Pictorial sa Dagat - One Summertime in Laiya

Summer time! Time to go to the Beach....

and

I ♥ BEACH but I'm not a BITCH........    

     The very affordable and accessible beach for our location is Laiya Beach in San Juan, Batangas.  Kaya almost every summer ito talaga ang destination namin bukod sa mga hot spring sa Los Baños at sa cold spring ng Nagcarlan. 

     Hindi man siya kasing stunning ng Boracay or other white sand beaches you can still enjoy summer outing here mas mura pa! Madami beach resorts around Laiya area pero kung gusto n'yo talaga ng mura doon na lang kayo sa open for public na part pumunta pwede mag rent ng cottages or magdala na lang ng sariling tent. Kung gusto nyo ng mas magandang view at mas maputing buhangin lakad lakad lang kayo, baybayin nyo lang yung dagat papunta dun sa mga beach resorts but be careful huwag kayo magpapahuli sa mga watch guard ng resorts, itataboy lang naman nila kayo. Tips para di kayo mahuli, kunwari dun kayo sa resort nila nag-stay at stunning dapat outfit nyo para di mapagkamalang busabos. Pero mas ok na mag explore sa gabi tulog na kasi yung mga guard kaya wala na msyado sisita sa inyo yun nga lang pagpapatayan kayo ng ilaw like what we had experienced.

tanghaling tapat - view sa harap ng cottage

hapon - Si Kuya, ang masipag na taga-linis ng kalat sa buhangin

pagabi na - palubog na ang araw pwede na mag-swimming (takot sa sun burn)

     Nagrent kami ng jeepney for P1,500.00, 2 days and 1 night na yun from San Pablo to Laiya and v.v.. Doon kami sa open for public para free ang entrance fee compare sa mga commercialized na beach resort dun na medyo may kamahalan eh same lang naman ang tubig na umaagos dun sa dagat.  Tapos mura lang naman ang mga cottages sa Laiya yung ni-rent namin 200 lang, open cottage siya sa harap mismo ng beach tapos may dala naman kami tent, dun na lang namin sa tapat itinayo para may secured na lalagyan ng gamit. Tapos yung food nagdala na lang kami ng mga madaling lutuin para makatipid. Puro tipid kami ng panahong to. :)

Posing sa harap ng Tent at Cottage o better be called as Lamesang may bubong

     Di ba mga boy & girl scout kami?!?! Ready talaga kami, may dala kami sariling tent, lutuan, madaming pagkain, galon galong tubig, sound system at kung anu-ano pa. Speaking of the sound system super sound trip kami simula dumating hangang umalis, kaya nga feeling namin nagrereklamo na yung mga katabi namin buti na lang may bangag na nag videoke hangang magdamag kaya lusot kami.

     As usual na ginagawa kapag magkakasama ang barkada, magdamagang kwentuhan, harutan, biruan, bolahan, inumang walang lasingan at wagas na wagas na tawanang kala mo'y wala nang bukas. In short baliwan kasama ng mga kaibigan.

Time for the photo ops: (super pictorial to...)

psssssttttttttt.......

........at ganito kami ka-CLOSE
       
            - literally close na close di ba?!?! Siksikan mode ang peg namin sa pictorial na to.

......pictorial talaga to!

      - posing kung posing.....who's your bet for the best pose of the year? :))

----- the usual class picture!

        - group pictures, siksikan pa din kahit malawak naman yung space.....

------ pictorial with the boys

         - as one of the boys as usual, lalaki daw kasi ako dati :)

------ and finally the over TRENDING picture sa Facebook

         - dami ko notification sa FB dahil dito....over sa OA ang reaction ng madlang pipz. hahaha....sinakyan pa ng mokong kaya binaha ng comments. Parang the buzz sa interrogation for almost two weeks after posting this picture. :)

with my Close Friend, Billpot.... as in friend lang po talaga kami :)

  
-----   Au revoir.   :)  MJ

Start The Day Right with A SMILE :D

June 11, 2012

A good start of the day. A good start of the week.

