Nuvali Night Sky Cinema

Nuvali Night Sky Cinema – 2016 Pre-Halloween Prep

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To all those who know me since way back, you know that Halloween is my most favorite time of the year. Christmas only comes second followed by Summer. This is why every year, since I was little, I always celebrate the season one way or another — whether by visiting the dead and playing with candles in the cemetery, watching horror flicks (which I don’t enjoy at any other time of the year because I easily get scared — so ironic!), doing tarot card reading, palm reading, playing with a makeshift Quiija board, giving out candies to kids, trick or treating, holding Halloween costume parties, attending Halloween costume parties, etc. These are the things that I’ve been doing since. Continue reading →

surfing

Surfing – a History of Conquering Love and Fear

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When I started this new blog, I’ve shared with you that I’m re-reading Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project because I want to bring more happiness into my life, the kind that really comes from within me and not the type that is pressured into my life by other people or caused by pride and envy (which is why I started this whole new blog and let go of my old persona even if people close to me advised me against it). I want to be just me. Be me. Be Jen. Which is why I am writing a lot more now about my life, my thoughts, my past experiences, etc. because I am first and foremost a diarist more than a typical blogger, more than a marketer or any other kind of writer. I like looking at my own past experiences, enjoying those happy forgotten memories and using the positive energy they give me to bring more good things into my present life so I can forge ahead with a bit more wisdom, inspiration and strength towards a brighter future. And one thing about my not-so-far-off past that gave (and still gives) me so much joy is SURFING.

This is more of a story of love and letting go of fear rather than a pure guide to surfing. Although there’ll be bits and pieces about how to surf, where to surf, how much it costs and what not, more than anything, I’d be sharing with you a photo journal about it and how this water sports activity has changed my life and influenced me (hopefully for the better). Continue reading →

Quick Typhoon Preparation Checklist: Super Typhoon Lawin (Haima)

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Mahal and I love listening to the news and up until recently, it’s been all about the upcoming typhoon LAWIN which is why I want to share this quick typhoon preparation checklist below.  Though we don’t want to get so worried, especially for our countrymen in the regions that will get directly hit by it, we can’t help but feel scared for them and very concerned. We really pray that all the preparations being done by the local government will help them and we pray for their survival of this very, very strong storm.

Super Typhoon Lawin with international name HAIMA, is now fast approaching and about 3 hours ago was already at 300 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora according to Rappler (featured photo from Rappler too). The provinces of Cagayan and Isabela are now at SIGNAL NO. 5 — a first in our country, which means that it is indeed a SUPER TYPHOON which will surely destroy most things on its path. So the whole of northern Luzon is on alert and the whole country is awaiting it and praying for its quick passage and little devastation. Continue reading →

How to Not Worry

How to Not Worry in Life and Love

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We were having lunch a while ago when I suddenly blurted out to Mahal“OMG! I’m so excited!” He looked at me and I saw in his eyes that he was wondering what was I excited about. So I immediately added “I’m excited about all our upcoming travel plans both near and far!” Like this month we plan to celebrate Halloween at Nuvali, we plan to do some hotel hopping in Manila, and we want to explore those parts of Laguna we haven’t visited yet. Then next month we’ll be in Batangas. We already booked an overnight stay at Acuaverde for baby Tuz’s first birthday. Then come December, for Christmas until New Year, my parents want to spend it at the beach with the whole family and I’m already calling various beach resorts to inquire for their cheapest rates. Then on January next year, we’ve already booked flights to Cebu and we’ll be going home to Oslob. Then on my birthday month, February, I want to explore a place we haven’t been to yet (Tuguegarao perhaps?) then the whole summer I want us to go back to Boracay, visit Aklan, Capiz, Romblon and Masbate! So exciting!

After a little while, now that I think about it, I started to worry a bit, like, okay, how are we going to do all that with baby Tuz in tow? Where will we get our budget? Can we really travel that many times like I used to do by myself before? Hmmm… Then I remembered that it’s not good to worry so much about it and just let things unfold. So this is what this blog post is about. How to not worry whether about life in general or even love…

Continue reading →

nail•a•holics Nail Salon and Spa National Pampering Day

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How did my nails get pampered for free?

