Baguio, The Place For Everyone

BAGUIO. The perfect place for every season. No matter what season it is, you can always enjoy it.

Baguio City is known as the summer capital of the Philippines because when it is hot elsewhere, it is cold in Baguio. It is located in the northern Luzon area,  in the province of Benguet. It took us approximately six hours to drive from Manila to Baguio.

I went there with my family and relatives, not to escape Manila's heat but to spend time bonding in its cool crisp almost winter air. We all stayed in my aunt's house at Monterazza so it felt like camping.

Baguio means views of hills and mountains, trees and gardens and  huge space where I played tag and cops and robbers. My cousins got to go 'sledding' down the hill on a tarpaulin. It was nice to wake up in the morning in a quiet, cool and green environment. It gave me a  break from the noise and pollution in the city. It let me listen to the birds chirping, the leaves rustling and the wind blowing. I got to breathe fresh, clean and cool air.

One night, we grilled marshmallows and hotdogs outdoor. My older cousins set up a tent at the backyard and we had so much fun eating, chatting and playing together. It was like a cozy scene from a movie!

Horseback riding was also fun. I got to experience the thrill of riding along a  steep and rough path while it was raining. When I reached the top of the trail, I felt an even cooler breeze while I enjoyed the feeling of being in a forest.

I did this in Camp John Hay. It used to be a US Base Camp established in the early 1900's as a recreational camp for American soldiers. Now, it has been privatized and has a hotel called the Manor  which is notable for its raisin bread. There are many cabins and log houses, too. Camp John Hay is beautiful for its many pine trees and lush grounds. But now, I think commercial buildings have occupied some of these green spaces.. Anyway, this place is still great for kids like me who love running around. There are a lot of activities to do there like golf, paintball, hiking and mini-golf.  I was able to do the zipline and rappelling there when I was five years old. Too bad we did not have time to do any of them now. There are many restaurants and duty-free shops and bazaars in The Mile-Hi Center where we enjoyed going around too.

We had breakfast at Cafe de Batirol, known for its native hot chocolate. The restaurant gave a cottage-comfy. It has wooden benches and tables and vines hanging all over the place. Its hot chocolate tasted like 99.9% chocola-te indeed! I ordered Tocino Pork with egg and rice. It was okay but the bummer was - the food took soooooo long to arrive and it was all because they ran out of eggs and we had to wait for their staff to come back from the market. WHAT!?!?!?!

We also stopped by the Mansion House. It is where the President Of the Philippines stays when he goes there. It is huge and royal-looking from a distance. It is secured with all the high gates and security guards. If I were the  President, I would want to live there, too. The mansion was built in 1908 to serve as the official residence of the US Governor-Generals over summer. An added feature was the life-size "belen" (a traditional Christmas symbol in the Philippines that depicts the nativity scene).

On our way home, we took the famous Kennon Road. It is famous but dangerous! It is very dangerous especially during rainy days and I think at nighttime because I did not notice any street lights. The zigzag and winding roads are the best and worst part because while I got to see the lush green forests, waterfalls, rivers, hills and mountains, the drive included lots of turnings and swervings. I enjoyed the ride because it was going downhill and the road was well paved.

Even though my short trip to Baguio meant less computer and tv time, and not much time to see the other tourist spots,  I  really enjoyed what nature and the company of family can offer. I look forward to going there every year.

So, what are you waiting for? Jump in your car and head north to the City of Pines!

The Wonders Of Boracay

Super fine white sand. Cool pristine water. Mouth-watering fresh food. Exciting and fun activities.

That's Boracay for me. It's an amazing island in Visayas, in the province of Aklan. The Philippines has many wonderful beaches but the most popular of all is Boracay. It is world-renowned for its four kilometer long stretch of fine white sand. I think it is never too crowded nor too hot because the island has so much to offer.

A 50-minute flight from Manila to Caticlan is the fastest way to get there. From Caticlan airport, we were met by the hotel staff for a short ride to the jetty where we rode the speedboat to the island. My mom arranged for land and sea transfers so it was all convenient.

I had a great time there with my family, a perfect relaxation from school work. The main beach is called the White Beach, where you can find many resorts, shops and restaurants. It is divided into Stations 1, 2, and 3. When I arrived in Station 1, I noticed that it was quiet and peaceful. It has a wide shore where people just relaxed by sunbathing or sleeping or reading under beach umbrellas. Station 2 is famous for D'Mall, where you can buy souvenirs, shirts, beach wear and other things. We ate in some restaurants there, too. I did not go to Station 3. They said that there are many bars there, as well as new resorts and hotels. But I think Station 1 is the best.

 
I was really looking forward to this trip. I was so excited because I was only two years old when I first went there. I felt like this was a whole new world to me. I laughed at the stories my parents told me about the last time we were there, like I was the only kid enjoying the company of people having some coffee and  drinks at a beach side stall.

