Sheng Reviews

Back as a New Mom

2015-03-03T17:19:00.002+08:00

Yes, I am a new mom. I got pregnant (again, thank God!) and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl last January 8, which is why I was in hiatus for months. I don't know why, but I'm allergic to computers when I'm pregnant.

But now, I'm back and since I have a baby, you can expect lots of baby products reviews. As a new mom, I still have a lot to learn but I'm getting the hang of it. And certainly I have my favorite baby products - which I was so glad we bought, products that didn't live up to their promises and products that I think I can do perfectly without. I'll be blogging about them soon.

For now, let me enjoy my baby.

Product: Pro Salon Multi-Function Hair Styler (Generic-brand Hot Air Brush)

2014-09-01T10:58:00.000+08:00

I've read in a blog somewhere that a hot air brush is the most flexible hair styling tool that you can own. Depending on the setting and you hair condition (i.e. if it's wet, dry or somewhere in between), you can use it to straighten your hair, tame frizz but maintain sexy waves or create luscious curls. Being someone who is constantly frustrated with her hair, I knew I needed this.

It's basically a brush and hair dryer/blower combo. And I know from experience that styling your hair with a blower on one hand and a brush on the other is often cumbersome and doesn't always deliver the desired result, so having only one tool to deal with seems like a much better option. But I don't have the budget to buy those expensive brands (upwards of P2000), so I opted for one of these generic hot air brushes that retails for P200 at SM Appliance Center.

Right out the box, it looks like it's good enough to do the trick. But when the sales crew who assisted me emphasized that this tool is for personal use only, I should have known that there's going to be an issue with the product. And the perceived issue, as I was told, is I won't be able to use it continuously for more than 30 minutes. But the real issue was the hot air brush stopped working already somewhere between the 5-minute and 10-minute mark. It overheated.

So I promptly returned it the next day for replacement (actually D returned it for me). Again, he was told what I was told and he countered that it hasn't even been used for more than 10 minutes. Good thing they agreed to replace it with a new one and reiterated that the product tends to overheat quickly. Now, I count to 120 whenever I use it and let it cool before I continue to avoid the overheating issue. I also only use the low setting. It's not the most convenient and efficient tool to use, I know but it still beats our good old hair dryer + brush for drying my hair. As for styling, I think I will need the more professional and pricey brand for that.

Place: Sunset Cove Beach Resort in Morong, Bataan

2014-05-16T18:52:00.000+08:00

We went to Sunset Cove Beach Resort in Morong, Bataan last yeat but I only remembered to write a review now.

Planning a family outing during summer is frustrating, especially when they ask me to do it just a few weeks in advance. During this season, it is more difficult to find a good beach or pool resort that's not too expensive and still available. By good, I mean somewhere decent, clean, has a nice view and/or facilities. It's important that they have a family room that can fit more than 10 people and that they allow guests to bring food and cook inside the resort premises. It's also a factor if the resort is not too "public" because nothing ruins a summer outing than a crowded beach or pool where you can't swim in without bumping into someone.

So when my family gave me this task, I chose to go north. Our initial plan was Subic and I've already inquired and researched about the places where we can stay and where we can swim. The good resorts in Subic are way beyond our budget for 12 people so I thought we'll go to a public beach by day and crash in a cheap hotel by night.

Then I found about Sunset Cove Beach Resort in Morong, Bataan, which is somewhat close to SMBA and thought that this was the better option because they have both a beach and accommodations. Immediately, I asked if they have a family room available on April 13-14, our target date and they said they do. So everything was set in motion. They sent me a quotation and asked to make 50% deposit to their bank account to reserve the room.

While I find the family room rate to be delightfully cheap, I wasn't too happy about the additional charges, especially the additional fee for the Bahay Kubo lounge/dining area. We're getting a room already, do we really need to get a separate cottage for dining? Can't we just eat inside the room? But the total amount was still cheaper than my initial estimation for our Subic trip and very much within the budget so I just let it go.

The Resort

We made a side trip to San Fernando, Pampanga because my uncle's parents live there, and we paid them a short visit and he knows this wonderful market place where we bought our food supplies. Then we entered SMBA and exited at the Morong gate. From there, we just followed the directions given to us by Sunset Cove, or did we get that from Google? Sorry, I can't remember anymore, but the place is not that difficult to find.

It was past 10 a.m. when we arrived at the resort and we were immediately greeted by the owner, Ma'am Cecil (Jimenez). Because it was still early for our 2:00 p.m. check-in time and our room was not yet available, Ma'am Cecil chatted with us and kept us entertained by her stories of how they started the resort and what they do during the lean season. Apparently, the place can get flooded during the rainy months. It was a good chat and she was very accommodating.

By 11:30, we were told that our room is ready and we can unload our things and start cooking. The use of the kitchen and all utensils were already included in our quotation so we asked someone who looked like the manager of the resort, because he's the go-to person for everything, for the things that we need for cooking. I forgot to ask for his name so let's just call him Kuya.

Our Family Room

Before we went to Sunset Cove, I inquired first if we still need to bring kitchen and table utensils. I was told that they will provide all these, so we didn't bring any. And they did provide these. But Kuya, the one who manages everything in the resort including these utensils, was a very busy person and it's sometimes difficult to find him. We tried to ask the other staff, but they seemed clueless and they just told us to find Kuya, because he's the only one who knows about it.

Asking for something that we needed in the kitchen became a bit frustrating and we usually ended up improvising, which was okay, but the hassle of repeatedly trying to find Kuya when we need something, and not finding him was draining. We wished we just brought our own utensils, and we would have had I known that getting what we need would not be that easy.

After cooking our food, we asked if our bahay-kubo cottage, where we were supposed to eat, was already available. But it's not and they told us to just use any vacant table cottage that we can find. Good thing there were a couple of unoccupied tables near the cooking area.

I'd also like to point out that the "new wing kitchen" in the quotation. which we paid P1,000 for, is just your typical public grilling area with a gas stove. We only consumed a small amount of the LPG and grilling areas are normally provided for free in other resorts, so surely, it's not worth P1,000. We felt like the kitchen did not really justify the fee. But let's move on... to more problems.

Remember that this was summer and the resort accepts day tour and overnight guests. By noon, people were starting to pour in. I almost pity those who came at around 2:00 p.m. because they couldn't find any empty cottage, table or kubo or what-have-you type, anymore and they were just standing there, looking tired and helpless. I think there was a company team-building event or a birthday celebration - or worse both - that day and the place was jam-packed. I was just thankful that we arrived much earlier.

And then there's the problem with our cottage. By 2:00 p.m., we asked again if we can use the cottage already because 2:00 p.m. is the official check-in time and I assumed that it will be available by then. But no, it's not yet available and it was only then I realized that they were renting out all the cottages to day tour guests. And that's just wrong because we paid for our cottage.

Granting that there was only a 3-4 hours overlap in the check-out of day tour guest and check-in of overnight guests, but the fact remains that we paid for that cottage and we are entitled to use it during the hours specified in the contract. Otherwise, they shouldn't have included that in the quotation and it should be just an option for overnight guests.

Our Bahay-Kubo Cottage

It is spacious enough for 15 people

By late afternoon, the day tourist had left and the place was quieter and less crowded and we finally got our cottage. We started to prepare for dinner and transfer some of our things and our food from the room to the cottage. After dinner, when no one was longer interested swimming at night and everybody just wanted to rest and sleep, we again carried our things and leftover food from the cottage back to the room. And in the morning, we did the same thing.

You see, having a separate cottage, a few meters away from our room, was really unnecessary. It would be perfectly okay for us to eat and lounge inside our room. We could skip the cottage all together and there wouldn't be the need to haul things back and forth. But since we paid for it already, not using it would mean wasting our money.

And then there's the water problem. Because they had so many guests during the day, their water reservoir was already empty by evening. We needed to wait until their motor had pumped enough water back into the tank. We were lucky our room was on the ground floor. Those who were on the second floor needed to wait longer to have water flowing in their faucets and showers. Some faucets in the resort have water, albeit close to a trickle, so we were able to wash our dirty dishes.

The Family Room

Our troubles didn't end with the resort's facilities. We had more in our room.

I totally agree that room that can comfortably fit 12 people at P6,000/night is a great find. Inside the room, we had 6 double beds, a small air conditioning unit, 2 wall fans and 1 stand fan. There was no closet for our clothes, no refrigerator and there's only 1 bathroom for all 12 of us to use. It wasn't swanky but it was alright.

Excuse our clutter. That's what you get when you have 12 people in a single room.

However, when we asked for the key to the door knob, they couldn't find it. We asked several times to no avail. At some point we were told that the previous occupant, who is a friend of the owner, brought the key with him by accident and they were trying to get it back. In the end, they told us that they'll just replace the door knob. But that didn't happen.

Also, for some reasons, people keept going into our room thinking it was the resort's public comfort room, probably because of the lack of clear signage and our room is close to the real comfort rooms. Because of this, we couldn't all go out at the same time and at least one had to stay inside to guard our things. It was a bummer.

Another problem was keeping the room clean and mud-free. The resort sits on a sandy ground and they didn't have cemented pathway so our sandals/flip-flops/shoes/whatever were always sandy. We couldn't leave them outside the room because, even if they weren't exactly the expensive brands, someone might take interest and steal them. You never know, right. No choice but to take them inside so sand was all over the floor. And because they didn't provide any floor mats, when we go to the bathroom, our slippers get wet, water and sand mix, and the sandy floor became a muddy floor.

Speaking of bathroom, we also had some issues there. Our bathroom looked pitiful, you could just imagine how dirty one small bathroom can get if 12 people were using it. There was a leaking pipe under the sink so we couldn't keep the floor dry, even if we try. There's nothing, not a caddy or a hole in the wall, to place toiletries on and there's no trash can.

The Beach

Although, it seemed that our stay in Sunset Cove Beach Resort, was unpleasant, it wasn't so terribly bad. While the resort itself was disappointing, the beach area was the redeeming factor. The sand is not white, more of a light gray and it turns into a rich cream color at the peak of noon. In some areas of the beach, the sand is black. But don't expect powder-fine, cool Boracay sand.

I like that some areas had a rustic, unspoiled charm.

Because it's a cove, the water was calm, and clear almost like spring water. It actually felt like we were in a big swimming pool rather than a beach because the waves, if there were at all, were very gentle. It's a small cove and you can walk from end to end in less than an hour. There are other resorts in the area, but I think Sunset Cove is the biggest.

We particularly like the beach area in front of Sweetwater Resort, the farthest resort on the right end, because it has the clearest water and there were hardly any people there at that time so it felt like we have the beach to ourselves.

The cove has lots of potential and I just hope that the resort owners will do their part in maintaining the beauty of the place. In the morning, we saw some trash left by guests who had bonfire the night before. No one was cleaning it. There's also food wrappers and plastic bottles floating in the water.

This is just a small cove, and if resort owners don't implement strict rules regarding trash, it's just a matter of time before the water becomes polluted. Without the clean and clear water, the cove doesn't really offer anything much.

Well, except for a great sunset.

We also went on a boat ride, P500 for 10 people (the 2 kids were free). If anyone offers you a boat ride for more than P50/head, don't accept it. There's not much to see, just the other side of the cove and the boat ride was short.

The Verdict

I think it's obvious that I won't be recommending Sunset Cove Beach Resort, especially if what you're after is relaxation and hassle-free stay. I understand that this is not a high-end beach resort and we weren't expecting fancy amenities and posh accommodations. Despite that, we felt that the resort fell short in providing us the basic things that we expected they will provide. After all, these are just basic things that other resorts of the same caliber have no trouble providing.

One of the staff admitted to us that they simply took in more than they can accommodate that day so it was chaos. To be fair to the staff and especially the owner and Kuya, they were really very friendly and accommodating. But I can't simply ignore the misses and shortcomings. And we all agree that although the beach was nice, Sunset Cove Beach Resort was simply not worth going back to.

Sunset Cove Beach Resort
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunsetcove/
Email: sunsetcove@yahoo.com
Phone: 0915-784-6541
0933-674-0906
0928-500-1132

Product: Philips Satinelle Epilator

2014-05-14T18:23:00.003+08:00

I've been wanting to buy an epilator because DIY waxing is sometimes clunky and you need to wait for the underarm hairs to grow long enough so they will stick to the wax and can be uprooted. Salon waxing is more convenient but I find it to be an unnecessary expense, because it's something that I can do on my own. Going the laser hair removal route is the best option for underarm hair but I still don't have the budget for it (or I just refuse to make a budget for it).

Enter Philips Satinelle Epilator, which I bought at SM Appliance Center for P2,495.00.

This epilator is actually for the legs, but the one intended for whole body use (Philips Satinelle Soft) was P2,000 more expensive because it comes with a few attachments. I thought I don't need those extras and it looked like the Satinelle can do the job without them. So I went with the basic model.

Model Number and Electrical Specs

Speed Settings and other features

Because I chose not to get the more expensive model, the box only contains the actual epilator + power cord and a multi-language manual. So don't expect much.

Operating it is pretty easy to figure out. Just slide the head into the body and make sure it fits snugly. Plug it in and push the speed slider up. 0 = off, 1= low setting for gentle epilation and 2 = max setting for faster epilation.

I intended to use this on my underarm so that's where I tested it first. Before using it, make sure the underarms are clean and dry. Then just gently swipe it on the skin with an up and down, and sideways motion.

For me, the actual epilation didn't hurt at all but I made a mistake of letting it stay on just one area of my underarm for too long because there are some short stubborn hairs that I wanted to pull out. The result, I scrape my skin in that area.

So be careful because the Satinelle epilator doesn't have a cover and the rotating metal tweezers will come in direct contact with your skin. Remember to keep the swiping motion. If you start to feel some sting, stop and check if you have bruised your skin. If you have, stop using it.

Except for that one-time scraping incident, I think Philips Satinelle epilator does a great job of pulling out my underarm hairs, even the shorter ones. Although I think it will be easier if you can ask someone to help you keep your skin taut as I notice those hairs in the creases are the most difficult to get.

It also doesn't cause chicken skin but sometimes, I do get in-grown hairs (just 1 or 2). But this is still so much better and more convenient than DIY waxing. It's so easy to use and will come out cheaper in the long run because you won't need to keep buying wax strips (or whatever you're using). I love the fact that I don't have to wait for my hairs to grow long and avoid wearing sleeveless shirts until I wax my underarm.

Now, whenever I notice some visible hair growths, I just plug it in, swipe it on and I'm done. Philips Satinelle epilator definitely made my life easier.

Food: Places to Eat in Puerto Princesa, Palawan

2014-05-01T14:25:00.002+08:00

Catching up on some of my delayed posts, here are the places where we ate when we went to Puerto Princesa Palawan last February 2013. Since it's been more than a year, I can no longer remember the exact prices but I do remember how each food we ate is almost always perfect - very delicious and relatively cheaper.

Puerto Princesa is not just brimming with natural wonders and captivating tourist attractions. It is also a haven for foodies, especially seafood aficionados. There's just so many good places to eat.

Here's something I wrote a while back:

... Puerto Princesa is a cornucopia of many good restaurants. Choosing rather than finding where to eat is the real task. But the best part is, and this we found out to be true whether eating in a posh restaurant or paluto style by the beach, the seafoods in Palawan are the among the best in the country. They're the freshest, most reasonably priced, and most enjoyable seafoods I've ever had.

It was a Seafood-fest for us while we were in Palawan because they just taste delightfully fresh and 100x better than the seafood dishes that we normally have in Manila.

Dampa sa Mansion Restaurant

Mitra Road, Santa Monica, Palawan

It was out first day in Puerto Princesa and we were doing our DIY city tour. I asked our tricycle driver, Kuya Tong, to take us to a good restaurant where we can have lunch. I was hoping he'd take us to Balinsasayaw or any of the Inato restaurants, but he said he knows someplace better, and it's along the way to Mitra's Ranch.

