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Camiguin Villas

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When we speak of Bali, we always equate the name with luxury or anything postcard-worthy. How could we not be when we get to book villas in Bali and majority of the accommodations being offered boast of a perfect landscape deserving of anyone’s IG space.

Balai sa Baibai

Unfortunately, villas are not a thing here in my country. While there are villas in Palawan, Panglao and Boracay, more often than not, they are considered as luxuries for the elites and not intended for the budget backpackers. But while we kept ourselves in awe by looking at the other side of the fence literally, who would have thought that somewhere here at home, we’d find almost the same brand of luxury coupled with world-renowned Filipino hospitality and is somehow budget-friendly.

Camiguin wasn’t really in our radar just yet until we were given no reason to refuse a time off. Camiguin is a small island located in between Visayas and Mindanao but wholly considered as part of the latter region. While it is mostly accessible by plane from Cebu, there are other options to reach the island from different parts of the country. So before getting too caught up with the busy world after the long holidays, we flew to Camiguin, to the “island born of fire”.

There are a number of charming accommodations in Camiguin at a great bargain price, but we knew we had to try Balai sa Baibai. Their Agoda ad and pictures are so enticing that we had to book in Sagay Villa for the entire duration of the trip.

2pm was supposed to be our mandated check in time yet despite arriving 2 hours earlier from the standard, we highly appreciate the thoughtfulness extended for our early arrival. We actually thought that we will be wasting a couple of hours waiting for our villa’s availability, but to our surprise, we were ushered immediately after it was cleaned and prepped for our 2-nights occupancy. That’s a plus for customer service we must say.

But what was truly a shocker for us both was our personal hesitation to leave the villa despite our inability to stay stiIl. It was so aesthetically pleasing and customer service was top-notch that we agreed on cutting our 2-day island tour short just to spend more time in our villa, well aside from the fact that the weather was uncooperative. The tour is worth another blog entry but the point is, having a nice accommodation is truly a game-changer eh?


Then again, there was not much argument necessary on whether to stay put or roam around since we had everything vital for our entire stay. We had a lounge area and a dining table just beside our private dipping pool, there’s a mini kitchen installed complete with appliances and utensils, an open shower with provisioned toiletries, cabled tv, air-conditioning and generator sets and a queen-sized bed.

If we got too lazy to cook even a simple meal, we could simply dial the bar’s digits and food will be served and delivered.

And if all of these areeen’t that much of a steal just yet, it comes with free breakfasts and complimentary afternoon snacks.


We did stroll around the premises and spent time by the sea shore and we were taken aback by the fact that we got to enjoy these activities minus the crowd. Balai sa BaiBai does not offer day tour promos, hence, you are assured of exclusivity and safety, away from the prying eyes of the public. Amazing yet?

But what I love about Balai sa Baibai the most was our sunset dinner date by the beach. It was so intimate, romantic and exclusive. The most kilig we had in years. Char.

While Balai sa Baibai is a tad pricier than most accommodations in the island, at more or less 5k Php at night, yet it is also relatively cheaper among its contemporaries. But for someone who values privacy, a cozy atmosphere and a home away from home, we knew all along we really got our money’s worth.

Leaving Camiguin so soon was both depressing and heartbreaking. Yet, our only consolation was our unique and memorable stay which cannot be bought by any amount of money. True enough, Bali will always be on top of our bucketlist for setting the bar so high for an ideal vacation spot but we are more than happy to experience Balai sa Baibai once more. It exceeded our expectations when it comes to experiencing affordable luxury.

Any suggestions on where to next?

Around Siquijor in One Day

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We had one so many attempts to visit Siquijor for months already and all the time, our efforts only proved futile. It wasn’t because of all the horror stories hunting the island itself (we are pretty much sure about that) or the rumors about sorcery and witchcraft that’s been going on and around the country for centuries, it so happens that every time we map out a weekend visit, unknown reasons unexpectedly pop out. Every. Darn. Time.

P-rsonal Notes

• It was year 1565, Miguel López de Legazpi and his Expedition arrived and landed in the Philippines.

