March 31, 2015

Purple Oven: White Chocolate Sansrival

It was my son’s graduation last week so we went to Purple Oven to buy a cake since he wanted a graduation cake. Last year, I bought Classic Sansrival  so for a change, I chose White Chocolate Sansrival P860. It is a sansrival cake coated with white chocolate. Simple and elegant cake.

Last year, my son can finish 1/8 slice of classic sansrival but with this one, he just like to eat the white chocolate. We loved this cake, so far Purple Oven doesn’t disappoint me with their cake. Parang lahat ng natikman ko na cake nila, ok ang lasa. 

I printed buntings day before graduation to put it in my son’s cake. Thanks to Wowa for the graduation cake.
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March 30, 2015

Shakey’s “If It’s Late, It’s Free” Slogan is not True?

Shakey’s is one of our go to restaurant whenever we are out. If you’ve been reading this blog for quite some time now, you know that my family loves Shakey’s that’s why we have the Shakey’s Pizzanatic Supercard.

 We were in Valenzuela yesterday and we decided to order at Shakey’s for our dinner. I called the Shakey’s Hotline 77-777 past 5PM so we could have early dinner because we will go home after. I live in South Luzon so we want to leave early. 

 I ordered the “Monster Meal Deal”. The customer service rep told me that their time is 5:20PM and please expect the order at 5:58PM. I said ok and hang up. I was thinking na bakit parang may butal pa yung time. 

I know that Shakey’s has 45 minutes delivery time so I called at 6:05 to follow up. I asked the customer service about the slogan of “If it’s late, it’s free” and he said that our order is guaranteed free kasi late na nga daw. He will coordinate with the branch to check our order and please wait for a call. 

 I did not receive any call and the delivery guy came at 6:20PM, so that is one hour after my first call. I told him that our order is already free because he’s late and he still argue. 

 Delivery Guy: Ma’m on time po ko, nasa gate na po ko at 5:58PM, dapat stop the clock na yun. Naligaw lang po ko at sa kabilang building po ko pumasok.
Me: Huh! Eh sinabi na sa hotline na free na kasi late na nga and icoordinate na nila yung sa branch niyo. 
DG: Ma’m, 2k po ito. (takot na face at baka abonohan) 
Me: Tawag ka sa branch niyo. 

 The delivery guy called the branch and I even talked to their branch too and I was informed na pakipirmahan na lang po and pasulat yung time na dumating. But I ended up paying the bill which is P2583 at ayaw kumain ng nanay ko ng food knowing na ibabawas sa sweldo ng staff yung bill namin. 

 This was not the first time that the delivery guy was late, my sister in law said that it happened before and binayaran din nila because sabi ng rider ibabawas daw sa sweldo niya yun. (same address) 

 What’s the use of the slogan “If it is late, it’s free” kung magmamakaawa naman ang delivery guy na bayaran ang order at ikakaltas daw sa sweldo nila. I don’t understand bakit kailangan pa makipag argue sa time, e dapat synchronized ang oras ng Shakey’s hotline, branch at staff. If it’s late, it’s should be free. Di na dapat makipagtalo sa customer. Well, I don’t know if I will still believe in their slogan. 

 My sister called the hotline and informed the rep kung ano nangyari and the customer rep advised her na next time, wag na daw bayaran. But he did not say anything kung san nga icharge pag di kami nagbayad. #clueless.

 Have you experienced this before?
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March 20, 2015

Investiture + Day Camp

My son joined Kid Scout Club this school year and once (twice) a month they have their meeting.


 Last Saturday, they have their Investiture + Day Camp activity in school. Good thing my husband was there to accompany my son but I still went to school so I could take pictures and videos. 
The program started with Investiture and kids are now part of the International Boy Scout.
Then they had day camp activities such as 

 Citizenship Training 
The parents were blindfolded and the kids will guide them until they reached their destination. It was a fifteen-minute activity.

 Nature Lore

 Teams will make a collage about our environment. 

 Laro ng Lahi/Sports Activities
Teams will play soccer, volleyball, basketball, and frisbee. My son’s team won the soccer and volleyball game. 

