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Skechers Shows You How to “Move In Style”

May 31, 2016, 7:11 am
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Skechers has always been known for combining comfort with style. In fact, Skechers shoes even boast of up-and-coming innovations like Goga Mat™ Technology and Memory Form™ design to ensure maximum breathability and comfort! Style and support - what more can you ask for, right? :) 

This year, Skechers leveled up shoe standards with the Move In Style Fashion Show in collaboration with style bloggers and fashion designers Camille Co and Kryz Uy! Top runway models strutted the four product highlights of Skechers: the GO Flex Walk, Originals, Skechers Burst, and GO Step. See more of the fashion show below!



2 World Hiphop Dance Champion A-Team pumping up the runway in their Skechers footwear.

Camille Co styled the fun and comfy GO Flex Walk and the retro chic Originals, while Kryz Uy styled the fashionably athletic Skechers Burst and slim and sleek GO Step. The models sported handpicked apparel from partner brands Zalora, Uniqlo, Mae-Ann Veloso, Gypsy Soul, Arin, Pablo Cabahug, Pat Santos, Lian Martin, Crisp Studio, Lamujerph, and Chino Hernandez.

Jasmine Maierhoffer and Ana Frolova sporting the Skechers GO Flex Walk.
Ria Bolivar in Skechers GO Flex Walk.
Kim Ross in Skechers GO Flex Walk.
Jasmine Maierhoffer in Skechers GO Flex Walk.
Ana Frolova and Mary Ann Umali in Skechers Go Flex Walk.
Jessica Yang in Skechers GO Flex Walk.
Ria Bolivar in Skechers Originals.
Kim Ross wearing Skechers Originals.
Jodilly Pendre in Skechers Originals.
Jessica Yang in Skechers Originals.
Sam Adjani wearing Skechers Originals.
Marc McMahon and Laxie Villar wearing Skechers Originals.
Jasmine Maierhoffer wearing Skechers Originals.
Jasmine Maierhoffer and Ana Frolova in Skechers Originals.
Mary Ann Umali in Skechers Originals.
Fashion blogger and social media influencer Camille Co working the runway in Skechers Originals.
Jodilly Pendre in Skechers Burst.
Jessica Yang in Skechers Burst.
Ria Bolivar in Skechers Burst.
Kim Ross wearing Skechers Burst.
Jasmine Maierhoffer in Skechers Burst.
Marc McMahon in Skechers Burst.
Laxie Villar sporting Skechers Burst.
Sam Adjani in Skechers Burst.
Mary Ann Umali wearing Skechers Burst.
Ana Frolova in Skechers Burst.
Jasmine Maierhoffer in Skechers GO Step.
Jodilly Pendre in Skechers GO Step.
Jessica Yang wearing Skechers GO Step.
Ria Bolivar in Skechers GO Step.
Kim Ross in Skechers GO Step.
Mary Ann Umali in Skechers GO Step.
Ana Frolova in Skechers GO Step.
Jasmine Maierhoffer in Skechers GO Step.
Jessica Yang in Skechers GO Step.
Ria Bolivar in Skechers GO Step.
Fashion blogger and social media influencer Kryz Uy gracing the catwalk in her Skechers Burst.
Camille Co and Kryz Uy flanked by the models rocking Skechers.

Also present at the event were celebrities including Tommy Esguerra, Mikaela Martinez, Joyce Ching, Bianca King, Antoinette Taus, Richard Juan, TJ Monterde, Devon Seron, Claire Ruiz, and the newly formed Skechers Squad comprised of Sachzna Laparan, Kyle Vergara, Chelsea Robato, and Christian Busby. Top lifestyle and society personalities were also present such as CEO of ABSCBN Publishing, Ernie Lopez, models Almira Teng and Tola Orendain, and style bloggers Vina Guerrero, Chin Chin Obcena, Joana Carrasco, Angela Nepomuceno, Cha Ocampo, King Tongol to name a few.

With fellow bloggers Ava Te and Arnie Villanueva. :)
Bianca King
Christian Busby 
Slater Young and Kryz Uy
Antoinette Taus
Chin Chin Obcena in Skechers Burst
Joyce Ching in Skechers
TJ Monterde with Skechers Men's Originals and Claire Ruiz with Skechers GO Step
Richard Juan, Karen Pamintuan, Tommy Esguerra
Sachzna Laparan in Skechers Burst and Kyle Vergara in Skechers Men's Originals
Mikaela Martinez
Devon Seron in Skechers
Ethan Salvador in Skechers Burst
Camille Co in Skechers Originals


After the show, I headed to Skechers Glorietta to pick out a pair!

 Was torn between these-- Skechers Originals

Walk

 Originals black

 So tornnn. In the end, I got the black one! Haha!


Quick Trivia: I styled Skechers' Move in Style campaign video!!! Had so much fun shooting with the brand, my babe Seph Asong & styling my favorite models Jodi, Kim, Jessica & Ria!

Came up with 4 different styles for Go Flex Walk, Originals , Burst, GO Step

Also styled the super talented A-Team Dance Crew!

Watch the Move in Style video below:


Congrats again Skechers for the successful launch and thank you for making me part of this amazing campaign! <3 font="">3>


For more information and updates, follow:
https://www.facebook.com/skechers.ph
https://twitter.com/skechersph
https://www.instagram.com/skechersph/
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Simple Skin Commitments with CETAPHIL

May 31, 2016, 9:12 am
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I am not getting any younger so taking care of my skin is very important to me. I have also mentioned before how I have lived with my skin allergy or atopic dermatitis my whole life (it started when I was 3 yrs old). Skin care regimens could be very overwhelming at times especially in my line of work. I am often on the run and often tired which most of the time leads to neglect. But, you know, skin care should not feel like a task! You could achieve healthier skin by just following a few simple steps. Here's how...


Cleanse, Moisturize & Protect -- this is what leading therapeutic skincare brand, Cetaphil's new campaign titled "Choose Simple Skin Commitments" is all about! Their new campaign aims to educate Filipinos on the value of following a skincare routine to ensure that one’s skin remains clean, hydrated and protected all-day. It is poised to inspire Filipinos to take better care of their skin as the brand educates consumers on the importance of keeping one’s skin healthy, making them look and feel good everyday. 




First step: Cleanse. The first, and the most basic step of any skincare routine is facial cleansing. During this step, consumers are able to have their skin rid off dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and other unwanted pollutants that could damage one’s skin. By cleansing off the impurities, one would not only be able to lessen dirt buildup, he/she will also be able to prevent the produce of excess oil. The Gentle Skin Cleanser is fragrance-free, soap-free and non-comedogenic.


Second step: Moisturize. Did you know that one has only approximately 3 minutes before water evaporates from one’s skin after one takes a bath? During that short window, it is imperative to moisturize skin to keep it hydrated. Moisturizers are able to do this by sealing in the moisture, therefore not allowing water to easily escape the body. By keeping skin moisturized, one would expect their skin to feel smoother and softer. Not to mention it also has anti-aging benefits, revitalizing the skin and slowing its aging process. 

Cetaphil's DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion contains ERC5 which is a combination of 5 key ingredients which guarantee skin hydration that will last up to 24 hours, and could be used for both face and body. Should one have very dry skin or even normal skin, this moisturizer would be suited to address one’s daily moisturizing needs.


Third step: Protect. While people are aware of the importance of applying sunscreen during summertime, Filipinos have yet to get into the habit of wearing sunscreen everyday. Daily protection from the sun keeps skin from damage caused by harmful UVA and UVB, which in turn helps prevent skin from losing elasticity, forming age spots and wrinkles, and getting sunburn. The Daylong Gel SPF50+ offers strong protection from the harmful rays of the sun, while remaining also lightweight, non-sticky and non-greasy. This sunscreen also protects on the cellular level which ensures maximum protection.


Learn more about the Choose Simple Skin Commitments campaign through this video! 

So if you care about your skin and wants healthier skin, go for what's simple yet proven effective. You should only trust the expert-- the most gentle & trusted skin care brand in the market, Cetaphil! I will vouch for them as I've been using them since forever. It is also what my dermatologist recommends whenever I have sumpongs. Promise. :) 


Have you tried a Cetaphil product? Share us your review for a chance to win Cetaphil products! 
Click here: http://bit.ly/27yEXHH

For more infos & to shop for Cetaphil products, click here:
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Forever Summer with ROXY + Giveaway!

May 31, 2016, 10:19 am
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I've always had this love-hate relationship with our weather (lalo na pag summer waah) and the beach, but ever since Nico and I got together I've learned to love it. I could now stay under the sun and not squirm like a worm under it. Haha. I have also learned to let go of my apprehensions and insecurities when it comes to my skin color. Anyway, this is not a skincare post (LOL), but in relation to my newfound love for the beach is my obsession with awesome beach wear or swim wears. One brand on top of my mind when it comes to that (as well as outdoor activities) is ROXY! It has become my constant travel companion. My Roxy fam sent me a getaway set a few weeks ago and I love it...



This personalized fan is everythangggg


I loved the bikini set but the top is top is too small for me (I'm a cup C huhuhu), so I asked ROXY if I could just do a giveaway and they said yes! So, game! Giving away the bikini set above to 1 lucky reader! Doing it the old school style, via this blog post! It's size SMALL by the way. ;)


Mechanics:

1. Must be a reader of this blog. I hope. Haha.

2. Follow me & ROXY on FB & IG:


3. Since I'm on the prowl for secret beach destinations, answer this question:
"What or Where is your favorite beach here in the Philippines?"

4. Leave a comment below with your answer, name, email, username on IG.

5. Share this giveaway on your blog, FB OR twitter. Don't forget to tag me & Roxy!
Sam


Additional entry/points:

6. Will be posting this on IG (@paxieness) and you can just comment there = +1 point
7. Regram on IG = +1



Goodluck! Will announce winner on June 12. Love you all! :)
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Travel Guide: Alibijaban Island in Quezon

June 1, 2016, 11:02 am
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Grabeeeee, I am so excited to share with you this quick yet super meaningful DIY trip! The Talisayin Cove group wanted one last beach getaway before the rainy season starts, and we all agreed to go someplace not all people know-- ALIBIJABAN Island in Quezon Province! In the end, only Nico and I pushed through (you missed a lot guys! Haha) and I am so happy we did. It was truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I did some research before going there because it was our first time and I can only count in one hand people I know who've been to the island. Thanks to my loves Cha Ocampo& Jean Dalida for giving me tips and answering my questions haha. I learned a lot from this blog post but there were still a few things we discovered on our own. I will try my best to cover all bases and make this post as detailed as possible. So, let's go? :)


This was one of the few trips na talagang nag YOLO kami. Haha. We had no time to plan, there were not much info about the place online, so we had to play it by ear. Dito din namin naapply yung saying na, "Just cross the bridge when you get there." Haha! I did call up our contact Ate Baby (found her details online) to reserve our boat and accommodation. The rest was DIY. ;)



When it comes to transportation, you have 2 options: 

1. STRAIGHT - Ride an ordinary bus from Cubao to San Andres, Quezon (via Superlines) or Starmall Alabang to San Andres (via Barney Auto Lines). Journey is about 12 hours. If you're fearless and extremely adventurous, then this is for you. Haha.


*Barney Auto Lines (wifi ready but no aircon hehe)- contact 0925-3227639 or their dispatchers Kuya Eddie 0920-7072414 or Kuya Jessie 0925-7474768. Fare is P417. For students & senior P337. 


2. TWO TRIPS - Ride aircon buses from Cubao/Pasay to Lucena Grand Terminal (JAC, Jam liner, DLTB), and then from Lucena Terminal ride an airconditioned van or ordinary bus going to San Andres which is the jump-off point going to Alibijaban Island.  If you're after comfort and is allergic to sweat and heat (wow haha) then this is for you. 

Cubao to Lucena Grand Terminal (5 hours)- P280 
Lucena to San Andres via ordinary bus (6 hours) - P250


Nico and I opted for comfort and aircon so we headed straight to Jac Liner, EDSA Cubao. Not sure if they do reservations but we didn't call na din, said we'd just buy our tickets there. Got there at around 10pm on a Friday night and mejo box office the line! Haha! Movement was fast though because they have many buses going to Lucena. We only waited in line for 30 minutes. Line was also organized naman. 

 Selfie muna while waiting


 Finally time to board!

 This bus was smaller than their normal buses.

We had to wait for another 30 minutes before it finally left the terminal. The rest was history. Charot. Haha. Fell asleep immediately lalo na traffic! Left the terminal at around 11pm and arrived in Lucena at around 3:30am. The bus stopped a few times to pick up passengers along the way. It's not like Victory Liner na non-stop. If you want shorter travel time and you're travelling in a group, rent a van nalang! It's faster and cheaper.

 Saw this sign when we got off the bus

We were supposed to arrive in Lucena terminal at around 3am but we were not able to get off because Nico and I didn't hear the conductor bilang we were asleep. When we woke up asa pier na kami or ferry terminal going to Romblon! Kaloka. Haha. The bus driver and conductor were nice enough to take us back and drop us off. Thanks mga Kuya! Also, I used the wifi onboard and it was fast! :)

 Hallway going to the area where buses to San Andres are

 Decided to eat breakfast first! Hotsilog is P50. 

Nico in deep thought if we'll take the ordinary bus or the aircon van haha 

We checked out the van terminal and actually boarded na a van going to San Andres but we were told it won't leave until it's filled. Eh mga next year na sha makaalis haha! So we decided to take the ordinary bus nalang.

 Ordinary bus going to San Andres. Fare was P250. Mohoool.

 Inside the bus....

 After almost 2 hours of waiting (shorter waiting time na to compared sa van LOL), we are finally leaving the terminal! Haha. Inabutan na kami ng sunrise kaloka.

 By this time, I was super irritated na because it was so hot and we waited that long. Such a waste of time. :( If you're going to Alibijaban, I suggest make it a 3-day trip.

 I can see greens! 

 Ayan na, probinsya vibes!

It was a pretty long & rough trip and I'm glad I was asleep through almost all of it. Haha. Nico on the other hand was mas maselan so he was awake the whole time. Wawuhh. Good thing I brought my scarf which I used as shield from dust, heat of the sun and hindi nakakaganda ng buhok na wind! Lol. Took more than 6 hours to get to San Andres because the bus kept on stopping at every corner to load and unload passengers. Gaaah. 

 Getting off the bus was a relief haha! Nagfreeze na ata muscles ko sa pwet. LOL.

 Across was San Andres Public Market!

 Bought ice scramble first to cool off a little

 Nomnomnom

 Before meeting up with our contact, we had to shop for food muna at this dry/wet market!


FOOD for 3 days:

1. Lunch (Day 1) - Liempo & Grilled Eggplant
2. Dinner (Day 1) - Sapsap (fried fish) & sliced tomatoes w/ soysauce & salt
3. Breakfast (Day 2) - Pancit Canton (new and not masarap haha bitter ako) & Bread we bought in the island 
4. Lunch (Day 2) - Spicy sardines (as in Ligo ganun haha) w/ tomatoes

We also bought rice & merengue for dessert! No need to buy water because it could be bought in the island na. We shelled out P500+ for everything.

 Pedicab going to the pier!

Our contact, Ate Baby, asked us to meet her at the boat terminal. There are pedicabs in front of the market which you can hire to take you there. We paid Kuya P40. It was not that far naman.

 Sightseeing while in the pedicab

 Going inside the pier

 Port:)

 This is Ate Baby's boat! Our boat! 

So the boat rate for 2 people is P1,200 to and from Alibijaban. Better if you would come as a group para cheaper! They charge ata P1,500 up to 10 people. Bigger boat shempre. You could also try your luck and ask tourists if you could join them so you could pay less. Ate Baby included in the the price na the island tour ---sand bar and mangrove. Pretty good deal! :) If you want to contact Ate, text her at 0930-0123620. You're welcome!

 Got scared a little coz it was so small and nipis haha! The woman on the left is Ate Baby. She's super nice and sweet!

 Local kids playing in the water

 You can literally see Alibijaban from San Andres port. It's like Caticlan Port and Boracay island lang. Boat ride took more or less 20 minutes lang:)

 Ride was a little bumpy because of the huge waves! I enjoyed it hihi


 You can go to that hut in the middle of the ocean for just P500 daw

 Crystal clear water

 Almost there!!!

 Wooow

 Water's so nice but watch out for sea urchins! You would be able to see it because the water is super clear.

 2pm situation

 Tuwang tuwa yung isa mga Go Pro haha


Let's talk about ACCOMMODATIONS. Before going there, I was told that you could only camp in the island. Turns out there are a lot of locals accepting tourists in their home for a fee. One of them is our contact, Ate Baby. I think reserving a kubo beforehand was a good move on my part because there were only a few shaded areas in the island so mejo hassle to tent. 

 We were led by our boatman (who was Ate Baby's son) to our assigned kubo


Since most of the guesthouses and kubos were already full when I inquired, Ate asked her relative Ate Ginena (contact her: 0910-7719172) if she could host us. Thank God she said yes. :) It's located near the shore kaya perfect!

 Tada!!! Back to basics talaga. Bawal maarte dito haha.

 Our makeshift CR:) You could order water for bathing P10 per 10 gallons. Not sure though but we paid P40 for 2 big timba. 

 In fairness it's gated and fenced haha

 Sala. We ended up sleeping here coz it was too hot inside our room

 Our very simple room! No fan. They don't have electricity in the island, just solar power. However, Nico was able to charge his phone for a small fee pero dapat before 12pm. 

 View from our room's window. I could see the beach! Love our kubo's location


If for some reason you were not able to buy food before going to the island, don't panic! You will not starve okay? I saw an eatery or small restaurant serving Silogs and other meals on our way to our kubo! You could just eat there. Hehe. I was not able to take a photo of their price list but it's more or less P100 ata per meal. 


For our lunch, Ate Genina asked the resto to grill our food. We gave them P100 for their kindness. :)

 Lunch is served! YUMMM.

