Manny Pacquiao’s House by the Road

As if I’ve never had enough of my first ever Mindanao trip to GenSan here, here, here, here and here (yes, five links *wink*), the universe conspired and sent me there again for a training. This time, we were billeted at the RoadHaus Hotel owned by no less than Philippine Boxing Hero, Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao of Saranggani Province.

Upon arrival, we discovered that our booked room were still occupied so we were instead brought temporarily to the Pacquiao Suite. We stayed there for a night. In photo is our real room where we transferred the next day. The suite had one king size and a single bed, this one’s got three single beds enough for me and two other colleagues.

Our room’s furnished with an LED TV where we watched cable or movies from a USB. It’s also got a sala set and a coffee table set so our room’s really that big. The only difference from the Pacquiao Suite is a little more space plus water heater for your coffee. Cool!

The restroom’s the usual ones with a cold and hot shower. I find the tile design cute.

And our bottled water is named Pacman, with the photo of the People’s Champ and all, you can look at him while drinking from the bottle. The mug I guess comes from Madam Jinkee’s café as described below.

Named after Pacquiao’s queen, Jinkee, Kee’s Café is where our buffet breakfasts were served. On our last day before flight, we inquired for lunch (at our cost, since only breakfast is part of our free food) but opted not to because of the prices (either mahirap lang kami o mahirap lang talaga kami )

The hotel lobby where the front desk is located is furnished with the Pacquiao family’s photos which makes the ambience feel very much home-like. Some Manny Pacquiao branded apparel and souvenirs are available for sale.

Just before we were ferried by the hotel’s van service, yes they even fetched us upon arrival, my friends helped me take these photos at the RoadHaus signage, with the owner and at the front desk.

Find out more about RoadHaus Hotel at http://roadhaushotelgensan.com/

 

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Isla Verde in Photos Way Back 2012

Fresh from 2010 and in celebration of not only Independence Day but my Father’s birthday today, here are snapshots of Verde Island from 2012 that I am posting only now:

Boat by the Beach.

Branches That Seems to Reach Out to Sea.

Madre de Cacao Flowers.

Tall Papaya Tree.

Isla Verde Wayback 2010

In celebration of our Holy Week in Isla Verde, Batangas City, in this post are unposted photos from 2010. I thought I’d share photos with some useful descriptions to supplement my entry for this year’s vacation but aside from the instagram and facebook photos I’ve shared while we were there, no other photos were taken of the place. Does that mean we were busier since there were more people this time than in the past as cousins from Mindoro also flocked in our respective parents’ (who happen to be siblings) hometown which I think is normal.

ROCKY TIP OF THE BEACH. Although there are more to Isla Verde and mind you, I think I can only show you the tip of the iceberg. But since maybe I am more at home in Isla Verde now, I can already afford to just live the moment and not take pictures anymore. And speaking of tip, the rocky tip of the beach in this photo, I just went nearer this year, is home to a lot of sea creatures like abalone, live seashells, crabs, octopus, corals and many more I do not know what. And yes, I said corals, was able to see them up close without needing to dive.

STARE AND SLEEP. Our common past time activity in the island is to stare at the long beach by the sea and when the wind blow has been enough to tire your eyes, you sleep – right were you are seated. We just roll together bamboos and cover with mat or if a tarpaulin is available spare the bamboos, just add mat which is woven by weavers in the island.

FORGIVE THE TILTED HORIZON. Back when I was trying to live up to my photographic frustrations, I learned it is not good not to take your horizon seriously through a flickr comment but don’t bother now. I know it already, so what if it’s tilted? Let it be, hehehe.

ABANDONED HOUSES. There a few abandoned houses in the community, left behind by families who have migrated to the city or somewhere within the country or abroad. Their walls now serve as frames to the alluring view of the sea.

PILLARS AND FRAMES. This bamboos require only tarpaulin or buri leaves and you have a roof for picnic at daytime or camping at night.

UNDER THE COCONUT TREES. These trees aside from providing shade from the sun also serve as frame to the view of the adjacent mountain which is still part of Isla Verde. We are being very careful not to position ourselves under trees with fruits that are ready to fall. No, not over our heads, please.

Next week, unposted photos from our 2012 visit during Holy Week!

My 2013 Top 15 Philippine Travel Blogs

So I just discovered today that there is this poll on the 2013 Top Philippine Travel Blogs hosted by Melo Villareal of Out of Town Blog. I immediately liked loved the idea. You see, I came to be part of this travel blogging world for the love of writing and travel, just two things at first but with it came more. I only had to share two and hundreds if not thousands I received in return. And today, I am sharing to you fifteen of them who inspire, teach and take me to places I have yet to conquer. They made me feel welcome into their world, so today is my time to give back. Ladies and gentlemen, in no particular order:

Wander If You Must

This blog is a real-life account of Reiza Dejito’s work (humanitarian worker, physiotherapist, traveler, blogger, indie film producer, literary editor, and eternal wanderer) and travel experiences, and some made-up stories in between in search of the coolest adventures and the sweetest romance.

