Haloed Devil

The last time I went to Olongapo was in 2000. I had the opportunity to re-visit one of my favorite hangout places in Luzon. Just a three and a half hour drive from Manila, in Lower Kalaklan, Olongapo, is Ocean View. A clean beach resort with unique Philippine architecture, landscaped gardens and a long beachfront. Here are some of the photos of the new and improved.. Ocean View Resort Stage and Dining Area 2nd Floor Corridor leading to my room  Am I Real?? hehehe I stayed in this room  Images taken only using a camera phone.. hehehe (Yabang!) 

"What is that reason that makes you go back to school? Why do you have to study? Again.." I get to encounter these same questions every time I meet an old friend, a classmate, a batch mate, a neighbor. Though my mom would always say "Hindi ka na natuto tuto, kailangan mo mag aral ulit", i would just laugh it all away. Truth is, I never wanted to go back to school... Yet.. But circumstances made me pursue something, I thought I'd never do again. But here I am... enrolled.. studying. Last Saturday was my last day for this term. Yeah, I am enrolled for 6 units only. (Heck, at this rate, It'll take me forever to finish this). I thought of getting a second degree, a degree in tourism perhaps, but   of course, friends, advised me to take something else. So decided to take up MBA... oh by the way, did I mention I already have a Masters Degree in Management? Going back, last September 8 was my last day of class for my first semester. All I need now is to wa...

Honoured as a Highly Rated Resort as Reviewed by Travellers on the World’s Largest Travel Site Boracay Island, Philippines – May 2012 – Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel today announced that it has received a TripAdvisor ® Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Approximately 10 percent of accommodations listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award. To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months. “Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel is pleased to receive a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence,” said Ms. Lily Po, General Manager at Boracay Mandarin Island Hote...

After the early wake up call, the long waiting time, the lunch with my good, old friends, and the short tour of Kalibo, off we went to Batan, Aklan. From the port, it was a short boat ride, just like Boracay Island.. much like Boracay Island... Mangroves on the way to Batan  Upon arrival we were met by lots of people on the port and everyone wanted to take us to our destination. Here are some of the sites we saw in Batan, Aklan... One of the Oldest Churches in the Philippines  The Bell Tower I then realized that I should have paid attention when my batch mate was telling us the name of this church.  A closer look The Altar We then proceeded to the Shrine of the Code of Kalantiaw. It feels good to see something that was part of our history. My only frustration was that, the government had stopped the funding for the restoration of this shrine. Reason: Not a Priority.. Well, it's more fun in the Philippines, as the slogan goes.  ...

Where was I? Oh, still in New Washington, somewhere in Aklan... O yes.. in Sampaguita Gardens Resort.. and still with my batch mates from UPIS.. The Doll House (I think) My batchmate Roselyn told us that she has been here and that this place was truly nice... She was right, and for a minimal fee of Php 50.00 you can actually go swimming in their pool. I didn't manage to take photos of the pool as there were so many people swimming. My exposure to the Middle Eastern culture discouraged me from taking photos of people especially if they were wearing revealing swim wear.  Sampaguita Gardens Resort Ticket  Let me take you to a tour of what's inside of the Doll House..  Not only was I amazed of the collection of dolls, but my batch mate Myra felt she was part of the display. The Myra Doll And I had fun too... of course... Byaherong Pinoy fooling around The Doll House was just the initial part of the tour. We went near the beachfront ...

I woke up today asking myself "when was the last time I wrote anything?".When was the last time i updated this blog? Answer: I think ages ago... To be honest, I really have not found the inspiration to write, heck.. I'm really so lazy that procrastination came so natural when I talk about updating this blog. Before anything else... Happy April Fool's Day. I promised myself that come April 1, 2012, I'd be diligent enough to write... And today is April 1, 2012... So I'm off to Batan, Aklan, a small town famous because of Datu Kalantiaw and his Code of Kalantiaw - a collection of 17 laws during the time of the Datu , before the coming of the Spaniards.  The Code of Kalantiaw I woke up very early in the morning as i had to take an hour plane ride to Kalibo, Aklan. My flight was at 8.30 am and i had to be in the airport early. Talk about not wanting to be late. I left around 5.30 and was at the airport at around 6.30 am. Early bird catches...we...

Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel offers the perfect wedding packages.   Boracay, Aklan. March 2012 . Boracay Island is by far, the best vacation destination in the Philippines to date. With its pristine white beaches and clear water, Boracay is acknowledged as truly world class. It is no wonder that Boracay gets rated by young couples as one of the best wedding destinations. With the ever increasing popularity in the Philippines, where other wedding destinations are available, young couples may just choose Boracay as their perfect venue for weddings. In line with this popular trend, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel offers the perfect wedding packages for engaged couples not only in the Philippines but also all over the world. Located right at the heart of Station 2 in Boracay Island, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel enjoys direct beach access and is a stone’s throw away from both the famous D’ Mall, Boracay Island’s signature shopping area, and D’ Talipapa, where local finds abound....