 We ordered 1 jug of mineral water for P60. It was more than enough for 2 days. We always had cold water because Ate got us ice and consistently refilled our pitcher. :)

After eating, Nico dozed off. I also fell asleep for an hour. Woke up half an hour before sunset. I panicked a little because I wanted to take OOTD photos. We dressed up and then went out to explore...



...but super low-tide!!! Haha. FAIL. So we decided to just look for a nice spot to tambay, observe people and take a few photos. We walked on the shore and just enjoyed the scenery. 


wearing my favorite pair of Havaianas

Land mine! Charot. Be careful not to step on sea urchins! As you can see, super layo the water from the shore. D na kami nag attempt lakarin.

Pronounced as Alibihaban.

Boy curious on the loose

Bat may kasama akong 15 years old. Joke haha.

Eyebrows on fleek even on the beach haha! Eyebrows by Keighty Wong of MK The Brow Expert!:)

What is Nico looking at kaya? Haha

Got sad when I saw trash in the water. Gaaah! 

This is the spot!

This is where we stayed for an hour just reading a book, chatting, observing people, playing with island dogs, talking to locals.:)

Clingiest dog everrrr! So cuteee

He escorted us and stayed with us until we left that spot. Adorbs!

New BFFs hehe

Bat andami kong sand sa mukha haha

Bonding sila

Here are my aura sa tag-init photos! Took some OOTD shots in between. Harhar.
Angelfish swimwear, Promod scarf used as skirt, Veloci watch, Fly shades


Dear swimsuit brands, I'm a small po pero sa top lam niyo na. Thank you! Haha.

This is just to show you na shorts po the bottom and not panty hihi. I think I need to start working out. Huhu.

My Alibijaban beach essentials!Promod scarf used as beach mat, Beachborn hair spray & lip scrub/balm, Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating lotion, Daylong SPF 50 sunscreen

Observing the locals:) Grabe, manas pa my feet from the long bus rides!

Beautiful Quezon sunset

Time to go back to our lair!

Passed by a store in our place to buy RC cola, soap and bread:)

Our delicious dinner! I almost finished that bowl of sap-sap haha. The fish soup was prepared by Ate. So good!!! We bought the fish from Ate's friend for P50. Fresh from the sea pa!

Anyway, after dinner since there's no electricity and we only had a small lamp, I decided to take a bath outside the CR nalang. Sanay nako guys. Haha. Ate lent us a mattress which we placed sa sala because it was so hot inside our room. I had only one question that time-- Why didn't I bring a portable fan??! Gaaah! GUYS, BRING A PORTABLE FAN. We were not able to sleep from the heat and the insects that kept on biting us. Huhu. Dasal lang guys, dasal lang talaga.


Beach looked better in the morning!

Since we were not able to sleep well, we woke up earlier than expected. Okay na rin because we had enough time to eat breakfast and swim before our scheduled "tour". 

Morning dip! Wala pang ligo!

We didn't swim sa area na to because we might step on sea urchins

Nico enjoying the sun:) Buti pa sha. Puti kase eh. Not fair.

Wore my Nothing But H20 rashguard because I'm still slightly afraid of the sun. Haha. It's so cute noh???


Walked and searched for a nice & safe spot where we can swim. Ganyan maghanap okay?

Found it!!! 

Super cute the island dogs, ang hilig mag swim!!!

Too cute for my life

Hi baby girl!

Just to be sure, I still wore my TEVA outdoor sandals while swimming. Hehe.

Trivia: I am scared of the sun because I am the type of person who tans easily. Five minutes under direct sunlight (or minsan kahit hindi lalo na sa beach, hangin lang sapat na) immediately makes me 1 shade darker. SWEAR. I usually swim around 5pm onwards, but I make exceptions especially when the beach is perfect. This was one of my exceptions. Actually it only happened 3x-- Potipot,Cauayan and then here. :) WORTH IT.

White sand


beautiful skies and clear water

Come 9am, it was time for our tour!!! Kasama namin the other couple who were in the kubo with us:) Love them

Ang arte-arte ko db?

The ride took about 15 minutes

Sand bar in the middle of the sea! Asaan? Hahaha! The water was higher than usual that time so it was not that obvious. There were also a lot of people swimming. Boo.

We went down, took a few photos, before we decided to just come back at a later time. 

The mangrove and the sand bar is in the same area:)

It was only 11am that time and we're not going back to the sand bar until 2pm, so we decided to chill muna at this nearby spot:) It's still part of Alibijaban island and is connected to the mangroves. 


 It is heaven on earth:) The highlight of our trip.

Kuya told us there's a P20 entrance fee but nobody asked us to pay  naman. :)


Ang perfect db???? Ng beach ha! Haha.

We looked for a nice spot where we can leave our things and chill. Can you see the lagoon or small beach behind them?

So Kuya boatman left us for about an hour to eat lunch and get our food so we could picnic. We paid him P100 extra for his gas. We were so happy that we didn't even notice he was gone. Haha. This place was beautiful. There's a small beach or lagoon in the middle and it's totes amazeee. OMG.  



Look guysss

So niceeee

My island boy

I love love love this place. Can't say it enough haha.

Had to aura so took off my rashguard. Sports bra yan suot ko guys. P289 from Gigi Amore sa SM. Haha!

I stayed here and swam for 2 hours. Huhu my skin. WORTH IT! Haha

We also swam sa other side when the lagoon got crowded with San Andres locals. May family outing d kami aware haha. We still liked the lagoon better!

Our spot. I could just stay here all day.

After na hour, Kuya finally arrived with our food and water! OMG naubos ko ata kalahating kaldero ng rice. I love sardines especially when it's spicy and with kamatis!

Even if I hated some of the San Andres tourists because some of them (I'm looking at you teens) threw their trash in the water (arghhhh!), I still had fun bonding with the kids! They were so clingy! That's Cassie & Ramon in the photo. Cuties.

I like this photo hehe

Survivor?

I didn't want to leave but we were scheduled to go home that afternoon. Our original plan was to stay until Monday but I suddenly remembered that I had a 10am shoot that day. Huhu sayang. After spending hours in this place, we left around 2:30pm to take a chance again sa sand bar...

Finally! I can see it!:) And we were the only people when we got there.

Low tide na so some people were able to walk going to the area where we were earlier

2nd sandbar! More people there

We only spent half an hour there before deciding to head home. Quota na sa swim. Hehe. We also had to prepare na for our long trip home. I still didn't want to leave. :( Before leaving, we bought fresh buko muna for P25 each. Delish! We also settled our bill kay Ate Ginena. Will breakdown the expenses at the end of this post. :)   

Saw these beauties on our way to the boat

Thank you Ate Ginena for being an amazing host!:) Na sepanx ako kay Ate. Hehe.

Saw these as we were leaving the island. Saw them in clusters. Homaygad kakilabot. Haha. But you could actually eat them! Just ask the locals. I think it's P200. 

Sagana sa sea urchins

Hello again San Andres

Decided to take Barney bus going to Lucena and then Jac liner again to Cubao.

There are no vans in the afternoon (only in the morning) and Superlines' next trip from San Andres to Cubao was 8pm pa, so we decided to ride nalang a Barney bus going to Lucena. I also don't think Nico would survive a 12-hour ordinary bus ride back to Manila haha. Zombie na sha nun. We arrived at the station mga 5pm so we waited for more than an hour before it finally left the station. We ate a little because there are no stopovers.

Barney buses. Scheduled departure was 6pm. Fare was P215.



It was a long bumpy 6-hour ride. It rained hard so we had to close the windows. It was so hot, slightly suffocating & uncomfortable. Kuya driver also played some weird dance music so I asked Kuya Kundoktor if they can lower the volume since a lot of people were trying to sleep and I'm having migraines na. They were kind enough to oblige naman and switched to movies. Even with all the haggardness I mentioned above, I still managed to sleep for hours. As usual, si Nico na naman lugi. Lelz.

Arrived in Lucena Terminal at half past 12. 

We left Lucena at around 1am and arrived in Manila at around 4am. Good job Kuya!!! We were 2 hours early. I think it's also because we came home on a Sunday. :) I still had enough time to sleep before my shoot. Yipee. 

My friend Tob asked me if going there was worth it, I'd say it was truly one for the books. The long ride going to the island could be discouraging, but once you step foot in the island, all of the inconveniences and exhaustion will fade away. You'd only be left with wonder, awe, appreciation and love for the place and its people. :) I'd tell you now, going there and going home was not easy, but just like in life, sometimes you have to go through so much to be able to experience paradise. And that's what Alibijaban is-- a no frills paradise. :) 


EXPENSES (per person):

Bus (Jac Liner from Cubao to Lucena) - P280
Bus (Ordinary from Lucena to San Andres) - P250
Boat (including extra P100 for gas)  - P1,300 /2 = P650
Food - P600 / 2 = P300
Sidecar (from market to port) - P40 / 2 = P20
Entrance fee - P100
Accomodation (room in a kubo w/o fan) - P500 / 2 = P250
Water (5-gallon container for drinking) - P60 / 2 = P30
Water (for bathing, P10 per 10 gallons ata) - P50 / 2 = P25
Paluto - P400 / 2 = P200
Buko - P25
Ice (P10 per plastic) - P40 / 2 = P20
Other expenses (dishwashing liquid, bread, fish, snacks) = P100
Bus (Barney from San Andres to Lucena) = P216
Bus (JAC from Lucena to Cubao) = P280
Random food & snacks = P100
________________________________________________
TOTAL: P2,846 


BUDGET: Prepare P3,000 to P3,500. As I said, you could cut down your expenses if you go as a group. Your expenses would still depend on the food you buy, your chosen mode of transportation or how long you'll be staying. 


That's it! Hope this article helps. Just remember to respect any place you go to and people you meet. Love you all!:)
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Get Creative with Mi-Pac

June 19, 2016, 1:49 am
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Do you still remember when you were a teen? How picky you were with the clothes you wear, the shoes you put on, or the bags you use? It only makes sense because this is the phase in our lives when we try to figure out our personality. We try a lot of hobbies, subscribe to a fashion trend, and listen to peculiar music. I remember how I was so caught up with printed everything, Lisa Frank, rock music, boy bands, etc! This is one of the times when our self-exploration peaks. We experiment, a lot! But this is also the time when we really start expressing our individual selves in the most creative way that we can. Good thing is, Mi-Pac is here to help you figure out what your personal brand is!:)


Tropical Hibiscus Natural Tote (P1,590), Bum bag, Backpack

 All Polka Charcoal Duffel, P2,290


 All Stars Black Backpack, P1,690

 All Stars Duffel, P2,290
 All Stars Flight Bag Backpack, P990

 All Stars Navy Backpack, P1,690


Born in the summer of 2012, Mi-Pac is an up-and-coming British label with proud roots. What only started as a humble range of backpacks has grown to evolve to more than 300 design variations that are available in over 20 countries across 4 continents. This only shows that creativity is at the heart of everything Mi-Pac embodies. The brand makes sure that their core ethos of value for money, fashion forward design and quality construction are translated with each and every piece they create. Mi-Pac holds great value to individuality and freedom of expression. Each accessory produced is designed to embody one’s personal style, through a wide spectrum of colors, patterns and fabrics.

 Crepe Coral Tote, P1,590

 Crepe Coral Weekender, P2,290

 Crepe Grey Swing Bag, P1,690


Crisscross Black Backpack, P2,690

 Crisscross Black Wash Bag, P1,290

 Denim Polka Black Weekender, P2,290

 Eloise Roberts Collection Mono Maritime Natural, P1,690



Russian Dolls Black Gold, P1,690

Hearts Navy Gold Wash Bag, P1,290

Hearts Navy Gold Weekender, P2,290

Kate Moross Crayon Duffel. P2,990

Kate Moross Crayons Backpack, P2,690

Orchid Navy Backpack, P2,690

Orchid Navy Wash Bag, P1,290
Orchid Navy Weekender, P2,290

Premium Elephants Black, P1,990

Premium Elephants Blue, P1,990
Quilted Navy Weekender, P2,290

Stonewash Denim Swing Bag, P1,690


Mi-Pac is all about creativity and innovation. By combining fashion and function, the brand is redefining the way we purchase the classic backpack. Mi-Pac makes sure to craft new, exciting and on-trend designs each season that we all should watch out for. ;)


For more news & updates, follow Mi-Pac:
Twitter & IG: @mipacphilippines
Hashtags:  #EnoughSaidwithMiPac #MIPACph

*MiPac is available at select Bratpack and Lady Bag Stores. The brand is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by the Primer Group of Companies – Asia’s next retail giant. 
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Bulletin Board: Uniqlo x Lemaire, Ever New End of Season Sale, People Footwear S/S '16, #WeAreFlossy, 555 Tuna Rice, Cherry Mobile M1

June 19, 2016, 6:44 am
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It  has been quite a while since I last did a bulletin board post, so here's a new one! Sharing with you guys exciting news, promos, sale events and announcements from your favorite brands! Read on...


1. Uniqlo Appoints Christopher Lemaire as Artistic Director of Paris R&D Center & New "Uniqlo U" Line


UNIQLO announces the appointment of Christophe Lemaire as Artistic Director of the newly established UNIQLO Paris R&D Center and the new Uniqlo U line. The first Uniqlo U collection has been created with Lemaire’s dedicated Paris team and will be unveiled in Paris in early July. Uniqlo U features innovations in keeping the LifeWear philosophy of providing comfortable clothing that matches all lifestyles. The line will launch worldwide from the Fall/Winter 2016 season.  

For more updates follow:


2. Ever New End of Season Sale


Go grab your favorite clothing, accessories, shoes or bags from Ever New at discounted prices until July 3, 2016. Happy shopping!:)



3. People Footwear™ introduces Innovative Sandals for Spring/Summer 2016
 Lennon Fossil

People Footwear™, the leader in “high performance leisure” footwear is excited to announce the addition of three new products, including two sandals, to its 2016 Spring/Summer (SS16) collection. For SS16, three new silhouettes will be available: The Yoko, The Lennon Chiller, and The Rio.






 Lennon Sundae

The Lennon Chiller, a slide sandal with an adjustable full-length strap, is the ultimate companion for living the “high performance leisure” lifestyle. Inspired by the comfort-driven and customizable straps of backpacks, The Lennon Chiller is built for casual adventures.

 Yoko

The Yoko is a mash-up between old and new, combining the traditional square-toe Japanese sandal with a classic beach flip-flop. With rounded edges and a contoured footbed, this modern adaptation balances personality with wear-ability.

 Rio



The Rio, a waterproof slip-on, is molded entirely out of People’s SkyliteTM EVA foam providing the function of a water shoe with the style and wear-ability of a huarache. 

 Little People collection:)

People Footwear™ has expanded into the kids market with their “Little People” collection; a children footwear line featuring the same iconic Phillips, Stanley and Senna silhouettes. New for kids, The Cypress received the mini-me treatment and will be available this SS16. With fixed elastic laces and a puffy upper they can be slipped-on with ease and feel like clouds on the feet. Offered in classic solid colors and a floral and Japanese shibori print, the little ones have never looked so stylish and comfortable.

People is available at Res|Toe|Run and Bratpack. The brand is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by the Primer Group of Companies – Asia’s next retail giant.

For more updates, follow People:
Hashtag: #peoplefootwear.


4. Young, Adventurous, and Free! #WeAreFlossy

European footwear brand Flossy took on the high seas of Cebu for a memorable day of music, fun and good times! The lightweight, no-fuss style of Flossy has been the shoe staple for bohemians, street artists, and sailing enthusiasts for years. With its uber chic patterns and trendy designs, it is often seen at the Ibiza party scene worn by individuals who embody the free-spirited and passionate vibe of Flossy, catapulting the stylish shoe brand to international renown—from the streets of Barcelona, London, and now, Cebu.


Cebu, home of some of the world’s most stunning beaches and hippest parties, is the perfect place to land your Flossy-clad feet. Its cosmopolitan lifestyle and gorgeous views make it THE destination for locals and tourists alike, and last April 30 to May 1, all eyes were on the beautiful Cebu Yacht Club for an epic cruise, ending in the amazing Eden seaside music festival!

 Camille Co wearing Flossy Lodosa Cream Lace

 Cebu bloggers! Hi Marco, Tony & Doyzkie!:)

Slater Young wearing Cuenca Dark Grey & Kryz Uy wearing Gandia Gray

 Host Carly in Benissa denim


Summers in the Philippines are intense, and the yummy Sea and Ice Cream prints of Flossy will transport you back to your chill spot at the pool even on the hottest days. Retro pop is making a huge comeback in the arena of fashion as well, and Flossy has created cheeky and fun Lips and Smiley patterns that add an exclamation point to any outfit.


For those who want a more laidback, classic print, the Flossy Nautical collection is the way to go. The timeless striped print, reminiscent of boat rides and summers, is a breath of fresh air that you can pair with your OOTDs all year round. All these new collections will be available on Flossy shelves all over the country.

Flossy is available at ResToeRun Ayala Cebu, ResToeRun Galleria Cebu, and the Flossy SM Cebu boutique. You can also find Flossy shoes at their stores in SM Block; SM Megamall; Trinoma, Eastwood Mall, Glorietta 3, Robinsons Manila, Alabang Town Center, Abreeza Davao, as well as ResToeRun and Bratpack stores nationwide. The brand is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by the Primer Group of Companies – Asia’s next retail giant.


To know more about Flossy, follow:
Hashtag: #WeAreFlossy. 


5. Ka-Eat Saan w/ 555 Tuna's New Tuna Rice Meals

Now, you can bring your favorite rice meals anytime, anywhere as Century Pacific Food, Inc., one of the leading food manufacturing companies in the country today, introduces a deliciously innovative addition to its popular 555 Tuna product line: 555 Tuna Rice!

