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I attended a beautiful wedding in Davao. And after the wedding reception, the bride took us to what they call “a community bar that’s the place to be”. It’s a house transformed into an acoustic bar that sells food and drinks, it is popularly known as the Bogser’s Coffee House.

Bogser's Coffee House

It almost have the same look and feel as the Xocolat branch in Katipunan — a beautiful old house with a front yard full of tables and chairs, elevated comfort room that leads to the other bedrooms, turned into a cozy hang out place.

a regular artist who plays Freddie Aguilar songs

A regular artist would jam in the middle of the night, but the stage is for anyone who wants to jam and s/he will be called a “jammer”. One of the “jammers” were the bride’s cousins who form the band “C-Shifter”. Check out more of C-Shifter here.

C-Shifter's Nikki Vecino and Wiggy Vergara

Now if you’re in Davao City and near Central Park Subdivision in Bangkal, check out the place. I heard that there’s also a movie room and wi-fi connection, aside from the mini boutique that sells clothing apparel and collectibles.

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Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Davao (Part 2)
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I was very lucky to be part of the annual UP Fair when I was in college. I was one of the hosts/emcees every year since 2002-2008. My last hosting was on the UP Fair Centennial Finale, at 12MN – 2AM, which was a very good way to say goodbye, right?

UP Fair 2008 - Centennial Finale

I was even luckier that my hosting slots were always on the main time slots where the more famous bands would play. It was fun every year, though I was never able to chat with the big bands there. While backstage, I would always mingle with my band-friends who either came from our school, or were already my friends before. I was starstruck only twice — by Sugarfree and Orange and Lemons. Those were the “Mariposa” and “Just Like a Splendid Love Song” days! Maybe because they were relatively “new” compared to Bamboo, Rivermaya or Parokya ni Edgar. I even had the chance to introduce ONL personally on a UP Fair gig (I think it was their first in the UP Fair).

UP Fair 2008 - Centennial Finale - Raffle

UP Fair 2008 - Centennial Finale - with Co-host Bidz

The UP Fair is not only for the music lovers. It also has hundreds of booths that sell food, drinks, trinkets, accessories, jewelry, clothes and other fun items. There’s also the Climbing Wall from mountaineering organizations. Some fun rides and games. The UP Fair is held yearly at the week of Valentines day! Here’s the schedule for this year.

UP FAIR 2010 - feb 09 - tues

Tuesday February 9 – SISFIRE – Juan, Vote! UP Sigma Beta Sorority and UP Economics Society bring you Sisfire7: Juan, Vote! on February 9, the first day of the UP Fair 2010… Kamikazee, 6cyclemind, Kjwan, Sandwich, Sugarfree, Itchyworms, Moonstar88, Silent Sanctuary, Typecast, Paraluman, Pedicab, DeLara, Soapdish, Markus Hiway, Protein Shake, Franco, Paramita, Giniling Festival. This event will surely take entertainment and social awareness to a new level.

UP FAIR 2010 - feb 10 - wednesday

Wednesday, February 10 – WARFAIR – Alert The Armory UP Alpha Sigma Fraternity presents Alert The Armory on February 10… Urbandub, Greyhoundz, Chicosci, Slapshock, Stonefree, Salamin, Hilera, Giniling Festival, Blue Boy Bites Back, December Avenue, Valley of Chrome, April Morning Skies, Cog, Imbue No Kudos, Even, Subscapular, The Ambassadors, Inday Bote.

UP FAIR 2010 - feb 11 - thursday

Thursday, February 11 YESTHURSDAY UP Circle of Entrepreneurs presents a concert advocating peace and paying tribute to the 90’s music… Parokya nI Edgar, Kamikazee, Typecast, Sandwich, Itchyworms, Sugarfree, Silent Sanctuary, Moonstar88, Chicosci, Spongecola, Hilera, Stonefree, 6cyclemind, Mayonnaise.

