It's Wanderful!

5th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

2014-02-16T23:34:00.003+08:00

It's that time of the year again.

Now on it's 5th year, the Philippine International Pyromusical Competition will showcase 10 of the world's greatest in the field of pyrotechnics. The entire event will last for six weeks staring yesterday, February 15, 2014 until March 22, 2014.

Yesterday's opening starred Platinum fireworks from the Philippines with an opening exhibition followed by the first competitor Howard and Sons fireworks of Australia.

Ticket prices is at P100 (Silver), P300 (Gold), P500 (VIP), P1500 (Patron w/ dinner).

Schedule:
February 15, 2014
- The Philippines (Opening Exhibition)
- Australia
February 22, 2014
- Spain
- United Kingdom
March 1, 2014
- France
- Japan
March 8, 2014
- China
- Germany
March 15, 2014
- Finland
- Canada
March 22, 2014
- USA
- The Philippines (Closing Exhibition)

Here are some highlights from The Philippines' opening exhibition:

The 5th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition
The Philippines' Grand Finale

Highlights from Australia:

The 5th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition
Australia's Grand Finale

Tips:
1. If you're planning to watch, better get at the venue as early as 4:30pm to get good seats. Gates open at 5:00pm.
2. For taking pictures, use a tripod and set your camera's shutter speed to 2.5 - 4 seconds and aperture to f14 - f20. Experiment.

More photos of the 5th International Pyromusical Competition here.

Cebu City Tour

2013-07-30T14:57:00.001+08:00

Cebu Taoist Temple

Though we have been to Cebu City quite a number of times, I still find this city boring. If not for the Mactan beach resorts, we would not frequent here.

But if you are a fan of history, food and quick luxurious beach resort getaways, read on.

An aerial view of Cebu City

Reasons to tour Cebu City

Here is a list of why you should visit Cebu City:

Luxurious beach resorts 30 minutes away from the metropolitan city
Try the famous Sutukil!
Philippine-made exports like capiz products are cheap
Famous delicacies from Visayas and Mindanao are sold cheap as well
Cebu City is a good gateway to southern Philippine islands (Visayas and Mindanao) because of its near distance to them and abundance of available buses (ro-ro), flights and ferries

Mactan Cebu International Airport

Reasons not to tour Cebu City

If you are from Manila, here are reasons you may opt not to tour Cebu:

There are less shopping options in Cebu compared to Manila
I will not encourage you to go here on a budget. Imagine touring Quiapo. That's how I'd describe downtown Cebu City where most of the free/minimum fee tourist spots are located.

Tourist Spots in Cebu City

Since we arrived in Cebu early for check-in, we had a quick tour of the city.

In one of the rarest occurrences on Earth, here is Anthony riding a jeepney.

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

On our way to Santo Nino Basilica, we spotted a church hearing mass nearby. It turned out to be the Metropolitan Cathedral.

The inside looks grander than its famous neighbor the Santo Niño Basilica.

After hearing parts of the mass and taking a few photographs, we proceeded to the Basilica de Santo Niño.

Santo Niño Basilica

The Minor Basilica of the Santo Niño or Basilica Minore del Santo Niño is the first ever church established in the Philippines. It was built on the spot where the image of the Santo Niño left behind during the Magellan expedition was found preserved in a burnt wooden box.

The Santo Nino in the middle is only a replica. The original is located in a chamber at the left side (facing the altar) of the church.

There was an also a European-inspired garden within the church grounds.

Magellan's Cross

Within a stone's throw from the basilica is Magellan's Cross.

Magellan's Cross is a Christian cross planted by Ferdinand Magellan along with Portuguese, and Spanish explorers upon their arrival in Cebu.

It is one of the most famous tourist landmarks not only of Cebu but of the entire Philippines.

Taoist Temple

Taoist Temple is located on Beverly Hills, a hillside subdivision 15 minutes away from the city center.

Though it became one of the famous tourist spots in Cebu, this is still a sacred place so dress appropriately and better hush hush when you talk or walk along its grounds.

The temple is located on a hill so it gives you a good view of Cebu City.

Taoist Temple is open to everyone. They allow visitors until 5 pm.

Ayala Center Cebu

If you're familiar with the Ayala Malls in Manila, Ayala Center Cebu is not a lot different in terms of architecture. But the vibe here is more laidback and refreshing. I'm not sure if it's because it is less crowded or because it has more open spaces and gardens to hang out.

This is also where you should buy pasalubong and delicacies. It is much cheaper than outside. SM Cebu is also a good alternative.

Quest Hotel Cebu

In this trip last May 2012, we stayed at Quest Hotel. It was a newly opened business hotel.

It is just across Ayala Center Cebu perfect for tourists and business travelers.

We can still smell the freshness and its newness during our visit.

There were two pools in the hotel you can dip in.

Quest Hotel served as our temporary home in Cebu City before we headed to Shangri-la Mactan for our second year anniversary.

Buffet breakfast was included in the room rate we availed of. Visit their site at www.questhotels.com for their latest rates.

You can also check out these accommodations in Cebu if you're looking for a beach getaway:

Cebu City Transportation

To get around Cebu City, you can rent a car (with or without driver), hire a cab or take the jeepney.

Except for the Taoist Temple, tourist spots above are all located in Downtown Cebu.

The most comfortable way to get to Taoist Temple is to go there by car or hire a cab and let it wait for you. Else, you would have to walk around 400 meters uphill and downhill or ride the habal-habal (single motorcycle) for a minimum fee.

Cebu City Map

There are a lot of other places to check out in Cebu City. Some of which I've visited but wasn't in this trip's itinerary. You can check them out in this map I created to help me plan our tour. It may be of use to you.

View Cebu City - Spots and Landmarks in a larger map

For questions and comments, please use the comment box or tweet us @markitotz @mrmacchiato if comment box doesn't load.

Movenpick Mactan Cebu

2013-06-18T15:48:00.000+08:00

Beach garden at Movenpick Cebu

Beach resorts in Mactan, Cebu have probably become our go-to place for R&R since most of them are 30 minutes or less away from Mactan Airport. So for our third year anniversary, we went back to Cebu to celebrate it.

Refreshing pool at Movenpick Cebu

We were a little skeptical and half-hearted going to Movenpick since we stayed for our second year in Shangri-la Mactan, which was truly awesome and is actually only a few meters away from Movenpick.

View of Movenpick Cebu from Ibiza Beach Club

We wanted to enjoy our special day and preferred to stay away from comparing the two resorts so we promised ourselves not to do that and pushed through with the plan.

Night view of Movenpick Cebu from Ibiza Beach Club

We were glad that Movenpick Cebu exceeded our expectations. It does have its unique charm. We didn't have a hard time enjoying this resort and avoid thinking about Shangri-la in the neighborhood.

Accommodation at Movenpick Cebu

Check-in was a breeze. They let us check-in upon our arrival at 8:30 am! Their staff were very approachable and courteous throughout our 3 days stay.

Movenpick has a very nice and bright room. It was newly renovated.

Veranda with a beautiful morning view

Northern tip of Mactan island taken from our veranda

The bathroom was fantastic and clean

Complimentary bathroom essentials

Mini bar

Compliments from Movenpick

Floor to ceiling mirror

Pool at Movenpick Cebu

When there are not a lot of guests here, I find tranquility in this pool.

This is my favorite spot.

This is my favorite guy.

Beach Garden at Movenpick Cebu

The beach garden is the perfect place to relax or silently read a book.

Interesting furnitures abound

You can take Facebook-worthy profile pictures.

Beach at Movenpick Cebu

The beach is not our favorite place to hang out but it is not bad either.

The sand is fine but beneath the water it's stony. Better bring your swim shoes.

The beach as seen from Ibiza

Ibiza Beach Club at Movenpick Cebu

Ibiza is a bar and restaurant in the middle of the sea. It opens at around 5 in the afternoon.

You can order some afternoon drinks and relax here.

Guests can also take a dip at the jacuzzi.

At sundown, the bar turns more interesting as the colorful lights are turned on and live music is played.

Movenpick Cebu at Night

This is the view of Movenpick from Ibiza at night.

View of Ibiza from the beach at night

Bring mosquito repellent if you have plans to chill at the beach garden after sundown.

The white chairs instantly turned into light fixtures!

Even the pool is lit up and became more inviting.

Dining at Movenpick Cebu

There are four bars and restaurants in Movenpick Cebu: Sails, The Forum, Lobby Lounge and Ibiza. The food menu is the same throughout the resort, even for the in-room Dining. The only exception is that of Ibiza.

Paella at Ibiza

Kaldereta

Not raving about the food but it is safe to say that I didn't have complains.

Well, except for this pizza which was a little bland for my taste.

Click photos to view menu.

Game Room at Movenpick Cebu

Movenpick has a small game room for those not interested getting wet.

Billiards

Chess

Whatever this is called.

Bottom Line

In summary, Movenpick Cebu is a great resort. The not-so-away-from-it-all location and its small size may be limiting it to be "the perfect resort" but the new feel, the interesting furnitures, beautiful landscaping and the courteousness of the staff made up for its shortcomings. Do we wish to go back? Yes. But only if the resort is not crowded.

Questions? Hit us up on the comment section or tweet us @markitotz @mrmacchiatto.

You can also follow us on Instagram @markitotz @mrmacchiato to find out about our latest and next destinations.

Shangri-la Mactan

2013-04-27T20:31:00.000+08:00

Just before our third anniversary plans pushes through this May, we're posting our second year anniversary celebration right here. Better late than never. No matter, Shangri-la Mactan may have not changed much since a year ago. Or has it?

