Curbside Stories

The hotel where you and your family could stay for a day or two. It's summer time! I bet you are already looking for a place to cool down this 35 degrees scorching hot weather. If you live in Cavite, there are a lot of new resorts that are not yet explored by many, and one of them is Legata Familia Resort in Brgy. Paradahan along Tanza-Trece Road. It is a 2-hour drive from Manila. The main pavilion that can accommodate 30-50 guests for special corporate or family events Entrance fee ranges from 150 to 230 pesos and cottage fee ranges from 400 to 2,000 pesos. The prices are higher compared to other resorts but I don't mind because it somehow promotes privacy and you will not worry about the pool being crowded. The cottages in front of the main pool for small groups. Originally, there is just 1 large pool that is no more than 5 feet deep with a kiddie pool on the left corner but now they have added another large pool with slides for the kids and kids a...

The view of Mactan Island from our boat. I can't believe I forgot to post my first ever Cebu trip with my sisters! We went there last October 2013. It almost didn't happen because Cebu and Bohol were rocked by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake. We were so scared because of the reports of aftershocks but we can no longer move the date because my younger sister will be back in the US the following week. So we went, with all courage and prayers for guidance and safety.  We stayed in a cheap but decent hotel in Mandaue, it is about 30 to 40 minute taxi drive from Mactan Cebu International Airport. Although there were many public transportations, we opted to ride a taxi for convenience. If I remember it correctly, we paid a little over 6 thousand pesos for two family rooms for three days. Not bad, eh? The Magellan's Cross. Day 1 of our stay started with a tour at the Magellan's Cross in the compound of Basilica del Sto. Nino in Cebu City. There were many tourists ...

My photo taken by my travel buddy. I am not wearing an appropriate beach attire, again. It was five years ago when I  first visited  Munting Buhangin Beach Camp in Nasugbu, Batangas together with my two friends. It was a random trip borne out of boredom. Yesterday, my travel buddy and I only planned to have lunch in Tagaytay City but we ended up driving to Batangas. We initially thought of going to a resort we haven't visited yet, in fact, we inquired at Canyon Cove--but we ended up in Munting Buhangin again... The white sand beach that is overlooked by a neighbor members only resort--Terrazas De Punta Fuego. Me waiting for the sun to set  in one of the tents. I noticed they added more tents to accommodate day tour guests. They were also painting and repairing cottages as one of the preparations for the summer vacation. The same nipa cottages that are lined up on the beach are still there. The entrance fee for day tour is Php180 but if ...

My employer was so generous to treat us department heads to a summer escape in Mount Sea Resort in Marseilla St., Rosario, Cavite. It is around 30 minutes away from Manila and is accessible via Cavitex. Aside from swimming pools, the resort also has a restaurant, a bar, billiards, KTV, zip line, obstacle course and hotel rooms. They have various affordable recreation packages for every group type to enjoy. This is outside of one of the pools of the resort. It opens to the public at 7 in the morning. Guests are allowed to bring in foods. The road leads to the zip line and obstacle course. The zip line is around 500 meters and ends in another resort. A one-way ride is only 50 pesos. The 5 feet deep pool has slides. Guests are allowed to wear white shirt or sleeveless and board shorts for female if they do not want to wear swimsuit and board shorts only for male. The kiddie pool is 3 feet deep and it also has slides. The resort also offers swimming lesson...

It was my second time to go to Hundred Islands, Pangasinan and the first time to tag along my son, my older sister and niece. It was a fun-filled day and I am sure my son had a blast! We arrived at Vista de las Islas (the hotel where we stayed last year) at around 1 in the morning, had a few hours of sleep and we're off to island hopping. You can tell by the look on his face that he is enjoying his first boat ride. I am so proud of my son!  I am hoping to visit again next year! There's still a lot of things to do and explore in Hundred Islands.

Who would have thought that hidden behind the tall camp fence and heavily guarded perimeter is a beach?! Not just a beach, but an actual resort wherein you and your family and friends can enjoy the crystal blue water and white sand. The Marines Beach Resort or Boracay de Cavite is located at Ternate, Cavite, 2 to 2 1/2 hours away from Manila. At 100 pesos entrance fee and 350 pesos cottage fee, you get to experience the beach at its best. The resort is open everyday except during Balikatan Exercises of the US and Philippine Marines. Here is how you get there... View Larger Map Click after the jump to see more photos...

Are you planning to have one last summer escapade before the season officially ends? Well, I have discovered a place where you can relax and be a VIP even for a day-- Oasis Hotel and Resort in Capipisa, Tanza, Cavite . The hotel's facade. Shot of the entrance from the lobby. The lounge area near the reception overlooking the pool and beach. The souvenir shop at the first floor near the reception area. The stairs leading to the hotel rooms. Another lounge area in front of the conference halls. The right leads to the bar while the left leads to the restaurant and the pool area. Lounge area in front of the conference halls. Shot from the inside of the hotel going to the pool area. Path leading to the restaurant. The nipa hut at the pool. Giant tortoise guarding the pool. Those are monkeys. Don't worry, they are not real. The mokeys up close guarding the bridge. Panoramic view of the pool area. Click on the ima...

The main fall. Where the water falls is the deepest area of the river. Our team had a photoshoot in Balite Falls Resort. The public resort is located at Brgy. Banay Banay in Amadeo--the Coffee Town of Cavite. It is approximately 1.5 hours drive from Manila. The closest route to the resort is through Cristano M. Delos Reyes Ave. in Brgy. Maggahan, Gen. Trias. If you want to know more about Balite Falls Resort, visit their Facebook page  here . View Larger Map Click on the jump to see more photos.

The cottages where you can spend a night or two. This is good for a group of six. I have discovered another place where you can relax and enjoy the long weekend this October... Oyster Forest Life Resort along Sta. Rosa Road, Brgy. Langka, Silang, Cavite. If you are travelling from Tagaytay City, turn left when you see Tagaytay Econo Hotel. It is about 5 to 10 minutes away from the intersection. The resort is actually owned by Oyster Plaza Hotel in Paranaque. The resort's theme is very Filipino. Bamboo cottages surround the pool area so you feel like you are just lounging in your own backyard without the hustle and bustle of the busy streets and stressful workload. They have a restaurant so you don't have to worry where to buy food when you get hungry. They also have a free WiFi connection so that you can update your Facebook or Twitter accounts for your friends to see how good of a time you are having. You will be greeted by these beautiful flowers when you enter t...