Pagdating ko sa work station ko, as my everyday morning ritual I checked my email and a big smile was drawn on my face as I read my inbox. Who would not be happy to see in your inbox the names of your inspirations. So, I immediately check those mails and check my blogs for the comments. Overwhelming ung feeling na napansin ka nila. OA lang ako makareact di ba?!?! :D hahaha...Well, siguro mababaw lang talaga kaligayahan ko but those messages keep me more inspired to strive more. More more more! (Redundant na yata ako dun ah!)
 

* Unexpected message from Ms. Laureen Uy. Sikat di ba! Ako na talaga! hahaha....
* Email from Ms. Chyng napa-Smile ako talaga. With matching invitation pa yan, sayang di ako nanalo and sayang di talaga ako makakapunta sa event na yun if ever man na manalo ako.

 * Comment from Ms. Claire, napaka humble di ba.
 * Another comment from Ms. Chyng, gusto ko na talaga to ma-meet in person. Napaka down to earth nilang lahat. :)

* To ang pinaka paborito ko. May comment na may tweet pa, Di ba mapapa SMILE ka talaga. Feeling celebrity ako dito. hahahaha...Thanks so much Donnie Ray kahit may kasamang pagbabanta ang comment mo....hehehe :)

 

 * A simple THANKS will do. Sa wakas napansin din ako ni James. hahahaha...


That's all, pinagyabang ko lang ang mga comments nila :) and as usual petiks mode na naman ako ng panahong ito kaya ko nabuo ang entry na to.

This made my day and my whole week.

-----   Au revoir.   :)  MJ

The Winning Green Team in Graceland

Graceland Estates and Country Club, Tayabas, Quezon

 

A little bit history of the place:

Graceland is a sprawling leisure estate nestled in the embrace of Quezon province’s eco-cultural tourism hub. An ambitious brainchild of a group of Filipinos sharing a grand vision, Graceland broke ground in 1996. A year later the great Asian financial crisis struck which threatened the fledgling development. Instead of giving up on the dream, the Graceland pioneers persevered and stayed on course with the vision.

source: http://graceland-tayabas.com/about-graceland

Yes, you read it right! There's a Country Club in the province of Tayabas, Quezon and it's more or less 23 hectares. So, feeling haciendera / haciendero ka talaga pag nakarating ka dun. Napaka refreshing ng lugar kahit mga modern yung structures nya na preserved pa din nila yung natural beauty of nature. You can still see GREENS everywhere, madami puno ng Lychees. Meron din daw mga deers na pagala gala lang dun, but we are not that fortunate to see it, baka natakot nung makitang madami tao naghahanap sa kanya. :)

Then yung pinaka center nung place yung 3 hectares man-made lagoon na pwede ka mag boat ride, jet ski drive, mag fishing fishing or mag muni-muni lang sa paligid ligid. Meron s'ya parang Pavilion or function hall sa gitna kung saan pwede ganapin ang kahit anong event.

Every Corner of The Lagoon

More of The Lagoon

They also have camping site, golf course, children's playground, meditation garden, biking and jogging trails, adventure camp, Memphis Garden (ito yung parang food court nila, resto and bar are located here), mga social halls, Condominiums at madaming Swimming Pools.

Residences

Meditation Garden, Collections of Classic Military Jeep, Fountain, Other part of Meditation Garden

Some of the numerous pools in the area

 Lucky Me! (not the noodles...hehe)

Last summer 2009 I had the chance to experience and explore Graceland for FREE. Yes, super free kasi dun ginanap yung Team Building namin. My first ever team building as an employee, so another first in my life again. :)

Sa Team Building naman tayo ngayon. On the first day may orientation / seminar about  wellness and the goodness of being physically fit to work almost half day yun. Madami naman kami natutunan dun sa speaker yun nga lang di ata namin magawang isabuhay. hehehe...After the seminar time for stretching na, nabanat ang mga natutulog na buto at kalamnan sa araw-araw na pag-upo sa opisina. But we had fun doing the exercises, puro kalokohan eh. :)