This exciting new 555 Tuna category was conceived for individuals who may not have the time to cook or prepare meals but would like to enjoy the goodness of lutong bahay dishes at home or on the go. As it already combines ulam and rice in one extra convenient foil pouch, the first of its kind in the market, consumers are sure to enjoy a true kumpleTUNA experience anytime and everywhere, living up to its promise of ‘Ka-Eat saan, Sarap!’


555 Tuna Rice comes in these delicious varieties: Tuna Rice Afritada, Tuna Rice Adobo, and Tuna Rice Sisig, each one capturing the essence and flavours of real home cooking. And with a suggested retail price of Php 27.50, you are assured of real value for money that’s easy on the budget.


6. Defy the Norm with Cherry Mobile M1

A consistent industry game changer with its bold, innovative moves in technology, Cherry Mobile continues to create possibilities with its latest offering, the Cherry Mobile M1, the first local smartphone which utilizes a Deca-core processor, which is Mediatek’s Helio X20 and boasts of sleeker design and more powerful features that definitely deliver a statement. Cherry Mobile successfully takes the best and makes it even better. 

Features:

* Android 6.0 Marshmallow
* 4GB of ram
* Mediatek Helio X20 Deca-core processor – ensuring a better and faster user experience with the excellency of Tri-cluster: impeccable performance, silky smooth, faster than faster response and at the same time being power efficient.
*32GB of internal storage
*Dual-sim (nano) 
*LTE ready
*USB OTG ready, making it easier and convenient for users to transfer and store files.
*Fast-charging (can recharge in as little as 1hour and 15 minutes)
*USB Type C & 3600mAh Battery. 
*21MP SONY IMX230, PDAF rear and 8MP front camera
*W/ dual LED flash for both front and rear cameras.
* 5.5" FHD IPS wide screen
* Enhanced touch-type fingerprint scanner


Cherry Mobile M1 will truly redefine one’s smartphone experience. Bringing together the latest technologies in just one product is something that Cherry Mobile always aims to do – and succeeds at, which is why it remains to be the brand of choice for many proud Filipinos. SRP is P11,999. :)

For more infos, follow:
Instagram: @cherrymobileph
Twitter: @cherryphsupport


That's all for now! Thanks for reading!:)
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Roadtrip Adventure with Shell V-Power Nitro+ & Mazda

June 19, 2016, 11:35 am
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Two weeks ago, I, together with a few blogger friends and members of the press, went on a surprise road trip adventure! Our trip was fueled by Shell V-Power Nitro+ and our cool rides were provided by Mazda Philippines. The invitation came at the last minute and normally I decline such invitations 'coz of other commitments, but I quickly said yes because one, I patronize and use Shell fuel in real life as a driver and two, I just love events which involves travel and adventure! It was a fun-filled day spent with my favorite fuel brand, blog friends and new friends! Stories through photos below...



After breakfast at our jump-off point, Wildflour Cafe in Leviste!

Went out and saw these Mazda CX-5 beauties fuelled by Shell waiting for us outside! Love our rides!

 Wanted to test drive but haven't renewed my license pa:(

 Hello from Group #1! Hello Myke, Eula of The Standard & sorry I forgot the name of the gorgeous girl on her left:(


Our road trip guide!

We had snacks, drinks & umbrellas inside the car:)

 And we're off to The Sandbox in Pampanga!

We were assigned a driver but Myke wanted to drive, so I acted as his navigator na wala naman natulong haha. We were all making daldal, sharing stories and laughter all throughout the trip. Saya lang!:)

 First Stop: Shell NLEX!

If you view my snaps or read my blog, you'd know that this is my favorite stopover place when traveling northbound. I love how it's the perfect place to gas up, wait for the other cars (when in convoy), buy essentials from Select and eat, eat, eat! This is the only gas station na sagana sa restos and food places! I love it, my friends & family love it. :)

 Briefing by the Shell Team

We had a quick bathroom break, short briefing, took a few photos, and off we went again! Our next stop? The Sandbox Alviera in Pampanga! This is perfect for the Regional Explorers -- people who enjoy outdoor activities, trekking, extreme adventures, etc. :)

Class photo

Stay connected with your friends and family and enjoy prepaid and postpaid perks from your chosen telco when you gas up with Shell V-Power Nitro+ fuels, Shell FuelSave Gasoline, Shell FuelSave Diesel, and selected Shell lubricants! Promo ends July 31, 2016. 

Shell Quality Fuels 
· Php 1,000 Shell V-Power Nitro+ Gasoline, Racing, or Diesel 
· Php 1,500 of Shell FuelSave Gasoline 
· Php 2,500 of Shell FuelSave Diesel 
· Php 10,000 for PO Customers 

Shell Lubricants 
 1 liter of Helix Ultra, Helix Ultra D, Advance Ultra, or Advance Scooter Ultra 
· 2 liters of Helix HX7, Helix HX7D, or Advance AX7 
· 4 liters of Helix HX5, Helix HX5D, Rimula R4X, Advance AX5 
· 6 liters of Rimula R1


Purchase of any of the above items earns customers one of the following rewards:
Service Provider
Prepaid Offer
Postpaid Offer
Globe
Unlicall to Globe and TM and unli Facebook, Viber, Line with free 50 MB data for 3 days.
15 Globe Rewards Points
Smart
Unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited calls to Smart/TNT/Sun + 70 MB data for mobile surfing for 1 day
100MB for mobile surfing + 400MB for Spinnr music streaming for 1 day
Sun
Unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited calls to Smart/TNT/Sun + Unli Facebook for 1 day

TM
Unlimited SMS to TM/Globe. Good for 5 days

TNT
Unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited calls to Smart/TNT/Sun + 30MB for Facebook, Viber, Twitter, Clash of Clans, Dubsmash for 1 day


I love going on road trips. Makes me feel alive, free and happy. :)

 Road to The Sandbox

 So sad we weren't able to avail these ATVs hehe

 Sandbox price list

 It was so hot that day, but everyone was a trooper

 Wanted to try this too. Next time!


 Looks fun! Next time will try this too!

We were again grouped and told that we had to complete 3 activities and also answer trivias for prizes.

1st Activity: The SMS Challenge or Trivia Hunt

While the others were completing the other activities, we decided to do the Trivia Hunt first. So basically, it's like a scavenger hunt. We hadto look for cards and answer the questions written on them. :)

 We had to text our answers and were rewarded chocolates for each correct answer!:) 

Here are the other questions we rightfully answered! Also a few information and trivia about Shell...

1. What is Shell’s convenience store?  Shell Select 
2. What fuel is used in your vehicles?  Shell V-Power Nitro+ 
3. What are the variants of Shell V-Power Nitro+? Gasoline, Diesel, and Racing 
4. Complete the sentence: Shell V-Power Nitro+ helps you win against gunk and _______ • Corrosion
 5. What is Shell’s energy efficient line of fuels? Shell FuelSave


2nd Activity: Giant Swing

Okay, I admit mejo kinabahan ako dito. The swing looked intimidating lalo na siguro for people with fear of heights. I am all for adventures but I do have some moment of weakness. Mga 5 minutes lang naman yun and then I shut down all feelings and tell myself to go for it. YOLO! :)

 Ana and Nicole

 My activity partner, Myke! So happy we're teammates!

 This is it!!! We were pulled back to almost as high as those poles!

 And then we were dropped and released! My face explains all my feelings. Haha. 

Lula x 3. Back and forth. Back and forth. 

 I was so confused, didn't know what to feel. Hahaha!

 After the first swing, it becomes fun na! Was laughing almost the whole time!

 Myke kept teasing me din haha


 Nakisali pa si Kuya. Haha!

Shots taken by Ana from afar 




Weeeeeeeeee!

3rd Activity: Archery







I admit, I didn't think I'd be able to shoot 1 arrow. Haha. But, it turned out to be easier than I expected it to be! The bow was automatic so I didn't have a hard time keeping the arrows in place. 

 Sorry naman sa expression ko it was so hot and naliligo nako sa pawis. Haha. Was able to hit naman the target every time. Yey. 


Myke tried the timed challenge! 

 With blogger loves! Myke, Mother Earth, Nicole, Ana, Chin & Me!


The Eon team!

Squad & car goals

We had to leave immediately because we had to follow the schedule and we were all hungry na! From Sandbox, we drove going to Apu restaurant in Angeles City. Fell asleep sa byahe! Thanks Myke for the smooth ride. Hehe.

 Carmates

 Noted with thanks! Lechoooon.

 Finally! Was starving naaa.


 Food! Fish, Kare-Kare, Salad & Sisig

 Love the interiors and love the message on the wall!

Ate so much haha

After eating, we left Pampanga and headed to our next destination, The Spa in BGC. Perfect for the Neighborhood Wanderer -- people who loves going around the city to try new food places, spas, malls, etc. It was a pretty long journey and I was asleep the whole trip. Love it. 

 Closing remarks by the Shell team

It was an extremely long day of exploring, so we were all excited to finally relax and recharge through The Spa's amazing massage service. It was also nice to be able to shower! Hehe. 



 We're ready to be pampered!

Shared the room with Mother and gf Anagon!

We were also treated to a sumptuous dinner after our spa treatment at Mango Tree!

It was a pretty long day but I had so much fun I didn't even notice the time. Hehe. Also didn't want it to end pa! Thank you Shell & Eon for this wonderful experience, for satisfying our thirst for adventure and for taking good care of us! Can't wait to go on more road trips with my #1 fuel of choice, Shell! :)


For more infos & updates, follow:

http://www.shell.com.ph/
https://www.facebook.com/Shell/
Hashtag: #fuelconnections


Or visit the a Shell Station near you!:)
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Shakey's Corned Beef Crrrunch Pizza is Here!

July 1, 2016, 10:52 pm
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I just can't contain my happiness over the marriage of 2 foods that I love-- corned beef & pizza! Thank you pizza gods, thank you Shakey's! It's like winning the lottery because it's also thin crust (my fave), crunchy from all the shoestring potatoes scattered on top, sweet coz of the caramelized onion & a little soft & salty from the bits of cheese. PERFECTION in a slice. ;) As a dependable hang out and fun, family, pizza restaurant, Shakey’s takes it up a notch and satisfies that food craving by launching an exciting yet familiar treat for their guests – the Shakey’s Corned Beef Crrrunch Pizza. Here are photos from the fun launch held in Shakey's Buendia...



 Hosted by Janeena Chan & Chino Lui Pio

 Buwis buhay and buwis pizza performance!

 OMGGGGG. Obsessed with this new pizza! I love that it's super crunchy!

 Happy me enjoying my slice hehe

 YASSS

Offering a sumptuous medley of rich and juicy corned beef, caramelized onions, crisp shoestring potatoes, and feta cheese, the pizza is a definite game-changer. The Shakey’s Corned Beef Crrrunch Pizza creatively combines different textures and flavors through crunchy and savory satisfaction — all in one delicious bite.
 Shakey's Buendia





Shakey’s is now inviting everyone to come for a visit and to explore a new way to enjoy an old favorite. Satisfy your curious cravings at all Shakey’s stores with the following options: Regular size at Php 235, Large size at Php 395, and Party size at Php 530 for the Thin Crust Pizza and Regular size at Php 305, Large size at Php 460, and Party size at Php 595 for the Hand Tossed Pizza. Let’s all discover a new way to enjoy corned beef with the Shakey’s Corned Beef Crrrunch Pizza! You won't regret it promise! :)



*For more information on Shakey's, follow:
IG: @shakeysph
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#FossilStyle Instagram Global Contest Launch

July 2, 2016, 12:51 am
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Fossil has the best selection of bags, wallets, accessories and watches. I've always loved their products because they're stylish, high quality, classic and could last a lifetime. Now, this global brand has launched a new campaign & promo where people could share their snaps and stories on IG for a chance to win $1,500 shopping spree + the season's must-have bag, watch and Q accessory every month until December 2016! Be inspired by your travels, art, lifestyle, etc. and share it to the world! We all know how creative & talented Filipinos are so let's go and show the world our artistic side! Don't forget to use the hashtag #FossilStyle okay? :) Here are photos from the launch starting with my outfit...


ShopOOTDph dress, SM Parisian bag, Mikkas Closet white shoes


 


Photos from the launch!





 My #fossilstyle entry that day!

 Papi AJ won!


So go na, join na and you might win cool prizes from Fossil! Go crazy and share away! Post your most creative flatlay or OOTD. Contest ends July 25, 2016. :)


To see the official contest rules, click here: http://woobox.com/offers/rules/3m9k22

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#FlyForFreeFaster with Unionbank x Cebu Pacific's Get Go Cards

July 2, 2016, 4:30 am
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Guyssss, this is something I'm really excited to write about and share with all of you, especially if you're a frequent traveler like me! In my 30 years of existence, I finally found the PERFECT credit and debit card (love it so much that I decided to give up my other credit card haha) which offers amazing rewards and also not that complicated to use compared to others! I am so happy I got invited to the launch of Unionbank & Cebu Pacific's newest Get Go cards because I finally found the cards that fits my lifestyle. The Unionbank Get Go launch involved a posh staycation, shopping, dinner, drinks, raffle & karaoke party! Excited to experience the good life with my new cards! Are you? Here are photos from one of the best events I ever attended!




Meet-up was in Ascott Hotel, BGC. We were then escorted to our assigned rooms. Love our suite!
 Shared this amazing 3 bedroom suite in Ascott Hotel BGC with Marj and Ruth!

 Dining area. They left us sandwiches for merienda! Yummm.


 Bathroom! 2 of the rooms have their own bathroom inside

 Living room

 there's a kitchen and laundry area!


 My room!

 Ruth's room!


Own CR and closet

Wasn't able to take a photo of Marj's room na because we were in a hurry. We were summoned and transported to R.O.X high street for an ultimate shopping experience & challenge! We were given our own Unionbank Get Go debit cards which we used to shop for travel essentials inside the store. Since we were late, we only had 15 minutes to shop so I was super rushing and got so confused from all the amazing items. I didn't want to impulse buy, so I just bought an Otter Box phone case which I badly needed! I just had my phone fixed the day before because it fell and my screen and LCD broke. So perfect talaga. 


Our service going to ROX



 Ruth and Kath being bloggers hehe

 Hello Papi Rodel!


Quick mirrorfie!

 our cards being distributed

 Got mine! Woots!

 Hi Sir Allan Florendo of Get Go & Tricia Ingco from Unionbank:)


 Ruth looking for things to buy


 Thank God for these phone cases! Saved my phone's life a lot of times haha





 camping and travel gears!


 At last!!!

 The Unionbank Get Go team!


Sir Allan sharing with us the good news about their new cards! 

(photo from Our Awesome Planet)


Okay, so why do I love the new Unionbank x Cebu Pacific Get Go card? Let me count the ways...

1. It is perfect for people who does not want to carry cash around but also don't want to get tied to a credit card. 

2. Perfect for students or those who are allergic to the word "credit" haha! If you want to control your expenses, then this card is for you.

3. Stylish card design! The blue background is refreshing and the little boats are too cute. 

4. It is powered by VISA so you could use it for online shopping, enroll it sa Paypal, book flights and hotels with it, or use it like a regular credit card anywhere in the world. Only it's debit and cash would be automatically deducted when swiped. ;)

5. It is also a savings account! No maintaining balance. Withdraw cash anytime at any Bancnet ATMs. 

6. Best part? For every P88 you spend, you earn 1 GetGo point! You could use these points to redeem free flights. LOVE IT. For the Otter Box case I bought, I earned 20 points! From shopping to bookings to gas to payment of utility bills, points will be converted!

7. Debit card holders get early alerts for seat sale promos! Get Go account holders also have their own & exclusive promos. I have experienced it and booked a few flights na! Booked our Beijing flight this October for 11,000 points only. I also booked a Hongkong flight before for 12,000 points. There was also a Cebu seat sale for 50 points one way! Bongga! Such great deals! :)

8. Automatic monthly transfer of points to GetGo account. I'm just waiting for my points from May-June purchases to get credited. Excited!

9. It is the first and only debit card in the market that earns GetGo points! So no need to think twice. There's no other debit card that offers such sweet rewards. 

10. Aside from the 1 GetGo point you earn for every P88 spent, GetGo will be giving you an additional 1 GetGo point for every PHP5 you spend on Cebu Pacific, as this is one of the perks of being a GetGo member.

Example:


Cebu Pacific Ticket: PHP 5,000

GetGo Points from Debit Card: 56 
GetGo Points from Cebu Pacific: 1,000

TOTAL: 1,056 GetGo Points 
(WOOOOW! I only discovered this now as I blog!)

Got my own debit card! I love this! I use this often:)

After our shopping challenge, we were brought back to the hotel and was given an hour to freshen up and get ready for dinner and our night out. ;) We were then taken to Unit 27 bar and cafe for the official launch!


So artsy hehe

 With my favorite travel blogger, Kuya Melo!

 My gf Marj Sia & Hello John at the back hehe!

 Hello Papi Rodel, Ely & MJ! Haha

 Hello Kuya Azrael & Jeman!

I love how all media people who attended were introduced one by one. There was also unlimited food and drinks. The event was super intimate and so much fun! The night was full of surprises. Easily one of the best events we've ever been to! Swear. 
 Mr. Edwin Bautista, Unionbank's President & COO

Mr. Stuart Tomlinson, VISA Country Manager

Mr. Nik Laming, Get Go Loyalty Division General Manager

Ms.  Ana Delgado, Unionbank Cards Business Head

Prizes were given away all night! We all won! I badly wanted to win the 15,000 GetGo points but malas talaga ako sa raffle. Haha! I won the Braven speaker though! Loved it too. :) Everyone went home with smiles on their faces.

 Papi won getgo points!

 Kuya Azrael won points too

 Marj won a Samsonite luggage & Ruth won a Fitbit watch!

 My prize. It's kinda heavy and huge ha! Braven speakers perfect for traveling. 

In between the raffle was quiz night! There were 3 categories and the team who answers the most number of questions correctly, wins. Our team won!!! Woots! We each won 1,000 GetGo points. Yipeee. As if all the fun is not enough, we were surprised by the Unionbank and Get Go team with our very own Platinum Card!!! Gaaaah!