I read online yesterday that nail.a.holics Nail Salon and Spa will have it’s National Pampering Day today. This means that they’re giving hand nail polish service for free from 10AM to 12NN in all their branches nationwide! Well at least, that’s what their Facebook Page said. I put it down on my list of things to do for today. I thought I was going to be finished with work at 6am and I can then prepare to head out, do the local market run, head to the post office for a supplement package I ordered from New Zealand (Bergamot to lower cholesterol and COQ10 to counter the effect of statins I took from July to September), and be one of the customers that can come in early for a free hand nail polish at a nail.a.holics branch in Festival Mall. But I finished later than expected, had to drop by the post office just before closing time which got cut short coz our car was parked at a towing zone and our attention got called out by a policeman so we just decided to do the post office run some other time and head straight to Festival Mall instead.

When we got to nail.a.holics, located at the 2nd floor of  Festival Mall beside Mini Trade Hall, it was almost twelve and their free hand nail polish is only up til noon! Continue reading →

Sonya's Garden

Sonya’s Garden Tagaytay Restaurant Review

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Sonya’s Garden’s full name is Sonya Garcia’s Secret Cottage Restaurant Inc. At least that’s what it says on their menu which someone handed out to us as soon as we stepped out of our car after parking. And I’m just so happy that finally, I’d be able to eat here… and during our 2nd Anniversary at that!

Amidst the verdant and flower-laden garden, with nothing but thick hibiscus shrubs and romantic hydrangeas as witnesses, the young man knelt on one knee before the lady and asked her if she would be his sweetheart. She replied with a single-minded “Yes!”

And what better way to celebrate the overflowing of the heart than with the filling of the belly? Dinner had to be served! The table was draped with fine embroidered linen and laden with freshly picked lettuce and arugula, sweet-fleshed mangoes, pineapples, and other fruits in season, and an array of dips and sauces for drizzling over salads and pasta. It was an explosion of flavors and feelings. From this proposal began the public’s love affair with Sonya’s Garden. – SonyasGarden.com

I can’t believe it’s been two years since Mahal asked for my hand from my grandfather, parents and siblings in Cagayan de Oro. Two years? Wow! It seemed like only yesterday! I can still feel my surprise when for the first time my grandfather talked to a suitor of mine. He never did that to any of my exes!

Anyway, it’s actually our 26th monthsary yesterday, October 15, which we almost forgot because we were in Eastern time zone, we had so much going on with baby Tuz’s vaccine, checkup, errands and work around the house (that got a bit flooded recently during a sudden heavy downpour) and we were so busy with so many other things  (like soap making) that we didn’t have anything special planned. The weather is also not very cooperative with typhoon Karen making a landfall this dawn and another one on the way come Monday (stay safe, everyone!).

But last August, on our 2nd anniversary, when the weather was still so nice and cozy, we had a series of anniversary celebrations (in case you haven’t read about some of my posts about that yet) and we headed to Tagaytay once again.  It was just a simple lunch but we super loved it because we had it at Sonya’s Garden! Continue reading →

surfing

Follow Your Fear So You Can Follow Your Heart

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 “The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it… The more fear we feel about a specific enterprise, the more certain we can be that that enterprise is important to us and the growth of our soul. “ – Steven Pressfield of  The War of Art

Marie Forleo is one of those amazing women that I follow and emulate as much as I possibly can (aside from Oprah). And in her Tuesday’s Marie TV episode she talked about following our fears.

By fear, it means the good kind of fear that we know once we overcome, will change our life for the better. It’s the directive kind of fear like an idea of doing something that we’ve always wanted to do. Something that the deeper and wiser part of us wants so damn bad! Not the kind that will have us get run over by a bus, lol!

Come to think of it, when I look back on my life, a lot of the things I did in order to follow my bliss was I followed my fear first. Again, by fear, Marie and I both mean something that can make us doubt ourselves and our capabilities but once we do it, will bring us tremendous joy. Let me give you mine… Continue reading →

Ocean 101

Siargao Cheap Accommodation – Ocean 101 Cloud 9 Beach Resort

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Siargao is one of my most favorite islands in the Philippines! There are so many things to do here, so many places to visit, so many natural wonders to explore and even at night, there are so many parties to go to (yep, I really couldn’t believe that Siargaonons are such party animals). All of these things I will share with you one by one as I blog about all of my visits to the famous surfing capital of the Philippines.

