The 6th Baler Beginner's Cup: Read the Signs

Posted by roma on April 21, 2014 in 6th Baler Beginner's Cup, Baler, Baler Aurora, Beaches of the Philippines, Genesis Transport Inc., Hotel Machiavelli, http://iwantseats.com.ph, Joy Bus Deluxe, Luzon, Mahdox Surf School, Philippines, Surfing,

I didn't.

*DISCLAIMER: This is a long story 

Let me track back 3 weeks ago, March 21, 2014.

I went with a group tour to Baler, Aurora, through a late (3 days ago?) invitation from my friend, Macy. I came straight from taping in Laguna, arriving at our meeting place at Eton Centris at 11 at night. They (my co-tourists) were not there yet so i decided to eat a well-deserved midnight snack at my favorite cafe, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.

My comfort food - CBTL's Dark Mocha and Caesar Salad

I just needed to mention that i have been taping for five straight days (M-F) for that week. And despite the lack of rest and decent sleep (total of 15-20 hours in 5 days), I went on and boarded that tour van bound to Baler.

We arrived Baler at around 8 AM of March 22, went to our hotel (Machiavelli Lodge), had breakfast and while waiting for our room, decided to go to the beach to see the swell. 

Machiavelli Lodge's Dining Lounge

All is swell at Baler Aurora

We started surfing in the afternoon, after lunch. We rented surfboards at Mahdox Surf School, where we also got our surf instructors.

That';s my rashguard -- I was letting it dry. Haha. Photobomb!

To cut the story short, the day ended and we surfed again the next morning. Some other instructors, and a local, Mahdox's "muse", Lala (Macy's cousin), told me again to try to join the competition. I said no. They said the competition was for beginners and I'd better try.In the middle of surfing, my instructor, Bentong told me, jokingly, I assume, to join the upcoming surf competition, The 6th Baler Beginner's Cup. I told him no, because I can't even paddle out on my own because of my weak arms. He said I have a very good stance so I could try to join. He was even asking me to do tricks when he saw me doing some side-steps on the board when the waves slowed down.

That's me, Macy and EJ

Cut to weeks later, the thought occurred to me that I have nothing to lose if I join. I thought, how could I go back to Baler?  One and a half weeks later, our assistant stylist to Jodi Sta. Maria told me, casually, "Ate Roma, we're going to Baler this weekend, April 5. Join?" Without even thinking about it, I said yes. Read our adventures here.  

I went back to Mahdox, surfed and got stoked. Bonded with the instructors and got all tanned up. Then the instructors asked me again to join. The competition was coming the weekend after, I said, "ok, I can go and pay now for registration." But there's no registration booth or any office that would accept registrants in Baler. There's only an online registration form.  

When I came back to Manila, I paid the registration fee and contacted the organizer and found out that the registration has been closed since March 31. Lala said for me to mention that a slot was reserved for me by Okoy Rojo, Mahdox's owner and a local surf star. So I did. And the organizer asked me to fill out the online registration form. 

Then I booked for a bus ticket to Baler for Friday, April 11 at 2:30 AM, a bus back to Manila for Sunday, April 13 at 1:00 PM and asked a local to find me a room in the competition dates. Though it was a weekend, a competition weekend at that, my contact Kuya Verjan, got me two room options. Both were not beachfront though. But I got a room, and that's what's important. If I were reading the signs, the signs were all good and all pointing to a positive direction -- I would make it to Baler to join the competition. I was all set! Everything was going right.

Until it wasn't.

I got all my booking for my bus ride (Joy Bus Deluxe), registration and room on Tuesday, April 8. Although too late, I got everything set up. On wednesday, April 09, on the set in Batangas, I asked my boss that I would not go to work on Friday, and lo and behold, he did not grant me a leave.

I almost cried. Literally.

I went outside and smoked, and thought to myself...what would Roma do?

What Roma did was called up the organizer and told him that I would not be able to make it on Friday. He said it's ok as long as I come early on Saturday. Ok, that was easy. It was at noon when I called up the organizer so I still have time to do re-book my reservations.

Next I did was try to re-book my trip to Baler. http://iwantseats.com.ph said all trips on Saturday were fully booked. They gave me the direct line to Joy Bus Deluxe and nothing happened too. I called up Genesis Transport Inc., and they said I could not book in advance -- just go to the bus station on the day of the trip to buy a ticket personally. And Genesis Transport Inc., being the umbrella owner of Joy Bus Deluxe, said maybe I can try to rebook my e-ticket personally too if I go to the bus station's office in Cubao. I was at Batangas, remember?

I searched my brains for anyone that I could actually ask to go to the bus station and rebook my ticket. A lot of people came to mind, but I dialled my friend Eshei's number. I thought about him because he just came from a one-week trip to Sagada which made me think he's not busy at all. He said he was busy but would try.

I waited. I waited for  him to get back to me. It's been hours and there's no news. Until I got a phone call from him. Short story: it was bad news.

So I resorted to where all desperate people resort to: I posted a status on Facebook that said:

May ibang buses ba or private vans bukod sa Genesis/Joy Bus papuntang Baler? 

All set na ako, bus tickets, registration and accommodations. 

Nang biglang hindi ako pinayagan ng boss ko na umalis ng Friday. 

At wala na ako makuhang trips ng Saturday ng madaling araw unless pumila ako sa bus station ng Friday night. Hindi ko na ma-rebook yung Joy Bus ticket ko. Eh sa Batangas ang taping ko so kakailanganin ko pa rin umalis ng maaga sa taping para makapila sa bus at pagdating ko ng Baler, pagod ako galing sa byahe.

Juskolord, once a year lang po ito at matagal ang decision making process ko dito.

Susuungin ko ang pag chance passenger at pagod ng taping at byahe maitawid ko lang to. Bigyan mo lang ako universe ng masasakyan.

PLEASE!!!!!

People replied saying there are buses, vans and "cutting trips" to Baler. Someone even messaged me privately saying that they would be going to the bus station on Friday at 11 PM to try to get tickets. 

But I thought, it's not good enough but I could try and ask them to get me a ticket. 

I posted another status saying:

Sobra akong psyched up for Baler, yung #accuweather app ko, naka-set sa Baler. Ugh. :(( Sino gusto i-drive ako to Baler, sagot ko gas, food, room. Haha. #desperate

Then Rhea, a friend that I haven't seen for a long time, messaged me. She said they have a tour van bound for Baler on Saturday, 12 midnight. She said she could ask her tour-mates if I could join them. I waited for results. It took the whole night before I got an answer. 

If I were reading the signs, all signs were telling me not to go. Because there's no ride to Baler. And I've been trying all sorts of ways to rebook my ticket but to no avail.

On thursday, I heard what I wanted to hear. Rhea and friends said yes! They would let me get a seat in their tour van.

I felt so happy. Like I proposed to someone and got a YES! Now I'm back on track.

On the way to Baler, my boss was calling. I answered and I was reprimanded for leaving the set before the taping was packed up. My boss was really disappointed.

If I was reading the signs, maybe i should not have gone.

What happened next? Read here.