UP FAIR 2010 - feb 12 - friday

Friday, February 12 – RAKESTRA – Harmony Amidst Chaos UP Beta Epsilon presents Harmony Amidst Chaos on February 12… Sugarfree and Silent Sanctuary accompanied by Manila Symphony Orchestra… Kamikazee, Slapshock, Sponge Cola, Typecast, Chicosci, Valley of Chrome, 6cyclemind, Queso, Sandwich, Zelle, Mayonnaise, Moonstar 88, Itchyworms, Soapdish, Rocksteddy, Up Dharma Down, Boy Elroy, Franco, Pitik, April Morning Skies, Danita, Imbue No Kudos, Imago, Syato, Bloodsheed, Cog, Pink Painted Sky, Sin.

UP FAIR 2010 - feb 13 - saturday

Saturday, February 13 – YOUTHSTOCK – Rock, Role, Rights! UP Diliman University Student Council along with the EMC² Fraternity presents Rock, Role, Rights on February 13… Sandwitch, Gloc-9, 6cyclemind, Chicosci, Pedicab, Imago, Itchyworms, Soapdish.

UP FAIR 2010 - feb 14 - sunday

Sunday, February 14 – LOVERAGE – Illumine Nation Adelfe Enu Crea Sorority, Pan Xenia Fraternity, UP Circuit, and UP 49ers presents Illumine Nation on February 14… Rico Blanco, Sugarfree, Sandwich, 6cyclemind, Imago, Itchyworms, Callalily, Silent Sanctuary, DeLara, Paraluman, Pedicab, Blue Ketchup, Soapdish, Markus Highway, Ciudad, Aurora, Tanya, Ernville, Up Dharma Down, Chicosci, Kjwan, Giniling Festival, Moonstar88, Zelle, Stonefree, Top Junk, Brownman Revival, Rocksteddy.

So enjoy your Valentine’s week, see you at the UP Fair. It’s a date!

Related article: Subic Trip

Playa Papagayo Beach Inn and Restaurant is just beside 7-11 at Olongapo’s National Highway and there’s a signage at the facade for Playa Papagayo and Cantina Mexicana. Pass by a couple of resorts first, including Arizona Beach Resort, before getting there. Arizona, just like Blue Rock Resort was almost full and Palm Tree Resort would not accommodate four people in a room even if we pay the extra bed and person so we’re left with no choice that to get two separate rooms which would cost Php 2,500 (54.50 USD) per room. And that made me wonder if Subic Bay resorts do not have rooms with two beds on it. Lucky for us, we found Playa Papagayo. After checking out its neighboring resorts, we found it to be the best in terms of ambiance and affordability.

Playa Papagayo Beach Inn and Restaurant

When we checked in, the receptionist was polite and accommodating. We got a 20% discount upon checking in, so our Superior Deluxe Room, which had two beds, priced at Php 4,032.00 was cut down to P3225.60. We had the choice of getting the Standard Room that is good for two persons at a discounted price of Php 1,200.00, which would be cheaper for us, but we preferred the Deluxe room because it’s more spacious and was on the second floor.

Superior Deluxe Room

The place reminded me so much of Bamboo Beach Resort in Boracay.

We ordered our dinner from the resort, Cantina Mexicana’s menu, before 6PM then had some fun time at the beach.

Playa Papagayo Beach Inn and Restaurant - The beach

Playa Seaside Restaurant

The Playa Seaside Restaurant

After eating, we prepared for a night out. We went out to have a couple of beers. We tried Oriental Rose Tavern, a red-light bar. The girls said that shows are not allowed in Barretto, girls only dance. I don’t know what kind of “shows” are prohibited there, but I’ve been to Fields Avenue for a trip of student journalists and I don’t remember any remarkable shows. I was in Fields Avenue to interview girls about their job, and about the whole system in Fields as well. Also, I’ve been Venus in Puerto Galera and the shows the dancers/showgirls did were actually entertaining. There were star dancers who do acrobatic and sometimes almost athletic pole dancing and all the girls in the dance floor were very energetic. So anyway, we played five rounds of billiards at Php 10.00 per game. San Miguel Light is Php 60.00 and Rhum Coke is Php 65.00.

