Party and Play at Active Fun, BGC

Date of Visit: Saturday May 17, 2014 (cousin Jake Almeda's First Birthday Party)

Weekend wanderers: Mom, Tonyo, Wowo Ross, Wowa Nenet

Website:
http://www.activefun.ph/

Location:
It's at 9th Street corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City. If you are coming from Bonifacio High Street, it's the colorful building behind the Krispy Kreme.

Tonyo's Day Out @ Active Fun, BGC from Hanna Fernando-Pacua on Vimeo.

We've been to Active Fun in Bonifacio Global City before, when Tonyo was about 2 years old. He had loads of fun, so we were happy to be back again for Jake's birthday party. Thanks to dad Raygan and mom Kristine Almeda for inviting us! Reagan is my 2nd cousin, mom side.

This party at Active Fun was probably one of the best kids parties we've been to. It was fun and very entertaining. Tonyo really enjoyed the party thanks to "Amazing Arnold," the magician. He was really good with kids, and spoke very well. He even told some Bible stories while he did his magic tricks!

Amazing Arnold and the 2F Party Area at Active Fun

Mom and Tonyo had a goofy time at the photo booth :-)

The highlight of the day was the play time at the Play Area. Active Fun has a three-story play area with nooks and crannies, tunnels and trampolines, ball pools,  places to squeeze into, to climb, and jump! It is what every active kid should experience, especially if you need to woo them away from their gadgets.

Sharing with you the Admission Rates from their website. Be sure to bring socks for the kids, and for the adults who will accompany them in the play area. I highly recommend accompanying kids below 4 years old. The play area itself is safe, but the older kids can get rowdy and careless, and might trample the smaller ones!

Weekdays/ Weekends & Holidays

30 minutes - Php 175/ child

1 hour - Php 225 

Each 30 minute extension - Php 115

Unlimited Play - Php 395

Adult Pass - Php 125

Play Area Operating Hours

(Monday – Thursday) – 10:00 am – 9:00pm
(Friday – Saturday) 10:00am – 10:00pm
(Sunday) – 10:00am – 9:00pm

And... as a pahabol, during our day at Active Fun, we saw a poster for the Mom and Kid Photo Caption contest! And since I am an avid contest-joiner, we were able to beat the deadline and our photo was chosen to be one of 20 photos for on-line voting !

Please help Tonyo and Mommy win more Active Fun Days by liking the Active Fun Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Active-Fun/82238015269 AND then looking for our photo in the Mom and Kid Photo Caption Contest Album (Hanna Fernando) and liking that as well! (Yes, 2 Likes please -- one for the Active Fun Page, and one for our Photo!)

Post by Active Fun.

The Bellevue Resort, Bohol

Travel Dates: April 24-25, 2014

Travel Buddies: BPI Sustainable Energy Finance (SEF) team and SEF award winners

Trabaho muna!

As an incentive for booking the most "green loans," BPI treated some of their account officers to a work/ leisure trip to Bohol. I came for the "work" part, as a guest speaker to help them evaluate their existing energy efficiency or renewable energy projects, learn from previous lessons, and to replicate their success. The bankers also visited a hydropower plant in Loboc. (I didn't join them to give them time to bond as a team!)

We stayed at the posh Bellevue Resort, situated in Brgy. Doljo, Panglao Island, Bohol. Its location was a bit surprising - right smack in the middle of a residential area. Imagine a small barrio road with houses and sari-sari stores - then you turn towards a short driveway, and voila: a luxury resort!


I was a bit taken aback by the size of the Bellevue. The lobby was massive! I imagine that it is a good venue for large groups, like conventions or big weddings or family reunions (though all the noise and activities will disturb the people who would want to relax. The architecture and the detail of the Bellevue reminded me of Balinese or Thai art.

The room was huge as well. I had two beds in mine, and couldn't help but wish I brought the rest of the Pacuanderers with me.  :o) This always happens to me whenever I travel for work.

My room

I didn't have much time to enjoy the facilities, because I only stayed overnight. But I did have time to walk by the beach, and to take a dip in the infinity pool.

Bellevue Hotel, the facade by the beach

At Bellevue, you get honest pictures. There are other places that look good in photos, but :blah: in real life. In this case, I can probably say that the real thing is better than the photos, because pictures couldn't capture the relaxing atmosphere and the smell and sound of the sea.

One of the 3 restaurants in Bellevue, the Marea

The hotel is not for budget travelers. The brochure they gave me said Php 18,000.00/ night! However, the concierge told me they always have online promos. This site has 2014 rates, and lists Php 7,700/ night for off-peak (Chinese New Year and Holy Week, which are all done for the year, so do check!).

