Exotic Philippines

Wednesday is a HUMP DAY Giveaway

2012-01-25T13:01:00.005+08:00

As I have promised to everyone on the Monday contest post, today I’ll be having another giveaway for everyone.

Yes, I’ve got another group of wonderful bloggers from around the worlds that were very kind to be a part of this event. If this event will be successful here in the Exotic Philippines, then expect this would happen every now and then, that is of course winning $50 every time this event would happen.

So I would really love and appreciate guys if you will share and support this event, so that we could all have a great Wednesday each week!

HOW TO WIN $50 IN HUMP DAY GIVE AWAY!?

For today’s HUMP DAY you can win the $50 giveaway by subscribing to the RSS and/or newsletter from these wonderful fellow bloggers:

Feel free to visit the bloggers above (and I encourage you to do so, if you’ve got some time) to also give them our warm love and support.

RSS SUBSCRIPTION

Simply choose the reader you want to use or you love using, enter your credentials to that reader and of course leave your e-mail address in the text field of the form below.

E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION

It’s simple, just leave your e-mail address and log in to your e-mail to confirm the subscription. You really need to confirm this, else your entry will be invalid.

Easy right? As simple as this you could already win $50 for this event!

Also, don’t forget to put EXOTIC PHILIPPINES as for the answer to “Which blog are you entering on now?” and also fill the other first task, both of this task are mandatory and the rest of the task would not open, and that means you can’t enter the whole contest.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is just open for January 25th, 2012 1:01pm Philippine time to January 26th, 2012 12:59pm Philippine time and the winner will be announced next week January 30, 2012 where I’ll also be announcing the winner for the Monday contest.

WANT MORE?

A fellow blogger Jenny also have the same give away, same prize same tasks to be done that can increase your chance to win $50 in this giveaway! Check out Jenny's PINCHING PENNIES and win!Win! WIN!...

Haven’t entered the “A WEEK of Celebration for a YEAR of Blogging” contest then what are you waiting for? Click on that link and get the chance to win more! I hope you enjoy this as much as I do and start your week great by winning contests and giveaways here in Exotic Philippines! Good luck guys and gals!

A WEEK of Celebration for a YEAR of Blogging

2012-01-23T04:00:00.007+08:00

Seven days from now Exotic Philippines will be a one year old blog and as a celebration for all great happenings on my blog, from my blog and because of my blog.
And for this week, I would like to share with everyone the blessings that I received through having a contest on my blog. Contest and giveaways that is.

Yes, I have successfully gathered a few but great sponsors for this event. There are three (3) types of contest that anyone could join and it would be great if you guys will be able to share this post to your friends, families or even your enemies…

Anyway, I know as you have a quick scan to the details below you want to find out how you could win some cash. So here are the contests I have for everyone…

Contest: WHY OH WHY?

Open for: BLOGGERS

Prizes:

1st prize - $20 (via PayPal)

2nd prize - $10 (via PayPal)

How to win?

Have a blog post on your blog telling three (3) reasons why “IT IS MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES”.
Any title of the blog post will do as long as you’ve got the said above topic.
Blog post must at least have 300 words.
Include the code below:

Like the Exotic Philippines Fan Page
Follow me on Twitter
Share the link of your entry at the Exotic Philippines Fan Page .

Contest: IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES PHOTO CONTEST

Open for: Everyone

Prize:

1st prize - $15 (via PayPal)

2nd prize - $10 (via PayPal)

How to win?

Choose the best “IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES” photo that you have.
Follow the common format of the DOTs new slogan.
E-mail your photo at gay@exoticphilippines.info with the following details:

FORMAT
Subject: IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES PHOTO CONTEST
Name:
E-mail Address:
Paypal E-mail Address:
Facebook Profile URL:

Like the Exotic Philippines fan page
Follow me on Twitter
Make your friends like your photos when it is uploaded at the Exotic Philippines fan page! The highest number of likes will be the winners!

Example:

Contest: LIKE EEET!....

Open for: Everyone

Prizes: 3 contestants will win $5 (Paypal)

How to win?

Simple, just use the widget below to enter. Like and follow all the websites and sponsors below and get the chance to win $5 that will be paid through Paypal. Just like that…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: Contestants who are not able to like the fan page, follow me on twitter and share their post on the fan page will be disqualified and another winner will be drawn.

This contest will be open until SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2012 (the Exotic Philippines Anniversary) and announcement of winners will be posted on Monday January 30, 2012.

