The Toddler Travels Book Launch Invite

Inviting everyone to the Toddler Travels Book Launch happening this coming 8th of April 2016 7:30PM at The Forum, 4/F Fully Booked, Bonifacio Global City.

This is all about the authors adventures and misadventures (I think) when she travel abroad with her little one.

The event is for FREE, therefore anyone can come. See you!

Staycation at Club Balai Resort in Talisay

Yes! After several years I was back to full-time work.  My little boy is now in grade school, he has become independent (yep! I trained him to be one).  It was my desire to keep my mind up and going again, amidst work stress and braving the metro traffic.

And so after quite sometime, I think I need some relaxation.  So today, me and my little boy Ivan headed further south for our weekend staycation at Club Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas.

Club Balai Isabel is located right on the shore of Taal lake, overlooking the world famous Taal volcano of course, and its less than an hour land travel from Calamba City via the South Superhighway extension.  Coming from Metro Manila, including the usual traffic, maybe add another one hour and half travel time.

It used to be a private subdivision but over the years, it was developed and expanded into a resort community.  So now it has become one of the favorite tourist destinations in the south, more so, within the Taal Lake area.  The resort now offers amenities and facilities to suit corporate events, family holidays or any special occasions, and its just perfect for our mother-and-son staycation.

It was my little boy’s first time here and he was really excited with the inviting atmosphere running back and forth along the lake shore feeling the cool breeze of the wind at mid-morning. But you know, when I myself got here for the very first time some years back, what I did look for? Where did the videographer hang the wedding gown of that famous celebrity actress when she was wed here.

Before heading to our room, we had a quick breakfast, afterwhich we explore the different facilities of the resort. Oh by the way, I have some friends who are also here so we had time to bond with them as well.

Our accomodation is a 5-bedroom villa that’s good for 10 or more persons.  It has 2 toilet and bath, a mini-kitchen with fridge, dining and living room area and a balcony overlooking the lake.  There’s also a flat screen TV with cabled programs, cabinet, dresser, and a writing table.  Accordingly, we can have the option to cook, but we just forget about it.  Instead, we indulge ourselves with the resort’s food buffet and those other delicious and tempting items on their menu.

After the late lunch, we headed to the lake area where we tried their water sports activities.  Yes, one of the reasons we’re here.  Need not go to Boracay to enjoy jet-skiing, kayaking or the banana-boat ride. Accordingly, they will soon open for para-sailing  and the flying.  Ha! Ha! I am not familiar how its being done but it seems exciting as well.

Ivan was sad because he too small and young to try these activities nor was he allowed to board the speed boat.  But anyway, isn’t he cute in his pink floral life vest.

During the night, we were able to watch some fireworks display at a wedding event happening here at the same time.  Also spent some time chatting and catching up with one another while listening to their acoustic singer Ms. Cath Manansala, calls herself a one-man band. She’s really good doing all those yesteryears songs like the hits of “The Carpenters”. It was almost midnight when we retire to our room for the much-needed rest after a long enjoyable day.

Next day, we attended the Sunday mass at the Spousal of Mary and Joseph Chapel inside the resort.  Then we took time to enjoy the swimming facilities, Club Balai Isabel has three swimming pool areas. At the Kumintang Pool, you need not bring towel, its provided. Just leave it there after use. Ivan rented a bike to explore more the area, which is so tiresome because I need to follow him around (ha!ha! why didn’t I rent my own bike?).

Its time to go after a hearty buffet lunch.

It was a short stay and we wish we had more time.  But anyway, my little boy liked the idea of going back here some other time.  Maybe next time we can tag along his cousins if they are not so busy at all.

For me it was a relaxed weekend.  I had time to unwind, think not much of my duties at the office.  Yes! Hopefully we’ll come back.

So if you’re planning some staycation, relax moments, Club Balai Isabel is it.  Check out their website at http://www.balaiisabel.com. They are also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

More photos here.

Muranglipad.com signs deal with M Lhuillier Financial Services, Inc. as Cash Payment Acceptance Partner

(In Photo) L to R:  Mr. Patrick Tan, COO of SEAIR International, Ms. Delza Gochoco, President and General Manager of Triplestar Travel and Tours, Mr. Charles L. Lhuillier, MLFSI Executive Vice President and Ms. Clairene C. Umali, MLFSI Insurance & Special Products Division Manager.

Muranglipad.com announces its partnership with M Lhuillier Financial Services, Inc. (MLFSI) to accept cash payments for air ticket issuances. Muranglipad.com, a division of Triplestar Travel and Tours Inc, is an online budget travel portal that provides airfare comparison and real time ticketing for all airlines to all domestic and international destinations. 

