Tagaytay One Fine Day

I didn't know what came into me but I was feeling a little bored one morning while at work. Maybe, it was the monotonous task assigned to me. Or maybe it was the overcast sky suggesting a brewing sandstorm. Bored and gloomy, I decided to call my Abu Dhabi-based BFF and chat for a little while.

When she came home for a vacation last year, they treated us to a day tour of Tagaytay. It was her treat to her family but since she considers us family, we tagged along. It wasn’t my first time there but it was the kids’. Gabby and Sunday have been asking us for the longest time to bring them to Tagaytay so when their Tita BFF invited them, they were so excited. Too bad, Fred was already in Riyadh then.

I totally forgot that Tagaytay is considered as the second summer capital of the Philippines. The cold wind was blowing hard when we arrived and I forgot to bring the kids’ jackets. They didn’t seem to mind though. Upon arriving at the Picnic Grove, they ran off, left me without a word, excited and happy to finally have their simple wishes granted.

The kids had fun climbing low trees, lying on the grass, making new friends, and bonded with the nieces and nephews of Tita BFF which made me happy and proud. It was alright for the kids that they didn't see the Taal Volcano clearly. But not for me. I expected to take a clear picture of it. Some other time maybe.

I was tempted to try the ZipLine when Gabby wanted to but I wasn't brave enough at that time. I just told him we can try it someday when Fred is around.

It would be my first time to ride a cable car, too. But again, I didn't dare. Honestly, I don't have an utter fear of heights. I was just not in the mood for it. Maybe someday.

We headed to People's Park in the Sky after our picnic. Sadly, it isn't a tourist attraction anymore. It is already in dilapidated state. The unkempt interiors, rusty metal stairs and posts, and broken railings on the view deck pose dangers to day tour guests. If not for the scenic view of the Tagaytay Ridge and Taal Lake, we would have left earlier.

The view from the deck also revealed some sad truth: real estate developers were busy damaging the nature building residential condos. I just hope that when Gabby and Sunday visit someday, they wouldn't see denuded forests, paved roads, and landslides. To preserve that view for them, I took as much pictures of the Tagaytay Ridge as I can.

That was a well spent and much enjoyed day tour. The kids communed with nature and had fun under the sun. Surely, it was an unforgettable treat from their Tita BFF. And just reminiscing that already took the gloom from my day away.