Win A DUCATI Supersport Red from Old Spice Ph

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Old Spice Philippines is giving away a DUCATI SUPERSPORT – RED Edition to one loyal product user. 20 days to go before the raffle cut off (October 31, 2018).

Check this piece of pogi!

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To join, follow this easy raffle mechanics:
1. Buy any Old Spice product during the promo period: July 15, 2018 to October 31, 2018.
2. Keep your Original Receipt (as proof of purchase)
3. Go to https://www.oldspiceph.net/ to register for the raffle
4. Enter all the required information on each field
5. Once completed, an email confirmation will be sent to the registered email address
6. Each Old Spice product purchased is entitled to one (1) raffle entry. Thus, one receipt may qualify for multiple entries depending on the quantity of Old Spice products purchased.
7. New draw date is on November 5, 2018
8. This raffle is open NATIONWIDE

DOH-FDA-CCRR Permit No. 0464 s. 2018

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Old Spice is the authority on the male grooming experience and it brings authenticity, performance, and confidence to men all around the world. It offers a wide array of products for the modern man such as antiperspirant deodorants, deodorants, bar soap, shower gel, body sprays, after shaves, and colognes. It comes in various scent collections, allowing the man to choose the perfect man-smell for oneself given any and every situation. You can man-up today as Old Spice is found in all leading supermarkets and stores nationwide.

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Australian Tourist Visa: DIY Easy Online Application for Filipinos

Published on by iamjosemanuel5 Comments

Hey,hey,hey! I just got my Australian Tourist Visa approval a few weeks ago. The process is relatively easy and is very much DIY-able. Aside from rejoicing for the approval, I am also thankful that the Aussie Immig was generous enough to grant a multiple entry ’til 2020. Cool, diba? As such, I will be sharing here the step by step DIY guide I did for this application, para naman sabay sabay tayo mag selfie duon with the Koala Bears!

This blog guide however, shall focus solely on Tourist Visa – Online Application for Filipinos living in the Philippines. If you are looking for Business, Study or Fiance Visa, I reco you visit the main Australian Immigration Website at https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/ for the specific process.

Yes po, Australian Immigration now accepts visa application online. Meaning, no more personal interview. You only need to prepare and properly scan your valid requirements, submit online and pay by credit card. If accepted and approved,the grant certificate shall be emailed to you. No more submission of passport to the embassy for verification and stamping. Easy breezy!

If opted, you can still submit your traditional application personally at the Australian Embassy via VFS Agency. But since I reside in a city that is 2 hours away by plane from the capital, it is more practical for me to do all transactions via online.

The difference between personal and online application? Walang Visa Sticker when applied online. In lieu, a grant certificate shall be issued via email, which you have to print and carry with throughout the trip. The traditional sticker eklavu on the passport are only given when documents are personally submitted.

Online application however, may still be required a personal interview if the evaluators find your documents questionable. That being said, let me just cite na din my travel blogger idol Aileen Adalid’s disclaimer, “NO ONE can give you a guarantee on your approval — not even a lawyer, a consultant, a travel agent, or an embassy employee. Anyone who says otherwise is most likely going to be a scammer.”

So without dragging this further, here is the DIY step by step process I did,

  1. Prepare basic visa requirements.

    –Photograph file – Passport sized with very light gray background 500 KB Max. (Alam ng studio ang size, Raw file straight from camera, unedited, scanned photo not allowed )

    –Evidence of Family Composition -Scanned Copy NSO Birth Certificate in Colored Paper

    –Evidence of Employment – Current – Scanned Copy Employment Certificate with Salary Details and approved date of leave, signed by your boss.

    –Evidence of Financial Capacity – Scanned Copy Current Bank Cert, Bank account statement, Credit Card statement , ITR or Business Permit (If available, but I did not submit. Instead, I scanned property titles under my name. Insurance policy and bonds may also count. I submitted my PRU Policy. This is optional)

    –Evidence of Previous Travel – Scanned Copy of Past and Current Passport showing all stamps and visas.

    –Evidence of Planned Tourism Activity – I made a mock up day to day itinerary. Hotel Reservation is optional, but may help. Don’t pay for this muna.

    When scanning, only file formats .JPG, .PDF or .PNG are accepted. Each document must be of good quality but must not exceed 5MB in size. Except for the Passport photo which is ideally 500 KB size and of Jpg format. It i advised that filenames shall contain your name in it (example ” LIM,JOSE PASSPORT PHOTO.jpg”) . If this preparation is too difficult, then I recommend you rather apply though an agency than doing a DIY.

    Lastly, as you noticed, AIRLINE TICKET OR EVEN A RESERVATION is NOT REQUIRED.

  2. Log on to Australian Embassy Official Home Affairs Website

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/600-/Visitor-e600-visa-online-applications . As a Tourist Visa applicant, your application shall be under “VISITOR e600” Category, no other! Website will look like this.

The page that will launch your ticket to a brighter future. click “start application“

2. The “start application” with then prompt you to create an ImmiAccount. ImmiAccount is the main portal for accessing the online services of the Australian government’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Parang facebook lang ito that you have to provide basic information, contacts, a valid email add and a strong password. An email verification will be done. This Immi account shall become your official access and monitor this application and for future transaction with AU immigration.

If you already created an Immi account, click login.
click New Application at the upper left

3. Start filling up your e600 form. Here is what you will likely see. Easy to understand.

4. After filling up,you will be led to a document uploading interface which looks like this. inappropriate file type and size will be prompted. refer to requirements given above.

5. After all scanned files have been accepted by the online interface, you will be prompted to the payment page. I I paid mine via credit card for AUD 140 (Around 5,500 Pesos)

6. Submit and wait for Confirmation Email “Received”. This is the waiting time that your scanned documents will be evaluated. Also the perfect time for novena and pa-misa sa church for grace.

7. Receive decision via Email. I got mine after 10 days. The grant certificate will look like this. No need to submit your passport na to the embassy in Manila for verification and stamping. This certificate will suffice.

And that’s it! You have approval na and you’re ready to sell your kidney for travel funds.

Points to remember:

As per website, results are released 30 to 60 days after the submission. However, most of the recent applicants got their results earlier; provided, complete at valid ang scanned documents. I got mine after 10 days.

Since this is an online application, no need to print and submit paper requirements. Unless your uploads are not clear, then they may ask for those, or require you a personal appearance.

Bank account: As per usual travel blogs, bank accounts are ideally at 100 dollars x number of days stay x 2. better if more.

You can apply as early as 6 months before the trip.