 So so happy!

 Ang perfect coz when Ms. Ana Delgado asked me what card design is my fave, I said the black one! Yey!

 With our very own Unionbank Get Go platinum credit cards!



Why did I ditch my old card and decided to keep my new Unionbank Get Go Platinum credit card?

1. I just love the sleek design! 

2. You earn 1 GetGo point for every P30 spend! That's more points compared to their debit card. Bongga!

3. Automatic monthly transfer of points to GetGo account. I had mine linked to my existing GetGo account! They linked it when I had the card activated. So any purhase or booking done will be automatically converted to points. I used it agad to book flights to Japan worth P46,000 and I earned 1,533 points! It will be credited first week of July. So any moment now. Excited to use and redeem it! 

4. Worldwide VISA acceptance. So you could use it here and abroad. 


5. Priority Check-In on Cebu Pacific Flights. 

6. Free 5kg extra baggage allowance on Cebu Pacific Flights. Huge help!

7. Complimentary access to the Skyview Lounge at NAIA Terminal 3 and MIASCOR lounge at Davao International Airport. 

8. Early alerts to ALL Cebu Pacific seat sales plus exclusive sales. 

9. Complimentary Comprehensive Travel Insurance of up to 10M. Wow!

10. VISA platinum rewards & privileges including: Visa Concierge, 24-hour services like flight reservations & restaurant recommendations, Global Customer Assistance, Amazing discounts, Access to ATM cash withdrawal. 

11. Aside from the 1 GetGo point you earn for every P30 spent, GetGo will be giving you an additional 1 GetGo point for every PHP5 you spend on Cebu Pacific, as this is one of the perks of being a GetGo member.

Example:


Cebu Pacific Ticket: PHP 5,000

GetGo Points from Credit Card: 166
GetGo Points from Cebu Pacific: 1,000

TOTAL: 1,166 GetGo Points



I have been using my new card for more than a month now and I love it! I'm just waiting for my GetGo points to reflect so I could use them during exclusive sale events. :)


If you don't want the Platinum card, you could just get the Cebu Pacific GetGo Credit Card...

It's the yellow card in the middle!

Benefits:


1. For every PHP30 spend earn 1 GetGo point

2. Get early alerts to ALL Cebu Pacific seat sales plus exclusive sales

3. Automatic monthly transfer of points to GetGo account

4. Worldwide VISA acceptance

5. Aside from the 1 GetGo point you earn for every P30 spent, GetGo will be giving you an additional 1 GetGo point for every PHP5 you spend on Cebu Pacific, as this is one of the perks of being a GetGo member. (see sample computation above)



What transactions are qualified to earn GetGo points?

All VISA POS transactions, whether via POS and online are included in the computation of GetGo points. Fees and charges such as annual fees, interest charges and the like, cash advances, and purchases for business transactions are not included in the computation and cannot earn GetGo points.



Special guest that night was Bogart the Explorer!

After the raffle and program, time for karaoke!

 Hello John! Hehe. We all sang in fairness! Marj and I performed Torn hihi. Even all the bosses performed. Saya!

with my suite mates Ruth and Marj!

Bonding pa more!:)

 Cheers to one of the best nights ever!

I am now a happy traveler with my debit and credit Unionbank GetGo cards!

I personally recommend these cards because I myself use them and benefit from them. They are super easy to use, no frills, no bull. I don't even have to call customer service just to convert my purchases. It's automatic, efficient and perfect for budget travelers (or not budget travelers) like me. GetGo cardholders also get exclusive discounts from hotels, merchants, etc. Sign up now and #flyforfreefaster with those cards!  You won't regret it. Safe travels! :)


To know more about GetGo and how to redeem free flights, click here and read about my experience:
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Escape to Azalea Baguio Day 1: Hotel, Cafe Yagam, Ukay Finds & Night Market

July 4, 2016, 4:36 am
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I am back from hiatus! Took a break 'coz of work and also because of our 8-day Japan trip which I'm very excited to share with you guyzzz. Anyway, working on overdue posts and backlogs. Starting with our super fun Baguio escape last May! Got invited by Kuya Melo and Azalea to join other bloggers in a 3-day adventure as we discover more of Baguio and more of the hotel. I have experienced Azalea Boracay this year and it was epic. So of course I had to say yes to Baguio! :) Had a great time bonding with the gang who are all adventure lovers like moi! You might have read some of the posts they shared but here's my version. Here's what happened during our first day in the City of Pines starting with what I wore...

 Coat from Gobuy.com.ph





Backpack from SM Parisian!

Wanted to wear something comfy on our way to Baguio hence the shirt and jeans. Haha! Also love this coat I got from Gobuy.com.ph for just P600, I think. Great quality, nice material!:) Stories and photos below...

 Our vans waiting for us at Centris:)

 Van mates

Was able to sleep on the way, when I woke up we were already in Azalea, Baguio!

Set 2 km from Burnham Park and Baguio Cathedral, this elegant, sculpture-fronted apartment hotel is 11 km from the BenCab Museum. Polished apartments offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and DVD players, as well as kitchenettes, dining tables, and sitting areas with sofabeds; some feature balconies. Upgraded apartments add separate living areas; some have extra bedrooms and bathrooms. Room service is available. Freebies include breakfast and parking. Other amenities consist of a casual coffee shop, a chic lounge bar and a kids' play area. Spa treatments are available. :)


 This reminds of the Harry Potter quidditch ball hihi

 Time to unload!

 Love the interiors


 Front desk

 While waiting for our bags, we made tambay here at the Eight Degrees Lounge also located at the lobby

Rooms were not yet ready so we ate lunch first at Tradisyon resto, Azalea's resto serving Filipino cuisine. :)

 Cute interiors too

 Chika muna while waiting for our food

Sorry no food shots because I was super hungry and I devoured what's in front of me as soon as it touched the table. Sareeeh. Haha! Posting food shots later on. ;) Food was delicious. After lunch, time for our room assignments!

 Elevator selfie haha

 2nd floor hallway

 Looking down at the lobby

 That open door on the right is our room!

 Finally!

I shared the room, or should I say suite, with the clingies Tracy and Ana. We were given a 2 bedroom suite with fully equipped kitchen and a balcony. It was just perfect for the 3 of us. :) 


 This is supposed to be the sala or living room but the sofa bed was set-up na when we got there. 

 This is the smallest room! It's cozy if you're not that sensitive to noise because you would hear footsteps and other people's voices since it's facing the hallway. 

 There's a dresser and closet inside! No toilet.
  
 This is the common toilet located between the living room and kitchen

 Kitchen! :)

 Love this photo on the wall

 Main bedroom with queen bed

 Closet with robes and other things you need for your stay like slippers, laundry bag, sewing kit, iron, etc.

 The main bedroom has its own toilet! Inside the toilet are toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, towels, shower cap, shaver, lotion, etc. 

 Happy campers!

Our suite's published rate is P13,200 during regular season or P14,700 during peak season. They have ongoing after summer promotions! I checked the price of our suite and it's down to P9,450 a night!!! They are also giving away free room upgrades. Goooo!


 If you want to know more about Azalea's different rooms & rates, click link below:

http://www.azaleabaguio.com/rooms-rates/

Our jampacked itinerary

After freshening up, we headed downstairs to meet the others for our scheduled coffee & meryenda at Yagam Cafe!
 We tried to take OOTD photos before leaving, success naman. Haha. There are a lot of nice corners in Azalea which bloggers would be happy to take photos of.

 After a short ride, we're finally at Cafe Yagam!

 Saw these hardworking people sorting coffee beans outside the cafe:)

Do you know that Cafe Yagam always serve freshly grounded coffee made from Cordillera beans? Awesome. 

 Cute ni Tracy hehe

 It's super artsy and homey inside. A great place to spend your afternoon over good food, drinks & conversation. There are also tons of books which you could borrow and read.

 Tatlong bibe haha

They prepared snacks for us! Drools. 

Kiniwar or rice cake is the local name for biko priced at P40. Inanchila (the one that looks like suman) is Kalinga sticky rice cake with 'ladek' which you could buy for P60. I also ate 2 slices of the snadwich they served! So good! It's layered with chicken, pesto, egg, tomato, etc. An explosion of flavors which is perfect if you're dead hungry. Lol. 

Yummmm 

Cabinet display


 Since I don't drink coffee, I ordered their hot cocoa which was only P50. It was not as rich as batirol but it was still good. :)

 Meryenda in style. Haha! Flatlay by my loves Mike Will Fly& Michael Macalos! Galeng!

 If you're a coffee person, you could go crazy and choose the type of brew, roast and strength you want. 

Such a nice corner inside noh?

Shempre inavail namin ni Trice! Hehe

Cafe Yagam 
Address: 25 J. Felipe St., Gibraltar Baguio City 
Contact Number: (0921) 256-5677 | (0946) 455-0364 
Open Hours: 11:00AM to 11:00PM Everyday 
Facebook: Click Here 
Menu: Click Here 

After spending 2 hours in Cafe Yagam, it was time to go back to our hotel...

We were given an hour or two to rest & recharge (I was able to nap for an hour yaaay) before we were called again for dinner at Tradisyon and then a group challenge afterwards. :) 

 Pasta, pizza and chicken

 Lamon pa more haha

 Cupcakes for dessert!

After dinner was the ukay challenge! We were grouped into 4 and was given P500 which we used to buy clothes for the styling challenge. It was my jam and I loved it. Haha! I was given the task to shop and come up with outfits. I also ask the team's (Duane, Nicole & Trice) approval as we went along. Team effort! So much clothes, so little budget & time! 


The ukay lover in me wasn't able to help it, I had to shop for myself too! Kahit we were only given an hour to shop. Was able to buy super nice pieces for dirt cheap prices! I even went back the day after 'coz nabitin ako. Lol. 



These are the oufits we came up with! For less than P500 we came up with 3 outfits that's perfect pang back to school. All clothing pieces were thrifted. :)

 I loveeee it

 We didn't win the challenge but we were still super happy with the outfits we came up with! 3 sets pa!

 A lot of people loved it too! Yey!

Nicole & Trice's jumper were P120, My skirt was P50, sweaters were just P50. May sukli pa P500!:)



That ends Azalea Day 1! Had to do 2 posts for the outfits haha. Day 2 & 3 next! :)


For more news & updates, follow:
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Azalea Baguio Day 2&3: Bell Church, Bencab, Diplomat Hotel, Arca's Yard & Treetop Adventure

July 5, 2016, 11:06 pm
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Had to divide my Azalea post because I have so many photos. Haha. Hope you've read the first part in which I shared photos of the cozy hotel, Cafe Yagam & our ukay challenge! :) Now, let me share with you stories and photos from our 2nd & 3rd day. We had a full itinerary but I'm glad I was able to see new places & experience new things in a city I've visited so many times before. Always something new to see, discover and experience! Starting my post with my Day 2 outfit...

In love with this dress I bought from ukay




 Looks perfect against this background noh? Flowers galore!:)

 Our 2nd day in Baguio was jampacked with activities! Started my day with a nice and hearty breakfast at Tradisyon...
Love the variety!

My 2 favorites-- danggit & bacon!

Dessert bar

fruits para sa mga nagdidiet


Sharap ng omelette! Mine had mushroom, tomatoes & lotsa cheese!

Good morning from PaxAna! We also ordered Azalea's famous hot choco. I love that it's super tasty and the consistency is not too malabnaw and not too thick.

First Stop: Chinese Temple & Bell Church
Love this spot! Lakas maka China hehe

It is a taoist temple located on the road going to La Trinidad, Benguet.

It's a nice, quiet compound adorned with pagodas, dragons, bells and landscaped garden.





OOTD muna hehe. Hi Cha & Nicole!

Twinning si Tracy & Mike. Cuties!

So cute these kids! P.E. class ongoing hehe

2nd Stop: Bencab Museum

Located along Asin Road, Tuba Benguet, the BenCab Museum houses the permanent collection of Philippine National Artist Benedicto Cabrera (BenCab) in several galleries, as well as venues for art shows and exhibitions. With its vision of bringing arts closer to the people, the museum houses the artist’s collections of his own works, as well as those of acknowledged Filipino masters and rising contemporary artists. :)



 Hello Michael! 


 Sabel :)



After the short briefing, Trice and Ana dragged me downstairs and lead me to a room, an area in the museum they said I will love the most. Since it was my first time, I got so excited and believed them. Hate you guys. Hahaha!

 They surprised me with this Erotica Gallery. Hahahaha! Langya kayooo.

 What is this? #pavirgin haha

 Grabe guys you know me too well. Hahaha

 Loved the room though! All the pieces were tastefully done. I love it.

 Draw me like one of your French girls. Wait, pa Laybare or Strip muna ako. Lol.

The most beautiful flower ever. Hihihi.


 Galing ng position.... ng shadow ko db? Hi Trice I can see you!

 Me lounging at home. Charot!

BTS 

 Love these chairs! Mejo scary lang sa house parang laging may kasama haha


 Checked out the Cordillera Gallery which contains tribal artifacts and indigenous crafts from the region. 

 I just had to wear my Bencab for Freeway shirt in Bencab museum!!! Pinaghandaan ko to guys.




 The museum was huge. Art overload.



 Love my Freeway x Bencab shirt! Okay na sana  lang pantay shorts ko. Haha.











 Replica of the rice terraces outside:)

humarap kaaaa


Thanks Kat Valdez for our photo!

Bonding with Duff, Zedd, Kat. Love you guyshhh.

After more than an hour of art appreciation, we decided to take a break at Café Sabel located on the ground floor. The ingredients of the food they serve are sourced fresh daily from BenCab’s organic farm. The cafe’s signature coffee blend, BenCab’s Brew, is also sourced from coffee trees on the farm. 


 Chill muna


 Finally saw THE Bencab!!! Took a photo with Bencab in Bencab wearing a Bencab shirt! Bencab-ception! :) Thank you Sir it was an honor to meet you.

3rd Stop: Diplomat Hotel (we meet again!)

When I found out that they included Diplomat Hotel in the itinerary, I got excited. The feeling was not mutual with Ana and Tracy, though. Haha! If you read our blogs, you may recall that the three of us (together with our loves Tin Iglesias, we miss you!) visited this place a few years ago and something weird and supernatural happened. Some of us vowed never to step foot in this place again. It was quite an experience. 

 Ano toooo? Bago tooo. Haha.

Fast forward to now, it didn't turn out to be that haunting as it was before. I think it's because we went as a group and the place was renovated. There was a even a tour guide inside. They cleaned up the place and fixed the rooms (that were once filled with rubbles) inside.

 Ang creepy lang the standees when you enter the door! Napasigaw ako eh! Wag ganun Pope. 

 Lovely view


 Kuya Guide. The place is more friendly & inviting now.

 They fixed this area now.

This is how it looked like on our frst visit. 

Read my first Diplomat Hotel story here: 

 YES!

 I wonder why there's no flowers or plants in the fountain na:( This area was nicer years ago.

Db? Photo I took last 2013

 Got scared of the priest and nun na standee sa corner! You could even take a photo with your face ganern. Creepy! And very wrong given then history of the place. Waah.


 Naloka ako kay John! Haha!

 quite hunting


Michael: Beshie bat tinitignan mo yan, gusto mo ng Christmas Tree para sa Bloggers United? Lol!

 My 2 favorite male bloggers! Tara let's go up! 



This time, I was able to take photos of the 2nd floor na. The air felt lighter and less hostile unlike before. I was still very careful not too make too much noise and kept saying "Tabi-tabi po" over and over again. 



The bell tower with so much secrets


 View from the top:)

 Hi Michael and Ana!

Loved spending time with Mike will Fly! He's super chill and hilarious. 





 Short history of the place. Tamed version. Haha.




After Diplomat Hotel, we went home to have lunch and rest for a while. We came down 3pm for our coffee & meryenda break at Arca's Yard!:)
 Lunch at Tradisyon

Dinner


Located along Ambuklao Road, Arca's Yard is the home of Ninja Sabado which they turned into a homey & tranquil coffee shop. It is the perfect place to go to when you want to escape from the city's hustle and bustle. Outside & inside, you'd see it decorated with paintings & artifacts--- a little art gallery on its own.











 Love this area! Overlooking the mountain!






 Love this area upstairs too




 They served us Camote pie topped with ice cream & Arca's Cloud Tea

 So good!!! They even game me an extra scoop of ice cream for my pie. The tea is refreshing.


Arca’s Yard Baguio
#777 Tip-Top City Limit, Ambuklao Road, Baguio City
(074) 442 – 9706
0929 325 1868


Went back to the hotel to freshen up again and for dinner & drinks!

 Someone rang our doorbell and the staff gave us these! Sweet.

I have no photos from our brief karaoke night but it was epic! Too bad they had to cut it short huhu. Everyone sang and there was so much good vibes and laughter that night. I left early though because John and I wanted to do ukay shopping at Harrison. Success!

 Went home lugging 3 huge plastic bags full of clothes. All of these for under P1,000! Can't believe it.

Went home and found these clingies waiting for me in our suite. Haha!

On our 3rd and last day in Baguio, we went to Camp John Hay & Treetop Adventure! It was surprisingly near Azalea. Got suprised that there's a shortcut going back to the hotel haha. 

 Millenials. Wow! Feelingera ko noh? Haha. Anyway, love this bunch! 


The Melonials. Hehehe!

Took OOTD photos first around the vicinity



Love my new jumpsuit from Freeway, Coat from Gobuy.com.ph, Mikka's Closet shoes, Veloci watch

Travel essentials - SM Parisian backpack, Smell Chic hand sanitizer, Asus powerbank, Sandisk external drive, Herschel coin purse


PaxAna album cover shoot by Duane haha!


Girlfriends!





 Always a good time with these kids! Haha



We ended up not availing na the Treetop activities because of time constraint and beause it rained. We just went back to the hotel to take more photos and get ready for our long way home. :)


 Lunch!

