds

Not your regular type of burger

Our first meal of the day!

Kath lands in Iloilo for the first time!

Batchoy!

Family prepared dinner, simple yet satisfying

Chili Crabs, an Antique Specialty

My Ancestors

Lolo Tobias, Lolo Jose, and Lola Loda

We now, you soon!

Dinner at a cousin's house, he happens to be the Mayor of Culasi, Antique.

The cleanest river in the Philippines, if not for the typhoon. But other pictures of this online show its true beauty.

Lolo Tobing

Hi Lola, I miss you!

Future first lady of Antique

Future Governor / Congressman??

Nothing better on a rainy day than a nice cup of coffee with your loved one.

Fresh Oysters! Score!

By the beach resort, very well hidden.

The nice beach, the nature behind us.

July 19-22, 2012. 2 hours on a plane, a total of probably 24 hours in a car and a million reasons why I loved every minute of this trip. Antique is my dad's Ancestral home and the fact that I got a town there named after our family just makes it even more awesome. I rarely go there but when people hear my last name they embrace me as if I was the prodigal son. Kathe of course enjoyed being there every step of the way and meeting up with my extended family members and even other members of the family I had yet to know. Day 1 was a simple rest day, arriving and getting in touch with silence. After a long week and countless days of stress eversince the accident, this was a great getaway. Day 2 was more of a political feel of the area, getting to meet the closer people and enjoying each flavor of the province I can get my hands on. 3rd day was experiencing the entire province, from one end to the other we drove (thanks to my uber awesome uncle Pepito) from one end of Antique to the other. Seeing beaches and possible future vacation spots, it just sucks that the rain had to be so strong and change the normal flow and scene of areas that we used to see in vacation websites. It didn't matter though, I could already imagine the beauty of it and I definitely would not miss the opportunity to visit it them the next time I go. Every area I went I probably had a relative inviting me into their home and offering me dishes that could feed my soul. Nothing beats the province, nothing beats Antique. We may have grown up in the Metro but this place is also my home and I definitely consider my self and Antiqueno, and Kathe will probably see herself in that situation soon; she was countless times proclaimed the future first lady of Antique.

Oh boy, this is definitely a day to put in the books; something we will forever remember. This day-off was highly anticipated because my good friend Steph asked me and Kath to assist in entertaining her Malaysain/British tourist Aemilia to a true Manila evening experience. Since we all know she was going to be overpowered with Filipino food throughout her trip, I had the idea to bring her to one of my favorite hole-in-the-walls called Min Sok, a nice Korean Restaurant located along Don Pedro Street (Along Kalayaan road near Grilla and P. Burgos, there is a Mini-stop, right beside it is Don Pedro St.), and I highly recommend this place because of the multitudes of Koreans who pass by here; who better to acknowledge great taste than homelanders themselves. We ordered a scrumptious order of Beef and Pork with a little octopus on the side. So with Steph, Aemilia, Kath, Albert and I terribly hungry (Steph and Aemilia arrived late due to their Carlos Celdran tour) we devoured all that was sizzling in front of us. Appetizers kept coming in whilst portions of meat enticed each of us to carefully take it off the grill as so we can just simply shove it into our already craving mouths. After a simple non-dispatched tour to view the red light district, it was time for us to head home and change for a night which turned out to be unforgettable (in the wrong way).

Once we arrived at Resorts World, it was too early for Republiq so we decided to just have a nice conversation and drinks at Opus. Surprisingly we met our other companion Mikki who introduced us to his sister, his very hip father and the girlfriend. After a few drinks we decided it was time to transfer to the ever faithful Republiq for some awesome Top 40 beats and lotsa dancing. Unfortunately for me, the dancing didn't last long as I encountered becoming a victim of a certain violation of private space. To simplify things, I left the rest to continue their evening as Kath and I took charge of the situation and reported the violation to the proper authorities which in turn led to specific confrontations even up to the Police precinct. Let's just say this wasn't a night that went as planned but am ever thankful to my girlfriend who stuck by my side (even if the other party technically admitted his fault yet reasoned out that "this is a club") and we were able to settle the matter amicably.

Dreams are not fictional stories made by the subconscious, they are realities experienced by the alternative life encouraging you to duplicate it to this one.