Before finally going home, we bought Ice Cream on Stick and some snacks from 7-11.

In the morning, we had our continental breakfast at Nina’s Margarita Bar. A breakfast includes three freshly baked pan de sal (salted bread), a slice of butter, a spoon of jam, small a small serving of juice and a cup of coffee. You can ask for more butter and/or jam anytime. But we ordered for additional food.

Nina's Margarita Bar

Nina's Margarita Bar (photo by www.amreidizon.tumblr.com)

Continental Breakfast (photo by www.amreidizon.tumblr.com)

Bacon (photo by www.amreidizon.tumblr.com)

Bacon – Php 110 — menu says there are five (5) slices, rather it was weighed according to grams

Freshly Baked Bread (photo by www.amreidizon.tumblr.com)

Butter and Jam (photo by www.amreidizon.tumblr.com)

Egg (photo by www.amreidizon.tumblr.com)

Egg – Php 20 — menu says it could be cooked any style, but you can only ask for scrambled and sunny side up. I asked for ’scrambled and curry’ style (meaning with tomatoes and spices, and I’ll just pay for the additional ingredients) but they could not accommodate it.

The waiter in the morning was not as good as John. He’s not very lively, which was actually, not bad, as long as he’s attentive. But he was not able to get our orders correctly for a couple of times, and I would always ask him to repeat our orders, because it so seemed that he’s getting a little confused. So it would’ve been perfect if not for the minor restaurant hassle in the morning. So my advise: revise the menu and say that the side order of bacon is served according to grams, and eggs could only be scrambled or sunny side up. Breakfast is served until 10:30 AM.

Beach in the Morning

After breakfast, we enjoyed more of the silver-white sand beach. The water was cold when we first dipped at around 5PM the day before, and it was also a bit cold at 10 AM. But it’s fairly clear and the shore is clean. The sand turns dark gray when wet, and the sand below gets easily disturbed and the water becomes “dusty” so taking pictures underwater was a bit hard for us.

We checked out at 1PM and had lunch at Rizal Highway then off to Zoobic Safari! Read more about our tour in the Zoobic Safari.

Related Posts:

Subic Trip
Cantina Mexicana, Playa Papagayo Beach Inn and Restaurant
Zoobic Safari – The Only Tiger Safari in the Philippines

After a few rounds of beer in Coco Amigos, we went to Why Not? Another popular place to go to. It’s a disco house. Entrance fee is only Php 85.00 with a free bottle of local drink. There was a stage with a pole but no one’s dancing so some of my friends took the stage. I bet they had fun.

Why Not? Dumaguete City

People would not mind you even if you are making a fool of yourself up on stage. Good thing one of our friends is a trained dancer. Here she is on her first attempt at the pole.

my friend taking the stage

A lot of people but no one’s dancing.

play of lights inside Why Not? Dumaguete City

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Visiting the Enchanted Cave in Bolinao last January, the caretaker of the cave, who’s a local, told us that there’s a white sand beach below Cape Bolinao. He said the locals call it their own “Little Boracay”. Coming back two months later, me and my friends did not settle for Bolinao’s calm beach, where we were lodged. After 15 minutes of walking in the shallow Bolinao beach (that stretches from Brgy. Ilog Malino where Puerto del Sol is, and Brgy. Patar where Bing’s Beach Resort is), we decided to go back to the road and wait for a tricycle and go down to this so-called Little Boracay.

Bolinao's Little Boracay

Tricycles were pretty scarce, good thing there’s someone from Bing’s Beach Resort who has a trike and was willing to drive us. The fare (two way) is Php 250.00 per trike. There were six of us so that’s only around Php 42.00 per head. Which was pretty cheap, considering that the white beach is around 15-20 minutes away, by up and down hills of dirt road.

