Likke on Homeschooling + Family Friendly Fun

Why My "Gabii sa Kabilin" was Just Like The Hunger Games

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:03:30 PDT

Two media passes for me. Free pass for the kiddos below 7 years old. The family's basically joining the Gabii sa Kabilin for FREE.

The Gabii sa Kabilin is Cebuano for Night of Heritage, and patterned after the long night of museums in Germany and other European countries. It is spearheaded by Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and its partners in celebration of both National Heritage Month and International Museums Day. This year, in its sixth run, it was set on May 25, 2012 at 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.. The event features museums, schools, churches, public places, and other sites of historical and cultural significance

In my head, it's going to be an awesome night for our little family. We were to tour around the heritage sites and take dozens of pictures of the places and people all throughout the event. We were to enjoy riding the buses and the designated horse-drawn tartanilyas around the vicinity. All while enjoying a night of walking and eating.

Little did I know that what was set for us was a different route - a route which gives us a different perspective of the Gabii sa Kabilin. You see, we also joined the QR Code Hunt organized by SMART, RAFI, and MyCebu.ph.

QR Code Hunt was to be simultaneously held with the Gabii sa Kabilin event where participants are said to hunt for QR (quick response) codes throughout the vicinity of the heritage sites. That was what I know I signed up for so I got ready. I teamed up with the husband and of course, tagged the kiddo along. I know would add a bit of QR Code hunting. I had crackers, flashlights, 3 QR Code scanners on my iPhone, a pocket wifi with credits ready, extra shirts, water bottle. Our family practically ready to hunt!

We learned the full mechanics on the day of the event. We were stripped off everything we carried and we were only given a SMART-powered Samsung Galaxy Y and Php300 for fare. We had a team marshall carrying emergency materials and water for us.

Right then and there, we were astounded by the rules and knew at that moment, what we imagined to be just a little strolling along the streets of Cebu morphed into a scene of The Hunger Games. Starring me as Katniss Everdeen and my husband as Peeta Mellark. Lay off haters. ;)

Now, it may not be to your taste but I can't help but compare it to the Hunger Games and here's why:

1. The Food was as lavish. Buffet before and after the games.

Food. Food. Food. We had a feast before setting off for the hunt. A buffet at Hannah's Party Place awaited us. It was basically similar to when Katniss and Peeta were given the most extravagant treatment at the Capitol.

During these sessions, we were able to meet the other "tributes" or teams that were formed. We joined the table with the other Cebu bloggers as we awaited the go signal to start the hunt. It was tense when we learned that there were 15 other groups who were vying for Nokia Lumias. At this point, me and my husband learned what we were up against - younger and more active tributes who did not have the disadvantage of bringing a kid in the race. In our case, we did not have a choice. We always do things as a family. We decided hereon to just enjoy the race.

Speaking of food, the tributes were also given a feast after the event. Who wouldn't get so hungry after cruising the whole of Cebu with just Php300, huh?

2. The Tributes are as vicious. They pursue the quest regardless of the obstacles.

The event officially started and every single team rushed through the 11 pitstops designated. At the pitstops, there's a designated pitstop master who will sign your form, check your uploaded photo, ask you to answer a question, give you a letter to form a word at the end of the race.

It was a great challenge for us since we do not know Cebu. We are from Iligan and just migrated to Mactan 5 years ago. Not an inch familiar with the place at all. We were just glad we had a team marshal who knew where to go.

Riding jeepney with other tributes

Scanning the QR Code to get idea of the next pitstop

At the end of Pitstop 6, we dropped out the hunt because we got discouraged with the Pitstop 5 girl forgetting to give us the letter for us.

3. The QR Code Hunt is as challenging as the Hunger Games!

It was really, really challenging. There were tasks at each pitstop. Some tasks we were able to perform:

Catching 8 balls in a cup
Offering flowers at Chu-un Temple
Guessing the Arabic numerals of the capitol and reciting the text
Finding a painting and reciting name of the artist
Finding name of the Museo Sugbo creator and the year it was created
Weaving a puso

We stopped at that point since the traveling is making us weary and it is NOT easy bringing a kid to hunt. If we only knew right? :) But still, it was uber fun!

We set back to the last pitstop which was Casa Gorordo and on the way, we saw what the other people were into. There were shows and people in costume and goods being sold along the way. It was super fun! Here's the pic of the sweaty kiddo from the race with a group of girls in costume.

4. The Media is as unforgiving. Or that's how I pretend it to be.

I kid. There was no media except for those along the streets, before the event, and after the event. I mean why would they race with us right?

We were just glad we were able to take a few pics with the DSLR we brought with us. It was the only other gadget we were allowed to bring aside from the SMART give Samsung phone.

The bonus is that I got to meet a long time friend and elementary classmate who I haven't seen for years! She's Iris Mae Echaves volunteering for RAFI.

A pose of the boys at the RAFI logo.

Some suggestions for improvement:

Place QR Code at a higher portion. Putting them at the bottom of the tarp does not make sense.
Fully illuminated QR codes. We can't scan since there were no lights.
Assistants for the Pitstop Masters. One forgot to give us the letter and it was VERY frustrating.
Labels on which PUJ to take from one place - 01K, 21A, etc. I am not from around and I had no idea where to go.
Water. Water. Water. Please put water at pitstops.

