From My Beautiful Mind

I Choose to Walk With 'Change'

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 01:50:00 +0000

Everything in this world is TEMPORARY. The only thing that’s constant is CHANGE.

When you reach a point where you lose everything, you appreciate even the smallest of things. You become grateful for everything that you have. You complain less. You see people beyond what you see on the outside. When someone does you wrong, you think twice before snapping back at them. You understand people more and give more consideration.

They often say that God does not give you problems you cannot bear. It came to a point where my problems seemed so unbearable, I thought I would literally die. Then you stop thinking. You don’t let negative thoughts eat you up. You start to breathe again and take one day at a time. You don’t understand the journey but you keep walking anyway. On your journey, you meet people. Some stay for a while to keep you company. Some are still walking with you right now. As much as you’d hate to admit it, these people, no matter how short their stay with you, have made you into the person you are now.

I don’t know where this journey is leading me but it has taught me that there are people you let walk beside you on your journey. People whom you smile to then say goodbye. People whom you allow to see what’s really inside you and people you realize are worth walking with until your journey ends.

After everything, I realized that I don’t mind walking alone. I’m still trying to figure out who I am and who I want to be. Everything and everyone is temporary. I guess, I’d like to keep CHANGE company.

Hong Kong Savvy

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sun, 28 May 2017 17:26:00 +0000

So off we went to Hong Kong on the 2nd week of May, 2017. Here, I will be sharing with you how we were able to stay in Hong Kong for less than Php 20K.

Senado Square, Macau

Every Juan Flies

Let's begin by saying that we got our pretty cheap two-way fares via Cebu Pacific Air for Php 3,982.00 each. This, we had booked months (6 months or so) before our trip. It's pretty helpful to subscribe to their newsletter to be informed of the latest promo fares for both local and international destinations. Or, you can simply hit the like button on their Facebook page to see their latest updates.

We're so lucky we have direct flights from Iloilo to Hong Kong. Only problem is there are only 1 or 2 flights for Iloilo to Hong Kong in a week and the flights usually start from 11PM onwards. Thus, we had to board at 9 or 10PM and arrive at 2AM in Hong Kong.

Tai Wah: The Friendly Guest House

Perhaps the next thing to look for after buying plane tickets is a place to stay at while in Hong Kong. We wanted to keep a tight budget to be able to do more with our money during our stay and so we opted for cheaper guest houses or inns if we could find any.

Lucky enough, we had friends who had recently been there and they recommended we stay at Tai Wah Guest House which is located at Tsim Sha Tsui. We found the cheapest rates by far at Agoda and so for 4 days and 3 nights, we only paid Php 4,655.00 good for 2 persons sharing a single room.

At their reception, you'll be greeted by very accommodating Filipinas. I just love how I feel at home in a different country knowing that someone truly understands you and your ways since you grew up in the same country with the same culture.

Klook App

Next, we bought tickets for Hong Kong Disneyland using a very helpful app, KLOOK. Using this app, I get to buy a one-day admission ticket for only Php 3,509.69 instead of Php 3,989.00++. You'll be surprised how prices can change when using a credit card since they base the amount on the latest exchange rate for the day. In my case, I used my credit card to pay for a Disneyland Ticket amounting to Php 3,483.00 via the app but later on, I found out that after my payment had been processed, I was charged Php 3,509.69. Anyway, this is way cheaper than buying at the official Hong Kong Disneyland website so I took it.

Also, they're giving away discounts for first-time users of the app. Thus, the cheaper price.

The Indispensable "Octopus Card"

Immediately after arriving at the airport, we looked for the "Octopus Card" which can pretty well be bought from any 7/11 Stores and of course, at their Mass Transit Railway (MTR).

This card can do wonders! I mean we don't have it in the Philippines and so I'm in awe. It's like having a Metro Rail Transit (MRT) card, a Happy Plus Card (Jollibee) and a debit card in one.

It's very important since most of the time, you need to ride trains and less of buses if you want to move from one place to another at a faster pace. The MTR usually closes at 12MN and I remember that since we arrived at 2AM, we had to take the bus from the airport and arrive at Tsim Sha Tsui at 4:30AM. Whereas when we rode the MTR from Tsim Sha Tsui to the airport, it only took us 30 minutes.

For some reasons, I found it very convenient loading it with a certain amount and being able to use it when I dine at McDonald's, KFC, Cafe de Coral (largest, most successful Chinese fast-food brand in HK) or wherever they accept it. I can use it when I ride the MTR and buy midnight snacks at 7/11 Stores. It just makes me feel safe and happy using this card. How I wish we had one in the Philippines. Haha.

By the way, one Octopus Card costs HKD 39.50 and that's without any load into it. Thus, you have to pay another for the load to use it.