Again, walang assurance ng approval. I feel that I got approved mainly because of the stamps I collected from my previous trips.

Lastly, IF UNSURE, WAG MAG DIY APPLICATION. Seek assistance from a reputable travel agency. PM me for recommendations. Chos! =)

New Zealand Tourist Visa for Filipinos 2018 – DIY Online Application Guide with Photos

Published on by iamjosemanuel19 Comments

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WAIVED NA PO ANG TOURIST VISA FEE FOR NEW ZEALAND!

True! Hindi po ito fake news. Before, it was mandatory to pay NZ$ 165. As of June 2017, A resolution has already been approved, stating that the Citizens of the Philippines do not have to pay anymore the fee or immigration levy for TOURIST/VISITOR VISA application, when coming to New Zealand for fewer than 60 days (Reference: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/).

However, point out ko lang po clearly, NZ is NOT VISA FREE. It is only the big amount of fee that was taken out. We still have to submit necessary requirements to the NZ Embassy for the issuance of visa prior to our trip.

Traditional method of submitting paper requirements is still being implemented today. However, NZ Immigration already formulated a “Passport Handling-Online Application” method, which has taken visa application to the next level of easiness. With this method, applicants are only required to completely fill up a form on their website and then submit online the scanned copies of usual visa requirements. For this convenience,however,applicants shall pay a fee of less than 1,000 Pesos for the “Passport Handling”, which shall be discussed later. This is relatively a small amount compared to the big chunk of levy that has already been relieved from us. Passport handling fees may also be bank transferred na. This has made the application process more convenient, especially for us living far away from Manila/Cebu where embassy offices are located.
This guide blog focuses solely on Visitors (Tourist) Visa via Online Application. For other types of Visa, refer to https://www.immigration.govt.nz.

So without further ado (Char), here is a step by step guide on how I completed my application.

STEP 1 : Gather the visa requirements,

  1. Photo – passport sized (900 x 1200 pixels minimum), light colored background(except white, ideally light gray), JPEG Format straight from file. Bilhin nyo yung file ng picture sa studio. scanned from printed photo is not allowed; file size between 500KB and 3MB
  2. Valid Passport – scan pages with personal information; PDF Format
  3. Government issued Identification Card – either driver’s license, PRC, SSS, GSIS, TIN, Philhealth; PDF Format
  4. Proof of Employment – letter of approved leave from employer ideally with salary and other details ; PDF Format
  5. Evidence of Fund – Bank Certificate with ADB; Bank Statements; Updated Passbook; PDF Format
  6. Evidence of Onward Travel – Airline confirmed booking(meaning, ticket reservation from a reputable travel agency); PDF Format ; pwede rin Airline ticket mismo if you already have one, but not advised.
  7. Cover Letter – letter of intention. You may also put here your proposed day to day itinerary ; PDF Format
  8. Other Financial Document – Credit card billing statement, ITR; ; PDF Format
  9. For Self Employed – business permit, SEC or DTI registration. Annual ITR for the employed; PDF Format
  10. Record of Previous Travels – Scanned copy of your past and current passport with all stamps
  11. Copy of other Valid First World Visas (If available) – USA, Schengen, Japan or others; PDF Format

Re bank funds, some successful applicants mentioned “100 USD per day x # days stay x 2” maintaining balance. I guess we should prepare the same na din (or more) to prove our capacity to visit their country.

Step 2 : Go to https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa

Select appropriate visa options. it will look something like this.
Click on the RealMe Link at the bottom to start application

Step 3: Create a RealMe Account which serves as your application form. This is where you will be uploading all your infos and scanned documents.

Provide usual infos, username and password. This step will also ask for an email verification.
After Email verification, your RealMe account will now look something like this. Click the “Visitor Visa” Highlighted in RED.

Step 4: Fill up RealMe Form in order that is given.

Fill up all the “Identity and Contact” requirements. one after the other. Save infos from time to time.
This may be intimidating, but just say No to all these entries, unless you seriously have a condition to declare.
The interface still asks for this stage even if you declared “single” early on. Samok ha!
This is the part where you upload your JPEG and PDF files
The good thing about this interface is that it prompts you for detected errors such as this. Cool! Very first world!

Step 5: Submit online your completed RealMe Form. In 24 hours, you will receive an email confirmation and instructions on where to submit your passport. This is not yet your approval.

Step 6: Payment of Passport Handling Fee thru Bank.

While it is most common for applicants to submit their passports personally, NZ offers an option to pay through Banco de Oro, which is very favourable for people away from Manila. Passport handling will be catered by VFS Global, which is NZ embassy’s partner agency. Details can be found at http://www.vfsglobal.com/NewZealand/Philippines/how-to-apply.html

Instructions on Bank Transfer Payments are detailed on this website.

For my application, I paid the 570 Handling fee plus 380 Courier Fee for them to return my passport after assessment. I did not avail the SMS assistance anymore, since the updates on my application can be monitored on my RealMe Account

Print the bank form and show to the bank during payment.

Step 7: Submit Passport to VFS Office for Assessment and Verification

Photocopy Bank Deposit Slip/ Transfer Slip and submit this to VFS together with your valid passport, the printed and signed bank form, a printed copy of “thank you” page and the Email Confirmation. Applicants from the province may send their documents ti VFS via any preferred courier.

Step 8: Result

Once the result is released, VFS will send your passport back to your given address. Courier fee for the return is part of the prior payment.

NZ Visitor Visa issuance is indeed fast. I got my approval 4 days after submission of passport to VFS.

Points to remember:

As per website, results are released 20 days after the submission. However, most of the recent applicants got their results within 3 to 4 days!

Since this is an online application, no need to print and submit paper requirements. Unless your uploads are not clear, then they may ask for those.

You can apply as early as 6 months before the trip.

Grant on duration of stay varies. Wala talagang template for this. But definitely, your stay will not exceed 59 days at a time.

For online application, No more sticker on your passport. The approval certificate that will be emailed to you shall serve its purpose.

—0—-

So there, hopefully this blog will be of help by the time you apply for your own. Though I am fully aware that this guide will not guarantee approval for everybody. Kaya sabayan nyo nalang din ng Novena for 14 days with miryenda cream bread and mayonnaise.

This guide,however, is focused purely on tourism/holiday visit. For other types of application, see https://www.immigration.govt.nz for details.

Re Waived visa fee, there is no information on until when this waived fee will last. So while we are enjoying the current privilege, might as well consider visiting this green country very soon.

