Under the Pearl of the Orient Sun

Destination Wishlist 2012: Batangas

2012-01-16T22:51:00.000+08:00

another adventure begins

2012-01-06T20:33:00.001+08:00

I've not much travels in 2011. After spending the 1st day of the past year in exploring Jurong Bird Park in Singapore with my youngest sister, my other small adventures were in Batangas only spent with former officemates-turned-friends and my best p're.

And as much as I wanted to explore more, there were much to consider particularly budget and time. That's why this year of the Water Dragon, I'm very hopeful that I'd be able to travel more, in and out of the country. Not to mention my goal of exploring the province of Batangas. There are just so much to see pa.

I've a minimal list for now. The places that I'll most likely go to are:

Amansinaya Mountain Resort. After exploring Sandari Batulao Forest Reserve and Casa Rap, our next adventure and our first for this year is located in Laurel, Batangas. It's through a discount coupon that we're able to purchase for a day tour. I just hope I'll be able to make a reservation asap. Their lines are always busy, too bad there was no mobile nos indicated as well as email address.

Kota Kinabalu. Sometime November, I thought of having a birthday getaway out of the country because the one I planned for my birthday last year in Casa San Pablo didn't push through. And I found KK very interesting that even if I'd go alone, I won't worry. As of this time though, nothing is concrete yet.

Coron, Palawan. This is where my barkada is planning to have our first major trip. I've been tasked to scour for budget-wise tour packages and I've already found one. Good thing I have a friend who works for a travel and tours company. The only thing we had to finalize though is if we'll make it sometime July, August or December as we are still considering the availability of all since 4 of us are still coming from different countries. I'm pretty much excited and wishing this will push through.

There goes my trips for 2012, those planned and still being planned. And I'm optimistic about having sudden adventures wherever there's an opportunity. That's how the trill makes me look forward to wonderful journeys!

traveling and a start of something new

2011-10-23T19:56:00.000+08:00

I'd like to think that it will be a start of something I'll be doing frequently (given the time and money) in the future. Because I love to and it's definitely one of my dreams. Traveling for me is one way of learning. I'm thankful for the trips I've had but of course I'm longing for more. And isn't it grand to go to different places to discover something new?

I'm inspired by St. Augustine- "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”

I know it's impossible for me to travel the world but I'd be happy and contented to read only a few pages. And with that, I'd like to chronicle each of my small adventures through this blog. Meanwhile, I have put my other personal blog here. I've been meaning to separate my travelogues for quite sometime now so I'm happy to finally accomplish it.

I'm looking forward to more adventures soon. Meanwhile, I really hope I'd see you too on the other side- Sunglowed. My life. Up close and personal.

our La Luz getaway

2011-08-29T14:58:00.006+08:00

pre’s panoramic shot of the resort

We’re blessed with clear skies that Sunday morning on our way to our destination. My best p’re and I had our beach getaway at La Luz Beach Resort for an overnight stay. It’s been two years since we’ve been together so we’re very excited. It’s not our usual hang-outs- malling or spending the night talking along Baywalk and cozing around the bars in Malate.

Since we’re commuting, we’ve chosen the route from Lipa City. From the jeepney terminal at Poblacion, we rode a jeep bound for San Juan. It took us almost an hour of travel until we got to the town proper. We dropped off near the jeep terminal again, this time bound for Hugom. The trip’s kinda uncomfortable because it’s packed with goods the locals bought. And it took us an hour which should only take 40 mins. because apparently since La Luz is the end point, we had to take re-routing for those passengers who live in the barangays before Hugom. By the time we’re on our drop-off point, we’re tired already. Needless to say, we’re surprised to be informed that we still had to walk to reach La Luz. And walking we did, passing through a neighborhood. And alas, we reached the gate and finally felt relieved when the guard ushered us in. After registration, we’ve met by a resort staff (wasn’t able to ask his name!) and he briefed us of the resort rules and other pertinent information about the place. And the great thing was, though we reserved and paid for the annex room, they will have us stay at one of the premiere rooms! That’s because there were small no. of guests on that day (our accommodation was Sunday and Monday) and to have our utmost convenience, we’ve been offered a room upgrade without any additional charge!

Premiere Room

After taking our late lunch and paying our 50% balance at the resort’s office, we were accompanied to our room. It’s nice! Not only because we’ve been upgraded but it’s roomy. The room is actually good for up to 4 persons. We settled for a while and arranged our things. Afterwards, we’re off to the beach with both our cameras to capture the place. But pre’s gadget is a DSLR so I let him do almost all the clicking! (But the pics below are shots from my digicam! :p) The place is picture-perfect!

the rocks at the end of Hugom stretch

the sea during high tide

the resort, shot was taken at the rock point

The whole afternoon on our first day, p're and I practically took shots of the place while appreciating it much and had meaningful conversations aside from him giving me tips on how a DSLR camera works. By the time we waited for the sunset (which we were not able to see, sigh!),and get disappointed a bit, we decided to go back to our room and freshened up for dinner. The set-up of the buffet was nice and they serve really good food.

The resort provides a bonfire at night which makes the ambiance all the more relaxing. I was contented lying on one of the beach beds just stargazing while p’re took shots of the bonfire applying effects on the camera. The sound of the waves was inviting so we decided to take a dip after but hesitated and just walked along the shore. The sand in the Laiya and Hugom stretch is coarse but it didn’t matter. The coastline is beautiful for me to begin with so walking on it barefoot was no big deal.

We ended the night with closing our conversation for the day. We never ran out of things to talk about! And agreed that we’d go kayaking in the morning. The one we forgot was agreeing of seeing the sunrise! Anyhow, after breakfast the following day, we headed to the kayaking area to rent one. The rent for an hour is P200 but the staff assigned told us that we can use the kayak for as long as we want to for us to enjoy it fully! Off we went to the sea, while I was so excited I can’t help but giggle at first. After a few minutes, I got into my senses and seriously paddle. We had FUN! It’s actually my first time to kayak and it’s pretty amazing seeing those fishes and paddling through the waves. But while we enjoy kayaking, we decided to swim and see the fishes closer. We’re wearing our life-vests actually since the beach at San Juan is quite deep and unpredictable. So it’s safe to wear one. We swam for almost two hours (my darker skin was proof of that) and the reason why we decided to stop was the bites we got from we don’t know what. But still we immensely enjoyed being at sea!

Our check-out time is 11am and we’re still on time. We took pictures again after packing our things, somehow trying to capture the place with our hearts for the last time because we both knew it has already become special. La Luz made our getaway possible. And it sure was kind to us, because of:

room upgrade
accommodating and friendly staff
extended use of kayak
the place itself being peaceful and clean
the calmness it brought us
good service in general

P’re and I left the resort light and happy! Considering it’s our first adventure, travel-wise, it has been successful and we promised each other it’s only the beginning of yet another!

Thank you La Luz! :)

Casa Rap: Greenhouse for Fun Dining

2011-06-08T21:54:00.002+08:00

“San tayo next?” This is what we ask each other after a happy and fun get-together. My former officemates turned friends and I made a pact to explore Batangas and nearby provinces whenever we have time to. And that’s why after our trekking adventure in Nasugbu, we made a list of destinations. First on the list is Casa Rap, a green house restaurant located at San Jose. We did not have a hard time looking for the place, all we had to do was tell the jeepney driver of our drop off point.

We mistook the garage as the entrance as we were excited to see what’s inside. It turned out the left side with the arc is the way in. Casa Rap is a greenhouse for fun dining, and the owner is so creative that though almost all the things inside are made of scrap, they’re are well- recycled. Everything is so relaxing and wonderful to see! We stayed at the reception area where items are displayed for selling as we waited for a staff to attend to us. A book for guests signing is provided on the desk but we never got to sign because we started taking pictures at every corner possible. Everything inside is picturesque actually. It’s a bonus M has a very nice camera too! I can’t contain myself from taking shots and making them pose. I brought a camera but opted not to use it because as compared to M’s, it’s got low quality. A pathway leads to the main dining hall. It’s a Sunday afternoon but we’re surprised to see only a family who dined ahead of us. Instead of ordering food first, we continued our photo shoots as if we’re run of time to do so. We decided to eat a little later and explored the place first.

From the outside, you really can’t see much of the place until you get inside the cafe’. It’s much detailed and you can see more beautifully recycled pieces. I love how the owner was able to design lamps and how she puts them on the tables. And how she arranged a capiz window as divider to separate the main house from the dining hall. I was still appreciating the place when we decided to order food. Once we’re settled on one of the tables, we talked about one particular point of interests we saw around. From heart-shaped carved stones to paintings to chairs, to ceiling and so on. Everything is a work of art. We stopped chatting when our orders arrived and devour them with gusto. Some of the ingredients are really new to me but I welcomed the taste. The food is affordable by the way and fresh! The herbs, leaves and other ingredients came from their own garden and greenhouse.

After we’ve finished eating, we lingered a little bit to rest and then took more pictures. And while viewing the camera album, we concluded that Casa Rap is totally a different kind of dining experience for us. With an ambiance, so relaxed and peaceful, it’s one of the nicest getaways we’d love to explore over and over again. One more thing, it’s being with nature too and having a sense of responsibility for the environment that makes this restaurant unique. And no doubt, we’re all happy and contented diners!

Casa Rap
KM 90, National Highway
San Jose, Batangas
(043) 726 2873

Sandari Batulao Forest Trekking Adventure

2011-04-19T23:32:00.011+08:00

It's through Facebook that I was able to find this land development in Nasugbu, Batangas. Sandari Batulao offers a mountainside living, just being at the foot of Mt. Batulao (according to our forest guide, it means batong umiilaw) and Mt. Talamitam. Sandari came from two Sanskrit words, zaanta which means peaceful and dhari meaning valley.