No More 'Stamping' in Passports

I always wanted to be able to have 2 stamps on my passport by just visiting one country. Thus, my deepest desire to go to Macau while in Hong Kong.

Canton Road

Much to my dismay, they don't do stamping in Hong Kong anymore because according to Mr. Corrado Chow, then Asst. Immigration Director, in a press release that he made last February 8, 2013, it would save them 3 seconds per visitor if they replaced stamping with computer-generated slips. Also, issuing those slips made it more convenient for visitors as they no longer have to face the fear of losing their slips as their information have already been stored in the above-mentioned computers.

Oh well! Here goes nothing...

Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower

When in Macau, Use the Temporary Ferry Terminal

From our guest house, we walked to the Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal and paid HKD 164.00 for our ferry ride from Hong Kong to Macau.

I can't remember how much we paid on our way back but do take not that the fare gets more expensive as the night falls.

Senado Square

Then, we arrived at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal in Macau. We actually made a mistake because this terminal was an old one and all ferries usually come back from Macau to Hong Kong via the Temporary Ferry Terminal in Taipa, Macau.

The Venetian

For a moment, we thought we got lost because when we decided to go back to Hong Kong, we had a difficult time crossing streets and riding one bus to another because the two piers were not near each other in Macau. It took us quite some time to realize this while looking at our maps, but thank God we made it.

Gambling Capital of the World

As soon as we arrived in Macau, we were amazed at how most infrastructures were painted gold as if they were that of Aladdin's Arabian Nights. Haha. The buildings were really worth looking at and anywhere you looked at seemed so grandiose and colorful as if enticing you to come in and have some fun.

Unfortunately, we weren't into casinos and gambling so we just took advantage of the free rides the buses of the different hotels in Macau had to offer. But we did some strolling at the Venetian and at some other hotels like the Grand Lisboa, the Parisian, Galaxy, etc. We jumped from one hotel to the next until we reached our destination: Ruins of St. Paul, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We took the streets from Senado Square and wandered around, hopping from one shop to the other. Ooh! If I just had all the money in the world. Haha!!!

We went back to Tsim Sha Tsui tired but full of happy stories to share to our loved ones. At about 11PM, it was time to take a rest in preparation for another day ahead.

The Child in Me

Day two came and we had a hearty meal at KFC. What I like the most in Hong Kong is that instead of immediately offering coffee or soda for breakfast [like how it is in the Philippines], they let you choose between coffee or milk tea. No wonder why most people are slim and healthy!

After eating, we headed out to the train station and rode all the way to Hong Kong Disneyland. When we arrived, the place hadn't opened yet and so we waited for a while. We spent an entire day watching all the attractions and using all the rides in Disneyland.

We had a lot of fun and I felt that the child in me had been awakened once more.

Shopping! Shopping! Shopping!

And while we wanted to go to Lantau Island or The Peak, our time left wouldn't allow us to. We weren't able to check if the cable cars were already working-- the reason why we wanted to go Lantau Island so badly.

We didn't want to use the bus anymore because it took us a lot of time so we decided to take the MTR before 12MN. Thus, we thought of staying at Causeway Bay to go to Time Square, the most famous landmark in Hong Kong. There, we were able to go shopping for cheaper finds as most brands were on sale because it was Mother's Day. Hurray for Mother's Day!!!

We hopped from one mall to the next until it was time to go at 10PM. From Causeway Bay, we headed for Central Station and transferred to the station leading to the airport. And at about 10:45PM, we arrived at the airport. We boarded at 11PM and took the 2AM flight.

We finally got home after spending less than Php 10,000.00 excluding the airfare, Disneyland Tickets and accommodation. The above-mentioned amount included beef jerkies and other pasalubong for just a few of our loved ones.

I guess this is all for now... :)

Ilocandia Tour: Baluarte ni Chavit Singson

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 09:00:00 +0000

We had no time to waste so we headed to the "Baluarte in Chavit" in Vigan City right after our tour to the Luna Shrine

This is the Safari Gallery inside Baluarte. It's pretty amazing. One of the best shots I took.

So here's what'll greet you the moment you enter the place. It's like a wide safari.

Further up, you'll find real, live animals...

This tiger over here looks a little cute from afar but just thinking about how it could cut your hand in a snap, makes me wanna have second thoughts.

These wax figures almost seem real and scary...

Looks like Mr. Singson helped in hunting these beasts down

And for our next stop: the Bantay Watch Tower.

Ilocandia Tour: Hidden Garden & the Luna Shrine

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 09:00:00 +0000

In this post, I will be sharing to you how we had a blast in Ilocos for only Php 2,995!

So we booked earlier, had our tickets for Php 2,400+ each and enjoyed the rest of our Ilocandia experience with Shawn Sam Travel and Tours.