And he took us to this paluto-style restaurant beside the Commodore Mansion called Dampa sa Mansion.

My mother at Dampa sa Mansion Restaurant

On the left side is the small talipapa where you can buy fresh seafoods and have them cooked any way you want. Like any paluto service, you need to pay for the seafood and the cooking fee separately. They also offer meat, chicken and vegetables dishes if you want more variety.

Inihaw na Pusit or Grilled Stuffed Pusit

At first, I wasn't too thrilled to see that they used ketchup on the squid as I'm not fond of eating with ketchup. But it was surprisingly good. Apart for the ketchup, there's nothing different in this dish - you get the usual tomato-onion-stuffing inside - but what made it outstanding was the freshness of the squid and that it was cooked just right leaving the meat soft and easy to chew.

Kibaw Sabaw / Some shellfish cooked in clear broth with ginger and leeks

We bought some random shellfish (that looked like tulya but bigger) and asked them for recommendation on how to cook it. A lady said sabawan na lang and when I looked at our handwritten receipt, they wrote Kibaw Sabaw. Hence the name of the dish.

I'm not sure what kibaw is but I guess that's how they called that shellfish. Anyway, this very simple dish was so good. Cooked in clear broth, with ginger and leeks, it was a tasty blend of the shellfish juice with a wonderful minty-spicy kick. We couldn't stop sipping the broth.

Steamed Lapu-lapu with Oyster sauce

This one was my favorite. They used just the right amount of oyster sauce, and it permeated the meat of the fish without overpowering the freshness of the Lapu-lapu resulting to a well-balanced flavor; a very delicious dish, the best steamed Lapu-lapu I've ever had.

Dampa sa Mansion was D's favorite among the restaurants we went to (it was my second favorite) because he said the dishes were so simple, the place so unpretentious and yet the foods were fresh, cooked just right and simply outstanding. And I agree.

Kinabuch Bar and Grill Restaurant

369 Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

If you've been to any bar and grill restaurant, you'll find that Kinabuch Bar and Grill is no different. Well, except that they offer exotic dishes like Tamilok (wood worm) and Crocodile meat. But we weren't adventurous enough to try those so we just ordered Sisig, Grilled Tuna Belly and Chopsuey. Though none was a stand-out, the dishes were good enough.

Pork Sisig

Grilled Tuna Belly

Chopsuey

Kinabuch Bar and Grill is a hangout place, if you know what I mean. So if you just want to chill, have some beer while rocking yourself to an upbeat music, this is the place.

Paluto in Pandan Island

Pandan Island, Honday Bay, Palawan

While doing the Honday Bay Islands Tour, we were thrilled to know that there are paluto services at Pandan Island. Because of our wonderful experience in Dampa sa Mansion, we were looking forward to have our lunch here.

Here are some of the interesting seafoods available:

But we were disappointed when our orders were served. First thing that my taste buds noticed was the lasang usok in all of the dishes (not the same as savory smoky flavor you get from grilled and BBQ meats).

I understand that because we were in an island, they were probably using wood fire to cook, which gives that distinct usok flavor, and I could ignore it if only the dishes tasted good. Unfortunately, they didn't. Buti na lang the seafoods were fresh, so that somehow made up for the lackluster cooking.

But still, compared to the other seafoods we've had while we were in Puerto Princesa, this was a big letdown. Just goes to show na di porke fresh, it will turn out delicious. It will still depend on the skill of person who's preparing and cooking your food.

Buttered Garlic Prawns and Alupihang Dagat

The buttery garlicky taste was lost in this dish.

Kibaw Sabaw

A bigger kibaw, but this is a far cry from the Kibaw Sabaw that we had in Dampa sa Mansion. The shellfish was fresh but it just didn't taste as good.

Inihaw na Pusit

The squid was overcooked and therefore, tough as a rubber. But the freshness was able to shine through behind the not-so-good cooking so we were able to enjoy this dish somehow.

Kalui Restaurant

369 Rizal Avenue Puerto Princesa City Palawan (Opens Daily Save Sundays Lunch 11-2pm; Dinner 6:00-10:30pm )
Reservations Requested: You may call our Landline: (048) 433 2580
Mobile No: +63 928 753 9621
E-mail: online@kaluirestaurant.com

KaLui Restaurant is one of those highly recommended restaurants in Puerto Princesa. I learned that the place get filled up fast so you better make a reservation a few days before if you want to dine here. But they accept walk-in guests if the house is not full. I said house because KaLui looks like a traditional wooden house furnished with lots of artworks, local decors and indigenous pieces to supplement the native theme.

And like a traditional barrio house, you are expected to remove your footwear before entering the restaurant.

I think we ordered Kalui Special of the Day which consisted of veggies, a fish dish, prawns, a veggie dish, rice and dessert. Because this set is only good for two, we added two more fish dishes and a Seaweed Salad.

Veggie for the Day: Fried Egglant Sticks

These are just eggplants cut lengthwise, dipped in a light batter and fried. Then the slices were topped with a sweet sauce. I can't remember anymore what the sauce was made up of but I do remember liking how it complements the rather bland taste of the eggplant.

Additional fish dish: Stingray in Coco Cream

I honestly can't recall how my first Stingray taste like.

Additional fish dish: Steamed Lapu-lapu

I think it's evident by now that we like Lapu-lapu. Unlike in Dampa sa Mansion, the waiter who took our orders was not very helpful when we asked for suggestion on how to cook the Lapu-lapu. So I just blurted out "steamed" thinking that they have their own special way of doing steamed fish. But when the fish arrived, it was steamed alright. Only, they didn't add anything to it - it was just steamed - so it was devoid of any flavors except for the taste of the fish. It was very uninspiring.

Seaweed Salad

Seaweed Salad (the other side)

This was my order. I was feeling a bit bold and thought I'd have something that I don't usually have. So when the salad came with sashimi slices - I haven't eaten raw fish before this - I got what I asked for. The Seaweed salad is a tumble heap of seaweeds, tuna sashimi, ripe mango, [I think that's] guacamole, basil leaves, cashew nuts and sweet blend of vinegar dressing, which you can sour with squirts of calamansi.

And guess what, I loved this dish. All those flavors and textures provided a refreshingly unique experience to my taste buds. I must say that their vinegar dressing was the glue that held the flavors together. It went well with everything in the bowl.

Tuna Steak

I think fish steak is always a safe dish - all you need is a fresh catch and some flavors, and you're all set. This was good but overcooked and not really memorable.

Prawns in Tomato Sauce

I often find prawns to be less flavorful than smaller-sized shrimps. Because of their thickness, it not always easy for the prawns to absorb essences and flavors added during cooking. So sometimes, the solution is to separate the sauce from the prawns. The tomato sauce here added a delicate tartness to an otherwise flat taste of the prawn. Like the fish steak, it was a nice touch but not something to rave about.

If you're in Puerto Princesa with your significant other, KaLui Restaurant is the perfect date place. The ambience, the mood, the lighting - everything calls for a romantic dining experience. But I was a bit disappointed with the taste of the foods we've had. Except for the Seaweed Salad, I think our orders were mediocre at best. Even D and my parents weren't too impressed. The food was good, but maybe we expected it would be better - something that will inspire us to want to recreate the dish at home because it blew us away.

Ka Inato Restaurant

Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

On our second to the last day in Puerto Princesa, we transferred to Airport View Pension because we had an early flight back to Manila the next day. For lunch, we decided to walk along Rizal Avenue and look for the nearest eatery. That's how we stumbled upon Ka Inato Restaurant.

I know from research that inato is a popular dish in Puerto Princesa. Similar to inasal, inato is a barbeque technique normally used in chicken.

I love these CFL lamps.

Chicken Inato

Undoubtedly better than the Chicken inasals that proliferate in Manila. But I guess the authentic Chicken inasal of Iloilo will also taste better than the copy cats in Manila.

Sinigang na Ulo ng Isda

Head of which fish, I don't remember anymore. Lapu-lapu maybe?

Seafood Curry

Aside from the Chicken inato, the other dishes that we ordered were good but just ordinary. Yung tipong sakto lang ang lasa. So let's move along. Not much to say here.

What I like about Ka Inato is the good food and affordable prices. We usually spend almost a thousand pesos or more in the restaurants we went to so it was a relief (for our wallets) to spend only a few hundreds for our lunch that day.

Badjao Seafront Restaurant

Abueg Road, Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, Philippines

Badjao Seafront is another popular restaurant in Puerto Princesa. According to Kuya Tong, our jovial tricycle-driver-slash-tour-guide, they serve the best chili crab in town. That alone is reason enough to go there.

At first, I thought it was the Badjao Inn and Restaurant that I saw along Rizal Avenue that he was referring to. But when we went there, the reception personnel was kind enough to point out that what we're looking for was the Badjao Seafront, which is far from the main road. So we hailed another tricycle to get to the right restaurant. And it was far.

Badjao Seafront is a floating restaurant by the sea and we need to cross this narrow and colorfully decorated bridge to get to there.

Inside, we were treated to another nice native ambience.

This is an alfresco restaurant and it's greatest come-on is the by-the-sea dining. It's best to go there late afternoon, just before the sunsets so you can enjoy the view. I noticed they have lots of electric fans in the dining area and I thought that they are not really necessary because the sea already provides fresh and cooling breeze.

But as the night sets in and because we were seated near the water, I realized that the purpose of the electric fans is not to provided ventilation but to ward off mosquitoes.

Our orders took a bit long to arrive but it was still early and we're not yet hungry so it was okay.

Caeser Salad

A bed of lettuce, bacon and overly toasted bread squares sprinkled with parmesan cheese. It was uneventful, but we're not here for the veggie salad so we didn't expect much.

Squid Dish

I'm not sure exactly what this squid dish was but I distinctly remember that it was very yummy. The squid slices were cooked just right and coated with a generous savory sauce similar to the sauce in the chili crab, but less the spice.

Butter Garlic Prawns

Better than the prawns we had in KaLui as the meat is more flavorful.

Grilled Tangigue Steak

The Tangigue steak was grilled to perfection - outside is a light brown color but the white lightly seasoned fish meat inside stayed soft. And the lato and calamansi provided a nice salty and sour contrast.

Sweet Chili Crab

The dish that brought us here - this Chili Crab lived up to our expectations. The large crab bathing in the most awesome sweet chili sauce. It has the right blend of sweetness and spice, and punctuated by hints of garlic, perhaps oyster sauce - it was a true stand out. I think this was the most expensive dish on our table but it was worth the price.

Badjao Seafront was my favorite among all the dining places we ate at in Puerto Princesa. This was where got the inspiration that we didn't find in KaLui, and we've experimented on our own version of sweet chili sauce since we've tasted that wonderful Chili Crab. I think I have it down pat by now.

If I were to rank these restaurants, it will be in this order:

Badjao Seafront
Dampa sa Mansion
KaLui
Ka Inato
Kinabuch
Paluto in Pandan Island

But please note that I'm ranking these places based solely on the foods we had. Ambience, prices and customer service were not considered. Overall, I think Puerto Princesa, Palawan offers some of the best gustatory experience in the country. And I'm sure there are more to savor in this province, which I hope to try if and when I go back there again.

Product: Dentiste' Plus White Nighttime Toothpaste

2014-04-17T21:51:00.000+08:00

We're not organic geeks, but whenever accessible and the budget allows, we prefer to buy natural or organic products because they're just better, more beneficial and less harmful to our bodies.

Case in point, D used to have frequent mouth sores. He consulted with an ENT and got alarmed when the doctor told him chronic mouth sores can be sign of oral cancer. So he researched more about mouth sores and found out that it's often caused by the SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) in most commercial toothpastes. That's what prompted us to search for non-SLS and organic toothpaste in the market.

We found one in Healthy Options but it costs Php400+ per tube. Quite expensive but we bought it anyway to see if he is indeed allergic to SLS. And sure enough, since he started using that toothpaste, his mouth sores started to disappear one by one.

Having proven that it was SLS that's causing his mouth sores, but because the organic toothpaste was a bit expensive, we wanted to try a cheaper alternative. Then we spotted Dentiste' Plus White Nighttime Toothpaste at Shopwise Supermarket.

At first glance, the white and green packaging seems to suggest that it is a natural product. The words Natural and Herbapeutic (herb + therapeutic) are also used to bolster that claim. Furthermore, a small card tied to the tube explains the benefits of this natural and therapeutic toothpaste.

I tried to look for the list of ingredients and found it on the side of the tube. They are mostly herbal extracts and oils.

Lots of herbal extracts, I like!

Being a nighttime toothpaste, it's strongest claim is that it eliminates morning bad breath with the first use. The herbal extracts act as natural anti-septic and anti-bacteria agents that inhibit the growth of bad-breath-causing bacteria while we're sleeping and as a result: no more smelly breath in the morning.

Although it's more expensive than regular toothpaste (costs around Php200+), Dentiste' Plus White toothpaste is a lot cheaper than the organic toothpaste that we previously bought. So we didn't hesitate to buy and was glad that we were able to find a more affordable non-SLS toothpaste at a local grocery.

The toothpaste is colored light green and has a minty flavor that gently explodes in your mouth as you brush your teeth. It leaves a fresh, cooling sensation without the sting that you get from some mentholated toothpastes.

It doesn't foam that much, which I like because I noticed that my teeth feel cleaner when I use a less sudsy toothpaste (that's why we switched from Colgate to Sensodyne before we started using non-SLS toothpaste).

We really like Dentiste' Plus White Nighttime Toothpaste and D's mouth sores have disappeared completely and have not returned since he started using non-SLS toothpaste. I was happy that we were able to find a good natural product that's not too expensive. It seems life is becoming easier for those who prefer the healthier and natural options.

Then one day, as I was brushing my teeth, I noticed there's something written on the toothpaste cap in fine prints. When I looked closer, I was a little surprised to find another list of ingredients. This time, I was not happy with what I read:

Although the font is small, one of the ingredients clearly reads Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS!)

But wait! If Dentiste' toothpaste has SLS all along, why is D not suffering from mouth sores anymore? I'm not sure why. Maybe - and I'm just speculating - it's not the SLS that he's allergic to, but another ingredient/s. Or maybe, because Dentiste doesn't foam as much, it has lesser amount of the foaming agent SLS, and that amount is not enough to cause D's mouth sores. Again, these are just speculations but the fact remains, Dentiste' Plus White Nighttime Toothpaste is not SLS-free and not 100% natural. Knowing that was very disappointing. An affordable, 100% organic product seem too good to be true. And it was the case for Dentiste'.

After we finished the tube, we switched back to Sensodyne (Gum protection variant - the one that has no SLS in the ingredients). D's mouth sores have not returned since so I'm not exactly sure which causes it. He still avoids any oral products with SLS and paraben to be safe.

And just last week, we bought another tube of Dentiste' Plus White Nighttime Toothpaste. D is aware that it has SLS but he said he'd like to give it a try again. He didn't have mouth sores while using it before anyway.We're using it again now and so far, no mouth sores.

Overall, despite the SLS discovery, I can say that it's better than most commercial toothpastes you'll find in the supermarket. If you're looking for a more natural (but not 100% natural) and not particularly sensitive to SLS, you should give Dentiste' Plus White Nighttime Toothpaste a try.

Product: Zenutrients Gugo and Tea Tree Shampoo

2014-04-16T22:23:00.000+08:00

In this country, when a local product claims to be all-natural, moreso if they claim to be organic, you have to take it with a grain of salt. I got curious about Zenutrients shampoos as they are one of those who brand themselves as natural and organic. A page on their website reads:

So, being someone who's looking for natural/organic hair products that will finally put an end to my bad hair days, I went to the Zenutrients kiosk in Festival Mall, Alabang to see for myself. The first thing I did was look at the back for ingredients. Immediately, I saw that their shampoos contain SLES.