 Obstacle Course 

The final event before the awarding ceremony. My son enjoyed the day camp activities. Even it was really tiring but all went home happy because it was a different family bonding. In this activity, you will learn more about your kids.
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March 17, 2015

Kinder Surprise

My mom came home for a visit two weeks ago, and as always, she brought Kinder Surprise for her grandchildren. We love Kinder Surprise; unfortunately, it is not available here in the Philippines. I would immediately buy this chocolate if I ever had the chance ,like when we went to Hongkong Disneyland.  

My son got two boxes of Kinder Surprise, one from my mom and one from my aunt. Each box contains 3 pieces, and we opened the chocolate egg, one day at a time. 

My son was so excited after school because he could open one egg, and he even shared the chocolate with me, tig - 1/2 kami. Hehehe! 

Here are the toys that we’ve got. 


Kinder Joy is available here in the Philippines, but we prefer the chocolate of the Kinder Surprise.
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March 11, 2015

Day Trip in Canyon Cove Resort

My mom just came home from Norway and we had a family outing in Canyon Cove. It was a last-minute decision because the initial plan was 88 Resort in Laguna. 

The day before our trip, my husband called Canyon Cove to ask if we could have a day trip on March 8, 2015. He asked about the rates and if the towels are provided for day-trippers. The staff said, “They can accommodate 25+ persons, and towels are provided.” 

Day Trip Rate of Canyon Cove 

 P800 - Adults (P300 consumable) 
P400 - 11 years old below (P200 consumable) 
FOC - 3 years old below 
P1500 - cottage on the beach 
P1000 - cottage in pool 

 (Click here for new rate for day trip) 

 We were here last November 2014 so I immediately went to the reception area but was told to proceed to the Day Tour Counter. I didn’t know that they have a different entrance for the day-trippers. 
I paid the entrance fee and they handed us these bracelets + consumable coupon. 

I noticed that my family is not using the Canyon Cove towels so I told my husband to inquire about the towels and we’re so disappointed because they were asking for a P300 downpayment for each towel. We were not informed that we had to pay for the towels. Imagine P300 x 26 persons = P7800 just for towels.

Though the P300 is refundable, the thing is they should inform us about the fee. One more thing, they can only provide 3 towels for our group because it is peak season, #boo. Why do they have to say that they can accommodate 26 persons if they can’t provide towels? Anyway, good thing we brought towels with us. 


 We had an early lunch at Island Cafe (Max’s) using our coupon. We ordered Chopsuey, Kare-Kare, Lechon Kawali, Pork Binagoongan, Sinigang na Baboy, Fried Chicken, Spaghetti Meal and Buko Pandan. We just paid the excess. 

This is the shower room and changing area for day-trippers. There’s a locker room but I don’t know if there’s a fee for that. 

 Like 

 1. There is only one pool but it was big enough for the guests. 
2. The beach in Nasugbu is nice compared to Laiya and Calatagan. 
3. The shower room and changing area are clean, though there are some showers that are not working. 

 Dislike 

 1. The beach cottage is too small and not worth it for P1500. 
2. We were informed that towels are provided but they can’t provide the towels that we need and there’s a P300 downpayment for each towel so better bring your own towel.

Despite that, my family enjoyed our day trip to Canyon Cove but I realized that they have different treatment for overnight stay and day trip guests. 

 READ: Staycation in Canyon Cove
           Kainan sa Dalampasigan
           Day trip in Canyon Cove December 2015

 Canyon Cove Resort
Far East Road, Piloto Wawa, 
Nasugbu, Batangas
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March 06, 2015

Staycation in Tagaytay

I always love cold weather, if only I could extend until March but of course, I can’t stop the season and I have to face the fact that summer is already here. Good thing for Filipinos, we can visit Baguio and Tagaytay if we are longing for cold weather. When I was still in college, Baguio is our go-to place during summer but when I got married and moved to South, Tagaytay is our new summer destination.