It is Patar White Beach. It is a public beach just like Saud and Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud. Patar White Beach was full of people that Black Saturday afternoon. I think it’s the “happening” place in the area. It’s got Videoke stations, sari-sari (mini convenience) stores that sell chips, sodas and alcohol, eateries, and open cottages one after the other. There’s even a tricycle line waiting for guests leaving the area. It looked like there was no available lodging in the area. But it’s okay to camp in by tent.

the sea

The beach is not visible from the entrance (no entrance fee, by the way). And just like Saud and Blue Lagoon, the beach has a steep slope (unlike Boracay), so once the view of the beach huts and stores clear, you will see the beach. It’s pretty good, actually. Sand’s texture is like that of Station 3, cream/yellowish in color, and really soft. I am hoping that it’s soft because the beach has low foot traffic that compacts the sand. The water is ok, but we were there around 530 PM, so I think it’s clearer under brighter sunlight. There are few rocks under water, but over all, you can walk and swim on it barefoot.

my feet in my pink aqua shoes

The 500ml Red Horse beer goes for only Php 30.00. Tortang talong (eggplant cooked with egg), that we ate for our Bolinao dinner, goes for Php 10.00.

looking for a spot

Since we started beach bumming late, we stayed in the beach until around 8PM. It gets kinda breezy and cold while the night fell, and it got really dark on some parts of the beach, because there’s only light around the area with open cottages. But it’s amazing watching the stars appear in the sky. And the sunset’s even more breathtaking. One of Lingayen Gulf’s claims is its beautiful sunset.

sunset

Kuya Arman, our driver, left us on the beach and fetched us again at 8PM. Globe Telecom’s signal in the area is weak, so better bring a Smart sim card. Or make sure that your service will be there on the time that you will be leaving. I asked the lady in the eatery if she could lend me her phone so I can send Kuya Arman a text message. Though she only had Php 6.00 worth of load, she was kind enough to let me use her phone. I offered to pay her for the text message that I sent, but she refused. There’s a stronger signal for Globe near the gate.

Kuya Arman (tricycle service): 09197806217

There should not be anything stopping us from going to different islands of our country. The Philippines is really beautiful, so go on, explore. And enjoy the promo fares that airline companies are offering.

Now that Philippine Airlines’ Seat-All-You-Can Promo is back, with flights to major destinations, what else are you waiting for? Click on the photo to book a flight!

Here’s a first timer tourist’s guide to Singapore from another first timer tourist. This contains the walking, shopping, sight seeing and eating that I’ve done the first time I was in Singapore last December. I went back soon on March for the Indigo Girls concert.

Essential:

First thing that you need to do is be familiar with the MRT stations. The MRT can take you to most of the places you need to go to.

Here’s a hi-res map:

The trains are always on time and the stations are easy to navigate because of the numerous signage that point you to your destination. MRT rides cost .80 to 1.90 SGD, quite affordable for its efficiency.

Here’s our itinerary (click on linked items to see related article/s):

The First Day

1. Vivo City
- Food Republic – Toast Box and Java Kitchen

2. Sentosa
- Islander Card
- Sentosa Express
- Skyride and Luge Car
- Underwater World
- Dolphin Show
- 4D Magix Show
- Songs of the Sea

3. Clarke Quay

The Second Day:

1. Ikea

2. Suntec City Mall
- Fountain of Wealth

3. The Merlion

4. Hawker Center / Hawkers, Esplanade

5. Orchard Road

view from The Merlion's bridge

The Third Day:

1. Singapore Cable Car

2. Museums
- National Museum of Singapore
- Singapore Art Museum
- 8Q SAM

3. Bugis

4. Night Safari

5. Mustafa – 24 hour mall

The Fourth Day

1. Funan / Funan DigitaLife Mall

2. Chinatown

3. Marina Square

4. Ikea

—
Other useful tips:

If you’re a smoker, prepare to be watchful, most places are smoke-free and there are only small smoking areas which you have to spot while strolling. Don’t worry too much, if you’re mindful about it, you’ll find these smoking areas.

Transportation

Go to ticketing offices in the MRT stations to inquire about the Tourist Pass – an all day transportation tap card – if you think you will be heavily relying on public transportation. There are also the standard card (enter – exit MRT card with 1 SGD deposit) and a prepaid card for MRT and buses.

