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Cancelled Flight To Cagayan De Oro Saved My Life

July 26, 2013 – is a sad date for the citizens of Cagayan de Oro city because of a blast that occurred at Kyla's Bistro, one of the tenants in the restaurant strip at Rosario Arcade in Limketkai Mall, around 11:30 p.m. Friday. Six people, were killed, while 46 others were wounded.

That same date, my flight from Davao City going to Cagayan de Oro got cancelled due to bad weather.

I was pissed at first for the fact that I don’t have enough sleep, have to be at the airport 2 hours before the estimated time of departure (6:55 am), we have to cancel our scheduled canyoneering activity at Mapawa Adventure Park, and my two other companions are not feeling well. 

I know the weather is not within the control of the airline and I am thankful that they offered other options for us. They offered that we either fly the next day or take the connecting flight from Davao to Manila to Cagayan de Oro. So, we picked the latter and arrived at Cagayan de Oro around 6 pm.

The Original Itinerary
Our original itinerary for that day was the canyoneering activity at Mapawa (8am to 2pm), rest at the Hotel (2pm to 7pm), dinner at Kagay-anon restaurant in Limketkai Mall (7pm to 9pm), and chill and booze at Rosario Arcade (9 pm onwards) where the bombing happened.

But since we arrived late at Cagayan, our original itinerary changed. Instead of pursuing our evening plan at Kagay-anon restaurant and Rosario Arcade in Limketkai Mall, we just dined at Barbecue Station near our hotel and just sleep as my two sick companions’ condition got even worse and we are just too tired to roam around.

Next day, I woke up with the sad news about the bombing, then it dawned to me that if not for the cancelled flight, we may have pushed through with our original plan, and I could be one of the casualties or witnesses of that terrible explosion.

Cancelled flights are quite annoying sometimes but, there’s a reason for everything. As for me, it saved me from that nightmare. It is also God’s way of telling me that it’s not my time yet and life is too short to not do the things you love.

My heart and prayer goes to the victims of the bombing.

Going Away For A Girls' Weekend

You and your group of pals may have pondered this idea of going away for a "girls’ weekend” before... or maybe you've already made it an annual tradition.


Among your peers, you know how good it feels to let it all hang out... to be the person you were before you had your first job... to be the person you’ve grown into, but without the trappings of adult responsibilities.

Girly Getaway Ideas
Go... Big
  • Splurge for a spa weekend in a destination you've been dying to experience.
  • Put on your most fashionable walking shoes, and hit the shopping destination of the city or country you’re visiting.
  • Enjoy an outdoor destination – bicycling through Burnham Park in Baguio, kayaking the El Nido lagoons, backpacking in the mountains of Sagada... or somewhere more exotic!


Go... Mid-Range!
  • Book a weekend in a near beach resort. Enjoy buffets galore, night clubs, shows, an outrageous amount of neon, and gambling.
  • Plan an all-day, all-night extravaganza... right out your front door. Organize a spa day at a local salon. Then lunch like ladies at a white-tablecloth establishment. Retire to a hotel to have a pyjama party.


Go... Small
  • Go car camping with your pals at a nearby nature preserve, national forest, or park. Get dirty, roast marshmallows, hike, and gab.
  • Have an old-fashioned slumber party. Clear your house – or at least a part of your house – of spouse and children. Order pizza, make popcorn, play music, watch movies, and stay up all night playing games and talking.

A girls’ weekend is a special time to indulge. Dress up or dress down. Get a manicure and pedicure... and maybe a massage, too. Yes, I get ‘girly’ sometimes. Watch as many chick flicks as you want. Listen to your favourite sappy songs and sing along at the top of your lungs. Stay up late and sleep in. Dance. And laugh till it hurts.

It’s up to you and your friends to decide how to spend the time. Just be sure to put some distance between you and your domestic and professional responsibilities.

-Butler/Mastromarino