Tagaytay is less than an hour travel from our place so it is not surprising that we always visit this place. It is known as the second summer capital of the Philippines. There’s so much to do in Tagaytay so we never get tired of this place. Even it is less than an hour away from home; we’ve tried to have a staycation in Tagaytay.

 If you are looking for hotel accommodation in Tagaytay, you can check the following hotels and resorts that we have tried. Click the name of the hotel if you want to read more.

 Where to Stay in Tagaytay 

 1. Hotel Kimberly Tagaytay 

 We’ve tried their branch in Manila because that was our accommodation when we got married in Intramuros so we decided to check their new hotel in Tagaytay. Hotel Kimberly Tagaytay is the first hotel that we have tried in Tagaytay. 

 My son was only 2 months old at that time so I was looking for a place where we could celebrate New Year away from the noise and smoke of fireworks. We had no regrets in choosing Hotel Kimberly Tagaytay because we enjoyed our New Year celebration there. We liked the facilities, amenities, and service of this hotel. I hope we could revisit this place again. 

 Read: New Year at Hotel Kimberly Tagaytay

 2. Taal Vista Hotel

 Taal Vista Hotel is a popular hotel in Tagaytay, you won’t miss this hotel because it is along the road. The nice thing about this hotel is they have a good view of Taal Volcano and very near Sky Ranch. The facilities, amenities, and food are also good. 

 Read: Mother's Day at Taal Vista Hotel

 3. Pina Colina Resort 

 Pina Colina Resort is the cheapest accommodation that we’ve tried so far in Tagaytay. The room was big enough for the three of us. This resort is good for team building or family events. The place is more on relaxing because there are only two activities that my son can enjoy which is the playground and small pool. 

 Read: Wedding Anniversary at Pina Colina Resort 

 4. Bali Village Hotel

 After few years, we celebrated New Year again in Tagaytay. We attended a year-end wedding in Caleruega and Bali Village Hotel is the wedding reception area so we reserved a room in the same hotel. The place looks relaxing and it has a swimming pool too. The hotel is near the Taal Vista Hotel and Sky Ranch. 

 Read: New Year at Bali Village Hotel

 5. Nurture Wellness Village 

 The recent place that we’ve tried is Nurture Wellness Village. That is where we experienced our first-ever glamping or glamorous glamping. The spa resort has different rooms too if you are not comfortable sleeping in a tent, you can book a room. 

 Read: Glamping at Nurture Wellness Village

 6. Crosswinds Resort Suites (Update June 2015) 

 My wish to stay in Crosswinds was granted last June. My husband celebrated his birthday in this resort. The place is indeed a beautiful and perfect getaway if you want to escape from a busy life. It is far away from the main road and nestled in the hillside of Tagaytay. The rooms have a kitchen so you can bring and cook your own food, no corkage fee. 

 Read: Birthday Staycation at Crosswinds Resort Suites

 There are other places that we’ve visited in Tagaytay but haven’t booked an overnight stay yet such as T-House Tagaytay and Sonya’s Garden. 

 Read: Food Trip in Tagaytay Klook.com
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March 01, 2015

Batangas Resorts List | Real Stays, Reviews & Travel Experiences

March is here, and it is the time of the year again when we start planning for summer adventures. It is not easy to research and reserve because we all know that most of the resorts are fully booked during April and May. It really pays to reserve in advance because summer is #peakseason. 


Speaking of summer getaways. If you are living in Metro Manila and the southern part of Luzon, Batangas is a popular summer destination because of the beach resorts. We live in South Luzon, so it is our go-to place if we want to have fun in the sun. There are so many resorts in different parts of Batangas, but I will share the resorts that we have tried in the past. 

Batangas Resorts

1. Golden Sunset Resort

Golden Sunset Resort is located in Calatagan, Batangas, owned by Ricky Reyes. The resort has different types of swimming pools, but no beach (just beach sand). It offers an outdoor museum, playground, butterfly garden, and serendipity spa, which you can visit during your leisure time. During our visit, there was a parade of sea creatures. The place is a little bit big, but don’t worry, there is a mini-jeepney inside the resort that transports guests. 

