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My family counts ourselves happy that the place we stay is quite near B Mansion, an affordable yet comfortable Hotel and Resort in Makati.

Whenever we have relatives from abroad who would visit, we almost always refer them to B Mansion. From its brochure, I also noted that OFWs are its primary target market. That is why the place is usually available on pre-reservation basis rather than walk ins. When my sister and her family had a renovation done to their place, we also had them stay temporarily at the B Mansion. We’re such a familiar face especially because we let our son  swim there about twice a week this summer.

The nice thing about B Mansion is that it maintains a homey atmosphere in terms of how they treat you from the time you check in, the way they serve your breakfast till your check out. This is something you don’t easily get from other similar hotels and resorts nearby. The staff is friendly and they make you feel a VIP whenever you’re there, just as our experience has always been with Ms. Beth de Leon and Mr. Boy Ibaňez among others.

B stands for “Baluyot,” a family who is famous for their political, business and medical affiliations in Makati City.

Some places draw special memories. L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines is one example. It was in this hotel when I met my future in-laws in 2001 as they are also based in Negros Occidental. Although I came from the same province, I’ve been based in Manila since College. This is why Kit and I used to have a long-distance relationship because he used to work in this province back then.

I still remember how we met. I was actually on fieldwork in Bacolod. In between the job, Kit suggested that it was time to meet his parents, sister and other relatives. They were the one who fetch me from the airport and took me to the hotel. We then had lunch but  my in-laws left dinnertime for me and Kit alone. That’s how understanding they are. 
Fast forward to the present, I still smile whenever I happen to bump into this hotel whether actual or through the internet. It will always be special to me.

I remember when I was in 4^th grade wayback in 1984, Rizal Park in Luneta, Metro Manila was the favorite spot to visit by families. I was living in the province then and only visiting my aunt every summer and school break.  I will never forget the first time my uncles brought me to the Filipinos’ favorite spot, the former “The Park” was also called Bagumbayan (English: New Town). But since the Philippines was under the Spanish rule, it later came to be known as Luneta.

Hope most of the Filipinos will remember the significant moments in Philippine history. This is where our national Hero Dr. José Rizal was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896.

That was my first and last visit to Rizal Park but I have passed by it for once in a while but never had a chance to really spend time to look around by now. I remember the monument of Dr. Rizal was guarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by ceremonial soldiers, known as Kabalyeros de Rizal where his poem, “Mi Ultimo Adios” (”My Last Farewell”) is inscribed on the memorial plaque. There was a big Clock there in the garden I don’t know if it is still there until now. There were also orchestras playing there on Sunday afternoons and I remember it was also shown on local government TV then.

So every time I pass by there and see some foreigners having their pictures taken and you will see the gladness on their faces where they visited one of the famous places in the Philippines, it makes me wonder if we Filipinos are still putting the same importance to the place.

I feel guilty that I always turn my wife down whenever she asks me to have our family day in Luneta. Maybe this is the right time to have a reunion again with Rizal Park after for almost 24 years.

(Arial BW Photo above was taken in the year 1920 from Skyscraper Forum)
(Middle Photo - Original Rizal Monument 1920)

One weekend, my family and I thought of having lunch at the Fisherman’s Village Restaurant located in Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park, Cavite Philippines. The restaurant allowed us to dine in the midst of the lake surrounding the area. The view enabled us to appreciate the Pinoy dishes that we had.

However, what motivated me personally to come all the way to this resort is because of its Animal Island Wildlife or facility. We went here right after lunch. It’s the first time Kyle was able to be in a zoo where he saw real animals like tiger, crocodile, monkey, ostrich and many others that he’d usually read about in kiddie books. It made one lunchtime special.

Weeks after, I saw Gilbert Remulla on TV promoting the resort. The owner and General Manager of the resort gave a history of Island Cove. When he said this used to be called Covelandia, I was mighty shocked to find that this used to be my own family’s favorite resort when I was around 5 years old! I’m happy to know that Covelandia still exists today, only with a new name.