DOST in Action - Stretching time

After the stretching na warm-up lang daw yun start na ng game. Lets the battle begin! So, pasikatan na ang Green (the winning team at syempre dun ako kasali), Blue, and Yellow team. First game hanapan ng flag, gulat naman kami lawak kaya ng Graceland baka after 48 years pa namin mahanap yung flag na yun, then yun buti lang isang area lang naman pala ang paghahanapan so go na! Takbuhan na, kanya kanyang hanapan na, then nung makita na yung flag tag the other member of the team na nasa boat, unahan naman sila sa pagsagwan para maikot ang buong lagoon. Sobrang saya yun, muntik na kasi tumaob yung bangka buti na lang hindi ako dun. Then after the boat, biking naman. Buti na lang may bikers kami kaya lamang na ulit kami. After ng amazing race kuno, mga ball game na. Then after manalo ng Green team time to relax na and free time to explore the place at pwede na daw mag swimming. After diner socialization time na, inuman ng mahiwang Bignay wine, videoke, kwentuhan, at kanya kanyang puslit para makatulog.Then kinabukasan after breakfast gora na kami sa next destination. Punta kami sa town proper of Lucban, nag-lunch in Dealo Koffee Klatch, visited the old churche and pasalubong hunting. Di pa dun natapos field trip ang kinalabasan, dumaan pa kami sa Kamay ni Hesus then Liliw naman para sa tsinelas. 

Time for photo ops. :)

in wacky pose

The Winning Team :)

Inside our room

Obviously I'm the Photographer here

From Graceland segway kami sa Kamay ni Hesus sa Lucban

 Staying in Graceland was great and the team building activities was fun fun fun! It was another great experience. A great way to relax and put aside office works even just for a short time.

-----   Au revoir.   :)  MJ

Am I a Certified Stalker?

   

Not so! I just love reading......

      One of my hobbies while doing nothing as in pampatay ng oras pag dinadalaw ng "Katam" sa trabaho or the super boredom sickness attacks me ang magbasa ng blog ng may blog, subaybayan ang buhay ng may buhay at ang gala ng may gala. Super hook ako sa pagbabasa, akala mo telenovela or comics ang binabasa ko. Enjoy na enjoy ako subaybayan ang mga adventures nila at kapag nagbigay sila ng quiz sureness papasa ako, baka maperfect ko pa. Hahaha. Kaya nga certified stalker daw ako, if you will asked me the where-abouts of these bloggers I can tell you most of it.

*So here is the list of my top favorite blog / bloggers: 

1. Ms. Claire of Lakwatsera de Primera 

                

            * The first blog that I've ever followed. I was so hooked on her stories, amazed na amazed ako on her own adventures through her pictures, memorable stories and budget-travel tips. Then I've seen her on TV, sabi ko pa "Uy, s'ya ung nasa blog na binabasa ko ah." 

2. Chyng Reyes of No Spam, No Virus, No Kiddin'!

       * I bumped into her blog through SAGGAS' website while we were preparing for our Sagada trip Last October 2011. Since then I used to follow her feel good blogging. Masarap basahin mga stories nya you will really feel connected with her and she was also a great photographer, galing ng mga shots nya may storya at talagang maakit ka puntahan yung lugar..

         * She's the first one to comment on my blog. Gosh! I was so flattered. :)

3. James of Journeying James

     * This was the man behind "ISANGDAAN" the most epic travel challenge in the Philippines. Parang teleserye lang na sinubaybayan ko ang kayang 100 days to Heaven este 100 days non-stop travel pala sa buong Pilipinas the cheapest way possible. Speaking of the "cheapest", that was the key word why nakita ko ang blog nya. Syempre as an aspiring traveler ung cheapest way ang hahanapin natin kaya yun, dami ko natutunan sa pagtitipid while reading his blog. Lahat ng about sa chepeast nandun na sa blog n'ya, from transportation, foods and hotels. Ang di ko lang siguro magagawa eh ung matulog sa hammock kung saan saan. Not safe for a girl, right?!?! :)

      * He was also a very good photographer. The best ang mga self-portrait n'ya using the "TIMER". galing n'ya mag tyempo! :)

      * Bilang stalker n'ya nihunting ko sya sa LB. hahaha...joke lang! Baka ipadampot ako nito sa pulis. 