We all met at the SM Mall of Asia at around 10pm. The flights had been delayed that day so we were an hour or so late. [Shawn Sam Travel and Tours accepted us as joiners so there were like 4 groups in that van.] We arrived at around 6am and had our breakfast at the Hidden Garden Restaurant, which by the way, is 4th among 36 restaurants in Vigan.

It was a looong ride and so we had to fill our stomachs up. Our kind and friendly driver took us to the Hidden Garden where we were to choose among their breakfast meals like the famous Ilocos longganisa, bagnet, bangus and tapa. Sorry, I don't have pictures. We were so hungry! But the bagnet was really good.

After our sumptuous breakfast, we headed straight to the Luna Shrine, the former home of the famous Luna Brothers: Antonio ("The Fiery General" of the Philippine-American War) and Juan (the brilliant painter behind the Spolarium). They were the 2 famous among 7 siblings.

Juan Luna

Statue of Juan Luna & Paz Pardo de Tavera

Pardo de Tavera Family with Friends

Reproduction of the 19th Century Microscope

Letter of Juan Luna to the Overseas Ministry declining his appointment as intern professor at the School of Arts & Crafts in Manila

The room of the Luna sisters

Juan and Antonio Luna

This is all for now. See you in my succeeding posts :)

The Ultimate 'Croc' Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sun, 21 Aug 2016 02:33:00 +0000

For some reasons, I don't know why I totally forgot about talking about my adventure in the Crocodile Farm when I was in Puerto Prinsesa with friends.

Perhaps it was because the supposedly cute yet nasty little thing pooped on me. Well, not really. We're talking 3-5ml of the total poop a little croc could make. It did stain my yellow shirt but thank goodness for agility, I was able to anticipate its sh*tting on me. Oh well, here goes...

At the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, I saw this huge skeleton of a crocodile that was believed to be the largest at its time. The croc skin you see mounted on the wall was its skin. After it died years back, they scraped it off from its body and decided to display it for viewing to the public.

There was a tour of the entire conservation center and the guide patiently waited for each one of us to finish before moving to the next attraction as some baby crocs might just be snapping at a tourist's arm before he even notices it.

So these where the cute 'babies' in the tanks. They look like they're sleeping but the guide told us to be extra carefully as they might just snap. They stay in this hatchery until they're big enough to be transferred to the ponds with the other big crocs.

When we visited, there weren't much we saw in their mini-zoo. It seemed like it's been a long time since they last updated the place so all you'll be seeing are pics of me with "the" crocs. Haha.

And this was the nasty little thing that pooped on me. While in this position, I felt its body moving. I could feel this bolus-like structure moving from its stomach to its you know. And then it happened.

I guess I'd like to visit the place again. But I hope that when I do, I'd see some more animals I didn't get the chance to see while I was there in Palawan.

Til my next adventure! See yah!

Pescador-ing by the Sea

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 06:47:00 +0000

When we woke up the following day after the Canyoneering thing, our bodies were all sore. Seemed like we couldn't move our legs! But! That didn't stop us from getting another quickie breakfast and heading off to the beautiful island of Pescador!

The first thing to do was to look for the lovely dolphins under the sea. We made noise by hitting the boat with whatever hard object we had in our hands and waited until they surfaced. Luckily, we found lots of them! And they weren't irritated by the noise we made. I wish I had food to feed them. They were just so lovely!

Then we went to Pescador Island, swam for a while and went in the middle of the sea to look for the Pawikan (Sea Turtle). Sorry, I don't have photos to show you but we swam with it and the experience was just soooo nice.

And here's a photo of us just outside the nice little house we stayed at in Moalboal.

And here's our last stop, swimming with the Sardines.

Cebu Water Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 06:29:00 +0000

So my previous post was about our first day slash first night in Cebu. Now, I bring you... what happened the "early" morning after. So we woke up at around 2 AM, rode the bus to Moalboal, Cebu at about 3 and arrived at around 5 or 6AM. We had to go to Moalboal first before going to Badian (the starting point of our Canyoneering experience) because that was the place where we found this pretty neat and nice place to make it through the night before we headed off again for the dolphin-watching and swimming with the sardines and Pawikan stuff at Pescador Island.

Anyway, we did a "quickie" breakfast and drove all the way to our cute little house by the sea. We changed into our RASH GUARDS (the typical outfit worn by people when you search for "Canyoneering" photos on Google) and drove all the way up to Badian, Cebu.

Much to our surprise, we were not ALONE. There were hundreds of tourists [mostly Filipinos] awaiting to experience this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

When we arrived together with our guides, we immediately put on our head gears and life jackets. They gave us some serious reminders before immersing into the cool blue waters as not following simple instructions could be detrimental to our safety. Thus, we always stayed together plus the numerous head-counts every time we arrived at certain points of our 3-hour journey.

