Bougainville Suites and Resort, Antipolo

Abby turned 4 years old last saturday, July 17, 2010.  We woke up a little late except for hubby who has recently started on a new hubby, that of biking.  Last year, we celebrated Aj and Abby's birthday at Munting Buhangin Beach Resort in Batangas so it has become sort of a tradition to spend it on the beach.  However, hubby has recently got tired of long drives and is opting for easily accesible city resort.  Ordinarily, we would have gone to the Ciudad Christia Resort where there is a 9-wave pool but i didn't particularly like that place and i wanted somewhere else new, and hubby must have taken my preference into consideration and so we went to Antipolo.

For starters, we were the only one using the pool.  They have 1 big pool with depth ranging from 4 to 6 feet, a smaller kiddie pool and a jacuzzi.  They also have superb videoke rooms which we enjoyed thoroughly.  The food consisting of crispy pata, home-styled fried chicken, leche flan, buko salad, java rice were really delicious.  What i really like about the place was it's privacy.  It seemed like we owned the whole place.  I wouldn't mind going there again.

Vacation

I am excited. Although if you know me quite well, you know it would not show. We are going home to Iligan to attend the Feast of St. Michael, the Archangel. It's going to be another roadtrip. It's a much needed vacation for all of us who is not used to living in Manila. The only thing that's bothering me is typhoon Ondoy who is expected to make landfall in the northern part of luzon sometime saturday evening or sunday morning. Got this from PAGASA. Although we will be travelling towards the south, nautical highways are expected to have moderate to rough waves. Uggh... I have been thinking of buying lifejackets for us all. What with the recent maritime incidents...



Praying for a safe trip!

Cebu...Gateway to the Visayas

I was able to avail of cebu pacific's promotional fare from cagayan de oro to cebu for my parents which costs me only P400.+ one way from cagayan de oro to cebu. Since the family event was already scheduled June, I bought the ticket last February. I also availed of the same fare for me and my daughters. Also with me is my dear mother-in-law who helped me and hubby settle some of our issues.

Every time I get to be in Cebu, I try to find time to visit the Sto. Niño Basilica, light candles and say my prayers and thanksgiving. Back when I was still doing my review at San Carlos, I promised that If i pass the board exam I will make it a point to visit Sto Nino yearly. If I am unable to go to cebu, i will hold a get-together in our house in honor of the Sto Nino Fiesta every January. And so, straight from Mactan Airport we took an airport taxi which i paid around 295 to get us to the Basilica.

My kids are fortunate enough to have experience air travel so many time considering the cost. I experience air travel only with my first job straight out of college. Both my daughters where not even 2 years old when they had their first plane ride. Hubby loves going to places that can be reached by cars so we are used to travelling at night. We spent christmas of 2008 on the road travelling to Zamboanga. And if there is a bonding activity that binds us closer, it is travel. And so, I must always set aside a budget for travel. My kids are comfortable at airports, at gasoline stations for our toilet needs and at hotels. Really, travelling allows us to appreciate God's creation first hand.

Cebu is a good travel destination if you want to reach as many places in the visayas as possible. Virtually, everything is accessible. Bohol for one is just a fastcraft away. Most of the islands in fact are just a short boatride a way. And hey, don't forget to visit the Sto. Niño.

Of heartaches and chestpains

I am bothered again by the chestpains that i felt. I started feeling it yesterday. I guess it was prompted by yesterday's anger. The day before it was sadness over a casual remark by somebody. I never did like being the target of a green joke. It's harrassment. But of course, I can't say anything about it. I have mouths to feed. Yup, welcome to the real world. I have also been unmindful of what i eat. I have been eating pizza for the last few days courtesy of officemates' gain on the stockmarket. And i gained weight, and getting to lazy to exercise.

No matter, it's actually an improvement of sort. Back home, it's like a weekly occurence. Sometimes, i think it is triggered by anxiety. I am always conscious of my heartrate, the need to exercise, and being too picky with what i eat. Since living here in the big city, i don't put too much stock on everything anymore. I figured, if your life stops there, there's probably nothing much that anyone can do. And so , i have more peaceful thoughts. I am also pre-occupied with other things and so i have less time thinking about my situations.

I guess, i need another vacation now. In truth, I will be going back home. Visiting my family, attending a wedding, so i will just concentrate in having fun. Yup, i need to concentrate to have fun. That's how mental my problem is. I can't help but think about it in my alone time. But i have so much to be thankful for. And everytime, i'm just so down, i think of them(my kids) and everything just keeps getting brighter. Did i mention, praying helps?

Bontok, Mountain Province

dateline : bontok, Mountain ProvinceSaturday, April 11, 2009
I am overwhelmed with so much calm. Waking up and seeing the mountain with a mist hovering over its peak can do that to me. Going outside just to feel the air really made my teeth chatter. It's been a long time since i saw a mountain with mist and my teeth chatter over cold air. When we spent a night in Bagiuo in 2007, i didn't notice the mountains at all, the cold sure. What registered to me was the houses that took over most of the mountain side.
Here, you can't help but notice the mountains. Bontoc is a plateau. It is flatlands sorrounded by mountains on all side. The trip from Baguio to Bontok was long and winding. I think the beatles wrote this song for this particular piece of road. Magnificent is truly a word to describe God's creation. You would not know what i am talking not unless you will experience it first hand. The roads are in good condition except for some rough patches due to road slips and cuts, mostly in sabangan. One thing is true though, the roads are itched into the side of the mountains so that all throughout your trip, you will feel like one slip and you will fall all the way way way down. It's cliff driving all the way to Bontoc. He is one fine driver and the fortuner is one fine suv. Me, I am just plain cold. I am wearing short shorts, our clothes wet because the galloon containing our water came undone during our trip and we only discovered it halfway before reaching sabangan.

Montevista Hotspring Resort

The very first weekend in manila, we went to montevista resort in laguna. I like swimming there because unlike Timoga spring where it's really cold, there at montevista, the water is just right for nighttime and even for daytime swimming. The place does not have the ambience of most resort but rather it's just a place where's a lot of swimming pool and very much accessible to the public so expect a lot of people sharing the pool. My kids age 4 and 2 enjoyed the pool.


Taken just after waking up at the family room, we had our breakfast at Max's montevista. Although, you can bring your own food and you pay a certain amount for the corkage. There's a grilling area.

Most of the rooms are located at the second floor, and so we have to carry our own bags although there are resort employees who are more than willing to carry them all for you.

The view at the back of the resort was Mt. Makiling. I wouldn't have known if i didn't take the time to lift the curtains. In contrast to the warm water, the air was cold.

Inside, our room was a sunken pool where the water is also hot and you'll have all the privacy you want.

My two babies who are always excited to jump into any body of water. I bought the itsy bitsy teeny yellow-not-polka-dot bikini for aj. If truth be told, i would have wanted to wear that but..