The whole place is expansive and there are a lot of things to do and check out and three days stay may not be sufficient.

Expansive Grounds of Shangri-la Mactan

The hotel staff are extremely courteous and friendly. Their attitude towards guests are very commendable. The best we've had yet.

Shangri-la Mactan Main Wing

The expansive grounds of Shangri-la Mactan.

Welcome to our very huge and beautiful garden!

A giant chess board which you can actually play located near the Main Pool.

A Korean lady asked Anthony to take a picture of her and her daughter. :)

Beach at Shangri-la Mactan

Shangri-la Mactan has a gorgeous white beach.

Some parts are so talcum fine I can compare it to Boracay.

A very handsome tourist asked me to take his photo.

Oh, look! There he is again!

That's me hiding under the shade of the beach umbrellas like the one in the background.

A shot of Shangri-la Mactan taken from the water.

Tip: Shangri-la Mactan's sand may be fine but it is artificial so the moment you step on water, it becomes rocky so bring your swim shoes or ask one from the staff.

Pools at Shangri-la Mactan

If you're not a fan of seawater, there are also pools you can choose from.

The Main Pool is huge and has 3 levels - one for kids, another 4 feet deep and another 5-6 feet deep.

The Main pool is where the crowd gathers at night since the beach closes at 6pm.

In my opinion, the Ocean Wing Pool is the more scenic of the two.

Ocean Wing Pool at Night

Accommodation at Shangri-la Mactan

This King-sized bed is great and soft and comfortable. 5-star-hotel quality.

Luxurious bathroom essentials.

Bathtub

They sent a cake to our room. Sweet! :)

Activities at Shangri-la Mactan

There are a lot, I mean a LOT of activities you can choose from when you're in Shangri-la Mactan. We tried a few.

Fish Sanctuary

Shangri-la Mactan has a fish sanctuary right below the waters of their white beach!

Snorkeling here is a must!

Here's a video of what Shangri-la Mactan looks like underwater.

The handsome guy asked me again to take his picture while resting on a platform in the middle of nowhere.

Mini Golf

L: A staff briefing me of the game rules. R: Anthony takes on the Eiffel tower.

A giant plays golf in Albay.

Chocolate Hills. There were 14 holes, each featuring a famous Philippine and international tourist destination.

Dining at Shangri-la Mactan

There are seven you can choose from. Here are a few of them.

Tides

This was our view everyday when we take our breakfast at Tides.

We forgot to take pictures of the food because we were busy eating the best buffet breakfasts of our lives.

Acqua

Sampling their Carbonara at Acqua

If you like Italian like we do, head to Acqua located at the Ocean Wing.

Pizza options at Acqua.

Tea of Spring

Tea of Spring serves Chinese dishes.

If you want value for money, this is your restaurant. Their servings are big.

Fried Chicken at Tea of Spring

Wearing awkward smiles while dining at Tea of Spring

Lobby Lounge

The Lobby Lounge

Cowrie Cove

After the experience, you will never want to check-in another hotel ever again.

The Phantom of the Opera in Manila

2012-10-17T10:41:00.004+08:00

Ecstatic. That's just one of the too many words to describe how I felt during the entire season of The Phantom of the Opera here in Manila.

The Phantom of the Opera in Manila

I watched the show four times. Yes. Four times. I can't really explain how it all happened but one thing is for sure - I'm a BIG 'phan'.

On the first day, we were so lucky to see Claire Lyon (Christine) and Jonathan Roxmouth (The Phantom) having snacks before the 8pm show. We were so nervous but nonetheless, we had our picture taken. And it was just the start of our month long Phantom addiction. Well not only with the show, but also with the cast. My friend declared Jonathan to be his husband. Haha.

Jonathan Roxmouth, Claire Lyon, Me, and Michelle

The Phantom of the Opera Round One

Everything felt surreal. It was only just a dream before but thanks to the producers, I am looking at the stage of the world's longest running musical, The Phantom of the Opera. After the national anthem, the show started.

I was squeezing Mark's hand maybe because of all the excitement and joy entering my body. The river (labyrinth) scene was purely magical. Candles appearing from nowhere, the boat floating on a river of smoke, all the change of sets and backdrops were seamless. It's like everything was automated.

Claire's voice reminded me of Sarah Brightman, who played Christine in the original production in London. It was sweet, soft, light, but crisp. Her face is so beautiful and really suited for the role. Raoul was played by Anthony Downing, who charms the audience with his every appearance on stage. And of course, Jonathan Roxmouth plays the role of Erik aka "The Phantom".

Jonathan's voice surprised us because honestly, I was looking forward to hear Claire but when the Phantom started singing, we all went speechless.

Masquerade is my favorite scene from the musical because of the lively, colorful and festive set, music, and design.

There were also pyrotechnics for several scenes like flashes of light, smoke, and fire.

If you want to see the cast after the show, you must immediately go outside and wait by the stage door because they leave the venue 10 minutes after the show (which we did during the final day).

The Phantom of the Opera Rounds Two and Three

Mark and I went to the CCP again two watch The Phantom of the Opera for the second time. My friend from Bicol flew to Manila to watch the musical. She'll never miss it for anything. We were seated at the Balcony and it was not a very good decision as there were parts during the show that we cannot see.

The third time was with my Mom and Dad. We were seated in the Orchestra section this time, which has a way better view. You can see everything from there.

After the show, I was surprised to catch the cast at the stage door waiting for their bus. So I didn't miss the opportunity to have some photographs, and as expected, they were very much happy to grant us one.

Anthony Downing

Claire Lyon

Jonathan Roxmouth

The Phantom of the Opera Round 4

October 14, 2012 - the final day of the Philippine run of The Phantom of the Opera. A very sad day indeed.

The Chandelier

We have the best seats right on the second row. WOW! Every detail can be seen even their mic which can be invisible if you were seated farther. The chandelier was right above us! That 500 lbs chandelier falling to the stage was just thrilling. For a second, I thought that it will fall on me!

As the curtain closed, the audience clapped, cheered, and a standing ovation was given. During the curtain call, you can see the faces of the cast feeling so happy and a bit emotional especially Jonathan whom you can see uttering 'Wow' and 'Thank You'. I almost cried but had to hurry to the orchestra pit to catch a glimpse of the fantastic orchestra for the last time.

Then my friend, Michelle, had to pull us to the stage door to have autographs and pictures.

The stage door was mad and packed with fans waiting for the cast to come out.

CCP Stage Door

Emz, Mark, and Michelle


Emilie Lynn

The Two Christines

The Phantom of the Opera in Manila showcased two beautiful, young and talented ladies to play the lead role of Christine.

Claire Lyon's voice is light and sweet, but can also be powerful too and Emilie Lynn as the alternate Christine. Emilie one the other hand, has a very powerful soprano voice. In terms of acting, I love her but in singing, Claire wins.


The Phantom of the Opera in Manila

It's over now, the music of the night...

Cirque du Soleil Returns with 'Saltimbanco'

2012-05-17T16:53:00.001+08:00

The world renowned circus and entertainment group Cirque du Soleil is back for the second time to perform its classic and oldest production "Saltimbanco" which literally means "to jump on a bench". They're back for a very limited number of shows. Saltimbanco will run from August 9-19, 2012 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The 51-member performance troupe includes Urban Worms, Multicolored Worms, Cavaliers, Baroques, Death, Ringmaster Baron and more.

Ticket prices depend on the day of the show. For weekdays (tue-thu), price range is PHP792.00 - PHP10,500.00 and for weekends (fri-sun), PHP960.00 - PHP10,500.00.

You may buy your tickets at www.hoopla.com.ph or at www.smtickets.com.

Ilocos Norte Tour - Pagudpud and Laoag

2012-05-16T22:23:00.000+08:00

Bangui windmills, Pagudpud beaches, bagnet anyone? Yes! We went to Ilocos Norte and we experienced more than that. Here is our take on Ilocos Norte last March 2012.

Day 1 - Laoag at Night

Our very short stay in Laoag was surprisingly fun. We weren't expecting anything since this was supposedly a dinner then sleep thing only because our real destination is Pagudpud.

Departing Laoag Airport, we signed up for the Ilocos Norte Tourism Department's free shuttle ride to our hotel located in Laoag city proper. Unfortunately, we had to wait for other passengers from an oncoming plane. We waited for an hour but no other passengers boarded the shuttle. I suggest you take a P150 and above tricycle from the airport to the city than wait that long or maybe make arrangements with the hotel or your tour guide.

Update (August 2012): I didn't encounter the same problem when I went back to Laoag. The bus waiting for airline passengers immediately left after a mere 5 minutes.

Laoag Renzo Hotel

We stayed in a budget hotel known as Laoag Renzo Hotel. This hotel is only a few blocks away from the city center. From the airport, we reached Laoag Renzo in 15 minutes.

Reception

Lobby

All the basic necessities were provided, the room was spacious, the air conditioner and shower functions well. Everything was okay for a budget hotel.

On the downside, I can't say the the rooms were clean since I saw and felt dust on the floor. Also, the towels were old and badly needed replacement. Additionally, there were no elevators and hotel rooms are located in the higher 3rd and 4th floors.

Deluxe Room for 2

But for P1150 a night stay together with complimentary buffet breakfast for 2 and unlimited wi-fi in rooms, who am I to complain?