This summer until May 21, they are holding a Sandari Forest Trekking Adventure and Mt. Batulao Climb. There are limited slots so participants are required to register. However, registration is free for the trek while there's a minimal fee for the climb. Other activities are being held but my former officemates-turned-friends and I opted to experience the forest reserve trek. I registered the three of us with our preferred date and some information needed for reference. We can't hide our excitement before the scheduled date of trekking. After all, we had no idea what to expect of the reserve aside from available pictures posted at their Facebook page. But being the adventurous and nature-lovers that we are, we knew it'll be awesome!

century-old trees

Since it was a holiday, we thought that we were to be with a big no. of trekkers. But we're surprised to see less participants. We're on the road as early as 6am as we were to be at Nale by 9am for the orientation. The forest reserve is (our entry point) at Brgy. Kaylaway just in front of Evercrest Golf Club. We rode a van from Sandari Batulao to this starting point. It was amazing that almost beside the national road and just after a couple of houses, a few meters away, we'll see this wondrous forest with century-old trees, 9,000 species of them in 47 hectares of land (1,900 hectares total of land property owned privately) abound this reserve. From the moment I saw one really tall and huge tree, I thought I was in a different world.

the trekkers

The weather is nice, not so humid since earlier that day, it rained. Gladly though, the rain stopped before we started the trek. Although it was advisable to wear sturdy shoes, I preferred wearing sandals (but durable still with rubber soles) as I wanted to feel the leaves and the cracking of twigs on my feet.The trek was approximately 2 1/2 hours. It's no small feat but I managed to gain enough strength to finish it. Besides, I can't recall if I did perspired since there's no heat coming from the sun. Weird, I know. Anyways, the trek made us in awe of the different trees we saw along the trail, gigantic ones, low-lying shrubs, fruit-bearing and even medicinal ones. One of our guides was very kind to feed us with detailed information of the reserve specifically some trees which I asked him about. For a fact that at his age, he can still manage to do the trek was inspiring. Overwhelmed that I am, I was not able to ask his name. Bummer!

I took photos here and there. Different angles and anything that absolutely amazed me. And I also captured shots of my friends who just like me were super enjoying the adventure. As I can't of course have perfect snapshots, Sandari Batulao sent official photographer who I believe had doubled energy as much as we do. Clicking the camera a hundred times was kinda tiring also but he was truly dedicated. A special thanks to him, we have beautiful pictures for souvenirs.

Since the beginning, I was really looking forward to this forest reserve adventure. I've been so exhausted with past happenings that I believed this will be a breather and a total unwinding experience. And it did not disappoint. From the beautiful landscape that is Sandari Batulao, the beautiful Nale to the wondrous forest, it was perfect. Did I mention that it's free? All we had to spend for was our fare and lunch which by the way was cheap too. And the management was so kind enough to provide us with a compass as souvenirs, van transfer (from the development to the forest reserve) and mineral water. I was so thankful that I had to share this with fellow nature enthusiasts.

Nale and our compass-souvenirs

There are still available trek schedule. If you're interested, just visit their fanpage here for details. For me, this is a one-of-a-kind adventure that is worth a lifetime of memories. Cheers to us, we conquered Sandari Forest! :)

Hot and Cold Cafè

2011-03-02T17:30:00.003+08:00

It's more than just coffee.

Since it opened late last year, I made time to drop by and try their delicious menu. I've been there with my cousins and friends who, just like me, enjoy the food and drinks (especially the frappuccinos) and the ambiance, not to mention the free wifi connection. What else can you ask for?

I'm not a food critic, can't have enough words to describe what my platter of food tastes like so here's an article from Chef Gene Gonzales as posted in Manila Bulletin-

click here for the full article

The owner of the cafè took up culinary lessons under Chef Gonzales' culinary academy. It's the owner's dream to put up a restaurant and cafè like this one which he conceptualized during his training in Florida. Along with his wife, who is a fellow HRM graduate, they realized the dream with the help of family and friends and with their 1 yr old son in tow. :)

Here are my usual orders-

pan-seared pounded beef sirloin served w/ alfredo

penne pasta tossed over a cheese sauce
and topped w/ Mexican beef and salsa pomodoro

baked nachos top w/ beef, cheese, tomato salsa and sour cream

potato skin. oven-baked until roasted and crispy, topped w/ sour cream,
bacon bits, cheese sauce and cheddar cheese

currently my fave!

There are still other menus to try and I haven't been there in a month. Next on my list is Kim's Scampi, butter based sauce topped with shrimp, tarragon, onions and basil. It's a dish made especially for the cafè's chef's wife.

I'm not into 'complicated' foods but Hot and Cold Cafè made me changed my mind into trying the ever delectable dishes filled with kinda sossy ingredients. And yes, it definitely satisfies my palate, everytime.

Hot and Cold Cafè
National Highway, Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City
(beside Monterey Meat Shop)
Open on Mondays to Sundays
11:00am to 12:00pm
For inquiries and/or reservations:
hotandcoldcafe@live.com
(043) 723 0556

Jurong Bird Park

2011-02-16T02:05:00.004+08:00

Before my trip, I have been scouring for places to see in Singapore through the internet. Considerably, most of the places I want to see are the nature side of the city. I was keen on seeing the Forest Walk at night but it didn't materialize. Anyhow, choosing to spend the first day of 2011 at Jurong Bird Park is absolute fun for my youngest sister and me.

It’s our first time to explore the park and so my sister had to search on how to get there. Good thing she’s good with directions so we rode the right bus and dropped off the right stop. The moment we saw the sign and alighting from the bus, we knew our adventure already begun.

We’re both excited upon entering. At the entrance, there’s this counter with brochures of different tourist spots you would want to go to in Singapore. I got as many as I can for references, of course. And I was happy to see so many people inside already. It made me feel energized. After all, exploring the world’s largest bird park is no small feat. And it’s fun to see others, different nationalities, who are as excited as we are to see the birds.

Before heading towards the ticket counter, we saw the shop located at the entrance area and I hurriedly looked at the penguin stuffed toys. We would have wanted to buy something already but we thought we can do the shopping later. After all, we still don’t know what’s inside the park and not be able to explore all because of time constraint was a no-no to us. Our goal was to see ALL what the park has to offer so we opted to start early as possible.

I’ve let my sister inquire about the tickets. We’ve known that there was a promo for the Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari tickets for only SGD58. I don’t think I remember the price right but since we don’t have the luxury of time to explore the three mentioned parks while I’m in Singapore, we disregarded the promo and have our tickets for the bird park be maximized. We bought the tickets inclusive of the Lory Feeding and Panorail Ride. After the ticketing staff gave us our tickets and our map (I love maps!), off we go to start our adventure.

Both my sister and I can’t contain our delight upon knowing that there are penguins inside the park. Silly us, of course, they are birds! But you see, we’re big fans of Happy Feet. Did you see the movie? You should see it. They are absolutely adorable and cuuute! OK, I digress. Anyways, we can’t help ourselves but shriek upon seeing the penguins, different species of them. We spent about 30 minutes inside and decided that we should head on and just go back for the feeding time in the afternoon. Or else, not enough birds to see for the day.

After the Penguin Coast, we breezed through the Flamingo Pool, Wetlands, Fuji Hawk Walk (we’re not able to see the Birds of Prey Show), Riverine and the others. But not without uttering Wow!, ‘Ang ganda!’ ‘Look!’ That day was definitely our ‘being a child again’ day.

We’re kinda tired with all the walking (it rained pa) and picture taking already by the time to see the Birds n Buddies Show at the Pools Ampitheatre.

I’m not good with names, I forgot the name of the bird trainers, the host especially and the birds that entertained us. Certainly, forgetfulness comes with age. Geez! But isn’t he looks like Pinoy? My sister and I argued if he is one or not. But we absolutely enjoyed the show and happy to see kids watching in awe.

After taking lunch at the terrace kiosk, we had to leave hurriedly because we're too excited to go to the Lory Loft for the feeding of birds. We had to walk our way there to see the rest of the birds on the area. It's raining a bit since we're at the ampitheatre but good thing it didn't rained that hard. While at last we're at the entrance of the Lory Loft, I was extremely surprised to see the Bottle Tree. I had no idea such actually exists!

After taking pictures of it, we then proceeded inside. We asked the one in charge at the counter if we were to pay for the bird food but he informed us that it's already included in our tickets so we didn't have to purchase one for that purpose. I forgot that, actually. And since I can't find my ticket (bummer), we got only one cup as my sister was very impatient to start the feeding after seeing others already doing that.

The Loft is nice, it felt like you're in a forest, only quite accessible. Anyhow, feeding the birds was not easy at first. We needed to go to an area where there are birds already on the branches where we can reach them. We didn't wait too long though as two started to approach us and there we go, reaching out the cup for them to feed on. The fun started here and both my sister and I were giddy and so happy for such unforgettable experience. If only I can kiss the birds, I would, only to say thank you to them. That's how overwhelming it was to us.

While we enjoyed feeding them, our arms already felt the strain. You can see how high we need to reach, at one point, I had to pull down one branch to somehow make it easy. When there's no food left, I urged my sister for us to head on since we need to go back to the Penguin Coast to watch the feeding session at 3:30pm. Again, it's total fun once again for us both. There's an scheduled encounter too with one but due to an outpoor, it didn't happen as it was to be held outside. But anyhow, we're still contented with just the feeding, the penguins are úber cute! (I can't upload the video I took, the file is so big) The staff who's feeding them is lucky to have that job, really!

When the feeding session was finished, we went to the World of Darkness to see the owls. We didn't got to stay longer though as it was uncomfortable for me, and I was kinda irritated because some still used a flash even though they were requested not to. Poor owls, they were kinda disturbed. Anyhow, we're off to our final destination, the African Waterfall Aviary.

