Cebu Business Trip

Our Cebu trip was from Aug. 24 to 27, it was purely business trip, meaning, no time to see and enjoy the tourist spots in Cebu. The hotel we were billeted (Parklane) was a lot better compared to the hotel (Golden Peak) we checked in the first time we went there. We relished the dishes in the restos we dined in. Toots and I fell in love with the coffee caramel latte from dessert factory. I thought that the quesadillas in Zapatas here in Angeles City was the best until I tried the quesadilla in Moon Cafe' in Cebu.

We're happy to meet warm and accomodating people in our Cebu office. I'm certain Toots and I were able to serve our purpose in going there. We were productive all through out our stay and having the opportunity to present to our boss some reports related to our queue and our contributions to the success of the entire queue was considered an "Oh Shit Moment!", we gave our best and we were more than pleased with the result.

FieldTrip

When CJ & Acey showed me the paper from their school to notify parents about the fieldtrip, I told them we will just join next year but my daughter Acey begged because she haven't been to Enchanted Kingdom. On the second thought, I realized kids deserve a break from the third periodical exam, so I gave in. My sister in law and her kids joined too which made the fieldtrip more exciting.

There were 13 buses, approximately 650 students, teachers & parents joined the filedtrip last January 30, 2010. Assembly started as early as 4am. We were at bus # 3 and each bus has a tour guide, ours was Kuya Owel, funny and gay...lol.


First stop was the Sumo Sumo production area. Kids were ask to sit down, hands up and wave, afterwards, they showed in the monitor the finish product. Kids were flying like superheroes. The next room was the dubbing area. A teacher and a parent were ask to read the scripts or dialogue with feelings of an anime film.




We proceeded to watch the Davao Crocodile Show. It's not only crocodiles that we got to see. CJ & Acey were able to touch an albino and shake hands with a monkey. I didn't get to see other animals because I went to a shaded area. I'm not fond of zoo and animals. I just go there during fieldtrips and for the kids.



We rode the Pasig River ferry cruise. Kudos to the people working to make the Pasig River clean ang pleasing to the eyes. Students, parents and teachers were educated about history of the said river. We passed by the different bridges and saw the back of Malacanang Palace while on cruise. Let's participate in the "Piso para sa Pasig" project by giving a peso or more.



Before going to Enchanted Kingdom, we were given an hour to take our lunch in Mall of Asia. My sister and I would like to try the dishes from any resto in MOA but the kids insisted that we just eat in KFC. I wanted to try yogurt ice cream and crepes too but my tummy is saying otherwise.


The highlight of the fieldtrip was going to Enchanted Kingdom that was unbelievably jampacked. You have to fall in line for more than an hour to be able to enjoy a ride. We decided to just watch a 30 minute magic show. We paid 50 pesos for the Simon & Silver magic show. Oh boy, it was mesmerizing and entertaining and I must say it's the cheapest yet amazing magic show I've ever seen in my entire life.



We all enjoyed the fieltrip immensely. We got home at 11pm.

TeamBuilding

We had our teambuilding last Friday (July 10) and spent a whole day in Zoobic Safari in Subic. When our team leaders was organizing it, I didn't feel any excitement because I've been to a couple of zoo everytime I accompany my kids in their educational trip. I thought I won't enjoy the teambuilding but I was completely wrong.

Assembly time was at 6am and exactly after an hour the team is complete and off we went to the destination. The travel is for an hour instead of 30 to 45 minutes. We took the SCTex way (Subic Clark Tarlac expressway), the bus is second class and it's a bit slow.

The Safari tour package that our company chose for us included our lunch and entrance fee. We did not enjoy the food in Safari Grill. If you plan to go to Zoobic Safari, I suggest that you go there with full stomach and have lunch or snack outside after the tour.

The best part is the drive thru and close encounters with the tigers wherein humans are inside the cage while tigers would come near you to grab fresh chicken that you can buy inside the zoo. Also, riding the choo choo train and pass in the territory of long necked ostrich.

After the tour, we had lunch in Safari grill, then played Pinoy Henyo and Amazing Race. We were all dead tired and hungry after the games.

This was another memorable teambuilding and teambonding, it was tiring but we all enjoyed it immensely.

Accor Hotels

The hotel that we were billeted in Cebu City is called Golden Peak Hotel, it’s a 21 storey building located near Ayala Center Cebu. The bellboy & the driver who fetch us in Mactan airport are friendly and were smiling at us as we approached them. I like the rooms that was given to us, tidy and big enough for two people and I love the free breakfast buffet that came with the hotel package our company has chosen for us.