• Legazpi gave orders to search for nearby islands. And while afloat, two of his men found a land gleaming and glowing from afar, hence they named the island, “Isla De Fuego” or Island of Fire. That’s why Siquijor is also known as “Isla De Fuego”, why it is called as an “Island of Fire”.

• Such phenomenon is caused by a number of fireflies hovering around molave trees used to proliferate in the area

But then, nothing can escape an aggressive travel duo no matter how elusive the sought for destination is in our travel list. So one day, one holiday, we booked a tour for 2, though only planned haphazardly.

(c) Johnry Maglangit Ina-an

Going There

There are so many available options for would-be-tourists of Siquijor coming from Cebu. For budget conscious travelers, there is that time consuming route yet the cheapest of all. But for us who value time more than money we chose the most convenient mode of transport, lesser travel time but relatively pricey.

(c) Johnry Maglangit Ina-an

From Cebu City Pier 1, we booked two tickets in Ocean Jet that traverse Cebu-Tagbilaran-Larena, Siquijor route. Cebu to Tagbilaran usually takes 2 hours of travel time while Tagbilaran to Larena has 1 and a half. Ticket Cost? 4k for 2 pax, one way, business class.

Tariff Rates

One Day Itinerary

Siquijor is a little island in the southern part of the country and is usually divided into two tours: (1) Island Tour and (2) Mountain Tour. Since we only had a day to spare and roam around the province, we chose the former instead of the latter or both. At least, in our minds, we can cover almost all of the tourist spots readily available and still have one more reason to return to this beautiful isla.

(As I don’t want to bore you with the minute details of this trip, I’ll just narrate the highlights of our entire tour. We can assure you that this post contains nothing about the tittle-tattle tale of the witches of Siquijor as locals even deny the truth of their existence. A minimal reference won’t hurt, I guess.)

A little side trip, the moment we disembarked from the fast craft, we only had Larena Triad Coffee Shop in mind for a sumptuous afternoon lunch. This dome shaped coffee shop/restaurant is strategically built in a high elevation with a 180 degree overlooking view of the island of Siquijor and the neighboring provinces of Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental, hence “Triad”.

Day 1 starts the following day and we began our tour with I Love Siquijor and Welcome Siquijor Sign, taking several photos for documentation (evidentiary, really) purposes. Hey, best evidence rules!

We then made our way up towards Kanheron Ranch which according to our tour guide got its name from the combined Visayan Words “Kanhe” ug “Karon” translated as “the past and the present”. It’s a private museum of American Artifacts collected and made available for public viewing for the generation of today.

Thereafter, we proceeded to Lilibeth’s Pan Bisaya which is famous for their freshly baked, soft and sweet-tasting varieties of native bread.

They call it “native bread” as they adopt a traditional Filipino method of using fire-ignited corn husks placed on top and below an assembled structure resembling an oven. Yes, instead of a regular convection oven run by electricity or gasoline which are commonly used in ordinary bakeries these days, Lilibeth’s bakes their goodies in their own fabricated oven using no yeast as a leavening agent but coconut wine (tuba) instead.

To complete the experience, we paired their native bread with a cup of “corn coffee” which is a famous drink in this country and could actually pass off as a Filipino native delicacy. Yum!

Our next stop was Salagdoong Beach, our absolute favorite. I cannot particularly recall what “Salag” means but “Doong” refers to a kind of birds. Salagdoong is a government managed public beach opened to the public for a minimal fee. We stayed in Salagdoong for a few minutes before proceeding to our next destination after we fell in love with its crystal clear waters of differing hues, the calming sea breeze and its magnificent views. Salagdoong offers the most beautiful view there is in the entire province of Siquijor (at least in our own perception) and it has the best ambience for relaxation.

P-rsonal Notes

• Cliff diving and the slide are only available and open during high tides.

After lunch, we went directly to Cambugahay Falls, trekked, survived and conquered 135 steps just to witness its majestic beauty (expect muscle pain thereafter lol). Cambugahay remains a three-tier falls (almost of the same appearance) since the other levels are not yet open to the public for safety reasons.