Still, we hope to join the next Gabii sa Kabiliin. And probably not as tributes the next time.

This is an official entry to the 2012 Gabii sa Kabilin Blogging Contest.

H Cafe at Harold's Hotel Review and Recommendations

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Sun, 27 May 2012 18:00:00 PDT

What's in a name?

If you are into Shakespeare, that phrase would summon images of Romeo and Juliet. That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet.

Most of time, I forget names. Maybe it's because I am getting old. Maybe it's because I just need to be reminded. But, what I remember though are moments.

I organized an SEO Workshop and met Ms. Rei Ninal, wife of Insoy Ninal from Missing Filemon. When she contacted me to help organize and contact bloggers for a lunch gathering at Harold Hotel's H Cafe, I had a hint of recognition. Humiliation is what I felt when I texted her the first time. That's when I realized I forgot how to spell her name. Rei, not Ray.

After a few back and forth of text and emails, the blogger lunch gathering day finally came and I was pleased with what I saw, heard, and experienced at H Cafe. Plus, some tidbits of lessons learned in handling a hotel by the General Manager himself.

The decors above the buffet table. They actually look familiar.

Covered dishes.

Desserts.

Sushi counter.

More desserts.

The setting.

The cute lecon that I never really got to taste since I was so full.

The Remarkable(s) and Recommendable(s)

The very dedicated General Manager who relayed his challenged and determination to make a name for the hotel in the 3-star hotel category. Harold's Hotel is a Premiere Business Hotel after all.

It's on the road to become the BEST crispy pata in town. Why? It melts in your mouth. It's sarap to the bones. It doesn't have an after taste. I wanna taste this again!

Chocolate cake from tablea. Talk about pure chocolate!

H Cafe

"H Cafe serves international cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its glass-paneled windows provide a sunny, bright atmosphere during the day and lights up the evening with its colorful display of city lights. Open daily from 6:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M."

Prices

Breakfast buffet at Php 250 net
Weekend Buffet at Php 450 net
Lunc and Dinner Set Menu at Php 199 net

Restaurant Details

H Cafe at Harold's Hotel

Gorordo Avenue corner Rosal St., Lahug
Cebu City, Philippines 6000
Tel.: 63.32.505.7777 Fax.: 63.32.505.9888

Website: http://www.haroldshotel.com/

Homeschoolers: FREE PEPT (Phil Educational Placement Test) from DepEd

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:28:11 PDT

Just received this note on from the Pinoy Homeschooling newsletter:

Hello all!

Just found out that DepEd will be giving FREE PEPT (Phil Educational Placement Test) this June 12. In case you are wondering, the PEPT is given to "out-of-school youths for an opportunity to go back to formal education". The PEPT this June will be free as part of the Independence Day celebration. The tests results will determine the grade or year level appropriate for the test taker.

Details:
1. The exam will cover English, Math, Science, Filipino and HEKASI/Araling Panlipunan
2. Registration will be at DepEd division offices nationwide (my son registered at Paranaque Central School)
3. Registration will be until TOMORROW only - May 25, 2012.
4. Requirements: xeroxed copy of Form 137/138, xeroxed copy of birth certificate, 2 1x1 pictures. Just bring the original documents in case they want to verify.
5. The registrant has to go to the division office personally to register. Had to go back twice because my son wasn't with me the first time.

If you have some questions about the PEPT this June, you can call DepEd at 6321361-71 or check out their website for info about the division office in your area.

Happy homeschooling to all!

Lea

Maya Mexican Restaurant at Crossroads Banilad, Cebu

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:25:59 PDT

I was already late for the mentors and organizers gathering for Startup Weekend Cebu at Maya Mexican Restaurant but I was able to let the taxi driver just drop me off and proceed with bringing my boys to UP Cebu. That taxi driver was very patient. I thanked that odds for having a driver like that. Taxi drivers are not always like that here in Cebu.

Found myself standing there across Crossroads Banilad. But I still have a quest to undertake: How to cross the road. The rushing cars, the never ending stream of metal zooming past me made me cringe at the thought of trying to cross.

Breathed in and breathed out. I can do this. I can cross the road on my own. I trained my eye and made mental calculations of how fast that incoming car is running and how fast I can manage to dash through the maze of crisscrossing bugs.

And then suddenly, I was there. I was across the road. Breathed a sigh of relief. I managed to cross the road unscathed. It was not an easy feat.

I made my brisk walk along the line of establishments at Crossroads.

Look for the one with Mayan symbols and skulls.

I could remember Dave Overton mention that mark. Found it at the corner of a block of establishments. I was greeted by a huge, no, giant door. There was this guard waiting outside. I was disappointed that he didn't have a Mayan costume.

Maam?

He asked and I understood he meant if I was an invited guest, a customer, or just a stranger lost in the city.

Startup Weekend?

That's what I said and I was ushered beyond the giant door. It feels like I was about to meet a boss in dungeon (for all you RPG players) and yes, I was disappointed that there was no armed Mayan god.

But the smell, oh the sweet smell of the restaurant. It was like telling you to find your spot and settle in. And that's what I did.

I saw tables and tables of mentors, venture capitalists, sponsors and organizers of the first Startup Weekend in Cebu.

