#when to go in tagaytay during pandemic

[anewswire]

SG, Japan, HK top int’l travel destinations for Filipinos, says travel app Klook

  According to a consumer trends survey conducted by travel site Klook, Singapore (HG), Japan, and Hong Kong (HK) are the favored overseas destinations for Filipinos due to proximity and visa exemptions. Klook reported that compared to February 2019, app downloads were up 22% in February 2023. The fourth quarter of 2022 saw a 62% increase in bookings over the previous quarter. When compared to pre-pandemic levels, monthly reservations are expected to rise by 27% by the end of the year, according to Michelle Ho, general manager for Klook in the Philippines and Thailand. This growth will be driven by both domestic and international travel. At a conference on March 14, she stated, "Locally, the usual suspects like Manila Ocean Park, Sky Ranch Tagaytay, and Boracay packages would continue to push the development. In order to better digitalize local tourism and promote recovery, Klook also announced that it would be stepping up some of its more recent initiatives to focus on emerging locations in addition to well-known ones. Klook Pass is an all-in-one digital pass that bundles together activities like island hopping, spa appointments, and hotel stays for a price that is around 30 to 40% less than when bought separately. It was first introduced during the pandemic and is currently only accessible in Boracay and Cebu. Ms. Ho also stated that the platform intended to create more pass kinds, such as a family pass, a foodie pass, and a pass for visits outside of those two cities. She said that Klook currently offers access to 21 cities in the Philippines, up from less than 12 places before the pandemic. "There's a lot we can do with the technology, and we intend to ratchet it up for the year to come," she said. They intend to develop secondary destinations like La Union, Baguio, Batangas, Iloilo, and Bacolod rather than focusing heavily on excursions and attractions. The top destination at the time, according to Ms. Ho, was Boracay. However, she added, "because of the pandemic, we want to accelerate domestic travel through other destinations too." Back then, Ms. Ho said, "our mindset was going for destinations with potential for domestic and inbound travelers like Koreans and Chinese." The newest product from Klook, Klook Hotels, also includes hotel stays so that customers can conveniently reserve their rooms for a trip. Ulla Rosanne K. Sy, head of marketing at Klook Philippines, said that it will be followed by Klook Stay Plus, which will debut this year and allow hotel rooms to be combined with meals and activities. Ms. Sy stated, "We want to push this to complement our major business, which is tours and attractions. According to Klook's survey, 87% of Filipinos are keen to travel. According to platform statistics, domestic destination reservations increased by 87% in November 2022 compared to the same month in 2019. Also, respondents stated that they prefer lengthier holidays of approximately six to nine days when traveling abroad (44%). Three to five-day stays come next (40%), then stays lasting ten days or longer (38%), and finally stays lasting one to two days (15%). Ms. Ho attributed the willingness to travel more and for longer to the increased access Filipinos have to travelling. Since more people are becoming tech-literate, travel has become even more accessible to customers, and according to her, this digital change is significantly accelerating the expansion of tourism in the area.   Read the full article

[honestreviewsph]

HONEST REVIEWS PH: Not Sponsored, Uncut, Completely Damn Honest

Welcome to the blog! Hope you'll stay a while. HonestReviewsPH is my blog, going around and eating food and sharing honest opinions about it, from experience to taste to price point. This will also be my opinion and somewhat travel blog, discussing the lifestyle culture in dining and in some other experiences here in Luzon. (And hopefully the rest of the Philippines over time!)

I'm Phyx, the one writing this obligatory first-post. I'm a 22 year-old nonbinary, born and raised in the South area of NCR, willing to share and give my honest review. As a "Southie" (ew god i hate using this word), I've had the privilege to try some of the more upscale restaurants as the land is further developing in the now, giving more opportunities for bigger malls, more luxurious establishments, such and such.

From here on out, I hope to give people a choice and a chance to be able to enjoy food from the South while being able to know the quality, the worth, and properly plan out when to have unique dining experiences as much as possible when going around the South.

also i want to write my own reviews for restaurants i eat at and find out they're bad or whenever i read reviews of the restaurants i plan to eat at and find out they're endorsed. what's the big idea. what's the deal. why are philippine restaurant reviews almost always endorsed/sugarcoated. come on man. i don't want to be given high expectations anymore.

READ: HonestReviewsPH is NOT ENDORSED BY ANY CORPORATION, will never be, and will refuse any sponsorships from restaurants, catering services, the like. HonestReviewsPH is strictly an opinion-page, not meant for defamatory purposes, nor to disinform and misinform the public. What is written in this blog is based on experience and observation.

I will take requests if they're nearby! Send letters to my inbox letting me know what restaurants I should try next.

As of writing, I will be mass-posting about my past reviews in the last two months or so. I went around a lot during the holidays, and want to let people know how the food service industry is fairing after three years of the pandemic. Stay tuned for reviews on places in Baguio and Tagaytay soon!

[takeoffphilippines]

When to go in Tagaytay during this Pandemic?

Tagaytay is one of the nearest tourist destinations if you are from Metro Manila. The place is a spot for people who want to escape the city's heat and pollution. Tagaytay overlooks Taal Lake in Batangas and provides Taal Volcano Island views in the middle of the lake through various vantage points situated in the city. 

During the Philippine Revolution, the revolutionaries made Tagaytay a sanctuary for them. The passage to and from towns via Tagaytay added the word "mananagaytay" to the native's vocabulary. It means "to traverse ridges." On January 21, 1938, Rep. Justiniano Montano of Cavite passed the cityhood of Tagaytay. 

Tagaytay has a total land area of 66.1 km2 (26 sq mi), representing about 4.37% of the total area of the Province of Cavite. It lies within 120° 56' longitude and 14° 6' latitude and overlooks Manila Bay to the North, Taal Volcano and Lake to the south, and Laguna de Bay to the East. 

Tagaytay is a huge city, and there are many places to go to if you want to travel to this place. If you want to know what these places are, you can check this infographic from Staycation Tagaytay.

—

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[lettersfromthecatcave]

This is how I am in real life, but only when I am with the people closes to me. Very opposite to how I am in meetings I facilitate, lol.

We run 5K+, at 50+ elevation kasi inikot na naman namin yun paahon sa Nuvali na pa-Tagaytay na part. Taking it easy since the last time I ran, before my dental surgery, nag-black out ako. Hopefully, next week, we can increase the distance again.

We then ate. Been wanting to eat at Silantro, but we end our run and grocery shopping around 9:30AM, super hassle to wait until 11AM. I also got to get my cookie cravings~

We walked around too tapos ang sad na naka-Everything Must Go / Closing Sale ang Riyal Sporting House. Grabe talaha impactng pandemic. Kaya super grateful ako pa din... even when sometimes na ffrustrate ako kasi nga yun iba nakakabili properties or nafull time freelance during pandemic... I keep reminding myself gaano ako kaswerte.

P.S. J loves taking videos of me. Even when we travel, he always asks me to do the things I like to try (i.e. ride atop a jeepney, jump on a lake, take photos with strong waves coming). Then when I watch it, tawang tawa sya at tanda nya mga sinasabi ko lol.

[hashirun]

Going back to my roots

The pandemic has made me experience the reverse of what one calls an "uprooting" as I find myself in the process of settling down once again in my hometown.

I'd been living away from home ever since I started going to college, then later on, when I started working. I would go home during the weekends, but I never really stayed home for long periods of time. The longest I stayed home was during the first quarter of 2014 when I decided to quit my job to take a break from the rat race for 4 months. Then I found a job again, and it was back to the grind for me.

But last year, the pandemic forced me to go back home. At first I thought this was a temporary set up, but the longer I stayed, the more I thought about staying for good. I started getting involved in family projects, and last month, I started building what I can call my very own - a cafe which I hope to open to bikers passing through Silang and Tagaytay (I'm still not giving up on my dream library cafe though). I made up my mind that if our company calls us back to the office, I will resign and focus on running our family's private resort and my cafe.

It's funny because if not for the pandemic, I don't think I will have the guts nor the motivation to start my own business. I've always wanted to start my own business, but I was too scared to quit my job and gamble on something so uncertain. But this work from home setup is perfect for me, as I get to juggle my job and my projects.

My goal is for the businesses I'm managing to reach a point where I can comfortably quit my job without worrying about my next paycheck. Right now, it's my salary that funds my projects, so hopefully my projects will soon be able to fund me lol.

[purplesurveys]

1159

survey by -egocentricity-

Describe the last time you...

Went swimming: It was in Nasugbu with Angela, Sofie, and Gab nearly a couple of years ago. We wanted to go to a nearby beach before the semester started, so we planned the trip at the last minute and literally just right after we enrolled for our classes.

Went on a date: It was at BGC at this nice, romantic French restaurant. Then as we headed back to the car we spotted a jazz bar that had a live band performing, so we took a detour there to have drinks and nachos.

Were hurt by someone you love: My mom says a lot of hurtful things all the time I’ve stopped keeping track of them and letting them affect me too much, but I’m sure she’s done it recently.

Did something nice for yourself: I got myself a night lamp to improve the ambience in my room and make it feel even more homey. The lamp I had before it was just something I borrowed from my parents and it had white light, so it didn’t feel the most calming. The one I have right now emits this soft yellow shade that makes me feel infinitely more relaxed.

Did something nice for someone else: I ordered KFC at like 1 AM last Wednesday because I was feeling hungry and there was nothing at home that could meet my cravings, and aside from getting orders for my parents I also got a Zinger for my delivery driver as a way to thank him and lift his spirits for working that late into the night.

Were injured: I always sport some sort of scratch or gash somewhere on my body these days from playing with Cooper. This morning I got a new wound on one of my knuckles since he was pulling on his leash way too hard when I was walking him.

Went to the hospital: I had to take blood and urine tests last May to figure out what was wrong with me since I had been sick for a week by that point. That was also during the peak of the pandemic, so there was a lot of anxiety about me catching Covid. It turned out to be a UTI, and even though that technically sucks the whole family was relieved it wasn’t Covid.

Understood something that previously confused you: I had my dad explain to me how buying and bidding for houses works. Hahaha I am sooooo not equipped to be a fully-functioning adult.

Faked sick to get out of going to class: I don’t think I ever did this. If I had wanted to skip class, I just skipped it.