San Isidro Labrador Church and San Isidro Labrador Convent were our next items in the itinerary. These religious structures were established as early as 1880s, managed and run by the Augustinian friars.

Like kids, we had fun in Hapitanan Broomshot trying their flying broom challenge. Since we cannot divulge their secret, you’ve got to see it to experience the magic and discover the trick.

We then rewarded our selves with a foot massage-fish spa in Enchanted Balete Tree and bought some souvenirs and pasalubongs in the area. Balete trees are said to be home of kapre, diwata, and other malignos, at least according to Philippine folklores and myths but this Balete Tree is so majestic we forgot how it is a home of entities not entirely our own.

We waited for sunset in Paliton Beach, Siquijor’s Mini Boracay, to cap off one of the best days in our lives.

(c) Johnry Maglangit Ina-an

We we were able to pass through Smile Talingting and Olang Molave Man-Made Forest but we didn’t take a photo because we just didn’t want to. We also passed by Capilay Spring Park, a natural spring made into a public pool in the middle of a public park. Well that’s an attraction.

Planning to stay another night?

If you want to have peace and privacy at a lower cost then Replica Manor is a good choice. For just Php950.00 a night, you get yourself a good night sleep in an air-conditioned room complete with toiletries, cabled tv, wi-fi and a hot and cold shower. Plus, their doggy “King” is a good tour guide as well. He can navigate you towards the ins and outs of the nearby beach. If that’s not much of a steal, this humble inn is equipped with generator sets for power interruptions.

By the way, Siquijor got its name from a simple misunderstanding due to language barrier. When the Spaniards arrived and asked what the place is called, they were speaking in Spanish. King Kihod, thinking that they were asking for his name, he answered “Si Kihod”. Later on the Spaniards adopted SiKihod and changed the last letter “d” to “r” for easier pronunciation. Hence “Siquijor”.

P-rsonal Notes

• King Kihod was the legendary ruler of the province before the Spaniards came and discovered the Philippines.

We proclaim so much love and adoration for this not-so-hidden yet less traveled island in the Visayas. Admittedly, some are still apprehensive of Siquijor owing to its feared reputation as homes of ungodly creatures. But fearing the unknown only made them miss out what this charming little island could offer ~ animal-loving, courteous, kind and helpful people and a paradise like no other. Wherever King Kihod is right now, we know he is beaming with so much pride seeing the beauty of his mystical island and the hospitality of the people living in it.

📣📣📣

For the best Siquijor experience, we highly recommend the services of Johnry Maglangit Ina-an as your driver/tour guide/photographer. You may contact him through his facebook account or his number 09368347510.

Kuya Hermie Tan-awon is an excellent driver as well, you may contact him through his number 09169626941.

Please note: Some areas in Siquijor have no signal, so please patiently wait for their reply.

Go Healthy and Artsy with Buzzz Café (Bohol)

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Fast food for fast paced life, always convenient but never healthy and while we absolutely subscribe to this thought, we could never escape this part of our reality.

Sadly, our modern lifestyle often gives us little to no room for home made dishes or decent meals so considering nutrition packed food is almost always not an option. While we kind of abhor and at the same time delight in this kind of culture, yet, we never had that much of a choice.

So it was truly a breath of fresh air when we chanced on Buzzz Café one weekend and we must say such discovery truly is a game and a life changer.

Buzzz Café was first introduced to us Cebuanos by Robinson’s Galleria when it opened 4 years ago. It’s fresh, it was unheard of and it really piqued our curiosity. Right then and there we immediately knew we had to have a try of this new offering which has its origins in the neighboring island of Cebu ~ Bohol.

(c) John Kyvin Hynson

One’s creativity or artistry is immediately apparent from the very moment you step inside the premises. We believe they should thank their marketing heads or interior designers or whoever visualized their theme and concept for choosing that homey, cozy and vibrant vibe. Each branch never fails to provide a relaxing atmosphere or a memorable experience every visit.