On the same note, Cebu Pacific and Philippine airlines are giving out affordable rates to encourage more passengers especially Cebu Pacific and sometimes the rates are unbelievably cheap and no wonder why a lot of my officemates have already been to Singapore, Bangkok, Hongkong & Macau. After grabbing an airline promo and booked a flight, then next thing you pay attention to is the hotel or accommodation while visiting the neighboring countries. Our manager have given me an idea about Accor hotels. I told her before that hubby and I would want to go to Bangkok, Thailand as our anniversary to ourselves.

Incidentally, Accor has a promo called “Accor Hotels City Super Sale”. Hotel rates in 27 cities across 10 countries in Asia Pacific are being reduced in Accor's new "City Super Sale"

Travelers will be able to take advantage of savings of up to 60% when they book on-line between 23 - 29 June, for stays between July 10 and September 30, 2009. Over 250,000 room nights will be on sale, with rates starting as low as US$25 per night. This great deal is simply irrisistable however, this promo is for limited time only.

A productive & enjoyable Cebu Trip

It's been over a week since my trip in Cebu. I've been trying to find time to blog about it but I'm not yet in the mood to do so until tonight though I already uploaded the photos in my friendster account.Finally after more than 30 years, I experienced to ride a plane, FUNNY but TRUE. One thing I regret in my life is not giving myself a chance to tour the Philippines and perhaps visit other countries and get to know different cultures. As I have mentioned in my previous post, the fartherst place I've been to in the Philippines is Baguio. I frequent this place when I was still single while working for an insurance company. We hold our conferences usually in the Summer Capital of the Philippines.

Going to Cebu for a business trip is a big deal to me but I had second thought 'coz I worried about my kids and their schooling but I guess the Cebu trip is really meant for me. The start of classes was re-scheduled week after my Cebu trip due to rains and AH1N1 issues. Another thing, Pao was task to join me. Pao is a fellow Analysts and a friend. We love to eat, giggle & laugh loud. It's also Pao's first time in Cebu and ride a plane...hmmm, I smell adventure.


June 10 was the scheduled trip. The company driver dropped us off to NAIA at 6:30am but our flight is at 12:00nn. Yes, we patiently waited for almost 6 hours because we have no other choice. The company driver still have other employees to pick up from other branch of the company within Manila. We spent time talking, eating, roaming around the terminal as if it was a mall and taking power naps. We checked in our luggage at 10:am and at exactly 12nn we're off to Queen City of the South via Cebu Pacific flight 5J 567. I was feeling okay since the plane's take off and after it landed, that's something I like about myself, I don't get dizzy or feeling nauseaous everytime I travel, whether by land or by air. I'm just not so sure if it's an international flight at a minimun of 6 hours. However, my friend Pao had a migraine attack but it was for a short moment.


We arrived at Mactan airport 30 minutes earlier than expected. Good thing the hotel driver assigned to fetch us is already waiting for us. He drove us straight to the hotel. We had time to unpack our stuff and rest. It was graveyard shift for 2 nights in Cebu office. The QA talk which is our main purpose for going there was a success! Our office in Cebu City is located in IT Park near Waterfront Hotel and it's like Makati with buildings around and there are other establishments under construction. On the ground floor you will find Starbucks, Jollibee, KFC and the likes. You will go home empty pocket every payday if you don't know how to budget your money.

We didn't have time to visit the tourist spots in Cebu like Magellan Cross and the Sto Nino Church, it was purely business. We enjoyed the Ayala Center Cebu and have good meal in different restos inside, the yummy moments will never be forgotten. Of course, a trip to Cebu wouldn't be complete without going to Ta-boan to buy danggit, pusit and dried mangoes. We were warned by some fellow Analysts who did a QA talk in Cebu prior to us to go to Ta-boan before taking a bath. We also brought home lechon Cebu for our family.


On our way home (still via Cebu Pacific), there are so many expats in the same flight and I noticed one female attendant being extra nice & attentive to foreigners. Also, I'm a bit disappointed instead of giving free snacks to passengers, the attendants will roll the cart and sell breads, chips & drinks with 100% mark up value...goodness!!! We landed in DMIA (Diosdado Macapagal International Airport) in Clark. It was a super safe trip.


The travel and visit to Cebu was an experience and I'm glad to share that with a good friend Pao. The trip de stressed and rejuvenated me. Hopefully there will be next time.

Drive Safely

Famous actor and endorser Richard Gutierrez had an accident last May 22 where he and another companion had minor injuries while his long time personal assistant named Nomar died on the spot. It was said that Richard was driving his 7 million sports car when the accident happened. One reason that caused the accident was because the matinee idol was unfamiliar with the place and maybe he was tired from the taping.

It was a traumatic experience for Richard but life must go on. I believed he started accomplishing his usual showbiz commitments and coping well after the accident with the support of his family and friends.