What is SLES? Let Wikipedia define it:

Sodium laureth sulfate , or sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), is an anionic detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products (soaps, shampoos, toothpaste etc.). SLES is an inexpensive and very effective foaming agent.^[1] SLES, SLS, ALS and sodium pareth sulfate are surfactants that are used in many cosmetic products for their cleansing and emulsifying properties. They behave similarly to soap.

Is it bad? Yes, according to this article, it is very bad and no natural or organic product should list SLS or SLES as one of its ingredients. Because of this, I hesitated at first to buy Zenutrients shampoo. But I know that back at home, I have nothing but commercial shampoo that most likely has SLS, too along with a bunch hard-to-pronounce ingredients that are just as harmful.

I argued that Zenutrients, although it has SLS, has no more 10 other ingredients, so it is essentially a lesser evil. In other words, I convinced myself to buy. D bough one for himself as well. I got the Gugo Strengthening variant while he got the Tea Tree Scalp Care. Each 250 ml bottle costs Php250.00.

Gugo is good for strengthening the hair and promoting new growths which is what I need.
But I also need something that can moisturize sana.

It has real gugo tree bark

Tea Tree is good for the scalp and for treating dandruff

These lists of ingredients would've been perfect if SLES was not included.

The Verdict

We used the Zenutrients shampoo for almost a month. They have natural scents and just a slightly thick consistency in clear liquid form. The first few days that I started using it, I noticed that I was developing some bumps on my scalp. The bumps are similar to white heads, and I also had a few pimples growing on my head. But I ignored them and kept using Zenutrients.

A few more days and my scalp started to itch, and the bumps and pimples persisted. I wasn't using anything else - no conditioner, nothing - so I was sure that it's because of the shampoo. I tried switching to D's Tea Tree shampoo but had the same reaction. I continued using Zenutrients anyway. I was just too lazy to find something else, but I already told myself that I won't be purchasing this shampoo again.

As for its effect on hair, there's nothing significant to rave about. I noticed that I have almost no visible hairfall while using Zenutrients Gugo shampoo, but my hair became static and dry. I did say that I wasn't using any conditioner so that could be the cause. But still, I don't find Zenutrients shampoo to be suitable for my hair type. Also, D's dandruff persisted with the Zenutrients Tea Tree variant so I can't say that it's effective. Some say that it's the Moringga variant that's best for treating dandruff. But we won't probably be purchasing any of Zenutrients hair care products anytime soon, or not ever. I just find them too expensive for something that is not a true organic product and something that doesn't work very well.

Product: Giga Shampoo Bar

2014-04-14T09:00:00.000+08:00

I used Giga Shampoo Bar for only a few days, when I would normally use a product for at least two weeks before I give my review of it, so expect that this is going to be short.

I was (and still am) on a hunt for harmless - and by harmless I mean non-paraben, non-SLS/SLES, non-phthalate and non-toxic, or best, if organic - hair care products that will tame my dry and frizzy hair, when I saw a Giga booth selling natural health and beauty wares.

This Shampoo Bar caught my fancy. The ingredients seemed harmless enough, so I bought one bar to try. It costs less than Php100 (forgot the exact amount).

The first time I used it, I noticed instantly that it has a drying effect on my hair. And my hair is already dry to begin with so something that makes it drier and frizzier is definitely a big no-no. I gave it another try and thought that maybe my hair needed to adjust to the new product. I had hoped that the different oils it contain will somehow do wonders but after a few days of using it with still the same effect, I decided to stop.

My husband used it as a bath soap instead and liked it. He said that ironically, it didn't dry his skin. But we didn't purchase another after he finished that one bar. I guess he didn't like it that much to remember to buy again.

NOTE: Apparently, TEDTA and BHT are questionable and potentially harmful chemicals.

Food: Places to Eat in Cebu City

2014-04-13T11:40:00.000+08:00

Here's one of my overdue posts: a review of the foods we had and the places we dined in while we were in Cebu City.

To be honest, I wasn't all that excited to stay in Cebu City, having learned that it looks just like Manila. Citylife is what we're escaping from, so I think it beats the purpose of having a vacation if we'll stay in the same environment. But staying in Cebu City can't be helped so I shifted my attention to the food that we'll eat, rather than places that we'll go to.

Here are the places that I put in my list of Cebu-City-must-eats.

Zubuchon or CnT Lechon or both
Mooon Café
Casa Verde
Larsian
Feria Restaurant (Radisson Blu)

But as fate would have it, things didn't go as planned: we weren't able to stay in the first hotel that I planned to stay in, and we were only able to eat at Larsian, Mooon Café and CnT Lechon.

Larsian

Pork Barbeque, Pork Liver, Chicken Isaw, Grilled White Marlin

A glorified barbeque-han, Larsian is a cluster of carinderias serving mostly barbequed meats. When we entered the compound, we were overhelmed by the number of barbeque stalls to choose from and the peddlers who were trying to sway us in their directions. I wasn't able to research which stall serves the best barbeque. It was still early and most stalls were empty, so we ended up choosing the one that already has diners.

Pork barbeque comes in cheap at P5.00 per stick, but once you see how small and thin the meat slices are, you'll realize that the price isn't really that much different from that of your neighborhood barbeque vendors. Other meat skewers range from P10.00-P50.00. Some also offer fish slices which are more expensive.

Eating is kamayan-style (you eat with your hands), and our server gave us plastic gloves to keep our hands clean while eating (but mine was punctured by the stick, so goodbye clean hands) . Taste is generally good.

Mooon Café

It's a Mexican-inspired restaurant, with colorful rustic interiors that play well to the Mexican theme. Think color-blocking: Orange, blue, yellow, green I love the vintage-looking fountain inside the restaurant! The branch where we ate is at the Ayala Terraces. Service was fast and friendly. Food was very good and prices were reasonable.

Since it was our first time to eat here, we went safe and ordered the bestsellers. Although I'm not sure how authentically Mexican the food is (it doesn't claim to be a true-blue Mexican restaurant anyway), I love the combination of flavors and spices that are prominent in many Mexican-inspired dishes.

Fish Mozzarella Melt: Love the cheese!

Spaghetti Ala Gamba: This is my favorite. A nice combo of garlicky, salty (Parmesan cheese), and buttery flavors.

Jalapeno Diablo: Waiter said it's just mildy spicy, but it packed a punch.
For non-chili lovers: You'll survive if you skip the slices of Jalapeno peppers.

Mango Juice with Mint leaves

CnT Lechon

Cebu is famous for their lechons (roasted pig), and among the popular Lechon Cebu purveyors is CnT Lechon. Since I haven't had any other Cebu lechon, I can only compare it to Manila-stye lechons. And I can definitely say that it is much, much better.

Cnt Lechon, or what's left of it. We were so hungry I forget to take a picture before we eat.

From SM City Cebu main entrance, we crossed to the opposite of the road to the yellow building with a sign that reads Cnt Lechon. But we're not sure where to enter, the place looked like a parking space. A kid told us that there's a stair leading to the second floor. Ayun naman pala.

What greeted us upstairs was a canteen-style restaurant with a small mob of people who looked like they were calling out their bets (1 kilo! 2 kilos! 3 kilos!). The counter is divided into two, a dine-in order area and a take-out counter but we couldn't figure out where the take-out line ends and where dine-in line begins. So I just asked D to fall in line and bahala na, while I took a table and waited.

The wait was long because there were so many people and I couldn't see the line moving at all. And when he finally arrived with our lunch - a half-kilo lechon and pieces of puso rice - we were both famished so we wasted no time in devouring the famous lechon.

My first impression was it's saltier than what I'm used to. Well, that's what the vinegar dip is for. In Manila, we are used to having lechon with a pork liver gravy sauce (sarsa ng lechon) because the meat is bland. But in Cnt Lechon Cebu, the meat is salty so you have to counter it with vinegar.

Actually, I wasn't impressed with my first authentic lechon Cebu and couldn't see what people are raving about. But when I had another lechon in Manila a few weeks after we came from Cebu, that's when I began to appreciate Cebu lechon. The salty meat is really not just salty, but it also had absorbed the essence of the stuffing used during roasting, so there other flavors, albeit faint. It tasted fresh, and you can eat it on its own without the sawa factor.

As for the lechon that we bought in Manila, we weren't able to finish it. It's not good at all. The reason why D bought it was he was subconsciously hankering for Cebu lechon, and thought that any lechon can satisfy the craving. But he's wrong and we know now why the authentic Cebu lechon is superior than most lechons in Manila.

Service: Lynderm Facial Center and Day Spa

2014-04-11T21:24:00.002+08:00

I've been wanting to write a review on Lynderm Facial Center and Day Spa, but I never seem to find the time. Until today. This is where we frequently go for spa services because we find their rates sulit and it's located inside SM Hypermart in Muntilupa, which is the mall closest to us.

I know that for some people, pampering oneself is a necessity and something that they are willing to spend money on. It's not exactly the case for us, but D and I agree that a massage every once in a while won't hurt especially if it will relieve us of muscle aches and make us feel better. But we're still a bit reluctant to spend so much on massages. I think it was last year when we saw that Lynderm Facial Center and Day Spa offers 1-hour full body massages with either sauna or ventosa for only Php500. We knew right away that it's a good deal.

So we had our massage. And since then, we've been returning whenever our neck and back muscles start to ache and sitting in front of the computer, which is something we do for many hours each day, is no longer bearable.

As most spa inside a shopping mall, the reception area is small and cramped. I don't think it could sit more than 5 guests. But the staff are very friendly and accommodating.

To get to the massage room, you'll pass by other customers getting different treatments. I find it a bit uncomfortable especially if I will be getting an underarm treatment, but it's understandable considering the relatively small space that they have.

Inside the massage room, the lack of space is still evident. They only have enough for the therapist to move around the bed. But they have overhead cabinets where you can store your bag and other stuff in and it has a lock and key so you'll feel a bit more secure to leave your things (when you're in the sauna or shower).

They will give you a hanger to hang your clothes on or you can place them inside the cabinet. Your shoes will go under the bed.

They provide boxer shorts for the men (but I suppose females can ask too) and bathrobe and towels for all. A pair of rubber slippers can be found under the bed.

Like what I mentioned earlier, on top of the 1-hour full body massage and shower, you can choose to have a 15-minute sauna or ventosa.

The sauna booth can fit two people inside and uses rocks (and that heating-whatever-you-call-it-machine) to generate heat and create humidity. If you want it hotter, just pour water onto the rocks. They usually bring you a glass of cold water or iced tea so you can hydrate yourself. Or you can ask for it before you enter the booth so they won't forget. Standard sauna time is 15 minutes, but there are some occasions when I've stayed longer than that (either they forgot how much time has passed or I ask if I can extend).

After your time in the sauna booth, you can rinse yourself in the shower room. The shower has a heater and they also provide soap, shampoo and conditioner (although I don't always use these because I usually just rinse myself of sweat as I take a bath at home before having a massage.)

The Massage

The massage is a combination of Swedish and Shiatsu. I believe that in most cases, a good massage will depend on the skill of the therapist and not so much on the technique used. So the massage I get is not consistent because I don't always get the same therapist. It's kind of hit and miss. If my therapist is good, I go home satisfied and free of aches. Otherwise, I go home still feeling a bit sore.

Also, I noticed that the time I went in affects the quality of the massage. If I went in early (as in I'm the first customer to have a massage), the therapist has more energy to expend and not as hurried as if I get my massage late in the afternoon or close to evening, when the therapist seemed tired already.

Other Services

Aside from the massage, I also tried one of their facial services: warts removal. They use regular electrocautery for zapping out warts and they charge Php500 for every 25 pieces. I was in luck that day because they were offering 50% off for warts removal (only Php250/25 pcs). Sweet!

My only gripe was they charged me Php750 for that one session, which means I have somewhere between 50 to 75 warts on my face, and I didn't believe I do. I remember hearing the therapist counting but her voice faded when she reached 30 or so. Did she stop counting? Did she just jack up the number so they can charge more? Good thing the service was discounted, I wasn't so upset about paying more than what I should.

After the warts removal session, they told me that I need to buy an antibacterial cream and a purifying soap from their product line to help my wounds heal faster and avoid infection. I thought it was part of the Php750 quotation but no, I had to buy them separately.

The products were good, though and I especially like the antibacterial cream. I still have some left and use it every now and then on rogue pimples that decide to plant themselves on my face. It's effective in drying up and flattening these pimples. The purifying soap was okay, but had no significant effect on my face for me to trade my trusted Shulammite Carrot soap.

The SM Dasmarinas Branch

We are regulars at the SM Muntinlupa branch but we had the chance to try having a massage at the SM Dasmarinas branch when we visited D's family last week. Although, my massage was definitely better than what I get from the SM Muntinlupa branch (because my therapist was very good), I feel that overall, this branch was inferior of the two.

They have smaller sauna booth and shower room. The shower room doesn't have hooks to hang the towels and robes on, so we just stuffed them on the door knob and were careful not to get them wet while we take a shower. They also don't have enough bathrobes - I had to use the sarong/blanket for sauna because they don't have bathrobes anymore - and their towels don't smell fresh either.

They don't have a face/neck pillow - you know that hollow pillow where you can comfortably rest your face while you lay on your stomach. I thought I strained my neck because my face was turn to one side during the duration of the back massage, and the pillow I was using was a little high and smelled of rancid oil. And they don't have cabinets or shelves inside the massage room so there's no place to put my bag on except the floor.

So as much as I like my therapist, I'd still prefer to have my massage on the SM Muntinlupa branch.

The Verdict

The services and facilities offered by Lynderm Facial Center and Day Spa are not top-notch but very affordable. Having a free sauna/ventosa with the standard massage service is really a big plus. This is the reason why we kept coming back and why we're less guilty about having regular massages (minsan kuripot lang talaga kami). But if we find another day spa providing the same services but better massage for the same price, we might switch over.

Service: SM Traveller's Lounge, Cebu City

2014-01-13T10:18:00.000+08:00

Thank heavens for SM Traveller's Lounge!

Going straight from Camotes Islands, Cebu to Tagbilaran, Bohol was a very exhausting trip. Imagine 2 hours on a ferry boat from Camotes to Danao, 1 1/2 hours from Danao to Cebu City, then another 2 hours on a fastcraft from Cebu Pier to Tagbilaran Pier in Bohol. That's 5 1/2 hours travel time. But the thing I hate the most was the waiting time in between.

Because we left early in Camotes Islands (5:30 am), we arrived early in Cebu City. In fact, too early at 9:00 a.m. because our scheduled ferry trip was not until 2:00 p.m. We needed to be at the pier an hour before though, but we still had 4 long hours to kill.

Initially, I suggested to my husband that we stay in Sugbutel Bed and Bath, so we can rest and perhaps, catch some sleep and refresh ourselves before travelling to Bohol. Then I remembered about SM Traveller's Lounge and thought we could check it out since the van will drop us off in SM City Cebu anyway.

[Image Source]

SM Traveller's Lounge is located on Juan Luna Extension, near the North Wing entrance. I thought we needed to get inside the mall to get to the Traveler's Lounge but when D asked a security guard, he told us to walk a little farther from the North Wing entrance and there we saw the lounge.

Here are the services offered:

Baggage Storage: P30 (half compartment)
P50 (full compartment)
Restroom: Free
Shower Room: P50 (20 minutes)
Wi-Fi: Free
Battery Charging: P25/hour (cellphone)
P50/hour (laptop, ipad/tablet and other gadgets)

They also offer ferry tickets sales, hotel reservations, and flight and bus trip information. There's a taxi terminal in front of the lounge if you want to go somewhere or you can simply enter the SM Mall to while away the time. Or if you're really tired, you can take a seat inside the air-conditioned lounge and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi.

After leaving our bags at the Traveler's Lounge, we went inside SM. D played in the Bibo Arcade while I strolled inside and surveyed the place for a good place to eat. We ended up having lunch at CnT Lechon, right across SM.