The diving part was what scared me the most. There were cliffs as high as 30 feet from the water but you need not go into that hellish experience if you're really afraid of heights. The highest I jumped was around 10-15 feet and I was soooo satisfied with that. Haha!

Anyway, we did a lot of crazy things like throwing really silly jokes just to calm the others who weren't so fond of jumping, laughing at those who made mistakes while following the guides' orders, doing certain formations and singing while in the water... It was just FUN!

In my next post, I'm gonna show you what happened at Pesacador Island in Moalboal, Cebu.

Skywalk + Edge Coaster = Sky Coasting

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sat, 21 May 2016 12:41:00 +0000

Just months ago, my friends and I visited the beautiful city of C E B U !

We sure had a lot of things to do in mind. Our journey took us from the city to the breathtaking towns of Badian, Alegria and Moalboal. But for now, I'll be sharing with you my experience at Crown Regency Hotel's SKYWALK and EDGE COASTER.

So it was actually my first time to be walking 126.55 meters (to be exact) above the ground with an overhead safety harness. Whew! At first glance, it looked pretty easy until the moment I took my first step.

I COULDN'T MOVE!!!

Well, this crazy lady is my cousin. She seems to have been working here for a long time. Just kidding! She's just so comfortable with dangling her leg/s everywhere. Can't blame her. It's her nth time doing this "Skywalk" thing.

This was a relief! But I still felt nauseous and I couldn't believe I just made it halfway.

I just wanted to sit there forever but you see, my friends loved it a lot. Hahaha.

This photo was taken before I took my first step and right after we took our International Buffet Dinner on the 32nd (?) floor. Hmmm... The package we took was the one with the buffet dinner but since the restaurant closes at 10pm, we had dinner before the nerve-wrecking Skywalk and Edge Coaster.

And right after we took off our clothes, we headed straight to the Edge Coaster.

THIS WAS CRAZY!!!

I thought I would die that night. There were safety straps (whatever you call them) but I felt that I could jiggle my way out of that seat if I was stupid. And, we understood the instructions wrong. So the whole time, we were tilted to the MAXIMUM angle while this machine was moving. Had we known, we wouldn't have had that unnecessary stress, thinking we could die any time.

After we finished, I asked the guide if there were instances of accidents and he said no. Okay. So I was wrong with my "jiggle" theory.

Til next time!

Chillin' by the Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 11:03:00 +0000

So it was one, hot Sunday morning. My boyfriend and I decided to go somewhere we've never been before and since it was excruciatingly hot, we wanted to go somewhere cool and breezy. We heard about this restaurant by the beach, not far from Dumangas Wharf. They say they served good food and that the place was pretty much relaxing.

True enough, the place took me away from my worries that day. The wind wafting through my hair and touching my skin-- it was just awesome! Just what I needed to take the stress away.

We ordered some seafood including the calamari, some tuna and another dish (I forgot). The food was really great! I really loved the tuna!!! Yum. Yum. Yum.

We had a good time and it was one good way to stay out of the house but not heading straight to the mall. It's what most people do nowadays because of the weather.

So he was happy. And I was happy.

End of story.

My Own Version of "E G G R O L L S"

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 10:32:00 +0000

Hello there!

Today, I kinda felt I wanted to eat something I could just make in minutes and something I could cook straight from what I have left from the fridge.

I was watching this show on TV where they ate and ate so I kinda felt hungry and so I wanted to make my own version of egg rolls.

I really love to eat at Korean restaurants and their egg rolls always take my breath away. Hahaha.

So here goes... Originally they used Spam for the meat, onions, tomatoes, carrots, etc. which they altogether put into the beaten eggs.

In my case, I used some longganisa we had for breakfast the other day and put in some onions & tomatoes.

First, you gotta heat the pan and put butter. Then you cook all the mixture into the pan and put some rice on top before you start folding the egg rolls.

And then there you have it! My very own version of easy-to-cook Egg Rolls. :)

Visita Iglesia: Goal Met!

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 14:08:00 +0000

You may be wondering why I have photos of churches and 7 names of them listed under, "Visita Iglesia".

Well, let me begin by defining Visita Iglesia.

This was one nice painting I found when I stared up the ceiling of a church. I don't remember where I saw this though. Haha.

Visita Iglesia, otherwise known as the Seven Churches Visitation is a traditional practice observed by almost all Roman Catholic Filipinos during the Holy Week.

Between the months of March and April, the church announces the week when the so-called "Holy Week" would fall. Starting on Thursday to Saturday on that said week, most Filipinos would go to churches and remember how Jesus Christ died on the cross to save mankind.

It's that day when all establishments are closed except for some gasoline stations. [I heard establishments usually close on Thursdays and resume work on a Friday or on a Saturday. So you better stock lotsah food in the house.]