We stayed in Microtel by Wynham Boracay while my dad was attending a conference nearby. It is located in Diniwid Beach and has its own beachfront and a small pool. It also has an outdoor  restaurant called Mama's Fish House that served great tasting food. Everything we ordered were delicious. My mom was impressed with the serving and presentation, with fresh salad and vegetables for every main course. To my surprise, the service was great for what looked like a 3-star hotel from outside. The staff was quick to respond to our needs. Drinking water, ice and coffee were available for free 24 hours. I had a great overnight experience there especially our dinner in candlelight at the beach.

Then we transferred to Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa. Now, that's  really a 5-star resort from the time we arrived. It has its own exclusive arrival area near the airport where we were served welcome drinks and cold towels to freshen up before getting transported to the island on a speedboat. It has two private beaches, Punta Bunga and Banyugan Beach, where I went snorkeling,  kayaking and built sand castles with my brother. But the sand is nothing compared to the White Beach. The green surroundings made me feel like I was in a forest with modern amenities! We enjoyed the huge pool, the comfortable Entertainment Center where we played billiards, air hockey, sungka and basketball. I also rented some videos to be enjoyed in our room. Oh, the room was spacious and very comfortable with lots of amenities to enjoy. Our breakfast buffet offered a wide selection of food. Yummy! Our seafood dinner buffet was sumptuous, too. I can stay here for a week!

My unforgettable experiences are all my first-time activities I did there.
(1) Sandboarding - It was exciting but a bit scary too. Too bad I only got to try it for a while. I fell but it was worth it!
(2) Wet Zorb - Wet but fun! They said it was better than dry zorb. I rolled down a hill in a ball filled with water. Don't worry, I bet you are thinking it was a ball full of water? No! It is just partially filled with splashing and cold water so we can move along with it as the ball rolled. The end of the Zorb ride is a pool and getting out of it was a challenge too!
(3) ATV on a rainy day. My dad let me drive from the front passenger's seat. Isn't that cool? We rode the ATV to a view deck where we could see the whole island. The view was great and it was really windy up there.
(4) Segway - I was slow and unsure at first but I knew I wanted to do it. After a few minutes, I felt more confident and I enjoyed going around and up and down the ramps. What an experience!

My favorite time was when I tried the fresh and great tasting shakes in Jonas Restaurant while watching the sunset. The banana shake was refreshing and filling, too! I also got to taste the mango strawberry shake. 

Take a break from the city and enjoy the peace and serenity of  Boracay. If you have no time to do the activities I mentioned, just go and enjoy the wonders of nature. Swim in the shallow, blue sea with its fine fine sand. You should see my brother's face and expression when he touched the sand for the first time. I can say that the island's magnificence is irresistible. I really feel that I should return there because of the beautiful beautiful beach.

"So what are you waiting for? Book now and fly to Boracay because Boracay is just EXCEPTIONAL."

"The Heart of the Philippines"

About The Resort and How to Get There

A short but bumpy trip can transport you to the "Heart of The Philippines". Do you know that right at the center of our archipelago lies Marinduque? I learned from my Social Studies that it is located in Luzon's Region IV-B, the MiMaRoPa group of provinces.  And an hour from its capital city, Boac, is the spectacular and luxurious beach resort called Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa. It literally means "beautiful rock". And what a beauty it really is!

Bellarocca is an island that was formerly called "Elephant Island". On the map, it is still labeled as Elefante Island. True enough, from afar and from above, the island looks like an elephant lying down. Zest Air is the only airline that flies you to Marinduque. A streamer at the airport read: Zest Air, the Refreshing Airline. Unfortunately, it was the 'Most UNrefreshing Airline' for me. The MA60 is powered by propellers only, not by jet engine so it can seat 56 people only. (Marinduque's Airport is just small, a big plane could not be able to land there.) The space was tight and its air-conditioning system was bad. The flight was warm and uncomfortable. Can you believe I was sweating inside the plane? Luckily, the flight only took 30 minutes….."Whew! What a relief!" We were neither refreshed at the start nor at the end of the flight. More luckily, we were welcomed by a staff of the resort with cold water and a cold towel. I thought to myself, "This feels soooo good!" The resort provided a 45 minute shuttle ride from the airport in Gasan to the dock using a van. When we got to the dock, a rubber boat ride took us to the resort in 5-10 minutes depending on the current. 

    

Where We Stayed at the Five Star Resort

The minute the boat docked at the Marina, I told my good friend, Joaquin, "Wow! This is so cool!" I didn't expect the view to be this beautiful. Its architecture is unique. The resort staff welcomed us with a necklace made with leaves and flowers. Then a driver fetched us with a golf cart and brought us to our "home" for 4 nights. The golf cart can bring you anywhere in the resort. It’s a bit hard to walk uphill, especially the trail from the beach and the marina to the rooms.

