Christmas 2013

I had to be on MIA the last month of last year to be able to have a full experience of my real life. I realized I have spent so much time dealing with my cyber life that it had easily become a hindrance for me to stay focused on things that really matter. Don't get me wrong, I'm still in love with blogging. It's just that it's been a while since I got away from this and the social media to really enjoy my surroundings and the people around me without any distractions.

Bag of Beans: A Weekend in Tagaytay

The weekend after our honeymoon in the Northern Philippines, the husband and I were out-of-towners again with our spiritual family this time. The gang celebrated Yam & Ghea's 25th birthday at the latter's Cavite residence which was a 5-minute drive from Tagaytay. Though a lot of things took place during this particular weekend, the best part might have been the afternoon spent in Bag of Beans, the photo blog of which you'll see below.

What I like most about leaving Manila is the green scenery that never fails to de-stress me.

The Ilocos Adventure: Pagudpud (Evangeline Beach Resort)

When I got invited by Ms. Ana of Evangeline Beach Resort a month before my wedding, I just knew it was God's gift of honeymoon for us. Just like the Camayan Resort & Ocean Adventure experience (which was God's valentine's gift), we immediately arranged our schedule for a yet another chance to travel and see the beautiful world created by the Lord.

Pagudpud is a 2-hour bus ride from Laoag. I am not sure if the information is still accurate but when we were in Laoag, we were told there are no air-conditioned buses going to Pagudpud and so the hubby, who happens to be the lesser cowboy between the two of us, had to endure all the warm wind and humidity he's usually annoyed about when travelling exposed. We left Laoag at around 1pm and arrived at 3pm. Never mind the stickiness of our face, the moist skin, and the tangled hair for taking the said bus ride because this was the kind of paradise awaiting us.

We might have the same question in mind: how did they know we were honeymooners? Lol. I promise I never mentioned a single thing about my wedding to Ms. Ana during our email correspondence so this really came as a wonderful surprise. I still smile each time I remember the very suggestive bed.

Evangeline Beach Resort is just one of the resort chain located in Brgy. Burayoc along the stretch of Saud White Beach Cove in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. It is owned by Ms. Ana while the other resorts

The Ilocos Adventure: Laoag

Laoag is roughly a 2-hour trip from Vigan. Could be shorter when your driver is too fast and too furious (ehem...JM) On the way here, we met with our fellow newlyweds Yam (the birthday girl) and JM just along the main highway outside Vigan. Our first stop was the Paoay Church which is part of UNESCO's world heritage list.

Then we visited the Malacañang of the North (aka Marcos's Residence) and Paoay Lake.

The Ilocos Adventure: Vigan

We spent the first leg of our honeymoon in Vigan. We took the 10:00pm Partas trip from Cubao terminal which was P665 per head. We were aiming for the Florida's deluxe bus but when we hit their terminal, tickets were already sold out. We arrived at Vigan at a little shy of 6am the next day. I personally chose Cordillera Inn because of its ideal location which is just along the popular Calle Crisologo at the heart of the Heritage Village.

Being that Vigan is known for its preserved feel of the Spanish era, it was a plus that Cordillera Inn could almost be considered a museum on its own right with all their antic vase, sculptures, and furniture they have. Like staying in a heritage house!

Bacolod City to Dumaguete City & vice versa

Last year, I got the chance to visit my homeland. This is a throwback photo blog on our Bacolod-Dumaguete tour. The original plan was to fly directly to Dumaguete City. But since it's not one of the seat sale destinations, we ended up taking a flight to Bacolod City instead.

at NAIA Terminal 3

Throwback: San Antonio Resort & My Metamorphosis

In between my DIY chronicles, boredom still squeezes in. Imagine that? I guess I’m just on that stage where I expect myself not to have even the shortest dead air. You know that feeling when you think you have so many things to do that you panic each time you find yourself sitting and not doing anything? I had that moment last Sunday morning. The day before was an amazing DIY afternoon-evening with my closest friends. They say brides normally have this tendency of losing themselves after the wedding because suddenly there’s no more wedding to plan on, nothing to do or stress about. I’m too anxious about that season that I worry about it as early as now (42 days before the wedding).

Ok that was some intro. My point really is that because of boredom, I ended up browsing photos of (unexpectedly) one of the most amazing travels I had in 2010.

Days when cheeks used to compose 80% of my face and my nose easily followed at #2 spot with at least 15% of it.

No, obviously I didn't have the nose enhanced by any sort of technology. Although if you notice here, my nose really did get tamed. Haha!

