2021 Highlights: a Gratitude Post for the Year That Was

I saw this image quote on my social media feeds and it struck a chord in me. It says:

“This January, start the year with an empty jar. Each week, add a note with a good thing that happened. 

On New Year’s Eve, empty the jar and read about the amazing year you had.” 

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5 Things You Can Do Instead of Social Media (Facebook Disabled My Account and I’m Thankful!)

Oh my goodness! 

It’s going to be Christmas soon, then New Year, and I still haven’t blogged about the things I’ve always wanted to blog about (like the happiest Halloween we’ve ever had)! As usual, so many joyful and exciting things have happened and continue to happen in my life for which I am very much thankful! I’m living my dream beach life and each and every day I try my best to spend it as if it were my last but without sacrificing my health too much this time around (hence, I’m not forcing myself to stay awake and do more than what my 16 waking hours would permit) coz health is one thing that we really treasure the most these days plus, at this day and age, it could really be our last with Covid around and this endless pandemic!

Anyway, it’s a blessing in disguise that Facebook disabled my account last Friday night just because I was posting photos of Mahal and Tuz in a five-star resort bathtub! They weren’t fully naked and I didn’t know bathtub photos were not allowed so I immediately deleted the post only to be disabled afterward. I can’t post, I can’t comment, I can’t react… and it’s going to be for a week! Argh! Has this happened to you before? What did you do? 

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Sudden Death of a Great Man Weeks After Getting Vaccinated — My Grandfather, Almost a Centenarian

I’m still in shock about the sudden death of my Lolo, Atty. Domingo L. Martinez. I didn’t think this would be my post here after a long hiatus on blogging. I have several vlogs lined up, so many exciting things have happened since we moved here in Oslob, Cebu but the news about my grandfather passing away really came as a shock to me.

It is our family’s theory that it’s all because he got vaccinated with Sinovac recently… Though official WHO (World Health Organization) findings reported that various Covid-19 vaccines pose as no threat to human health, and that the benefits of taking the doses far outweigh the risks, there is still news circulating about some people experiencing complications from getting vaccinated, one of which is dying. I’ve been seeing real-life accounts of both people I know and don’t know saying how the vaccines caused them grave illnesses with some eventually dying like my Lolo when they were otherwise in good health prior to getting those jabs. Getting that vaccine for my Lolo was the only thing he did differently in his routine in the last few weeks. And suddenly, he couldn’t breathe… He died of pneumonia according to my step-grandma. He was still very much alive and well just a few days prior to this.

To cut it short, please refer to screenshots of my Facebook posts below before heading to my current writing…

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Sunrise in Oslob

How We Transferred to Oslob, Cebu During the Pandemic

Hello Summer! It’s been a busy 2.5 months as we started our new beach life here in Oslob, Cebu and I promise, I will be catching up on my blog posts and vlogs until I get more current with what’s happening with us. I may still insert some throwback travel posts from the past since I’ve collected a ton all these years. But for now, here is a vlog on how our transfer from Cagayan de Oro (where we lived, half the time, the other half was in Claveria) from Sept. 1, 2017 to Jan. 7, 2021) to Oslob, Cebu happened, how we got quarantined for 14 days when we got here, and what we did while in quarantine (Jan. 9-22, 2021)

For those who are considering transferring to their respective provinces in this time of the pandemic, you can check out this related blog post:

BOAT TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS DURING A PANDEMIC IN THE PHILIPPINES (FROM CAGAYAN DE ORO TO CEBU

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boat travel

Boat Travel Requirements During a Pandemic in the Philippines (From Cagayan de Oro to Cebu)

The first time we traveled during a pandemic was back in August and it was just within Cagayan de Oro City so the only documents that were required were barangay exit pass for our family, barangay clearance for me and Mahal, and health certificates for us three either from a doctor or the city health office certifying that we were in good health at that time. It was quite easy. This time around though, we were moving from Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao to Oslob, Cebu which is the southwestern part of Cebu Region. We traveled by land and then by boat from Cagayan de Oro port to Cebu port then traveled by land again for 3-4 hours outside of Cebu City

The following documents were required of us (and I assume it would be the same for people traveling by boat between regions anywhere in the Philippines). Just keep in mind that once you have all these travel requirements, their validity will last for only 2 weeks. So you better have your travel itinerary ready and make sure you’re good to go! 

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Apple Tree Hotel and Resort

Apple Tree Hotel and Resort, Cagayan de Oro City: Tuz’s 5th Birthday Hoopla

Ever since Tuz was born, we’ve always celebrated it by traveling to the beach or a nice hotel resort, just us three. I do plan to make a blog post and/or vlog of his past birthday celebrations so watch out for those soon… 

Just a little flashback on his past nativity celebrations:

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Musiga Outlets

Musiga Outlets, Future Mushroom Products and Tuscany Highlands Office

To continue from yesterday’s post

After that successful early Christmas and 2nd anniversary online giveaway we did, our Musiga outlets also increased.

