January 19, 2024

Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam Indonesia

It’s Flashback Friday so let us have a glimpse of Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam. My husband went to Batam Indonesia before Christmas break and we were supposed to join his trip since family is allowed to come, just like our Da Nang, Vietnam Trip. But after I computed our airfare, ferry trip, and hotel accommodation, I changed my mind. Hehehe! 

This is only a 3-day trip including travel so there is no time to explore Batam Indonesia. We had the option to extend our stay so we could tour Batam Indonesia and Singapore but the airfare from Singapore to Manila was so expensive because it was approaching Christmas, so I decided to let go of our chance to visit Indonesia for the nth time. 

How to Get to Batam Indonesia from Manila Philippines 

Batam is located in Indonesia but the easiest way to reach Batam from Manila is to fly to Singapore, then travel to HarbourFront Ferry Terminal at Level 2 and ride the ferry to Batam. The ferry trip is more or less one hour. 

Ferry from Singapore to Batam

My husband and his colleagues have their own private transportation but I’m sharing this information if you are commuting. 

* Take a taxi/Grab/GoJek to VivoCity Level 2 or HarbourFront Center Lobby C 
* By train, take North East Line MRT (purple line) or Circle Line MRT (yellow line) and get off at HarbourFront MRT Station Exit B. 
* Go to HarbourFront Ferry Terminal at Level 2 (near Toast Box) and follow the signs to the ferry terminal. 

Ferry from Batam to Singapore 

* Take GoJek to Batam Centre Point Ferry Terminal, Level 1 
* From Radisson Batam Hotel - 20 minutes by car 

Keep in mind that you need to be at the terminal 90 minutes before departure. 
Print your boarding pass and bring all valid travel documents. 
All travelers are required to fill up SG Arrival Card (SGAC) with Electronic Health Declaration before arriving in Singapore 

My husband and I were surprised when we learned that there is a maximum weight for check-in luggage (20 kg) and hand carry (10kg) per person. We’ve experienced traveling by ferry here in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Norway so this is something new to us. Good thing that this is only a 3-day trip so there is no reason to overpack. 

Since my husband and his colleagues are staying at Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam, the hotel has a complimentary ferry shuttle service so traveling from and to the ferry is no longer a problem. 

Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam 


Radisson Golf & Convention Center is the largest convention center hotel on the island. It offers 239 rooms, restaurants, a bar, a spa, and a ferry shuttle service to one of the nearby shopping centers, beaches, and a ferry terminal. 

Places to Visit in Batam Indonesia 

Jabel Arafah Mosque 
Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Temple 
For shopping, visit BCS Mall, Grand Mall, or Mega Mall Batam Center 

This hotel is only 12 kilometers away from Hang Nadim International Airport and 5 kilometers away from Batam Center Ferry Station. 

Deluxe Room 

My husband stayed in one of the Deluxe rooms and this room has a balcony and a view of the hotel’s pool and Padang Golf Sukajadi. When my husband sent me the photos, I was surprised because the room looked nice and big. It is bigger compared to Trondheim, Oslo, and Brunei’s rooms  





Breakfast Buffet 

The breakfast buffet is part of the room package and the buffet spread is good compared to other Radisson hotels that we have tried. 






Radisson Golf & Convention Center 
Batam Bukit Indah, Sukajadi, 
Residential Area, Batam, Indonesia

January 16, 2024

Heart Shape Treat Box

Every Valentine’s Day, I always give chocolates to my son or something sweet. Most of the time, I will just add a card or gift tag because the majority of the chocolates have their own packaging. But this year, I made an effort to make my own packaging using the Heart Shape Box that I found on Cricut Design Space. 

I have different chocolates at home so I tested two sizes. At first, I changed the size so I could maximize the paper, I could add several pieces of Kisses Chocolates to that box. Then I tried the original design and the Mini Ritter Sport chocolates fit perfectly. So in the end, I chose the latter. 

