Thursday, April 23, 2009

Team Building: Island Hopping

"I keep my friends as misers do their treasure, because, of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship." Pietro Aretino
Last Saturday, April 18, 2009 our team had finally held our Team Building - something that we've long been waiting for. Due to the majority's choice, our team decided to go for an Island Hopping and Snorkeling. I was very excited to go because I am such a beach-lover. Any activity that involves swimming, the beach, swimming pool, surfing, snorkeling, etc. Just name it - I'm always on the go.

So we were a team composed of 20 persons including our Team Lead (Immediate Supervisor).

At around 9:00 am, we arrived at Mactan Island.

From Mactan Island we had to ride on a boat to go to our 3 island destinations - Hilutungan, Pandanon and Nalusuan.

For a rental fee of Php 3,500, this boat can accomodate 20-30 persons.

Our first island destination was the Hilutungan Island. It is one of the islands in the Olango Reef which is protected by the government as fish sanctuary. This beautiful island is 20 to 30 minutes away from Mactan Island. It is known to be perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving due to abundant corals and tropical fishes. Within 3 to 7 meters you can have fun in feeding the fish, these tropical fishes are friendly that you can feed them with bread and swim together with you. During lowtide the opposite side of the island is bare at low between Olango Reef at knee below you can walk between 5 islands along the reef.
Sadly, there is an entrance fee once you land your feet on the island. So as "kuripot" as we are, we decided to just roam around the island. We stayed there for an hour.
While we were salivating at the sight of the island, the water surrounding it is just equally inviting that we couldn't help ourselves but indulge into the crystal-clear seawater.


Our second island destination was the Pandanon Island. This island is known for its boracay-like white sand. It is 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Maribago, Mactan Island.





This time we intended to land on the island as the beautiful seaview *especially the hot girls and guys* on the island was so irresistible. There's an entrance fee of Php 150 per person. Rental fees of the huts or cottages are ranging from Php 200 to Php 300 each depending on the size.



















At around 2:30 pm, we decided to go back to our boat so that we can head ourselves to the next island destination, the Nalusuan Island. If you understand bisaya, you'd probably laugh at the island's name. Nalusuan is probably derived from a cebuano root word "luso" which means male sexual organ. Haha! Don't ask me. I have no idea why that island is having that name.
But then again, there's another entrance fee or landing fee which is Php 200 once you step your feet on that island so once again we decided to stay offshore and just watch the island from a distance.

But hey, don't be sad for us. We enjoyed ourselves by diving and snorkeling. Wheow! My favorite part of the day. Just beware of the jellyfish, they are so itchy! Also, don't forget to apply sunscreen on your skin if you don't wanna end up peeling off some skin the next day.




We were so proud of ourselves, we were swimming at 10-12 feet ocean deep. Hehe. Beat that! I had so much fun. At around 4:30 pm, we decided to go home.
On a sadder note, that would be our last team building together as a team because on May 18, we will be transferred to a different account with probably different set of team mates. Guys, I'm gonna miss you all. See yah around!
Note: Photo credits to Junie Melecio, my officemate for the scenic landscape pictures, the ones without watermarks. Thanks Junie. The ones with watermarks of my blog URL, I took them myself. ^^

36 comments:

  1. wowwwwww
    how i wish i could go there too..
    wheeeeeeee ang saya naman
    nagsnorkeling kau..parang ang saya-saya tlga kea lng kasi di aq marunong lumangoy heheh

    sayang lang din di kau nka-pnta sa ibng island but like u've said on ur entry ok nga lng dn kasi grbe nman mdyo mahal din ung mga entrance fee hehe ^_^

    haiiiii gusto ko din maka-pnta dyan!!! kaya dpat mgka-work na dn aq ^_^ hahah

    bout sa team nyo nakaka-sad nga yan..pero ganyan tlga ang buhay..mgkkta pa dn nman kau dba..& u cn still set a date to have an outing together ^_^ *wink!!!

    aun im sooo happy for you..kasi ur happy!!! :)

    tc and godbless!!!
    mwahhh!!!

