Winning a trip for two to Boracay is perhaps an elation for others. Well, I am elated—economically speaking. The ticket cost more than P12K, plus a two-night stay in a first-class hotel in Station 1.

I inattentively entered the travelogue contest hosted by 88DB, a sister company of JobsDB. They picked my piece perhaps because it was not touristy and perhaps because I namedropped Jostein Gaardner.  I wrote about a mountain to pay the sand a visit. Thinking of Kobo Abe. 😉

Well, the first visit was—in a way—unsuccessful.

Leave those trekking gears. Pack those summery dresses, floral shorts, bikinis, and, well, the trekking/office slippers will do.

So, Bora, welcome us again.

Sand. Sunset. Rest. Read. Write. Sleep. Idle Walks. Yes, these are the reasons. I missed ex-stasis.

I got the news after writing about Antique.

“Boracay kayo, Ma’am?” the porters asked for the nth time while we disembarked the ship. If I answered “Sa Igcoron kami,” I wondered if they knew the existence of such mountain on Panay Island.

Jona of Backpacking with a Book

Hi there, I’m Jona! I’m in my early 30s and is currently based in Ha Noi, Vietnam.I primarily write poetry and short stories in Cebuano and lengthy travel essays in English. Blogging has become an outlet to think out loud. I live the life I set for myself. I try to live an unapologetic life. For collaborations, projects, and other things, please email me at backpackingwithabook@gmail.com. Find me somewhere else!

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