Lastly, if you are unsure of your documents, or if you find the D.I.Y. online application too complicated, please get in touch na lang with a reputable travel agency to process your papers.  Life is short, wag na pa stress!

Take Me Back Balabac: A Travel Guide 2018

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With the clearest turquoise water and unspoilt shores, Balabac is one of the less visited destinations in the Philippines that deserves a spot on top of your travel bucket list. Here’s a quickie blog with nitty gritty details on how I reached the Balabac Group of Islands. But first, a little information muna about the place.

Balabac is a 2nd class municipality situated at the southwestern tip of Palawan province. Surrounded by the rich water of Sulu Sea, Balabac is a group of 31 islands and islets blessed with unspoiled fine sand beaches, wide sandbars and rich marine life. As per record, there are only about 40,000 inhabitants scattered around the islands. The province got much of its recent popularity after being featured by GMA’s Jessica Soho. As the show mentioned, this group of islands is our country’s last of the last frontier.

Balabac is only 8 hours away by boat to Malaysia. Kaya expect nalang that Malaysian products are a common thing in this very small province. Some locals do back door (paperless) entry to Malaysia, but as a responsible Filipino citizen, please do not consider doing that. No, no, no.

How to Get to Balabac – DIY Style

The municipality of Rio Tuba is the known gateway/commercial port with public boats traveling daily to Balabac main island where most of the community is located.

Puerto Princesa City — 6 hours –> Rio Tuba by bus + Rio Tuba — 3 to 4 hours –>Mainland Balabac by boat.

Public buses leave Puerto Princesa City (Palawan) from San Jose Terminal starting at 4AM. Fare is at P275++ for non-aircon bus and P450++ for aircon shuttle or bus, travel time is approximately six (6) hours.

From Rio Tuba, A public boat departs daily at around noon to mainland Balabac. Travel time is approximately four (4) hours and fare is P450 one-way. Please note that there is no fixed schedule of boat departure as it depends on sea condition and passenger traffic. Best to be at Rio Tuba as early as 10AM. You may also opt to stay overnight at Rio Tuba town. Basic pension houses at P 300-500/room can accommodate you.

Balabac Main Island Accommodation As recommended by a friend, JD lodging: (0910 662 0073) at P400 per night for 2 pax.

DIY Island Hopping from Balabac Mainland. To go around the sub islands, the only mode of transport is by boat. There are no public boats that go from island to island since most locals here own their own motorised boats. Chartering a small boat (4 pax-6 pax) from the locals usually starts at P5000 per day. Lodging houses can recommend this to you.

If you intend to stay outside of mainland Balabac, expect to homestay or with guided camping for a fee. It is advised that you pass by the municipality tourism desk upon arrival and have yourself registered. Small amount may be imposed to visitors in the coming months, as Balabac Tourism Board is already being put up at the moment.

Budget for 4 days 3 nights? Probably around P 7,000 to 9,000, assuming you’d share the boat rentals with 4 -6 pax.

Pre-arranged Tour Style – I Prefer this!

Considering its isolated location and limited facility, Balabac is relatively new to the tourism industry. Tourism standards are yet to be formalised. For convenience, as well as safety, I HIGHLY recommend joining pre-arranged tour to take you around the islands. A number of independent tour providers offer “island camping” packages with rides, insurance and on board meals for P 10,000 to P 12,500, 4 days,three nights. Check out Biyahe ni Josemanuel on facebook for recommendations.

What to Expect. As a relatively isolated destination, do not expect fancy accommodations and the comforts you’d find in Boracay. Balabac is more on the rough side for the adventure seekers. Clearly, it is not a destination for everybody at the moment. In addition, there are no ATMs in the Island. Bring enough cash with you; preferably small bills.

Best Time to Visit. Summer . March to May when the sky is clear and the water is calm. Imagine island hopping with a nagbabadyang typhoon…. rainy season is a no, no!

Safety. Security concerns have been raised in the past, particularly on foreign travelers (you may google these issues). As such, joining a pre-arranged group tour an advantage for safety and monitoring.

The importance of Insect Repellent Lotion. Some of the stops during the island hop have lots of mosquito and sand fleas. More to that, some parts of Balabac experienced Malaria scare last December 2017. As a precaution, bring your off lotion everywhere you go. Sleeved tops and long pants are also recommended, especially at night.

Mobile Networks. Mobile networks were said to be moderate 2G on the mainland, but most of the islands have none. Prepare to disconnect with your social media hang ups.

Toilet and Water Supply. When camping, expect the most basic toilet there is. Deep well freshwater on the islands is very limited. As such, limit your flush and bathing requirements to the minimum.

Electricity. Electricity at the mainland is said to be up to 12 midnight only. For island camping, solar power is utilised to supply only basic light and gadget charging between 6 to 10 PM.

Snorkeling. Balabac offers the best snorkling sites I’ve visited to date. You can clearly see the corals from the boat as the water is super clear and calm, hindi mo na kailangan bumaba. As a safety reminder, never do snorkeling on shallow water. Only do this when the reefs are ideally 3.0 meters away from you.

Kill nothing but time. Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but pictures. Keep nothing but memories.

Checklist on Things to Bring

-A Lot of Sunblock (Organic/Reef Friendly Please!)
-Insect repellent lotion , moisturizing lotion, skin cooling mist spray
-Rashguard / Aqua Shoes
-Long sleeves / leggings
-Flash light / head lamp
-Powerbanks and extension wire
-Camera / Go pro (Having a drone would be perfect!)
-Snorkel gears
-Waterproof Bag
-First Aid Kit

-Sleeping bag ,Extra food/Snacks/Canned goods if you’re going camping.

Here’s a short video blog from by Balabac Tour. Enjoy =)

One Day Binge Eating Around Puerto Princesa (with Prices and Menu)

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During my recent trip to Puerto Princesa, Palawan, I had one spare-chill day to explore the local food scene of the lovely city. I tried to avoid famous touristy restaurants and preferred to check on hole in the walls where locals usually dine. Walkable restaurants lang within the city centre, particularly near Rizal Avenue where I stayed. Here’s how my day went.

Breakfast:

I was on my leisurely 7 am walk from the city cathedral to Baywalk when I passed by this quaint food kiosk serving lomi near Balayong Pension House. Madami na’ng tao that early, and looking at their hefty serving, I already felt that I am at the right place to have breakfast. Huge bowl with egg and meat slices, meatballs, lumpia and chicharon topping with a load of garlic bits. Ala Eh’ Lomi is worthy of a recommendation.

