Thank You 2013

Grateful for...

• still having a job (the only source for travel funds)
• all the vehicles that have stopped to let Mustachio cross the street (every year Mustachio must thank them for letting him live)
• packing on pounds thanks to:
• food tastings (Marshall's Irish Pub, The Suite Room, Chicken Junction, Golden Cowrie)
• openings (Manggahan, Big Flat Bread, Cable Car, Michel's Deli + Cafe, Hukad in Parkmall, Big Daddy)
• treats just because they were feeling generous (Chatime, Choi City). Wow, Mustachio ate a lot this year!
• the owner of Telesfora Beach Cottage in El Nido for feeding 10 travelers at 530 in the morning.
• Trip@Palawan Travel and Tours for letting Mustachio and friends use the van for an hour more than what they had paid for
• Mustachio's long time college pal who fed him breakfast at Missy Bon Bon in Cagayan de Oro and who prodded Mustachio to become a circus performer (without an audience, but who cares)
• Cheng Bandala for answering calls from an unknown number. Mustachio was a stranger who called asking if Ms Bandala's house in Carabao Island was still open for homestays. It wasn't, but she selflessly took the time to find Mustachio another place.
• Rebecca Bandala for welcoming Mustachio to Carabao Island like they were long lost friends
• Carla for feeding Mustachio at The Suite Room, Chicken Junction, Michel's Deli + Cafe, and Big Daddy
• Joyceren of My Tasteful Life for secretly recommending Mustachio to Senpur Trading. He got to drain five glasses of Allmytea!
• Mustachio's long time friend for letting him crash at her place in Bantayan Island
• Agnes and husband, owners of La Isla Grill Siargao Bar and Grill, for expertly driving their van through muddy roads on the way to the awesome swimming holes of Magpupungko
• Max and Juvil, the father and son team, for the patience while Mustachio explored every nook and cranny of Bucas Grande
• meeting these amazing world travelers: Noelfy and Pinay Travel Junkie
• Kaona Grill for not leaving the Palawan cherry tree to die. The tree is now in Kaona Grill's new home in Lahug. Grow, tree, grow!
• Justinne aka Babe for Food for helping Mustachio maintain his pudginess by: 
• letting him taste her addicting brownie cups 
• giving his name to Chatime, Choi City, Golden Cowrie, Manggahan, and Big Flat Bread
• texting him directions to Mingnan Chinese Cuisine 
• inviting him to Mövenpick, Chatime, and Choi City
• nominating him in this year's Best Cebu Blogs (this does not help maintain pudginess but thanks all the same) though Best Cebu Blogs doesn't think he is qualified
• people Mustachio met on the road who came to visit him in Cebu this year:
• Ryo, a Japanese he met in a bus in Cambodia in 2012, took time off from studying in Manila
• SangCheol, a Korean he met in 2010, came for a weekend of boating and eating
• Teo, a Vietnamese whose family welcomed three strangers into their home, spent more than a week hopping from Mustachio's house to another
• granting the lazy hiker's dream. Mustachio only had to hike for 30 minutes to reach Pinatubo's crater lake
• Mustachio's close friend from highschool for always adopting him when he's in Manila and for taking him to the National Art Gallery, the Museum of the Filipino People, and The Mind Museum.
• everyone who answered Mustachio's questions when he was in Legazpi City in Albay (directions, tips, and random questions)
• the kind lady who let Mustachio leave his heavy bag in her stall while he hiked up Kawa-kawa Hill
• Mt Mayon for showing all her beauty
• Ramir for not overcharging for the tricycle ride from Guijalo Port to Paniman Beach
• Rene and Thata for safely taking Mustachio and friends from Sagbayan Peak to EAT Danao to Tubigon Port through sun and rain
• Mustachio's officemate for securing him a bus seat to Davao City from Cateel, Davao Oriental
• the jeepney driver in Davao City for the interesting conversation on the way to Davao Museum
• Brennan of Baktin Corporation for giving Mustachio no choice but to give in to that collab post about Coron
• Torta og Uban Pa for the box of cupcakes (that was unexpected!) just because Mustachio wrote a blogpost about them
• Mustachio's good friend for the treats from Sunday 2PM and Cafe Caw
• Mövenpick for that impressive experiment!
• everyone who helped the Philippines after that terrible typhoon
• the Christmas gift givers who also believe that it's the season to be fatty: Justinne of Babe for Food (brownie cups), Fred of The Exaggerated Zeal (napoleones), Carla of Jeepney Stop Chillin' (s'mores), Zhequia of FTW! Food, Travel and Whatevs (brownies), and Joyceren of My Tasteful Life (cookies and gummies). If you had given it all at the same time, Mustachio could have had a mini dessert buffet :D
• Mustachio's brother for the new phone. Now Mustachio can Instagram and tweet! If only he wasn't too lazy to actually post.
• everyone who has been visiting (and hopefully reading) this blog!