Michi Photostory

The problem was, biglang napaaga yung outing, so we only had less than 12 hours to search for a resort. I suggested Villa Esmane Private Resort and informed them na marami pa resorts yung owner. Unfortunately, fully booked na rin sa date namin. 

Past 9PM, we still didn’t have a resort, so I slept na and told myself, madali naman magpack tomorrow if ever matuloy. I was shocked when I woke up kasi tuloy pala outing namin, my sister-in-law was able to book everything. She found Cayet’s Cabin Private Villa Resort and fortunately, may nagcancel ng reservation so she was able to book the resort. 

The day trip rate is PHP10,000, from 8AM to 5PM. This includes 2 Standard Aircon Rooms and use of facilities. The owner offered a 15% discount and only asked for PHP1,000 for the reservation via Gcash.

The resort is Balinese-inspired. The swimming pool water is hot spring water, no chemicals, and untreated. According to them, the water is drained and filled after every use. The Adult Pool is 5.5 feet in depth, and the Kiddie Pool is 3 feet in depth. 

Amenities: 

Basketball Area 

Foosball 

Wide Billiard 

Grand Videoke 

Dart 

Parking and wifi are available too. The bathroom has a hot and cold shower. 

My sister-in-law even managed to order our meals. I forgot to ask kung saan siya nag-order pero Laguna area din, so it was delivered at the resort. She ordered Chicken Curry, Lechon Kawali, Chopsuey, Pansit Overload, Buko Pandan, and Rice. I just brought fruits, drinks and snacks. 

Rosal St. Perpetual Help Subdivision, 

Pansol, Calamba City, 

Laguna Philippines

Laguna is known for hot spring resorts so there are so many resorts out there but there are two things we need to consider like time and budget. We were having difficulty finding an affordable private resort in Laguna. We don’t need a big resort naman since 14 pax lang naman kami. Also, paHoly Week na rin kasi so some resorts were already booked and some resorts naman don’t accept day trips, gusto nila 22 hours. 

Anyway, thanks sa pagpupuyat ng asawa ko, nakahanap din siya ng pasok sa budget namin. It just so happened na may 12AM meeting siya (following USA time kasi) so hindi siya pwede matulog kaya nagsearch na lang siya ng resort habang naghihintay ng telecon. Hehehe! 

Villa Esmane Private Resort was not our first choice pero fully booked na kasi yung first choice namin so ito yung sinuggest ng owner. Also we changed travel date na rin kasi wala talaga pag-asa sa Holy Week. 

What I like about this resort is, they have different rates, depending on the number of people. Here are the rates at the time of booking. 

Weekends/Holiday: (Friday to Sunday) 

• Daytime P 7,000.00 (9am to 5pm) 

• Overnight P 9,000.00 (7pm to 6am) 

• 1-Day P 14,000.00 (9am to 6am or 8pm to 5pm) 

• Daytime P 6,000.00 (9am to 5pm) 

• Overnight P 8,000.00 (Open time, 11 hours) 

• 1-Day P 10,000.00 (Open time, 21 hours) 

My husband called to inquire pero sa Viber app na lahat ng communication. To confirm the reservation, he paid a 50% downpayment and within the day, he received a confirmation email. The remaining balance is upon arrival at the resort. 

Adult swimming pool (natural hot spring water) 4 ft to 5 1/2 ft 

Kiddie pool “ 3 ft 

1-bed room, capacity of 2 to 3 pax 

4 Bedrooms with full air conditioning. 

Kitchen - Refrigerator + Cooking Utensils 

Complete Set of Bedding 

4 Comfort Rooms 

Barbeque grill 

Unlimited Videoke 

Tables and Chairs 

Pavilion Wifi 

If you plan to cook, there is an additional PHP500 for a gas stove but we did not avail this because we brought cooked food na and yung ibang ulam namin is grilled food like BBQ, hotdog, liempo, talong, bangus, tilapia and yung isang fish na parang lapu-lapu (hindi ko alam name, hehehe). 

* Do not forget to bring your own dishwashing stuff, toiletries, and towels. 

Sharing some pictures, Nagtake lang ako ng pictures ng rooms but my family did not stay here, so I cannot comment kung okay ba yung bed and yung aircon.

Since it was day trip naman, nasa pavillion lang talaga kami, busy sa paggrill and pagswim. Yung swimming pool temperature, hindi siya mainit like yung sa 88 Resort Spa, pero may parang falls so yun ang mainit. 

My only concern is the bathroom, need ng konting maintenance especially sa door knobs and doors. But overall, we had a good time here. 

It was my Father-in-law's birthday celebration so I also made this cake topper. This design is available on Cricut Design Space.

Lake Wood Subd, Lalakay 

Los Baňos Laguna

Modern Shang is formerly known as Modern Shanghai. I have no idea kung gaano na katagal yung restaurant sa Pilipinas pero bago-bago pa yung branch nila sa SM Sta Rosa. It just opened last July 2023 but I only saw this restaurant when we ate at Texas Roadhouse. 