It's also that sad and lonely day when you seldom see people walking on the streets except those places near churches and bus terminals [some people just need to go back home, you know].

However, it's also that day when you get to just rest at home or go to beach resorts to unwind with family and friends.

As for me, we decided to do the Seven Churches Visitation for today as our penance during the Lenten Season. I'd like to take some time remembering how Someone so selfless sacrificed Himself for all of us.

It's one pretty long weekend for most Filipinos including me, of course! Hope you have that meaningful weekend. :)

Summer Vacay, All the Way!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 15:34:00 +0000

Where to this summer? Hmmm... To the beach?

If you're thinking of clear and pristine waters and really breathtaking views, why not spend your vacation in Palawan?

Aside from witnessing 1 of the New 7 Wonders of Nature-- the Puerto Prinsesa Underground River, the things to do there are endless.

Seriously, it's like every spot you see in El Nido makes you feel like you're really away from work. It's just way relaxing and fun to be in Palawan.

When you go for island hopping, you get to visit at least 4 breathtaking islands. I remember one island was named after the snake as its 'sand bar' resembled that of a snake during low tide. Getting late in afternoon and the sand bars slowly disappeared.

We stayed in this pension house where the rates were pretty reasonable considering the ambience and its proximity to the beach line.

During the night, you can walk the busy streets with friends and enjoy the restaurants some foreigners [who have decided to stay in Palawan for good] established in time.

Enjoy the rest of the photos and I hope I somehow gave you that summer-get-away idea!

Mararison Island

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 22:23:00 +0000

All work and no play makes "me" a dull girl. And so does it to the rest of the gang.

Lately, some never-heard-of islands suddenly pop up the tv screen, get advertised as tourist destinations and boom! There goes tourism.

And one recently talked-about topic was last year's Visayan Batanes-- the Mararison Island found in Culasi, Antique.

This beautiful yet not-so-virgin-anymore island is just about a 10-15-minute boat ride from the town proper.

What struck me the most was the breathtaking view-- one you'd likely get for pre-nup photoshoots. It's really nice and clean. Plus, the water's lovely clear! You'd love to splurge into the water.

For now, enjoy the view and see you next time! Bye.

Our Pointful Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:33:00 +0000

Well, hello guys! It's been ages since my last post. I had trouble trying to log in to my blogger account because I changed my mobile number, and it was the same phone I used to sign in to gmail. Gmail would send me my code there and I completely forgot that I used that number to log in to my blogger account. Thus, the delay.

Anyway, here's some of my photos when we went to a nice resort in San Joaquin, The Assemblage Point. Hope you like it. Enjoy!

"The" infinity pool, so to speak.

This post's quite way, way overdue. We actually went to this place to celebrate a special day. We knew the address but didn't quite know how to exactly get there.

So, we just drove-- stopping every now and then, asking for directions. It was fun because it was starting to get late and the place got farther away, we felt we were about to get lost. And my boyfriend was like, "I'm getting scared now."

And I was like, "Seriously?!" You're the man here. Maybe you completely forgot about that.

When we reached the place, we couldn't use our phones. It was useless. Signals for both networks only worked until before the lobby. So help us, God. But it was nice because we were "forced" to just forget about work and other people.

I wish I had photos of the room we stayed in. It was pretty cozy with all the unique rattan stuff inside. Never mind the rings. We're not getting married yet.

Me, trying to relax despite the scorching sun. Forgot to bring my sunglasses, that's why.

This is another view from the veranda beside where we had breakfast.

I really like the pool a lot. It's pretty colorful! And the view from up there was just breath-taking especially when you turned to the other side, facing the sea.

Alright! That's me and my cute tummy.

With the love of my life. :)

This was where we actually had dinner with all the few guests when we arrived that night. The place was so romantic. The food was great and there were even fire dancers who entertained us.

I liked this particular spot of the resort simply because it made you look like you're in another country when you really aren't. Haha.

They got cute little stuff here like these.

Well that would be all for now!

The Tavern on the 10th Street

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 18:31:00 +0000

Holla! It's been a loooooong time since I last posted. My apologies. And to make up for the months of idleness with regards to blogging I bring you my latest post.

Chicken Nachos

Lovely, isn't it? It's The Tavern on the 10th Street's Chicken Nachos as the caption would suggest. But would you agree that it doesn't look like any other ordinary nachos? Haha. Perhaps, the parmesan has a lot to do with it but the taste-- something I cannot quite describe in here-- is something that I guess you should try for yourself.

The "Tavern" as most people would call it [and to keep it short and simple], opened its doors to the Ilonggos March of 2013 serving a wide array of delicacies from nachos, fish fingers, burgers, pastas, rice meals... to mouth-watering desserts.

