Bantayan Island, Cebu

After our 3 day - Seminar in Cebu, we headed straight to Bantayan Island.

From Cebu, we took a cab to the North Cebu Bus Terminal which is near SM Cebu but is not walking distance. We rode a Ceres Bus going to Hagnaya Port. We arrived pretty early and luckily, got the newest, airconditioned bus and the best seats.Travel time is around 3 hours.

Upon arrival at Hagnaya Port, we purchased tickets for the ferry going to Sta. Fe. This is what the ferry looks like.

I was very excited because it was my first time to ride a ferry. There was an airconditioned room and a non-airconed part of the ferry. We initially paid for the airconed room but chose to sit outside instead. The view of the sea and islands did not fail us. We enjoyed the view for around an hour and arrived at Sta. Fe.

Bantayan is a beautiful island with very nice and warm locals, some resorts, a few tourists (at that time), and foreigners who seemed to have settled down in this island. It is surrounded by several other islands of which I never knew what they were called.

Bantayan Island is composed of 3 towns/municipalities which are Sta. Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos. We stayed in a resort in Sta. Fe. Sadly I don't have pictures of the resort itself, but it's alright because I wouldn't recommend it anyway. However, it's nice to share that the owners, a Filipina and a Finish couple, were very, very nice to us. We had a nice stay nevertheless.

It is notable that the people we have met were generally very nice. Bantayan seemed like a very safe town. during our stay, we have befriended a pedicab driver who served as our tourguide/driver all throughout our stay. He was very pleasant.

The pictures above are the 2 mode of transportation in Bantayan Island. Unless you brought your car through the ferry ;P. The white one is called the trisikad and the picture below it is  the pedicab driver I was telling you about. His name is Junie.

We stayed in Bantayan Island for Three days. We went Island Hopping on the 2nd day. We went snorkeling, which was not that amazing, even though it was first time. The corals weren't that colorful but it was a nice experience. My sister said the corals in Boracay looks so much better. I will find out in January if it is indeed true.

The best part about our stay was our visit to the virgin island.

Here's more pictures, and tell me if the island is not beautiful.

Don't go home without visiting the church inside the town of Bantayan :)

The Queen City of the South

We got invited to a 3 day seminar in Cebu and since it was free of all expenses... who are we to resist?
Boy was I very excited!

Originally our seminar was supposed to be Nov 7 -9 and we planned to go to Bohol after. For whatever reason, our Seminar got moved to Nov 6 -8, 2011.

Since it was a seminar...we had pre-planned iteneraries for the day. The 1st day was for the tour around cebu which by the way, didn't feel like a tour at all. Second day was a whole day seminar and the third day was half day seminar and then flight back to Manila.

1st Day:

We arrived between 8 - 9AM and headed straight to The  Basilica de Sto. Niño where the mass was being held and since it was a Sunday, the place was packed with people. The place looked nice, because the mass was being held in the stage across the actual church too bad they don't allow to take pictures outside because the mass was ongoing. We didn't attend the whole mass because it was being said in Bisaya and I couldn't understand a thing.

                   Right there in the middle is the Magellan's Cross packed with tourists and faithful followers alike.

 And then it was time for lunch. We headed to Plantation Bay where buffet was served. After Lunch we had time to enjoy the resort to ourselves. There are lots of activities you can do in Plantation Bay. There's swimming, bicycle riding, wall climbing, kayak, indoor games etc. After doing a little research, I found out that a day tour costs around Php 2000 or Php 1500 for a group of around 20 pax.
                                               
                                            Here's a picture of their lagoon/pool.

We didn't do any of the activites. We had fun lounging around and taking pictures. I don't understand how some of the participants managed to swim in such a limited amount of time.

After Plantation Bay, we went straight to Radisson Blu where we stayed from day 1 to 3. I was surprised to see that we got to stay in a posh hotel for free. ;)

                                   Here are some pictures of the room we got... Sorry about the bags.

