LAKBAYAN: Costales Organic Farm

Farming. It's more fun in the Philippines!

When was the last time you have been on a trip to nature far from the city. To smell the fresh air, the clean water, and the rich soil of the earth. And though this may be a dream to many, it is actually just a province away. In Majayjay Laguna, just beside the mythical Banahaw mountain, is where you can find a unconventional yet sustainable farm, Costales Nature Farm.

Though maybe just a province away, you would really feel that the urban landscape fades away to the rural yet sustainable living. Costales Nature Farm dedicates itself to the te practice of Organic Farming. Yes, the farming that uses natural fertilizers, no chemicals which nature intended it to be. We got the chance to go and experience organic farming which is a promising way of sustainable agriculture minus the harmful insecticides and yeilds bountiful and high quality produce.

And tasting the fruits, vegetable and livestock from the farm definitely far more different and far more delicious than the regular meat and vegetables.

LAKBAYAN: Boracay Garden Resort joins Phil Travel Mart

It’s raining discounts at the 23rd Philippine Travel Mart! Visit Boracay Garden Resort’s booth from August 10 to 12, 2012 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City to avail as much as 50% off on room rates.

Enjoy a discounted package rate of P5,824 nett  per person for a 3 day stay in Boracay Garden Resort’s plush premier room. Based on twin sharing, this is inclusive of daily breakfast and dinner and roundtrip transfers via Caticlan. Travel period is valid until March 31, 2013.

Boracay Garden Resort has 201 spacious rooms featuring modern aesthetics and amenities. Its breezy, tree-lined surroundings offer a calm ambience to guests. While it may be secluded from the crowded beach, the resort has its own private pathway that leads to the beachfront with lounge beds and sun umbrellas. 

LAKBAYAN: Boracay Garden Resort offers 70% off room rates

Boracay Garden Resort offers 70% off room ratesat the 19th Travel Tour Expo

Visit Henann Resorts’ booth at the 19th Travel Tour Expo (TTE) at the SMX Convention Center from February 17 to 19 and get as much as 70% discount on Boracay Garden Resort’s packages. Based on twin sharing, pay as low as P3,812 net per person for a three-day stay in a deluxe room. The package is inclusive of two-night accommodation, roundtrip transfers via Caticlan, and daily breakfast and dinner.

Boracay Garden Resort is a subsidiary of Henann Resorts, owner and operator of Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Spa, Regency Lagoon Resort, Boracay and Henann Resort at Alona Beach Bohol.

The resort rests on a two-hectare property located at the center of Station 2. It has 201 well-appointed deluxe and premiere rooms with charming and elegant interiors. It features premiere rooms with direct access to the pool and family rooms that can fit up to six persons.

LAKBAYAN: It's More Fun In The Philippines!

2012 is indeed a year of the start of new things especially for the tourism industry in the country. No question, we have great places and things to do here and DOT recently launched the new tourism campaign It's More Fun In The Philippines. With the hashtag #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines trending in twitter world wide. 

It does have this 'cool' factor connected with the slogan and is perfect with photos. However, there are still a dash of controversy with its similarity with the 1951 Switzerland poster with the slogan "It's More Fun in Switzerland". Others use the slogan and post them with pictures that contains negative propaganda and others with subliminal meanings. I admit to be surprized with the new logo but finally realized that there is no need to destabilize the campaign because we have not given it time to prove its effectiveness. 

LAKBAYAN: Pinoy Homecoming Hospitality Center Opens at DMIA

Balikbayans arriving at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Pampanga, will experience their warmest welcome yet with the opening of the Pinoy Homecoming Hospitality Center at the airport on November 29.

Spearheaded by the Department of Tourism (DOT), the homecoming center is part of the government's ongoing efforts to boost visitor arrivals from the balikbayan market by 25 percent in the next five years. Dubbed as the Pinoy Homecoming campaign, it primarily targets Filipinos based overseas, not only in the United States and Canada but worldwide.

LAKABAYAN: San Juanico Golf Hotel - A Holiday Paradise Beckons

Enjoy Christmas and vacation trips at a holiday paradise with families and friends. The San Juanico Golf Hotel is a 30-room hotel surrounded with breath-taking verdant landscape of flat and gently sloping greens, panorama of endless rolling hills and mountains offers world-class amenities and accommodations to those visiting Eastern Visayas. 

Guests at the hotel get an exquisite view of the San Juanico Bridge, a historic structure and an engineering marvel that spans two kms across the strait that connects Samar and Leyte provinces.  It is considered the most beautiful sea-spanning bridge in the Philippines. 

LAKBAYAN: Discover BonPen Diaries (Part 3 - Agri Fair and Potogo Church))

Now on the next installment of the BonPen Diaries in Quezon we are still in the host town Pitogo and after checking out the historical places in the town, we had lunch and went on our way to check out the Agri Fair beside the historical church of the town (Conversion of St. Paul). The Agri Fair features booths from the towns in the BonPen region with signature products on sale and also at affordable prices. The booths are also designed very well to compete for the best booth award . 

LAKBAYAN: BonPen Diaries (Part 2 - Pitogo History Town)

The town of Pitogo is a old town, simple yet historical. After the tree planting event at QUEZELCO I, we went to the town proper to check out the town and its historical sights. One of which was the Castillo, which looks like a tower though not really as high but has a feel especially its just beside the sea. Pitogo may be a simple town but has rich history that the people share. Time does slow down in the province.