We ate. They drank. 'They' because I don't drink even for socializing purposes. And here are some photos of the food we ate. This is all that I was able to take photos off because I was engrossed in being with real people. Too bad they're not Mayans and I would have inquired on the impending 2012 doom.

Restaurant Details

Maya Restaurant

Crossroads, Banilad Cebu City Philippines 6000

+63.32.238.9552

maya@theabacagroup.com

Website: http://www.theabacagroup.com/restaurants/maya-cebu/

View Larger Map

The Royal House Travel Inn and Suites at Davao - Rates, Reviews, and Pics

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:56:49 PDT

This place is an OK place. In a scale of 10, I'd give it a 6/10. It's basically near a road where almost every single jeepney route of Davao passes by. And as a first time visitor in Davao, that is EXACTLY what you need. Accessible jeepneys, comfortable place to stay in, helpful staff - that is all. The Davao experience is one thing you have to complete on your own.

The Royale House Travel Inn & Suites is the place you will want to book when visiting Davao. It's very much affordable.

Basic Information

Website: http://www.theroyalehouse.com/
Address: C.M. Recto Street, Davao City 8000, Philippines
Tel: (082) 227 3630 Fax: (082) 221 8106
Smart: 0999 888 3630; Globe: 0917 700 3630; Sun: 0922 806 3630
E-mail: theroyalehouse@gmail.com

Room Types and Rates

Rooms Regular Rates Discounted Rates

Deluxe Single P1300 P1040

Deluxe Double P1400 P1120

Deluxe Twin (2 beds) P1500 P1200

Deluxe Triple P1800 P1440

During Our Stay

We were able to stay at The Royal House Travel Inn and Suites at C.M. Recto in Davao when I joined the Generation Change Program from the U.S. Embassy.

Their receiving area. That one is a section of the front desk and the officer in charge's desk.

Front desk with very helpful officers

During our visit, we chose to book a Deluxe Double Room. Here's what we got for Php1,650.

The bed

Shower area. It has a glass/metal enclosure thingy. Not a shower curtain unlike other accommodations.

Apologies for the blurry pic but that's their LCD TV with Digibox.

No wifi in the room though but you have lots of outlets to use if you have lots of gadgets that need charging.

Paintings in the room.

Some comments: The rooms COULD be a lot cleaner. We received a pillow that had Vicks Vaporub on it. It just means it wasn't cleaned properly right? Also, the sheets made me toss and turn since it was so itchy.

For Health! FitFil Fitness Boot Camp in Cebu.

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:03:15 PDT

Everyone seems to be on a diet these days. Whether it's diet pills or a diet regimen, I seem to be surrounded with people trying to trim their fats. And who wouldn't be? It's the summer season and everyone is supposed to have a beach-ready body, ready to flaunt and show off.

It's a different story for us here at home. We only want to be healthy. And healthy means eating right. So far, we have accomplished cooking up vegetables for every single meal (except cheat day!). That is our formula so far and uhmm.. I guess nothing happened yet?

Should we start taking pills? Should we drop rice at the last meal?

One by one, ideas and best practices sprout out of desperation but one thing we have not opted for?

A fitness program.

Yep, that's one thing lacking in our formula. And right now, I decide to do something about that take a program that is perfect for Filipinos - perfect for me.

I learned about Coach Jim Saret's FitFil (Fit Filipino) Fitness Boot Camp.

It is a 12-15 session program running 3 times a week. The kickoff will be happening soon here in Cebu on May 15- June 9, 2012 with the following schedules:

Tuesday and Thursday from 6 pm to 8 pm
Saturdays from 6 am to 8 am

This will be happening at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu, Cebu City.

If you are as interested as me, do sign up and join the program.

Find them also on Facebook at this link.

Jellies: Dancing Sea Fairies - Manila Ocean Park Series

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 22:34:24 PST

When seeing pictures of the Manila Ocean Park, you will always notice that people always visit this place and include it in their itinerary. One reason is that it is one of the cheapest attractions in Manila Ocean Park.

For only Php 150, you will get the enter this place and view the different kinds of jelly fishes. Yes, they have tanks featuring species that you and your kids will surely love viewing.

But it's not like there's a lot of amazing stunts you can see. Their "dancing" is more like a slow waltz rather than hiphop dancing, for example. That may be one reason why they put up lights on the tanks. The changing colors will make your visit more "magical" as these jellies will wow you with their serene floating.

They seem to have two sections - first are the tanks and second would be like a disco hall where these jellies dance around their tanks. Of course, both sections still have the changing lights that awe visitors.

The center is mostly made up of empty boxes that might have been remnants of other tanks but now are just staying there with no aesthetic use at all. Make sure to say your excuses when you want to pose because most people are just posing to take their pictures without looking at the grandeur and form of these creatures. Neither are they reading the names of each jelly type. Of course, being homeschoolers, we have to stop and read each to be able to explain to David what these were.

For parents, please take note to always hold your kid(s). They will easily get lost in a very dark place like this. Chances are that they will run to a tank that catches their attention and you, busy ogling at these fairies, might lose their hold for a nanosec. It would be a havoc shouting and looking for them in this dark area.

Below are some info that you would want to note when visiting the place.

