Plantation Bay Cebu City

I never thought I would be able to enter this man-made paradise here in Cebu. Thanks to the company I am working with, I was able to visit and enjoy the complimentary facilities and amenities of Plantation Bay.


Plantation Bay Resort and Spa
Marigondon, Mactan Island, Cebu, Philippines
http://plantationbay.com

At first glance inside, I never thought Plantation Bay was this big. At the reception, you can already see the beauty of the cool waters reflecting the suns rays. It made me wanna jump right away into the water.

On the receiving area, you need to register first before you can enjoy the facilities. You will be fitted with a plastic band on your wrist, when inside, this would determine if you are a customer of plantation or not.

All guest are allowed to have a free hour ride using a bicycle provided near the game club on the left part of the resort. Using the bicycle, I was able to drive around the resort and enjoy the view.

There was a middle lagoon, a large one, a man-made swimming pool made of salt water. On the middle of this lagoon is a restaurant and another pool, which is not salt water. Within that pool is a bar where you can enjoy refreshing drinks while having a swim.

You can also venture out to the farthest part of the resort, which is the bay, to enjoy a swim out on open sea.

All over the resort you can pick your own beach bed if you want to lie down and relax under the heat of the sun or below the shade of a tree.

We had our lunch at Kilimanjaru and enjoyed barbeque, shawarma, pasta, cakes, etc. on a buffet reserve for us. Kilimanjaru is located on the middle part within the salt pool and also right near the unsalted swimming pool, so it is just steps away after the heavy meal to drench yourself and swim back.

I really enjoyed my stay at the Plantation Bay. Below are some pictures you might want to see for yourself.

welcome to plantation bay

this is the man made salt water pool

this is what you will see upon entering

 this is the comfy comfort room

enjoying a bubbling fresh water pool near Kilumanjaru

 this is by the seaside

this is the fresh water pool with the bar

colorful kayaks

 emo at the bridge

 at the registration desk

 murag si kinsa! lolz

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iSUGBO is going to Maribago Bluewater

I was really surprised when I saw my name included / listed for a chance to experience and enjoy a "Sunday by the Beach" at Maribago Bluewater Beach, and what is more exciting is that, its all for free! Together with 8 blogger friends, we will be enjoying a complementary entrance to the resort (worth Php 650.00), complimentary towel, which will be used in the resort (worth Php 300.00), and a free lunch buffet at Maribago Bluewater’s Sunday Family Picnic (worth Php 700.00++).

November 22, 2009 (Sunday)
1. Jorich R. Ponio
2. Prince Ryan Gilig
3. Kristian Lloyd Etulle
4. Clarence Andrew Mongado
5. Keneley Zyza Esmeña
6. Francis Daniel Maning
7. Orville H. Tadle
8. Mark Gallardo

As qualified blogger, you are entitled to:

* Complimentary entrance to the resort (worth Php 650.00)
* Complimentary towel, which you can use in the resort (worth Php 300.00)
* Free lunch buffet at Maribago Bluewater’s Sunday Family Picnic (worth Php 700.00++)

What can I say? My entry paid off and I am so thankful to Sir Ruben of PinoyWorld.org for acknowledging my written review about Maribago Beach Resort. I am excited in meeting the General Manager of Maribago Bluewater, Rhyz Buac, and personally say thank you for offering this kind of privilege to bloggers.

And since Maribago Beach Resort has turned 20, the resort is offering promotions and complimentary. Watch the video and see what is in store at Maribago Beach Resort.

Any reactions are accepted, please feel free to write a comment beneath this post. You can also subscribe to this blog for future updates by visiting this link.

Maribago Bluewaters Review

Here in Cebu, the weather is perfect all year round. If you are a Cebuano, you have the ability to spend your day on a beach everyday. However, because of life's necessity, we often forget to spend that special day for ourselves. How marvelous it is to be remembered that I need a time for myself, a time for the beach, a time for blue waters.

When I was dozing my way as usual over the WWW I came across Maribago bluewater blog, what a great way to enjoy a retreat to the beach. Saw their Maribago Bluewater video on Youtube and happen to know that bloggers are invited to visit Maribago Bluewater on a Sunday for free!


Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort gives you the comfort of home in a little paradise. Accommodations are Royal Bungalow, Anuma SPA Suites, Deluxe Rooms, and all are fully airconditioned. To have more details on Maribago Bluewater accommodations you can visit here.

For the food and beverage lovers, you can dine at Maribago's 7 F&B outlets.

Your first stop should be Maribago's main restaurant, the Allegro restaurant, dine besides the pool or within the air-conditioned dining area.

Next will be The Cove, offering fresh seafoods and an open sea view to compliment the culinary treat.

Molto Joli, is an Italian Café that offers fresh salads, pasta, pizza, sandwiches and desserts, as well as cool refreshments. Fronting the Bluewater Art Gallery that features unique works by Filipino Artists, it is the perfect place for an intimate get-together. Open daily from 10:0am to 10:00pm.

If you are in for a healthy retreat, take your time at the Amuma Spa Café & Juice Bar, it provides healthy salads and juices.

Oyster Bar at The Cove, its open from 10 am to 10 pm, offers happy hours special, and will surely be great to spend the coming of the night while enjoying a drink or two before going to bed.

Exhausted by fun? Relax by the Pool Bar and grab some cocktail and refreshment blends that will quench the thirst after a hearty fun in the sun.

Need more time with friends or family? Try the Recreation Bar, Nicknamed the RecBar, it is located in Bluewater’s Recreation Center. Enjoy drinks and refreshments while you play a round of billiards or table tennis. Open daily from 8:00am to 10:00 pm.

There is nothing more wonderful and amazing than to enjoy life than by the beach. :-) For the complete info about how to join this event, you can visit PinoyWorld.

Any reactions are accepted, please feel free to write a comment beneath this post. You can also subscribe to this blog for future updates by visiting this link.

The Terraces - Ayala Center Cebu

The Terraces Ayala Center Cebu

Ayala Center Cebu, one of the biggest mall destination here in Cebu finally opened another exciting and new place to venture, The Terraces. As Cebu Holdings President Francis Monera said in a press conference, “We named it The Terraces because one will walk through a terrace-like ambiance that gives you the feel of being in a resort.”

Having my first step inside reminds of the first time I set foot at Greenbelt malls. The uniquely designed railings, curved nicely to make it look like your very own terrace and those strips of wood (I don’t know what its exactly called) that covers the stairways were much like that of Makati’s Greenbelt malls.




As far as I could remember on my college days, this place was a lagoon filled with green still waters. Now its filled with life and green plants. Not to mention the people that come and goes there, to dine, to take a stroll, relax, drink coffee, enjoy the view, and meet new people. As for me and my daughter, it’s a place to pass time away, took some pictures of the place, and make her go running around safely.

Here are some photos I took, not a good catch though, but its enough to make you wanna go there yourself. Enjoy everyone!

More pictures with my daughter

Madeleine at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel

At the center of the Queen City of the South lies Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casinos. Waterfront Cebu City Hotel takes pride in a wide array of cuisines from across the globe. With specialty restaurants such as Mizu Japanese Restaurant, La Gondola, and Tingow.

And for the cakes and chocolate lovers, one must have a stop at Madeleine. Madeleine is the Hotel's patisserie and boulangerie, is a French-inspired bread and pastry shop that has become famous for its chocolate confections, cakes, quiches and freshly baked breads. Located just along the gourmet walk besides La Gondola, could accommodate 28 people and opens from 8 am up to 12 midnight.

Whats more interesting? Madeleine is Wifi Zone, and it’s free, just purchase a pastry or cake, bring your laptop, and your set to the E world. That’s a good thing for bloggers who want to escape from their rooms. Just ask for assistance on the connection. See you there peeps!

FROM THE SHOWCASE

Kawasan Falls – Escape to paradise

Kawasan Falls – Escape to paradise

Kawasan Falls Badian Cebu, a hidden paradise to a new out going individual, like myself. The trip was my first time to venture on that area. Many times I have heard the place, but never in my childhood years did I attempted to travel to that far place.