Two years ago, my brother-in-law invited us to go swimming in Puerto Galera. That was my first time to visit the island.

Its really fun remembering the chicken “inasal” and beef barbeque I cooked. The aroma attracted some foreigners and one of them dared to approach us because he really wanted to try how delicious was the smell from the smoke coming from where I cook.

To those of you who has not been to Puerto Galera yet, it is a Y-shaped island located in the northern shores of Mindoro Island some 130 km south of Manila and 14 nautical miles from Batangas City. It is bounded on the north by Verde Island Passage, on the south by the Municipality of San Teodoro (Oriental Mindoro), and on the west by the Municipality of Abra de Ilog (Occidental Mindoro). It has total area of 254.47 sqm., divided into twelve coastal barangays and one mountain barangay. Administratively, it belongs to the province of Oriental Mindoro.

coast is 42 km. long, consisting of irregular shorelines rimmed with dazzling white beaches, coconut plantations, and delightful scenery. At the eastern side of the coast, crescents of white beaches are interspersed with limestone cliffs and escarpments that are penetrated by inland bays and coves. These numerous coves and water channels support a rich marine life, forming “non-reef coral communities”. Whereas, its tube-like harbor with two natural entrances provide home to dozens of ships seeking safe anchorage.

Unfortunately, the only way to reach Puerto Galera is still via land-sea from Manila to Batangas to either Puerto Galera or Calapan City. The land-trip takes about 2 to 3 hours while the sea-trip from 1.5 to 2 hours.

At the Batangas City pier, there is a wide selection of ferries going to Puerto Galera, depending on which port guests intend to enter. There are three main entry points to Puerto Galera by way of its port facilities: Muelle Pier, Balatero Pier, and Sabang Beach.

Wish we could visit this island again and hopefully the Depatment of Tourism can do some development on the island as well as its government agency that manages the Batangas City port so that it will attract more tourists to keep coming back.

As I was searching for some old pictures sent to me by my friend Matt for our future gallery portion of our batch website, I saw this old picture of me with my two classmates in Nursing at the Colegio de San Agustin - Bacolod standing along the entrance of a resthouse. I remember it was taken more that 10 years ago. If I am not mistaken it was taken around 1994 during one of our outings in one of the pride destinations which is the Mambukal Mountain resort in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia Negros Occidental, Philippines.

It was not yet fully developed at that time. The pools were already constructed but some of the cottages were not yet properly taken cared off. Unlike today after visiting my friend, a former school mate in CSA-B who is presently working in the tourism department of the province shared about the latest developments on the resort.

The site is also where my former boss and former Mayor of Sagay City, Negros Occidental gave an award as he named the city one on the cleanest cities of the province and even in the region. He is Joseph Maranon, now governor of Negros Occidental. But sadly I received an information that he passed away just a week ago. My deepest sympathy and prayers to the family of my former boss. He was the one who gave me an opportunity to serve in the local government of my “kababayan” in Sagay City.  He served the province for almost 7 years in his 3 terms of office.

Mambukal is once again and now Negros Occidental’s premier resort and tourist

destination. The improvement of Mambukal continues with the inauguration of the 300-person capacity convention center and the operation of the newly renovated Ishiwata Bath House.

Mambukal Resort lies 1,200 feet above sea level and serves as a gateway to the Mt. Kanlaon Volcano. It was originally developed by a Japanese architect named Ishiwata in 1927, 23.6 hectares resort started as a bath house and picnic garden before.and the favorite place of mostly  Negrenses. A big mountain stream, fed by several tributaries, descends in a series of seven falls and cuts through the center of theresort, feeding the swimming pools and boating lagoon.

Aside from its warm dipping pool  also boasts a number of hot sulfur springs

Its slopes and dips house interesting rock formations and lush forests of tropical and semi-tropical trees as well as a variety of pines, ferns and orchids that thrive on its cool climate and rich soil, known as Mambukal clay.