(c) John Kyvin Hynson
Bohol Bee Farm, Dauis, Bohol

As restaurants exist to please everyone’s sense of taste, we are aware that only “food” could either be its make or break. And we are proud to say that Buzzz Café exceeded our expectations. We are truly delighted how each food in their menu is served generously and of great quality. They are delicious, breathtaking and presentation-wise, innovative, leaving one craving for more. For instance, real flowers are used as embellishments, cassavas are recreated as ice cream cones and brown rice is served instead of white rice.

We also appreciate their concern for the environment as apparently shown from the way they use long neck glass bottles for service water, paper straws and cloth table napkins.

But my absolute favorite will always be their halo-halo and ice cream, of course desserts. These are two of the many reasons why we keep on coming back. While they give you the freedom to choose the flavor/s of the ice cream on top, each halo halo is served using fresh fruits, milk and crushed ice. Yes, we’d love to call it “halo-halo-fruit salad fusion” as it deviates from the normal standard of using processed ingredients such as nata de coco and kaong making it more healthy and tasty

(c) John Kyvin Hynson

Ice creams are made from fresh real fruits that every lick resembles actual bite of the natural fruit. That’s how organic and good they are.

His (Durian) and Her (Chocolate) Favorites

P-rsonal Notes

• We love the Durian-Mango ice cream combination in a Halo-Halo although my absolute ice cream flavor is Chocolate

• Halo-Halo is 190php with free 2 scoops of ice cream

• Ice creams are 70php per scoop

And the best part? Free items. They serve complimentary food that wards boredom and hunger off while waiting for your orders.

Right now they already serve combo meals which are tasty yet budget friendly.

We have every reason to consider Buzzz as our all-time favorite. Foods are nutritious, delicious, and heavenly far from the “fast foods” we are accustomed to.

So what other restaurants can you recommend?

Buzz Café Bohol Branches:

📍Bohol Bee Farm, Dauis

📍Island City Mall, Tagbilaran City

📍Lite Port Tagbilaran City

📍Galleria Luisa Home, Tagbilaran City

📍Alona Beach, Panglao

📍Alturas Mall, Tubigon

Buzz Café Cebu Branches

📍SM Seaside Cebu

📍Robinson’s Galleria Cebu

#FoodVentures: Bacolod City

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Our gateway to the island of Negros two years ago was a wedding invitation which we cannot refuse. Being new to this seemingly strange land back then, we were more geared on visiting local attractions having to set aside our desire for food so as not to go over the budget. Yes, we’ve been anywhere and everywhere (including Campuestohan, Mambukal and the Ruins) and made a lot of good memories, but we completely missed out the “Bacolod culture” on our first visit and that is #food.

Mambukal Mountain Resort
Murcia, Negros Occidental
The Ruins
Talisay City, Negros Occidental
Campuestohan Highland Resort
Talisay City, Negros Occidental

As we were given another chance to visit the beautiful City of Smiles, we wanted to take our experience on a whole new direction. A 360-degree turn from endless roaming to sumptuous meals, from extraodinary places now to heavenly feasts, giving less to no attention to our wandering feet but instead, prioritizing our hungry stomachs and picky palates. In other words, the next vacation was more of a literal sweet escape than an actual road trip. (Guess I just have myself to blame entirely for the 8lbs weight gain every visit. Lol!) 😅🤣😖

Chicken Inasal

When we speak of Bacolod Food, it almost always refers to Chicken Inasal. Admit it or not, there may be more than a hundred of chicken inasal recipes throughout the country, but the best of them all is safely tucked in the territory of the Ilonggos, in Bacolod City.

We spoke with the locals and asked for recommendations, and ~ Aida’s.

I personally have to say this, they have the best chicken inasal in the entire region. Affordable yet irresistible. Sorry competitions but Aida’s is simply unparalleled.

Tender, juicy and flavourful. It has that salty-mouthwatering taste that leaves us wanting for more. To be honest, it can stand on itself without the aid of any sauce. But as the saying goes “when in Rome be a Roman”, then in Bacolod, eat their best-selling dish like true Bacolodenos.

To prepare the dipping sauce, we individually mixed vinegar and soy sauce according to what suits us best. They readily provide vinegar and soy sauce per table and later serve on ready-to-squeeze fresh calamansi fruit and chili per request. I like my sauce a bit salty so I combined a calamansi and a bit of vinegar in one dipping bowl and added 2 parts soy sauce. For added heat, two siling labuyo were crushed in the mixture since I’m a sucker for spicy foods.

