Acea Subic Bay

Acea Subic Bay is the newest international resort destination in SBMA, where guests can bask in an ambiance of relaxed elegance and an atmosphere that blends contemporary architecture with traditional Filipino touches.

I created the above short video for your viewing pleasure. Please subscribe to our youtube site!

Pros:
-location is good
-relaxing atmosphere
-well maintained resort and clean comfort rooms
-with infinity pool
-with kiddie pool
-with cool amenities
-with indoor air-conditioned play area
-the day tour comes with a free lunch
-they offer beach activities like banana boat ride, jet skiing, etc for a fee

Cons:
-a bit pricey

For any inquiries please contact them at:

Contact # :   0917 133 2232

Address: San Bernardo Road
               Subic, Zambales (located right after SBMA airport)

FB Page:  https://www.facebook.com/acearesortssubic/

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Pamulaklakin Forest Trail, Subic

Ang Ineetttt!! The HEAT is definitely ON! Where have you been so far? Summer has always been the best time for us to go out and explore, in addition to the myriad of summer destinations like the beach,  local parks, mountains or  water parks, how about a relaxing dip in the river instead? 

For just P50 pesos per head you can enjoy a relaxing day with family and friends amidst one of the virgin forest in the country. Add up a chance to mingle with the Aetas living in the vicinity and an opportunity  to enjoy nature at its best.

Welcome to Subic's Pamulakalakin Forest Trail!

Pamulaklakin Forest trail is located inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Once inside the Freeport, look for signages going to Binictican, the trail is located after Brent International School.  If using public transport, you can take a taxi or a bus going to Binictican, bus station is near the main gate in front of Golden Dragon Restaurant which is on the opposite side of Jolibee Main Gate.

 my family enjoying the cold and fresh water

They offer packages for the visitors:

Package 1: Sightseeing at P50/head
                 inclusive of a guided tour walking tour and picture taking around the area.

Package 2: Mini Jungle Tour at P50/head
                inclusive of a guided 30-minute forest hike and jungle survival demonstrations.

Package 3: Ecology Tour at P250/head
                inclusive of a guided 2 to 3-hour jungle trek, tribal dance performance, and jungle survival
                demonstrations.

Package 4: Overnight Jungle Tour at P500/head + P50 every succeeding night
                inclusive of guided walking tours, tribal dance performance, and jungle survival demonstrations.

Others:
            P50, picnic entrance
            P50, table rental

Aetas kids enjoying the river with the tourists

Refreshing! So what are you waiting for? Plan your  next summer destination! Wherever it is, make sure to have FUN!! Cheers!

 

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Kid-Friendly Places to Visit in the Philippines

Summer is here and if you have kids at home, they will soon be starting to ask you to take them someplace amusing and exciting to relieve themselves of boredom. To keep their minds active, to treat them for a job well done during the school year, and at the same time, to keep them in good spirits while the temperature is blazing hot, we created a list of the best places to take your kids to this year! They also come with budget travel tips you should take to heart when travelling with kids:

1. Enchanted Kingdom, Sta. Rosa, Laguna

Kids love being constantly in motion. The Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, is one of the most popular, if not the most popular, theme parks in the country. Popular attractions include Dodgem Bump Cars, Up, Up, and Away balloon ride, Bump ‘N Splash, and the Ferris Wheel. Entrance costs PHP 600 each for adults on weekends/ holidays, and PHP 500 on weekdays. For kids 36” to 47” tall, admission fees are PHP 320 each on weekends/holidays, and PHP 250 on weekdays.

2. Kidzville, The Podium Mall, Ortigas, Pasig

Children are fond of playing make-believe.Kidzville at The Podium in Ortigas is sure to be a wonderland for young ones. Featuring a mini-hospital, garage, fire station, country barn, gas station, bakery, grocery, and a general play area, children will easilylose track of time playing doctor, auto mechanic, gas boy, baker, and so forth. Admission rates are PHP 180 for 30 minutes, PHP 250 for an hour, PHP 180 for extension, PHP 480 for unlimited pass, and PHP 120 for adult pass.