Hung out with your friends: I went to Perfy’s with 7 friends shortly before it shut down for good as a result of the pandemic. We had some beer and bar chow, and to be completely frank it felt quite nice to have that one night where things felt normal again, as ignorant as it was. We vaped until we were dizzy and some of them smoked too much that the smell ended up clinging to me and my clothes, but luckily I got home when my whole family was already in their rooms so no one was able to smell me.

Met someone new: There’s this girl who recently got onboarded to one of our client brands and we started working with her about a week or two ago. She’s honestly been a bit over the place, but I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt because she’s fairly new at a particularly hectic time in her workplace. My first impression of her was that she gave such a strong UP vibe so I looked her up on Facebook, and it turns out we went to the same college and the same high school.

Did something that you were afraid to do: A couple of months ago I had a one-on-one video call organized by the CEO of my employer so that she could get to know me better. She was super nice and listened attentively to my answers to all her questions, but it was easy to tell she wanted to see what I could bring to the table and how well I could mesh with the team especially since I’ve never met her and everyone else in person, so I made sure my social game was maxed out for those 15 minutes haha.

Did something you promised you would never do: I vaped literally half an hour ago. I never expected to form a habit out of it especially after being vehemently against any form of smoking for most of my life. Not particularly proud of it but then again I’m here for a good time and not a long time lmao.

Regretted something: Lazada had this huge app-wide sale last week and their Hydro Flasks were like ₱600 cheaper, but I didn’t buy it because I was feeling stingy that day haha. Now the products are back to their normal price and they’ll probably never get to be that cheap again :( There’s another sale happening tomorrow but the discounts aren’t as big, but I’ll probably place an order this time.

Went shopping: I went to H&M last January to get Andi a late Christmas present. I asked Leigh what they would appreciate as a gift, and she told me they’d wanted to start experimenting with feminine clothes so I got them a nice black skirt and this really elegant dress (that I honestly wanted for myself). I heard they cried once they opened the paper bag, and making people cry with the gifts you get them will always be one of the best feelings ever haha.

Asked someone out/were asked out: Idk, it was 5 years ago and nothing I want to remember anymore.

Broke up with someone: I’ve never broken up with someone.

Had someone break up with you: It was terrible and the stuff of all my nightmares combined, and it happened in the middle of an already-shitty month to boot so I had little hope for myself to come out of it alive. I had everything planned and ironed out and all that was left was for me to leave. 

It’s been 7 months and I’ve never felt emotionally and mentally better and healthier.

Were heartbroken: I follow this animal rescue NGO on Facebook and they regularly post about dogs who’ve lived through awful situations and need urgent care and forever homes to live in. Fortunately the page has a wide reach and regularly gets support, and I try to donate to their bank account as often as I can.

You were angry with someone: Haven’t directed my anger towards anyone in a while.

You felt "in love" with someone: It was during the time I was still reeling over the breakup and was caught in an endless loop of still being in love with them and forcing myself to finally detach.

You wanted something unrealistic: I was at the rooftop this morning and I could feel the temperature getting warmer every hour, and when I finally couldn’t tolerate the heat and was forced to go back indoors I felt super annoyed because all I want is to live somewhere with a chilly climate all-year round hahaha UGH

You made someone angry: It was when I spilled a tiny drop of soup onto the dining table and my mom had a complete meltdown about it. After 89457843957 years of her getting mad at First World Problems I wasn’t intimidated by her anymore, but it still irked me at how something so little can piss her off so I just decided not to speak a word for the rest of the night.

You made someone's day: I hope I made my delivery driver’s night when I got him his burger as a surprise. I hold so much respect and appreciation for them considering they’ve been working very hard to get people’s goods to their doorsteps in the midst of a global pandemic.

Tried something new: When I bought my lamp it was the first time I got something to decorate my room. I usually spend all my money on food, so that was a nice change to try out.

Tried your best: I always try my best at work and to make each day more improved than the last.

Didn't try at all: A couple of nights ago I asked my dad to light up my scented candle and he challenged me to try lighting up a matchstick by myself for once. I was all primed and ready to go, but backed out at the last second :(( I told him there was a big chance I could freak out, drop the lit matchstick. and set something in the dining room (where we were) on fire, and that’s when he gave up and just lit it up himself hahaha

Got nothing for your efforts: I’d gladly refer you to my big waste of a 6-year relationship.

Had a serious talk with someone: I always have deep conversations with Andi and they’ve been about various topics over the last few months.

Told someone how you really feel: It was when Bea scheduled a quick one-on-one catch-up call with me to check up on how I was doing with work and if I was doing okay with the everyday craziness of it all. But I didn’t say anything grave; I just told her I honestly like the work we do and that it’s nice that it keeps me excited everyday, so there’s little to complain about.

Hid what you felt from someone: One of my co-workers, Denise, is honestly a little challenging to work with. I always have to pick up after her and remind her of stuff we need to do together, and even Bea has let a few comments slide between us about how difficult she can be. But considering I’m a lot newer than her and we’ve never met each other I’ve stayed quiet for now.

Took something that didn't belong to you: I got the matchbox from my parents’ room to ask one of them to light up the aforementioned scented candle I have.

Borrowed something from someone: I borrowed one of my sister’s cords the other evening to charge my vape pen.

Lost a game: This was when my orgmates and I played a couple Jeopardy games over Zoom about a month ago and I lost to Robin.

Won a game: Not sure, I don’t really play a lot of games.

Told someone you love him/her: Jo, after she shared that she tested positive for Covid.

Went on vacation: It’s been a year and a half and the world has changed a lot since then, but my family and I went to Tagaytay and Cavite for a quick weekend getaway; it was Tagaytay on Saturday then we drove to another hotel in Cavite the next day. We played Heads Up, ate Jelly Belly jellybeans, had a lot of nice food, took some walks, but then I also had to work on a Powerpoint in between because I had a presentation that was due that Monday lol.

Went on a roadtrip: Last January we drove to Tagaytay (again) for my dad’s 50th birthday. Before heading to our accommodation we had brunch at La Creperie where we happened to be seated beside Larry Gadon – bleck – and his wife. Then we headed to the condo unit where we stayed the night at, ordered a samgyupsal set, and I watched GMM’s Let’s Talk About That into the night until I fell asleep.

Flew on a plane: That would be over two years ago and it was during our vacation to Bicol. That also marks the last time I ever spoke a word to my brother, because on our way home my family got into a heated argument and he ended up slapping me in the face. I don’t tolerate physical acts of violence, and especially not from someone younger than me, so I was more than glad to cut ties with him moving forward.

Were annoyed with a family member: My mom is politically incorrect 24/7, and it grinds my gears 24/7.

Took something too far: Idk, maybe cutting off ties with Gab. A part of me wanted to reconnect at some point, once I’ve healed; but I’ve reached a point in my life where that doesn’t seem so necessary anymore. Life just works funnily sometimes, I guess. I haven’t completely cut her off; we’re still mutuals on Twitter (though she also never uses it so it barely counts), and also still Facebook friends (though I’ve unfollowed her and I’ve also blacklisted her from seeing my posts – thank god for that feature), so now it’s really just a matter of pressing some buttons and finally disconnecting for good.

Gave up too soon: I wanted to learn riding a bike during the early days of the pandemic last year, but I gave up after like two days of being unsuccessful.

Listened to a band you had not heard before: I started exploring some of BTS’ music earlier this week after weeks of just knowing Dynamite.

Judged someone: Some of the bloggers that I regularly correspond with for work, and who’ve recently added me on Facebook, have opinions I don’t necessarily agree with.

Asked a "stupid question": I ask a lot of newbie questions at work that maybe some people would consider dumb, but I’d rather get answers to do my work correctly than take guesses and end up doing the wrong thing.

Got "a stupid answer": Not sure.

Took a picture of something/someone: I recently took a photo of my work desk setup so I could show off my new pretty lamp, hahaha.

Told a lie: I told my mom my Hydro Flask is still with Angela and that I should be getting it soon, but I really lost it a few years ago and would have to buy a new one.

Told the truth: Idk I tell the truth all the time.

[loissehilario]

A Glimpse of Nanay Corazon’s Life In A Pandemic

Nanay Corazon listening attentively while her son, Desi Dee, talks about celebrity gossips during the afternoon.

Being a woman in her 80’s does not stop Corazon G. Hilario on living her life to the fullest. She likes to travel, explore and try activities, and just live in the moment. But when the pandemic hit the Philippines, her life turned into a cycle, like there is a schedule that needs to be followed. This is a glimpse of Nanay Corazon’s day in the life. 

Nanay Corazon being injected by Apidra, a fast-acting insulin used to control high blood sugar by Cristina, her daughter-in-law at 8 in the morning.

Although her life does not sound interesting to some, I chose her as my subject for this photo essay. Nanay Corazon is my grandmother from my father’s side. My grandmother from my mother’s side died before I had the chance to meet her, so she is my one and only, literally. My siblings and I are very close to her, she is one of those people that really influenced me while growing up. Even though she does not have an interesting profession, an awesome life, or an influential person, I decided to pick her. I wanted to show people the view of being with my grandmother. I wanted to show a glimpse of what happens to an 81-year-old grandmother who has an 86-year-old husband, 5 kids, and 11 grandchildren. I wanted to tell her story.

Nanay Corazon readying to take Ketosteril, a medicine tablet that is commonly used as dietary supplements with kidney problems which is one out of her eleven medicines to take.

Nanay starts her day by getting pricked by a needle. Since she was hospitalized last year, our family took precautions on her health. Her food intake, medicines, blood sugar, and blood pressure are needed to be written down for her doctors to see every check-up. Every morning, Cristina, her daughter-in-law who is taking the role of her nurse, gets her blood sugar and blood pressure before breakfast. Today, her blood sugar was above normal, so she needed to be injected by Apidra, an insulin to control the blood sugar.

Crispy pandesal stuffed with coco jam held by Nanay Corazon for her breakfast.

After her morning check-up, Nanay proceeds on taking her breakfast. Since her food choices are limited, her breakfast is mainly pandesal with either coco jam or anchor as her palaman. Every morning, she needs to take 11 medicines. Most of the time, she eats breakfast in peace, just like today.

