Brave

One movie that's been long awaited by the Twerp to watch is Brave. When we watched Madagascar last July, it was Brave that we were intending to see. I didn't realize it won't be showing until August 2. So we contented ourselves with Madagascar. It was funny.

When Brave hit the theaters, Daddy was already here and we all got to watch it together as a family. All the more fun. I loved the movie.  Great  lesson for both mothers and daughters. Communication should always be kept open without judging each other. I love Merlida's character and hope Via sees her as a role model instead of Barbie :)

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My Happy Birthday

There was no big celebration but it's the happiest birthday I've had so far as an adult. P and Via were with me and that's all that mattered. The rest was icing. My birthday was on a Saturday but for P, the day starts at sundown or 6PM on Friday and ends 6PM on Saturday. So we had dinner on Friday night at one of our favorite restaurants, Banana Leaf at the Podium. We ordered the same dishes we always order because they're our favorites: Roti with Curry Dip, Kangkung with Sambal Sauce, Tilapia with Sambal Sauce and this time, P ordered additional Ribs again in Sambal Sauce. He usually has Sambal with everything he eats.

Since the weather was bad (this was the weekend before the flooding), we decided to just go home after dinner. As we walked back, the rain started pouring when we were halfway home and we had to run all the way back. We were soaking wet when we got home.

The next day after church, we picked up my birthday cake with marshmallow icing from Goldilocks. It's my favorite, birthday cakes with marshmallow icing that is. I always order a simple one on my birthday. This time, I went for a Disney Princess cake for Via's benefit. She's the one all dressed up like it's her birthday. She loved the birthday cake because the castle was real. She can play with it. The doors open and the turrets light up. There are also the three princess figurines. She wants to be a princess and wear princess dresses. I bet a bridesmaid dress from WeddingtonWay would really make her day. She just might get her wish sometime soon. A bridesmaid or a flower girl in a wedding - soon I hope :)

I love the iPod Nano P gave me as a birthday gift. He always chooses the perfect gift. I can tell that there's a lot of thought that go into the gifts he buys. He said I can use it at the Gym and it even has a Nike pace and calorie counter. I love it, I bought a strap for it right away so I can wear it as a watch at the Gym. I really, really love it.

 

Happy Weekend Everyone!

 

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Icecapade

Daddy and the Twerp have been talking about going ice skating but due to the bad weather, it kept on getting postponed. Well, they finally did it last week. Daddy was proud of his little girl, saying that she was a natural.

I was so jealous I didn't get to go with them because I had to work. Thanks to this video, I got to see Via ice skating. I've never tried ice skating and I wanted to try so bad. I got my wish. We went ice skating yesterday. It was hard at first. The ice was very slippery. After a while I got the hang of it. It's a lot like roller skating which I did a lot of when I was younger. I also have a video ;-) but couldn't get it from Daddy's blackberry. I have photos though :)

Ice Skating at MOA (Mall of Asia) entrance including skates (unlimited): P300/person.

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Our Stormy Coron, Palawan Holiday Part 3

We finally did the Coron Town tour on the last day of our Coron, Palawan holiday because of the bad weather. It wasn't really much. Just three stops. First was the Luawalhati Park. It's near the water and I can imagine sitting there on a warm summer afternoon with a good book. The zipline was already operational but we skipped it. It cost P400 per person (P500 with photo). Via wanted to do the zipline badly and kept on talking about it even after we got back to the hotel. She was too small though. It will have to wait.

We next went to Mt. Tapyas. It is so nice up there looking over the town. You feel removed from the bustle of the city. Away from work and thoughts of irs tax extension and preparation of taxes. Anyway, it was called Mt. Tapyas because one side of the mountain got blown off during the second World War. Hence the name "tapyas" (chipped). It's 724 steps to reach the top. I suddenly remembered taking the stairs to our condo unit on the 32nd floor a few times a week for exercise. The next time I did it, I counted 658 steps which took me less than 10 minutes. Climbing up Mt. Tapyas took longer because of the sudden downpours which had us scrambling up the steps to the next covered rest stop. The view was very nice at the top and if it wasn't for the incessant rain, we would have stayed longer. There was a nice place near the top, like a small park, where you can sit and maybe have a picnic because there were tables and benches. I guess a Coron, Palawan holiday is not complete without reaching the top of Mt. Tapyas.

I wish I had a better camera instead of my point and shoot. There's a nice shot of the sun peeking through a hole in the clouds. No matter, after getting the filing of taxes out of the way with some tax advice, I will have time to look for a new camera. The trek down the mountain was easier and faster. Then we were off to the souvenir shop, our last stop. We bought refrigerator magnets, a back scratcher for Via, a wallet studded with shells and some native food stuff. We had a great time and hope to be back in better weather, like summer.