Lunch:

For lunch, local friends recommended Itoy’s Coffee Haus. Itoy’s is said to be the first legit coffee shop in PP, which also offers a lot of food choices on their menu. I tried the Sizzling Bulalo, which is said to be the house specialty; and it did not disappoint. Tender beef, marrow and a hefty creamy sauce to complete the set. 200 Pesos per serve, good for 2 pax. 

Noon Snack:

Reef Hotdog; A small hotdog stand near the provincial capitol with very high ratings on tripadvisor. I was intrigued with the reviews so I made time to check it out and it did not disappoint. The kiosk basically serves gourmet European style sausages with a great deal of sauces and toppings to choose from. I had pineapple curry sauce with caramelised onion for my cheesy Hungarian. Awesome!

The place is run by a German and his filipino wife. No wonder this is a to go place for foreigners. Buns range from 120 to 200 Pesos.

Early dinner:

Puerto Princesa Baywalk Park. For early dinner, I met up with a friend to share a hefty meat, steamed vegetable and seafood boodle set with. 300 pesos lang for two pax, but seriously, this could feed more! Beachfront ambiance is also a plus plus plus for this place.

Late night eats:

I had a hearty bowl of chao long noodles at Thalia’s to close off this binge eating. Chao long is basically Palawan’s version of the Vietnamese Pho. Palawan has strong ties with the vietnamese immigrants since the WW2. As such, Pho noodles, spring rolls and Bhan Me’s are common sight around the city.

Chao long, however, is really a rice and pork porridge dish in Vietnam, I don’t know why that name was given to a noodle dish when it arrived in Palawan. They must have had some translation issues in the past. But whatever! Bala sila dyan.

So there, I ordered beef stew chao long at Thalia’s. It was good. filling. broth is more on the sweet side with a kick of hot spice. There’s another more famous chao long in PP called Bona’s, but a local told me it is super MSG. As such, I opted to settle for Thalia’s. It did not disappoint.

So there you go, that is how Jose Manuel overeats. Sabayan nyo na ako next time. ‘Til then =)

The Balabac Squad

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My 4 days and 3 nights island camping trip Balabac,Palawan was made even more fun and perky by these awesome travelers. Cheers to more epic travel stories for us in the future! Check out this video blog attached. Para sa inyo to lahat. Halong sa inyo tanan dira! =)

Balabac trip details? Wait lang guys. susunod nah. =)

Hostel Recommendations in Taipei at 1000 Pesos and Below

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So during my recent visit to Taipei, I had some time to randomly check a few affordable hostels near Taipei Main Station. The five featured on the vlog attached are priced at 600 to 1000 Pesos per bed per night(off peak season). Affordable, yet still with very good ratings and reviews online; and not to mention super instagrammable interiors. I’ve included clips of their lounges, the shared bedrooms and most importantly, their respective bathrooms.
All five are clean, relatively new, and are worthy of a recommendation. Hope this helps on your next visit to Taipei. 

Hostels featured can be reached through popular hotel booking sites online.

1. Taipei Oxygen Hostel  – No.100, Sec. 1, Chongqing S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist. Taipei City

2. Taipei Taipei Hostel  – #63, Sec. 1, Chongqing S. Rd Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City

3. Space Inn Hostel – Basement 1 Floor, #51 , Hengyang Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City

4. Angels’ Hostel – Mezzanine Floor, #51 , Hengyang Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
5. Sleepbox Capsule Hostel – #34, Hengyang Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
All these hostels are located within the same area as shown. 10-15 minutes walk from Taipei Main Station. Landmark to google : Taipei Peace Park, National Taipei Museum

Visa Free Travel to Taiwan for Philippine Passport Holders

Published on by iamjosemanuel3 Comments

UPDATE: In case you missed it, Filipinos can now travel to Taiwan visa-free up until July 31, 2019! Taiwan’s visa-free travel program has been extended another year.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office has already made official that we,the Philippine nationals, who plan to visit Taiwan for the purpose of tourism, visiting relatives, attending functions or events, can enjoy VISA FREE entry to Taiwan, for a duration of stay up to 14 days.

According to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office(TECO), a Filipino visa-free visitor must meet the following requirement to Taiwan Immigration upon arrival:

 

  1. A regular Philippine passport with remaining validity of at least six months from the date of entry (diplomatic & official passport holders are not eligible for visa-free treatment);
  2. A return ticket or a ticket for the traveler’s next destination and a visa for that destination if it is required;
  3. No criminal record in Taiwan;
  4. A proof of accommodation (hotel) booking or host/sponsor’s contact information or arrangements of tour, travel, visit, events and meeting, etc.

Effortless na, diba?  However, this visa-free access will have a nine-month trial period until July 31, 2018. Kaya behave tayo dun mga bes, ha? wag mag J-walk, wag mag drugs, and landi responsibly!

 

For travellers intending to stay for more than 14 days, or for studying, working, employment, and other activities, you are still required to obtain appropriate visas before entering Taiwan.

For first time Pinoy travellers however, I personally recommend you to bring other supporting documents that may be asked by the Philippine Immigration before you can leave the country. Yes bes, it happens! Pwede ka pa rin hindi makalipad because the Ph immigration might find your travel plans to Taiwan questionable. As such, don’t forget to bring your company ID and certificate of leave pa din with complete details on approved date of  absences; and if possible, state the declared salary.  The purpose of this is to inform the Ph immigration officer that you have a stable work/living to return to here in our country, and that becoming a possible TNT in Taiwan is not your option. Panigurado lang. If the officer does not ask for these documents, then good! At least you were prepared. =)

Anyways, here’s a teaser vlog i prepared from my trip to Taipei last week. More details and tips coming soon.

 

So We’re Here in Baguio. San Tayo Kakain?

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Lamon! Lamon! Lamon! It’s that part of the laag that I look forward the most. Sino ayaw mabusog?

So last month, our travel group (char!) got invited once again by Azalea Hotels and Residences. This time, we visited the ever charming Baguio City. We did a lot of sight seeing. We visited BenCab Museum. We saw horses with pink hair. Quite a short trip, yet super fun. Baguio is lovely, as always. And the best part? Food trip! =D Here are some of the foodie highlights that we enjoyed during our stay.

FILIPINO COMFORT FOOD. Tradisyon Restaurant is Azalea Hotels and Residences’ in-house restaurant. The restaurant serves well-loved and familiar local and international food. The hotel chef dished up all his best entries during our stay. Here are some of the highlights.

