First off, I’d like to apologize to those who have emailed me about wanting to volunteer for the 2008 Philippine Blog Awards Night. Marc and I joined a few travel and photo bloggers last weekend (January 11 to 13) on a sponsored trip to Boracay. Abe was the mastermind of the whole thing, so it really won’t make much of a difference if he was the one you emailed or me :P Let’s just say that strolling on the white sand beaches of Boracay is way, way better than getting cooped up all day answering emails. I made that mistake once in Puerto Galera—I didn’t want to make the same mistake again.
Our trip was sponsored by Microtel Inns & Suites Boracay, in partnership with South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) and Zuzuni Boutique Hotel & Restaurant. For a comprehensive review of their services, check out my wedding blog. I might eventually do one here in Kutitots, but first allow me to tell you about what happened. Attending blogger meet-ups is one thing, but spending a weekend with a bunch of them is totally different—you just won’t be able to help but notice funny stuff. So… Read on and allow me to spill the beans on the Philippines’ popular travel and photo bloggers!!!
As expected, I had another name boo-boo on my airline ticket. Not really that surprising—I kind of expected that most people do assume that my full name is actually “Gail Villanueva,” and never would have imagined that it would be so long that you could run out of breath trying to say it. Try saying “Abigail Josephine Aherrera Dela Cruz – Villanueva” a couple of times without taking a breath, and tell me how long before your face turns blue.
But, as it turned out, I wasn’t the only one with the name problem. Eric’s surname really isn’t “Dee,” and Melo’s real first name is actually “Watermelo” (hehe kidding!). Surprisingly though, SEAIR was able to fix these name issues even at such short notice (there was a mistake on my ticket for the trip to Bohol last year, and Cebu Pacific wasn’t able to issue me a new one even with a one-week notice).
Because of this name change, there was a confusion about the time I was to board the plane. Yes, I missed my scheduled flight. But Ivan was diligent enough to check-in early, so they were able to fix it that we just “swap” schedules. This is the first time I flew on SEAIR, so I really wouldn’t know if they’re also this efficient if I was a paying passenger :P
The view from the plane
It was a short flight. Melo and Eric were chatting like loud, old women while the stewardess was explaining the safety guidelines, it was hard to hear what she was saying. Lucky we didn’t crash, or we would have drowned :P Anton tried to scare me about riding small planes, but no, I was a brave soul (Ok, fine, I just didn’t want to be left behind haha).
The bald boys in Boracay. Bald Guy 1 and Bald Guy 2: guess who!
We had a “Fernando” and a “Ferdinand” on the trip, and it was so hard to remember which one was “Ferdz” and which one was “Ferdie.” Before the end of the trip, I just christened them with new names so I wouldn’t be confused anymore: Fernie and Ferdie. In short, F1 and F2 (this wasn’t my idea, I swear).
Boat ride to Boracay
Microtel Inn & Suites Boracay
On our first day, Noemi, Abe, Ivan and Jet from Newsbreak probably slept in the afternoon. I wasn’t sure what they did because Marc and I joined Melo, Karla, Anton, Eugene, Eric, Ferdie and Fernie in an approximately 2-kilometer walk along the beach in search for Melo’s strawberry fruit shake.
Station 1
We met a lot of friendly beach dog residents along the way, as well as a kid who could do wonderful art on the sand using just a spoon. Of course, we had to have that customary sandcastle photo op, but Eugene had already miraculously disappeared when we had this shot.
Photo op WITHOUT Abe!
The Hairless and the Hairy: Melo with the beach dogs
Brilliant kid doing sand art with a spoon
We didn’t find the sacred shake (according to Dean, the Microtel Boracay manager, the shake we were looking for was at Jonah’s, which we apparently passed by on our loooonnngggg Strawberry Shake Pilgrimage), but we did have drinks at the first café we saw. Melo had another crazy idea of walking back, but I guess our dirty looks were enough for him to realize that we’d rather call Microtel’s shuttle on the way back.
The Microtel beds
After an hour nap on Microtel’s famous beds, we joined the group for the welcome dinner and fun games. Lauren had to take a 4pm flight (she had a class report, the nerd!), but she was able to join us by that time. I almost ran out of clothes to wear—the first game required us to get into the surf, scoop up sand, and dump it in a sack. The second game, I didn’t join—I had work to do that evening, and I just couldn’t risk drinking Vodka while doing the Limbo Rock :P Abe’s Big-Bellied Drunkard Team won both games, though Ivan our teammate deserved special mention: he downed four shots of Vodka like drinking water and still walked like as if nothing happened— we had veteran drinker in our midst.