We needed to ride the panorail from the main station since we're running out of time. It rained hard again on our way there so after alighting from the aviary station, we needed to wait for the rain to subside. We ordered Milo (they have a very delicious variety) and waited patiently. Upon realizing that it kept raining, we thought of buying us an umbrella. We didn't opt for the raincoats for practical reasons. But as we finished our Milo, the downpour stopped. Off we go, we run actually as we're afraid we'd never have the chance to see the waterfalls if it rained hard again and besides, we're running out of time. Finally, the one I so wanted to see...

I can't stop clicking after gazing at its beauty and was surprised to see I captured a bird flying through. Actually, I didn't notice it until I saw it in my camera. My sister and I stayed awhile longer since it's our last stop and gone up to the observation deck. The view is even more beautiful there. And it's nice to think that we're actually seeing the tallest man-made waterfall in the world. Though we didn't see much of the birds in the aviary, it's good enough for us.

On that note, I'm contented and happy to see it and explore the park. Besides, it's a chance of a lifetime for me. And as we walked towards the station, I got to thinking... I'll definitely go back. :)

The Tourist at Orchard Road

2011-01-16T21:30:00.001+08:00

My 2nd day in Singapore was spent at the Orchard Road. Since my youngest sister had to work that day, we didn't have an itinerary except to watch a movie premiere after her work. I decided I better explore at least a part of the famous road as well as see where she works and eventually meet her officemates. We left the house early to have ample time taking pictures.

I joined my sister at the 5th level of Wheelock Place where she works and helped her prep herself at the washroom (she refused to wear make-up but I eventually convinced her to). After we finished, she already timed-in and I then proceeded downstairs (am excited along the way) to Borders, a bookstore located at the ground floor. My sisters informed me beforehand about it. And upon knowing that I can read books for free, I thought I can stay there practically the whole day! Sorry, but the books are way too expensive for me.

Well, it wasn't so because all the couches provided were taken so I decided to walk along the Orchard Road. As far as my feet can take me though, because I realized, it's way too long for me to explore. Since it's still holiday season, I saw different Christmas trees put up by some malls.

My first stop was Lucky Plaza. I must say that it's a confusing way to get there because I had to walk through the underpass. It's no small feat to concentrate reading the directions for I have proceeded to a wrong way twice. I was kinda hungry by then so I told myself to succeed the third try. Fortunately, I did and found a place to eat which is McDonalds. Honestly, I'm not adventurous in food so I played safe. The only food I tried on the street was the watermelon fruitshake. Boring, eh?! Anyhow, eating lunch at a fastfood chain is nice, I felt at home. At McDonalds Lucky Plaza, Filipino staff are dominant. And hearing them talk in Tagalog was comforting.

I started walking again and went as far as the Orchard Building. At the time I reached the area, my feet started to hurt so I had to find a bench somewhere. At that moment I just observed the people bustling around. I noticed how fashionable the girls are. Some clothes, I admire and thought of wearing that kind too. Several minutes passed and I decided to head back and go inside the malls, to window shop, that is. First, at Paragon, then to Wisma Atria and finally, the ION Orchard. Some of the stores were on sale but for me the prices are still too high for my budget. Besides, shopping was not on my to-do list at Orchard Road. :)

It's already past 6pm when I went back to Borders. I feel so tired by then realizing I spent hours of just walking and stopping and walking. But it subsided a little when at the bookstore I found a seat (a secluded one, in my opinion) to start reading Brida by Paulo Coelho. It felt like I was in a book heaven. The feeling was good. It was about time that I had to go fetch my sister at her workplace when I finished it. I was giddy on my way up and when finally I met her kind and friendly officemates. :)

book heaven :)

It's nice to see where my sister works and meet her co-workers. Because that way, I'll be able to know personally how she is at work. Since my younger sisters are far from home, it's important that they're happy and safe. I was seated at one of the bean bags (I find them cute!) while waiting for my sister's time out. It was kinda awkward but when her supervisor asked something about my sister, I warmed up. And I realized she's not mataray naman pala contrary to how she looks in photos. :) I then requested my sister to ask her if it's OK to take pictures. She's nice to have said yes. One of the staff even volunteered to take a picture of my sis and me. It's wonderful really. I can't help but utter thanks several times. And mostly so because the supervisor (she's Malaysian, btw) allowed her to leave the office at exactly her time-out.

They were supposed to stay a little longer for some day-end routine checks. We had to go on our way asap because we had to catch the second to the last full show of The Tourist. And the movie theaters we will go to is quite far from Wheelock Place (I forgot the name of the building where the theaters are). So off we run, walk, run, panting (me only) walking passed through a group of people (so many pala during the night, grabe!). When we finally reached the ticket booths, I was perspiring and considering bihira lang ako ganun, and I told my sister I know the movie is great so I believe it's worth all the running!

I bought the tickets, happy to do so since my sister practically spent too much on me already. But the kind person that she is, insisted that she buy us our snacks. I never got the time to argue because we had to head up at the theatre room located at the upper floor. Sad lang because we're not seated beside each other and our seats were near the screen. However, it's not hurtful to the eyes so we enjoyed the movie. It's a feel-good kind, not the types of action-packed (slight lang) ones Depp and Jolie filmed before. When it's finished, we're once again on the run hoping we'll catch naman the train to Jurong East. Luckily, we got to the train station on time but we had to take a cab na on the Jurong East stop for our second ride on the way home.

It's another day in Singapore and I should say, another meaningful date with my youngest sister. Another happy moments to add up to my treasured memories. I'm once again grateful, for the chance, the experience and the firsts. Most importantly, for the bonding my sister and I had. :)

restaurants in Batangas City

2010-11-13T23:03:00.005+08:00

Over the years, I witness the increasing nos. of restaurants in Batangas City. In my opinion, it's reminiscent that the city is continuously progressing. The newly opened businesses also provides not only additional revenues to the city government but jobs as well.

While there are already the crowd favorite fastfood chains, I intend to try restaurants for lutong bahay or an altogether different dining experience for a change-

Bel Piatto Cafe & Bistro is a combination of European, American & Asian influences in their menus. As I am fond of Starbucks and Figaro, I welcome the distinctive introduction to the combination of coffee and sumptuous meals which cater to more Batangueño food and coffee lovers.

My childhood friends and I tried their frapp and coffee. I ordered mocha frapp as I was to compare it with the one from my favorite coffee shop. Though the former can't beat the latter, I nevertheless appreciate its sweetness. As per the menu, we haven't tried any because we're full from lunch at Gerry's Grill.

Bel Piatto is very accessible as it is located at the front of SM City. So if one wanted a different atmosphere with a cozy touch, it's definitely the place to be.

Not too far is the recently opened Chef's Plate along Don Ramos highway. The resto's name confused me a bit as I thought it offers a fine dining cuisine. Apparently, it's a place where you can dine and drink wine. The menu consists of different plates you can choose from depending on your taste and if you're there for a drinking session with your buddies, they have several pulutan too. Among those are inihaw na liempo, sisig, litsong kawali, etc. I assumed that the place is really for that purpose because it's constructed with an open set-up. If you're a private person, you wouldn't like the arrangement because you're exposed to the commuters passing by the road. The price range is affordable. But service needs an improvement.

The other restaurant my former officemates and I tried and liked is Dampa. It's a native restaurant just a few minutes away from our office and Star Tollway-Balagtas Exit. At first, we were hesitant to try the place since it's located where the night clubs are also. But nevertheless, we tried their variety of food and loved their version of Pinoy dishes. My fave is their buko pandan. I like its presentation too. So sweetly made! The ambiance is nice as you are surrounded with wood and bamboo. As it is not entirely too private a place, one wouldn't be easily seen from the outside since the structure and design was made to partially hide the diners. This place is ideal if you're a group and where you can absolutely enjoy Pinoy dishes.

I have yet to experience dining in some restaurants in the city. And also, I'm looking forward to the opening of a coffee shop and bistro who is owned by a relative. It's good to have the opportunity to patronize our own food shops. This is also one good measure for us locals to be tourist-y and appreciate the sustainable development in the city. Besides, we the constituents will mostly benefit as we would no longer find one outside the province.

Will look forward to more food establishments then. :)

new discovery

2010-11-03T00:21:00.038+08:00

PRAMEA Complex, at the back of the town plaza

After going to the cemetery to visit our dearly departed last Monday, my cousin and I went to the town plaza to see the newly constructed commercial building, PRAMEA Complex in the area. And most importantly to dine at my favorite siomai haven- Hen Lin.

My manager informed me about this place and urged me to see it. I was surprised how different the place now is. Before the construction, there were only carinderias which cater to students in the nearby college, my alma mater. What amuses me though is the fact that 3 of my suki- HBC, Mr. Quikie and Hen Lin are there!

While enjoying our siomai feast, I was thinking of asking the store cashier when the complex opened but decided not to. While I was just a 9-kilometer away from the location, I didn't want to be mistaken as a tourist. But mistaken I was, an employee of an electrical company just opposite the complex assumed I'm one tourist because he saw me taking pictures. It turned out though that he's not a local and is from Cavite.

As it was a holiday, the other establishments were closed. But it's alright, I can come back again for another food trip. Plus, with the idea of checking the HBC store. Ahh, the convenience of progress is definitely satisfying!

smashed up good

2010-08-19T20:54:00.006+08:00

Last saturday, we're on the road again. It's our second visit to a state university at Nasugbu where our childhood friend is assigned as the executive director and Kainan sa Dalampasigan. This time, we were able to explore the university grounds. And had pictures on the other side of the resto. I can say that it's more fun this time around because I was game to do wacky poses unlike the previous picture-taking during which I was considerably poised.

Anyhow, here's once again a picture-post summary of the road trip which was all fun, memorable and meaningful-

Kainan Sa Dalampasigan

(1) This is the bar section of the restaurant. The one corner I was not able to take picture of during our first time there. I took this shot while waiting for our orders to come. I find the waitress statue cute.