Every Tuesday and Friday, Nanay burns laurel, a bay leaf, that has her dreams and wishes written on it. Today, she performs this activity. Her dreams often have topics. Today, it is her dreams about her one and only daughter, Grace. Since the leaf is small, she needs 10-15 leaves. After writing, she burns all the leaves on a candle and compiles all the ashes. She puts all the ashes inside a tissue and lets someone discard it outside. For it to work, she says that it should be discarded while facing the sun. Sometimes, she is the one who throws it during her morning walk, but most of the time, she lets someone do it.

Nanay Corazon burning leaves of laurel, a bay leaf, which were written with her dreams, then compile the ashes inside a tissue, and throw them while facing the sun. She believes that this act will make her dreams come true.

To kill time before tanghalian, Nanay likes to watch Youtube. Her current favorite Youtuber is Mahal, a Filipino actress and entertainer. When I asked her why she likes her content, she said that it brings her joy. “Ayoko kasi ng mga nakakatakot, yung mga nakakagulat na palabas. Gusto ko yung masaya lang.” Her son, Desi Dee, likes to watch movies on Netflix which are mostly vampire and zombie movies. Since they live together, Nanay has no choice but to watch what her son watches even though most of the time, she hates this genre. Fun fact though, Nanay is a huge AlDub fan. When there is no new content from Mahal, she likes to watch clips or gossip about the love team, and everything related to Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza.

Just like her breakfast, her food during tanghalian is also limited. You often see her with the same meal every day. Today, her meal consists of daing na bangus paired with soup. During the afternoon, she needs to take three medicines and get her eye drops because she tends to have a red eye, just like Kaneki Ken from Tokyo Ghoul. She says it does not hurt though. Most of the time, she watches Eat Bulaga, a noontime show, while eating. Watching this show is a daily occurrence for her since she is a fan of Maine Mendoza. Her favorite segment is, “Bawal Judgmental”.

Nanay Corazon eating her meal for the afternoon which consists of: daing na bangus, one and a half cup of rice, soup, and three medicines.

Before going to bed for the afternoon, Nanay makes sure to do her business in the bathroom. Since she has trouble doing everything by herself, her son, Desi Dee, helps her when she goes into the bathroom. Today, she needed to wash her body to freshen up. She only washes her body 2-3 times a week. After that, she goes upstairs and kills time, again watching Mahal on her tablet.

Nanay always says she is not allowed to sleep during the afternoon. Whenever she sleeps, it affects the result of her blood sugar or blood pressure, so she tries not to sleep in the afternoon. Watching Youtube on the television keeps her awake till Cristina comes before the evening. Since Mahal is her favorite content creator now, she is indeed awake the whole afternoon.

After washing her body, Nanay Corazon goes to her room and watches her favorite vlogger, Mahal, in her tablet to kill time in the afternoon.

Cristina often goes every 5:30PM to conduct her “afternoon check-up” in Nanay. Just like what she did every morning, she gets the blood sugar and blood pressure of Nanay. They often talk to each other about everything, really. Their topics revolve on gossip, news, politics, and food. 

Killing time again before her evening meal, she watches Youtube. Sometimes, I do encourage her to watch other content. Nanay is also a fan of volleyball. Before discovering Mahal, she watched volleyball matches of different leagues from Premier Volleyball League (PVL) and UAAP. One time, I recommended to her a match between France and Brazil in Volleyball Nation’s League (VNL). She spent her whole afternoon watching matches in VNL and Olympics after that. Her favorite women volleyball player is Alyssa Valdez. She watches her live matches on television during her UAAP era, even when she graduated and played in other leagues.

Nanay Corazon getting her blood pressure and sugar by Cristina, her daughter-in-law, who will determine if she needs Apidra and her meal for the night.

For her evening meal, one food was added to the group. Chicharap, a food from Chowking, together with daing na bangus, and the same soup from the afternoon, was her meal for the night. Every night, she takes three medicines. She eats in her room every night since it takes too much of her strength to go downstairs. I observed that her meal consists of the same food throughout the day. I asked if she was getting tired on eating the same meal every day and she said, “Wala akong choice eh, kailangan ayan ang mga kainin ko. Marami kasi akong bawal kainin.” She spent the rest of the night watching Youtube till she felt sleepy.

Nanay Corazon sitting at her arinola, or chamber pots, while watching the television in the evening.

One of Nanay’s hobbies is gambling. She plays the card game which they call “kuwaho”. Before the pandemic, they gamble most of the time. When they are on a roll, it continues up to 2-3 days, none of them having any sleep. Nanay switches with whoever is available in the family though, since she is too old. Playing “kuwaho” is normal in the family, even us kids know it. They taught us how to play in case no one is available to play now, or someone has an emergency.

Nanay also likes to travel. She often goes to Tagaytay to buy and eat food with the family. Before eating though, we pray in the Pink Sisters Convent. Sometimes, I think the sisters know her already.

Nanay Corazon watching television while eating her meal that consists of: daing na bangus, one cup of rice, soup, chicharap, and 3 medicines for the evening.

These are the two hobbies entertaining her before the pandemic. When the COVID-19 started and she was hospitalized, things drastically changed. Everything is limited for her. She has this schedule that needs to be followed every day. She cannot do the things she loved before anymore.

Nanay Corazon is just one of the millions of lives that suddenly changed because of the pandemic. Although she has no choice but to stick to her daily routine and drink 17 tablets per day, she said that she is still thankful that she is alive and healthy at 81 years old. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon dahil wala na akong nararamdaman na sakit. Kahit ang dami kong iniinom na malalaking gamot, maigi na ito dahil para din naman sa akin.” 

[scrambledgegs]

Moving with Purpose, Making a Difference

Segment 2 of: “Moving with Purpose” amidst COVID-19 Series

To keep our sanity, it is important to see the beauty in the mundane, as now on our 6th month of lockdown in the Philippines, one can say that COVID-19 has permeated every aspect of our waking and subconscious lives. This pandemic is as gnarly as it gets, and it is tremendously easy to fall prey to despair and anger. One quick tune-in on the news or any social media platform is enough to do the trick. We yearn for normalcy or any semblance of it, especially when we Metro-Manila dwellers take a peek and compare what’s happening in other countries who have flattened the curve and have returned to normal living.

    Yes, truly, there are countless things to feel glum and anxious about, but if this pandemic has taught us anything – it is to keep fighting, and to make the most of what we can with the cards we are dealt with. We must not forget that extraordinary times require extraordinary mindsets – which must spillover into action.

    This too shall pass. However, at the same time, we all really have to do our part. The truth is, we cannot just hide away and passively wait things out. We have to keep hustling, keep adapting and keep evolving.

Everyday People of Diverse Industries

     Something that I’ve said since the beginning of ECQ in March 2020, is that we need not look far to witness heroism. They come in many forms, “the Hero with a thousand faces” (Joseph Campbell). Perhaps we can’t all be at the frontlines during this crisis, but it does not mean that we can’t create an impact within our own spheres of influence. Whatever we do, we must do purposefully, so that our seemingly small acts can create ripple effects, and so on, and so forth.

    Thus, in light of National Heroes’ Day, four days ago, it made me think about some admirable and genuine people of various backgrounds who have been making a difference in ways they know how and beyond – whether in their respective industries, chosen career or vocational paths, and/or at home with the family. Here are some highlights of their stories and excerpts of their lives which I believe, deserves introspection and celebration.

At the forefront of the fight: Dr. Jose Maria (“JM”) Villamor, M.D., Pediatric Anesthesiologist, Philippine General Hospital

    We always talk about the heroism in the face of surmountable struggles that our doctors and healthcare workers endure collectively as a whole, but it is also important to capture and document their individual stories, for there is much to say that is left unsaid.

      Among these medical frontliners is Dr. JM Villamor, an anesthesiologist at Philippine General Hospital (PGH). His main task is to provide anesthesia to all patients who must undergo surgeries or any medical procedure that involve pain or discomfort. For those who know JM personally, he is often described as kind and funny, but he is also a very intelligent, brave and collected person who unconsciously downplays his skills through humor. Nonetheless, this works well for him in his particular field in medicine because it enables him to focus on critical tasks at hand in the hospital, and when needed, able to diffuse tense situations.

    JM indeed faces a series of battles everyday. From his own experiences as an anesthesiologist in PGH, he saw how the hospital has gotten extremely busy and packed, as the number of people getting infected with COVID-19 piled up day after day. In fact, in the words of PGH’s Director, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, M.D. in an open letter, he writes, “communities and hospitals around us are being inundated with patients. The resulting panic and confusion was palpable and paralyzing.” Such that, PGH made the informed decision to step forward and offer their facilities and resources, making PGH one of the three COVID-19 Referral Centers in the country.

    Let us also not forget that PGH is a state-run hospital, and it primarily caters to indigent patients – those who cannot afford private hospitals. Thus, one can only imagine the multitudes of people who have flocked to PGH in desperation. We can deduce that JM, like the other doctors at PGH, have been exposed to the whole gamut of patients, of all kinds of diseases and infections, coming in and out of the hospital. Clearly, it is a job not for the faint of heart.

    At one point, JM himself contracted COVID-19, but fortunately, he was not severely hit. A man of strong resolve, he recovered quickly within a few weeks of self-imposed quarantine and isolation. After testing negative for the virus three consecutive times, he was back at the hospital doing his usual rounds, donned in his usual full PPE gear.

Where he draws his inspiration

    For JM, it is all in a day’s work. When he looks back at his early stages pursuing the medical field, he can’t recall anything or anyone specific that inspired him to choose this vocational path. All he knows is that since he was young, he simply wanted to be of help to other people, and thus, chose to be a doctor.

    In JM’s words, “Seeing everyone at work is very inspiring for me. These people go to work even with the constant fear of getting infected by COVID-19, but still go forward, in order to provide hospital care to all patients that come to the hospital. Most of them do not get to go home to see their families for weeks at a time.”

    JM himself had to make many sacrifices too. He was not able to see his wife and 1-year-old daughter for two and a half months during the start of the pandemic, as he too feared bringing the virus home and possibly infecting the family. To cap off his ongoing story, JM’s cautionary words are the same things that everyone has been harping: “Always wear your mask. Wash your hands. Stay home as much as possible.”

