TBK gives Grecil a memorable 21st Birthday!

Having missed Jhoanna and TJ’s 21^st Birthdays and Kit’s 19^th Birthday once the ban on foreigners entering the Philippines was lifted on 10th February, I was determined to arrive in Palawan for Grecil’s 21^st on 26^th April. The initial plan was to surprise her but Jhoanna recognised some of the photos I posted on Facebook and the secret was out.

        The Beautiful sunset at Sunmai restaurant, Nacpan

So I arranged to stay in Nacpan for the three days before her birthday and Kuya Ran found me a cheap beachfront cottage for 1500 peso ( 11 BD or £23) a night. On our boat trip in Sibaltan we bought a Happy Birthday Banner and 2 number balloons ( 21) from Marz Enterprises ( Birthday Division) .  I invited Rodel and Kit to join us ( TJ and Jhoanna were busy in Puerto and asked me to take her there the next night). Ran and Arnel invited themselves and Rhoda said she would drop by once she finished at an 18^th Birthday party a few doors down the beach.

   Rodel and Grecil complete the Birthday decorations at Sunmai

We set up our decorations and ordered our food as the sun set on Nacpan beach where Rodel and Grecil used to work pre COV 19.Then we ordered our food and sat and ate as the sun went down. We tried to blow up the 21 party balloons but with no success

                      The DJ played his set as we ate followed by a live band

Eventually Kit turned up (Filipino time!) and Ran and Arnel from Angkla. Rhoda also came to say hello. First there was a DJ and later a live band. Grecil got very excited when the band played Happy Birthday twice but it turned out to be for other customers. Eventually we said our farewells and I paid for Grecil, Rodel and I and then left for my beachfront cottage to pack for the journey south. The next morning, I was up at 6am, loaded and cleaned the car and filled the water jets and had breakfast at the next-door restaurant. At 9.45 am Grecil arrived (early for once) and Rodel came to ask if he could have a lift to Barutaan to complete his medical for the new job I got him at Huni as a Room attendant.

                    Rodel looking very smart in his new uniform at Huni, Lio

In Barutaan we dropped off Rodel and collected Kit and Chalsee, whose mum Edelyn came to see them off and bless me for taking care of her boys. It was Chalsee’s first trip to Puerto Princessa , the capital of Palawan, age 16, and he was very excited!

                          Kit and Chalsee help prepare dinner at my new house

The 5 hr. 30 minute journey from the north of Palawan to the capital, Puerto Princessa, hugs the west coast, through Taytay to San Vicente ( Asia’s longest 14 km white sand beach , where one day I hope to buy a plot of land and build my dream home). Then you cross the mountains to the East coast, passing through Roxas and then down to Puerto.

My first hire car at the Microtel- it got a nail in the tyre so I swapped it for another one!

For the last 12 years I lived in Bahrain ( total length 48 km , and 16 km wide) so the furthest I ever drove was about 30 minutes. So, these long journeys in Palawan I find very tiring and stressful.  For 50% of the journey, you are on single track road and the road winds and twists up and down through the mountains that form the spine of Palawan. One has to be wary of dogs ( Asoo), Goats ( kamping) and children which regularly run out into the road. I call them Moreno Pineapple Bagets as they are small, brown and have their hair in an elastic band on top of their head like a Pineapple! There are also many slow trikes, bikes and trucks to overtake. One made me laugh as it had the slogan "Fast and Furious" painted on the back. " Slow and Dangerous" would have been more appropriate! "Fast and Furious" is however appropriate for the white vans ( the main method of transport from south to North) which appear suddenly and at high speed flashing their lights and honking their horn for you to get out of the way.

          One of the slower vehicles we had to pass-  a traditional Pinoy Jeepney!

Regular stops are necessary and as I have travelled this route several times over the years, I have my favourites! First is Tatay , after about an hour, where we were given a warm welcome at  Shinabuch where the boys had Adobo with rice and Grecil had fried chicken and I had 2 cups of coffee , Sinigang and Halo Halo. After a comfort stop we headed south again stopping an hour later just outside Roxas ( “Halfway house” ) for Buko ( coconut ) pie and Coca Cola.

  Finally all my anaks were together ( from left, Jhoanna, Grecil, John, Chalsee, Kit and TJ) having breakfast at the Microtel after the birthday dinner

Finally at 6pm we arrived at The Microtel where I met TJ for the first time and everyone went off to their rooms. I had the suite by the pool ( 101), next door in 103 was Jhe and TJ , in 105 was the birthday girl Grecil and her Jowa John ( who drove 3 hours from Brookes point on a motorbike to be with us) and in room 107 were the boys, Kit and Chalsee. I went to check the restaurant and see Chef Arnel, who was putting in a rare appearance at his restaurant , Senordamla, located at the hotel. As usual his team had done a great job setting up a beautiful table with 3 cakes- one for Grecil , one for Kit ( who could not get to Puerto to eat his in December due to Typhoon Odette) and one for Jhoanna as I could not get to Palawan for her 21^st in June.

Neil, Chalsee, TJ, Grecil, John and Kit - photo by Jhoanna - at the Birthday dinner

At 7 pm (Filipino time) we assembled at the restaurant by the pool and had our starters. Main courses, and the 3 cakes! This time when we sang “ Happy Birthday” it was for Grecil and all the driving , subterfuge and 14 months waiting to get a visa became worthwhile when her smile lit up her face.

                                               Grecil's Birthday cake

After settling the bill I headed to bed for an early night, exhausted by all my driving. I was so tired I did not even hear Team Neil perform their Birthday Tik Tok performance and numerous selfie and group shots . My anaks, John and Chalsee bonded in various rooms down the corridor as I found out the next day on Facebook!. The next morning they also managed some selfies by the sea and pool before it rained heavily. Eventually we had breakfast at 8 am in the restaurant. Then, as it was raining, we headed to the Blue house in my car and a trike to unpack!

You can read all about that here  The Blue House Blog

The first vlog of my new house is here: The Blue House Vlog

The Vlog of Grecil's Birthday is here: Grecil's Birthday Vlog or you can click on the image below.

Please do not forget to like and subscribe our You Tube page and if you click the notification bell you will get an email each time we upload a vlog. We are now up to 124 subscribers and we only launched the Vlog in Feb 2021 when I retired. However we cannot make any money from the Vlog until we get 1000 subscribers. Thanks to the "Batoy Boys " who I finally met in Barutaan and who all subscribed to the Vlog, and all our fans at the Microtel in Puerto Princessa. 

Right now I have to go, but I am very happy to finally meet up with all my Anak’s that I sponsor and give Grecil such a memorable 21^st.  Next up is Elay who turns 18 in July and starts University, then Tatay is 62 on September 18. Kit will be 21 in 2024 and Chalsee will be 18 in 2024 and start University.

Until the next celebration – Ingat Palagi