#YogaAnywhere #FormaEverywhere at the Infinity Pool

If you have the budget for it, (and be sure to spend at least 2 nights to enjoy the place), the Bellevue Resort is a sweet destination. It is away from the more popular Alona Beach, and the water is good for kids - smooth, clean, no rocks, calm water, and lots of starfish ! The resort staff can also help you book island tours or snorkeling excursions (premium prices, of course.)

Travel (In)Sanity: Tips and Etiquette

My (*hanna) recent trip experience to and from Cagayan de Oro did not go oh-so-well. I’d hate to rant about it in this new blog (keeping it positive for now ;-), so let’s try a different approach. Here are some tips and recommended etiquette while traveling! I hope it will make your life easier – and also make you a joy to travel with. 

Traveling can be stressful. Do yourself and others a favor by planning ahead and being considerate.

1. When in Manila… check your Terminal

We have three (or four?) airports in Manila. NAIA 1 (the old, rundown airport, with the ramp that sort of looks like the CCP), NAIA 2 (the Centennial airport, also known as the PAL hub), and Terminal 3 (the newest, controversial one in front of Resorts World Manila). I am really not sure if the Old Domestic is still in operation.

Keep in mind that Philippine Airlines’ domestic carrier, PAL Express, now also operates in Terminal 3. Some people learn that the hard way, especially when one is used to going straight to the Centennial Terminal for a PAL flight. So, check and double check!

There may also be cases of sudden airline and airport changes, when airline staff in your point of origin will tell you to call your pick-up because you will be arriving in a different Terminal (and not the one indicated on your ticket).

There would be fewer issues on Terminal confusion if our terminal system were closer together. But no, you have to navigate the Pasay traffic to get from one point to another.

2. Respect Lines

Do people really need to push ahead during boarding? The seats are numbered, and we have the boarding passes to prove it. Some even push ahead in the tube, or worse, along the plane’s aisles!

Well, maybe they push because the overhead stowage bins get filled up quickly, so you have to get a good spot. (So that’s one more thing to expect). Should you need to move stuff in order to get your hand luggage in, have the courtesy to ask the owners of the luggage. He/ she might have trouble finding it later.

Or, maybe people push because someone might be on their seat? Yes, with the same seat number on the boarding pass as well! I don’t know how this happens, but I’ve had two flights this year where the airline had to “bribe” one passenger to get off the plane to accommodate over-booking (?)

3. Respect Lines (again)

Backtrack a bit to the security checks. If you have a lot of luggage, or have a lot of personal effects you have to take off before the security X-ray, be courteous enough to allow people to pass through. Do not block lines.

This is the same concept when people stop on top or at the bottom of escalators , blocking everyone's path.

4. Get an aisle seat if you pee a lot

So you minimize having to wake up the person beside you.

5. Use headphones

It would be great to catch up with your Game of Thrones/ Living Dead/ favorite movie onboard. But please wear your headphones because this disturbs the people around you.

(Oh and get headphones for your kid, as well. Hindi ko madinig ang dialogue ng Living Dead mo kasi ang lakas ng sounds ng Despicable Me nya, eh)

6. Make sure your mobile phone's alarm is turned off

Alarms still go off even if your phone is turned off.

I was once in a long haul flight, finally just able to catch some sleep - when the Blackberry of the guy beside me started to vibrate and beep its annoying, increasing alarm. I think he was sitting on it and not hearing it, because he stayed fast asleep! It went on snooze and back on again for about three rounds before the flight attendant finally woke him up.

7. Please, Please, Please be careful when opening the overhead stowage bins!

You might kill the person below it. I was thankful that the guy just brought a box of Pastel (stuffed bread) as pasalubong. A pineapple would’ve been worse.

Takeaway: When traveling, always expect the unexpected – and bring loads of patience and consideration! I am not one to yell or pick fights, but I have seen people do this, and it is never a pretty sight.

Happy Wanderings!

Bohol Bee Farm: Revisited

Honeymoon Scrapbook, 2006

We honeymooned in Bohol. So this post qualifies as a #throwbacktravel post! My latest visit to Bohol this April was for work, but I couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic :o) So on my way to the airport, I chose to hire a tricycle (in place of the usual hotel car), so I can hop on and off for some photos and a quick tour of the countryside.

Panglao Church, then and now.

I checked out early from my hotel so I can have lunch at the Bohol Bee Farm. We fell in love with the place back in 2006, because of its "secret garden" vibe, much like Sonya's in Tagaytay. I heard it had improved and expanded throughout the years, and served really good food.