4.  Donnie Ray of The Donnie Ray

     * This blogger naman nakita ko when Chyng Reyes posted in FB yung pa-raffle n'ya "the donnie ray's birthday treat." Nacurious naman ako kaya nag-join ako sa contest n'ya, eh may mga tanong dun na malalaman mo lang ang sagot kung nabasa mo blog n'ya, so yun super read na ko ng blog n'ya and I've got the correct answers yun nga lang di ako nag wagi bunot-bunot system kasi. But its ok, at least while reading his blog I've got to know more about him and I've fell inlove with him. (joke lang! baka masabunutan ako nito.) I like the way he/she blog. Napaka light lang, parang nakikipag kwentuhan ka lang sa kanya while reading his blog.

     * Then after ko mabasa ang lahat ng laman ng blog n'ya, nagdecide na ko mag gawa ng sarili kong blog. (actually may mga previous blog na din ako pero di ko na maretrieve, nakalimutan ko na kung asan at kung ano mga passwords) So, I there for conclude s'ya ang isa sa mga nag-inspire sakin gawin ang blog na to?!?!. :) 

5. The SAGADA GENUINE GUIDES ASSOCIATION aka SaGGAs

     

    * Sa lahat dito ako madalas matatagpuan, ginagawa kasi naming tambayan yung chatroll nila. It was all started last year mga June palang siguro nakatambay na kami sa chatroll nila, eh October pa yung talagang travel namen, super excited lang kaya todo ang pag-research. Almost all info kasi about Sagada nasa blog na nila kaya lahat ng kailangan namin for our travel dun na namin binase. Very helpful talaga yung site nila plus meron pa nga chatroll na you can ask the guide mismo if may naka online. Then yun, start na ng pagtambay sa chatroll nila hangang masaulo na namin everything about Sagada kaya bago kami magpunta halos kami na din ang sumasagot sa ibang questions ng mga guests dun, feeling receptionist ng  sites. Through there chatroll madami na din kami na meet na mga travelers and sa second time na pagpunta namin ng Sagada feeling taga doon na din kami at halos kilala na kami ng mga guides (wanted na nga kami dun).
       * Kaya if you want to ask anything about Sagada I can help you. (naks!) If mapapadaan kayo sa blog nila you may caught me there answering queries of other guests or nakikipag-kulitan lang at chikahan sa mga tao dun. :) 

6. Laureen Uy of Break My Style

   * On may kakiyan side, dito naman sa blog na to madalas ako tumambay. I like the way she dress nung napapanuod ko s'ya sa "My Binondo Girl". So nung malaman ko na may blog pala siya ni-search ko talaga and from then on I'm her certified follower na. Dami tips on make-ups, fashion, etc sa blog nya. I've learned a lot of things that every girl should really know. Even though she's a celebrity through her blog you can reach out to her, parang napaka down to earth nya.

      That's all for now, msyado na hahaba kung isasama ko pa yung iba, since mga blog naman nila ang madalas ko buksan sa ngayon sa next batch na yung iba.

      Those people and their blogs keep me inspired to travel more, to be free spirited, to do want I really want, to think positive at all time and to continue on posting in this blog. :)


-----   Au revoir.   :)  MJ

Silip sa Boracay; First time sa Plane

Spell excited... capital M-E as in ME.

       Nung marinig ko na papadala daw ko for training sa Kalibo, Aklan sobrang napangiti ako tapos naiisip ko "uy, makakasakay na ko ng eroplane at malapit na un sa Boracay". Kaya super excited talaga ako that time. Every day gusto ko hilahin ung oras para mabilis na matapos at makasakay na ko ng plane.

