2017 Eid AL Fitr Celebration

We celebrated our Eid Al-Fitr (Ramadan Holiday) from 25 to 27 June 2017. It is 3-day holiday for workers in our Company.

(Rey "Piolo" Bolanio, Donald Derla, Romeo "Dondon" Marquez, Rodel Bellosillo, Reggie Florez, Edgard Paetan & Glendo Valdezco)

We decided to have our usual beach party in the afternoon of June 24, 2017 because we knew that on the first day of the holiday itself, the beach will be occupied by so many people.

(Jerick Sarmiento & Charles Tamares)

We arrived at the beach at around 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon and I told my co-workers to take our pictures because it will be dark afterwards.

 (Rudy, Jerick & Charles)

(Rollie, Romeo, Dado & Ricky)

After the picture-taking, while some colleagues broiled our meal, many of us proceeded to the beach not to swim but to catch fish.

(Jerick, Ricky, Joey & Nilo)

Fortunately, all of us caught something. After that, we decided to take our dinner which comprised of shrimp in tamarind soup (sinigang na hipon), broiled chicken and tilapia and bulalo (beef soup made of shank with bone marrow).

(Image from http://tagaloglang.com/bulalo/)

For dessert, we have watermelon.

(Rodel, Romeo, Reggie, Donald, Edgard & Piolo)

After dinner, we decided to fish again. This time, the catch was few. The fish was full as well and decided to go away from the shore.

25 June 2017

Nothing to do, I decided to fish alone in the morning. I caught about 10 fish before 12:00 noon and only about 2 in the afternoon. Some of the Nepalese fishing enthusiasts arrived at around 3:30 PM. I left the shore at about 7:00 in the evening.

26 June 2017

Since my co-workers had agreed to return to the beach where we had our party to fish, I did not go on fishing in the morning. We left our Camp at around 3:30 PM and arrived at around 4:20 PM because we passed by the fish market to buy some baits. The day was not so good as in the previous day since we caught only but a few. We left at around 8:30 PM

27 June 2017

Today is the last day of our holiday. As usual, I spent the morning at the shore. Juliuos, our Workshop supervisor, took me there at around 7:10 in the morning. The day was good as I caught about 20 fish.

Silver breams

Unfortunately, I also encountered some misadventures. My right thump got hooked and had bruise on the left sole.

I think it is a reminder that I have to slow down a bit on my fishing adventure. I have to rest for a week to heel my hand and feet.

Low tide

High tide

Fishing is Fun

I think the prediction of Fishing Reminder yesterday, 23 June 2017 was correct by rating 4 the day 4 stars out of 4. I was able to catch a total of 17 fish. However, only two of them were big which I already fried.

My co-employees who are not into fishing often wonder why I have to trek 30 minutes under a searing sun just to catch fish. Added to this are the sunburn and some bruises that I got.

Sometimes, I wonder too. But, if you are in the water catching those eluded fish, you get this feeling of euphoria especially when you caught them.

Some people may not know it but it is not catching the fish per se that fishing is fun. It is that moment in time when your bait was being bitten my the fish, especially on those days when they are in the eating mode. The moment of waiting and then suddenly the biting of your bait make your day. Of course, catching the fish is the ultimate prize!

Catching fish is not easy. The waiting time often seems endless and you want to give up especially when you are standing up under a boiling sun and salty wind. Spend those moments reminiscing the past, planning for the future, and thanking and smiling for today. While the rest of the world are sleeping, working, and browsing on the internet, mobile phones, and tablets, you are there catching fish enjoying your leisure time.

You may not any catch fish for the day but the hope of catching one tomorrow is there. Happy fishing everyone!