The guys at the Bellevue Hotel in Panglao helped me hire a tricycle to take me to the Bohol Bee Farm (which was nice of them for not forcing me to take the hotel car!). Getting the trike was fast, and the driver and I agreed on a Php 500.00 fee from Bellevue - Bee Farm (where he will wait for me) - picture stops along the way - Tagbilaran Airport. The air in Bohol is still fresh and clean so I didn't mind the long tricycle ride :-)

#ThrowbackTravel - Discovering Bohol Bee Farm in 2006

Revisited in 2014. I guess I like my stripes :)

Bohol Bee Farm has indeed grown! Back then, they had the farm, a few rooms, and the shop (I don't recall the resto and the spa, but they must have had them before, but smaller). This time, they have more rooms, a bigger restaurant, a cafe, a bigger spa, and a really cool indoor pool.

What's there: a Spa, a Cafe & Resto, Veggies and Herbs for Sale, Homemade Ice Cream, and the really nice pool

I ordered the Grilled Tanguigue Lunch, which came with an organic salad with honey mustard dressing and red organic rice (around Php300.00). Big serving and could probably feed 2 people! All meals come with some Bohol Bee Farm honey bread with a selection of spreads: their famous Honey Spread and Pesto Spread. I enjoyed a relaxing solo meal while enjoying the view from the cliff side restaurant.

My view, my meal, my dessert

I forgot to leave room for dessert, so I explored the area on my own to digest my lunch a bit :) . If you are interested to learn about the plants and their products, there is also a guided farm tour for Php 30.00.



I couldn't leave the Bee Farm without trying their homemade ice cream! It was delicious and they use cassava sheets for the cone. They had flavors like durian, tomato, and malunggay. I wasn't feeling adventurous and opted for the avocado.



Bohol Bee Farm is a relaxing stopover in Bohol. The downside is that they don't have a "swimmable" coastline (right along the cliff and the rocks), but they can arrange a shuttle for you to go to the beach. Should be okay if you are not there for the water. I imagine staying there to reflect and maybe get a lot of writing done.

Don't forget to grab a jar of Bohol Bee Farm Honey Spread to enjoy at home!

Cia Italia, White Beach

Date of visit: April 6, 2014

We had dinner here a few years back when we visited Puerto Galera with my Mom and Dad (pre-Tonyo days). We saw the sign board again while exploring White Beach during our April 2014 trip. Since it was my birthday, and we like Italian - it was easy to convince the boys to eat there!

Cia Italia is located at the edge of White Beach, towards the rocks that can lead you to the Tamaraw Beach Resort. (If you're coming in from the sea towards White Beach, it should be on your right). There seems to be two Italian restaurants there, Cia Italia is the one that's higher up and closer to the rocks!

Pizza!

We ordered ham (prosciutto), mushroom, and tomato pizza, tomato soup, and seafood pasta. I am no food connoisseur, but I can honestly say that the food was good. I've been to Italy and have tasted pizza with authentic Italian ingredients, and this was as close as my taste memory can take me. Yum! The price was reasonable, too (we paid around Php 700 for all). Less than what you would pay for a so-so Italian meal in Manila.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was far from Italian, and more of a Pinoy bar-on-the-beach :-) That didn't bother me :-) It was cozy and quiet. A far cry from the noisy and thumping restos along White Beach. Cia Italia is a good, laid-back, no frills restaurant that serves good food. Can be a good venue for a date, too.

We can definitely eat here again. Ciao!

Tonyo with the Italian chef and owner of Cia Italia.

Puerto Galera: Still Has Spunk

Travel dates: April 5 - 7, 2014 (Saturday - Monday)
Travel buddies: Sam, Hanna, Tonyo, and Lolo Ross (Hanna's dad)

I (*hanna) wanted to go to the beach for my 32nd birthday, and my first choice was Laiya, Batangas. Sam suggested Puerto Galera because he liked the experience we had there a few years back. We also liked the idea of putting Tonyo on a boat, so PG eventually won :).

Puerto Galera was one of the "it" destinations of my youth. For a young college student, with limited allowance (and parental consent), Puerto Galera was already a big leap. I've been back to PG twice since college. One trip as part of Ayala Foundation, where we brought books and organized a storytelling day for the Iraya Mangyan community in Talipanan. The last trip was with my Mom, Dad, and Sam (this was pre-Tonyo).