But instead of using smooth or textured cardstock, I decided to print my own paper using the Vintage Handwritten Letters Overlays so it would look like a Love Letter Box. I placed the designs on US Letter Sized Cardstock and printed three pieces of paper. Then I used the paper to cut the Heart Shape Box. 



This is an easy project, just score, cut, and assemble.


January 15, 2024

October Craft Projects

It is time to clean my phone gallery again so I am sharing the craft projects that I did last October. 

O-fish-ally Sixty Card 


I made this O-fish-ally Sixty Card for someone who loves fishing. I used the Layered Fish Paper Craft SVG of The Bearded Housewife. I reduced the design so it would fit my 5x7-inch card. I used Distress Oxide for the background. Lastly for the title, a combination of white cardstock and premium shimmer vinyl. 

“Birthday COD message is I would like to take this oppor-TUNA-ty to greet you Happy Birthday. You are o-FISH-ally sixty and may all your birthday FISHES come true” 

Gnome Teacher Easel Cards 


I made these Gnome Teacher Easel Cards for my son’s teachers using Craft with Sarah Teacher Gnomes design. I also submitted this as my entry for Teacher’s Day in one of the groups that I joined and I was fortunate to win the prize. 

Frankenstein Monster and 3D Ghost



The Frankenstein Monster and 3D Ghost are part of my Halloween Craft Projects that I shared before. Both files are designed by Digital Gems.

3D Pumpkin Patch and 3D Warrior 



I cut 3D Pumpkin Patch and 3D Warrior SVG files, both files are designed by My 3D SVG. I was not happy with the result, but I still assembled the design. I plan to repeat these two projects especially the 3D Warrior and hopefully, I can get a clean cut. 

Sugar Skull 


This Sugar Skull was my entry for Dia de Muertos, I found the sugar skull design on Cricut Design Space. This is the last Halloween Craft Project that I did. 

Australia Layered Craft 


This is my last-minute project before we went to Sydney Australia. I was supposed to use this Australia Kangaroo SVG for our t-shirts but because we didn’t have an internet connection for almost a week, I was not able to do the project. So I just made a layered paper craft and I brought this to Sydney. I also submitted this craft and luckily I won a PHP300 voucher (random entry).

January 10, 2024

Day 1 in Da Nang Vietnam: Hoi An Tour

I’m taking a break from crafting so I’m back to blogging and let me start with my Vietnam series. I already blogged about our travel experience from Manila to Da Nang and our Vietnam Airlines experience so let me continue with our tours. By the way, as of this writing, Cebu Pacific has already a direct flight to Da Nang. 

We were supposed to purchase Klook vouchers but someone already arranged a tour so we decided to just join. At first, we only availed the Day 3 Tour because we knew that we couldn’t make it on Day 1 Tour. But after some consideration, they allowed us to join. 


3PM is the hotel pick-up time but since our group will be arriving late, there is another hotel pick-up at 6PM. The rate for Hoi An Tour is $35 per person, this includes payment for the guide, transportation, dinner, entrance fee, and tips. 

Hoi An Tour 

- Hoi An Ancient Town 
- Guang Dong Assembly Hall 
- Japanese Bridge 
- Night Market 
- Lantern Festival 
- Dinner at a local restaurant 

The tour bus arrived early but did not leave immediately because we had to wait for other joiners. Travel time from Sheraton Grand Da Nang to Hoi An is around 30 minutes depending on the traffic. We transferred from the bus to a big golf cart before we reached the Hoi An Ancient Town


Dinner at Triet Treat Restaurant & Coffee 

And because we were late, we missed the guided tour and our group just went straight to the restaurant for our dinner. The dinner is part of our package and we ate at Triet Treat Restaurant & Coffee. There is no menu so we just waited for the food to be served. 


For our table, we are a group of 6 and these are the dishes that were served. There are so many but more vegetable dishes and it was so funny because the dessert is “Sweetened Monggo”. Gulay pa rin? hehehe! But I ate this monggo because this reminded me of my childhood. I’m a meat lover so the only dish that I enjoyed here is the pork. But I tried some of the dishes too because I was so hungry pero tikim lang, super late dinner ito.










