Laiya's Coral Gardens

On our second day in Laiya, we rented a boat to take us snorkeling in "Lamesang Bato". The banca rental association of Laiya saw that our family was just a small one and with two little kids at that so they arranged to get us a small banca. We agreed to pay Php 700 for the boat ride that took us about 4 kilometers off the beach and stayed with us during the 45-minute snorkeling time.

It was our younger girls' first experience and once they entered the water and donned their goggles, they were awed by the sight of the corals and fishes.

Lamesang Bato coral garden of Laiya

Note: This is NOT an underwater shot. I just focused my camera about a foot above the water and I was able to capture this :)

We brought bread so we could feed the fishes and the boatman even helped us do this. The girls exclaimed every now and then.

What a grand time they had!

Full Swing Summer!

Thus far, we've been to:

• Club Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas
• Andrea Beach Resort in Lobo, Batangas
• Forest View, Treetop Adventure and Go-Kart in Subic
• Skyview Resort in Calamba, Laguna
• Laiya Austria Beach Resort in San Juan, Batangas
• Dalampasigan Beach Resort in Sariaya, Quezon

This coming weekend, we've got a couple of swimming parties to attend but both will be held within the metropolis. After the elections, I've got a scheduled business trip to Naga and Legaspi in Bicol. As soon as I land at the airport on May 14, our family will head out to Lucban in Quezon for HB's office department outing (although I made separate arrangements to stay at a friend's house in Louisiana in Laguna) to take part in the famous Pahiyas Festival the following day.

Whew! Sounds tiring, but I'm more excited more than anything! This means I've got a lot of travels tales to come and I've still got my stories piling up in my drafts. ;) 

I'm not complaining though... after all, my mantra says:

Live life to the fullest, 

Laugh at all the things that don't matter,

          and Love with all that you have and more!

Laiya Beach: Then and Now

I found this picture in my computer files. This was taken in Laiya in San Juan, Batangas almost 6 years ago. We were in Laiya during the Labor Day weekend in 2004.

Fiona was just 4 months old then. Zoe had just turned 4. Trish was just 8.

It's the Labor Day weekend again and we find ourselves back in Laiya.

Fiona is now 6, Zoe is 10 and Trish is 14.

Another Surprise on Flickr

I got a second surprise from another comment/message on my Flickr account:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Atmospheric perspective - Blåner, and we'd love to have this added to the group! 

taken during our road trip from Baguio to Cabanatuan via the Baguio-Aritao Road

Once more, I didn't think twice and agreed to add my picture to the group.

I'm starting to lurve the Flickr community ... haha! :)

A Pleasant Surprise on Flickr

Earlier today, I browsed through my Flickr album and was surprised to see a comment/message for one of my pictures:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called McDonald's Storefronts, and we'd love to have this added to the group! 

I was pleasantly surprised, haha! Of course, I immediately shared my pic.  Who would have thought?!? :)

Heart-warming & Inspirational

I'd like to share a very heart-warming and inspirational article I read this morning in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. It was written by Marina Benipayo, a (former) beauty queen, supermodel and single parent to two boys. When I read this, I cannot help but think that she is indeed a supermodel in every essence of the word. As she continues to strike out that ideal work-life balance, she is a source of inspiration to working moms like me.

How raising children helps parents become more mature

By Marina Benipayo

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Date

First Posted 22:05:00 04/21/2010

CHILDREN ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES who grow. Parents do, too.

Mark and I were talking one night about what he would want to take up in college. He started counting the years, paused and then asked, “Mamma, when you think of all these years that we’re together, how do you feel?”

I looked at him and said, “I’m proud, Mark. Proud of you and Joshua; not only because of what you both have grown to become, but because of what I have become because of you.” Mark smiled and said, “I love you, mom!” When he left the room, what just happened made me think of how, although we emphasize the value of the love we give our kids, we every so often overlook the fact that they are instrumental to our own maturity as well.

We have, in all our existence, known that our own experiences with our parents had an impact on how we have become adults. Whether it is filled with good and not-so-good memories, we will always see some parts of our parentsin us. It could manifest in our behavior, gesture, the way we talk, walk, decide and live. On the same level as actions, a large factor comes from what our parents used to say to us. Even the way or manner in which a thought is said has long-term impact.

I have heard of some parents who, when asked a question by their children, would reply, “What kind of a question is that?” or “That’s a stupid question.” Some would even retort, “You don’t know?” These types of replies apparently would make the child think that he is either dumb or really ignorant. So do we want that to stay in their young minds?

Being a parent does not only give us the responsibility of giving our child his/her basic needs. We have to push and go far beyond what is expected of us. We nourish not only theirstomachs and minds, but also their souls.

If you come to a point that you start asking yourself, “What about my own needs?” because you may happen to be either overly stressed, tired and left out from the rest of the world, look at your child or children now. I know it sounds cliché, but they are all you need. You may have forgotten, but despite their sometimes seemingly strange and outrageouspersonalities, they ARE your reasons for living. You work to make them live as comfortably as you could afford. When they’re happy, you become happy. When they tell you they have learned something new, it is because you have instilled openness in their minds, which allowed them to learn. Their achievements are your achievements, too. It goes back to you.

