Monthly Archives: September 2012

I love children’s party ;)

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Why do I love thee?

1. Goof and play around like a child.
2. Photobooth.
3. Loot Bags.
4. Colorful themes.
5. Balloons.
6. Happy children (and tummy, LOL)
7. and of course, celebrating and thanking God for another year.

Makes me think on what to do for my Sam’s upcoming 7th birthday this coming March. Hmmmm.

Happy first Birthday, Anika! I wish you more birthdays to come. May you grow up to be a good child and god fearing individual. Always obey your parents!

Thank you Marianne and Alan for the invite. We had fun!!!

Day Trip to Pandin Lake

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If you want a a place so calm and peaceful, relax with friends and family, this is the place to be. Pandin Lake has this relaxing ambiance makes it so perfect if you want to forget about stress and just enjoy even just for a full day.

The smallest and most pristine lake among seven other lakes located in Laguna, Philippines. It has a twin lake called Lake Yambo which we got to see from the top of the mountain. It’s only a short side trek from Lake Pandin, only about 5-10 minute walk.

With a 20.5-hectare surface area, 180 feet deep, breathtaking view, abundant tree and fish life makes Lake Pandin a tourist destination. According to ‘Manang Evelyn’ (the one who’s paddling on the picture below), rafting attraction is presently operating its 6th year. It is run by locals and they live nearby the lake. They have 7 rafts at present which can fit maximum of 20 people. They will paddle around the lake, prepare food for you and you can swim or go fishing after.

They had a fishing crisis that led the wives at San Brgy. Sto. Anghel in San Pablo City come up with a new source of livelihood (with the help of environmentalist). They were already featured number of times in TV like  Rated K to name a few. Also the same program I saw I think 3-4 years ago. From then on I said I have to visit the place. After many years, I had the chance yesterday.

It will take a 15 minute walk going to the lake.

You have to reserve before going there. Txt or call Aling siony at 09299789565.

P180-raft

P180-food

How to reach the lake:

1. Ride a bus in Buendia going to Batangas. Go down to San Pablo city.

2. Ride a jeep and ask the driver to bring you to 7-11.

3. Ride a jeep going to ILOG and Aling Siony will be there to meet you.

https://miljoanne.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/travel-theme-foliage/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Solitary

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These pictures are part of my previous post featuring Zambales.  I remember we came there in a group of 7, but we loved to be alone exploring the beach including the little girl on the first picture. Probably wanting to reflect and just take advantage of the wonderful place we were in.

If you want to read more about this post, you can hit the link below:

https://miljoanne.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/its-more-fun-in-the-philippines-zambales/

And for this week’s challenge:

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/weekly-photo-challenge-solitary/

SUNDAY POST : Autumn

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According to Jake, autumn or fall is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter, in September (Northern Hemisphere) or March (Southern Hemisphere) when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier. Association with the transition from warm to cold weather, and its related status as the season of the primary harvest, has dominated its themes and popular images. In Western cultures, personifications of autumn are usually pretty, well-fed females adorned with fruits, vegetables and grains that ripen at this time.

I can’t get a good subject at this time ‘coz it’s raining pretty hard in Luzon. I’ll just show you our pictures, again, in Misamis Oriental, Mindanao. This was taken by my brother in January 2011 (not even falling from September or March category). The place is lovely thought you might want to see. Our first day spent strolling around the area. 🙂

My pretty niece!

My nephew Luis!

Have a great week ahead!

More at:

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/sunday-post-autumn/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Everyday Life II

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I think I have to do a second entry. Why? Coz today is so special for us. We just got our daughter’s report card for the 1st semester. She works hard and studies hard everyday to get good grades. It paid off.

Our aim really is for her to pass. I don’t give her that much pressure to get high grades. We just want her to enjoy and at the same time knows her responsibility as a student. That’s why we are the proudest parents ever.

I asked her what she likes as a reward, she said excitedly ‘Jollibee’. It’s a famous Filipino fast food chain which is a favorite of every child. It’s raining once again (sigh) so we just phoned and ordered her all time favorite, spaghetti, burger and chicken.

Good job, Sam!

She’s shy pa! 🙂

 

 

 

Can you see their wall of art? Haha

Have a blessed weekend…

More at:

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/weekly-photo-challenge-everyday-life/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Everyday Life

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(Featuring Pan de Amerikana, Marikina City, Philippines)

This week’s photo challenge is guest hosted by Jon Sanwell of Without an H.