 Nageenjoy sa balcony ng iba


 This is the Azalea life:)



Truly, Azalea is your home away from home may it be in Baguio or Boracay. The whole place, amenities, quality of service is topnotch. Couldn't ask for more! Thank you for an amazing stay and for the 3-day discovery of Baguio! Discovered a lot of new places and I can't wait to share them with my other friends and family. :)  Can't wait to be back!


Read Day 1 here:
http://www.aisaipac.com/2016/07/escape-to-azalea-baguio-day-1-hotel.html

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Hotel Review: B Hotel, Quezon City

July 6, 2016, 3:57 am
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I am always on the lookout for nice places in the city where I could escape to whenever I feel all riled up from stress and work. So happy I got to experience the beauty that is B Hotel, Bellevue's new venture in Scout Rallos near ABS-CBN. If it's by Bellevue, it must be great. I've been to B Hotel & Bellevue Alabang, also Bellevue Bohol as a guest and as a stylist for their ads and I could truly say that they're one of the best hotels I've ever been to. B Hotel Q.C. is a little different from the others 'coz it's more modern, more hip, artsy and super instagrammable! Here's what happened during our fun overnight stay in B Hotel... 







 Stylestunner top, Factorie shorts, Bag from my Tita Beck, Komono sunglasses, Veloci watch, Muy Bien Bonita shoes

Here are photos, as well as stories!

 Facade

B Hotel is a 4-star hotel located along Scout Rallos in Quezon City. I love the hotel's location! It's near ABS-CBN & GMA, a few steps away from Behrouz (my favorite food place) and other amazing tambay places in Tomas Morato. 
 If you use the entrance along the road, you have to go up this flight of stairs

Or you could go inside the ramp and use the back entrance. More convenient! There are parking spaces too.

Lobby! You could also see the dining area on the right side:)

 Paintings on exhibit and for sale:)

 Love this lighted wall

 Reception

Hello Myke & Nicole!

 Got my room keys!

Cute bike on display. 

 Love the industrial feel of the hotel

Even the elevator looks nice! Whoever designed this place did an amazing job;)


9th floor hallway


My door!


My room

I love how they assigned us 1 room each. I was assigned this Superior Room and I love it! The minimalist yet elegant style & design was well thought of. 

 View from my window

 My super cozy queen bed!

 The sink is located outside the bathroom. European style. :) 

 Work table

 In-room dining menu:)

 Can we talk about this glass bathroom! So nice. You could pull the blinds down if you want some privacy. 


 Two bottles of complimentary water + free coffee & tea

 Free toiletries. Wish they have free hair conditioner though.

 Happy kid

Didn't want to leave my room and this place

 Ganyan mag chill okay?

This room's published rate is P8,000 a night but I was told that prices may vary from time to time depending on demand. I checked today and it's only P3,800. Comes with free breakfast and use of facilities inside the hotel. Not bad!

 From the hallway window, I can see the pool! It's located on the 3rd floor

Met up with the others for some shake and cake at the Pastry Corner...
 Their belgian chocolate cake is the bomb! 

 Healthy shakes! I ordered Carrot & Cucumber shake for P110. Detox galore.

 Cake fest

 And more pastries

 Lovely lights

 Pretty chairs

And then, time for a quick hotel tour!
This is their 1 Bedroom Suite

It has a queen bed

  This 52 sqm 1 bedroom suite is P7,000 (I was told it could go up to P11,500 soon)

 There's a tub in the bathroom! 

 And a receiving area or cozy living room

 There's a dining table too and mini bar with microwave:)

 Our photographers! Thanks guys!

Had fun bonding with them girls

On to the next room!

 Two bedroom suite (adjoining rooms) with 2 twin beds or Superior room lang sha if solo.


 They have adjoining rooms for families:)

To know more about their rooms & rates, click here:


Time to go down to the 3rd floor! 
 Love this wall! Asa Vigan na pala ako. Hehe.

Facilities

Love this small yet very inviting pool!

Chillin with Ana by the pool


And with Arnie and Ana at the bar:)

Nico loved the place too! 

 They have a Jing Monis salon inside the hotel! Bongga!

 They also function rooms for meetings!

 And event hall for conferences or events

 Mini meeting room located above the Pastry Corner




Across the lobby on the 2nd floor is the Mezzanine Bar!


 Operates from 5pm to 1am:)

 There's a secret room behind that motorcycle!

Here o! So cool!

 Stairs going down the lobby

We went back to our room to freshen up and get ready for dinner!
 No lunch yet so I ordered this BLT service from room service menu for just P180.

Here's what we ate for dinner at the Lobby Cafe...
 Ceasar salad

 Potato something for Ana

 Super sarap this soup! Forgot what it's called though

 And this drink! This is ginger something.

 Sisig that Cha can't get enough of haha

 and lengua!

 Pinakbet 

Was so full after! Food was great. :) After dinner, headed to Mezzanine ba again for some drinks before retiring for the night...
 I ordered mojito and it was a nice way to cap off the night!  

 Sweet surprise from B Hotel! Yummy ensaymada made by them. 

I spent the rest of the night editing pics and watching TV. At around 9pm, Nico returned (he left after dinner to go to a friend's party) and we decided to go out and eat at Behrouz! Went home shortly after and fell asleep watching K-pop shiz. Haha. 

 Good morning Q.C.! 

 Didn't want to leave the bed. So comfy! Here I am lounging in my Mona Lisa Intimate Apparel cami set. :)

Sunday OOTD!


 Love my new dress from Shop OOTD& shoes from Muy Bien Bonita!

 Finally time for lunch! One of the best steaks I have ever tasted from B Hotel's Johnny Steaks & Grill resto. Melts in your mouth! So juicy and tasty!:)

Our delicious lunch! Photo from Ana. 

 Sana pwede ilabas yung bike hehe

 Nico checking out the paintings

 Bye, B Hotel! It was an amazing stay:)

Verdict? I would definitely recommend this place! I already did! One of my brides booked the other day and we shot some photos inside the room. The staff were very helpful and nice. You really get your money's worth. Impeccable style and service. Thanks again Myke& Euna! Can't wait to go back!:)


For more news & updates, follow:
IG: @bhotelqc

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Japan Diaries 2016: P49,000 7-day Budget, Pre-Planning & Travel Tips

July 8, 2016, 12:23 pm
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Finally! My first Japan post! As per tradition, will first blog about how this whole trip came into fruition, as well as some important tips about planning, packing and cutting down costs. After all, I am a self proclaimed budget traveler! Will try my best to go into details in the hopes of helping out some of you who wants to visit the land of the rising sun with a limited amount of budget. So, how was I able to book our plane fares & accommodations for just more or less P13,800 each? And how was I able to spend just P25,000 for 8 days? Read on...


The tatlong bibe + Glico Man in Osaka



1. PLANE TICKETS
They have an on-going seat sale promo! Goooo!

So, why Japan? Well, it all started when last February Jetstar announced an online seat sale as an introduction to their new Japan routes. Got an email (I subscribed to their newsletter years ago since I use Jetstar for Singapore flights) and I immediately checked it out. HOLY MOLY! I couldn't believe that round trip fares were as low as P4,800!!! I sent the screenshot to our viber group and immediately, Ana and Sarah came on board. Book it! They said. Hehe. They had limited seats and specific dates for the promo. The earliest travel dates were March & April (cherry blossoms galore!) but we wanted more time to save up so we opted for June. I know, I know the date's not ideal because of the rain but we still took our chance. Sanay naman kami sa Pilipinas na laging umuulan. Haha. 

I love how they have a monthly view! Less hassle. Look, I found a P1,848 fare from Tokyo-Manila! You could view agad the cheapest fare.

They have an on-going promo! P3,696 lang o roundtrip Tokyo! Gooo.

Since it's Sarah & I's first time in Japan, we decided to hit 3 birds with one stone. Our original plan was to book the Manila-Tokyo-Manila flight for P4,800, but we also wanted to check out other areas like Osaka and Kyoto. If we go with our original plan and just ride the bullet train to Kyoto, we'd have to spend more or less P15,000 just to get back to Tokyo 'coz that's where we'll be flying out. So we reached a consensus and decided to book one way Manila-Osaka, and one way Tokyo-Manila. Our jump-off point is Osaka and then we'll train to Kyoto and then night bus to Tokyo. More budget friendly!

How much did we spend on airfare?
Manila to Osaka


Tokyo to Manila



Breakdown: 
P2,248 (Manila-Osaka) +
P5,300 (11,190yen Tokyo-Manila converted today) 
Total= P7,548


It was more expensive than the original fare (because if you book Tokyo-Manila it's not included in the promo na and it will be in Yen) but still cheaper than taking the bullet train.;)

2. VISA


After booking our tickets, on the first week of June, we had to cram and work on our visa application. Ana had been to Japan na, so I decided to just apply sa agency where they got their visa before. She told me that's where Tricia Gosingtian also applies for visa. And you know how often Tricia goes to Japan, so I know the agency must be good. 

List of requirements!

What if you're a freelancer and you don't have an ITR? What documents should you pass?

I don't have an updated ITR ever since I started working freelance. That means, I also don't have a payslip and Certificate of Employment which you need when applying for a visa. Friendship tours was kind enough to guide and assist me. So what documents did I submit?

1. PSA Birth Certificate - must be latest. I ordered mine online and just paid P300 thru my VISA debit card. It was delivered to my apartment 3 days later! So efficient and hassle free. ;)


2. Passport - 6 months validity. Had mine renewed at DFA-Alimall. Booked an appointment online more than 1 month before the given date. The whole process just took 30 minutes! Tip: Choose a date that falls after a long weekend 'coz less people!

3. Passport Photo - must be 4.5 x 4.5cm & with white background! Had mine taken sa Alimall. I specifically requested for Japan visa photo. They know na agad. Got my photos after 30 minutes. Paid P110 for my photos.

4. Bank Certificate - even if I had a guarantor, I still submitted my own bank certs. I made sure it has P100k in it (thanks mother & father for lending me money hahaha).  I think it also helped in the approval. Bank cert fee is P150. 

5. Guarantee Letter by Sponsor - in my case, my sister! Make your guarantor sign it para hindi sayang. 

Download sample here: visa.friendshipmanila.com/log.doc

6. Affidavit of Support & Guarantee - this one should be notarized and signed by the guarantor. Email or message me if you want a sample. :)


7. Guarantor's ITR - could be xerox copy


8. Guarantor's Certificate of Employment - include name of company, position and monthly salary. 

9. Payslip - not necessary but could also help

10. Guarantor's Bank Certificate - thanks sis!

11. Print out of plane tickets & accommodations - to show the Japan embassy that you have no plans to stay there.

12. Printed itinerary - supporting document to show them you're only there as a tourist.

Upon completion, Ana and I headed to Friendship Travel & Tours office in Dusit hotel, Makati to submit them. We paid P1,200 processing fee. Processing takes 2-7 days. In our case, we got a call after 2 days that they've been approved and ready for pick-up. Woohoo!:) I think it helped din na Ana and I applied together (we submitted the same tickets, itinerary & accommodations) and we indicated in our forms that we're freelance bloggers. ;) 
MANILA( MON to FRI 08:30-18:00 SAT 08:30-12:00 )
Address3F Dusit Thani Manila Ayala Center Makati city Philippines 1226
Phone893-8180 / 810-9622 ( Tagalog/English ) / 840-1060 ( Japanese )
FAX818-8978 or 892-8899
E-mailvisa@friendshipmanila.com  ( English )
info@friendshipmanila.com  ( Japanese )
Cell phone0917-548-1810 ( Globe )


3. ACCOMMODATIONS

Before submitting our visa requirements, we decided to finalize and book all our accommodations. For this trip, we booked through Airbnb. In our selection, we considered our budget, the price per night, the location, accessibility, the amenities and if it could fit 3 people. We were having a hard time agreeing at first because of our budget & restroom requirements, so I took the liberty of choosing the most promising among the list and then had it approved by the girls. Sarah requested a private bathroom for all accommodations but I had a hard time looking for a budget friendly place in Kyoto, so we booked a place with a shared bathroom. I think she only found out about it when we got there. Haha! Sorry bebbb! Peace. 


OSAKA

Pros:

*Walking distance to Dotonbori & Namba.  
*Family Mart at the corner
*Secured building
*Close to the city center but not noisy
*Vending machine outside the building 
*Has kitchen and utensils
*Room slippers & towels
*Provided toiletries
*Has extra blankets and pillows

Cons:

*Late check-in. As in after 3pm. :(
*Early check-out, 11am. 
*Weak wi-fi signal (pocket wifi)

You can see on the map that it's close to Dotonbori and the Glico man! :)

Total price varies depending on number of people staying. 

Total = P4,080 (per night for 3 people)


KYOTO

We wanted to experience traditional Japanese style tatami rooms (with mats on the floor) so we decided to book this one. Rooms or apartments with ensuite bathrooms are expensive so decided to give this a go. We have faith naman that Japan's shared bathrooms are clean. Hehe. 


 Kyoto was not that familiar so we booked a place near the train station (this was not that near pala! Mejo 10 minutes walk). The guesthouse was easy to find though. I just used this map for navigation.

Pros:

* Near Lawson convenience store.
* Quiet neighborhood
* Legit Kyoto neighborhood experience
* Authentic Japanese style rooms.
*Vending machines out in the streets. 
*Has coffee maker, kettle & ref.
*House & room slippers
*Provided toiletries
*Has extra blankets and pillows
*Has receiving area / common area.
*Has books, magazines and Wii for entertainment.
* Staff are in-house & helpful.
*Cozy toilet but problematic bidet.

Cons:

*Late check-in. After 4pm.
*Early check-out, 11am. 
*10 minutes walk to Emmachi train station.
*No restaurant or food places near the guesthouse.
*No pocket wi-fi.
*Not that clean & sanitary.
* Sheets and room were not that clean. Had insect/bed bug bites after.
* No towels provided. There is a towel in the closet but it looked used haha.
*Can't talk too loud because rooms are separated by thin dividers.
* Bathroom is on the 1st floor, while rooms are on the 2nd. This might be an issue for those who has an active bladder. Haha.
* Aircon is a little noisy.
* On our last day, staff slept in the common area so we couldn't use the kettle and ref coz their cushion was blocking the table. 
*Restroom needs to be sanitized and cleaned more often.

 Total = P4,683 (for 2 nights)


TOKYO



This might be one of our best finds in Tokyo! Ab's place is in Shibuya, walking distance to the train station and Shibuya crossing. It's in the heart of the city but is located in a quiet street. For the price, it's quite a gem!:)

 MAP:) Landmarks are H&M and Don Quixote!:) If you see Don Quixote, turn left:)

 Pros:
* Near Lawson convenience store. A few steps away.
* Located in the city but quiet neighborhood
*Vending machine outside the building.
*Has so much free stuff inside the place! Ab has a closet full of all sorts of things-- umbrellas, shopping bags, paper bags, scissors, pens, etc.
*House & room slippers
*Provided toiletries
*Has extra blankets, towels and pillows
*Secured building
*Clean toilet and has heater.
*Early check-in and late checkout!!! We were allowed because they had no booking the day before and after. Yipee!
*There are a lot of food places near the building. There's one beside it actually.
* Has a balcony.


Cons:

*Pocket wi-fi was super slow. 
*Main bed is an air bed. It made me dizzy haha. Sarah and I ended up sleeping on the floor. Good things they provided free mattress! Had a nice sleep.


TOTAL = P10,247 (for 3 nights)



Grand Total = P4,080m+ P4,683 + P10,247 = P19,010 / 3 = P6,337


Imagine, we only paid P6,337 each for 6 nights! We were able to save 1 night accommodation when we took a night bus from Kyoto to Tokyo;)


4. PACKING

I would like to consider myself a light packer. I think I aced this super skill when Nico and I went on a 20-day adventure across Asia last year. Before, I tend to pack everything I set my sights on-- always panicking, always FOMO. But now, I learned to edit my outfits and bring only what's necessary. I also do dress rehearsals so I won't overpack clothes. I also bring footwear which goes well with all the outfits I prepared. Maximum 2 pairs. For this trip I only brought one! My new all-white Skechers rubber shoes. Best decision ever! 

I wore it with pants, shorts, skirts, dresses!

For my clothes, I prepared 10 sets-- 1 for each day + a few extra just in case. Since it's rainy season na, I also brought 2 jackets -- 1 for the rain and 1 for aura aura lang. All of the pieces I brought with me are lightweight. I was able to roll all of them to make more space in my luggage. Nailing this whole packing thing! I'm such a mother packer! Hahaha.

For my toiletries, I brought travel size shampoo, conditioner, lotion (l'occitane which I got from my Ascott staycation haha), The Body Shop olive body wash, toothbrush & toothpaste. I also brought a few makeup. In short, less weight and not that bulky! Yipee!


5. ADDITIONAL BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
Ana, Sarah and Pax

I had to start packing first before buying additional baggage allowance so I'd know my limit. Bought 15kg going to Japan & 20 kg going home. My total weight is 10.8kg when I left Manila and 16kg when I went home! Should have bought 15kg nalang pauwi! I could have hand carried some items. Oh well. It's also more expensive to buy allowance a few days before your flight huhu. See comparison below...

 Total above includes airfare already. :) We only paid P2,330 or P1,165 each for 15kg additional baggage allowance

Here's the breakdown. ;)

For Tokyo-Manila, rate was 4000yen for 20kg & 5000yen for 30kg.

If you book your baggage allowance with your ticket it's just P895 for 15kg & P1,010 for 20kg. I could have saved more or less P1,000.

