Candied Lift

Last weekend was a nice resumption of our video coverage thing--- me as the videographer, and him as the ever attentive and patient gaffer slash cinematographer slash assistant director. This time, it’s for the prenuptial AVP of Ela and James. Yuuup, they are getting married this coming November. After all the very shaky previous months, my friend will finally get what she's been dreaming of. Sigh, sigh, sigh.

Going back, the trip was comprised of several stops, talks, and camera poses. The guys had been singing (and sometimes blending and jiggling on) almost any song that the car radio played. By the way, our playlist had been limited to the Rod Stewart CDs, which Ela’s dad have left in the car, and the songs being played by any FM station we could hear clearly. Hmmm..imagine two buffy guys clowning around. Ang cuuute...=)

The initial plan was to climb Baguio in the morning to interview James’ foster parents, then go to Dagupan after lunch to interview his family and friends. But instead, we stayed overnight in Baguio. Ela had been nudging us to go to Kaffe Klatsch after the shoot and once we find a place to stay. After the shoot, however, we were obliged to stay a little longer because James’ foster family prepared us a plush seafood dinner. Galing nila lahat magluto. Family bonding happens in the kitchen.

We forgot it was a long weekend. So it took us quite sometime to find a place. Thanks to the manong whom we met at the Victory Liner bus terminal (after conceding to the fact that we couldn’t really find one by ourselves). It was a country house somewhere down the Naguillan Road stretch. Homey and clean enough, but not recommended if you don’t have a car and are planning to go out at night. Since it was almost 10 o’clock, we gave it a go. It cost us 2K for the two rooms. OK bed, neat toilet and bathroom, free use of anything in the house. The couple who owns the house was accommodating, serving us with hot coffee in the evening and in the morning.

Instead of Kaffe Klatsch for dinner, we had Café by the Ruins for breakfast. More yummy food and wacky poses. Then, we spent a little time buying coffee beans and visiting ukay-ukay stalls.

We made a short stop at Klonduke Hot Spring along Kennon Road. Walked across a hanging bridge. Picture picture ulit. Then, headed to Pangasinan for more takes. James has had this really good PR. I can't say if military school and field assignments had something to do with that. After several interviews with James' family and friends, we drove back to Manila, a little enervated. It took us only three hours to get back, with James in the driver's seat.

Fast and fun road trip, all told.