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Our Stormy Coron, Palawan Holiday Part 2

Part 2 of our Coron, Palawan holiday is our Island Hopping tour. P actually wanted to postpone the island hopping to another day because of the rain but we were told that the Coast Guard has given clearance and besides, it wasn't really raining hard. A little drizzle is all so we went ahead. First stop is the rental for snorkels and goggles for P100. Then I saw aqua shoes and asked if I could rent one. The nice lady said she can lend them to me, no charge. We joined a Filipino couple and a German girl on the boat. The tour needs to have a minimum of five people. We all wore the life vests provided and was underway after the two guides brought the food on board.

First stop was Siete Pecados, a cluster of seven small islands. After anchoring the boat, the guide led us all off the boat. He had with him a rescue can much like the one we see lifeguard use on the show Baywatch. Anybody who didn't know how to swim or simply wanted to be pulled along can just hang on to it and he will pull everyone along behind him. So we had Via hold on to the rescue can with both hands along with the German girl. Daddy and I swam close just in case Via loses her grip on the rescue can. After leading us away from the boat, we started looking for fishes but a few moments later, big drops of rain poured down. It was suddenly dark and hazy and the current got strong. The guide headed back to the boat. The guide was wearing homemade outsized flippers made of plywood which helped him. He said at one time, he even pulled six Chinese tourists behind him.  At first I did not hold on to the rescue can because I wanted the guide to have an easier time especially with Via along. Only Daddy did, one hand on Via and one hand on the rescue can. The boat seemed very far away and I got tired after a while so I held on the rescue can as well. It seemed an interminable time before we got to the boat. I didn't realize we went so far. Via was okay though, kicking her legs throughout until we got back to the boat. Daddy was proud. The rest of the day was much of the same. Strong winds, heavy rain, turbulent waters but we went on with the island hopping. Via and I didn't get off the next islands though. I'm so disappointed to have missed seeing most of the fishes. I did get a chance to swim at our last stop, the Twin Lagoon.

Mercifully, we went back after the Twin Lagoon. No one in our group had energy to do any more snorkeling. I'll post the last part of our Coron, Palawan holiday, the Coron Town tour in Part 3.

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Our Stormy Coron, Palawan Holiday Part 1

Finally, the much awaited moment is here! Daddy is home for three weeks. A break from hospital duty. The last time he was here, we weren't able to do anything since it was peak season at work. This time around, I wanted us to build memories. Via is growing up and it's good to have happy memories of time spent with family. I asked P if there was anything he wanted to see or do. He said he wanted to see Palawan. We are not beach lovers. I haven't even been to Boracay. Palawan suited us well. I immediately made arrangements based on my friend Pearl's Coron trip last May. I chose Coron, Palawan because two of my friends recently went there and would be able to provide suggestions as to what to see, do and where to eat. I also looked forward to soaking in the hot spring.

As the date of our trip came nearer, I was worried about the weather because the rains just wouldn't stop. On the day we left Manila, I thought the flight might be cancelled but it wasn't. Good thing because I really could not reschedule. The next weeks will be busy at work.

We stayed at Coron Ecolodge. Rooms are at P1,600/night with breakfast for two. It was comfortable enough and the staff were very gracious and helpful. However, because of the typhoon, there were several power outtages throughout our five-day stay. It's new though so it's clean. We got the package that was on their website for three days, two nights with Coron Town Tour and Coron Island Tour for P3,548/person. We just added two nights stay.

First on our itinerary was the Coron Town tour at 4 pm capped with a dip in the Maquinit Hot Springs. Because of the weather, it was suggested to leave the town tour for another day and just do the hot springs. We agreed. I was so looking forward to the hot springs. Our tricycle driver guide was there promptly at 3:45 pm. The front desk staff presented us with snacks of ham and cheese and bottled water and bid us to have a good time. It would take about 30 minutes to get to the hot springs.

It suddenty poured big drops of rain when we got there but no matter. We would get wet anyway. It's a good thing we skipped the town tour and it was still light. Otherwise, we wouldn't get decent photos with our point and shoot camera. I had worn my swimsuit underneath my clothes but nobody seemed to be wearing a swimsuit so I went in without taking my clothes off. Luckily, I brought an extra shirt. Behind us is the open sea. We were told that the hot springs sat on top of a volcano that had not fully formed which is where the hot water is coming from. There is a bridge that leads to a view of the sea behind us.

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The next day was our Island Hopping tour which I will post in Part 2 of our Coron, Palawan holiday. Let me tell you that it felt like I had joined the Survivor reality show.

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August is the Month We Celebrate the Filipino Language

During the month of August in most schools, there are activities that celebrate the Filipino language. There is also a Linggo ng Wika (Language Week). In Via's pre-school, they were asked to wear the traditional Philippine national dress every Friday. I got the whole ensemble at Kultura in Megamall. I was surprised that the price was reasonable considering I got the whole shebang including bakya.

 

I feel so lucky to have found a purple dress because it's Via's favorite color and I was doubtful that she would wear a different colored dress.

 

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