Here we go again, rain or shine… we love to go to the beach! hahaha as if there are other things to do than beach hopping in the island of Virac, Catanduanes, Philippines. Eating? surfing? bonding? drinking? We can all do that in the beach!
From our house, it took only about 40 minutes ride by car or motorbike to reach the place (barrio Igang). The entrance fee were counted per person, the cottage was rented by day and my nephew rented a small bungalow (air-conditioned) to stay overnight. Swimming pool is also available but with extra charge.
Grilled pork chop! Hmmm forget about diet, this is so yummy 🙂
The sun was still up when we arrived but after an hour or so, the rain started and I was not able to take a good picture of the place. I don’t have protection for my camera lens which gave me an excused… to enjoy the scenery and ate with gusto 🙂
No one was interested to do Zip-line or even rock climbing.
Thinking of diving?
Oh! no..no..no mat-mat was scared but enjoyed the quick splashed at the end.
Canoe? Kayak? whatever it was… father and daughter enjoyed the short ride!
A wacky shot for all !
Twin rock? small and big,maybe? Till we meet again, hopefully the weather will be so nice on us 🙂
Working outside the Philippines has a trade-off and one of those.. is seeing my parents only once a year. This year, I have time to bond with my mom (my dad had a mild stroke and can not travel anymore).
A week before I went back to Jeddah, I asked my mom:
Me: mama would you like to come with me to Manila?
Mama: eh paano ang papa mo, sinung mag -aalaga? (what about your dad? who will take care of him?)her eyes twinkling and there was a faint smile at the corner of her lips, meaning she wanted to come but can’t leave without my dad.
Me and my siblings: don’t worry ma, all your grandchildren can take care of dad .
Mama: what about coming back, I can’t travel alone?
Me: ma, i will let the stewardess take care of you!
her smile widened and wallah! off to Manila.
bound for manila
inside the plane with my mom and nephew aron
always a beauty
so happy to be with you
touchdown manila
with mom and bro kelly and nephew aron
my mom and nephew
I was so excited to bond with my mom but let me tell you a secret: I have six brothers and I am the only daughter, I guess you are thinking hmmm spoiled? nope! I am not, was not and will never be! My father is a strict disciplinarian but I am closer to him than my mom.When I was in high school, I was always voted as muse or oftentimes as a beauty contestant. I never heard my mom says: “My daughter is beautiful”. She even said: kuh bakit ba ikaw ang napipili palagi eh marami naman diyan maganda! sabay kurot! (oh! why always you? there’s a lot of beautiful girls around?)and she pinched my side tenderly. When I say, I love you ma, she never reply ” I love you too my only daughter. In short, my mom is minimalist in words of affection.
I was determined to give her the best of times, I made sure the hotel we checked- in was near the shopping mall, who doesn’t love shopping? We all do!! 🙂
The Heritage hotel is near Mall of Asia
Mama: ang ganda naman rito, magkano ba ang one night? (it’s nice here, how much per night?)
Me: enjoy ka lang ma, wag mong isipin kung magkano. (just enjoy ma, don’t think how much)
We had breakfast buffet every morning and my mom said: Ang dami- dami naman pagkain, ang hirap pumili, buti pa sa chowking. ( there’s so much food, difficult to choose, it’s better in chowking!)
Chowking , a Chinese -Filipino fast food restaurant that serves Chicken Lauriat meal (fried chicken,noodles,rice,pork siomai,butchi and chipcharap) in one order and cost less than a hundred pesos (less than USD 2.00). While buffet in hotel cost a thousand pesos per head (22.00USD) and more.
so tired but i felt her happiness
We visited her only brother whom she didn’t see for many years and this was like” mission accomplished” for me, it was like seeing a reality show, the emotions was high and I couldn’t control my tears.
It was holy week and mostly of the shops were closed but we manage to went around and dined with other family members.
TGIF! and again my mom said: buti pa sa Chowking! (it’s better in chowking) hahaha if only Kris Aquino (chowking endorser) can hear this, mom will be the best endorser!
I took her to David’s Salon ( a popular and expensive salon in Mall of Asia). She did her hair and nails. After I paid and she knew how expensive it was, she said, it was better in Virac (our province of Catanduanes) a lot cheaper and they cut hair better than here. 🙂
I gave her money for shopping so she can get what she wants but every time she looks at the tag price, she would abandon it … mom: ang mahal naman! (so expensive!)
Manila bay sunset
It was a long day for both of us, I was tired carrying the shopping bags and I couldn’t get more pictures anymore but..guess what? My mom did not forget to mentioned” let’s eat in chowking!”
So we did! (no photos, tired of going around) 🙂
Mama, I know you enjoyed your trip and chowking 🙂 and even though you don’t say it, I always feel you love me too as much as you love my brothers, Even though we have different taste in clothes, food and lifestyles, I know you had fun bonding with me. I will always look forward to spend time with you and papa.
To reach the province of Virac, Catanduanes,it’s a choice of either air or land/sea transportation. The plane usually takes less than an hour from Manila via Cebu Pacific. By land, it takes about 10-12 hours and another 3 – 3 1/2 hours in a ferry boat depending where it dock at the port of Virac or port of Calolbon.
drying rice on the road is a usual sight during harvest season
While waiting for my brother to arrive at the port of Calolbon, we decided to visit Batong Paluway.
batong paluway church
Batong Paluway is a “mysterious miracle stone” bearing the image of Immaculate Virgin Mary. It was told that the previous size of the stone is 3/4 cm x 1cm and grew to 6cm x8cm. On Good Friday of Holy week,the youth usually organised “alay lakad” as an offer of sacrifice, the walk starts from Virac town proper to Calolbon where the Batong Paluway Church is located.
the image grew bigger and clearer as the years passes by
A candle light and prayer offering can be seen at the sides of the church.