My TOTAL = P1,162 + P1,872 (4000yen conversion) = P3,034 


6. NIGHT BUS TICKET to TOKYO

So instead of riding the bullet train (or Shinkansen train) going to Tokyo which is priced at 14,000yen, we decided to take the night bus for 6,800yen to save on 1 night accommodation na din. That's P7,000 vs P3,300. Huge savings!:)  The travel time is longer (8 hours vs 3 hours) but in our case, we didn't really mind it because the bus was such a winner plus the ride was super smooth. We immediately fell asleep upon loading and when we woke up we were already in Tokyo! We didn't even avail the toilet inside the bus. Haha!


We booked our seats via Willerexpress.com. It was recommended by our fave kawaii blogger, Ashley Dy. :) Thanks Ash! She also advised us to book ahead of time because they don't do on-the-spot bookings. After choosing your travel dates and routes, you could sort the result according to price (which I did), arrival times, departure times. Cheapest bus fare I saw was 3,000+yen, and most expensive was 10,000+yen. 


what factors did I consider when choosing? Routes (Had to be Kyoto to Shinjuku which is the one closest to Shibuya), toilet and luggage provision. Some of the cheap ones don't have luggage storage and no toilets. Chose Eagle Bus and booked a one way ticket from Kyoto Kamogawa to Shinjuku for 6,800yen or P3,300. It's pricier than the rest but there's always a price for convenience. I love its 3-row separated seats. Each seat has a curtain for privacy, blanket, pillow, socket, night lamp, reclining seat with foot rest and a toilet inside.It was super comfortable and it's like having your own room inside. Totally worth it!

Another site where you can book seats: http://nightbusjapan.com/


7. PHOTO STORAGE
photo from www.cnet.com

In a world full of Fuji, be a Canon EOS M3. Haha! Well, to be honest I don't have a camera now haha. I usually just use my iPhone 6 to take photos. For this trip, Sarah let me borrow her husband's (Hi Papa D love you! Haha) camera which is a Canon M3. I fell in love with it! Super nasepanx ako. Huhu. I love the resolution and how it's super user friendly. It also has wi-fi, meaning you could transfer photos to your phone. If I would buy a new camera, this would be it. :) It might be slightly heavier than a Fuji but it's still very compact and easy to carry around. 

I also use my iPhone to take photos! Especially when it's raining and I had to put the camera in my bag. Whenever I run out of space, I just transfer the photos to my Sandisk iXpand Flash Drive (which I bought from Shopee) or upload it on my Shoebox App!


Download Shoebox App on your phone! 

It automatically downloads your photos as long as you have wi-fi connection. In Osaka and Kyoto, I was able to download my photos because of the fast wi-fi connections in our Airbnb and public places. In Tokyo, I had to save my photos using my Sandisk flash drive coz we didn't have a fast wi-fi connection at home. also had limited wi-fi in public areas. 


I deleted na my Shoebox App on my phone to save space. Don't worry, the downloaded photos will stay there forever (I hope). Then I opened the Shoebox website using my laptop, signed in and downloaded all my photos from the trip! :)

No need to bring your laptop na when you travel just to transfer photos and free up some space on your SD card or phone. Yipee.


8. MONEY CHANGER

I've always had this fear of running out of money and begging on the streets in a foreign land, so I make sure I bring enough to survive. Mas okay nang sobra kesa kulang db? For this trip, I had P50,000 exchanged at Sanry's money changer in Shoppesville, Greenhills. I researched online and read in some forums that they have nice rates. You could buy Yens from banks like BDO and BPI but you have to order them 2 weeks before. And you have to provide documents. I didn't have time so Sanry's it is! 

Click here for their other branches: 


9. CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS


For shopping emergency purposes, I also brought my Unionbank Visa GetGo debit & credit cards with me! Thank God, I didn't have to use them. Haha. I used them though when I booked and paid for our accommodations, extra baggages & our bus tickets online and I earned GetGo points in return! Woots! I shall use them to book plane tickets. Hoho. 

To know more about these amazing cards, click here: 


10. POCKET MONEY

I've always had this perception that Japan is an expensive place to travel to. That I had to bring at least P70,000 to survive. I was wrong!!! At the end of our journey, I was able to take home 50,000yen (I brought 110,000yen) pa with me. Not counting the 3,000yen I lost and the 1,000yen Nico found in my dress haha. So that means, I only shelled out 56,000yen or roughly P26,000!!! That's for 8 days na, 3 cities! I still couldn't believe I did it. And no, I didn't deprive myself haha. I was able to eat well, and that also includes train rides, entrance fees, 3-day Tokyo subway pass and a little shopping! :) More details on my next posts!

TRANSPORTATION - it's best if you just buy the unlimited passes especially if you have a jampacked itinerary. In our case, we bought the 3-days unli Tokyo Subway pass which was super sulit! It's 1,500yen or P700. We were able to go to different places without having to line up and buy a ticket. 

 We bought the 3-day ticket or the green one. So convenient!


In Osaka and Kyoto, we bought train tickets per destination. I think it was okay because if we bought the http://www.japanrailpass.net/ which was more or less P13,000, it might not be worth it. I think our train rides didn't amount to that naman. We were not able to go to many places in Osaka & Kyoto coz of time constraint.

You must always have coins! The machines also accepts 1000yen.

 Trains in Japan could be really confusing. They have a gazillion train lines! Good thing they have a CALL for HELP button and someone was always there to assist. Lumalabas sila sa small silver door na yan on the left side. Kulet!

FOOD - I like Japanese food but my selection is every limited. I like gyoza, I like katsu, ramen (but can't finish them), miso soup, but I hate sushi or raw anything. I also don't eat roe or fish eggs. Anything malansa, I hate. Fried is okay. Haha. So when I was there, I only ate what was familiar. I am so corny but I didn't want to waste money on food I won't be able to eat or finish. Food could be pricey in Japan, but they also have a lot of budget friendly meals and food places! 



For example, this kiosk in a mall in Osaka. I got the 250yen gyoza! That's only P120. 

 Plus rice & drinks, another 250yen. Total is 500yen or P230. Not bad!

TOURS - We agreed not to go to amusement parks (which costs 3,000+yen) and most of the sites we went to does not have an entrance fee. If there's a fee, it's very minimal. :)

Kiyomizu Dera's entrance fee is just 300yen or P130 :)

I skipped on the expensive activities like the Robot show in Tokyo that Sarah & Ana went to and also the authentic Japanese dining experience in Kyoto. That's 6,800yen & 5,000yen respectively. I think the most expensive activity we did was the cultural show in Gion Corner at Kyoto for 3,150yen. Worth it, though! Got to see real Maikos! :)


Shopping - I also did a little shopping, mostly in Tokyo! I made sure that I only buy pieces that are on sale, or those that I wouldn't be able to find or see in Manila. Most of the shops in Tokyo are thrift shops na pinasosyal so I skipped those 'coz I know I'd be able to find something similar here at a much cheaper price. 

 Avail of their TAX FREE services and refunds! Always bring your passport with you!:)


Loved shopping at GU (Uniqlos sister brand), Monki, Flying Tiger & Harajuku!:) I mostly bought items not more than 1000yen or P500 each. Was able to buy a pair of shoes and nice pants from GU for 590yen or P280 each!!! Waaah. I also did my pasalubong shopping at Don Quixote (24-hour store which sells everythanggg) near our condo. :)


Let's summarize my expenses:
Airfare - P7,548
VISA - P1,200
Accommodations - P6,337
Additional baggage allowance - P3,034
Kyoto to Tokyo night bus- P3,300
Airport Tax - P1,620
Terminal Fee - P750
Pocket Money - P26,000
__________________________
Grand Total = P49,789

This ends my first Japan post. Hope it was fun for you to read as it was for me to re-live. :) My next post will be Osaka Day 1! Thanks for reading! :)  
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Meet the New SM Woman

July 8, 2016, 6:51 am
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And just when you think they can’t get any better, SM Woman decided to raise the fashion bar and launched their new and improved look through a 3-day fashion festival! From the quality of its materials to the range of sizes it offers, its classic designs to trendy ones, and flattering cuts that ensure a perfect fit every time – the brand spared no expense at redefining an all-new style with a bevy of exciting, fresh offerings. The brand now houses 9 categories: SM Woman Career, SM Woman Fashion, SM Woman Prima, SM Woman Denim/Casuals, SM Woman Sleep and Lounge, SM Woman Active, Coco Cabana by SM Woman, Gigi Amore by SM Woman, and SM Woman Plus. There’s definitely a piece for every fashion emergency, whatever season it may be! Check out photos from the event/fashion show below...



The gorgeous Teresa Herrera

And the forever beautiful Amina Aranaz Alunan



Love her!














This is so me!!!

















And just look at these fierce SM Woman Ambassadors! 
Actress Cai Cortez & Student Andrea Aldeguer (Hello Stacey & Danah who I see at the back!)

Sarah Meier

Gabi Darza and our love Janeena Chan!


Love these looks! You can really see that there's something for everyone in SM Woman. :)



Guests were treated to a shopping party! 50% off on most of the items:)

Me with Trice and Angel at the reg table:)

Hello Couple Parfait!
We are SM Women! Me with Ava, Bestie, Angel, Trice & Krissy

How would you define a woman? Exceptional, Driven, Strong, Confident. Agree? Just like their new ambassadors! Just like you and me. :)




Celebrate womanhood by going after your dreams and then wearing powerful outfits and clothes while doing it. SM has got you covered! I love everything I saw on the runway. And that's just the SM Woman line. I am also obsessed with GTW. Go run to the nearest SM store now. Happy shopping!:)


For more information, visit:
http://facebook.com/SMWoman
http://twitter.com/_smwoman
http://instagram.com/smwoman
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Search

Gigi Hadid is Penshoppe’s Newest Global Ambassador!

July 12, 2016, 1:47 am
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When Gigi Hadid tweeted that she was the new face of Penshoppe, my face was literally the Wow reaction emoji from Facebook. Hahaha! But with ambassadors the level of Kendall Jenner, Lucky Blue Smith, Sean O’Pry, Sandara Park, and Mario Maurer, I shouldn’t have been surprised by Penshoppe’s latest move. As if this big news isn’t enough, Penshoppe also launched the Power Stretch Jeans during their exclusive event. Power Stretch Jeans promises to take its wearer to more places with the use of soft stretchable material that provides absolute comfort plus a snug and flattering fit. Comfort and style? I vote yes! The models in the fashion show proved this when they also biked and skateboarded along the runway!


Check out photos from the fashion show below:





















It’s really fitting that Gigi Hadid played Slay-Z in Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood music video. I mean, look at this girl SLAY:




Congratulations on this successful campaign, Penshoppe! And congrats for a successful event ARC!:)

For more information, follow:
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Japan Diaries 2016, Osaka Day 1: Dotonbori, Namba, Shinsaibashi & Osaka Castle Park

July 13, 2016, 12:18 am
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Okay, so after planning everything, getting our visas, buying extra baggage allowances, it was finally time for our flight! Since I got caught up with work a couple of weeks before leaving, I was not able to work on our itinerary. So not me huhu. Thank God, Ana took control and we used her sister's itinerary from their trip before. It was such a huge help! Sarah and I also suggested some places we wanted to add to our list as the days went by. So without further ado, here are photos from our first day in Japan, starting in OSAKA!




Check-in at the Jetstar counter in Terminal 1

Almost ready to board na ang mga bibe

Loving Jetstar's new plane for their new Japan routes!

It was a pleasant flight. No free food or drinks nga lang. Was super thirsty when we got off. 

It was a 5-hour flight but I wasn't able to sleep from excitement! We arrived in Kansai airport at around 5:30am. Our AirBnb check-in time was 3pm pa so we had more or less 9 hours to burn. We decided to just be rockstars and scratch some items off our itinerary even without any sleep. We were tired, had no sleep, super haggard, but PUSSSSH! Laban mga bibe! Haha.    

Waiting for our luggages at Kansai airport. I love how there's a specific area (3 feet away from the conveyor belt) where people are supposed to wait. And everyone followed. 


Kansai airport is pretty small.

We had no idea how to go to our AirBnb area or Dotonbori so we tried asking for directions. I don't think we were able to use it haha.

We headed to the train station which was connected to the airport & tried to figure out where we can stay for a few hours, have coffee, breakfast and hang out a bit. We had a few hours to spare since our check-in time was after 3pm. :(

Decided to just get off at NAMBA! And then from there, bahala na. Local train fare was 500yen or P230. It was a pretty long train ride.

Let's go!

But first, water! We were also excited to buy from the very first vending machine we saw. Haha.

110yen or P50 water, gone in 10 seconds. Kaloka yung uhaw ko. 

Boarded this local train not knowing if it's the right one or where it's heading. YOLO! Haha.

No sleep, no ligo. Fightin.


Train stewardess. So cute.

Got excited when I saw this cute neighborhood and cute houses! I can't believe I'm in Japan! Gaaah. :)

Since it was just 6-7 in the morning, the train's airconditioning system was not yet turned on. Was sweating like crazy. Haha. We also didn't know if it was the right train going to Namba. We just relied on the signs every stop. It was a pretty long ride (I think 20-30 minutes). With a lot of prayers (dasal lang talaga, dasal lang) & optimism, we were able to get off exactly at our destination. Woot, woot. 

Hello, Namba station!  

Okay, let me just say, Namba station was HUGE. It's the main station in Osaka so it's extremely easy to get lost inside. Actually, it's easy to get lost everywhere. Haha! Japan's train system is confusing AF. It's so different from SG or HK where you can immediately figure out your stop or platform where you could board the right train. This particular station connects the most train lines and has lots of escalators, tunnels, corners and exits! Don't worry, if you ever get lost there are a lot of information counters and tourist help desks. 

Also, Japanese people are SUPER nice and polite so you could just ask for directions. Not all could speak & understand English though. We heavily relied on maps, photos we googled, screenshots and hand gestures. Lots of them. Charades din minsan. We also proved a lot of times how photos and recorded videos helped us find our way! So, do it. Take lots of photos and videos of streets, landmarks, etc. It's also normal practice that when you ask for directions, Japanese people often go with you even if it's out of their way. I love this country. :)

You could see coin lockers everywhere! So convenient. You could just leave your luggages or bags for a few hundred yens and continue with your tour or shopping.

We headed straight to the North Exit or Namba-Nankai. It's also near Takashimaya Mall. We decided to leave our bags and luggages in coin lockers near the exit. Our plan was to just retrieve it later on when we're ready to check-in. 


Coin lockers are life savers hehe


Mine fit in the smallest locker! Woots! 

Okay, so for our first rental, we all got separate lockers. Sarah and I found out later on that we could share a huge one! The one I rented above was the smallest and it's 500yen or P230 pesos. The huge one that Sarah and I shared was just 700yen. We divided the rental fee and just paid 350yen each or P170! Yes to savings! :) Their rental fee has no time limit so you could leave your bags the whole day for no extra charge! 

Kamalasan #1: So since first time mejo shunga. I already closed the locker and removed the key from the keyhole when I remembered I left my jacket & toothbrush inside. So I opened it again to get them. Wrong!!! That counts na pala as 1 day rental huhu. So I had to insert 500yen as new rental. Waaah. Lesson learned. 

Went to this convenience store near the exit. :) 


Love the variety

Let's go out and explore na!
Turned right upon exit


Crossed the street and entered that alley way (which turned out to be Namba Center) beside Starbucks

A few restos were already open but majority were still closed. They open 10am!

quiet streets of Namba 

Hello Kuya! We considered this but no english menu haha

Saw these food vendos outside restos and got amazed! Customers are supposed to choose their meals here, pay, get the stubs and present them inside. :)


Kept on walking. Can't figure out where to tambay and eat breakfast.


Asa Japan na nga ako, can't understand the signs! Haha.

Osaka is slowly waking up:)

Super random that we came across Ichiran (one of the recommended ramen place in Japan) this early and with no queue!!!

Since we were already hungry, tired and wanted to rest for a bit, we decided to eat here na. At least we were able to tick one off from our Things-to-do-in-Osaka list this early! Hehe. So in we went...


Ichiran originated from Fukuoka and offers Classic Tonkotsu Ramen from the 1960s. Each soup contains home-made fresh noodles, classic tonkotsu soup that was researched by professionals over a long period of time, carefully prepared sliced pork, fresh sliced onions, and their Original Red Sauce (known only by 3 of their experts) made from a mixture of 30 types of spices, aged & cooked slowly for nights and days. It's like art! Grabe! Haha. They're the only ramen restaurant that offers Trans fat-free tonkotsu ramen and broth with natural collagen. Ramen everyday na. Pampaganda. Haha. 


This is how you order! So excitiiing. 


Menu:) 

I got the classic ramen  for 790yen, additional egg for 120yen and additional pork for 180yen coz I didn't know it has pork na. Sayang but it was okay. Total bill was 1090yen or P530. Quite expensive for me but it was a nice experience. 

Okay sorry d lang pala ako nagbabasa. Haha.

We went up to the 2nd floor and was assigned a table. In some branches, you could dine alone in cubicles. According to Ana it's quite an experience. Hope to try it next time!:)


Had to fill up this questionnaire. Super detailed! Love it. You could choose the flavor strength, richness, garlic, green onion, strength of the red sauce and texture of the noodles.   

Tada! Sarap! As usual, I was not able to finish mine because I got full right away. Huhu lagi nalang whenever I eat noodles or goto or arrozcaldo. Haha.


Happy kids! Busog na kase hehe

After eating, we walked & explored more until we got to Dotonbori..
Even their pavements are so kawaii.

Love the restaurants in Dotonbori! 

Another Ichiran restaurant located at the Dotonbori canal! This one has the solo kiosks. 

The Dotonbori district is a popular area for visitors to the city and boasts a number of well known restaurants offering a range of traditional and modern Japanese dishes. Like what they say, eat all you can in Osaka!

We made it!!!

So peaceful pa noh?

cute toys!


vendo pa more

i love you japan. Haha.

Me and Glico Man. Finally!:)

Originally installed in 1935, the sign depicting a giant athlete on a blue track is a symbol of Glico candy. The sign has been altered on several occasions to celebrate events such as the World Cup and to show support for the Osaka baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers. The current version is the sixth, which uses LEDs. The previous five incarnations of the sign used neon lights. :)

Asked a stranger to take a photo of us! Yey!