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Beef Tripe Kare-kare FTW!
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All of Baguio’s freshest vegetables in one platter.
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Tradisyon Smoked Pork Belly
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Tuyong Espada (Included with the hotel’s breakfast buffet)
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Deep fried Native Chicken
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Staple Pinoy Pinakbet
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Tradisyon Lengua
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Bulasing . Chef’s own fusion of Pinoy bulalo and sinigang. Quite a unique blend of taste.

Tradisyon Restaurant is located at the Azalea Hotels and Residences Baguio, Leonard Wood Loop, Brgy. M. Roxas. Price range 150 to 400 Pesos. servings to share.

 

TRADITIONAL AND AUTHENTIC. A visit to Baguio is an opportunity to experience authentic Cordilleran food. The Farmer’s Daughter is one of the noted restaurants in Baguio that serve pure Cordilleran dishes. Most of the dishes here are of Ibaloi cuisine.

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Pinikpikan. Soup-based chicken dish. Traditionally prepared wherein a live chicken is beaten to death with a stick. 
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Pinuneg. an Ibaloi version blood sausage.  with a dip of chili alamang with soy and squeeze of calamansi.
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Kinuday. traditional – smoked pork meat.
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Lots of fresh and sauted vegetables to fill up the table.

Experiencing native dishes is a way of appreciating and giving respect to the Ibaloi tradition. 

Dishes are good for sharing and ranges from Php100 to Php200. The Farmer’s Daughter is located in Awan, Baguio City, just beside the Tam-Awan Village.

 

A TASTE OF THE EXOTIC. Bar-B-que baby chicken. I didn’t eat this. Lol. But my friends enjoyed their piece. This street food is everywhere in Baguio. As such, sali ko nalang din sa list. Baka bet nyo to look forward. hehe IMG20170918145605_Fotor

 

STRAWBERRY HEAVEN. Baguio and it’s region is blessed with year-long cool weather; thus, the abundance of different kinds of berries.  Probably the most popular is their luscious and bright red strawberries that they generously put on almost all kind of pastries and desserts I can imagine. Here are some.

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Strawberry Taho is virtually everywhere in Baguio
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Chocolate cupcakes with strawberry topping. Tradisyon Restaurant
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Tres Leches. Super milky and creamy cake bites. Tradisyon Restaurant’s best seller. Also with strawberry topping.
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Choco-Banana Cupcake. by Tradisyon Restaurant
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Dark Chocolate dipped Strawberry Kisses. Chocolates are also locally sourced. This set shown is a gift from Azalea. Similar gift sets are available on many places in Baguio.
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More Strawberries to keep you drooling.

Alright, enough about food. Move on tayo. Here is me strutting my best pose in front of Azalea Hotels and Residences, where we stayed for two nights.  Azalea Residences is Baguio’s first and only 4-star serviced apartment hotel. (http://www.azaleabaguio.com/)

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All shots included in this post were taken using OPPO Mobile Phone, The Selfie Expert.  No filter. All Natural light. ‘Til then. =)

Yolk’s Cafe & Cupcakery : Pastry, Pasta & Other Awesome Things

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Yolk’s Cafe along Circumferential Road has been around for more than a year already. Many recent dining places have been sprouting everywhere in Davao, yet Yolk’s is still among my top recommendations when asked of staple comfort food. Good Pizza, pasta, staple filipino dishes in shareable serving, wide choices of frappes. Awesome! Not to mention the super instagrammable interiors. Kudos to the designer, if I may mention.

Price range: Set meals at 150 to 250 Pesos.  Ala carte dining, Say 200 to 250 Pesos/pax on shared orders. Majority of the dishes on the menu are good to share.

Location: Marfori. Near Seekhana, Caitlyns, Taco Loco and Mercury Marfori.

My Personal Faves

Crab Fat Pasta. A Top fave at Yolk’s. Whenever I dine in, I usually advance order this entry and eat it last, because I like my Crab Fat Pasta at room temperature. I find the sauce more flavourful that way.
Seafood Black Pasta. Still with crab fat =)
Buffalo Chicken Wings.
Salmon Skewers
Chicken Casserole. Like Afritada-ish. Simple, yet filling.
Sisig Dumplings

They also serve crispy pata, grilled pork belly, buttered shrimps and several salad sets to share

The Frappes

Mango Cream Cake. They have a lot of cake style, but this is a personal fave.

Yolk’s also serves several sets for breakfast. They open early.

Get in touch with them through facebook. Yolk’s Flower Cafe and Cupcakery

Jose’s 10 Favourite Cakes Around Davao City

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Hi Guys! It’s almost 2 am on a Saturday night, and I am still freaking alive, alert and awake because of that Old Town Hazelnut Coffee I had kaninang 6 pm, which I should have just passed. So since lurat pa mata ko, naisip ko lang to finally return to my long overdue blogs on list of favourite things sa buhay, like anything and everything I enjoy under the sun. And since nagpapa yummy ako ngayon and iwas sweets, let us start this series with my list of 10 personal favourite cakes and pies from different cafes around Davao City. This has no particular order bes ha, kasi the list is composed of variety of flavours and cake compositions. Therefore, I am not ranking one entry to the other. Karamihan nito, naging fave ko na kasi may kwentong unforgettable. Phak! Di, joke lang, gusto ko lang tologoh lumamons. Anyways, here’s the list. Hope you enjoy this.bastis brew bannana mackintosh1. Banana Mckintosh – Basti’s Brew, Victoria Plaza. Yes guys, old school muna keyyy! Tayong mga taga Davao, alam naman nating institution na ang Basti’s brew nun college tayo (Haha, wala pa tayong pera nun mga bes, kaya happy bonus tologoh makapag Basti’s lang). Masaya talaga ako sa B.M. nila. Crumbly crust, caramelized banana filling, cream top, chocolate drizzle. Simple, spot on. Walang kyeme. Yung tipong parang Tita mo lang ang nag prepare? Ganun ka comforting ang Banana Mckintosh for me. Sadly di na to masyado naseserve ng Basti’s nun recent visits ko. Kung kilala nyo ang may ari, paki tanong naman.

bistro-rosario_fotor.jpg2. Mango Charlotte. Bistro Rosario. Torres St. Yes guys, another old school Davao pastry. Sobrang deserving ng slot sa list ko, and  I guess most Davao people naman my age would agree. Madaming childhood memories dala-dala si Mango Charlotte with its spongy chiffon, light cream and bold mango toppings. Saktong tamis lang. Simple. Spot on. Though there are some who say na medyo commercial na daw ang MC ngayon, pero kebs. Natutunan ko na siyang mahalin through the years, tatalikod pa ba ako?

bastis brew carrot cake3. Carrot Cream Cake – Basti’s Brew. Di naman ako masyadong fan ng Old school Davao noh? Chot. But personally, gusto ko talaga ang carrot cake basta freshly baked. Probably because it is not super common, and umay na din palaging mag chocolate.  Basti’s version is slightly moist, which I like. Sakto lang din ang Tamis ng cream.