Rakistang Nars

Rain Amantiad-Campanilla’s travelogues are mostly introspective; poetic even which I discovered and followed when she was still single in that old blog under her maiden name. But there are times that her mortal ways give in to the mundane. Her unforgiving will and brave heart make up for poor physical strength. Now married to a photographer, she writes and he shoots while they backpack the world together.

The World Behind My Wall

The World Behind My Wall is a blog that was inspired from the hit song "World Behind My Wall" by Tokio Hotel. It is a world behind the wall of a flexible traveler who does budget travels, solo backpacking, flashpacking, roadtrips, food trips and a little bit of splurging.

Traveler on Foot

Glenn Martinez’ blog attempts to showcase the beautiful in the Philippines and what’s great about being Filipino. The author is a travel blogger and a supporter of Filipino art and heritage preservation. He is interested in Philippine history, Filipino art, architecture, food, culture, late 19th century and early 20th century furniture and objects.

Between Coordinates

Regine Camille Garcia is hopeful to finish traveling around the 81 provinces of the Philippine Archipelago before setting foot in any country outside of it. This is one of her life-goals now and the world is updated in this blog. The “world exploration” will just follow if opportunities will present itself.

IronWulf.net: En Route

This travel and photography blog of award-winning photographer and blogger Ferdinand Decena chronicles the authors travels across the country and different parts of the world to bring back stories and images that inspire more people to start their own adventure and discover our amazing planet through stunning vistas, people, food and yourself.

Lakad Pilipinas

A documentary of the long and short journeys that Christian Lucas Sangoyo, a travel and photography nutcase, took. The bumps and stops of the trips, the food, both expensive and dirt-cheap, from posh restaurant and the dirty sidestreets, the interesting people met along the way, the ref magnets and t-shirts collected on the locales he has visited.

Journeying James

Through this James Betita’s site, he shares travel discoveries, cultural experiences, strange encounters, and food trips on a low budget as he journey around the Philippines and beyond. Recently, he just finished the most epic travel challenge in the Philippines “100 Days of Backpacking the Philippines the Cheapest Way Possible” for which a book and a short documentary film are upcoming.

Langyaw

Estan Cabigas’ Langyaw (Cebuano for an outsider, a foreigner in a local place, a visitor, or a traveler) focuses on the author’s travels and experiences usually around the country and some forays abroad.  For the avid traveler, photographer and  multiawarded blogger: travel is a discovery not only of a place and what it has to offer but is also a discovery of oneself.

Make Nowhere, Somewhere

The tagline of Reuel Delez’ blog “Let’s go un-idiot ourselves” says it all. I first knew him as a photographer and later discovered his love for travel and the outdoors. From his blog I learn things that I’d sometimes overlook due to foolishness and excitement, some of which are: safety first when doing the mountains; itineraries and budget planning.

Pinay Travel Junkie

Gay Emami is a new age mum who, along with her backpacking buddy-slash-husband Shervin and their daughter Luna, are on an epic trip, living out of boxes and backpacks around the Philippines and the world. Her stories of places and parenthood are my favorites.

Pinoy Adventurista

Mervz’ travel blog aims to chronicle an adventure junkie's backpacking and adventure trips, his mountaineering and running experiences and to provide an online source of travel and climbing tips and guides, information on anything Pinoy and more.

The Pinoy Explorer

Ding Fuellos’ travel and tourism blog delves into stories of engaging with communities, learning about their culture and enjoying the Philippine’s beautiful scenery. It goes deeper into people’s culture and ethnicity---heritage, tradition, ethos and norms, and generally, their way of life.

The Pinay Solo Backpacker

Gael Hilotin’s travel blog shares the places in and out of the country that she has been too and her fair share of adventures and misadventures as a solo female backpacker. In between, she engages in volunteerism projects like distributing pencils and school supplies to elementary schools in remote provinces with the help of her personal and blogger-friends.

Senyorita.net

This food and travel blog of Mica Rodriguez a.k.a. Micamyx started out with a personal blog (just like me!) which later on, developed into several niche blogs for fun and at the same time as an outlet. Her current goal is to travel around the Philippines, Asia and the whole world one continent at a time!

I hope the above-listed bloggers bear with me as I copied some of their what-ABOUTs to help me explain why I keep watching my reading list, to be updated of their adventures and whereabouts (not really stalking, not really!). The one thing I realized is that I can relate to their WHYs, for loving what they do and for doing what they love. Above all, they are people who are true to what they believe in and selflessly shares the knowledge, inspiration and advocacies. Mabuhay ang bloggers behind the Top Philippine Travel Blogs!