3. Zoobic Safari, Subic Bay 

Cultivate love for animals and nature in your kids by taking them to Zoobic Safari at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. With 11 attractions to offer including Zoobic Cave, Rodent World, and Croco Loco, both kids and adults can enjoy the tour that takes them through the attractions. The guided tour will take around 2 ½ hours to complete.

Zoobic Safari is open from 8AM to 4PM. The day tour entrance rate is PHP 495 for adults and PHP 395 for kids over 3-4 feet. Meanwhile kids who are 3 feet and below can get in free of charge. Additional charges apply for other features, such as the Sky Safari zipline (PHP 199 per person), GirafZ ride (PHP 199 per person), and Tiger Safari Ride (PHP 200 per person).


4. Active Fun

An indoor play center for kids who seem to never run out of energy, Active Funhas branches at SM Megamall, Bonifacio High Street, and Ayala Fairview Terraces. The amenities include padded play frame, tunnels for big children, slides, hanging bridges, and an area with ball pool and small slides for toddlers. Guardians of the kids can stay and eat snacks beside the play area while waiting.

Admission fee is PHP 175 for half an hour, PHP 225 for an hour, PHP 115 for a half-hour extension, and PHP 395 for unlimited play. Non-play adult pass costs PHP 125. Active Fun is open from Mondays to Thursdays,and Sundays,from10AM to 9PM. On Fridays and Saturdays, branches operate from 10AM to 10PM.


5. Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center

A science museum located at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, theNido Fortified Science Discovery Center features numerous interactive exhibits in nine walk-through galleries, including All About You, Be Connected, Earth and Space, Marine Adventure, Nature Works, and Transportation Nation.

The museum also has the first ever Digistar 3 planetarium in the Philippines.Children can meet the robotic animals in a traveling exhibit designed by Marshall Editions of London, England. They can learn how the animals survive and how their bodies work.

The Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center is open daily from 10AM to 10PM. Entrance costs PHP 330 for adults with 1 Planetarium Show of the guest’s choice plus unlimited time in the center. Meanwhile, child rate is PHP 300 for kids whose height are 39 inches and below. Children who are 24 inches and below are admitted for free.

Have fun travelling with kids by checking out the places mentioned above. But before you head out this summer, be sure to get you and your kids a good travel insurance and be worry-free! Going to a science museum may not seem particularly life-threatening, but perhaps one go at the Space Shuttle or Anchors Away might be enough to change your mind. If you’re going out of town or out of the country for a vacation, then you must definitely get travel insurance coverage.

Have a fun  summer with your kids!

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Subic Bay and our Prenup Experience

I want to photograph my own prenup, well that was the initial plan. I have it envisioned a thousand times, I have the venue in mind, the motif and I was planning to bring all our nephews and nieces so we can all have fun. But being a "busy bride" is an understatement indeed! No matter how simple you want your wedding to be, everything will turn into chaos and you are left with what? stress! hehe..  In other words, I got too tied up and I was not able to pursue my plans! alas!

Subic's famous sunset as our perfect backdrop

My husband and I have agreed during the planning stage that we don't want to spend that much for our wedding, so I decided to just take a photographer and get the soft copies at the end of the ceremony and I will do the editing myself. I was able to negotiate to include our civil wedding, our prenup, our garden wedding , our wedding reception plus an on-site video for a minimal fee. 

Let me share some of our photos for this post.

Photographer: Gershom Digital Photoworks

Photo Edited by:   Vivi

at Boardwalk, Subic Bay

Perfect venue right? Subic Bay is about about 100 kilometers north of Manila which is just around 3 to 4 hours drive.  Subic has everything to offer for both indoor or outdoor activities. You can have a prenup in Subic's famous jungle too! The places we used in this pictorial are all for free.  Aside from Subic being a great venue for prenup pictorials, Subic also offers a lot of tourist activities from duty free shops, to jungle trekking, ocean adventure, animal petting, nature tripping and so many beach activities.