Potato Pancakes [takes 45 minutes to prepare as it's served fresh daily]

Owned and managed by Ariel V. Castañeda, The Tavern on the 10th Street became a place where youngsters and the youngsters at heart [Yeah! I belong to that generation. Haha...] would meet up with friends, spend quality time, drink beverages of all sorts (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and simply have fun.

The place is pretty nice-- simple with a touch of character found in Ariel's choice of wall color, placement of chairs and tables, and the cute little collection of DVDs and should I say, antique pieces on the shelves... It's simply a place where people of all ages, people of different walks of life can simply go to.

Need I say more about what kind of a place this is? For me, it's a place where you can simply be yourself with people who matter to you. It's that kind of place where you go to when you suddenly miss your friends and decide to do some catching up. It's a place where you can just stay when you don't have anything to do after school or work. It's a place where you can probably bring your family and little kids when you want to enjoy good food... It's... Oh! Just see for yourself and you'll know what I mean. Haha.

I really like this idea of using the typical "Nata de Coco" container as a concoction glass.
Way to go, Ariel! You're making Mother Earth really proud. :)

How could I almost forget! The Tavern on the 10th Street is located at Aurora Subdivision, Tan Guzman Building, Iloilo City. For more details, you can text or call them at 0916 257 6610.

And oh! Did I mention a cameraman filming while you're eating your food? Lol.

Just kidding.

Join me in my next blog post to find out what this guy and this cameraman are doing at The Tavern on the 10th Street. Are they shooting for a commercial?

Hmmm. Sorry but I can't tell you yet. *Wink*

Day 3: A Night to Remember

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 09:53:00 +0000

I consider this part of the program the "highlight" and perhaps the happiest since it was a time when no one considered each one an opponent. It was a time when-- though we did come in our assigned costumes or themes-- we just forgot that we had marshals observing our every move, ready to deduct points for every violation we might make that night.

With Sir Mark Calinawan (Video Editor), Gretchen Eduyan (Marketing Staff-HQ Cebu) and Sir Roel Caparas (Graphic Designer of Focus Magazine, Official Publication of Edmark International)

That night, everyone was exhausted from the running and yelling so we just sat in our seats and listened to the great music as we were serenaded by the band our President, Mr. Jose Y. Urquia, headed. They played a variety of music from perhaps the 60's and 80's.

This was just a little hazy. Nonetheless, I lurrrve it! :)

And when the music slowly progressed to the hippy type, the people [especially the oldies] knew what they had to do. They stood up, strut their butts off the dance floor and showed me exactly how they did "it" during their time. And I swear, it was the best! Really. It was way, way better than what I saw in the movies.

FYI: This part of the program began the night of the 2nd until early the next day... So please. No violent reactions from those who were able to attend. *wink*

Too early for bed, Che! Wake up!

There was actually a contest that night. There were groups who wore costumes with themes of gods and goddesses, the Army, cosplay, cowboy/cowgirl, etc. I really liked the group belonging to those who had to portray Greek gods and goddesses because they were effortless! Seriously. I kept on wondering why their costumes looked so familiar. It was only after I had my shower in our cabin that I realized: "Hey! They used the shower curtains!" Hahaha.

My team was tasked to wear something that reminded people of the 70's. Thus, my yellow bell-bottoms. Love it? Hahaha. I got if from my mom's closet.

My mom used to wear clothes in ternos (Spanish for "matching"). However, that kinda style is no longer "in" today so I usually go for colorful yet formal outfits. And I didn't wanna appear "Imeldific" so I just wore what you see in the photos above.

Anyway, I think this is all for now. Til next time. Ciao! :)

Photo Credits: Gretchen Eduyan, Roel Caparas

Day 2: Here We Come

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 16:22:00 +0000

Breakfast with (from L-R) Gretchen, Ismael and Alice

After the fun yet tiring "Day 1", we woke up to the sound of marshals knocking on our doors. They were like, "Sir/Ma'am, we just dropped by to inform you that the exercise will be held at the Lotus Garden at exactly 7:00 AM (if I'm not mistaken)." Then they'd leave but you can still hear their voices, moving from one cabin to the next.

After our 'strenuous' (?) exercise at the Lotus Garden

So off we went to the take a bath and headed straight to the Lotus Garden. There, we were asked to do some exercises like Tae Bo and an exercise that was a combination of Tai Chi and Kung Fu.

It was so refreshing. It has been a long time since I last exercised. I used to jog daily to keep myself. However, because of work, I barely get to exercise. Still, my body looks okay. Hahaha.

There were a lot of activities that followed after our breakfast. We stayed with our groups and what you see on top is a photo of a groupmate trying to build these blocks into the figure displayed on the table. We sell these blocks as toys, by the way. Haha.