With this partnership, clients can now enjoy expert travel advice online from Muranglipad.com’s website or through its pool of Travel Specialists through its reservations hotline at 849-0100, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Mondays to Fridays and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturdays and Sundays and the convenience of paying their booked air tickets through any of the 1,600 M.Lhuillier locations nationwide with almost 160 locations operating 24/7.

To find out more about the new and exciting services, you may visit muranglipad.com, any of Triplestar’s ticketing offices nationwide and M.Lhuillier’s website at www.mlhuillier.com.
www.facebook/muranglipad.com and /mlhuillierkwartapadala

A Blessed Palm Sunday

I promised myself that I will bring back my little boy in Naga City when he turn 7 years old and if possible it will be during the Penafrancia Feast. That's because I think by then, he will be able to tolerate the long travel when he is older enough.

But since hubby surprised us with a vacation, the Bicol visit was made earlier. We arrived here Friday night, and yesterday we just stayed home the whole day getting busy with family and friends celebrating my SIL's graduation.

Just in time, its Palm Sunday today, so before we went around Naga City, we visited the Basilica Minore first and foremost so at least I can still fulfill my promise.

My little boy Ivan with the Basilica priest who officiated the Palm  Sunday mass we attended

The Basilica Minore located at Balatas Road, Naga City is home for the Image of Our Lady of Penafrancia. The basilica was fully constructed in September 1981.  On May 22, 1982, no less than the late, His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin officiated the solemn inauguration and dedication.

in front of the Basilica Minore

The Feast of Our Lady of Penafrancia is being celebrated in during the 3rd Saturday and Sunday every September of the year.  It is when millions of Bicolanos and even non-Bicolanos who are devotees of INA flock Naga City in Camarines Sur to pay honor to the Virgin of Penafrancia, miraculous patroness of the Bicol Region. 

The Coconut Cream Pie of Puzzle Mansion

Tagaytay City is our own version of Baguio City here down south because of its cooler climate and serene surroundings. Overlooking is the famous Taal Volcano, an active volcano that sits in the middle of a fresh lake. Its a favorite destination of local and foreign tourists. 

Taal Volcano, Tagaytay City

Lately, the city was put into the world map when the Puzzle Mansion, home to the world's largest collection of jigsaw puzzles was recognized by the Guinness World Records.

We were here for a visit several days ago.  Not only the puzzle collection was spectacular, its here I've tasted the very tempting COCONUT CREAM PIE. Let me tell you, it really tastes good and me and my little boy almost finished the whole pie, ha!ha!

So if you happen to visit Tagaytay, drop by the Puzzle Mansion as well and don't forget to try this cream pie.  Its only available here, because its their own recipe. A box costs P380.00, its almost the same size as a regular buko pie.

Meet and Greet Gina Gil-Lacuna, the Puzzle Queen

Met her for the very first time during the Guinness World Records Awarding Ceremony on November 29, 2012. Gina Gil-Lacuna is now the title holder and the owner of the largest collection of jigsaw puzzles in all shapes, sizes and form. She has 1,029 puzzles housed at the Puzzle Mansion.

She has 1,028 puzzles when awarded the Guinness Record, the last one she did was a 10,000 pieces of puzzle, which is a birthday gift to her husband and his son.

The museum boasts puzzles that are made of cardboard, wood, plastic which are either flat, circular, 3D and 4D (I used to have an idea that puzzles are only flat, now I know). They depict pictures of people, animals, nature, occasions, religions, business ads, cartoon characters. There are also amazing puzzles of famous paintings by Picasso, Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Michaelangelo, Renoir and Goya to name a few.

According to ma'am Gina, her passion for puzzles began 27 years ago when she did her very first Disney puzzle as a gift for his son Gino who was then 2 years old.  Afterwhich she was enchanted and entertained by puzzles and began buying them during her travels abroad and put them together, thus the birth of her collection.

Her very first puzzle which she did 27 years ago.

A business guru herself, being the woman behind the successful maternity wear brand "Buntis" (I knew this brand because it used to be my maternity dresses before) she is proud to share that her lack of formal education (being a high school graduate) did not became a hindrance for her to succeed. Now, despite her busy schedule running the puzzle museum, she still engages herself with their garment's business operations.

When asked what was the very virtue you learned from doing puzzles? Her reply, "PATIENCE" which I totally agree because for someone to finish putting those pieces of puzzles together needs lots of patience which eventually will turn into perseverance. This hobby can be addicting, LOL.  But I believe, it will always bring about fulfillment.