We heard it right here. This is definitely not a drill.

Role Model in Local Government: Jhana Corona-Villamor, Batangas Board Member

    Leadership through example, concrete action and sacrifice does not fall far in JM’s family, as his own wife, Board Member of the 3rd District of Batangas, (former Mayor of Tanauan, Batangas), Jhana Corona-Villamor espouses these very virtues as well. We all know what continues to be said about our government’s response to this pandemic, or lack thereof. However, we must remember not to jumble everyone together in one lot, as there remains, and there will always be, people who will prove us wrong otherwise. One of which is Jhana, a role model in local government.

    Like her medical frontliner husband, Jhana too is a frontliner herself. Lest we forget, LGUs and Provincial Governments play a very significant role in the fight against COVID-19. They must ensure that their constituents are abiding by, at the very least, the minimum health standards prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the national government. Such that, most cities and municipalities have utilized their calamity funds and realigned their development funds to counter the impact of the pandemic in their localities. Of course, implementation is easier said than done, but throwing in the towel has never been an option for Jhana.

    Jhana’s daily work regimen is likewise a hectic one. As a Provincial Board Member, she forms part of the province’s legislative body, tasked with enacting ordinances, approving resolutions and appropriating funds for the general welfare of the province. She is the chairperson of the Committee on Budget and Appropriation where its main task is to review the annual and supplemental budgets proposed by the Governor. Much of her time has been devoted to conducting public and committee hearings to make sure that each and every centavo is well-spent to address the needs of her constituents. Jhana’s committee is also responsible for the review of the appropriation ordinances of all 34 municipalities and cities in the province. Her work as a Board Member also involves coordination with city, municipal and barangay officials and visiting constituents for consultation.

Whom She Looks Up to     When asked whom inspired her to follow this career path, Jhana speaks of how her father was her main source of inspiration to enter public service. Growing up, she saw how he was able to help others, and she in turn, decided to choose this path because she also wanted to make a difference and be given the same opportunity to effect change in their community.

Resilience in 2020, beginning with Taal Volcano’s Eruption     To say the least, 2020 has been a terrible year for most of us. For the Philippines, the year began quite literally with bang, when Taal Volcano began erupting in January 2020. For those who had businesses and social plans that involved Batangas, Tagaytay and nearby areas, the eruption caused much disruptions and stress. However, for those who lived within the volcano’s immediate radius, it meant far worse – death, sickness, relocations, evacuations and a prolonged loss of livelihood. The economic impact was and continues to be great. In the spirit of resilience, affected business owners tried to shrug off these worries in hopes of making up for losses in the preceding months to come, and then COVID-19 happened. These back-to-back unforeseen and debilitating events has made recovery seem close to impossible.

     Indeed, for Jhana, 2020 has been a baptism of fire. Beginning in January, right off the bat after her happy Christmas holidays with the family, she was forced to immediately snap back to reality, as her world revolved around the survival, livelihood and welfare of her constituents in Batangas.

In Jhana’s words, “the past few months have been very challenging for most Batangueños. It started when Taal volcano erupted in January 2020, destroying livelihood and properties, leading to the forced evacuation of thousands and the declaration of a lockdown in 12 municipalities and cities in Batangas. These cities and municipalities still haven’t fully recovered from the eruption, and then to make matters worse, COVID-19 hit. Hundreds of families are still staying at evacuation facilities. These events highlighted the resilience of the Batangueños. Despite the repercussions of the Taal eruption and COVID-19, there are a lot of inspiring stories that make me feel hopeful and optimistic.”

    If there is anything that Jhana clings onto during these trying times, it is her faith, her empowered attitude and the support of her family that uplifts her, day in and day out. She remains strong, so that the many Batangueños who look up to her can also remain strong. She continues to hold out for everyone counting on her, including her beautiful baby daughter, Bella who takes after her mother.

Where Technology and Education Converge: Michelle Pastelero, Education Manager, IT Software/Cloud Services

    Something close to my heart as well, is the pandemic’s effect on the education sector, especially for young children. For instance, I have seen how my now, three-year-old daughter has grown in leaps in bounds when we enrolled her in a progressive ‘big preschool” called Bankstreet Summit School when she had just turned two last year. One year later, I can genuinely say that she learned so much in various aspects through schooling alongside other children, and I am all the more a believer of early childhood education. I have nothing but admiration and gratitude towards the very patient, caring and hardworking educators and staff. I can say without a doubt, that members of the education sector everywhere are truly heroes.

    It was painful to accept that physical and face-to-face- classes would not be possible when COVID-19 set in, but like other parents, I settled for the next most feasible and safest option for now, which is online classes or what is called distance learning via platforms like Zoom and Google Meet. Of course, I am not alone when I say that this is not the most optimal way to learn, especially for young children. The social benefits of traditional classroom-learning are immeasurable; however, this is what needs to be done, in order not to compromise health and safety.

    Just like adult Work From Home (WFH) situations however, children also experience the usual technical glitches and obstacles with these learning platforms. That said, it also makes me thankful for he people behind the scenes who do their best to assure smooth implementation of the current distance learning platforms.

    This is where people like Michelle come in; she represents innovation that bridges such gaps between distance learning and the reality of our country’s sub-par infrastructures. At a first glance, one would think that she stepped out of a high fashion magazine, with her modelesque beauty and physique. Yet, there is more that meet the eye when it comes to Michelle. A veteran in the IT industry and an advocate of education, she is currently an Education Manager for IT Software/Cloud Services for a leading global tech company. Her scope of tasks includes having to ensure that distance learning platforms here in the Philippines are running smoothly. This means making sure that their cloud services are running well, and that all students and teacher-users have access.

    Information Technology (IT) is among the industries which has certainly taken off, its growth catalyzed by the pandemic. As previously mentioned, Michelle talks about how schools far and wide, private and public alike, across all levels, have been forced to temporarily suspend physical classes; others, sadly, have permanently shut down. The words synchronous and asynchronous are terminologies often used to describe school curriculum these days.

    On the flip side, a bright spot that has come out of this is that, in Michelle’s words, “it has really pushed projects to happen sooner. For example, because education must continue online, internet connectivity in remote areas has become the main priority for continued education this year. In the last two to three months, digital transformation has finally begun, where it originally was pegged to happen in over a 10-year time frame.  Philippine education seems to have changed overnight, virtually. It has been a busy time, migrating printed curriculum e-books, training teachers how to be able to teach virtually, all of this to create a hybrid online learning platform where students nationwide can access education. Education ultimately, must be accessible, physically and financially for everyone.“

 The Road Towards Industry 4.0

    When asked what drew Michelle to the IT business, she talks about how she was working in IT since 2009 and witnessed firsthand how the industry drastically improved various businesses in a short period of time. She realized that IT was a good industry to be in, if one wanted to truly see change happen.  

 Education, Economy and Global Competitiveness

    Michelle also talks about a former mentor who saw how she possessed a genuine passion for change, so he introduced her to many government agencies whom they could help through IT solutions that would concretely capacitate transparency and efficiency for its citizens services.

    However, it was only when Michelle was working in education when she was able to see which service area of IT she was most drawn to, to truly make an impact. The urgent need to improve the country’s education spoke out to her. For example, she saw how the Philippines fared against the whole world based on results of a global, standardized achievement test called Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). To give a short background, PISA is an international study launched by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OCED) in 1997, but the Philippines had only joined PISA for the first time in 2018, as part of their reform plans on improving quality basic education. PISA’s methodology and objective, respectively, is to survey its 79 member and partner countries every 3 years for comparative data on 15-year-olds’ performance in reading, math and science. It measures and benchmarks their ability to apply such skills and knowledge of subject areas, to meet real-world challenges.

    The results were extremely alarming. The Philippines ranked one of the lowest in the world across all three subjects. Michelle explains that what these results mean for us, is that the average Filipino is not well-equipped for the ever-evolving job market; they may not have the best odds of securing quality jobs, other than perhaps, sadly, low-income or minimum wage jobs that will not be sufficient to get them by. This poses as a vicious cycle, detrimental to the economy.

    The lack of access and means to quality education, and how it translates to job security has always been a lingering problem in the country, but it has become all the more vividly real today because unemployment has hit at an all-time low, due to COVID-19. Furthermore, most jobs that have been let go are those from within the service industry which make up more than half of the country’s GDP.

Equip Yourself

    Michelle firmly espouses that “if we can improve education for children, we can equip them with future, with ready skills that they would need for future,” and this is exactly what she has set out to do.

    I cannot agree more with her closing words that: “It is true when they say education is the best investment you can make for yourself, so never stop learning. Especially in a time like this, seek out more ways to learn, like taking free online courses. For instance, K-12 education in the Philippines is free, so I highly encourage continuing schooling. That’s really the only weapon we have when faced with the problems of the future.”

Staying Able to Enable Oneself: Nick Daez, Co-founder & Director of Seabiscuit Films and Kundalini Yoga & Meditation Teacher, Sound Healer

    For some, when they hear the term Wellness, they have the impression that one has to be “unwell” in order to explore this industry. However, this is not necessarily the case; the wellness industry caters to everyone in all spectrums of health and wellness. Although I do understand how practices under this umbrella can especially have a huge and profound impact on those going through dark times.

Rude Awakening

    Nick Daez for instance, is no stranger to dark times, to grief and loss. Among his many life experiences to choose from, one that drastically molded him into the person he is today, was when his marriage came to an abrupt end in 2014. He was only 28 years old. Numb, lost as he was dazed, his search for answers  brought him all over the world. This is what pushed him back then, to explore the wellness industry, and which had subsequently made him a credible and compelling voice on its healing capabilities. In contrast, during that rough time, his other world, in Film making and Production was flourishing. Seabiscuit Films, Inc., the company he organically created with the collaboration of high school friends back in 2012, had grown into a successful video production company.