 Read: Golden Sunset Resort 

2. Kabayan Resort

Kabayan Resort is the cheapest resort that we’ve visited in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas, because the entrance fee is only P100 for adults and P50 for those 11 years old and below, so it is not surprising that the place is crowded during peak season. It offers both a beach and a swimming pool, but there will be an additional fee if you want to use the swimming pool. You can bring your own food and drinks without a corkage fee. 

 Read: Kabayan Resort 

3. Blue Coral Resort

Blue Coral Resort is the second beach resort that we’ve tried in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas. The resort facilities, rooms, and services were good, but the food was just ok for us. Food and drinks are not allowed, so you have to avail of their food package for P1,100 per person, which includes buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

 Read: Blue Coral Resort

4. La Luz Resort

Another beach resort that we’ve visited in Laiya, San Juan Batangas, is La Luz Resort. The resort is always fully booked even in the lean season, so make sure that you make a reservation for a day trip and an overnight stay. The day trip fee is P850, which includes buffet lunch and merienda; you can add buffet breakfast for an additional fee of P200 per head. The beach resort has no swimming pool. 

 Read: La Luz Resort

5. Stilts Calatagan Resort

Stilts Calatagan Resort is one of the resorts that I’ve been meaning to visit, but their room accommodation is quite steep in my budget, so we just had a day trip. It offers a beach and a swimming pool. The beach in Calatagan, Batangas, is not as good as Laiya, San Juan, Batangas, so manage your expectations. Food and drinks are allowed, but with a corkage fee. I like the service at Stilts Calatagan, and if ever I have a budget, I would like to revisit the place, but this time for an overnight stay in one of their cottages. 

 Read: Stilts Calatagan Resort

6. Canyon Cove Resort

Canyon Cove Resort is located in Nasugbu, Batangas. Just like other resorts, this place is always fully booked, whether in lean or peak season. We just visited this place last November, and my mom wanted to have an outing here, but when I checked the March weekend schedule last November, fully booked na agad. The resort has both a swimming pool and a beach. I prefer the beach in Nasugbu compared to Calatagan and Laiya, San Juan Batangas (hindi kasi bigla lalim and hindi maalon).

 Read: Canyon Cove 
Day Trip at Canyon Cove, check my post here and here.

7. Acuatico Beach Resort and Hotel 2015

Acuatico Beach Resort and Hotel is one of the popular resorts in San Juan, Batangas. It is known for its beautiful infinity pool. The resort is not that big, but it provides the things that you need for you to enjoy your stay. The rate is on the pricey side, but the service is good. 

 Read: Acuatico Beach Resort and Hotel

8. Vivere Azure 2016

If you want to relax and unwind, go to Vivere Azure. You will enjoy your getaway here because the service is impeccable, the place is not crowded, and the food is good. Perfect getaway if you want privacy. It offers a beach and a swimming pool.

 Read: Vivere Azure 

9. Hamilo Coast Pico De Loro 2018

We stayed at Pico Sands Hotel, but you can also rent a condominium in order to enter Hamilo Coast Pico De Loro. The place is big, and it offers both a swimming pool and a beach. You have no reasons to get bored here because they have a lot of activities that you can do. They have several restaurants so you'll never get hungry. Two days and one night are not enough to enjoy the place, medyo bitin pa.

Read: Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club
Food Trip at Hamilo Coast Pico De Loro
Watch the video here.

10. Acuaverde Beach Resort

This is the fifth resort that we have tried in San Juan, Batangas. It is the sister company of Acuatico Beach Resort but they do not have a swimming pool. Whether you will book for a day trip or overnight stay, the package includes three meals. This is a pet-friendly resort so you can bring your pet for a fee.

Read: Acuaverde Beach Resort
Watch the video here

11. Laiya Coco Grove

If you are looking for a resort that can accommodate big groups, Laiya Coco Grove is the answer. They have different types of accommodation that can accommodate different groups of couples, family outings, or even company outings. They have a swimming pool and a beach. If you stay here, choose treehouses so you will have a beach view.