Ted of Microtel welcoming drunken and full bloggers at dinner :D
You got to give the Microtel group credit: get bloggers drunk before playing your company’s jingle nonstop while having dinner and listening to your product presentation :P
Day 2 turned out to be a rainy day. We spent the morning blogging, talking about blogging, catching up with the latest gossips, and doing work stuff. It wasn’t a waste of Boracay day though, we were still able to have lunch at Tesebel Ihaw-Ihaw, swim a little at Puka Beach, and snorkel a bit in not-so-wavy parts of Boracay. It’s a real drag that Ivan had to leave early—he left right after we had our Puka Beach photo op.
Me with the Puka thing
Melo and the Sweetie-Pies: Lauren, Karla, Watermelo, me, and Noemi
That night, we had dinner at Zuzuni (they serve Greek cuisine) and had the bestest chocolate dessert ever. The lasagna-type eggplant dish was so good that I ended up eating a lot of it without spitting out (eggplant is one of the vegetables in my “I don’t want to eat” list). Abe was bent on getting a shot of the huge sandcastle with everyone, so we made sure we had one before heading back to the inn. Anton’s camera had the pictures, I’ll post them here when I receive a copy.
Zuzuni restaurant frontage
Sand castle at night
Most of us were corny people (well, except for Lauren and Anton who were snatched by the Microtel group for a round of drinks), and just headed home. I don’t know about the others, but I guess I felt that the Boracay night life just isn’t for me. I can get night life in Manila any time, any day. But rest and relaxation? Definitely not.
A cat drinking from the Microtel pool:
they weren’t bluffing when they said the pool had no chlorine
Too bad that it was only on our third day that the weather decided to be a little sunnier. I had to re-shoot most of my photos (they looked very gloomy because of the rainy weather), but I still had time to enjoy some of the Boracay sun, white sand, and beautiful blue waters before our flight. Lauren even had some time reading The Beach (how appropriate), and Marc was able to bring home a souvenir cellular phone some idiot dropped in the water (no, the idiot wasn’t one of us). Of course, Abe had to show off his man-who-lived-by-the-sea roots and demonstrated how to pick up a cranky crab :P
The cranky crab
I honestly wanted to take home one of Microtel’s great beds, but apparently, it’s not part of their freebies. Maybe next time! Hahaha Seriously though… If there’s one thing I can’t complain about, it’s their beds. Our cushion here at home desperately needs replacement, so it’s a real comfort for somebody like me to sleep on a chiropractic bed like the ones in Microtel. Marc and I swore to buy a new bed when we transfer to our new home a few months from now. Not exactly like the one in Microtel (they said that they still needed to import those beds from the US), but a bed that won’t give us back aches every time we tried to sleep on it.
On the flight home, I sat beside Eugenius, who turned out to be a whiz identifying places from a “satellite view.” I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. His blog is all about that after all.
I definitely had fun on this trip. Isn’t it obvious? I finally had real rest—I didn’t feel guilty sleeping too much at all. I actually felt guilty doing work stuff by the beach, but hey, it was raining when I did that so I guess I’m excused :D
Now I can say I truly understand why Boracay is considered to be one of the Philippines’ best tourist destinations. To think we were there in less than ideal weather conditions—I can just imagine how beautiful Boracay would have been in the summer. This sounds cliché, but really, I want to go back to Boracay, sponsored or not. Hehehe :P
You don't need an online mba to raise kids—just a lot of patience.
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There are 25 comments to this entry:
I would really love to go there! I need to relax a bit my days are so hectic!
i really enjoyed the trip… all the gimmick and kwento.. when i woke up earlier im expecting to see you guys in the beach front for the breakfast… huhuhu (melodramatic) :)
@emmanuel martinez: You should! It’s worth spending a few days off work :)
@Manila Freelancer aka Watermelo: ang drama shucks na-iyak ako! Hehehehe oist baket di ko ma-view lakbay blog mo? Blank page lang nakikita ko pag ni-view ko. Weird.
…at para sa mga mahihirap, sundan nyo po ako “Aba Ginoong Maria..”
ahehehe ang saya natin!!