    To take a quick stroll down memory lane, according to Nicky, he fell in love with Film making back in Ateneo when he was taking up a Production Design elective under the late national artist, Salvador Bernal. His class had just finished watching foreign and art films the whole semester, and for their final project, they had to make a short film. For Nicky, he just absolutely loved the process and obsessed over every part of it. From then on, he started helping out in shoots and apprenticing under directors which eventually led him to create Sea Biscuit Films, Inc. However today in 2020, Nicky is not active in its day-to-day operations anymore, but remains involved in making the big decisions, in checking on the company’s finances and having a bird’s eye view of the on-going projects.

    Fast forward to present day; His new passion is now Yoga and Meditation since getting into it six years ago when his marriage had just ended. In Nicky’s words, that time, “he was desperate for anything to help him find inner peace.” Through referrals from a trusted cousin, Nicky joined a Hindu meditation gathering which eventually led him to Kundalini Yoga. Nicky can still recall his very first Kundalini Yoga class, as it was, “such an intense and visceral experience.”

    Nicky was hooked instantly. He became obsessed with it the next four years and decided that he wanted to deepen his practice by joining a teacher training course in New Mexico, USA two years ago. At first, he had no intention of becoming a teacher, as his pursuits began for purely self-healing. However, when he got back to Manila, much to his surprise, he suddenly became awash with a strong urge and calling to teach. He has been teaching full-time ever since.

The Synergy of Two Industries

     As it turns out, there is a burgeoning market for Yoga and Meditation in the Phillpines, even more so now due to the pandemic, as people search for ways to cope and find inner peace. Thus, as his classes began gaining traction, Nicky’s scope of work expanded into also being responsible for the scheduling, PR, marketing, and accounting of his yoga and meditation classes. For him, it is reminiscent of his younger days when he was still starting up Seabiscuit Films. It seems that Nicky will always have a hand at business and production, but this time, it has evolved to include his yoga practice as the main point of engagement.

    In fact, Nicky highlights how video production and teaching yoga have a lot of similarities in terms of trusting the process and being patient with oneself and other people.

For example, he talks about how, “as a director and as a teacher, you have to lead by example and learn the intricacies of holding space for other people. There are a lot of highs and lows during this pandemic and I just try to view every moment as lesson and an opportunity to grow and help other people. I think selfless service is one of the big themes of this pandemic for me.”

     Indeed, Nicky is one of those creatives who found a way to seamlessly mesh production and wellness through his online classes. Additionally, he, together with longtime friend, Snap Lopa, also created a Podcast aptly entitled, Paliwanag where the duo strikes casual conversations with various people of different industries. The aim of the podcast is to create an inspirational medium for the exchange of ideas and the discussion on spirituality and alternative living in relation to the current times.

Acceptance and Adapting: What’s Next for Production and Wellness?  

     Many questions remain as to the future of these two industries, but right now especially, during a time when mental health should not be taken for granted, more emphasis is now being placed on nurturing our well-being. It is not taboo anymore. In his closing statements, Nicky relays his thoughts:

“The video production industry was hit pretty badly, especially during the first three months of the lockdown. A lot of people were out of work. Fortunately, the recent last two months have been busier, but the safety protocols have forced everyone to adjust and shorten work hours. I think is a big improvement, since most shoots would go passed sixteen hours on a regular basis. I think the people in the industry all worked together to come up with fair and safe protocols for the new normal. I’d like to believe that by humanizing the industry even more, it’ll make the environment a lot healthier and beneficial for the people working as well.” 

 “On the other hand, the wellness industry has been thriving since the pandemic started. I think it just goes to show how important it is to focus on your health and well-being. Although we all had to adjust to teaching online, in my experience, everyone just helped one another more by creating more workshops and gatherings to work together. I think it’s always been like that since I entered the wellness industry, but it just got highlighted even more during this challenging time. For me, I think we just need to continue to collaborate and create that sense of community strong for things to keep going and thriving.” 

Lastly, as the Sound Healer that he is, Nicky says:

“Life is short so we need to just embrace every moment as if it were last. We should always be kind to people and move through life slowly and with intention. “

A Test of Faith: Father Edwin L. Soliva sdb, Catholic Priest belonging to the Salesians of Don Bosco

   Part and parcel to nourishing our well-being, I’d like to think, is being in touch with our spirituality and faith, regardless of whichever religious sect we belong to. This pandemic has truly been a test for everyone, and for sure, we have all by now come across times when we question the meaning and sense of everything, including God’s hand in all of this. I don’t consider myself a religious person, but I’ve experienced and seen what good can come out of real introspection and reflection, especially when guided by someone you can trust.

    I think I speak for most schoolmates of my generation when I say that Father Edwin Soliva is the best person for this kind of spiritual guidance. He has been a Catholic priest for the close to 30 years, belonging to the Salesians of Don Bosco, and presently, he has been assigned in Don Bosco Batulao, as the Rector and youth in-charge. His apostolate is to facilitate retreats and provide good accommodations for retreat groups, and I am certain that he conducts them with much heart and enthusiasm, for among all the many apostolates for Salesian priests, he finds himself most comfortable in giving homilies, recollections and retreats. There are times of course that he feels physically exhausted after giving retreats to young people, but it nonetheless, does not outweigh the spiritual and emotional fulfillment that also accompanies it.

    As the Rector of Don Bosco Batulao, his role is to keep the life of the Salesians in his community healthy. He is looked upon like the Father-figure of his flock, and thus, also makes that everyone regularly prays together and does their apostolate well. He oversees that the retreat house functions well, and that they are overall providing a good experience for the retreatants.

    As my close friend and confidante for more than 15 years, I can personally attest to the effectivity of his homilies, retreats and personal advice. For me, his words can move mountains. They can truly move one to dig down deep and trigger that need and want for change. I can truly say that Fr. Edwin is a great example of what Catholic priests ought to be. He is not preachy or self-righteous; he is down-to-earth, kalog and in touch with reality and the changing world. He’s like that cool kabarkada who never gives up on you. Above all, he is real Man of God with a heart of gold.

Getting By During Hard Times

    However, even those with a direct line to God see hard times. Having had zero mass gatherings, any sort of group, face-to-face gatherings and retreats since March 2020, the retreat house has really been struggling financially due to the pandemic. Moreover, their main source of income is handling retreat groups from schools whom all have cancelled or indefinitely postponed accommodations as well. Let us also not forget that the retreat house also experienced disruptions caused by Taal’s eruption.

    To mitigate losses and adapt to these times, the retreat house, spearheaded by Fr. Edwin, invested in faster internet connectivity, webcams and a sound system for their online masses, recollections and retreats. Fr. Edwin describes how this shift has not been easy, since they of course, have been accustomed to handling retreats with the physical presence of the retreatants. Yet, they continue to simply do their best to persevere and survive during this struggle. Like other industries who are barely making it, Fr. Edwin remains steadfast in making the best of the situation, as this is also the field of work that they have prepared for.

Disseminating God’s Message online

    As we are all human, Fr. Edwin too has some apprehensions about the future. He ponders about how effective online recollections and retreats will continue to be. Prior to the pandemic, his usual retreats were typically 3-days long, filled with lots of activities, talks, film showings and the like. Now, it has been reduced to a few hours online. He too, really started to question himself.

    His continued inspiration comes from this thought and conviction, that “Edwin, if ever the young find your retreat effective or meaningful, it is due to a small part on your efforts and preparations, but remember that the real inspiration and power behind is God. You just scattered the seeds, but the seeds come from God and it will bear fruits beyond your efforts. Now, it is the same God who will work His power and wisdom when you give the young the online retreat. It is the same God who will give you the wisdom and the words to speak and inspire. Don’t worry. Let God give his ‘retreat.’”

The Serenity Prayer; let go; let God

When asked for a few words that he can impart, Fr. Edwin says genuinely:

“What is happening now with this pandemic is something that caught the world really by surprise. We were not prepared at all for this, and it changed everything in our life. There is a lot of fears and anxiety about how life will be. But life will go on and with resiliency, creativity, and flexibility. We will find a way to cope with all these.”

“For years we have been living a normal life and everything has always been in our control; that’s why God has been pushed aside because we feel we don’t need Him. Now we don’t know what to do. Now we are not sure anymore, and things seem to be out of control. This is the best time now to put God back into our life. Now is the time to get down on our knees and recognize again our creator. The God who created the world, can create life and make us live a meaningful life in spite of this pandemic. Let us find comfort in what Jesus said “remember, I will always be with you until the end”.”

The Home and the Online Marketplace

    Definitely, another trend these days is the renewed understanding in the importance of home life. As the home has now become the center point of life as we now know it, what has emerged is the online buying and selling of artifacts that are made to make the home a better and more conducive place for living and working. In addition to medical and sanitation supplies, the common things we see sprouting online are the likes of plants and gardening materials, wifi boosters, laptops, homecooked or homebaked food, homemade crafts, big-item children’s play things and even sports and exercise equipment. This is not entirely surprising. As all sorts of livelihoods and jobs have been disrupted or lost, many have turned to alternative or added sources of income, or have revamped their old ways of doing business. The key platform of engagement and marketing across all these shifts is of course the digital world, whether through social media or community messenger apps and what not. The good side about this shift is that it has allowed people to hone their more creative side, coupled with business acumen.

    I would go as far to say that the overall theme of today’s online marketplace points towards going back to the simpler life, or taking a pause to be more attuned with the beauty of everyday. As much as this can pose a threat to industries who offer an experiential type of product, this does not mean they cannot thrive as well.

Going back and Giving Back: Rosa Farms, Zambales

    Take Rosa Farms for instance who is in the business and advocacy of Agri-Tourism. Rosa Farms, named after the clan’s matriarch, Lola Rosa, is a family-run, 12.5-hectare mango-orchard in the breath-taking coastal province of Zambales. The farm is home to the “Philippine Carabao Mango” and is “open to walk-in guests who want to experience the ambiance of a real functional farm.” At the same time, the sprawling farm provides countless jobs to workers in the area.

     Rosa Farms is also open to exclusive events, usually booked in advance by both local and foreign farm-goer tourists which include, sightseeing, family gatherings, reunions or corporate events which are complete with buffet-style meals and unlimited mangoes. According to their website as well, “Rosa Farms is certified by the Department of Agriculture as a GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) compliant farm, belonging to an exclusive roster in the country. They advocate the principles of GAP in their trainings and workshops to fellow stakeholders in agriculture, highlighting the value of these principles in operating an agritourism (farm tourism) site.”