If you check out my previous post, you would know what I do almost everyday during weekdays. So, let me show you what we usually do during off days, weekend. We usually dine out, go to the mall for a movie or shopping, etc.

I’m going to show you around the restaurant where we had our merienda just yesterday. The place is so unique, you’ll find antique stuffs. The chic restau feels like home, I dunno, I just felt so much comfort in the place. Maybe because of their garden setting. They have waterfalls, travesa benches, treehouse, batibot chairs, wishing well and European ruins. They also have a giant chess board (3 and a half feet high plastic imported from New York Cit)  that you can really play with.  Having said that, they are considered as the one of the five chess themed restaurants in the WORLD.

They have 4 branches in the Philippines, we went to their main branch in Marikina. We were excited to order their best seller, pan de sal. 1950’s PAN DE SAL mega sized wheat costs 6.00. They also have a giant Pandesal Pan Amerikano for P55, We had hot choco and red iced tea.  How I wish we went there for  a lunch, maybe next time.

I love their main entrance for they have a windmill. Too cute.

We went straight to the jumbo sized Chess board.

We wandered around the place like a lost child before ordering our merienda. LOL

It’s time to order… What a cool antique radio…

Where we settled, in front of the swing and at the back of famous Filipino artists’ old photos…

Can you see the Philippines’ King of Comedy, Dolphy? He passed away July 10th, ’12 at the age of 83.

That’s how you eat pandesal with pancit.. yum!

Sam looks too comfortable… Hahahaa

Time to go!

Ordered another pandesal for take out… After our merienda, we went straight to SM Marikina coz they have a big sale going on 14 15 and 16.

That’s it guys… I’m excited to see yours.

More entries at:

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/weekly-photo-challenge-everyday-life/

What I wore:

Dress: BAYO | Bag: Mango | Shoes: Natasha | Bangles: Cotton On | Watch: Sophie Paris | Belt: Forever 21 

SUNDAY POST : Morning II

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I decided to post a second part for the week’s theme for the reason that Andrea and Aaron were already awake before we left earlier.

Andrea’s school starts 8:30am which is just across the street so no need to rush this little girl. Aaron on the other hand starts his day at 8:15am. It will take 30 minutes to reach his school from our house that’s why the car is always reserved for this big boy. 🙂

We were excited to pose in front of the camera. Indeed a happy morning.

Good Morning!

A time to wake up and thank God for a new day.

Another chance to make things right.

Another chance to say I love you.

Another chance to forgive.

—-

Second entry for:

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/sunday-post-morning/

Sam got scared passing by that BIG dog… lol

What I wore: 

Top: Folded and Hung | Sandals: Cotton On | Bag: Mango | Owl Necklace: Forever 21 | Jeggings: Shoppersville  | Watch : Sophie Paris

SUNDAY POST : Morning

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My routine every work week:

Wake up 5:40 am.

Leave home 6:30 am and drop my daughter to school.

Go straight to work. I reach the office at 7:50 am – 8:00am and my duty starts at 9;00am. Always early. 🙂

Go home at 6:00pm. My daughter is already home by then ‘coz her school ends at 1120am.

We ride the tricycle going to her school. I take Lrt 2 then bus or mrt depending on the traffic. Our car is reserved for my nephew every day. 🙂

GOOD Morning! 🙂 So ready for the day.

Weeee, my Cotton On sandals… tricycle ride to Sam’s school. 🙂

Entrance at the underground LRT 2 Katipunan

So, I’m at Katipunan, off to Cubao.

Don’t have pictures in Cubao ‘coz I was rushing plus there’s a lot of people in a hurry, too.

Finally, I arrived safely to my office. I still have time so grabbed a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Can you guess what I ordered? Anyway, they are running a promo til Sept 30th. Buy coffee in the morning, then you get your next coffee half the price in the afternoon til 1140pm, good for two cups per 1 receipt.

My long day begun after sipping my coffee.

That’s how my morning goes during work week.

I think I have to share what I ordered half-priced after work..hehehe

The new salty caramel mocha frapuccino… love the twist! Definitely a must try ..

At 6:17pm I had my coffee…. Hahaha… I was on time logging out from work!

My good friend Joy!