To complete the Chicken Inasal experience, one should not definitely ignore the chicken oil. It is that orange coloured liquid usually poured on top of the rice and forgetting it is a big no-no (although I repeat, Aida’s Chicken Inasal by itself can sufficiently satisfy the taste buds) chicken oil is part of the dish we should entirely respect.

Completely forgetting shame, I finished three pieces in less than ten (10) freakin’ minutes. That’s how delicious their chicken inasal is.

KBL (Kadios, Baboy and Langka)

KBL is another favourite among the locals, and is short for Kadios, Baboy and Langka or Pigeon Peas, Pork and Jackfruit slowly simmered in a pork broth. Like cansi, it has this sour taste albeit an earthy tone. As we were looking for the best KBL in the area, we were pointed towards the direction of Sandok. Truly, Sandok has the best KBL that even if I am not fond of beans or soup dishes, Sandok made me fancy over it.

Cansi

Cansi is another Ilonggo dish which is a comfort food among the locals. Cansi is everywhere in Bacolod. It is somewhat a fusion of Sinigang and Bulalo, beef shanks with bone marrow cooked in a sour broth. However the ingredients of Sinigang as well as of Bulalo differ entirely from Cansi making the latter an original Negrense dish. In fact Cansi is offered in every Bacolod Restaurant’s menu.

One of the famous Cansi houses in Bacolod is Sharyn’s. Proof of which is it being featured in several local tabloids and national news and it likewise is WSFC-recognized.

For us Sharyn’s is just a right balance of everything. Not too sour, not too salty, meat so tender, perfectly fine.

But there is another Cansi House in Bacolod that is popular among the locals and that is Eron’s.

Situated just beside Sharyn’s is Eron’s. Comparing both, the latter has more intensified taste and sourness though still delicious all the same. We have observed that while Sharyn’s is gaining more outside recognition, Eron’s has the local’s approval as it is jampacked day and night. But as between the two, we choose both, both are must-try.

Curious and adventurous we are, we tried Cansi with a different twist. While Sandok is more famous for its KBL, we got curious when we read Sizzling Cansi in their menu. While it retains its bulalo smell and the sour taste, it tastes and feels entirely different from the original Cansi dish. But I think I like this sizzling one better since I’m not a soup person for one.

Batchoy

Ilonggos are also famous for their Batchoy. While Ilo-Ilo serves the best La Paz Batchoy in the Panay Island, Bacolod City likewise is the home of the best Batchoy in Negros.

We were more than lucky to be invited by his friends for a lunch date in 21. When we were queried and handed the menu, we immediately asked for their specialty and batchoy it is.

But, 21 also has the best tasting Ravioli we ever had. A must try!

Seafoods

When it comes to seafood, locals consider Hyksos Pala Pala as one of the best. It is located just across SM City-Bacolod that serves fresh seafoods all day, everyday.

As if luck is on our side, his loving relatives brought us to Hyksos for a hearty dinner. We ordered Chili Shrimps, Sinigang, Calamares and Baked Scallops. One thing I observed, each viand has a sweet taste. Sweet but satisfying.

Calea

The best part of the menu — dessert. And guess what, Bacolodenos also has something to offer when it comes to sweet treats.

Calea is a household name in Bacolod City when it comes to sugary treats and desserts. It has a wide array of choices in their menu ranging from their standard baked goods to innovative ice cream cakes and other pastries and beverages. Each item has the right amount of sweetness which makes it delightful and extremely pleasing to our tastebuds.

But what I love most in Calea is their Chocolate Mud Pie, my ever favorite. It’s of an ice cream cake variety but heaven in every bite. I am not definitely one to refuse my self of this tempting, sinful yet guiltless indulgence.

We would like to say that Bacolod is another food haven in the country, a food hub in the Visayas Region. As a matter of fact, there are far too many restaurants and eateries proliferating in Bacolod that four days in the city are not enough to try them all.