I would like to thank the following sponsors for the support for me and the blog:

Austria Hotels

Philippine Travelogue

Brenna Speaks

Also, this is not the only contest for this week. Come back this WEDNESDAY, January 25, 2012 where I’ll have another giveaway for everyone. Yes, the giveaway does not end here…

Thank you guys and good luck!...

Watch & Experience Sinulog 2012

2012-01-13T11:39:00.001+08:00

There may be some of you who just wish that they could be able to come here in Cebu Philippines and celebrate with the Cebuanos the Sinulog.

I’ve been living here in Cebu for 8 years and never attended or joined this event. Why? Because I’m not a Catholic. I know how crazy it could be, or how fun it is to people, and especially to the first timers, I know you’ll really be amazed how colorful and fun it is in the country especially during this festivals.

I have some people I know that won’t be able to come here in Cebu to witness this well-known festival, it’s either because they can’t afford to travel here, or they have more priorities or maybe they’re out of the country.

Well, anyway don’t be sad and be angry at yourself that you’ll miss this because Exotic Philippines will bring you to Sinulog.

Yeap! Yeap! Yeap!

You’ve READ IT RIGHT!

NO – I won’t be paying for your fare.

NO- you don’t need to prepare your luggage.

NO – you don’t need your make or best outfit on.

And YES – you’ll get to watch the whole festival!

HOW?

This Sunday, January 15, 2012 (the day of the Sinulog festival) turn on your computer, open your browser and type in exoticphilippines.info

And on the top most right corner, click on the LIVE STREAMING.

Yes! I’ll give you a live streaming of the Sinulog festival and you can watch it right on your computer while eating your popcorn.

Let just all hope that my internet connection will cooperate with me (because just like the PACMAN fight, it was down) so that I could be able to update links on that page and the main live streaming video too.

Sounds good?

So don’t forget to visit Exotic Philippines this Sunday January 15, 2012 and experience Sinulog right on your computer!

Photo Credits to : Jon Ouano

Daghang Salamat 2011….

2011-12-31T01:15:00.002+08:00

I remember last year that I was so excited that 2011 is coming, especially the summer is getting nearer and nearer. January of this year, I decided to start a blog that will help in promoting the Philippines tourism and there born Exotic Philippines.

Why a travel blog?

My family and I was really excited for 2011, because after 3 years my older sister will be coming back home to have a month vacation. She promised that after she will do the things that she must do for her visa, we’ll be visiting islands, tourist spots and enjoy the time while she was here.

When she told me the exciting news, I then decided to start this blog where I’ll be sharing with everyone our travel and adventure and at the same time be able to help and promote the Philippine tourism.

April 29, 2011 she came home and landed at Manila. My parents and my brother with his wife and children went to Manila (yes, without me) to meet her there. Everyone was in tears and so happy, they even went to different places in Manila to celebrate.

15 days after my sister went home, all our plans for the month that is the vacation, tour, and celebration all fall apart when our Dad died. So yes, the rest of the half of the month of her vacation we spent it to mourn and not celebrate.

Why ExoticPhilippines?

Back then I didn’t even know that the word “EXOTIC” exist.

I was thinking of WORLD TRAVEL something but my other older sister suggests the name Exotic Philippines. It sounds nice and I like saying it, though some of my friends was laughing because it’s somewhat like the word “EROTIC” I look up the word and the more I like it.

What I should be thankful for this 2011?

Though everything did not end up where it was planned there’re still things that I am still thankful for.

First is God. I thank HIM a lot for everything. Though it was not such a good year I know that he have His reasons why he let it be this way, it’s either a lesson for me to learn, a situation to avoid or maybe He have something bigger for me… this 2012?

Family. Though my Daddycoolz (that’s what I call him sometimes) is not with us anymore, our family have become stronger and more supportive to each other, my sister who used to be not that close to my Mom is now checking on her every now and then. But still, I just do wish that my Dad is still with us. (*sigh)

from left; ME, Mama & Daddy

Friends. I have 3 friends that I am very thankful of having, they’re the ones who have been so supportive of what I do here in the blog, who have been pushing me and lifting me up (I feel it that way, hope it’s not that heavy for them) and they’re the one who I talked to (usually via Facebook or Skype chat) when I need someone to talk to.

From left: Jasmin, ME and Nilo

Thank you Jasmin, Nilo and Lalai (a.k.a. Love Faith) … I just want to say this through this blog that I do appreciate you guys having around me (or me around you) and I am sorry, this does not mean I’m going to treat you out next month but maybe on my birthday again?