Thank you Jake for another week’s theme. I posted my share in the middle of the week, I hope everyone can check out my post and others too at:

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/sunday-post-morning/

What I wore:

Top: Kamiseta | Jeggings: Farmers Tiangge | Sandals: Cotton On | Necklace: co-parent at Sam’s school | Watch: Sophie Paris | 

Checkered Day and Fruit Potluck

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Just reminiscin’ my all time favorite movie… Love the music… Nice background while blogging.

Anyway, we had another potluck earlier in the office (another one coming next week) plus we have to wear checkered. I did not wear one, hehehe. We always look forward to our potluck every month, to celebrate someone’s birthday, despedida, and the like. Just to be different, they thought of bringing fruits instead of heavy snacks like we always used to. With all the hassle of bringing fresh fruits, we decided to bring canned ones.

Here are the pictures…

Til next week’s potluck : Finger foods and statement shirt!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Near and Far (MOA, Manila Bay)

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This week’s photo challenge is guest hosted by Brian Cooney. 

Let me share the recent ‘date’ I had with my husband. We went to Mall of Asia which is listed at the Forbes’ as one of the 10 largest malls in Asia and second to our own SM North Edsa. It is located at the Bay City, Pasay, Philippines. My photos for this week’s theme ‘Near and Far’ are located in Manila Bay, fronting the mall.

Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world. Strategically located around the capital city of the Philippines, Manila Bay facilitated commerce and trade between the Philippines and its neighbouring countries,becoming the gateway for socio-economic development even prior to Spanish occupation. With an area of 1,994 km2 (769.9 sq mi), and a coastline of 190 km (118.1 mi), Manila Bay is situated in the western part of Luzon and is bounded by Cavite and Metro Manila on the east, Bulacan and Pampanga on the north, and Bataan on the west and northwest. (WIKIPEDIA)

The ferris wheel you will find below is our version of the London Eye. They even call it, MOA EYE. This 180 ft tall wheel which is by far tallest in the Philippines just recently opened in December 2011. It will cost you 150php for regular cabin and 250 php VIP cabin (with picture taking).

It’s such a gloomy Friday.  The rain just stopped right before I took pictures which to me is a cool effect. The cold weather was perfect that day because we can stroll around the break waters of the bay not having to worry about the heat. Windy with a cool breeze of the ocean, just so perfect!

Isn’t it a lovely view from the top?



Honestly, I don’t really know that we have this wheel until we went out from the mall. You can just imagine how surprised I am. I don’t really go here that often as it’s too far from my place. Our purpose really was to catch the opening of ‘Cotton On’. There’s a lot of shoppers plus the store isn’t that big so we have to wait our turn to go inside. I had 2 500 vouchers, each you can use for a 1k purchase. I had two transactions, instead of paying 2200, I only paid 1200. Sweet.

Thank you for coming over to Manila. I love everything about Cotton On.

Taken inside the mall’s open space. Lovely, right?

I hope I can visit the place again soooon!!! Here’s the front view of the mall before I end the post.

Cheers!

More entries at:

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/weekly-photo-challenge-near-and-far/

Travel theme: Curves

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Oh my gosh, I did not realize that I missed out on last week’s theme, silhouette. Now, I make sure that I contribute for this week challenge even if the computer at home is busted.  ðŸ˜¦

While I was browsing through my pictures, I came across our last week’s bonding with my family at Red Mango. I notice that this frozen yogurt has the curves of yumminess.

Let’s take a closer look.  The bowl also has a nice curve.

Let’s dig in.

The most important thing in the world is seeing my daughter happy.

I know I’m feeding her healthy food and it is best substitute for ice cream. Red Mango’s yogurt has no preservatives, no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, and is 100% all-natural. They are the pioneer of non-fat frozen yogurt. Healthy and yummy. You can pick a lot of flavors, too. We chose Hershey’s, mini M&m’s and Kiwi.

They have a wifi in place with neat and clean surroundings.

I have to try waffles with yogurt next time.

They originated in 2002 in South Korea and has 150 stores world wide, 8 all over the Philippines. We were at the Regis Center, Katipunan. You can find them in Korea, United States, Thailand, Singapore and South Africa. They are known for its all natural, gluten-free and certified kosher frozen yogurt. I read at their fan page in facebook  they became the first retailer of frozen yogurt to receive the National Yogurt Association’s Live and Active Culture Seal. Cool.

Here’s their menu.

Hope you enjoy one of our favorite desserts. I can’t wait for another yogurt madness.

Check more entries at:

http://wheresmybackpack.com/2012/08/31/travel-theme-curves/