MARCH 2012
When I checked into my guest house on Apo Island, I saw a small gift behind the reception desk. After saying hello, I asked who was celebrating their birthday. I was told the gift was for a wedding the following day. My excited, "CONGRATULATIONS!" was followed by an invitation for Catherine, the girl I was traveling with, and I to join. The wedding was held on Selino Island, about a 2 hour slow (and wet) boat ride from Apo. Once there, we became honored guests. I soon started a dance party, and when taking a break, I sat down at a table to start a conversation with two men. As luck would have it, these guys turned out to be the mayor and congressmen of Dapitan, Mindanao. Next thing I knew we were being invited to fly in their private helicopter to their exclusive resort Dakak! We spent the remainder of our day exploring the resort and enjoying a free jet-ski ride before being helicoptered back to the small and beautiful island of Apo... just in time to see the sun set over the water!