A One-Night Stay in Hacienda Darasa Garden Resort Hotel

Hacienda Darasa Hotel

Last May 2013, I was able to purchase a Metrodeal coupon for a night stay in Hacienda Darasa Garden Resort Hotel. It was almost a year later that we were able to use it due to a busy schedule. Good thing I was able to remember about it a month earlier from the coupon's last day of validity. Booking was not a problem. I called their number listed on the coupon, and the lady who answered us was accommodating enough. 

Kids would Love this Loay Beach in Bohol

Tourists visiting Bohol in the Philippines most probably would spend beach time in the white sand beaches of Panglao island. Even locals would agree that Panglao offers one of the best beaches in the country. However, the province of Bohol, being surrounded by seas, has a lot of beach choices depending on a group or a family's preference. For local families bringing kids on a swimming outing, the beach resorts in Loay town would usually come to mind.

Hinawanan Beach Resort, Loay, Bohol

Discovering Popping Boba at Pink Bubble Tea

I am a coffee lover and I only take my dose of tea once in a while in the evening. However, tea cafés sprouting around the city lately made me love tea even more. The different flavors added to the tea gave a nice taste to it other than being bitter. One of those variations of tea that I come to like is milk tea. So I decided to visit Pink Bubble Tea along P. Sanchez St. in Manila (in front of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital).

Pahiyas 2013 Calendar of Events (Lucban, Quezon)

Below is the calendar of events for this year’s Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon. Held every 15th of May in honor of San Isidro Labrador (Patron Saint of Farmers), Pahiyas 2013 would again showcase why it is one of the most colorful festivals in the country. Visit Pahiyas Festival website for package day tours on the 15th. For the religious, Green Faith Travels also offers day tour package during the Pahiyas. Visit their Facebook account Green Faith Travels.

PAHIYAS 2013

(source: http://www.quezon.gov.ph)

An Afternoon in Sampaguita Gardens in Aklan

After a short rest in Ati-Atihan County Inn, we continued our Aklan escapade as we made our way to Sampaguita Gardens in the town of New Washington. The town is about 8 kilometers from Kalibo. From the Ati-Atihan County Inn, we just told the tricycle driver to bring us to the jeepney terminal going to New Washington. The tricycle fare was 8 pesos per person. The terminal is located in Cardinal Jaime Sin Avenue, the same avenue going to the Kalibo Airport. We had to wait for a few minutes for the jeepney to fill up before we were on our way. It took us only 20 minutes to get to New Washington. The jeepney fare was 15 pesos per person.

Accommodations in Kalibo, Aklan

Here is the list of hotels/pension houses that we’ve personally checked out during our visit in Kalibo, Aklan. The first seven were the ones we’ve visited while walking around the town of Kalibo in the morning. They are arranged according to the one we’ve passed by first from the capitol building of Aklan. The last two were visited in the afternoon as we went to the town of New Washington and back. Sorry we forgot to take pictures of the other hotels, but we have scanned and posted here their brochures/price lists. Check them out! 

A Walk in the Town of Kalibo, Aklan

Monument of Godofredo Peralta Ramos, the Father of Aklan

As expected, we were so tired from the previous day’s activities so we weren’t able to leave Roxas City at 5AM as planned. Instead, we were at the van terminal going to Kalibo past 6AM. The tricycle ride from Roxas City Pension House was much farther and the fare was 20php per person. The van and bus terminals are located in Km. 1 in Roxas City. Tell the driver to drop you off in Albar Terminal if you are planning to take the van. Van fare is 110php per person going to Kalibo. 

Roxas City Pension House and a Taste of Capiz Seafood in Baybay Beach

 

After the tricycle ride that took only a few minutes, we reached the Roxas City Pension House. It is located near the Baybay Crossing. The location is not along the highway, making the place an ideal and quiet place to stay. There are a lot of pension houses near Baybay Beach but we chose Roxas City Pension House since it was among the cheapest. 

A Walk in the City of Roxas, Capiz

When we talk about the Panay Island, the first places that come to mind are Aklan (Boracay) and Iloilo. These two provinces are more popular than the province of Capiz and it's capital, Roxas City. So when I told my officemates that my husband and I were going to Roxas City, their reply was "Where is that?" I said "It's in Capiz." and their next reply was "San ba ang Capiz? Bat ka pupunta dun?" Anong meron don?" (Where is Capiz? Why would you go there? What's in Capiz?)

Before our trip, I only knew two things about Capiz: it was the birthplace of Manuel Roxas (former president of the Philippines), and Roxas City is considered the Seafood Capital of the country. With a thirst to visit new places, we were excited to learn more about Capiz especially about Roxas City even though we knew little of it.

A Visit to the Town of Pan-ay and the Largest Bell in Asia

Pan-ay Church

After lunch in Zabroso in Roxas City, we asked a tricycle to bring us to the jeepney terminal in Barangay Banicad in Roxas City. Tricycle fare was 10php per person. In the jeepney terminal, we had to wait for the jeepney to get full, and I mean overflowing with people. Don’t get surprised when there could be 3 passengers in front (excluding the driver) and more passengers sitting in the provided stools along the jeepney aisles. Fare from Banicad to Pan-ay town is 12php.