Time to plan for vacations! 2010 is fast approaching and travelers would always want to plan ahead for their vacation for next year. Here is a list of the official non-working holidays for year 2010.
Regular Holidays
New Year’s Day – January 1, 2010
Maunday Thursday – April 1, 2010
Good Friday – April 2, 2010
Araw ng Kagitingan – April 9, 2010 (Friday)
Labor Day – May 1, 2010
Independence Day – June 14 (Monday nearest June 12)
National Heroes Day – August 30, 2009 (last Monday of August)
Bonifacio Day – November 29, 2010 (Monday nearest November 30)
Christmas Day – December 25, 2010 (Saturday)
Rizal Day – December 27 (Monday nearest December 30)
Special Non-Working Days
Ninoy Aquino Day – August 23, 2010 (Monday nearest August 21)
All Saints Day – November 1, 2010 (Monday)
Additional Special (Non-Working) Day – December 24, 2010 (Friday)
Last Day of the Year – December 31, 2010
Special Holidays (for all Schools)
EDSA Revolution Anniversary – February 22, 2010 (Monday nearest February 25)
Eid’l Fitr is declared by the President depending on the Islamic Calendar (Hijra).
My wacky weekend started with my first try of maryjanes. Not the shoes but the grass or reefer. Hehehe! It was just a small stick shared by 3 people. So there was little or even no intoxicating effect on me. The smell was sweet and nice. At swabe sa lalamunan compared to cigars. That’s why it is addicting for some people I think or more of the intoxicating effect. Hahaha! Late Thursday ight, we went to rowell’s birthday celebration. Daming inuman at sarap ng pulutang pinaputok a manok by jayz. Friday morning, our project miggy comes home! Finally, a little tsikot for us and apol. There’s still a lot of work to do on miggy but hey, we love challenges and we could learn a lot about cars through miggy! Friday afternoon, swimming at Volets with berks, another in the series of of love, life and friendship. First, it was the birthday celebration of apol, cres and manuel, the regularization of debbie, mike’s first paycheck on his part tim e job, marco and marlee’s “august rush”. Other highlight’s are: trying out the mini slide at volet’s. nakakatakot sa una but fun, meeting magic’s girlfriend judy, my first tim e at volets, met new friends, jec and rona, mike and christian aka dingdong. Saturday, woke up late. Bought new board shorts and went food tripping at the mall. Jamming, kwentuhan at inuman with koya ruffy at night. Learned a lot about swimming and diving! After finishing up 1L of Bailey’s and a round of beer, I wanted to try out diving and get my certification as a diver. So I could be able to dive at tubatahha reef too. Sunday, rested with watching 6 movies. I downloaded Into the Blue. Jessica Alba and paul walker were great swimmers and divers in this movie. Movie was set in Bahamas which I also want to explore in the future. Hayy.. I’m going to look forward to great weekend again!
Watching Bea alonzo and Sam Milby’s And I love You So prompted me to write my experience of Anawangin. Im lucky to have gone to anawangin not once but twice and I will keep on coming back! Anawangin is found at Pundaquit, San Antonio , Zambales. Who would not want to go to a white beach that has pine trees on it? I thought pine trees are only found in Baguio City , Tagaytay and other cold mountainous area.
My first visit to Anawangin Cove was on October of 2008. We were able to visit the other two islands, Capones and Camara as well.
From afar, Camara Island looks like a blue whale. During low tide, there is a sandbar that connects the small and big part of Camara. It disappears during high tide. A lighthouse is located at Capones Island . A perfect place for pre – nuptial picture taking or just plain trekking and sight – seeing. At anawangin cove, you can also check the river for your phot-ops.
How to get to anawangin: take a bus from Pasay Victory Terminal headed to San Antonio , Zambales. At San Antonio public market, take a tricycle going to Pundaquit and from Pundaquit, look for Apo Baket’s Resort and Mang Flor ante Lavesoria where you can arrange for a guide or pump boat if you chose not to hike.