(2) This was taken on the right part of the restaurant near the women's restroom. You can't see by that smile how goofy I was in the previous shots.

(3) Can you believe this is inside the women's washroom? I was surprised upon entering, it's really a very nice concept. I was able to take this shot only with my cellphone, good thing it's clear enough. My digicam is actually being used by my friends for a photo session somewhere else in the area. But this is quite enough shot for me.

St. Francis Xavier Parish Church

The last time I was here was when it's still under construction. I was a bit disappointed because I was not able to capture the whole church from outside. Because by that I need to cross the street and make the shot from there. But since time is limited, I had to content myself with a series of partial shots. And I'm thankful though because I have visited the church after so many years.

a sudden visit

Since D who's driving missed our turn, we're headed to Lian instead of the route to Balayan. We decided not to make a u-turn since we thought it'll be an adventure to try a different route back home. We're passing a vast greenfields when suddenly ate M blurted out a compound where a relative is staying pala. So we stopped to suprisingly drop by. We love the view and the surrounding is very refreshing. Of course, we had a series of shots again, fun time ulit, doing wacky poses.

Our relative was happy we dropped by. We had kamustahan to the max and never-ending questions. In a nutshell, it felt great that we made someone (a relative) happy we remembered her (though accidentally).

That day we had actually three little accidents that turned out good. First, upon exiting to the national road, our car slightly bumped a parked tricycle. Good thing was, the owner said that no damage was done. Second, we missed our turn but eventually visited a relative we haven't seen for a long time. And third, a dog suddenly crossed the road and the car hit it but not hard though since it immediately stood up after rolling at the ground.

That day was tiring but nevertheless full of laughter, meaningful conversations and meet-ups. A day that will remind me of our togetherness as friends.

weekend in pictures

2010-08-10T21:59:00.003+08:00

(1)   Saturday night was a date with myself. :) I watched Letters To Juliet, a movie shot in Verona, Italy. I so love the setting. Would you believe I almost cried upon seeing the awesome and lovely view of Verona? Though it's only through a wide screen, I felt I was there, savouring the vast beauty that is Verona.

(2)   Arroz a la Cubana - my first meal on a Sunday morning. My childhood friend D and I went to Divisoria to buy stuff. We decided to eat breakfast first at Pancake House before we attend the 10am Mass. It's price-y for me but since it's food, there's no room for me to complain to myself for no control. :p

(3)   Binondo Church also known as Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz. I took this picture from the Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz amid the rain. :) It was my second time to visit this church and a first to attend Mass at. One funny experience I have had was when we're about to enter the church, since we're in a hurry, I took the path where I had to cross in front of a kalesa. I was in exactly in front of the horse when it snorted! Naturally, I was startled. I knew it's funny, very that I even noticed how it made the kutsero laughed to the point that he almost fell out of his seat! It's not offending though, the very least, it's OK because I made someone happy that day! :)

(4)   D's breakfast version. She told me she's still full but since we'll proceed to 168 Mall after the Mass, she obliged to my urging of eating heavy.

(5)   My purchase, a sleeveless top plus a dress (not in pic). The watch is from Tomato. D got interested in my current Tomato watch so we went to SM Manila to buy one for herself. Unfortunately, at home, she realized it doesn't fit her best so she offered it to me. And that meant it is my 2nd T of a watch! Just found out, it can very well match my slip-ons in similar color shades. Nice!

Had a great weekend. I look forward to another one. Can't wait! :)

Divina Pastora Parish

2010-07-10T13:26:00.001+08:00

We sent off Fr. A, our parish priest of 13 years at Holy Family Parish to his new assignment, Divina Pastora Parish located at brgy. Tambo, Lipa City last June 14. It was a day full of tears as almost all the parishioners who had been close to him were present. In between laughing and crying moments and never ending reminders, I took snapshots of the parish.

Divina Pastora Parish

church interior

altar

Blessed Sacrament

As Fr. A explained to us, the parish has yet be reborn. It's like building a parish community all over again. He needed to buy a computer and printer for the office. A new dining table, kitchen utencils, etc. His room needs a repair, especially the air condition unit. He told us that the money spent for these came from his kind former parishioners.

He'd gradually make changes, one day at a time. Because above all, he still needs to adjust in his new home.

Holy Family Parish

2010-06-13T22:03:00.008+08:00

In celebrating its Jubilee Year from April 10, 2010 to April 10, 2011, Archdiocese of Lipa declares 21 Pilgrim Churches and our own, Holy Family Parish is one of them.

Holy Family Parish

The parish is composed of 18 barangays with the advise and concurrence of the parish priest of its Mother Parish, Immaculate Conception.

Our Patron - Holy Family

Let me share with you the parish's history thru significant dates:

June 20, 1996: Rev. Fr. Ariel O. Gonzales (more about him in another post) was assigned as priest-in-charge of the proposed parish

April 27, 1997: Blessing and ground breaking ceremonies of the land officiated by then Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales of Archdiocese of Lipa (now Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Manila)

Dec. 15, 1998: The first Mass was celebrated at the ground floor

Sept. 22, 2002: Blessing and Consecration of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (located on the left at the upper floor)

Blessed Sacrament Chapel

Sept. 14, 2004: Appointment of Fr. A as the First Parish Priest

Nov. 20, 2004: Canonical Erection and Installation of its First Parish Priest (presided by Most Rev. Ramon C. Arguelles, D.D. Archbishop of Lipa)

Altar

church interior

Baptistry

The parish will be celebrating it's 6th year with it's new parish priest because Fr. A is leaving tomorrow as he was assigned to another parish. The new appointments were given to all priests in the Archdiocese of Lipa, and were effective June 12, 2010.

The parishioners and all the people who helped built it will continue to work together and support the parish priest in his administration. It took almost 13 years to make it as it is now and I'm privileged to have been a part of it.

This is how families are and it's blessedly so because after all, ours is the Holy Family Parish. Come visit, and gain Plenary Indulgence.

Residencia de Riego & Resort

2010-05-10T14:32:00.020+08:00

After a careful planning and almost finalizing everything of our beach trip which my youngest sis wants, we ended up at a resort which is only a few minutes away. It's because our elders didn't approve of our Laiya trip. We don't want to push through with the trip with that negative vibe so we settled for a pool day tour outing instead of a beach one.

first pool

Residencia de Riego & Resort is a new getaway place located in Alitagtag, Batangas. I must say that I liked its facilities and it's child-friendly. I actually had a favorite spot there. It's the lifeguard post. A very beach-y style.

lifeguard post

I had my sis and her friends' photos taken at the spot and I so love the result. Especially since I'm using my younger sis' Sony DSC T90.

Another thing that caught my interest are the kubo villas. We were there for a day tour so we didn't avail of such. But I'm glad our cottage is near some of them so I had the liberty to take shots and have pictures taken with it as a background.


kubo villa

It has capiz window and a wooden door which I find charming. And the bench too. I opted to request for an ocular inside but almost all the villas were occupied so I brushed away the idea.

cottage

The resort management allows bringing of food without any corkage fees. But they have their own resto which by the way exudes Pinoy style. Actually, the facilities are made very Pinoy.

bar & restaurant

And don't you worry about the fees because they're affordable. For day tour package, entrance fee is P200 (adult) and P150 (children). Cottage is P1,500. If you opted for an overnight stay, you can avail of affordable rooms too depending on the no. of persons. And the chance to enjoy the pool lights and band entertainment.

pool side

I'll include this place to my list of nice places to go back to again. If you're interested to visit, below are some of the information you need to know:

contact details:

(043) 706-1528
09153573538
residenciaderiego@yahoo.com.ph

How to get there:

(by commute)

1) ride the bus en route Calabarzon-Batangas City pier. There are terminals of different bus operators i. e. Ceres, JAM and ALPS in Cubao-ALI MALL, Kamias and Buendia-LRT. Turbina bus stop is also an alternative. Your drop off point is Diversion. From there, you'll take jeepney bound for Lemery. Just inform the driver your stop is Riego. From the highway, it's walking distance. But if you don't prefer walking, you have an option to alight at Muzon, Alitagtag (it's a junction after Riego) and ride a tricycle to the resort.

2) option to ride bus bound for Lemery. Alight at Muzon, Alitagtag. From there, take a jeepney either bound for Bauan or Batangas City or a tricycle. Again just tell the driver to drop you off at Riego.

park & wildlife

2010-03-30T07:27:00.006+08:00

My childhood friends and I were once again on the road one Sunday afternoon. Our supposed to be destination was Laiya for a daytour trip at one of the beaches there but it was cancelled for logistics reason. It was raining a bit but that did not stopped us from going to the Bluroze Farms in Lipa City.

It was my third time already. I went there in 2002 and 2005, and I was surprised to see changes, additions and improvements. Although we're quite hungry upon arriving, we opted to tour around the area because I was very excited to see what's new. We started walking to view the nipa huts and the peacocks (male peafowl). I'm amazed of how colorful they can be.

I feel so silly while taking their pictures because I kept on urging them to fan their 'tail' (colored plumage). I failed of course because I guess they're not in the mood to court. I understand that when they fanned their train, they are actually courting a female peafowl. Nice, huh. I think it's baliktad, I'd prefer that the female peafowl should have that colorful train! OK, erase that, it's so rude of me to question God's greatness. Anyways, would you agree that the peacock on the left has turquoise colored head? :p And here's another interesting one, a white peacock-

After we toured a bit further and visited the chapel, we headed at the Salo-Salo Dining Hall for a snack. Of course, we had a series of snapshots on our way there.

one of the light posts (left) on the pathway leading to the Salo-Salo Dining Hall (right)

I ordered tuna sandwich and halo-halo and my friends too but one actually decided to try their sizzling menu. I realized I can't have enough halo-halo during summer. :) The tuna sandwich was deliciously made. And the halo-halo was just right and to my surprise, a big serving for me but voila, finished it with a very satisfied tummy!