Hoi An Tour 

After dinner, we explored Hoi An Ancient Town on our own. We did not see the beauty of Hoi An during day time but we were still happy to see Hoi An even just for a limited time. The place is so colorful and magical at night. 



Hoi An Ancient Town is another UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1999) that we have visited. It is a well-preserved example of a small-scale Southeast Asian trading port from 15th - 19th century. As you walk, you will notice the buildings and streets with the influence of foreign and indigenous cultures.


Hoi An Ancient Town has traditional buildings, an open market, a ferry quay, pagodas, a Japanese bridge, and others. We were not able to explore all the streets since some streets were flooded because of the rain and also we were tired. There are different stores here so it is also your chance to shop or buy some souvenirs, but we are not in the mood. 


We just took pictures at one of the lantern stores, we paid 30,000 VND for our photos. 10,000 VND per person. You can take a lot of pictures but there is a long line of tourists waiting for their turn so consider their waiting time too.


There are some activities that you can do like boat riding, lantern floating, lantern making, and others. We did not do this anymore and we just went back to the restaurant (meeting place). While waiting we ordered some drinks, the coffee was 40,000 VND. 


We left Hoi An Ancient Town around 9:30PM, that is 10:30PM Manila time so pagod na pagod talaga kami. That is the reason why we did not avail Day 2 Tour because we wanted to rest. 



But for Day 2 Dinner, my husband and his colleagues went back to Hoi An pero hindi na kami sumama pa, sa hotel na lang kami nagdinner ng anak ko. I am saving my energy for our Day 3 Tour.

January 09, 2024

Highlights of Year 2023

If year 2022 was our best year because we were able to spend more time with family and we were able to travel every month. I consider the year 2023 as an unexpected year. Unexpected because…


1. We expected that we could move to our new house last year but there were so many delays. But at least on-going na yung house renovation, slowly but we are getting there. 

2. My son made it to Overall Top last Recognition Day, it was his dream to be part of it. It was not an easy journey because 240+ students ang kalaban niya. So to be part of the top 10, is really a big achievement for him. 

3. Nasira yung eyeglasses ng anak ko so kahit hindi pa namin schedule magpacheck ng mata, napaaga. I thought it was a simple check-up only but I was wrong, ang daming ganap. Wala pa one year yung last check-up namin pero ang laki ng tinaas ng grade niya, almost double. They they saw something on my son’s optic nerves so he needs to undergo Glaucoma Test. Then after the test result, the doctor advised to have quarterly test of OCT of Optic Disc/Optic Nerve, BE and Humphrey Visual Field Perimetry, BE. 

My son is back to pedia-ophtha again, we stopped going dun sa pedia-ophtha niya sa Asian Hospital since pandemic kasi ang hirap kumuha ng slot so sinama ko na lang sa doctor ko last year pero nirefer siya ulit sa pedia-ophtha and another doctor for glaucoma specialist. Just like that, 2 doctors na yung pupuntahan namin for his eye check-up. 

4. Almost one year of planning, natuloy din get-together namin ng college friends ko. We went to Borro and Kandle Cafe. Also, after so many years, nakapag family get-together din kami sa mother’s side, 2019 pa yata yung last reunion namin. 

5. I wanted to try different hotel buffet restaurants but I observed na pataba ako ng pataba. In fact, paulit-ulit yung mga sinusuot ko na damit kasi konti na lang kasya and I noticed that when I made my year-end video. But I still managed to eat a few buffet restaurants last year, may pagpipigil pa yan. Hehehe! 