Entrance fee is 100 pesos for an overnight stay. There are 3 camping sites depending on the number of pine trees and the bathroom/shower area. First camp site, charges 100 per head for overnight stay. This part of the cove has lots of pine trees and 2 nice bathrooms. Camping site 2 charges 50 per head before but on our second trip, it charges 100 pesos per head and with less pine rees than the first one. Camping site 3 charges ********* but with less pine trees and no bathroom. You pitch the tent and live bundok style. You have to dig up if you feel the urge to poopoo.
Here is a suggested itinerary. A consolidation of itineraries we found on the internet.
Day 1:
4:00 AM – Assembly tim e at Victory Liners Pasay
5:00 AM – ETD to Olongapo, Zambales
7:30 AM - ETA Olongapo and breakfast
8:00 AM – ETD to San Antonio , Zambales
8:30 AM – ETA San Antonio and tryk ride to Brgy. Pundaquit
8:45 AM – ETA Brgy Pundaquit and arrange guide and Sunday boat ride
9:00 AM – Start Trek
11:30 AM – ETA Summit and Eat pack lunch
12:15 PM – Resume trek: Descent to Anawangin Cove
2:30 PM – ETA Anawangin Beach , Rest and Pitch tent
3;00 PM – Activities: beach bumming, swimming, skim boarding, sand castle making, surfing .. gulping
5:30 PM - picture taking sa sunset
6:00 PM – prepare dinner
7:00 PM – socials at gulping… lights out then chismax galore….
Day 2
5:30 AM – wake up call and breakfast
6:3-0 AM – break camp and last minute ligo sa beach
7:00 AM - island hopping (Capones and camara island)
9:00 AM – back to brgy Pundaquit and banlaw (wash up)
9:30 AM – tryke ride to San Antonio and then wait for bus bound for manila (or side trip to subic is possible)
Breakdown of expenses (Philippine pesos):
Pasay to Olonggapo – 211
Breakfast - 50
Olonggapo to San Antonio – 60
Tryk to jump off – 25/head
Groceries – 300
Bangka ride – 300 (two way) 2 way 250 (one way)
Entrance fee – 100
Es tim ated budget – 1600 per head
Last weekend apol and I went nature tripping at Taytay Falls , also known as Imelda in Majayjay, Laguna. We have been planning to go here for almost a year now. Luckily, we had the time. Going to Taytay Falls is one of the memorable experiences we had. We got lost going to Brgy. Taytay and it was already dark when we pitched our tent. The trip was long because of many cutting trips. Yan ang nagagawa ng pagiging over confident at di pagbabasa ng mapa ng mabuti. From Palapala, we dropped of at Sta. Cruz, Laguna. We waited for a jeep leaving for Sinoloan. From Sinoloan, one can see the half stretch of Laguna de Bay. We also passed by the towns of Pagsanjan, Lumban, Pangil, Pakil, Paete (famous for wood carvings) then Mabitac. Upon arriving at Sinoloan, the folks there told us we went the wrong way. And that we should go back to Sta Cruz and take the jeep going to Majayjay. Hayzzz….That was already 6pm and it was already dark!. So we decided to have dinner at Jolibee first then visited the church.
Sinoloan church
From Sinoloan, we went back to Sta Cruz, waited for the jeep going to Majayjay. We thought it was the lastride. Finally, makakarating na rin sa wakas sa falls! Nung tinanong namin ang mga kasabay sa jeep, we were told that from the town of Majayjay , we still have one more jeepney ride. And since that was almost 7:30 in the evening, there are no more jeepneys going to Majayjay Falls . We need to hire a tricycle fro 200 pesos! Gasp! Ang mahal naman! There is another option which is to stay at a nearer resort named Dalaintiwan. Then wake up early, go back to town and then ride the jeep to the falls. First trip is 5am. We chose to hire a tricycle instead. Kahit mahal. Mas mapapagastos pa kame kung magstay pa sa ibang resort. What I appreciated though is that that the folks in Majayjay were very kind and warm. They are willing to help you out and provide as much information as they can.