To be faced with a wealth of options when it comes to great food, we had one too many sweets and calories for the entire weekend, I guess on our next trip we just have to pick up from right where we left off.

The Ruins: The “Taj Mahal” of Negros Occidental

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When I was younger, I often wonder how “true love” feels and what “until death do you part” exactly means. “Que sera sera.” Until I came across the story of Lord Mariano Lacson and Lady Maria Braga of Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

P-rsonal Notes

• Talisay City is just 15 minutes away from Bacolod, the capital city of Negros Occidental

•The Ruins has an entrance fee of Php100 per person and a parking fee of Php20 for light vehicles

•There is a restaurant, food booths and souvenir shop inside the premises for tourists’ convenience

On the earliest days of the 20th century, Lord Mariano Lacson, an apparent heir to one of the wealthiest hacienderos in Negros, often sees the world in all his travels. While in Hong Kong, he met the beautiful Maria Braga, a Portuguese by birth, daughter to a ship captain, and fell in love with her. Believing that Lord Mariano is his daughter’s perfect match, her father consented to their love and eventually gave her away when Lord Mariano asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

The couple then settled in Talisay City after the ceremony and began a family. He loved her so dearly and as fruits of their consecrated love, they were blessed with many children and a blissful married life. Soon after, she got impregnated with their 11th child. But what could have been a celebration of new life, tragedy struck when Maria met an accident on her third trimester. She slipped on the bathroom floor and bled profusely. Lord Mariano did everything in his power to save her but the accident only led to her and her unborn child’s untimely death. Doctors could not and did not reach her on time owing to their distance and the amount of time needed for travel by horse drawn carriage (3 days).

Devastated by the turn of events, Mariano, in his inconsolable grief, decided to do something in her honor. With his father-in-law’s approval, he built her an Italianate mansion, he made it so big, so grand, so beautiful, screaming for his love so unrelenting.

P-rsonal Notes

• The detail (2Ms facing each other) symbolizes the couple’s initials

20 years later, the mansion was razed by fire during the World War II. After almost a century (and surviving the war), Ruins’ skeletal frame remains proudly standing (which is nothing short of astonishing) like his undying devotion to his wife, constant, unbreakable and eternal.

The Ruins in the Philippines is not only known for its cultural significance, artistic and architectural value, it is a sole witness to Lord Mariano’s unparalleled love for his dearly departed wife and a daily reminder that there exists a love so true and so pure, something every one hopes for and prays.

It’s our 2nd time to visit Ruins and it has made us fall in love with it all over again. Aside from its beautiful facade and excellent shape, it has this mystifying beauty that draws tourists in like hearing Lord Mariano sharing stories of their past and reliving every happy memory of their shared life. It feels like the Ruins stood there over time to defy the odds and show the world, inculcate in every Negrense’s hearts and every visitor’s mind that there once existed a great matriarch who was the center of his universe.

We know love stories are not fairy tales that always end up in happy endings, but sometimes this kind of tragic love tells stories of poignant and lasting value. And even if their love was cut short in this mundane world, we know somewhere out there, Lord Mariano is reunited with her only love, her true love sharing an eternal life.

So what’s your favorite love story?

Escaping Reality at Fantasy Lodge

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Hot tubs are our thing these days. We have no specific reason for this all-of-a-sudden personal preference but we tend to always book a room with a hot tub if and when inexpensive. So when we came across Samboan’s Fantasy Lodge 2 years ago through a friend’s Facebook post showing off their indoor Jacuzzi, we knew we just needed the perfect timing.

P-rsonal Notes:

  • Fantasy Lodge is located in Samboan, south of Cebu
  • Can be reached through bus or private vehicle
  • Bus ride from the capital city may take an estimate of 5-6 hours

Fantasy Lodge offers a wide array of accommodation choices from Standard Rooms to Deluxe Bungalow, with differing rates of course. And since this is a celebration of some sorts, ahem *Anniversary*, we, without any hesitation, decided to go and have a reservation and select the best option among the list, the Deluxe Bungalow.