Modern Shang’s mission is to provide quality and innovative cuisine in Beijing, Sichuan, and Shanghai. I have never been to China so I can’t compare but after eating at Modern Shang, I finally appreciate Chinese cuisine so feeling ko hindi lang masasarap yung nakainan ko dati. Hehehe! 

Prior to our visit, I checked Modern Shang’s menu online so I already had an idea of what to order. We ordered some of their best-sellers like Deep-Fried Squid with Spicy Salt and Pepper PHP418, Yang Chow Fried Rice PHP228 (per cup) and Signature Xiao Long Bao PHP198 (4 pcs). My husband also added Steamed Tofu in Shallot Oil PHP248. 

After ordering our meal, they immediately served water, hot tea, and crackers and they even refilled the tea and crackers nung nakita nila na naubos agad namin, hehehe! Gutom na talaga kasi kami. After 15 minutes, they already served our food. 

We were so happy with our order so I knew that we would go back again, siguro sa next check-up ko ulit.

I seldom go out of the house but when I do, ginagawa ko na yung dapat gawin para isang pagod na lang. Hehehe! First, I had breakfast with my friends at Ambos Panederia + Cocina, and then we went to Pag-ibig office because we planned to continue our contribution as voluntary members. Next, we went to SM Sta Rosa because my friend needed to buy something and we had a late lunch at Modern Shang.

This has been my go to restaurant na kapag napapadpad sa SM Sta Rosa. My friend ordered from Shanghai Wok Bowls, Orange Chicken Bowl, but she could not finish this dish because it was too spicy for her. My son ordered this before during our last visit but did not mention that it was spicy or maybe because he loves spicy food.

I ordered Porkchop Egg Fried Rice PHP498. It looks like a small meal pero nahirapan na ako ubusin ito. And because of that, take out ko na lang yung supposed to be dessert namin na Deep-Fried Glutinous Dumplings. PHP208.

I went to the hospital for my routine check-up but the staff informed me na 1PM pa daw darating yung doctor so I was contemplating kung uuwi pa ba ko or maghihintay na lang. My husband and I decided na maghintay na lang so we went to SM Sta Rosa to kill time.

I went to SM Customer Service to claim our PSA Birth Certificates, I was crossing my fingers na hindi sayang yung pinila ko. Naexperience ko na kasi yung hindi pa available yung order ko. Fortunately, naclaim ko lahat. 

Then we went to Modern Shang to eat our lunch, we wanted to avail of the 50% off promo sana but unfortunately, hindi pala every day available. Toink. So ito lang naorder namin, Shrimp with Preserved Egg Yolk Paste PHP528, Steamed Tofu in Shallot Oil 248, Yang Chow Fried Rice PHP498, and Deep-fried Glutinous Dumplings PHP208.

50% off of Bistro Group was back so after grocery, we went to EVIA for early lunch. I asked my son kung Italian or Chinese cuisine and he chose Chinese so we ate at Modern Shang. 

We ordered our favorites and some new dishes; Xiao Long Bao (6 pcs) PHP268, Pan Fried Mantou PHP98, Sweet and Sour Pork (S) PHP468, Roast Crispy Pork (S) PHP528, Shrimp with Preserved Egg Yolk Paste PHP528, Deep Fried Squid (S) PHP418, Yang Chow Fried Rice PHP498, and Deep-fried Glutinous Dumplings PHP208. 

We almost finished our order, yung Roast Crispy Pork lang ang may natira, pero kahit konti, take-out pa rin namin. Hehehe! We liked the Pan Fried Mantou with condensed milk so I recreated this meal at home. Good thing, I always buy mantou and condensed milk. I always steamed our mantou pero mas masarap pala yung fried. Parang donut.

Anyhow, last week we went to the hospital for my blood test and after that, we went to SM Sta Rosa to buy some stuff for our Staycation at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. After finishing our errands we had early lunch at Banapple. 

Banapple is one of our go-to restaurants whenever we are in Alabang Town Center so I am glad that they already have a branch in SM Sta Rosa because we rarely visit ATC. At least dito sa Sta Rosa, pwede kami magdrop by after my check-up or procedure. 

During our first visit, we bought Supercaramel Fudge Cake and Pesto Bread only so last week was our first time to eat at the restaurant. We were the first diners. We are creatures of habit so most of the time we order the same meal; we ordered Hickory Smoked Barbecued Country Ribs PHP539, Lasagna Roll-ups PHP469, Banoffee Pie PHP215, Pesto Bread PHP135, and Soda in Can PHP80. 

I only ordered dessert because, at that time, I am not hungry yet. Banapple has big serving so nakitikim na lang ko sa Lasagna Roll-Ups ni hubby. In addition, I learned that “Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie”- David Mamet. Baka mawala stress ko sa Banoffee pie. :)