      Farm activities also include the annual Farm Fiesta and Mango Pick & Pay. In fact, since the farm’s opening in 2011, “the Pick-&-Pay program has been one of the most sought-after activities of the patrons of Rosa Farms.” 

Modern-day Agri-Tourism: Chamz Cayabyab-Zulueta, Sales and Marketing Head for Rosa Farms/Clearvision (Quezon City) and General Manager of Make IT Work, Makati City

    Rosa Farms, including its café called Rosa Café, located inside the farm, have become household names in the Zambales vicinity However, like most industries, Rosa Farms was not spared from the repercussions of the pandemic and its subsequent lockdowns. They too were forced to get more creative, push the envelope and come up with alternative strategies.

    Meet Chamz Cayabyab-Zulueta who is a pivotal figure in Rosa Farm’s marketing strategies. She wears many hats – she is the Sales and Marketing Head for Rosa Farms/Clearvision (Quezon City), General Manager of Make IT Work, Makati City, a wife and a hands-on mother to a very active toddler. Yet, no matter how busy she can get, she makes sure to attend to all her responsibilities. In fact, her expertise and knowledge in various industries is what helps her do her job well for all positions. Her professional career began with spending more than 10 years in Broadcast Television and Advertising, but she has always dreamed of managing her own business. Thus, she took her MBA back in her mid-20′s to shed light on what she would like to pursue into fruition.

      Fruition indeed, as this has led her to Rosa Farms. Chamz tells us how Rosa Cafe operates usually from January until June every year, and the concept of the Cafe is "dine under the Mango Trees." This resonates especially well with the Café’s senior citizen customers because they love the ambiance and tell stories of childhood past, on living the simple life in the province. Yet of course, it has been a challenging time for Rosa Farms this year. Chamz tells us how peak season is usually around April and May, but due to the lockdown, they were forced to suspend operations. Furthermore, their annual Farm Fiesta with the Mango Picking event was scheduled around April, but it likewise also did not push through.

Bringing back the joys of childhood    

     To keep things going and to make up for months of forced closure, Chamz and Rosa Farm’s Management thought of launching Rosa Café’s menu online, but they also had to revised the menu in order to cater to a now broader market – to include the Metro Manila market as well. They found that this proved a little daunting at first, having to compete with an already saturated market, compared to formerly serving only the Zambales market. Moreover, it was also a struggle to bring in Rosa Café’s Head Chef into Manila; lots of permits had to be processed. Finally, she was eventually able to go back to Manila in mid-May, and through perseverance and determination, Rosa Café continues to operate from Chamz’s home. To remain top of mind, they are constantly innovating with new dishes to add to the menu.

     Chamz also spearheads Rosa Cafe's product development, as well as coming up with marketing campaigns for its online platforms. To augment Rosa Café’s persona as a brand that “brings back the joys of childhood”, Chamz launched new products beyond food, that would promote this theme, such as customized potted plants. It was a hit; many customers, also known as Plantitas, rushed to buy these beauties.

     From here, the idea to launch a by-product came to mind, inspired by her adventurous three-year-old son. As her son loves to look for new things to do, she thought, “why not teach these urban kids early on about going back to basics, such as planting?” Thus, the creation of the Kiddie Plant Grow Kit, or simply, “KP” which is intentionally named after her son's nickname. The concept of the KP Grow Kit is that customers can purchase a beginner’s planting kit, complete with soil, seeds and a canvass-like blank pot that can be designed through simple art materials. Not surprisingly, it was another hit.

A Meaningful Advocacy

      For Chamz, inspiration can literally be found in every little thing. She simply has to take a look around for her to draw inspiration for new product launches. She says that, “We bank on the things that keep people sane these days – food and new hobbies like planting. After all, Rosa Farms' advocacy is to bring people back to their simple lives and happy childhood memories. She adds, “It is a good thing too that my husband supports all these crazy ideas that I have in my head to keep the business going.”

When it comes to innovation and taking risks, Chamz says,

“There will be a lot of times when things don't go your way, don't be afraid to innovate and try new things because you can only manage the things you can control”

On Grit, Passion and Family: Carmela S. Juban, former banker, Mother of 3, Entrepreneur    

     Last but not the least, let us also not forget the importance of nurturing relationships with the people in our homes, as we continue to spend most of our time within its confines. Harmony and peace are key. Often times, this becomes the responsibility left to the mothers of the household, sometimes the unsung heroes of our generation.

     Carmela for instance, is a selfless mother personified. A successful, former banker for 7 years at the Treasury Department of one of the country’s upper tier commercial banks, Carmela eventually left the financial market in 2017 to focus on raising her three sons, Matias, Amancio and Augustus; 4 years, 2 years and 7 months old respectively. Her husband’s work required him to be away in regional areas often times, so Carmela knew that one of them had stay home and man the house. Carmela recalls how she was on bed rest during the pregnancy of their first baby. She remembers how the first trigger in her early contractions was caused by walking back to the office after visiting a client. For her, it was a tell-tale sign.

     It was a sacrifice on Carmela’s part, as she truly loved her job, but at the same time, she knew she was giving so much of herself at work, that she decided it best to recalibrate her energies to being a wife and a mother. She has no regrets, as she knows that the time will come when her kids are older, that she herself will have a “rebirth,” so to speak, and have the opportunity to reinvent herself, as she muses that, “life, growth, motherhood, business is not a straight line.” 

It Takes Two to Tango; It takes a Village to Raise a Family

    Something that Carmela says a lot is that she appreciates her husband’s support, whether in business or when it comes to the responsibilities at home. For instance, upon resigning, she set up a side business to manage with her husband. It would help marry two situations - Carmela would have the convenience of working from home where she could watch over her kids, at the same time, augment their finances and put her knowledge of banking & finance into good use. In the beginning, it was something new for her, after being a corporate employee for so long, but she has since trained herself to think like an entrepreneur. She likes that she and her husband get to work together. They brainstorm for new ideas, and this also hones her ability to trust her gut and make things happen.

     As her confidence in this side hustle grew, Carmela also began an entrepreneurial stint running a food kiosk in a nearby mall. Her business was thriving until COVID-19 hit. Like all mothers, she had many worries about possibly bringing the virus home; thus, she decided to cut her losses and close it down. For now, she and her husband are focused on venturing into other opportunities, not just in food, but possibly in clothing as well, and likewise, utilizing social media to effect change.

     In Carmela’s words, “at this time when a lot of entrepreneurs are on survival mode, we just really need to keep trying; keep pushing. We can never think that a market is too saturated because there is always opportunity somewhere. Although, sometimes there is doubt, just taking the plunge without over-analyzing is the first step...I also think about having three young boys to take care of. The fact that we are all safe and healthy, is already a win for us.”

     Indeed, her family is always her shining source of inspiration and motivation, “to act based on the scope we can control, and hopefully, in our next emerging steps, we can do our part in shaping a better generation.” The next question she throws out, which I agree posits reflection and action is, “is this the country we want to leave our children?” 

Personal Learnings When asked if she has some insights to share. Carmela says, “This time has shown more the importance of family, how we are connected to each other, and the success to get through this pandemic highly depends on our relationship with one another. Be kind. Be extra patient. Everyone has a cross to carry even if they do not talk about it.”

“You can sulk, but pray and have faith.  Who knows? It might lead you to what you are really meant to be doing.”

[itsgonnabemagne]

The moment I knew that my dear friend tested positive for COVID, I got extremely sad. I swear I found it difficult to concentrate maybe because I also got worried for myself.

It’s now his 10th day of quarantine and I miss him already!

2020 has fucked our lives so much.

I used to complain so much about how toxic it is in the ED before but this pandemic brought us a different kind of exhaustion.

I miss how everything was “normal”.

When I have to put make up on before work.

When all of the staff wait for each other to have a meal together even if it was a toxic PM shift!

When everybody invites you for breakfast after a night shift.

When I have to wait for my friend and help him finish his endorsement because we want to go home together! (He does it to me too 😬) But we end up going home late because we ate out, we looked for dessert, and talked about anything under the moon. But we dont complain even if it means we will be up for work early in the morning the next day. And even if we were late, we still find time to buy coffee 😅

When me and my friend are in the same area in the ED and we’re being loud but then one second it’s like we don’t know each other anymore because it already got busy! 🤦🏻‍♀️

When we still have time to get away during our rest days. Watch a movie at the cinema, go to tagaytay or just hang at our friend’s house. 🥺

I’ve got so many things planned this 2020 but it was all put on hold. And it’s making me sad that it’s already July and I haven’t made any progress yet.

I still hope that everything will get back to normal. I NEED A DAMN VACATION. 🥺

[thestoryofus]

They say that there are only three important decisions in life: 1. What you do 2. Who you live with 3. Where you live Mak and I have always tried to be deliberate about the choices we've made in our lives, specially when it comes to these three things. We also know that life is what happens while we're making plans and chance plays a big part in how everything turns out. So when it comes to decisions, we try to hold judgement in other people's life choices and respect their individual paths. Each journey is different. We know that others aren't so accepting. Like when some talk about us making the choice to have an only child - a few of them, even the well-meaning ones make it sound like it’s a bad thing. Even so far as insinuating that Paula would have been happier if she has siblings or our life would have been definitely better if we had 2 or 3 kids. I know they mean well. But how would it feel if you are told that you made a poor decision by having more than 1 child when you can hardly leave the house because you are struggling to provide for your kids’ needs? Or yes, you have 3 or 4 children but you can’t even spend time with your husband because you are so busy taking care of your children? We make our choices based on what works not just for us but the people in our inner circle. We seem to have a good life because of our lifestyle choices but we also have the oldest car among our peers. 😆 One of my friends pays a high monthly amortization on a fancy car but can't afford to do other things and that's perfectly fine - it's her choice and she is happy with hers. As for us, we will hold on to our dear old car and that's ok. 😍 During the height of the pandemic, our old car Chilly Willy brought us to nice beaches in Batangas, a couple of staycations in Tagaytay, and twice in La Union. It was a toss between those places or a new car. Obviously, you all know what we picked. 🤣 In 2021, I was supposed to have our couches reupholstered but we wanted to add a couple of places to our travel list- so I let that go. Ayun, awa ng Diyos- hindi parin na reupholster. Baka sa 2023 na. 😁 —— Continued in the comment section. 😍 (at Bali, Indonesia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjPZ02Su2Jk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[laicaotacan]

The Ka Tunying’s Story

    It was the love for bread that brought the Taberna family together.