Bluroze's version of halo-halo

We're so full that after resting for a few minutes, we decided to finish our tour. This time, we headed to the Garden of Saints. We stopped by the wishing well and dropped coins. And yes, we actually made a wish.

San Lorenzo Ruiz Wishing Well

Next stop was the maze which I still haven't seen before and obviously an addition to the park. We had our funtime and bouts of laughter during the trail and especially at the bridge inside it. I assumed our laughter and shrieks were heard for about a kilometer away. That's how happy we were!

me at the bridge (liked it!)

I'm the happiest I think upon seeing the man-made pond after crossing the bridge. But not so happy though upon seeing the ostrich! Grabe, it's so tall, mas mataas pa sya sa 'kin. Funny, I felt stupid, as if I have no idea how tall it is! ha ha Good thing it can't reach me. So we're free to capture our jump shots! :) And taking pictures of the (domestic) ducks.

That sunday afternoon was very meaningful for us. Not only because of the bonding time but because two of us had a tearful confrontation before the trip. I'm not involved but I cried too. Geez, I'm such a crybaby! Anyhow, all was well. Otherwise, the trip won't materialize. And that day made us even stronger as friends. It solidified more our friendship of almost 3 decades. Nothing could ever destroy that.

Well, that's another place on our visited list. And there are more to come.

am·bi·ance

2010-03-26T22:15:00.021+08:00

Ambiance is the first word I thought of the moment I got out of the car and saw Kainan Sa Dalampasigan. But to put it simply, I was totally awed with the place. It's very homey and feel-good! It made me appreciate gardens more.

We were in Nasugbu two weeks ago to attend a university event where our friend E was a guest of honor. We traveled almost 2 hours and by the time we arrived, we're very hungry. We had to eat before the ceremony started. Kainan was a sole choice because my friends went there a couple of times already for celebrations. They telling me that I'll definitely like the place made me very excited. So my camera was readily at hand. I started to click after I had looked appreciatively all over the place.

*gazebo ni Lolo Poniong ** hardin ni Lola Doray

There are the signboards made of wood planks. The texts were painted on it.

* side entrance leading to the main hall to the left and gazebo to the right** a door we never got to see what's beyond it main hall

I was clicking nonstop upon entering the dining hall when D told me to continue taking pictures later. I obliged upon seeing the diners inside. The tables were almost filled that day and I noticed a group of friends who I assumed where from another province. We're seated near the counter because we preferred a well-ventilated table as it was very hot. Aside from the fact that it's already summer, the place is just a hundred meters away from the sea.

Yum!

For lunch, we've got 2 orders of bilao sa dalampasigan which has baked tahong, bangus, litsong kawali, sauted shrimps and a mixture of onions, tomatoes and mango slices plus bagoong. We've had black gulaman and iced tea for our beverages. Rice was wrapped in dahon ng saging. The two bilao orders were just enough for a group of five. We're so full! I credited my good appetite with the beauty of the place and of course, the food itself.

ceiling

After filling our stomachs, we hurried back to E's office to get ready. The ceremony took almost 3 hours but we still felt busog! Nonetheless, after the event was through, we got back to Kainan to have our merienda and to continue my picture-taking. After all, they promised me we'd be back because I was not able to take pictures as many as I can during our lunch.

Once we arrived, we took different turns clicking away while other posed for posterity purposes. After laughs in-between takes, we decided we've had enough and also, my camera's battery was slowly draining. We had halo-halo, which by the way I liked too. Not too sweet, the ingredients were cooked just right. A perfect way to re-charging our systems before heading back home.

Upon leaving and leading to the parking area, we noticed a pathway. And we're surprised to see a kapilya. Very, very beautifully made. Oh, honestly, I can't rightfully describe it. Let me put it this way, I thought of solemnity, simplicity and serenity rolled into one. I love every part of it!

Kapilya ni Hesus, Maria at Jose

extremely peaceful, at least for me

It's something very wonderful. :) And Kainan sa Dalampasigan for me is not about food lang. It's about a somewhat clandestine garden and the perfect ambiance. And perhaps a wedding venue. OK, I digress. the place made me really happy and thankful I've had the opportunity to experience an extraordinary dining.

I promise myself, I'll go back. It doesn't matter how far it is, because it's definitely worth the long trip.

it's all about her

2010-02-22T23:34:00.007+08:00

Yesterday, I finally convinced my childhood friends to go to Our Lady of Caysasay Shrine in Labac, Taal, Batangas. Ever since I heard about it, I was very eager to visit. Because all I knew is that Our Lady of Caysasay is only at the Basilica of San Martin de Tours. I was so wrong! And that even made me want more to see the church. On our way there, images ran through my mind. The things the people I know described to me. It contributed to my excitement, and the fact that it'll be the third church I'll visit for the first time within the month is also fulfilling and I feel blessed.

Our Lady of Caysasay Church

We took the road instead of routing the stairs going to the church as we brought D's car. It's a road at the right a few meters away from the Taal Basilica. When we alighted from the car, vendors rushed towards us and offered candles. I bought only 3 pcs. We parked at the side and walked inside towards the side door.

side door

I was surprised to see the altar after I made a few steps. I was awed, it's beautiful. I immediately took shots. The church is small, I noticed, but it boasts with art.

altar church interior

After kneeling at the front pew and uttered a prayer and a wish (yes, I'm a believer of such- making a wish when it's your first time at a church), I clicked some more.

the church's artful ceiling ambo

We then set up the candles at the stand located at the right side of the church. It was so humid that we weren't able to stay outside for long and decided to proceed at the back of the altar where we can touch the image our Our Lady. We exited at the other side of the church, the adjacent door to the one pictured above. We were at the wrong way we realized since the sign that welcomed us is 'Labasan'. We didn't mind though and proceeded upstairs. We took turns in touching the image and prayed. I never asked if the image is the real one or the replica. Before we leave, I took a shot of the window. It kinda spoke something to me. Weird eh? Nah, I just find it interesting! It reminds me of castle tower.

window upstairs

Our next destination was the balon which is considered miraculous. I saw pictures of it from blogs and it got me so curious. Being the first timer that I am, my friends kid me that I should compose myself before I became overly engrossed with what I've been seeing. They led us to the stairs at the back of the church. It's the landmark on the way to the spring well.

stairs leading to the balon

Beyond the stairs is the Barrio Caysasay. It was quite a surprise for me because I thought the way to the spring well is lined with trees. I was wrong though. But anyhow, I was still excited to finally see the balon. When I saw it, I let out a sigh of relief.

the miraculous spring well/arch

I kept on asking my friends who've already seen it before if that's really the well. They regard me silly. What am I expecting? Well, I'm supposed to see a well so I was keen on seeing a real one. They told me to look down and that's it. Oh, OK. And then I saw the water. But how come it's not that clean? God forgive me but I'm seeing things differently. It took me a while to really absorb it. When I finally did, I clicked away. It was so hot so we sat at the bamboo bench beside the grotto for a few minutes. Afterwards we decided we're done and walked our way back to the shrine.

I took pictures some more and bid goodbye to the Our Lady of Caysasay. It was a wonderful day for me. A fulfilling moment that my curiosity was fed abundantly. It's good that finally, I was able to see it.

side view of the church

Sadly though, one thing I remarkably noticed was the trash outside and inside (not so much though) the church. Same with the well too. I hope that the parish administration and the folks, of course will take action. Anyhow, I want to go back again and attend a Mass there. And take decent shots of the ceiling! :)

CamSur

2010-02-14T21:19:00.011+08:00

The first out-of-town place I got to see for 2010 was Naga City and it's also my first time. It was an official business as we have an information office there. Actually, the trip was long delayed, I was planning to go since last year. But due to schedule conflicts, it didn't pushed through until Thursday. We're officially on the Star Tollway a little before 4am.

It's quite a long trip but the travel was comfortable since we brought the company vehicle. I enjoyed the sights especially the zigzag road they call EME road or bitukang manok. It's in the middle of the Quezon National Park. We never got to go down since the road is so curvy and steep and it's still dark. It'll be nice though if the sun is already up when we passed by so that we could see the very tall trees and lushness of the park. Not to mention the grotto. I wanted to take pictures but thought that I'll get no good results.

We had our breakfast at Gumaca, Quezon. It's at an eatery fronting the sea. I was informed that it's the famous eatery there. I had chicken barbecue (yummy!) and plain rice. After eating, we had a few minutes to enjoy the sea stretch and witnessed the sunrise.

sunrise at Gumaca, Quezon

Throughout the travel from Batangas City to Naga City, I wasn't able to sleep continuously. Bumpy roads can easily awaken me and fast driving too. After a six-hour travel, we're at our destination- our information office at Concepcion Pequeña, Diversion Rd., Naga City. After meet and greet with the staff who I've met for the first time, I'm officially on business. I have a schedule in mind and list of things to do and hoped I'd accomplish all despite the limited time. We're scheduled to go here in Batangas City saturday afternoon.

Our first lunch was at Triboo Grill. I was expecting that we'll eat at an authentic Bicolano restaurant but it's OK nonetheless. I happened to taste naman Bicol Express for the first time and it's good! I much like spicy food but I never tried it pa. I really wanted to have the experience when I'm in Bicol na talaga. So there, my waiting was worth it. I liked the resto's ensalada rin and had buko juice as refreshment.

After lunch, we checked in at CBD Plaza Hotel which is only a few minutes away from our office and walking distance to SM City Naga. I like the facade colors of the hotel and our room too. It's a simple and cozy twin bed-room. And there's this card thingy which is awesome. It controls the lock and power system of the room. To enter, you just have to point the card at the light indicator just below the door knob and afterwards put it on the white card holder to turn on the power supply of the room. Everytime you remove such card, it automatically turns off the power supply naman. Such a clever and energy saving thing noh? Cool!