Through our favourite travel partner, Agoda, we booked a room for two for an overnight stay. With this reservation, we were charged with the total amount of Php5,496.49 inclusive of 12% tax and 10% service charge. While, it may sound so ridiculous to spend a fortune for an overnight stay in a place we are both residents of, we, however, subscribe to the idea that Anniversaries are worth spending and are perfect excuse for unusual squandering. Why not when it only comes once a year.

And YES, the place did not disappoint. Our room has extra features one could not find at other hotel/resort room of the same value. Although we are aware of the Jacuzzi installed in the Bungalow as shown in the pictures posted in Agoda, we were not expecting a Sauna, a private sauna for that matter, inside our very room. Comfort room is spacious and perfectly partitioned by a glass divider into two (2) parts: the shower area and the *mind your business* area. There is a veranda that we did not fully enjoy owing to our limited time in the resort.

But what truly captivated our hearts was the exclusivity of the place like owning the entire premises all to ourselves. Each room were strategically located away from each other that one cannot be bothered by his next door neighbour, as if we couldn’t care less. Glass windows (with curtains) were installed directly facing the bed giving you the best view of the house. Sunrise or sunsets plus the panoramic view of the sea, the entire place seemed reserved exclusively to ourselves is like magic, like fantasy, like we have escaped from reality.

The downside, however, is that the room is not equipped with cable tv and telephone and the resort has no generator in cases of black outs and brown outs. So you could imagine that by mere raising of a concern to the staff or having meals at their restaurant or a leisurely walk by the sea shore can consume half of your body’s energy in going up and down that steep slope. It was literally one hell of a climb. But we would still recommend the resort despite what is lacking. It can offer you the purest, one-of-a-kind relaxation away from the prying eyes of the stranger and the temptations of technology.

Plus food is great with generous servings.

Perhaps the only regret we had during this trip was our failure to try their Kawa Bath which we failed to reserve a day earlier. Samboan had a rotational brown out the day after we checked in which affected their water supply the entire day. Had we informed the staff of our intention to try their Kawa Bath, they could have prepared the supplies needed before electricity was cut off at 8 in the morning. No water supply = No Kawa Bath. But all is well.

It was a dreamy celebration we didn’t think is possible at our very own hometown. If given another chance, we will be back in a heartbeat.

Movie dates, intimate romantic dinners, or simply spending the day together, what are your anniversary ideas? Do share.

Chillin’ and Food Trippin’ in Baguio City

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Blessed to have been to Baguio City, several times. As frequents thereof, it is now our normal routine to wait for the other shoe to drop then we are off to Baguio once again. Hashtag official business transaction a.k.a. working vacation 😉

But unlike the many trips we had in the past, in this instance we were impelled to spend the entire weekend seeing the city in a whole different perspective (which for us was a good thing, of course). Sauntering around the city not just once, or twice, or thrice, we know that we are past beyond the limits of being just mere tourists in a foreign land, we have already acquired some sense of familiarity with its terrain and gained insights of the people’s culture. So if there is another side of this lovable city that we are not really acquainted with, it is the life away from the hustle and bustle of the centre, the laid-back life of the countryside.

17 degrees. No sweat.

There are so many access roads that led straight to the Cordillera Region but the more convenient, practical and less expensive route for us Cebuanos is via Pampanga, cheaper fare, less passengers, win-win.

Armed with a sketchy plan and directive from the “boss”, we booked two airline tickets and flew to Clark, rode an Airport shuttle going to Dau Bus Terminal in Mabalacat, Pampanga then embarked into a 5-6 hours bus trip from Dau to Baguio City.

P-rsonal Notes

  • AirAsia provides cheaper fare most of the time
  • There is an 11 o’clock Genesis Bus that traverse Baguio City directly from Clark International Airport but if you are conscious of your time and absolutely dread waiting, better proceed to Dau Bus Terminal where buses plying the same route leave every hour
  • Airport shuttle costs Php100 per person
  • There are only two (2) bus stops during the entire trip and there are no portable toilets inside the Bus unlike the other Buses going to Laoag and Tuguegarao

If there is one thing I both love and hate in Baguio City is its cold weather. If the bus’ temperature from the inside suddenly drops without maxing out the overhead aircon’s capacity, then welcome to Baguio CIty. Unfortunately this time it was intensified by a low pressure area and an impending typhoon ravishing the country with heavy rains and a bit of thunderstorm.

