Philippine Independence Day

On the 12th day of June, my country celebrates its National Independence. Since it's holiday and everybody's free to go out I went to Samal Island. My family and friends are invited to go to a private resort where everything is unlimited! We enjoy the food,the drinks and kayaking for free and as long as we want!God bless the couple for sharing their material blessings to us.They even shoulder our travel expenses.Their floating hut is super cool!

We rode on a speedboat. It was nice to get on it with my companions.We enjoy seeing the green mountains and the rushing waters. I've been to some places on that island but it was my first time to visit Balet where the resort is located.

Swimming and snorkeling is the most enjoyable for me. It feels so great to see the corals! They're like colorful flowers under my feet.If uncle Dodong didn't get near me and called my attention I wouldn't realize that I was getting far from them.The water current was very strong then.

There's kayak contest and prizes are given to the winners. We had fun. They're planning to go back there and have an overnight stay. If it happens, I will definitely take a picture of the corals. The underwater camera went lobat before I did snorkeling.It really pays to have the ability to swim and dive underwater.

There's a long queue of cars in the wharf and it was dark when I got home.I feel the freedom that my ancestors fought for how many years. I wouldn't enjoy this kind of outdoor activity if it weren't because of them who gave their lives for our liberty.

Happy 114th Independence Day Philippines!

The Saint '98 Reunion

It was fourteen years ago when I left my Grade school Alma Matter.Many things happened in San Roque Central Elementary School that I don't want to remember. Some of my classmates would  keep my school stuff,take my money allowance and the guys would hit the girls.I have had bad teachers too. I can't fully remember everyone. It's hard for me to recall all my classmates. Those who are in Top 10 and my close friends are retained in my head though.

My batch mates have been seeing each other. In fact they have attended our reunion twice already. I wasn't ready then to see and join them. I was afraid of something. I wasn't strong enough to face them. I don't know what they think about me or how they have remembered me. Most importantly, I'm scared of seeing those people who have hurt me.

But last weekend's gathering has changed my mind about them.I was wrong when I thought that it's going to be a boring get together that's why I didn't take some pictures.We play games by the beach, swim,sing and eat together. We also decided to go to the falls to get ourselves refreshed.The sun shines so bright and we feel so warm. It was fun to remember our experiences in the past. We laugh altogether talking about our teachers!

People change and we should open our mind about it. I am truly happy to see them again and they are very accommodating. They have welcomed me and I have no regrets spending time with them. There are some who who are unable to come since they work abroad and live far from Davao.Others have very important things to attend to but they give their share by sponsoring our food.

Davao Pearl Farm Resort

I just found out that I was not able to publish this post! It's been sleeping in my draft folder! I didn't realize that I forgot to finish my review. It's been two years now!I went to the popular beach in Davao with a kind woman.She has chosen me to be with her on that day.I thank her for doing it. She knows I love swimming.

Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Davao is one of the nicest and coolest beaches I've ever been.The one in Panglao Island is also great! It can take your breath away and I'm proud that in Mindanao we have this fantastic place where you can spend a day with your love ones.Pearl Farm is not crowded.They control the number of people visiting the resort daily.The food is decent.Moreover, you can do different aqua sports! We wanted to try jet skiing but there was no more available for us. We tried banana boat ride instead.

Malipano Island is still a part of Pearl Farm. It's truly magnificent. The water is so clear and inviting! The stunning view of the area made me forget my worries in life.

For newlyweds, it's definitely a marvelous place to go on a honeymoon!

Don't leave Davao without experiencing the joy to be there. Grab the chance to have a tranquil setting. Savor the calmness and quietness it gives you while filling your eyes with natural beauty. I feel like a child when I was there and whole body massage completed our breathtaking experience!

Haven in Kaputian

The day after we arrived in Davao from Cebu, my family is invited to go to Samal Island.It's my uncle's birthday. They live in Kaputian,Island Garden City of Samal.It was a blissful feeling to be in a new beach resort. It's been a long time since I last visited my uncle's house.

Never did I expect that Kaputian has another white beach that fills our day with fun!I have visited some places or islands in IGACOS but I never heard of this place from friends! Summer time is at hand. It's school break. The people in Davao will surely like to be here. Residents say there's a troop of monkeys if you walk around the little forest.We had no time to check it out because the clouds suddenly turned dark and we had to leave. The sun is so bright and the surrounding is so warm. I actually don't have plans of getting myself wet because I didn't bring my swimming attire. I thought we'll be staying in for the entire day. I was indeed surprised to see this place!

