Thursday, August 28, 2014

Always a Pleasant Suprise!



Such a pleasant surprise waking up on the morning with someone at the gate,  "delivery po, hot pandesal."  And what could be more surprising when a visit is done in the evening when I'm in my pyjamas and  about to sleep?  (no, not about to sleep. I'm a late sleeper and late riser person,  just a dramatic speech)  I hate waking up early  but  as the rules say,  there is always an exemption.. certainly,  you put a smile in my face.  You  always surprise me and I love you to bits.  Mapa-umaga, tanghali at gabi.  This morning is another pandesal-and-coffee day with these beautiful couple who biked their way to my place.  I am amazed with how you spend  and start your day..  a visit and another  way of  sweating out and burning calories.  Such a healthy lifestyle!



Definitely,  another  day to be thankful  for,  having early morning conversation and..


I wish I could join with you  but I am more than happy  that you find time to visit  me  home.   You guys are amazing!


Photo posted here   is recycled.  Today's photo needs some good filter.  :)

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Day Trip at Aquaria Calatagan

It's not just our annual family vacation but also a  tradition  that we simply  cannot break.  Since the start of  summer kicked  in,  we already planned to spend at least three nights in Bolinao or  hit  north beaches. With my too many conditions,   Batangas or  Subic  were the only  options left  on their list.  I probably have the last say because  even if I sent links which they may consider, they just let me decide where to spend our summer trip.  They eventually  agreed in Batangas  and  settled to  Aquaria which is just a three-hour travel from Manila.  I've been to Calatagan many years ago when we  conducted an ocular visit to few of  A-Resorts in Batangas for team building venue and company outing.  I am quite familiar with the road  but after almost 17 years I really couldn't remember anything about the place.




We enjoyed the  long  road trip  as it is very scenic and greenery.  We stopped by at a fruit stand and  bought mangoes and jackfruit before proceeding to Calatagan.






I guess I should stop a wordy intro to the beach resort. My photos will just speak as I tour you around inside Aquaria. 
 
Upon checking in, we registered in the reception area and the staff  put us a tag  that serves  as our pass around the resort.




Photo opportunity  under the heat of the sun. Imagine how hot the place is at the peak of summer. We came here in the last few days of May when the rainy season almost started to come in.


Okay, this is my recycled outfit from our last summer's Dive and Trek. :)



Entrance fee at the resort is P400 for adult and P200 for child. You don't need to book a reservation. Playa Calatagan residential owners have special rate. Please check it out in their website.



Which SPF to choose?  Kind of confuse?!   Don't forget to bring SPF lotion to protect your skin.


Getting ready  for selfie. 




We rented a large cabana for P1500 and picnic table and chair for P200. We just squeezed  the food in this  table which is only   good for 4 pax.   Jack fruit became the star of the table as  our  neighboring tent campers  gave us  an odd  look like telling  us why we have such food on the beach.
 
Okay, this is the real food.  What's perfect for beach outing?  Grilled pork marinated overnight. 

 


My daughter and I walked along the stretch of  shoreline.  And ooh, I love the smell of the sea.  We planned to do some water activities late afternoon when the sun was  not too harsh  for our skin.  Unfortunately, when the sun went down,  the water subsided too.  I suggest that you do water activities  in the morning when the water is still in the high tide state. 




Nevertheless, they enjoyed the pool and the giant slide.








Are these hermit crabs?   There are many of these in the shore. 

The obligatory jump shot!

















The groupie.


and the shadow selfie!






I didn't realize that we've been here  16 years ago when it's not yet developed. Only then I  figured out  after seeing the rock formations and when the low tide in the afternoon revealed.  Yes, somewhere here.  We've been here before.   How nostalgic.







Let me segue a bit on the road on our way back home. The two motorists  somehow gave us an unusual view.   I hope they still focus on the road and not on the thrill  of being together.

 We were caught  by the traffic  in the middle of the trip.


 We stopped  by to give way to Santacruzan  happening during the  month of  May. 


We  left  Calatagan  at 5:30pm  and arrived home past 9.



We didn't just take home jack fruit and mangoes but sweet pineapple as well.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

What You Need to Know Before You Buy an Instrument



If you are a musician,  you shouldn't only  consider  the price of  the  instrument because more often than not, the quality suffers with the less expensive  ones  that break the performance.  Yes, you got it  way cheaper  but  are you really putting your money  to  good  investment?   Always check the reviews online and check the feedback  from the customers who have the same experience  and  highly recommend the product.   Certainly,  there are a lot of  choices of instruments like these   fun drums to play,  but  make sure these have  all  the  qualities  that will give you assurance despite being  purchased  online and only rely on word-of-mouth marketing.




Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Angel Locsin on Mastering the Craft, Nurturing the Gift, and Loving the Job




Angel Locsin is one of country’s leading performers on the Philippine silver screen. She was named Best Actress in the 29th PMPC Awards for Movies in 2013, and has been considered as one of the most awarded dramatic actresses today. From a television and film actress, she has diversified into various media in the entertainment business: as a commercial model, film producer, fashion designer and product endorser.

Angel was recently unveiled as one of the talented gurus who will be molding the next generation of child performers in this season’s Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp. She will be joining the star-studded panel of esteemed mentors backstage: choreographer and G-Force director, Georcelle Dapat-Sy and divine diva Zsa Zsa Padilla. As mentor, Angel will be steering i-Shine participants through the acting workshops.