Read: Laiya Coco Grove
Watch the video here

12. Palm Beach Resort 2019

Palm Beach Resort offers a day trip and an overnight stay. They have rooms for a couple, a family, and even for a big group. They have 2 swimming pools, a beach, a playground, and some team-building facilities. The place is big, so sometimes going from one place to another makes you feel tired, but they have a shuttle service for that. The shore of the beach is a little bit rocky, so it is better to bring your aqua shoes, or you can borrow them, depending on availability. For an overnight stay, you need to avail yourself of their full-board meals at P1800.

Read: Palm Beach Resort
Watch the video here

13. The Farm at San Benito 2019

The Farm at San Benito is not a beach resort; it is a Health and Wellness resort, so if you are looking for a peaceful place, then visit this holistic sanctuary. They have activities for kids and adults, some are free, and some are for a fee. The only disadvantage is that everything is expensive, but if you have the budget, then treat yourself and stay here.

Read: The Farm at San Benito 
Watch the video here

14. Lilom Resort 2022

Lilom Resort is the second resort that we have tried in Anilao, Batangas. This is a rustic resort with 7 rooms only, so you can book the whole resort if you want an exclusive stay. The rate includes full-board meals, so getting hungry is never a problem.


15. The Henry Resort Taramindu Laiya 2022

I celebrated my birthday at The Henry Resort Taramindu Laiya, it is the former Taramindu Beach Garden. It offers both a swimming pool and a beach. Their room is good for 2 to 4 people only. It has its own restaurant, which is called Apartment 1B. 


16. Solana Resort 2022

The third resort that we have visited is in Anilao, Batangas. This resort offers both a saltwater pool and a beach. The room is spacious and can accommodate up to 4 people. The rate also includes 3 buffet meals and free use of a kayak. 


17. Sanctuary Batulao 2023

Sanctuary Batulao is a serene hillside retreat nestled near the scenic slopes of Mount Batulao in Batangas. Designed for relaxation and connection with nature, it offers a peaceful escape from city life, surrounded by rolling greens, cool mountain air, and sweeping countryside views. The property blends modern comfort with a calm, natural setting, making it ideal for weekend getaways, intimate gatherings, retreats, and slow, restorative stays.


18. La Chevrerie Resort 2023

La Chevererie Resort & Spa is the fourth resort that we visited in Anilao, Batangas. It is a five-star resort that offers both a pool and a beach. It has only 13 rooms, so if you want privacy, you can add this to your choices. 

Watch the video here

19. Nawa Wellness Resort 2024

If you’re looking for a more peaceful and wellness-focused stay in Batangas, Nawa Wellness Resort is a great escape from the usual crowded beach resorts. The resort has a relaxing atmosphere with modern tropical interiors and plenty of greenery that instantly makes you slow down and recharge. What we loved most was the calm environment, perfect for couples, families, or even a quick self-care weekend. The amenities are well-maintained, and the overall experience feels more premium and private compared to typical beach resorts in the area.


20. Ybonita Farm and Villas 2025

Ybonita Farm and Villas gave us a relaxing countryside escape in Batangas that felt very different from the usual beach trip. Surrounded by nature and open spaces, the farm stay offered a peaceful and refreshing atmosphere that’s perfect for families, barkadas, or anyone wanting a quiet weekend away from the city. We stayed overnight at the cozy Yvatan Villa and enjoyed a well-prepared package that made the experience feel hassle-free and memorable.


21. Matabungkay Beach Hotel 2026

Matabungkay Beach Resort remains one of the classic beach destinations in Batangas, especially for travelers who want a convenient and family-friendly vacation spot. The beach area is known for its floating cottages and calm waters, making it enjoyable for swimming and short boat rides. During our visit, we appreciated the wide beachfront, relaxing sea breeze, and nostalgic resort vibe that many Batangas travelers grew up with. It’s a solid choice for weekend getaways, reunions, and casual beach trips without traveling too far from Manila.


So far, these are the resorts that we’ve visited in Batangas. Care to share your favorite resort?
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