We also found the buffet breakfast fantastic in spite of bad reviews we read on the internet. The buffet cart had Laoag longganisa, pansit, egg, garlic rice, coffee and Chinese adobo. Except pansit, everything was yummy and filling.

Laoag Renzo Hotel is good if you are only sleeping here. There are not a lot of hotel facilities available. Recommended for budget travelers, but a no-no for staycation-ers.

Saramsam Ylocano Restaurant

After a swift check-in at the hotel and grumbling stomachs, we hailed a tricycle and went to Saramsam Ylocano Restaurant for late dinner.

The place was like an old house converted into a restaurant. They had art pieces displayed all around. What we didn't like was that the supposedly homey ambience of the restaurant was ruined by the noise from the videoke bar beside it.

Minestrone Soup, P60

Bagnet, P210

Pollo Arosto, P170

We waited for an hour for the food to be served. It must be worth it because food tasted really good.

Laoag Central Plaza

Since we wanted to offset the effects of our cholesterol-filled dinner and that Saramsam is only a few blocks away from the Capitol Building, we decided to walk to the city center and see the sights in Laoag at night time and this is what we saw.

Aurora Park at night

Fountain in Aurora Park

Tobaco Monopoly Monument

Sinking Bell Tower

Day 2 - Laoag to Pagudpud

On our second day, we woke up early to prepare for our Pagudpud tour/Laoag to Pagudpud transit. We hired a 2007 Starex for a whole day North and South tour. We haggled for P3000 (group of 2) inclusive of gas and driver/tour guide. That's already a good deal.

Update (August 2012): We rented the same van (group of four) and got the same deal for P3500.

The famous kalesa is everywhere in Laoag

First up is the South Tour including three stops: Cape Bojeador, Kapurpurawan Rock and Bangui Windmills.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

First to check on our list was Cape Bojeador also known as Burgos Lighthouse.

It is a cultural heritage in Burgos, Ilocos Norte that was established in the Spanish Colonial period.

It sits on a hill and the view up here is captivating. We failed to capture it on camera unfortunately.

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation is also located in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. This was our second stop and the road towards here was rough and bumpy. I wouldn't recommend getting here on a tricycle as some of the folks at Virtual Tourist did.

The scene felt surreal. I didn't expect to be so enchanted by this place but I was.

A fairly challenging 20-minute trek is needed to reach the famous rock.

There were a lot of tourists when we visited. The entire area was huge.

Bangui Windmills

When in Pagudpud, you don't want to miss the famous Bangui Windmills and so didn't we.

There are 20 of these gigantic megastructures providing 40% percent of the entire Ilocos Norte's electricity.

The strong wind current is evident with these strong waves.

What to do when you're here? You can let your creative self out. We attempted several Facebook-profile worthy poses but failed because of the weather.

So were publishing some fun shots instead. Fun to compensate for the lackluster of our photos. :P

This marks the end of the South Tour. We then headed to Saud for lunch.

Saud Beach

Saud Beach is the more famous white beach of Pagudpud. It is dotted with multiple resorts. We didn't get to explore this beach because of the bad weather. It was raining and the waves were strong. It seems like a nice place to chill, relax and enjoy the beach; only if the weather and the sea were cooperative.

Update (August 2012): I finally had the chance to walk barefoot in Saud and I can now say that I like Maira-ira more. The waves weren't swim-friendly and the scene was nice but not as spectacular as the other beach.

Shame coz this is the only picture we have of Saud Beach.

Emohruo Beach Restobar

Emohruo is the only highly recommended eating place in Saud by most travelers. This is the beachfront restobar of Evangeline Resort.

Emohruo Beach Restobar

Emohruo is derived from the phrase "our home" spelled backwards.

Seafood platter

We loved the al fresco beach vibe and we agree that food here was good. Tab was P760 for a crab and corn soup, seafood platter, rice and drinks.

Patapat Viaduct

Now it's time for the Pagudpud North Tour. First up is Patapat Viaduct. Patapat Viaduct is a 1.3 kilometers long bridge that was built along the starting point of the Cordillera Mountain Range linking Ilocos Norte and Cagayan Province.

I imagined it to be scenic if the weather wasn't bad.

Timangtang Rock

Along the way to Blue Lagoon, you will see two huge rocks on the coastline. The first you'll encounter is Timangtang Rock.

It is called the male rock and I'll leave it to you to figure out why.

Bantay Abot Cave

The second rock you will pass by is the Bantay Abot Cave. This is supposedly the female rock for obvious reasons.

That hole is actually a cave. We didn't bother going down since it was wet and raining and we didn't feel like it was still worth it.

Blue Lagoon

The last stop on our tour is Blue Lagoon, also known as Maira-ira Beach. This is also where our hotel is nearly located. We stayed there because we believed in what they were raving about -- that Maira-ira has Boracay-like sand quality.

Blue Lagoon

After the tour, we were dropped off in Kapuluan Vista Resort where we will be staying for 2 nights. It was still raining so we decided to rest and relax at the resort for the rest of the day and hope for a better weather tomorrow perfect for a nice swim at the beach.

Day 3

Maira-ira Beach

The sun was up but we were only imagining it since the clouds were too thick to show it. Most of the time, we could only witness the storm raging and the waves crashing the shore. It was also freezing cold we thought we were in Baguio! Plus add to that we were 10 minutes walk away from the swim-friendly fine white sand beach so there was no way we could get what we intended to do here -- get ourselves a dose of sun and sand.

In the late morning, there was a moment when the rain stopped pouring. We grabbed this opportunity to head to the beach and swim. Unfortunately, we had to leave the gadgets, including the camera because it might still rain.

Upon reaching the beach, we walked barefoot and true enough some parts of Blue Lagoon have quality fine sand almost as fine as that of Boracay's. But overall, I don't think the two beaches are comparable.

Some 70% of the beach sand have scattered crushed corals/stones/whatever rough ingredient that is. It didn't hurt but it's not as perfect and as powder-like as Boracay sand.

Maira-ira Beach (courtesy of: adventurousfeet.blogspot.com)

The waves were also strong compared to the calm swim-friendly Boracay waters. That day, this beach is more ideal for surfers than beach bummers.

Setting those aside, the scene is absolutely gorgeous.

After an estimated 2 hours, the unwelcoming weather forced the beach lovers in us out to have stay-cation instead.

Update (August 2012): The weather was good and waves were calm. The scene was peaceful and absolutely movie perfect.

Kapuluan Vista Resort

Kapuluan is a beautiful hut-inspired resort 10 minutes walk away from Maira-ira Beach. We chose to stay here because of the very good hotel and restaurant reviews. Our stay was quite a blessing. We liked the resort and it doesn't fit in the "sleep only" category. The staff and the owners, who we later met, were also warm and willingly accommodated our requests. High Season Hotel Rate for Deluxe Room for 2 was P3700/night.

Coast in front of Kapuluan

Entrance to Kapuluan Vista

Deluxe Room, P3700/night (high season)

Seaside Porch

Private Hut

Private huts as photographed from the road

Poolside Porch

Pool

At the restaurant where Wi-Fi was available 24/7

There were three toy poodles loitering around the resort and this is Drew, the mom/grandmom of the two and the most friendly of the bunch.

One week after this trip, Anthony bought a toy poodle. Now you know where the idea came from.

Kapuluan Vista Restaurant

We ate all our meals in this restaurant since we arrived in Kapuluan. They had enough offerings of tasty and flavorful Ilocos dishes that we didn't run out of options.

Alma's Margarita, P75 (welcome drink)

Bagnet, P350

Special Empanada, P180

Dinakdakan, P250

Ilocos Longganisa (complimentary breakfast)

Pesto w/ Grilled Chicken, P300

Fresh Tomato Sauce w/ Chicken Pasta, P325

Grilled Chicken Quarter, P250

Chicken Burger, P285

Iced Tea, P40

Every food/drink we had ordered tasted great but we loved bagnet, empanada and Alma's Margarita more than any other else.

Day 4

More Scenery in Blue Lagoon (past Kapuluan Vista Resort)

In the morning of our last day in Pagudpud, the rain didn't pour for half the time. We again grabbed this opportunity to explore more of Blue Lagoon and walk further north towards the Dos Hermanos Islands.

Yes, the wind was still fierce and blowing wildly.

And we were wearing cardigans because as weird as this beach trip had gone, it was cold.

This place is absolutely amazing.

Dos Hermanos Island

The left and right waves in this photo were coming from different directions.

By 2pm, we were picked up by the same company and van we rented the other day. We paid for another P2500 just for this Pagudpud-Laoag transit. Digged a hole in the pocket but saved us from the inconvenience of a long tricycle ride/bus trip.

We headed back to Laoag for some pasalubong; then proceeded to the airport for our flight back to Manila.

We badly missed the beach but overall it was still a great experience we wouldn't have had if it wasn't for the weather. We hope to go back though; we'll just have to make sure it's sunny and hot in Pagudpud before going. Ciao!

It's Wanderful! Ilocos Norte Tour Map:

View It's Wanderful! Ilocos Norte Tour Map - Pagudpud and Laoag in a larger map

The Phantom of the Opera in MANILA!

2012-05-16T10:44:00.000+08:00

Dreams really do come true.

As a kid, I've listened and loved the songs from one of the world's most successful musical, The Phantom of the Opera. Who wouldn't fall in love with the ballad "All I Ask of You", the enchanting aria of "The Music of the Night" and the chilling and haunting voices of Christine and The Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera"? If I could only go to London or Broadway...

