Throwback: Yearly Escapade

Today is Thursday, I wanna share some #ThrowbackThursday entry for today. Next week is Holy week, any plans?

I've mentioned in my previous article "My life in Manila for 10years" that I worked for almost four years in one of the branches of this famous malls in the Philippines, I was assigned in Finance Department working in operation to be specific. In my 4 years of stay I treated my co-workers as my second family.

When I was deployed, I'm so lucky that we came up to this idea to have our yearly out of town. All of us decided that every year we have to spend a short vacation during holy week season. As working in operation, all of us are required to report at work during weekends the reason why our day offs never met. Yes, we saw almost everyday yet we don't have some "liwaliw" time because of our schedules.

Months before holy week approached, we save every cut off from our salary. My manager already plotted our schedules temporarily, my supervisor is the one who do our itinerary and the rest was just a support. Haha!  Each of us have a task to do during our vacation. My manager is the one who's incharge with our transportation, we always have two cars they have their own van. With the total of our saved money we will get there our gasoline, toll fees, room accommodation, food, cottage, entrances also drinks and beers.

Here are the place that we visited:

📍 2012 BATAAN

📍 2013 ZAMBALES

📍2014 ILOCOS NORTE

📍 2015 PANGASINAN & BAGUIO

Year 2012, Team Treasury goes to BATAAN!

Excited with a little bit nervous, it was my very first out of town. Good thing I have the approval of my parents. You've read it right "approval", though I'm already working and earning, I need first their approval.

We reached our destination by Thursday morning. Morong Star Beach Resort & Hotel was the name of the hotel where we check in, as we checked in the hotel we fixed first our things and take some photos. During sunset we decided to go for a swim. At night, here comes the party of the boys that drunk all night. Friday morning, we decided to go for an island hopping and visited the turtles (sorry but I forgot the place). After lunch we packed our things and getting ready to go back to Manila but we always have side trippin', on our way back home we visited Mount Samat National Shrine or Dambana ng Kagitingan the very popular in Bataan. We're amazed seeing this by afar and finally we reached it! I guess we walked an hour to reach the very top of it but the place is so worth it!

ZAMBALES, 2013

This is our very simple and near to the city getaway. We just rented a cottage and we have newly hired employees, they also join with us. Same what we did during our Bataan trip, we also have island hopping which is Anawangin Cove and Capones Island. I love the clear water in Capones, its a small island without any cottage.

ILOCOS NORTE, 2014

One of the place in my bucket list! I'm so happy that finally I visited this place. We visited Vigan, tried the best Bagnet and Empanada. But we didn't went to Baluarte. This is the place that we've travel so far by land! I can't forget when we reach our destination it was too far! Grabeeeee. Our driver can't stop laughing because we are on the side of the map, our booked beach resort was in Pagudpud "Pud-pud na daw ang gulong namin sa sobrang layo". Lol! We reach the resort by 5pm Thursday and it's brownout. We have a very peaceful night at the resort, it was so very memorable trip. We woke up early to see the beauty of the resort and enjoy the sea and the white sand. After lunch, getting ready to be back again. On our way back, we visited Bangui Windmills and Kapurpurawan Rock formation, it was a very hot afternoon! Our visit in Ilocos is one of the best and a memorable one.

PANGASINAN & BAGUIO, 2015

Our first destination was in Pangasinan, we booked in Treasures, Patar Bolinao Pangasinan a beautiful resort with infinity pool. By thursday night we travel to Baguio City, another in my bucket list! As we are about to leave Pangasinan, we visited the Our Lady of Manaog in Urdaneta Pangasinan to give thanks and offer a prayer. By 3am we reached Baguio City, it was so cooooold. We are really freezing! We just take some rest and sleep, by 7am we are ready to roam around the City of Baguio. We visited La Trinidad strawberry farm, Mines view park and some tourist spot. After a tiring day of pasyal we dine in at Good Taste Restaurant for our dinner as our last spot. It was a very memorable night, we really enjoy the serving of the resto, a full of happiness plus our tummy is so full! The food are super delicious!

Our met up was Wednesday night, by Friday(Good Friday) afternoon we need to travel back to Manila. The schedule of the mall by Holy Week Thursday-Friday (CLOSED) by Saturday back to regular hours. So we need to work by Saturday, I'm always the one who scheduled by opening, but it's okay with me. We may travel every Holy week but the true meaning of the season will always be remembered.

Working in one company, same department, seeing almost everyday, having misunderstandings but as we travel we let it go for awhile, we travel as a family. We shared everything, we even take a bath in one bathroom (ops! girls only). Our tummy is always full that's why during our travel we always find comfort room haha! We never experienced shortage in foods, mas okay ang sobra kesa kulang. That's why we need to prepared ahead of time even our pockets to buy some pasalubongs and souvenirs to our families and friends. We just not work for our company, but we work for our friendship to last and collect unforgettable memories. I'm grateful that I meet them.

All photos are my captured shot 📸