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  2. Wowwowee!!! Naiinggit na naman ako... I haven't gone on a vacation for 4 years now. Buti ka pa. Your team building, which is supposedly about fostering a good team, looks like a vacation.

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  3. @ shel
    - wow thank you for the kind words! kung di ka marunong lumangoy, ayun mag-life jacket ka. peru syempre mapag-iiwanan ka kasi kaming lahat nasa ilalim na nag-sosnorkeling. haha

    @ Rico
    - inggit ka? lika punta ka Cebu, mas mura dito kesa sa boracay. hehe. uu nga more like vacation team buildings namin. haha

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  4. ok ang adventure ninyo mon, ang linaw ng tubig ano at ang maganda pa e puro babae ang kasama nyo, waaaaaaaa

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  5. ayos na ayos ang getaway niyo Mon! kaso yung ibang pictures walang watermark hehe. Nangengealam? hehe.

    pero ayos, im sure nagenjoy kayo! at meron kayong water resistant na camera ha! hehe.

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  6. hindi pa ako nakapunta dito..pag-uwi ko..

    pero ba't may entrance fee per island? privately-owned ba ang mga ito?

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  7. wow.ganda ng mactan island.at least nakapag bonding kayo for the last time bago madissolve ang team. :p

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  8. ang ganda naman jan, mon! im sooooo inggit. twice na akong nag-Cebu pero i have never been to any of the beaches there.naku, you must promise me, the next time i make a trip to Cebu eh sasamahan mo ako jan sa Mactan Island ah!

    very nice pics. i love that one with the girl about to take a dip :)

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  9. @ payatot
    - hehe. crystal-clear seawaters po talaga. hehe. may mga lalaki din naman marami, kaso di mahilig magpa-picture.

    @ Ax
    - actually, digi cam lang yan, nilagay namin sa isang water-resistant palstic bag/camera case. hehe. yung ibang pic, kuha ng kasama ko kaya di ko nilagyan ng watermark. hehe

    @ Reesie
    - ewan, ganun talaga ata lahat ng islands surrounding the olango reef. may entrance fee. pag-uwi mo dito, island hopping tayo ha. hehe

    @ flamindevil
    - uu ryeski, maganda talaga ang Mactan at ang iba pang maliliit na island surrounding Mactan. punta ka dito.

    @ Winkie
    - Yeah sure. samahan kita mag-island hopping, basta ba sagot mo. haha.

    Thanks guys.

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  10. sarap naman ng buhay - mula sa beach hanggang sa mga kaibigan at hanggang sa relo mo, maganda. :)

    makakapagbakasyon din ako diyan makikita mo..

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  11. Beautiful fotos Mon! And the sun! I miss that sun so much!

    And the beach! (gasp)

    I miss it too!

    and the bankas! LOL!

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  12. @ dencios
    - thanks for the compliment parekoy. i'm looking forward to that day. bilisan mo pre, island hopping tayo! :D

    @ KrisJasper
    - I'm sure they all miss you to KJ, come let's hop on the islands. hehe :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. bat parang nawala ata dito ung comment ko huwaaaaaa..
    ulitin ko na lang ang ganda ng lugar sama ako sa island hopping nyo ni kuya dencio hehe..jan din dapat ha kuya mon weeeew. saya..

    ReplyDelete
  14. lintek!ang ganda jan!
    gusto ko din jan magpunta huhuhu saraaapppp!