This year, the musical spectacle comes to Manila for a limited season and will be staged at the CCP from August 25 to October 14, 2012.

The Phantom of The Opera is about a musical genius with a disfigured face, known as "The Phantom", who is deeply in love with Christine. He taught Christine in the depths of the Opera house and made her his young protégé.

This production is made up of 130 cast, crew and orchestra members. Prepare yourself for a breathtaking and jaw-dropping spectacle.

For tickets, visit www.ticketworld.com.ph

Anthony's 25th Birthday in Baguio

2012-05-15T03:39:00.003+08:00

Baguio is the city a typical Manileño would fall in love over and over again. And yes we fall deeply in love with Baguio every time we visit. In fact, this is our second time in Baguio together -- with Boracay being the only major destination we've had in between. We couldn't help it; the climate, the view of the mountains and pine trees, the feeling of being in another country and the fact that you're 1500 meters above sea level literally walking in the clouds, who can?

We visited in January so Baguio was cooler than average when we arrived. This trip was a back to back celebration: Anthony's 25th birthday and our 20th monthsary. It so happened that it was also a Chinese New Year-long weekend so the overall mood of this trip was festive.

Chalét Baguio

We loved our stay in Chalét Baguio. It is the perfect hotel for those who want unlimited views of the mountains and pine trees. It is also the best value hotel we have discovered in Baguio so far.

Be warned though, as some cab drivers may not know where Chalét is... as in our case. If they don't figure out where "Chalét" is, try "cha-let". Yes, Carabao English pronunciation please.

Chalet Baguio Hotel Room

Dulcinea at Chalét Baguio

We heart Churros! ♥

Forest House: Anthony's Birthday Dinner Celebration

It is Anthony's birthday so we had to go somewhere special. That afternoon I called Forest House if there were still tables available. Reservation is a must in Forest House especially on weekends and holidays. That day was a Chinese New Year-long weekend so we were somehow lucky as we still got to book a last seating 830pm reservation.

We hit on some challenges though due to some poor customer handling of a newbie crew. Despite the upset, the supervisor was very apologetic and accommodating through our entire stay and the supposedly uneventful occurrence turned from ugly to a very beautiful and memorable birthday celebration. :)

Forest House in Baguio

Clam Chowder Soup

Bagnet

Beef Salpicao

Wine Sauced Chicken

Double Decker Chocolate ala mode

Anthony's Birthday Cake! (Oreo Cheesecake)

After a couple of good food, a warm ambiance, a birthday song from the band and a complimentary birthday cheesecake, I went home with a very happy birthday boy. :)

The birthday boy! :)

The Manor: Chinese New Year Eve

On the eve of Chinese New Year, we went to The Manor at Camp John Hay to watch the fireworks display. There were multiple Chinese-popularized performances and activities happening that night but we only went there for a 10-minute fireworks display; and of course a couple of pictures.

Bell Tower

As if it was planned to fit a Chinese New Year celebration and the fireworks display in The Manor wasn't enough to welcome it, we visited the Bell Tower for the first time.

Baguio Market, Good Shepherd and a Dragon Dance

We also visited Baguio Public Market to scout for Good Shepherd goods but left without one. Instead, we brought home a couple of photos and a memory of a dragon dance parade!

Dragon Dance at Baguio Public Market

After the failed attempt at the public market, we headed straight to the Mines View area to visit the official and only Good Shepherd store in Baguio to finally buy the famous ube jam and other lesser known pasalubong goodies.

Baguio Parks

What else to do in Baguio? Cam whoring! Baguio has a lot of nice parks to visit and they are very able to serve as the perfect background for a lovely Facebook profile picture. Camp John Hay, Burnham Park and Wright Park are some of our favorites.

Camp John Hay

Burnham Park, where a lady mistaken Anthony as a priest.

Burnham Park

Camp John Hay

Wright Park

Boracay R&R

2012-04-03T18:40:00.000+08:00

When in Boracay, you don't need to see or do everything the tour guides and resorts offer especially if it isn't your first time. Sure there's parasailing, kitesurfing, ATV, zorb, paraw sailing, helmet diving, banana boat and the list goes on. But for most tourists, the long stretch of White Beach is the main and only attraction. The rest shouldn't really matter.

An aerial view of Boracay Island

So in October of 2011, we decided to have R&R in Boracay when the weather was great and the sea of crowds was not too much to handle like in peak seasons. A perfect time to getaway in the most popular beach in the Philippines.

Arriving at Boracay Airport, also known as Caticlan Airport

Day 1

Transportation

It was both our second time coming to Boracay but also both our first-time arriving thru Caticlan Airport. In my opinion, Caticlan is the most beautiful airport terminal in the entire Philippines!

This welcomed us upon plane landing in Caticlan Airport

Getting from Boracay Airport to your hotel on your own is quite tedious because first you have to get to a tricycle in Caticlan, then a jetty, then another tricycle in Boracay Island.

Tourist Information Kiosk at Caticlan Airport

But we noticed that they indeed, have a decent transport system and everything is regulated. You wouldn't have much of a problem as long as you follow the instructions provided in the tourist information kiosk at the airport terminal. Fares and fees were also displayed for convenience.

Paying for fees at the Caticlan Jetty Port

Arriving in Boracay Island!

Boracay Island Jetty Port

From Boracay jetty port, we hired a tricycle and headed straight to our hotel in Station 1.

Hotel Accommodation

From budget inns to world class resorts, there are plenty to choose from in terms of accommodation in Boracay.

In our case, we picked a mid-range beach-front accommodation at the quiet side of the famous White Beach.

Hotel Lounge

Beach Front Room

Beach Front Room View

Boracay Island

Boracay is well known for its powdery white sand.

Walking barefoot on powdery white sand

And the calm, clear waters ideal for swimming.

Boracay Beach

Posing on the most photographed rock of Boracay

Eat

For lunch, we headed to Station 2. Most food shops are located there and majority of them can be found at D' Mall.

Anthony buying flavored ice treats

A burger junction at D'Mall

Sunset and Swimming

Of course before the day ends, it's a must to do the most popular activity when in Boracay... swimming and sunset viewing!

Nightlife

Nightlife in Boracay is lively.

A fire dancer in Boracay

There are bars and plenty of activities going on along White Beach at night.

A popular Boracay hangout at night

After a not very good experience at Epic, we headed to a burger joint at D'Mall to takeaway burger then went back to the hotel to eat it and call it a night.

Day 2

Today we were very comfy sleeping and woke up late. It was also raining earlier so we had the perfect excuse to stay in bed.

Breakfast by the beach

That's late breakfast by the beach

Busy tourists around Willy's Rock/grotto at mid-morning

This was the scene in front of our hotel in mid morning

That's me ready for a beach stroll!

The problem with waking up late is obviously it's hotter; It is also low tide by that time.

We ordered burger and fries here for late lunch. They had cheaper food than most of the other establishments. The food was okay but wasn't noteworthy.

On our way back, we spotted dozens and dozens of paraw (sailboats) waiting for tourists to hire them for a sunset sail.

We didn't give in to the idea and decided to stay in front of our hotel and sip on some Jonah's fruit shake instead while waiting for the sun to set.

Cloudy sunset at Boracay

When dinner came, we decided to try Aria

This pizza was good

This pasta was exceptional!

We were not really digging the nightlife crowd in Boracay so we indulged in our very own cocktail drinks instead.

And called it a night.

Day 3

Today was another beach stroll, beach bumming, and beach foodie event.

We started the day with an early morning stroll and found a rainbow!

We headed for the end of Station 1 then proceeded onto the other side of that big rock to check out Bulabog Beach and look for Microtel Boracay

That's Microtel Boracay. We were so grateful we didn't book our room here. Bulabog beach in front of Microtel is rocky and uninteresting. So we headed back to the hotel to freshen up and have breakfast.

That's our junior enjoying a perfect morning at the veranda.

This is an early morning scene in front of our hotel.

Anthony getting pissed at hotel staff

Keeping his calm and being good at it.

What did I just say? Uh-oh...

Lunch came so we headed for D'Mall to check out Smoke. They had decent meals with very affordable prices.

An early afternoon scene at D'Mall

After lunch, we headed to Starbucks to fight climate change and order cold drinks.

That's how you fake a smile.

Anthony is a collector of Starbucks tumblers and mugs. Here he is checking out Boracay's version

Dinner at our favorite pizza parlor in town

Then dessert at Zuzuni

This is extremely delicious!

And this one's extremely... deceiving. It's not good.

When we headed back for the hotel, the tide was knee high so we had to keep our things above the knees we were like flood victims. The experience was fun though! ;)

Day 4

Today was our final day in this Boracay R&R. Our flight was still in the evening so we still had some time to enjoy Boracay.

We loved Aria so we came back for lunch.

Then had coffee to kill time.

We had a magnificent view at Station 1 but the view in front of Starbucks with all those coconut trees was breathtaking!

Time to leave Boracay and head back to Manila.

Until then!

Budget and Expenses

If you're a first timer and don't know how much you'll need for a Boracay vacation, here's a breakdown of our Boracay expenses for 2 pax for 4 days 3 nights in October 2011.

Note: Hotel and airplane ticket prices go up during peak and high seasons (holidays, summer season, etc)

Update (November 2012): We were surprised to find out that boat terminal fees increased... four times! That is waaaaaaaay overpriced. Below is an updated transportation expenses breakdown of our recent visit to Boracay:

Thunderbird Resort Poro Point - 1st Anniversary Part 2

2012-03-30T18:39:00.000+08:00

After two days in Baguio, we left for Thunderbird Poro Point for Part 2 of our Anniversary trip (May 2011).

