Trip to Pagudpud

A newest teleserye “Walang Hanggan” has been launched last week at ABS-CBN Primetime Bida. Feeling so happy upon seeing the trailer of this show. Why? Some scene where taken at Ilocos and I started reminisce my travel to Pagudpud with some friends last December 2010. Riding in Florida Bus around 8PM in Manila, night travel isn’t that bad once you see the lovely shore of Pagudpud. We arrived around 8am the following day at Pagudpud, rent a trike going to Agua Seda Beach Resort to leave our bags, exchange clothes and be ready for the day tour. They have two types of tour, the North and South bound tour. Most of the tricycle driver offers tour at negotiable price. Aside from being a friendly driver, they tend to be the tourist guide and a photographer as wellJ. Here are some of places that we visited.

North Bound will cover the following:

• Bantay Abot Cave
• Timmangtang Rock
• Patapat Viaduct
• Agua Grande
• Paraiso ni Anton
• Kabigan Falls

Southbound would be:

• Bangui Windmills
• Café Bojeador Lighthouse
  

Next destination? Capital city of Ilocos Norte…Laoag City J 

Wait for my next post!  

Boracay the Paradise

Boracay is a popular tourist spot in the Philippines. Why? Let me take you a glimpse to this paradise. Boracay is a part of Aklan Province on Western Visayas region. Everyone who visits this island leaves a great impression to the white beach this island offer. Perhaps due to its resplendent white sands and calm water that resembles the true beauty of nature. This white beach is about four kilometers and in lined by various hotels, resorts, lodging houses, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses from one end to the other.

There are hundreds of hotels and resorts to choose from depending on your budget. There are also numerous beach activity to try…this includes, banana boat, kayaking, fly fish, parasailing, island hoping, kite boarding, surfing, helmet diving, snorkeling, All Terrain vehicles (ATV), and even just walking around the beach area would really be enjoyable. For dining, there is D’ talipapa located at station2, walking distance from beach area where you buy fresh sea foods, meat vegetables and other ingredients. There is a cooking service “Paluto” that they offer for a small fee based per kilo, in any dishes you may want. Souvenir shops, henna tattoo, and hair braiding can also be found along beach area and at D’ talipapa. I've been there twice 2010 and 2011 and still looking forward to visit this year J

Team Building at Amansinaya

Team Building is one of the popular activities for groups to build trust, team work and strong relationships with colleagues. We, at  Sunpower Quality Assurance Department,  decided to have our Team Building last April 2011 at Amansinaya Resort Inc. This was located at Laurel Batangas. It was a 2-day 1 night event where we gather for strategic planning session on day one followed by team building activities at day two. We spend our whole day strategic planning at Patio Filipino were our Am Snack, lunch, PM snack were served while having good discussions with our QA plans and goals for the whole year. Just beside the Patio Filipino has pool with overlooking to Mother Nature. We are total of 30 pax, our overnight stay at one CASATEL unit consisting of 8 rooms. Each room has spacious area, kitchen, refrigerator, toilet and bath, sliding door going to veranda where you can see the other amenities of the resort. The CASATEL unit has its own private pool aside from Amansinaya Aqua Park 7sqm pool just across our unit. The second day were so exiting spending our hours on trekking at Ambon-ambon falls followed by different activities such as low ropes obstacle courses, wall climb, giant soccer ball, 100 meter mudslide, and zip line. Just to give you an idea of our rate it’s Php 3,600 per pax and the details of inclusions are the following:

Meal Venue: Patio Filipino 7 Meals -Managed Buffet Set Up

     (2 AM Snack, 2 Lunch, 1 PM Snack, 1 Dinner & 1 Breakfast) 

Accommodation: CASATEL Unit

v  7 Units of Casa Amman – Quadruple Sharing

v  1 Unit Of Casa Amman – Twin Sharing

Fully air-conditioned

LCD Cable Ready TV

Towels and toiletries provided (shampoo and soap)

With mini-refrigerator

With electronic personal safe

Hairdryer (may be provided upon request)