Car enthusiasts should learn from this accident. Always drive safely especially if you are with your loved ones. More importantly, make sure to check the car like the steering rack , it should be in the best condition especially when engaging in long drive.

First ever Cebu visit

I will be going to Cebu with my fellow QA Analyst Pao on Wedenesday next week. Yes, you read it right, this is going to be my first time in the Queen City of the South and believe it or not, this is the farthest place I've ever been to within the Philippines. It's going to be purely business trip but of course Pao and I will find time to visit the ever famous Magellan's cross and the Sto. Nino Church and we will be able to plan ahead after we receive the final itinerary on Monday. Originally, this should have happened last month and I agreed to go while kids are on vacation even if it means I will have no companion but due to delays on the final budget, it was moved this month and fortunately Pao will be joining me.

Our manager made sure that part of the service in the hotel we will be billeted is the transfer service. She took into consideration this is our first trip to Cebu and for all of us to have peace of mind, we requested the hotel driver to pick and drop us in the Cebu airport and if that is not possible, we will avail of car rentals just like the cheap car hire for faro airport in UK. But we are more than willing to take a cab going to and from the hotel and our Cebu office to make it more thrilling and be familiarized with the place.

Tomorrow is my day off and I'll make sure that my kids are ready for their back to school drama at the same time, I'll start packing to make sure everything I need is in my luggage.

Happy weekend everyone!

Summer Outing!

I haven't updated my blog with a new post for a week now simply because I'm super busy with the certification of our call agents at the same time completing reviewed calls since last week. These are needed in my department to generate report for the month of April and submit it to everyone concern.

Despite the hectic schedule in work, my QA family pushed through with our summer outing last April 25. Some enjoyed doing the pictorial and savoring the food while others plunged in the pool of Villa Antonina (me and my kids joined the latter group).

Here are some of the photos:

one of the nice cottage

villa antonina at night with super enjoy & happy CJ & Acey sexiness!!!
around the world

Stress & Worry Free Vacation

My husband and I will celebrate our 10th year anniversary on October 27, 2008. When we chatted last time, we talked about how we plan to celebrate it. I ask him that we go to Boracay, the famous beach paradise here in the Philippines, just the two of us. But my husband would want to do it outside the country, simply because he wanted me to experience to ride a plane while traveling for several hours and understand the feeling to be in a foreign land. Isn’t that exciting?

As early as now I’m thinking how to go about the possible out of the country trip. I realized that aside from booking your flight, the next important thing to do before you travel is to make sure that you have a place to stay and chances are it’s going to be in a hotel.

While surfing the net, I chanced upon the website HotelReservations.com. What’s amazing about HotelReservations.com is that they can find a place for you to stay during your vacation in almost any part of the world. They can arrange your accommodation if you plan to tour Europe, visit United States or explore Asia. Moreover, they have available toll free number that you can call to inquire about hotel reservations and possible hotel discounts or promos that you can avail of and you can be assured that a friendly and accommodating customer representative of HotelReservations.com will be on the other end of the line. Another interesting and exciting fact about HotelReservations.com is that, once your reservation is confirmed, they can also arrange a vehicle for you to pick you up from the airport to ensure that you reach the hotel without worry of getting lost. They have wide arrays of automobile you can choose from, luxury cars, convertibles, standard or full size.

With all the services HotelReservation offers, I'm pretty sure you have an impression it's expensive and will not afford it. This is absolutely untrue! In fact, it is disclosed in the website that if you book a "Special Internet Rate" and happen to find a lower rate in the same hotel, you can be guaranteed they will match the price or cancel your reservation without cancellation fee, now that's amazing!

Your travel will certainly turn out to be stress and worry free with HotelReservation.com.

SCTex is now open

Today is Holy Thursday. I don't have plans of going anywhere however my sister in law called me early morning inviting us to join them to try the Subic Clark Tarlac expressway (SCTex). I said yes reluctantly.

SCTex is now open for light vehicles since Tuesday in anticipation of the holy week. During it's soft opening, our President GMA came in Clark Pampanga along with some officials from Malacanang and several reporting team from different networks. The great deal is toll free is waived until end of the month. It will formally open in April.

It took us exactly 45 minutes to reach the 55 kilometer Subic bay. The expressway is truly amazing. I commend the Macapagal administration for this accomplishment.

We explored Subic. We had early lunch in one of the parks, across the road we can see the waves of blue water. We went to bat kingdom and took a quick peek at Zoobic Safari. Afterwards, we decided to rest in another park and when we felt we were all charge up again, we headed to Royal Duty Free. My mom bought chocolates for her grandchildren.

We got home pass 3pm.

