After 26 days of traveling, 10 days in Manila, and two days in Cebu, I had pinned my hopes on getting back into shape in Siargao.

I announced to my friends that I was going into hibernation and was not to be disturbed. The maid was under instructions not to feed me.

I got off to a good start. The afternoon that I arrived, I walked the dogs (approx. 2 kilometers) and went for a swim. It got dark very fast so I only did about 25 laps. The next day, I started earlier and was able to finish my 32 laps (1024 meters).

And then the Pacquiao fight happened. After two days of hardly eating anything, perhaps ordering a bottle of wine at 10 AM wasn’t the smartest thing to do. I spent the next day in bed.

Which was fine because it was pissing rain.

Then, just as I was almost feeling human, some friends came over and partied at my house. The same thing happened the next night. And then some other friends had a leaving party that I couldn’t miss.

To sum up my last 12 days in Siargao, when I wasn’t trying to find my head, I couldn’t leave my room anyway on account of the rains.

So I booked a flight back to Manila. (I just got back to Cebu. Am in Manila on Saturday.)

Usually, I hate being in Manila in December, when everyone seems to be on a 24/7 shopping mission and traffic is at its gnarliest. The only time I feel that it is safe to return is on the 24th, when everyone’s finally gone home to their families and the streets are, more or less, empty. And, although the rainy season in Siargao (- which I also hate being around for) starts in November, December usually sees more sunny days than rainy ones so waiting out the Christmas traffic in Manila on the island isn’t bad at all.

Except for this year. This year, there seem to be several storms queuing over Siargao’s horizon. A monster one is expected this weekend, with a lesser storm following on its tail.

While I don’t mind a little rain, the rainy season in Siargao can be intense. It’s so humid that it’s impossible to stay dry even when indoors. The sheets are damp and the floors are slick with moisture. Outside, if it isn’t flooded, the roads are still impassable from all the mud. Which is why, after December 24th, I don’t usually set foot back on the island till March or April.

This year, I’ve decided to skip town a little bit earlier. I figured I don’t have to deal with Manila traffic if I just DON’T GO OUT. A novel idea, I know, but it’s worth a try.

I’ve already signed up for several workouts around the city, but I can always venture out during off-peak hours.

…

When I’ll only waste one hour of my life every day, twiddling my thumbs, trying to keep my ears from bleeding while the cab driver sings along to Jose Marie Freakin’ Chan, as opposed to the de rigueur Christmas special of three Jesus-kill-me-now hours.

…

FOR GOD’S SAKE, PEOPLE, CHRISTMAS FALLS ON THE SAME DATE EVERY YEAR! Get it together and do your shopping in July, goddamit!!!

I hate Christmas.