The Business Park Jog

It is that healthy thing that I always wanted to do, the thing my supervisor always encouraged me to do but waking up early seems to hard for me to do. Good thing during this travel in Cebu City, we agreed early on to wake up early to hit the hotel gym only too bad it is scheduled for maintenance every Monday so we went out towards Cebu Business Park where my sup used to run before. The park is adjacent our hotel so we walked a little, crossed the road and started to jog as we were halfway through the mall complex.

A lot of people were already running that early Monday morning. Individuals doing runs either on their own, in pair or with dogs in tow of all ages and some in groups doing martial arts. The paved roads of the park seem to have been made for physical activities and more.

Normal street name and signs were there, including the names of Cardinal Rosales (an avenue) and Boracay (a road). A proof of the diverse fun activities at the park are the family fun day as reflected in the mid-photo: kiddie challenges, walk with your dog, fitness activities, environmental sessions, face painting, food carts, product promos, cycling sessions/competition. Plus, during the jog, parts of the road were being renovated promising signs of fun and experience in Cebu, coming soon. I wonder what they are - ART!

Around the tracks, edifices stand proud for joggers to see, the Immaculate Conception College, a building work-in-progress, Tower Palace which I guess is a little dilapidated. Aside from these few very near, other buildings can be viewed still from afar. I hope it stays that way as the greeneries if not maintained (the grass) the way it is, grow more  (the trees) to provide the needed shade and cool for the tired joggers and park goers. A public place for relaxation, quiet and escape from the busy streets of Metro Cebu and commercial malls should be present in every town or city in the country. Kudos Cebu for having one! 

This is my Quest in Cebu

If I only knew of Cebu Grand Hotel during my first two visits in the Queen City of the South, my two days training right before Holy Week last March introduced me to Quest Hotel Cebu which is situated right across Ayala Center Cebu.

My instagram post of the beautiful chandelier above the reception lounge already impressed the ‘non-hotel expert’ me. It gave an impression of ‘tastefulness’ to me as it looks like those popular chairs of Kenneth Cobonpue of wherelse but Cebu. Moreso when we entered the room, very chic headboard not to mention the well-kept and sturdy beds.

The room finds (left to right): (1) They celebrated earth hour just before we arrived with a cocktail party. (2) I loved the tea and coffee available everyday. (3) The window by my bed. (4) Free bottled water by the room bar. (5) Again, the beds and the headboard. (6) The mirror and the flat screen TV. (7) Bedside lams, telephone, contact numbers, and menu.

The bathroom (left to right): (1) Chic tiles by the shower. (2) Mirror, mirror by the sink. (3) Tissue and glasses for brushing. (4) Toilet bowl [comment: super strong the water for washing, it hurts]. (5) Soap.

I loved the provision of cotton buds for my ears and gauze which I used for applying toner. They also have sanitary pouch and the usual shower cap.

The hotel corridor and the view by the window. Unclean glass, hehe. I didn’t take photos of it but the best asset of the hotel is the buffet meals and the gym. My boss took this food photo:

Desserts galore!

Looking at the Quest Hotel from the Ayala Mall side on our way to jogging. More on that jogging, next entry!

Crossing GenSan’s Streets

On the last day of my first time to visit GenSan and Mindanao, we had the chance to roam around the nearby Plaza Heneral Santos. On our way from Florotel, we went through the Carlos P. Garcia Park behind the General Santos City Hall, where there are arches and lanterns giving us a glimpse of the recent celebration of Kalilangan Festival 2013 in celebration of the 74th Foundation Anniversary of the city. We initially planned to run around its track but wasn’t able to pursue as our schedule starts early and is quite hectic (Excuses I know, LOL!).

BTW, as I took pictures of the arches on the first photo, my companions went ahead and I had to run after them. I needed to run a little more inside the park as it took me quite a long time to cross the street to the park from our hotel. I am really poor at crossing busy streets, I’s rather wait but to make the story short, I reached my colleagues by the GenSan City Hall façade – gasping!

Then we crossed the street again towards Plaza Heneral Santos with very well manicured garden, man-made bodies of water and lightposts turned into sculptures.

The plaza is named after the city whose name is taken from General Paulino T. Santos of Camiling, Tarlac. Under his leadership of the National Land Settlement Administration, six communities were established in South Cotabato. In his honor, the city (formerly the town of Buayan which is also formerly Dadiangas) was named after. The good General and his wife, Elisa A. Santos’ bodies rest on this shrine.

After getting to know the General at the plaza, we proceeded to the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish Church. Luckily a mass was about to start which led us to joining the celebration in the local dialect. Based on the parts of the mass and the linguist in me was able to understand the thought of what’s being said in the mass. it is said to be the most beautiful, if not the most beautifully redesigned house of worship in South Central Mindanao. What a way to end our trip, and we really had a good and safe trip back home! I‘ll be back GenSan!