I grew up in a small town in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras and every Sunday our family would go to Alubihod beach which my grandparents own. Alubihod is just 4 kilometers from town so all five of us would take the family motorbike and spent the entire Sunday swimming or having boats rides.

I still have old pictures of me (7 or 8 years old) running across the sandy beaches. The sand is almost as white as that of Boracay’s, but less refined. The beach front was still empty with just a couple of huts or cottages we’d use to stay and eat out during lunch. About 20 years ago, only a small number of family houses of our relatives are standing just a few meters away from the shore. (Mostly cousins to the second degree.)

Haven’t been back there for years now though. I frequently invite my high school classmates to take a vacation over there. Guimaras is just a few kilometers from Iloilo City by boat. It usually costs Php5.00 but I think it could already be Php10.00 – Php15.00 per head. Once you dock at the Jordan pier, you take a Nueva Valencia jeep to town about 30 kilometers south. Another tricycle ride from Poblacion town to Alubihod would cost about Php 25 – Php 50 depending on the number of passengers.

Alubihod is now sub-divided into several resorts, the bigger one would be Raymen Beach resort which is owned by my mom’s cousins and Rico Beach Resort, owned by my uncle, the youngest of my mom’s siblings.

I will definitely take a lot of pictures once I get to visit back home.

Celebrating the Holy Week with a procession of images of Mother Mary and Jesus, Bataan.

[tags]holy week, procession, november[/tags]

The Nursing Board Exam Results for 2007 is almost coming. Official announcements for all those who passed will be published soon.

For the meantime, you can check here for some of the earlier results.

[tags]nursing exam results, 2007 PRC nursing exams[/tags]

Ever been to White Beach at Bolinao, Pangasinan? Check it out and see what’s more than than Bolinao!

Now, you can fly with Philippine Airlines for free.

The Mabuhay Miles Visa from HSBC offers you the fastest way to fly Philippine Airlines FREE. Every Php45 you charge to your card earns you 1 Mile. So when you gas up, shop for groceries or pay your utility bills with your card, you become closer to that free flight.

You can double or triple your miles with HSBC. Here’s how:

With the Triple your Miles program, you can earn Miles faster than ever before. Simply use your Mabuhay Miles Visa at Triple Your Miles partner merchants and get up to 3 Miles for every Php45 you spend!

To know more about HSBC Mabuhay Miles Visa, visit here.

Double your Miles at the Shangri-La’s Horizon Club and Traders Club

Enjoy the ultimate comfort and convenience at Shangri-La Hotel’s Horizon Club or Traders Club room on Select Rate, the best available rate between
01 September to 30 November 2006 and earn Double Miles.

Shangri-La’s Horizon Club and Traders Hotel’s Traders Club floor rooms, available at most hotels, offer a higher standard of accommodation and personalized service.

Enjoy a host of privileges at the Club Lounge plus more such as: breakfast, daily cocktail hour, all day non-alcoholic beverages, access to Club Lounge facilities including use of meeting room, pressing of one suit and little extras such as broadband connectivity, personal voice mail, private facsimile machine, and an executive size desk.

For reservations, call Shangri-La Philippines at 00 800 8388 8388 or book on-line at www.shangri-la.com. Advance reservation is required.

Promo is exclusive for Mabuhay Miles Million Miler, Premier Elite and Elite members.

Offer is only for stays in a Horizon Club or Traders Club room on Select Rate and cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions.

– Special Treat plus Triple Miles at Shangri-La Resorts

Visit any of the luxurious Shangri-La resorts in Mactan, Fiji Island, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Singapore or Muscat and earn Triple Miles plus additional benefits. Simply stay for two or more consecutive nights on Value Vacation rates between 01 October and 30 November 2006.

What’s more, you get the following at no extra cost: buffet dinner and breakfast, unlimited laundry, US$ 20 credit for recreation facilities, non-motorized water sports and 3 p.m. late check-out. Children under 12 years old can enjoy free meals when dining with adults.

And to celebrate the hotel re-opening, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa in Penang* will offer the following for guests to spend in the Hotel:
– Stay 3 to 7 nights and receive a credit of RM 100 nett
– Stay 8 to 14 nights and receive a credit of RM 300 nett
– Stay 15 nights and above, and receive a credit of RM 500 nett

* Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang’s Triple Miles promo is from 28 September to 19 December 2006

PLUS!!, as an introductory offer on CHI Spa treatments**, the following special rates will be offered:
– Himalayan Healing Stone Massage (2 hours and 15 minutes)- RM 300++
– Traditional Malaysian Wrap (1 hour and 15 minutes)- RM 150++
– Traditional Malaysian Massage (1 hour and 15 minutes)- RM 150++

**The CHI Spa introductory offer rate is applicable for one treatment per person, per stay. Subsequent treatments are charged at prevailing menu prices.

Advance reservations is required. In the Philippines, just call 00 800 8388 8388 or book online at www.shangri-la.com. Offer is on Value Vacations rates for a minimum of two consecutive nights stay and cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions.

Want to go on a trip to the La Mesa Ecopark? Check out this entry.

Punta Fuego is just amazing! Been there for a week-end vacation and loved it.

Check our Punta Fuego trip there last summer.

The SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City is the home of the largest cinema in the country – the IMAX.

View the Picture Gallery here.

A lot of my relatives abroiad have bene asking how to get these Wowowee tickets. Anybody has any idea how?

It looks like everyone is looking to get in and the lines are always long and the venue full of people especially OFWs.