Hush Puppies Sale!

This week, I lost three pets - two puppies (for Parvovirus) and a cat (unknown cause).

While grieving on our way home last Tuesday, my kid and I saw a huge "SALE" sign at the windows of Hush Puppies shop.  My eyes popped because the discounts were really huge.

Saw a pair that costs P500, and they had my size. Being the kuripot mom that I am, I instantly bought them, never mind how high they are. I will face that problem when I start walking on them. Hahahah!

Campuestohan Highland Resort - A Picture Story

My work allows me to travel to different parts of the Philippines (so I was able to trim down my list of places-to-visit).

One such business travel was in Bacolod City. Bacolod City is soo beautiful and clean. I also got to visit Campuestohan Highland Resort in  Sitio Campuestohan, Brgy. Cabatangan, Talisay City (which is near the boundary of Bacolod and Talisay).

I won't say anything more, just take a look at the pictures.

Giant windmill - still under construction

Teepees and Igloos as accommodations

An Igloo! That's for rent.

There's King Kong overseeing the zipline and sky bicycle rides

Serene

Autobots, transform

Wave pool!

Jaws finally caught!!!!

Nice windmill.
These pools are closed - teeming with algae

Nemo or Marlin?

Green minions

Nice!!! I didn't check what's inside

Giant Shark!!!

Giant Higad

The next time you are in Bacolod City, try to visit Campuestohan. Bring a jacket though because it's sort of atop of a hill (or is it a mountain?).  Their blog is very helpful. Check it out.  

Artsy Craftsy Time at Kiddy arts SM Moa - a Review

This is an honest review of an activity that my kid tried at Moa the other week.

My little boy begged me to allow him to try this fun art/craft thing at SM Moa. The shop has kiddie tables and chairs that kids would use while doing their fun arts/crafts thing.

They've got this cute designs that a kid can fill with colors then bake, then have the feel of a soft, jelly-like output that... I don't know how to describe. Hahahha! (Basta parang dinidikit sa glass/window na decor).

The little boy got a  drawing (about 6x4 inches) which costs P140. The bigger one is P230. Ayaw kong pumayag sa malaki kasi hindi ko naman alam kung anong kakalabasan.

Mr. Hammerhead was his choice

Perks for Civil Servants in Celebration of the Civil Service Month

Reposted from the Civil Service website

September 5, 2016

The Philippine civil service celebrates its 116^th anniversary this September, coinciding with the Civil Service Month. This year’s theme is “Sigaw ng Lingkod Bayani: Malasakit para sa Taumbayan, Kapwa Kawani, at Kalikasan”.

As the lead agency of the month-long celebration, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) promises treats and discounts for government employees nationwide.

Being a Working Mom is Challenging (but it doesn't mean we can't have fun!)

Being a mom is hard work. But when a mom works full time, things get more complicated and more challenging. I'm not complaining though. I have son who loves me to the moon and back and a husband who has pledged his heart and life to me. Life may have its ups and downs, but I will always be thankful to God for this life.

One example is my trip to the Bicol Region.

Day 1, I arrived in Lezagpi then went straight to Sorsogon to our branch office. After that, we went to San Benon in Sorsogon.

My room on Day 1

Day 2, I woke up at 2 am, left at 3 am to go to the port in Bulan, and catch the earliest boat to Ticao, Masbate. From San Fernando, I rode a habal-habal (motorbike) for about an hour To San Jacinto, to look for a place to spend the night in. After lunch, I rode back to San Fernando in a habal-habal  to work.

My room on Day 2

DIY Project: Make Your Own Christmas Tree with Perla Soap (a fun activity with your kiddo) [Updated!!]

Christmas season is just around the corner (you know how early we start decorating our houses with Christmas ornaments) so I'd like to share with you what my kid and I did last year.

We didn't buy any Christmas tree since the house is too full already with my trinkets and stuff, so I opted to make a disposable Christmas tree instead. So I'm sharing with you how we made our  soap-based Christmas tree.