Located in the South Side of Cebu in the Municipality of Badian

The day started early in the morning at around 7 am, waiting for the V-hire at Citilink Terminal to be full. The driver said, we should wait until he will get at least 10 passengers. Well, the day is long and a minute of wait never hurts. At around 8:30 am the V-hire was now set to go. With only 150 per passenger fare, is relatively cheap compared to going to Baguio or Boracay. ^_^.. The driver told us that it would take like 2 to 2 and a half hours travel to Kawasan Falls.

It was not a rough ride at all coz we took the South Reclamation Project towards Minglanilla and after that, all was smooth riding. I have never been to the place, so I kept on asking my friends if we are getting nearer. We passed, Naga, San Fernando, Carcar, Barili, Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, then lastly Badian, our destination finally. When we disembarked we decided to visit a little church just near the entrance of the riverbank towards Kasawan Falls. From there we could see the coastline of Badian and from afar, the mountains of Negros Island. The entrance fee to the falls was only 10 pesos! Hope so it stays that way.

We met some people around and they are very friendly and hospitable to tourist, even the ice cream man was full of smiles. I am proud to see Filipinos that way, despite the harshness of life.

Towards the base of the falls, we need to walk our way on the riverbank, which was not bad at all. The step was all designed for a comfy stroll.

You can even see people fixing things around to make it more beautiful. I can’t even remember how many small bridges we passed. It’s like walking in the park with a background of water rushing down towards the sea. It took us like 10 to 15 minutes to get there. Or was it more, I wasn’t able to keep track of the time coz most of my friends were chatting and was enjoying the walk.

kawasan falls ice cream man. pls buy from him.

Kawasan Falls from a distance

As we got nearer, the view of the falls could already be seen from a distance. It was a fantastic experience, or shall I call it a magical feeling seeing the white rush of water falling down on cool turquoise natural pool. When we got to the base of the falls, we took a 300 peso cottage, ordered some good food and got ready for the swim!


But before we could take a dip, we decided to visit another falls just above the first Kawasan Falls, it was only by that time that I knew that there are 2 falls in one location, one above the other just a few walks upward. And a long hike up would take you to the dam. Well, for the adventurers, you try going up, but for weak hearts and knees, just stay behind falls 1 or falls 2.

The water was cold but tolerable. Clinging on to ropes for safety, you will enjoy the swim. Oh, the negative ions rushing cold to your body. Wow!

As the hours passed by, tourist started coming in one by one, taking a bath and some just did pictorials. The place was alive and I am happy seeing it that way, it guarantees that the Kawasan Falls will go a long way in time. For the next generations whose a stranger to his own country, like me, to experience. Well, I am thankful, that I was able to explore the wonder of my very country, Philippines, and in my very own place of birth, Cebu City.

chef blogger with diwatas of Kawasan

Kawasan Falls is indeed a good place to start for a Cebuano in exploring his country land. If you have no less than 5 thousand pesos for a group of 6, you will be able to relax, distress, and enjoy life with nature.

Sto. Niño Church

Another day-off for me, another time for my family, my baby. I decided to take her to the usual place we always go to when I somehow remember God. It is sad to say that I always forget to say thank you to God for His blessings. I only remember Him when I am down, and that ‘is’ a sad thing. I think most people do. I admire people who go to church every Sunday.

Anyway, this visit now is not to go to Him because
I am down but rather to visit Him to say thanks. I was happy that that day I was able to visit Him, and most of all I brought my kid with me. I took her to Jesus’ house of worship. Although we weren’t able to attend the mass, but we were able to light some candles and pray.

It is so amazing that Sto. Niño has changed a lot by time. Sto. Niño is not just for worship anymore, there are also people coming over to see the aged old church, a church that had become one of Cebu’s symbol, and not only for the island of Cebu, but also for it’s people.

The church symbolizes the strong faith of the Cebuano people towards Jesus Christ. As time goes by, the church may age, but the faith of the devotos will always rebirth thru their offspring. I may not be a devoto myself, I am just a regular sinner who in reality could never change, but before I die, I want to impart the respect, fear and love for God to my child for her to learn that God is the only place to go, to make oneself comfortable in times of insecurity. I want her to be like me, when faced with questions that could not be answered, I immediately turn to God.