Mambukal resort provides strategically located viewing decks or, for more intimate encounters with nature, the Canopy Walk, with its hanging bridges. Or try yourself their Rock Climbing Wall or the Slide for Life. With those old rest house before now the resort has a Tourist Lodge which offers standard rooms and suites. There are single airconditioned cottages or camp sites to choose from as well as picnic sheds for day visitors.

Mambukal has a conference room and various function rooms available for business meetings and functions. The resort’s regular programs and special events such as bat, bird and firefly watching and the annual Mudpack Festival are fast becoming a rave among artists and tourists from all over the world.

With the help and support of the Department of Tourism, it is no wonder that Mambukal resort will not only be know in Negros but in the whole country and maybe the world.

Dreaming of Boracay? If you really want to feel the beauty of Boracay and yet your budget is preventing you from making it come true, did you know that you could be there even if you don’t have that much resources? There are a number of cheap places to stay and eat in the island.

It’s really fun if you will visit Boracay during summer time and Lenten season and other holidays. There a lots of events happening in the island during this peak season. It depends on you if you really want a non stop party in the island but it will cost you a lot. It’s hard to find a cheap resort, hotels and other resorts in this period of time. It’s also hard to have better accommodation if you happen to miss making reservations early.

So if your purpose is only to visit and feel the island’s atmosphere even with limited budget, visit during off peak season. This means from the month of June to first week of December. Better if you have friends in the island so you have someone to find you some good and better place to stay which is not so expensive. This is better than depending on what travel agencies offer. Do not stay in the beach front hotels and resorts. While the view is better, they are so expensive. Anyway you will not be using your room that much since all the time you’ll be on the beach. If you’re staying there for three days and two nights, you will need your room in changing attire and some personal use but other than that… oh well except if it is your honeymoon.

Maybe until 2-3am then that’s the only time you will use your room.just  to sleep. But if you’re single and have found someone in the island to spend your night outside or someone’s room. You have to be early in the next day if you want to have an island hopping and snorkeling because boats for island hopping usually embarked at 9:00 -10:00 am. Otherwise you will pay for a private pump boat and only few of you are the passengers. Then after that you will be back at maybe 2:00 - 3:00 pm.. Then that’s the time you will use your room again if you want to have some rest to prepare your self for all night long party again or dates. Because the following day you will have to prepare your things to catch up for your flight back.

I will tell you a story of what I have experienced in Boracay before so that you have an idea on what to do in case you will really try to be in that beautiful island in the Philippines and one of the beautiful islands in the world.

Let me share my experience on our first day and time we arrived in the island after putting all our things in our room. We then went outside to have lunch. We spent our time touring around the island. After that we did some walking along the beach (we’re the types who don’t want to go swimming till sundown, then have your dinner and spend all night long around live bands and some party along the beach).

I have acquired a cheap but beautiful, safe and cozy nipa hut or “Bahay Kubo’ type of cottage. Imagine that time it only costed us P750 for four of us because that’s the only cottage available where in the next day we only pay 500 for the two of us. But it’s a nice, beautiful clean duplex type of cottage with electric fan, a queen bed, shower and a balcony. It’s just a small walk maybe 100 meters from the beach front. I just forgot the name of that resort. But it’s nice.

A month before our planned date, I had a chat with someone in the internet. Someone that lives or works in the island. We became friends and she’s the one who gave us the idea on where to stay depending on our budget. We only spent P6,000 for that three-day-two-night stay which it will now cost you P10,000 -12,000 from travel agencies as we have consulted last month ago. This amount comes only with plane tickets, boat transfer and hotel room accommodation, without food and other expenses per head. Normally with this maybe you will have to prepare P15,000-20,000 per head.

Unforgettable trip in an unforgettable island. The only thing I forgot is the name of that beautiful girl who helped us find cheap accommodation.