One more mas malayo. Took advantage na walang pang tao!





Wasn't able to try Lotteria. Next time ulit!


Since we needed wi-fi and we needed to regroup and do some quick research, we decided to tambay at Starbucks Tsutaya near the Glico sign. It turned out to be one of the best Starbucks I have ever been in! Told Ana and Sarah it's like being in a university library. Hehe. Wi-fi was super fast too!

Ana and Sarah ordered muna

View outside

Across the street is the famous Kani Doraku, Japan's iconic crab resto. That crab moves!

It's a huge library!


They sell books too




We decided to tambay on the 2nd floor

Nice db?

We ended up spending time here because it was super cozy and super chill hehe. It was also where we freshened up, brushed our teeth and re-applied make-up. Haha. After finalizing our itinerary that day and researching how to go to places, it was time to leave!

Busy na sa labas!

This is Shinsaibashi, a covered shopping street, that is north of Dōtonbori and parallel and east of Mido-suji street. It's one of Osaka's oldest and busiest shopping destinations which runs about 600 meters in length. You would find a variety of shops & restaurants, independent fashion shops, branded stores, chain stores, etc. Shop 'til you drop guys.









It was on Sarah's list to check out second hand designer stores. We checked out a few shops and there are a lot of good buys! You'd go crazy if you love designer goods.


Brand Off is one of the most popular second hand designer items store in Japan. They also have a few shops in Tokyo.

All bags are priced 30-70% off!



For instance, this YSL bag only costs 89,800yen or P40,900. It's original price is 226,000yen or P100k+.

Love this hat shop! Mejo pricey lang the hats.




ABC Mart sells branded footwear for a lesser price

They even have Skechers inside! Hi Seph Asong! Hehe.

Dessert shop and cafe

Tried looking for a nice pair of loafers but went home empty handed. Huhu.

Nice shirts!


Saw cute restos too. Kanino kayang bike to. Haha.

Love their manhole covers!

We just had to check out Daiso!

Tatlong bibe in disguise. Hehe.

They sell all sorts of things! Weird things, interesting things, necessities, artsy stuff, food, phone chargers, everythinnnng.

Even this finger sack. WTF. Sugod mga tomboy na kakosa! Haha. 

Sarah bought a towel for 120yen or P50. It's like Aquazorb promise! One of my shopping regrets. Haha. Sana naghoard ako! (photo from Ana)

It started raining when we got out so we went back again to buy a baseball cap for P40. Huge help!



Love Zara's window display!


Really cute dessert shop! Ana said character daw to sa Ghibli:)

Of course, there's SEGA!

We're not yet in Harajuku



It was almost lunch time and we're getting hungry again, so we decided to head to our first destination that day, OSAKA CASTLE! So, how to go there?


Went to the nearest train station which was Shinsaibashi.

Eto na naman ang confusing na train ticketing booth and maps haha

That Kuya in uniform saw our dilemma and he was kind enough to help us! We just showed him where we're going and he gave us directions:) Thank you, Sir!

Okay, so Osaka Castle is located at Morinomiya or Osaka Business Park stations. They're different ha. Choose one. Haha. 

We chose Morinomiya (3-B) which was just 5 stops away from Shinasaibashi. 
They both belong to the Nagahori Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Line. Color: Lime Green. 


We didn't know which train to board but there were signs. Yey.

After we got off, we tried looking for the right exit. It says Exit 1, but we couldn't find it. Haha.


So we asked the Station Master for instructions and directions. They have a station master. So cool. I want this job. I want to be a master. Haha.


Bawal picture but was able to take one. Haha! Thank you Sir for the help!


We had to go down the stairs and up again before we finally saw the exit. Confusion galore.


Finally!!!




My ever reliableSkecherswhite rubbershoes saved my feet sa trip na to. Thank God for memory foam! I highly recommend it lalo na sa mga oldies na madali sumakit ang paa. 

So much stairs. Waaah. Haha. 

Upon exit, you would immediately see Osaka Castle Park on the right side. There's also a map and area guide...
It's freakin huge. Haha.

Kayo na bahala haha



...but since we're starving, lafang muna! There were no restos inside the park, or near the park, so we decided eat sa mall across the street. Slightly long walk pa din from the train exit. I cannot anymoreee. This country is so healthy. So fit. So not me. Haha.


Morinomiya Exit 1

 Walk straight, mga 200 meters, then used the overpass to go to the other side

Kala ko Nuvali haha.




Not much food places, thank God they have this food court named Q Kitchen!


This adorable little boy greeted me and had his photo taken. So cuteee.






Sarah's food. Takoyaki! She ate this with rice. Yum.

My food! Gyoza and rice for 500yen


Ana's food! Noodles:)


I love how Japan has this clean as you go policy almost everywhere. Food trays should be returned sa booth where you bought your food. :) 


They also have free water stations and free wet towels! Almost everywhere too. I love it.



Aaaand, they have the best toilets! Everrr.

This is the only country where I was not scared to use the toilet. I was able to eat everything I wanted because I know that if my stomach suddenly goes berserk, I could release it whenever, wherever. Most of their toilets have automatic bidet, buttons that lets you choose the water temperature, sounds (malakas na waterfalls so kahit may LBM walang makakarinig) and deodorizer! The only thing lacking? SOAP. Haha. Lam niyo na. Fortunately, I always bring one in my bag. Travel size lang yung mga libre sa hotels haha. Gawd, I love Japan! 



Sarah passed by sa grocery muna and Ana decided to check out the merchandise inside.


While they're at it, I decided to take a nap. Haha! Grabe 5 minutes lang pero narecharge naman ako konti. 

And off we went to Osaka Castle Park!


The entire Osaka Castle Park covers about two square kilometers with lots of green space, sport facilities, a multi-purpose arena (Osakajo Hall) and a shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The park is one of Osaka's most popular hanami spot during the cherry blossom season which usually takes place in early April. :)



Bought this strawberry ice cream from a dessert truck inside for 300yen. A nice way to cool down bilang super jinetey.


Ice cream and chill muna sa fountain




We slightly got lost inside so we ended up taking a longer walk. It was tiring but worth it! The park is super nice & peaceful. A nice break from the city. We enjoyed the lush, green scenery, fresh air and watching people. :) 



Biking in a suit. Love.


Lovely flowers


After walking for about 30 minutes, we're finally near the famous Himeji Castle! This is the Otemon western gate. 


I can see the Gokurakubashi Bridge!



This bridge connects the Yamazato-maru Bailey & the Ni-no-maru or outer bailey. The Ni-No-Maru bailey contained the palace of the daimyo of Karatsu and the domain's administrative offices. The moat and walls you see was/were put up to block invaders or keep them out. Reminds me of Angkor Wat and this palace in Mandalay, Myanmar. An amazing defense strategy back in the days.


It's this big and complicated. What a fortress!

The castle grounds is approximately 60,000 square meters (15 acres) and contains thirteen structures that have been designated as important cultural assets by the Japanese government including: Ote-mon Gate, Sakura-mon Gate, Ichiban-yagura Turret, Inui-yagura Turret, Rokuban-yagura Turret, Sengan Turret, Tamon Turret, Kinmeisui Well, Kinzo Storehouse, Enshogura Gunpowder Magazine & 3 sections of castle wall all located around Otemon Gate.


Saw this on our way up the castle. Ano kaya to?


That bench is where I napped for 5 minutes because I couldn't walk sraight anymore haha!

The Osaka Castle was built in the end of the 16th century by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a well-known warlord who brought the whole country under his rule in the late 16th century. It has been burned down in a series of battles in the 17th century, and reconstructed later. Once again it was destroyed by fire, its donjon only reduced to ashes this time, and was reconstructed at last early in the 20th century. 


The main tower of Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one square kilometer. It is built on two raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer walls of cut rock, using a technique called Burdock piling, each overlooking a moat. The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, and built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from attackers. On display at its 1st to 7th floors are various weapons, armors and folklife items of those days. The viewing deck is on the 8th floor. There's an entrance fee of 600yen to be able to go inside. :)


This is the old Osaka City Museum. Dun lang namin nalaman that it has been non-operational since 2003! Huhu.  


It transferred pala to a tall building next to NHK Osaka and just across the street from Osaka Castle. Now we know. Haha. Entrance is 600yen too.



I can imagine how this place looks like with cherry blossoms. :)





Well Curb of the Gimmeisui Well which was once a source of drinking water of the officials during the Edo period (1603-1867)




Ice cream & refreshments shop across the street

4 na bibe!


It was a long walk going back to the train station. No energy left. Haha

Lifeline haha. But this is just half of the original map. Madami pa sha and malaki. Haha.



Back to Namba!



Decided to check out more shops muna before going to our Airbnb



Uy, a Skechers store!



Love how animated & extravagant Japanese resto billboards are! 

Kaya pa mga beshie! D pako namamatay sa antok! Haha



Wanted to try this but no shade for morenas like me. Huhu. Whyyy.



I want this but it was too expensive :( And it's mapepe. Haha.

After Sarah and Ana's coffee break and my social media break in Starbucks, we left and looked for someplace to eat. Sarah wanted okonomiyaki but we failed to find a resto serving that. Okay lang though because we came across this cool rotating sushi bar!

                                It's filled with locals so it must be good. Also no                                   English menu haha.


Each plate is, I think, 170yen or P80? 



Truth is, I am not a fan of sushi and I don't like eating raw food. So I left Sarah and Ana there and went to Burger King for dinner! Haha. I wanted to eat something familiar that time. Haha. Sorry na.


Saw this nice store outside



Ito pa! Super cool.

My 900yen dinner! Mejo mahal. 

At this time, we were already tired, haggard, wet from the rain and a little lost. We were trying to find our way back to Nankai-Namba entrance/exit (where our coin lockers are located and where we exited when we first arrived) but couldn't find it. We decided to just enter Namba train station and try to find it nalang. Everything is connected underground. It might be a long walk but at least it's connected.



Saw this one our way back to Namba station! So cute!

Kamalasan #2: I made this pagtitipid strategy where I would just take out 10,000yen per day. Later on I found out I don't even reach 10kyen per day sa gastos. It is to limit myself and not to overbudget. So on my first day, I just put my money in my pocket because I didn't want to open my backpack (which is kind of a hassle) over and over. Unfortunately, my last bills (3,000yen) fell out of my pocket when I tried to get my train ticket huhu. When I brought this up sa girls, Ana said a Japanese woman actually called her attention and was giving her some bills. She thought the lady was asking for change so she just told her no. Haha! It's okay though. Lesson learned!


Ana also experienced kamalasan when we got to our coin lockers! When she opened her locker, to our horror, her luggage was not there! As in empty. We tried not to panic and just went to the coin locker office to ask for help. At first the Kuya couldn't understand us (language barrier huhu), but Ana showed him a photo of her bag inside the locker which she took when we arrived and some of her snaps! It's a good thing we love taking photos and snappin! Pwede din kasi shang evidence or reference for future use. Turned out, the keys just got switched and her luggage is inside the locker next to the one she opened. Whew. What an ordeal for our first day noh? But, positive lang!

Come 9pm, it was time to look for our Airbnb home!

So from the train station, with our luggages in tow, we walked under the rain trying to find our accommodation. We only have the map our host sent. We tried asking for directions but for some reason I don't think they know where the place was or they just didn't understand us. They were still nice enough to stop and try to help. :) Until we asked this one guy and he looked like he knew the place! So mejo optimistic na kami. In the end, he only led us to a taxi stand haha! Kasi naman pala we were walking in the wrong direction and it was kind of complicated to teach us the right way. We didn't want to ride a taxi but no choice and we were dead tired. 

This is the Airbnb map, different from what our host sent. Should have printed and used this one! Kasi naman he said mali the Airbnb map so he sent a new one. Huhu. Sha pala mali.

Our place pala is just a few blocks (mga 3 kantos) away, as in 7 minutes walk away, from Dotonbori!!! It's located near the Glico sign and the Ichiran resto along the river, as you can see on the map! Nakakaloka. We could have walked from there. The place was actually perfect. If hindi lang talaga mali directions ni host. Haha.



First step in retrieving our key


Our host sent us a detailed list of instructions on how to get in. The place is super secured so we needed that talaga. The instructions were easy to follow. But for some reason when we got there we couldn't find the print out. We also didn't have internet or wi-fi so I could not open my Airbnb account or email. We were just there inside the building thinking of ways on how to get the instructions. It was still raining hard. Super hassle. Luckily, a girl tenant arrived and we asked her if we could connect to her internet. Pakapalan na ng mukha haha! She was nice enough to help us and let me use her data. Was finally able to open my email and retrieve the instructions! Woots! Sa wakas. Habang may buhay, may pag-asa! 

Aside from the combination ng mailbox, we also needed the combination for this key holder and then the combination for the sliding door.



We're finally inside the building! It's actually pretty nice.:)

Hallway

Our apartment



Tada! It was small but nice & comfy!

Not much space to walk around but it was okay. Outside the room there's a kitchen where you can cook. There are also utensils and other stuff you could borrow. 

Bedroom slippers



Bedroom! Yay! ana slept on the floor and sarah & I shared the bed.



Clean toilet!



With a nice sink



And tub! They have free shampoo, conditioner and body wash. So did not use mine muna. :) Their shower has a heater too.




I would highly recommend this place if you're visiting Osaka. It's walking distance to Dotonbori, Namba, Shinsaibashi. It's located in the city but the neighborhood is still quiet. I had a nice sleep! I am mejo maselan sa bed because I have skin allergy, but this one is super clean! Sheets smelled nice and no bites or itchiness when we woke up. They also have extra towels, pillows and blankets. :) There's a Family Mart store in the corner. :)


That ends Osaka Day 1! Day 2 na next. Sorry for the delay will try to expedite na! Haha. Happy reading!:)




EXPENSES in Yen:
Ichiran breakfast - 1,090
Coin locker - 1,000 (na dapat 500 lang haha)
Lunch - 500
Water from vending machines - 400
Local train from Kansai airpot to Namba - 500
Shinsaibashi to Morinomiya - 240
Morinomiya to Namba - 300(more or less)
Burger King dinner - 900
Daiso shopping - 500
Ice cream at Osaka park - 300
Convenience store candies - 400 (bwiset kala ko 30 lang mahal pala haha)
___________________________________
TOTAL = 6,130 or let's say 6,500 = P3,000!!! :)


If you remove the coin locker mishap, ice cream, shopping, candies and you just eat in budget restos (there's a lot!), it could go down to more or less 4,500yen or P2,000!!! Your budget depends on what type of traveler you are, really. Hope this helps!:) 



Link to all my Japan posts:
http://www.aisaipac.com/search/label/japan%20diaries?max-results=5

Link to all my travel posts:
http://www.aisaipac.com/search/label/travels?max-results=5

If you want infos on how to get to major tourist spots, click here:

Want to book our Airbnb apartment:
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Asia Trip 2015, Myanmar: Last Sunset in Bagan + Bus to Yangon

July 13, 2016, 3:23 am
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Not sure if you've read my Bagan Temple Tour post (whyyy, you must read it guys, wahaha), but this is the last installment! Our scheduled bus trip to Yangon was leaving at 8pm, so we had a few hours to spare. We decided to spend them driving around, discovering new temples, chilling and watching our last Bagan sunset on top of Shwesandaw Pagoda. I could honestly say that this was one of the best trips I have ever done and one of the best places I have ever seen. The whole place and the whole experience was so unique, so different and I could not wait to see it's magnificence again. Photos and stories below...





Rented an e-bike again, but this time si Nico nalang nagdrive.


I'm just a passenger now! I can't drive anymore. Anlaki ng pasa ko sa legssss. 


On our 2nd day of touring temples, I decided to be an e-bike passenger nalang. Driving a scooter for almost 10 hours the day before slightly drained me. I even got a bruise on my right leg as big as the world map. This might be slightly exaggerated or it might be slightly true. Haha. Got it from the stationary pedal of the bike. Every time I hit on the brakes, it rubs and bumps on my leg. Ayun. Haha. It's also funny how even after falling asleep, it felt like I was still driving and wobbling! I was jerking the whole time daw according to Nico. So funny!


Tried Aroma 2 Indian restaurant for lunch! Sa wakas open sha!


Menu and Prices


Forgot what we ordered but I think this is Chicken Tikka Masala?


Love this! If you didn't like the food, you have the option not to pay. Pero shempre mahiya naman tayo if naubos mo naman. Haha!


After lunch, we immediately went temple hopping. We decided to explore other areas naman. This time, we decided to check-out temples in Nyaung-U, the area where the restos & most hotels are located. 



First Stop: Shwezigon Paya Temple


This temple, also known as a popular pilgrimage center, is very much similar to Burmese stupas, and consists of a circular gold leaf-gilded stupa surrounded by smaller temples and shrines. The pagoda is believed to enshrine a bone and tooth of Gautama Buddha. Within the compound of the Shwezigon Pagoda is a stone pillar containing Mon language inscriptions dedicated by King Kyansittha. 






Barefoot dapat sa buong compound




Upper terrace closed to the public




2nd Stop: Don't know the name of this spot:(





3rd Stop: This old abandoned wooden house we discovered on the side of the road

So nice! Couldn't get inside though because it's closed.

4th Stop: Gubyauk Gyi Temple

Located in the Myinkaba Village south of Bagan, this temple was built in 1113AD by Prince Yazakumar, shortly after the death of his father, King Kyansittha of the Pagan Dynasty. The temple is notable for two reasons. First, it contains a large array of well-preserved frescoes on its interior walls, the oldest original paintings to be found in Bagan.  All of the frescoes are accompanied by ink captions written in Old Mon, providing one of the earliest examples of the language's use in Myanmar.