15055785_10210589236828453_6332851138108974482_n4. Fruity Cheesecake – Cafe de Flore, Torres St.  Pasok na tayo sa mga recently opened cafes. Yes po, this one is from the cafe fronting Angel in Torres =D. Pretty to look at, and quality din. Gusto ko ung honest to goodness cheesecake center nila; non gelatinous, thus medyo brittle sya. Ganito ung nasubukan kong cheesecake sa Brussels. Chot. Pero di nga, try nyo. The Cafe is owned and operated by a French National. Though I only had this cake twice, and wasn’t able to visit na the recent months. I hope they were able to keep up. Di rin kasi mura this. nasa 180 Pesos to per slice.  but it’s a large piece and I liked it.
20150503_142643_Fotor5. Chocopology – Alor’s/Yummy Chicken, Torres Street. By now, you may have noticed, di ako masyadong mahilig sa chocolate cakes. However, This entry is an exemption. Probably kasi mestisa lang sya. lol. Layers of semi moist chocolate chiffon base, light cream, mocha and chocolate mousse. Probably  because malawak yung layer ng cream that is why I didn’t find it too sweet. Sakto lang. Highly recommended this .

19601409_10212864879638101_976324595108154709_n6. Matcha Cheesecake – Katsu Country, Jacinto Extension. Mahilig ako sa Matcha. Probably because mahilig sa matcha si crush so I have to cope. Chot! But seriously, Matcha flavour is exotic. Acquired taste bale, it’s not for  everyone. Katsu Country is only months old, pero I must commend the quality of this featured cheesecake. Texture. consistency. Good! Again, non gelatinous. honest to goodness cheesecake lang on a plate. Super turned off ako sa cheesecake na parang jelly.

14045787_10209773995327925_9037991388810884361_n7. Nutty Matcha Cheesecake-Cuppycakes Boulangerie,Marfori Subd. A proof na mahilig ako sa Matcha. I can’t choose between this and the previous so I’m including both. But unlike the honest, unembellished composition of item 6, this matcha cheesecake is a bit fancy, with walnuts and caramel drizzle . And if I am not mistaken, the crust is semi carrot-ish.

20150502_212840_Fotor8. Durian Cheesecake Mini – Lachi’s Marfori. No need to argue guys, Lachi’s is a  dessert institution. Everything there is good. Sansrival, pecan pie, french cake. Lahat. But for this list, I am including the Durian Mini since ito naman madalas kong ma order.

13439155_10209310191013107_3915574275465327239_n9. Cheesecake Roulette – Park Inn Hotel, Lanang. All 6 varieties of good cheesecake on a platter. Perfect for presents on Christmas, kaya I included this para mag bigay ng gift idea. On this set, pinaka gusto ko yung cheesecake with caramel candy topping.

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10. Banana Walnut Torte, Saging Repablik, Tiongko Street.  This may come as a surprise to some, pero swear, on my list, this is on top! Saktong layers of sansrival-like crust, caramelized banana, dark chocolate layer and loads of crushed walnut. Pile up two sets of that goodness and cover with chilled cream. Comfort entry ko to. Simple, honest ingredients. may play of texture and flavours which I find exciting.
Ilang dates na ba naisama ko sa Saging repablik for this? Raise your hands. lol. Also factor din na malapit lang to sa bahay.

When I have visitors asking for dessert recommendations, I usually mention this Banana Walnut Torte. It’s a local recipe using local resources; the Davao banana to be specific. Local flair is key! But for those who love durian flavour, definitely there’s Lachi’s cheesecake.

So there goes my list. And let me just note that this is not a paid post or whatever. FYI. Consider me as a satisfied – Paying Customer that enjoyed eating his cake in peace and without counting the calories habang stable the blood sugar count.

As a good friend quoteed: ” Bahalag Tambok, basta lipay”!  ’til the next blog.

Eat responsibly.=)

 

 

Biyaheng Pinas:Josemanuel Visits Baguio City

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Here’s a quickie vlog on how I spent my recent 2 days off in Baguio City.  Flew in via Clark Int’l Airport. Baguio City is just two and a half smooth hours away by private van from Clark.

Traveling to North and Central Luzon is now easier for Davaoenos with Airasia Philippines’ direct Davao to Clark flights.

Stayed at Azalea Hotel and Residence Baguio. Splendid rooms and impeccable services as always. http://www.azaleabaguio.com

Josemanuel Wears Surfer Boy Highlights by Buddy Congson

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Ohhw,Joy! It’s my first time to have my hair highlighted.

#YOLO!

I am currently wearing ‘Sun-kissed Surfer Boy Highlights’, professionally handled by The Buddy Congson of Balayage by Buddy and Hairs and Nails Salon Davao,Digos and General Santos City.

Get in touch with buddy through facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/buddycongson/

https://www.facebook.com/HairsandNailsSalon/

Biyaheng Pinas:Kawa Hot Bath In Tibiao, Antique

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Here’s a vlog on my quickie overnight side trip to Tibiao,Antique. The small town famous for the kawa hot bath is 2 to 2.5 hours away by bus from Kalibo City. Bus leaves every hour between 7AM to 2PM. Schedules are posted on Ceres Bus Line Website.

From Kalibo City (Ceres Terminal) take the bus to” San Jose,Antique”. Inform the conductor ahead of time that you are bound for Tibiao. All vans and buses of this route pass though Tibiao Town. You have a choice to alight at Tibiao Town Center, or at the crossing of Brgy Importante, which is a stop just before Tibiao town proper. Bus ride costs 150 Pesos per way.

The Kawa Hot Bath places are located up the hills and rice paddles of Brgy Importante. To get there, take a motorcycle habal habal for 80 to 100 Pesos per way. 20 to 30 minutes travel time. Tibiao is a pretty small town that is very easy to navigate. Locals are also very much willing to assist you on securing your rides. No sweat.

Going up the hills, expect to pay 50 Pesos Tourism fee at a booth. They provide Official Receipt for that. No worries.

