The McVie Show Season 4

For the past three years I’ve always been out-of-town during Christmas and New Year. Last 2005 I spent the holidays in two of my favorite vacation spots: Baguio for Christmas and Bohol for the New Year.

BAGUIO


We stayed in the house of Jim “Yes, of THE Apo Hiking fame!” Paredes (my sister-in-law made the arrangements). Their house is away from the city, so the air is fresh and relatively unpolluted. It also has a fireplace, which is great for the really cold nights. There are a lot of clowns and masks all over the house, which my younger brother found creepy.


In Camp John Hay the kids had a fun and rough time at the bump cars while I had a late lunch of barbeque and tsokolate-eh at this café.


Their sign on one side said, “Our linkage to the past” while on the other it said, “your linkaged at the past.” Ano ba talaga, koh-ya?


My dessert was this big bowl of strawberries and cream at a dessert place in John Hay’s The Filling Station. Now I’m paying for it (and many more) at the gym.

BOHOL

The sight of our home province looming larger and nearer as we descend from the air always excites me, partially because I know that the chance of an accident happening is greatest during take-off and landing. Nothing excites like the thought of the plane bursting into flames at the runway.


Here’s proof that the ground crew of Cebu Pacific hires Munchkins.


It’s very obvious this picture of my twin cousins was taken during the decade of Miami Vice, Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam (“Hit the beat, now! Lost in emotion…”) and colorful espadrilles.


We had dinner at this seaside restaurant called Caingit where their seafood is so fresh I could still taste the sea salt. The blue marlin belly was the best I’ve tasted so far—it literally melts in your mouth.


My sister chilling out in the beach.


Another wonderful day ends.


In Cebu for two days, we saw this club. “Look to Mrs. Tina.” For guidance?

Back in Bohol: I’ve always wanted to go inside the museum of Loboc, located at the back of the historic Loboc church. Loboc is the town of the Loboc Children’s Choir, the Loboc River cruise and the tarsiers living near the river. It’s also the music capital of Bohol.

There was a province-wide power shortage when we visited. Stepping inside the museum was like stepping back in time.

Above is the great hall on the second floor where the world-famous Loboc Children’s Choir practices.

On the third floor attic are the many old religious statues and items. I can imagine them coming to life at night. That’s a horror story waiting to be filmed.

Inside the church: my chandelier picture is my tribute to that famous shot in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.


A visit to Bohol is incomplete without stopping by Chocolate Hills. Bohol is one big nature trip. For me it’s the place to rest and recharge.