She is currently doing the Ravensburger Puzzle which she aimed to finish by July 2013.  It is a 32,000 pieces puzzle by Keith Haring entitled Double Retrospect. When finished, it will measure six (6) pieces of plywood,  it might be another world record for her. But accordingly, she might possibly beat her own record as there are still several unfinished puzzles underneath her bed. 

Entrance to the gallery is P100.00, with a guided tour by ma'am Gina herself.

The museum once again put the Philippines, Tagaytay City in particular, on the world map. It has then became a top tourist destination for the locals and foreigners alike. Getting there, you will not get lost as there are visible directional signs that will lead you to the place.

Besides the gallery, the other attraction here is the Puzzle Mansion Bed and Breakfast (read my review HERE). I was personally invited by ma'am Gina to stay overnight here to enjoy and  experience their wonderful accommodation.

There's also a souvenir shop where you can buy presents for your family and friends back home. Puzzles, shirts, caps, towels, wall clocks, calendars, and various sort of gift items.

So the next time you are in Tagaytay City or nearby, don't forget to drop by the Puzzle Mansion and know for yourself how Gina Gil-Lacuna got her title.

Address:
Purok 4 Cuadra St. Brgy. Asisan
Tagaytay City, Philippines 4210
website: http://www.thepuzzlemansion.com/
email: puzzlemansion@gmail.com

Agri-Farm Tour in Batangas

It was a sunny morning, thanks the rain which had been bothering me for days had totally stopped.  Today, with my little boy Ivan we headed to Batangas for a road trip with no one else but the TRTs, hooray!

Our first stop is the rabbit farm located in Padre Garcia, Batangas.  The Robby Rabbitry (MoCa Farm) Farm own by Miss Gigi Morris and his American husband, which they managed along with their two little boys is an advocate of  promoting to raise farm-grown rabbits.

The farm houses almost 200 heads of organic-fed rabbits, and they supply rabbit meat to several restaurants in Metro Manila.  Rabbit meat isn't yet a popular delicacy in the Philippines and still classified as exotic food. But mind you nothing to scare with eating rabbit meat, it is as delicious and tasty as chicken meat, more so if they are organic grown.

We had real fun cuddling the rabbits, they are so cutey and their furs are so smooth.  How I wish we can immediately take home those rabbits and let them jump on our bed, LOL. Ivan was not even afraid holding pretty Princess, the female rabbit. Most of the rabbits have their own names and the Morris kids really knew and recognizes each of them by heart.  So its more than farming, its just like having a household of pets.

Other than rabbit, the farm has pigs, chicken, turkeys, fishes (tilapia), earthworms (imagine that!) and I've tried holding those earthly creatures.  These are being cultured for soil production which are being used to nourish their herbs and vegetables.

As we go around and spending more time in the farm, I come to think and grasp the idea that Miss Gigi Morris is trying to convey, "going back to the basic".  In here, the animals are fed with their self-grown plants thus minimize the use of chemical feeds nor vaccines.  The plants are grown without the need for fertilizers nor pesticides.

I think, this is what I would like to do also on my retirement years when little Ivan has fully grown up and on his own way. With a small piece of land,which we now have in the province, I can take care of some animals and grow some plants as well.

Well, this is it! The Rabbit Robbitry Farm also offers "Weekend Family Package Tour".  This is where the whole family can stay and experience farm living.  They have quarters fully furnished with beds and beddings. Minus the airconditioner, you can get real fresh air just by opening the windows.  The room is very comfy because the walls are made from "sawali" with "nipa" roofings.  The time we were there, there was supposed to be a food demo activity which we missed because most of us opted to relax on these beds and eventually fall asleep.

They also have a "tree house" which the kids like my little boy enjoys going up and down, a mini basketball court, a wooden swing hanging on a tree and their very own deep well.

Beach resorts are just a few minutes away, so if you are done and tired with your farm adventure you can escape and head to the nearest one.

We were welcomed with "blue ternate" and "roselle" drinks.  These are local drinks made from fresh edible flowers. For our morning snack, we also had "suman tamales" and ripe mangoes. 

For lunch, nothing but rabbit meat.  Its my first time to eat a rabbit and honestly it was not a nasty experience, its just like eating chicken. We had "blue rice", the rice washings are dipped with the blue flowers, thus the name.

After our siesta, we headed to our next farm adventure, this time its an spicy one.

View more photos of our agri-farm tour HERE.