    ReplyDelete
  15. grabe lahat my bayad buti naman libre na ang mag roam around the island kulang nalang pati pagtanaw mag bayad!LOL

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  16. ang ganda naman dyan!! parang nasa movie lang kayu ah!!

    well.. ok na sana enjoy na.. kaso nalungkot din ako sa last part.. para namang graduation.? =(

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  17. at dinagdagan pa talaga ang mga pics!!! hehehe!

    very nice shots mon. captured ung serenity and beauty nung clouds :)

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  18. UPDATE NA HUY HEHE :D

    ReplyDelete
  19. @ anakngpating:
    - wala akong kinalaman jan ah. ngayon ka lang kaya bumisita sa blog ko. kunwarii! hooh. ;p

    @ Mac:
    - halika. bakasyon ka dito. i'll be ur personal tourguide. however, please be aware that u'll have to pay me hourly and i charge a lot. hehe

    @ bonistation
    - parang movie ba? hehe tenchu. wag ka malungkot dude. okay lang kami. hehe

    @ Winkie
    - thanks. though some of that pics were not taken by me. officemate ko ang kumuha nung mga pics with beautful skies. ;)

    @ DENCIOS
    - hehe.. later na. ;p

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  20. kahit malayo ang shot ng pic..kita pa rin abs ko...indi six pack...kundi tetra pack..ha ha ha

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  21. ah ang ganda naman dyan! enjoy talaga =)

    have a great week ahead mon. TC

    ReplyDelete
  22. wow wow at tulad ni malds napapaligiran ka din ng mga bebot...


    ganda aman jan

    ReplyDelete
  23. ang ganda ng place! never pa ko nag-isnorkel. ala naman kasi dagat sa baguio. kakainggit!

    ReplyDelete
  24. @ Maldito:
    - tetra pack? haha.. sige gaan chance. lol

    @ Skippyheart
    - uu maganda talaga dito. halika punta ka dito. ;) thanks. u too.

    @ azul:
    - haha. mga bebot ni maldito yan. alam mo naman yan chickboy! mahilig sa chicks, mahilig din sa boy! LOL

    @ kokoi:
    - punta ka na dito dali! snorkle tayo Sir Kokoi!!! :)

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  25. medyo same same tau sa isyung ito..

    halu monz!!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I hate smokers! Kakasar sila!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I hate smokers! Kakasar sila!

    ReplyDelete
  28. @ Vanvan
    - hi vanvan. aling issue? lol. para nasa maling post ka nagcomment ah. hehe

    @ Lionheart
    - kaasar talaga. peru parang nasa maling entry ka rin nag-comment. lol

    Thanks guys!

    ReplyDelete
  29. teka sa mali yata ako nagcomment, anyway, basta ang cool ng underwater pics .

    ReplyDelete
  30. wee ang saya naman dito..

    hi there, just droppin and wishing you happy weekend...enjoy it!


    http://gracie-rocks.blogspot.com/

    http://fidelity-lilyofthevalley.blogspot.com/

    http://benchiegrace.blogspot.com/

    http://www.benchiegrace.bravejournal.com/

    http://allaboutlifebyme.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  31. hmm..parang ung 6 at 7 lng ung nd ako jan ah!hahahahahahah

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  32. amazing find! it was one of the most unforgetable experience ive had years back. we did the island hopping around olango island. so many stopover for us to jump and swim.

    thanks to pusang gala. found your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  33. @ kcatwoman:
    - hehe. nasa maling post nga yong isang comment mo. LOL. ayos lang! Thank you so much. xlink?

    @ benchiegrace:
    - thanks for dropping by grace. may u have a great weekend too. at ang dami mong blogs ah! hehe. xchange linx? u like? ;p

    @ Jaja:
    - hey i missed u jaja! musta na buhay buhay? btw, anong 6 and 7? namaling post ka ata. hehe

    @ the Dong
    - thanks to pusang-gala u found my blog! i'm glad u like it here in Cebu. balik ka.

    ReplyDelete
  34. next year balik ako dyan. ill visit camotes island, kawasan and moalboal.

    ReplyDelete
  35. @ dong ho
    - ah.. pwede mo contakin para may guide ka.. hehe

    ReplyDelete

Please don't be hard on me. ♥

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