From left: Lalai, ME and Baby Madie

Readers. I only have FEW people who actually speak out here on the blog through leaving a comment but what comes to shock to me is that, there are people who send me an e-mail who appreciate my RUBBISH BLOGGING. I don't expect to be perfect because I'm not good at writing, I'm not an editor or a writer in a newspaper or magazine, I'm just an average person that blogs. So I apologize if sometimes my writing is just toooooooo...... boring. LOL

Thank you guys for subscribing, being in touch and reading my blog post! Another thing is that I’m also thankful that you’re trusting me on this, you’re using my hotel and flight booking page and in this way you’re already supporting me with what I do here on the blog.

Blog Awards Committees. To Philippine Blog Awards & Best Cebu Blogs Awards, though I did not win but made it as a finalist, thank you so much for recognizing my blog and us bloggers for our year of hard work.

With Duetche Atil Mark Montana the founder & President of
Best Cebu Blogs

If you don’t fall in any category above, still THANK YOU!

It’s been a long but fast journey and I’m hoping for a great year this 2012!

God bless you all…

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

See you next year… :D

Travel Plan for 2012

2011-12-28T06:44:00.002+08:00

To be honest I haven’t travel much this year because I don’t have enough funds and time to go around. My family and was supposed to travel and tour some destinations here in the Philippines on the summer of 2011 but sadly, everything turned out to be the total opposite.

But anyway, here’s another year approaching and another chance for me to make happen the things I haven’t done this year. So hopefully if the heavens will let me I could be able to go around the country and be able to blog more here in Exotic Philippines.

I won’t promise everyone here that I’ll be going to finish travelling the country in some few months or at most this year, but I will try to go from place to place and share my experience with everyone. But to start my travel, I just want to place out my plan but if any other chances that someone invites me to go somewhere else, why not right?

BADIAN, CEBU

I have heard about this place that it is like the mini-Boracay of Cebu. With its white sand long beach with blue skies, palm trees it surely can be the mini-Boracay of Cebu. It’s just within Cebu, a few hours away from me and I don’t have to spend money for air ticket and hotel booking.

ESOY HOT SPRING, CEBU

I’ve been to a hot spring before that is many years ago, it was the Camiguin hot spring and it was totally hot but I wasn’t aware that it is really hot that I dive in right away. So I want to experience that again but not in the same hot spring and I think there would be a lot of you that would love to know about this place.

MALAPASCUA ISLAND

Malapascua is another island that is just here in Cebu, I’ve heard a lot about this and just looking at the pictures it’s a breath taking view. I’ve also heard that this is a great diving spot, which is what I really want to try doing this 2012.

BANTAYAN ISLAND

Though I am also invited to go to Daanbantayan I would totally love to see and visit talk about Bantayan Island. I think my mom would love to tag along if I come over here, she would love to see this island again.

BOHOL

Bohol is just the neighboring island of Cebu, I’ve been there once years ago when the road is still so rocky. I was not able to appreciate it back then and now I want to came back there since I’ve heard there are a lot of must visit and must do in the island.

CAGAYAN DE ORO

I’ve been longing to go back to this place since it’s been around 9 years I haven’t gone back to Mindanao. The sad thing is the Typhoon Sendong has damaged a lot the city where there are hundreds of lives lost. I’m looking forward to be able to step on the land again.

BORACAY

This is one of the places I want to go to next year that would be too far from possible that it will happen but I want to keep my hopes up. With the expenses and the distance, coming to this place this 2012 will be just a wish. As much as I want to come over to this wonderful place I think I should be able to wear a bikini when I come here (how I wish).

There are a lot of places here in the country that I could visit but I would like to prioritize first the places that is near in my place so that I’ll just have less expenses but still if there are people out there who wish to invite me to come over and offer me a stay and/or maybe a free transportation then why not!!??! Everyone loves free just like me!

So stay tune more, the better and will be the best Exotic Philippines this 2012!

Do you have any locations that you can suggest to me to go to that is within the island of Cebu or just near Cebu? Then share it with us here and let’s see if I have the funds to come over!

My 2012 Wish List

2011-12-26T05:39:00.001+08:00

What's my wish list this 2012?

Christmas is already over yesterday and the 2011 will come into an end, but I want to have my wish list that I hope to have on this upcoming year 2012.

I wouldn't say that I should have this on a certain month, date but I would love to have these following items or achieve these this year depending on my income, work and of course the progress here in the Exotic Philippines.