At 30 minutes before 1:00 p.m., we went back to SM Traveller's Lounge to retrieve our bags and took a taxi to Pier 1 for our Ocean Jet ferry trip to Bohol. We didn't exactly have a relaxing time, but having a place to store away our heavy bags while we pass the time was a great convenience for us. Plus it's a lot a cheaper than if we stayed in Sugbutel.

So if you find yourself with plenty of hours of waiting time in Cebu City, remember SM Traveler's Lounge.

SM Traveler's Lounge
Juan Luna extension, SM City Cebu
Phone: +63 (32)-232-0293
Lounge Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Place: Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort, Camotes Islands, Cebu

2014-01-07T16:27:00.001+08:00

Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort, how do I describe thee? Let me count the ways...

Hehe, I can't help but be poetic. For our 8D/7N Cebu-Bohol trip, we stayed in 4 different hotels/resorts. And guess which one is my favorite? If you think Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort (as if it's not yet implied), you guessed correctly.

Booking

I learned about Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort in an online forum. When I tried to search for their website, it was down temporarily so I had to asked in the forum for their email address and contact number. I sent an email first to inquire but when I got no reply, I decided to reach them through their mobile number.

The person who answered my call was very polite and accommodating. She took my name, our stay dates and my preferred room, and told me that in order to reserve the room, I need to pay 100% of the total amount. She then sent me a text message with their bank account details.

After I made the deposit, I sent a copy of the deposit slip as proof of payment to the email address that she gave me (different from the one I got from the forum which probably explains why I did not receive any reply). Then, I called them up again to verify if they have received my email and to confirm our booking.

When an earthquake struck Bohol, we were unfazed because we know that Camotes Islands were not affected. But when the super typhoon Yolanda came, I became worried because we saw in the news the a lot of areas in Northern Cebu were badly hit. I learned that Camotes is near Ormoc City, one of the most affected provinces, and I wasn't sure how much damage did the island sustain and if it's still safe to push through with our trip.

I contacted Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort to ask about the condition of the resort. I actually called them up quite a few times because I was paranoid and I keep forgetting all the questions that my husband wanted to ask (he was paranoid, too). They informed me that the resort suffered only minor damages and will be fully operational within the week. The whole island has no electricity but they assured me that they have a genset and ample supply of food and water.

Our travel dates were getting near but we're still in two minds whether to go or not. I went as far as inquiring how to cancel our reservation and refund whatever amount we can refund. Even if the resort is okay, I wasn't sure what degree of destruction will greet us in Camotes Islands. But in the end, we decided to throw caution to the wind and have our vacation as planned.

And boy, I was so glad that we did.

Going to Camotes Islands from Cebu City

The island group of Camotes is located on the northern part of Cebu and can be reached by taking a ferry from Danao Port in mainland Cebu to Consuelo Port in Camotes. From our hotel in Cebu City, we boarded a taxi to North City Terminal, where we can take a ride to Danao Port. We had two transportation options: a bus and a van. A dispatcher convinced us that taking the van is faster and more comfortable. Not sure if that's true but we decided to bank on it as we want to get to Danao Port before 10 a.m. Ferry schedules are limited, and after 10 a.m., the next ferry will depart at 2:00 p.m.

Fare is P60/person and we paid for one extra seat for our luggage. The van left the terminal at 8:00 a.m. and estimated travel time from there to Danao Port is 1.5 hours. Along the way, the driver was still picking up passengers. Good thing that he only needed 2 more to fill the van.

We arrived at Danao Port at 15 minutes before 10 a.m. and rushed to the ticket booth to buy tickets, only to find out that there's a delay in the schedule. The 10 a.m. ferry will depart at 11:30 a.m. instead. At around 11:00 a.m., we were told to board the seacraft and finally, we left for Consuelo Port as scheduled. Travel time is 2 hours.

Pick-up and Check-in

Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort provides free resort transfers to all their guests as long as they take the Jomalia Shipping Lines (kind of an x-deal I suppose). Fare is P180 (all seats were non-aircon as the aircon was not working). When we left Danao Port, I sent a text message to Mangodlong Paradise, informing them that we are on board Jomalia as well as the time of our departure.

Upon reaching Camotes Islands, we were delighted to see no visible signs of destruction in the area. Even the coconut trees were intact and you wouldn't be able to tell that a powerful storm has just passed. It's as if Yolanda didn't leave any "stormprints" here. We disembarked from the ferry and a few meters away, I saw a guy holding a board with my name. Our resort pick-up was there already. I introduced myself and he helped us load our luggage to the service van.

They were still waiting for another guest, who was supposedly on the same trip with us, but either she wasn't there or they didn't find her. Anyway, Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort is 5-10 minutes away from the port. As they drove us to the resort, we were offered a short glimpse to the life in the island: provincial, laid-back, exactly the kind of environment that you need when you want to escape from your hush and stressful daily life.

When we reach the resort, 2 glasses of mango juice were waiting for us, along with smiling front desk staff. They asked for the deposit slip (so better not forget that) and informed us that although the resort has a genset, they have 2 brownout schedules, one at 3-5 a.m. and the other at 3-5 p.m. But they said water supply is not affected by the brownouts. Then they gave us our key and ushered us to our room.

The Room

We got a standard room (P2,500/night) and they led to us one that's located a few steps away from the reception area. It's spacious enough for 2 persons, and equipped with a 32-inch cable TV, aircon, mini bar and ref, bed lights and side tables, phone and adequate closet space. I also noticed that instead of plain paint, they used wallpaper on the wall which lent a nice and classy touch to the room.

I also like how our bed was made and it was very comfortable. Aircon was working okay, although it's a little noisy. We don't have a good view outside the window (it's beside the staff's quarter), but that's okay as we know standard rooms don't offer any view at all.

The cable channels are limited, but I guess you can blame it on the remoteness of the island. The TV was missing a socket adaptor though. We asked for this but the staff didn't come back with one. Good thing our camera charger has an adaptor and that's what we used to plug the TV.

They don't have internet, Wi-Fi or LAN, in the resort but cellphone signal is strong and I was able to call back home. Sometimes, my phone receives a 3G signal but it's too weak and spotty.

The bathroom is very clean, albeit small. The shower doesn't have a heater, or maybe they just turned it off to conserve precious electricity. But they have plenty of towels and of course, toiletries.

Clean T&B

Generic toiletries (but they smell good)

The Resort's Amenities

While our room may look simple compared to the other rooms we've stayed in during this trip, it was Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort's facilities that really won me over. The resort was modest with only 28 rooms and cabanas, but the way it was landscaped and how these modern-looking structures was laid out to blend with nature was really beautiful.

The lobby/reception area was rather small and unassuming but when you take a look inside, especially in the infinity pool area and the beach, there you will find the paradise. I'll let these pictures do the talking.

Coconut trees left standing after Yolanda

The only thing that was damaged at the resort was this dock made of rock (hey, that rhymes). This used to be longer, based on what I've seen on pictures taken before the storm. During our first day, a back hoe was hauling rocks from the ocean.

There was a wedding when we were there

Seaside Bar

View from the Seaside Bar

Not part of the resort so we couldn't go there, but it's a pretty sight

The view from the resort offers an amazing sunset. Too bad, the sun was hiding behind the clouds.

Lighted dock

The infinity pool turns magical at night

The Food

We thought the foods served at their Bamboo Restaurant were good enough, but not really something that stood out. The serving size is big and very filling though, and the prices are reasonable (in the P150-P300 range).

Cream Dory-Salmon Fish Fillet in Turmeric Cream Sauce

There was a wedding on the 2nd day of our stay, so instead of the usual breakfast set meal (complimentary), they prepared a buffet for all the guest.

My hoard from the breakfast buffet

Service

All smiles, courteous, accommodating - these describe the kind of service we received from the resort's staff.

Like what I said above, there was a wedding when we were there, and both ceremony and reception were held in the resort. I was worried because the place doesn't look big enough to accommodate the wedding guests and still be able to provide privacy and tranquility to the hotel guests.

The staff assured us all areas are still accessible to hotel guests, except of course those where the wedding will be held. Nevertheless, we chose to stay inside our room while the ceremony was going on. We ordered pizza for lunch and had it served in our room so we can eat while watching TV.

Because our room was on the opposite side where the reception was held, it was relatively peaceful despite the speakers blaring loud music outside. But I couldn't say the same for those billeted near the area of the wedding.

When we dined in the Bamboo Restaurant at the same time the program was happening, I could say it was pretty noisy. But we're okay with it and we understood that weddings are typical festive. Service at the restaurant wasn't affected, except for the limited tables and chairs because most were used in the reception.

Check-out

After Camotes Islands, our next destination was Bohol and we had to be in Cebu City Pier 1 an hour before our 2 p.m. ferry schedule to Bohol. I thought that Jomalia Shipping has a 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. trip back to Danao, which will give us ample travel time. But I was wrong and found out that our only choices were the 5:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. schedule. The 9:00 a.m. schedule would be too tight for us, so we opted for the 5:30 a.m, despite it being too early.

But then there's another challenge. Because they turn off the genset every 3-5 a.m., this means we needed to take a bath and pack our bags way earlier, while there's still electricity. I was planning to do it at night but fell asleep so I woke up at 1 a.m. (D woke up an hour later). Then we just went back to sleep when electricity went out.

The front desk staff had already informed the guard and the driver that we'll be checking out at 4:30 a.m. so we just had to get out of our room. It was a good thing that our room was just a few steps away from the reception area. I could imagine how hard it would be to walk in the dark if we were staying farther.

When we got to Consuelo Port, the driver assisted us in buying the tickets and even carried our bags for us. The ferry left at exactly 5:30 a.m. Inside the ferry, we chose the recliner seat so we can catch a short nap during our 2-hour trip.

The Verdict

The reason why Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort is my favorite among the hotels and resorts we've stayed in on this trip is because it's a stunning beach property that's relatively cheaper and provides great service and outstanding sceneries. I really enjoyed swimming and frolicking in their infinity pool, and taking in the expansive and unobstructed view of the sea and the sky. I was smitten by the landscape - the manicured beach, the well-kept grass and palm trees, the sand pathways - as well as the small details and minor touches that created a relaxing atmosphere in the resort. It's not a luxury resort, but it felt like one to me.

And one of my regret is that we didn't stay longer. But I promise to go back and stay at Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort again.

Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort
Web: http://mangodlongparadiseresort.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mangodlongparadisebeachresort
Email: info@mangodlongparadiseresort.com
Phone: +63 32 328 0500
+63 939 921 6835

Service: Club Ultima Membership

2014-01-05T09:31:00.000+08:00

Getting a Club Ultima Membership is the reason why we ended up staying in Crown Regency Hotel and Towers Cebu. But before I go on, let me make one thing clear: this is not about Crown Regency Hotels, although Club Ultima is an offshoot of this hotel chain. This is about Club Ultima and why we decided to back out less than a month after we signed up and purchased a club membership.

For our trip to Cebu, I was initially planning to stay in a hotel near Ayala Center and in fact, we've already booked a room in Wellcome Hotel. But my husband received an invitation to attend a timeshare presentation in exchange for a free 3D/2N Crown Regency accommodation voucher (which we were told was worth Php24,000. I have the text message to prove it). We, wanting to save a few bucks, thought a free accommodation sounds good (though we didn't really believe it to be worth Php24,000) so we decided to accept the invitation.

We are both aware of what a timeshare presentation is, having attended a similar one in Boracay, and were prepared to say "No" to every offer that will be thrown at us, because what we're really after was just the free voucher. But during the presentation, we thought that what they were offering was a great deal and will give us a lot of savings in the long run, especially since we are planning to start traveling out of the country.

The main benefit of the membership is the yearly issuance of 7 certificates that are equivalent to 7 nights of accommodation at any of the Crown Regency Hotels nationwide (accommodation only, breakfast not included). The certificates are non-expiring and can be transferred and sold to other people. If we want to travel out of the country, we can exchange them for international accommodations via Interval International and Direct Tie-Ups subject to the following conditions:

It was a take-it-or-leave-it today-only offer, which doesn't give you time to research and think your decision through. I guess the ones who will fall prey to these types of marketing are those compulsive buyers who decide with their emotions, rather than with their brains. We are normally practical individuals, who always make sure that we'll be getting our money's worth with every big ticket item we purchase. Apparently, we're not ourselves that night. Hehe. But kidding aside, we really thought this was a good deal.

So long story short, we bit the bullet - we got a 15-year membership, which they called Trial Pack, that will cost us Php195,000; Php10,000 of which was the deposit fee to be paid impromptu and the remaining amount will be broken down into Php5,000+ monthly installments to be paid for the next 3 years; plus an annual fee of Php6,000+.

Of course, we got our 3D/2N voucher for free because we bought the membership. Otherwise, we will still need to pay Php3,000 once we use it. So had we decided to turn down their offer, we won't be getting a free "24k-worth" accommodation. Deceiving, no? Anyway, because we chose to become members, the marketing manager was kind enough to assist us with our room reservation after we told her that we want to avail the voucher for our Cebu trip (which was 2 weeks away at that time).

We went home feeling good, thinking we have saved a 2-night worth of accommodation at a 5-star hotel and we're looking forward to our future travels with less expenses. Upon reaching home, I did the one thing that I should've done before going to that Club Ultima presentation - research about Club Ultima and Crown Regency Hotels. My heart sank when I found a number of not so good reviews, mostly about Crown Regency Hotels.

But we told ourselves to wait until we see and experience staying in the hotel firsthand before making any conclusions. That fateful day came and it dawned on me that the online reviews were correct and we are about to make a very costly mistake if we will not cancel the membership immediately. We had no problems with Crown Regency Hotel and Towers Cebu (read my review here) and I find it to be one of the better hotels we've been in. But we feel that paying for a Club Ultima membership just to be able to stay in their hotels for free for 7 days every year is just not worth it.

Right after we got home from our vacation, my husband called Club Ultima to inquire about the cancellation process. He was told to send a letter via email to formalize the request, and swiftly, I wrote the letter so he can send it within the day.

These are the reasons I stated in the letter:

I stayed in Crown Regency Cebu Tower last December 3-5, 2013 and found it not to be the 5-star hotel accommodation that was promised during the presentation.
I checked the Crown Regency website for the average room rates and found out it to be in the range of P3000-P4000. If I multiply it to 7 (hotel vouchers I’ll get every year) and 15 (years contract term), the total amount is P315,000-P420,000. I feel that I won’t really get a big savings from the membership given that I need to pay the P195,000 membership fee and P6,000+ annual fee for 15 years.
I realized that I don’t want to be tied up to a particular hotel/resort when going to a certain destination because there are many factors to consider when choosing an accommodation: proximity to tourist spots, restaurants and public transport, value for money, etc.
I haven’t tried booking with Interval International but have read not so good reviews about it and I don’t want to take a risk.

Let me explain further:

Reason No. 1

During the presentation, it was practically drummed into our heads that ALL Crown Regency Hotels are classified as 5-star hotels. The hotel near Fuente Circle, Cebu City is clearly not a 5-star hotel. It's an above average hotel, probably a solid 3.5 to 4-star. But not 5-star. I checked out the reviews of the other Crown Regency Hotels (2 more in Cebu, 3 in Boracay, and 1 each in Makati and Davao) and none were categorized as 5-star either.

If we won't be getting 5-star accommodations from any of the Crown Regency Hotels, what's the point of paying for the club membership?

Reason No. 2

Our agent actually corrected us on this. He sent us a text message to tell us that Club Ultima members will get Executive Suite accommodation, which is more expensive than the Standard/Deluxe rooms and Corner suites which we used as basis for our computation. But even with an Executive Suite, which cost almost P7,000/night, I still feel that we won't get value-for-money benefits with the membership because, going to back my first reason, the 5-star rating that they give their hotels is questionable.