The trip going up the falls was a scary experience for us. It was very pitch black and I was always praying that we have a safe trip. There are frogs and a snake jump up in the middle of the road! Ewww! Finally,we were at the baranggay hall. Thank God! We paid 30 pesos for an overnight stay, 20 pesos for day trips. I was happy to see that there are still stores open and baranggay tanod was visible in the area. So we trekked for about 10 – 15 minutes. Trekking was just easy. The path way is cemented. There are tents for hire and cottages or transient houses. The campsite was almost full. Luckily, we managed to still have a spot. We didn’t cook dinner because we were tired and full from our last meal and just ate chicha and drank gin. Pang estudyante lang eh! Hahaha!
The next morning, we woke up early excited to check out the falls. After the usual photo-op, we took a dip. The water was very cold. One couldn’t stay long. One might also have brain freeze. Hahaha! The place is really awesome, if you’re looking for an outdoor place with minor trekking, then you should go here. Tents and cottages are available so accomodations won’t be a problem. It is also a good place for bonding with your family. Or just nature triping.
Other points of interest are: the falls stands about 20 ft, clear and cold. Water flows from Mt Banahaw (Lukban side) through the untouched forest which keeps the water clear even during rainy season. It is a well maintaned destination though we were warned that before this place can be mess. The caretakers ensure garbage is always being collected and picked up and there are signages to remind us not to litter on the place. Aso na lang siguro ang hindi makakaintindi na bawal magkalat sa area. Majayjay is also popular for their lambanog, a local wine. Along the road to Lukban, you can see bamboo stilts interconnecting the coconut trees where lambanogs are being harvested. For pasalubong, you can take home baskets of rambutan or lanzones, or kesong puti or buko pie. The Original Orient is famous for their buko pie.
Orient…
All I can say, going to Majayjay was worth the effort and the time.
Just found out that Manny Pacquiao " Pambansang kamao" endorses Nikon! He also purchased 2 D3X's, 70 - 200mm VR lens, D700, D90 kit, D60 kit, 24 - 85 AFS, SB900 and P50. Sarap naman maging manny neto! I learned too that manny is a photographer who's into landscapes and portrait.
We had the privilege of being invited to KC's 1st birthday at Active Fun Land .
Fun Ranch is located at frontera verde near Tiendesitas in Pasig. We discovered a new haven for kids where they can eat, shop and get a massage! susyal! the whole place is really a paradise for kids and kids at heart too. Entrance fee is free but you have to pay extra for the other rides such as the bump cars, go carting, etc...
There are candy stores, gift shops,food kiosks, mini ferris wheel, the merry go around, karaoke rooms, arcade center, restaurant,rollerblazer and a spa for kids which was the Little Lambs Spa. Cool huh!
I so envy kids today. there's a compound dedicated for them. This is where kids really rule!
8 Tips for the best Fun Ranch Experience
1. Play with your kids @ Active Fun. For kids less than 3 years old, it should be accompanied by a yaya/ a parent (for free).
2. Socks are a must! (for the kids and the parent :)
3. Schedule a Kiddie Massage Spa before you play. This is definitely a must! All kids love this.
4. Go on a Weekday. Little Lambs have a promo discount during weekdays. Avoid the Kids crowd.
5. Bring Extra Shirts. (for the kids and the parent :) 6. Spend 3 hours in this order: Active Fun Play Center -- Little Lambs Spa -- Big Red Barn Resto 7. Prepare a budget of P500/ kid for the entire experience.
8. Don't forget to bring your camera and take fun shots :) Check out this Fun Ranch Happiness experience....
overall, a wonderful and a perfect birthday party place!
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