CBD Hotel, Brgy. Triangulo, Naga City

What I also like is the simplicity of the room design. I'd wish for more sleep time but activities forbid me to. I'd say that it's more comfy and entertaining to just stay in our room. Sigh.

deluxe twin

I was with a group who like gimiks. So I ended up coming along at Camarines Sur Watersports Complex on our first night and The Tent on the second. I wanted to explore the city by myself but dismissed the thought. But I really wished that I pursued it, damn what they'll say about me. Although I knew it'll not be wise to do that.

beer in a tower and a snapshot at CWC

So I endured having to stay up late to be with them and see them drink while I was very much contented with my watermelon and mango shakes.

Naga City has 9 churches and I so wanted to visit all. But since they were not keen on visiting them, I was thankful I got the opportunity to visit at least two.

San Francisco Parish and Our Lady of Peñafrancia Church

I can say that I never really got to experience wholly Naga City and felt the trip was tiring. The 3 days were like a one day lang of stay because it's very bitin. Good thing, an officemate brought us to Bigg's Diner to have lunch on our last day. It's known to be the biggest food chain in the Bicol Region. I never got to taste their chicken which is what they're known for and the iced tea. I initially ordered salisbury burger but the staff at the counter told me that it'll take12 mins to prepare and so I chose their tenderloin tips instead. I had made a right choice, it tasted really good.

tenderloin tips

Another thing I liked about the diner is the design concept. Soo diner talaga. Look at the interiors! I think my shots were a little blurry because I removed the flash and I clicked fast. Because I was shy to let the other diners know that someone is clicking away.

Bigg's Diner is at the Centro (that's what they call the Poblacion area). After lunch, we headed to the market to buy pasalubong. We then headed back to the office after and was off to the road for home by 4pm. The trip was tiring indeed but I'm thankful nonetheless because for one, I'm blessed with the opportunity to go to Naga City. That's another place I've been to!

And second, we're back home safe. :)

churches

2010-01-03T01:01:00.005+08:00

A day after Christmas, we're on our way to Lipa City to buy The Last Supper painting my friend D's Kuya requested. I had St. Paul Bookstore in mind so me and 2 other childhood friends were off early afraid that it'll be closed before we arrived. The store is situated next to the Redemptorist Church.

Redemptorist Church

We parked inside the church's compound and hurried to the store only to find out that it was closed for the day. So off we went inside to explore the church compound and noticed that there's a store just outside it and voila, there's 2 unique paintings of The Last Supper. One is Jesus with the veterans of the Fall of Bataan and the other is Him with children. D prefered the latter but noticed that there's a stain and so she decided to consider the store at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.

crafts being sold at the store just outside the church

Meanwhile, we went inside the church to utter a prayer and afterwards I walked outside and took pictures while they scour for other things to buy. It was my second time as I recall but sadly though I didn't remember all of it and how the place looked like then.

patio

I was thankful I brought my digicam with me.I had an ample time to capture its serenity. I had silently snapped pictures and was glad to see a glimpse of the sun about to set in the horizon.

The place was silent as there were only a few people inside the compound and at the church. I wasn't able to take a picture of the altar though because of a poor lighting. The lights inside were not yet lit so I took pictures of the benches outside instead.

wooden benches and nice colored tiles

We're about to leave when D told me to have their pic beside the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. It's made of glass and steel placed at the center of the patio facing the exit driveway. I obliged and afterwards, they took a shot of me too.

As we're running out of time [we're hoping the store at Mt. Carmel church is open], we headed to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church religious store only to find out that it's closed for the day too. Anyhow, we resorted to just go back some other day. But before we head off, I took photo of the church that's very close to my heart. I wasn't able to go inside because I was wearing a short skirt and it's not allowed.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church

After our dinner at the mall and some purchases [mine are magazines, back issues :p], we headed home. It's nice to think that I was able to visit 2 churches before the year ends. It is for me a blessing.

...lovely as a tree.

2009-07-20T20:36:00.001+08:00

Since I started working in another company, I realized I haven't had enough time to really unwind. So I thought of inviting my barkada to spend a Sunday in Lipa. I have attending Mass at the Shrine of our Mary Mother Mediatrix in mind [hadn't been attending Mass there for so long already], breakfast at McDo, go to the garden cum food shop I'd like to show them and stroll the street of P. Torres.

We were able to accomplish the first two but not the last two. Instead of the garden and strolling, I thought of going to Fernando Airbase. The last time I was there was in 2006, on my birthday. And it's good to be back. Very good that I had to ask for permission from the officer-on-duty if we can explore the place. he he We were instructed to just limit ourselves on a certain area but it's OK. We had a photo session [something like that] amongst the trees-inspired by the poem. :p

'Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.'

We had a point-and-shoot camera with us so I had the chance to kinda experiment a bit. The downside though was that my exposure was limited because I'd prefer to take the shots myself. Hee! We had fun and it didn't matter if there were people looking at us [there's a wedding Mass about to start then]. The important thing was that we're making the most of the time we're spending there and of course, the enjoyment.

And we have the pictures to remind us of that. Syempre. :) These were for me relaxing enough to somehow forget the work stress, pending tasks and unpredictable work force.

beach-y

2009-03-14T06:43:00.000+08:00

One of the perks my job is giving me is the opportunity to visit clients regularly most especially resorts. And among those, I recently visited for the first time--

Canyon Cove Beach Club (Nasugbu)

Playa Calatagan (Calatagan)

Photos taken with my Moto Razr V3i

For someone who's pressured and uncertain at work, this is definitely a give-away.

Baguio City Tour

2009-02-05T12:22:00.005+08:00

Finally, Daggie and I were able to join Eric's university IT Dept.'s educational Baguio City tour last Jan. 29-31. We left Batangas City at around 10pm on Jan. 28. I was certainly happy, the trip was kinda tiring but amidst accidents, fever, ear pains and chills, I knew it's all worth it and I'm very grateful.

Here are some of the places we've been to and where mostly I enjoyed the privilege to see, in no particular order:

Jan. 29 [Baguio Cathedral, Botanical Garden, Burnham Park, Orchidarium & SM City Baguio (yeah, I like the balcony)]

Jan. 30 [The Mansion, Mines View Park & Philippine Military Academy]

Jan. 31 [Strawberry Farm, Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto & Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine]

Yes, finally! I was able to explore Baguio. And I'm happy!

life's a box of chocolates

2008-08-01T18:47:00.000+08:00

I realized I haven't blogged for weeks na pala. Goodness! So what kept me from doing so? I've been everywhere (exagg! :p). Read on...

Caleruega

I'm so thankful that finally I was able to visit and explore Caleruega in Nasugbu, Batangas with friends and relatives. Sadly though, I failed to go inside the church because there's a wedding mass on going, same at Chapel On The Hill. Sayang talaga. But anyways, I enjoyed because I was with a happy company. And also because I had the privilege to take pictures of them. They would actually scold me for not joining them for the picture taking. But I couldn't refuse of course. After taking their shot, one would take my job (as the pphotographer, that is!) and shoot, me included. It's always a funtime, I just loved the experience! Caleruega Chapel is a favorite for weddings and Chapel On The Hill too so schedules are always fully booked. I'd love to be wed at either Chapels. How I wish!

Tagaytay

Our next stop was Tagaytay. After an exploration of Caleruega, we opted to eat at Dencio's Restaurant. I believed we're all famished! But upon seeing the spectacular view of Taal Volcano, we forgot how tired and hungry we are. It's just simply breathtaking and so another series of picture taking. Ok na sana ang ambiance kasi it's breezy too kaya lang I was disappointed with the food. I actually compared it with Gerry's Grill and realized it's way different from the latter with regards to customer service, quality of food and the kind of music! Sorry but I can't help it, grilled pusit (my all-time favorite) is most delicioso at Gerry's.

Achiever's Night 2008

On July 24, my hardwork was finally recognized. I was awarded for the high percentage of sales I garnered for the last quarter of 2007. I actually blogged about how my efforts were considered futile. And it's relieving in a way because it's really hard to keep this kind of job. I do both customer service and sales. I both love and hate the pressure that goes with it. And when you're acknowledged rightfully, it's a bonus.

Resthouse

It really doesn't have a name to go with this one breathtaking place. About thousands of sq meters, the land was formerly owned by a senator and was just bought and developed by a wealthy business man. The development is still in progress and I heard after the construction was complete, the place will be private. Me, my Tita and kabarkadas were fortunate to enter and explore the place because the new owners allowed us to. Good thing we're familiar faces. I just hope that it'll be opened to visitors because it's really ideal for picnics, pre-nup sessions (yeah, pati ganun!) and wedding receptions. Di masyado halata sa pictures that I simply love it! :p So relaxing, the view of the ocean was perfect as well as the greens all around... Ang taas kasi nya! For more pictures, click here.

Yes, I've been to some places and I love to explore more once I got the chance. :)

nature + me=serenity

2008-07-02T21:44:00.000+08:00

After all the emotional stress I've been through, going to The Farm relaxed me. I was able to apppreciate the green landscapes, the fresh air and the soothing sound of water. Though I didn't take as many pictures as I want because of a drained CP battery, it never dampened my mood when I toured around thinking I'd be there again anytime soon.

The place itself is a perfect haven for a nature lover and someone who wanted to just relax and commune with nature.

I'd be happy to avail the great offering The Farm cater to guests. And their SPA package are really well-known and highly recommended. Also if you want wellness and good health, this is the place to be. Bawal ang meat dito. If you're a vegetarian, lucky you! :p

refreshingly beautiful

2008-02-23T20:18:00.001+08:00

We just had a business (+ leisure) trip in Puerto Galera & San Teodoro. It has been a tiring travel but when we saw Tamaraw Falls, all the stress and tiredness we felt just faded away. It's definitely breathtaking! And the fact that it's easy to go to makes me really, really enjoy it! It's fun to thread the flowing water although it's cold. Aside from that, there's an occasional drizzle but we didn't mind it. We were so awed with the falls that, all we cared about was how to take our pictures with them as backgrounds.

