Mt. Pinatubo: a View Worth Seeing, Just Choose a Tour Provider Wisely

Last May 2011, a friend from high school sent me an sms regarding a Mt. Pinatubo tour package deal from Ensogo. The deal was worth P1,998 which includes round trip private transportation from Manila to Pampanga, registration fee, services of a local guide and facilitator, the 4x4 ride to and from the crater, and lunch. The price was acceptable. However, what I didn't like about it is that Access 8 (the tour provider) made a false claim just to make unknowing customers feel that they are fortunate to enjoy a discount. Access 8 claimed that it was a deal worth 50% discount when in fact, the rate of P2,000 is the actual prevailing rate for Mt. Pinatubo tours. The tactic worked for them and the vouchers got sold out even before the supposed deal ending date. Since my friends were already decided in purchasing vouchers for this, I purchased one as well despite feeling being tricked.

Mt. Samat Hike and the Mt. Samat Zipline Epic Fail

Boots and I found out about the Mt. Samat Zipline as soon as its inauguration was featured in the news on January 9, 2012. I found out about it through my mom. She knows that these are the things that capture my interest so when she watched it on the news, she informed me that there is a newly-opened zipline in Mt. Samat claiming to be the longest zipline in Luzon. At first, I was not interested in going because I had been to Mt. Samat three years ago and I knew it was not that accessible if you do not have a private vehicle. However, coincidentally, Boots sent me an sms the next day, asking me if I was aware of the Mt. Samat Zipline (however he thought it was the longest zipline in the country), and I said yes because my mom had just informed me about it. He wanted to try it and asked me when do I want to go. I said ASAP, and he agreed and told me that we would go on the weekend.

Corregidor Overnight Stay: When Adventure and History Collide

The rare opportunity to be treated to an all-expense paid trip by Boots finally happened. Our Corregidor overnight stay was special, not only because it was my first ever all-expense paid trip, but because he was the one who was in charge of everything and I had nothing to do but be there. Being the person always in charge of creating itineraries and coordinating the trips, being in a trip where I wouldn't need to mind anything but my presence had been quite a dream for me. Thank God (and thank him) that this rare chance happened.