Guimaras Petron Project Launching

I'm off to Guimaras to document the launching of a Petron-sponsored project.

Stormy Weather

The weather was very stormy last night and the rain battered the roof of our house I had a hard time sleeping. Even as I woke up at 5am, the weather led me to believe the project launching would be canceled again. It wasn't, and just rightly so. The rain stopped when I left the house and the sea was surprisingly calm.

Iloilo Port Expansion

Another thing that surprised me was to see the Iloilo Domestic Passenger Terminal undergoing renovation and expansion. They are extending the wharf up to the Rotary Park, hinting that it's present size will be doubled. This is good news for Iloilo's infrastructure.

Getting there

It took about 1 hour and 30 minutes to travel from Parola-Jordan by pumpboat , Jordan-Nueva Valencia by multi-cab, and Nueva Valencia-Igang Marine Station by another pumpboat. The scenery at Guimaras was really a good breather to Iloilo's urbanity. The asphalted road gave a smooth ride across orchards of countless mango trees.

We stopped at a bridge where we rode another pumpboat that was to bring us to Igang Marine Station. From the river, the station's is easily spotted as you move out to the sea - tiny white cottages perched on top of tiny islets.

Program Emcee

I could hardly enjoy the stay at first because I was to be the emcee of the program. Changes after changes in the program came. The congressman, governor, Petron Foundation president, and parish priest can't come, but the list of people to be acknowledged was getting longer. For me, the most awkward part is having to acknowledge each "VIP". Why can't I just say "Welcome guests"? Everything in the program went good. "Good", but not excellent.

I was told earlier that maybe I should host programs as a sideline. Somebody also said my voice was like that of a call-center agent. Uh-oh.. not my liking. I'd prefer to avoid unnecessary stage-fright.

The launching

The rain was intermittent and we waited a while for it to stop before proceeding to the cages. As they released the fish, the rain visited us once more. I had to hold an umbrella over the videographers I hired as they shot clips of the event. I had to be very careful about their equipment. It might cost us our entire year's budget for video production.

I was surprised they cooked a sabalo (milkfish broodstock) for lunch. Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience eating a humongous slice of milkfish. The interstitial bones were not so much of a bother since they were large and easily removed.

Petron might be the sponsor for the project we launched but the ladies washing the dishes didn't care if the bandanas they wore were Shell. Coincidence?

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This post has been staying in my drafts for a long while. I'm deciding to just post this unfinished.