I’ve seen two types of taxis – Comfort Taxi and Silvercab. Comfort is blue and dominant in the streets and looks like a mini cooper. Silvercab is white, seldom and intimidating. Its cabs are Mercedes Benzes! Really. Don’t get intimidated (like I did), I heard that the fare is the same.

Food

Rice is about .50 SGD a cup at the Hawkers, Coke in can at vendo machines is 1.60 t0 1.80 SGD. A decent meal is at 4 to 7 SGD the cheapest. Airport food is ok, at 7 to 15 SGD. We tried the Hor Fun, Mui Fun and another food when we get there. Milkshakes are nice too, it’s got a faint taste of tea.

I have yet to update this once I’ve posted the write ups about the other destinations. :)

I had the chance to visit the new Eastwood Mall in Eastwood City in Libis Quezon City last year and I was able to appreciate it as it was not yet crowded then. The facade is like a mini park where you can stroll while towered by mid-rise and high-rise buildings.

specialty stores at its Atrium

shops

stroll, play

tall buildings

like a park

Shop inside the mall with numerous chic brands and dine outside at The Veranda where you can choose a place from a platter of concept-restaurants. At night, the buildings fronting the mall light up in different colors.

From The Merlion, we walked to the Esplanade, to go to the hawker strip behind it. Hawker center houses a group of food carts in open air spaces. Food prices range from .40 SGD (satay on stick) to 12SGD. Only 10 SGD for oysters omelette that’s good for 3-4 people. Hawkers is where the affordable foods are. Don’t always convert to pesos, though. You’ll feel bad. It’s roughly 33 PhP to a Singapore dollar.

hawker center

The Gluttons Bar

satay @ 3 for 1 SGD

cereal prawns - must try! @ 8-15 SGD

yummy oyster omelette @ 10 SGD!

Since it was already around midnight, we took a Night Rider bus. Night Rider buses are the only buses that cruise Singapore at late night. They have specific routes that only go clockwise. So a ride that usually takes 5 minutes can go to around 15 minutes or more because they only take the main road. The rates are the same. Taxi has a midnight fare. Aside from the 2 SGD flagdown and .20 SGD per 10 KM, there’s additional amount depending on the time and place.

Related Article:

The Merlion, Singapore

Walking from the Merlion, we passed by the Riverside Point Mall on our way to Clarke Quay.

Riverside Point, colorful bridge

view of the Reverse Bungee

along the riverside

From  http://www.visitsingapore.com/

Riverside Point
30 Merchant Road

Nearest MRT station: Clarke Quay (NE5) or Raffles Place (EW14/NS26)

Step into this waterfront shopping mall by the Singapore River and be awed by the imposing central atrium that opens up into the sky! Watch an interactive water feature with animated jets shooting into the air as you stroll around the mix of jewelry, lighting and fashion shops. Take your pick of waterfront dining either indoors or al fresco, and be entertained by street performances.

Related Posts:

The Merlion
Clarke Quay
Suntec City Mall
Fountain of Wealth
The Merlion
Hawker Center
Hawkers, Esplanade
Orchard Road.

It’s Christmas time so I did not want to miss the lights display at the Orchard Road. It’s an annual thing that the street is lighted with various Christmas displays. There are a couple of buildings that house big brands like Nike and Canon. The Chanel and Louis Vuitton buildings are also in Orchard Road. But their facades were not decorated with any Christmas stuff. We went there at around 11 PM, so most establishments were closed. Here are the photos of the displays all around the Orchard Road:

Lab-as Seafood Restaurant Signage

Lab-as Seafood Restaurant is one of the most famous restaurants in Dumaguete City because it offers freshly cooked seafood dishes. Here are some of the food we ordered:

Buttered Garlic Prawns

Baked Oysters

Clam Soup

A dish would cost around Php 100.00 to Php 300.00. The food is good, but the service was a bit slow, we even had to cancel a few orders. But enjoy your food, and try to pass the time by taking pictures!

For more hang out places in Dumaguete City, click here.

Related Posts:

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Harold’s Mansion
Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries
Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental