Hamilo Coast's Pico de Loro Cove: A Balance of Everything

While most of you are busy booking flight through  "Piso Seat Sale" to see and experience your dream destination at an affordable price, two hours away from the busy and crowded Metro Manila lays a beautiful, peaceful and maybe adventure-filled spot hiding behind the green slopes of Hamilo in Nasugbu, Batangas. And yes, you don't need a long weekend to enjoy the beauty that Hamilo Coast's Pico de Loro has to offer.

Passing through the nice and smooth CAVITEX, reaching the quiet and clean Hamilo Coast is so easy and surprisingly breathtaking. Famous for its well-preserved diverse marine life, Hamilo Coast is currently gaining popularity as a haven for fitness activities like triathlon. But of course I didn't went there to chase time, you know me. I went there to put my feet up and experience the talked about Pico de Loro luxury, only few people can really afford.

I must say, price-wise, staying here for a night is quiet expensive, most specially if you are not a member of its Beach or Country Club. But knowing that  we now have  a chance to see and feel the place, I guess price doesn't really matter at all - most specially if you are staying at their Pico Sands Hotel.

Cintai Corito's Garden: Balinese Escape at Balete, Batangas

Flowers are in bloom, pastures are green as ever, different species of birds chirping and clucking and trees swaying along the refreshing breeze brought by the nearby Taal Lake – it feels like I am dreaming my great Bali dream, but actually, I am not. Everything was real and the only thing I was asked to do is savor every minute of my stay at Balete, Batangas' Cintai Corito's Garden.

If you Google the word “Cintai” (pronounced as Chin-tai), you'll see how this word is related to romance, passion and love. In Indonesia, where this place got its inspiration, Cintai simply means love. A place that is actually made out of love – the love of the children to their mother and the love of a husband to his wife – Cintai Corito’s Garden is overflowing with love that is set to captivate every guest’s heart, soul and mind.

When I visited the place with some friends a few days back, we were surprised to see such beauty exists just around 2 hours away from Metro Manila. Specifically located at Sitio Pandayan, Malabanan Balete, Batangas, Cintai Corito's Garden is currently managed by Paramount Property Management Company, the same group that handles Microtel Philippines.

DIY Glamping with Coleman Philippines

Believe it or not, I cannot remember when was the last time I camped out. Since I'm not that good in setting up tents and I find it inconvenient too, since most of "camping" trips mean no toilets and bathrooms, I'm honestly saying that it is one of my least favorite thing to do outdoors. But last week, when I finally said yes to Coleman Philippines' invitation to try out "glamping" trip - glamorous camping, as they say it - my perception towards camping has changed, hence I can't wait for my next "glamping" with them!

If you think glamping is camping with different spelling only, you are so wrong! Because with "glamping", Coleman proved that we don't have to give up our familiar conveniences just for the sake of enjoying the outdoors; Coleman proved that we don't have to spend so much energy and time in setting up tents; and lastly, Coleman proved nothing beats a "real" human interaction than spending a day or two with your love ones in a cozy and fun tents using friendly and easy-to-carry Coleman products.

Last week, at Pico de Loro, Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas, Coleman Philippines marked the start of a fun and rekindling summer with the launch of their latest products ready to cater the "Glamping "trend in this side of the world. Categorized into three "Glamping" related outdoors themes, Coleman Philippines put us all in excitement mode as they started presenting these colorful and inviting "glamping" setups, I bet you all will love!

Poinsettia Hunting in Tagaytay City

When I visited Tagaytay some few weeks ago, aside from my goal of having a relaxing weekend there, another goal that I have in mind on my visit there is to bring Christmas to our home. It was 30 dasy til Christmas then, and  what better way to greet the upcoming Yuletide season than to bring Christmas at home!

Reaching the Rotunda or the Olivarez Circle in Tagaytay City is so easy. It is the most widely used thoroughfare in reaching the remaining municipalities of Cavite and the rest of Batangas. And though it is always traffic in this part of the province, there are really a lot of things to do, and I'm sure that you'll have a great time dining, shopping and having fun here.

Aside from the salivating line of well-known restaurants in the area, Olaivarez also holds the public transportation terminal that may take you to Tagaytay's top tourist spots, like the People's Park and the Picnic Grove.  You may opt to take a tricycle which will cost around Php60.00 to Php80.00 per ride, or a jeepney, which cost Php11.00 per ride, per person.

That weekend, I paid a visit to one of its most relaxing hotel, the CrossWinds Resort Suites. And since the whole experience there was so Christmas-y, one thing that pops into my mind when we went out to buy pasalubongs are Poinsettia.

We had fun in Balayan!

This may not be that typical festival where the streets are filled with beautifully dressed people dancing through the drum beats. This may not be that typical festival where roads are closed because gigantic floats are passing by the streets. And this may not be that typical festival where people are soaked in sweat to see their favorite artists joining the fun. But despite of all of that Balayan, Batangas Festival is one festival that I'm sure you'd love to experience because it'll not juts fill you tummies with delectable lechons, but it will also soaked you in watery fun through their annual "Parada ng Lechon."

Celebrated every 24th of June, Balayan, Batangas, another province in the Philippines that's famous when it comes to lechon or roasted pig, held their yearly "Parada ng Lechon" or Roasted Pig Parade in celebration of the town's fiesta. And alongside this delectable and truly mouthwatering parade was a pure squelchy fun splash of excitement as they give thanks to one of the town's patron saint St. John the Baptist.

This is my first time to witness this festival, and even though I have this little point of comparison, since I've been to La Laoma, Quezon City's Lechon Festival and San Juan City's San Juan Day, I know that this is gonna be special because I'm with my favorite officemates, Rio and Danica a.k.a Puka Girls. Hehe.

My Taal Lake Yacht Club Experience

A 20-minute ride from Tagaytay City and I found myself in a place that I would love to visit all over again. This was my first time to be here, and to be honest, I didn't expect that such place exist. The inviting whisper of the wind, the exciting sway of Taal Lake's water and the very attractive view of Taal Volcano, for me, Taal Lake Yacht Club (TLYC) is a must-visit place here in our country!

Located at Talisay, Batangas, TLYC perfect for water adventures like sailing, hobie racing, wind surfing, rowing and kayaking, this place also offers hiking or nature trails at Taal Volcano at a very reasonable price that you will enjoy.