For 25 years, Promil Pre-School has been well known for talent development, raising awareness for parental participation, proper guidance and good nutrition as factors that play major roles in bringing preschoolers to their full potential. The Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp is one of Promil Pre-school’s advocacies, in which the talents of Filipino children nationwide are engaged. Angel is excited to see how this year’s mentees will fare under her tutelage.

Continuously mastering your craft

One of her most remembered roles is her rendering of the iconic superheroine Darna in the TV adaptation of Mars Ravelo’s classic character. But despite her fame, Angel knows that she didn’t just wake up one morning to success; she had to learn the ropes and work on her craft assiduously – a painstaking process that she knows all budding talents must go through, like the tiny tots of the Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp who will be entrusted into her care.

“Paulit-ulit kong sinasabi na iba yung honor na binibigay sa akin nito bilang isang artista... Yung ma-appreciate ka sa talent mo at yung oportunidad para ma-experience at ma-ishare mo sa mga bata yung mga natutunan mo – yung mga tinuro rin sa akin nung mga naging mentors ko when I was young (I always say that this is a great honor for me as an artist… That of being appreciated for your talent and the opportunity to experience and share to the kids what I’ve learned – those things that I’ve learned from my own mentors when I was young),” she says. “Bawat talent, bawat show, bawat acting piece na ginagawa mo, meron at meron kang nadedevelop na kailangan mo pang i-enhance… Continuous process kasi yung acting (Each talent, each show, each acting piece that a person does, you get to develop something that you would still have to enhance… Acting is a continuous process),” she adds.

The importance of proper nurturing and guidance

While she feels that talent plays a big role in how a child stands out, it’s really the combined effort and diligence taken by the child, parents and teachers that make a difference. “I think there are many talented individuals; but it’s really the masisipag (hardworking) that beat them in the end. So, kailangan talaga ng perserverance (You really need perseverance),” she points out.

Angel also understands how crucial mentoring is in the life of a child. “Natatandaan ko pa yung nursery teacher ko nung bata ako – Hindi ko makakalimutan yung pangalan niya. (I remember my nursery teacher when I was young – I will never forget her name.) That’s how much of an impact she had on me. Nakaka-flatter na baka ganun din yung mangyari sa mga bata. (It’s flattering to think that that could also happen to these kids.) Actually, challenge ito para sa akin na mabigay ko talaga yung dapat matutunan nung mga bata sa maikling panahon (It is actually a challenge for me to give my best so the kids will get the learning they need in such a short amount of time).”

And she doesn’t discount the importance of family support, which she cites as an important factor in her own development as an artist. “I am very blessed na sila yung naging magulang ko sa lahat ng pinagdaanan ko. Hindi kami galing sa showbiz family. Napakasimple lang ng pamilya ko, pero nag-adjust talaga sila ng lifestyle for me para magawa ko ‘tong gusto ko. Napakaswerte ko sa pamilya ko (I am very blessed to have the kind of parents that I have. We are not a showbiz family. My family is simple, but they adjusted their lifestyle for me so that I could reach this far. I’m really lucky to have them).”

And this is why she likewise hopes that the i-Shine finalists will receive the same kind of support from their own. “Sana itong mga bagets natin dito sa i-Shine, sana ganun din yung mga magulang nila na nakasuporta dun sa gusto nung mga anak nila. Hindi dahil sa gusto nila, pero dahil ito yung pangarap nung mga anak nila. Sana i-encourage nila yung mga bata kung papaano mahalin lalo ‘tong craft na ‘to, at i-enjoy pa ‘to kasi mga bata rin naman sila, diba? Ayokong iparamdam sa kanila na ‘this is work’ diba? (I hope the parents support their kids’ interest because this is what their child dreams of doing, not because this is what the parent wants. They should encourage love for this craft and for this kind of work and teach the child how to enjoy it. The kids shouldn’t go through the experience thinking that ‘this is work’ because they are children after all, aren’t they?)” she shares

Achieving success in performing arts through encouragement

Angel has played many popular roles in the past, but her role as the acting mentor for Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp 3 is a first for her career. “Gusto kong bigyan ng opportunity yung mga bata to shine. Sana mahalin nila yung craft, yung industry, at hindi nila isipin na trabaho lang siya (I just want these kids to be given the opportunity to shine. I want them to learn how to love the craft, the industry, and not treat it as just a job),” she shares. “Challenge talaga siya na maturo ko sa mga bata yung kailangan nilang matutunan sa maikling panahon, pero the least I can give them is yung suporta at encouragement na kailangan nila para maabot nila yung full potential nila (It will definitely be a challenge to be able to teach these kids all that I know in such a limited time, but the least I can give them is the support and encouragement that they need to reach their full potential),” she adds.

This season’s i-Shine Talent Camp 3 is hosted by Dimples Romana, Matteo Guidicelli, and Xian Lim. The Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp is also giving away over Php 1 million worth of prizes and a contract from ABS-CBN and Promil Pre-School to the grand winner. The previous year’s Promil Pre-School Grand i-Shiner, Yesha Camille, has received quite a number of television appearances after winning the feat, and is now involved in an upcoming series with her i-Shine mentor Piolo Pascual.

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