MOBILE PHONE

My phone the Nokia 112

My current phone is Nokia 1112. It may look cheap and not into the latest (I can’t even surf online because it’s black and white) it is actually a reliable and a great quality phone. I have already drop it a hundred times but everything still works so well, even if I put it on a loud speaker mode it's still good. It’s simple and just give you what you need if all you want from a phone is to be able to receive texts and answer calls.

So why I want a new mobile phone? I’m on the hunt for Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro an android phone that have 5MP camera, I can surf and it’s one of the latest style of phone. I can’t afford to buy a good quality of digital camera right now where it costs around 10,000Php or more. I know there are digital cameras that just worth around 4,000Php but I don’t want to spend my money on something that I couldn’t get the best out of. I want to spend on something that I can benefit a lot and would want to have it forever. This is why I want a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro for me this 2012, with its 5MP camera I already can take shots, I have a phone and I don’t need a laptop to go online.

I’m prioritizing this because I really want to travel this 2012, it may not be around the world or all over the Philippines in a year but I am planning and hope to get to travel more compared this year. I couldn’t just blog about where and what I have seen in a place, and just describe it but I should share some photos or at most some videos with you guys too that is why I need a gadget that will help me capture moments!

DSLR

A DSLR cost around 20,000Php and above. I found my ideal DSLR which is the Canon 600D but as of now, again I can’t afford to have one and I think if I’m going to buy that my mom would kill me. You may have seen me taking pictures with a DSLR but it was from my sister who gave it to my Dad, and when my Dad died the DSLR goes to my brother, so yes I don’t have a camera right now except for the camera of my extra phone that is just 3MP and it takes a video in VGA.

Why DSLR and not just have a digital camera? Well, I don't like buying things just because it's cheaper but I buy items because it meets me the quality that I want and this is why I want a DSLR rather than an ordinary digital camera. It can give me high quality photos and HD videos! Great for interviews!!!

As a wanna be traveler I think and I think most travelers would agree with me that having a DSLR that can take photos and videos is totally a MUST! So I do hope I could have a DSLR this 2012!

LAPTOP

Though I’m thinking of having the Android phone I still think that I should have a new laptop for myself, with my job as a SEO I should have a laptop that I could bring with me so I could be able to work or get up to date with clients.

I do have a laptop right now but as of now, I’m just borrowing it from my brother. My Sony Vaio laptop gave up on me. LOL

EYE GLASS

Ah... yes I am a four eyed person and I don't know why on earth I didn't think to buy an eye glass for myself this year. I was not able to wear one for this year because my last eye glass was broken.

TRANSPORTATION

Having a car or even a scooter is totally impossible. My Mom is too afraid that I’ll get hit on the road and die. She don’t even like seeing me riding on a scooter and scold me when I ride one because it’s so dangerous when for me it's exciting and I like it but my Mom hates it.

LOSE WEIGHT

Do I look alright in blonde? But hey
this is sexy!

I’ve been trying to lose weight for 24 years of my life, yes that is MY WHOLE LIFE!!!

Hopefully this 2012 I could be able to lose weight and be able to experience that feeling of sexiness! I have two (2) reasons I should lose weight this year, first is that someone’s getting married (NOT ME!) and I don’t want to be on another wedding album that I’m this large. Second is that, well my Mom wants me to get a boyfriend already and she’s so worried about me because she’s diabetic and my Dad died because of heart attack. So she’s afraid that at my young age, I’ll go next in line.

MORE CLIENTS!

Ahhhh.. talking about income! I’m good with my income right now but with my needs and wants I think with my current income I couldn’t achieve all of the things that I have mentioned above. So yes, I’m calling out all businesses or employers who need SEOs, HIRE ME…

GET TO TRAVEL!

This is one of the BIG TIME aim for me this 2012. I really WANT to travel, to tour around Cebu and go out from Cebu Philippines. Watch out for my post this Wednesday where I’ll share with you guys the places and destinations I wish to travel.

SPONSORS & PARTNERS

I really want to keep this blog alive and keep on helping and promoting the Philippine tourism. So I think through either my income or through Sponsors or partnership I could be able to go on, keep this blog alive and get to travel around the country.

MAKE A BETTER EXOTIC PHILIPPINES

I think every blogger always aim this for their blog and I am one of them. I know I still need to improvise my writing, blogging and everything here in the blog and I will try my best to improvise everything here.

TO HAVE A GREAT YEAR FOR ME, MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND YOU…

I want to have a great year this 2012 because 2011 was the worse year in my whole life. So I am looking forward to make this year one of the best for me, my family and friends and also I wish YOU TOO to have the best year!

