Tara Na Sa Divisoria! For The Love of Bargains and Good Buys

May 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Divisoria 168 Mall

“Can we go to Divisoria? We should go to Divi!” Urges me whenever I am planning a trip to Manila and luckily for me I almost always made it to this bargain mecca before I go back to Cebu. Have you been to Divi? =) I clearly remember the first time I was there, I was with a Divisoria neophyte too and we were bringing a car. Clueless and warned repeatedly that ‘parking is horrendous. Park as soon as you can find a space”, an image of us just going round and round the area without finding one stuck on my head. So after passing the Binondo Welcome Arc we saw a vacant space by the … READ MORE...

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Day Trip at Obong Spring in Dalaguete Cebu Happy Summer!

May 6, 2013 by 3 Comments
Obong Spring Dalaguete

Dalaguete has been getting the buzz lately especially after the town was featured in Byahe ni Drew of GMA NewsTv. But even before this feature that dubbed Dalaguete as the 'Summer Capital of Central Visayas', this small sleepy town in Cebu South has been frequented by locals who are on mini-vacations and Day Trips. I was fresh from college when I first visited this town, a barkada hails from there and from her we learn of Obong Spring. Obong Spring is a cold spring whose fresh water flows out … READ MORE...

Why Oh Why PLDT? Your service is nearing bottom pit

May 1, 2013 by 5 Comments
PLDT Review and Complaints

I am a very fair person and what you read here in my blog are my real sentiments. That is why alongside glowing reviews of islands and trips, restaurants I’ve been to, hotel I’ve stayed in, services I’ve availed of, I also share posts about tourist traps and issues encountered. One of my aims for this blog is to tell things as is per my experience because I want that Penfires readers who happen to be persuaded to avail of a service, dine in a resto etc after reading a review on this blog … READ MORE...

Beach Outing: A Slice of White Sand Paradise in Mactan

April 30, 2013 by 2 Comments
Coral Reef Beach Resort Mactan

Sunburnt. Two days ago I was on a beach outing with my extended family – our clan on mother’s side to celebrate the 55th wedding anniversary of our clan's matriarch and patriarch. I must have spent several hours under the scorching heat of the sun, lol and so I ended up sunburnt.  :mrgreen: No, I did not use sunblock lotion. Folly, I know. Now, my face, nose and left arm hurts. *head banging on wall*  :roll: Nevertheless, it was a great, amazing summer day spent with my cousins and … READ MORE...

Halo-Halo Oddly Beautiful Pinoy Icy Treat

April 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Halo-halo icy treat

In a recent episode of CNN show "Parts Unknown", host and chef Anthony Bourdain was introduced to Halo – Halo. “Oddly beautiful” were his description of this favorite Pinoy icy treat. Surprisingly, he got his first taste of this cold dessert from a Jollibee branch in LA - Koreatown. Sometimes it makes you wonder how small the world has become. A pinoy favorite available in an area in the United States populated with Koreans. :) But yah the world is becoming smaller and smaller, many … READ MORE...

Lapu-Lapu Wins Another Battle: History vs Diaper Ad

April 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
lapu lapu monument mactan shrine

In 1521 Portuguese conquistador Ferdinand Magellan and his men fought with the native warriors of Lapu - Lapu, Chieftain of Mactan. The natives won the battle which we now know as the "Battle of Mactan."  Fast forward to 2013, a new kind of "battle" was waged, this time pitting the heirs of Lapu - Lapu versus the men and women behind an advertising campaign. The goal was preservation of history and respecting historical events. In case you don't know, I am referencing the newly pulled-out tv … READ MORE...

Bantayan Island Tourist Traps and Tips to Avoid

April 21, 2013 by 3 Comments
Bantayan Island Cebu

As with any place frequented by tourist and visitors, there are bound to be tourist traps and not so good practices. Bantayan is no exception. I’m just hoping that local government and stakeholders will change ways a bit to make the island even more ‘tourist friendly’ than it already is. Tourism is everybody’s businesses and everyone should ensure that what tourists and visitors bring back from their trip are wonderful memories, not memories of being harassed, or the feeling of being … READ MORE...

Bantayan Island Cebu Travel Guide and Tips

April 21, 2013 by 3 Comments
beach cottage nipa hut

Heads-up! Bantayan is not Boracay. This famous vacation destination in Cebu is laidback. There are no loud all-nighter parties, no lines of restaurants meters off the shoreline, no regular sighting of celebrities. You will even find it difficult to find beach resorts that offers a wide array of aqua-adventure facilities like jetskiing, parasailing, kit-surfing, bananaboat ride. They are almost non-existent in the island. But you can always amuse yourself like these foreign visitors playing … READ MORE...

Summer and You: Eat Right, Eat Healthy

April 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Feel_the_burn_in_10_minutes

Summer is that fun time when we bring out our over-sized bags, fill it with brightly colored shirts, sunscreen, sun glasses, straw hat, camera, the works. And outings, trips, getaways are just some of the album name extensions you see on your friends FB wall and maybe on your own wall too! =) Summer is also that time of year when you can show off the rewards of healthy eating and healthy living by going to the beach in your most flattering swimsuits to show off your fit bod. But one thing to … READ MORE...

Do You Miss Sinugbang Mais?

April 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
sinugbang mais grilled corn

Grilled corn or "sinugbang mais" is a favorite merienda treat in the afternoon, fulfilling and cheap. Do you miss eating sinugbang mais? I was craving one time for this childhood favorite when I was working and living in Laguna. I tried to search the streets and the public market but I did not find any vendor selling this pinoy snack food. Nilagang mais or boiled sweet corn were everywhere but not grilled corn. Sad, made me think this street food home is in Cebu and other Visayan islands like … READ MORE...

Tulapos Marine Sanctuary and Guiwanon Spring Park of Siquijor

April 14, 2013 by 1 Comment
Tulapos Marine Sanctuary

If you are listing your best tourist spots in the Philippines the island of Siquijor may not make it to your “best list” especially if you equate “best” with “most popular”. Lots of Filipinos are afraid to venture to this Visayan Island whose reputation is closely link to stories of enchantments, kababalaghan and encounters with not like ours. I too was hesitant when a friend whose roots was from the mystic island invited me to go to Siquijor many moons ago. But last year I finally … READ MORE...