Trip to Mt. Batulao

This is not the usual travel blog. 

I don't think I can give you much advice about what to bring or what activities to do. I just write here to share my experience. I chose to make this blog personal. 

It's been a year since I climbed a mountain. I've been very busy with my career and of course with my master's degree. Whenever I have the opportunity for these kind of adventures, I eagerly grab them! :)

I cant remember the exact date of this hike but I know that it was my last day of second semester 2015. I was so tired of making my final papers for Philo Ed and my research paper for Psycho-Socio-Linguistics. I also had my final exam on Intro to Linguistics that day.

My brother texted me about his plan on hiking to Mt. Batulao. He's really problematic because my parents didn't allow him to go with his friends. As a "kind" sister (HAHAHA), I persuaded my parents to allow him provided that I'll go with Karlo.

I was in Manila that time. I think I arrived at Cavite around 7pm. I had dinner and hurriedly pack my things for the hike. I felt a rush because it's literally last minute for me!

I met my brother's friends and we ride a bus to Batangas. I think the fare from Robinson Dasma to Batulao is around 60php.

We decided to have a night hike. We paid 400 to a guide from the village near the mountain. I think it was around 11pm when we decided to sleep. I wasn't informed that nobody brought a tent! We just used some blankets and slept on the ground. I think we were halfway near the peak. 

We started hiking 5am to witness the sunrise at the peak of the mountain. It was all worth it. 

Trip to Westhill International School

"Work. Save. Travel."

I remembered posting it as my status in Facebook a year ago. I always wanted to visit different places. I can't to do it without money to pay for the food, fare and accommodations so I decided to search for a school who can support my passion and of course who can pay me well. :)

It's been a year since I started working at Westhill International School. I never really regret choosing to work in an international school over the all girls school and the catholic school who hired me.

Why work in Westhill International School?

1. The teachers and staff here are good people. Some teachers are born again Christians of different denominations, some are Catholics. We respect each others religion. I'm happy that we have morning devotions every day from 7:30 to 8am. It is lead by a foreign Pastor. It's really good to start the day with some singing of praise and worship songs and some word of God.

Westhill International School Faculty and Administrators

2. The students are very lovable. They may have different nationalities but I can see than they can work well with each other.  There is indeed a unity in diversity. All of them speaks English most of the time except in their Filipino subject. They also know how to speak French. I often join my students in their French class. (Free French lessons! LOL) 

My 5th grade students wearing their scouting uniform

Philippine National Dance Day Celebration

3. The facilities are commendable. All of the classrooms and laboratories are air-conditioned. The restrooms are always clean. The cleaning staff make sure that the surroundings are clean. Oh by the way, there are CCTV's all over the place. Each classroom has two CCTV's. The cafeteria, and even the hallways have CCTV's too.

Every classroom uses an interactive board. :)

4. The parents are friendly. I rarely encounter complains. The parent-teacher relationship is good because the teachers contact the parents immediately if there is a concern about their child. The parents also participate in school activities like the sports fest.

5. I'm very comfortable here. It may be thirty minutes away from home but I learned how to enjoy reading a book while on trip. I also enjoy making cool presentations for the students because we use the interactive boards in class. As for the lesson plans, the teachers are required to be in school during summer to finish our lesson plans for the whole school year. 

Before the school year ends, the teachers were asked to pass a letter of intent if we are staying or leaving. I didn't think twice. I really want to stay here. I realized that I'm getting paid to do what I really love to do.