Don't worry, I had the time to do some photo shoot during our Palawan honeymoon, so wait for my version of postnuptial pictorial.. hehe..

Thank you for viewing!! Till my next post!

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I'm back!!... with a hubby in tow!

I'm back!! Did you miss me? I hope so!! I just got back from the most memorable travel of my life!  All my past relationship lasted: 2 yrs, 3 yrs then the last one was like 5 years.  I already accepted my fate of growing old alone after my 5 years long relationship has ended. Then I met my husband, we dated for just a week and got married after four months!  Crazy right?? I'm not yet done.. that's without a wedding proposal, no engagement ring, just me as the sole wedding coordinator for a month long wedding preparation then ta-da!!! straight to 2 weddings! Whew!  

I have so much to tell you guys! From the wedding preparation to our honeymoon destination! (and of course as a traveler that's the most enjoyable part of the wedding prep!). But for now let me share this on-site video of our wedding made by Gershomp Digital Photoworks:

Venue: Moonbay Marina, The Villas and Boardwalk, SBMA

What could be more memorable than those few minutes of walking down the aisle, of  saying "I do" to the one person I finally decided to share my future with? Maybe you will say, the birth of your first born but that's next in line.. hehe.

Thank you also to our friend Maribel for this beautiful caricature for our wedding reception! For your own caricature you can contact Maribel thru her fb page: DigiARTS by M.A.N.

 That's all for now.. till my next post!!  Ciao!!

 

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Casablanca's 3rd Year Anniversary: A night for a cause

Her ye! Hear Ye! Casablanca, one of the top hotel & condo in Subic Bay will be celebrating its 3rd Yr Anniversary on October 30, 2012. In line with this, as a way of giving back, they will be raising funds for the scholars of Amihan Football Club. They have organized a singing contest the grand finals of which would be the highlight of their anniversary night plus more surprises from  guest artists, a fashion show and a live band!

Here are their prizes for their singing contest:

GRAND PRIZE: PHP10,000

FIRST PRIZE: PHP5,000

2ND PRIZE: PHP3,000

CONSOLATION PRIZE: PHP1,000

How to Join:
Elimination every Saturday:             Casablanca Restaurant 7:30pm

Semi Finals:                                      2nd week of October:Venue TBA

Grand Finals:                                    October 30, 2012/during their anniversary

Audition Daily:                                 Monday to Friday:2pm till 7pm look for Ms Donna, Geo or Mau

For more info you can call them at:  252-1996 / 09063565944


Criteria for Judging:
 

CRITERIA	POSSIBLE POINTS	POINTS  GIVEN
Voice ·         Quality ·         Tone	30
Pronunciation ·         Clarity ·         Enunciation ·         Style of enunciation	30
Timing ·         Pace ·         Synchronized with music	10
Stage Presence ·         Confidence ·         Suitable clothes	10
Mastery of Lyrics ·         No errors or lapses in memory	10
OVERALL IMPACT	10
TOTAL OF	100%

Mechanics:
-          Must be 18 to 35 years
-          Male and Female
-          Solo singer only
-          Open to all Professional or Non Pro
-          Must bring their own audition piece
-          Must pass the audition
-          Must fill up the form
-          Must attend in all rehearsals required by the organizer (Casablanca)
-          Must be in proper attire
-          Must bring identification ID’s or birth certificate

Qualifying Contestants for the semi finals will win Gift Certificate worth php500 consumable for food and drinks at Casablanca Restaurant.

Casablanca will also provide the transportation to all contestants during elimination drop off only to Park and Shop.

For their anniversary party on October 30, 2012, they are selling their tickets at Php1,000/head for cocktail food and drinks between 7:pm till 9:pm. The show will start at 6pm till 11pm.