Although we do sell online nationwide via LBC and J&T shipping, we are also blessed to have partner outlets for our products.

So, where can you buy our MUSIGA and other Tuscany Highlands’ Products here in Misamis Oriental?

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SnR Members' Treat 2019

S&R Members’ Treat 2019 and Online Giveaway

On Sept. 9, I received an invitation from Ms. Maria Irene Aserios of Mindanaoan.com to attend the S&R Members’ Treat Bloggers’ Meet which was held last Sept. 14, 2019, at 9AM Philippine time. I was excited! I’ve been a member since 2002 when I was still living in Quezon City and the last time we visited their branch here in Cagayan de Oro was when we bought that big hospital toy for Tuz. I was excited to come back and know the exciting updates about our favorite warehouse membership shopping club! Continue reading

Musiga

Musiga (Mushroom Sili Garlic Paste) by Tuscany Highlands – Participating at CDO’s La Fiesta Grande Bazaar in Ayala Centrio

Since we got back from our very long road trip, it’s just been work, work, work! Aside from taking care of all my client tasks, Mahal and I have also been busy getting ready for this weekend’s bazaar in Cagayan de Oro — La Fiesta Grande Bazaar to be held at Ayala Centrio Mall in the downtown area. The bazaar will be from August 23, Friday, until August 25, Sunday.

 

MUSIGA HISTORY

We’ve joined a bazaar before when we first launched our Mushroom Chili Paste and just focused on online selling and consignments after that (see post here: https://momtraneur.com/2018/05/13/tuscany-highlands-organic-farm-mushroom-chili-paste-how-it-came-to-be/)

We received 100% positive reviews from our customers in terms of the taste, but a few suggested that maybe we can improve on our label. Our very first label looked like this:

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Solane Kitchen Hero Chefs

Momtraneur Attends Solane Kitchen Hero Chef’s Edition in Cagayan de Oro

It’s been a while since I last said yes to an event invite because of all the travels we’ve been doing from June to August. The last was when we, CDO Bloggers, did our general assembly at Seven Seas and when we also held our GTKY meeting at Seda Centrio back in May 2019. So I was very excited to find out that Solane was heading to Cagayan de Oro, more so when the invite didn’t come from CDO Bloggers Group but was personally emailed to me by FuentesManila.com for their Solane Kitchen Hero Chef’s Edition in Cagayan de Oro which happened last August 15, 2019… the same week that we were going home from our very long road trip and on the same day that my grandfather was celebrating his 95th birthday and Mahal and I were celebrating our 5th Anniversary as well. My schedule was really packed that day! I actually thought I wouldn’t be able to make it because of the typhoon that came and our stay in Cebu City and Oslob got extended. But thankfully, the weather cleared up eventually and now we’re back in Cagayan de Oro and yes, I was able to attend Solane’s media luncheon at Missy Bonbon prior to the cooking competition held at the Atrium in LimketKai Mall.

I am a fan of Solane which is the leading LPG solutions brand in the Philippines. I’ve been using them for years! And I’m sure many of you (my dear readers residing in the Philippines) are using this brand too and I’m excited to share with you today their latest project.

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Cabugao Gamay

How to Avoid Travel Burnout When Traveling With a Group

Hello from Boracay! It’s already the month of August, known as the “Ghost Month” (kaway-kaway sa mga Bea-Gerald-Julia followers jan… yeah, I’ve been following their drama too, lol!)  and I just found some time to check my blog. We’ve been traveling from Cagayan de Oro to Oslob, then to Dumaguete, Bacolod, Iloilo and Boracay, then Antique, then back to Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete, then Oslob again. I thought of continuing the 3rd part of my Boracay Series since I am here once again on one of the world’s best islands but I feel like I must share with you first this topic that I’ve only experienced now.

Let us define first the word “BURNOUT”:

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demand  (Reference: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/burnout-prevention-and-recovery.htm)

Don’t get me wrong. I love traveling! I’ve been doing this since I was 6 years old and I love the entire process of it — from planning our activities and itinerary, to listing down the clothes and accessories that I am going to wear (I like prepping 2-3 sets of clothes a day: one in the morning, one in the afternoon, one in the evening), to unpacking everything when we get to our destination and doing it all over again when we get home. Traveling is just one of my passions and I don’t think I will ever stop, not until I really have to due to old age. Teehee. So, it came as a surprise to me when all of a  sudden I feel so burnt out from all the traveling we’ve been doing. Has this ever happened to you as well?

So, how do we avoid travel burnout when traveling with a group, especially with our extended family? Continue reading