After two days trip from Saudi Arabia to Manila, Philippines to the island of Virac, Catanduanes, we decided to chilled out the afternoon at the white beach of Mamangal Beach resort.
the afternoon was breezy, there was a little shower of rain, but the kids and young adult enjoyed the short trip. The pictures were taken by my niece and nephew. Where was I ? sleeping Zzzzzz!
My ideal man…best husband,best father,good provider,a man of few words, strict disciplinarian,best grandfather, super handsome and a lot more! Happy Happy birthday. We wish you good health, WE love you so much!
A week or two before his birthday, my father had suffered a mild stroke. I immediately decided to visit him. Before the announcement of an outbreak of MERS in Saudi Arabia, I already purchased an economy ticket going to Philippines via Etihad Airways.
MERS – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is a viral respiratory illness caused by Coronavirus. It was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia.It has been said that it likely came from animal sources like camel in Qatar and a bat in Saudi Arabia.It can be spread from one infected person to another person.
April 7, 2014 my flight From Jeddah to Abu Dhabi (Economy Class) and From Abu Dhabi to Manila (Business Class). For all OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) who have had experienced travelling in economy class, with different nationalities, different cultures, different hygiene practice…people who spit in public, sneeze /cough with gusto without covering their mouth without even considering they can spread the microbes (bacteria) to other people, this in particular is the menace of travelling.
To make the story short, I had the chance to experience travelling in business class when they offered me(via e-mail) to bid on the seat. It was a relief not to hassle, to wait in VIP lounge, a choice of complimentary delectable cuisine and even a free 15 minutes massage is available.
6 ft 1 inch Flat bed
I apologize for the not so clear pictures but one thing I can surely say, the pictures in their websites and its functions are all true.
the seat
massage and recline buttons
foot rest, privacy shell, comforter
15 inch screen
mood lighting
I had the same opportunity in coming back, scared of the MERS cases escalating in Saudi Arabia,I braced myself of some precautions because I was already feeling tired from travelling, my body were aching and just to have a comfortable flight will add some relaxation and will at least minimise my contacts to other passengers.
individual bag compartment
noise cancelling headphone
individual utility bag
my selfie shot
vip lounge
So after 12 hours and the plane had touchdown in Jeddah,Saudi Arabia, I noticed redness and warmness in my face and neck. I also have difficulty of swallowing due to sore throat. After I reached home, I immediately freshened and concluded that I might be having allergy so I took antihistamine tablet. I felt asleep for maybe an hour and when I woke up, the redness and swelling were more than usual, my eyes were puffy and half closed. I went to Emergency room(ER) , history was taken while taking the vital signs and Allerfin intramuscular injection STAT!
no diarrhoea, no difficulty of breathing and slightly elevated body temperature (37.9 C) definitely no MERS!!
I went home but after 12 hours I am back again in the ER, this time my whole body, extremities were all red, my face and neck were more swollen and red, so another injection was given, CBC (complete blood count) and antibiotic treatment was started right away.
After 4 days, the rashes and swelling started to disappear, my sore throat is less and I started to enjoy my meal. The CBC result is with in normal limits and I am back to work. 🙂
Thank you Lord, it wasn’t MERS!
Did the business class seat helps? I guess it minimises the contact to other passengers, did I mentioned Sarah Geronimo (popular Filipina singer) and her mother was a just a seat away? 🙂 If I was in the economy seat, with my low resistance to infection, it might have been worse.
Overall, the upgraded seat, the additional cost is worth having. Thank you Etihad Airways!
Oh well, instead of starting off with a title of ” home-baked cheesecake challenge”, I rather share to you my afternoon with my friends and of course, what else did I prepare? Cheesecakes!
Flavour no. 23 Lemon Cheesecake
Lemon Cheesecake
Made of Kiri Cheese and real lemon puree. Not so sweet not so sour, just right and a favourite of all the cheesecakes I did for the afternoon.
Cheesecake no. 24 Double Chocolate Cheesecake
Double chocolate cheesecake
This is a combination of milk and white chocolate with pistachio and almond meal as crust. Not much of a surprise though, we all know we love chocolates!
Cheesecake no. 25 Mini Pistachio Chocolate Cheesecake
Pistachio Chocolate Cheesecake
A combination of pistachio and chocolate cheesecake, I also used Kiri Cheesecake, cocoa powder and dipped it into melted dark chocolate. Hmmm so forbidden for those who are on diet 🙂
We were so excited to taste all what’s on the table including my Rose tea concoction and our pictures were not really in focused plus our photographer forgot his reading glass hahaha, anyhow we enjoyed the afternoon as much as our tummies did! All my friends survived with the cheesecakes torture and I just hope the next time, they won’t make any excuses to come and taste my cheesecakes try outs! hahaha Feels good to have friends like you, Thank you ladies and gentlemen.
Cheers,
Jamilamimi
PS.
25 cheesecakes in two months, another 25 coming, oh, i need suggestions pls!!!
Dr. Myriam- The Dental Aesthetic Clinic 
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