 It’s one of the remarkable results of my having braces. When I had 2 of my upper premolars removed, somehow it affected my face structure leaving my face with 0% chubby cheeks and 100% cheekbones. Another thing to notice, locks used to be black and more gracefully wavy (unlike today the waves just look tired haha).

Anyway, this isn't really about my nose and hair so let’s talk about Roxas City. I know this place isn't one of the top results you see when you Google for amazing vacation places outside of Metro Manila. However, having been there a couple of times for work-related purposes, I can say that Roxas City, especially my San Antonio Resort experience did not disappoint in any way. 

What best way to wake up for breakfast but with this?

I haven’t even maximized my stay there as the resort offers a lot of amenities I wasn't able to avail. Aside from this divine scenery, it’s only their swimming pool that we really got to experience.

with Marga and Duchess

What I also loved the most about San Antonio is its location. Just about 5-10mins of walk from the villa, you can find yourself already strolling along the beach-side where most of the seafood restaurant is located.  If you’re a foodie like me, you would love this place so much because of the beyond expectation freshness of the seafood they serve. Dude they cook it straight from the ocean right in front of you and which waves you can hear while savoring those talaba and grilled stuffed pusit.

The good ole days. Nostalgic. I suddenly missed those carefree childish days I had as a very young adult whose fulfillment mainly comes from her job. This is definitely going to be some transition for me, you know. Changing my last name, my address, my civil status, and my roommate. Sure it’s not going to be easy. Good thing God’s grace is sufficient. 

San Antonio Resort, Baybay Beach, Roxas City

(+63) 920 9825377 | (+63) 917 6205377

http://thesanantonioresort.com/

Photos Gone Wrong?

So I was managing the files on my phone last night when I came across our Camayan pre-valentine get-away photos which reminded me of how poor financially surviving yet very happy Ralph and I are as a couple. I mean, of course this is under the context of us saving all that we currently have for the wedding. Which also means no budget for weekly movies for now, no fancy dinners, and no unnecessary loitering in Tom's World. 

On top of these restrictions, we are also not allowed to save up for our little not-even-considered-extravagant gadgets. I was never the techie one so I don't have problems with that. I'm good with my little Compaq notebook and android phone. See? No iPad (big or small or do you call that mini?), no iPhone, no DSLR. Ralph, on the other hand, used to have a camera (I think a Sony cybershot if memory serves me well) and a PSP. Both of which are gone to the bin now. Well, the camera was lost to negligence which literally sent him home from the office due to high blood pressure. I remember how terrible that event was that I had to rush to his house thinking I might find him dead if I come later. Lol. The PSP was just broken beyond repair. Another case of negligence.

Camayan Beach Resort & Ocean Adventure

Cool reception area is cool.

I was invited by Camayan Beach Resort for a 3D2N stay in one of their Beach View Superior Room. God really works in mysterious ways because the invitation arrived in preparation for a very stressful period of my life (AKA the wedding preparation). Since the room with 2 queen-size beds would fit 4 pax, and Ralph & I are not married yet to be doing sleepovers alone, we went there last weekend with his eldest brother Kuya Ryan, his wife Ate Len and 4-year old daughter Sophia. Bummer, I just realized we have not a single photo together.

Ciudad Christia Resort (9 waves)

My very first wave pool experience took place here. I was invited by my boyfriend's family and that's where we spent this year's Easter Sunday. It's a good 30 minutes away from Marikina where bf resides.

Shame that I don't have our pictures yet. Maybe I'll just paste them here once available. Anyway, you guys can always take a look at their website to know more about the resort.

As for me, I was just overwhelmed by how crazy an overnight stay in this resort can be. Maybe it's because of the people I was with? Or it's really the place that struck me? Not sure.

For starters, I found the place quite overpriced. We got a Family Sharing Cabana which was good for 6 although we're a group of 8. We got it for 5350Php for a night. Extra charge was billed for the excess heads which was 650Php per person. Quite pricey for a resort with only a wave pool for the main attraction. The room was great though. There were 2 double beds and a double deck. My boyfriend and I stayed on the 2nd level of the deck which wasn't a good choice, really, because it's almost on the same level as the AC and which was why we were freezing the entire night. The room, in general, was very clean except for the shower drain which tends to clog when you turn the shower to its max. There was a really cute (I mean, 14in small) TV attached on the wall very near the 2nd level of the double deck. The cabanas, which from outside look like indentical bungalows from outside, have 1 parking slot each.