Concessions:

v  Entrance Fee

v  Welcome Drink

v  Amansinaya Aqua Park Pool

v  Patio Pool

v  Obstacle Course for team activities (Safety gears such as helmet, knee pads and elbow pads are provided)

◦      Tire Challenge

◦      Log Challenge

◦      Chicken Walk

◦      Tarzan Swing

◦      Jordan Ladder

◦      Monkey Swing

◦      Trust Fall

◦      Takeshi Wall

◦      Electric Fence

◦      Devil Wall

v  Giant Mudslide

v  Zip Line “Slide for Life”

v  Guided Trekking to Ambon-Ambon Falls (Vehicle provided and Ranger)

v  Use of Giant Soccer Ball

Here are some pictures that I would like to share to all of you…Looking forward for the next exciting team building this 2012!

Trip to Vigan Ilocos Sur

Coming from Laoag Ilocos Norte, having a light breakfast (longsilog with hot coffee) served at Balai de Blas…we travel going to Vigan by an ordinary bus for about 2.5 hours.  Vigan is the capital city of Ilocos Sur. The popular heritage village, cobblestone streets with unique architectural designs makes the city nominated in 7 Wonder Cities of the World. When got off at Municipality of Vigan, we decided to drop our bags to Local tourism council office so we can go around the city without heavy load. Officers were all generous, they also give some advice on what to see around Vigan and they also mention the Baluarte of Chavit Singson. There are available calesa for tour around the city but we decided to stroll and discover by ourselves the beauty of Vigan. Going around the Calle Crisologo to buy some souvenirs and pasalubong. Afterwards, we decided to go to Baluarte of Chavit Singson by riding a trike for about 20 minutes. Baluarte is a mini zoo where you can experience animal encounter and animal show without entrance fee J. We had a very limited time so we got back to city after lunch and be prepared to a long travel back to Manila.

We really had fun travelling in ILOCOS (Pagudpud, Laoag and Vigan). Thanks for dropping by into my blog. I’m happy to share my travel experience to all of you…

Trip to Laoag

After an enjoyable trip to Pagudpud, we decided to go to Laoag Ilocos Norte to check their tourist destinations and historical site. It is a 2 hours bus travel from Pagudpud. We decided to check in Balai de Blas Pensionne House. The suite room has spacious living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. It was impressive that this pensionne house is very clean, well maintained, with inviting ambiance, and cute decorations at very reasonable price. Staffs are very friendly and courteous. This pensionne house were located at #10 Giron Street Brgy. 7-B Loaog City.

We are now getting to discover the beauty of Laoag. From Balai de Blas, we rent a trike for the tour. We visited the Paoay Church, Marcos Museum, Fort Ilocandia, Sinking Bell Tower, Empanadaan, and La Paz Sand dunes. Paoay Church is also known as St. Agustine Church under the property of Diocese of Laoag. Historically, its coral stone bell tower used by Katipuneros during Philippine revolution against the Spaniards. Quite nervous going up to this tower since the structure is old, but so relaxing once you get on the top overlooking the town of Paoay J Our next is the Marcos Museum beside their old ancestral house located at Batac, Ilocos Norte. This is actually where the preserved corpse of the former President Ferdinand Marcos laid. There are also aged furniture and memorabilia inside the Museum. Take note that no picture taking is allowed inside. Empanada is one of the famous food in Ilocos. It is like a stuffed bread with a filling of locally made longanisa, vegetable and eggs. These filings were wrapped in rice flour and deep-fried. Recommended to eat while hot and put some “sukang iloco” (vinegar). Sinking bell tower is the first thing you may see upon entering the city proper. Because it’s heaviness and build on sandy foundation, the tower is consistently sunk into the ground for about of an inch a year. La Paz Sand dunes are favorite movie settings of classic local films like “Himala” and “Panday”. Fine sands and desert like that most local tourist will love to try sand boarding or ride a 4x4. But because we been there late, we didn’t have a chance to try those exiting activitiesL.

Feel tired when we got back to Balai de Blas…preparing ourselves for the next destination on the next day…VIGAN!!! J