ADMISSION:

Php 150 per head
Free for children 2ft and below

SCHEDULE:

Monday to Friday

10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Last selling of tickets at 6:15 PM

Weekends and Public Holidays

9:00 AM to 7:00PM
Last selling of tickets at 6:00 PM

Hotel H2O at Manila Ocean Park Rates, Reviews, and Pics

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 04:33:29 PST

After transferring and travelling from Jupiter Suites at Makati, Dabby's most awaited part of the trip finally arrived - an overnight stay at H2O Hotel. We drove around and finally the driver learned that Hotel H2O is actually inside Manila Ocean Park. Of course, we did not know that too given that it's our first time traveling together in Manila as a family.

Steps to Ocean Park

So we finally arrived. But we used the wrong entrance going to H2O Hotel. We could have used the lobby located at the rightmost of the entrance (below the steps). If we did, we could not have gone through the hassle of dragging our bags to the (real) entrance.

There it is. Left sign says H2O. Right is Oceanarium.

When we arrived, the front desk ladies guided us to the elevator for Hotel H2O. The right most part is a glass partition where you can see lots of people going around the Oceanarium. Just like a hotel inside a huge mall!

Booking Online

You can book online in advance at http://www.hotelh2o.com/. They give discounts if you book in advance. I love the convenience of being able to book online. Some things I encountered when booking online:

Their confirmation email takes days to arrive. I still had to send messages on Twitter and Facebook to get them to contact me regarding my booking. -1.
They will debit the charges from your card three days prior to your reservation date. So if you are using a debit card like me, make sure you have enough funds.
You can tell them that you are checking in earlier. I was able to tell them that we want an early checkin and they gave us 12PM.

Quick info about the place

Here below are some helpful information about the place. Note that rates below can actually be discounted if you book in advance.

Accommodation Name: Hotel H2O

Website: http://www.hotelh2o.com/

Address: Luneta, Manila, Philippines (Behind the Quirino Grandstand)

Contact Numbers: T: +63 2 238 6100. F: +63 2 238 6188.

Landmarks: Qurino Grandstand, Manila Ocean Park

Room Rates:

Park View 9,700.00
Park Supreme 10,200.00
Bay View 11,200.00
Aqua Room 11,500.00
Aqua Classic 12,700.00
Aqua Supreme 13,200.00
Club Bay 15,400.00
Club Aqua 15,900.00
Deluxe Suite 19,900.00
Premiere Suite 29,900.00
Executive Suite 39,900.00

Map of Hotel H2O

View Hotel H2O in a larger map

Checking In

We already told the staff that we will be checking in early at 12PM. Got ushered to the checkin/front desk by their staff.

Concierge is super helpful.

Elevator. They have 2, I think.

We arrived and confirmed our booking. There were already lots of guests lining up to check in/out. And sadly, our room was not ready yet.

Guests checking in/out

Also got to ask if they are selling tickets to Ocean Park and of course, they are. Bought the Ultimate Experience tickets at Php 900 each. It includes almost everything in Ocean Park.

View of the Oceanarium.

Pika2 nose2 mode

The Club Bay Room

This is the Club Bay room that we booked. Room description: Queen bed, 34 sqm, Bay view, HSIA LCD Cable TV, Minibar, Jacuzzi Tub, Rain-shower. Pretty fancy but we wanted to make it a fun experience for the kiddo! Protip: Yes, kids love tubs.

The super secure door.

In the duration of our stay, this door has been knocked on a lot! Maybe next time, we should put up the Do Not Disturb sign.

The lobby for the Club Bay Rooms

The Club H2O Lounge

Above is their Club H2O Lounge. Nice place to hangout and meet people. They have a live band at night.

Work desk

So we finally got to check the room and its amenities. Dabby was super stoked with the Jacuzzi tub that it was the next thing on the to-do: prepare the tub.

Jacuzzi tub

No need to caption?

Yeah, this is where you poo and pee. See through!

The rainshower

The queen sized bed

The LCD TV

Viola! Manila Bay!

Awww

The minibar. Everything is complimentary.

Omg freebies! It's complete!

Stuff on the work desk. Includes menu for Makan-makan

There's a menu for Makanmakan and since we were already famished with the transfer and the wait for check in, we decided to order and have it delivered to our room. Yum!

Lunchtime!

During our overnight stay, we spent most of the time touring Ocean Park instead of savoring the place. Would I come back to this place? Yes! We're all looking forward to come back! But this time, we won't spend most of our hours outside.

Next up: Manila Ocean Park!

To and From Hotels: Road Travel with Globe Tattoo Super Stick and Google Maps

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:39:12 PST

Some context: We stayed in Makati for two days for the DigitalFilipino E-commerce Summit 2012. Those were certainly a crazy couple of days. We arrived in the afternoon of 23rd from Mactan and arrived at NAIA, looked for a white, metered taxi, and checked in at Jupiter Suites.

The whole afternoon was then spent at SM Mall of Asia where we met with Ryan Parreno. Together, we visited the Science Discovery Center.

Feb 24th was spent at the summit but I was able to meet up with my boys. We visited Greenbelt really quick to have dinner at Krazy Garlic (where the prizes are crazy!).

Feb 25th was probably the busiest day of our trip as we did a lot of stuff. The day started off with a hearty meal at Jupiter Suites and we checked out of the place after two days of staying.

Breakfast. Bacon is love!

