17/11/2020
Hello eveyone! It has been 8 months 😱since i posted about our adventures in Ilocos. This would be a bit surprising for most, and to answer what's on your mind, YES!, Ilocos is now open for tourists BUT you should be prepared for everything. IT IS NOT THE SAME! we have a lot of protocols to follow, swab test/antigen test, medical clearance, travel pass, safe pass etc, and tourists are not allowed to divert from the itinerary (whether it be for souvenir hunting, cr break, or whatever). That is why it is mandatory to have a tour guide to be, like the safety officer of the tour as well. Anyways, I told my colleagues that i am retiring as a tour guide, i have to get out of my comfort zone, since i became too comfortable with it already. But my last tour before CoVid, i did not expect it to be the last one since i still have a lot of tours on the list after that. But this pandemic happened and it just stopped everything so abruptly without giving us time to prepare ourselves. I gave my word, this is it for me, I'M DONE. But then, they offered me a tour. I love this agency, i couldn't say no. I owe them a lot. I took the tour despite the fact that i was trembling to undergo the swab test. I said to myself, ok, i wasn't able to formally bid goodbye to my tour guiding life for 10 years, what is 2 days anyway. I wanted to enjoy it, coz it will be my last tour. Unfortunately, nature wouldnt agree with me, the skies weeped desperately. Our tour was not the best one, stormy weather, deserted tourist spots, and a worried feeling for families back home being ravaged by the storm. All these combined, is not an ideal tour. I was just so glad that i had my wonderful and kind guests. I am a bit ashamed of myself for not delivering what i am used to be doing. But i guess, i know deep inside, it hurts deeply to bid goodbye to that part of my life where i had the craziest, happiest adventures with strangers. But they are not just strangers. They became friends and family even for just a day or three. I will always treasure you.
"We are not friends, we are not enemies, we are just strangers making memories".TOGETHER. Keep safe everyone.
Nov.11 and 12, 2020
Ms MM and family from Taguig