We had a great stay in Radisson Blu. It is located beside SM Cebu and there is a walkway towards SM. It's definitely a plus for a mallrat like me! The rooms were very nice and clean, the staff was very accommodating and helpful and we had free food from their buffet Feria which offered a little bit of every cuisine there was a little bit of Filipino, Japanese, Italian etc. We were ready to puke on the 3rd meal eating at the same buffet LOL.

Our Cebu-Bohol Trip

Our nature of business is in the academe, it is usual that we get invited to seminars from time to time. Usually, we send our teachers to those seminars but since the venue was in Cebu and was intended for school administrators and school heads my sister and I went with two other teachers. (My sister is the school directress and I am the Corporate Secretary (kuno)

Thanks to Phoenix Publishing House for providing us with a great seminar and venue free of charge! yey!!!

We were away From Sunday to Sunday. November 6 to 13 and Spent 3 days in Cebu City, 3 Days in Bantayan Island and 3 Days in Bohol. It was a long vacation. :)

Will post more about my long vacay soon!

The internet scares me.

The internet is pretty scary.

Soon there'd be no reason left for us to go out.

1st you can see almost all your friends and loved ones online, thanks to social networking sites, chat and skype.

2nd, you can travel the world with just a click, hello travel blogs and google map.

Next, you can earn thru blogging, selling, and posting in forums, graphic artists earn lots too, so no need to get a real job.

Once you've earned online, you can shop online. There's Gadgets, Clothes, Food and even houses and lots being sold online, thanks to ebay, sulit, multiply and facebook.

No reason for us to go and watch a movie anymore, since we can already download and watch movies earlier than their release in the PH, we download music and games for our entertainment too!

Some people fall inlove online, so there'd be no problem finding your partner and eventually start a family.

If only restaurant reviews, food blogs, youtube tutorials and online recipes can fill my hunger and make me live, I'd stay at home all day...but then again there's mcdelivery. uh-oh!

Cheap thrill at the controversial zoo

I have been wanting to take my 3 year old son to the zoo. He is currently in the stage wherein he mimics the sounds of animals, also because it's part of their lessons in his nursery class. My choices were Residence Inn in Tagaytay - because it's on our way to Manila - I live in batangas by the way, Next is Malabon Zoo, my husband claims he knows the place (because his ex-girlfriend lives there hehehe) and last is the controversial Manila Zoo. I wanted to go to Malabon Zoo but because I woke up a 3pm on Sunday and we haven't eaten lunch, we ended up going to the controversial Manila Zoo which was nearer to our place.

We paid Php 30 for the parking but the ticket said Php 15, we were given 2 tickets. Daya!!!

This is the entrance to the zoo, at around 3pm, there were still lots of people coming in. The entrance fee is Php 40 for adults and Php20 for children.

This was our first stop. God it smelled really bad I wanted to vomit.

I did not expect to see an elephant!

We ran a long way to see this. Too bad we never saw them actually eat the chickens. Maybe they were still full, or maybe it really takes a while before they eat.

The place was both cheap and dirty but still, my son enjoyed seeing all the animals. I hope that our government does something about this. For 40 pesos per person, I believe they earn a lot everyday. I used to live a few blocks away from Manila Zoo and I always see lots of people coming in, they must be earning enough to keep the place clean and to take care of the animals better.

Celebrating motherhood through my son's birthday

A brief history -

I was a promising college student. I had high hopes and big dreams. It was clear to me that I wanted to work in a big company and earn buckets of money. But fate brought me into a totally  different direction. I found out about my pregnancy right before my graduation rites. My dreams were crushed but I never lost faith. I knew that motherhood may not be what I have expected for but I was ready for it. I embraced it. True enough... my son did not disappoint me... I may have not been the person I have initially aspired to be but here I am, married and happily committed to my baby. :D

Let me share a letter I wrote for my baby...

