TBK Gives- Bagets on Board!

 

    Shirley, Rodel, John, JP, Kobe and Elay set sail from Sibaltan ( Photo by Elay)

Back in Bahrain I learnt that one of the 5 pillars of Islam is charity, and this is especially important in Ramadan which will shortly come to an end. As I was training to be a Phillipino Chester explained that "Kabayan help Kabayan" and that Bayanihan means doing good deeds. So when I heard that Ate Mars and Captain Ray had bought a boat and were offering Island Hopping tours from Sibaltan, with lunch included, I decided it was a good way to give my friends a nice day out on Easter Sunday.

                    

 Our luxurious transportation , Just 6,000 peso from 9 am to 6 pm for 12 people !

Ate Ritchelle organised a Van and lent me her two boys, Kobe and JP,  for the Day! Rodel invited his cousin , Shirley, as his sister Rhoda had to work. Sadly Kuya Ran and Ate Ritchelle had to work and Jhoanna and TJ were busy studying in Puerto and Grecil in Brookes point. However Jhoanna called her sister Elay and cousin Kit, who came with another cousin and his younger brother Chalsee. Mars took her girls and Captain Ray got the manifest completed for the coastguard.

         Completing the Manifest in Sibaltan while we waited for Ate Sheila

Mars went to get her cousin Sheila and her finance Love, and John came straight from Night Shift at SITEL El Nido to have breakfast with me at 7 am at Huni Lio. So by 9 am the 12 seater van was fully booked. John and I headed off with our driver calling at Richelle's for the boys, then on to Sunmai at Nacpan where I found Grecil's mum but no Rodel. I managed to use the Sunmai Wi-Fi and eventually Rodel responded saying he was in a field at the back! We headed off . collecting Shirley on the way and then drove on to Barutaan Elementary school ( where, spookily I last saw Mars after I locked the key in my previous hire car outside Jhoanna's house). Elay, Kit . Chalsee and their cousin were patiently waiting for is and soon we were on our way to Sibaltan where , after a couple of wrong turns we eventually found the home of Mars Enterprises. 

      Kit, my newest anak/ scholar at just 19 bonding on the van journey

The massage parlor and hairdressers have closed but they now have a sari sari store on both sides of the road and a party planning business! After my traditional Blessing from her girls and MG, the distribution of Pasalubong, paying the driver and completing the Manifest we boarded the boat ( guess who slipped on the steps and fell in the sea!!)

                                           Ray , Mars and Rehanne

Everyone started to bond as they joined the bus and from the laughter behind me I knew Rodel , Shirley and John were working their magic and soon everyone was chatting, singing and laughing their way to Sibaltan. The boat is shiny ( hence I slipped!) and new and the 4 man crew navigated the shallow waters, strong currents and occasionally choppy sea to the 4 islands on our itinerary.

      John , Rodel and Shirley kept us all laughing all the way

As we got on and off the boat everyone helped each other and when we stopped for lunch the boys helped carry the food ashore. One of the great things of having a Chef as boat captain is that you get a great lunch and with only 24 hrs. notice Chef Ray produced a pork dish, chicken adobo, a delicious salad with vinegar dressing, tons of rice for his Kabayan and mango and melon for dessert. I think a few of our passengers had missed breakfast and soon there was a line of people asking for "More" like a scene from the musical Oliver! Chef Ray, I salute you!

            Just some of the amazing food on offer at our second stop

By mid afternoon it was really hot and the Bagets sought shade to chat to girlfriends, sleep, chat, laugh and rest away from the sun. JP made sandballs and sand castles, Marz kids snorkeled around the boat and the next day I found Rondels Tik Tok filmed on one of our secret islands . It was lovely to see all the stories and thank you messages on Facebook the next day. That is when you know all your expenditure and effort has been worthwhile. This time round I got to see the bump that will be my next Inaanak BEFORE he was born and meet the Fiancée. Good choice Sheila- Love was a super friendly guy and has now joined my army of Pinoy Facebook friends!

Love and Sheila all loved up ready for their wedding in May- I shall return to Sibaltan as Ninong!

Finally just before 5 pm we returned to port and I bought some banners for Grecil's 21st Birthday party,  from Marz latest retail offering!

                                           Kit and "Tatay Neil"

Then we all boarded the van again ( and Tatay again counted 11 passengers to ensure he did not loose anyone!). Then our driver expertly chased the crazy man out of Sibaltan! We then drove the scenic road along the coastline and through the mountains to Barutaan, Nacpan, El Nido Cove and then they dropped me at Huni before taking John to El Nido where he just had time to shower and change before his next night shift.

                     Everyone went to sleep on the way back to Sibaltan

WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG WITH AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR:

Island hopping tours, meals, party decorations, cigarettes, Vodka, Motorbike and Karaoke hire.... just contact MARZ THE MANAGER ON

0906 1497296

( PLEASE QUOTE TBK WHEN BOOKING SO I GET MY 10% COMISSION, SALAMAT PO!) 

I am still trying to upload the pics and videos to Chester. Sadly I was trying to clear the card in the camera before we left but my laptop hard drive is full, my external hard drive malfunctioned in Alimanguan in the typhoon, and the G drive I use is full. In my hurry to meet John at 7 am I left the card on my laptop so we had to use my mobile ( and that of Elay, Rodel and Kit) so the visual quality may not be up to the normal TBK standards. The "Bagets in Board" Vlog is now available on our You Tube channel - click below and do not forget to like and subscribe!

     9 of the 11 Bagets, Sheila, JP, John, Kobe, Rodel, Elay, Kit, Chalsee and 

You can read more about TBK gives and how he offered support for the Victims of Typhoon Odette in December here:

https://thebritishkabayan.blogspot.com/2021/12/an-appeal-for-help-from-my-kabayan-in.html

In our next Blog we will go to Taytay to meet up with one of Palawan's leading news reporters, Erwin ( previously a Cook at El Nido Cove, a place in Port Barton and Red Crab on Lio beach - all now closed!).

Until then - Ingat Palagi and Kita kits anaks!