LAKBAYAN: BonPen Diaries

We had so much fun when we went on our 3 day stay in BonPen (Bondoc Peninsula), wherein we attened the BonPen Festival that aims to promote tourism and the environment. We were welcomed to the the towns of Unisan and Pitogo (were the festival is held).  The BonPen Festival started in 2009 in Catanauan and now the festival is hosted by the Town of Pitogo.

LAKBAYAN: Our BonPen Itinerary

BonPen Festival was a blast here in Quezon with the other bloggers, I have posted some of the pictures and videos on my facebook profile, yet I have to make more post about the things that we have done during the past 2 days here in Unisan and Pitogo. In case you were wondering these are the things that we went to during the festivities. We also had some sidetrips if schedule permits Now the festival has come to a close and were now resting before we go back to Manila (we did miss a lot of events). But it was really fun! 

 Here are the things that happened:

LAKABYAN: Playa Laiya Is Home In A Tropical Paradise

ONE NO LONGER HAS TO TRAVEL TO A FAR AWAY ISLAND to enjoy surf, sun and sea at a world-class beach resort. The luxurious beach at Playa Laiya leisure community in San Juan, Batangas is the perfect beachside residence and leisure destination to go with family and friends--it's only two hours and thirty minutes away from Metro Manila.

LAKBAYAN: 3 Spots I Want To Go To

For this year, I do hope to do more travels around the Philippines even on a very tight budget. However, I always do my research on them to make sure I can optimize my stay and have a really great time. Here are my top 3 choices which are also one of the best places in the major islands of Luzon, Vizayas, and Mindanao.

LAKBAYAN: The New and Slightly Improved Philippine National Railway

 

Philippine National Railway

Manila-Biñan

You think the MRT or LRT is the densest place on Earth but they would not come close to the non electric train by the Philippine National Railway. Used to be feared by many as the most unwanted transportation system in the country because of the decayed cabins and the tracks that used to be inches away from houses which are vulnerable to be run over by the train if not careful has now evolved into its real purpose as a functioning train system minus the side tenants.

New Things to watch out for MTL!

Yes, things are getting cooler here at Manual to Lyf as we its transforms to like a newspaper or magazine that have segments for easier reading. This would help you know what to read in the right places. Last month I intoduced LakBayan and Fashionista. Putting them into categories not only gives order to post but also a sleeker look on the topics. Presenting the new Manual to Lyf segments!

LAKBAYAN: CHEERS Tours in Lubao and Sasmuan Pampanga

I am not really a from Pampanga but I always want to go here because of its natural wonders and also the cuisine. When we were invited to an river cleanup event in Lubao, I was interested. Of course as a backpacker, going places is my thing. And to be in Pampanga specifically in Lubao and Sasmuan are towns that I have not explored in the province.

Manual to Lyf's New Segment!

Manual to Lyf is indeed a general blog about lifestyle and events but of course, there should be order and categories to make everything simpler to search. That is why on my blog I do have segments like Fud Fyt (www.fudfyt.blogspot.com) which is now has its own blog. And today I am introducing two new segments for Travel and Fashion. Introducing LakBayan and Fashionista!

LakBayan of course would focus on travel, but when there is a place there is also history and other interesting things to talk about, and the list could go on and on.  And before food, traveling is what I really love to do. walking to unchartered places and discovering more than any book and e-books combined. I do hope to make more video blogs with this segment and show you the places you and I can go in this blog. Tara, LaBayan na! 

Now Fashion has a new authority, its FASHIONISTA baby! Though not really a designer or a model but has eyes and ears on what the trends would be would be influential. Yes, it may be a new world for me but like our motto in MTL that try and try everything before your die! And since sometimes I would be fashionably handicapped, I do need to compose myself and look better to feel better. Time to hit the ramp!

In the next post it will include these new segments since I have been to several fashion and travel events lately, so always keep yourself updated with lyf, only here in Manual to Lyf!

Blah Blah Blogs! Ferry Ride on the Pasig River...

Ferry Joy ride...

I love going to new places, however since I'm always busy with a lot of things however I actually got a chance to ride the pasig river ferry service. Yep you heard it right, this ferry goes trough the pasig river. My original location was Intramuros where one station, Plaza Mexico is located. I was very fustrated with the traffic in road at that time and tried to go on a cruise on that ferry service. I was aware that this service is already operational however I never tried to go on board. Well it was really a new feeling knowing that you road is the pasig river. And that one fact is I cant swim, so it was one of my hesistations. But because of the need to go to school I had to take a chance to take the ferry service. I was quite impressed about the station and the ferry itself. a fare of 20 pesos is fair for a student from intramuros to the PUP station.

the golden mosque near the river

a boat! a boat!

Pandacan oil depot

also part of the oil depot

under the bridge

inside the ferry

the other ferries...

under the Quezon bridge

a different view of escolta

guess where...

And the journey itself is also an adventure. Seriously, how many of us go to work or school through the river. I have passed to stations like Escolta, Lawton, and the highlight was to pass by the Malacanang palace which again we don't see directly since it faces Malacanang park. You know, security purposes. Also with this reason I was not permitted to take a click on the "white house". 

Don't also miss the oil depot, one of the benefactors of the river but also contributes to its contamination. However, another sight to see are the birds that fly over the polluted river. They seem to adapt the environment of man and was able to survive with it. Thus there might be some hope in reviving the river. And practically there had been improvements thanks to the linear parks on the side but still a lot of work to be done to attain the former glory of the river.