JOIN CASABLANCA AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR 3 YEARS IN THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS AND SHARE THE CAUSE! HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

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The Lighthouse Marina Resort, The Best Hotel in Subic Bay

According to TripAdvisor, The Lighthouse Marina Resort ranks as #1 hotel in Subic  Bay ( as of this writing).   It is strategically located at the west side of Moonbay Marina which is well known as the leisure strip of the Freeport Zone, within the Central Business District and short distance to restaurants, shopping malls, diving sites, and other entertainment center.

The Lighthouse Marina is the venue of our Photojournalism Workshop today administered by the Resort and subictimes.com so I was able to take photos, let me share some:

at the back of the resort, Sands Resto Grill at the Ground Floor fronting the swimming pool and Boardroom on the second floor

The Resort is a 3 storey boutique hotel with 34 rooms  (6 suites and 28 deluxe), a Resto Grill,  Lobby Shop, Function Halls for 180 persons, Pre-function room for 40 persons, and a Boardroom for 20 persons.

the main entrance

the pool and the beach

Sands Resto Grill in front of the pool and the beach

The Garden:



Lobby Area:

Hopefully next time, I would be able to see the rooms! For now these pictures will do.

Regular price of their rooms ranges from P6,000+ to P9,000+.

For bookings please book here.

Hotel Address:  Moonbay Marina, Subic Bay Freeport Zone

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Casablanca's Media Launch at Casablanca Restaurant, Subic

I got a call for a special "invite" two weeks ago. Special indeed because what awaited me was an exclusive dinner with Ms Ruvina Donna  Cubelo, Sales- Marketing & Business Development Executive of Casablanca Hotel Condominium and Mr John Bayarong of Olongapo News. 

Ms Donna informed us of their Media Launch scheduled on August 10,2012 and handed over our invites for the said date. The objective of the Media Launch was briefly discussed during the dinner. After the dinner I was granted a chance to exclusively photograph their hotel condominium the next day, check the photos here.

 

The Media Launch took place at Casablanca Bar and Restaurant on August 10,2012.  I'm really elated to be considered as part of the "media" together with professional writers and reporters from leading newspapers all over the country. 

The event started with an Opening remarks from Geo Abujen (left picture above), their HR Officer and a brief history of the condotel from Ms Donna Cubelo (right picture below), their Sales-Marketing Executive. Then an AVP presentation to introduce  Casablanca. Raffle items were given out, the grand price is an overnight accommodation at their Condo 1 unit. (Check the photos of  their condo 1 units here).

Left picture: Ms Donna and their Hotel Manager raffling some Gift Certificates for the attendees.

I ended up winning the Beer Barkada Promo Gift Certificate worth P499! yey!

We enjoyed their famous Mongolian Barbeque for dinner.

Casablanca also has a restaurant which offers Japanese and Korean cuisines, Mongolian barbeque and Scandinavian buffet. Check their latest promos:

To top it all, we were serenaded by their local band. Festive mood and great music guys! Kudos to all of you!

The best about this night aside from the great music and food is meeting new friends and for the first time I met a fellow local blogger. Here's Mitch of http://www.wanderingmom.info/. Nice to meet you Mitch till next event!

with Mitch, a fellow blogger

For a photo tour of their hotel, condo units and pool area, please check this link.

 
At the moment they are offering a "RAINY DAY SEASON PROMO" of 20% discount on Room accommodations, promo will run until September 15, 2012. For inquiries please call their office at 047-252-1996.  

For recreations, Casablanca is now a partner with Treetop Adventure, Ocean Adventure and Zoobic Safari. As a guest you will enjoy a 10% discount  from these Theme parks.

For more inquiries please check their official website: www.subiccasablanca.com

Congratulations Ms Donna for the success of your Media Launch! They have announced too that in celebration of their 3rd year anniversary this coming October they will be having their Grand Launch. Till next time Casablanca!

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