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary at Fresh Internation Buffet- Solaire Resort & Casino Manila. We also celebrated my father-in-law’s birthday and my mom’s Despedida at Teppanya Evia 



6. I’ve been meaning to visit IKEA Philippines since day one but it took me a long time. But finally, nakavisit na rin because I spent my birthday at IKEA

7. Since nagtravel kami nung birthday ni hubby and birthday ko, gusto ko rin sana magtravel sa birthday ng anak ko, pero hindi ko nagawa kasi yung weekend na yun, wedding ng brother-in-law ko so nag food trip lang kami sa Yurakuen. Disappointed ako sa food trip namin kaya hindi ko pa rin nabablog ito. Ang taas kasi ng expectation ko because of our first buffet experience at Yurakuen too. 

8. I went back to crafting when the pandemic happened but I always consider myself an occasional crafter but this year, I made time for it. I started joining craft summits, craft countdowns, and giveaways. Fortunately, sa dami ng sinalihan ko meron naman ako napanalunan. I was so happy with my crafting life and I thought it was a happy community pero hindi rin pala. I had a negative experience before the year ended and I shared it on this post

9. When we welcomed the year 2023, we had no travel plans at all because we knew that we needed to save for our house renovation and house improvement. No travel trip during Holy Week, Summer Break, and Christmas break. But despite that, we were able to visit a few places and super unexpected yung Sydney and Davao Trip. 

We spent our first week of January in Sanctuary Batulao


We celebrated our wedding anniversary at La Chevrerie Resort. 


My husband celebrated his birthday in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar 


I celebrated my birthday at Casalay Boutique Villas & Dive Resort 


I spent my summer break preparing our documents for our Australian Visa Application

During my son’s semestral break, we went to Sydney, Australia. The third continent that my son and I visited. 


My mom went back to the Philippines pero dahil busy kami, hindi ako nakakapunta sa Valenzuela so when we went back from Sydney and time na niya magbakasyon sa bahay, I made a last minute booking to Davao for our bonding. It was our first mother-and-daughter trip. 


10. Lastly, I was almost stuck at home during the Christmas Break because we got sick so I really didn’t feel the holiday. The advantage is, I didn’t feel the stress of preparing food or attending get-togethers because we were sick. The disadvantage is, we were not able to travel kahit beach trip lang. Nagdaan lang talaga ang holiday. 

I was checking my photo gallery, nakalimutan ko pala magpicture ng New Year’s Eve. Unexpected yan since lagi naman ako nagpipicture. 

The best things in life are unexpected because there were no expectations. - Eli Khamarov

January 06, 2024

You are Created to Create

For the past several months, I spent most of my time crafting because this sparks joy and that is also one of the reasons why I added “Craft Your Stress Away” on my social media and design space profile. Indeed crafting became a stress reliever for me so I really had no idea that it would bring me stress before the year ended. Yes, something happened to me in the crafting community 25 hours before the year 2024. 

One hour before December 31, I couldn’t sleep so I decided to browse my Facebook news feed and I was surprised when I saw a screenshot photo of my Cricut Design Space Profile with the caption “Hi, I just wanted to let you know I’ve reported this on design space, probably nothing will get done but wanted to at least try. ” in one of the groups that I joined. 

I was so shocked because I didn’t know what was wrong with my Profile and why does she need to report it. Seriously? I just changed my Cricut Design Space Profile from private to public, three months ago and this happened. I started reading comments and at that time, I was so sad and hurt because there were so many false accusations. Some people already jumped to conclusions and the post blew up. 

The said post was already deleted so I can’t give you the exact words but these hurtful words were stuck in my head. 

1. That is weird, I am not Mithcraftaholic, I thought Cricut is very strict in policing designs… 
2. That is not our (insert designer’s name), I will check on that 
3. I can’t find the profile, how can I report it. 
4. That is not her design, why she is adding a watermark. 
5. She is taking advantage of the designer’s generosity, these are all free designs 
6. She is pimping this design with a screenshot of my Facebook post 
7. This guy is taking someone else photos 
8. I will research more about this and see where she is selling them.
9. She's stealing designs and claiming them as her own.

The list can go on and I never felt so humiliated in my life. Some people started checking my social media accounts. Also, because of those comments, I was wondering if I really committed a mistake and if there is a fine print that I forgot to read. There were so many questions and thoughts running into my head. 