We make a way to get into the water though. There are no other people. The place looks so remote and the road is so rough! People from the city might find it difficult to travel but it's all worth it!

Dayang Beach Resort

I just visited a remote beach resort located in Dadatan, Talicud, Island Garden City of Samal. It takes us an hour to reach the unexploited white sand beach from Sta Ana Wharf. However, Dayang Beach Resort is not totally isolated.

There's no regular boat that could take you there any day of the week unless you make a deal and pay for the solo trip. We went there on a Saturday trip that leaves at 1 pm and desert the island Monday morning at 7am. That's the boat schedule we know.

There's advantage if you live around Samal. It's not easy to get there if you're from Davao City. Taking alternative routes by land will definitely cost you more than taking the boat that goes straight to Talicud. It certainly gives you uncomfortable travel experience so you better check the day and time of travel if you decide to go.

The rooms are not great compared to those in Paradise Island, Costa Marina, Blue Jaz, Pearl Farm, Camp Holiday and other popular resort in the island.On the contrary, our room is good enough to keep us warm in a cold and windy night. Dayang is still in the process of developing and improving their facilities to attract more visitors.The hard thing there is the insufficient source of tap water. We brought distilled water for drinking but we had to buy for cooking and bathing. The water that comes out from the faucet is still saltwater! It was our agony.

What I love in Dayang is the clear waters, the white sand beach, the seashells on the seashore, the perfect view of the tallest mountain the Philippines-Mt. Apo and the afternoon delight while swimming under the sunset sky! I enjoyed snorkeling. I saw three different kinds of sea urchins, big starfish and other marine life. I could see the down cut underwater that shows the opening of the deeper part of the sea! Lying outside our cottage while looking at the bright stars above gives me a blissful feeling. How I love doing it and bonfire completes the night.

I went to Dayang Beach Resort with my fellow teachers.It has a family house as well as open and close cottages.We had a long weekend and it's our way of shrugging off our stress by having R&R activity (rest&recreation).

My 2010 Birthday!

It usually drizzles on my birthday and I prayed for the sun to show up last month on the 21st of December.I felt so happy when the sun was shining so bright when I got up! The first group of people who greeted me is my family!

I didn't have a party at home.I celebrated it at Paradise Island Beach Resort, Island Garden City of Samal

I thank God for me giving another year. I didn't get the same number of gifts I had last year but the celebration is far better. It's the good feeling that matters as you celebrate your natal day.It was great to see my sister again and her family.

To my family and to all who keep on praying for me, thank you for sharing your life with me.

I laughed..I sang..I danced..I swam..I drank..I ate..I played..I did aqua sports..I celebrated my birthday with my ohana...my family.

It was indeed a great day. A fun day for my family and I. Great thanks to all of them.

Maxima Aqua Fun Resort

We had a long weekend in the Philippines and I spent it at Maxima Aqua Fun Resort!It's located in Peñaplata, Island Garden City of Samal.We spent one night at the resort and enjoyed snorkeling, diving, swimming and canopy walk. 

It's an ideal place for adventurous people.There are two giants slides and I tried them both!I jumped off from the diving board and dropped into their 120-foot water depth!At first, I thought about people not needing a life jacket since we know how to swim.After we had our snorkelling, I was sure we really had to! The deep water I saw looks so scary.You can see a big stone/coral with an opening that is very dark.I imagined what if something will come out and bite me!

Nobody's allowed to go swimming without a life vest on.There is no seashore and I saw how rich the coral is. I felt incomplete when I go to the beach without a snorkel and I want to get a snorkel with high quality. My birthday is coming and I hope that one of my love ones can think about it as a present for me.The diver brought us to areas underwater where I saw big clams! I saw brownish ones.The bluish one was the most beautiful! They close their shells if you try to touch them!There was an eel, stone fish, uncommon starfish and other kinds of fish that I first saw in Manila Ocean Park.

Maxima offers other aqua sports like  scuba diving and kayaking. You can also try their jets ski and banana boat ride.I was not afraid to make use of their slides.My knees were shaking though while trying their canopy walk!Looking down you can see an eagle.

I had a great weekend.This is what I love doing! Other people enjoy staying at the mall but I don't.I'm planning to buy things for my other adventures.I think about visiting another place too where we can do wild water rafting.I want to try it in Calinan before going to Cagayan.

Kaputian Beach Park images/photos

We took the following photos very early in morning.Notice our eyes. It was so cold when we got out to our room.It was so windy.....see also our hair (^_^) Mine is the worst one!!jajajajajajajaja

The Host-Mr.&Mrs. Jaralve Below are the taken in their place.

On our way home