And, of course, I can't get away without taking a video--

I'll go back again, that's for sure. :p

Red Sail

2008-02-16T18:31:00.000+08:00

While waiting for a transit back to Calapan City, me and *BM decided to scour the area first (Poblacion, San Teodoro, Or. Mindoro) for resorts we might stay in when we come back. People from the municipal hall recommended to us, Red Sail which is near. And so we went there and did an ocular--

Room rates are reasonable and it goes with a free breakfast. Their Resto Bar serves local and international cuisine because they mostly cater to tourists. I tried their chocolate shake and it's good. Red Sail offers a very quiet environment. It's definitely a hideaway you'll go to unwind. And it goes with a nice view--

Aside from this, San Teodoro has several waterfalls and scenic spots to explore. We'll start over at the Tamaraw Falls and I just hope the weather is good when we come back next week. Can't wait! :p

*branch manager

Romblon, Romblon

2007-11-30T14:28:00.000+08:00

Our third leg of installations were in Odiongan and Romblon, Romblon. I was assigned in Romblon with our Service Engineer. We left last Nov. 26 and opt to be back on Nov. 28. We need to stick to our schedule because we do have a deadline. It's a 9-hr travel to Odiongan and 2 1/2 to Romblon, Romblon. By Tuesday morning, at a little before 8am, we arrived in Romblon Pier. It's my first in the island and it felt wonderful. Meeting new people, looking everywhere around me felt really good. Our contact persons were so warm and very accomodating, not to mention very nice. Also, I got to know a very kind and humble person. He's Manong J to me. He became our tour/transport-guy around the Poblacion.

The installation finished early and so we have ample time to tour a little while waiting for the 1pm trip of the vessel back to Batangas. We were already wary of the Storm Signal #1 forecasted by PAGASA. There's a PAGASA regional office there, by the way. And we've seen the 'sign' (it's a one round wire hanging on the tower) that there's a signal # 1 in the area. But the weather is clear, there's no rain or strong winds. And what we dreaded happened. We were informed that the trip was cancelled because there's a Storm Signal #2 in Mindoro. Tsk!

I was doomed. We were stranded for a day! And that really changed my mood. I was afraid and nervous. I didn't even know what to do at first! Good thing, our hosts there were very kind to assure us that we'll be OK. They even offered us a place to stay but we declined. We decided to find an inn there to stay for the night. It was a long day but touring around and buying some souvenirs lifted my spirits. I never got to take pictures of Romblon, Romblon because I've no camera ('di na bagong dahilan 'to! he he) with me. But I did take a picture of some of the souvenirs I bought when I got home.

I stayed at the Fermar Pension House. It was also called The Marble House because it was all made of course of marble. And as it was a long day, it was a long night for me too. Because there's an on-and-off power shortage. Argh! The following morning, I continued to tour around walking instead of riding the padyak (bike with a side car). I went to the old church but was not able to go inside. The parish assistant whom I asked why the door's closed told me that it will be opened in the afternoon. Sigh. I wanted to ask if I can just go inside and stay for a couple of minutes but hesitated. She was kinda speaking a Bisayan dialect and I was afraid we might resort to a misundestanding. I uttered a prayer of thanks while looking at the church and then left. I was finding a place to go to and found mini stalls just near the House so I scoured for whatever caught my fancy. I was able to buy a wallet, head scarf and a cellphone case for a very low price. :)

I then headed back to the House and prepared my things. It was near lunchtime and I was expecting Manong J to fetch me before lunch. We ate together because I asked him to join me . I knew Manong J don't have the capacity to buy anything as much as he wants especially the foods he like to eat because he has 4 kids to suuport. And his job doesn't suffice all their needs. He told me his wife left him. And so I ordered food I thought he eats very rarely.

After that, I went back to our client and discussed some matters I need to remind them of. By 12:30, I bid them goodbye and thanked them for a wonderful stay.

I don't know when I'll be able to get back in Romblon, Romblon. But one thing's for sure, they will be the persons I will be looking forward to meet again. Especially Manong J who taught me what honesty and humility really means. Because he himself showed me how a simple life, being humble can change lives, including mine. No wonder many Romblon people trusts him and regarded him very nicely. The vessel left Romblon Pier at exactly 1:10pm.

I realized that being stranded for a day was a blessing in disguise. :)

P.S. Our round trip to and from Romblon, Romblon could have been creepy for me had I known that there's a corpse at the bottom of the vessel. I only got to see the wooden box when I got off to see our contact person in Odiongan. Lucky me, it was bound for Odiongan lang. I quivered when I finally saw the funeral vehicle. Whew!

And sadly, a sick child who haven't made it to the hospital in Batangas because he passed away before we docked at Odiongan Pier. :(

the Sablayan experience

2007-11-30T10:03:00.000+08:00

2 weeks ago, we had our 2nd leg of installations in Occidental Mindoro. We had to stick to our 4-day schedule as we were aware of the upcoming typhoon Mina. Occidental Mindoro unlike Oriental has rough roads and very vast greenfields. Sablayan is a 1st class municipality located in the central part of Occ. Mindoro.

We got to finish the installation in the afternoon so we had time to rest a little since we arrived from Mamburao. Before sundown, we decided to take some tour and thought we should go to the Parola Park. We got to have a view of the Pandan Grande Island. Sayang, if we only have enough time, we could go there the following morning!

We never got to explore more because of a downpour. We left and headed to the 'Lumang Simbahan' but we were not able to go inside. Afterwhich we decided to go back at the inn and rest, because we will have another trip to San Jose early in the morning.

It's a wonderful experience, the place got a soft spot in my heart. Sablayan is one place I wanted to go back to...next time. :)

my longest trip ever

2007-10-25T10:01:00.001+08:00

Last week, we had an out-of-town trip and it was in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Our travel was 12 long hours by sea and that's during the night. First time ko pumunta sa place na 'to and excited talaga ako although nervous. And since the travel time was from 6pm-6am, I was not able to go out of the airconditioned room to go on sightseeing. I was adamant to really do that. Plus, I was not able to sleep well. So by the time we arrived the following morning, I wasn't feeling well.

We then scoured for a place to stay. We asked the tricycle driver about some place na OK to relax and he brought us to Sikatuna Beach Hotel, a nice place if you'll ask me. Syempre I prefer talaga to stay near the beach as much as possible because as you would know, I will always long to see the sunsets. After we'd settled our belongings in our room, we had our breakfast at one of the huts where you can see the view of the sea and a beautiful island. I was not able to ask anyone from the service crew though what island it is.

Our stay at the resort was refreshing and relaxing. And it really felt good watching the breathtaking view and finally, the sunset.

The morning after, we're headed to Calapan, Oriental Mindoro enroute Bulalacao and Roxas. It was an adventure because the road lead to vast greenfields and mountain treks. That day Friday was an all-day travel for us. It was tiring, indeed. I needed pa to take Alaxan because I felt the time we arrived at Roxas, I was going to collapse!

At around 4pm, we arrived at Calapan, and went to an internet cafe to check emails and afterwards headed to Anahaw Island View Resort. A nice place din. There's an Acoustic Duo who played that night while having our dinner. Cozy 'yung ambiance, tapos medyo breezy. Ang ganda ng effect ng music nila. But we're not able to finish their gig kasi we played badminton a little and then after drinking calamansi juice, we decided to call it a night. After all, super haba ng travel namin and we definitely need to rest na.

I woke up at 9am the following morning and after we ate our breakfast, we met with the resort's owner and discussed some matters related to our service. By 1pm, we're already aboard a vessel bound to Batangas Port. After a long and safe travel, we're heading for home.

I just realized, we kinda toured half of Mindoro Island. :)

I'd love to stay for good...

2007-06-08T12:02:00.000+08:00

Our trip to Marinduque 3 weeks ago enabled me to unwind and commune with nature once again. This is my kind of serene place where I can leisurely walk in the sand as early as 5am, watch the sky turned orangey come sundown and hear the sound of waves at night...I definitely loved Marinduque the first time I ever saw 2 islets before we docked at Balanacan Port.

Click here for pictures! =)

Day 1: May 22

We boarded the ship before 12nn and was on our way at around 12:30pm. The trip was approximately 3 hrs. and all I can see was water. It was not a comfy trip for us though because the airconditioning was bad and there were so many passengers aboard. It was humid and having to bear it during the trip was hell.

We reached Balanacan port at 3:30pm and looked for a van bound to Gasan. I was not able to take pictures especially of the islets because I have a handful of baggages! We were to stay at Eastpoint (Hotel by the Sea) which is located at Bo. Balaring, town of Boac. Past 4pm, we arrived and was too tired and famished. Taking a shower was a first thing in mind though. We had our snack after we've freshened up. After that, I've had a good look of the place and of the beach! It was lovely, I had a very good feeling about it. I know I fell in love with the place the moment I laid my eyes on it. My kind of place where I can freely be on my own, be awed by its serenity and feel that I'm home. I'm with the sea and it really felt great. It was overwhelming! Being a nature lover that I am, you can imagine how excited I was to go on soul-searching and unwinding while sitting on the sand, listening at the sound of the waves and looking at the vastness that is before me.

We didn't get to work on the 1st day. We just had our fill of discussions about proposals and accounts portfolio over fried fish with mayonaise dip and fresh cabbages plus tasty soup and another I-don't-know-what-it's-called dish as dinner. After that, we had a chat along the shore about different things as I throw stones at sea in-between. =p I never knew that it will be a long night for me as I was not able to sleep the whole night.