On Transit - Baguio to San Fernando, La Union

Tip: If you can manage to drive for 6 hours from Manila, go for it to avoid inconveniences; skip this and go to Google Earth instead.

To reach San Fernando from Baguio, we went to a terminal for buses near SM. We boarded the Partas bus going to Laoag. Trips from Baguio to Laoag are available every hour. They only offer the regular aircon bus. This, though only an hour and a half ride, seemed like longer than the 5-hour Manila-Baguio ride on deluxe! You will be seated next to jejes, parents with children, actually everybody else. As long as you don't mind, just take it. If you didn't bring a car, you do not have a choice after all.

We later discovered that Thunderbird offers free rides from Baguio to San Fernando and vice-versa. This is actually intended for their casino patrons who are Baguio residents. Hotel guests can hitch a ride on their vans. But vans could be old and uncomfortable. It's up to you.

If you're coming from Manila, you don't have to worry about these inconveniences. Bus lines offer deluxe seats for Manila-San Fernando.

San Fernando Highway to Poro Point

Upon reaching San Fernando, you can go down the highway and ask a tricycle driver to bring you to Thunderbird. I don't know how much their real rate should be but the driver we hired asked us 50 pesos for the one-way ride. He will bring you in front of the very beautiful Thunderbird hotel. Your entrance could be embarrassing when you arrive on a tricycle so you better bring your car!

Thunderbird Resort

So we originally booked for one night but couldn't resist the beauty and charm of the resort so we stayed another night. It was all worth it.

From here on, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Day 1

For a 5-star hotel, we were lucky to have booked a room for P6000 a night

Rooms were exceptionally spacious with verandas having 180 degrees view of the West Philippine Sea

Pool area at Thunderbird Resort Poro Point

Baywalk at Thunderbird Resort Poro Point

Beach Club at Thunderbird Resort Poro Point

This is the famous spot where John Estrada and Priscilla Meirelles tied the knot

The beach is quite rocky so swimming is not advisable

Night view of the Santorini architecture inspired dome

Food is of course pricey but worth it!

Day 2

The 5-feet deep pool is inviting. Do you see the dome near the bridge? That's a pool bar!

Waiting for lunch at the hotel restaurant

Taking a rest under a tree located in the golf area

The resort has bikes you can ride around Poro Point

Thunderbird Resort Poro Point at night

Try your luck at the Fiesta Casino. You can also dine at the restaurant here

Day 3

3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition WINNERS

2012-03-23T10:58:00.001+08:00

For 6 Saturdays -- February 11 to March 17 -- Manila sky lit up with amazing choreographed pyrotechnics happening at 3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition!

China

The show finally ended last Saturday with four winners emerging out of 11 countries that participated this year. Before announcing the list of victors, let me re-cap this year's edition of the annual event at the Mall of Asia.

South Korea (February 11)

The pyromusical performances on the first day of competition were quite underwhelming and South Korea being the first one to perform was the wisest decision to make as the audience didn't have something to compare yet. By wisest, I mean not necessarily the best to welcome viewers. In fact, for me this was the worst performance to take stage -- no synchronization, bad music and the list goes on...

South Korea

Malta (February 11)

It was the second country to perform and in my opinion, also the second worst. We felt delighted in watching it though as it was better than the first performer.

Malta

United Kingdom (February 18)

United Kingdom

It was the first country to wow us. Like last year, it had drama, had lots of fireworks going on and the colors were grand! They welcomed the audience with huge and widely distributed fireworks while the song "Live and Let Die" played in the background. The night sky (and water surface in this case) were literally filled with lights.

I wasn't so impressed of their synchronization to music though. Also, their song choices in the middle performances were neither moving nor entertaining. With lots of colorful display going on, I still can't help but become bored. I can describe the middle performances from mediocre to boring.

As to their finale, it was grand and great; And it was as if it was the final set of fireworks to light up the sky all over for a few minutes.

Spain (February 18)

Spain

Spain's performance reminded me of matadors being chased by bulls, Antonio Banderas and Zorro because of their choice of music. The highlight I guess would be that when some viewers sang along with one of the songs they used in their performance, "We Are The World". Overall, compared to other countries, it was one of those in the middle --- not too good, not too bad. Thus, forgettable.

Finland (February 25)

Finland

Finland surprised us. We didn't expect anything from the country as it was our first time to watch them perform. They had dramatic entrance, which was good. Firework distribution, music and visual synchronization were also good. They didn't display a lot of big fireworks but had a very good show going on with its smaller fireworks and the water surface as well. The performances told different stories and had different tastes to each. Standout fireworks were those in the water, the suspended lanterns, most of the fountains and low flying fireworks.

Portugal (February 25)

Portugal

Fountains were exceptional. They surprised the audience at the start of "Let's Twist Again" performance. After that, the only thing interesting were the fountains at the start of each song and nothing more.

Worst thing about Portugal's show was music. It was horrible. From synchronization to transition to repeatedly used songs in past pyromusicals, they're simply not good at it.

China (March 3)

China

China's performance had so much dead air in it. They filled the minutes up with a voice over of a lady telling a story about a woodsman and a fox. For us, it was boring. They also lack fireworks display. Let me remind China that this is pyromusical, not bedtime storytelling! They had good synchronization to music and their fireworks were really photogenic though!

The Netherlands (March 3)

Netherlands

Our most favorite part of this show was the finale where "Time to Say Goodbye" played in the background. Netherlands was good but not overwhelming. They used beautiful fireworks with good synchronization to music. They had great moments but couldn't seem to keep the momentum throughout their performance.

Australia (March 10)

Australia

I wasn't a fan of Australia's performance maybe because I didn't like the music they used and there were dull moments. But technically speaking, they were actually good. I noticed that synchronization to music was very important to the judges and they were competitive at it. They also had fireworks everywhere and did not concentrate on one side of the barge. Towards the end, they built momentum their finale turned out grand and I liked it.

Canada (March 10)

Canada

Canada's performance was a blast. It was close to perfect. Interesting, wonderful, magical, dramatic, moving -- those are words I can describe it. Most of the time, fireworks were synchronized to every last note of the music. They also played music without lyrics throughout the show except for one and it was great in the sense that their performances captured human emotion. Amazing would be an understatement. Overwhelmingly the best pyromusical performance I've seen so far.

Italy (March 17)

After seeing Finland, Canada and other good teams, I didn't have much excitement left for Italy and didn't expect a good show. I was right. Italy's performance can go side by side with Malta and South Korea's, just a little better. It's like fireworks were going on by themselves and the music playing was a completely different thing. The performance went by like they were there for an exhibition and not a contest.

Italy

Philippines - INTERMISSION (March 17)

Philippines started out good. Really great fireworks semi-synchronized to music and the crowd was really enjoying it. As you know, Filipinos are fond of their own work. And the VIP area was surrounded by fireworks. Thrilling! Until that very unfortunate disruption right in the middle of the performance because of fire in the barge! So the show had to stop until they had fixed the ugly event. When everything's back, it was very obvious that it didn't turn out like how it should have had probably because they lost some fireworks to the fire. It was a disaster.

Philippines

We noticed that some of the viewers present did not know that the Philippines was not included in the contest. FYI, we weren't. In our own competition. Never.

WINNERS

Our guess was Finland and Canada were going to the top 3.

After Italy's performance (before Philippines intermission), the winners were announced and the results are...

2nd runner up:

The Netherlands

1st runner up:

Finland

and

Australia

Grand Champion:

Canada

TIPS

For those who missed the shows this year, there's still next year and here are the things we learned and experienced these past few Saturdays:

Getting to MOA

We usually leave at around 2 - 3 pm in Ortigas to get to MOA before 4pm. Any car arriving later than that will have to brave through a huge, i mean HUGE volume of traffic.

Canada

Getting tickets

Ticket booths were scattered throughout the Mall of Asia. Tickets were also available through TicketNet and Ticketworld.

TIP: We got discounted VIP tickets after purchasing Close-Up products. They slash 50% off Gold and VIP tickets. They give Silver tickets for free.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you buy your tickets on the day you're watching the show itself. NO ADVANCED BUYING unless the date is clearly stated in your ticket or you're purchasing open dated tickets from SM with a clear indication of OPEN DATED in it. We learned this the hard way.

Choosing a good spot

If you want to take good pictures or videos, arrive early so you can pick a good spot. Try to arrive at the viewing area as early as 5 pm. We found a good spot at the VIP section that is less crowded with minimum or no distraction to the entire view of the fireworks. You just have to search for it.

China

Dining

We had a fair share of contenders at the restaurants and fastfoods at the mall before and right after the pyromusical. If you don't have much patience, there were also food stalls scattered around the viewing areas.

Going Home

We always wait until past 12 am to let the entire crowd vanish before we happily head home without traffic stress.

Canada

For more photos, visit:

Days 1 & 6 (South Korea and Malta / Italy and The Philippines)
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150899434924908.520352.523224907&type=1
Day 2 (United Kingdom and Spain)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150827784209908.509671.523224907&type=3
Day 3 (Finland and Portugal)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150839961039908.511649.523224907&type=3
Day 4 (China and The Netherlands)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150855650459908.514006.523224907&type=3
Day 5 (Australia and Canada)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150871471269908.516292.523224907&type=3

22nd

2012-03-23T00:58:00.000+08:00

Baguio - 1st Anniversary Part 1

2012-03-22T11:00:00.000+08:00

We had two destinations for our anniversary in May 2011 -- Baguio and Thunderbird Resort in Poro Point, La Union. We chose these places to avoid tiring ourselves with adventure trips like in Coron and El Nido. This post is the Baguio part of our anniversary trip.