I'd rather stay in the cheapest room of a 5-star hotel than stay in an Executive room of a non-5-star hotel. People stay in 5-star hotels to get 5-star accommodation, 5-star amenities, 5-star service and 5-star treatment. Staying in an Executive room of a non-5-star hotel gives you just that - an Executive room and a non-5-star experience.

Reason No. 3

Like what I mentioned earlier, we were supposed to stay in a hotel that's within walking distance to Ayala Center. I chose that because most of the restaurants that we want to try are in or near Ayala or SM (which is relatively near Ayala). When we moved to Crown Regency in Fuente, we found out that cab fares to Ayala and SM cost around Php80-Php100, one way. This brings me to my point: there are a lot of factors that should go in when choosing an accommodation. Often, a strategic location could mean savings in taxi fares and travel time. Value-for-money, amenities, services and good reviews are also important to consider.

Each destination calls for a different set of criteria that suits your budget, itinerary or preference. Being tied to a particular hotel chain meant you won't likely get to choose your accommodation based on these criteria and this could potentially ruin your travel plans or blow up your travel budget.

Reason No. 4

This is pretty much explanatory. We just don't want to risk paying for something that we're not sure if will be beneficial to us, especially because Interval International will cost us $89 every year, on top of the Php6,000+ Club Ultima's annual fee.

Rude Agent

I wasn't planning to write about our Club Ultima experience because technically, we haven't really use the benefits of the membership yet. But our agent sent us a rude and sarcastic text message after learning that we backed out. I know he's not pleased because it meant that his commission will be reduced, if not called off. But that's no reason to be rude to a client who chose to cancel their membership. It is our right and he should respect that, whatever our reasons are.

Because of his indiscretion, I decided to write this review. Marketing and customer service should still go hand in hand even after the sale has been made, and even after it has been revoked. You'll never know if that client will rave or rant about you on the internet, and potentially make or break your chances of making more sales through recommendations.

UPDATE: I have received a few inquiries regarding Club Ultima membership cancellation, so here are some more details.

Line 7.1 in our contract reads: I understand that should I wish to back out of this reservation, there will be a cancellation fee of Php20,000.00 if done within 15 days of reservation. There will be no refund of all payments if cancellation is done after 15 days of reservation.

To me, this clearly means that we can cancel the membership subject to the rules in the contract. If we cancel within 15 days after we purchased the membership, we will pay a whopping P20,000 cancellation fee. But if we cancel after 15 days from the date of reservation, we don't need to pay anything anymore. The downside is, we also don't get to refund any payments we've made. At this point, we've only paid the Php10,000 reservation fee, twice as small as the other fee, so it's better if we will cancel after 15 days but before we start the monthly payment. (What I'm not sure of is if you will get a refund if you cancel within 15 days and what percentage of the total amount paid can you refund.)

We made the reservation on November 13 and requested a cancellation on December 11, more than 15 days after so we didn't have to pay the Php20,000 cancellation. At this time, they haven't charged my husband's credit card with the 1st monthly amortization fee yet so we acted quickly.

He called the Membership hotline we found at the back of the Club Ultima brochure that they gave us and inquired about the cancellation fee. If for some reason, you don't have that brochure, you can also go to their website and look for contact numbers you can call. Call, don't email.

When my husband sent the cancellation letter (to the email address that they gave), he didn't receive any confirmation so he called up again the next day to follow up. They confirmed the receipt of the email, told him that they will cancel the membership and assured him that his credit card won't be charged with anything. They didn't send any document so we just took their word for it. Good thing this time, they lived up to their promise. The membership was cancelled and we didn't pay anything other than the Php10,000 we paid during reservation.

Inisip na lang namin that the Php10,000 is for the 3D/2N (breakfast not included) that we've stayed in Crown Regency Cebu. Surely, we can find better accommodations that worth's Php5,000/night, but at least we didn't just give them Php10,000 for nothing and cut our loss to half of that amount (Deluxe Room is worth Php2,000+/night).

Place: Crown Regency Hotel and Towers Cebu

2014-01-04T18:15:00.000+08:00

During our Cebu-Bohol trip, we stayed at Crown Regency Hotel and Towers Cebu for the first 3 days, before travelling to Camotes Islands to cap off our first visit to Cebu. Crown Regency Hotel and Towers Cebu is located in Osmena Boulevard, a major thoroughfare in Cebu City and near the Fuente Circle. It's meant to be a one-stop-hotel that combines accommodation, dining and recreation in one place. It's quite famous for it's Sky Adventure facilities, where you can take various extreme rides and activities while on top of one of its towers.

But we're not really interested in those so I'll just be reviewing our room and maybe a few things about the hotel in general.

The Room

We were given the Deluxe Room on the 26th floor.

Our room is located at the end of the corridor.

When we opened the door to our room, the first thing I noticed was the closet adjacent to the door. Inside the closet is an in-room safe, which we didn't bother tinkering with because we really don't have anything to put in - my laptop doesn't fit in it. Beside the closet is a wooden rack where we placed our luggage.

Further into the room, my attention was shifted to these two double beds. They have Posturepedic mattresses according to their website - soft enough to be comfortable but also firm enough to provide back support. The bed linens were clean and pillows were fluffy.

Opposite the beds are two one-seater sofas with coffee/tea-making set. This is where hubby worked, because the LAN port is behind that curtain on the left. Not all rooms have Wi-Fi access so we requested a LAN cable to be able to connect to the Internet. Their LAN internet connection is fast and stable.

Beside the two sofas, also fronting the bed, is a 24-inch cable TV. For a hotel of this type, they should have already upgraded to LCD TV. Cable reception was also spotty and there aren't many channels to choose from.

Excuse our clutter. Because the TV is small, watching from the bed felt too far
so we sometimes move the sofas in front of the TV to see better.

On the other side of the TV is the lighted dresser table. There's also a full-size mirror opposite it. We just love it when there's a full-size mirror, don't we girls?

I feel like the room could use more lighting. During the day, we could always keep the curtains open to let more light into the room. But at night, the only thing we could do is keep all lights on, and they're still not enough. Also, it looks like the curtains have not been replaced for a long time. They need a good wash already.

Another thing I thought they missed: pair of bedroom slippers. I had expected that this is a must-have in most hotels so we didn't bring any. We used our outdoor sandals instead, which isn't exactly comfortable to use inside the room.

The bathroom is not very big but spacious enough. It is clean although some tiles look old and worn out already. On one side, there's the sink with toiletries, hair dryer and electric sockets.

On the other, there's the bathtub and toilet. The towels are not the softest but they're clean and thick.

The water takes a while to heat up so we usually leave the shower open for a few minutes, until the water is warm enough to our liking. There's no hot water in the sink though.

It would've been better if the toilet is fitted with a handheld spray for when you're doing business no. 2. Other people are okay with using just tissue paper, but I have to wash with soap and water, and it's just a bit icky to do it inside the tub, and use the tub later for bathing.

Overall, despite some minor complaints, I find the room provisions to be adequate (but not outstanding) and I think we were given a good room, especially with a view like this:

View of the city with mountains in the background

View at night

The hotel is on a busy street and there are many hospitals nearby so don't expect a super-silent stay. Wailing sirens is a common background music. But the noise is tolerable for us and we weren't really disturbed.

Other Hotel Amenities

Crown Regency Hotel and Towers Cebu offers a wide variety of amenities and recreational services. But the only thing we were able to check out was the outdoor pool at the 9th floor (and I don't even have a picture of it). To us, it looked narrow and small, and not tempting enough to lure us to take a dip. There's a an outdoor Jacuzzi though that I wanted to try but I didn't bring my swimwear and was too lazy to go back to the room (2 elevator rides) to get it.

They also have a convenient store at the back of the hotel, where we bought some snacks to bring inside the room. As for dining, I listed a few places to eat that other bloggers have recommended, and chose to hop in a taxi and visit these rather than eat in one of the in-house restaurants (due to not so good reviews). So I can't comment on the foods served in the hotel.

And then there's the lobby.

When we first entered the hotel, there's a short, narrow hallway that leads to the front desk and lobby area. Front desk is also rather small for a hotel that offers 300 rooms and a number of facilities that are open even to non-hotel guests. I can imagine how crowded and inefficient it will be on a busy day.

The lobby looked cramped even when it's empty.

Another thing I noticed were the "marketing tables" - at least 3 desks filled with Club Ultima and Crown Regency flyers and vouchers - which made the whole area look more crowded than it already is.

And speaking of Club Ultima, read my review here.

The Service

Check-in and check-out were pretty fast. But after checking in, we were left on our own. In most hotels that we've stayed in, even in the budget hotels, they will at least ask someone to bring us to our room, and often they will even assist us with our bags. After the reception officer gave us our key cards, she pointed us to the elevator . We were left to figure out the way to our room; figure out the elevators - there were 2, the first one only reaches up to the 19th floor, so we need to transfer to another that will bring us to the 26th floor; figure out the floor layout; and lastly, figure out how to operate everything in our room. Good thing that everytime we call front desk for assistance, they send someone promptly.

I assume they do housekeeping everyday because during our 2nd day, someone came and ask if we want to have our room cleaned. They, of course, cleaned the room, made the bed but did not replace the sheets, cleaned the bathroom, replaced the towels and replenished the toiletries and bottles of water.

The Verdict

Crown Regency Hotel and Towers Cebu is a nice and decent hotel located at the center of the city. It's an above average accommodation and although there were a few misses, these were very minor which did not mar our stay. I particularly like the bed, the view from our room and the fast LAN internet connection. Location-wise, it's near Robinsons Mall and Larsian (where you can eat barbeque for Php5.00) but far from other malls like Ayala Center and SM. I also like the idea that you can do a lot of things inside the hotel, but if you want to go somewhere, you can easily hail a cab outside. Whether you're looking for a good place to stay, or to experience some city-adventures, you should check out Crown Regency Hotel and Towers Cebu.

Crown Regency Hotel and Towers Cebu

Web: http://www.crownregencyhotelandtowers.com

Email: reservations@crownregency.com

Phone No: (032) 418-8888

Service: Ocean Jet via Luzviminda Travel and Tours

2013-12-24T08:18:00.000+08:00

Here's a review of my experience purchasing Ocean Jet e-tickets from Luzviminda Travel and Tours and travelling from Cebu to Bohol via the Ocean Jet ferry.

Before the earthquake that struck Bohol last October, going to Bohol via a ferry from Cebu was easy. You can simply go to the pier/port and buy ferry tickets on the day of your trip. But after this disaster, they said that it's now more difficult to purchase ferry tickets from Cebu to Bohol - you have to buy at least a week or two in advance.

That was a problem, because we are in Laguna and I cannot possibly go to Cebu a week before our trip to Bohol. We will be in Cebu 4 days before, and I thought that was sufficient enough. But that's taking a risk, according to some people, and the last thing I wanted is to botch our Cebu-Bohol vacation.

So I had to find a way to buy ferry tickets online. I registered at 2Go's Supercat website and waited for days to get a reservation. I never did. We then tried calling the branches listed in the website, but they all said that their Supercat connections were offline, which means they can't sell Supercat tickets. When we called their helpdesk, they told us that they're not sure if they have a scheduled Cebu-Tagbilaran trip on our travel dates.

We also tried calling the travel agencies in the Ocean Jet website, but to no avail. We were getting frustrated. But I wasn't giving up yet. I decided to search for other ways to travel to Bohol from Cebu and found out about the Cebu-Tubigon route. But none of the Tubigon-bound ferries sell advance tickets so we have to buy the tickets on the day itself. A bit risky, but at least that's an option.

Then out of the blue, I just thought of searching how to buy an Ocean Jet e-ticket and I saw two websites selling Ocean Jet e-tickets: one is AsiaTravel and the other is Luzviminda Travel and Tours. I sent emails to both, inquiring about Cebu-Tagbilaran e-tickets. But LTT also provided a Skype account in their website, which I promptly added to my contact list, hoping to get in touch with them in the morning (it was already 9 p.m.).

I was surprised when my invite was accepted a few minutes later and the account was online. So we chatted, and their Skype support assisted me while I purchase our e-ticket. He was even kind enough to extend the promo rate to me, which is available only when purchasing 14 days before the trip, even if I only have a week before our travel date.

I chose Tourist class seats for P560/person (promo rate) and 2 p.m. schedule. The best thing is they accept payment through Paypal, so I was able to send my payment right away. I just added 5% to cover the transaction fees. If you don't have a Paypal account, you may also pay via bank deposit.

After I made the purchase, they sent me a confirmation receipt and told me that the e-ticket will be emailed to me not later than December 3. The person I was chatting with was very helpful and accommodating, and I was just too grateful to secure ferry tickets to Bohol.

Before we left for Cebu, I asked them if they can send the e-ticket so I can print it while we're still at home. But they were having problems with their system and said that they'll send it to me as soon as they can. To be honest, although the online transaction went well, I was a bit worried if they will really send the e-ticket. This is my first experience dealing with a travel agency that I only found online and wasn't exactly sure how things go.

But when I checked my email at the airport, Luzviminda Travel and Tours had sent the e-tickets as they promised - not later than December 3. And all my doubts were erased. (They even left a message in my Skype account, apologizing for not being able to send it earlier, as I requested.)

We look for a place to print the e-ticket. Actually, they don't encourage you to print the e-ticket but rather present the online copy using a smartphone or tablet. But my iPhone doesn't have a PDF reader and I feel it's safer and more convenient to present a printed ticket than an online copy. So I printed it anyway.

The Ocean Jet terminal is stationed in Pier 1, Cebu City. When we got there, I just asked the lady guard where to present the e-ticket and pointed me to the check-in counter for Ocean Jet ferries. There was a long queue, but the line moved fast. Checking in was quick, and all they did was verify my e-tickets and issue me 2 boarding passes. I was advised that boarding time is 1:45 p.m. After that, we checked in our baggage and paid the terminal fee of P25.00 per person.

Inside the waiting area, I wasn't sure where to go. I asked D to take a seat as I went to approach a cluster of passengers who look like they were lining up for something. I asked what was the line for and one woman said it's for Ormoc-bound ferry. So I just joined D and waited for further announcement.

At around 1:45 p.m., they announced that the Bohol-bound ferry has arrived and we were told to proceed to Gate 7. At 2:00 p.m., we started boarding and the ferry left the pier 30 minutes later.

Traveling with Ocean Jet

I chose Tourist Class seats, which are in an air-conditioned passenger section located at the lower deck. The seats weren't the most comfortable, in fact they were hardly comfortable because they were too compact, there was barely an elbowroom and certainly not much legroom, and the back of the seat has a 90-degree inclination. (I am petite but I am still complaining, so imagine what the tall and big passengers are going through). But there is a TV to distract you and being in an air-conditioned room meant you will emerge fresh from the 2-hour trip. I was even able to sleep.

We arrived at the Tagbiliran port at 4:30 p.m. We were very tired, having gone from Camotes Island straight to Bohol (which is more or less 6 hours of traveling plus a few hours of waiting time in between), but our trip from Cebu to Bohol via Ocean Jet was smooth and relatively prompt.

Ocean Jet via Luzviminda Travel and Tours
Web: http://oceanjet.luzvimindatravelandtours.com/
Email: oceanjet@luzvimindatravelandtours.com
Skype/YM: luzvimindatravelandtours
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/oceanjetlibrebalikpromo.page
Phone Nos: (Manila) +63(2)6229632
                   (Cebu) +63(32)4167479
Mobile: +63(917)6257776
              +63(920)9577759
              +63(932)8677768

Place: Bohol Bee Farm Resort and Restaurant

2013-12-23T18:45:00.001+08:00

After our short but enjoyable sojourn at South Palms Resorts, we moved to Bohol Bee Farm for an overnight stay before flying back to Manila the following day. Bohol Bee Farm is a resort and restaurant that offers a glimpse of Bohol countryside living. If you grew up in the province and are yearning to experience that simple, unassuming Filipino barrio life again, you'll be in for a treat.