November 17, 2008:

     This is it! The most awaited day has come. Hindi na ata ako nakatulog 3:00 am palang ready na ko to go takot maiwan ng flight first time eh. Pati parents ko excited din, hatid pa ko at ang daming huling habilin. (parang hindi na ko babalik)

     2 hours before the flight, nasa airport na syempre. Halo-halo nararamdaman ko, excited na kinakabahan na ewan. (hahaha....baka bumagsak ung plane eh).We are just getting announcements about boarding the plane. Tapos un na...its boarding time! Mostly mga koreano kasabay nmen sa plane kaya habang naglalakad papunta sa airplane kung anu-ano naririnig ko na di ko naman naiintindihan. Buti na lang gwapo ang mga stewards na sumalubong samin.

PAL - ganito ung sinakyan namin

      Getting ready for take off! Nakakatuwa panuodin ang mga cabin crews while demonstrating how to use the life jacket and explaining the safety measures while on board. Nawala ang kaba ko sa matatamis nilang ngiti...naks!!! Then unti unti ko na nararamdaman na umaangat na ung plane tapos pagsilip ko sa bintana paliit na ng paliit ang mga nasa paligid hangang sa malawak na dagat na lang nakikita ko then mga ulap na lang....whooaaahhhh...grabe ung feeling, para ka nakasakay sa Anchors Away at Space Shuttle. Ung kasama ko nga ang higpit ng hawak sa rosaryo nya. Nung stable na ung plane ok na ung feeling ko, nawala na sa isip ko na baka mag plane crashed.

     Lalapag na ang eroplano, un sa wakas. Napa-thank you Lord talaga ako. Mas matindi pala pakiramdam pag pababa na parang hinihila ung sikmura mo. Grabe! (manakot ba. hehe.) But it was a fun experience at mas ok na biyahe rather than 12 hours of sitting in a bus, ewan ko lang din pag international flight na kung same lang ang feeling. Then finally very safe naman kaming naka pag landing sa Kalibo, Aklan Domestic Airport.

Dito kami sumakay - naka paglanding na sa Kalibo Airport

 

Kalibo, Aklan Airport

     After namen makuha mga baggages namin diretso na kami sa labas ng airport. Mabuti na lang may susundo pala na crew from the Sampaguita Gardens Resort (see may first blog about this place) kung saan kami mag stay and kung saan din ung venue ng seminar. Napaka organize nila, with matching placard pa ung mga sumundo sa amin, they make sure na hindi maliligaw ung mga guests nila. 

November 18-20, 2008

     Seminar workshop proper. Trabaho muna bago lameyerda pero syempre isinisingit na din during free time. During the seminar nagkakabiruan na magBora daw sa last day of workshop, since malapit na nga naman. Boracay was just 1 hour and half away from our venue. So, nag-overtime kami till 7:00pm ata everyday para matapos ung mga topics to be discussed ng maaga para free na kami sa last day. Then un, nag decide na sumama ang group since day tour lang naman daw un makakaabot pa kami sa flight namin the following day. Since day tour nga lang, as in sisilip lang kami sa Boracay hindi kami prepared wala kami dalang pang-swimming.

     From Sampaguita Garden inihatid kami ng van hangang sa Caticlan port. Tapos bayad kami ng environmental fee at kung anu-ano pang fee dun para makasakay ng boat papunta ng Boracay island. Medyo maalon that time, nakaka panic mode may tubig na pumapasok sa boat at nababasa talaga kami ng tubig pag humahapas sa boat namin ung alon. Then nung makarating na sa kabilang port sakay naman ng tricycle papasok sa isla, medyo malayo layo din, sa Station 3 kasi kami. But all this dilemma was so worth it nung makita ko na ung island, the white fine sands. Wow as in wow talaga. I love beaches at Boracay ung number 1 sa list ko na gusto ko mapuntahan. Sobrang pag-sisi ko na hindi ako nagdala ng pang-swimming. So, wala kami ginawa kundi magtampisaw lang, sight seeing at maglakad mula station 3 to station 1 para mapuntahan ung Groto then shopping shopping ng pasalubong sa D'Mall.

Time's up na. Uwian na daw kung kelan naman nagsisimula palang mabuhay ang nightlife sa Boracay, while walking our way pauwi nakaka amazed ung mga gumagawa ng mga sand art. Sayang talaga hindi kami pwede mag-stay hangang gabi. But of course I still have plan to visit this place again. Di ako papayag na di ko ma-enjoy ang Boracay but for now hangang plano pa lang but we'll never know.