Visit The Rabbit Robbitry Farm on Facebook for more exciting farm updates.
email: staff @mocafarm.com
website: www.mocafarm.com
contact no. 0919-4790566


How to get there: MoCa Farm (The Rabbit Robbitry) is located in Brgy. Castillo, Padre Garcia, Batangas.  Take SLEX all the way to STAR - exit Lipa.  Take P. Torres St. (this is the only tricky part because of some rerouting in Lipa) all the way to intersection going to Rosario and Tiaong. Turn left and take the one going to Tiaong (Batangas/Quezon Road).  When you reach Brgy. Castillo - on your right, keep an eye for the Generoso Trading (ricemill).  Afterwhich, there is a small waiting shed, turn right. Take that road, 500 meters away you'll find a small farm with several mango trees.

From Laguna, you can take the Maharlika Road to Tiaong, Quezon and take the road to San Antonio/Lipa. Padre Garcia is the next town after San Antonio, if coming from Tiaong.

Reasons to Visit Isdaan Floating Restaurant in Laguna

One of the most visited place here in Laguna lately is the Isdaan Floating Restaurant. Why? because of its very beautiful and attractive surroundings which are really feasts to your eyes.

My youngest sister Celeste and her daughter Chloe will be going back to Netherlands by tomorrow after an enjoyable vacation here in the Philippines.  Of course, we are going to miss them a lot again but hopefully they will be able to come home again soon. So we had a get together dinner not here at Isdaan but in another nearby restaurant (will tell you later why, LOL).

Isdaan Floating Restaurant is like a theme park with its giant buddha statues, famous people, monkeys and gorillas, crocodiles, fishes and of course cartoon characters.  We've been here several times already and the kids almost always are excited as we are with the endless photo opp.  The sceneries here are real awesome as if you are in another country like Thailand.

  

Koi watching

with ex-Philippine President Joseph Estrada

One of the venue's main focal, a giant gorilla

This place is owned by the Ongpauco's of the famous Barrio Fiesta group of restaurants.  There is another place like this at Gerona, Tarlac.  Accordingly, almost the same massive set-up.

with a giant white buddha

singing cooks and waiters

play area for kids

enjoying coffee and suman

But this is not the place if you want good and affordable food.  Honestly the food here are not recommendable, no good taste at all; and so expensive.  So we are here just for our after dinner coffee and some dessert.  I ordered coffee and they served me a Nescafe 3-in-1 single pack sachet and a cup of hot water, I was charged P65.00.  I asked the server, why they don't have brewed coffee at least to match the ambience. I was told, to just write down my comments in a piece of paper and drop it at the comment box (oh, she forgot to inform me where the comment box is located, neither do I know where it is, ha!ha!).  Anyway, that's it.  Do not expect good food here, go somewhere else for a more satisfying eating experience. Just come back here and take photos.

As per experience, during daytime when the place is loaded with customers, they won't let you "in" inside the restaurant unless you already have given your food orders.  At late night time when there are already less number of customers, just tell them you will order coffee and some desserts.  At the same time, the staff will give you advise to order everything you may need because they will be closing soon.

View more photos HERE.

Tuesday Road Trip,First Stop: Antipolo Church

I can no longer remember when was the last time I've been to Antipolo? Probably several years ago, that's why. It was not a weekend but we headed to Antipolo church early Tuesday morning (June 5).  I went there with my father (who is celebrating his 73rd birthday), my younger sister Jivveth, with her hubby and 2 kids.  Of course I tag along my little boy.

The main purpose of this trip is for the blessing of my sister's van.  The vehicle just came out of the repair shop, had it fixed after mishaps encountered some months ago.  I am just so glad its back on track now because it serves as a source of income for them.


It took us less two hours to travel from Calamba to Antipolo church.  Upon arrival, my sister immediately had their vehicle registered.  Afterwhich, a priest went down to where we are parked and blessed the vehicle.

After the vehicle blessing, we attended the morning mass.

Of course, before we headed back, its time to buy "pasalubong".  We went to the store of a guy who assisted us earlier to find a parking slot.  He mentioned no fees to be collected, just visit their store and buy something if we want - which we did of course, to return the gratitude.

There were lots of food items to choose from.  But since most of them are the same thing that can be found in Calamba stores, we just decided to buy cashew nuts and "suman".

Along the road near the church vicinity there are also lots of stalls selling religious items, souvenirs and some toys.

One vendor allowed my little boy to hold the wooden toy which he is selling.  So glad, Ivan didn't realized it was for sale ha!ha! after a few minutes of playing with it, he carefully handed it back to the vendor saying "thank you manong".

It's only 11am and since we are not yet that hungry (because we already muched some "suman") we decided to have lunch later.


So off to our next stop Max's Restaurant at Harrison Plaza.