At the moment, there are 4 places up the mountains that provide accommodation, full board meals and hot baths. There’s on resort that can be booked through Agoda, but through referrals, I opted to stay at La Escapo Lodge, Owned by the Barangay Captain of the place. Stay details are on my vlog attached.

 

Overnight Kubo Room (Fan Type) : 250/ pax

Hot Bath : 200/pax

Food (Paluto Style): 70 to 100 per set meal. Bringing of Baon is also allowed.

Other activities : Caving, Kayaking, rafting, rice paddle trekking with kids as guides (like 7 years old. lels)

At the moment, expect to have very unstable to no Network Signal. No Data. No Wifi. Good luck sa inyo mga bes. However, a visit to Tibiao is definitely a great opportunity to have some long overdue quiet time; A Place for retreat. A chance to reconnect with you inner thoughts. An inspirational book plus hot coffee will be a good idea.

The place is super green, super fresh smelling and soothing cool with drizzling rain from time to time. The accommodation huts are just up the stream so sobrang sarap matulog talaga hearing the water flow down and crash against the river rocks.

Definitely going back there soon.

—0—-

Where I stayed : La Escapo Lodge and Hot Bath, owned by the family of Miss Yolly Amar. Get in touch with them though facebook.

Biyaheng Pinas:Backpacking Capiz and Isla de Gigantes Sample Itinerary

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Here’s a quick recap vlog on how I spent one fine weekend backpacking Capiz and Isla de Gigantes. I flew in via Airasia’s direct Davao-Kalibo flight. Kalibo to Roxas City,Capiz is merely 1.5 hours away by van.
Capiz and Isla de Gigantes are two awesome alternative destinations accessible from Kalibo (in case Boracay is already a cliche).

Getting around tips:

Kalibo City to Roxas City, Capiz

From Kalibo Airport, walk towards the highway, which is merely 60 meters away. Tricycle rides from the highway to anywhere in downtown Kalibo is only 10 Pesos. Super cheap as compared to the chartered tricycles directly outside the arrival area (minimum 100 Pesos). Upon exiting the airport, don’t forget to try the Aklan Style Suman with Latik. To die for super yummy. Tradition ko tlga kumain nito upon arrival and before I leave.

Van terminal from Kalibo to Roxas City (Capiz) is located at the front of Citymall. 5 am to 7pm. 120 Pesos. 1.5 hours travel time.  Vans and buses alight at Pueblo de Panay Central Terminal in Roxas City.

A Platter of Steamed Talaba for only 35 Pesos at Baybay food park, Roxas City

Where to Stay in Roxas City : Beehive Inn. 400 Pesos Fan room with private bathroom and wifi.  Inn is located fronting CAP building; walking distance from public market. Roxas is very easy to navigate. Tricycles are the primary transpo. 10 to 15 Pesos fare.

Roxas City, Capiz to Isla de Gigantes

From Pueblo de Panay Terminal, hop on a Van with “ESTANCIA” Route, but you’re not going to Estancia. Let the driver know you are on your way to Isla de Gigantes so he can drop you off at BALASAN.  65 Pesos per way. One Hour travel. Balasan town is relatively populated. Nothing to be scared of.

From Balasan, hire a motorcycle habal-habal to Bancal Port (or just let the driver know you’re on your way to Isla de Gigantes.)   100 Pesos max to get there.

Bus ride is also doable but is a bit complicated.

Chartering a van from Roxas City is around 3000 to 5000 Pesos. The easiest way ever!

If given some time in Balasan, don’t forget to try their local bibinka. Super small and cute, like around 3 inches diameter lang. pero super yummy. like may buko strips inside and crystalized sugar on top. 

I pre-booked my day tour to Gigantes group of islands with Paul Bolivar of Gigantes island Tours and Services. Get in touch with them through Facebook. Package tour is at 999 Pesos with hefty Lunch (off peak price). Overnight packages are also available.

Here are some of the dishes served during our lunch. PANALO!!!  

 

Backpackers Hostel Recommendations in Boracay

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Hostel stay has now become a popular option when visiting Boracay. Hostels (or minsan referred din as Dormitory type accommodation)are perfect for solo backpackers, as well as travelling groups preferring shared rooms and amenities,to save on cost.

During my recent visit, naisip ko lang to come up ng list of hostels around the island with very good ratings, based on Agoda and Booking.com. Pinuntahan ko sila personally to check and take some videos of their rooms and amenities. Aside from good ratings, featured hostels here have prices not exceeding P 500.00 per night (Off peak rates). Check my short video blog below. =)

Here’s the shortlist of hostels featured,

1. Hostel Avenue . 3rd and 4th floor Pats Creek Bar, Station 2. This hostel offers the best location, as it is the only option at the moment with direct beachfront access.

2. W Hostel. Bolabog Road. Walking distance from D’mall. Best In View. Panalo ang roof deck amenities for chill nights. The hostel is managed by Koreans.

3. Mad Monkey Hostel. Popular chain of hostel na sila sa Cambodia, kaya panalo sa mga foreign backpackers. Massive swimming pool, sobrang party mode ng crowd. If bet mo magka jowa ng Kano, ok, dito ka. =)

4. Chill-out Hostel. The name clearly represents its atmosphere. Relax lang. Nice din ang pool. Very photogenic. If bet mo mag emote, dito ka. =)

5. Chillax Flashpacker Hostel. Panalo sa cleanliness. Bago ang facilities. Medyo secluded location at Diniwid beach (next to station 1). The Hostel is managed by a very accommodating New Zealander guy.

All these hostels can be booked through booking.com. For inquiries, pwede rin sila sa facebook.  Chikahin nyo lang. =)

Katsu Country Japanese Inspired Cafe

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Tucked in a quiet corner along Jacinto Extension stands Katsu Country, a recently opened Japanese-inspired café in Davao serving tasty tonkatsu sets, ramen and creative pasta dishes. Super easy to find the cafe, as the sleek and very inviting millennial pink interiors can easily be spotted from the outside. 19894582_319159625194716_1786139599902408972_n20292692_325842941193051_3849070834435276859_n

Here are some of the ‘must try’; my personal faves.