Transit - Manila to Baguio

To reach Baguio from Manila, we boarded a Victory Liner bus in Cubao station. It is a 5-hour ride so we opted for Deluxe seats for space and comfort. We bought our tickets a week in advance so we could choose good seats. A deluxe seat costs 715 pesos, a mere 300-peso difference from ordinary aircon.

We left Manila at 12:15 midnight and arrived in Baguio at around 5 am. As soon as we stepped down the bus, we instantly fell in love with Baguio again! Of course, everybody knows how awesome Baguio's cool climate is compared to the rest of the country especially during Summer!

Hotel Accommodation

Like buying tickets early, we also had the hotel reservation done the week before. Because we truly enjoyed our stay in Microtel Palawan, we chose Microtel again to become our home in Baguio. The interior of their rooms look all the same. We had a smaller one in Baguio though, and the terrace and the ocean view were missing. Their version was a couch attached to the window side and a view of the pine trees outside. Another reason why we chose Microtel was its close proximity to SM Baguio, the parks we wanted to visit, and the hotel being adjacent to Victory Liner terminal station.

Attractions

Going to Baguio to see the attractions is only a fraction of what we wanted to experience during our stay; we were really after the climate. So it didn't matter if we were walking on the road or SM or the wonderful parks. It's all about taking a break from the typical tropical country summer heat, enjoying the cool breeze; and the sight and smell (just Anthony can smell it!) of pine trees. Anyhow, the best captured memories, of course are still those in parks. They served as great background for photos.

Burnham Park

We were still too early for check-in so we just left our bags at the front desk of Microtel and headed straight to Burnham Park to start our tour. We walked our way down there from Upper Session Road. It was 5:30 in the morning and fog was still everywhere. We had runners and joggers with us. We were too thrilled with the fog and breath through the cold air to make cigarette smoke-like appearances -- like children. We didn't bother taking the swan rides so we took wonderful morning pictures at Burnham instead. Oh and a child, maybe 12, actually blurted out, "First time mo?" when I started posing for the camera.

Mines View

We took the cab as Mines View is a little far from the city proper. We arrived at around 9 am and there were a lot of people already. The mood was not serene nor peaceful nor fantastic. It's plainly a park with noisy tourists. The metal roofs of the houses scattered across the supposed view were also distractive. Also, we were both wearing espadrilles, a very bad idea if you're planning to wear them in Baguio. It was hard to go up and down the rock steps of the park. Indeed, this visit to Mines View was more of a disappointment for us. But we still tried to take good pictures. You decide if we are good at faking a smile then!

Wright Park

This is our most favorite park in all that we have visited. The park was less crowded than that of Burnham and Mines View and it is very photogenic. May I add that we visited the park on our second day and that we were well-rested and well-dressed for walking around Baguio and photos. We took a lot of pictures as evidenced and had so much fun in this park!

The Mansion

The Mansion is just in front of Wright Park. Or vice-versa. We could only take pictures near the gate as the compound is off-limits.

Camp John Hay

Camp John Hay had less tourists than we expected. I mean, less commuting tourists. Most people here come in their private cars or SUVs. Upon arrival until we left Starbucks, I was too worried we would have a hard time getting a cab. It rained minutes after we arrived; it didn't stop so we didn't have the chance to walk and take photos around the pine trees and golf course. We then just decided to go around the stores at Mile Hi. Then we checked out The Manor before we climbed our way up to Starbucks. Starbucks in Camp John Hay is way better than that of SM -- less crowded and the architecture blends well with the pine trees; very country inspired.

One rainy afternoon at Starbucks Camp John Hay

SM Baguio

The place we visited over and over was SM Baguio -- for obvious reasons. It's a one-stop-shop for everything we need: water, toiletries, food and entertainment. It is also a good place to hang out. It offers both mountain and city/sunset views. Its location is just perfect. Good thing it's only a walking distance away from our hotel.

Sunset View at SM Baguio

Session Road

Along Session Road is a mix of different kinds of shops. We particularly searched for restaurants here. I didn't recognize what souvenir shops or drugstores or specialty stores offer. We didn't care at that time. We were plainly hungry. Anyway, you could always check it out yourself. It is a pretty busy road so don't expect like it'd be a walk in the park kind of tour.

Baguio Cathedral near Session Road

Eating out at Don Henricos along Session Road

Eat

There are a handful of restaurants you can see in Manila available in SM and along Session Road. Choose your favorite and take care of that craving!

The only restaurant we dined in that only Baguio has was Cafe by the Ruins. It is located in front of the city hall. We had breakfast there; they serve big and healthy breakfasts.

Breakfast at Cafe by the Ruins

Transit - within Baguio City

Walk! Baguio is all about the weather and parks and pine trees! Check Google Earth before heading out and walk your way to your next stop.

If your destination is a little far though or you're just totally not into walking, there are a lot of taxis all around the city. The cab fare is very cheap! Flag down is 25 pesos and 1.50 pesos is charged for every 250 meters of road traveled compared to Manila's 40 pesos and 3.50 pesos, respectively. When it rains though, most people take the cab; empty ones may be a little hard to come by. Also, expect long queues in SM.

3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

2011-12-11T14:20:00.014+08:00

The Brightest Show on Earth!

The schedules are finally out for the 3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition happening every Saturdays of next year starting February 11 - March 17, 2012.

3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition Schedules

Ticket Prices:

P1,500 - VIP with Dinner

P500 - VIP

P300 - Gold

P100 Silver

You can buy your tickets for the 3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition at www.ticketnet.com.ph, www.ticketworld.com.ph and www.smtickets.com

Visit www.pyrophilippines.com for more details.

Cameras ready? :)

Puerto Princesa Underground River among New 7 Wonders of Nature

2011-11-12T09:36:00.002+08:00

I am so excited and happy to announce that the Philippine-famous Puerto Princesa Underground River is now bound to be declared and known worldwide as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!

Puerto Princesa Underground River*

Puerto Princesa Underground River among New 7 Wonders of Nature

After two years of global voting, the poll for the New 7 Wonders of Nature has ended and here is the list of provisional winners as announced on the n7w website (http://www.new7wonders.com):

Puerto Princesa Underground River - Philippines
Amazon - South America
Halong Bay - Vietnam
Iguazu Falls - Argentina
Jeju Island - South Korea
Komodo - Indonesia
Table Mountain - South Africa

This list is based on the first count of international voting results conducted by the n7w foundation on 11/11/11. The group is currently in the process of checking, validating and verifying the votes. After this, confirmed winners will be announced in early 2012 as the official New 7 Wonders of Nature.

This is wonderful news for me as I am not only from the Philippines, but from Puerto Princesa itself!

Quick Facts: Puerto Princesa Underground River

For those who don't know or haven't been to Puerto Princesa Underground River yet, here are quick descriptions of the national park as quoted from one of my old posts:

"Azure, crystal clear waters and towering limestone karst mountains will welcome you upon entering the famous subterranean watercourse."

Entrance to Puerto Princesa Underground River

"Inside, stalactites, stalagmites and all manner of stunning cave formations abound."

Stalactites and stalagmites inside Puerto Princesa Underground River*

Puerto Princesa Underground River inscribed to UNESCO List of Natural World Heritage Sites

Aside from being one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, Puerto Princesa Underground River was also inscribed to UNESCO List of Natural World Heritage Sites in 1999 with its representation of a habitat for biodiversity conservation. UNESCO World Heritage Sites List consists of places with exceptional and universal value that deserves to be protected for the benefit of humanity.

Limestone karsts and beach before entering Puerto Princesa Underground River

Puerto Princesa Underground River and its effect on Philippine Tourism

With Puerto Princesa Underground River among the New 7 Wonders of Nature and being blessed with bountiful of other beautiful natural attractions in the entire country, we are closer to becoming the world-renowned Philippines and no longer just an island in the Pacific that most international travelers skip.

You can guess how proud I am right now.

*Photo Credit: New7Wonders.com

It's Wanderful!

Mabuhay ang New 7 Wonders of Nature!

Mabuhay ang Puerto Princesa Underground River!

Mabuhay ang Puerto Princesa!

Mabuhay ang Palawan!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Earth Hour 2011

2011-03-29T09:38:00.002+08:00

Last March 26, 2011 we went to the Mall of Asia to participate in the Earth Hour 2011.

Earth Hour is an annual event in which people are asked to turn off their non-essential lights for an entire hour, starting at 8:30pm until 9:30pm. This is a campaign started by the WWF as a campaign to fight global warming.

"In 2010, 128 countries and territories took part in Earth Hour. Eighty-nine national capitals participated, as did nine of the world's ten biggest cities, thousands of other communities, countless businesses, and hundreds of millions of individuals, according to WWF, the international conservation nonprofit, which organizes Earth Hour." - National Geographic

Here are some photos of the event at the Mall Of Asia:

"Let us join together to celebrate this shared quest to protect the planet and ensure human well-being. Let us use 60 minutes of darkness to help the world see the light."- Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General

Hopefully, Earth Hour doesn't end at 9:31pm. Let us all go Beyond the Hour as we help contribute in our home's preservation.