Booking and Check-in

I booked a Garden Room through Agoda. After the earthquake that shook and damaged some of Bohol's heritage churches and tourist attractions, I sent an email to Bohol Bee Farm inquiring about the status of the resort. Reply came fast and we were assured their place is safe.

I also changed our stay dates through Agoda but didn't email them about it anymore. When we got there, check-in went smoothly (as most of my Agoda bookings did) and we were soon led to our room.

The Room

If South Palms Resort resembles a posh village, Bohol Bee Farm is a typical barrio in the province. Everything is spot on, from the kind of plants and trees grown, to the building materials used, to the cemented "pasilyos". It felt like walking down memory lane - back to the time of my childhood when we would visit relatives in the province.

A very barrio-looking neighborhood

Our room: the Eggplant Room

I like that the rooms were made to look like small wooden houses and each was named after a vegetable, which also serves as the theme of the room. Ours was Eggplant Room.

The front porch

Inside the room, the first thing I noticed was it's size: it's big. The walls and floors were made of wooden planks, the furniture and decors were of wood and other native materials. And yes, there's a distinct Eggplant theme.

The bed with purple beddings, the walls in light purple paint.

Clothes rack, sofa and more purple wall decors. There's a small cable TV next to the clothes rack
and below it, a mini bar and refrigerator (not shown in the image).

Fronting the bed: Mirror, writing table, door to the bathroom, main door. Almost everything is made of wood.

Even the bathroom is in with the theme. Inside, you'll get the basic of the basic essentials: toilet and shower (with heater), and soap and shampoo (organic products from the shop).

The very simple T&B

No doubt, our room was very "eggplant-y"

The Food and Restaurant

Bohol Bee Farm has 4 restaurants, although I think they offer the same menu in all 4. The only difference is the location of these restaurants. Our favorite, of course, are the ones with the magnificent view of the ocean.

We ordered the famous lunch/dinner buffet. Actually, it's not a buffet but a platter consisting of the restaurant's bestsellers. The platter is good for 2 (very big serving size) and costs P650/person. There are other platter options for larger groups (the more, the cheaper per person).

Freshly-baked Camote Bread, Pesto and Mango Spreads, Cab-cab and Tomato-Pesto dip

The very refreshing Lemongrass Juice with a hollow stalk as a natural straw.

Our favorite: Seafood Soup - has shrimp, squid, fish, clams and organic vegetables in a flavorful seafood stock

Colorful Organic Garden Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing (and edible flowers!)

Seafood Lasagna, Honey Glazed Chicken, Spareribs and Grilled Blue Marlin

Organic Red Rice

Homemade Tomato and Malunggay Ice Cream in Cab-cab cone (the Malunggay is underneath the Tomato)

The food was good, and the variety and serving size made it very filling. However, we thought that the taste of dishes we're nothing out of the ordinary. They were tasty but not really special (perhaps our tastebuds were still dazzled by the sumptuous food we had at South Palms Resort). We enjoyed the Seafood Soup a lot though, and this was the highlight of the meal for us. Eating edible flowers was definitely a new experience, too.

The homemade ice creams were interesting but D didn't like it. I like that they are not too sweet and they deviate from regular ice cream flavors, but thought they'd taste better if they're creamier. But the Cab-cab cone was a winner for me. The crisp and slight saltiness of the cone marries well with the sweetness of the ice cream.

But what I really like about eating in Bohol Bee Farm is they serve organic foods. You can taste that they use fresh herbs and vegetables harvested from their farm.

The Bakery and Ice Cream Store

The Resort's Amenities

Bohol Bee Farm offers a tour around the resort (free for resort guests), spa services and they also have a souvenir shop for the imperative "pasalubong" shopping.

Organic Garden of Vegetables and Herbs

A rustic Nativity Scene or "Belen"

The resort is littered with wooden benches, because going around this huge property can be tiring

Bohol Bee Farm has a main swimming pool located inside a cave. They also have small plunge pools with sun loungers located in an open, lush area with a view of the ocean. This looks very relaxing, but the water in the pools don't really look tempting.

Plunge pools with a lounge area

For those who want to take a dip in the sea, the Sun Deck, located below the restaurant is your access to the water. But make sure to bring your aqua shoes/booties because this part of the ocean has many sea urchins.

Sun Deck Area

Don't expect to find a beach here because the resort is located on a cliff. The view is still breathtaking, nonetheless.

View from the Sun Deck

The Buzz Souvenir Shop

The souvenir shop was a large, old house converted into a store, and it offers a lot of products to bring back home. We bought mostly bottles of their spreads and packs of Cab-cab crackers.

Service

Overall, service was good. The staff were helpful and nice, although don't expect everyone to smile or greet you (we didn't and it's okay). The guy at the reception area was very friendly and even helped us with our luggage during check-in and check-out. Airport transfers are already included in the accommodation, and I really appreciate that our driver, upon learning that we only have an hour before our schedule flight to Manila, did his best to bring us to the airport as fast as possible.

The Verdict

After staying in a luxury resort for 3 days, you can say that moving to a countryside resort was a big shift. But in no way, it felt like a downgrade. Bohol Bee Farm doesn't have the modern amenities of a more high-end accommodation, and rightly so. This is a countryside resort and people who plan to stay here should that keep in mind. Like what I said earlier, this resort offers a glimpse of the typical Filipino countryside living - for those who want to relive it and those who want to experience it for the first time.

This sprawling property is a welcome respite from the hush and hurried life in the city, and is a suitable sanctuary for nature lovers, but not beach lovers (again, they have no beach, just a splendid view of the sea). You will be surrounded by plants and trees, so expect to encounter insects (although we didn't encounter any inside our room). Bring your anti-mosquito/bug/anything lotions if you're sensitive. Rooms and villas, as well as the furniture in the resort, are mostly made of wood and other native materials. They may look old and worn out to some, but in my opinion, they add perfectly to the rustic charm and authentic countryside feel of the place.

If you can leave all your modern-day expectations and your purpose of staying is to relax and commune with nature, Bohol Bee Farm is a highly recommended resort.

Bohol Bee Farm Resort and Restaurant

Web: http://www.boholbeefarm.com/

Email: vickywallace@boholbeefarm.com

Phone No.: +6338.5101822

Mobile Nos: +63917.7101062

                     +63932.8832126
                     +63939.9046796
                     +63917.3041491

Place: Bolod Beach, Panglao Island, Bohol

2013-12-18T22:56:00.002+08:00

Said to be the longest and best shoreline in Panglao Island, Bolod Beach is a 1 1/2-kilometer stretch of unspoiled white-sand beach and is located at the southern part of the island. Unlike its more popular neighbor, Alona Beach, Bold Beach is a quieter, less crowded area which allows tourist to enjoy the beach more. This is the reason why I chose an accommodation in Bolod Beach.

When my husband told me that he will be working during our vacation, I knew that we won't likely be able to do our planned Bohol tours. So I thought at least, I can make it feel more holiday-like by staying at the most beautiful beach in Panglao Island.

And how does Bolod Beach fare? Let's take a look:

Captivating, isn't it? Indeed, the view is spectacular. The blue sky is seamless with the clear azure waters, and both are in perfect contrast with the verdant green landscape and cream-white sand of the island.

However, when we first strolled the beach, early morning of our 2nd day, the first thing that we noticed are the algae, shells and dead corals that littered the shore. This made it not comfortable to walk barefoot in some areas.

Large, dark patches in the water also caught our attention. When we went closer, we found out these are mini coral gardens where a few marine creatures have taken shelter.

Starfish in the water

Sea Urchin on the sand

D holding a small starfish

And a bigger one

Sea Urchin in the water

At first, I thought this is so cool, that even in the shallow areas of the beach, marine life is abundant - just goes to prove how rich and teeming Bohol's seabed is. But this can be alarming for children who usually frolic near the shore because they can get stung by sea urchins or something else (I'm not sure if starfish bites). There are sections near the shore and past the coral gardens that are bare and seemingly safe to swim in. I guess it will be up to parents to steer clear their kids from these "inhabited" parts.

So what do I think of Bolod Beach?

Annoying as it is to be always comparing all the beaches you've been to, to Boracay, I can't help it. While Boracay isn't exactly algae-free, you can walk on its sand without fear of being wounded or getting stubbed. The soft, powder-fine white sand is consistent over a large area of Boracay's shore. Its sand also stays cool under the heat of the sun.

Bolod Beach's sand isn't as fine and as we strolled the stretch of the shoreline in front of South Palms Resort and Bohol Beach Club, it is obvious that the quality of the sand varies. It tends to get coarse and rocky towards the end of the resort (the one nearing the cliff that separates Bolod Beach to Alona Beach); the best part is in front of Bohol Beach Club and the adjacent half of South Palms Resort. The sand also warms up as the sun peaks.

Bolod Beach is beautiful, no doubt about that - the water is crystal clear and everything about it looks pristine - but I guess I just expected too much. Even my husband was a little disappointed.

But then, a surprise came the next morning. We weren't planning to stroll the beach anymore but when I looked outside our villa, I saw a band of blinding white sand that had appeared a few meters away from the shore. A mini-sandbar!

You need to get past the mini coral garden to reach it, but the water stays knee-deep. On the sandbar, I found the super fine, milk-powdery white sand that I was pinning for the day before. I'm not sure if this sandbar is temporary as I haven't read anything about this. But it sure was a treat for us. From this vantage point, everything we look at was simply marvelous.

However (there always seems to be a catch), as I was scrubbing myself with the sand, I noticed a tiny worm wriggling on my sand-covered skin. I was reminded of that show "The Monster Inside Me" where small parasites get inside a human host and the worst things happen. So immediately, I rinsed myself in the sea and went back to our room to have a proper bath.

Despite that, I still had fun in the sandbar. I just hope that no worm got inside me. *Crossing my fingers*

And because of this sandbar in Bolod Beach, we were able to enjoy and had a wonderful beach experience. I hope we will see it again the next time we visit Bohol.

Place: South Palms Resort Panglao, Panglao Island, Bohol

2013-12-16T08:34:00.000+08:00

South Palms Resort Panglao, the newest luxury resort in Bohol, sits in a 9.3-hectare beachfront property with 90 fully-furnished rooms and villas and a 700-meter stretch of white sandy shoreline. If you'd like to know how we wind up in this beautiful resort and the reservation process, check out my earlier post.

Pick-up at Tagbilaran Seaport

After our booking was confirmed, Des, the reservation officer reminded us to provide our arrival and departure details prior to our stay dates so she can arrange the free roundtrip transfers. I told her we will be coming from Cebu and once we were able to purchase our ferry tickets, I emailed again to inform her we will be arriving in Tagbilaran Seaport via Ocean Jet and ETA is 4:00 p.m. I also sent a text message as soon as we boarded the ferry. And sure enough, our service van was waiting for us at the seaport when we arrived.

Travel time from Tagbilaran port to the resort was more or less 30 minutes. Our friendly driver tried his best to be entertaining and informative as he gave us short briefs about certain landmarks in Tagbilaran City, Panglao Island and the resort, and even an insight into the daily lives of Boholanos as he drove us to our destination.

He also shared with us why they came up with South Palms as the name of the resort. 'South' because it's located in the southern part of Panglao Island and 'Palms' because the property has an abundance of palm trees.

Check-in

Upon entering the resort premises, I realized how big the property is, most of it is still undeveloped; the resort itself is still some meters away from the main gate.

South Palms Resort Panglao Main Gate

When we finally reached the reception area, we were immediately greeted with smiles and warm welcome from the staff, as one offered us wet towels to freshen up ourselves with. They told us they'll take care of our luggage and ushered us to the check-in desk.

Check-in was quick. After the obligatory greetings, they asked for our IDs and the incidental deposit fee of P2000/night. After that, they gave our key card and whisked us away to our room. To get to our room, we need to pass in front of the restaurant but there was an on-going wedding reception, so they drove us to our room instead.

The "Room"

I breathed a silent "wow" when they opened the door to our room. Instantly, I noticed there's a living area with a view of the beach.

Living area also has a mini bar, refrigerator, complimentary bottled water and coffee/tea maker

Then another door revealed the bedroom - it was fantastic.

This is where D spent his working hours, thanks to their speedy in-room Wi-Fi connection:

The writing desk and the 40" LED TV with many cable channels.

Prior to booking, Des had already told us that they no longer have available rooms with king-size bed. So I just requested for the two double beds to be joined together. And they did just that.

This is the most comfortable bed I've been on. Sleeping here feels like sleeping on a bed of clouds.

We got 2 memory foam pillows and 2 regular ones, uber soft and fluffy blankets,
an iPod dock on the left and the phone on the right.

Provisions in the closet: 2 bathrobes, 2 pairs of rubber flipflops, 2 pairs of indoor slippers,
iron and board, in-room safe, umbrella and flashlight (not seen in the picture)

I opened the bathroom door to another surprise.

Spacious and spanking new bathroom

Bathtub, I love!

Glass-enclosed shower area and toilet

Branded toiletries and other bathroom necessities. There's even a bathroom scale under the sink.

It took me a while to realize that our room was upgraded to a beachfront villa. (Insert a very wide grin here.) I'm not sure why we got upgraded, but that was the coolest thing that happened to us on this trip.

The beach villa is just perfect. The design is simple yet elegant and very homey. Outside, it looks like a small modern-tropical bungalow covered with limestone tiles and thatched roof.

Inside, it's an inviting living space tastefully appointed with furniture and decors that showcase the Boholano's craftsmanship and creativity. And the best décor of all: the stunning view of the beach!

The view from our bedroom is absolutely picturesque!

Resort's Amenities

South Palms Resort Panglao's amenities are not yet complete. Currently, their main attraction is the infinity pool, located at the center of the resort and in front of the Oceanica Restaurant. There's also a Coast Pool Bar beside it if you fancy sipping cocktail drinks while lounging in one of their many colorful chairs.

There's another pool - the adult pool - located near our villa. This is where we spent most of our time swimming. The depth of the pool ranges from 3 feet to 5 1/2 feet. You can also order drinks from the nearby pool bar or have your meals served here.

There's a lifeguard on standby who will immediately hand you towels when you take a dip.

South Palms Resort has the longest beach in Panglao, which they lined with thatched shades and lounge chairs so guests can quickly take cover when they want to shield themselves from the sun, but still want to savor the fresh breeze of the ocean.

Another nice area in the resort is their mini man-made forest: a paved pathway connecting the Oceanica Restaurant to the adult pool that they outlined with trees, plants and stones.

Their spa is already open and I also noticed that they have function and conference rooms near the lobby. Plans to have a gym, tennis court and other amenities are already underway (according to our driver/concierge). When that happens, I won't be surprised if South Palms Resort becomes one, if not the leading beach holiday destination in Panglao.

I also like that they chose to develop the resort horizontally, building suites and villas that blend naturally with the surroundings. It truly has the look and feel of a tropical paradise.

The Resort at night

The Food and Oceanica Restaurant

Oceanica Restaurant is the only restaurant inside the resort. You can choose to eat in the restaurant, which has the relaxing view of the infinity pool and Bolod Beach, or have your meals served in your room.

Half-board meals - breakfast and a choice of lunch or dinner - are already included in the accommodation. I thought that was practical and cost-effective. At least, it would save us the hassle of finding and deciding where to eat. But in case we're not satisfied with the in-house food, I was thinking we could always go out and eat in other resorts in the area.

But we found out there's no need for that really. The foods served in Oceanica Restaurant are nothing short of amazing. Every dish we ordered was delicious, reflecting the freshness of the ingredients and the skill of the Chef. In fact, the other highlight of our stay in South Palms Resort, aside from being upgraded to a beach villa, is the food.