After the meal, we set out to get ready for a whole day of fun. This was the best time to test out the pocket wifi that I just received. How handy is it? How useful is it when traveling? All I can say is that, if your gadget is not subscribed to 3G, the best bet is to use a pocket wifi and access the net using a shared personal wifi zone that can be used by up to 5 devices.

Checking out of Jupiter Suites.

So off we went to a new location before we left Manila: To Hotel H2O and Manila Ocean Park.

What I love most of travelling to other places with my family is being able to experience how it is living in another place. We got to see a glimpse of life in the big city while on the road, in this case.

The day before that, I got my Globe Tattoo Super Stick (Huawei E5) and was able to set it up. I found the device very much helpful when we traveled from Jupiter to H2O. I was able to connect my iPhone (on prepaid sim. Not 3G.) to the pocket wifi and became the official guide of manong driver with the help of Google Maps.

Guiding manong driver via Google Maps to Hotel H2O

While traveling of course, I was able to update my Facebook and Twitter. Took pictures of the buildings in Manila. I imagined I can actually cope living in a busy metropolitan area but not living in spaces like these. I don't know, but it seems that you can barely see plants in your place if you live here.

Buildings

Better looking buildings

Along the way, I was guiding manong driver and gave him directions. He was asking for the major roads to follow. With the fact that I am not from Manila, it could have been very challenging and inconvenient for us. But all thanks to the pocket wifi from Globe Tattoo Super Stick and with the help of Google Maps. It was a breeze! So much convenience. A must-have for travelers.

What I wasn't able to predict in this trip though was how CROWDED the Manila Ocean Park was during Saturdays. We just picked the wrong day to be in the place. There are lots of tours going on and everything was so crowded! There was a long line outside. You can't imagine how many more are inside the place and much more queues inside. But since we were already here, of course, we had to make the most out of the trip.

At Ocean Park at last?

Some construction going on

And finally, we arrived at H2O. We were dropped in from of Manila Ocean Park itself in all it's busyness and grandeur. If the driver was familiar, we could have used the lobby for guests but we used this pass inside the structure itself. Something to note for the next visit: Use the lobby!

Hotel H2O post coming up next!

An Afternoon at SM Mall of Asia Seaside Boulevard

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 02:06:34 PST

If there was one place we have visited in Manila that we want to go back and visit often, it would be the SM Mall of Asia. It's one mall that could not par the others that we have visited so far.

How to Get There?

This is straight from their website --

You can get to MOA via taxi, bus or jeepney. If you get confused or lost, mention the word 'MOA' or 'Mall Of Asia' and most drivers will understand where you want to go.
From the Airport - We suggest a taxi. Estimated time of arrival is 15 to 30 minutes *.
Any Manila Hotel - Most Manila hotels have special shuttle services going to MOA.
From Makati Central Business District -

By Taxi - ETA from Makati is 30 minutes to an hour *

By Bus - Hop on any bus heading South on Edsa displaying 'MOA' or 'Mall of Asia' and you will get there within an hour to an hour and a half*.

By MRT

Which Places do I Visit?

When put out the question on my Twitter and Facebook on which places to visit, I got two suggestions: SM MoA and Greenbelt. We chose to visit MoA for the reason that, of course, we want Dabby to have fun. And we heard MoA has lots of those.

I wish I saw this one before we visited but it looks like we got to where we wanted to be. Here is their MOA Store Locator and map. Pick where you want to go depending on what you want to do.

In our case, we wanted to go to the Science Discovery Center. But while waiting for Ryan, we visited the Seaside Boulevard.

At Seaside Boulevard

This Ferris Wheel is what you can see (very prominent at the boulevard). It looks so beautiful and we were thinking it's a very romantic location. Couples may have had special moments here. :D

Ferris wheel

A pic at the obvious Moa sign

Yey! Fountain!

Let's share since you can't reach the pedal yet.

There are lots of activities and fun rides for kids and adults at the boulevard. There are enumerable things that you can do with kids.

We went from one end to this boulevard to look for cool things to do. You can just choose to stroll around and just sit at the benches, watch other people.

For those who have kids, you can't just stroll the whole visit since there are lots of fun things to do.

As for us, we just decided to leave David to choose where he wanted to go.

David was very much eager to get inside these balls when he saw kids inside these. And yes, he decided to try it out too. We paid Php60 for just 10mins on this thing. He was really brave enough to go through all the hassle.

Adding air inside the ball

Then after 2mins inside, he decided it wasn't for him.

We immediately had to bring him outside since he was already shouting 'enough'. He said that he was scared that he can't stand up inside the ball. For those who have 5 year old kiddies and below, better brief them properly or not let them play the ball. They might be too young for it.

So next, it was Daddy and son bonding time. They rode this cycle for Php 80.

Inside the Mall

After our activities, we just strolled inside the huge mall. The ice skating rink caught our attention. Nope, we did not try it since we have no idea how to skate.

So then, we meet up with Ryan and visited the Science Discovery Center next. :)

Staying in Makati at Jupiter Suites

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 02:04:31 PST

Last February 23-26th was travel time for us. We were really stoked to get an excuse to travel to Manila. I was actually traveling there to join the DigitalFilipino E-Commerce Summit 2012. Business-related trips like these are great excuses for me to do a side trip travelling with my two boys. So off we went to Makati City.