Last year's Christmas Tree

FDA Advisory on Bottled Guyabano Juice

I love guyabano shake. If I see fresh guyabano in shake stands, that is what I prefer to have. I  learned from a former boss, Boss Cam, that guyabano wouldn't even cause any tummy ache when eaten first thing in the morning. It has a lot of medicinal properties so one can never go wrong when getting a dose of guyabano. But it's different if it  has already been processed, extracted, powdered, or bottled.

Just recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released Advisory No. 2016-055, warning the public against the consumption of a bottled guyabano juice, because of unapproved health claims.   The product claims to be better than chemotherapy when treating cancer cells. It also boasts of other health benefits, which, according to the FDA, have not undergone evaluation and testing.

I snipped a photo of the product, which is the subject of the FDA advisory, from the FDA's website.

Source: http://www.fda.gov.ph/

Lunch at Le Don's Garden in Silang, Cavite

My good friend, Tere, introduced us (family and friends) to Ledon Cafe in Silang, Cavite.

A greenhouse fronts the restaurant (where one can have pichur-pichur). Vegetables abound. I think this is where they get the edible flowers for their "magic" tea and their veggie supplies.

While waiting for our orders, we were served "magic" tea. Wy magic? Because it changes from blue to purple after you've squeezed some calamansi juice on it. I think the acid changes the color of the tea (remember chemistry in high school? litmus test?). What's nice is it's free and yummy and has edible flowers!

As served: it's blue

It's starting to change! Abracadabrasisbumba

Now it's purple! Tadaaaahhh!!!

Ticao Island, Masbate: Philippines' Hidden Wonder

Work allowed me again to go to a new destination to discover. This time, it's TICAO ISLAND, MASBATE. The Province of Masbate is made up of three main islands: Masbate, Burias and Ticao. Ticao is accessible through the Pilar Port, or the Port in Bulan, Sorsogon.

Port in Bulan, Sorsogon

I took the boat to Ticao at the Bulan Port. The boat ride was roughly an hour and fifteen minutes. The boat left the port at around six am. The next boat was around 9 am. When we traveled, the water was serene since it was still early morning, so after enjoying the boat ride for several minutes, I fell asleep, only to awoken by someone from outside, who was collecting the fare.

Leaving the port of Bulan... the sun starting to peek from the sky

Once we reached the port of  San Fernando, we went to a nearby eatery and had coffee. We then took a habal-habal (motorcycle) ride to San Jacinto where we were told better lodgings were available.  We went to Ticao Lodge in San Jacinto and for P800.00 a night, I got myself this room:

It has a tv and its own cr. And some old airconditioning.

Ticao Lodge

The path leading to Ticao Lodge

We were belatedly told by the caretakers
that we can take a dip at the beach if we wanted to
- they can just open the gate.                

I had to bring my coloring materials to make me forget
 that I am missing my family.

After completing my task, I could not NOT SWIM when I am surrounded by the beautiful sea! So my officemates and I rode a habal-habal to Bayanihan Beach Resort. Besides, it was scorching hot in Ticao, so I really wanted to dip in the sea (My other officemates just watched me since they are from Masbate and they are already used to the sea/have had enough of the sea and the sand).

From the shore, I could see rain in Bulan

Sandy shore

While dipping my feet in the water, I saw this black thing that seemed to be alive. I thought it was an urchin. Upon closer look, it was a school of fish! The water is that clear because I just used my camera phone (which is not even the latest model) to take the picture!

The black thingy...

...is actually a school of fish!!

I met a few friends. 

The next day, we took the fastcraft back to Bulan, which left the port of San Jacinto at 5:00 am. We
got to Bulan at 6:15 or so.  The view from the sea was amazing: Mayon Volcano was at the right, and Mt. Bulusan was on the left side of the boat. Two volcanoes in my sight. I couldn't help but say a prayer of thanks for the opportunity given to me.