Ang Groto - famous landmark in Bora

posing in the Groto

sa Boracay po talaga yan, hindi lang talaga kami mukhang nsa beach, hindi prepared

Basta babalik ako sa Boracay! Mag two-piece ako, short at t-shirt. hahaha. See you soon Bora.

-----   Au revoir.   :)  MJ

Precious Moment @ Sampaguita Gardens Resort

Signage at the entrance of the Resort

A little history about this place:

Aklan Sampaguita Gardens Resort, Inc. is the brainchild of Samuel John Butcher, an American artist and creator of Precious Moments artworks that promote messages of loving, caring and sharing. Mr. Butcher, who owns Precious Moments Park in Carthage, Missouri, put his plans into action in December 2001 and in June 2003, the resort began commercial operations.

The name Sampaguita was chosen because of three reasons:

 (1) it is the national flower of the Philippines; 

 (2) Sam was fascinated by the little children who sold these flowers in the streets of Metro Manila; and 

 (3) it bore the first three letters of his name.

( from Sampaguita Gardens Resort website)

  Everyday is Christmas @ Sampaguita Gardens

         
           This is the one liner marketing of the resort that you will surely remember every time you will hear it name because of Jojo's Christmas Cottage. Sampaguita Gardens has become famous for celebrating Christmas all year round. It is currently being marketed as more than just a destination but an experience.

Jojo's Christmas Cottage Day & Night

    JOJO's CHRISTMAS COTTAGE - A three-storey structure including the attic, with a very Western interior and majestically seats at the center of the resort is considered to be the most popular attraction in the resort and have served at its landmark since it started commercial operation in June 2003. Considered to be the only all-year round Christmas Store in the country, it manufactures and distributes Precious Moments dolls.

Inside Jojo's Cottage

     
           If the structure of the cottage looks interesting outside, it's even more amazing and interesting inside. You will really feel the spirit of Christmas because every corner of it you will see all sizes of Christmas tree and decors plus the real Santa Claus.
         On the first floor you will find Hundreds, if not thousands, of Precious Moments dolls. These dolls with teardrop shaped eyes are for sale. You'll be surely amazed with the huge collection and with the different variety of this dolls.

Precious Moment Doll Collections

More of the Collections

     On the second floor you will  be greeted "Merry Christmas" in different languages posted along the stairs. You will also find here collection of  Precious Moment "belen" and Christmas Small Village.

        More of these collection and toys will be found on the third floor. For only 10 pesos (entrance fee for the Christmas Museum) you will be transported to Christmas land inside Jojo's Cottage. You will feel like a child again who's always excited for Christmas and Santa. You'll also be amazed with doll and toy collections. 

The rooms; Jojo's Cottage; Pathway at night; Sammy's Circus; Carousel

          Even though we've been there for work related training its been a great experience staying at Sampaguita Gardens Resort. You will feel relax by the ambiance of the resort and for the "Everyday is Christmas" theme.  There rooms are clean and cozy with the veranda facing the beach. Staff are all accommodating and makwento. I remember the caretaker of the Chapel, he was really eager to share with us the story behind the chapel, how Mr. Butcher personally painted the walls and the ceilings of the chapel. 

The Chapel

         Our group was so fortunate that one breakfast we had the chance to meet and greet Mr. Butcher (the creator of Precious Moment Dolls and owner of the resort). He even welcomed us to his mansion but unfortunately we don't have enough time to visit it.

The Group with Mr. Sam Butcher

Ang Mansion ni Mr. Butcher

      
           Photo credit: to my friends and officemates (poor eh, walang sariling camera...). Next time that I will have a chance to visit this resort (sana may camera na ko sarili...) every corner of this place will surely be documented.

After nga pala ng stay na to nag-segway kami sa Bora as in sumilip lang, and may next post will be about it. (Teaser for the next entry...hehe...)

-----   Au revoir.   :)  MJ