Ka Tunying’s humble beginnings trace back to the Taberna home in Nueva Ecija, where they created and shared fond memories as a family over freshly baked bread. But because the supply from the town proper barely reached their barrio, they occasionally experienced the joy of this bond.

           To satisfy the family’s cravings for bread, they thought of putting up a panaderia in their hometown. In 2002, the family opened a small, community bakery and called it Ka Tunying’s Kape, Tinapay at Iba Pa (which was later renamed Tunying’s Bread).

           The name of the bakery is a tribute to Antonio Taberna Sr., the father of the owner; the well-known Filipino broadcast journalist and radio commentator - Antonio Taberna Jr. also known as Anthony Taberna or Ka Tunying.

           Tunying’s bread was an instant hit in the province and attracted a lot of customers, many of whom bought baked goodies such as chocolate crinkles and Spanish bread as pasalubong to their loved ones in Metro Manila.

           This once simple bakery later expanded as a full-service restaurant and established branches in and out of Metro Manila. Ka Tunying’s opened its doors to more families and friends in Quezon City, Tagaytay, and Pasay City.

           Ka Tunying’s exists with the mission to delight customers with our warm service and delectable food products that bring our kababayans and their families together.

           Our core values are Pamilya at Malasakit (family and empathy). We not only treat our customers like family but also value our employees, who have played a significant role in our story of inspiration and success through the years.

           Now in its sixth year, Ka Tunying’s continues to marry innovation and tradition to serve our customers better.

Ka Tunying’s restaurant under A. Taberna Foods Inc. pivoted to take out and food delivery services to be able to share the goodness of Panlasang Makabayan to more families during the lockdown. Despite the challenging situation, we continue to uphold our pledge to support Panlasang Makabayan by sourcing materials and ingredients from local farmers all over the country to boost our local industry.

           At a time when health is the main priority of society, the restaurant also serves fresh food with little to no MSG, as we look out for the welfare of our customers. Among our Ka Tunying's bestsellers are the Batutay or Nueva Ecija Longganisa, Classic Kare-kare and Arroz ala Tunying.

           On the other hand, Ka Tunying’s bakehouse (Kumbachero Food Corp.) crafts next-level Filipino classic bread and modern pastry favorites with a twist to give customers a variety of mouthwatering products to choose from. The pandemic provided a breakthrough for the bakehouse as more distribution channels opened through resellers, outlets, and retail supermarkets. Kumbacheros just can’t get enough of our bestsellers: Whole Wheat Cinnamon, Cheese Cupcake, Pan de Coco, and Spanish bread. Indeed, they are worth a try!

Today, the Ka Tunying’s story continues with our commitment to satisfy customers with excellent service and products and our goal to reach more Kababayans nationwide.

Our vision is to share the love for bread with every Filipino household through our baked creations and to promote Panlasang Makabayan by establishing Ka Tunying’s as the go-to restaurant located in tourist destinations all over the country. Hope you could visit our <a href="https://katunyings.com/">best restaurant in manila</a> in the future 

[purplesurveys]

1347

2021 End of the Year Survey made by sonaatti

How have you been doing during the pandemic this year? We managed a lot better in 2021 compared to the trainwreck and absolute waste of a year that was 2020. Aside from my life turning around for the better, finding my purpose and passions and gaining new friends and being happier and all that, the outcome was better for my family too. My mom finally got called back to work at around March-April-ish, and my dad also got the opportunity to go back to the ship by October.

Did this year feel any different from 2020 to you? It certainly did in a lot of ways, yeah. I mean first of all I was better accustomed to the pandemic (as I’m sure everyone became), so there was little adjustment that I needed to go through. It was my first entire year without Gabie too, I guess, which was weird at first but eventually turned out for the better. 2021 was also filled with many personal achievements whereas I was just...floating, to put it mildly, for most of 2020.

Were you in any large, in-person activities? Did you feel safe? I didn’t go to any concerts or any event that’s meant to pack thousands of people at one time; but I did go to the mall a lot, which by 2021 had gotten pretty crowded. I also went to family and social gatherings, but the most ‘crowded’ one I went to shouldn’t have been more than 20 people. 

Anyway, I did feel safe for the most part – it just got pretty annoying whenever people would get in my personal space, say, if I was in a queue. When that happens I don’t hesitate to make a show of stepping away from them and readjusting my mask.

Did you move and/or travel anywhere? How was it? Did you feel safe? The two places I traveled to were Tagaytay and Zambales. It felt quite safe, yes, mainly because we kept to ourselves for both trips. For Zambales especially, we were the only party booked in the resort so it was nice and even felt fancy to have the entire place to ourselves haha.

For those who were in school at some point during the year, how was your overall experience? I was no longer in school in 2021. But just to share,  I did get an extremely short glimpse of what it was like to take online classes back in 2020. It was at the very start of the pandemic, i.e. a time when nobody knew what the fuck to do and how the fuck to handle a global pandemic, so my school dove right into online classes not really knowing the best route to go about it just yet. The trial run lasted like, two weeks, but needless to say I didn’t have the best experience since to be fair, we were the guinea pig batch of it all lol.

Fortunately my school was able to see the problem and hear everyone’s struggles so they just canceled the semester altogether and gave everyone a generic P mark, for Pass. It killed my chances of pulling up my grades to get to graduate magna cum laude though, but at least.

What was a memorable month for you and why? April was great because it was my birthday month and also the month that I first discovered BTS and cemented my interest in them. June was fun too since it was Festa month.

What was your proudest moment/greatest accomplishment? Moving on!

Did you suffer from any illnesses or injuries? No. I’m thankful I didn’t get sick for all of last year.

Where did most of your money go? Yeah this is an easy landslide victory for K-Pop merch. Next money-eater is for sure food deliveries, and then that’s followed by the money I give my parents every payday.

Did you pick up any new activities or return to any? The biggest thing would probably be being gobbled up by the fangirl/stan culture once again, after not being a part of it for a few years haha. I didn’t really discover or return to hobbies, which doesn’t sound super productive now that I think about it but I guess I was able to make up for it with the self-care I worked on last year.

What's one new thing you learned? That it’s important and even healthy to allow yourself to think less – not in a way that would make me too reckless, but just enough to not let myself get bothered by things and people that shouldn’t matter anymore.

Were there any particular memes or trends that you liked? Oh man. My mind gets into a haze when I try to think of all the memes I encountered last year lol, but the looking-out-of-the-bus meme was pretty funny especially when dark humor is mixed in it.

What was something nice someone said to you? That I was reliable and can be counted to do any task, and to do them well, in my workplace.

Compared to last year, did you feel happier or sadder? Happier.

What do you wish you had done more? Be smarter about saving money, and treating my grandparents.

What do you wish you had done less of? SPENDING MONEY. And overworking.

What was the best television series you watched? Didn’t watch a lot of new stuff in general last year. I stuck to my comfort shows.

Best film? Yeah, I sucked at watching films in 2021. 17 year old me would be horrified haha.

Best book? Didn’t read anything. I swear I was more productive than how this survey is making me out to be! HAHAHA

Best video game? Well I finally bought Super Smash Bro Ultimate for the Switch; and while it’s been fun, I realized I’m no longer as sharp at video games as I used to be. I’ve since gotten discouraged since I kept losing, but at least my sister is making good use of the game.

Best song or album? I can’t seem to pick between HYD or Over Those Hills, both by Hayley Williams, but both are amazing amazing songs, but also equally painful. 

What did you do on your birthday? I worked during the day but I treated my family to dinner in the evening.

Were there any social/political issues you were closely following? Just the upcoming presidential elections, which will be happening *this* year.

Did you meet anyone new (whether online or in-person)? Sure, there’s been a bunch of new faces at work. I also finally got to meet one of my clients after a year of Microsoft Teams calls ha. 

Is there anyone you want to see who you haven't seen since the start of the pandemic? Yeah, my entire college friend group excluding Lui, who I was able to see since they work in the media and is a constant contact for one of the brands I handle.

Did you learn any valuable life lessons? A number of them, yep.

Would you go back in time to any point this year and change anything? If so, what? Not really. The year went pretty damn well, even though I was down for around the first three months of it. Thinking about it now, I may have needed to go through that before getting to where I am now.

Overall, how would you describe 2021? It was a year of much growth and self-discovery.

What are three things you would like to do next year? TRAVEL, continue to see progress and improvement at my work, and finally get that loft bed I’ve been dreaming about.

Are you hopeful for anything next year? I’m hopeful in general. Are you making any New Year's resolutions? Nope.

Do you think your country will move past the pandemic next year? Hahaha this country? Not a chance.

[thetravelure]

Beach during a Pandemic? Yes, please!

If I could count the number of months I had to stay at home during the past 2 years, I would say it would total to 24 months! LOL.

You see, a year prior the pandemic, I got pregnant with our first baby and up until February of this year, there were no travel plans of any sort at all.

This year though, we couldn't let the opportunity pass us by. Our baby daughter has spent 17 months of her life indoors and it was not a healthy way for her to grow up as she takes in everything that surrounds her. We thought bringing her outside and exposing her to what the natural world looks like would boost her developing skills.

And so we did.

We wanted to experience the cool weather of Tagaytay before enjoying the view at a nearby beach + pool accommodation on our final stop. If you are thinking of the same, plus this itinerary gives you ample time to relax and breaks in between driving, here’s our itinerary:

Overnight at a Bahay Kubo in Alfonso, Cavite

Overnight at a beach house in Balayan, Batangas

My go-to accommodation platform:

AirBnB

You may also try:

Agoda

Booking.com

Be sure you have it downloaded in your mobile and that you are a registered user of all three mentioned above.

Booking the accommodation in advance (a month at least), helps lessen the expenses during the actual trip. What we only did spend on was for food, save for the fuel and toll gate fees (if applicable).