 Wasn't able to enter because there were people praying inside


Second, the temple is located just to the west of the Myazedi pagoda, at which was found two stone pillars with inscriptions written in four, ancient Southeast Asian languages: Pali, Old Mon, Old Burmese, and Pyu. The inscription on the pillar displayed by the Myazedi pagoda has been called the Burmese Rosetta Stone, given its significance both historically and linguistically, as a key to cracking the Pyu language.



It was super hot that day so we had to stop on the side of the road to check our map and also our Lonely Planet guide. Nico and I decided to take a break from the heat and mag chill muna at this cafe/resto we saw along the way...


Mingalarba Food Corner


 Ordered watermelon shake and banana fritter with honey!

After our meryenda we decided to go back muna, eat lunch and rest for a bit before our last sunset session in this beautiful place...
Drove back to Nyaung-U

Decided to check this popular resto which we also found in our Lonely Planet book and #1 in TripAdvisor! 

Weather Spoon Restaurant & Bar serves Western, Italian & Asian food

 Ordered their best-selling Weather Spoon burger (dubbed as the best burger in Asia) and it was delicious! I've been craving for a burger and I'm so glad I found this resto. Sarap sobra guys. It's 4,900 kyats or P190.

Those guys in yellow & blue are the owners, I think:)

Aside from the nice food variance, the place also feels super chill, homey and has fast wi-fi! Yey! Can't wait to go back and try their other cuisines. Anyway, after eating we went back to the hotel and rested for a bit sa common area since we already checked-out. Left again at around 5pm and headed back to Shwesandaw Pagoda for our last Bagan sunset! 

 Take the stairs near the restrooms! It's least crowded one. Nasa right side sha banda.

 It's so steep! If you're scared of heights, don't look down.

 The climb was worth it:)

 Breathtaking view:)


 I love you, Bagan:) You still have my heart:)

A kind tourist took our photo! Sa wakas may couple pic din hahaha.

Found our sunset spot

Sila din daw patingin ng sunset. Waah!

Look at all those tour buses

 And then there was silence. So beautiful. :) Stayed here for almost an hour just enjoying this view. So lucky to have experienced this. It was magical. 

 Time to go down!

Drove back to Nayung-U again, near our hotel, to eat dinner naman...
 Everything is so charming in Bagan

 Decided to go Italian for dinner! We ate at La Pizza resto which you would immediately see on the side of the road in Nyaung-U.:)

 Also bought pasta naman from this Italian resto named La Terrazza across the street!

 Wood fired pizza is the best. Grabe naubos namin lahat!

Pasta was delicious!

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel, collected our things and waited for our service going to the JJ Express bus station. The pick-up service was free na if you book a reservation. Oasis Hotel was the one who contacted them for us. :)

 After picking up a few more passengers, we arrived here!

 We paid for our tickets. One-way VIP ticket from Bagan to Yangon costs 18,000 kyats or P720.

 Our bus! Ang kulit may Mr. Bean pa sa harap. Haha.

 Our seats!

 Aliw na aliw si Nico sa TV

 We were also given blankets. Yey.

After a few hours, we stopped at this place called Feel Express. It is where bus drivers and the crew freshen up and eat. We were all given 30 minutes to do the same. No one was allowed to stay inside the bus, I think to prevent theft. 

 Restroom break + quick meryenda

 I don't know what Nico ordered haha

 I ordered pancit because I was scared of rice meals na. I'm not very fond of Myanmar food. Huhu. This one tastes nice!

 Back in our bus, we were given snacks and free water.

We have a stewardess! So cool.

The bus ride from Bagan to Yangon takes about 9 hours. The bus leaves at around 10-11pm and arrives there ng 6am. It is a nice way to save on accommodation too. The whole trip was pleasant and we were asleep for the duration of the ride. I highly recommend JJ Express! :) 

Will blog about Yangon next and Malaysia. This is so overdue but it's hard ha! Haha. I still have Macau and Japan to finish. Waaah. Thanks for reading and hope my posts inspire you to get out there, travel and explore new places. Love you all!



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Asia Trip 2015, Myanmar: A Few Hours in Yangon & Flight to Malaysia

July 14, 2016, 3:31 am
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This is just gonna be a short post because we didn't really do much when we were in Yangon. From Bagan we took a night bus going to Yangon where we will be flying out to Malaysia. We only had a few hours there, but we surely didn't waste it. Here are stories and photos!





Since I know we'll be arriving super early in the morning, I booked a room in Agga Bed & Breakfast so we'd have someplace to nap and bathe in. Booked a standard room with shared bathroom for P1,200 via AGODA. 


 Book here:




Second floor kitchen area and where our room is located:)


 Our room!

 Our beds:)

 Our free breakfast:) Sarap ng soup in fair.

 
Shared bathroom:)

Our stay was quick yet pleasant. The shared bathroom was okay. The breakfast was nice. The staff were also helpful. They helped us get a cab who took us to the airport and also brought us to Shwedagon as a sidetrip. 


 Neighborhood where hotel is located

 So nakakain na pala ako sa Lotteria! Haha! Saw one in Japan and wanted to try. Okay na pala haha!

 Fastfood again. 

Fried chicken that tastes normal yeyyy


Just a quick history lesson! Yangon or Rangoon is the former capital of Myanmar (Burma). Yangon is the country's largest city with a population of nearly six million, and is the most important commercial center. Downtown Yangon is known for its leafy avenues and fin-de-siècle architecture. The former British colonial capital has the highest number of colonial period buildings in south-east Asia. Although Yangon's infrastructure is undeveloped compared to that of other major cities in southeast Asia, it now has the largest number of colonial buildings in the region. Some of them includes: The former High Court, the former Secretariat buildings, the former St. Paul's English High School and the Strand Hotel. Now you know what to see when you're there. :) The official explanation for moving the capital to Naypyidaw was that Yangon had become too congested and crowded with little room for future expansion of government offices.   (source: Wikipedia)

Bruise from riding an e-bike in Bagan haha

Our driver picked us up at around 2pm and before going to the airport, he took us to Yangon's most famous site, the crown of Burma---the 2,500 years old Shwedagon Pagoda. It was huge, majestic and it was beautiful. 

 You had to walk through this huge hallway up 2 flights of escalators. No footwear allowed.


When we got to the top, we were made to pay 8,000 kyats each or P320 as entrance fee. Locals get in for free. I also had to rent a longyi skirt to cover my legs. We borrowed a huge umbrella because it started raining. No charge. :)


Inside, it's a vast complex with lots of smaller pagodas :)

 There were more locals than tourists


Locally known as Shwedagon Zedi Daw The, it sits atop of a hill and is 99 meters high. It can be seen from most places of Yangon day and night as the golden roof illuminates the city. Wanted to see it all lit up but can't because of our sched. Huhu.


The main gold-plated dome is topped by a stupa containing over 7,000 diamonds, rubies, topaz and sapphires, the whole giddy concoction offset by a massive emerald positioned to reflect the last rays of the setting sun.


As Myanmar's most revered shrine it has always been customary for families, mendicants and followers of the Buddha to make the pilgrimage to the Shwedagon in much the same way that Muslims feel compelled to visit the Kaaba at Mecca at least once in their lifetime.



Such is the potency of the Shwedagon that Myanmars generally hold it to be indestructible. Despite a major earthquake in 1769, several smaller quakes in the 20th century and a major fire in 1931, it still stands imposingly on the top of a hill.



Visitors are required to remove their shoes upon entering the Shwedagon and negotiating the scalding floor tiles between the shaded sanctuaries is not an easy process. It's true! When the sun's high up the floor and tiles could burn your feet. 


The pagoda is said to contain eight hairs of the Buddha, a fact that only adds to its prestige. The stairways and bridges leading into the main sanctuary serve the thousands of pilgrims who flock here, and flower and book stalls, peddlers of religious souvenirs and tea shops do a brisk trade during the Shwedagon's long hours of opening.


 It has become a symbol or their national identity:)







Time to go!

 Yangon airport is nice! It's also clean:)



 Waiting area


Boarded the plane at around 8pm and arrived in Malaysia at around 12am. :) Felt a little sad because landing in Malaysia means we've reached our last destination and that our trip's gonna be over soon. Huhu. Spent a few days in Malaysia and can't wait to share it with you! Thanks for reading!:)



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Japan Diaries 2016, Osaka Day 2: Nara Deer Park, Todaiji Temple & Train to Kyoto

July 15, 2016, 1:15 am
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I am trying to eliminate my travel posts bit by bit! So happy I get to do it now as I am currently in my parent's house in Marikina, and since it's probinsya-ish and I really have nowhere to go, I'm just stuck inside the house working on backlogs. Yey! So here's my 3rd Japan post! Wish we could have stayed longer in Osaka. There are still so much sights to see and places to explore. Well, at least more reasons to go back right? Stories and photos below from our 2nd & last day in Osaka, our trip to Nara and our journey to Kyoto. :)



 Bye bye Airbnb


Our Airbnb bldg yung may puno

 Landmarks outside 


 Our street

Sa street corner may Family Mart

 Across the street is the Osaka Fujiya Hotel

 Corner intersection

 Our street from the other side. That street beside Family Mart

So we walked from our accommodation to Dotonbori to look for someplace to eat before we leave our bags again in coin lockers at the train station. Found this authentic looking Japanese resto...







 Prices were okay too. Sarah ordered from their set menu above.

 Ana ordered Tamago (that egg on the right) and I ordered the chicken wings on the left for 480yen

 Ana and I both ordered the cucumber roll for 200yen

Tada! Wala pa yung wings ko.

Hellooo

I think I paid 800yen for my meal. Not bad! After lunch, we headed straight to the train station and took some photos along the way...







 Prang gusto kainin ni Sarah yung sushi haha




 So lively!

 Scallops as street food


 Waaah gyoza!


 Our favorite Starbucks hehe

We mostly spent our 2nd day in Osaka running away admiring deers in Nara. Aside from Nara, our original plan included the Oceanarium (Sarah's request) & the original Instant Ramen Museum in Ikeda (my request). We had to come up with a plan as to where we could leave our luggages because the 3 attractions were far from each other. Namba was the center so we left our things there before touring. In the end, we were only able to accomplish one. Haha! It was still fun though!

 Looking for the Kintetsu Nara line platform

Okay, so in Namba there are 6 train lines: Nankai Railway, Osaka Subway Midousuji line, Kintetsu Railway / Hanshin Railway (Osaka-Namba station), Osaka Subway Sennichimae line, Osaka Subway Yotsubashi line, JR (JR-Namba station). They are located in different platforms and areas but are connected underground. Mejo long walk talaga minsan. 

 To go to Nara, Ride the Kintetsu Osaka-Namba line to Nara. 

Actually, if we've only known, we could have brought our things na pala because Nara is near Kyoto and the Kintetsu line has routes going there. Oh well, next time!:) 


 Travel time was 40 minutes and train fare was 540yen.


 Welcome to Nara!

 Free wi-fi sa area na to:)


 On the right side is this alley which has many restaurants and also a Daiso store!

 Also saw local artists selling their works. So inspiring!:)

 Follow him:)

From the train station exit, walk straight until you see deers na blocking your way. Haha! 

When I think of deers, I think friendly and gentle creatures

 Wrong!!! Hahaha!

 Deer food which are biscuits for 150yen

 Sarah trying to pet one before it turned away when it realized she has no food to give. Haha. Ang lagay pet pet lang waley lafang??? Wag na uy! Sabi ng deer.

 Mejo scary the one with antlers!

 Okay it looked at me time to move away

 Oktoberfest like set-up :)

 Do not stare at them hahaha

 Road signs at this side of town

 Lucky Sarah was able to take a nice photo on this bench before being swarmed by a group of deers haha. Ana who took the photo got harassed (haha the term) by one deer. Binubunggo her pwet & backpack with his nguso. So I ran away haha. Langya.

 Ganyan lang kayo muna guys

 This Lola tried to feed them but they bullied her and bumped her hand holding the cookies so it all fell down sa floor. Aww wawa si Lola. Hehe.

 Trying to act chill and indifferent para d lapitan haha


Pax: Ana, take a photo of me with a deer sa background. Ana: Okay game lapit ka. Pax: Ayoko dito nalang ako. Game! Dali! Ayoko na! Haha. Look at that stare. So cute but deadly wahaha. 

 We didn't buy food nalang because we didn't want to be attacked hahaha! Like that ate in black.

 We crossed the street, into the park.

 More deers!!! Wanted to take a photo talaga but they're kinda aggressive. Patay gutom levels. Huhu.

Nara park is home to more or less 1,200 freely roaming deers. Those who practice Shintoism consider them to be messengers of the gods so they've become a symbol of the city and a national treasure.




 Nara Museum of Art

 Nara National Museum

 We had to choose where to go bilang the park is huge. We chose Todaiji Temple!

 Cute kids on field trip hihi

 Road leading to the temple

 Is that a Pikachu deer stuffed toy? So cute!

We tried looking for friendly looking deers coz wala pa kami matinong photo. While walking, one deer snatched Ana's map and ate it! Gaaah! Someone was able to retrieve the map (it's bad for them!) but half nalang sha huhu. They eat everything! Even plastic bottles. Nakakaloka. 

Found the chillest of them all! Woots!


So we took this opportunity to take a photo with him. Or her? Was still a little scared dito! Buti nalang wala shang galawan. Thank you powz.

 A man feeding a deer. So cute! Was surprised that one deer lang. Usually when tourists feed one, the rest follows. 

 Konti nalang asa temple na. Haha.

 So many deers.


Nandaimon or Great Southern Gate 

Tōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple complex, that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall (大仏殿 Daibutsuden), houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu. The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism. The temple is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara", together with seven other sites including temples, shrines and places in the city of Nara. Deer, regarded as messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, roam the grounds freely. (source: Wikipedia)

Ungyo - Nio with closed mouth

The existing Nandaimon (Great South Gate) was constructed at the end of the 12th century based on Song Dynasty style, after the original gate was destroyed by a typhoon during the Heian period. There are two Nio at the Nandaimon created by great sculptures Unkei, Kaikei and others in 1203. These Nio are 28-feet tall wrath-filled and muscular guardians of the Buddha. These 2 are A-un pair known as Ungyo, which by tradition has a facial expression with a closed mouth, and Agyo, which has an open mouthed expression.

Agyo - Nio with open mouth

These two figures were closely evaluated and extensively restored by a team of art conservators between 1988 and 1993. Until then, these sculptures had never before been moved from the niches in which they were originally installed. This complex preservation project, costing $4.7 million, involved a restoration team of 15 experts from the National Treasure Repairing Institute in Kyoto. Wooow.



Outfit post muna!

SM GTW top & shorts coords, Skechers rubbershoes, SM Parisian backpack, Veloci watch




Outside the main temple grounds

Entrance fee is 800yen for Todaiji  Temple + Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall)

Or 500yen for Todaiji Temple only

Non-paying visitors are only allowed up to this area

Todaiji Temple Main Hall from afar 'coz we didn't go inside. One of my regrets, should have gone inside. :(

After taking a peek see, we decided to leave.

Goodbye beautiful gate


Bambi! Hehe

Cute hat!

Ate girl trying to lure they away from her shop with slices of cucumber hehe

Mochi with strawberry for 200yen

Yum!


Went back to the alley near the train station to look for someplace to eat. Decided to check out this nice Japanese resto and ended up eating there. :)


We just relied on the food display outside and the prices written beside them. They have an english menu too!

Ordered tonkatsu set for 700yen :) It was okay. I don't like kasi tonkatsu with egg it's a little malansa for me. I want the dry one like sa Yabu.

Sarah ordered a cold soba set and sushi ba yan? Haha! Ana ordered tamago & eggplants. 

My first time to eat cold soba and I loved it!!! Thanks for the tutorial Sarah. Now, I'm craving. 

Spot Doraemon hehe

Auntie was so nice! She can't speak english but we were able to communicate naman. Thank God for calculators. Haha.


Mister Donut for dessert! 


OMG guys sobrang sarap ng Mister Donut nila. Our favorite is their Pon De Ring, those on the first row. I can eat them forever. So good!



Cup noodle ng mga nag didiet haha.

It was about 6pm when we finally decided to head back to Namba, retrieve our luggages, bid Osaka goodbye and said hello to our second destination, Kyoto! :) 

 Ready for Kyoto!

We didn't want to ride a Shinkansen train because it's more expensive, so we opted for the local JR rapid train or the JR Kyoto Line. The whole ride takes about 40 minutes with lots of stops along the way. One way fare is 560yen compared to 1k+yen for Shinkansen. 

Just follow the signs or ask for directions

As usual, we were lost in translation (haha) so we almost bought our tickets from these apple green machines which turned out to be for the Shinkansen train! 

Buti nalang I decided to check these blue machines on the right side and tried to do a mock booking. Don't always rely on the maps sa taas ng machines. 

There you go! It's only 560yen one way! Yey!

After buying tickets, we proceeded na to the assigned platform

The platform. We also relied on these electronic signboards for the time and which types of train. 

We boarded the local train going to Kyoto and slightly panicked when we did not see Kyoto sa TV above. Mejo malayo kasi sha pala so the names move every stop. Hihi. 

Finally in Kyoto!

When we got to Kyoto, we had to walk far again to get to the platform where the train to Emmachi (where our Airbnb is located) was. Kyoto station (like Namba) is their biggest/main station and it also has several floors, entrances, exits and platforms. Don't be shy to ask around. ;)
 After 3 stops from Kyoto station, we're finally in Emmachi!

Long walk again going to our AirBnb. 


Expenses (in Yen): 
Lunch - 800
Coin locker - 350
Train to Nara - 540
Water - 400
Coke - 300
Dinner - 700
Mr. Donut - 240
Daiso - 200
Ticket to Namba - 540
Ticket to Kyoto - 560
Train to Emmachi - 280
_____________________________________
TOTAL = 4,910 or P2,170:)

*Budget could still be adjusted according to your food & water consumption (haha). 


Photos from our first night and first day in Kyoto will be on my next post. Thanks for reading! :)


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