We stayed in a "terraza'.  It has three floors, two bedrooms and a dining room and mini-kitchen. The master bedroom is downstairs which has a king-sized bed, an LCD TV, a Skype-powered telephone and a huge bathroom with bathtub. While the bedroom upstairs has two double-sized beds, an LCD TV, a balcony that looks out to the sea and Mt. Malindig and a big bathroom and comfort room, too. The Resort Manager who met us at the docking area warmly welcomed us again with an orientation about the resort while we enjoyed a great tasting glass of pandan juice and munched on walnut and choco cookies. My friend and his family stayed just right next door, so I was very happy that my brother and I could easily play with him and his brother.

Exciting Activities We Did in Bellarocca

After looking around and checking out the terraza, we were all hungry so we went to the Clubhouse dining area. While waiting for the food, Joaquin, Miguel, Zander and I went to explore and we were so excited to find the game room which had a billiard table, a board game room and a foozball table. We started playing billiards first. It was so fun that we could not stop! We played billiards and foozball everyday at the resort.

We ordered lechon kawali (which I loved!), some noodles, maya-maya fish and adobo. Everyone was happy with the food and service. In the afternoon, we went swimming at the lap pool. We had a lot of fun - racing, talking, doing somersaults, etc. Another excitement we had that time was when we were playing 'catch', my brother threw the goggles too high that it went all the way up to the roof and over to the poolside hotel. We had to call a hotel staff to get it. We swam for a long time. By the time we went up, it was already getting dark and I was famished. Good thing there was instant noodles! So that was my appetizer before dinner. Hehe! The four of us kids went up to the Clubhouse earlier so we could play billiards again while waiting for our orders.

The next day, we wanted to go snorkeling. But too bad, it was high tide and the current was strong. So this time, we went to the infinity pool. It overlooked the sea that you can hear the waves crushing into the rocks. It was wonderful to swim there, feeling the sea breeze and the openness around me. It was cloudy, so at least it was not too hot nor raining.

After lunch, we watched TV and rested. We took a nap and enjoyed the comfortable bed and pillows. On the third day, my dad, Zander and I went to play golf at the resort's 9-hole course. We took a speedboat to the main island and then walked a short distance to the golf course. The golf course was big and really green. Guess what? We also saw some mushrooms growing! When we headed back to the resort, we saw Joaquin's uncle flying a kite. So we joined too.  At first I thought it was boring but when I tried it, I exclaimed "Gee! I am really flying a kite! This is great!" Later, we went around the resort to take some pictures - the meditation area, the Helipad which was located near the edge of the island, the nice lobby... until it began to drizzle. So we were not able to watch the sunset. Sigh! There's also a trail of 299 steps up the mountain to get the best view of the sunrise. But that was too early for me to get up.

On the last day, finally the weather was right for snorkeling. It was so cool! With a life vest, fins and a mask, I marveled at hundreds of different colored fishes. The guide brought me to an area that was so deep where schools of fish swam and the view was even greater. My brother just snorkeled and fed the fish in the shallow area with the kind manong diver. But my dad and mom did snorkeling twice. We also went kayaking. I rode with my aunt and, guess what? For the first few minutes, we were okay....until a giant wave came and pushed our boat to the shore and flipped us over! Both of us fell and we ended laughing! Then it was me and my mom's turn, as my aunt's leg was hurting already. This time, we kayaked left and right, more balanced and smooth. We panicked a bit when the wind pushed us quickly towards the rocks. I learned to maneuver the kayak with my paddle as we went along.

 

Our group also did a local tour of the province. Thanks to my aunt's friend! She took a break from her work in Manila to be there and offered to tour us around. We visited Boac, with all its old houses and quiet streets. We stopped first at the Capitol building. Then we went to the museum and I stood beside the Roman soldier (with its wooden mask, sword and shield). Do you know that Marinduque is famous for its Moriones Festival during the Holy Week? I read that Morion means mask and the festival is based on the Roman centurion whose blindness was miraculously healed by the blood of Jesus from His wound.

The Boac Cathedral, the oldest church in Marinduque built in the 1600s, was well-preserved. It was silence all around, nobody there except us. It was awesome to see the giant bell, the old walls and the the church itself . I can tell that my grandma was so happy that we were able to go there. We had lunch in Tita Nyds' house and it was a feast! The food was very tasty and abundant: big prawns, freshly caught fish, pako salad, lechon kawali (again! yummy..), pansit, the local version of adobong manok (with coconut), clam soup and fresh fruits. On our way out, we even had freshly picked buko juice.

I found Marinduque to be a quiet province that is rich in natural resources. I guess life there is simple yet there are many things to appreciate.
 

Now, Bellarocca is a one-of-a-kind resort to visit. Though it does not have a fine white sand beach and a wide shore to build sand castles, it is still a place I will want to go back to.  

So, what do you think? Isn't Marinduque a cool and relaxing place to visit? If you're ready and eager to go......just GO! Don't miss Bellarocca and the activities I mentioned!