The Sweetie Pies LOLZ. :D
Looks like you spent most of the time in the Puka and Station 1 area…good times for sure. Next time, try a stroll all the way down past station 3 where things flow at a much slower pace of life :) . Did ya happen to get over to the otherside at Bolabog beach?
Zuzuni is a really nice resto with some of the best presentation that I’ve seen in a long time. Did you get a chance to try the other Greek place, Cyma, in D’Mall? They are much more cramped and ventilation is lacking…but they have possibly the largest portions on the island and also excellent food.
Till next time!
I want to go back! Bitin ako! Hirap ng school requirements on a Sunday! Hehe!
Hello Gail,
Its already fixed… you can read my Zuzuni Entry here
http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/blog/2008/01/14/zuzuni-boracay-hotel-and-restaurant/
hay nagutom ako bigla… hehehe
melo
Nakakatuwa yung narration mo. And good capture dun sa Cat drinking at the pool. haha. laki ng water dish nila.
hi! blog hopping from entre and found ur site. ur such a talented graphic artist! i love ur templates…
i love ur photos here also in this post… :D
@Eric: bad ka! you’re lucky di ka pinag-parachute pababa ng eroplano hehehe
@lauren: of course ;)
@JD: our hotel was actually on the other side of Station 3, so it’s quite secluded. Our pilgrimage for Melo’s shake almost took us all the way to Station 3, but the pain of that much walking made us surrender :D We werent able to try Cyma, but I’d definitely take a look when my husband and I go back!
@ivan: onga. sayang you had to leave agad!
@melo: ayus! ako rin… gusto ko ulit ng chocolate cake nilaaaaa!
@ferdz aka ferdie: haha thanks. at least sigurado na tayo na “chlorine free” talaga pool nila diba!
@mhel: thanks! :)
Hay! Its been a week na rin pala… Coron naman…. hehehe
Wow, looks like you and Marc had a great time in Boracay! :-)
So sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with Cebu Pacific before. They’re usually pretty good in responding to customer needs. In fact, other budget airlines like Tiger Air and Air Asia don’t have a refund policy. Cebu Pacific does. I don’t mean to sound like I work for Cebu Pacific. It’s just that they have taken on the role of PAL as our flagship carrier and I have so much respect for what they’re doing. They’re even going to have a direct flight to Hanoi starting in April of this year.
Hey Gail!!!
Sama ako next time.. :-D
labs,
Melanie
ang ganda talaga sa boracay. makapag bakasyon nga :)
hi ma’am gail, this is katrina from rated k, abscbn. i was wondering if i can talk to you on the phone regarding a project we’re working on for the show. it includes the words pet and wedding :) i left my email address. hope to speak with you asap. thank you.
Hi! love your post, and the pics, its seems like you guys had sooo much fun in that trip :-) can’t wait to get there….I got like 15 more days to go before I can touch the white sands of Boracay!! :-)
Aloha,
Demi
wow! I love to go to Boracay this summer! Loved your pics!
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I hate to be the skunk in your garden party, but there is trouble in paradise.
The dogs of Boracay are being slaughtered for the meat market, or eaten
by the dogcatchers themselves. They operate with impunity with the tacit
approval of the government, particularly the mayor. They impose a high
and arbitrary fine on those owners desperate to get their dog back.
It’s been a money-making racket for the dogcatchers. They behave like
gods answerable to no one. They snare your dog even if it is within your
property line. They will beat to death a stray dog on the beach even if people
plead for their lives.
There is no respect for private property. All these
killings are done under the guise of a cleanliness program. But it is
animal cruelty in its most brutal form. It’s a shame on Boracay. Help
us put a stop to this practice. This is urgent. Please send an appeal
to the Bureau of Animal Industry, and ask them to investigate and
stop these killings. The dogcatchers are a violation of the Philippine Animal
Welfare Act of 1998 and also the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007
(Republic Act 9482). The ciizens of Boracay are asking for
your help. Here is the information:
Bureau of Animal Industry
Visayas Avenue corner Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City
Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel. No. (632) 928-1778 or (632) 928-2836
Fax No. (632) 926-6866 or (632) 928-2177
or
Phone: +632 927-0971; 926-6883
Fax: +632 928-2429
Thank you for your support. Salamat po sa tulong ninyo.
@chessbuff: thanks for the head’s up. I’ll be coming back to Boracay this coming November. I’ll take a look into this and interview some locals for my dog blog.
Hi! Was happy to see Whiskey and Coffee in your blog. Hi Gail, i’ll check your dog blog.
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