Wisdom from Mindanao

There is project that gives an opportunity to research and document COA offices in Regions IX and XIII which basically means visiting every government office in both regions. Although we did not get to visit all, we managed to cover a hefty. What should be dragging business trip turned out to be an interesting and informative road trip. I am eternally grateful as I picked up unconventional wisdom from interesting people I met along the way.

I learned that –

Luxurious road means lukso lukso road. Must’ve heard this joke a thousand times.

Walang kawala si Josephine Bracken kay Jose Rizal. Dapitan sunset is just too romantic. Who wouldn’t be smitten by it?

When God speaks, minsan subtle, minsan literal. Ang misteryosong pagkawala ng signal ng celphone ni Bert.

The life and loves ni Kuya Jhun. Parang kahit buong Mindanao ang tahakin, hindi pa rin matatapos ang kwento.

Talagang hinihintay ng mga bata na malapit na ang sasakyan na tumatakbo ng 140 kmph bago tumawid sa highway. – Bert

Maganda suspension ng Toyota Innova - Kuya Jo

Computer Room means CR.

Pwedeng tumakbo ang sasakyan ng 160 kmph ng safety. – Bert

Pag mag vivideoke, dapat with feelings at wag mahihiya, cast all others aside. Walang pakialamanan ng kanta dito. – Auditor/Voice Coach Rivas

Pwede palang maging action packed ang buhay ng isang auditor. May patayan, may lovelife, kidnapan, conspiracy, parang telenovela. All the while I thought they were just boring individuals. – Mam Betsy

Muslims have high respects to the Virgin Mary. - Pol and Soraya.


Masarap pala ang luxurious travel like in Dakak. All the while I’ve been traveling backpack style. A night in Dakak opened my eyes that spending the early morning lazying out in a duyan in front of the white sand beach is definitely not bad after all. Babalik ako dyan sa Dakak…

Not all Muslims have the same Eidl Fitr and Hariraya. They have their own personal time estimates. – Pol

Mas high tech ang mga computer sa mga Provincial Auditor’s Office. Naka laptop at naka plasma screen sila.

Kaya umuuwi ang mga asawa dahil nakahanda na ang towel at damit. – Sir Billy

Not to eat too much pusit otherwise, I’ll miss a good gimik due to indigestion. Katakawan….

Ang ganda ng Region 9 Office – Zamboanga City. Idyllic scenery, overlooking lush green rice fields, backdropped by mountain ranges in a clear sky kaya lang maraming polkadots dahil sa tama ng bullets.

Gamay, dili, daghang salamat, gwapo, isa, duha, tulo, upat… That’s the extent of my bisaya.

Basta habal – habal driver, sweet lover. Ask the teachers. Marami raw nagkakatuluyan na habal habal drivers at teachers. Kainis… bakit naman walang habal habal sa bandang Fairview. Unfair!!!

Marami whirlpool sa Surigao going to Siargao kasi nandun ang Philippine Deep.

A habal – habal can fit 3 adults and 4 children plus two sacks of rice.

Different style of tricycle around the country. Sa Pagadian, pang uphill ang tryc, sa Molave, padyak ang gamit, sa Surigao, kasya ang pito.

Children travel 2-3 kms by foot everyday to attend to their studies. So are college students.

The importance of letting go of someone and moving on with life. Idolo kita Ate Eve. Bonding ulit tayo…

There is a province called Zamboanga Sibugay. Got to re-learn my Geography.

Barter sa Zamboanga City ay nagsasara ng alas singko ng hapon. What kind of shopping closes at 5 PM? Hmp…


Pwedeng mag-stroll sa beach na puro bato ng naka-high heels – Auditor Daday Catubigan

Surigao has the best crabs. Masarap ang curacha sa Zamboanga

Masarap ang Zamboanga White – Sir Greg/Bert

Learned to eat Durian… Armi’s record – 3 seeds in one sitting!!! 3 seeds baby…Thank you .. thank you…