We arrived late afternoon at NAIA. It was such a huge airport but you can just ask around for locations. Make sure to practice your Tagalog as you will surely get abused (Yes, I am referring to taxi drivers.) if you make it obvious that you are promdi.

So, we hopped off the airport and got a taxi driver that didn't rip us off. It was even fun to know that airport security chose a taxi for us and told the driver to help us and even warned the driver for not wearing seatbelts. Superb employees!!

At the airport/yellow taxi lane

We told the driver to drop us off at Jupiter Suites in Makati. You have to specifically tell them that it's at BelAir or else you'll miss the location. It was good to know that the driver is already familiar with Jupiter Suites so dropping us off was not tasking.

For the taxi ride, I think you have to prepare around ~Php 150. While Mark was paying the driver, Robert - one of the employees of Jupiter Suites - helped us out with our super heavy bag. I was then able to confirm out reservation with front desk and immediately got ushered to our room by Mr. Bert.

Waiting Area

Quick info about the place

Accommodation Name: Jupiter Suites

Website: http://jupitersuites.com.ph/

Address: 102 Jupiter Street Bel-Air, Makati City Philippines

Phone number:

Contact Numbers: (632) 890.5044 to 50 // Fax Number: (632) 890.5019

Landmarks: BelAir, In front of Petron, Along street with KFC, McDonald

Room Rates:

Standard Suites Php 2,400++
Deluxe Suites Php 2,900++
Familly Suites Php 3,700++
Extra Person Php 700

Jupiter Suites on Google Maps

View Larger Map

Some photos during our stay

Front Desk

Lobby

Bed 1 of Standard Room

Standard Room has two beds for guests. Great for a family like ours.

Their sink at the comfort room/shower.

Lampshade and phone. I don't think it can be used for local calls though.

Where to eat?

You might want to grab something to eat once you get there. They have a cafe but it's only open until 10:00 AM. But don't worry. It's Makati! You just need to go out of Jupiter Suites and see the road lined up with places to eat like KFC, McDonald, Jollibee, Chic Boy, Papa John's Pizza, Mang Inasal and lots of other cafes!

For Gadgeteers and Internet Junkies (like me!)

For those who are looking for internet connections or bringing gadgets, here are some info for you:

They have wifi at the first floor only.
You can access their internet via cable inside your room. You will need to pay Php 100 for it for your whole stay.
They have two PCs with internet access. You need to pay Php 100 per hour of use.
You can charge almost all your gadgets at the same time. They have lots of outlets in the room.

Taxi Rates (Estimates)

Since you are in Makati, I would assume that you will be using Jupiter Suites as springboard to travelling awesome places like Greenbelt, SM MOA, Peninsula Manila or Ocean Park to name a few. Here are some estimates on the taxi rates. These are all from Jupiter Suites to the mentioned location:

To SM MOA: ~Php 130
To Peninsula Manila: ~Php 50
To Greenbelt, Ayala: ~Php 100
To Manila Ocean Park: ~Php 170

I would stay at Jupiter Suites again if I would be visiting Makati since I am already familiar with the place.

Handy Tips for Parents on Teaching Fiscal Responsibility

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:05:48 PST

The day your child is old enough to be getting money, they're old enough to learn fiscal responsibility. Regardless of age, however, the basics of saving and spending are the same for everyone. Whatever they plan to do with their money, remind them that once the money has been spent, it's gone.

"Basics of saving and spending are the same for everyone."

Resist the temptation to intervene so that they can learn on their own. They will rely on you for guidance and support, but in the end, they have to decide for themselves. If your child is especially industrious or thrifty, you may soon find that a piggy bank won't be enough to keep their money safe. Most banks offer several planned incentives for children's accounts, so make sure to review your options before taking that trip to the bank.

"Resist the temptation to intervene so that they can learn on their own."

As you teach your child more about financing, you may want to talk to them about several investment options. A very viable option you will need to explain are offshore accounts, which are often misunderstood. Their policy of keeping the identities of business owners private is a particular concern when the people involved are in big business or politics.

Source: anne009.hubpages.com

However, for individuals and small and medium business owners, the privacy and tax advantages they provide level the playing field for them. Among the best places to setup an offshore account is Hong Kong, one of the friendliest business regions in the world.

With the help of an official registered agent like Startupr, you can go through the entire process of setting up an offshore Hong Kong account online. Due to the overwhelming number of companies already doing business in Hong Kong, the only local bank accepting offshore accounts now is HSBC. Among the documents required to setup a Hong Kong bank account are:

Business Registration Certificate
Certificate of Incorporation
Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&A)
NC1 form (particular to Hong Kong)

In a matter of hours, Startupr can handle the entire process of incorporating a business in Hong Kong, with everything also done online. To find out more, go to http://www.startupr.com.

The Funky Car

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:44:37 PST

Funky Car. Monkey Bar.

Traveling with Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:36:54 PST

The best of part about traveling with a kid is that you rediscover simple joys of discovering the world around you.

That's what I always feel when we get that little taste of excitement whenever we go home to Mindanao for a quick vacation. Trips with Dabby are always amazing. His endless questions are quite interesting that I find myself groping for answers to his queries that range from why a thing is of such color or to awkward questions about people around him.

What I find most interesting is when we ride a plane. He is almost always seated near the wing and always get to see the propeller outside his window. He puts his hand on the window to show that he loves watching the propeller spin moving the plane to where we are headed to -- our hometown.