Mount Mayon and its perfect cone. Far away, but still equally majestic

Sunrise at Mt. Bulusan

 On the way back to Sorsogon City, I got a shot of Mt. Bulusan. I thought it was just a cloud at the peak, but it's actually smoke!!! Mt. Bulusan just spewed ash about a week or so ago.

 

I hope I can go back to Ticao Island and explore its beauty. I heard, island hopping is available. I was told that I have to visit Catandayagan Falls and Bongsalay Mangrove Forest Reserve.

It's really more fun in the Philippines!

Wrong Wrong

Sometimes, my eyes notice so many things.

Here are a few:

Hmm... convenient store, guests' can bring, etc.

Eto naman:  Kapag offline daw, ibig sabihin nilalagyan ng laman. Pag ito ang atm sa opisina, ibig sabihin, su-sweldo na!!!

Ayun oh, buy 1 take 1 ORIO mini!!!

Eto naman ang body trats.

No violent reaction please. Napansin ko lang yan. Wala naman akong sinasabi diba? :D

Download and Get a Chance to Win 3 Boxes of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts!!!

Been thinking of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for weeks but never found the time to go to a store neraby, so I just fantasized about eating one. Then I read the SM Supermalls is bringing back its "Download & Win" in-app mobile game. It is also sweeter the second time around since it has tied up with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts & Coffee. It is now giving away Three (3) boxes of Original Glazed® Krispy Kreme doughnuts EACH to 100 unique SM Supermalls mobile app registered users everyday from April 30 to June 30, 2016.

Yummmyyy-hoooooo!!!

Here's a little something about this SM Supermalls and Krispy Kreme perfect combination:

"Embedded within the SM Supermalls Mobile App, "Download & Win" was the first digital scratch card promotion in the country. Its launch during SM Supermalls' 30th Anniversary was marked with the giving away of exciting prizes such as free mobile date, free Spotify, Facebook, Games, unli-Call and Unli-Text everyday for the entire month of March."

Joining is pretty easy- just download the mobile app and get a chance to win. Easy peasy.

Bye Pido

To the cutest cat ever, goodbye. 

Libraries

The Supreme Court Library during Trick or Treat last year

I love libraries! I like the silence that's innate in libraries and the fact that people go there to read, or sometimes sleep, or think. I like the smell of books in the library but I don't like the usual stern faces of librarians. Our librarian in high school was a cool guy - I just forgot his name (memory gap) but he's one of the nicest librarians I have ever met. He formed the SLAG in our school - Student Library Assistants Group (or something like that, again, memory gap- that was about 23 years ago so cut me some slack! Hahahh!)

Growing up, going to the mall means visiting National Bookstore and checking out the books for sale there. It's not really browsing the shops for dresses and shoes, but checking out the items in the bookstore. In college, one of my favorite hang-outs was Book Sale.

A Visit to Balanga, Bataan

I am so thankful that my work has allowed me to mix business with pleasure- so that means, I get to visit new places sometimes.  Last year, work brought me to Balanga, Bataan, a very beautiful city. We stayed at the Plaza Hotel which is located at the Plaza Mayor de Ciudad de Balanga. To the right of the Plaza Hotel is the City Hall, right across it is the St. Joseph Cathedral, and on the left of the hotel is a Mall which was designed like a colonial Spanish architecture to keep up with the "old-world" charm of the place. I heard there is an existing city ordinance for this.

Anyways, here are some pictures.

The Diocesan Shrine and Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph

Robinson's Mall

The Mall at night

The Balanga City Hall

The Plaza Hotel

The Cathedral from the rooftop of The Plaza Hotel

A panoramic view of the Plaza Mayor de Ciudad de Balanga

The City Hall 

from the rooftop of the Plaza Hotel

Our hotel bed

Our restroom

Our hotel room

I wish we could have stayed longer in Bataan. But since we came there for work, we couldn't really just lie down, go around the town, learn more about its place in Philippine History and enjoy its culture. 

I would surely go back to Balanga and the other nearby towns/cities of Bataan. Soon, I hope.