Am I not allowed to share or post my finished craft projects? 
Am I not allowed to post my own pictures with my watermark even though I paid for that design? 
Am I not allowed to share photos of her designs outside her group? 
I thought designers would be happy if they saw that crafters were using their designs. 
I am not claiming I am the designer, it is in my description that I am trying different designs on Cricut Design Space.
I am not earning from those projects. Designers earn if someone will recreate the projects that I shared.
Hmm, if ever I plan to sell my craft projects, I can still do that because of the commercial license.
I thought Cricut is promoting the “sharing of community projects”. 
Should I change my profile from public to private? 
Is this how I am going to end my year 2023 and start my year 2024. 
I just want to craft. 
Should I stop crafting?

"People are so quick to judge and make decisions for themselves about situations they know absolutely nothing about" LeAnn Rimes


Of course, I commented on that post and shared my side of the story. I also messaged the admin/designer of that group. But it was a holiday so I already expected that it won’t be resolved sooner. After several hours of waiting, the admin/designer deleted that post and I received an apology. “She clearly stated that I am just sharing my projects which are all available in Cricut Design Space (if you paid for a subscription) and I’m not selling them.” The person who posted my profile was also brave enough to apologize. They finally realized that I am innocent and I am not doing anything wrong. I am just sharing my craft projects on my Cricut Design Space Profile. 

I already received their apology and my name was cleared so I thought I could easily move on but I was wrong. After the holiday, I was supposed to share my finished craft projects but because of what happened, I have hesitation. I can’t help but ask myself if “I will continue sharing or not?” because I don't want to experience this again. For the past several days, I have been trying to overcome my fear of posting or sharing my craft projects. 


So I made this “Created to Create Layered Craft” to persuade me to go back to crafting. Indeed, we are all created to create. One heartache isn’t a sign that I should stop from what I love to do. I need to remind myself that there are some things that I have no control over but I can control my reaction to that situation. And consider this event as a learning experience. 

I don’t consider myself an expert when it comes to crafting but it doesn’t mean that I cannot be creative. I just want to share what I know, what I made, and what I experienced. I don’t know everything but I am always willing to learn. 


We are all dealing with our own stuff and I am not posting this to get sympathy because I know this too shall pass. But despite what happened, I am still thankful because… 

I was awake when this happened. 
I was a silent member of that group so I was able to see the post. 
It was a private group, the downside is there are 28k+ members in that group around the world. 
I was able to defend myself. 
The post got deleted and I proved my innocence. 
And lastly, I discovered that there are still kind people. I am thankful to those fellow crafters who did not jump to conclusions, who did not judge me, and who defended me too. May God bless their hearts.

“ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,” Colossians 3:23

January 04, 2024

Books I’ve Read in Year 2023

Happy New Year! It’s the 4th day of the year 2024 but I am just starting to reflect on what happened to me in the year 2023. As usual, I am always late when it comes to this thing but at least, nagagawa ko pa rin. Hehehe! 

No more Christmas tree and decorations in our house para maka move forward na tayo sa holiday. To start, I will share the 4 books that I finished last year. This is better compared to the year 2022 because I finished one book in one quarter. 

1. You Belong by Belong Tour 
2. A Generous Life: 10 Steps to Living a Life Money Can’t Buy by David Green with Bill High
3. Life is a Gift: Treasure Each Day by Ellen Banks Elwell 
4. Unwrapping the Greatest Gift “ A Family Celebration of Christmas” by Ann Voskamp 

The “Unwrappping the Greatest Gift” is the last book that we’ve read. Yes, this is an Advent book so my son and I read this book from Dec 1 to Dec 25. It is a nice book and I got it from my mom during our last visit to Norway but it was only last year that I remembered it. Hirap talaga kapag nakatago lang ang mga books. Anyway, I plan to reread this every December.

