Everyone loves an early morning in Baguio, so the four of us had a sip of coffee and by 6:30 am we proceeded to the Burnham Park for a few rounds of jogging. Arnel had other plans so we dropped him off the doorsteps of his 'special someone". Dendo and Ading did a few laps of combined jogging and brisk walking around the Burnham Park's lagoon while I decided to just walk around and watch people do their own things. I was particularly interested by the preparations being made for the Marlboro Adventure Team Tryouts, especially the tall wall to be used for simulated vertical rock climbing. The impressive bicycles also caught my attention as I happened to indulged in this sport a few years ago. Baguio's Burnham Park is filled with people from all walks of life on Sunday mornings and I figured majority of them are weekend vacationers just like me. After Dendo and Ading's 'strenuous' exercise we headed back to the hotel for our bath and just in time to find Arnel already waiting for us. After our check out form the hotel, we drove by the I.L. Baguio lot along Harrison Road and took pictures of it as a future reference. By now all of my job missions of touring the I.L. buildings and lot have been accomplished. We then strolled along Session Road and had breakfast in one of the Chinese restaurants along the road. We also noticed a group of traffic policemen also having their breakfast and we couldn't resist making up stories of what they were talking about. Baguio is now a highly urbanized area and one cannot but help notice the ill effects of it, the crowd and the pollution. Dendo, whose parents used to have a vacation house here, recounts to us the Baguio he used to know before. I wonder what will Baguio look like ten years from now.

As this is the day we are heading for home, we felt no pressure at all as we made last minute shopping for more pasalubongs. We drove to the Good Shepherd's Convent to buy some strawberry and ube jams and I again impressed the guys with my familiarity with the roads around Baguio. I should be since I spent 4 days driving around here during one of my group's annual convention. Ading was a bit disappointed as he wasn't able to buy the famous ube jam since it was on limited supply and you had to make a reservation a day before. So we just have to be contended with the usual strawberry jam and peanut brittle. Before leaving the convent, we took the opportunity of more photo sessions with the majestic view of the mountains as a backdrop as well as the beautiful flowers blooming in the garden.

We drove down from Baguio via Kennon Road and it was a smooth ride except for the short rough portion which was undergoing construction. The rest of the way was a pleasant drive along the McArthur Highway but I reminded them of the numerous accidents I witnessed along this road. I was planning a different route earlier via the Pangasinan coastal towns and Zambales which was a longer route. But not knowing the route at all and how long will it take us to the travel it made me think otherwise. Besides, Dendo and Ading might be very eager to reach home early after being away from their families for a couple of days. We had an uneventful drive until our next destination which was Tarlac for our lunch. After our hearty lunch, our last meal on the road, we experienced our only problem with the Tamaraw FX, it wouldn't start. Arnel did some fixing on the battery by a few knocks on the poles and presto! The engine started. That ended the prospect of pushing of the vehicle by the guys.

As we were travelling down the road, I remembered that the Centennial Expo in Clark has just been inaugurated and I proposed a quick tour since it was still very early. And so we proceeded to Clark and even had a chance to drop by one of our other projects inside Clark, the Fontana Leisure Park. The tent structure of the Centennial Expo welcomed us along the way and we were directed to a confusing route to the entrance by the traffic cops. There was a big crowd already and we learned later that it had just opened to the public a few minutes before our arrival. We entered the park and initially marveled at the engineering of the tensile roofing covering the auditorium. The park has numerous theme portion, the most famous was the Spanish Colonial era, where replicas of old churches stand. Actors and actresses in period costumes walk around the plaza and are glad to pose for pictures if requested. However, it seemed that they are not allowed to talk to guests as we attempted several times to get their reactions from the story of our travel. I guess it was the park's policy. Numerous bands marched and played tunes around the park. A Pangkat Kawayan Band composed of young boys and girls was also preparing to do their number. There was also an international village composed of small booths from foreign countries. A tribal village was not finished in time for the opening so it was off limits to visitors but one can see how the structures were built from the outside. All in all, the park is still not complete but was just opened just to coincide with the centennial rites. A visitor maybe disappointed by the luck luster exhibits and the expensive food (just like Enchanted Kingdom, you can not bring food inside the complex). A visit next time maybe more fulfilling but we can contend with the fact that we were one of the first visitors of the park and we can now tell stories to our friends of our experiences.

By 5 p.m. we decided to head for home and by this time Dendo and Arnel are doing the driving chores as I snugly slept in the back seat. We then began talking about our next tour destination as we traverse the North Expressway. Logically, our next tour destination is Southern Luzon, particularly Bicol. Arnel has a project coincidentally in Legazpi City so the trip is a very worthwhile undertaking. Dendo is even more bolder by suggesting a land trip to Davao but I figured this would take a week and I doubt if we can afford this luxury of time. So the Bicol trip is more feasible but the question is only when. I promised to chart the course and find the appropriate time to embark on this trip. I told the guys that I am also familiar with this route as I have traveled along this way a couple of times in the past. I cautioned them of the rough portions along the route of the Maharlika Highway. With these discussions, our tired bodies somehow gained a new adrenaline as we were excited of the next tour's possibilities. By now we reached Manila at around 7 p.m. and was welcomed by a slight drizzle. First to be dropped off was Arnel in Munoz, and then Dendo and Ading drove me home.

We arrived uneventful in Manila just like the way we left it, three days ago. Fatigue was beginning to show its effects and we were just very eager to rest our aching backs on our respective beds. As I lay down resting, I wondered how we were able to pull this off, of what was just a wishful thinking of Dendo a few weeks ago became a reality and an unforgettable experience. Pictures of the beautiful landscapes, smiles of the townfolk, the colorful costumes of the children in parade, the distinct delicacies in each region still linger in our minds. I was glad we achieved our goal successfully and more importantly, safely. And I guess this was the same feelings and thoughts of the other guys. And as I rest my tired body, I am also eagerly excited about the prospect of our next trip to the South.