How about you, what’s your wish list for this 2012?

Typhoon Sendong

2011-12-20T15:20:00.002+08:00

Saturday, November 17, 2011 I woke up late and saw in Facebook different disaster photos. I thought it is from somewhere else, or just a photo took way back before and just came up now.

Then more and more people and my friends have shared different and more disaster photos. So I read the caption and was shocked that it is what was going on that day in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City.

Mindanao was hit by Typhoon Sendong that day, a typhoon that gone up to signal #2 to some areas where the residents in the areas who have been hit by Sendong.

I was born and grow up in Bukidnon and have been to Cagayan de Oro a numerous times and been to Iligan City too. I have never heard or imagine this happening to these areas and was shocked with this.

What happened?

It was a non-stop rain in the northern area of Mindanao on Friday but around 12:40 in the morning of November 17 when most of the people are asleep, some of them woke up hearing their neighbors screaming for help. Thinking it was just fight between neighbors but when they came out and see, the residents was shocked that it was already flooding in their house and within seconds the flood goes up and higher and higher.

The flood said to be as deep as 15 feet high that happened early in the morning. Due to this there were a lot of children, mothers and elders who died because of this tragedy. When the sun have gone up, the residents then saw cars thrown away like a toy on the street and dead bodies everywhere.

The residents were aware that there will be a typhoon coming but did not expect that the typhoon would cause a great flood and would take several life.

As of today there are 627 dead bodies found and around 400 are missing persons because of the typhoon Sendong. The forensic experts have also helped in identifying and gathering DNA in each body to match for any possible family or relative of the bodies that have been found. The bodies that have not been identified yet have numbers on them and not their names. And so the government is calling out to the families of these people who lost their lives to come over and help in identifying them for tomorrow they’ll be forced to burry these bodies because it is starting to produce an unpleasing odor.

How to HELP?

If you wish to help the victims of Typhoon Sendong you can choose any of the following methods:

SAGIP KAPAMILYA HOTLINES

(02) 411-4995
(02) 394-9272
0917-887-4411

SAGIP KAPAMILYA
ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.
Mother Ignacia cor. Eugenio Lopez St.
Diliman, Quezon City

*you may send rice, canned gods, noodles, biscuits, coffee, sugar, clothes, blankets, mats, medicines

ABS-CBN Regional Stations:

ABS-CBN Cagayan De Oro
Barangay Bulua, Cagayan De Oro City

ABS-CBN Davao
Shrine Hills, Matina, Davao City

FOR CASH DONATIONS

BDO Peso Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 39301-14199
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

BDO Dollar Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 39300-81622
Swift Code: BNORPHMM

PNB Peso Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 419-539-5000-13
Swift Code: PNBMPHMM

BPI Peso Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 3051-1127-75
Branch: West Triangle, Quezon City
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

BPI Dollar Account
Account name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya
Account Number: 3054-0270-35
Branch: West Triangle, Quezon City
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM

If you know any other way to help the victims of Typhoon sending you can leave it as a comment below. I do hope that through this I could also help the victims of this tragedy…

Exotic Philippines Looking for Birthday Sponsors!

2011-12-15T06:05:00.044+08:00

Exactly 1 month and 14 days from now, it will be Exotic Philippines Birthday!!!... or shall I say 1 year anniversary!

Yes, I’ve started blogging exactly on January 29, 2011. To think about it, I’m actually sharing some tips & information about my country for a year now!

This year has been a rocky road for me, from the challenge of my job, blessing on my new career, the Exotic Philippines blog, the death of my father, my sister got married (at last!) and the nomination of this blog to the Philippine Blog Awards (Visayas) and Best Cebu Blog Awards - where we made it to the finalist as a travel niche.

I think it’s just worth it to celebrate a year of a rocky road for Exotic Philippines, a year that is filled with success and recognition in the end. So for its first birthday, I would like to have a VIRTUAL BIRTHDAY BASH! Woohoo!

I’m planning to have a virtual birthday bash where Exotic Philippines where I'll be giving away great prizes and hopefully if we'll have more sponsors and have some donations, I also wish to celebrate it with the kids in a certain orphanage here in Cebu Philippines, but I really need some help to make this possible!

So I'm calling out and knocking on the hearts of all bloggers, businesses, entrepreneurs and people from around the world who would like to keep this blog alive, help on keeping promoting the Philippine tourism and want to be able to bring happiness to orphan kids, please support and sponsor this event!

I have prepared some sponsor packages below for everyone and make it as simple and affordable as possible.

Sponsor A: $5