Tip: Consider buying from the nearby market especially the perishables. If there is none, opt to buy them from your local supermarket the day before the trip and pack them in containers tightly shut and store them in the fridge overnight. If you have an ice chest, better bring it as well for long drives.

As for snacks, you can buy them easily from the grocery store. The same goes with your toiletries. That way, you only spend for the essential ones when you get to your destination.

Speaking of essential ones, I also brought with us what the baby will use for the next three days. Such as her nappies and a container of distilled water. The rest, are her usual stuff that she consumes and uses at home. We brought everything including her blankets, pillows and her own inflatable pool!

So, for 6 adults and 1 infant, our expenses (in estimate) for a 3D2N trip are as follows:

Accommodation: PHP 15,000

Food: PHP 3,000

Groceries: PHP 1,000

Other expenses: Toll gate fees + other necessities you may need during the trip.

If you were to follow this itinerary, you would have spent approximately PHP 3,167.00 for a 3D2N out-of-town break. Do you think this is worth a try? Let me know.

[phgq]

Family, nature trips top 2021 Pinoy travel preferences

#PHnews: Family, nature trips top 2021 Pinoy travel preferences

MANILA – Family vacations are likely to top Filipino priorities in terms of travel this year, outranking business trips and shopping as the previous main motivation for travel, a study showed.

According to Airbnb’s Philippines Travel Trends Survey 2021 with data analytics firm YouGov, at least six out of 10 Filipino chose family vacations as the primary reason to travel this year.

Enjoying free time to unwind and relax, and visiting close relatives and friends are also key motivators to get Filipinos back on the road.

The Airbnb-commissioned survey gathered responses from 1,067 Filipinos between February 4 and 8.

It showed that travel with immediate and extended family is one reason for domestic travel among Filipinos, with 88 percent of the respondents saying they felt more connected with their families during the pandemic.

Notably, health and safety protocols (64 percent) and affordability (61 percent) are top considerations when choosing travel accommodation.

More than half of all respondents (53 percent) also prefer traveling to less crowded, off-the-beaten-path destinations, away from mass tourist hotspots.

Road trips are expected to gain traction as the top choice for Filipinos’ first trip post-pandemic, as respondents indicated that they wanted to travel close to nature and places outside their communities well within driving distance.

Beachside destinations topped Filipinos’ bucket lists in 2021, with Boracay emerging as respondents’ top go-to destination, followed closely by Palawan, Baguio, Siargao, and Tagaytay.

“People are more likely to start traveling near to their places and so local and domestic tourism is going to be something that takes center stage before borders open up and cross-border travel resumes," said Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb's general manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

"Travellers are also looking at slower, more mindful travel amidst nature. We believe that travel is resilient and will bounce back with time, and we anticipate that unique and family-friendly travel will serve as the impetus for domestic tourism recovery.”

Airbnb said it would support government efforts to revive local tourism as it pledged to drive sustainable long-term growth for its "Stays and Experiences" to help local Airbnb hosts and guests community.

Citing research from Oxford Economics, it said it contributed to about USD1 billion in economic impact and supported more than 160,000 jobs in the Philippines in 2019 alone.

Airbnb said it intends to work closely with key policymakers and industry stakeholders on a sustainable way forward for its listings to be accredited, in line with the government’s regulations for leisure travel. (PNA)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Family, nature trips top 2021 Pinoy travel preferences." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132363 (accessed March 03, 2021 at 04:49PM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Family, nature trips top 2021 Pinoy travel preferences." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132363 (archived).

[thestoryofus]

They say that there are only three important decisions in life: 1. What you do 2. Who you live with 3. Where you live Mak and I have always tried to be deliberate about the choices we've made in our lives, specially when it comes to these three things. We also know that life is what happens while we're making plans and chance plays a big part in how everything turns out. So when it comes to decisions, we try to hold judgement in other people's life choices and respect their individual paths. Each journey is different. We know that others aren't so accepting. Like when some talk about us making the choice to have an only child - a few of them, even the well-meaning ones make it sound like it’s a bad thing. Even so far as insinuating that Paula would have been happier if she has siblings or our life would have been definitely better if we had 2 or 3 kids. I know they mean well. But how would it feel if you are told that you made a poor decision by having more than 1 child when you can hardly leave the house because you are struggling to provide for your kids’ needs? Or yes, you have 3 or 4 children but you can’t even spend time with your husband because you are so busy taking care of your children? We make our choices based on what works not just for us but the people in our inner circle. We seem to have a good life because of our lifestyle choices but we also have the oldest car among our peers. 😆 One of my friends pays a high monthly amortization on a fancy car but can't afford to do other things and that's perfectly fine - it's her choice and she is happy with hers. As for us, we will hold on to our dear old car and that's ok. 😍 During the height of the pandemic, our old car Chilly Willy brought us to nice beaches in Batangas, a couple of staycations in Tagaytay, and twice in La Union. It was a toss between those places or a new car. Obviously, you all know what we picked. 🤣 In 2021, I was supposed to have our couches reupholstered but we wanted to add a couple of places to our travel list- so I let that go. Ayun, awa ng Diyos- hindi parin na reupholster. Baka sa 2023 na. 😁 ____ Continued in the comment section. 😀 (at Bali, Indonesia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjPZDrhp4U0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thehungrykat1]

Don Revy Launches The Wine Pantry at Dusit Thani Manila

There’s nothing more luxurious than going on a fancy dinner date at a five star hotel. Adding a few glasses of wine would make it even lovelier, but we usually have to skip this part because of the very high prices charged by the hotels. The price of a bottle of wine at a hotel restaurant might be even higher than the meal itself. Thankfully, Dusit Thani Manila and Don Revy Philippines are letting us all enjoy the good life with reasonably priced wines as they recently launched The Wine Pantry.

The Hungry Kat was invited to a delightful wine dinner last weekend at The Pantry in Dusit Thani Manila. We have been frequent visitors of Dusit Thani Manila over the years, often staying at their Club Rooms and enjoying the benefits of their Club Lounge which is the biggest in the country. We also enjoy their bountiful buffets at The Pantry and even attended their first anniversary event a few years ago (Read: The Pantry at Dusit Thani Manila Turns 1.) However, we had not been able to visit Dusit since the pandemic started, so it was refreshing to be back here and to see that they have reopened their signature restaurants to the delight of their many loyal customers.

You can find The Wine Pantry pop-up at the hotel’s ground floor lobby, just beside the entrance to The Pantry. Every weekend from Fridays to Sundays, guests can purchase any of the premium wines on display at affordable retail prices and bring it with them when they dine at the Dusit’s signature restaurants including The Pantry, UMU, and Benjarong. There’s no need to pay any corkage fee or spend hotel prices on your wines. You can have a fabulous dinner date and pair it with top-tier wines at reasonable prices. Isn’t that fantastic?

Don Revy is a boutique brand that showcases a carefully-curated portfolio of international wines, beers, and spirits. Their line of premium hotel wines are sourced from 29 popular regions across 9 countries including Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Chile, Argentina, France, South Africa, Spain and the United States.

Don Revy actually supplies the wines at Dusit Thani Manila and other five-star hotels in the city. However, since the ongoing pandemic has limited their restaurant patrons, this partnership aims to give customers more reasons to come back and enjoy these top-notch hotel wines at non-hotel prices. Some guests also purchase wines and gift sets to bring home with them.

For those who intend to enjoy their wines at the hotel, The Pantry has several dining locations to choose from. Guests can stay at the indoor dining areas where they can order some ala carte dishes to go with their wines.

You can also dine outdoors at The Pantry’s al fresco area and feel the vibe of a relaxing escape from the city. I actually hadn’t noticed this part of The Pantry before so I was surprised with how beautiful the setup was.

There are several areas around the Japanese garden and the koi fish pond where guests can enjoy a romantic and private dinner date under the stars. I thought I was back in Tagaytay! This would be a nice place to sip your wines from The Wine Pantry.

We were lucky to be visiting Dusit that afternoon, because it was Geaux Friday at The Pantry. Guests can indulge in a Louisiana BBQ Dinner Buffet every Friday where a sumptuous selection of Louisiana specialties are set to welcome the weekend.

From juicy black angus beef brisket and pork baby back ribs to perfectly charred chicken and sausages, diners will definitely get a Taste of Louisiana with a delightful al fresco dining experience. Pair these awesome meats with the wine selections from Don Revy for the perfect dinner combination.

Aside from the meaty barbecues, guests can also find hearty dishes inspired by the French quarter including shrimp etoufee, cheesy shrimp and grits, fried catfish, creole jambalaya, cajun stuffed chicken and New Orleans gumbo.

Don’t forget to drop by the Lechon Station! This Filipino party staple is also present during Geaux Friday to give The Pantry a fiesta atmosphere.

Our small group decided to sit indoors so we can be closer to The Wine Pantry and easily choose our preferred wines. Dusit Thani Manila follows all health and safety protocols so table seatings are spread out with maximum capacity limits strictly followed.

We started our wine dinner with Don Revy’s very own Pebble Lane brand. This Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand was a light and refreshing starter as we got ready to attack the barbecue outside.

It didn’t take long for our conversations and our dishes to get meatier. We paired these plates with glasses of red wine including the Mariano J. Lacort Rioja Reserva from Spain and the Maxwell Silver Hammer Shiraz from Australia. It was just a casual wine dinner with no strict rules to pair which wine with which dish. You don’t have to worry about wine snobs at The Pantry as long as everyone enjoys their meals.

If you’ve reached your wine limit for the evening, you can just continue with the other beverages and floats which are also included in the buffet. Desserts also include Chargrilled Pineapple with yoghurt mousse and pistacchio praline, classic beignets and a selection of cakes and pastries. Weekends are definitely more fun with The Wine Pantry at Dusit Thani Manila. The Wine Pantry is open from 11:00am to 9:00pm from Friday to Sunday while Geaux Fridays is available from 6:00pm to 10:00pm for only P1,850 nett. I heard they also have a Saturday Night Grill with unlimited steaks. We will surely try that next time.

The Wine Pantry by Don Revy

G/F Lobby, Dusit Thani Manila, Ayala Center, Makati City, Philippines

7238-8888

dusitthanimanila.dusit.com

www.facebook.com/dusitthanimanila

www.facebook.com/DonRevyPH