Baguio GetAway

I was awake as early as 4am of January 05 to prepare for our Baguio trip. Everybody was ready to go at exactly 5am. The van arrived 15 minutes later. We were in Tarlac at 6am and reached Pangasinan 2 hours after. We dropped by at Manaoag Church because my sister and her husband promised themselves to visit the said church before they go back to Qatar. A great opportunity for me to talk to God and thank Him for the abundant blessings He showered me and my loved ones in the whole year of 2007. I lit 5 candles and prayed for good health for the whole family especially my kids, successful career for me & my husband, healthy pregnancy for my sister who had a miscarriage before she got pregnant again, realization of my parent's goal to build a simple house early part of 2008 and continued blessings.



Everyone was in high energy as we continue the journey to the summer capital. We realized we are nearing the destination when we saw the zigzag road and felt we were climbing the mountain. Mang Ed, our driver, was knowledgeable of the place because he owns the house where the whole family stayed.

We did a stop over at the Kennon Viewdeck for picture taking and overlooking the view. It was breathtaking, it’s something that you don’t see in Pampanga. The air was very cold that you really need to wear jacket or sweatshirt. Afterwards, we headed to our accomodation. It's a house big enough for us with 3 rooms, each has 2 single sized bed. What we like most about it, is the terrace with long tables where we dined. We unpacked our stuff, had lunch and started wandering the tourist spots of Baguio.





On the first day, we went to Grotto & Pink Sisters convent. We also paid a short visit to Baguio Cathedral. Later on, we were at the place with horses. My kids especially CJ enjoyed riding a horse, It’s 150 bucks for 30 minutes. We had picture taking in The Mansion. Of course, Baguio trip wouldn’t be complete not having a picture with Mines View as your background. We passed by at Camp John Hay and our last stop for the day was SM Baguio where we bought the ingredients for our dinner. We decided to cook pansit guisado and lumpiang shanghai instead of heavy meal. Because everybody was tired strolling around Baguio, we fell asleep as early as 8pm.



While on the second day, we headed to the strawberry farm field and bought pasalubong. Afterwards, we went to Bell Church. CJ & Acey dropped a coin in the wishing well and silently cited their wishes or requests. We drove bicycles in the Burnham Park, then had lunch in a restaurant that serves their meal in a sizzling plate. We went back to the accommodation to organize our things. At 3pm, we’re ready on our way back to Pampanga.




In my previous job, when I was still single, I would go to Baguio to attend conferences and trainings and I never got the chance to explore it. It was only during our recent trip that I got to discover more about it’s nice places.

The trip was very tiring and a bit expensive but it’s all worth it. Last night, we chatted online with my husband and Acey enthusiastically narrated to her Dada the trip the whole time they were talking.

It was indeed an unforgettable experience.

Fieldtrip

The field trip yesterday was well organized. Meeting time was at 4am. We were at the meeting place few minutes after the call time 'coz CJ and I had to walk all the way from our house due to unavailability of tricycles. Their school is a few blocks away from where we live. Shortly, we saw 2 buses and a coaster. I immediately approached teacher Maritess to ask which bus we should ride, we were at bus number 2 which was almost filled, first come first serve rule. We have no choice but to occupy the middle row.

We were at expressway around 5:30am and reached Tagaytay Zoo before 9am. CJ was fascinated with different wild animals he saw. It's actually his second time but his gutsy now in approaching animals and have a picture taken with them. The zoo contain limited animals and the foul smell produced by their urine and feces is unbearable. CJ suppressed his breathing when he try get close in their cages.

After nearly 2 hours, we headed to Tagaytag Picnic Grove for our lunch. We then went to the famous Collette store to buy some pasalubong. I bought 2 buko pie for my parents and in laws plus espasol for Ate Nits, my kid's beloved nanny.

Part of the itinerary is a visit to the Nissin Monde Noodle factory, makers of skyflakes biscuits and Lucky Me Pancit Canton. Unfortunately, cameras are not allowed inside the factory. The kids enjoyed the 30 minute plant tour. They witnessed how their favorite lucky me pancit canton is being done. It's the machines deployed doing the job. The factory is huge and tidy, however, there's no enough aircondition especially in the room where preview of the proccess using modern projector was held.

Last destination was Enchanted Kingdom. We were at the famous carnival place at 3pm, good thing it was a gloomy day during the frieldtrip, so there's no heat of the sun to worry while we explore the prominent Enchanted Kingdom. CJ & I rode the roller coaster. When it started, I suppressed myself from screaming so my son won't be scared. After one round, I showed my son 2 thumbs up, congratulating him for overcoming his fear with rides. He continued riding choochoo train, carousel and stone eggs alone.

CJ had a blast with the field trip. He was elated and obviously enjoyed our bonding. His amazement and eagerness is truly my heart's bliss.