January 02, 2024

PSAHelpline: Your Online Channel for PSA Certificates

PSAHelpline.ph is a user-friendly online channel, that simplifies the process of acquiring essential PSA certificates, including birth, marriage, death, and Certificate of No Marriage or CENOMAR. The website is easily accessible through desktops, tablets, or mobile phones, and offers a convenient and secure solution for Filipinos seeking a straightforward and efficient way to obtain vital civil registry documents wherever they are in the country. 

Since 2000, PSAHelpline.ph has swiftly addressed the need for hassle-free ordering and delivery of PSA certificates. To provide better services, it has undergone remarkable enhancements, offering seamless and efficient features over the years.


1. Easy, Fast, and Secure Ordering Process

PSAHelpline provides an uncomplicated ordering process, allowing users to easily request copies of their PSA certificates, all from the comfort of their homes or offices, ensuring that individuals across the country can benefit from its streamlined and efficient services. 

To order, follow these easy steps:

1. Log on to www.PSAHelpline.ph and fill out and submit the online order form. A reference number will be assigned to the application. 
2. Pay for the order through any of the online payment channels available, or over the counter at payment center hubs. 
3. Wait for the PSA certificate to be delivered. 

2. Cost-Efficient Shipping for Multiple Copies 

When it comes to ordering multiple copies of the same PSA certificate, PSAHelpline provides users with a friendly advantage that puts money back in their pockets. Implemented in January 2021, it is a cost-effective approach where the service ensures that the applicant only incurs a single shipping fee, no matter how many copies of the same PSA certificate are ordered to be delivered to one address. 

3. Diverse Payment Options for Convenience and Safety 

Recognizing the importance of convenience and safety in transactions, PSAHelpline.ph provides a variety of payment options. Whether online or over the counter, applicants can choose the method that best suits their preferences and needs, ensuring a secure and reliable payment process. Applicants may conveniently pay online immediately after submitting their orders. 

Online payments are made available for the following: 
  • Visa or Mastercard credit cards 
  • GCash 
  • Maya 
  • Bayad Online 
Over-the-counter payments:
  • 7-Eleven 
  • Bayad 
  • Palawan Pawnshops 
Other payment channels available: 
  • BancNet ATMs 
  • Dragonpay 
4. Flexible Delivery Options, Including National Book Store Outlets 

PSAHelpline.ph caters to users’ needs with flexible delivery options. Users can choose to have their PSA certificates dropped off at select National Book Store outlets, providing a secure alternative for those unable to receive their documents personally. 

Opting for this delivery method provides individuals with the freedom to collect their PSA certificate at a time that aligns with their schedules, offering a convenient alternative for those constantly on the move or with unpredictable work commitments. 

The National Book Store pick-up option prioritizes security and privacy. The certificate will only be released to the certificate owner or an authorized requester, and this handover is contingent upon presenting a valid government-issued ID. 

As of now, this delivery method is available for orders within Metro Manila and select National Book Store branches. PSAHelpline is actively working to expand this service to include more provincial branches, ensuring that the convenience of the National Book Store pick-up option becomes accessible to a broader audience across the country. 

5. Convenient Order Tracking 

PSAHelpline.ph takes transparency seriously by allowing users to track the status of their orders easily. With a simple click on the “Check Status” button on the homepage and the input of the Order Reference Number, applicants can stay informed about the progress of their request, offering peace of mind and assurance. 

6. Reliable Customer Support 

Experience personalized assistance with PSAHelpline.ph through the dedicated customer support hotline, available Monday to Saturday, from 8AM to 5PM (excluding holidays). Users can speak directly with a live agent to personally follow up on their orders or clarify any questions about the services. Alternatively, users can reach out through email at help@psahelpline.ph, and the email support agents will promptly address their concerns. 

PSAHelpline stands as a steadfast ally for those seeking convenient online access to PSA certificates. With over two decades of commitment, PSAHelpline not only ensures efficiency but also prioritizes the safety and security of the applicants’ personal information. Serving as a reliable and user-friendly platform, it remains dedicated to simplifying the process of obtaining vital documents, embodying a legacy of trust that has stood the test of time.
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