Going to Puerto Galera gives the illusion of going "off-the-grid," while still staying close to home - mainly because of the 45-minute boat ride from the Batangas City pier. It is a good weekend escape, because you won't have to worry about missing flights. Also, as my Sri Lankan colleague describes it, "Puerto Galera is perfect because you get the best of both worlds, the beach on one side, and turn a little bit and you can already hike the mountains"

White Beach.

A quick text message to Ms Paz (of Ayala Foundation, she handles the Iraya Mangyan project in PG) gave me access to Tamaraw Beach Resort. This is a resort beside the famous White Beach (albeit separated by a rocky walk). Since we were traveling with Tonyo, and not really crowd-lovers, we always choose the quieter path.

Getting There

We came from Laguna, so driving to Batangas City Pier was a breeze through the Star Tollway. You can easily bring your vehicle and park at the Park & Sail by the terminals. Just be sure to be early! We arrived past 10 AM and it was packed! Cars were parked on sidewalks, pavements, etc - utilizing every bit of available space. We were told to go find parking outside the port area and just ride a tricycle going back.

Good thing Sam practiced his PR skills with the Coast Guard base, and we were able to park near the headquarters. Yay!

There are two main operators going to PG, Father & Son and Minolo. We bought a round-trip ticket (around Php 420 each, including terminal fees. Tonyo still traveled for free!) from Father and Son Shipping Lines, just because they had the earlier departure time.

PG has 4 major ports of entry (Sabang, White Beach, Muelle, Balatero), so make sure you pick the one that's best for your destination. We were advised by Tamaraw Beach Resort to get off at Muelle Pier.

Our hotel: Tamaraw Beach Resort, Aninuan Beach
http://www.tamarawbeachresort.com/

It's a weirdly shaped pool. This was the view from our room on the 4th floor.

How it has grown! A few years back, Tamaraw Beach Resort only had one hotel building, and a native hut-style restaurant. Today, it has expanded and has a massive lobby, conference halls, cottages, tennis courts, a basketball court and an infinity pool! As far as beaches go, I am a lover of quaint and simple, so I couldn't help but wish that they didn't grow that much. But hey, must be good business!

The crowd was a mixture of weekenders (Filipinos) and a few foreigners who looked like they've been there for quite a while. I believe it's good value for money. Our room was huge, with 2 double beds + 2 extra trundle beds - all for Php 3,000.00 + free breakfast for 3.

It has a TV, a small fridge, a spacious bathroom, a dresser, and a closet. Basic, clean, bright (yellow walls), and you spend most of the time outside anyway! The hotel has 4 stories (no elevator!) , and has a hot and cold water dispenser on the 2nd floor (almost always empty because of the volume of visitors).

Food was okay and servings were big. One order of sinigang for less than Php 300 could easily feed three adults. For the money you pay, the buffet breakfast is okay - but don't expect a wide range of choices. I just wish they opened the buffet earlier than 7:30 am, so people can get a head start for any other activity they have planned.

Tip: If you want the crowd and nightlife, find lodging in White Beach! There are more lodging choices there, as well as food and music places. Crossing the rocks from Tamaraw to White Beach can be quite challenging, and can be dangerous at night. Tricycle fare is expensive, Tamaraw-White Beach is Php 100.00 , one way! So plan well.


Up and About

We pretty much stayed close to the water during our stay, but PG also offers hiking opportunities, and I read about ATV rides, too! So check those out if those are your interests :)

For water fun, aside from the beach -- you can also experience the banana boat, jetski, fly fish, beach hopping, and snorkeling. Tamaraw Beach Resort has a glass bottomed boat that will go around the island for about 3 hours for Php 350.00 / person. I guess this was the best option for kids who are still too small for snorkeling. Plus, Tonyo still rode for free!

The scheduled departure of the boat was 8AM. I am guessing due to the late breakfast at Tamaraw, and lack of passengers, we had to wait until 9AM when the boatmen decided to release us. We were only 7 passengers in a boat that could fit around 18 people. The delay was just fine with us since we also wanted the boatmen to have good business. Lugi naman sila sa fuel!

It was the perfect party boat! The two story craft was rigged with a good audio system that blared out reggae music. Never mind the glass bottom (quite difficult to see because of the sea foam, but good enough)... the highlight of the ride was chilling out on the boat's 2nd level (with the music!).

The sea breeze ruffling through your hair, the sun kissing your skin, and the beautiful view all coming together to make a music video-ish feeling! Life is good. Haha.

Music videos are not complete without the pretty girls. Here's my dad missing my Mom who was in the US at that time :-)

Puerto Galera gave us a great weekend. The island is still worth visiting! For hassle free travel, just make sure you plan ahead so you can pick the lodging and activities that would suit your holiday preferences.