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Earth Hour 2011: Go Beyond the Hour

Manila Ocean Park: Acquatica's Once Upon an Ocean, White Moon, and Liquid

2011-03-25T08:00:00.009+08:00

Note: This post doesn't include a tour of the Oceanarium. We''ll be visiting that next time together with the Hotel H20.

Last month, I posted a P99 Fountain Show Promo at the Philippines' first and only oceanarium, the Manila Ocean Park. So last Saturday, Mark and I paid a visit to see what's in store for us.

Upon arriving, we went straight to the Acquatica booth to claim our tickets. You just need to show the referral code sent to you thru SMS and pay P99, no more, no less. How cheap is that?

Since the show doesn't start till 6:30pm, we decided to go inside the mall and to the Sunset Quay to witness the magnificent sunset at Manila Bay. At first there were lots of clouds blocking the sun - which ruined a lot of my shots - but after a while, the sun showed itself to us. No time to waste, time to start shooting.

Once Upon an Ocean

After some snacks, we went back to the Acquatica theater for the show. I was surprised about the large number of people inside the theater - most of them coming from the tour around the Oceanarium. We were seated at the top part which was a bad idea because there was a line blocking my camera's view (as you can see in the photographs).

The show is entitled "Once Upon an Ocean". It is composed of live performers on the stage backed with amazing lights, pyrotechnics, laser, computer imaging, water mists and jets that can shoot water up to 40 meters high. They say that it can be compared to Sentosa's Musical fountain, or even better.

After some test runs, a harmony of lights, water, and music started to hypnotize our senses. Animated computer images of different sea creatures were projected on the building behind and on the water mists which greatly amused the audience especially the kids and kids at heart alike.

Here are some of the highlights of the show:

The show lasted for 30 minutes. Overall, the show impressed us with the amazing technology and artistry involved in producing a world class performance like this.

If you're looking for a party or a relaxing drink after a busy life in the city, Manila Ocean Park offers two interesting venues suited for that late night craving.

White Moon

White Moon is an outdoor bar that gives you a view of Manila Bay's sunset at dusk and great music coupled with a drink and scrumptious food - a perfect retreat from the busy life outside. This bar is hidden at the 2nd floor balcony of the park's main building. So if you're planning for a great time with your friends or loved ones, chill-out and unwind at White Moon.

Liquid Pool and Lounge

Liquid, Manila's Pool Party. Don't worry about dress codes. Here, you can wear bikinis and board shorts as you splash and party - Vegas style. Liquid brings you a unique clubbing experience with a bar, dance floor, and a pool all in one place

Click here to view the entire photo set.

Palawan Tour: Coron, Puerto Princesa and El Nido

2011-03-21T16:29:00.014+08:00

I've been flying back home for four consecutive months already and it takes more than the word awesome to call this island province home. To me and Anthony, the first quarter of 2011 definitely belongs here.

We visited three of the most popular tourist destinations of the Philippines' last frontier in two installments: Coron in January then Puerto Princesa and El Nido in February to March.

We've had a grand time and yes, we are here to share with you our amazing travel to one of National Geographic's editors pick for 20 Best Trips of 2011... Palawan!

Coron

Visiting Coron was the most perfect way to start our year and celebrate Anthony's birthday. In this January 2011 trip, we picked Coron Island and the magnificent beaches in the islands around Malcapuya.

Mt. Tapyas (Day 1)
What about the most perfect way to start a tour? Seeing the map first -- from a bird's eye view. Upon our arrival in Coron town, we trekked Mt. Tapyas to have a quick view of what's in store for us and we were rewarded with the amazing panorama of the sun setting on the islands of Busuanga and Coron Bay.

Coron Island (Day 2)
Coron Island enchanted us with its stunning limestone formations, serene lakes, a hidden lagoon and amazing pockets of powdery white sand beaches. Nearby, we also snorkeled with lots of colorful fishes. It was a tour full of tranquil beauty and adventure!

Malcapuya Loop (Day 3)
On the contrary, visiting the islands around Malcapuya is a vacation within a vacation. It is a time when all we did was treat our eyes with the wonderful views of the islands, listen to the calming waves of the sea and bum all day around the powdery white sand beaches and hammocks of Malcapuya, Banana and Bulog Islands.

Dining
Came dining, Coron town didn't disappoint either. There are a handful of good restaurants in town. Three remarkable eating havens we've been to are Village Lodge, La Sirenetta and our favorite Bistro Coron.

Puerto Princesa and El Nido

We flew to Puerto Princesa City a month after Coron. This time, we were with our friends. We headed straight to the Underground River upon our arrival then drove our way to El Nido town in the evening after the tour. We spent two full days in El Nido before we came back to the city to let our friends fly back to Manila and spend the rest of the week in my laid-back hometown, Puerto Princesa.

Our mainland tour can be classified into two parts:
Part 1 - Underground River (Day 1) and El Nido (Days 2 and 3) with friends; and
Part 2 - more of Puerto Princesa City (Days 4, 5, 6 and 7) with just me and Anthony.

Puerto Princesa (Day 1)

Underground River
Underground River on the first day was a grand entrance to visit Palawan mainland. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an entrant into the contest for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Here we were welcomed by azure, crystal clear waters and towering limestone karst mountains upon entering the famous subterranean watercourse. Inside, stalactites, stalagmites and all manner of stunning cave formations abound.

El Nido (Days 2 and 3)

El Nido Tour A (Day 2)
On our second day, we visited the famous (small, big and secret) lagoons around Miniloc; did some snorkeling along the nearby Simizu Island; and walked and swam around pulvoron-like quality golden sands of Seven Commandos Beach in El Nido. This tour is collectively known as El Nido Tour A.

El Nido Tour C (Day 3)
El Nido Tour C is what was next on our itinerary. It was comprised of a visit to the 'then' Secret Beach in Matinloc Island; Our Lady of Matinloc Shrine (built by the family of our host friend Michelle); Tapuitan beach (which they also own), and our very own version of an extra challenging visit of the Hidden Beach (also in Matinloc Island). At the end of the tour, we were treated to a panoramic view from the golden sands of Helicopter Beach.

Puerto Princesa (Days 4, 5, 6 and 7)

After our friends left for Manila, we were drained, exhausted and literally dead for a day. We spent a day at the hotel sleeping -- timely to rejuvenate for rewarding experiences of the City Tour, Honda Bay and (yes, this deserves a mention and a blog entry of it's own --) Microtel Palawan.

Puerto Princesa City Tour (Day 5)
After a day of rejuvenation, we woke up to a happier, invigorated perspective. We started coming back to our energetic selves by seeing the less popular tourist attractions within Puerto Princesa City, which can usually be grouped and done in a day. Blogs and travel companies collectively refer to these attractions as the City Tour. Some of what we visited and Anthony wandered around by himself when I went to see my family were -- Mitra's Ranch, Baker's Hill, Immaculate Conception Cathedral and Baybay (Puerto Princesa's version of Manila's Baywalk).

Honda Bay (Day 6)
On the morning of our sixth day, we headed to Sta. Lourdes Wharf to go island hopping in Honda Bay. We snorkeled around Pambato Reef, walked along the stretch of Snake Island and took bountiful underwater pictures and videos with the fishes at Pandan Island.

Microtel Palawan (Days 6 and 7)
After the Honda Bay tour, we checked in at Microtel Palawan where we spent our last night. It was the only time we really got to relax -- and just enjoy the beachfront scenery, the freshwater pool (giving our eyes a break from seawater swimming) and the resort in general.

Dining
There abounds a lot of options for food lovers in Puerto Princesa. During our tour, we chose to eat in the famous Kalui, which offers fresh seafood and homey ambience; Leslie's Palawan -- Leslie's Tagaytay's version in Puerto Princesa with same quality food and a new, grander look less Tagaytay's chilly climate; and Bilao's Palayok, my most favorite Filipino restaurant in my hometown, which is incidentally owned and managed by a former classmate.

Traveling to and in Palawan varies from comfortable as is in Puerto Princesa City and Coron and very rough, exhausting or challenging like in farther islands within Calamianes (Busuanga), Sabang (Underground River), and El Nido. But I assure you 101% that these destinations are not famous for nothing. They are all worth seeing. Palawan is a piece of paradise that may never cease in one's best travel stories.

That's just a glimpse of what happened in Palawan. We will blog more about each tourist destination, restaurant and every interesting detail of our experiences in the coming posts. We'll try to cover everything Palawan in the next few weeks so stay tuned!

Earth Hour 2011: Go Beyond the Hour

2011-03-21T08:54:00.010+08:00

Now on its 4th year, Earth Hour is a global event held every last Saturday of March as an act to raise awareness among individuals and take action about the seemingly alarming effects of climate change. In this event, every household and businesses are asked to switch of non-essential lights for an hour. This yearly occasion was initiated by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) last 2007 in Sydney, Australia with a participation of around 2.2 million residents.

For the past two years, the Philippines topped the Earth hour with a 10-million and 15-million Filipinos who switched-off in 2009 and 2010 respectively. But this year, Earth Hour doesn't only last for an hour, but citizens around the globe are asked to Go Beyond the Hour.

Beyond the Hour is another step of the Earth Hour organization, aiming to bring people to commit to an action in protecting the earth by placing pledges to their website www.beyondthehour.org or by filling in the form below.

“Everyone has the power to make change: a CEO can change an organisation, a 7-year-old can change a classroom, and a president can change a country. What we are announcing today is just the beginning. It is through the collective action of individuals and organisations that we will be able to truly make a difference, which is why we are urging people across the planet to share how they will go beyond the hour this Earth Hour."