Siargao According to Wikipedia

Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea situated 800 kilometers southeast of Manila in the province of Surigao del Norte. It has a land area of approximately 437 square kilometres (169 sq mi). The east coast is relatively straight with one deep inlet, Port Pilar. The coastline is marked by a succession of reefs, small points and white, sandy beaches. The neighboring islands and islets have similar landforms.

The island is composed of municipalities of Burgos, Dapa, Del Carmen, General Luna, San Benito, Pilar, San Isidro, Santa Monica and Socorro.

And all these municipalities, I’ve already visited! Weeee!

But first things first — where to find cheap accommodation in Siargao?  Continue reading →

jelly soaps

Soap Making Beginner’s Guide

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As I’m still drafting my next travel post (it takes a while to draft everything because of all the photos I have to choose from), I’d like to continue sharing my journey here about soap making.

I did promise myself to update this blog every day (6 days/week), and this is one of the topics I’m really  interested in. I first discussed soap making last week — how I started, my history with it and our plans about it. You can read about it here:

SOAP MAKING HOBBY TURNED BUSINESS

Basically, I just want to make sure that Mahal and I are moving forward with our projects… our passions and hobbies which we’d like to eventually turn into a small home-based business no matter how small a step we’re taking. It’s way better than doing something unproductive like watching the news or watching reruns of our favorite TV series. We only have a small window of extra time every day due to our busy schedule with our baby so whatever extra time we get,  we devote it to pursuing our hobbies and passions like soap making. And of course, I’d like to share our journey with you in case you want to delve into soap making too.

So, moving on… Continue reading →

Badian Beach

Lambug Beach in Badian Cebu Day Trip Guide

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This is the continuation of my previous post, Kawasan Falls Cebu Day Trip Guide.

As mentioned, I was coming from Manila and was heading to Siargao with one day of stopover at Cebu. Since I wanted to explore a place in  its southwestern part that I’ve never been to before,  I did a day trip to Kawasan Falls and Lambug Beach before I headed back to Mactan Airport to catch my flight to Siargao.

So if ever you have a day to spare in Cebu and you’d like to explore it’s southwestern part,  you can also do the same. Check out my Kawasan Falls Day Trip Guide followed by this post on Lambug Beach Day Trip Guide. Continue reading →

Kawasan Falls

Kawasan Falls Cebu Day Trip Guide

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BACKGROUND:

Every year, I always tell myself that I will blog more. But I kept putting it off because of other more seemingly important things (like traveling some more… [I was out of the house every month visiting exotic places in the country!], accepting more online work assignments [so I can support my travels] and watching hours and hours of reruns of my favorite TV series and movies [yep, that’s about the only energy I have left after a long day of traveling and working]) and before I knew it, years have passed, unpublished travel photos and videos got buried in my “baul” (musty old trunk..lol!) and the rest, as they say, is history. Teehee.

Well, on my MOMTRANEUR blog, I will be a better blogger, a better time manager, a better me. I am following the lessons I learned from my previous blog post How to Attain Higher Productivity at Home and Work and I will do more things that make me happier like what I mentioned in Random Thoughts This Rainy Night. So on this post I will start my long overdue travel diaries.

And because Cebu is probably my most visited place in the Philippines aside from Boracay (where I vacayed for long periods of time from 2002 to 2015), I’ll particularly start here my lone trip to the breathtaking Kawasan Falls in Badian. This was 2 weeks before I officially met my now bestest friend, soulmate and love of my life, Mahal. He knew me since high school but I didn’t really know him (well, I was popular, what can I say? Hahaha!)  However, that time I was on the way to Cebu, we were already texting because he invited me before to like his resort’s FB page and I was already hearing good things about Oslob (another place in Southern Cebu) that I wanted to go and visit that place. I ended up staying at his mini resort, Oslob New Village Lodge and swim with their famous whale sharks. This was already after my Kawasan day trip. When we became us years down the line, he admitted that I was his crush since high school. He also knew I’m into travel blogging. He said he will tour me too to the various tourist spots Oslob has to offer ( which he did, countless times, even to this day). Of course another blog post will be allotted for that. In the meantime, you can read about our love story. Hihihi!

Anyway, first things first — my trip to Kawasan Falls…

Continue reading →