August 27, 2014

Bulaklak Beach, Pinamalayan

I want to return to that very moment where it all started. Sit by the shore, and think of how a small gesture could change everything. It must be true that the only way to find true happiness is to first let go of fear. Because fear is a big hindrance to infinite possibilities.














I love this place. It is not pretentious. There really are flowers growing in the beach.

Bulaklak Beach Resort
Brgy. Pili, Pinamalayan
Oriental Mindoro
Tel. No.: 0917-8685722

August 4, 2014

Café by the Ruins

Love bread and breakfast? Then visit the famed and charming Café by the Ruins, an appetizing landmark right at the heart of Baguio City.

The Café was originally a garden theater which was later converted into a home of Phelps Whitmarsh, the first civil governor of Benguet. The house was built early in the last century and destroyed in World War II. The Café was constructed from the ruins left by the war.








Arabica coffee

Bacon and egg

Lemon ricotta with grilled chicken

Bistek with herbed butter

Suman at tsokolate

Assorted side fruits


According to the Philippines Lonely Planet Guide, the Café is “Baguio’s best loved restaurant.” I couldn’t agree more, as it offers for more than 20 years, a variety of tasty bread and hearty breakfast set, sufficient enough to nourish and equip one when going to war.

Cafe by the Ruins
#25 Shuntug Rd., Baguio City
Tel. No.: (074) 442-4010

July 30, 2014

Under the Tree Book Café

“May mga taong caring lang talaga. Wag mong bigyan ng meaning lahat ng bagay.” “Doon ka sa taong naa-appreciate ka, wag sa taong pinapaasa ka lang.” “Never assume unless stated.”

As I was reading these handwritten post-it-quotes on the wall of Under the Tree Book Cafe, I can somehow feel the pain and frustration of whoever wrote it. It made me smile. But the emotional torture of wanting something you could never have is just a phase in life people need to overcome. Because sometimes, no matter how many falling stars you wish upon, no matter how much of your heart you rip out and wear on your sleeve, it just won’t happen.


Okay, the drama stops here. Under the Tree Book Café is a cute and cheerful little coffee and book shop in Baguio. It may not be located directly under a tree but it has a decent mural of my favorite children’s book The Giving Tree.


The café is owned by a Korean missionary and caters mostly to Koreans. That’s why most of their books and magazines are in Korean. There are very few English bestsellers, though. I even saw The Kite Runner translated in Korean.








The café mainly offers drinks and desserts.

Calamansi juice

Korean bing-soo

Cream toast

I had fun reading the post-it-notes. Some were funny and artistic, while others were quite emotional.







For students and those looking for a laid-back place, the café would make a good tambayan to study or mag-emo mag-isa. Mag isip na hindi naman talaga masamang umasa. Yung nga lang masasaktan ka.

Under the Tree Book Café
#26 Baden Powell Inn
Gov. Pack Rd., Baguio City

July 29, 2014

The F1 Hotel Manila

Savor the taste of freedom.
Live like someone left the gate open.


It may sound like it was inspired from Formula 1 but F1 Hotel has nothing to do with the highest class of auto racing. As a trivia, FI is an abbreviation for “the first in the Fort”, being the first hotel established in the Fort area. For (the fast and) the curious, F1 Hotel is not just a perfect place to stay in BGC, it is also home of happy experiences.

Lobby area




Deluxe Room


The Spa

Gym


F1 All Day Cafe






Canary Lounge




The lap pool


But life isn’t happy all the time. Some finish lines appear earlier to some. And I just want to share this letter from Post Secret that I wish everybody has the courage to do so “Always tell them you love them. Because you never know when they’ll be gone. Forever.

F1 Hotel Manila
32nd  St., Bonifacio Global City
Taguig City
Tel. No.: 928-9888