- Andy Ridley, Earth Hour Co-Founder and Executive Director

This year-long advocacy asks each individual to contribute and make a change, big or small, to help in sustaining the planet.

Earth Hour is just the beginning, so at 8:30PM on March 26, 2011, lights will be turned off but after and hour, when the lights go back on, it's time to Go Beyond the Hour. How can you help save the earth?

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Philippines

2011-03-16T10:31:00.002+08:00

After Australia's dazzling show, the winners of the 2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition were announced.

2nd Place: Japan

1st Place: United Kingdom

Champion: China

Too bad we missed Japan and China's presentation.

I was extremely excited for Team Philippines' (Platinum Fireworks) turn because their presentation last year was phenomenal. Thank goodness they didn't disappoint everyone.

Fireworks started firing at our right side during the countdown then the sky was painted with bright, amazing, brilliant bursts of color.

The music selection was perfect and timed excellently with each fire in the sky.

Everyone was shouting and cheering for the Philippines. The whole crowd just went crazy! And just when we thought it was all over, more shots were fired.

During the finale, we were surrounded by fireworks coming from the barge on the water and from the two bridges connected to the Mall of Asia.

Watch the videos to see Platinum Fireworks' truly magnificent show.

I can't wait for next year!

To view the entire picture set, please visit my flickr photostream.

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part 1)

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part 2)

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Australia

2011-03-15T13:38:00.000+08:00

March 12, 2011, the final day of the 2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition and again thanks to my sister, we got free VIP tickets.

The crowd doubled or even tripled on this last day of the competition unlike the previous time. Maybe because it was everybody's final chance to watch amazing fireworks and of course, witness Team Philippines' grand finale.

7:40pm, Australia lit up the sky with dazzling fireworks synchronized with mostly, instrumental music which tickled the senses of everyone watching.

The wind was strong that night which made it difficult to capture the firework's amazing forms.

Mark took a vid of the entire show:

But hold on, the best is yet to come.

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2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part 1)

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Portugal and UK (Part 2)

2nd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition - Philippines

Cirque du Soleil in Manila

2011-03-08T20:36:00.010+08:00

Experience the magic of Cirque du Soleil as they visit Manila for the very first time. The company will stage Varekai on June 23 to July 10, 2011 inside the Grand Chapiteau Tent at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park.

Varekai, which means "wherever", is about the story of Icarus who falls into a lush forest, in which the magical creatures teach him to rediscover life and leran how to fly again.

The show will mesmerize you with performances like the triple trapeze, hand-balancing, aerial straps, body skating, Russian wings, and more acrobatic acts.

Russian Swings

Flight of Icarus

Aerial Hoop

Be sure to catch this once in a lifetime spectacle on the following dates:

June 23, 2011 (Thu) 7:30pm

June 24, 2011 (Fri) 3:30pm

June 24, 2011 (Fri) 7:30pm

June 25, 2011 (Sat) 3:30pm

June 25, 2011 (Sat) 7:30pm

June 26, 2011 (Sun) 1:00pm

June 26, 2011 (Sun) 5:00pm

June 28, 2011 (Tue) 7:30pm

June 29, 2011 (Wed) 7:30pm

June 30, 2011 (Thu) 7:30pm

July 2, 2011 (Sat) 3:30pm

July 2, 2011 (Sat) 7:30pm

July 3, 2011 (Sun) 1:00pm

July 3, 2011 (Sun) 5:00pm

July 5, 2011 (Tue) 7:30pm

July 6, 2011 (Wed) 7:30pm

July 7, 2011 (Thu) 7:30pm

July 8, 2011 (Fri) 7:30pm

July 9, 2011 (Sat) 3:30pm

July 9, 2011 (Sat) 7:30pm

July 10, 2011 (Sun) 1:00pm

July 10, 2011 (Sun) 5:00pm

For tickets, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com or hoopla.ph.

Manila Ocean Park: P99 Fountain Show Promo

2011-02-28T13:30:00.000+08:00

Manila Ocean Park is offering a P99 only promo for their Musical Fountain Show. That's a 67% off from the show's regular price of P300!

The show starts at 6:30pm every Monday-Sunday including Holidays. Promo runs from January 24 - March 31, 2011.

Promo Mechanics:

There are two options - (1) via a promo code sent through SMS and (2) Online Payment using a credit card.

1. SMS Promo Code - you just need to register online by visiting www.manilaoceanpark.com and wait for a text message containing your promo code. One promo code per number/person. You just need to present the sms promo coupon at the Acquatica Ticket Booth and pay only P99.

2. Online Paymet - after a successful registration, you can now purchase a maximum of five (5) tickets per transaction. An e-mail confirmation with the promo codes will be sent to your registered e-mail address. All you need to do is print the e-mail and present it to the Reservations Office together with a valid ID to claim your tickets.

We tried the first option and got the sms confirmation instantly. Now we just need to set the date when to claim our tickets.

Updates soon!

DiCAPac: Underwater Camera Case

2011-02-26T13:06:00.001+08:00

Who wouldn't want a picture of the amazing life under the sea - corals, schools of fish - your friends, loved ones, or simply, yourself. But there is a problem, you only have a digicam (or DSLR) that isn't waterproof.

We've had this problem before (when we went to Coron) as I only have a DSLR, so taking pictures while on the beach and in the water became bothersome. Another problem: Sand might enter the camera and get on the mirror or worse, ruin the mechanism of the lens. So we've decided on buying a disposable and underwater camera and a cheap manual camera with a hard plastic case - both using a film.

Using a film camera is such a pain as the ASA and ISO needs to be perfect every time, not to mention developing, printing, and converting them to digital.

Fortunately, thanks to the internet (Woohoo!), I came across this website offering a line of products that will turn any camera waterproof.

DiCAPac is a company that provides you with a reasonably priced case that will fit into any camera that there is. They promise to give your camera protection so you can capture photographs in and out of the water. And oh, it floats too!

I bought one for my Casio Exlim EX-Z40 yesterday. The manual said that you have to test it before using to be sure that the product isn't defective, or else you can ask for a replacement. I placed a piece of tissue paper inside the case and sealed it before submerging it in water. I shook, sank, pressed the case for about five minutes then checked the tissue. And amazingly, it was still dry.

Inside the box is the case and a lanyard for convenient carrying.

Now I have to wait till we get to El Nido this Sunday to really put the case into the test. Hopefully it lives up to their claim or else I just wasted my P1350.00 for this piece of plastic.

I'll post my review about the case and the picture quality soon.

It's Wanderful!

5th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

Cebu City Tour

Reasons to tour Cebu City

Reasons not to tour Cebu City

Tourist Spots in Cebu City

Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral

Santo Niño Basilica

Magellan's Cross

Taoist Temple

Ayala Center Cebu

Quest Hotel Cebu

Cebu City Transportation

Cebu City Map

Movenpick Mactan Cebu

Accommodation at Movenpick Cebu

Mini bar Compliments from Movenpick Floor to ceiling mirror Pool at Movenpick Cebu

Pool at Movenpick Cebu

Beach Garden at Movenpick Cebu

Beach at Movenpick Cebu

Ibiza Beach Club at Movenpick Cebu

Movenpick Cebu at Night

Dining at Movenpick Cebu

Game Room at Movenpick Cebu

Bottom Line

Shangri-la Mactan

Expansive Grounds of Shangri-la Mactan

Beach at Shangri-la Mactan

Pools at Shangri-la Mactan

Accommodation at Shangri-la Mactan

Activities at Shangri-la Mactan

Fish Sanctuary

Mini Golf

Dining at Shangri-la Mactan

Tides

Acqua

Tea of Spring

Lobby Lounge

Cowrie Cove

The Phantom of the Opera in Manila

Cirque du Soleil Returns with 'Saltimbanco'

Ilocos Norte Tour - Pagudpud and Laoag

Day 1 - Laoag at Night

Laoag Renzo Hotel

Saramsam Ylocano Restaurant

Laoag Central Plaza

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

Saud Beach

Emohruo Beach Restobar

Patapat Viaduct

Timangtang Rock

Bantay Abot Cave

Blue Lagoon

Day 3

Maira-ira Beach

Kapuluan Vista Resort

Kapuluan Vista Restaurant

Day 4

More Scenery in Blue Lagoon (past Kapuluan Vista Resort)

The Phantom of the Opera in MANILA!

Anthony's 25th Birthday in Baguio

Chalét Baguio

Forest House: Anthony's Birthday Dinner Celebration

The Manor: Chinese New Year Eve

Bell Tower

Baguio Market, Good Shepherd and a Dragon Dance

Baguio Parks

Boracay R&R

Thunderbird Resort Poro Point - 1st Anniversary Part 2

3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition WINNERS

22nd

Baguio - 1st Anniversary Part 1

3rd Philippine International Pyromusical Competition

Puerto Princesa Underground River among New 7 Wonders of Nature

I am so excited and happy to announce that the Philippine-famous Puerto Princesa Underground River is now bound to be declared and known worldwide as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!

Puerto Princesa Underground River among New 7 Wonders of Nature

Quick Facts: Puerto Princesa Underground River

Puerto Princesa Underground River inscribed to UNESCO List of Natural World Heritage Sites

Puerto Princesa Underground River and its effect on Philippine Tourism

Mini bar

Compliments from Movenpick

Floor to ceiling mirror

Pool at Movenpick Cebu

Mabuhay ang Puerto Princesa!

Mabuhay ang Palawan!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!