And this photo shows our team-- the blue team-- competing against the red team in a game of Dodgeball. It was fun watching. You know that feeling when you suddenly feel embarrassed coz you shrieked while cheering for your team? That feeling when you lost your composure because you were so glad the other team didn't hit any member yet? Hahaha.

Anyway, at the end of that day, I was like a car with a flat tire. I was so tired I almost fell asleep with my shoes on. :)

Day 1: Off to Batangas

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 15:35:00 +0000

We had a 3-day event in Batangas last August, 2013. It was a team-building camp-- one that was held yearly on the same month of the year. It was attended by more than 500 guests from different countries like Malaysia, UAE, Nigeria, etc.

This photo was taken by the official photographer. He suggested that we do the sensational "Look Up". We were outside waiting for our turn to ride the bus we were assigned to.

We're staff but this year, we get to participate just like all our other clients. However, during the first day, we had to be assigned in the registration for the different team colors. And we were given these wrist bands so as to identify participants from non-participants.

Sorry about the photos. They're not so clear but nonetheless they show what I wanted you to see in our trip to Batangas, Philippines. This is Gretchen by the way. She's marketing staff in our Cebu Branch.

I'm feeling a little sleepy now. So here's all for now.

Paper Dolls and Paper Houses

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 15:25:00 +0000

Good thing about taking airplanes is the view from the top. I always like looking at how houses and trees would slowly shrink from life-size figures to minute spots as planes ascended. Thus, this blog post's title.

Anyway, the company that I currently work for had an event in Manila. I had to attend as this was my first time attending as a participant and being exposed to this kind of events would allow me to grow as a person and as an employee in the company.

It's actually like a team-building camp for our clients. Only thing is, I came as participant so I get the privilege of enjoying the same benefits that our clients enjoyed during the stay unlike if I went to that event as staff.

I had to prepare for the event. It wasn't going to start that same day that I arrived in Manila but I had to ya know... dress to impress. Hahaha.

So this was what I wore. It was raining really hard and I heard there was a typhoon but it didn't stop me from wearing this cute little dress. I really like to look sweet and feminine.

Who doesn't, anyway? Hahaha.

And this was me getting bored, doing nothing inside the plane. I was alone so I had no one to talk to but I met this cute guy the moment the plane landed. He helped me with my stuff but I think I didn't hear his name right. Hahaha. I should wear hearing aids next time.

I think this is all for now.

Hmmm... I will be showing some more about what happened when I arrived in my next posts so see yah!

Lotsah love,

Milk Teas and More

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 05:07:00 +0000

I may not have told you before but aside from coffee, milk tea has a special place in my heart. It started years back when this Taiwanese sister-in-faith of my father visited our place. She gave me sachets of Lipton Milk Tea. I was hesitant to try it at first because I didn't like tea. Any tea- yellow, green, black... You name it and I hate it. Haha.

However, after drinking Lipton's milk tea, I started to look at tea differently. I said it wasn't that bad after all and that tea tasted better with milk in it than the usual teas in bags you had to dip in hot water.

These days, many milk tea stores have opened like:

And mind you, they're not your usual cups of tea. Nowadays, they come in cold versions- some blended and iced. They come sealed for that easy-to-carry and sophisticated look and these tea shops usually give you large black straws so you could eat up all those "balls". Hahaha. What I mean are those "pearls" or fruit-flavored gummies at the buttom.

Anyway, we really had a tough week and so we decided to drink milk tea at Cholabite while looking at the people exercising along The Esplanade. The view was nice and just outside the tea shop, we saw lots of parents with their youngsters.

They had an amenity for kids, the Crazy Karts. It was pretty convenient.

After jogging at The Esplanade, one could bring their kids with them and spend more quality time without having to go to malls for their kids to have fun.

I forgot their names but I think mine was a "Strawberry Oreo" something while Janine's was a "Lychee" something. And hey! It was actually my first time to eat a fruit-flavored pearl or ball, whichever way you call it. Hahaha.

And this is nothing. Hahaha.

Anyway, I really had a lot of fun that day though the kids were really driving me crazy because of the noise they were making. But the place was great!

Hope you enjoyed!

Stop Comparing and Move Ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sat, 10 Aug 2013 14:41:00 +0000

It's been a whirlwind trying to figure out what I wanted to do in life and the things that I've been doing now. I just feel so uneasy, so unsure. I don't know what's really missing but I'm sure I'm gonna find out soon.

I pretty much wanted to do two (2) things:

1. go to Law School [Yes, I really do. It frustrates me. Haha]

You can read this article to understand my story about going to law school:http://frommybeautifulmind.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-results-day-look-and-lot-about-law.html

2. work for a company that allowed me to wear colorful dresses and outfits once in a while [Yes. Like high heels, colorful tank tops and blazers. Name it and I wanna wear it!]