Price is mid-range, regular fares are somewhere between Php350-Php500, while premium meats are Php900 and beyond. But with the taste and the big serving size, it's totally worth it.

Breakfast: Filipino (fried rice, danggit, 2 hard-boiled eggs) and American (ham, hashbrown, 2 omelets)
with fresh fruits, choice of coffee, tea or choco and bottled water.

Lunch: Fried Seafood Basket with Camote Chips and Dips, Surf and Turf, Kare-Kare and 2 cups of garlic rice.
Not in the picture: Banana Split for dessert.

Dinner: Prime Beef Burger with Camote Chips and Thai Chicken Salad plus Panna Cotta as complimentary dessert.

On Sunday morning, we had buffet breakfast with a wide variety of choices:

Clockwise: Salad bar, Bread station with different spreads, cheeses and cold cuts, Cereal station, Fruits and cakes station

CW: Pancakes with different toppings, Congee station, Noodle soup station

Top: Sushi and maki station. Bottom: Filipino Breakfast station
(fried rice with different viands such eggs, ham, different sausages, hotdog, etc)

Service

Because the resort is new and still in their soft-opening phase, I expected a few glitches during our stay. There was a bit of confusion on how we will avail the meal inclusions. I asked the Front Desk and we were told to order straight from Oceanica. But staff in Oceanica would ask for meal coupons that were supposed to be given to us during check-in. But they were not.

The phone system is also not yet configured so I had to go through Front Desk to connect to the restaurant. Later, I just asked Oceanica for their direct line. I wish I had thought of that earlier.

Then there was a slight misstep during our first dinner, to which our driver and the duty manager had profusely apologized for. But they made up for it by giving us complimentary foods and by rendering us the best service possible, ensuring that our stay in the resort will be the most comfortable and enjoyable. And it was.

Staff are always smiling. They even checked up on us in the villa to ask if there's anything we need. Service is simply superb! Truly, the staff at South Palms Resort Panglao knows what true Boholano hospitality is.

Check-out

Checking out was a breezy as checking in. I called Front Desk at 11 a.m. to inform them that we'll be checking out in an hour. They asked if we need help with our bags and promptly sent someone at exactly 12 noon to assist us. At the reception desk, they had all our expenses tallied. They have credit card terminals so I chose to pay with a credit card instead and refund the full deposited amount. We will still be transferring to another hotel and having cash will be handy.

After payment, we were led to the service van waiting for us. During reservation, I had requested that instead of airport drop-off, we'd like to be transferred to Bohol Bee Farm. I didn't have to repeat the request because the Front Desk officer had already instructed the driver to drop us off at Bohol Bee Farm. I really appreciate that all the information and requests I made during reservation where duly noted and communicated to the staff at the resort. Efficient service = worry-free stay = happy guests.

The Verdict

Need I say more? We had the BEST beach holiday experience at South Palms Resort Panglao. To echo their slogan, come to South Palms Resort Panglao and discover the way a Bohol beach holiday should be.

Related Review: Why you should stay in Bolod Beach

South Palms Resort Panglao
Web: http://www.southpalmsresort.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthPalmsResortPanglao
Email: info@southpalmsresort.com
Toll Free: 1-800-1888-7777
Info: +63 38 502-8288
RSVN: +63 38 501-3088
Mobile: +639177167609

Place: South Palms Resort Panglao - Reservation

2013-12-14T22:21:00.004+08:00

South Palms Resort Panglao is the newest luxury beach resort in Bohol. They recently opened last December 1, 2013 and we had the pleasure of staying at this spanking new resort on December 7-9.

They boast of having the longest stretch of pristine, white sand beach in Panglao Island, and a number of tropical-styled but well-appointed rooms and villas that are specifically built to complement and blend with the relaxing view of the ocean and the lush forest of palm trees, without sacrificing comfort and modern luxuries.

But first, let me go into a lengthy introduction on how we found this latest beach destination in Bohol.

Budget Travelers in a Luxury Resort

We are basically budget travelers. When we go on a week-long vacation, my first agenda is to get the best budget accommodation that I can find. And initially, that was the plan for this 8-day Cebu-Bohol sojourn. So how did we end up in this luxury resort?

For Bohol, I was searching for a budget resort along Alona Beach, preferably with swimming pool and a free breakfast. But Alona Beach, it seems, has a narrower share of sand that is often crowded with tourists and vendors due to the many establishments that lined up the shore, and even their part of the sea is littered with boats that ferried tourists to other islands.

I found out that Bolod Beach is the better option, with finer sands, quieter and less crowded area, and a wider stretch of shoreline. So I planned to book a room in Dumaluan Beach Resort 2, because they fit my requirements: budget-friendly, beachfront, with swimming pool, Wi-Fi internet and free breakfast for 2.

But as fate would have it, Bohol was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. We still wanted to push through but decided to wait for news and feedback from other tourists who've gone to Panglao post-earthquake before booking an accommodation, so we can have an idea of the situation in the province and the resorts near the beach.

Then, just when everything seemed okay, super typhoon Yolanda came and wreak havoc in the neighboring islands. Bohol, still reeling from the earthquake, was luckily spared and sustained very minimal damage. But their supply of electricity was cut-off because they were relying on the power plant located in Leyte, which was heavily affected by Yolanda's wrath.

Unfortunately, DBR2, like most of the resorts in Panglao, had to use generators to continue operation but they couldn't guarantee 24-hour electricity, and consequently, internet connection. This was a problem for us because my husband had informed me beforehand that he will be bringing some work. Electricity and internet connection are non-negotiables. It sucks that he has to work while on vacation, but he couldn't help it so I had to find an accommodation that can provide what he needs.

I figured the bigger, more expensive resorts are my best bet. And that's when I started considering accommodations on the higher end. Among my choices were Bellevue Resort, Panglao Island Nature Resort and Amorita Resort.

Amorita Resort, located in Alona Beach was my top pick, but they told me that their Wi-Fi is spotty and that they have brownouts during the day. Bellevue Resort and PINR both claimed they have stable internet connections and electricity but they are a bit secluded and far from the two main beaches in Alona and Bolod. They do have their own private beaches though.

PINR seemed the most practical because of the half-board meals and complimentary massage that are included if we will avail the Getaway Package (minimum of 3D/2N), although Wi-Fi in the resort is only available at the lobby. Still, the secluded location was putting me off. The last thing I want is to be stuck in a place with not much to do for 3 days. I knew my husband will be working and we won't likely be able to do any of the tours so I wanted an accommodation that will allow us to enjoy the beach, at least. I was also considering access to other places to eat, in case the food in the resort's in-house restaurant turned out to be too expensive and/or not quite good.

Then, as if guided by fate, I decided to visit South Palms Resort's website. I learned about them from a forum post which said that Bohol Beach Club was closed but will reopen as South Palms Resort Panglao by the end of this year*. Bohol Beach Club was an old player in the luxury hotels/resorts field in Bohol, and has the advantage of having the best sand and shore in all of the resorts in Panglao. (*BBC is undergoing renovations but will still reopen as BBC. BBC and SPRP are under the same management.)

The website of South Palms Resort Panglao had been under construction for a while, so I wasn't expecting to find anything. Imagine my delight when I saw the website loaded with information regarding the newest resort in Bohol. It's finally up and they are accepting reservations. I was more delighted when I checked the promotions page - they were having a soft-opening promo which included - guess what - half-board meals. And they have in-room Wi-Fi access.

Located in the best beach area in Panglao, with half-board meals included, complimentary in-room internet connection, free airport/seaport transfers, with 2 swimming pools. Suddenly, the choice was clear. Immediately, I sent an email inquiring about the reservation.

Reservation/Booking

I sent an email in the evening and received a reply from Des, their reservation officer, the following day. The promo was available only to those who booked during the travel fair in SMX last September but she said they will extend their introductory rate to me, which was 30% off their regular room rates, because our stay dates fall within their soft-opening period. To reserve a room, I was told to deposit 50% of the total amount to their bank account and provide my credit card number. But I was hesitant to give my credit card number through email and offered to pay the full amount instead.

Thereafter, our communication had been fast and smooth. After I made the deposit and emailed them a copy of the bank slip, she sent me a confirmation letter containing details of the booking and check-in procedures.

Des was prompt and polite all throughout our correspondence, and even asked me how I would like to be addressed. She answered all my queries, took note of my requests and replies to my emails within the day (unless of course, I emailed at night).

However, there was one important thing that she forgot to inform us - that we need a deposit fee of P2000 per night of stay upon check-in, for incidental expenses. I think this is SOP in most high-end hotels/resorts but I would appreciate if we're told beforehand. Good thing I was able to withdraw some cash before we went to Bohol.

Despite that, I still feel that the reservation/booking process was hassle-free and will commend Des for being efficient and quick to reply. I just hope they will be able to accept credit card or Paypal payments in the future as online reservation is a lot more convenient.

Continue to the rest of the review...

South Palms Resort Panglao
Web: http://www.southpalmsresort.com/
Email: info@southpalmsresort.com
Toll Free: 1-800-1888-7777
Info: +63 38 502-8288
RSVN: +63 38 501-3088
Mobile: +639177167609

Movie: The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug

2013-12-12T17:38:00.002+08:00

We watched The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in 3D last night. I wish I can make a more lengthy review of the movie, but I just don't have the energy right now. We just came from an 8-day vacation and I'm still both reeling from the wonderful places we've been to and tired from travelling and changing hotels every two days.

Anyway, back to my review. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is the 2nd installment in The Hobbit movie trilogy. This alone is a reason why you should see the movie, because the you won't know the whole story if you won't watch all films in the series. Also, in the fashion of the Lord of the Rings franchise, you can count on The Hobbit movies to be adventure-filled and enthralling as you delve into the fantasy world of dwarves, elves, wizards and even the orcs. And The Desolation of Smaug matched, if not exceeded, its predecessor in terms of exciting action, more interesting characters and superb storytelling. In fact, I think this is a better, more fast-paced movie than the first. But I find both movies to be great and didn't really find any major flaws.

Watching The Hobbit movies (and LOTR movies for that matter), makes me feel like what I felt when I watched Cinderella for the first time: magical. From the stunning visuals, to engaging characters - I love Thorin Oakenshield and fact that he look so kingly and has a commanding presence despite being a few feet short, to the heart-stopping adventures - the seemingly impossible-to-overcome hurdles and dangers that Bilbo and the dwarves have to face, everything was pure magic.

In this movie, you'll get to see Smaug up close, and I thought he was beautifully done and he perfectly depicted what a menacing and terrifying fairytale dragon should be. He has the looks and voice of a dragon and was easily the highlight of this part of the story. And Legolas was here too, along with the other Wood-elves, most notable of which were Tauriel and Thranduil, King of Mirkwood and father of Legolas. I feel their involvement will explain why the wood-elves and the dwarves were not exactly the best of friends in the first LOTR movie.

The Hobbit movies, much like the LOTR trilogy is the kind of movies that stay with you, that you would want to watch over and over again. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is a perfect middle-movie in this trilogy: it picks up where the journey of Bilbo, Gandalf and the Erebor dwarves left of with more intense action, it introduces new characters that will play pivotal roles in the story (like Bard and the rest of the Lake Town people), it ties some loose ends that the first movie left behind and it ushers in the next film in the series - the all-important conclusion that will decide where The Hobbit trilogy will rank among the greatest fantasy-adventure franchise in movie history.

Overall, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is a highly-recommended movie of the year and watching it is a must especially if you've seen the prequel. We watched it in 3D, but I think it won't make much difference and you won't miss anything if you watch it in 2D, at least.

Movie: The Hunger Games - Catching Fire

2013-12-02T10:37:00.001+08:00

We watched The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on its 2nd showing night (and I'm only writing about it now?!) with free tickets courtesy of Nuffnang Philippines (thanks! thanks!).

I haven't read the book so I was a little surprised why the first movie was much anticipated, not knowing that it was based from a very popular cult-followed novel. When we finally saw it much much later, I thought it was really great, one of those movies with a good solid story and an effective cast, lead by the lovable Jennifer Lawrence. The characters were played out well, each artist seem to fit the role, and I really enjoyed the flamboyant make-up and costumes (reminiscent of Star Wars), and the different personalities that tied the whole story together.

When the sequel, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, hit the cinemas, I wasn't sure if we'll watch it or not. Despite a nice first outing, I still wasn't converted as a member of the fan club, nor was my husband, so you can say we weren't exactly thrilled. But then came a Nuffnang movie contest and thought I'd give it a try again (after joining 2 of their previous contests and lost). Luckily, I was one of the 100 winners, which gave us a reason to go see it.

The second installment of The Hunger Games opened to the lives of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark after they both won the killing contest. In the first movie, their tandem - or should I say "loveteam" because there seemed to be a brewing affection between the two (at least, it was true for Peeta) - broke the rules of the game, which requires that only one winner, the last surviving individual, will be proclaimed at the end. But Katniss refused to kill Peeta, Peeta refused to kill Katniss and both decided that they'll just commit suicide by eating poison berries. Apparently (not sure how it was explained in the book), having two winners instead of having no winner is more favorable for the Capitol so they concluded the game and declared both Katniss and Peeta as victors.

But President Snow see Katniss as a threat and a possible key figure in a rebellion. This, along with the love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale is the focal point of the film. As I said, I find the first half of the movie slow, but still necessary as it builds up the story. A number of new and interesting characters are introduced, but of course, a handful of the old favorites are still there and are equally delightful.

The pacing picked up during the second half when the actual games started. I think how the game was portrayed here is better than how it was on the prequel. Lots of exciting and heart-pounding actions, new dangers and a better game plot (I love the clock idea). Being someone who hasn't read the book, everything that transpires in the game made me hold my breath, bracing to see what will happen next.

Fans of the book claimed that this movie is a faithful adaptation, but whether that's the case or not, I believe the film is strong on its own account. Everything seemed seamless, even the character development, which a lot of high-profile movies suffer from, was very well done. It is easily one of the best films of the year (and we've had a lot of good ones this year).

What I really like about the movie is the twist (which, of course caught me by surprise because I didn't know that was coming) and how the story, just when it was really heating up, was ended abruptly, leaving the audience wanting for more (which means, that yes, we'll be watching the next installments).

Overall, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire provides a great cinematic experience. If you like a combination of heart (love and drama), intelligent story, thrilling actions, political undertones and enjoyable characters - The Hunger Games movie franchise is something that you should see.

Fibr: Home’s Most Powerful Broadband

2013-11-10T22:24:00.001+08:00

And because 'tis the season of pageants, let's try to answer this ala beau-con.

How would the odds be in your favor if you had a Fibr connection?

Thank you very much for that wonderful question. How would the odds be in my favor if I had a Fibr connection? For me, having a faster, more reliable internet connection definitely put the odds in my favor. Being online is no longer about connecting to the internet. It's being able to experience faster and consistent internet connection.

Fibr guarantees dedicated fiber optic lines and this means that I will no longer be troubled by congested networks, which slows down my online experience. Streaming movies, watching online videos, uploading and downloading files, opening nth number of websites simultaneously, connecting online via various mobile devices- these will no longer be a problem because Fibr provides ultra - as in major, major - high speed internet. So whatever device I am using to connect to the internet, as long I have Fibr, then the odds will always be in my favor.

Thank you Fibr and I promise to be the best internet user ever.

And that wonderful question was brought to you by: PLDT Home's Fibr.

Fibr, Home’s most powerful broadband, allows you to seamlessly and simultaneously experience the following:

1. Browsing of multiple websites

2. Stream hundreds blockbuster movies on-demand from Clickplay

3. Watch Cignal Digital TV Channels

4. Available now in over 800 fiber-powered villages nationwide

5. Visit www.pldthome.com or call 101-FIBR (3427) for more details.

Movie: Thor: The Dark World

2013-10-30T22:27:00.001+08:00

Thor: The Dark World reminds me why I like the Marvel Comics movies better than their DC Comics counterparts - because they are a lot more fun to watch. I'm sure many will claim that The Dark Knight is better than all of the Marvel movies combined, and I won't argue on the merits of the film. But when I watch a superhero movie, I want to feel like I'm watching a superhero movie and not a dissection of the superhero's human persona (whether they're actually human or alien). I want to feel excited when the superhero appears on the screen. I want to feel giddy like her leading lady.