Philippine Airlines has chosen to sponsor the Mindanao Bloggers Summit in Iligan City on October 29 – 30, 2011 and this is a great way to show that the number one airline in the Philippines is supporting the cause not only of travelers like families with kids but also bloggers who want to explore the world.

Thank you Philippine Airlines for choosing to sponsor the summit!

The Mindanao Bloggers Summit 2011 is open to all Mindanao-based bloggers and to interested bloggers from Luzon and Visayas, with web logs or web journals hosted by any of the publishing platforms, social networking sites with blogging features such as: Blogger, Facebook, Multiply, Tumblr, WordPress,among others, and to those individuals interested in blogging. With 100 bloggers to converge, the Mindanao Bloggers Summit is already accepting registrations.

________________________________________________________________________________

Mindanao Bloggers Summit 2011

Registration and Accomodations

Partners and Sponsors

What Excites Me to Go to Iligan City Blogging Contest

Speakers

Programme

City Tour Itinerary

If you’re joining to become a participant, register now, or for those who are interested to sponsor, contact Iligan Bloggers Society, and don’t miss out on this chance.

Homeschooling and Mobile Internet

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:46:11 PST

We homeschool everyday. Each lesson is divided into 2 days of work so we need to stick with a daily schedule to cover topics for school. With our current pace, we are very much on schedule. I even saved an allowance of about 15 lessons before June for situations like sick days or travel.

With our travel to MBS5 tomorrow to join the summit on the 29th, our lessons might come to a halt. I am joining the Mindanao Bloggers Summit in Iligan City to support Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc. And of course, I will be bringing my family with me.

Excitement of travel is creeping way too much that I can't go back to sleep at night. Seriously :p And who says we still can't study on the road right?

I was glad to know that Globe Telecom is a co-presentor of the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 2011. A big telecom like Globe surely deserves a pat on the back for support blogger societies.

What I learned about Globe is that they are currently promoting their mobile internet products with their release entitled "You’re On with Globe: Taking mobile internet to the next level".

It is interesting to know that they have Postpaid options for those whose consumption includes push notifications and instant updates at bulk consumption valid for 30 days. This PowerSurf is available in 3 denominations:

PowerSurf 99 with 50MB allocation,
PowerSurf 299 with 300MB allocation
PowerSurf 499 with 1GB allocation

I do know that as a blogger and as a homeschooling mom, I need to be constantly connected to the net. So if you're also one, I bet you don't have an excuse anymore not to go traveling to summits like Mindanao Bloggers Summit 2011. You're always connected!

Experiments and Globe's MBS5 Sponsorship

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:46:48 PST

What we love doing during our down time at school is to head over and check out Science Explorer kit. We check out what available activities we can do and enjoy doing the experiments.

For this one, we chose the color-changing activity involving acids and bases. It was a short and sweet experiment that gave us the thrills of seeing purple turn to blue or red. The fizzles and sizzles of the liquids when mixed gave that giggly feeling as if you are popping those powder candy on your tongue. I forgot that name of that candy though.

What I realized during these experiments that we have is that you can follow it up with videos and articles online that can boost (or in my case - refresh) your knowledge of the subject. And of course, you can easily get those online from Youtube or Google. A good internet connection is all you need and Globe is one of the top internet services provider here in the Philippines that can give you the joy of being connected online.

When Globe announced and finalized the sponsorship for IBS' hosting of the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 2011, I was so glad. It made me realize that bloggers can certainly get the support of big telecoms like Globe in their endeavors. It made a blogging mommy like me realize that you can rely on Globe to offer nice services for our homeschooling needs.

The really, really good thing about Globe's offer is that you can now join MBS5 for FREE! Yep, you don't need to pay anything at all.

Globe has been generous enough to not only help Iligan Bloggers Society realize this event, but they want to extend their generousity to the participants of the 5th Mindanao Bloggers Summit! You got that right!

Globe has offered to cover the registration fees for MBS5 Registrants!!!

For those who have registered, or will register, you get the chance to avail the free registration for Mindanao Bloggers Summit 2011 courtesy of Globe Telecom!

Just click this link and register to get your instructions on how to avail of it.

Understanding Length

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:58:51 PDT

Measuring how long using cubes

Local Online Shopping with AyosDito and a Grand Raffle Promo!

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:50:53 PST

My husband could attest the fact that I love online shopping.

Back at the time when we hoarded cards for our all time favorite Magic: The Gathering, I would be the one to handle all the online transactions from seller to seller and know a good deal about keeping myself secure during deals. I knew how to detect a good trade from a scam and pretty much proud about that fact.

And recently, with the online shops that have been established online, you can well say that it is pretty much easy now. You check their site, check their layout, find their contact info just in case, check testimonials and of course Google some feedback about them and you are now safe to transact. Everything is easier nowadays.

I have tried several online shops to purchase good and other gadgets and so far the experience have all been perfect. One good example of these shops is AyosDito.ph. It had been one of the top destinations of local sellers and buyers here in the Philippines to transact and find items of their liking with the comforts and filtering to your region. Isn't that convenient?

Today, I have browsed around to check if there are available costumes for kids this upcoming Halloween

I spotted a banner that told of a contest -- the AyosDito Connect & Win Promo. Of course, I clicked on it and see if it's a contest that I can qualify for.