But of course with that openness, they also get to explore other new things which you had wished they never have found out. You enter into that “arena” with them, be with them, understand as well and explain to them in their own level of understanding why this or that would probably be generally wrong or morally off limits. Then listen to their thoughts.

Secret stuff

I have always told Mark and Joshua that as they grow up, they will be seeing more and more of the world which they thought was all perfect. If they hear or see or notice something of which they are curious to know, just let me know and we’ll talk about it. Anything from the absurdly simple thing to even the ones which they think I wouldn’t even know of. This so I could learn it with them. When they ask me why they need to tell me even the “secret stuff,” I’d answer, “It’s like going to battle knowing which weapons are available for you to use. As your mom, I don’t think I’d be comfortable sending you off to that battle without you knowing your gear. Let us look at the options. You choose.”

Let’s be brave enough to accept that although we cannot control our kids’ minds, the best we could do is continually remind them that we will always be there when they need us. For in as much as we help our kids build their character, we strengthen ours. And it could be exactly for that reason that our kids will decide to do what is right.

Let us take as much time as we could to cherish watching our kids grow into their own individual self. Hold their hands more than holding them back. Connect more than correct. Hug more than tug. Talk more than shout. Let us not take them for granted because they are just nearby. We have seen many movies and real-life stories about parents who fail to give their kids much attention in their younger years and have grown old only to realize they have missed living the essence of their lives. Their children grow up distant from them; not because of lack of love, but the ignorance of how it feels.

Give it all you’ve got while you can, and everything else in your life will follow smoothly. Test yourself even more and you learn to be more tolerant, more understanding, more learned. You will notice that even the most stressful things in your own life such as relationships, work, or the lack of income will encourage you more to persevere. There will also come a time when we won’t even think of what we do for our kids as responsibility, but a privilege as well. This is what Mark and Joshua have done for me.

Looking forward, when they have their own nests; and me with my empty one, I shall still expect myself to continue to grow more. Our growing doesn’t stop until we allow it to and it could be the best choice we could ever make.

Click here to see the original article from the Inquirer.

Laiya Beach Resorts

Here we are again, planning another trip to Laiya in San Juan, Batangas for April 30-May 1. I've spent most of this afternoon surfing and searching for a good value-for-money resort. Thus far, I've narrowed our choices down to two. Inquiries with regard to the availability of rooms were already sent. I'll be crossing my fingers in anticipation of the replies.

In the meantime, here's a list of the resorts in the stretch of Laiya Beach. Just click on the name of the resort to get directed to their respective websites. Hope this saves you a lot of time :)

Acuatico Beach Resort

Balai Laiya Resort

Blue Coral Beach Resort

Casa Remo Beach Resort

Kabayan Beach Resort

Laiya Coco Grove Resort

La Luz Beach Resort

Palm Beach Resort

Sabangan Beach Resort

Sigayan Bay Beach Resort

Tivona Beach Resort

Triple-G Beach Resort

Virgin Beach Resort

White Cove Beach Resort

April 20, 2010 Update: Both of my initial choices (La Luz & Kabayan) are fully booked for the weekend of April 30-May 1. I went through my list above and contacted each of them. All the resorts are fully-booked as well, except for White Cove but they could not accommodate our small family (as they require a minimum of 5 meal packages on top of the room/cottage rental).

Just 10 minutes ago, I was able to get a reservation with Laiya Austria Beach Resort, which is just beside or is actually an extension of the Kabayan Beach Resort. I was able to book an executive room for Php 4,000. The contact person is Grace who is very nice and accommodating. She may be reached through mobile numbers 0918-3163386 and/or 09157459396.

Whee! I am so excited now!

April 30, 2010 Photo Update:

Subic TreeTop: An Adventure Like No Other

The Tree Top Adventure is one of Subic's latest tourist attractions offering a unique ecological experience. Activities range from jungle trekking, suspended trails and bridges, motorized cable rides and rappelling. The various activity packages are definitely not for the weak-kneed and faint-hearted. The activities are not at all dangerous as the park promotes safety in all aspects. Only the park attendants are allowed to strap on the harnesses. They also offer packages for groups who would like to hold team-building exercises in an ecological setting. Click here to find out more about the TreeTop Adventure activities, facilities and packages.

Only my HB and eldest daughter mustered enough courage to take on the tree top challenges. The two younger girls wanted to try it out but we were informed that they were still too small (and I guess with their 'skinniness', no harness would fit them, heeheehee).

I, on the other hand, was only too happy to stay on the sidelines and cheer.

HB was the first to take the challenge.

HB makes his way to the tree drop platform

He tried out the Australian-style tree drop, a face-first rappelling style. It cost Php 150 per tree drop.

Trish tried the Interactive Freefall, a suspension ride taking adventurers to a high of about 60 meters. We paid Php 250 for this yoyo-like ride.

about 60 meters up high

Unfortunately, the park's most famous "Superman" ride was not available that time that we were there.

In the meantime, my younger girls were contented with just making wacky poses for me.