Perhaps, after having heard the things I had just said, you'd think I'm crazy.

But really? I'm not. It took me a couple of years to finally realize that that's all I wanna be. Marriage would then set in later. Hahaha.

I just know what I want and I want either of those 2 things first and then pursue the other.

However, much as I'd like to do number 1, I can't.

I can't due to some personal reasons, which-- if I reveal them here-- would make the other person involved seem like a villain in my heroic life.

Thus, I share to you this simple inspirational passage by Daniell Koepke:

"Stop comparing where you're at with where everyone else is. It doesn't move you farther ahead, improve your situation or help you find peace. It just feeds your shame, fuels your feelings of inadequacy and ultimately, it keeps you stuck. The reality is that there is no one correct path in life. Everyone has their own unique journey. A path that's right for someone else won't necessarily be a path that's right for you. And that's okay. Your journey isn't right or wrong, or good or bad.It's just different. Your life isn't meant to look like someone else's because you aren't like anyone else. You're a person all your own with a unique set of goals, obstacles, dreams and needs. So stop comparing and start living. You may not have ended up where you intended to go. But trust, that for once, you have ended up where you needed to be. Trust that you are in the right place at the right time. Trust that your life is enough. Trust that you are enough."

Have a nice day! :)

Ready to Partey at Club Zyron's

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 07:10:00 +0000

Hello, there! It's been such a looooong time since my last post. Things have gotten a little busy and I couldn't rid my mind of work. Hahaha.

Anyway, my cousin gave me tickets to this new party-getaway in Iloilo. It's Club Zyron's or Zyron's Club, however you wanna call it.

Anyway, the place got its name from the owner's dog. I heard he really loved dogs.

Zyron must've been his favorite...

I forgot to take a picture of the entrance. For you to get in, you need to pass by the dog's mouth... Haha. It'll look like you have been devoured by a huge wolf. The entrance's pretty interesting though. The huge stone, dog-structure is really something.

The drinks are very affordable and the food is great! The place is pretty spacious and the lights are spectacular. You should check it out.

Weekend Getaway @ Sta. Barbara Golf Course

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:48:00 +0000

Hello there! I know it's been such a long time since my last post but I do have lots of good stories to share. New career path. New friends. New people. New environment.

For now, I give you this post about my weekend during the Holy Week. It had always been work, work, work for me so we decided to take a day off from the city life. Haha.

Isn't this darling amazing? Well what do y'know? A pink golf car. :)

This shot was taken by (clearing my throat) yours truly. Haha. The guy you see in the picture is my co-worker. He's our Marketing Assistant at Edmark Philippines.

This is where I presently work at. My love and desire to be in sales never left me.

Thus, I'm now working for this company and I hope to reach something I can't quite share with you right now. Whatever it is, know that it's always for the good of all. Haha. I sound like some sort of politician talking a crowd into voting for him.

So, these pictures were actually taken at a golf course in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

It's a few minutes' ride from the Iloilo International Airport.

Can't make the ball get in the whole with the club so I opted to have my photo taken with the ball instead. Ahahaha.

And this photo's what I love the most. This is such a romantic place. People can have their weddings here. As a matter of fact, Injap Sia, then owner of Mang Inasal (he still gets about 30% of the sales made from all Mang Inasal outlets) attended the reception of his cousin in this same golf course. It was a beautiful wedding attended by very important people including a prime minister of a certain country that I forgot. Haha.

Anyway, that's all for now. Till my next blog posts :) See yah!

Ferras Clan: Getting Wacky

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 09:39:00 +0000

These were shots taken as soon as we arrived in my grandfather's house. We went home to celebrate his birthday since he's getting a little bit old. It just saddens me that he can't remember me anymore because of his senility. Anyway, just take a look and tell me what you think about them. :)

And that's 'Puto Maya' she's holding

We don't really look alike but we' genetically have similar DNAs

It's nice sleeping with Domo Domo.

The Ferras Siblings born to Mr. and Mrs. Narciso Ferras.

Aunt Fe and Jane

Well, isn't this cute! The 3 sisters gathering together for a pose.
Oops! Where have your slippers gone? Haha.

Picture of the Year: That's me with my Aunt Janet and Grandfather Ciso. :)

Sugbu City

noreply@blogger.com (Chairein) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 09:00:00 +0000

These are just a few of some shots I took while we strolled around Cebu. These are the food I really miss eating in Cebu.

My Aunt Fe and my mother posing with Halloween characters at Metro Colon

Mactan Bridge

I dunno what they call these but they look like smaller versions of Siopao and bigger versions of Tikoy or Macy.

Machang at La Fortuna Bakeshop

Calamares beside Best Buy

The whole time we were just eating the things we really missed in Cebu. Some places have changed since we last visited while some remained as they were years back, bringing back good memories. :)