The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay

With all the non-stop downpour that rendered most roads invisible, we came to a realization that we are indeed bound to spend all the nights of this trip in the Summer Capital of the Philippines. After hours of discussions and weighing the pros and cons of our options, we decided to book a room in one of the best looking hotels there is in the area, the Forest Lodge.

Though The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay is more or less 6km. away from the centre (checked google and it’s 5.8km from Baguio City Hall), we convinced ourselves that we had to make the most out of our time and lavish ourselves with luxury. Take note: “affordable luxury”.

What I love about the Forest Lodge is that it looks expensive, appears expensive, and caters to expensive palates but their superb service and splendid rooms are offered at a very reasonable price.

One room is complete with basic amenities including cable tv, telephone, toiletries, linens, bidet, YES BIDET and it has the best bar in the area I must say and dressing room. But what truly made our stay more enjoyable are the lovely staff who we commend their friendly attitude and excellent service, especially our room boy Mark.

To boot, the kind of peace and comfort the hotel provides is like no other. It provides solace from a fast paced life and a much needed escape from reality. This whole experience for us is undeniably our unexpected holiday while on duty.

Lobby

P-rsonal Notes:

  • Agoda provides cheaper rates all the time
  • The Forest Lodge rooms have bigger floor area than most of Baguio’s hotels, pension houses and transient homes
  • The Forest Lodge is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (P-Approved!)

Le Chef by Chef Billy King

We had to not miss the opportunity to try Chef Billy King’s creations in Le Chef located just inside the Forest Lodge. I’ve heard the name of Chef Billy King for so many times through our local tv channels and to be his customer, food critique and taste his food up close and personal is truly an honour. We tried his twist on the Filipino Pancit Canton and Chicken Yakitori. For dessert, we had Strawberry Flambé a La Mode and Belgian Chocolate Gateau. Taste, presentation, and service are absolutely amazing.

P-rsonal Notes

  • Le Chef is a fine dining restaurant
  • Slippers, shorts and other informal clothing are highly discouraged

Coffee Stains

Neatly tucked just beside the entrance of the hotel, there is a coffee shop that serves all its patrons Columbian Coffee 24/7. While they boast of the fact that their Columbian coffee beans were shipped all the way from Puerto Rico they likewise promote locally produced coffee beans which they heavily display on their countertops.

Though I honestly am not a fan of Columbian coffee’s overly bitter taste (based on my personal preference), but what I love most about this café is their cheesecake. They have the best tasting cheesecake we have ever tasted. Smooth, creamy, delighting, no-bake, perhaps, but only them knows.

Vizco’s

P-rsonal Note

• One should not leave Baguio without trying its famous Strawberry Shortcake.

And even if most of our time were spent inside the hotel, we knew all along that we could never miss a single opportunity to taste one of Baguio’s most favorite product once again.

There is a quaint little pastry shop in Session Road that offers this one-of-a-kind shortcake. Though this tasty treat became more appetizing because of that hunk of a man named Tony Labrusca and his beautiful on-screen ladylove Angel Aquino in the film “Glorious” (yup, Vizco’s Strawberry Shortcake already hit the big screen) but setting aside our prejudice courtesy of that manly physique of the lead actor, we must and we have to say that Vizco’s Strawberry Shortcake is the best strawberry shortcake in the history of Philippine Strawberry Shortcakes.

It has the right balance of everything, sweetness, acidity, creaminess and the right flavour from the fresh strawberries. It’s our nth time to devour an entire slice and our preference over that Strawberry Shortcake has not yet diminished. We 100% percent approve of it and we definitely agree that it suits any picky eaters and choosy tastebuds. In fact, a visit to Baguio is not complete without a bite of it. (Better taste Vizco’s to understand the whole point. Lol! 😅)

It was a rainy and foggy day everywhere in Baguio City during this visit. But working + (all expense paid) vacation and looots of delicious foods, we are in no position to complain. So what’s your working vacation story?