My dearest son,

In total, we have been together for 2 years, 9 mos and 2 days and all this time… the only thing you keep doing is to make mommy happy. When we celebrated your birthday last October 25, 2009 at Max’s Tagaytay, the host asked me for a message. I am sorry I wasn’t able to tell you everything I wanted to. Everything I keep telling you. Everything I keep telling myself while watching you sleep.

Mj, you have been 100x more than I expected. You are very beautiful…and up to now, mommy and daddy can’t settle our debate to whose responsible for your good looks.. which I know mommy will win no questions asked.. =) The first time I saw you… I thought you looked weird, ( I am sorry, please understand it was mommy’s first time to see a newborn) but still mommy loved how weird you looked like. 

You have been a very very good boy to everyone especially mommy. I cannot remember a time I have given up on taking care of you. Mommy is never tired when it comes to you. 

You have been very healthy. I thank God for this. While you were still in mommy’s womb. I keep telling God to please make you healthy. Okay lang kahit di masyado matalino, hindi gwapo… basta walang sakit… and look at you now… 2 years and the worst was sipon at ubo. Thank you God. Please let him stay this way.

You are so adorable. If I were to describe you… I’d say you’re very very friendly. Just like mommy and daddy… and that’s very good. =) you are the first one to wave or smile when you see people. You like playing with other people. You don’t cry when when others carry you and you’re not afraid of strangers. Although it scares me that you might be too friendly.. but still… very good anak =)

I love you Mj… I am excited to see you grow and at the same time I want to stop time so I can spend more time with you as a baby… because soon you’ll have more friends… more things to do… more people to love… and mommy feels a little selfish when it comes to you. 

I will always love you for what you are and what you’re capable of doing. It’s alright that at 2 years old… you are only able to speak Mandarin or is it German anak? It’s okay sweetheart. Mommy will never push you to do anything you can’t or you’re still not ready to. Mommy will always be supportive in everything you wish to do just as long as its good.

When you’re older I’ll get you a dog… I know you love dogs.. just like your mom. =) I will not be scared to let you go out and play because mommy knows its fun. I will let you do things on your own… but mommy will watch you so I can help you when you ask for help and I will run at your side when you get hurt. I will not scold you when you do things the wrong way, or when you can’t do things you’re supposed to do. 


I really don’t know how it is to be a good mom to you Mj. But I’m doing what my heart feels like. And my heart screams i love you. I may not do the best things when it comes to being a mom… I am sorry nobody taught me. But I’ll do what I do best… to love you… 

I am very very proud of you Mj….madami pakong gusting sabihin…pero siguro… kahit hindi ko sabihin…malalaman mo din… =) 

Mahal na mahal kita anak. Thank you for making mommy, daddy and everybody else happy.

The birth of my online diary

Hi and welcome to my blog.

You can call me Blaire. Not my real name. Although I have no intention of hiding my identity, I'd like to be known for another name and I like Blaire. My name also starts and ends with the same letters as Blaire. So there... You can call me Blaire.

To give you an idea of who I am, I am a Gemini, a middle child, once a runaway bride now a wife, a mother of a 3 year old preschooler and I work in the academe. I am 26 years old but I see myself as young. I I live in the South but I'm always in the city. There.

I have always wanted to blog, but I was too scared. I have a low self-esteem you know. I was afraid I wasn't interesting or smart enough to have my own blog. I also do not have a lot of experiences to share, but as i thought about it some more, I realized why not? I have my own experiences and feelings too! And this is where Ill put them. I also believe that this blog would benefit me because i will be forced to try out new things (which I normally do not do), learn from my own experiences, gain new friends, and practice the art of writing. I know I'm not good - but I will become better, you'll see.

I ponder deeper about what topics I'm going to write in. And I haven't really decided. I'm no beauty junkie, I'm not well-travelled. I'm not opinionated. So, we'll see where this blog takes me. I hope that along the way, I learn more and dream more. I am a pretty boring person and this blog.... could be my chance.

There. Happy birthday to Blaire'sLair. Starting tonight, this blog will be my online home.