Swimming for Swimmers and Non-Swimmers: Timoga Cold Spring

One of my favorite swimming destinations is Timoga, a sitio in Barangay Buruun, Iligan City. This is the place where cold spring water runs a river of abundance. Contrary to the belief that the water comes from Lake Lanao, Timoga springs from an underground source. Its volume magnificent enough that it is estimated to support thrice the population of Iligan City.

There are a number of establishments around the area, cold spring resorts, sea resorts, some restaurants and small eateries lining up the highways. You can choose from the many resorts which opens from around six in the morning up to eight or ten in the evening, where tables and cottages can be rented for 50 to 100 pesos. Some resorts offers an overnight package on their own hotels. There is Holiday Pool, Spring, Dela Mar, Main, Marvillas where I learned how to swim scientifically, and Mimars which has an olympic size swimming pool that caters to swimming enthusiasts and athletes.The stores lining the highway sell puso -  rice steamed inside woven coconut palm fronds, lechon manok, steamed bananas and camote and the ever delectable lechon baboy.

From Left: Puso – rice cooked in a heart-shaped woven coconut leaves.

From Right: The best lechon baboy or roast pig in the country.

It is best to come to Timoga early in the morning where there are still a few guests. The water in the pools washes from its source and out into the river and the nearby sea. It is relatively cleaner and fresher than any other closed pool. I still however opt to come early in the morning for a little privacy. At the end of the day the water inlets are closed and water is drained and the pool is cleaned thereafter.

At Holiday Pool the entrance fee of 50.00 pesos already comes with a free drink, this in addition to the clean and fresh cold water. Their bathrooms and dressing rooms are amply supplied with free flowing water. After having stayed in Baguio where water is scarce, I panicked seeing a frightening volume of water left overflowing. I attempted to close all the faucets only to realize valves were not installed on purpose. I surmised that if these were attached they would only burst from the force of water coming out of its source.

Timoga is a proof that nature has it way to gift abundance. This has ran for centuries and for as long as the grounds are protected and the trees left to hold and keep the water, Timoga Cold Spring will spring eternal.

Beware of this Hair Saloon

A month ago I wrote about a hairgrowth on my head. But I was mistaken. It was not hairgrowth. It was a strand of hair deliberately cut. By whom?

Did I also mention I had an accidental rebond?

That is the culprit of the hair growth that now stands conspicuously embarassing on top of my head.

The rebond was done by a small hair saloon owned by a former co-worker in Iligan City.

The bald spot on my hair was disturbing so I had my scalp and hair checked by professionals when I got back in Baguio City. Their theory:

1. My hair was burned up by substantard medicine.
2. The hairstylist was mediocre as she was unprofessional.

I was not aware of what happened during the treatment and I was not even made aware of the mishap that the mediocre hairstylist has done on my hair.

I feel “unjustly vexated” but I cannot go back to show the saloon how grave my hair looks right now. I will suffer for months for this.

For the deliberate deception done by the hairstylist and for the money I paid in exchange for a lousy service, I wish the saloon goodluck!

My hair will grow long. Will their queue of customers grow long too?

Rebonding is Not for Everyone

I had my hair rebonded accidentally a week ago. I never really wanted it. I only wanted to get a haircut to manage my mane. My gugo-starved hair (I ran out of my baon and unfortunately couldn’t find gugo bark in Iligan) meant that I had to use commercial shampoos to clean my hair which resulted to a brittle and unmanageable mane. Off I went to a cheap saloon owned by a former co-employee. The stylist talked me into it that I succumbed into a three-hour affair, washing, combing and agonizing on the burning chemical treatment, and ironing in between news of Hayden and Katrina’s over sensationalized sex video. Three hours also meant a thousand pesos per hour. Three hours would also mean three days without washing hair. This is not the only precaution that surprised me after sitting three hours. NO taking a bath in salt water, NO taking a bath in chlorinated pools. For a girl whose pleasure is the beach and swimming. I realize that apart from my straight hair that does not match my face, my newly rebonded hair does not also match my lifestyle.

I spent the next day researching on the net to get back the waves before the rebond. I could not find anything except the NO taking a bath for three days. To undo the adversity I had the previous day, I took a bath with real shampoo hoping the chemicals will wash themselves away. After four days, I swam and floated on the clear waters of Camiguin’s White Island and soaked my way for hours in Ardent Hot Spring.

Yesterday I went back to work with my friend noticing my rebonded hair. She said I looked mestiza. I curtly replied, “I dont like my hair. It just doesnt fit my personality”. Mestiza or not, I prefer to look natural with my waves that matches my eyes, cheeks, lips and chin. Rebonding and super straight hair is not just for me. Its not even for everyone.