Kani Salad as starter. Generous Kani strips, chilled lettuce, tangy Japanese mayo sauce. 110 Pesos a bowl to share. kani salad katsu country

Katsudon rice topping . Deep-fried pork cutlet with egg, prepared with a sweet and mildly salty broth, placed over hot rice. 200 Pesos. Generous serving size. katsudon

Katsu Meatball Spaghetti. Traditional Spaghetti topped with deep fried beef balls. 175 Pesos per serve.meatball spaghetti

Chicken Teriyaki Pasta. Mildly sweet. Very flavourful. A Katsu Country Original. 150 Pesos per serve.teriyaki pasta

Katsu Country Signature Matcha Cheesecake. Honestly good, non-gelatinous, slightly brittle texture, which I like.  It’s probably the best Matcha cheesecake in Davao, TBH. 200 Pesos for this set. matcha overload Apart from these featured entries, the cafe also serves traditional Porkloin, beef,chicken and fish katsu sets, tofu katsu set for the vegetarians, burgers, and savory Shoyu Ramen bowls.

Katsu Country Cafe is located at the Ground Floor of Junction Bldg, Emilio Jacinto Extension, Davao City. Get in touch with them through Facebook, or contact 0917 314 6361 for reservations. 

Boracay Quickie Trip : What’s in my Backpack Challenge

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Hello,mga bes. Yes, I feel super rejuvenated,alive and fresh from my recent trip to Boracay. Quickie trip lang, 3 days. Di ako excited nun. Di nga ako masyadong nakapaghanda. Before the trip, I just had my hair highlighted with Sun-kissed Brown Balayage, courtesy of the Master Colourist himself, Buddy Congson of Hairs and Nails Salon. May I promote pa noh? Ganun tlga. #LoveLove

Moving forward, I thought of sharing with you guys how I prepared and packed my things for this trip. We all have our own styles of  loading our bags based on the purpose of the travel. Me personally, kahit anong occasion pa yan, I like my things light,organised and minimal, bringing only the necessary. I believe naman na pag may kulang, we can always buy them upon arrival (unless mamundok ka, then Kbye). As much as possible, I don’t baggage check in na. I don’t mind hand carrying my things naman, so that i can get off the plane swiftly and leave the airport agad. I don’t have to wait na for my bag sa carousel and all. Para sa mga nagtatanong, I use a Cabin Zero 44L Backpack. It’s a European brand na super lightweight material with huge storage capacity, parang maleta na ang peg. Hindi ito paid advertisement ha? Wag kayong echosera. I just like how this bag serves its purpose. Although wala masyadong compartments. It would be better if we also use smaller pouches to segregate and organise things.  IMG20170426173107Sadly for this trip, airline crew wanted me to check in my baggage because of the go pro stick. Weird nga eh. I had many trips na before and selfie sticks are allowed naman for hand carry. But Kebs na; life’s to short to question airline protocol.  Anyways, let us proceed with the dissection. Here is what’s inside my backpack:IMG20170426173337( from lower right, clockwise):

  1. Pouch 1 for clothes
  2. Pouch 2 for more clothes
  3. Pouch for shoes and slippers
  4. Pouch for Swimwear
  5. Pouch Toiletry/Skin care/gadgets
  6. Camera. Go Pro tayo kasi beach (On top of my backpack)
  7. A smaller day bag. Though it would have been better kung ung waterproof type nalang, kasi beach eh. Next time.

—–oo——

The Breakdown:

1-2. Pouch for Clothes . Pouch 1 -clothes for super casual, beachwear and the likes, and Pouch 2 -clothes for porma and for dine outs. On other trips, I have separate pouch for semi formal/formal.  Sakto lang ganitong style for quickie, business o leisure trip with friends. For long term backpacking, I have different method of packing. hihi. The Pouches, I bought lang sa 88 store. very helpful to.IMG20170426173419

3. Pouch for slippers and shoes. In Boracay, kasi kailangan porma, I brought one more sandal, not shown sa photo. lol . IMG20170426173534

4. Pouch for Swimwear. Recommend ko talaga mag rash guard sa beach, for skin protection na din. Sa brands, nothing in particular;department store- bought lang.  Meron pa to goggles and ear plugs, di ko na nasali sa pic.IMG20170426173651 Yung rashgard ko, may opening for the thumb to keep the sleeves in place.IMG20170426173708

 5. Pouch for Toiletry/Skin Care/Gadgets  . IMG20170426174028 Toiletries pouch ko sa upper left. Nothing fancy. Toothpaste, conditioner, shampoo in a refillable bottle (less than 100ml). I don’t bring soap nah, body wash lang.Hassle eh. Though when I am at home, I maintain using organic soap from Myskin Origins.

Pouch for Medicine, eyedrops, and my daily fibre supplement.

Gadgets – Just Charger and spare batteries for Go pro.

The white triangle, spare plastic bag, lol, as in silopin from Gmall, pwede na. Always ako meron nito, even in my work bag.

Pouch for Skin Care, lol, dami.  Ito un.

IMG20170426174144Face Mask – The cucumber mask in particular has a soothing and cooling effect to the skin; a perfect night care after a full day fiasco under the sun. I only use mask from The Face Shop; kinasanayan na.

Dermax UV Gel Sunblock for the face. I was advised by my derma to use only gel type water based sun protection, kasi I am prone to break outs. Mejo mahal, kaya for the face lang. I use a different one for the body.

Dermax Hyal C Serum. Serves as my facial moisturizer before bedtime. 

Day-long Sunblock Gel from Cetaphil for the neck and body.

Alcohol in a spray type bottle. Very convenient. Refillable pa.

Eye Roll on. lol. Di ko alam bat nadala ko to, I don’t use this often.

Acne Gel Cleanser from VMV.

Lip balm with SPF 15 from Nivea.

My Favourite perfume in a small handy bottle. Walang reason not to smell fresh during travel.

IMG20170426174205This is my sun protection set. I also bring this with me during fieldworks. 

So, yes basically that’s it. Haha, maarte ba? Sa skin care lng naman. Kailangan yun. Though I am fully aware that I do not have perfect smooth skin at the moment, it could have been worse if I never took care of it. Sabi nga ni Kris Aquino, oiliness is less to joblessness.

It was a fun 3 days trip to Boracay. Kulang tlga. But yes, we can always go back. Good thing Airasia Ph now offers direct flights from Davao to Caticlan/Kalibo. This means cheaper fare na for us coming from Southern Mindanao, because we do not have to pass by Manila or Cebu anymore.

Quickie weekend trip to Boracay? pwedeng pwede nah! IMG20170426111403_Fotor

During our trip, we were hosted by AZALEA Hotels and Residences Boracay, in Station 2. Azalea Boracay is the only 4 star service apartment-hotel in the island. Good location, furnished kitchen on every suites,commendable services. The hotel even has a heated pool at the roof deck. Panalo! Will upload more blogs re our accommodation soon, for now, you may get in touch with at http://www.azaleaboracay.com/.

Til then. Ciao =)