Turns out it's pretty much easy to join this contest. You got a Facebook? You're good to go!

If you are wondering what AyosDito Connect is you can check more details about Connect here.

To fully register, you just need to complete your information saved on the form.

With just that, you now earn 10 entries to the raffle! So easy pie, neh?

This AyosDito Connect & Win Promo will run from August 29 to November 6, 2011 so I guess better up to gather more entries.

A total of 30 x iPad 2’s, 20 iPhone 4’s and P1,000,000 in cash will be given away as prizes for the promo and will be distributed as in weekly draws and a grand draw.

Weekly Draws - The following will be raffled off in ten (10) weekly draws: 3 iPad 2’s will be raffled off to all eligible Participants with valid raffle entries for the week, 2 iPhone 4’s will be raffled off to all eligible Participants with valid raffle entries for the week.

Grand Draw - P1,000,000 will be raffled off in the Grand Raffle on Week 10 of the promo

I hope I will win 1 million. I never won any bigtime raffle before. Hehehhe.

Sorting Numbers 1 - 10

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:48:07 PST

Sorting Numbers 1 - 10 on post its

Number 10

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:48:21 PST

Working on Number 10 activity

Nine Pretty Tulips

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:48:46 PST

Continuation for number 9

Number 9

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:48:59 PST

Nine sharks to show number 9

My List of Emerging Influential Blogs for 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:49:14 PST

In support of the awesome members of CBSi, here is my list for the Emerging Influential Blogs Writing Project 2011.

1. FoodieCraft - a food blog from Dabby's blogger friend, Ate Angeli! She is one of the most in-demand food bloggers in Cebu and posts very yummy updates on her daily treats.

2. Libotero - A travel blog by Sinjin Pineda that is very helpful for backpack travelers here in the PH and abroad. Offer helpful tips so you not only won't get lost but also enjoy your stay wherever you are.

3. iSwallow - get quality food reviews from the swallowers. "Love sucks but true love swallows" is their tagline. Rabs deserves another spot as he did last year but this time with a food blog.

4. CebuMD - a virtual hangout for doctors to get updates about the latest happenings in Cebu's medical community. Doc Buboy is very passionate with his blogs and even his other writing projects that this blog is a testament to his passion.

5. Event Geek - one-stop blog for the latest updates on events happening in and around Cebu. Vernon has been my pizza buddy for events in TechTalks too and definitely deserve a spot here.

This writing project will not be possible without the support of sponsors such as Cyber Monday Deals, TRIbeca Private Residences, How To Videos, Palawan Beaches for Sale,Green and Natural Lubes Philippines, Philippine data center, Philippine online shopping, Singapore Jobs, Pinoy Party Food, Apartment for rent, and Best deals tips.

Visiting the Doctor for Yearly Flu Shots

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:50:00 PST

Last week, we visited Doctor Licille Kilantang at the clinic located near the church in Opon. We were scheduled for our yearly flu shots.

We arrived quite late but Dokie was very accommodating and still was there to give the shots to Dabby. Dokie's secretary was ready to leave when we arrived at quarter to six and getting ready to close shop.

She still dropped her things to take Dabby's weight and height. His baby book is already old and torn since he had it since he was born. Of course, that also means that he is a patient of Dokie ever since he was born too.

So when he saw that Dokie was already there, he proceeded with looking for the stethoscope which he mentioned he would like to see on the visit. He immediately saw it hanging on the wall and borrowed the thing for him to play with while he had his shot.

At that time, he was also carrying his letter to Ate Kaye and showed it to the Doctor who was amazed with his artwork and suggest he brings some for her to hang on her clinic. I think it's an easy job for Dabby. :)

He had his flu shots after that (and both Marc and I still have to have the shots by next month). It was quick and painless. And got his candies. :) Of course, he also returned the stethoscope.

Toy Review: A Star Performance on a Saxophone

noreply@blogger.com (Fleire Castro) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:50:18 PST

Does your kid love pretending that he's playing a real instrument? Dabby sure does love these kinds of imaginings. He already has a real harmonica and guitar. This time the Lola bought him a saxophone. This toy is specifically named the WinFun Triple Sounds Saxophone. It was fun to know that this is sold off on Amazon which makes it easy to purchase one if you love the product.

Product Features

Give a star performance with this jammin’ saxophone that plays 18 songs while lights flash
Includes 4 buttons that play notes and 4 lights that play short tunes when pushed
Encourages music appreciation and fosters imaginative play
Made of quality plastic in vibrant colors
Manufacturer's Suggested Age: 3 Years and Up
Dimensions: Length: 16.0 "; Height: 2.5 "; Width: 7.0 "
Product Weight: 1.25 Lb.

Positives

The tunes recorded is fun for a kid. Colors are indeed vibrant as per product description. Really nice for role playing with saxophone playing. Automatically turns off when left after play. I love that it can play notes on each of the buttons and coupled with the beats on the toy, a child can create music that he likes.

Negatives

Battery operated. I say This is a con for any toy that needs battery to work. And besides that one, the mouthpiece is not something that a kid can blow into so that's a huge minus

I recommend you check it out through the photo/link below. It is entertaining enough to deserve a three star for me. Encourage your kid to play it in another room because it gets too loud sometimes.