Day 2: May 23

Since I was not able to get some sleep the whole, I waited until it was clear enough to goto the beach and have a leisure walk along the shore. I left the room with the other two still in deep slumber. By the time I was out, I breathe the morning air and took some shots of what's before me. It's breathtakingly beautiful. I strolled some meters away from the hotel feeling safe since the people seemed friendly. Such a wonderful experience I tell you. So peaceful. I can even cry at that moment because it was too overwhelming. (Senti talaga ako, sorry! :P)

We ate our breakfast at 7:30am (Yummy! =p) Mine's corned beef and sunny-side-up egg plus white rice and banana. Was ready to do field work by 8:30am and we're off to visit existing accounts and meet respective contact persons at Boac. After that we went to Gasan and may I say that the view is amazing since the main road is just a few meters away from the sea. I was able to get a view of the 3 islets namely Gaspar, Baltazar and Tres Reyes (someone told me that this is where 'Maging Sino Ka Man' casts and crew shot the last episodes). My unforgettable experience was riding the padyak. I was laughing all throughout. It was just so enjoyable! Our next stop was Buenavista. Unlike Gasan, it is smaller in geography and the people, although harmless, tend to look at us, probably assuming we're not locals. We didn't get to stay long because jeepney trips do have specific travel time, we're afraid to be left behind. :p

We're back at the resort by 5:00pm and while-away the time by watching TV. An expected client arrived though which prompted us to have an early dinner. We were not able to do some chatting along the shore because of heavy rains but we stayed at one of the cottages and talked about anything over coffee. I was not able to bear the coldness though so I went back to our room and watched 'Just Friends' on cable. Again, it was a looong night because I was not able to sleep. Sigh!

Day 3: May 24

At 5am, I was already up (even if I was in bed, I was widely awake!) to do my would-be ritual while in Marinduque, strolling. =p The sky is clear, and I took more shots as souvenir. I could've taken more pictures had I brought enough batteries to sustain the digicam I was using. Tsk! Thought the brand I bought is the best! Hmp! My bad mood was erased though, we went on for a splash for about an hour!

We spent the day again with talking to key persons of different schools and establishments at Boac and Gasan. We didn't pushed through with a planned trip at Sta. Cruz and Torrijos. Sayang, I can say sana that I was able to tour around Marinduque. =( Perhaps, next time! We're finally back at the hotel with dripping clothes because of heavy downpour during our way back. But it's a good feeling. I love the rain! =p If only I was wearing my day-clothes, I'll bathe in the rain! It was a cold night and I told myself, that night I'll definitely try to sleep and snore! We transferred to the main hotel to try the amenities there. I was a bit successful though because I was not able to catch some sleep if not 8 hours! I have no idea about me snoring! he he

Day 4: May 25

I was not able to go out as early as 5am to stroll because of drizzle not until it was about 6:30. After which took our breakfast (a burger full of lettuce plus banana and apple slices) and prepared ourselves for a day of work!

We headed straight to the cathedral and went off to meet the bishop. Unfortunately, he was busy with interviewing seminarians. We ended up discussing matters with his secretary instead. Before we leave, I requested that we go inside the cathedral and pray. A mass was being held at that time so I wasn't able to take even a single picture of the altar. I just made a shot of the front view and it was enough.

This day was pretty tiring because we did a lot of walking around town. I was near exhausted by the time we reached our hotel room. I didn't have my dinner and put myself to sleep. It was our last night at Marinduque. I smiled as I close my eyes.

Day 5: May 26

I was only able to pack my things in the morning. Once finished, we were called because our breakfast was ready. I had a full meal as we were to travel again back to Batangas. Off we went to Balanacan Port riding a jeepney. Our trip is at 11am. I had a good view of the islets near the port and again no pictures taken. It's OK, I am happy just seeing them. We're lucky we boarded the ship on time and were off by 12:30pm.

~*~

I didn't expect to have a nice and comfy trip though so as not to disappoint myself. And, lo and behold, it was again a trip of unfortunate events. Our travel time became longer because our ship needed to rescue another ship which for whatever reason had an engine trouble. Whew! I decided to keep my cool because it'll not do me any good anyway to be impatient.

After almost 4 hours, we've finally docked Dalahican Port and was off to board the bus bound to Manila. The traffic was worse because it's raining and by the time we dropped off Turbina, the traffic was really heavy and there were a lot of passengers. The next bus ride to Batangas was the worst. We're standing until the next stop. =( Again, I tend to smile thinking that I had a great time at Marinduque and nothing can spoil it. We've finally arrived at Batangas City by 9pm and I was already home after 30 minutes. =p

~*~

This is my longest stay so far. And the place where I love to stay for good! =p I will cherish the experience and will always remember the sceneries by heart.

*more pics to follow! =p

Sunset at Canyon Woods

2007-02-24T14:56:00.001+08:00

It was an emergency of sorts, I had to visit a client last Tuesday. It was one heck of a ride going there but seeing Canyon Woods for the first time erased all my stress. And being able to see the sunset sometime around 6pm made my day wonderful.

But again, it'll be more wondrous if only I had with me a digicam or a camera phone. And I really, really thought about it. Because it'll not be the last time I'd be going to wonderful places during client visits. And all the time I'd be sulking for not capturing the sunsets and the places.

As of now, I am scouring for digicams and camera phones I can afford. Hopefully though, I can have one the soonest. I'm crossing my fingers! =p

Splash-ing

2006-10-03T10:05:00.000+08:00

Last saturday, we were invited to join a wedding anniversary celebration of our relative in Pansol, Laguna. It didn't matter if typhoon Milenyo just strucked the area. All we know was that we're excited to explore Splash Mountain. But little did we know that we'll see how devastated Calamba and Los Baños were. There was no water and electricity and poor G**** signal. Anyways, Splash was not what I expected it to be, and so I decided not to dip in the pool because I do not really like hot springs. I was content to watch the kids enjoy the pool. My two pamangkins, Vinces and Jakob didn't seem to mind the hot water.

The not-so-good weather was getting to be annoying and so me, my cousin and cousin-in-law decided to leave Splash and went to Junction, Los Baños. Again, along the way, we saw how the people were severely affected by Milenyo. There were mud everywhere, fallen trees and posts! And our trip was really bad, it took us an hour ride because of heavy traffic. Normally, it will only take 15 minutes. but nevertheless, we were eager to proceed because I was really craving for Zagu! =) And voila, we saw one at the Robinson's Place which by the way has no airconditioning, and the line at Zagu was really long! Again, patience was all it took while enduring the heat. The first sip of Zagu was all worth it!

At around 5pm, we were heading for home already. I can't say I had enjoyed much but it's an experience to remember. I did not forget to utter a prayer for the people of Calamba and Los Baños and other devastated areas. After all, it reminded me that Batangas has no reported calamity. And I thank God for that!

So much for splashing!

Ts

2006-09-11T16:39:00.000+08:00

a trip

Last Saturday, our destination was Tarlac, my cousin's wife's hometown. They both decided that she and their son temporarily stay there. It took us almost 6 hours on the trip but it was worth it. I simply enjoy gazing upon greenfields all the way to Camiling especially along the NLEX. And of course, the delicious delicacies her Mom prepared for us. It's always the food that excites us and never stopped trying something new to taste. We didn't stay long though because it rained. We wanted to go back here in Batangas as early as we could. But we were caught in a heavy traffic along Calamba. It was terribly annoying indeed! But is was a good thing that the kids did the tricks that made us in a lighter mood. Like our niece V, we discovered that at an early age of 7 knows how to dab cologne several times and comb her long hair the moment it was disheveled. How kikay is that! And by the way, she owns bags a plenty where she puts her things. So unlike me! :P

The trip was tiring to say the least because I had to wake up as early 2am because we had to leave at 3 and it was already past 8pm when we arrived here in Batangas. Also, we were missing our little K already.

a tag

I was tagged by Prim days ago and it's about time I posted it. I am to post at least 6 random facts about me. I thought of enumerating things you hardly know (you may find some unpleasant, but pls bear w/ me), so here goes--

I'm extremely childish at times. (Unbearable, I tell you!)
I had to be naked when I poo-poo or I can't do it at all.
My meal is not complete without sili.
I can shut a person out of my life as easy as 1-2-3.
I am stubborn as a bull.
I am a very laid-back person.

There's my 6. And, as usual, I won't tag anyone. :P

P.S. Not being able to post some pictures of my trip (bec I don't have a digicam) upsets me. But not for long though. I know such time will come. I just wanted to share pictures, that's why I'm like this! =)

B & B

2005-09-26T11:06:00.001+08:00

That's Blu Roze Farms and bowling. =)

Yesterday, we went to Lipa City for a getaway treat courtesy of my bestfriend's Tito who just arrived from the US. We visited Blu Roze Farms, our second time actually. Mas maganda sya ngayon compared to what it was then way back 2002. We didn't get to explore the whole place because our time is limited, they are more eager to play bowling. he he But anyways, I did capture whatever it was that caught my interest and what I believed is worthy of a click. I actually borrowed our parish priest's old Sony digicam (obsolete na sya promise! ha ha) instead of his new one kasi mas madali i-edit pictures, asa diskette lang sya. I don't have the USB port so that explains everything. =)

After having merienda (which btw took us 3 years to wait for! ha ha) at the Dining Hall, we headed to Fiesta World Mall. Di excited mga kasama ko mag-bowling eh kaya di kami nagmamadali! ha ha I intended not to play with them kahit na marunong ako kasi ayoko sumakit mga braso ko! he he Atsaka di ko ata kaya yung mga duckpins (ba yun?). Tingnan nyo naman kung gaano ako kataba. he he

We enjoyed so much. Buti na lang na-invite ako! he he Na-miss ko kasi happenings na ganito eh. Here are some pics. Please bear with the resolution...