And this 2nd installment of Thor does exactly that, and interjected of a number of witty jokes and funny scenes, like they did in the 1st movie, which somehow makes it feel similar but still different. One big difference is that most of the scenes take place in Asgard. And I mean, ASGARD because it looked absolutely majestic and breathtaking. The way they created this otherworldly realm is truly a visual feast. I am not fond of watching in 3D because I get nauseated after, but I really appreciate the grandiosity of the Asgard sceneries behind my 3D glasses.

Another plus point for me is Loki. Maybe it's just me, but he looked really cute here (the hair?). Thor is as hunky and handsome as ever, and can still sweep you off your feet, or should I say fly you off to another world like what he did to Jane, but Loki exuded a different charm. Proud, sly and treacherous, but somehow softened and vulnerable, the least liked Loki shares the spotlight with his more popular brother. And there's something about his smile, something that I find quite attractive.

And speaking of attraction, of course there's the interrupted love affair between Jane Foster and Thor. Jane remained beautiful, smart, spunky and kick ass, despite being supposedly a damsel in distress in this movie. But while I still get that "how lucky she is to have Thor" thoughts whenever Thor comes to her rescue, I find something is lacking in their chemistry. It seemed to me that they were just acting out their feelings, instead of actually feeling them.

Also, I wish they had pursued the love triangle angle between Thor and Jane, and Sif (Thor's female friend) to add intrigue to the story. I thought they laid it out in the beginning, with Sif seemingly flirting with Thor and later, giving Jane that "so it's you" look when she came to Asgard. But that was it. No catfight ensued, too bad. Or maybe, it's just a prelude to the next sequel.

And then, there's Darcy (the crazy, nosy intern) and her intern (yes, the intern got herself an intern) and Erik, who has somehow gone insane after being under Loki's control in The Avengers movie, Thor's circle of friends, Odin and Frigga and the rest of the cast that as a whole complements the film.

But! One thing that I find weak, and perhaps a major flaw in this movie, is the plot. While the villain, Malekith and the Dark Elves, looked menacing and destructive enough to pose a threat not only to Asgard and Earth, but to the whole universe, the story is nothing new. You get an old enemy with an oath of vengeance, you get the lady love involved and in danger, you get a dashing superhero to save her while saving the universe. It's old, and a rehash of a rehash or a rehash of another story. And the solution to the problem had me scratching on the head. I mean, I've seen that transport-the-enemy-to-somewhere-else-because-he's-too-powerful-to-be defeated resolution used in a number of movies already.

But of course, this is not the kind of movie that you need to analyze and dissect and interpret. It is straightforward, a story for the kids, as some would complain. But the visual imagery, the stunning effects, the exciting action, the comical lines, and for the ladies: Thor's heart-melting stare and Loki's mischievous but cute smile, added the needed dimension and entertainment-value that the plot lacked.

Thor: The Dark World, like it's predecessor, is a fun movie to watch. I had expected the humor and visual effects, and it didn't fail me. It's not exactly mindless as most "straightforward" movies go, but you might need to loosen up and leave your analytical, puzzle-solving hat at home. It's an eye-candy, yes, but also very entertaining and action-packed, so just enjoy the ride! And definitely, it's a must watch for superhero-comic-turn-into-movie fans out there.

What’s My Destination Wish List

2013-10-17T21:36:00.000+08:00

Wanderlust - that sweet longing to travel, to be there - wherever there is - to have a change of environment and discover new experiences. A lot of people are afflicted with this appetite for traveling, myself included. Although I have always reined in the desire with the reality that I don't always have enough money to scratch the itch. Wanderlust involves traveling and traveling entails expenses.

But if money was not an issue, I believe a lot more people will cave in to their wanderlust. Who wouldn't? Traveling is one of the best forms of therapy. People travel to clear the mind, recharge the body, soothe the soul. And then there are the lucky ones who travel - just because they can. Oh, how I envy them.

It's a good thing that a number of local budget airlines are more available now, offering cheaper rates that you can opt to choose to skip the hassle of booking promo airfares. One such airline is AirAsia Philippines, a 5-time World's Best Low Cost Airline.

Recently, AirAsia Philippines has partnered with Zest Air, another affordable low cost airline, and the tie-up is christened with a new name: AirAsia Zest.

Visit AirAsia Zest website by clicking on the photo

As result, now AirAsia Zest flies from Manila (at NAIA Terminal 4) to some of most traveled terminals in the Philippines and in Asia, including Cebu, Davao, Kalibo (Boracay), Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, Cagayan De Oro for local destinations, and Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Shanghai, Incheon for Asian destinations. Prior to the merge, Air Asia was nestled in Clark Airport, Pampanga, discouraging most Manila and South Luzon-based travelers to fly with the airline.

AirAsia Zest, The Right Way to Fly is the slogan of this partnership, which aims to serve Filipinos better by offering more options, better value and enhanced services. With this, AirAsia Zest is poised to take you to your destination at affordable prices (AirAsia Zest dares you to compare prices!)

I haven't flown with either AirAsia or Zest Air, but with the promise of cheaper rates and better service, it's definitely something that I will consider for my next travel. And speaking of traveling, I might as well bring up my destination wish list (for next year hopefully).

1. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
The Philippines, being a tropical archipelago, is lined with many beautiful beaches. But there's something about going to another country's beach that appeals to me. Mind you, I'm not an overly beach lover and perhaps, more than frolicking in the sand and sea, it's really being in another country that draws me in.

I first learned of Kota Kinabalu through a friend's post in Multiply (a defunct social networking site). And instantly, I fell in love with their photos and stories of the place (this is where her husband proposed, making everything even more romantic). But it's the beach, more than anything that really clinched a longing in my heart.

[SOURCE: Ivan Henares]

Kota Kinabalu sounded so exotic yet after some light research, I found out it's a modern, sprawling metropolis, being the state capital of Sabah. Now, Sabah is a familiar name - a would've been part of Philippines and the recent stage of a stand-off that turned into a bloody siege. But let's not get into the details of that fateful and sad incident.

I also learned that aside from the beach, Kota Kinabalu's prime tourist attraction is the mighty Mount Kinabalu, which provides a majestic background to the city's modern landscape. It reminds me of the Mayon Volcano looming over Legaspi City and that morning when we strolled the city, with the imposing view of Mayon always visible, it felt like the mountain volcano was watching over the city as if a vigilant big brother.

Back to Mount Kinabalu, I don't fancy climbing up to the peak as my health won't probably allow me (I have a thyroid condition which makes me feel exhausted easily). But a trip to the Kinabalu National Park, which they said is an easy hike, will suffice, especially with a view like this:

[SOURCE: Trek Earth]

The city also boasts of paradise islands, virgin coral reefs and tropical rainforests, which is similar to what we can find here in the Philippines. But as I said above, it's being in another country that makes the experience sound twice as exciting. The chance to immerse myself in a new culture, to treat my taste buds to different gustatory delights, to indulge in the beauty of another country. And even if I found out that our beaches are still notches better than Kota Kinabalu's - these new experiences, I'm sure, will make the trip worth it.

2. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
There was a time, not too long ago, when the PETRONAS Tower was the highest building in the world, and it was the answer to a bonus question in one of our exams. I got it correctly thanks to a quiz game show that I watched previously. Back then, I didn't care so much about the towers, nor how beautiful they are. Heck, I didn't care so much about traveling out of the country because it seemed so expensive.

But I do now. I want to see the PETRONAS Towers - the twin towers that some tourist allegorize as two lovers holding hands.

[SOURCE: The Chronicles of Mariane]

Call me helpless romantic (although I'm really not), this is my only reason for wanting to go to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I know there are other must-see places that are equally charming as The PETRONAS Towers. And I will be delighted to visit them as well. But if I can go to Malaysia, feast my eyes on the magnificent view of the towers, cross the Skybridge that connects them and hold hands with my husband as we take in the beauty of the twin towers at night, then go straight back to Manila - I'd be completely satisfied.

3. Puerto Princesa, Palawan
I remember being younger and wishing to go to Palawan. Back then, when traveling by plane (even to local destinations) was a luxury that only the privileged can enjoy, Palawan was my dream local destination. The Philippine's last frontier, it is called and I had imagined it as an ultimate haven for nature lovers: pristine white beaches, coral blue waters, lush green forests. I promised myself I would go there, that it would be the first thing I'd fly to when I can afford plane tickets already.

And when we finally visited Puerto Princesa, Palawan last year, I realized it was so much more.

Palawan from above

The Food. After sorting out our airfares, accommodations and tour packages, where and what to eat was next on the to-do list. Fortunately for me, who's always the designated trip planner, Puerto Princesa is a cornucopia of many good restaurants. Choosing rather than finding where to eat is the real task. But the best part is, and this we found out to be true whether eating in a posh restaurant or paluto style by the beach, the seafoods in Palawan is the among the best in the country. They're the freshest, most reasonably priced, and most enjoyable seafoods I've ever had.

Sweet Chili Crab at Badjao Seafront Restaurant

The People. I love Palawuenos. I love that they are very friendly, very helpful and in a very touristy town where the opportunity to overprice everything is ripe, they do not take advantage on tourists (both foreign and local alike). Case in point: regular trike fare is P8, and in the five days that we spent going around the town proper, we didn't encounter a single tricycle driver who charged us with more.

But what I love most about them is their love for their city and their commitment to preserve their natural treasures. To successfully implement a No Littering City Ordinance amongst themselves and their visitors. To take pride and responsibility in maintaining their tourist attractions. To ensure that they give back, as much as they take in from their environment. These are the qualities that make Palawuenos truly admirable and endearing.

The Places. The Underground River - one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. The Ugong Rock Cave. The Hunda Bay Islands (Cowrie Island, LuLi Island, Pandan Island). The City Attractions (Baker's Hill, Mitra's Ranch, Crocodile Farm). These places speak for themselves. Puerto Princesa, Palawan is a wonder among wonders and going back to this slice of heaven on earth is something I'd do in a heart beat (as long as I have the funds, of course).

Karst Mountain

Pandan Island

LuLi Island

4. Tagbilaran, Bohol
If the hills are alive with the sound of music, then the famous Chocolate Hills in Bohol must be alive with the sound of chocolates - which if you ask me, is just as pleasant to the ears, more so to the taste buds.

Ever since gradeschool, when I was just starting to learn about the main tourist attractions in the Philippines, I have always marveled at the Chocolate Hills. Sure, perfect-cone volcano, tallest falls, rice terraces are beautiful in their own right. But to my young mind, these almost uniformed mounds of dirt and rocks that turn the color of chocolate are simply amazing.

[SOURCE: Pinoy Backpackers]

Mother Nature must be having fun as she was instructing the ground to sprout these mini-mountains and space them close enough, like carefully molded chocolate pieces spread out on a tray, so we can later marvel at her creation with the sweetest smiles on our faces.

*Although not exactly in Tagbilaran, the famed Chocolate Hills can be easily accessed from this city.

5. Boracay via Kalibo, Aklan
I broke my promise to myself that Palawan will be the first destination I'd go to once I can afford to fly - but for good reason. The first ticket I bought was for a plane bound for Boracay - the world-renowned beach in Aklan. But it wasn't just Boracay that reeled us in, we were also visiting my husband's relatives in Nabas, Aklan - my mother-in-law's mother and sister, who she hasn't seen in years.

When airline companies started rolling our their Piso Sale and other airfare promos, Boracay was among, if not the fastest flight to be sold out. Upon setting my feet on the conspicuous powdery white sand and dipping into the cold azure water, it's not hard to see why. Boracay Island is a paradise. The sprawling resorts, restaurants, and shops may have robbed it of its rustic charm, but it still remains one of the most beautiful shorelines in the Philippines.

White Beach, Boracay near Station 2

To be honest, one of the good things that I - and maybe some of you as well - really like about Boracay is having both the convenience and the beach at your doorstep. The lines of beachfront hotels, shops and restaurants allow you to go back and forth to your room, eat and dine, do a bit of shopping and hit the beach without having to flag a tricycle or hire service vehicles. Almost everything is here, most likely just a few steps away from where you are staying. Unless of course, if what you're looking for are tranquility and remoteness, you won't find it here.

The Grotto at Station 1

For some people, it's the vibrant nightlife that adds cherry to the top, although it's not the case for us as we're not really into partying. We'd rather curl up in bed, watch some TV and sleep early (early is 10 pm) so we can wake up early the next morning and take a stroll on the beach before the sun rises; that's the time when the water is most peaceful and the beach is most beautiful.

Regardless of the reason and the season, Boracay is indeed, and still is, a place to be. And it's a place that I'd like to go back to whenever I have the chance.

* * * * *

Wanderlust, traveling, dream destinations. Ahh, the world is truly a better place when you travel. And it's more fun if you travel in the Philippines (and in Asia). How about you, what's your destination wish list?

Real UnliCHAT Experience with Globe’s GoUnli30

2013-10-13T19:59:00.001+08:00

I remember the days when a P300 call card will give you 300 free text. That was a long time ago, and back then, sending text messages and making calls are all you could do with your cellphone (okay, you could also play Snake).

But times are always changing and the discontinuance of the free text somehow gave way to UnliText - unlimited texting to the same network provider - and it became all the rage. Back when I used to work (in an office, that is, because I now work at home), all my colleagues were Globe subscribers, and I wasn't. They were convincing me to switch so those who were always "naka-unli" will be able to forward me quotes and group texts. I hesitated because my family was also subscribed to this other network, and I don't want to lose our unli-texting privilege. (But I've seen the light, and now I'm a Globe subscriber.)

Soon enough, UnliCalls joined in the bandwagon, allowing subscribers to make unlimited calls to subscribers of the same network. Then, the UnliText evolved into AllNet, much to our delight because this means we can finally send unlimited text messages to all networks.

And now that connecting online has become a ubiquitous way of communicating, Globe's GoUNLI30 is pushing the Unli craze up one notch to give you the real unlimited chat experience.

How does Globe GoUNLI30 give you the REAL UNLI chat experience?

With GoUNLI30, subscribers get unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited calls to Globe/TM, and unlimited chat with the best messaging apps like Viber, Kakao Talk, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat, Line and the telco’s very own messaging app GMessage without the need for Wi-Fi or additional data charges. Available for only P30 valid for 1 day, GoUNLI30 gives you no excuse to stay out of the loop and connect with more than 1 billion users around the world regardless of mobile network or location.

To be honest, I haven't used any of these chat apps (maybe if I was younger), and I really have no problem being online 24/7 because my Globe plan has UnliSurf (naks!). But if I don't have the postpaid plan, I'd definitely use this Unli service.

All these features for only P30? I think that's a steal. With GoUNLI30, it's like having all 3 Unli promos for the price of 1. You get UnliText AllNet, UnliCalls and UnliChat - all for P30.

Back in the earlier days of the Unli's, P30 would only give you unlimited texting. Now, your P30 with Globe's GoUNLI30 will not only allow you to connect with your friends and families (and whoever) across all networks and anywhere in the world, but will also enable you to communicate and express yourself in many different ways through these chat apps.

That's a long way from the P30 UnliText to the same network that I thought was cost-effective back then. Globe's GoUNLI30 redefines cost-effective prepaid mobile communication.

So, what are you waiting for? Go all-out unlimited with GoUNLI30 and UNLICHAT25 now. Register by dialing *143# and then choosing GoSAKTO on your Globe mobile phone or texting GOUNLI30 or UNLICHAT25 to 8888.